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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

〈约书亚记〉 2:11  我们一听见这些事，心就消化了。因你们的缘故，并无一人有胆气。耶和华─你们的神本是上天下地的神。

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉 2:1-24

妓女，是社会上被看不起的女人。有不少学者想美化喇合的职业，更不想让以色列人的探子去找妓女。但《圣经》的记载总是诚实地报导，连大卫王谋杀乌利亚的手段都详细地记录下来。因为神不隐藏人的卑贱，却让我们看到再卑贱的人，只要相信祂，都可以成为神要使用的贵重器皿。亚伯拉罕的父亲相传是做偶像生意的，大卫是个牧羊人，约瑟是个奴隶兼囚犯，保罗织帐棚，彼得打渔，你想美化哪一个？从这些被拣选的人身上，我们发现他们都有一个特点，能看见人所看不见的神，他们都有一对超乎常人的眼睛和信心。他们的眼睛不被现世界的情形所迷惑，能透过物质看到永恒的神。因此，他们都成了神手中贵重的器皿。

一个非常紧张的局面，以色列的探子偷偷摸摸地进了耶利哥城，才到喇合那里，已经有人告诉耶利哥王。可见在以色列人的营中或附近，也有耶利哥城派出去的探子，他们的消息非常正确。但是约书亚不知道他们的机密已经泄露，耶利哥王正想来个瓮中捉鳖，探子们的性命危在旦夕。在电视影集的三国演义中，孔明第六次北伐，本以为可以在祈山上方谷将司马懿烧死。司马懿也查觉无路可走，正想自杀时，却惊觉有水滴下，原来下大雨了，把火都浇灭了。孔明在高处看到，气得大吐血，终于死亡。天意难测，祈山有九个月不下雨了，竟在最紧要的关头下雨了！连孔明也预测不到，天意难违。那么，神要怎样保护约书亚的探子呢？

耶利哥王戒备森严，以为探子插翅难飞，探子也以为难逃一死。没想到，神却准备了一个女人，人人看不起，却有先知灼见的女人。其实探子去耶利哥城，跑到妓女户是最不会被人注意，也是比较安全之举，因为那是不同男人出入的地方，谁管你是谁呢？

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)

爱你的仇敌

2021-03-26 in , /by

为什么不提？
　　基督教的伦理是动机伦理，也是主动伦理。伦理的动机应当是良善的，伦理的性质应当是主动的。耶稣说：「你们的义若不能超过法利赛人的义，就不能进天国」，这表示基督徒的义是超过世人的义。登山宝训告诉我们天国子民的伦理，这里记载的基督徒道德标准是很高超的，是一种合乎上帝心意的道德，不是人类宗教或文化的产物。当我们在圣经中看见与世不同、独一无二的教训，我们要感谢上帝，我们要看见基督教信仰的珍贵，我们要乐意把这些话行在我们生活中。耶稣说：「你们听见有话说：『当爱你的邻舍，恨你的仇敌。』只是我告诉你们，要爱你们的仇敌，为那逼迫你们的祷告。」（太5:43-44）

　　基督徒被打的时候，我们是被动的，但当你再次把你的脸交由对方打的时候，你变成主动的。基督徒的伦理是主动伦理，如果我们受苦，是因为我们甘心受苦，如果我们受逼迫，是因为我们愿意受逼迫，我们就是站在主动的地位过著圣徒的生活。耶稣说：「当爱你的仇敌」，这句话是破天荒的一句话，人无法靠着肉体做到这一点。很多人以为耶稣要人变得奴才像，任人欺负。我告诉你，做人很难。如果有人欺负你，你不反抗，对方就认为你好欺负，不断欺负下去，他认为他的欺负是应该的，你被欺负也是应该的。所以这两千年来，基督教在被欺负的时候是被动的人，那些反基督教的人越来越凶恶，这种情况是对的吗？这种情况是应该的吗？所以很多人每当解释这段经文时都很不愿意解释，因为这段经文太违背人性。

要爱你们的仇敌　为那逼迫你们的祷告
　　当浙江礼拜堂的十字架被拆下来的时候，我相信这是北京政府的投石问路，看基督教会怎么反对，看百姓会怎么反抗。结果，拆了三千多间礼拜堂的十字架。依据中华人民共和国的宗教条例，中国人有宗教的自由，同时也有反宗教的自由，当中国政府拆下境内教堂的十字架时，英、美、法都没有反对，因为英、美、法都担心与中国的生意受损，不敢干涉中国境内基督教的事。

百姓顺服约书亚

2021-03-25 in , /by

〈约书亚记〉 1:17 我们从前在一切事上怎样听从摩西，现在也必照样听从你。唯愿耶和华你的神与你同在，像与摩西同在一样。

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉 1:10-18 

神吩咐约书亚要刚强壮胆之后，约书亚立即有反应。他的反应就是开始行动，这就是信心。所以雅各说，「若有人说自己有信心，却没有行为，有什么益处呢？（雅1:14）」假如你想找一份工作，却只是坐在家里什么也不做，那怎样证明你真的想去工作？所以我们虽然不是靠行为称义，但是从一个人的行为却可以看出他对神有没有信心。

