Entries by

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.

大衛再次放過掃羅

2021-07-22 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 26:24  我今日重看你的性命，願耶和華也重看我的性命，並且拯救我脫離一切患難。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 26:1-25 

現在出現的人名越來越多了，我們要來看一下，掃羅的元帥是誰？押尼珥是誰？大衛的元帥又是誰？不要小看大衛只有六百多人，也是一個小小的軍隊。掃羅的父親是基士，押尼珥的父親是尼珥，基士和尼珥是兄弟，所以掃羅和押尼珥是堂兄弟。亞比篩、約押和亞撒黑是大衛的姐姐洗魯雅的兒子，算是大衛的外甥。所以不只是華人兄弟親，在以色列人那樣重視宗派的民族裡，親人的份量也很重。

〈歷代志上〉第十一章記載了一個故事，當非利士的防營在伯利恆時，防營即防守地方的軍隊；那時大衛躲在亞杜蘭洞的山寨裡，不能下去伯利恒。但是他非常想喝伯利恆城門旁井裡的水。他原只是說說而已，沒想到真的有三個勇士聽到他的話，就闖過非利士人的營盤，從伯利恆城門旁的井裡打水，拿來給大衛喝。大衛知道後卻不肯喝，因為他說那水就好像是三個勇士的血一樣，因為他們冒著生命的危險去為他取水。因此他把水澆奠在耶和華面前。這三個勇士的首領就是約押的弟弟亞比篩。亞比篩曾經一個人用槍殺了三百人，這槍不是現代的子彈槍，是古時的長矛槍。所以他被推選為卅個勇士的首領。

亞比篩一生對大衛都非常忠誠，他驍勇善戰，曾率兵擊殺了一萬八千個以東人，也帶頭擊潰了亞捫人，平定後來便雅憫人示巴的叛亂。在大衛最後一次出征時，大衛碰上非利士巨人以實比諾，他的銅槍重三百舍客勒（約三公斤），又佩著新刀，也是亞比篩上前幫忙，殺死以實比諾，救了大衛。也因為忠於大衛，所以凡是有人要對大衛不利，他都會挺身而出，不顧自己的性命。

God’s Sovereign Choice to Bless You

2021-07-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Genesis 48:1-22.  Let’s go!

Genesis 48:1-6 (NIV)
1  Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him.
2  When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.
3  Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me
4  and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and will increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’
5  “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.
6  Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers.

On verses 1-6:  Jacob, nearing his death, gets ready to bless the generations that have come after him.   He decides to begin with Joseph and Joseph’s sons.  What does Jacob mean when he says that Joseph’s sons Ephraim and Manasseh will be reckoned as his own “just as Reuben and Simeon are mine” (v5)?  Jacob means that for inheritance purposes he will treat Ephraim and Manasseh as belonging to the same generation as Jacob’s own sons, meaning that Ephraim and Manasseh would each get the same kind of inheritance that their uncles would get.  The effect of this decision was two-fold: 

大衛和亞比該

2021-07-21 in , /by

〈撒母耳記〉上 25: 30 我主現在若不親手報仇流無辜人的血，到了耶和華照所應許你的話賜福與你，立你作以色列的王，那時我主必不致心裡不安，覺得良心有虧。耶和華賜福與我主的時候，求你記念婢女。

閱讀經文：〈撒母耳記〉上 25:1-44

以色列中集先知、士師和大祭司一身的偉人撒母耳死了。再偉大的人都要面對肉體的死亡，每一個人都要面對肉體的死亡。死了才能蓋棺定論。對於撒母耳本人，他的工作實在可圈可點，值得我們學習的地方甚多。他的一生是以色列人從士師時代轉到王國時代的一座橋。他的順服在於，不得不去做神所不喜悅的事，卻不能做神所喜悅的事。神不喜悅以色列人立王，但是當神叫撒母耳去做時，撒母耳不能不順服。撒母耳的偉大在於他對神的順服和盡忠，他一點沒有私心。只可惜可能因為時間都用在照顧以色列人的事工上，以致和以利一樣，沒能把兒子們教好。但還是一個值我們敬愛和學習的偉人。

大衛在逃亡的過程裡要經歷許多事情，這章經文所寫的故事使我們明白，在掃羅沒有追殺他的日子裡，他們所做的一些事情。因為跟隨大衛的人口眾多，先是四百人，再來是六百人，人數一直在增加。因此大衛不能不想辦法去找口糧，使眾人能夠生存下去。這裡說到在瑪雲有個大財主拿八，他有三千綿羊，一千山羊。他雇了人在迦密看顧他的羊群。但是他不知道，在曠野裡有許多過游牧生活的阿拉伯人，又稱為貝都因人，他們住在可以隨時遷移的帳篷；他們主要的工作是養駝、養羊、狩獵、劫掠。

大衛和跟隨他的人經常要在曠野上跑來跑去，看看有沒有掃羅來的蹤跡，因此看到有人騷擾拿八的羊群，便上前保護，因此使拿八的羊群一無所失。按著拿八一個僕人的說法：“他們晝夜做我們的保障”，表示大衛和從人都很看顧他們，免於被人欺負。