Spiritual sharings (Judges and 1 Samuel)
2/4/2020
Judges 14:1-3 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there a young Philistine woman. 2 When he returned, he said to his father and mother, “I have seen a Philistine woman in Timnah; now get her for me as my wife.”
3 His father and mother replied, “Isn’t there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?”
To my single friends: I think one of the hardest tests for young singles is to listen to your parents’ suggestion/advice when it comes to dating/marriage. However, remember God made them your parents for a reason and can speak to you through them. They know you well. So, think twice before rejecting their suggestion/advice. Shalom. :) -Mike

2/4/2020
Judges 14:1-3
14 參 孫 下 到 亭 拿 , 在 那 裡 看 見 一 個 女 子 , 是 非 利 士 人 的 女 兒 。
2 參 孫 上 來 稟 告 他 父 母 說 : 我 在 亭 拿 看 見 一 個 女 子 , 是 非 利 士 人 的 女 兒 , 願 你 們 給 我 娶 來 為 妻 。
3 他 父 母 說 : 在 你 弟 兄 的 女 兒 中 , 或 在 本 國 的 民 中 , 豈 沒 有 一 個 女 子 , 何 至 你 去 在 未 受 割 禮 的 非 利 士 人 中 娶 妻 呢 ? 參 孫 對 他 父 親 說 : 願 你 給 我 娶 那 女 子 , 因 我 喜 悅 他 。
對我的單身朋友:我認為對年輕單身人士來說,最艱難的考驗之一是在約會/結婚時聽取父母的建議。 但是,請記住,上帝出於某種原因使他們成為您的父母,並可以通過他們與您說話。 他們很了解你。 因此,在拒絕他們的建議之前,請三思。 沙洛姆。 :)-邁克

2/5/2020
Judges 15:18-19 Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19 Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived. So the spring was called En Hakkore, and it is still there in Lehi.
士師記15 :18-19
18 參 孫 甚 覺 口 渴 , 就 求 告 耶 和 華 說 : 你 既 藉 僕 人 的 手 施 行 這 麼 大 的 拯 救 , 豈 可 任 我 渴 死 、 落 在 未 受 割 禮 的 人 手 中 呢 ?
19 神 就 使 利 希 的 窪 處 裂 開 , 有 水 從 其 中 湧 出 來 。 參 孫 喝 了 , 精 神 復 原 ; 因 此 那 泉 名 叫 隱 哈 歌 利 , 那 泉 直 到 今 日 還 在 利 希 。

It really encourages me to see no matter the sins/mistakes of Samson, when he cried out to the LORD, the LORD hears his prayers. No matter what sins/mistakes you have done in the distant past or even just now, God cares how you are relating to Him at this moment. Are you willing to turn to Him, cry out to Him, receive His mercy and grace to continue to live for and serve Him?
It really encourages me to see no matter the sins/mistakes of Samson, when he cried out to the LORD, the LORD hears his prayers. No matter what sins/mistakes you have done in the distant參孫的罪惡,這實在鼓舞著我,當他向耶和華呼求時,耶和華聽見了他的祈禱。 無論您在遙遠的過去或什至是剛剛犯下的過錯/過失,上帝都在乎您此時與祂的關係。 您願意轉向他,向他大聲呼喊,接受他的憐憫和恩典繼續為他生活和服務嗎?
參孫的罪惡,這實在鼓舞著我,當他向耶和華呼求時,耶和華聽見了他的祈禱。 無論您在遙遠的地方犯了什麼罪/錯

2/6/2020
Judges 16:4-5 Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5 The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels of silver.”
士師記16:4-5
4 後 來 , 參 孫 在 梭 烈 谷 喜 愛 一 個 婦 人 , 名 叫 大 利 拉 。
5 非 利 士 人 的 首 領 上 去 見 那 婦 人 , 對 他 說 : 求 你 誆 哄 參 孫 , 探 探 他 因 何 有 這 麼 大 的 力 氣 , 我 們 用 何 法 能 勝 他 , 捆 綁 剋 制 他 。 我 們 就 每 人 給 你 一 千 一 百 舍 客 勒 銀 子 。

Judges 16 is packed with lessons for us through the story of Samson and Delilah. Actually, the story is not about Delilah (a lost sinner in need of the knowing of God) but about Samson’s sins unchecked which lead to his ultimate downfall. Some lessons: 1) Giving our heart to someone who is opposed to God is dangerous 2) Samson was blinded by his lust before ever being blinded physically by his enemies 3) Get out of an abusive dating relationship quickly 4) Samson forgot his abilities by the grace of God 5) God’s grace is available even when we have ruined our life.

士師記16章通過參孫和得拉的故事為我們提供了很多教訓。 實際上,這個故事不是關於Delilah(一個需要了解上帝的迷失的罪人),而是關於Samson的罪惡,他們導致了他的最終覆滅。 一些教訓:1)給與上帝對立的人一顆心是危險的2)參孫在被敵人敵人蒙蔽之前就被他的慾望蒙蔽了3)很快擺脫了虐待性約會關係4)參孫由於忘記了自己的能力 神的恩典5)即使我們毀了我們的生活,神的恩典也是可以得到的。

2/7/2020
Judges 7:1-2 Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim 2 said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have that silver with me; I took it.”

Then his mother said, “The LORD bless you, my son!”
士 師 記 7:1-2
7 耶 路 巴 力 就 是 基 甸 , 他 和 一 切 跟 隨 的 人 早 晨 起 來 , 在 哈 律 泉 旁 安 營 。 米 甸 營 在 他 們 北 邊 的 平 原 , 靠 近 摩 利 岡 。
2 耶 和 華 對 基 甸 說 : 跟 隨 你 的 人 過 多 , 我 不 能 將 米 甸 人 交 在 他 們 手 中 , 免 得 以 色 列 人 向 我 誇 大 , 說 : 是 我 們 自 己 的 手 救 了 我 們 。

Judges 17 certainly recorded some strange things: 1) A son steals from his mom 2) A mom encourages her son to make an idol 3) A Levite (Priest) goes rogue and sells his service to whoever would hire him 4) All these things happening while they are correctly calling God’s name - LORD (translate from Hebrew “Yaweh”).
The writer of Judges knows the people reading this would think this is weird, so he explains in vs. 6 “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.”

Could these things happen today? You bet. As long as people don’t make a habit of checking their decisions with God’s word, they can easily fall into similar sins - stealing, idolatry, spiritual corruption, etc.. Most importantly is asking God, what are things I have not checked with Your word and done them my own way? May the LORD guide all of our decisions - big and small. Shalom. :)

士師記17當然記錄了一些奇怪的事情:1)一個兒子從他媽媽那裡偷竊2)一個媽媽鼓勵她的兒子做偶像3)一個勒維特(牧師)流氓向任何僱用他的人出售服務4)所有這些 當他們正確地稱呼神的名字-耶和華時發生(從希伯來語“ Yaweh”翻譯而來)。
法官的作者知道讀這本書的人會覺得這很奇怪,因此他在第6節中解釋說:“那時以色列沒有國王; 每個人都按照自己認為合適的方式做。”

這些事情今天會發生嗎? 你打賭 只要人們不習慣用神的話語來檢查自己的決定,他們就很容易陷入類似的罪惡中,例如偷竊,偶像崇拜,精神腐敗等。最重要的是問神,我沒有檢查過哪些東西 你說了算,用自己的方式做到了嗎? 願耶和華指導我們所有大小的決定。 沙洛姆。 :
2/8/2020

Judges 18:19 They answered him, “Be quiet! Don’t say a word. Come with us, and be our father and priest. Isn’t it better that you serve a tribe and clan in Israel as priest rather than just one man’s household?” 20 The priest was very pleased. He took the ephod, the household gods and the idol and went along with the people.
士 師 記 18:19
19 他 們 回 答 說 : 不 要 作 聲 , 用 手 摀 口 , 跟 我 們 去 罷 ! 我 們 必 以 你 為 父 、 為 祭 司 。 你 作 一 家 的 祭 司 好 呢 ? 還 是 作 以 色 列 一 族 一 支 派 的 祭 司 好 呢 ?
士 師 記 18:20
20 祭 司 心 裡 喜 悅 , 便 拿 著 以 弗 得 和 家 中 的 神 像 , 並 雕 刻 的 像 , 進 入 他 們 中 間 。

What lessons can we learn from the corrupt Levite priest? The love of fame, power, money, and pleasures have always been the snares of mankind from the beginning of history. Only by the grace of God and the Spirit of God can we escape these temptations. Even people who don’t know the LORD should know that it is by the grace of God that they can escape these traps. I can only credit the grace of God that before I became a Christian, God by His mercy and grace protect me from many sins. Take a moment to thank the LORD for the multitude of sins He has rescued you from in your life! Shalom. :)

我們可以從腐敗的利未祭司那裡學到什麼教訓? 從歷史開始,對名利,權力,金錢和享樂的熱愛一直是人類的陷阱。 只有靠上帝的恩典和上帝的靈,我們才能擺脫這些試探。 即使是不認識耶和華的人也應該知道,靠著上帝的恩典,他們才能擺脫這些陷阱。 我只能讚美上帝的恩典,在我成為基督徒之前,上帝藉著他的憐憫和恩典保護我免受許多罪惡。 花點時間感謝耶和華為您救出的許多罪孽! 沙洛姆。 :)

2/9/2020
Judges 19:22 While they were celebrating, behold, the men of the city, certain worthless fellows, surrounded the house, pounding the door; and they spoke to the owner of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house that we may have relations with him.” (NASB)
士 師 記 19:
22 他 們 心 裡 正 歡 暢 的 時 候 , 城 中 的 匪 徒 圍 住 房 子 , 連 連 叩 門 , 對 房 主 老 人 說 : 你 把 那 進 你 家 的 人 帶 出 來 , 我 們 要 與 他 交 合 。

This scene in Judges 19 is strikingly similar to what Lot encountered when the 2 angels visited him before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). No one would imagine Sodom and Gomorrah could happen again among the 12 tribes. Yet it did, except this time God did not judge them in the same way. Let’s pray today that Sodom and Gomorrah will not happen in our days. Pray for God to cleanse people and bring them back to a right relationship with Him.
士師記19中的場面與羅得在所多瑪和蛾摩拉(創世紀19)被毀之前兩個天使探訪他時所遇到的場景極為相似。 沒有人會想到多瑪和戈莫拉會在這12個部落中再次發生。 但事實確實如此,只是這次上帝沒有以同樣的方式審判他們。 今天,我們祈禱索多瑪和戈莫拉在我們的時代不會發生。 祈求上帝潔淨人們,使他們回到與祂的正確關係。

2/10/2020
Judges 20:34 When ten thousand choice men from all Israel came against Gibeah, the battle became fierce; but Benjamin did not know that disaster was close to them. 35 And the LORD struck Benjamin before Israel, so that the sons of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day, all who draw the sword. (NASB)
士 師 記 20:34
34 有 以 色 列 人 中 的 一 萬 精 兵 , 來 到 基 比 亞 前 接 戰 , 勢 派 甚 是 凶 猛 ; 便 雅 憫 人 卻 不 知 道 災 禍 臨 近 了 。
士 師 記 20:35
35 耶 和 華 使 以 色 列 人 殺 敗 便 雅 憫 人 。 那 日 , 以 色 列 人 殺 死 便 雅 憫 人 二 萬 五 千 一 百 , 都 是 拿 刀 的 。

The tribe of Benjamin “did not know that disaster was close to them.” How can we know if disaster is close to us? Or in other words, how can we not know when disaster is close to us? Have you ignored anything God is saying to you? Have you ignored anything people have been saying to you? When we ignore warnings from God or people, then disaster may be close to us. Sometimes, the disaster takes a while, or sometimes it comes suddenly. Most importantly is do we heed the warnings and avoid the disaster? Shalom. :)
本傑明部落“不知道災難就在他們附近。” 我們怎麼知道災難是否臨近我們? 或者換句話說,我們怎麼不知道何時災難臨近? 你有沒有忽略上帝對你說的話? 您是否忽略了別人對您說的任何話? 當我們無視來自上帝或人民的警告時,災難可能就在我們身邊。 有時,災難需要一段時間,或者有時會突然發生。 最重要的是我們是否注意警告並避免災難? 沙洛姆。 :)

2/11/2020
Judges 21:16 Then the elders of the congregation said, “What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?” 17 They said, “There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, so that a tribe will not be blotted out from Israel.
士 師 記 21:16
16 會 中 的 長 老 說 : 便 雅 憫 中 的 女 子 既 然 除 滅 了 , 我 們 當 怎 樣 辦 理 、 使 那 餘 剩 的 人 有 妻 呢 ?
士 師 記 21:17
17 又 說 : 便 雅 憫 逃 脫 的 人 當 有 地 業 , 免 得 以 色 列 中 塗 抹 了 一 個 支 派 。

As Valentine’s Day approaches, young single people may be thinking about relationships. What is the purpose of marriage? It’s to raise up a godly family that would fear and serve the LORD. Sometimes the search can become so complicated. I remember as a young single Christian, when I meet sisters in the fellowship, I would be excited at first to know them, but after a while would start to see this flaw or that flaw in them, and then take them off my list. Is the goal to find the “flawless” person? Maybe that “flawless” person is just someone who is better at hiding their flaws. Regardless, the most important question is whether they have a relationship with the LORD? If so, God can take care of the details and just trust in Him! Shalom. :)
隨著情人節的臨近,年輕的單身人士可能正在思考戀愛關係。 結婚的目的是什麼? 是要建立一個敬畏敬畏耶和華的家庭。 有時搜索可能變得如此復雜。 我還記得,作為一個年輕的單身基督徒,當我在團契中遇到姐妹時,我首先會很高興認識他們,但是過了一會兒就會開始看到他們中的缺陷或缺陷,然後將他們從我的名單上刪除。 尋找“完美”人的目標是? 也許那個“完美無瑕”的人只是一個善於掩飾自己缺點的人。 無論如何,最重要的問題是他們是否與耶和華有關係? 如果是這樣,上帝可以照顧細節,只相信他! 沙洛姆。 :)

2/12/2020

Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.”
路 得 記 1:16
16 路 得 說 : 不 要 催 我 回 去 不 跟 隨 你 。 你 往 哪 裡 去 , 我 也 往 那 裡 去 ; 你 在 哪 裡 住 宿 , 我 也 在 那 裡 住 宿 ; 你 的 國 就 是 我 的 國 , 你 的 神 就 是 我 的 神 。
路 得 記 1:17
17 你 在 哪 裡 死 , 我 也 在 那 裡 死 , 也 葬 在 那 裡 。 除 非 死 能 使 你 我 相 離 ! 不 然 , 願 耶 和 華 重 重 地 降 罰 與 我 。

Ruth’s commitment to her dead husband’s mother-in-law is nothing short of extraordinary. What caused her to be so committed? I believe her commitment started the moment she, as a Moabitess, decided to marry an Israelite (God’s people) husband . She already decided to follow her husband when she got married. Even though her husband died, she continues to be committed to her decision to follow her husband’s family. May God give us wisdom from the example of Ruth. Shalom. :)
露絲(Ruth)對已故丈夫的婆婆的承諾無與倫比。 是什麼使她如此忠誠? 我相信她的承諾始於她作為Moabites成員決定與一個以色列人(上帝的人民)丈夫結婚的那一刻。 結婚後,她已經決定跟隨丈夫。 即使丈夫去世了,她仍然繼續致力於跟隨丈夫的家人。 願上帝從露絲的榜樣中給我們智慧。 沙洛姆。 :)

2/13/2020

Ruth 3:11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (NIV)
路 得 記 3:11
11 女 兒 啊 , 現 在 不 要 懼 怕 , 凡 你 所 說 的 , 我 必 照 著 行 ; 我 本 城 的 人 都 知 道 你 是 個 賢 德 的 女 子 。
路 得 記 3:12
12 我 實 在 是 你 一 個 至 近 的 親 屬 , 只 是 還 有 一 個 人 比 我 更 近 。

