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Loved For A Thousand Years and More

2020-06-22 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 20:1-15.  Let’s go!

Revelation 20:1-3 (NIV) 
1  And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain.
2  He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
3  He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. 

On verses 1-3:  Previously in Revelation 9 we read of “the angel of the Abyss” (9:11) who was also called a “fallen star” and given the key to the Abyss (19:1).  Many commentators believe this angel is Satan himself.  Here in Revelation 20:1 John sees another angel coming down out of heaven possessing the key to the Abyss and holding a great chain.  This angel seizes the red dragon Satan, throws him into the Abyss, locks and seals the Abyss, so that Satan cannot deceive the nations for 1,000 years.  After the 1,000 years are over, verse 3 says that Satan “must be set free for a short time”.

摩西上尼波山

2020-06-22 in /by

申命記34章4  -5節   耶和華對他說：「這就是我向亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各起誓應許之地，說：『我必將這地賜給你的後裔。』現在我使你眼睛看見了，你卻不得過到那裡去。」於是，耶和華的僕人摩西死在摩押地，正如耶和華所說的。

米利暗和亞倫相繼去世後，摩西又面對了幾件大事。一是沿途的作戰，二是鑄造銅蛇，三是在不知不覺時中了摩押人的詭計。

以色列人兩三百萬人浩浩蕩蕩，又有神蹟相隨，但是迦南人也不是省油的燈，那麼多人進迦南，就等於要立國了。所以迦南人找他們打仗，附近的亞摩利人也跟他們打，巴珊王也出來打他們。這些人就是10個探子口中高大的強人，使以色列人看起來像蚱蜢般的偉人，所以神對摩西說：「不要怕他。因我已將他和他的眾民，並他的地，都交在你手中。」事情就這樣成了。

雖然神不許以色列人侵犯摩押的地，摩押卻以小人之心度君子之腹，去找了一個出名的術士巴蘭來咒詛以色列人。但是在神的干預之下，巴蘭對以色列人的咒詛都變成了祝福。後來巴蘭向摩押王獻計。摩押王就約了亞捫人，利用美人計去弔誘以色列的男人犯姦淫，又帶他們去拜偶像，得罪耶和華。以玫耶和華對以色列人發怒，直到非尼哈出手殺死一個以色列人和亞捫的一個公主，神的憤怒才止息。

銅蛇是因為以色列人又抱怨食物的淡薄，神因而叫火蛇去咬他們。他們也知罪了:「我們怨讟耶和華和你，有罪了。求你禱告耶和華，叫這些蛇離開我們。」因此神要摩西鑄一條銅蛇，凡仰望它的就必痊癒。這個銅蛇喻表耶穌將要被高舉在十字架上，凡仰望祂救恩的人，就可以出死入永生。

Meet the One Who Wins in the End

2020-06-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 19:11-21.  There are so many powerful truths about Jesus that we can learn from this passage.  Let’s go!

Revelation 19:11 (NIV) 
11  I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.
 
On verse 11:  Here John sees an awesome picture of Jesus.  In the Gospel of John 12:14-15, John described Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey, which is what kings would ride on during peace time.  Now when we see Jesus on a white war horse, it’s because Jesus means war.  The suffering servant who died to bring us peace is now the conquering king who lives to judge with justice and fight his enemies. 
 
Also, in verses 11 through 16, we will learn 4 names of Jesus.  The first name is here: Faithful and True.  Like you and me, Jesus is known by His character.

Revelation 19:12a (NIV) 
12  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.

與天父會面

2020-06-19 in /by

約翰福音一章12節     凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就賜他們權柄做神的兒女。

父親節就在眼前了，當神的兒女稱神為「天父」的時候，你知道這意味著什麼嗎？

基督徒稱神為父的屬靈含意有五方面：

1. 我們與神有親密關係。你們既為兒子，神就差祂兒子的靈進入你們的心，呼叫：「阿爸！父！」(加4:6)

2. 神關心和照顧我們的一切需要。

    你們不可效法他們，因為你們沒有祈求以先，你們所需用的，你們的父早已知道了。(太:8)

3. 我們遵從神的旨意，以好行為榮耀祂。

我見你的兒女有照我們從父所受之命令遵行真理的，就甚歡喜。(約二:4)

4.  當我們犯錯時，神會管教我們。

你們又忘了那勸你們如同勸兒子的話說：「我兒，你不可輕看主的管教，被他責備的時候也不可灰心。(希12:5)

5. 神給我們預備了永恒的產業。

得勝的，必承受這些為業：我要做他的神，他要做我的兒子。(啟21:7)

You Are Righteous and Radiant Because of

2020-06-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 19:1-10.  Let’s go!

