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Confronting Sin with Wisdom and Love

2021-08-04 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 5:1-13.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (NIV)
1  It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.
2  And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?
3  Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present…….

On verses 1-13:  In 1 Corinthians 5 Paul deals with the problem of sexual immorality in his church in Corinth.  In particular, there was a man in the church who had been sleeping with his stepmom (v1).  That man would not listen to any warnings or admonitions from his local church leaders to stop this not only adulterous but also incestuous relationship.  In addition, it appears that other members of the church were not just tolerating this behaviour, but boasting about it and thus encouraging it (v2, v6).  So Paul as the church founder must step in.

Paul tells the church that they have no choice but to “hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord” (v5).  What does it mean to “hand this man over to Satan”? 

约押刺杀押尼珥

2021-08-04 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 3: 37   那日，以色列众民才知道杀尼珥的儿子押尼珥并非出于王意。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉下 3:17-39

虽是同一个团队，但是每个人对同一件事也会有不同的看法。有很多人质问当选的议员或巿长或什么职位的，为何不能实现竞选时的诺言。实在是当他们一旦当选之后，看事情和看人的角度就不一样了。好像乾隆同时使用和珅和纪晓岚，和珅是大贪官，纪晓岚是大清官，但是乾隆的帝王术就是要让两者并存在他的朝中，才能起制衡的作用。所以即使押尼珥的人品不怎么样，大卫也会考虑用他。大卫作了犹大王之后，他的心志就是要统一以色列，但是他并不心急，他耐性等候时机的来临。

时机终于来临，大卫家日见强盛，扫罗日渐衰微。押尼珥审度时势，若与大卫谈条件，他还有可能谋到高官肥缺，若再等下去，只剩个烂摊子时，谁还跟他谈条件？一下子就可以把他给收拾掉，他就什么也捞不到了。因此他越过伊施波设，这个形同虚设的王，竟自去跟大卫谈判。押尼珥在为自己舖路，但是他也需要得以色列长老们的同意。他好像以前的美国国务卿季辛吉(Henry Kissinger)， 在美国外交政策上发挥了极大的作用。押尼珥也在犹大和以色列之间来回奔跑，发挥三寸不烂之舌的功用，使大卫和以色列长老们都频频点头。

约押是大卫的元帅，与押尼珥有杀弟之仇。当然，他对押尼珥的印象很差，因此他对大卫说：“尼珥的儿子押尼珥来是要诓哄你，要知道你的出入和你一切所行的事。”他不相信押尼珥有好的居心。虽然大卫和约押曾经是出生入死的伙伴，但此时他们看事情的角度已经有很大的区别。大卫从一个王的角度去审度形势，他要的是犹大和以色列的统一，他要做全以色列的王；但是约押只是觉得押尼珥这人不可信，不能要。大卫看到的是在两个国度的统一中，需要押尼珥这个棋子，他的人品好不好是次要的，他在统一这事上能发挥什么作用，那才是主要的。

米甲再归大卫

2021-08-03 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 3:1   扫罗家和大卫家争战许久，大卫家日见强盛，扫罗家日见衰弱。

阅读经文：〈撒母耳记〉下 3:1-16

扫罗家和大卫家争战许久，大卫家日见强盛，扫罗家日见衰弱。

这是大卫否极泰来的时候，不仅有时间生儿育女，并且在和扫罗家的争战中，日渐强盛。押尼珥也感觉到大卫的军势增长，他的军势日见衰弱，因此起了归降之心。但是促使他采取行动的，则是他和伊施波设的不合。说实在的，我不喜欢押尼珥这个人。正如大卫拿走扫罗的枪和水瓶时说的，他不是一个忠心的仆人，明知大卫就在附近，却没有好好保护扫罗，也没有派人值更守夜。在战场上，扫罗和儿子们都战死了，他却可以全身而退，然后挟幼主而专权。这样的元帅只顾自己的利益，算不上是个忠心的仆人。

他挟持伊施波设以令“诸候”，立伊施波设作王，就可以确定其他的支派都听他的。他也不尊重伊施波设，竟然和扫罗的妃嫔同房，当伊施波设质问他时，他反而大骂伊施波设。假如伊施波设是王，而他只是元帅，岂可如此霸道？不仅上了前王的床，还不许幼主质问，反而破口大骂，究竟谁是主？谁是仆？可见在押尼珥的心中，只是利用伊施波设来扩张他的权势，他根本不把伊施波设放在眼里。这就是物以类聚，扫罗不敬畏神，跟他在一起的人也不敬畏神，只求满足私欲，扩张权势。这种不敬畏神的仆人，哪里会好好服侍主人？所以扫罗不敬畏神，不仅害了他自己，也连累他的儿孙。