May the LORD reward you for your faithfulness and struggles to keep His word. When you received Christ as your LORD and Savior, you have come under the wings of the LORD, the God of Israel to seek refuge. You have left the old way of life under the bondage of sin, being set free to serve the living God. In your struggles against sin and in keeping His word, remember your reward is from God, not from man. There may be encouragement from fellow brothers/sisters as you follow the LORD, but those are never the source of your satisfaction. Your satisfaction is in a deeper communion with the LORD
. 願耶和華因你的忠心和為遵守他的道而作的努力回報你。 當你接受基督作為你的耶和華和救主時,你就來到以色列的上帝耶和華的翅膀下尋求庇護。 你們在罪的束縛下離開了舊的生活方式,被釋放為服務永生的上帝。 在你與罪惡作鬥爭並遵守他的話時,要記住你的獎賞是來自上帝,而不是人。 當您跟隨耶和華時,可能會得到兄弟姐妹的鼓勵,但這些從來都不是您滿意的源頭。 您的滿意是與耶和華的更深交流。

2/14/2020
Ruth 3:5 “I will do whatever you say,” Ruth answered. 6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.
11 And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

路 得 記 3:5-6
5 路 得 說 : 凡 你 所 吩 咐 的 , 我 必 遵 行 。
6 路 得 就 下 到 場 上 , 照 他 婆 婆 所 吩 咐 他 的 而 行 。
路 得 記 3:11 11 女 兒 啊 , 現 在 不 要 懼 怕 , 凡 你 所 說 的 , 我 必 照 著 行 ; 我 本 城 的 人 都 知 道 你 是 個 賢 德 的 女 子 。

Ruth has shown she is a woman of noble character by her commitment to her dead husband’s mother Naomi. She has embraced Naomi’s people and the God of Israel. She has followed all that her mother-in-law told her to do. She is truly a woman of noble character. We can be people of noble character - if we are submissive to the LORD and to each other in Christ, not seeking only our own interests, but also the interests of others, seeing others as more important than ourselves. May the LORD do a great work in our hearts to make us people of noble character. Shalom. :)
露絲(Ruth)對已故丈夫的母親內奧米(Naomi)的承諾表明,她是一位高尚的女人。 她擁抱了納奧米的人民和以色列的上帝。 她一直按照婆婆的指示去做。 她確實是一位高尚的女人。 我們可以成為高尚品格的人-如果我們順服耶和華,在基督裡彼此順服,不僅追求自己的利益,也追求他人的利益,認為他人比我們自己更重要。 願耶和華在我們心中做偉大的工作,使我們成為高尚的人。 沙洛姆。 :)

2/15/2020
Ruth 4:16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse. 17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi!” So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
路 得 記 4:16-17
16 拿 俄 米 就 把 孩 子 抱 在 懷 中 , 作 他 的 養 母 。
17 鄰 舍 的 婦 人 說 : 拿 俄 米 得 孩 子 了 ! 就 給 孩 子 起 名 叫 俄 備 得 。 這 俄 備 得 是 耶 西 的 父 , 耶 西 是 大 衛 的 父 。

The ultimate purpose of the Book of Ruth is to tell us how God provided the Redeemer for the world through the line of king David. Through the tragedy of the deaths of Naomi’s husband and sons, selflessness and commitment of Ruth to her mother-in-law, generosity and kindness of Boaz, obedience of Ruth to Naomi, and the supernatural acts of God to bring Ruth to Boaz and Boaz to redeem the inheritance of Naomi’s family, we see God’s hands in every single details of their lives. Do you see God’s hands in every single detail of your life? Whatever you went through and are going through right now will not be wasted if you place all of your life into God’s hands. May He weave a beautiful story in your life for His glory. Shalom. :)
《路得記》的最終目的是告訴我們上帝如何通過大衛王的路線向世界提供救贖主。 經歷了娜奧米丈夫和兒子去世的悲劇,露絲對婆婆的無私奉獻和承諾,波阿斯的慷慨與善良,露絲對拿俄米的服從以及上帝將露絲帶給波阿斯和波阿斯的超自然行為 為了贖回拿俄米一家的遺產,我們在他們生活的每個細節中都看到了上帝的手。 您在生活的每個細節中都看到神的手嗎? 如果您將一生都投入上帝的手中,那麼無論您經歷了什麼,現在正在經歷的一切,都不會浪費。 願他為你的榮耀編織一個美麗的故事。 沙洛姆。 :)

2/16/2020
1 Samuel 1:22 But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, “I will not go up until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD and stay there forever.” 23 Elkanah her husband said to her, “Do what seems best to you. Remain until you have weaned him; only may the LORD confirm His word.” So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him.
撒 母 耳 記 上 1:22-23
22 哈 拿 卻 沒 有 上 去 , 對 丈 夫 說 : 等 孩 子 斷 了 奶 , 我 便 帶 他 上 去 朝 見 耶 和 華 , 使 他 永 遠 住 在 那 裡 。
23 他 丈 夫 以 利 加 拿 說 : 就 隨 你 的 意 行 罷 ! 可 以 等 兒 子 斷 了 奶 。 但 願 耶 和 華 應 驗 他 的 話 。 於 是 婦 人 在 家 裡 乳 養 兒 子 , 直 到 斷 了 奶 ;

Reading again the story of Hannah praying for a son from God and vowing to dedicated her son to serve the LORD all the days of his life as a Nazirite, touched my heart to see how she kept her vow to the LORD even though it means giving up her first-born son to serve the LORD, not being with him and see him grow up in her home. Not only did Hannah keep her vow to God, but her husband agreed to keep her vow as well. In the OT, the husband can nullify the vow of his wife (refer to Numbers 30:13-15). Yet, Elkanah did not do that because he knows it is God’s will. May God help us to be people of integrity, let our “yes” be “yes” and “no” be “no.” Shalom. :)
再讀一次漢娜為納粹祈禱的兒子的故事,並誓言要獻出自己的兒子為納粹分子一生奉獻給耶和華,這使我感動不已,儘管她意味著 她的長子要服侍耶和華,不要與他同在,要看見他在她家里長大。 漢娜不僅向上帝宣誓,而且丈夫也同意向上帝宣誓。 在舊約中,丈夫可以廢除妻子的誓言(請參閱民數記30:13-15)。 但是,以利加那並沒有這麼做,因為他知道這是上帝的旨意。 願上帝幫助我們成為正直的人,讓我們的“是”為“是”,“不”為“不”。 沙洛姆。 :)

2/17/2020
1 Samuel 2:29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and at My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling, and honor your sons above Me, by making yourselves fat with the choicest of every offering of My people Israel?’ 30 Therefore the LORD God of Israel declares, ‘I did indeed say that your house and the house of your father should walk before Me forever’; but now the LORD declares, ‘Far be it from Me—for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.
撒 母 耳 記 上 2:29-30
29 我 所 吩 咐 獻 在 我 居 所 的 祭 物 , 你 們 為 何 踐 踏 ? 尊 重 你 的 兒 子 過 於 尊 重 我 , 將 我 民 以 色 列 所 獻 美 好 的 祭 物 肥 己 呢 ?
30 因 此 , 耶 和 華 ─ 以 色 列 的 神 說 : 我 曾 說 , 你 和 你 父 家 必 永 遠 行 在 我 面 前 ; 現 在 我 卻 說 , 決 不 容 你 們 這 樣 行 。 因 為 尊 重 我 的 , 我 必 重 看 他 ; 藐 視 我 的 , 他 必 被 輕 視

God has made His principle very clear - “for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me will be lightly esteemed.” There is no way to get around this. No matter how great we become in our life, this principle remains. Whether we have done great things for God in the past or attain great positions in the world, we can’t escape this principle. In Eli’s case, he failed to discipline his sons for their disregard of the holy things of the LORD and even joined in what they were doing. May God grant us a humble heart, so that every day we will look to the LORD and say, “Here I am, I have come to do Your will.”
上帝已經清楚地表明了他的原則:“對於那些尊敬我的人,我將予以尊敬,而那些鄙視我的人將受到輕視。” 沒有辦法解決這個問題。 不管我們在生活中變得多麼偉大,這個原則仍然存在。 無論我們過去為上帝做過偉大的事情,還是在世界上獲得了重要地位,我們都無法逃脫這一原則。 在以利的情況下,他未能對兒子們進行管教,因為他們無視耶和華的聖潔事物,甚至加入了他們所做的事情。 願上帝賜予我們謙卑的心,以便我們每天仰望耶和華說:“我在這裡,我來遵行了您的旨意。”

2/18/2020
1 Samuel 3: 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor had the word of the LORD yet been revealed to him. 8 So the LORD called Samuel again for the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli discerned that the LORD was calling the boy. 9 And Eli said to Samuel, “Go lie down, and it shall be if He calls you, that you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
撒 母 耳 記 上 3:7-9
7 那 時 撒 母 耳 還 未 認 識 耶 和 華 , 也 未 得 耶 和 華 的 默 示 。
8 耶 和 華 第 三 次 呼 喚 撒 母 耳 。 撒 母 耳 起 來 , 到 以 利 那 裡 , 說 : 你 又 呼 喚 我 ? 我 在 這 裡 。 以 利 才 明 白 是 耶 和 華 呼 喚 童 子 。
9 因 此 以 利 對 撒 母 耳 說 : 你 仍 去 睡 罷 ; 若 再 呼 喚 你 , 你 就 說 : 耶 和 華 啊 , 請 說 , 僕 人 敬 聽 ! 撒 母 耳 就 去 , 仍 睡 在 原 處 。

In 1 Samuel 3, we see the story of how Samuel was called to be a prophet of the LORD. Samuel did not yet have a personal relationship with the LORD, even though he was serving in the temple. He didn’t know it was the LORD who was calling him. The only one he knew would be calling his name is his boss - Eli the priest. Jesus’ disciples have the responsibility to help others to first have a personal relationship with the LORD, and then disciple them to listen to and obey the LORD through prayer, reading the Bible, spiritual counsel, and other ways God speaks. I learned a lot of this through the workbook “Experiencing God” by Henry Blackaby. May God help us to know Him more. Shalom. :)
在《撒母耳記》第1章3中,我們看到了有關撒母耳是如何被稱為耶和華的先知的故事。 撒母耳雖然在聖殿中服事,但尚未與耶和華建立私人關係。 他不知道是耶和華在呼喚他。 他唯一會叫他名字的人是他的老闆-祭司以利。 耶穌的門徒有責任幫助其他人先與耶和華建立個人關係,然後再通過祈禱,閱讀聖經,靈性建議和其他上帝說話的方式,使他們門徒去聽並服從耶和華。 我通過亨利·布萊克比(Henry Blackaby)的“體驗上帝”工作簿中學到了很多。 願上帝幫助我們更多地了解他。 沙洛姆。 :)

2/19/2020
1 Samuel 4:3 When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us take to ourselves from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that it may come among us and deliver us from the power of our enemies.”
撒 母 耳 記 上 4:3
3 百 姓 回 到 營 裡 , 以 色 列 的 長 老 說 : 耶 和 華 今 日 為 何 使 我 們 敗 在 非 利 士 人 面 前 呢 ? 我 們 不 如 將 耶 和 華 的 約 櫃 從 示 羅 抬 到 我 們 這 裡 來 , 好 在 我 們 中 間 救 我 們 脫 離 敵 人 的 手 。

10 So the Philistines fought and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent; and the slaughter was very great, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
撒 母 耳 記 上 4:10-11
10 非 利 士 人 和 以 色 列 人 打 仗 , 以 色 列 人 敗 了 , 各 向 各 家 奔 逃 , 被 殺 的 人 甚 多 , 以 色 列 的 步 兵 仆 倒 了 三 萬 。
11 神 的 約 櫃 被 擄 去 , 以 利 的 兩 個 兒 子 何 弗 尼 、 非 尼 哈 也 都 被 殺 了 。

In 1 Samuel 4, the LORD fulfilled His judgment on Eli and his 2 sons for their sins of not regarding the things of the LORD as holy. It started with the defeat of Israel by the Philistines. Then they made a huge mistake of taking the ark of the covenant of the LORD to the battle field. Not only were they defeated, but the ark was captured by the Philistines. Eli was worried about the ark even more than about his sons because he knows his chief responsibility is to guard the ark of God as the priest. There are a lot of things that can be said about what happened. Eli first lost control of his sons, then Eli lost control of his spiritual authority by letting the elders have their way with the ark, finally Eli lost his life after hearing the news the ark was taken, and Eli lost his daughter-in-law as she bears a son. His daughter-in-law lost all hope saying, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God was taken.” (v.22)

What should we do after a major spiritual defeat? First, recognize God is not defined by the thing that failed, whether it is a ministry, spiritual commitments, relationships, etc... The spiritual defeat does not mean God is gone. God is still there and His glory will not be defined by anything that we can see. Even in utter darkness, God is still glorious. So, let us not look at anything in the world as what “defines” God for you. Whether it is a church, ministry, spiritual commitments, relationships, etc.. God’s glory remains if we are willing to continue seeking Him. Shalom. :) 在撒母耳記下4章,耶和華對以利和他的兩個兒子沒有按耶和華的事為聖的罪完成了他的審判。它始於非利士人擊敗以色列。然後他們犯了一個重大錯誤,把耶和華的約櫃帶到戰場上。他們不僅被擊敗,而且方舟被非利士人俘虜。以利比他的兒子更擔心方舟,因為他知道他的主要責任是守護神的方舟。關於發生的事情,有很多事情可以說。以利首先失去了對兒子的控制權,然後讓長者與方舟相依,從而失去了精神權威的控制,在聽到方舟被捕的消息後,以利最終喪生,以利失去了兒daughter婦因為她有一個兒子。他的daughter婦失去了所有希望,說:“榮耀已經離開以色列,因為上帝的約櫃被奪了。” (第22節)

在重大精神挫敗之後我們該怎麼辦?首先,認識到上帝不是由失敗的事物所定義的,無論是事工,屬靈的承諾,人際關係等。屬靈的失敗並不意味著上帝已經消失。上帝仍在那兒,我們所能看到的一切都不會定義他的榮耀。即使在完全黑暗中,上帝仍然是光榮的。因此,讓我們不要看世界上任何事物為您“定義”上帝。無論是教堂,事工,屬靈的承諾,人際關係等等。如果我們願意繼續尋求神,神的榮耀依然存在。沙洛姆。 :)

2/20/2020
5:1 Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
6 Now the hand of the LORD was heavy on the Ashdodites, and He ravaged them and smote them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories.
5 非 利 士 人 將 神 的 約 櫃 從 以 便 以 謝 抬 到 亞 實 突 。
6 耶 和 華 的 手 重 重 加 在 亞 實 突 人 身 上 , 敗 壞 他 們 , 使 他 們 生 痔 瘡 。 亞 實 突 和 亞 實 突 的 四 境 都 是 如 此 。

After the Philistines captured the ark of God from Israel, they tried to first place it in their temple, but found their god’s statute was cut to pieces during the night. Then God started to afflict them with tumors and many Philistines died. Today, getting a tumor or cancer in the body is very scary. Yet, I hope through the story, you see that God is in control of the tumors. When we know God is in control of all these things, then we can have faith that our loving God will not leave us at the mercy of any deadly sickness, but He has power over all these diseases. Shalom. :)
非利士人從以色列手中奪取了上帝的約櫃之後,他們試圖首先將其放置在他們的聖殿中,但發現他們的上帝的法規在夜間被粉碎了。 然後上帝開始用腫瘤折磨他們,許多非利士人死了。 如今,體內出現腫瘤或癌症非常令人恐懼。 但是,我希望通過這個故事,您可以看到上帝控制了這些腫瘤。 當我們知道上帝控制了所有這些事情時,我們就可以相信,我們慈愛的上帝不會讓我們任由任何致命的疾病擺佈,但他擁有控制所有這些疾病的能力。 沙洛姆。 :)

