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犹大的结局

2019-07-16 in /by

马太福音27: 1_10_犹大的结局

1到了早晨，众祭司长和民间的长老大家商议要治死耶稣， 2 就把他捆绑，解去交给巡抚彼拉多。

3 这时候，卖耶稣的犹大看见耶稣已经定了罪，就后悔，把那三十块钱拿回来给祭司长和长老，说： 4 「我卖了无辜之人的血，是有罪了。」他们说：「那与我们有什么相干？你自己承当吧！」 5 犹大就把那银钱丢在殿里，出去吊死了。 6 祭司长拾起银钱来，说：「这是血价，不可放在库里。」 7 他们商议，就用那银钱买了窑户的一块田，为要埋葬外乡人。 8 所以那块田直到今日还叫做「血田」。 9 这就应了先知耶利米的话说：「他们用那三十块钱，就是被估定之人的价钱，是以色列人中所估定的， 10 买了窑户的一块田，这是照着主所吩咐我的。」

根据四本福音书的记载，耶稣在客西马尼园祷告完毕后被捉，先带到大祭司的岳父亚那的住处审问，再押去大祭司该亚法处受审。第二天，天一亮众长老、祭司和文士聚集，把耶稣带到公会去审问，要治死耶稣。但是因为公会没有定刑的权柄，所以犹太人把耶稣捆绑解去交给巡抚彼拉多，彼拉多在初步审问后，因耶稣是加利利人，就把耶稣给希律王安提帕去审理。

在这个晚上耶稣就这样被审被凌辱。有种酷刑可以不留痕迹地折磨人，使人意志崩溃，那就是不让犯人睡觉。有的人患有失眠，逐渐地就有了忧郁症，最后走上自杀一途。所以若不能睡觉，钢铁般的身体或意志也会被瓦解。更何况耶稣当晚被拖着走到每一个审讯点的路程都很远。

What True Worship Looks Like

2019-07-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 16:31-43.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 16:36 (NIV) 
36  Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”

On verses 31-36:   David finishes his beautiful worship song and the people respond by saying “Amen”.  “Amen” means “it is true”.  When we say “Amen” in prayer or in response to preaching, three things happen: (1) you take personal ownership of what is being prayed or preached, and that strengthens your own faith; (2) you encourage the person who is speaking, building an atmosphere of faith and unity with that person and others who hear; and (3) you invite God to build His church in your midst, for God loves to work in an atmosphere of unity and faith.  In other words, each time you say “AMEN”, you get edified, your church gets unified, and God’s name gets glorified.  So be out loud and responsive to the prayers and preaching of others at church.

彼得三次不认主

2019-07-15 in /by

马太福音26: 69_75_彼得三次不认主

69 彼得在外面院子里坐着，有一个使女前来，说：「你素来也是同那加利利人耶稣一伙的。」 70 彼得在众人面前却不承认，说：「我不知道你说的是什么。」 71 既出去，到了门口，又有一个使女看见他，就对那里的人说：「这个人也是同拿撒勒人耶稣一伙的。」 72 彼得又不承认，并且起誓说：「我不认得那个人！」 73 过了不多的时候，旁边站着的人前来，对彼得说：「你真是他们一党的，你的口音把你露出来了。」 74 彼得就发咒起誓地说：「我不认得那个人！」立时，鸡就叫了。 75 彼得想起耶稣所说的话：「鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。」他就出去痛哭。

彼得很爱主耶稣，他为了保护耶稣带了一把刀，并且割下了大祭司仆人的右耳；彼得很爱主，当所有的门徒都吓得奔逃四散时，只有他一直跟着耶稣到了该亚法的院子里。彼得很爱主，为了知道后情或想办法救耶稣，他留在了那个院子里，强忍着恐惧和寒冷，和大祭司的仆人们一起取暖。

但是当人们指认他是和耶稣在一起的，他否认了，三次。然后鸡叫了，彼得想起耶稣对他说的话，他就跑出去痛哭了。每次想到彼得的哭，我总也忍不住想和他一起哭。因为换了是我，我也会害怕被人认出来，而一起抓进去。彼得怎么晓得那时他们要抓的只是耶稣? 而且说不定，一旦被发现是同党的，若有人叫起来，很可能也会被抓进去。

God’s Complete Word of Protection Over Your Life

2019-07-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 16:7-18.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 16:19-22 (NIV) 
19  When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,
20  they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21  He allowed no man to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
22  “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

On verses 19-22:  Here David recounts how God protected the nation of Israel, even from its humble beginnings.  What can we learn from this?  God is a protector.  If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you have the most complete protection of any human being.  Because of Jesus Christ, you have protection from the wrath of God, protection from the enemy’s attacks, protection from any ultimate pain or harm, and protection for an awesome destiny.  For You have God Almighty on your side, who keeps you from harm and who has spoken the most complete word of protection over your life.

