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How the Holy Spirit Convicts

2021-03-28 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 16:1-11.  Let’s go!

John 16:1-3 (NIV) 
1  “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 
2  They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 
3  They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me.

On verses 1-3:  John was probably writing this Gospel at a time when the Church, i.e. Christians everywhere, had already experienced a great deal of persecution.  To comfort and reassure his fellow brothers and sisters, John recalls what Jesus said to him and the other disciples about not being surprised when they face severe persecution.  Jesus tells them not to be surprised if their persecutors even think that destroying Christians is the right, noble, God-pleasing thing to do.  Jesus tells his disciples that the reason an unbelieving persecute Christians is because they actually do not know God the Father or Jesus the Son.

What can we learn from this?  As a Christian don’t be surprised when you face persecution for your faith.  Remember also that when a person does not know Jesus or the Father, they will tend to misunderstand what it is that God wants them to do.  That is why having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the Father is so crucial. 

喇合的信心

2021-03-28 in , /by

〈約書亞記〉 2:11  我們一聽見這些事，心就消化了。因你們的緣故，並無一人有膽氣。耶和華─你們的神本是上天下地的神。

閱讀經文：〈約書亞記〉 2:1-24

妓女，是社會上被看不起的女人。有不少學者想美化喇合的職業，更不想讓以色列人的探子去找妓女。但《聖經》的記載總是誠實地報導，連大衛王謀殺烏利亞的手段都詳細地記錄下來。因為神不隱藏人的卑賤，卻讓我們看到再卑賤的人，只要相信祂，都可以成為神要使用的貴重器皿。亞伯拉罕的父親相傳是做偶像生意的，大衛是個牧羊人，約瑟是個奴隸兼囚犯，保羅織帳棚，彼得打漁，你想美化哪一個？從這些被揀選的人身上，我們發現他們都有一個特點，能看見人所看不見的神，他們都有一對超乎常人的眼睛和信心。他們的眼睛不被現世界的情形所迷惑，能透過物質看到永恒的神。因此，他們都成了神手中貴重的器皿。

一個非常緊張的局面，以色列的探子偷偷摸摸地進了耶利哥城，才到喇合那裡，已經有人告訴耶利哥王。可見在以色列人的營中或附近，也有耶利哥城派出去的探子，他們的消息非常正確。但是約書亞不知道他們的機密已經洩露，耶利哥王正想來個甕中捉鱉，探子們的性命危在旦夕。在電視影集的三國演義中，孔明第六次北伐，本以為可以在祈山上方谷將司馬懿燒死。司馬懿也查覺無路可走，正想自殺時，卻驚覺有水滴下，原來下大雨了，把火都澆滅了。孔明在高處看到，氣得大吐血，終於死亡。天意難測，祈山有九個月不下雨了，竟在最緊要的關頭下雨了！連孔明也預測不到，天意難違。那麼，神要怎樣保護約書亞的探子呢？

耶利哥王戒備森嚴，以為探子插翅難飛，探子也以為難逃一死。沒想到，神卻準備了一個女人，人人看不起，卻有先知灼見的女人。其實探子去耶利哥城，跑到妓女戶是最不會被人注意，也是比較安全之舉，因為那是不同男人出入的地方，誰管你是誰呢？

When the World Hates You + The Holy Spirit

2021-03-26 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 15:18-27.  Let’s go!