2/21/2020
1 Samuel 6:2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we shall send it to its place.” 3 They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but you shall surely return to Him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”
2 非 利 士 人 將 祭 司 和 占 卜 的 聚 了 來 , 問 他 們 說 : 我 們 向 耶 和 華 的 約 櫃 應 當 怎 樣 行 ? 請 指 示 我 們 用 何 法 將 約 櫃 送 回 原 處 。
3 他 們 說 : 若 要 將 以 色 列 神 的 約 櫃 送 回 去 , 不 可 空 空 地 送 去 , 必 要 給 他 獻 賠 罪 的 禮 物 , 然 後 你 們 可 得 痊 愈 , 並 知 道 他 的 手 為 何 不 離 開 你 們 。

5 So you shall make likenesses of your tumors and likenesses of your mice that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will ease His hand from you, your gods, and your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He had severely dealt with them, did they not allow the people to go, and they departed? 撒 母 耳 記 上 6:5 Chinese Union Version (Traditional) (CUV)
5 所 以 當 製 造 你 們 痔 瘡 的 像 和 毀 壞 你 們 田 地 老 鼠 的 像 , 並 要 歸 榮 耀 給 以 色 列 的 神 , 或 者 他 向 你 們 和 你 們 的 神 , 並 你 們 的 田 地 , 把 手 放 輕 些 。

9 Watch, if it goes up by the way of its own territory to Beth-shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we will know that it was not His hand that struck us; it happened to us by chance.” 撒 母 耳 記 上 6:9 Chinese Union Version (Traditional) (CUV)
9 你 們 要 看 看 : 車 若 直 行 以 色 列 的 境 界 到 伯 示 麥 去 , 這 大 災 就 是 耶 和 華 降 在 我 們 身 上 的 ; 若 不 然 , 便 可 以 知 道 不 是 他 的 手 擊 打 我 們 , 是 我 們 偶 然 遇 見 的 。

During this time, 1 Samuel chapter 6 provides us some truths for us to reflect on.
1. The plague of the Philistines was an example from God to show the plagues of Egypt was a lesson for all nations not to oppress God’s people and allow them to worship Him. Notice this plague involved mice which ravaged the land.
2. The plagues of Egypt is the lesson for all nations to learn from when they experience a plague from God.
3. God is willing to accept guilt offerings even from pagan people and their rulers.
4. God wants the Philistines to know clearly that this plague was from Him and not “by chance”, not by accident.
5.God’s ultimate purpose for the plague is for all people to repent of their sins and know Him as their LORD and Savior.
在這段時間內,撒母耳記下的第六章為我們提供了一些值得我們反思的真理。
1.非利士人的災難是上帝的榜樣,表明埃及的災難是所有國家的教訓,不要壓迫上帝的子民並允許他們敬拜上帝。 請注意,這場瘟疫涉及破壞土地的老鼠。
2.埃及的瘟疫是所有國家從上帝那裡遭受瘟疫的教訓。
3.上帝也願意接受異教徒及其統治者的內祭。
4.上帝希望非利士人清楚地知道這場瘟疫是來自他的,而不是“偶然”而不是偶然。
5.上帝對瘟疫的最終目的是讓所有人悔改自己的罪過,並將他視為耶和華和救主。

2/22/2020
1 Samuel 7:5 Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.

7 Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.
撒 母 耳 記 上 7:5-7
5 撒 母 耳 說 : 要 使 以 色 列 眾 人 聚 集 在 米 斯 巴 , 我 好 為 你 們 禱 告 耶 和 華 。
6 他 們 就 聚 集 在 米 斯 巴 , 打 水 澆 在 耶 和 華 面 前 , 當 日 禁 食 , 說 : 我 們 得 罪 了 耶 和 華 。 於 是 撒 母 耳 在 米 斯 巴 審 判 以 色 列 人 。
7 非 利 士 人 聽 見 以 色 列 人 聚 集 在 米 斯 巴 , 非 利 士 的 首 領 就 上 來 要 攻 擊 以 色 列 人 。 以 色 列 人 聽 見 , 就 懼 怕 非 利 士 人 。
As we turned to the LORD in repentance and pray for His work of salvation and revival, there will inevitably be spiritual opposition. Why would Satan want people taken out of his dominion? In these verses, we see that the people prayed and fasted and repented before the LORD. This is all good. However, immediately, they were attacked. Then they kept crying out to God and offered up a whole burnt offering. The lamb represents the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. His blood cleanses us from our sins so that we can be holy vessels to serve the LORD. A whole burnt offering symbolizing a total dedication of a person to the LORD. What I see from these verses is that in spiritual warfare, either you totally dedicated yourself to the LORD, or don’t engage until you are ready. If you are only in it half-heartedly, don’t expect God to grant you victory. Of course, you may point out how half-hearted Jonah preached in Nineveh and the whole city repented. It just shows God can do anything to accomplish His purposes despite our sins. However, it is not an example for us to follow. Shalom. :)

當我們悔改轉向耶和華並為他的救恩和復興而祈禱時,不可避免地會有屬靈的反對。撒旦為什麼要讓人們擺脫他的統治?在這些經文中,我們看到百姓在耶和華面前禱告,禁食,悔改。一切都很好。但是,他們立即遭到攻擊。然後他們不斷向上帝呼求,並獻出了全部burn祭。羔羊代表耶穌基督在十字架上的犧牲。祂的血使我們從罪孽中洗淨,使我們成為服務耶和華的聖器。整個whole祭象徵著一個人完全奉獻給耶和華。從這些經文中我看到的是,在屬靈爭戰中,您要么全心全意奉獻給耶和華,要么就不准備好投入。如果您只是半心半意地呆在裡面,不要指望上帝會賜予您勝利。當然,您可能會指出喬納斯在尼尼微宣講的事是多麼無聊,整個城市都city悔了。它只表明儘管我們有罪,上帝仍可以做任何事情來實現他的目的。但是,這不是我們可以效仿的例子。沙洛姆。 :)
02/23/2020
1 Samuel 8:7 The LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. 8 Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
撒 母 耳 記 上 8:7-8
7 耶 和 華 對 撒 母 耳 說 : 百 姓 向 你 說 的 一 切 話 , 你 只 管 依 從 ; 因 為 他 們 不 是 厭 棄 你 , 乃 是 厭 棄 我 , 不 要 我 作 他 們 的 王 。
8 自 從 我 領 他 們 出 埃 及 到 如 今 , 他 們 常 常 離 棄 我 , 事 奉 別 神 。 現 在 他 們 向 你 所 行 的 , 是 照 他 們 素 來 所 行 的 。

Samuel felt really rejected that the people didn’t want him to judge over them, but wanted a king like the other nations. God comforted Samuel to let him know that the people didn’t reject Samuel, but they are rejecting God. God has His plan to raise up a king who would be after His own heart - who is King David. However, the people wanted a king first before God was ready to give them a king. Again, this shows sometimes we want something based on our own desires based on our own schedule, however, God has His own timing to prepare something better for us. Let us not reject the leadership and Lordship of the LORD, falling into the sins of forsaking the LORD and serving other gods. Shalom. :)
塞繆爾(Samuel)感到非常拒絕人民不希望他審判他們,而是希望像其他國家一樣成為國王。 上帝安慰塞繆爾,讓他知道人民並沒有拒絕塞繆爾,但他們是在拒絕上帝。 上帝有計劃養育一位將跟隨他自己的心的國王-大衛王。 但是,在上帝準備給他們國王之前,人民首先要國王。 同樣,這表明有時我們希望根據自己的日程根據自己的願望來尋求某些東西,但是,上帝有自己的時機為我們準備更好的東西。 讓我們不要拒絕耶和華的領導和主權,陷入拋棄耶和華和事奉其他神靈的罪過。 沙洛姆。 :)

02/24/2020
1 Samuel 9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor. 2 He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.
撒 母 耳 記 上 9:1-2
9 有 一 個 便 雅 憫 人 , 名 叫 基 士 , 是 便 雅 憫 人 亞 斐 亞 的 玄 孫 , 比 歌 拉 的 曾 孫 , 洗 羅 的 孫 子 , 亞 別 的 兒 子 , 是 個 大 能 的 勇 士 ( 或 譯 : 大 財 主 ) 。
2 他 有 一 個 兒 子 , 名 叫 掃 羅 , 又 健 壯 、 又 俊 美 , 在 以 色 列 人 中 沒 有 一 個 能 比 他 的 ; 身 體 比 眾 民 高 過 一 頭 。

Why did God choose Saul to be the first king of Israel? From the description of Saul and his family background, he would be a natural choice. His father was a “mighty man of valor.” Saul was the most handsome and tallest man in Israel. A true stud! A man people will look up to and follow. Born to be a leader. But don’t God judge by the heart and not by outward appearance? Could it be God was just giving the people what they wanted? They wanted a king like the other nations, so God gave them what they wanted. Saul’s look and stature will satisfy questions about why God chose him to be king over Israel. Even Samuel did not ask God, “Why did you choose this person?” Samuel must have also been impressed with Saul’s appearance. This story really reminds us not to let “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16) direct our life. That we will not be people who just look at the outward appearance and not at the heart. Shalom. :)
上帝為何選擇掃羅為以色列的第一任國王? 從索爾及其家庭背景的描述來看,他將是一個自然的選擇。 他的父親是一個“英勇的人”。 掃羅是以色列最英俊,最高的男人。 一個真正的螺柱! 一個人會仰望並跟隨。 天生就是一個領導者。 但是神不是憑心判斷,不是憑外表判斷嗎? 難道是上帝只是在給人們他們想要的東西? 他們想要像其他國家一樣的國王,所以上帝給了他們他們想要的。 掃羅的容貌和身材將滿足有關上帝為何選擇他為以色列國王的疑問。 甚至塞繆爾也沒有問上帝,“你為什麼選擇這個人?” 塞繆爾(Samuel)一定也對掃羅(Saul)的出現印象深刻。 這個故事確實提醒我們不要讓“肉體的慾望,眼睛的慾望和生命的驕傲”(約翰一書2:16)指導我們的生活。 我們不會成為只看外表而不是內心的人。 沙洛姆。 :)

02/28/2020
1Samuel 13:10 As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him and to greet him. 11 But Samuel said, “What have you done?” And Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattering from me, and that you did not come within the appointed days, and that the Philistines were assembling at Michmash, 12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not asked the favor of the LORD.’ So I forced myself and offered the burnt offering.” (NASB)
撒 母 耳 記 上 13:10-12
10 剛 獻 完 燔 祭 , 撒 母 耳 就 到 了 。 掃 羅 出 去 迎 接 他 , 要 問 他 好 。
11 撒 母 耳 說 : 你 做 的 是 甚 麼 事 呢 ? 掃 羅 說 : 因 為 我 見 百 姓 離 開 我 散 去 , 你 也 不 照 所 定 的 日 期 來 到 , 而 且 非 利 士 人 聚 集 在 密 抹 。
12 所 以 我 心 裡 說 : 恐 怕 我 沒 有 禱 告 耶 和 華 。 非 利 士 人 下 到 吉 甲 攻 擊 我 , 我 就 勉 強 獻 上 燔 祭 。

In our walk with the LORD, He tests us to see whether we will obey Him and wait for him instead of trying to “fix” things on our own. Saul knew he should wait for Samuel to come and it is not his role to offer the sacrifice, which only Samuel the priest can do. Yet, in the moment of fear and false urgency, Saul went ahead to “fix” the situation by himself, even though he is the king, not the priest. Today, God made us His priests on earth with different roles in the church, which we need to follow. In all things, we need to wait for God’s directions. Waiting for God’s directions is a big home work, but God is testing us to see whether we will trust Him to lead, instead of trying to “fix” things without Him. Shalom. :)
在我們與耶和華同行時,他測試我們看我們是否會服從他並等待他,而不是試圖自己“修理”東西。 掃羅知道他應該等撒母耳來,獻祭不是他的職責,只有祭司撒母耳才能做。 然而,在恐懼和錯誤的緊急時刻,掃羅繼續親自“解決”局勢,儘管他是國王,而不是牧師。 今天,上帝讓我們在世上的神職人員在教會中扮演了不同的角色,我們需要遵循這一角色。 無論如何,我們都需要等待神的指示。 等待神的指示是一項艱鉅的家庭工作,但神正在測試我們是否願意相信他的領導,而不是試圖在沒有神的情況下“解決”問題。 沙洛姆。 :)

02/29/2020
1 Samuel 14:47 Now when Saul had taken the kingdom over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, the sons of Ammon, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines; and wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment. 48 He acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them. (NASB)
撒 母 耳 記 上 14:47-48
47 掃 羅 執 掌 以 色 列 的 國 權 , 常 常 攻 擊 他 四 圍 的 一 切 仇 敵 , 就 是 摩 押 人 、 亞 捫 人 、 以 東 人 , 和 瑣 巴 諸 王 , 並 非 利 士 人 。 他 無 論 往 何 處 去 , 都 打 敗 仇 敵 。
48 掃 羅 奮 勇 攻 擊 亞 瑪 力 人 , 救 了 以 色 列 人 脫 離 搶 掠 他 們 之 人 的 手 。

1 Samuel 14 chronicles the chaotic leadership of Saul. Even his own son did not consult him and went first to fight against the Philistines and God was with Jonathan and caused earthquakes to defeat the Philistines. Saul put the people under oath not to eat anything to satisfy his own desire to take out the Philistines as quickly as possible, not thinking how it will weaken his whole army so they won’t have the energy to keep fighting. God was still with Saul to accomplish his purposes. However, Saul did not reflect and repent of his own sins and this kind of unrepentant lifestyle leads to his downfall despite his “successes” in battle for the LORD. May we be ever sensitive to our sins and short-comings so we can constantly do course corrections to keep a straight path in following the LORD. Shalom. :)
塞繆爾14記載了掃羅的混亂領導。 甚至連自己的兒子也沒有去諮詢他,而是首先與非利士人作戰。上帝與約拿單同在,並造成地震擊敗了非利士人。 掃羅宣誓要人民不要吃任何東西,以滿足自己盡快消滅非利士人的願望,不認為這會削弱他的整個部隊,使他們沒有精力繼續戰鬥。 上帝仍然與掃羅一起實現他的目的。 然而,掃羅並沒有反映和悔改自己的罪過,儘管他為耶和華而戰“成功”,但這種re悔的生活方式導致了他的垮台。 願我們對自己的罪惡和缺點更加敏感,因此我們可以不斷進行路線糾正,以保持跟隨耶和華的正確道路。 沙洛姆。 :)
03/02/2020
1 Samuel 16:18 Then one of the young men said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, and a handsome man; and the Lord is with him.”
撒 母 耳 記 上 16:18
18 其 中 有 一 個 少 年 人 說 : 我 曾 見 伯 利 恆 人 耶 西 的 一 個 兒 子 善 於 彈 琴 , 是 大 有 勇 敢 的 戰 士 , 說 話 合 宜 , 容 貌 俊 美 , 耶 和 華 也 與 他 同 在 。

Saul was looking for someone who can play the harp to drive out the evil spirit that was tormenting him. One of the young men recommended David. We see David was 1) a skillful musician 2) a mighty man of valor 3) a warrior 4) one prudent in speech 5), and a handsome man. I believe we can possess these things as we faithfully follow the Lord. If we work hard to improve in the skills God has gifted us with, we can become skillful in what we do. By relying on God’s power, we can become people of valor. By faith we can become powerful prayer warriors. By submitting our thoughts and words to God’s word, we can become people who are prudent in speech. By cultivating a joyful and gentle spirit, we can become people who are attractive because we exhibit the beautiful characters of Christ in us. Shalom. :)
掃羅正在尋找可以彈奏豎琴來驅除折磨他的惡魔的人。 其中一位年輕人推薦戴維。 我們看到大衛是1)熟練的音樂家2)英勇的勇士3)戰士4)謹慎的演講5)和英俊的男人。 我相信當我們忠實地跟隨主時,我們可以擁有這些東西。 如果我們努力提高上帝賜予我們的技能,我們就會在做事上變得熟練。 依靠上帝的力量,我們可以成為英勇的人。 憑著信心,我們可以成為強大的禱告戰士。 通過將我們的思想和言語服從上帝的話語,我們就可以成為言語謹慎的人。 通過培養一種快樂而溫柔的精神,我們可以成為有魅力的人,因為我們在我們身上展現了基督的美麗品格。 沙洛姆。 :)