在公会受审

2019-07-14 in /by

马太福音26: 57_68_在公会受审

57 拿耶稣的人把他带到大祭司该亚法那里去，文士和长老已经在那里聚会。 58 彼得远远地跟着耶稣，直到大祭司的院子，进到里面，就和差役同坐，要看这事到底怎样。 59 祭司长和全公会寻找假见证控告耶稣，要治死他。 60 虽有好些人来作假见证，总得不着实据。末后，有两个人前来说： 61 「这个人曾说：『我能拆毁神的殿，三日内又建造起来。』」 62 大祭司就站起来，对耶稣说：「你什么都不回答吗？这些人作见证告你的是什么呢？」 63 耶稣却不言语。大祭司对他说：「我指著永生神叫你起誓告诉我们，你是神的儿子基督不是？」 64 耶稣对他说：「你说的是。然而我告诉你们：后来你们要看见人子坐在那权能者的右边，驾着天上的云降临。」 65 大祭司就撕开衣服，说：「他说了僭妄的话！我们何必再用见证人呢？这僭妄的话现在你们都听见了。 66 你们的意见如何？」他们回答说：「他是该死的。」 67 他们就吐唾沫在他脸上，用拳头打他，也有用手掌打他的，说： 68 「基督啊！你是先知，告诉我们打你的是谁？」

根据以色列美角的介绍，耶路撒冷锡安山上有个在1932年盖的天主教教堂鸡鸣教堂(Church Saint-Peter in Gallicantu)，这里纪念著彼得三次不认主的事件，当耶稣被抓以后，彼得远远的跟着耶稣到大祭司该亚法家，也就是这个地方，到现在还能看到罗马人的房子、水井、地下洞穴以及关犯人的牢房。这个地方的重点是纪念耶稣被带到该亚法的官邸、被公会判死刑、还有彼得三次否认以及他在鸡鸣时的悔改。

6 Practical Ways You Can Draw Near to God

2019-07-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 16:7-18.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 16:7 (NIV) 
7  That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD: 

On verses 7-18:  David wrote this song and instructed his worship band to lead it on the day that they brought the ark to Jerusalem (v7).  You can find part of it in Psalm 105. 
 
Want a simple and effective plan for drawing near to God and experiencing His joy and peace?  Take each of the following lines in David’s song and live it out.  Verses 8-18 give us 6 practical steps you can take to draw near to God today. 
 
For example:
 
1 Chronicles 16:8 (NIV) 
8  Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 

收刀入鞘

2019-07-12 in /by

马太福音26: 47_56_收刀入鞘

47 说话之间，那十二个门徒里的犹大来了，并有许多人带着刀棒，从祭司长和民间的长老那里与他同来。 48 那卖耶稣的给了他们一个暗号，说：「我与谁亲嘴，谁就是他。你们可以拿住他。」 49 犹大随即到耶稣跟前，说：「请拉比安！」就与他亲嘴。 50 耶稣对他说：「朋友，你来要做的事就做吧！」于是那些人上前，下手拿住耶稣。

51 有跟随耶稣的一个人伸手拔出刀来，将大祭司的仆人砍了一刀，削掉了他一个耳朵。 52 耶稣对他说：「收刀入鞘吧！凡动刀的，必死在刀下。 53 你想我不能求我父现在为我差遣十二营多天使来吗？ 54 若是这样，经上所说事情必须如此的话怎么应验呢？」 55 当时，耶稣对众人说：「你们带着刀棒出来拿我，如同拿强盗吗？我天天坐在殿里教训人，你们并没有拿我。 56 但这一切的事成就了，为要应验先知书上的话。」当下，门徒都离开他逃走了。

