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The Most Important Question You Will Ever Answer

2021-02-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 8:48-59.  Let’s go!

John 8:48-59 (NIV) 
48  The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” 
49  “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 
50  I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 
51  I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death.” 
52  At this the Jews exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 
53  Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” 
54  Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 
55  Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 
56  Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” 
57  “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” 
58  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 
59  At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

On verses 48-59:  Here in these verses Jesus makes some incredible claims:

–        Jesus claims that if you obey his word, you will never die (v51)

–        Jesus claims that he has special knowledge of who God is (v55)

以色列的三个大节日

2021-02-22 in , /by

〈申命记〉 16:15在耶和华所选择的地方，你当向耶和华─你的　神守节七日；因为耶和华─你　神在你一切的土产上和你手里所办的事上要赐福与你，你就非常地欢乐。

我们刚过完春节，再来就过元宵，华人过节和以色列人过节有何不同呢？为何我们必须认识这些节日，这些节日对华人信徒有何意义？

华人过节，除了吃，还是吃，主题就是：吃，聚在一起，吃! 可能有时候小朋友会问过春节的意义，吃元宵，吃粽子的意义，对于那些故事和传说，很可能每个人都有不同的故事，也都是当成故事。

但是以色列人的节日很特别，是神定的，不是人订的。所以每一个节日都有不同的历史意义，使以色列人记得他们和神的关系。

逾越节、七七节(五旬节)、住棚节，是耶和华神指定以色列成年男子要上耶路撒冷的三大重要节日之一。

逾越节，本是神定的以色列的新年，一年之首，因为神在这个月带领以色列人出埃及，脱离为奴的生涯。后来因为以色列国和犹大国都被灭亡，被掳到巴比伦的犹太人回到耶路撒冷后，加上好几个原因，逐渐把新年和吹角节放在一起了。

逾越节的隔天便是除酵节的开始，除酵节一共有七天。以色列人进入应许之地后，除酵节的第二天定为初熟节。初熟节便是耶稣复活的日子，所以复活的主耶稣成为睡了之人初熟的果子 (林前 15:20)，第一个从死里复活、不再死的人。在《圣经》里，从旧约到新约都有人从死里复活，包括先知以利亚、以利沙救活的童子，耶稣救活的拉撒路，这些人的肉体都从死里活过来，但后来又都死了。唯有耶稣是从死里复活，不再死亡的第一个。耶稣的复活使我们明白了永生的真实，也使人脱离死亡的辖制，所以这些节期都表明神和人相互的关系，不只是和以色列人的关系。

Jesus, God’s Perfect Offering

2021-02-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 8:12-20.  Let’s go!

John 8:12-20 (NIV) 
12  When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 
13  The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” 
14  Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 
15  You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 
16  But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 
17  In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 
18  I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.” 
19  Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 
20  He spoke these words while teaching in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put. Yet no one seized him, because his time had not yet come.

On verses 12-20:  I find it powerful and interesting to think that when Jesus said these things about him being the light of the world (v12), giving people the light of life (v12), passing judgment on no one (v15), and standing with the Father (v16), Jesus said all these things “in the temple area near the place where the offerings were put” (v20).  In other words, even as people were giving their imperfect offerings for God, Jesus was right there, being given as God’s perfect offering for people. 

耶和华的豁免年

2021-02-21 in , /by

〈申命记〉 15:10   你总要给他，给他的时候心里不可愁烦；因耶和华─你的　神必在你这一切所行的，并你手里所办的事上，赐福与你。

在〈申命记〉第15章里，摩西一共用了五次的「赐福与你」，来强调神要我们「松开手」的重要性。

每逢七年末一年的意思就是安息年，安息年又叫做「耶和华的豁免年」；安息年的条例，主要是指著土地的休耕，此处则是债务的免除。

神说，我们若遵行祂的命令，在我们中间就没有穷人了(申15:4)。这是一句很严厉的话，转过来说，就是：因为我们没有遵行神的命令，所以在我们当中才会有穷人。

所以人的贫穷不是因为神不公平，而是人不肯遵行神的命令而造成的差距。

因为人的自私和没有安全感，对神缺乏信心，因此我们把钱抓得紧紧的，不敢松手。

所以摩西说：「在耶和华─你　神所赐你的地上，无论哪一座城里，你弟兄中若有一个穷人，你不可忍着心、揝着手不帮补你穷乏的弟兄。总要向他松开手，照他所缺乏的借给他，补他的不足。(申15:7-8)」

「总要向他松开手」。对需要帮助的人松开手，表达的是一种对神的信心，相信神己经供应，并且会继续供应。

在安息年，也就是第七年，以色列人要考虑四方面的事：一是债务的豁免，二是帮补穷人，三是怎样对待卖身为奴的人，四是怎样对待牛羊群中头生的牛羊。

Not Condemned Because of Jesus

2021-02-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 8:1-11.  We’ll also take up John 7:53 as part of it.  Let’s go!

