Entries by

亞瑪力人焚掠洗革拉

2021-07-28 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 30:24b  上陣的得多少，看守器具的也得多少，應當大家平分。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 30:1-31  

大衛離開了非利士人，走了三日，終於回到洗革拉。原以為能見到家人，沒想到洗革拉已面目全非。亞瑪力人來過了，攻破洗革拉，焚燒了洗革拉，帶走城內的婦女和大小人口，卻沒有殺一個。這是神很大的恩典和保守，身外物可以失去，生命卻無法挽回。看似好像很慘，可是我們繼續讀下去，便會發現，原來這有可能是神要把大衛支開的一個方法。倘若大衛留在洗革拉，必然聽到掃羅和非利士人的戰情，為了約拿單，為了在神面前的義，也為了以色列人，他不可能乾坐在洗革拉，很可能就帶人衝上戰場了。

但是現在碰上家人都被擄走，大家心急如焚，怎樣都要把他們先救回來，大衛也就無法分心再去考慮那麼多了。“大衛和跟隨他的人放聲大哭，直哭得沒有氣力”。這句話很感人。讓我們知道，大衛再怎樣厲害，也是一個有情的凡夫俗子，這是人最真實的一面。有人說：“男人有淚不輕彈，只因未到傷心處。”大衛和跟隨他的人過著飄泊不定的生涯，最想念的豈不是家的溫馨？妻子兒女的笑顏？在被掃羅追殺時，沒有人抱怨；在曠野沙漠，頂無片瓦時，也無人感到命苦；但是現在眾人為了自己的兒女，都恨不得拿大衛出氣，想拿石頭打死大衛。問題是，打死大衛也不能把妻兒救回來啊！

在眾人悲憤不已時，大衛做了一個最智慧的決定，去求問神。神給了他一個最美，讓他最感穴忍的答覆：“你可以追，必追得上，都救得回來。”這就是大衛和掃羅的不同，在最緊張的時刻，在眾人都要離開他的時候，掃羅就自行想辦法要挽回人心；但是大衛反而離開眾人去求問神。所以掃羅失敗，大衛成功。環境，往往像一杯熱水，要呈現裡面茶包的真滋味。你要讓環境左右你呢？還是讓神來主宰環境？“大衛卻倚靠耶和華他的神，心裡堅固”。大衛相信神能夠主宰這個局面，所以他心裡不慌亂，可以冷靜下來思考。哭可以哭，盡情地哭，但是眼淚擦乾之後，要繼續尋求神的帶領。

Unity Takes Work and Focusing on Jesus

2021-07-27 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 1:10-11 (NIV)
10  I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.
11  My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.

On verses 10-11:  Paul had heard reports that there were factions and cliques within the church. So here Paul appeals to his congregation to agree with one another and to get along with one another, that they may be “perfectly united in mind and thought” (v10).

It reminds me of what Pastor Craig Groeschel says.  There are only two things that happen naturally in any organization that don’t require any work on a leader’s part to create: division and underperformance.  Everything else takes intentionality and work.  Whether it’s in a home, a marriage, a church or an organization, we need to work on being united, on getting along, because it won’t always happen naturally. 

That is why elsewhere Paul would write to the church in Ephesus, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).  Unity takes work!  Just as Jesus went out of His way to love those who are so different from Him, unity for us is about going out of our way to love those who are different from us.

非利士人的首領不信大衛

2021-07-27 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上29:2 非利士人的首領各率軍隊，或百或千，挨次前進，大衛和跟隨他的人同著亞吉跟在後邊。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上29:1-11 

當亞吉興高采烈地叫大衛做他永遠的護衛長，讓他和跟隨的人一起去攻擊以色列人時，這時大衛的心裡有何打算呢？當非利士人的首領各率軍隊，挨次前進，有點像在閱兵時，他們發現了走在亞吉後面的大衛和從人。記不記得上次大衛投靠亞吉時，非利士人的首領都懷疑大衛；這次亞吉收容他們，他們沒有再出聲，因為確實知道掃羅在追殺大衛。但是要讓大衛一起出戰，大衛對非利士人有那個忠誠度嗎？他們恐慌了。他們想得很遠，大衛有可能以他們的頭作為與掃羅和好的禮物。亞吉無奈，只好叫大衛不要跟著去打仗。