Revelation 19:1-4 (NIV) 
1  After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 
2  for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” 
3  And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.” 
4  The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

On verses 1-4:  Earlier in Revelation 17-18 we read of Babylon, a prostitute who according to many commentators symbolizes the spirit of false religion that is all about man thinking he can reach God on his own effort.  In Revelation 17, Babylon’s fall is predicted.  In Revelation 18, we read of how the kings and merchants who dealt with Babylon will mourn after her death.  Now in Revelation 19 we hear heaven’s response to Babylon’s fall. 

Last Kingdom Standing 

2020-06-18 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 18:1-24.  Let’s go!

Revelation 18:1-3 (NIV) 
1  After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor.
2  With a mighty voice he shouted: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.
3  For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” 

On verses 1-3:  In Revelation 17 we read about a drunk prostitute dressed in fine clothes, riding on a beast.  We learned that this woman is called Babylon the Great and, according to many commentators, represents a spirit of false religion that is all about man thinking he can reach God by his own effort.  At the end of chapter 17 we learned that Babylon would be burned alive by the very kings who used her and slept with her.  Now in chapter 18 is heaven’s description of her demise and how various groups including kings, merchants, and sea captains will respond to her death.

摩西在米利巴擊磐出水

2020-06-18 in /by

民數記20章12節   耶和華對摩西、亞倫說：「因為你們不信我，不在以色列人眼前尊我為聖，所以你們必不得領這會眾進我所賜給他們的地去。」

從西乃山到加低斯僅需要11天的路程，但是從加低斯到約旦河，以色列人飄流了37年6個月。在出埃及後的第四十年，以色列人再度安營在加低斯。在這一年裡米利暗，亞倫和摩西相繼離世。

加低斯，一個印滿了以色列人足跡之地，是西奈半島北部最大的綠洲，位於連接亞喀巴灣與地中海的通道附近。加低斯的曠野(The Wilder-ness of Kadesh)，是別是巴以南沙漠中的綠洲和聚居地。這裡是耶和華應許賜給以色列人為業的迦南地之南界。

以色列人在此地飄流了近38年後，再度碰到缺水的問題，也再度聚集攻擊摩西和亞倫。這些以色列人和倒閉在曠野中的上一代以色列人一樣，碰到問題就埋怨，就攻擊摩西，又想著埃及，因為那裡有各樣的果樹，是奴隸也有果子吃，寧可生生世世做奴隸 ! 這樣的態度終於使世上最謙和的摩西發怒了。

摩西、亞倫招聚會眾到磐石前。摩西說：「你們這些背叛(悖逆)的人聽我說：我為你們使水從這磐石中流出來嗎？(出20:10)」摩西舉手，用杖擊打磐石兩下，就有許多水流出來，會眾和他們的牲畜都喝了。這水名叫米利巴水，是因以色列人向耶和華爭鬧，耶和華就在他們面前顯為聖。

摩西第一次大罵以色列人悖逆，他不再忍了。他用杖擊打磐石兩下，大概非常用力。他破功了。真的破功了。

可拉的叛亂

2020-06-17 in /by

民數記17章8節  第二天，摩西進法櫃的帳幕去。誰知利未族亞倫的杖已經發了芽，生了花苞，開了花，結了熟杏。

〈民數記〉16章所記載的可拉一黨的叛亂，是大家耳熟能詳的故事，讓我們看到摩西面對的挑戰一級級地加重。曠野裡的生活就好像人的一生，不停地受到挑戰，讓我們來看看摩西怎樣面對這個局面。

猶太拉比根據猶太經典Midrash(釋經書)裡的資料，作出了一些分析。可拉之所以背叛摩西與亞倫的原因，至少有四項因素：1,沉湎於自身的家世背景，2,貪圖祭司的職分，3,不服神所設立的代表權柄，4,懷着不信的惡心 。