John 7:53-8:1 (NIV) 
53  Then each went to his own home.
1  But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.

On 7:53-8:1:   Why did Jesus go to the Mount of Olives?  To pray.  See, for example, Luke 22:39-41.  This was an important secret to Jesus’ success: Jesus prioritized time praying to the Father.  He would go out of his way to do so, and in so doing he experienced a peace, a power and a wisdom that the world could not give.  As we like to say at Thrive, much prayer, much power.  Little prayer, little power. No prayer, no power.  Be a person of prayer and you will experience God’s power.

John 8:2-6a (NIV) 
2  At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.
3  The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group
4  and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.
5  In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”
6  They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him…

从预定论看苦难的意义

2021-02-19 in , /by

〈腓立比书〉一章29节    因为你们蒙恩，不但得以信服基督，并要为祂受苦。

上帝预定我们与耶稣基督一同受苦，这一点是很多人谈预定论时没有提到的事。上帝预定我们成为祂的儿女，预定我们领受耶稣基督的生命，预定我们得着儿子的名分，上帝也预定众子要效法长子，这长子因受苦进入荣耀，因顺从得着完全，「他虽然为儿子，还是因所受的苦难学了顺从。他既得以完全，就为凡顺从祂的人成了永远得救的根源」（来5:8-9）。「苦难」、「顺从」、「完全」是基督道成肉身成全上帝旨意必经的三个步骤，祂在苦难中学习顺从，进入完全，基督在受苦的事上成为我们的榜样。

当我查考《罗马书》第八章的时候，我发现论到预定的经文竟夹在前一段受苦的经文和后一段受苦得胜的经文中间，这让我深受吸引，相当感兴趣。保罗提到预定、救赎和得儿子的名分后，接着提到上帝预定我们效法耶稣基督的样式，并让我们看见预定在前一段和后一段的受苦中间有一个坚固的位置。上帝拣选人不是为了让人骄傲，不是为了让人自义、夸口、轻看他人。上帝拣选人，要人在苦难中与主一同承担重担，与主一同承受苦难，不但如此，也要人在苦难中见证上帝所拣选的人是能够受苦的。

为此之故，保罗提到：「因为你们蒙恩，不但得以信服基督，并要为祂受苦」（腓1:29）。福音派传福音的时候讲「信基督」，培灵造就的时候讲「顺服基督」、「跟随基督」、「效法基督」，却很少提到上帝在苦难中为教会所定的旨意。没有受苦的传道人，很难释放出能力；没有受过苦炼的传道人，很难懂得什么叫做顺从上帝的主权；没有得胜过苦难的传道人，很难用丰盛的生命把上帝的道变成人所需要的信息。两千年的教会历史一直不断启发我们受苦的重要性，但历经两千年的神学研究却没有使这个课题得到当有的地位。

Come Thirsty to Jesus + What Pressure Does

2021-02-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 7:37-52.  Let’s go!

John 7:37-39 (NIV) 
37  On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
38  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
39  By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.

On verses 37-39:  Jesus, who often sat when he taught, stands for emphasis and makes the invitation for all who are thirsty to come to him and drink.  The promise Jesus publicly gives here is the same promise Jesus privately gave to the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:13-14: that those who believe in him will have flowing from within them streams of living water.  Streams of living water are a reference to the Holy Spirit.