在我的想像裡，這是很有可能的。非利士人在前面跟掃羅打仗，大衛在後面幫忙殺非利士人。因為大衛絕不會去殺以色列人。如此一來，前後圍攻，非利士人就會被殲滅了。無奈，這不是神的計劃。神把大衛和跟隨他的人趕出非利士人的陣營。從另一方面而言，當大衛聽到這個消息時，心裡會高興或不高興？至少，不必跟著非利士人去打以色列人，他的馬腳就暫時不會露出來了，大概是鬆了一口氣的感覺。不管怎樣，他還是對亞吉假惺惺地說：“我做了什麼呢？自從僕人到你面前，直到今日，你查出我有什麼過錯，使我不去攻擊主我王的仇敵呢？”自古以來，政治就是這麼虛偽啊！

亞弗位於平原與山地的交界，它的地勢稍高，附近斷崖之麓有豐富的泉水，位於一條約旦河的支流雅孔河（Yarkon River）的源頭；它又位於有名的國際幹道（the Great Trunk Road）的交通要衝，又在從耶路撒冷通到約帕港的要道上，因此自古以來便是兵家必爭之地。約書亞在攻取迦南時，曾經也殺掉一個亞弗王（書12:8），但是不久後亞弗就被非利士人佔去了。在以利的最後一場戰爭裡，非利士人也是安營在亞弗，以色列人安營在以便以謝，後來以色列人大敗，連約櫃也被搶去。在新約時代大希律重建亞弗，改名為安提帕底Antipatris；主後三百多年的一場大地震把亞弗夷為平地，沒有再重建，目前已成了廢墟。

Jesus, the Lover of Your Soul

2021-07-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 1:1-9.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 1:1a (NIV)
1  Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,…

On verse 1:  Paul begins his letter by introducing himself as someone who is “called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God”.  What is an apostle?  An apostle is someone who is gifted and chosen by God to plant and start churches.  Paul was confident that God had chosen him as part of His will to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.  The fact that Paul believed in his calling was a huge reason for his success.  When you know what God has put you on this earth to do, it gives you purpose, power and perseverance like nothing else can.

Similarly, you too are called by God.  At THRIVE we describe your God-given calling this way: you are called to be alive, which means you’re here to worship Jesus.  You are called to be expectant, which means to grow into a Christ-like disciple.  You are called to be involved, which means you’re here to serve with your talents.  You are called to be out loud, which means you’re here to lead others to Jesus.  You’re called to be united, which means you’re here to love the family that Jesus started called His church.  Alive. Expectant. Involved. Outloud.  United.  AEIOU.  No matter what your personality or your unique set of giftings, no matter where you go or what else you do in life, you are called by God to be an AEIOU leader in God’s kingdom.

掃羅去見隱多珥女巫

2021-07-26 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 28:6  掃羅求問耶和華，耶和華卻不藉夢，或烏陵，或先知回答他。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 28:1-25   

你可記得“作法自斃”這句成語的由來？當年商鞅為了使秦國變強，推行變法，使人民都不敢犯法。十年之後，秦國路不拾遺、山裡沒有盜賊，家家戶戶都豐衣足食。但是重用商鞅的秦孝公死後，太子繼位。太子曾因為犯法，他的師傅被割去鼻子，此始開始報仇，說商鞅謀反。商鞅想要逃走，逃到國境關卡，已經天黑。想要投宿，旅舍老闆對他說：“商君訂立的法令，接納沒有通行證的客人投宿，要受連坐之罪。”不讓他投宿。商鞅興歎：“唉，我立下的法令竟然如此不通人情嗎？”這就是“作法自斃”的典故。