1,沉湎於自身的家世背景：可拉是利未支派哥轄次子以斯哈的長子（出6:21），因此他與摩西、亞倫在輩分上稱得上是平起平坐，並且是他們堂兄弟中最年長的，所以當他未受摩西重用時，心中十分惱怒。尤其比他年幼的平輩以利撒反－烏薛的次子（出6:22）被任命為哥轄宗族的首領（民3:30），而不是他時，他感到屈辱不平。

2,貪圖祭司的職分：比可拉年幼的幾位晚輩－亞倫的四個兒子，拿答、亞比戶、以利亞撒和以他瑪都是受膏的祭司，承接聖職供祭司職分，而他這個長輩卻未被授予祭司的職分，心中當然忿忿不平。（他不明白這是神的揀選。）

三、不服神所設立的代表權柄 :由於心中長期以來累積的種種不滿，對於神所設立的代表權柄摩西與亞倫，自然心生怨懟，認為他們兩人高擡自己，超過耶和華的會眾，並且常憑己意行事。（例如亞倫的四個兒子都承接聖職供祭司職分，他認為一定是因為亞倫是摩西的哥哥，所以摩西纔如此安排。）可拉沒有看見耶和華的權柄，他以為這是個人的問題。

四、懷著不信的惡心 ：由於心中不服神所設立的權柄，故進而對於神藉摩西所頒布的律法也產生懷疑。他認為神在西乃山上衹有頒布十條誡命，其餘所謂的律例、典章、法度等都是摩西杜撰的，為要藉著這些律例來統治他們。

The Woman on the Beast

2020-06-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Revelation 17:1-18.  Let’s go!

Revelation 17:1-2 (NIV) 
1  One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. 
2  With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” 

On verses 1-2:  The key to properly interpreting the book of Revelation is correctly identifying the characters that appear in the book.  Who is “the great prostitute, who sits on many waters” (v1), who committed adultery with the kings of the earth and intoxicated earth’s inhabitants with her adulteries (v2)?  Many commentators believe that this great prostitute represents false religion.  What false religion are we talking about?  In this sharing, I will use the term “false religion” to mean every system of belief in the world that preaches that man by his own effort can reach God or become his own God.  The great prostitute of false religion has affected people all over the world for millennia.  It gives people a false hope and a false comfort that can be fairly described as “adultery” (v2a), for it involves running away from depending on God to save us by the means of His Son Jesus and running into the arms of a false religious system that is all about one’s own effort and exalting oneself.  The comfort of this false religion is like the false comfort of being “intoxicated” (v2b) in that the comfort is fleeting and does not last. 
 

摩西打發探子去迦南

2020-06-16 in /by

民數記14章 18節  耶和華不輕易發怒，並有豐盛的慈愛，赦免罪孽和過犯，萬不以有罪的為無罪，必追討他的罪，自父及子，直到三四代。

在教堂關閉的日子裡，我們特別需要信心，尤其明白自己的信心究竟是在哪裡？在教堂裡嗎？在牧師身上嗎？在小組長身上嗎？或是，神的殿就在你心中？

我覺得讀摩西的事蹟，越讀就越羨幕他和神的關係，這也是每日親近神想帶給讀者的信息，我們的信心來自於我們與神的關係；我們若經常親近神，信心很自然就產生；我們若不親近神，信心要從何產生呢？今天就是要看兩種人的信心，為何一組有信心，一組沒有信心，而且處在同樣的大環境下，為何大多數人會沒有信心？只有少數人有對耶和華神的信心？

在〈民數記〉的記載裡，神吩咐摩西打發探子去窺探迦南地；在〈申命記〉一章裡記載 … 摩西說，「你們都就近我來說：『我們要先打發人去，為我們窺探那地，將我們上去該走何道，必進何城，都回報我們。(申1:22)』」可見大家都非常興奮，都希望看看神所應許的迦南地是怎樣的？那時正是葡萄初熟的時候。

四十天後，12個探子回來，他們到了以實各谷，從那裡砍了葡萄樹的一枝，上頭有一掛葡萄，兩個人用槓抬著，又帶了些石榴和無花果來(民13:23)。他們手裡拿著那地的果子下來，回報說：『耶和華我們的神所賜給我們的是美地。(申1:25)』又告訴摩西說：「我們到了你所打發我們去的那地，果然是流奶與蜜之地。(民13:27)」12個探子都印證了神的話之真實。