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God Will Make Sure Justice Is Served

2019-04-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 21:1-14. Let’s go!

On verses 1-14:  In these verses we see Ahab’s selfishness and Jezebel’s cunning in full bloom. Ahab wants to take the vineyard of another man, Naboth.  This vineyard was a precious family property that Naboth’s ancestors had passed down to him.  It was likely Naboth’s main source of income, whereas Ahab merely wanted to use it for a vegetable garden!  When Naboth refuses to sell the vineyard to Ahab, Ahab sulks. Ahab’s wife Jezebel devises an evil and elaborate plan to call a fast (using religion as a means to do evil) and have two scoundrels falsely accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king.  The plan is executed and Naboth is stoned for treason which he did not commit.  Presumably there is no one left in Naboth’s family to inherit Naboth’s vineyard.  (Or, if Naboth had heirs, Ahab and Jezebel find a way to bypass them.)  Ahab is then able to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.  

What can we learn from this?  Similar to Naboth’s time, we live in a period in history where at times it seems evil runs rampant and unchecked. 

稗子的比喻

2019-04-17 in /by

马太福音13: 24_30 / 36_43稗子的比喻

24 耶稣又设个比喻对他们说：「天国好像人撒好种在田里， 25 及至人睡觉的时候，有仇敌来，将稗子撒在麦子里就走了。 26 到长苗吐穗的时候，稗子也显出来。 27 田主的仆人来告诉他说：『主啊，你不是撒好种在田里吗？从哪里来的稗子呢？』 28 主人说：『这是仇敌做的。』仆人说：『你要我们去薅出来吗？』 29 主人说：『不必，恐怕薅稗子，连麦子也拔出来。 30 容这两样一齐长，等著收割。当收割的时候，我要对收割的人说：先将稗子薅出来，捆成捆，留着烧，唯有麦子要收在仓里。』」

有一场战争，已经持续了好几千年。从过去打到现今，在世界不同的地方打，而且还会继续打下去，这场战争的结果攸关许多人的生存。如此重大事件，报纸却少有刊登，媒体也少有报导，也许他们尽拣不重要的报导，重要的却泸过去。

麦子是世界上最主要的农作物之一。目前世界上生产量最多的三种作物，依序是玉米，年产七百八十四百万吨；水稻，年产六百五十一百万吨；麦子，年产六百零七百万吨。这三种农作物以麦子的营养分最高，是制作面包主要的材料。不只人类需要麦子，许多家畜也以麦子为主食。在田间，看到麦子生长旺盛，是值得感恩的景致，因为千万个化学反应、物理作用、生物代谢在那里静悄悄地进行。在这世界，悄悄完成的事情，远比喧闹中完成的事情多。

His Life for Your Life

2019-04-16 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:35-43.  Let’s go!

On verses 35-36:  This is an odd story, but what can we learn from it?  When you don’t obey God’s Word, you become vulnerable to the attack of the enemy, whom the Bible describes elsewhere as a lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).  As strange as God’s Word might sometimes seem to finite people like us, God’s Word is there for our protection.  We’re much better off trusting in God’s Word than trusting in ourselves.

On verses 37-43:  Disguising himself as a wounded soldier, the prophet meets King Ahab and tells him, “I agreed to guard a prisoner with my life, but the prisoner got away.”  King Ahab responds, “Then you must pay with your life since you let the prisoner get away.”  The prophet takes off his disguise and tells King Ahab that King Ahab is guilty of the same sin: Ahab let King Ben-Hadad of Aram get away when the Lord had intended that Ben-Hadad should die (v42). As a result, King Ahab would be destined to die in place of Ben-Hadad and the Israelites would suffer in place of the Arameans.  Upon hearing this news Ahab returns home “sullen and angry” (v43).

种子生长面对的挑战

2019-04-16 in /by

马太福音13: 18_23种子生长面对的挑战

18 所以，你们当听这撒种的比喻： 19 凡听见天国道理不明白的，那恶者就来，把所撒在他心里的夺了去，这就是撒在路旁的了。 20 撒在石头地上的，就是人听了道，当下欢喜领受， 21 只因心里没有根，不过是暂时的，及至为道遭了患难，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了。 22 撒在荆棘里的，就是人听了道，后来有世上的思虑、钱财的迷惑把道挤住了，不能结实。 23 撒在好地上的，就是人听道明白了，后来结实，有一百倍的，有六十倍的，有三十倍的。」

一个撒种的比喻看起来好简单，有必要一说再说吗？其实越简单的道理，人越容易忽略，不是吗？这就是为何许多人觉得母亲太囉嗦的原因，母亲的话都是鸡毛小事，却可以让我们不生病不肚饿或有好习惯，可是耳熟能详，却不一定做得到。早餐要吃饱，衣服要挂好，早上起得早，晚上睡觉早，谁不知道呢？只有当母亲不在时，才会想念慈母手中线，其实依然故我。所以在这段经文里强调种子是没问题的，种子落在什么样的地方才是问题。