03/06/2020
1 Samuel 20:17 Jonathan made David vow again because of his love for him, because he loved him as he loved his own life.(NASB)
撒 母 耳 記 上 20:17
17 約 拿 單 因 愛 大 衛 如 同 愛 自 己 的 性 命 , 就 使 他 再 起 誓 。

When we hear Jesus say “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39), we immediately know it is not something we can truly do apart from the grace of God. If we want to know what loving “our neighbor as ourselves” means, we can look at the example of Jonathan - the way he loved David as he loved his own life. We see how Jonathan risked his own life to defend David in front of his father Saul, even though he almost got speared for it. He risked his life to tell David about his father’s evil intentions. Jonathan’s father warned him against helping David - “For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established.” (1 Samuel 20:31a) However, Jonathan considers David’s safety more important than keeping the kingship in his own family. This is a great example of unselfish love! May God’s word encourage our hearts to have this kind of love for others. Shalom. :)
當我們聽到耶穌說“愛鄰居如自己”(馬太福音22:39)時,我們立即知道,除了上帝的恩典之外,我們還不能真正做到這一點。 如果我們想知道愛“鄰居就是我們自己”的含義,我們可以看看喬納森(Jonathan)的例子-喬納森(David)愛戴自己的生活的方式。 我們看到喬納森(Jonathan)如何冒著生命危險,在父親索爾(David Saul)面前保衛大衛,儘管他差點為此付出了代價。 他冒著生命危險告訴大衛有關父親的邪惡意圖。 喬納森(Jonathan)的父親警告他不要幫助戴維(David)–“只要傑西(Jesse)的兒子生活在世上,您和您的王國就不會建立。” (撒母耳記20:31a)然而,喬納森(Jonathan)認為戴維(David)的安全比保持王權在自己的家庭中更為重要。 這是無私的愛的一個很好的例子! 願上帝的話語鼓勵我們的心對他人有這種愛。 沙洛姆。 :)

03/12/2020
1 Samuel 26:24 Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all distress.” (NASB)
撒 母 耳 記 上 26:24
24 我 今 日 重 看 你 的 性 命 , 願 耶 和 華 也 重 看 我 的 性 命 , 並 且 拯 救 我 脫 離 一 切 患 難 。

In this chapter, Saul is again pursuing David even though David has already spared his life before. Can you remember a movie where the villain keeps going after the hero and the hero keeps sparing the villain’s life? That’s what David was doing because Saul kept wanting to get rid of him. Notice in this verse that David is not asking Saul to value David’s life, even though David highly valued Saul’s life. David is looking to God to highly value his life and looking to God to deliver him from all dangers. David learned from his time of fleeing from Saul that his only deliverance is not from man, but from God. May we learn this attitude that our deliverance is not from man, but from the Lord. Shalom. :)
在本章中,掃羅再次追尋大衛,即使大衛以前已經度過了生命。 您還記得一部電影,其中小人不斷追隨英雄,而英雄卻不斷犧牲小人的生活嗎? 大衛之所以這樣做,是因為掃羅一直想擺脫他。 請注意,在這節經文中,儘管大衛高度重視掃羅的生活,但大衛並沒有要求掃羅重視大衛的生活。 大衛期望上帝高度重視自己的生命,並期待上帝使他擺脫一切危險。 大衛從逃避掃羅的時候得知,他唯一的拯救不是來自人,而是來自上帝。 願我們學習這種態度,認為我們的得救不是來自人,而是來自主。 沙洛姆。 :)

03/13/2020
1 Samuel 27:1 Then David said to himself, “Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines. Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel, and I will escape from his hand.”
撒 母 耳 記 上 27:1
27 大 衛 心 裡 說 : 必 有 一 日 我 死 在 掃 羅 手 裡 , 不 如 逃 奔 非 利 士 地 去 。 掃 羅 見 我 不 在 以 色 列 的 境 內 , 就 必 絕 望 , 不 再 尋 索 我 ; 這 樣 我 可 以 脫 離 他 的 手 。

Did David lose this faith in God’s protection by escaping to the land of the Philistines? We see even David’s faith in God can be weak at times. However, from the Psalms, we see David still putting his trust in the Lord even when he was hiding in the Philistines territory. The question for us is, “Do we still trust in the Lord during our times of weakness?” Even when we are spiritually weak, do we still entrust ourselves to the Lord? May God give us that faith, even as small as the mustard seed, which can move mountains. Shalom. :)
大衛逃離非利士人的土地,失去了對上帝保護的信心嗎? 我們甚至看到大衛對上帝的信仰有時也會很弱。 但是,從詩篇中,我們看到戴維仍然躲在非利士人的領土上,仍然信靠耶和華。 對我們來說,問題是:“我們在軟弱時期仍然信靠主嗎?” 即使我們在精神上虛弱,我們仍將自己託付給主嗎? 願上帝賜給我們這種信念,甚至可以像芥菜籽一樣小,它可以移動山脈。 沙洛姆。 :)

03/14/2020
1 Samuel 28:1 Now it came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armed camps for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Know assuredly that you will go out with me in the camp, you and your men.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” So Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
撒 母 耳 記 上 28:1-2
28 那 時 , 非 利 士 人 聚 集 軍 旅 , 要 與 以 色 列 人 打 仗 。 亞 吉 對 大 衛 說 : 你 當 知 道 , 你 和 跟 隨 你 的 人 都 要 隨 我 出 戰 。
2 大 衛 對 亞 吉 說 : 僕 人 所 能 做 的 事 , 王 必 知 道 。 亞 吉 對 大 衛 說 : 這 樣 , 我 立 你 永 遠 作 我 的 護 衛 長 。

It would be unimaginable for David to be fighting for Philistines against Israel, his own people. David, the Philistine giant slayer! Yet, through various unexpected turn of events and David’s own weaknesses, he was put into this position, which he has to go forward with, because he had been pretending to King Achish that he was fighting his own people. We will see how later how God rescued him from this predicament. Sometimes, “little” sins can pile up into our life until suddenly one day we are faced with a situation we would never imagined could happen. Let us take heed to address any sins before they balloon into something we would have a much harder time to deal with. Shalom. :)
大衛為非利士人與自己的人民以色列作鬥爭是不可想像的。 大衛,非利士人大殺手! 然而,由於各種意外的轉折和大衛自身的弱點,他被推上了這個職位,必須繼續前進,因為他一直在向阿奇什國王假裝自己正在與自己的人民作戰。 我們將看到上帝以後如何從這種困境中解救他。 有時,“小小的”罪惡會堆積在我們的生活中,直到突然有一天我們面對一種我們從未想過會發生的情況。 讓我們注意在罪惡膨脹成某種東西之前解決它們,我們將很難處理。 沙洛姆。 :)

03/17/2020
1 Samuel 31:3 The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was badly wounded by the archers. (NASB)
撒 母 耳 記 上 31:3
3 勢 派 甚 大 , 掃 羅 被 弓 箭 手 追 上 , 射 傷 甚 重 ,

Today is the last chapter of 1 Samuel, the story of how Saul and his sons died in battle. Saul gave up at the end and characteristic of his life, decided to ultimately take his life into his own hands. What strikes me was that even though Saul was “badly wounded”, he didn’t have to give up. If you peeked ahead in 2 Samuel 1, you will see his life did not end that easily. I think if he were to cry out to God, God might have rescued him. Applied to us, I see no matter how “badly wounded” you are, don’t give up on yourself or on God. Continue to believe your life is in His hands and put your trust in Him to use your situation for His glory. Don’t give up! Shalom. :)
今天是撒母耳記上1章的最後一章,它講述掃羅和他的兒子們在戰役中的死因。 掃羅在生命的盡頭和生命中放棄了自己,決定最終將自己的生命掌握在自己手中。 讓我印象深刻的是,儘管索爾“受了重傷”,他也沒有放棄。 如果您在2 Samuel 1中向前看,您會發現他的生活並沒有那麼輕鬆地結束。 我認為,如果他向上帝求愛,上帝可能會拯救他。 應用於我們,我看到無論您有多“重傷”,都不要放棄自己或上帝。 繼續相信你的生命就在他的手中,並信任你,用自己的狀況來榮耀他。 不要放棄! 沙洛姆。 :)

I. What does “Jesus is the Light of the world” means?
I. What does “Jesus is the Light of the world” means?
What is the purpose of light? Light helps us to see, right? Without light, we can’t see anything in the darkness. Having light in the darkness not only helps us to see, but also guides us. Light also gives life. Sunlight gives life to plants, which provide food for life on earth. The first words spoken by God in creation is “Let there be light.” John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Vs. 3 “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”vs. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The Lord Jesus Christ is the Word. Jesus is the name given to God the Son when He came from heaven to earth. As Christians, we believe in one God – the Trinity. The 3 members of the Trinity are God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. We believe “in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.” That was from the Nicene Creed. When God the Son came from heaven to earth to be born as a baby in the manger, Jesus, who is fully God, became fully man; therefore Jesus is forever fully God and fully man. Jesus is the Light of the world sent from God to the world to show the world the way back to the Heavenly Father and to proclaim the truth of the gospel of salvation that whoever would believe in Him will receive the free gift of eternal life and will not perish.
Light is a religious symbol used to represent goodness, truth, and knowledge, while darkness represents evil and ignorance. People all over the world universally recognize the evils of darkness and the goodness of light. Maybe at your company, they celebrate the Indian holiday Diwali, which is the biggest holiday for Indians like Chinese New Year is for the Chinese. Do you know that Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights, symbolizing the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance?” So, next time you can tell your Hindu friends how Jesus is the Light of the world. In the verse we read at the beginning - John 8:12, Jesus was in Jerusalem during and right after the Feast of Tabernacles. During the festival at night, four huge lamps in the court of the women would lit up the entire temple area. The celebration with the lights reminded the worshippers of Israel’s wilderness journey, when they were led at night by a pillar of fire from God. Without the pillar of fire from God in the night to guide the Israelites in the wilderness, they might have lost their way and died in the wilderness. Jesus declared that He is the Light of the world, not just for Israel but for the whole world. All of us were lost spiritually and blinded to our own sins, until God opened our eyes to see how our sins have separated us from a holy God and our need for the forgiveness of our sins.
The Bible says that God lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. (1 Timothy 6:16). Therefore, when the Heavenly Father sent Jesus into the world, Jesus came as a Light which the world can see, yet is not a blinding/unapproachable light which no one could look at and live. Jesus came as an approachable, gracious and life-giving Light to show God’s love and truth to the world.
We receive the Light of Jesus through His word, the Bible, which is God’s word. Psalm 119:105 (KJV) says “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Through the Bible, the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus and gives us light to understand God’s truths. If you follow Jesus, you will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life, not the darkness of sin and death. The word Jesus used is a double negative in Greek, which is the strongest form of negative. It means that “by no means” you will follow Jesus and walk in darkness. To follow Jesus is not to go ahead of Jesus or follow only when you want to. To follow means to follow always, step by step, wherever Jesus may lead.
Corrie Ten Boom and her sister Betsie were sent to prison for sheltering Jews during the Nazi occupation of Holland. In The Hiding Place she wrote how she felt in the Ravensbruck prison.
"Life grew harder. There was too much misery, too much suffering. Every day something grew too heavy. Will You carry this, Lord Jesus?
But as the rest of the world grew stranger, one thing became increasingly clear. And that was the reason the two of us were here. From morning until lights-out, whenever we were not in ranks for roll call, our Bible was the center of an ever-widening circle of help and hope. We gathered around it, holding out our hearts to its warmth and light. The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer burned the Word of God."
To Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, the Light of Jesus is revealed in the Bible which they held in their hands. Jesus came from heaven to earth as the Light of the world to show us that only through Him can we find our way back to God, only through Him can we know the truth of the gospel, and only through Him can we receive eternal life and salvation for the forgiveness of our sins. What darkness do you see in the world today? What darkness do you see in your own life? Our hope is in the Light of Jesus that can help people see in the darkness, that can guide people through the darkness, and that can help people overcome the darkness through the light of God’s word.

