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预言彼得跌倒

2019-07-10 in /by

马太福音26: 30_35_预言彼得跌倒

30 他们唱了诗，就出来往橄榄山去。31 那时，耶稣对他们说：「今夜你们为我的缘故都要跌倒，因为经上记着说：『我要击打牧人，羊就分散了。』 32 但我复活以后，要在你们以先往加利利去。」 33 彼得说：「众人虽然为你的缘故跌倒，我却永不跌倒。」 34 耶稣说：「我实在告诉你：今夜鸡叫以先，你要三次不认我。」 35 彼得说：「我就是必须和你同死，也总不能不认你！」众门徒都是这样说。

橄榄山位于旧城耶路撒冷的东边，现在去以色列旅游的人大概都不会放弃橄榄山半日游或一日游的行程，因为橄榄山是耶稣升天的地方，又包括了客西马尼园，还有主祷文教堂、主泣教堂、万国教堂、观景台等等 ; 还有全以色列最昂贵的犹太墓，因为犹太人相信当弥赛亚来的时候，埋在橄榄山的人会首先复活！有人说站在橄榄山的观景台看耶路撒冷，除了能够捕捉美丽的风景，那种感动更是说不出来的！当然那里还有免费厕所，是不能错过的。

当然，在耶稣的时代一切都很纯朴，晚上也没有路灯，耶稣和门徒向着客西马尼园走去，还要经过汲沦溪谷，只有月亮照着他们一行人的身影，带着寒意的春风不时吹着他们，那飘起的衣角似乎想拂去随风带来的一些水珠。耶稣边走边对门徒说：「今夜你们为我的缘故都要跌倒，因为经上记着说：『我要击打牧人，羊就分散了。』 32 但我复活以后，要在你们以先往加利利去。」

Consult God First

2019-07-10 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 14:1-17.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 14:1 (NIV) 
1  Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him.
 
On verse 1:  As the newly crowned king of Israel, David enlists a non-believer King Hiram of Tyre to provide workers and supplies to build a palace for him.  I like what Pastor Jon Courson says on this point when he writes:

Hiram was not a believer and yet he provided materials and skilled workmen to build a house for David. In this, I am reminded of the time Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water in order to give her the opportunity to give something to Him (John 4). Sometimes I feel that we in the Christian community have so barricaded ourselves in some ways that we have not allowed the Hirams or Samaritan women of the world to interact with us and, in the process, be exposed to the things of God. I think there are times when the Lord would have us involved with people who don’t know Him in order to open the way for the gospel.  (from Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Old Testament Volume 1)

设立圣餐

2019-07-09 in /by

马太福音26: 26_29_设立圣餐

26 他们吃的时候，耶稣拿起饼来，祝福，就掰开，递给门徒，说：「你们拿着吃，这是我的身体。」 27 又拿起杯来，祝谢了，递给他们，说：「你们都喝这个， 28 因为这是我立约的血，为多人流出来，使罪得赦。 29 但我告诉你们：从今以后，我不再喝这葡萄汁，直到我在我父的国里同你们喝新的那日子。」 30 他们唱了诗，就出来往橄榄山去。

现在教会进行的圣餐就是耶稣上十字架前的最后一餐，一般称之为「最后的晚餐」(The Last Supper) ，所指的是耶稣和门徒吃的逾越节晚餐。在这个最后的晚餐里有一些特别值得记念的事。

耶稣说:「我很愿意在受害以先和你们吃这逾越节的筵席。我告诉你们，我不再吃这筵席，直到成就在神的国里。」在吃饭前耶稣做了一件老师不会为学生做的事，便是为祂的门徒们洗脚。然后教导门徒要彼此相爱，互相服侍：「你们里头为大的，倒要像年幼的；为首领的，倒要像服事人的。」

在吃晚餐时，耶稣拿起无酵饼说：「这是我的身体，为你们舍的」，然后又拿起杯来说：「这杯是用我血所立的新约，是为你们流出来的」。这是也是犹太人在逾越节晚餐(Seder)中所吃的藏饼以及喝的第三杯酒—救赎之杯 : 耶稣的作法也成为基督徒掰饼领圣餐的传统。藏饼Afikomen 是指在餐前父母会藏起一些饼，在晚餐结束前请孩子们去将藏起来的饼找出来，象征孩子自己要经历寻求耶稣(神)的过程。

Don’t Let Fear Keep You from Experiencing God

2019-07-09 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 13:1-14.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 13:1-4 (NIV) 
1  David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
2  He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us.
3  Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
4  The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

On verses 1-4:  When considering whether or not to bring the ark back to Jerusalem, David confers with his leaders to determine the best course of action.  What can we learn from this?  When making an important decision, get good advice.    As Proverbs19:20 (MSG) says, “Take good counsel and accept correction— that’s the way to live wisely and well.”  Is there a decision you are in the process of making where you would benefit from consulting others?