两国立约，原该由伊施波设出面，却只见押尼珥上下其手。押尼珥派人去找大卫，大卫则派人直接去见伊施波设。可见大卫尊重伊施波设，并没有像押尼珥那样，不把伊施波设放在眼里。可能有人会觉得，在这种时候，大卫应该一些有利于登上全以色列王位的要求；万万没想到，大卫只想要回米甲，他的第一个妻子。

You Need a Spiritual Family to Grow Spiritually

2021-08-03 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 4:9-21.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 (NIV)
9  For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
10  We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
11  To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12  We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13  when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

On verses 9-13: Ironically, while the Paul groupies and Apollos groupies were using their alleged connection to Paul and Apollos to boast about themselves to others, Paul and his fellow apostles were themselves suffering a great deal for the gospel – going hungry and thirsty (v11), being treated brutally (v11), working tirelessly (v12) and often being insulted (v13) and persecuted (v12).  It’s as if on one hand you have Paul and his fellow apostles who are the real deal, serving Christ and suffering for it, while at the same time there are a bunch of apostle wannabees who are more focused on making a name for themselves, talking about themselves a lot and doing a lot less for the kingdom.  In some ways Paul is showing how different these groupies actually are from Paul, Apollos and other apostles.

Chase Success in God’s Eyes + Beware Spiritual Pride

2021-08-02 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 4:1-8.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 (NIV)
1  So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2  Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
3  I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
4  My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
5  Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

On verses 1-5:  The people in the church in Corinth had their share of “Paul groupies” and “Apollos groupies”.  The Paul groupies loved to talk about how great Paul was and how much better he was than any other Christian leader.  They would boast about their allegiance to Paul and look with disdain at those who were led by other Christian leaders.  The Apollos groupies loved to do the same as it related to Apollos.   In response to all this, here Paul is basically saying, “Stop putting Apollos and me on a pedestal. 

大卫受膏做犹大王

2021-08-02 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 2:4  犹大人来到希伯仑，在那里膏大卫做犹大家的王。

阅读经文: 〈撒母耳记〉下 2:1-32

大卫的逃亡生涯结束了，他的第一件事是求问神：“我上犹大的一个城去可以吗？”扫罗死了，以色列地有什么地方大卫不能去的吗？大卫哪里都可以去，但是他觉得自己是属神的人，是神所膏的王，所以他必须听从神的命令。这是何等的顺服！然后他再求问神要上哪一个城去？神指示他上希伯仑，所以他就带着妻子和跟随他的人都带到希伯仑。

当大卫到了希伯仑之后，我们就看见他以前所送的礼，所结交的朋友，现在都“发酵”了。犹大人来到希伯仑，在那里膏大卫作王。大卫知道“建立关系”的重要性，所以他听到基伊拉的城受困，他就去救基伊拉；在旷野时，他就帮助放羊的，免得他们被掳掠；他打胜仗得了掠物，就拿去送犹大的长老们。在逃亡的生涯中，大卫没有因而自暴自弃，反而在每一个关键时刻去帮助别人，与人建立良好的关系。如此，当他住进希伯仑时，犹大人就承认了撒母耳曾经膏大卫做王这件事，同心接受大卫做他们的王。大卫一生中三次被膏为王，这是第二次，第三次是被膏为全以色列的王。

此时以色列大半的国土都已失去，约旦河以西只剩下一些犹大支派的地，例如希伯仑。扫罗的元帅押尼珥带着残兵败将，和扫罗所剩的唯一儿子伊施波设，逃到了约旦河东的玛哈念，立伊施波设为王。押尼珥难道不知道神已经借着撒母耳膏大卫为王吗？可是一旦伊施波设不做王，那么他也当不成元帅。为了保住他自己的权势，押尼珥必须立伊施波设为王。事实上，此时真正发号施令的是押尼珥，不是伊施波设，后者只是个傀儡。

Don’t Be A People Worshipper

2021-08-01 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 3:1-9.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 (NIV)
1  Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly–mere infants in Christ.
2  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
3  You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
4  For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?
5  What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe–as the Lord has assigned to each his task.
6  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
7  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
8  The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
9  For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.

