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Remember Who You Are and Don’t Lose Sight of the Big Picture

2021-08-05 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Corinthians 6:1-11.  Let’s go!

1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (NIV)
1  If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?
2  Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
3  Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
4  Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!
5  I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?
6  But instead, one brother goes to law against another–and this in front of unbelievers!
7  The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?……

On verses 1-11:  In 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 Paul tackles another problem in his church: apparently some of the Christians in his church at Corinth were having such severe conflicts that they were suing each other in court.  Paul writes (and I’m paraphrasing here), “Why do that?  Why air out your dirty laundry in front of others and give Christians a bad name by suing one another — and in front of a non-Christian judge no less!  If you couldn’t resolve this matter between yourselves as Christian brothers, could you not have at least found another Christian brother or sister whom you trust to help mediate this situation?  Shouldn’t you as a Christian rather be wronged and cheated by your fellow Christian than to be suing them in court and dragging Christ’s name in the mud in the process?”

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”? 

約押刺殺押尼珥

2021-08-04 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 3: 37   那日，以色列眾民才知道殺尼珥的兒子押尼珥並非出於王意。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉下 3:17-39

雖是同一個團隊，但是每個人對同一件事也會有不同的看法。有很多人質問當選的議員或巿長或什麼職位的，為何不能實現競選時的諾言。實在是當他們一旦當選之後，看事情和看人的角度就不一樣了。好像乾隆同時使用和珅和紀曉嵐，和珅是大貪官，紀曉嵐是大清官，但是乾隆的帝王術就是要讓兩者並存在他的朝中，才能起制衡的作用。所以即使押尼珥的人品不怎麼樣，大衛也會考慮用他。大衛作了猶大王之後，他的心志就是要統一以色列，但是他並不心急，他耐性等候時機的來臨。

時機終於來臨，大衛家日見強盛，掃羅日漸衰微。押尼珥審度時勢，若與大衛談條件，他還有可能謀到高官肥缺，若再等下去，只剩個爛攤子時，誰還跟他談條件？一下子就可以把他給收拾掉，他就什麼也撈不到了。因此他越過伊施波設，這個形同虛設的王，竟自去跟大衛談判。押尼珥在為自己舖路，但是他也需要得以色列長老們的同意。他好像以前的美國國務卿季辛吉(Henry Kissinger)， 在美國外交政策上發揮了極大的作用。押尼珥也在猶大和以色列之間來回奔跑，發揮三寸不爛之舌的功用，使大衛和以色列長老們都頻頻點頭。

約押是大衛的元帥，與押尼珥有殺弟之仇。當然，他對押尼珥的印象很差，因此他對大衛說：“尼珥的兒子押尼珥來是要誆哄你，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。雖然大衛和約押曾經是出生入死的伙伴，但此時他們看事情的角度已經有很大的區別。大衛從一個王的角度去審度形勢，他要的是猶大和以色列的統一，他要做全以色列的王；但是約押只是覺得押尼珥這人不可信，不能要。大衛看到的是在兩個國度的統一中，需要押尼珥這個棋子，他的人品好不好是次要的，他在統一這事上能發揮什麼作用，那才是主要的。

米甲再歸大衛

2021-08-03 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 3:1   掃羅家和大衛家爭戰許久，大衛家日見強盛，掃羅家日見衰弱。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉下 3:1-16

掃羅家和大衛家爭戰許久，大衛家日見強盛，掃羅家日見衰弱。

這是大衛否極泰來的時候，不僅有時間生兒育女，並且在和掃羅家的爭戰中，日漸強盛。押尼珥也感覺到大衛的軍勢增長，他的軍勢日見衰弱，因此起了歸降之心。但是促使他採取行動的，則是他和伊施波設的不合。說實在的，我不喜歡押尼珥這個人。正如大衛拿走掃羅的槍和水瓶時說的，他不是一個忠心的僕人，明知大衛就在附近，卻沒有好好保護掃羅，也沒有派人值更守夜。在戰場上，掃羅和兒子們都戰死了，他卻可以全身而退，然後挾幼主而專權。這樣的元帥只顧自己的利益，算不上是個忠心的僕人。

他挾持伊施波設以令“諸候”，立伊施波設作王，就可以確定其他的支派都聽他的。他也不尊重伊施波設，竟然和掃羅的妃嬪同房，當伊施波設質問他時，他反而大罵伊施波設。假如伊施波設是王，而他只是元帥，豈可如此霸道？不僅上了前王的床，還不許幼主質問，反而破口大罵，究竟誰是主？誰是僕？可見在押尼珥的心中，只是利用伊施波設來擴張他的權勢，他根本不把伊施波設放在眼裡。這就是物以類聚，掃羅不敬畏神，跟他在一起的人也不敬畏神，只求滿足私慾，擴張權勢。這種不敬畏神的僕人，哪裡會好好服侍主人？所以掃羅不敬畏神，不僅害了他自己，也連累他的兒孫。

兩國立約，原該由伊施波設出面，卻只見押尼珥上下其手。押尼珥派人去找大衛，大衛則派人直接去見伊施波設。可見大衛尊重伊施波設，並沒有像押尼珥那樣，不把伊施波設放在眼裡。可能有人會覺得，在這種時候，大衛應該一些有利於登上全以色列王位的要求；萬萬沒想到，大衛只想要回米甲，他的第一個妻子。

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. 