神的爱和福音就是种子，对每一个人都是一样。但是每个人拿到这种子之后的心态就不一样了。耶稣把人的心态分成四种。我们可以对照一下，看自己的心是哪一型的。A种的心态，听是听了，但是听不明白，也不问个清楚。人家怎样做他就怎样做，也不知道为何而做。所以有的人去教会多年后，忽然又去佛教了，又去烧香，又去算命了。因为他从来不明白福音究竟是怎么一回事。这是很可惜的，好像人吃了食物一点不消化，对自己一点好处也没有。到最后连基础也没了。

用比喻的原由

2019-04-15 in /by

马太福音13: 10_17用比喻的原由

10 门徒进前来，问耶稣说：「对众人讲话为什么用比喻呢？」 11 耶稣回答说：「因为天国的奥祕只叫你们知道，不叫他们知道。 12 凡有的，还要加给他，叫他有余；凡没有的，连他所有的也要夺去。 13 所以我用比喻对他们讲，是因他们看也看不见，听也听不见，也不明白。 14 在他们身上，正应了以赛亚的预言说：『你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。 15 因为这百姓油蒙了心，耳朵发沉，眼睛闭着，恐怕眼睛看见，耳朵听见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。』16 但你们的眼睛是有福的，因为看见了；你们的耳朵也是有福的，因为听见了。17 我实在告诉你们：从前有许多先知和义人要看你们所看的，却没有看见；要听你们所听的，却没有听见。

好像跟成人讲话不能用漫画似的，门徒也觉得耶稣很奇怪，要用比喻对众人讲话。毕德生的翻译总是像在解经，当他翻译这段经文时是这样说的：耶稣对门徒说，你们对神的国己经有个概念，所以一听就明白我的意思。但是对众人而言，其中大多数人听不懂其中的真正意义。

无论何时只要有人准备好了，就能心领神会；若是尚未预备心，即使有蛛丝马迹可以领会的线索也会稍纵即逝。因此我要用比喻，预备他们的心，去帮助他们接受从神来的真理。在他们的现状里，让他们揣摩到世界末日，他们也想不通；就是让他们听到脸都发蓝也还是不明白。

我不希望以赛亚先知所说的话再次应验：『你们听是要听见，却不明白；看是要看见，却不晓得。 15 因为这百姓油蒙了心，耳朵发沉，眼睛闭着，恐怕眼睛看见，耳朵听见，心里明白，回转过来，我就医治他们。』但是现在你们有蒙神祝福的眼，可以看到以前的人想看的；有蒙神祝福的耳，可以听到以前的人想听的。

Don’t Rationalize God Away + Don’t Quickly Trust Those Who Have Tried to Hurt You

2019-04-15 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:23-34. Let’s go!

On verses 23-34:  The officials of Ben-Hadad King of Aram had no idea whom they were dealing with.  They assumed that the reason why the outnumbered Israelites unexpectedly defeated the Arameans at the first battle was because the Israelites were experienced at fighting in the mountains.  “But if we fight them on the plains, we will surely have the upper hand,” the Aramean officials reasoned.  Little did the Aramean officials know that regardless of where they fought, the Israelites were a force to be reckoned only because the Lord was with them. 

So in the next battle, the Israelites overpower the Arameans on their own flat home court, killing 100,000 Aramean soldiers on the plains.  Another 27,000 Aramean soldiers are killed when a city wall in Aphek collapses on them.  The remainder, including King Ben-Hadad, flee.  King Ben-Hadad pleads with King Ahab to spare his life.  Seemingly without giving it a second thought, Ahab receives Ben-Hadad, who had wanted to destroy Ahab and his people, as one receives a brother.  Ahab enters into an economic treaty with Ben-Hadad and lets Ben-Hadad go free.  This would prove to be a fatal mistake on King Ahab’s part.  Three years later in 1 Kings 22, the King of Aram would once again go to war against King Ahab of Israel and this time would succeed in killing Ahab.  

撒种的比喻

2019-04-14 in /by

马太福音13: 1_9撒种的比喻

1当那一天，耶稣从房子里出来，坐在海边。 2 有许多人到他那里聚集，他只得上船坐下，众人都站在岸上。 3 他用比喻对他们讲许多道理，说：「有一个撒种的出去撒种。 4 撒的时候，有落在路旁的，飞鸟来吃尽了。 5 有落在土浅石头地上的，土既不深，发苗最快， 6 日头出来一晒，因为没有根，就枯干了。 7 有落在荆棘里的，荆棘长起来，把它挤住了。 8 又有落在好土里的，就结实，有一百倍的，有六十倍的，有三十倍的。 9 有耳可听的，就应当听！」

撒种的比喻，符类福音都有记载（太13章，可4章，路8章）。而在主所讲比喻里，只有这比喻是主耶稣解释得最详细的，甚至很多比较细微的小点也加以解明。但整个比喻的重点在那里呢？需要很细心的阅读全段。