犹大来了! 在这之前，犹大是一个很美好的名字，意为赞美。犹大是雅各和利亚的四子。因为利亚失竉，神却使她生育。在前三个儿子的名字里，充满了利亚的盼望，其实也就是她的伤心和失望。第一个儿子是流便，意思是：「耶和华看见我的苦情，如今我的丈夫必爱我。」 第二个儿子是西缅，意思是：「耶和华因为听见我失宠，所以又赐给我这个儿子。」第三个儿子是利未，意思是：「我给丈夫生了三个儿子，他必与我联合。」

直到生了第四个儿子，利亚才说：「这回我要赞美耶和华。」因而给他起名犹大。表示她己经胜过了现实的不如意，己经懂得不要诉苦，转眼仰望神，所以她能赞美，她得胜了!

Be a Participant in Worship, Not a Spectator

2019-07-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs,
 
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 15:25-16:6.  Let’s go!
 
1 Chronicles 15:25-28 (NIV) 
25  So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 
26  Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 
27  Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. 
28  So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

On verses 26-28:  Here David leads all of Israel in welcoming the ark into Jerusalem with rejoicing (v25), sacrificing (v26), singing (v27), shouting (v28) and musical instruments (v28).  If that is the way God’s people in the Old Testament worshiped in God’s presence, how much more do we have reason to rejoice, sacrifice, sing, shout and play music in the presence of the Lord, who died for us, rose again and is alive today.

Accessing the Presence of God

2019-07-11 in /by

Hi GAMErs,
 
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 15:1-24.  Let’s go!
 
1 Chronicles 15:13 (NIV)
13  It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”
 
On verses 1-15:  Here David makes a second attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem.  The first time David tried moving the ark, he didn’t inquire of God as to how to do it.  The result was death for one, and trouble, grief and embarrassment for many.   This time David has learned his lesson and done his research.  He has searched the Scriptures so that he can understand what is God’s prescribed way for moving the ark.  In accordance with Scripture David makes sure that only the Levites are to transport the ark and that they are to do so by carrying it on poles, rather than pushing it on a cart. 
 
What can we learn from this? 

1. Here we see the importance of inquiring of God before you make an important decision.  Before you make an important decision, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.  Get into God’s Word.  Spend quality time in prayer.  Seek godly counsel.  This will save you trouble, embarrassment and grief later on. 

客西马尼园

2019-07-11 in /by

马太福音26: 36_46_客西马尼园

 36 耶稣同门徒来到一个地方，名叫客西马尼，就对他们说：「你们坐在这里，等我到那边去祷告。」 37 于是带着彼得和西庇太的两个儿子同去，就忧愁起来，极其难过， 38 便对他们说：「我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死。你们在这里等候，和我一同警醒。」 39 他就稍往前走，俯伏在地，祷告说：「我父啊！倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我！然而，不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。」

40 来到门徒那里，见他们睡着了，就对彼得说：「怎么样，你们不能同我警醒片时吗？ 41 总要警醒祷告，免得入了迷惑。你们心灵固然愿意，肉体却软弱了。」 42 第二次又去祷告说：「我父啊！这杯若不能离开我，必要我喝，就愿你的意旨成全！」 43 又来，见他们睡着了，因为他们的眼睛困倦。 44 耶稣又离开他们去了。第三次祷告，说的话还是与先前一样。 45 于是来到门徒那里，对他们说：「现在你们仍然睡觉安歇吧！时候到了，人子被卖在罪人手里了。 46 起来，我们走吧！看哪，卖我的人近了！」

根据以色列美角的敍述，客西马尼园(Garden of Gethsemane)，耶稣被捕的橄榄园，就在橄榄山山脚！从橄榄山上一路往山脚走，最后就是观光气氛与朝圣气氛都挺浓厚的客西马尼园，这里是每个来耶路撒冷的基督徒一定要拜访的地方。

想当然，客西马尼园里有很多橄榄树，因为客西马尼的原文就是榨油，榨橄榄油，所以一定有很多橄榄树。但是现在最老的那棵，据说是主耶稣曾在它荫下祷告的，现在己经被圈起来保护了。按照1世纪史学家约瑟夫的说法，在西元70年罗马人攻下耶路撒冷前已经把树都砍光了，不过呢，橄榄树的枝子砍下后又能变成主干、长成树。科学家证实这三颗古老的树大约是在12世纪就存在了，并且来自同颗母树。何等奇妙!