安舒的日子
安舒的日子
使徒行传 3:19-21, BCBC / IOUC; 雷鸿弟兄, 6/28/2020
引言
你上一次度假是什麽时候? 也许对某些人来说, 居家隔离是你最长的一次度假. 因为工作地
方关门或是一些安全的原因而不能出门上班. 对于某些人, 或许从去年起你就没出去度假了.
回想一下, 从一月底新冠疫情的消息开使破坏了我们的日常活动, 人们开始改变买东西和外
出用餐的方式. 人们取消了旅行. 三月时, 我们开始看到人群聚集的活动被取消, 改为网上
因为那是最安全的聚会方式. 人们开始彼此分享在这段期间该如何维生 - 比如食物外卖的
资讯, 如何消毒从超市买的东西, 及在外面如何保护好自己. 过去几个月, 当我们试着保护自
己家人的同时, 我们处于一种悬念状态, 害怕, 焦虑, 甚至悲伤当中. 这对于性格外向的人更
难, 我看到一个动画,一个性格内向的人享受着电脑, 然而一个性格外向的人极想出门. 就
我们过去几个月所经历的, 我们实在需要安舒的日子, 是吗? 今天我们将来看:
I. [安舒的日子] 意义是什麽?
II. 我们如何领受[安舒的日子],
III. 我们在 [安舒的日子] 经历到什麽?
[安舒的日子] 意义是什麽?
当我读今天的经文时, 我很兴奋地学到 “安舒的日子”在希腊原文的意思. “安舒” 的意思是
“凉下来”. 关连到新冠病毒, 我想到新冠病毒造成發烧和人们需要被“凉下来” . 同时, 神是
什麽时候与亚当 夏娃在伊甸园团契? 是在天起了凉风的时候. 创世记3:8, 天起了凉风,耶
和华神在园中行走。那人和他妻子听见神的声音,就藏在园裡的树木中,躲避耶和华神的
面。 创世记 3:8 所提的“凉风”也是圣灵和风的意思. 因此, “凉风”告诉我们, 透过圣灵我们
得见耶和华神的面, 记得我小时候住在洛杉矶, 当我放学走路回家, 在秋天的季节裡, 吹的
风很柔和. 我会张开双臂,让风围绕着我,我感到很舒服和清新.
“安舒”这个字也有“恢復呼吸”的意思, 这十分奇妙, 因为这不就是指从新冠病毒痊癒吗?
这病毒造成人们呼吸困难, 而要痊癒则需要恢復他们的呼吸. 甚至有一种呼吸器取名为 “清
凉”, 我认为这名字取的十分恰当. “安舒”的另一个意思是 “给人一个呼吸的空间”, 这不就
是社交距离的目的, 给人 “呼吸的空间” 吗? 免除债务或困难的经历.” “安舒” 也是 “脱离债
务或困难” 的意思. 这让我想到罪对我们的灵魂就好比冠状病毒一般。
罪使我们的灵魂發烧,使我们变得虚弱,无法清晰地思考。
罪拿走我们属灵生命的气息。
罪产生捆绑,以至于我们失去呼吸的空间,去享受神要我们做的。
罪使我们背负债务和陷入困境。 罪的工价乃是死。
我们都在沉重的罪债之下, 直到神子耶稣基督从天来到地上,在十架为我们的罪偿还了罪债.
“安舒” 也比喻为 “復兴”的意思. 这是否我们所渴望的--灵裡的復兴? 最后, 它有 “安息”
的意思. 我们所需要在灵裡的放鬆和安息只有神能给予. 我很喜欢中文的翻译 “安舒”二字,
“安”意指着平安和保障 “舒”则是舒适和愉悦的意思.
最后, “安舒的日子” 是指主耶稣再来地上建立祂的国的时候. 日子”这个字是复数, 这是特
别的字,用来指万物復兴的时候. 唯有在那时候, 所有的人都将经历“安舒的日子”.
我们如何领受[安舒的日子]?
在使徒行传第三章, 彼得和约翰上圣殿在申初祷告的时候, 大约下午三点 当一个生来是瘸
腿的乞丐来求他们周济. 这个乞丐一定已经晓得他们并不富有, 所以他可能会走开转向其他
的人 当彼得叫他留意看他们时说: “Peter said, “你看我们”, 金银我都没有,只把我所有的
给你:我奉拿撒勒人耶稣基督的名,叫你起来行走” 彼得扶起他来, 乞丐的脚和踝子骨、
立刻健壮了.3:8 就跳起来、站着、又行走.同他们进了殿、走着、跳着、赞美 神。 当人
们看到这神蹟, 就都跑到他们那裡, 彼得对犹太群众说, 这个医治不是因为他们自己的能力或
虔诚, 而是因信耶稣的名 14你们弃绝了那圣洁公义者,反求着释放一个凶手给你们。15你
们杀了那生命的主,神却叫他从死裡復活了;我们都是为这事作见证。 彼得很清楚的告诉
他们做错了什麽和他们在神的大审判之下 因为他们将耶稣钉死. 当彼得告诉他们这些事,
犹太人知道他们有大麻烦了. 就和我们一样, 我们没有一个人想让耶稣去死, 对吗? 然而,
当我们得知是因我们的罪把耶稣送上十字架 这震撼到我们的心灵深处. 然而, 彼得安慰他们
说他晓得他们做这事是出于无知,他们的官长也是如此, 现在神要他们悔改归正. 使徒行传
3:19-21 19所以,你们当悔改归正,使你们的罪得以涂抹,这样,那安舒的日子就必从主面
前来到;20主也必差遣所预定给你们的基督耶稣降临。21天必留他,等到万物復兴的时候
,就是神从创世以来、藉着圣先知的口所说的。”
我看到经文中提到三位一体真神的三位:圣灵, 表示(主面前)(主的同在), 带来安舒的日子,
圣父差派圣子耶稣基督, 弥赛亚. 经文说:所以,你们当悔改归正,使你们的罪得以涂抹,
这样” 这样” 经文的应许 “这样” 包含两个部分, 第一, 安舒的日子将来到. 如果他们悔改
并接受主耶稣为他们的救主, 弥赛亚. 第二, 他们的悔改将把他们带到万物復兴的时候, 即耶
稣基督在地上作王. 彼得说的是基督第二次的来到, 如果以色列民全都悔改相信耶稣是弥赛
亚. 彼得说了之后二十年, 11:25 保罗在罗马书11:25解释, 就是等到外邦人的数目添满了.
于是以色列全家都要得救. 然而 从一世纪到现在 “安舒的日子”的应许是给任何悔改相信
耶稣是救主基督,弥赛亚的人. 悔改是指内心的改变, 是指恨恶你过去的罪 并且全心转离
它. 悔改是指首先我们必须知道自己错在哪裡. 是上帝的恩典让我们能够知道自己什麽地
方需要悔改, 感谢神, 透过你在读经, 听讲道, 或和弟兄姊妹谈话时向你显明你的罪. 要因神
赐你这恩典而喜乐.
我认为可悲的将是: 如果在数百万人因新冠病毒确诊和数十万人死亡之后, 人们仍旧走回老
我的罪行, 对于我们这些不更新生命的新冠病毒生还者将是一个悲哀. 不论是否感染病毒,
我们都是生还者, 因为它遍佈各地, 任何人都有可能染上. 是不是我们比因病毒死去的人更
公义? 路加福音13:1-5 耶稣讲的很清楚, 那些死去的人不是比活着的人罪更大, 1正当那
时,有人将彼拉多使加利利人的血搀杂在他们祭物中的事告诉耶稣。 2耶稣回答说;你们以
为这些加利利人比众加利利人更有罪,所以受这害麽? 3我告诉你们,不是的!你们若不悔
改,都要如此灭亡! 4从前西罗亚楼倒塌了,压死十八个人;你们以为那些人比一切住在耶
路撒冷的人更有罪麽? 5我告诉你们,不是的!你们若不悔改,都要如此灭亡!”
要领受 [安舒的日子], 我们需要悔改并全心归向神. 尽心、尽性归向耶和华你的神! 如此,
神将涂抹你们的罪. 问问主, 经过这疫情, 祢要我做什麽重大的改变? 经过疫情,你的生命将
要有什麽改变? 花些时间, 把你能想到的过去所犯的罪写下来、向神认罪悔改并求主赦免.
如拜偶像的罪, 你曾相信的谎言, 苦毒或不饶恕, 违逆权柄, 骄傲的罪, 血气的罪, 祖先的
罪( 或许是我们知道他们曾犯过的,我们需要认这些罪, 就如在旧约裡, 人们认祖先的罪. 耶
稣也向人们指出其祖先所犯的罪). 然后,为这些罪宣告约翰一书 1:9, 并把这些罪涂掉. 约
翰一书1:9说, 我们若认自己的罪, 神是信实的,是公义的, 必要赦免我们的罪,洗淨我们一
切的不义。
我们在 [安舒的日子] 经历到什麽?
I. 復兴
在安舒的日子,我们会经历復兴. 在这期间, 上帝甚至用一位退休的美国摔跤者霍克.霍肯,
呼召人们悔改. 他在脸书写道:
在短短的三个月中,就像神对埃及的灾祸一样,上帝夺走了我们所崇拜的一切。 上帝说:
“您想崇拜运动员,我将关闭体育馆。 您想崇拜音乐家,我将关闭娱乐中心。 您想崇拜演
员,我将关闭剧院。 您想崇拜金钱,我将关闭经济并破坏股票市场。你不想去教堂敬拜我
,我会让你不能去教堂。”
这称为我名下的子民,若是自卑、祷告,寻求我的面, 转离他们的恶行, 我必从天上垂听
,赦免他们的罪,医治他们的地.
也许我们不需要疫苗, 也许我们需要把这段的时间与世界的干扰隔离开,并进行个人的復
兴,单单专注在世界上唯一重要的,就是耶稣。
我曾在网上寻找他是否从哪裡抄来这段文字 但我没有找到其他人写过, 然而, 我找到其他文
章攻击他的贴文:
霍克.霍肯製造了争论, 建议这世界可能不需要新冠病毒疫苗, 并宣称这流行病是上帝的作为.
霍克.霍肯發给数百万人惊人的信息: 也许我们不需要疫苗.
这个發文是在四月初, 也许人们的心仍然很硬 而且没有读到霍克.霍肯说的- 就是最至关重
要的是我们的心是否在神眼中看为正. 我看到另一个贴子写着: 有什麽比死于新冠病毒更
糟? 死的时候没有耶稣基督” 这是如此真
实, 对吗? 有什麽能和不认识耶稣基督相比?
我们可能想知道, 如果他们不准人们在教堂聚会, 或有许多限制, 我们怎能期望有復兴? 教
会如何让成百成千的人归向基督? 也许神已回答这个问题, 迫使我们走向网路. 你看在网上
没有停车位的问题, 没有座位的问题, 我们不需要一栋大的建筑物容纳很多人. 现在我们需
要的是让人们有兴趣来参加, 来看这是圣灵的动工. 因此,让我们继续祷告和發出邀请!阿
们? 四月份, 有一篇文章写着, 现在,教会正在产生比好莱坞还要多的媒体。 在过去, 我们会
埋怨媒体充斥着坏的信息. 然而,这流行病叫醒了教会看见我们可以成为媒体信息的主流.
教会一直有使用媒体传福音. 在中世纪时期, 教会使用道德剧教导大众关于基督徒的德性.
这篇文章说 电影历史学家告诉我们, 大约在1898到1914年之间 - 教会製作的电影比好莱坞
还多。 今天,我祷告求主兴起这一代的人,为了基督透过网络走出去,求神给你创意, 能
力 和热情, 在网络传承主的大使命。 当然,我们仍然需要有和人见面的事工。 仍有许多事
工我们无法在虚拟会议做好,比如一同唱歌。 然而,为了神的荣耀,我希望你们当中有这
方面技术恩赐的人能够成为解决教会在这方面挑战的拓荒者。
II. 安息
在安舒的日子, 我们将经历安息. 在旧约, 有一节有趣的经文是关于安舒. 出埃及记 31:17
说, 这是我和以色列人永远的证据; 因为六日之内耶和华造天地, 第七日便安息舒畅。
(NASB). 在这裏, 神说他如何在第七天安息舒畅. 这是祂设立安息日的原因. 再一次的,我
很兴奋的找到在旧约希伯来文 “舒畅”的意思. 这个字的字根是”呼吸”的意思. 这个字与生
命,灵魂有关. 这个字的意思是 “吸口气”. 哇 你听到神在说什麽吗? 祂要我们呼吸得以存
活. 没有呼吸, 我们就没有生命. 神要我们呼吸, 以保有生命. 新冠病毒来, 要偷我们的气息
毁坏我们肉体的生命, 就像罪来,要偷我们的属灵生命, 并且毁坏我们的灵魂. 病毒欺骗我
们的身体自己增殖 就像罪欺哄我们的肉体落入罪中. 耶稣来了要赐给我们生命 使我们脱离
罪, 得丰盛的生命. 安息这个字意思是 “禁止, 停止”. 神藉着居家令在对你说什麽? 休假?
神给我们这强制的休假目的何在? 神是否在对你说, 停止你正在做的? 让自己安息? 停
止一个接着一个的活动? 安息日的目的是安息和舒畅. 这个时间不是让你精疲力尽, 而是重
新得力. 你在这段时间是否在灵裡安息舒畅? 是否得到更多休息和吃的更健康? 利用这段
时间放慢脚步,喘口气.
有一个词叫做FOMO – 意思是害怕错过. 比如说一个有趣的或令人享受的活动. 韦氏字典定
义为:害怕自己不被包括在某件别人正在经历的事当中. 什麽是你的 “害怕错过” ? 是什麽
在驱动你所做的事? 至于我, 我害怕错过属灵的活动. 可能这听起来非常属灵. 然而, 我没
有信靠神,在神裡面安息, 因为我在想, 万一我错过了一个圣灵带来復兴的活动, 那麽我将错过
这个復兴? 那将多麽不幸? 弟兄姊妹, 这是反省你所做的事情的时候. 是出于神, 还是出于
害怕错过. 向神祷告祈求安舒的日子,使你得以经历神的安息.
III. 更新恢復
在安舒的日子我们将经历 “更新恢復”. 復兴, 大部分的中文圣经翻译这个字为復兴, 和英文
revival的翻译一样. 我找到一个中文译本 “当代圣经” 将这个字翻译为更新.- 所以我翻译第
三点为 “更新恢復”以区别我的第一点. “更新恢復”意思是还原一样东西到它起初的状态或
情况. 万物復兴的时候是指耶稣再来, 在地上作王. 然而, 神的万物復兴的应许是和安舒的
日子相连的. 现在,我们渴望回到新冠病毒来到这世界之前的情况, 我们想回到就地避难之前
的样子. 我们可以与人握手, 和朋友面对面吃饭说话, 去想去的地方旅行. 你认为神是否有
更好的东西在等我们? 思想神多想将我们恢復到罪进入世界之前的情况? 世界没有罪将是
什麽样子? 事实上, 那就是更新恢復的意思 – 恢復到堕落前的完美状态. 从你相信基督的那
一刻起, 神就在你生命中进行更新恢復的工作, 将你恢復到按神形像所造的荣耀的形像.
并且这个工作要等到我们与主面对面才会完成. 因此在这转化的过程要忍耐. 每一天神在
你身上做工, 使你的生命转化为更像神子耶稣基督. 神将你从你犯罪的后果和他人对你的罪
行中重建你. 神要将你从你所犯的罪造成的伤害和他人犯罪对你的伤害中更新恢復你. 首
先, 我祈求主更新恢復我们对神起初的爱心. 对于已婚的, 我求主更新恢復你对你配偶起初
的爱心. 对于有家庭的, 我求主更新恢復你对家人起初的爱心. 对于弟兄姊妹, 也许你从经
失望 受伤 感到过去曾被弟兄姊妹出卖过, 我求主更新恢復你对基督的身体-教会,起初的爱
心. 我求神更新恢復你刚得救时的喜乐和服事主与传福音的热情. 我求主更新恢復你早晨起
来花时间与神同在的兴奋和一整天赞美神的名!阿们?
結語
神应许我们安舒的日子,如果我们悔改将心转向祂. 祂将涂抹我们的罪 并赐我们安舒
的日子. 你是否要经历復兴, 安息, 和更新恢復? 转向神, 求主在你身上动工. 让神完全掌
管你的生命, 将你的生命交在主手中. 当你经历安舒的日子,你的生命将不再一样.
我们一同祷告......
亲爱的天父, 我们向祢呼求安舒的日子. 我们要将生命全然交给你. 我们会做任何你要我们
做的, 我们会改变任何你要我们改变的. 只要祢来復兴我们, 赐我们安息, 赐我们在耶稣基督
裡得更新恢復. 我们祈求在这疫情期间与疫情之后,有许多人认罪悔改归向祢, 并经历安舒
的日子. 在这时刻, 我们甚至为那些不认识祢的人祈求,让他们悔改归向祢. 让我们经历復
兴. 让我们经历祢的安息. 让我们在生命的各个方面经历你的更新恢復 . 奉我主耶稣基督
之圣名求, 阿们!
经文:
使徒行传 3:19-21
19所以,你们当悔改归正,使你们的罪得以涂抹,这样,那安舒的日子就必从主面前来到;
20主也必差遣所预定给你们的基督耶稣降临。
21天必留他,等到万物復兴的时候,就是神从创世以来、藉着圣先知的口所说的。
Times of refreshing
Times of refreshing 安舒的日子 (Acts 3:19-21)

Good morning. Today’s message is Times of refreshing 安舒的日子 from Acts 3:19-21. Let’s read today’s verses (in Chinese).
19所以,你們當悔改歸正,使你們的罪得以塗抹,這樣,那安舒的日子就必從主面前來到;
20主也必差遣所預定給你們的基督耶穌降臨。
21天必留他,等到萬物復興的時候,就是神從創世以來、藉著聖先知的口所說的。

Let’s pray.
When was the last time you took a vacation度假? Maybe for some people, the shelter-in-place has been the longest vacation you’ve taken in a while, since you can’t go to work due to business closing or safety reasons. For others, maybe you haven’t taken a vacation since last year. Think back how news of the coronavirus started to disrupt our normal activities back in late January? People started changing where they go shopping and restaurants they go to eat. People cancelled their trips. In March, we started to see in-person events get canceled and then everything went online because that is the safest way and place to meet. People started sharing with each other how to survive during this time - such as food delivery information, how to clean items you buy from the supermarket, and how to protect yourself while outside. For the past months, we have been in a state of suspense, fear, anxiety, and even grief as we try to keep ourselves and our family safe. It has been an especially difficult time for the extraverts. I saw an animated gif showing the introvert enjoying the computer, while the extravert is dying to get outside.  With what we went through the last couple of months, we really need “times of refreshing” don’t we? Today, we will be looking at I. What does “times of refreshing”means? [安舒的日子] 意義是什麼? II. How can we receive “times of refreshing”? 我們如何領受[安舒的日子], and III. What do we experience in “times of refreshing”? 我們在 [安舒的日子] 經歷到什麼?
I. What does “times of refreshing” means? [安舒的日子] 意義是什麼?