预备逾越节的筵席

2019-07-08 in /by

马太福音26: 14_25_预备逾越节的筵席

14 当下，十二门徒里有一个称为加略人犹大的，去见祭司长，说： 15 「我把他交给你们，你们愿意给我多少钱？」他们就给了他三十块钱。 16 从那时候，他就找机会要把耶稣交给他们。17 除酵节的第一天，门徒来问耶稣说：「你吃逾越节的筵席，要我们在哪里给你预备？」 18 耶稣说：「你们进城去，到某人那里，对他说：『夫子说：我的时候快到了，我与门徒要在你家里守逾越节。』」 19 门徒遵著耶稣所吩咐的，就去预备了逾越节的筵席。

20 到了晚上，耶稣和十二个门徒坐席。 21 正吃的时候，耶稣说：「我实在告诉你们：你们中间有一个人要卖我了。」 22 他们就甚忧愁，一个一个地问他说：「主，是我吗？」 23 耶稣回答说：「同我蘸手在盘子里的，就是他要卖我。 24 人子必要去世，正如经上指着他所写的，但卖人子的人有祸了！那人不生在世上倒好。」 25 卖耶稣的犹大问他说：「拉比，是我吗？」耶稣说：「你说的是。」

这是一段令人伤感的记载，耶稣的门徒犹大，为了卅块钱，出卖了耶稣。在现在的共产社会里也有这样的犹大，因此大陆的家庭教会对于新朋友的加入很有戒心，因为一不小心就会被出卖。有的兄弟姐妹分享，他们回国探亲时，根本进不了家庭教会。

在耶稣和门徒这个小群体里，犹大是管理钱财的。一般团体或机构若要选人负责财政工作，一定会选比较可靠的人。犹大曾经被主耶稣看重和交托，但是在最后却选择出卖耶稣。当然，有很多猜测，但我们都知道他后来后悔得去上吊自杀。

United and Fighting for the Same Goal

2019-07-08 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Wednesday January 31, 2018 on 1 Chronicles 12:23-40.  Let’s go!

On verses 23-37:  Here the Chronicler lists how many men from each tribe of Israel came to David to help turn Saul’s kingdom over to him.   Notice how often these verses repeat the words “armed for battle” or “ready for battle”.  What can we learn from this?  When you want to join with others in seeing God establish His kingdom where you are, you need to be ready and prepared for battle.  That is why Paul says in Ephesians 6 that we must put on the full armor of God so that when our enemy comes we will be ready to take our stand against Him.  As Peter says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.   Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

How do you get yourself ready for battle? Spend time in God’s Word daily.  Ask His Holy Spirit for help and depend on Him.  Meditate on God’s Word often.  Pray often (for with much prayer comes much power).  When you face different situations, ask the Holy Spirit for insight, discernment and an alert heart.

真哪哒香膏

2019-07-07 in /by

马太福音26: 6_13_真哪哒香膏

6 耶稣在伯大尼长大痲疯的西门家里， 7 有一个女人拿着一玉瓶极贵的香膏来，趁耶稣坐席的时候，浇在他的头上。 8 门徒看见就很不喜悦，说：「何用这样的枉费呢？ 9 这香膏可以卖许多钱赒济穷人。」 10 耶稣看出他们的意思，就说：「为什么难为这女人呢？她在我身上做的是一件美事。 11 因为常有穷人和你们同在，只是你们不常有我。 12 她将这香膏浇在我身上，是为我安葬做的。 13 我实在告诉你们：普天之下，无论在什么地方传这福音，也要述说这女人所行的，做个纪念。」

四福音书记载主在世上的日子，至少有六次参加人的筵席。这段经文记录的是其中的最后一次，筵席的主人被称为「伯大尼长大痳疯的西门」。他原本患有大痲疯，被犹太人认为不洁净，是因罪被上帝击打的人。但主的恩典临到他身上，他遇见主，被主医治，得着痊愈；他经历了主奇妙的大能，因而信主，生命得着更新，人生重获盼望，过著一个全新的生活。

这是拉撒路从死里复活后，为了向耶稣表示敬虔和谢意，特地在他家聚集。当时在坐的除了筵席的主人以及伯大尼三姊弟，马大、马利亚、拉撒路外，还有耶稣和十二门徒。〈约翰福音〉十二章2节记载：「有人在那里给耶稣豫备筵席．马大伺候，拉撒路也在那同耶稣坐席的人中。」由此可见，西门和马大、马利亚、拉撒路一家人，不是至亲也是好友，他们有一个共同的特色，就是深爱耶稣，欢喜接待服事主。

Unity Makes Us Unstoppable

2019-07-07 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 12:1-22.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 12:18 (NIV) 
18  Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. 

On verses 1-22:  In these verses we see gifted and outstanding leaders from various tribes of Israel – from Benjamin (v1-7, 16), Gad (v8-15), Judah (v16) and Manasseh (v19-21) – rallying around David.  They came at a time when David was running for his life from a jealous King Saul and masquerading as an ally of the Philistines.  You can sense the pressure and hurt David has been through when he says in verse 17, “If you have come to me in peace, to help me, I am ready to have you unite with me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.” It’s because David has been hurt before by people he trusted, so now David is wary of too trusting others too quickly.