在《聖經》裡也有一個類似的故事：掃羅起初做王時，很敬畏神，因此下令國中剪除交鬼的和行巫術的。後來掃羅轉離神，不再遵守神的道。當非利士人要大舉來攻打以色列時，掃羅看到非利士人的陣容非常害怕。他求問神時，神不答覆他，因此他得不到任何指引。此時他唯一能想到的就是撒母耳，即使撒母耳已死，他也希望能把他從陰間叫上來。沒想到那交鬼的婦人怕觸犯了掃羅的法令會受刑，因而不肯為掃羅招死人。

其實不只是古時，到現在也還有人在做這種事。美其名為招靈，實際上有的是在騙錢，預先做了一些手法；也有的是利用邪靈假扮成先人的鬼魂出來迷惑人。不相信神的人，在迷惘時不知去哪裡求幫助，很多人選擇用這種方式。所以要知道信耶穌的人何等有福氣，當我們有困難時，可以藉著禱告向真神祈求，不必靠邪靈的幫助。因為倚靠邪靈要付上很大的代價，而且被欺騙了也不曉得，有的人被騙得很慘。但是為何有些自稱是基督徒的人也會去做這種事呢？

大衛遁至非利士地

2021-07-25 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 27:6 當日亞吉將洗革拉賜給他。因此洗革拉屬猶大王，直到今日。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 27:1-12

大衛應不應該離開以色列的國境，跑到非利士地呢？有的人認為這是大衛靈裡最軟弱的時候，雖然神在屢次危難時都拯救他，保守他十分平安，但是那種驚嚇和負荷還是讓大衛選擇了離開。人實在很有限，不是嗎？就好像〈路得記裡〉的以利米勒，因為以色列地遭遇饑荒，他就帶著妻兒離開伯利恒去摩押地，到最後只剩妻子拿俄米和媳婦路得回到伯利恒。離開神命定的地方，會碰到更多的困難，這是大衛事前沒想到的。

大衛第一次到迦特找亞吉時，因為亞吉身邊的人記得大衛殺死歌利亞，無法相信大衛。大衛為了保命而不得不裝瘋，才得以逃離迦特。但是這次來到迦特，亞吉卻對他另眼相看，還給了他一座城洗革拉。因為在第一次時，亞吉還不知道大衛被掃羅追殺的實情，有可能認為他是間諜，來打探軍情；但是經過了一段時間，掃羅追殺大衛一事已經傳遍各地了，大家都知道大衛是掃羅的眼中釘，因此亞吉大喜，他很可能希望把大衛收為自己的僕人。

果然，掃羅聽到大衛逃到非利士地，就不再尋索大衛了。大衛在非利士地住了一年零四個月。這是一段不算短的時間。洗革拉原是猶大南部的一座城，後來給了西緬支派，不知何時卻落入非利士人手中。亞吉又把它賜給大衛。有人說，就因為如此，大衛終於從非利士人那裡得到了冶鐵的知識和方法。因為非利士人恐怕希伯來人製造刀槍，所以不肯教以色列人冶鐵。以色列人要磨鋤、犁、斧、鏟，就下到非利士人那裡去磨，但有銼可以銼鏟、犁、三齒叉、斧子並趕牛錐，所以在爭戰的日子裡，只有掃羅和約拿單有刀有槍（撒上13:19-22）。現在大衛得到了這座非利士城，焉不是神給他的良機嗎？

The World Your Words Create

2021-07-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 50:14-26.  Let’s go!

Genesis 50:14-21 (NIV)
14  After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.
15  When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”
16  So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died:
17  ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18  His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19  But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
20  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
21  So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

On verses 14-21:  Back in Egypt after burying their late father in Canaan, Joseph’s brothers wonder if Joseph still holds a grudge against them and has plans to exact revenge for all the ways they treated him long ago.  They send a message to Joseph saying that their father requested that Joseph forgive his brothers and asking Joseph to forgive them.  It’s unclear whether their father actually spoke those words or not. After all, if it was so important to Jacob that Joseph forgive his brothers, and given the close relationship between Jacob and Joseph, wouldn’t you expect Jacob to talk to Joseph about this directly? 

Born To Overcome, To Be Free and Fruitful

2021-07-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 49:18-33.  Let’s go!

Genesis 49:18 (NIV)
18  “I look for your deliverance, O LORD.