As I studied today’s verses, I am excited to learn what “times of refreshing安舒的日子” in the original Greek language means. The word “refreshing安舒” means “a cooling涼下來.” Relating this to the coronavirus, I thought about how the coronavirus caused fever and how people needed “a cooling.” Also, when did God fellowship with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden? It was in the cool of the day. Genesis 3:8 says “They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” 8天起了涼風,耶和華神在園中行走。那人和他妻子聽見神的聲音,就藏在園裡的樹木中,躲避耶和華神的面。The word in Genesis 3:8 for “the cool涼風” is also the word for wind and spirit. So I see “the cool涼風” is showing us the presence of the Lord耶和華神的面 through the Holy Spirit. I remember when I lived in Los Angeles when I was young, as I’m walking home from school, during the Fall season, the wind would be so gentle and soft. I would just open up my arms and let the wind wrap around me and it would feel so comfortable and refreshing.
The word “refreshing” also means “a recovery of breath恢復呼吸.” That’s really amazing because isn’t this what it means to recover from the coronavirus? This virus caused people to have difficulty breathing and to recover they must get their breathing back. There’s even a respirator called - “Cool flow”, which I thought aptly describes this word. Another definition is “giving someone breathing space給人一個呼吸的空間.” Isn’t that the purpose of social distancing - giving people “breathing space?” It also means “experience of relief from debt or trouble免除債務或困難的經歷.” This makes me think how sin is like coronavirus to our souls. 罪對我們的靈魂就像冠狀病毒。
-sin brings fever to our souls so that we are weak and can’t think clearly. 罪使我們的靈魂發燒,使我們變得虛弱,無法清晰地思考。
-sin takes away the breath of spiritual life from our lives. 罪使我們的生活失去屬靈生命的氣息。
-sin produces bondages so that we have no breathing space to enjoy all God wants us to do. 罪會產生捆綁 ,所以我們沒有呼吸的空間來享受神要我們做的一切。
-sin places us under its debt and troubles. The wages of sin is death. 罪使我們承擔義務或債務和困難。 罪的工價乃是死。
We are all under the heavy debt of sin, until God’s Son Jesus Christ came from heaven to earth to pay for the penalty of our sins on the cross.

The word “refreshing” also figuratively比喻地means “revival復興.” Isn’t that what we long for – spiritual revival? Finally, it means “rest安息.” How much we need the relaxation and rest which only God can give to our souls? I also like the Chinese translation of “refreshing安舒”, which is 2 words. The first word has the meaning of peace and security, and the second word has the meaning of comfortable and pleasant.

Ultimately, “times of refreshing安舒的日子” refers to the time when Jesus will come back to establish His kingdom on earth. The word “times日子” is plural复数and this is a special word used to refer to the period of universal restoration萬物復興的時候. (you can refer to Acts 1:7). Only then will all people fully experience “times of refreshing.”

II. How can we receive “times of refreshing”? 我們如何領受[安舒的日子]
In Acts chapter 3. Peter and John went to the temple at the 9th hour, the hour of prayer 申初禱告的時候which is 3pm in the afternoon, when a beggar who have been born lame 生來是瘸腿的called to them, asking for spare change. The beggar must have realized that they are not rich people. So he may have turned away to ask other people when Peter called him to pay attention to them –“Look at us! 你看我們” Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk. 金銀我都沒有,只把我所有的給你:我奉拿撒勒人耶穌基督的名,叫你起來行走” (Acts 3:6) Peter helped the beggar up and the beggar immediately was healed in his feet and began walking and leaping and praising God and going with them into the temple. And all the people ran to them when they saw this miracle. Then Peter addressed the crowd of fellow Jews, pointing out that this healing is not because of their own power or piety, but on the basis of faith in the name of Jesus. He then told them the bad news: “You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.” 14你們棄絕了那聖潔公義者,反求著釋放一個兇手給你們。15你們殺了那生命的主,神卻叫他從死裡復活了;我們都是為這事作見證。(Acts 3:14-15) Peter clearly told them what they did wrong and the great judgment they are under, because they had asked for Jesus to be crucified. When Peter told them these things, the Jews knew they were in big trouble. Just like us, none of us would want Jesus to die, right? However, when we learned that it was our sins that sent Jesus to the cross, it really shook us to our deepest core撼到我們的最深處. However, Peter comforted them by saying that he knew what they did was in ignorance just as their rulers did我曉得你們做這事是出於不知,你們的官長也是如此, but now God wants them to repent and return to Him你們當悔改歸正. Acts 3:19-21 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time. 19所以,你們當悔改歸正,使你們的罪得以塗抹,這樣,那安舒的日子就必從主面前來到;20主也必差遣所預定給你們的基督耶穌降臨。21天必留他,等到萬物復興的時候,就是神從創世以來、藉著聖先知的口所說的。” I see all 3 members of the Trinity三位一體神的三位mentioned in these verses: God the Holy Spirit聖靈, which is the presence of the Lord (主面前)(主的同在), brings “times of refreshing”, and God the Father聖父 sends God the Son聖子 Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. It says “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that.” 所以,你們當悔改歸正,使你們的罪得以塗抹,這樣” There are 2 parts to this “in order這樣” promise. First, there will be “times of refreshing” if they repent and receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior, the Messiah. Second, their repentance may usher帶到 in the period of restoration萬物復興的時候 or the reign of Jesus Christ on earth. Peter is talking about the second coming of Christ, if the whole nation of Israel had repented and believed in Jesus as the Messiah. More than 20 years after Peter spoke, Paul explained in Romans 11:25 that the full number of Gentiles must come in, then all Israel will be saved就是以色列人有幾分是硬心的,等到外邦人的數目添滿了. Yet, from the first century一世纪until now, the promise of “times of refreshing” is for whoever would repent and believe in Jesus as the Savior, the Christ, which is the Messiah. To repent means to change one’s mind. It means to abhor (厌恨?) your past sins and wholeheartedly turn from them. To repent means first we need to know what we did wrong. It is by God’s grace that we can know what we need to repent from. Thank God when He reveals your sin when you read the Bible, listen to a sermon, or talk with brothers and sisters. Rejoice because God has given you grace.

I think it would be tragic悲剧的if after all the millions infected and hundreds of thousands who have died from Covid-19, that people would go back to their old sinful ways. It would be tragic for us as survivors of Covid-19 not to reform our lives改正我們的行動作為as a result of this pandemic. We are all survivors of Covid-19 whether we were infected or not, because it has spread everywhere and anyone could have caught it. Are we more righteousness than those who died from Covid-19? In Luke 13:1-5 Jesus made it clear that those who died are not more sinful than those who live. “Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 1正當那時,有人將彼拉多使加利利人的血攙雜在他們祭物中的事告訴耶穌。2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 2耶穌說;你們以為這些加利利人比眾加利利人更有罪,所以受這害麼?3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 3我告訴你們,不是的!你們若不悔改,都要如此滅亡!4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 4從前西羅亞樓倒塌了,壓死十八個人;你們以為那些人比一切住在耶路撒冷的人更有罪麼?5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 5我告訴你們,不是的!你們若不悔改,都要如此滅亡!”
To receive “times of refreshing” from the Lord, we need to repent and turn to God要領受 [安舒的日子], 我們需要悔改並回歸神. Turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul盡心、盡性歸向耶和華你的神! Then, God will wipe away our sins. Ask the Lord, “What radical激進changes do You want me to make as a result of this pandemic?” How will you live differently as a result of this pandemic? Take some time to write down on a piece of paper all the past sins you can think of, confess and repent of them and ask for God’s forgiveness. Sins such as worshipping other gods, lies you have believed, bitterness or unforgiveness, rebellion against authority, sins of pride, sins of the flesh, and sins of ancestors (maybe we knew of sins they committed and we need to confess them, just like in the OT, the people confessed the sins of their ancestors. Jesus also pointed out to the people sins their ancestors have committed). Then declare 1 John 1:9 over the sins and cross them out. 1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 我們若認自己的罪,神是信實的,是公義的,必要赦免我們的罪,洗淨我們一切的不義。
III. What do we experience in “times of refreshing”?
我們在 [安舒的日子] 經歷到什麼?

1. Revival 復興
We will experience revival in “times of refreshing.” During this time, God used even a retired American wrestler to call people to repentance. Hulk Hogan 霍克.霍肯posted on his facebook page:
In three short months, just like He did with the plagues of Egypt, God has taken away everything we worship. 在短短的三個月中,就像他對埃及的災禍一樣,上帝奪走了我們崇拜的一切。God said, "you want to worship athletes, I will shut down the stadiums. 上帝說:“您想崇拜運動員,我將關閉體育館。 You want to worship musicians, I will shut down Civic Centers. 您想崇拜音樂家,我將關閉娛樂中心。 You want to worship actors, I will shut down theaters. 您想崇拜演員,我將關閉劇院。 You want to worship money, I will shut down the economy and collapse the stock market. 您想崇拜金錢,我將 關閉經濟並破壞股票市場。 You don't want to go to church and worship Me, I will make it where you can't go to church" 你不想去教堂崇拜我,我會讓你不能去教堂。”
"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 這稱為我名下的子民,若是自卑、禱告,尋求我的面,轉離他們的惡行,我必從天上垂聽,赦免他們的罪,醫治他們的地.
Maybe we don't need a vaccine, 也許我們不需要疫苗,Maybe we need to take this time of isolation from the distractions of the world也許我們需要把這段時間與世界的干擾隔離開來,and have a personal revival where we focus on the ONLY thing in the world that really matters. Jesus. 並進行個人復興,我們專注於世界上真正重要的事情。 耶穌。
I was searching on the internet to see if he was re-posting this from someone else. I could not find who else wrote this. However, I found some articles attacking his posting:
“HULK HOGAN 霍克.霍肯has caused controversy by suggesting the world may not need a vaccination for coronavirus and claiming the pandemic is an act of God.”
“Hulk Hogan’s scary coronavirus message to millions: ‘Maybe we don’t need a vaccine’”
This posting was in early April. Maybe people’s hearts were still hard and missed the point of what Hulk Hogan was saying- that is the most important thing which matters is whether our hearts is right with Jesus Christ. I saw another post which says something like this: “What is worse than dying from the coronavirus? Dying without Jesus Christ.” This is so true right? What can compare to not knowing Jesus Christ?
We may be wondering, if they won’t even allow people to gather at church, or with so many restrictions, how can we expect a revival? How can churches be filled with hundreds and thousands of people coming to Christ? Maybe God just answered this question by forcing us to go online. You see with online - there’s no parking space problem, no seating problem, we don’t need a bigger building to accommodate more people. Now, all we need is for people to be interested to come and see, which is the work of the Holy Spirit. So, let us keep praying and keep inviting! Amen?
In April, there is an article which says, “Right Now, The Church is Producing More Media媒体Than Hollywood. 現在,教會正在產生比好萊塢更多的媒體。” In the past, we may complain about how the media is full of bad contents. However, this pandemic is waking up the Church to see that we can be a major force of media content. The Church has always used media to spread the gospel. In the medieval period中世紀時期, Church used morality plays道德劇to teach Christian virtues to the masses大眾. The article says that film historian tells us that roughly between 1898 and 1914 - the Church produced more movies than Hollywood. Today, I am praying that God will raise up a generation of workers to reach the world for Christ through the internet, and that He will give you the ideas, the abilities, and the passion to carry out the Great Commission online. Of course, we still need in-person ministries. There are still a lot of ministries we can’t do well in our virtual meetings, such as singing together. However, I hoping that some of you who are technologically gifted will be part of the pioneers who will solve these challenges for the Church, to the glory of God!
2. Rest 安息
We will experience rest in “times of refreshing.” In the Old Testament, there’s an interesting verse about being refreshed舒暢. Exodus 31:17 says, “It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.”” 這是我和以色列人永遠的證據;因為六日之內耶和華造天地,第七日便安息舒暢。 (NASB). Here, God is saying how He rested on the seventh day and was refreshed, and this is why He instituted the Sabbath. Again, I was excited to find out what this Old Testament Hebrew word “refresh舒暢” means. The root of this word means “to breathe呼吸.” This word is related to the word for “life” or “soul.” This word means “to take breath吸口氣.” Wow, can you hear what God is saying? He wants us to take breath so we can have life. Without breath, we don’t have life. God wants us to be refreshed so we can have life. The coronavirus comes to steal our breath偷我們的氣息and destroy our physical life, just as sin comes to steal our spiritual life 偷我們的靈命and destroy our souls. The coronavirus tricks our body to reproduce itself, just as sin tricks our flesh to fall into more sins. Jesus comes to give us life, to set us free from sin to have an abundant life! The word rest means “to cease, to stop禁止, 停止.” What is God saying to you through this shelter-in-place? What is God’s purpose for giving us this forced sabbatical休假? Is God saying to you, “Stop what you are doing?” Give yourself a rest? Stop running from one activity to the next? You see the purpose of the Sabbath安息日is to get rest 安息and be refreshed舒暢. This is not the time to be drained, but to be re-fueled. Are you getting spiritually refreshed during this time? Are you getting more rest and eating healthier during this time? Use this time to slow down and catch your breath.
There is a term called FOMO – which stands for Fear of Missing Out害怕錯過. Webster dictionary defines it as fear of not being included in something (such as an interesting or enjoyable activity) that others are experiencing. What was your FOMO? What was driving your busyness? For me, one thing is fear of missing out on spiritual activities. Now, this may sound very spiritual. However, I’m not trusting and resting in God because I’m thinking, “What if I miss an activity and the Holy Spirit comes and bring a revival, then I’ll miss the revival? How unfortunate that would be?” Brothers and sisters, this is a time to reflect on your busyness, whether it is from God or just FOMO. Pray and ask the Lord for “times of refreshing” so that you can experience His rest.
3. Restoration 更新恢復
We will experience “restoration更新恢復” in “times of refreshing.” Most Chinese versions translated the word “restoration” as復興, which is the same word as revival. I found 1 version which translated the word “restoration” as 更新- the Chinese Contemporary Bible (CCBT). 更新means renewal. So, I translated the third point “restoration” as更新恢復to distinguish it from my first point. Restoration means to restore a thing to its former state or situation. The period of restoration 萬物復興的時候refers to the period when Jesus will come back to reign on earth. However, God’s promise of restoration is connected with “times of refreshing.” Right now, we longed to be restored to the condition before the coronavirus entered into the human world. We want to be restored to how things were like before shelter-in-place. When we can shake hands with people, eat and talk face to face with friends, travel anywhere we want. Do you think God has something better waiting for us? Think how much more God wants to restore us to the condition before sin entered the world? How will the world be like without sin? Actually, that is what the word “restoration” means – restoring to the perfect state before the Fall恢復到墮落前的完美. From the moment you trusted in Christ, God is doing a work of restoration in your life, to restore to you the glorious image 形像of being His image-bearer带神形像的人. And this work will not be completed until we meet the Lord face to face. So be patient in your transformation更新而變化. Everyday God is working in you to transform you to become more like His Son Jesus Christ. God is restoring you from the effects of sins you have committed and sins committed against you. God wants to restore you from the harms of sins that you did and the harms of sins others did to you. First of all, I pray that God will restore our first love起初的愛心for Him. For the married, I pray that God will restore your first love for your spouse. For those with family, I pray that God will restore your first love for your family. For brothers and sisters, maybe you have been disappointed, hurt, felt betrayed by brothers and sisters in the past, I pray that God will restore your first love for the body of Christ – the Church. I pray for God to restore the joy you had when you were first saved, that passion you had to serve God and to share the gospel. I pray for God to restore the excitement you had to wake up every morning to spend time with Him and praise His name all day long! Amen?
The Lord has promised us “times of refreshing” if we repent and turn to Him with all our hearts. He will wipe away our sins and send us “times of refreshing.” Do you want to experience revival, rest, and restoration? Turn to the Lord and ask Him to work in you. Give God complete control of your life and surrender your life to Him. Your life will never be the same after you have experienced “times of refreshing.”
Let’s pray.
Dear Heavenly Father, we cry out to you for “times of refreshing.” We want to give our life fully to You. Whatever You want us to do, we will do. Whatever changes You want us to make, we will make. Only give us revival, give us rest, give us restoration in Jesus Christ. We pray that many people will repent and turn to You during this pandemic and after this pandemic and experience “times of refreshing.” We pray that even now those who don’t know You will repent and turn to You at this moment. Let us experience the revival. Let us experience Your rest. Let us experience your restoration in every area of our life and in this world. In the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Missions Beyond the Diaspora: Local Cross-cultural Ministry
Missions Beyond the Diaspora: Local Cross-cultural Ministry of Chinese Congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area Paperback – December 26, 2019
by Enoch Wan (Author), Mike Hung Lei (Author)
https://www.amazon.com/Missions-Beyond-Diaspora-Cross-cultural-Congregations/dp/1949201058

This book is part of the series published by the Center of Diaspora and Relational Research. It covers the history of Chinese diaspora and development of Chinese diaspora congregations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its focus is on contextualizing diaspora missions and cross-cultural ministry training for Chinese diaspora in the SFBA, including ethnographic description of local cross-cultural ministries of two selected Chinese diaspora churches.