大衛受膏做猶大王

2021-08-02 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 2:4  猶大人來到希伯崙，在那裡膏大衛做猶大家的王。

閱讀經文: 〈撒母耳記〉下 2:1-32

大衛的逃亡生涯結束了，他的第一件事是求問神：“我上猶大的一個城去可以嗎？”掃羅死了，以色列地有什麼地方大衛不能去的嗎？大衛哪裡都可以去，但是他覺得自己是屬神的人，是神所膏的王，所以他必須聽從神的命令。這是何等的順服！然後他再求問神要上哪一個城去？神指示他上希伯崙，所以他就帶著妻子和跟隨他的人都帶到希伯崙。

當大衛到了希伯崙之後，我們就看見他以前所送的禮，所結交的朋友，現在都“發酵”了。猶大人來到希伯崙，在那裡膏大衛作王。大衛知道“建立關係”的重要性，所以他聽到基伊拉的城受困，他就去救基伊拉；在曠野時，他就幫助放羊的，免得他們被擄掠；他打勝仗得了掠物，就拿去送猶大的長老們。在逃亡的生涯中，大衛沒有因而自暴自棄，反而在每一個關鍵時刻去幫助別人，與人建立良好的關係。如此，當他住進希伯崙時，猶大人就承認了撒母耳曾經膏大衛做王這件事，同心接受大衛做他們的王。大衛一生中三次被膏為王，這是第二次，第三次是被膏為全以色列的王。

此時以色列大半的國土都已失去，約旦河以西只剩下一些猶大支派的地，例如希伯崙。掃羅的元帥押尼珥帶著殘兵敗將，和掃羅所剩的唯一兒子伊施波設，逃到了約旦河東的瑪哈念，立伊施波設為王。押尼珥難道不知道神已經藉著撒母耳膏大衛為王嗎？可是一旦伊施波設不做王，那麼他也當不成元帥。為了保住他自己的權勢，押尼珥必須立伊施波設為王。事實上，此時真正發號施令的是押尼珥，不是伊施波設，後者只是個傀儡。

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.

大衛寫〈弓歌〉

2021-08-01 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉下 1:25 英雄何竟在陣上仆倒，約拿單何竟在山上被殺！

閱讀經文：   〈撒母耳記〉下 1:1-27

就在大衛去追亞瑪力人，奪回自己和眾人的妻兒、財物和牲畜之際，也正是掃羅帶領以色列人和非利士人大戰之時，掃羅和約拿單都死了，以色列人大敗。大衛和跟隨他的人正在慶幸找回了家人和財物，而大衛可能會想起，非利士人和以色列人的戰爭不知進行得如何了？那時沒有電視，也沒有伊妹兒(email)或愛鳳(iphone)，消息傳得相當慢。到了第三天，才有人來討賞。

那是一個住在以色列人中的亞瑪力人，可能是作為僱佣兵而參戰的。他把掃羅臨死的情形告訴大衛，並取來掃羅頭上的冠冕、臂上的鐲子以作證據。他可能知道大衛已被膏為王，也知道掃羅追殺大衛的事，因為掃羅帶兵公開去追殺大衛；所以他認為大衛知道掃羅被殺一定很高興，因為大衛的仇敵死了，大衛就可以作王了。因此他覺得自己一定可以領到不少獎賞。但是出乎他意料之外，大衛不但不感激他，把他訓了一頓，還叫人把他殺了。

這就是大衛。可能有人覺得他矯情，掃羅死了，他豈有不高興的道理？他不是終於不必東躲西逃了嗎？但是大衛的過人之處就在於他敬畏神，所以他一直很尊重掃羅。他在弔掃羅和約拿單所寫的哀歌裡，把他對掃羅的尊重和對約拿單表露無遺。掃羅其實充滿嫉恨殘酷，但是大衛不理私人恩怨，只看掃羅在國中所做的。他稱掃羅為尊榮者、大英雄。掃羅起初的作為的確是以色列的尊榮者、大英雄。大衛記得掃羅為以色列人做過的好事。

認識神的聲音

2021-07-30 in , /by

你知道撒但的詭計，竭盡所能在我們身上所要做的事嗎？〈約翰福音〉10:10提到，盜賊來，無非要偷竊、殺害、毀壞。撒但要來進行毀壞，其先蒙蔽我們的一大戰略，就是使我們以為根本沒有撒但或魔鬼，這樣他們就能輕易進入我們的心，甚至佔領。識破撒但詭計的第一步，便是要知道如何辨識心裡的聲音是出於神，還是來自撒但的耳邊細語…

撒但進行毀壞的第一步－攻佔你的心

《聖經》一再提醒我們，無論是信者或未信者，所面臨最大的爭戰，是發生在我們內心的這片「戰場」，這是撒但一心想攻占的領地。我們自己的對手不是你我，而是管轄幽暗世界的「他們」，以弗所書6:12：因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰，乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的，以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。

撒但的最大伎倆，就是使人類不相信有他以及魔鬼們的存在，只要我們否認他們的存在，我們就不會去和他們爭戰。若我們毫無防備，魔鬼們便能輕而易舉入侵，使我們無法過得勝的生活。

所以，首先我們必須要能識出撒但的聲音與謊言。從《聖經》中我們清楚看到撒但如何左右我們內心的對話，並影響人的行為（馬太福音4:1-10，使徒行傳5:3，帖撒羅尼迦前書 2:18）。

神在我們生命中有一個超乎我們所能想像的計畫，祂的目的一定是為你好，但是感覺不一定總是良好，然而，撒旦的邪惡計畫也不會讓你一直感覺很糟糕－這就是撒但的偽裝與謊言，我們務必小心謹慎。

曾於《加拿大福音派自由教會》牧會多年，現任ACTS神學院執行主任的蓋依‧薩德福博士（Dr. Guy Saffold）透過這篇文章，指導我們如何辨識神的聲音和撒但的謊言。