生活和饮食上的洁净

2021-02-18 in , /by

〈申命记〉14章1-2节「你们是耶和华─你们　神的儿女。不可为死人用刀划身，也不可将额上剃光；因为你归耶和华─你　神为圣洁的民，耶和华从地上的万民中拣选你特作自己的子民。」

神把以色列人放在歌珊地四百卅年，现在要让他们进迦南地，神有太多的不放心。在歌珊地时，以色列人以蓄牧为主，是埃及人所厌恶的；以色列人被奴役，也是埃及人所轻贱的。以色列人在埃及自成一族，没有和他外族混和，非常单纯。但是在迦南地有很多外邦民族，他们的生活习惯都是神所厌恶的。因此神要以色列人把迦南民族赶出迦南，免得以色列人受到影响。但是神也知道以色列人的信心有限，无法达成神的愿望。因此祂只能一再教导，多方教育，希望他们进了迦南还能记得并遵行神的话。

为死人用刀划身，或将额上剃光，是古代中东及巴勒斯坦各族的异教风俗。当家人离世或遭遇灾祸时，他们便用这种方式来表示极大的哀伤。有时候他们也会用刀枪自割自刺，直到流血，以表示他们对所事奉的偶像之虔诚。好像台湾庙里的乩童，也经常在邪灵附身时，用各种方法自残，有的吞玻璃，有的用刀乱砍己身，等等。神不想以色列人学傚这些风俗习惯而受害，因此提醒以色列民，既是神圣洁的儿女，便要过分别为圣的生活。

我们的生活也会受到异教和民俗的影响，例如广东人在安息礼拜之后要派发糖果和有硬币的白包，有的说那个糖要当场吃掉，不可带回家。糖果是为了让亲友吃了去掉他们的「苦」，硬币是以前足够搭一程（单程）车的钱，取其「不回」之意，希望不会再碰见这种悲哀的事。基督徒在主里的死亡是回天家，实在不要学外邦人才好。有的人担心去参加丧礼的也有非信徒，但这不是我们让他们知道信主和不信主的不同，正好跟他们传福音的机会吗？

Get to Know Jesus Better

2021-02-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is John 7:25-36.  Let’s go!

John 7:25-26 (NIV) 
25  At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?
26  Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities really concluded that he is the Christ?

On verses 25-26:  Some in Jerusalem wondered why the Jerusalem authorities were allowing Jesus to preach publicly if they considered him to be public enemy number 1 (v25-26).  By not doing anything seemingly to stop Jesus, the religious leaders were seen by some as possibly approving of Jesus’ claims.  What can we learn from this?  When you’re silent on an issue, you may give others the impression that you accept the status quo as being okay.  May you have wisdom to know when to speak up and when to remain silent, and when you do speak up, may you speak up with wisdom.

John 7:27 (NIV)
27  But we know where this man is from; when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from.”

戒受引诱从侍他神

2021-02-17 in , /by

〈申命记〉13章1-3节: 「你们中间若有先知或是做梦的起来，向你显个神蹟奇事，对你说：『我们去随从你素来所不认识的别神，事奉它吧。』他所显的神蹟奇事虽有应验，你也不可听那先知或是那做梦之人的话；因为这是耶和华─你们的　神试验你们，要知道你们是尽心尽性爱耶和华─你们的　神不是。」

去年的美国总统大选让我们感受到这段经文的真实和警戒。这场历时了两个月才尘埃落定的选举，在它开始以前就己经沸沸扬扬了。引起我观注的是世界各地灵媒的预言，其中也包括了天主教的神父和基督教的牧师。印度神童观天象，耶稣半夜造访牧师，每一个人都言之凿凿：川普历经艰难后，必赢得大选。可是今年1月6日的宣布，让这些预言都落空了。

我突然连想起耶利米当年的情景。巴比伦王大军来袭，而以色列里许多先知都预言: 「你们必不看见刀剑，也不遭遇饥荒；耶和华要在这地方赐你们长久的平安。(耶14:13)」但是耶和华神告诉耶利米：「定为死亡的，必致死亡；定为刀杀的，必交刀杀；定为饥荒的，必遭饥荒；定为掳掠的，必被掳掠。(耶15:2)」事情的发生果然如耶利米的预料，因为那才是出于神的带领。

人对于神蹟奇事总是特别好奇，即使信主后，听到有些预言或看到有些特异功能还是会被吸引。所以有许多人特别喜欢读〈启示录〉，总是想要知道将来会如何，其实不是真的想因为知道将来而好好把握现在，只是想满足对于未来的好奇。也有许多人迷惑于特异功能，想借着一些超自然的力量来达到某些目的，因而被邪灵所制。