Product details
Series: Diaspora (Book 5)
Paperback: 160 pages
Publisher: Western Press (December 26, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1949201058
ISBN-13: 978-1949201055
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,726,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#13169 in Christian Missions & Missionary Work (Books)

《在他翅膀下》
《在他翅膀下》
詩篇 91篇, 雷鴻弟兄, 3/29/2020
早上好! 讓我們一同讀詩篇91篇的前三節經文。
1 住在至高者隱密處的,必住在全能者的蔭下。
2 我要論到耶和華說:他是我的避難所,是我的山寨,是我的神,是我所倚靠的。
3 他必救你脫離捕鳥人的網羅和毒害的瘟疫。
我們一起禱告。
今天, 我相信神把我們從屬靈的沈睡中搖醒,看到我們在靈裡所面臨的危險和機會。 同時,
我相信神在每一個中國人心中動工,提醒他們真正的平安和安定是從天上而來的。 今年2月
26日, 將近一千名猶太人站在耶路撒冷的西牆,為新冠病毒蒙醫治禱告。東正教猶太拉比在
那裡,當天主日還有數十位在以色列的中國公民聚集在猶太教的聖殿尋求神的參與。有幾
位中國官員參與了此儀式,並表達了他們對猶太人的感謝。 我們的神是三位一體的真神
(父,子,聖靈)。 祂是亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的神。上帝正在動工,同時我們也需持續的禱
告! 阿們?
於此同時, 基督徒以詩篇91篇彼此勸勉和安慰。是的,我們極需要從神而來的平安和保護。
在目前這種景況,詩篇91篇是很重要的一篇經文, 讓我們緊緊抓住。 因此, 今天我們從這篇
經文,看看神呼召我們做什麼。 今天我會提出十點,是神在詩篇91篇呼召我們去做的。
I. 親近神– 住在至高者隱密處的, (v. 1a)
神呼召我們要親近祂, 因為我們若不親近神是不能住在至高者隱密處的。 我們如何能夠親
近神呢? ”雅各書4:8告訴我們:「你們親近神,神就必親近你們。有罪的人哪,要潔淨你們的
手!心懷二意的人哪,要清潔你們的心!」 弟兄姊妹, 我們不能夠親近神, 除非我們首先潔淨
我們的手和清潔我們的心。 神要我們省察自己,耶穌是不是我們生命的主。 我們的老我已
經與耶穌基督同釘十字架。 靠著聖靈的大能,我們已經與基督在靈裡復活。 神已經賜我們
能力對罪說不。 相信在你裡面基督的能力,聖靈的能力將幫助潔淨你的手和清潔你的心。
希伯來文的“dwells住”是休息、停留、坐下的意思。我們在神的隱密處休息、停留、坐下
,在這隱密的地方躲避危險。 甚麼是隱密處? 就如中文版本翻譯的 “ 隱密的地方”。 這是最
聖潔之處。 在舊約中,是指至聖所。 它在幔子的背後,約櫃安放之處。 未經神的允許,
沒有人敢靠近這地方。 只有大祭司被允許一年進入一次。 然而, 兩千年前,當耶穌死在十
字架上,幔子從上到下裂為兩半(太27:51), 為所有相信耶穌基督為他們的救主的人打開了至
聖所。 弟兄姊妹, 我們既因耶穌的血得以坦然進入至聖所,是藉著他給我們開了一條又新
又活的路,從幔子經過,這幔子就是他的身體. 耶穌為我們開道路去到祂的隱密處 。 同
時耶穌就是那避難所,祂是那隱密處。 耶穌是藏身之處. 詩篇119:114說:「你是我藏身之
處,又是我的盾牌;我甚仰望你的話語。」 透過耶穌,我們可以禱告在暗中的父,與神
有一個親密、個人的交通。 聖靈住在我們心中,因此我們得以親近神,住在至高者的隱
密處,祂是超乎眾人之上,貫乎眾人之中,也住在眾人之內. 天上地下的一切都在神的掌
管之下,阿們?
II. 住在基督裡– 必住在全能者的蔭下。(v. 1b)
神呼召我們住在基督裡,因為在那裡我們得保安全。 我們要持續不間斷的住在神的保護
中。 這是神永遠為我們預備的地方,得以度過夜晚、尋求安全、在黑暗的時刻、在受試
探和危難的時候得以安息。 ”全能的意思是指 "最有能力的"。 "住在全能者的蔭下"是指
你永遠住在世上最強大的庇護和防禦裡。 你要如何住在基督裡呢? 約翰福音15:4, 你們要
常在我裡面,我也常在你們裡面。枝子若不常在葡萄樹上,自己就不能結果子;你們若不常在我
裡面,也是這樣。 第一, 住在基督裡的意思是指你和耶穌基督有關係。 約翰福音15:5, 我是
葡萄樹,你們是枝子。常在我裡面的,我也常在他裡面,這人就多結果子;因為離了我,你們就
不能做甚麼。 第二, 住在基督裡是指你結出聖靈的果子。聖靈的果子包括仁愛、喜樂、和
平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、溫柔、節制,以及福音的果子和你在基督裡的善工。 約
翰福音15:7, 你們若常在我裡面,我的話也常在你們裡面,凡你們所願意的,祈求,就給你們成
就。 第三, “住在基督裡” 意指神的話住在你心中。 約翰福音15:9, 我愛你們,正如父愛我一
樣;你們要常在我的愛裡。 第四, “住在基督裡”是指你住在神的愛裡面,並且活出神的愛。
約翰福音15:10, 你們若遵守我的命令,就常在我的愛裡,正如我遵守了我父的命令,常在他的愛
裡。 第五,“住在基督裡”是指你遵守神的誡命, 盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力愛神。 當你住在
基督裡,你是安全的,因為你知道神會看顧你所有的需要。 只要你先求祂的國和祂的義.
中文的「常」和「藏」音很相近,也的確! (我們的生命與基督一同藏在神裡面). (歌羅西
書 3:3)
III. 信靠神 我要論到耶和華說:他是我的避難所,是我的山寨,是我的神,是我所倚靠
的。(v. 2)
神呼召我們要信靠祂,因為祂是我們的避難所,是我們的山寨。 神不僅告訴我們要在心
裡信靠祂,同時也要我們對他說:「主, 我信靠祢。」 不僅僅如此,神要我們宣告三樣屬
於我們的東西。 當人們在尋找安全的地方時,我們告訴他們, “我們已經找著了,耶穌是
我們的避難所!” 當人們在尋找一個無法穿越的山寨時,我們告訴他們, “我們已經找著
了,耶穌是我們的山寨!” 當人們在尋找超自然的幫助時, 我們告訴他們, “我們已經找
著了,耶穌是我們的神!”
第三節經文, 他必救你脫離捕鳥人的網羅和毒害的瘟疫。
捕鳥人的網羅是鳥的陷阱。 毒害的瘟疫是毀滅性的瘟疫。 神會把你從危險的罪的陷阱和
生命中毀滅性的瘟疫拯救出來。 有多少次神將你從靈裡和身體的損傷中拯救出來? So,
can Christians get sick?那麼,基督徒會生病嗎? 在腓立比書2:25-27, 保羅告訴腓立比的人以巴弗
病了,而且幾乎要死了。保羅稱呼以巴弗, “他是我的兄弟,與我一同做工,一同當兵,是
你們所差遣的,也是供給我需用的。(Phil 2:25).” 也許有人會問, 像以巴弗這樣忠心服事
主的基督徒, 怎麼會得病而且甚至要死去? 上帝怎麼能讓這樣的事發生? 但是, 神憐憫醫
治了他。 哈利路亞! 不論我們生病與否, 神已經透過耶穌基督把我們從罪和死亡的權勢拯
救出來。 藉著耶穌, 神已經賜給我們靈裡徹底的醫治。我們在地上所經歷的醫治只是我們
在耶穌基督裡永恆醫治的預表。阿們?
I.V. 拿起神所賜的全副軍裝 他必用自己的翎毛遮蔽你;你要投靠在他的翅膀底下;他的
誠實是大小的盾牌。(vs. 4)
神呼召我們要拿起神所賜的全副軍裝, 因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰,乃是與那些執政
的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的,以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰. 第四節經文說, 神的翅膀
會遮蔽你, 而且沒有任何東西能穿透祂的翅膀。 這是一幅小小鳥在鳥媽媽的保護之下的圖
畫。 神的信實是你的盾牌和壁壘。 它是密氣防水的。 我們從哪裡能得到這盾牌和壁壘
呢? 以弗所書6:13告訴我們: 「所以,要拿起神所賜的全副軍裝,好在磨難的日子抵擋仇敵,並
且成就了一切,還能站立得住。」拿起你的屬靈軍裝, 用真理當做帶子束腰, 耶穌基督是真理,
所以拿起耶穌。 拿起你公義的護心鏡, 就是耶穌基督的公義。 拿起平安的福音當作預備
走路的鞋, 準備好隨時抓住傳福音的機會。又拿著信德當作盾牌, 就是神的信實。神的信實
是一堵牆, 沒有任何惡者燃燒的箭可以穿透。 戴上救恩的頭盔保守你的心。 以耶穌基督
的救贖保守你的心, 賜你出人意外的平安。 拿著聖靈的寶劍, 就是神的道。 神的道能夠抵
擋一切惡者的進攻。
V. 不要懼怕 你必不怕黑夜的驚駭,或是白日飛的箭,也不怕黑夜行的瘟疫,或是午間滅
人的毒病。(vs. 5-6)
神叫我們不要害怕 , 因為我們是屬祂的。這段經文告訴我們, 你不用害怕任何在黑夜或白
日、在黑暗中或午間的攻擊。神的保護是無限的, 就像我們正在用的線上Zoom的時間是沒
有限制的。 你不用害怕任何眼不能見和眼可見的。 你不用害怕眼不能見的病毒或是手機
上可見的關於新冠病毒的新聞。神能拯救你遠離懼怕。為什麼我們不害怕? 因為在基督
裡,我們的救恩已經帶給我們主裡的平安和安全,所以我們不再為曾經感到的害怕而怕。懼
怕不是你的主人, 耶穌基督才是你的主。
上帝完全的愛已驅除我們所有的懼怕! 我們在天父的膀臂下是安全的。
VI. 見證神的拯救 雖有千人仆倒在你旁邊,萬人仆倒在你右邊,這災卻不得臨近你。你
惟親眼觀看,見惡人遭報。(v. 7-8)
神呼召我們見證祂的拯救,好讓我們成為主的見證人。 不論生命中發生怎樣的事,我們都
能夠見證上帝的美善和信實。 這節經文在說,我們將見證神對我們的保護和祂所要成就的
旨意。 神要你從祂的視角,從一個屬靈的角度去看、去觀察這些事情。 你是否在你目前
所處的景況看到神的拯救和祂的信實? 神要你警醒禱告。 觀察上帝將如何拯救你所代禱
的人。 看看上帝如何用這時刻幫助你和你的家人更親近神。 看看聖靈如何來行大工, 在
你所處的位置和這個世界,以及你所禱告的每一個地方。神要你述說許多關於祂的故事。
VII. 持續住在主裡 耶和華是我的避難所;你已將至高者當你的居所,禍患必不臨到你,
災害也不挨近你的帳棚。(v. 9-10)
第九節的經文是重複第一、二節。 神說: 持續住在我裡面,繼續花時間在我的話語, 繼續為
生命得更新禱告, 繼續為蒙保護禱告, 不要拿下你的屬靈軍裝,你屬靈的"密閉服", 不要停
止禱告。 不要停止服事。 為何神告訴我們要 "你已將至高者當你的居所"? 我們該如何
“將” 神作為甚麼呢? 然而, 神叫我們將祂當我們的居所。 "將" 這個字在這裡是 "設立"的
意思。 我們有什麼權利去指派神做任何事嗎? 你會指派總統做任何事嗎? 然而, 神呼召
你將祂當你的居所。祂對我們的愛和恩典是何等的奇妙!
司布真, 是一位英國偉大的佈道家, 1854年他在倫敦服事, 那時當地正爆發嚴重的霍亂, 是
因飲用不潔的食物或水造成的急性腸道感染。 一個家庭接著一個家庭召喚他,並且幾乎每
一天他被召去探訪墓地。 身為一個年輕的傳道人, 他付出全部的精力去探訪病患, 並且被
派去各個地區的各階層及各種宗教。 他身體感到疲倦,心力感到交瘁。 他的朋友們幾乎一
個個倒下, 而他感到或是認為自己也快生病了。 他感到身上的擔子已經超過他所能背負
的。 當他從一個喪禮悲傷的回家時, 他看到一張紙貼在一家修鞋店的玻璃上。 他走近看
了一下。 那張紙上書寫著英文舊版第九節的經文: 耶和華是我的避難所;你已將至高者
當你的居所,禍患必不臨到你,災害也不挨近你的帳棚。 他寫道, 我的心立刻被觸動。
這經文貫穿著信心。 我感到安全,被更新,我在永生裡面。 我在靈裡平靜安穩,繼續去
探訪垂死的病患; 我不怕遭害,也未受到傷害。神提醒司布真持續住在主裡,並且他將會
經歷神的保護和拯救。
VIII. 為屬靈爭戰 因他要為你吩咐他的使者,在你行的一切道路上保護你。他們要用手
托著你,免得你的腳碰在石頭上。你要踹在獅子和虺蛇的身上,踐踏少壯獅子和大蛇。
(v. 11-13)
神呼召我們為屬靈爭戰, 因為在基督裡我們將戰勝靈界的惡者, 由獅子, 虺蛇,少壯獅子和
大蛇作為代表。 神要為你吩咐他的使者,在你行的一切道路上保護你。 我認識一個家
庭,他們原本計畫在一月底飛回中國, 但神帶領他們取消機票,縱使是不能退錢。 感謝主, 後
來航空公司將機票錢退款。 你看, 當你信靠神時, 神能夠保守你的道路! 神已經賜你屬靈
的權柄戰勝惡魔。 神已經賜你戰勝黑暗的勢力。奉主耶穌基督之名, 大膽的為人們從靈裡
的綑綁、從疾病中、從惡者那裡得釋放。
弟兄姊妹,你是否想為屬靈爭戰? 那麼, 將你的家轉為一個敬拜的家。這病毒或許使得全美
國敬拜的場所關閉, 使得人們無法聚集在一起敬拜主。 即使我們能在線上敬拜, 我要你往
前多走一步。 我要你將你的家轉變為一個敬拜之家。 在家裡打開敬拜的音樂。 讓敬拜充
滿你的家中。讓各地有更多敬拜的家庭。 在你煮飯時敬拜, 當你工作時敬拜, 和孩子們遊
戲時敬拜。 現在這時刻正需我們要使敬拜的氣氛充滿, 而且, 弟兄姊妹, 現在唯有你「上
帝君尊的祭司」能夠做到。 阿們?
IX. 認識基督並使祂被認識 神說、因為他專心愛我、我就要搭救他.因為他知道我的
名、我要把他安置在高處。 (vs. 14)
神呼召我們要認識基督並使祂被認識, 因為我們需要更認識神, 而人們也需要更多的認識
祂。 現在是花時間與神相處的時候。 現在你沒有太多外在的活動, 作一些家庭的靈修(你
的家庭祭壇), 和家人一起讀經禱告。並且多休息! 好好照顧自己和你的家人。 要吃的健康
和保持健康, 因為你的身體是聖靈的殿。 同時,這是宣告基督戰勝罪和死亡的時刻。 這是
作福音事工的時刻, 拯救人從黑暗的權勢進入神國的光明。 告訴人們關於耶穌基督的救
贖。 如果你有甚麼傳福音的資源,把它放到教會的群, 這樣其他的人可以一起使用。
X. 經歷神救恩的大能 91:15 他若求告我、我就應允他.他在急難中、我要與他同在.我要
搭救他、使他尊貴。91:16 我要使他足享長壽、將我的救恩顯明給他。
神呼召我們經歷祂救贖的大能, 因為祂的救恩包括了一切。 耶穌基督的救贖不是只是一張
去天堂的門票。 神讓我們在生命的每個部分,在我們的家庭裡, 在工作的地方, 在任何我們
所到之處。 詩篇91篇的最後一個字是 "救恩", 這在希伯來原文,英文和中文版本都是最後
一個字。 救恩是上帝計畫的終極目的。 對於人類和一切的受造物, 我們要從神的整個救贖
計畫來看所有的一切。我們的生命在神的手中, 因此, 我們不要把自己的生命看得比遵行
上帝的旨意來得珍貴。 我們已經在耶穌基督裡有永生, 只要我們手上的工還未完成, 我們
必須繼續奮鬥, 直到我們完成神對我們在世上的呼召。
讓我用一個二次世界大戰的故事作為結束。 1940年五月一個令人害怕的星期, 當英國軍
隊被迫撤退,暴露在敦刻爾克的沙灘, 許多神蹟發生了... .一位陸軍牧師躺著面向著沙灘, 說
著在敦刻爾克佈滿炸彈碎片的海灘上,似乎是在永恆當中 。 納粹轟炸機投下他們致命的炸
彈,造成彈片在他的所在的沙灘附近被激彈起, 縱使被這一震盪感到茫然 這位軍牧突然明
白到, 儘管震耳欲聾的砲彈聲和炸彈落在他四周, 子彈彷彿如大雨般的朝著他的方向射過
來, 他站著, 驚奇的盯著自己在沙灘上的輪廓 發覺在整個隨處可見子彈的沙灘上, 他所在
的位置竟是唯一平坦的,沒有受到干擾的地方。這肯定是上帝屬天的盾牌分毫不差的為他
量身訂做。那一天, 有六十架德國飛機向在海灘上毫無遮蔭的四百多人發動火力, 那一組
人絲毫未受傷的離開了海灘。 一位記者報導說, 我親耳聽見去接這些生還者的海軍戰士
們告訴我, 那些人不僅背誦著詩篇91篇, 並且, 他們用最大的聲音呼喊出來。阿們!
感謝神將雲彩般的見證人擺在我們的面前, 現在則輪到我們在台前了。 我們身為一個基督
徒, 要如何活出自己的生命呢? 上帝在看, 世人也在看。
我們一同禱告!
親愛的天父, 感謝您賜下詩篇91篇。 我們相信唯有祢有能力超乎一切。 唯有祢能拯救世
上一切的危難。 唯有祢能拯救我們脫離罪和死亡。 喔,主啊! 今天我們向祢承認我們的過
犯,拯救世人離開這病毒。 拯救世人脱離罪和死亡。 幫助世人認識耶穌基督,並藉著對祢
兒子的信靠,接受祢的救贖。 奉主耶穌基督之聖名, 藉著聖靈的大能,我們如此祈禱。阿
們!
3/22/2020 Under His wings Psalm 91
During this time, Christians have been sending Psalm 91 to each other to encourage and comfort each other. Yes, we desperately need the peace and protection from God. Psalm 91 is such an important Psalm for us to hold on to during times like this. So, today let’s go to this Psalm to see what God wants us to do. Today I will point out 10 things God is calling us to do in Psalm 91.