John 15:18-25 (NIV) 
18  “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 
19  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 
20  Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. …

On verses 18-25:  An unbelieving world hated Jesus Christ so much that they killed him by nailing him to a cross.  Even to this day, no name has received more hate in all of human history than the name of Jesus Christ.  On a daily basis, there is also no name that is used more as a curse word, no name that is abused and taken for granted more than the name of Jesus.  And as Jesus predicted in verses 20-21, just as much of the world despised Jesus, so much of the world despises Christians.  That is why virtually the only time you hear a pastor or Christian leader making the mainstream news is if it is related to some kind of scandal.  The world loves to pick Christians apart, pointing at their faults, laughing at their failings, and at the same time ignoring the good that Christians do or taking seriously the message that Christians preach.  But this is should not surprise us, for Jesus says it himself, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (v18)

愛你的仇敵

2021-03-26 in , /by

為什麼不提？
　　基督教的倫理是動機倫理，也是主動倫理。倫理的動機應當是良善的，倫理的性質應當是主動的。耶穌說：「你們的義若不能超過法利賽人的義，就不能進天國」，這表示基督徒的義是超過世人的義。登山寶訓告訴我們天國子民的倫理，這裡記載的基督徒道德標準是很高超的，是一種合乎上帝心意的道德，不是人類宗教或文化的產物。當我們在聖經中看見與世不同、獨一無二的教訓，我們要感謝上帝，我們要看見基督教信仰的珍貴，我們要樂意把這些話行在我們生活中。耶穌說：「你們聽見有話說：『當愛你的鄰舍，恨你的仇敵。』只是我告訴你們，要愛你們的仇敵，為那逼迫你們的禱告。」（太5:43-44）

　　基督徒被打的時候，我們是被動的，但當你再次把你的臉交由對方打的時候，你變成主動的。基督徒的倫理是主動倫理，如果我們受苦，是因為我們甘心受苦，如果我們受逼迫，是因為我們願意受逼迫，我們就是站在主動的地位過著聖徒的生活。耶穌說：「當愛你的仇敵」，這句話是破天荒的一句話，人無法靠著肉體做到這一點。很多人以為耶穌要人變得奴才像，任人欺負。我告訴你，做人很難。如果有人欺負你，你不反抗，對方就認為你好欺負，不斷欺負下去，他認為他的欺負是應該的，你被欺負也是應該的。所以這兩千年來，基督教在被欺負的時候是被動的人，那些反基督教的人越來越兇惡，這種情況是對的嗎？這種情況是應該的嗎？所以很多人每當解釋這段經文時都很不願意解釋，因為這段經文太違背人性。

要愛你們的仇敵　為那逼迫你們的禱告
　　當浙江禮拜堂的十字架被拆下來的時候，我相信這是北京政府的投石問路，看基督教會怎麼反對，看百姓會怎麼反抗。結果，拆了三千多間禮拜堂的十字架。依據中華人民共和國的宗教條例，中國人有宗教的自由，同時也有反宗教的自由，當中國政府拆下境內教堂的十字架時，英、美、法都沒有反對，因為英、美、法都擔心與中國的生意受損，不敢干涉中國境內基督教的事。

百姓順服約書亞

2021-03-25 in , /by

〈約書亞記〉 1:17 我們從前在一切事上怎樣聽從摩西，現在也必照樣聽從你。唯願耶和華你的神與你同在，像與摩西同在一樣。

閱讀經文：〈約書亞記〉 1:10-18 

神吩咐約書亞要剛強壯膽之後，約書亞立即有反應。他的反應就是開始行動，這就是信心。所以雅各說，「若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有什麼益處呢？（雅1:14）」假如你想找一份工作，卻只是坐在家裡什麼也不做，那怎樣證明你真的想去工作？所以我們雖然不是靠行為稱義，但是從一個人的行為卻可以看出他對神有沒有信心。

約書亞不僅自己準備，也要全營的百姓和他一起準備。全營行動時，最主要的便是食物，沒有食物就無法進行。一般打仗，特別是外出作戰，糧草供應都是重中之重。所以說兵馬未動，糧草先行。倘若沒有糧草，便會軍心渙散。可見食物於人之重要性。以色列人想過約旦河進入神賜給他們的為業之地，要先準備食物；我們若想領受神的應許，也要把屬靈的糧草準備好，倘若沒有足夠的屬靈糧草（神的話語在心裡），便會時時感到靈裡的饑渴，力不從心，無法把神的恩典傳出去，反而常常感到心有餘而力不足，頻頻失去傳福音的機會，徒嘆耐何！