1. 这比喻有两种不同深度的重点。按概略性的观察，似乎是要说明，神的道在人心中所产生几种不同的果效，道的种子只有一种，心田却有四种。生命的种子虽是一样，但人的心却有四样。神的道所以会在人心中发生不同的效果，不是神的道那方面有问题，而是人的心这方面有问题。但留心上下文反复细读的结果，就可以得着更深入的了解。

2. 注意比喻中虽然有四种心田，却都属两大类。一类听了神的道而结不出子粒的；另一类是听了道而结出子粒的。结不出子粒的有三种不同的因素，结出子粒的也有三种不同的效果－－有一百倍，六十倍，三十倍。撒种的出去撒种，有落在路旁的，有落在浅土石头地上的，也有落在荆棘里的。这几种人结不出子粒的原因各不相同。但不能结实的事实却是一样。种子撒在地上如果不能结实，就连他本来那粒的种子都失去。这些就是“凡没有的连他所有的也要夺去”的那等人。

God Keeps Pursuing You

2019-04-14 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:13-22.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 20:13-14 (NIV) 
13 Meanwhile a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and announced, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do you see this vast army? I will give it into your hand today, and then you will know that I am the LORD.'” 
14 “But who will do this?” asked Ahab. The prophet replied, “This is what the LORD says: ‘The young officers of the provincial commanders will do it.'” “And who will start the battle?” he asked. The prophet answered, “You will.” 

On verses 13-22:  Through an unidentified prophet God tells Ahab that Ahab will be victorious over Ben-Hadad and his armies and that the junior officers under the provincial commanders will lead Ahab’s army to victory.  So Ahab mobilizes 232 junior officers to launch an attack against Ben-Hadad, followed by 7,000 more soldiers.  Meanwhile Ben-Hadad and the kings allied with him are unsuspecting and getting drunk.  When Ben-Hadad hears that Ahab’s forces are advancing against him, Ben-Hadad tells his army to destroy them no matter what (v18).  The junior officers overcome their Aramean opponents, causing them to flee and to sustain heavy losses.   The unnamed prophet warns Ahab not to celebrate too quickly but to prepare for another attack from Aram (v22).

耶稣的母亲和弟弟

2019-04-12 in /by

马太福音12: 46_50耶稣的母亲和弟弟

46 耶稣还对众人说话的时候，不料他母亲和他弟兄站在外边，要与他说话。 47 有人告诉他说：「看哪，你母亲和你弟兄站在外边，要与你说话。」 48 他却回答那人说：「谁是我的母亲？谁是我的弟兄？」 49 就伸手指著门徒说：「看哪，我的母亲，我的弟兄！ 50 凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母亲了。」

按照《圣经》的记载，耶稣是他家的老大，他只有弟弟，没有哥哥。所以在这里正确的翻译是：「他母亲和弟弟站在外边，要对他说话。」那么耶稣有几个弟弟呢？在这里卖个关子，以后再说。

当耶稣听到他的母亲和弟弟来找他时，却把手一伸，指著门徒说：「看哪，我的母亲，我的弟兄！凡遵行我天父旨意的人，就是我的弟兄、姐妹和母亲了。」让我们回想一下，门徒和信徒怎么能成为耶稣的亲人呢？在〈约翰福音〉1章12-13节告诉我们：「凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人，祂就赐他们权柄做神的儿女。这等人不是从血气生的，不是从情欲生的，也不是从人意生的，乃是从神生的。」

所以为什么现在教会里的人彼此称呼弟兄姐妹，为什么会唱「我们成为一家人」，都是因着耶稣，因着凭信心接受了耶稣，就从神那里得着重生的生命，成为神的儿女，耶稣的弟弟和妹妹了。世上的血缘会成为过去，但是在主里的信心缘却会永远连在一起，直到永生。

Don’t Try to Make a Deal with the Devil

2019-04-12 in /by

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Kings 20:1-12.  Let’s go!

1 Kings 20:8 (NIV) 
8  The elders and the people all answered, “Don’t listen to him or agree to his demands.” 

On verses 1-12:  Ben-Hadad king of Aram, together with his entire army and 32 other kings (most likely rulers of smaller neighbouring city states), beseige Israel’s capital city of Samaria.  Ben-Hadad tells Ahab in verse 3, “Your silver and gold are mine, and the best of your wives and children are mine.” (In the Nintendo International Version, Ben-Hadad says, “All your base are belong to us.”)  King Ahab of Israel tries to appease Ben-Hadad by agreeing to give what Ben-Hadad initially asks for — “I and all I have are yours” (v4).  But Ben-Hadad says he wants more and says he will ransack the palaces of Ahab and Ahab’s officials (v5-6).  King Ahab realizes that negotiating with Ben-Hadad is of no use.  With the support of the elders and the people of Israel, King Ahab refuses to let Ben-Hadad enter Samaria (v9).  After a trash-talking exchange between Ahab and Ben-Hadad, Ben-Hadad orders his troops to prepare to attack Samaria (v10).