约书亚不仅自己准备，也要全营的百姓和他一起准备。全营行动时，最主要的便是食物，没有食物就无法进行。一般打仗，特别是外出作战，粮草供应都是重中之重。所以说兵马未动，粮草先行。倘若没有粮草，便会军心涣散。可见食物于人之重要性。以色列人想过约旦河进入神赐给他们的为业之地，要先准备食物；我们若想领受神的应许，也要把属灵的粮草准备好，倘若没有足够的属灵粮草（神的话语在心里），便会时时感到灵里的饥渴，力不从心，无法把神的恩典传出去，反而常常感到心有余而力不足，频频失去传福音的机会，徒叹耐何！

其次要收集军心。流便支派、迦得支派和玛拿西半支派的人已经在约旦河西得到他们的地了，他们能够同心过约旦河，和其他支派一起努力去赢取未得之地吗？因此约书亚先跟他们有一个对谈，提醒他们之前和摩西所做的约定。要一起努力，等他们的弟兄们都有了自己的地，他们才可以回到自己的地。这是一个很重要的决定。

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.

你当刚强壮胆！

2021-03-24 in , /by

〈约书亚记〉 1:9  我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华你的神必与你同在。

阅读经文：〈约书亚记〉 1:1-9 

死亡，是一个何等令人难以接受的名词。刚才还在谈笑风生的人，忽然之间就不在了。再也不能看到他（她），不能与之交谈，没有反应，他（她）什么都不知道了。生死之间，令人难以接受这种残酷的事实。神对约书亚说：「我的仆人摩西死了」。意思就是，你不要再期望摩西可以指导你或帮你了。You are on your own.英文就是这样说的，你得自行负责了。约书亚的大半辈子都跟跟着摩西，摩西说什么，他就做什么，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辈子的女人，老公一去世，她不会开车，不会加油，不会处理帐目，因为丈夫在世时太能干了，所以她什么都不知道。所以在葬礼时，听到有女人哭：「你走了，我怎么办啊？」她担心的是自己如何走前面的路，不是老伴儿究竟去了何处。所罗门王说：「 活着的人知道必死，死了的人毫无所知（传9:5）」。人虽然有灵魂，但肉体归于尘土之后：「他们的爱、他们的恨、他们的嫉妒早都消灭了，在日光之下所行的一切事上，他们永不再有份了。（传9:6）」他们与世人无份了。摩西再厉害也帮不到约书亚了。

神知道约书亚心里的软弱。摩西交给约书亚的，不是一间两间工厂，不是一两个家庭，而是两三百万的以色列人。约书亚看过那些支派的首领们怎样悖逆，对付摩西和亚伦；想到两三百万人的需要和管理，约书亚明白自己的担子有多重。大卫王在〈诗篇〉144篇第二节说：「祂是我慈爱的主，我的山寨，我的高台，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，因为每个人都有个性，谁都不服谁，凭什么你可以做领袖，我就不能？

摩西登尼波山

2021-03-23 in , /by

〈申命记〉 34: 10 以后以色列中再没有兴起先知像摩西的，他是耶和华面对面所认识的。

阅读经文：〈申命记〉 34:1-12

读完了摩西五经，你觉得摩西的一生有哪些事最触动你的心？假如你想效法摩西，你会学习他的哪一方面？

摩西，一个本来注定要死的孩子，在神的恩典里，竟然成为当代最伟大的，一个不平凡的人。想通了，摩西也是一个平凡的人，但是因着神的拣选和磨炼，成了前无古人后无来者的一位先知。「以后以色列中再没有兴起先知像摩西的，他是耶和华面对面所认识的」，在摩西之前也没有一位先知如此蒙神重用。连被称为神的朋友的亚伯拉罕，也没有和耶和华「面对面所认识」。神说摩西：「他是在我全家尽忠的。我要与他面对面说话，乃是明说，不用谜语，并且他必见我的形象。」

摩西，一个在众人面前被当作神的代表之人。当日神呼召摩西时，答应摩西可以亚伦当做口，亚伦则要以摩西当做神（出4:16）。没有其他人享有如此的殊荣，可以得到神如此的应许，让另一个人把他当作神。神是如此爱摩西，以致于容不得摩西有一时的软弱，在气令智昏之下违背了神的命令，击打磐石出水，神因而拒绝了摩西进迦南的请求。在摩西的一百廿年之间，这是唯一的一次，神拒绝了摩西。摩西会有气令智昏的时候，神却绝不昏头，话出就不再收回。即使如此，摩西也活到了满寿120岁，是该交棒的时候了。

神曾经叫摩西把自己从神得的荣耀给约书亚一些，摩西照做了，约书亚便成了摩西的继位者。这就是人要面对的，每一代的传承。我们不是神，不可能希望自己所开创的事业或工作一直流传下去，我们可以在自己的大半生内，做好自己的本份；但是当我们的时候到了，我们便得把棒子交下去。不要留恋人间的地位，不要贪恋权势和虚荣，该放手时就放手。

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.