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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!

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。