大卫写〈弓歌〉

2021-08-01 in , /by

〈撒母耳记〉下 1:25 英雄何竟在阵上仆倒，约拿单何竟在山上被杀！

阅读经文：   〈撒母耳记〉下 1:1-27

就在大卫去追亚玛力人，夺回自己和众人的妻儿、财物和牲畜之际，也正是扫罗带领以色列人和非利士人大战之时，扫罗和约拿单都死了，以色列人大败。大卫和跟随他的人正在庆幸找回了家人和财物，而大卫可能会想起，非利士人和以色列人的战争不知进行得如何了？那时没有电视，也没有伊妹儿(email)或爱凤(iphone)，消息传得相当慢。到了第三天，才有人来讨赏。

那是一个住在以色列人中的亚玛力人，可能是作为雇佣兵而参战的。他把扫罗临死的情形告诉大卫，并取来扫罗头上的冠冕、臂上的镯子以作证据。他可能知道大卫已被膏为王，也知道扫罗追杀大卫的事，因为扫罗带兵公开去追杀大卫；所以他认为大卫知道扫罗被杀一定很高兴，因为大卫的仇敌死了，大卫就可以作王了。因此他觉得自己一定可以领到不少奖赏。但是出乎他意料之外，大卫不但不感激他，把他训了一顿，还叫人把他杀了。

这就是大卫。可能有人觉得他矫情，扫罗死了，他岂有不高兴的道理？他不是终于不必东躲西逃了吗？但是大卫的过人之处就在于他敬畏神，所以他一直很尊重扫罗。他在吊扫罗和约拿单所写的哀歌里，把他对扫罗的尊重和对约拿单表露无遗。扫罗其实充满嫉恨残酷，但是大卫不理私人恩怨，只看扫罗在国中所做的。他称扫罗为尊荣者、大英雄。扫罗起初的作为的确是以色列的尊荣者、大英雄。大卫记得扫罗为以色列人做过的好事。

认识神的声音

2021-07-30 in , /by

你知道撒但的诡计，竭尽所能在我们身上所要做的事吗？〈约翰福音〉10:10提到，盗贼来，无非要偷窃、杀害、毁坏。撒但要来进行毁坏，其先蒙蔽我们的一大战略，就是使我们以为根本没有撒但或魔鬼，这样他们就能轻易进入我们的心，甚至占领。识破撒但诡计的第一步，便是要知道如何辨识心里的声音是出于神，还是来自撒但的耳边细语…

撒但进行毁坏的第一步－攻占你的心

《圣经》一再提醒我们，无论是信者或未信者，所面临最大的争战，是发生在我们内心的这片「战场」，这是撒但一心想攻占的领地。我们自己的对手不是你我，而是管辖幽暗世界的「他们」，以弗所书6:12：因我们并不是与属血气的争战，乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战。

撒但的最大伎俩，就是使人类不相信有他以及魔鬼们的存在，只要我们否认他们的存在，我们就不会去和他们争战。若我们毫无防备，魔鬼们便能轻而易举入侵，使我们无法过得胜的生活。

所以，首先我们必须要能识出撒但的声音与谎言。从《圣经》中我们清楚看到撒但如何左右我们内心的对话，并影响人的行为（马太福音4:1-10，使徒行传5:3，帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:18）。

神在我们生命中有一个超乎我们所能想像的计画，祂的目的一定是为你好，但是感觉不一定总是良好，然而，撒旦的邪恶计画也不会让你一直感觉很糟糕－这就是撒但的伪装与谎言，我们务必小心谨慎。

曾于《加拿大福音派自由教会》牧会多年，现任ACTS神学院执行主任的盖依‧萨德福博士（Dr. Guy Saffold）透过这篇文章，指导我们如何辨识神的声音和撒但的谎言。

The Holy Spirit – Revealer of God’s Thoughts to You

2021-07-30 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 2:10-16.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 2:10-16 (NIV)
10  but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
11  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
12  We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
13  This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
14  The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15  The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
16  “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

On verses 10-16:  By ourselves we have no ability to understand God’s thoughts.  How could finite, sinful, broken human beings like us possibly comprehend what’s goes on in the infinite, holy, perfect mind of God?  As verse 16 says, quoting Isaiah 40:13, “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”   We can hardly know what is in another person’s mind; how much less are we able to know what God is thinking (v11).