On verse 18:  Perhaps because of all the trouble, danger, conflict and pain that Jacob saw a number of his sons encountering in the future, Jacob cries out to God in the middle of prophesying over his sons, saying, “I look for your deliverance, O Lord” (v18).  Jacob, nearing the end of his life, does the one thing that we all need to do when we see trouble up ahead: cry out to God for help and look for God to deliver us. 

Genesis 49:19 (NIV)
19  “Gad will be attacked by a band of raiders, but he will attack them at their heels.

On verse 19:  Jacob prophesies that though Gad’s descendants would be attacked by others, Gad’s descendants would not be defeated but would attack their attackers “at their heels”, suggesting that Gad’s attackers will retreat and Gad will be victorious.  

Likewise, your enemy Satan will try to attack you in various ways, but you have everything you need to withstand his attack, go on the offensive and overcome your enemy in the end.  As John writes in 1 John 2:14, “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” Praise God! Though Satan will attack, you have everything you need to overcome the evil one.

七封信的總結：患難與得勝

2021-07-23 in , /by

〈啟示錄〉中的七個教會就像鏡子，反映出歷世歷代以來教會的優缺點。這七封信告訴我們，基督在各地尋找有愛心的教會、遭受苦難的教會、純潔的教會、遵守真理的教會、活著的教會、宣教的教會和火熱的教會。耶穌不但向這七間教會指出目前的景況，還告訴他們將來會發生的事，也是在呼召基督徒好好預備自己，去面對將來要來臨的大患難。
從整卷〈啟示錄〉的背景來看，耶穌不是分別給這七封信，祂一次給出七封信，在同一卷書中。

〈啟示錄〉二、三章的標題可訂為「地上的狀況不好」，敗壞的世界使教會妥協，而教會的兩大殺手是拜偶像和淫亂，已悄悄滲透教會；現在就要改過自新，在患難來臨之前改正，妥協的教會是受不住逼迫的。

第四到五章這段標題可訂為「天上的狀況很好」。因為地上的狀況一團亂，有許多苦難、戰爭、饑荒、地震、疾病，相較於約翰所看見的天上，上帝安詳地坐在寶座上，前面有水晶海，四周有像綠寶石的虹環繞，一切都在掌控之中，不管地上發生什麼事，上帝都不驚慌，因為祂瞭若指掌。上帝讓基督掌管歷史的結局，這結局記載在封了七印的書卷上，書卷上寫著末日來臨前，要發生的事。沒有人配打開那印來終結歷史，只有一位像獅子又像公羊者，公羊看起來像被宰殺過，身上有傷口，祂就是耶穌，祂是配得打開七印、掌管結局的人，因祂是首先的、末後的。

六到十八章的標題可訂為「情況會先惡化再好轉」。基督徒要面對的遭遇，不會比這裡所描述的更糟。有四匹馬跑遍天下，白馬象徵軍事侵略、紅馬象徵流血、黑馬象徵饑荒，灰馬象徵疾病。這四匹馬已經在地上奔馳，天災、巨大的冰雹、地震等，洋海、空氣也遭到污染，全球都發生極大的災難。這是上帝最後的警告，竭力叫人清醒，但世人仍不悔改。

Communicating God’s Heart To Those You Love

2021-07-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 49:1-17.  Let’s go!

Genesis 49:1-2 (NIV)
1  Then Jacob called for his sons and said: “Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.
2  “Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.

On verses 1-2:  Nearing his death, Jacob gathers his sons and begins to prophesy over his sons.  What is prophesy?   Simply put, prophesy is declaring God’s heart and God’s plans to God’s people.  Based on this definition of prophecy, I believe every parent has a prophetic role to play in the lives of their children and every leader has a prophetic role to play in the lives of those they lead.  We are to communicate God’s heart to the people we are leading.  “But how I do know what God’s heart, promises and plans are for the people in my care?”  Draw near to God.  Meditate on His Word.  More and more He will give you a sense of His heart for the people He has called you to lead.  When you speak in faith those prophetic pictures and images God places in your heart for the people in your care, the results will be powerful.  That is what Jacob is about to do in the verses that follow.