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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)

設立聖餐

2019-07-09 in /by

馬太福音26: 26_29_設立聖餐

26 他們吃的時候，耶穌拿起餅來，祝福，就掰開，遞給門徒，說：「你們拿著吃，這是我的身體。」 27 又拿起杯來，祝謝了，遞給他們，說：「你們都喝這個， 28 因為這是我立約的血，為多人流出來，使罪得赦。 29 但我告訴你們：從今以後，我不再喝這葡萄汁，直到我在我父的國裡同你們喝新的那日子。」 30 他們唱了詩，就出來往橄欖山去。

現在教會進行的聖餐就是耶穌上十字架前的最後一餐，一般稱之為「最後的晚餐」(The Last Supper) ，所指的是耶穌和門徒吃的逾越節晚餐。在這個最後的晚餐裡有一些特別值得記念的事。

耶穌說:「我很願意在受害以先和你們吃這逾越節的筵席。我告訴你們，我不再吃這筵席，直到成就在神的國裡。」在吃飯前耶穌做了一件老師不會為學生做的事，便是為祂的門徒們洗腳。然後教導門徒要彼此相愛，互相服侍：「你們裡頭為大的，倒要像年幼的；為首領的，倒要像服事人的。」

在吃晚餐時，耶穌拿起無酵餅說：「這是我的身體，為你們捨的」，然後又拿起杯來說：「這杯是用我血所立的新約，是為你們流出來的」。這是也是猶太人在逾越節晚餐(Seder)中所吃的藏餅以及喝的第三杯酒—救贖之杯 : 耶穌的作法也成為基督徒掰餅領聖餐的傳統。藏餅Afikomen 是指在餐前父母會藏起一些餅，在晚餐結束前請孩子們去將藏起來的餅找出來，象徵孩子自己要經歷尋求耶穌(神)的過程。

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?

預備逾越節的筵席

2019-07-08 in /by

馬太福音26: 14_25_預備逾越節的筵席

14 當下，十二門徒裡有一個稱為加略人猶大的，去見祭司長，說： 15 「我把他交給你們，你們願意給我多少錢？」他們就給了他三十塊錢。 16 從那時候，他就找機會要把耶穌交給他們。17 除酵節的第一天，門徒來問耶穌說：「你吃逾越節的筵席，要我們在哪裡給你預備？」 18 耶穌說：「你們進城去，到某人那裡，對他說：『夫子說：我的時候快到了，我與門徒要在你家裡守逾越節。』」 19 門徒遵著耶穌所吩咐的，就去預備了逾越節的筵席。

20 到了晚上，耶穌和十二個門徒坐席。 21 正吃的時候，耶穌說：「我實在告訴你們：你們中間有一個人要賣我了。」 22 他們就甚憂愁，一個一個地問他說：「主，是我嗎？」 23 耶穌回答說：「同我蘸手在盤子裡的，就是他要賣我。 24 人子必要去世，正如經上指著他所寫的，但賣人子的人有禍了！那人不生在世上倒好。」 25 賣耶穌的猶大問他說：「拉比，是我嗎？」耶穌說：「你說的是。」

這是一段令人傷感的記載，耶穌的門徒猶大，為了卅塊錢，出賣了耶穌。在現在的共產社會裡也有這樣的猶大，因此大陸的家庭教會對於新朋友的加入很有戒心，因為一不小心就會被出賣。有的兄弟姐妹分享，他們回國探親時，根本進不了家庭教會。

在耶穌和門徒這個小群體裡，猶大是管理錢財的。一般團體或機構若要選人負責財政工作，一定會選比較可靠的人。猶大曾經被主耶穌看重和交託，但是在最後卻選擇出賣耶穌。當然，有很多猜測，但我們都知道他後來後悔得去上吊自殺。

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.

真哪噠香膏

2019-07-07 in /by

馬太福音26: 6_13_真哪噠香膏

6 耶穌在伯大尼長大痲瘋的西門家裡， 7 有一個女人拿著一玉瓶極貴的香膏來，趁耶穌坐席的時候，澆在他的頭上。 8 門徒看見就很不喜悅，說：「何用這樣的枉費呢？ 9 這香膏可以賣許多錢賙濟窮人。」 10 耶穌看出他們的意思，就說：「為什麼難為這女人呢？她在我身上做的是一件美事。 11 因為常有窮人和你們同在，只是你們不常有我。 12 她將這香膏澆在我身上，是為我安葬做的。 13 我實在告訴你們：普天之下，無論在什麼地方傳這福音，也要述說這女人所行的，做個紀念。」

四福音書記載主在世上的日子，至少有六次參加人的筵席。這段經文記錄的是其中的最後一次，筵席的主人被稱為「伯大尼長大痳瘋的西門」。他原本患有大痲瘋，被猶太人認為不潔淨，是因罪被上帝擊打的人。但主的恩典臨到他身上，他遇見主，被主醫治，得著痊癒；他經歷了主奇妙的大能，因而信主，生命得著更新，人生重獲盼望，過著一個全新的生活。

這是拉撒路從死裡復活後，為了向耶穌表示敬虔和謝意，特地在他家聚集。當時在坐的除了筵席的主人以及伯大尼三姊弟，馬大、馬利亞、拉撒路外，還有耶穌和十二門徒。〈約翰福音〉十二章2節記載：「有人在那裡給耶穌豫備筵席．馬大伺候，拉撒路也在那同耶穌坐席的人中。」由此可見，西門和馬大、馬利亞、拉撒路一家人，不是至親也是好友，他們有一個共同的特色，就是深愛耶穌，歡喜接待服事主。

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. 

詭計

2019-07-05 in /by

馬太福音26: 1_5_詭計

1耶穌說完了這一切的話，就對門徒說： 2 「你們知道，過兩天是逾越節，人子將要被交給人，釘在十字架上。」 3 那時，祭司長和民間的長老聚集在大祭司稱為該亞法的院裡。 4 大家商議要用詭計拿住耶穌，殺他， 5 只是說：「當節的日子不可，恐怕民間生亂。」

讀完這五節經文，你有沒有覺得好像在看恐怖片，一邊是耶穌預言祂將被交給人，被釘在十字架上；另一邊則是面目猙獰的祭司長和民間的長老聚集在大祭司該亞法的院裡，鬼頭鬼腦地在竊竊私語要設計拿下耶穌。

同樣都在等待逾越節，一邊是預備作為逾越節的羔羊被宰割，一邊則在想盡辦法要抓住那頭羊。

逾越節是以色列人的大節日，在以色列人尚未出埃及之前，神就曉喻摩西和亞倫要以出埃及的那個月為元月，一年之首；在那個月的第十日要宰一隻羊羔，把羊羔的血塗在吃羊羔的房屋左右的門框上和門楣上，當夜要吃烤羊肉，吃時當腰間束帶，腳上穿鞋，手中拿杖，趕緊地吃，因為當夜是耶和華的逾越節。神要越過所有用血作記號的屋子，擊殺所有埃及頭生的人和動物。之後，埃及法老才會讓以色列人快快離開埃及。一得到命令，以色列人就要馬不停蹄地離開埃及。這是一個極大的神蹟，以色列人整個民族，超過兩百萬人，浩浩蕩蕩離開了埃及，不再是奴隸，成為自由人的日子。