其次要收集軍心。流便支派、迦得支派和瑪拿西半支派的人已經在約旦河西得到他們的地了，他們能夠同心過約旦河，和其他支派一起努力去贏取未得之地嗎？因此約書亞先跟他們有一個對談，提醒他們之前和摩西所做的約定。要一起努力，等他們的弟兄們都有了自己的地，他們才可以回到自己的地。這是一個很重要的決定。

What Does It Mean to Remain in Jesus’ Love?

2021-03-25 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 15:9-17.  Let’s go!

John 15:9-10 (NIV) 
9  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 
10  If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

On verses 9-10:  What does it mean to remain in Jesus’ love, as verse 9 says?  Remaining in Jesus’ love (or as some translations say, to “abide” in Jesus’ love) means to stay in tune with Jesus, to keep trusting in Jesus and to obey Jesus’ commands (v10). Just as Jesus kept in tune with his Father and did not stop obeying his Father’s commands, so Jesus tells us to do the same.  In doing this we will bear much fruit (v5). 

So what happens when we mess up and disobey?  Does it mean that we are cut off from Jesus?  Fortunately, it is Jesus’ obedience to the Father that keeps us connected to God, not our own effort.  So if you mess up and sin after a season of bearing fruit in Jesus, don’t condemn yourself or give up.  Remember that it is Jesus’ faithfulness in the end that keeps us connected to God.

Jesus’ Cleansing Word Makes You Fruitful

2021-03-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 15:1-8.  Let’s go!

John 15:1-2 (NIV) 
1  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 
2  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

On verses 1-2:  Here Jesus refers to himself as the true vine.  Why the “true” vine?  It’s because Jesus knew that soon his followers would be threatened by persecution and false teaching.  Thus in calling himself the true vine Jesus is reminding his followers that he is the way, the truth and the life they are looking for, not anything else or anyone else.

Here Jesus also refers to God the Father as the gardener, and people as branches on the vine.  As branches on the vine we are expected to bear much fruit (v8). What kind of fruit?  The fruit of believing in Jesus and becoming more like Jesus. When we are persistently fruitless – when we don’t believe in Jesus and don’t become more like Jesus – at some point we will be cut off.  But if we are fruitful, God takes steps to “prune us” – that is, cleanse us, brace us, and lift us up – so that we can be more fruitful.

你當剛強壯膽！

2021-03-24 in , /by

〈約書亞記〉 1:9  我豈沒有吩咐你嗎？你當剛強壯膽！不要懼怕，也不要驚惶，因為你無論往哪裡去，耶和華你的神必與你同在。

閱讀經文：〈約書亞記〉 1:1-9 

死亡，是一個何等令人難以接受的名詞。剛才還在談笑風生的人，忽然之間就不在了。再也不能看到他（她），不能與之交談，沒有反應，他（她）什麼都不知道了。生死之間，令人難以接受這種殘酷的事實。神對約書亞說：「我的僕人摩西死了」。意思就是，你不要再期望摩西可以指導你或幫你了。You are on your own.英文就是這樣說的，你得自行負責了。約書亞的大半輩子都跟跟著摩西，摩西說什麼，他就做什麼，惟摩西是瞻。一下子，摩西走了。他情何以堪？

就像很多倚靠了老公大半輩子的女人，老公一去世，她不會開車，不會加油，不會處理帳目，因為丈夫在世時太能幹了，所以她什麼都不知道。所以在葬禮時，聽到有女人哭：「你走了，我怎麼辦啊？」她擔心的是自己如何走前面的路，不是老伴兒究竟去了何處。所羅門王說：「 活著的人知道必死，死了的人毫無所知（傳9:5）」。人雖然有靈魂，但肉體歸於塵土之後：「他們的愛、他們的恨、他們的嫉妒早都消滅了，在日光之下所行的一切事上，他們永不再有份了。（傳9:6）」他們與世人無份了。摩西再厲害也幫不到約書亞了。

神知道約書亞心裡的軟弱。摩西交給約書亞的，不是一間兩間工廠，不是一兩個家庭，而是兩三百萬的以色列人。約書亞看過那些支派的首領們怎樣悖逆，對付摩西和亞倫；想到兩三百萬人的需要和管理，約書亞明白自己的擔子有多重。大衛王在〈詩篇〉144篇第二節說：「祂是我慈愛的主，我的山寨，我的高臺，我的救主，我的盾牌，是我所投靠的，祂使我的百姓服在我以下。」唯有神可以使百姓服在一人之下，因為每個人都有個性，誰都不服誰，憑什麼你可以做領袖，我就不能？

摩西登尼波山

2021-03-23 in , /by

〈申命記〉 34: 10 以後以色列中再沒有興起先知像摩西的，他是耶和華面對面所認識的。

閱讀經文：〈申命記〉 34:1-12

讀完了摩西五經，你覺得摩西的一生有哪些事最觸動你的心？假如你想效法摩西，你會學習他的哪一方面？

摩西，一個本來註定要死的孩子，在神的恩典裡，竟然成為當代最偉大的，一個不平凡的人。想通了，摩西也是一個平凡的人，但是因著神的揀選和磨鍊，成了前無古人後無來者的一位先知。「以後以色列中再沒有興起先知像摩西的，他是耶和華面對面所認識的」，在摩西之前也沒有一位先知如此蒙神重用。連被稱為神的朋友的亞伯拉罕，也沒有和耶和華「面對面所認識」。神說摩西：「他是在我全家盡忠的。我要與他面對面說話，乃是明說，不用謎語，並且他必見我的形象。」

摩西，一個在眾人面前被當作神的代表之人。當日神呼召摩西時，答應摩西可以亞倫當做口，亞倫則要以摩西當做神（出4:16）。沒有其他人享有如此的殊榮，可以得到神如此的應許，讓另一個人把他當作神。神是如此愛摩西，以致於容不得摩西有一時的軟弱，在氣令智昏之下違背了神的命令，擊打磐石出水，神因而拒絕了摩西進迦南的請求。在摩西的一百廿年之間，這是唯一的一次，神拒絕了摩西。摩西會有氣令智昏的時候，神卻絕不昏頭，話出就不再收回。即使如此，摩西也活到了滿壽120歲，是該交棒的時候了。

神曾經叫摩西把自己從神得的榮耀給約書亞一些，摩西照做了，約書亞便成了摩西的繼位者。這就是人要面對的，每一代的傳承。我們不是神，不可能希望自己所開創的事業或工作一直流傳下去，我們可以在自己的大半生內，做好自己的本份；但是當我們的時候到了，我們便得把棒子交下去。不要留戀人間的地位，不要貪戀權勢和虛榮，該放手時就放手。

Your Heavenly Father’s Greater Plan

2021-03-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 14:22-31.  Let’s go!

John 14:22-24 (NIV) 
22  Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23  Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
24  He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

On verses 22-24:  One of Jesus’ disciples called Judas (not to be confused with Judas Iscariot who would soon betray Jesus) asks Jesus a question I sometimes hear from people today, “If Jesus is truly the Messiah, why doesn’t Jesus just show himself directly to the whole world instead of communicating to and through his disciples?”  (v22)

At first it might not seem like Jesus answers Judas’ question.  But upon further reflection notice that in response to Judas’ question, Jesus emphasizes again that to love Jesus is to obey his teaching and that when a person chooses to love Jesus, God (both the Father and Jesus in this case) come to that person and make their home with that person (v23).  In other words, when a person chooses in faith to do what Jesus tells that person to do, they will discover for themselves all the evidence they need to believe in Jesus.