I. Draw near to God– “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, (v. 1a)
God is calling us to draw near to Him, because we cannot dwell in the shelter of the Most High without drawing near to God. How can we draw near to God? James 4:8 tells us: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Brothers and sisters, we can’t draw near to God unless we first cleanse our hands and purify our hearts. God is asking us to examine ourselves, whether Jesus is truly the Lord of our life. Our old sinful self has been crucified with Jesus Christ on the cross. We have been spiritually resurrected with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. God has given us the power to say no to sin. Believe in the power of Christ in you, the power of the Holy Spirit, will help cleanse your hands and purify your hearts. The Hebrew for “dwells” means to rest, to remain, to sit down. We are to rest, remain, and sit down in God’s shelter, in the secret place to hide from danger. Where is this shelter? It is also translated as the secret place, like in the Chinese version. This is the most holy place. In the Old Testament, it is the holy of holies. It is behind the veil, where the Ark of the Covenant sits. No one dares to come near to this place without God’s permission. Only the High Priest is allowed inside once a year. However, 2000 year ago, when Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), opening the holy of holies to all who will believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Brothers and sisters, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the veil, that is, his body. (ref. Hebrews 10:19-20). Jesus opened the way for us to go to the shelter. And Jesus is that shelter. Jesus is that secret place. Jesus is that hiding place. Psalm 119:114 in KJV says “Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.” Through Jesus, we can pray to our Heavenly Father who is in secret, to have the intimate and personal communion with God. The Holy Spirit lives in us, so we can draw near to God, to dwell in the shelter of the Most High, the One who is over all, through all, and in all. Everything in heaven and on earth are under His control.

II. Abide in Christ– “Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” (v. 1b)
God is calling us to abide in Christ because that is where we will be safe. We are to constantly and continuously dwell in the protection of God. This is a place that is always there for us to spend the night, to find security and rest in times of darkness, temptations, and dangers. “Shadow” means shade and defense. Almighty means “most powerful.” To “abide in the shadow of the Almighty” means you are permanently residing in the most powerful shelter and defense on earth. How can you abide in Christ? John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” 1) Abiding in Christ means that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” 2) Abiding in Christ means that you are bearing fruit for Christ. This includes the fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) and the fruit of the gospel, and all the good works you do in Christ. John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” 3) Abiding in Christ means that God’s word is rooted in your heart. Your prayers are being heard by God because you are doing His will. John 15:9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.” 4) Abiding in Christ means that you are living in God’s love and living out God’s love. John 15:10 “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” 5) Abiding in Christ means that you are obeying the commandments of God by loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. You are safe when you are abiding in Christ, because you know that God will take care of all your needs. Just seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The Chinese word for “abide” sounds like “hide”. Which is also true. Our life is also hidden in Christ. (Colossians 3:3)

III. Trust in God – “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”” (v. 2)
God is calling us to trust in Him, because He is our refuge and fortress. God is not just telling us to trust in Him in our hearts, but to say to Him, “Lord, I trust in You!” Not only that, but God wants us to declare 3 things belongs to us. When people are looking for a safe place, we tell them, “I got it. Jesus is my refuge!” When people are looking for an impenetrable fortress, we tell them, “I got it. Jesus is my fortress!” When people are looking for supernatural help, we tell them, “I got it. Jesus is my God!”
Vs. 3 “Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.”
The fowler’s snare is a bird trap. Deadly pestilence is a destructive plague. God will rescue you from the dangerous traps of sin and the destructive plagues in your life. How many times have God rescued you spiritually and physically from harm? So, can Christians get sick? In Philippians 2:25-27, Paul tells the Philippians that Epaphroditus was ill and almost died. Paul calls Epaphroditus, “my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.” (Phil 2:25). Maybe people will ask: “How can a Christian like Epaphroditus, who was faithfully serving God, get sick and almost died?” “How can God allow such thing to happen?” But, God was merciful to him and healed him. Hallelujah! Whether we get sick or not, God has already saved us of the power of sin and death through Jesus Christ. God has already given us the ultimate healing of our souls through Jesus. All the healings we experience on earth is just a foretaste of the eternal healing that we have received in Jesus Christ. Amen?

I.V. Put on the full armor of God (v. 4) “He will cover you with His pinions, And under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.” (vs. 4)
God is calling us to put on the full armor of God, because our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, powers, forces of darkness and wickedness in the heavenly realm. Verse 4 says God’s wings will cover you and nothing can get through His wings. This is a picture of a baby bird under the protection of the mother bird. God’s faithfulness is your shield and defensive wall. It is air-tight and waterproof. Where do we get this shield and defensive wall from? Ephesians 6:13 tells us, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” Put on your spiritual armor. Put on the belt of truth. Jesus Christ is the truth, so put on Jesus. Put on your breastplate of righteousness, the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Put on the shoes of the gospel of peace so you can ready to share the gospel at any moment, making the most of every opportunity. Take up the shield of faith, which is God’s faithfulness. His faithfulness is a wall which no flaming arrows of the devil can get through. Take up the helmet of salvation to protect your mind. Guard your mind with your salvation in Jesus Christ, to give you peace beyond all understanding. Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The word of God can fight against all evil attacks.

V. Not to fear “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.” (vs. 5-6)
God is calling us not to fear because we belong to Him. These verses are saying is that you will not fear anything that can attack you in the night or in the day, in the darkness or in the broad daylight. God’s protection is unlimited, just like our zoom meeting minutes are now unlimited. You will not fear anything you cannot see or anything you can see. You will not fear the virus you cannot see or news about the coronavirus which you can see on your phone. God can save you from all these fears. Why are we not afraid? Because in Jesus Christ, our salvation has brought us peace and security in God and we no longer are afraid of things we used to fear. Fear is not your master, Jesus Christ is your master. God’s perfect love has cast out all our fears! We are safe in the arms of our Heavenly Father.

VI. Witness God’s deliverance “A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look on with your eyes And see the recompense of the wicked.” (v. 7-8)
God is calling us to witness His deliverance so that we can be His witnesses. Whatever happens in our life, we can testify of God’s goodness and faithfulness. What these verses are saying is that we will witness God’s protection on us and His hand working to accomplish His purpose. God wants you to look at these things and observe these things from His perspective, from a spiritual perspective, not from a worldly perspective. Do you see God’s deliverance and His righteousness in your situation right now? God is calling you to watch and pray. Watch how He is going to save people you have being praying for. Watch how God will use this time to help you and your family to grow closer to Him. Watch how God’s Spirit will come and do a mighty work in your midst and in the world, everywhere where you have prayed. God wants you to have a lot of stories to tell about Him.

VII. Continue to remain in the Lord “If you say, “The LORD is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.” (v. 9-10)
V. 9 is repeating what v. 1-2 is saying. God is saying: “Continue to remain in Me!” “Continue to spend time in My word!” “Continue to pray for revival!” “Continue to pray for protection!” Don’t take off your spiritual armor, your spiritual “containment suit!” Don’t stop praying. Don’t stop serving. Why did God tell us to “make the Most High your dwelling”? How can humans like us “make” God anything? Yet, God is calling us to “make” Him our dwelling. The word “make” here means to “appoint.” What right do we have to appoint God to anything? Would you appoint the U.S. President to anything? Yet, God calls you to appoint Him as the place where you will dwell. How amazing is His love and grace to us!
Charles Spurgeon, the great British preacher, in 1854 was serving in London when there was a severe outbreak of cholera, an acute intestinal infection caused by drinking/eating contaminated water or food. Family after family summoned him and almost every day he was called to visit the grave. As a young preacher, he gave himself fully to visit the sick and were sent to people from all corners of the district from all ranks and religions. He became weary in body and sick at heart. His friends seemed to fall one by one and he felt or thought he was getting sick as well. He felt his burden was heavier than he can bear. When he was returning mournfully home from a funeral, he saw a paper stuck to a shoemaker’s window. He walked closer to take a look. On the paper, it is hand written the words of V. 9. in an older English version : “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” He wrote, “The effect upon my heart was immediate. Faith appropriated the passage as her own. I felt secure, refreshed, girt with immortality. I went on with my visitation of the dying in a calm and peaceful spirit; I felt no fear of evil, and I suffered no harm.” God reminded Spurgeon to continue remaining in Him and he will experience the protection and deliverance of God.

VIII. Engage in spiritual battle “For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.” (v. 11-13)
God is calling us to engage in spiritual battle, because in Christ we will triumph over the spiritual forces of evil, represented by the lion, cobra, great lion, and serpent. God will send His angels to go before you, to guard all your ways. I know a family who was planning to fly to China at the end of January, but God lead them to cancel the tickets, even though the tickets were non-refundable. Praise the Lord, later the airline refunded their tickets. You see God is able to guard your ways as you trust Him! God has given you spiritual authority over the evil spirits. God has given you victory over the powers of darkness. In the name of Jesus Christ, pray boldly to set people free from spiritual bondages, from sickness, and from evil. Brothers and sisters, do you want to engage in spiritual warfare? Then turn your home into a house of worship. This virus may shut down houses of worship all over America so people can’t gather together to worship God. Even though we can worship online, I want you to go a step further. I want you to turn your home into a house of worship. Turn on the worship music at home. Fill your home with worship. Multiple the houses of worship all over this land. Worship as you cook, worship as you work, worship as you play with your children. This is a time when we need to fill the atmosphere with worship and only you as God’s royal priesthood君尊的祭司can do it right now brothers and sisters! Amen?

IX. Know Christ and make Him known “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” (vs. 14)
God is calling us to know Christ and make Him known, because we need to know the Lord more and people need to know the Lord. This is the time to spend with the Lord. Now that you don’t have a lot of outside activities, do your family devotions (your family altar), read the Bible and pray with your family. And get more rest! Take good care of yourself and your family. Eat healthy and stay healthy because your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. . Also, this is the time to proclaim the victory of Christ over sin and death. It’s time to do the work of evangelism, rescue people from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of light. Tell people about the salvation of Jesus Christ. If you have any good resources to share the gospel during this time, post it to our church groups so others can use them as well.

X. Experience the power of salvation “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” (v. 15-16)
God is calling us to experience the power of His salvation, because His salvation includes everything. The salvation of Jesus Christ is not just a ticket to heaven. God is working out His salvation in every part of our life, in our family, in our work, in every place we go. The last word in Psalm 91 is the word “salvation”. That’s the last word in the original Hebrew. Salvation is God’s ultimate purpose in His plan. We need to see at everything through God’s grand plan of salvation for mankind and all of creation. Our life is in God’s hands. Therefore, we do not consider our life as more precious than doing the will of God. We already have eternal life in Jesus Christ. As long as our task is not done, we must fight on, until we have done all that God called us to do on earth.

Let me end with a story from WWII. During the dreadful week in May of 1940, when the British army had been forced into total retreat and lay exposed on the sandy shores of Dunkirk, many miracles occurred…A British chaplain told of lying face down in the sand for what seemed an eternity on the shell-torn beach at Dunkirk. Nazi bombers dropped their lethal bombs, causing shrapnel to kick up sand all around him…Although dazed by the concussions around him, the British chaplain suddenly became aware that, in spite of the deafening roar of the shells and bombs falling all around him, he hadn’t been hit. With bullets still raining down about him, he stood and stared with amazement at the outline of his own shape in the sand. It was the only smooth and undisturbed spot on the entire bullet-riddled beach. His heavenly shield must have fit the exact shape of his body.” That day, sixty German aircrafts fired on more than 400 men who were pinned down on the breach, without any place to take cover. Every man in that group left the breach without a scratch. One reporter stated, “I have personally been told by Navy men, who picked up those particular survivors from Dunkirk, that the men not only recited Psalm 91, but they shouted it aloud at the top of their lungs!” Amen!

Thank the Lord for the cloud of witnesses who came before us. Now, it is our turn on the stage. How will we as Christians live? God is watching and the world is watching.

Let’s pray.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Psalm 91. We believe You alone have power over all things. You alone can save people from every danger there are in the world. You alone can save us from sin and death. O Lord, we repent of all our sins and turn to You today. Save the world from the plague of the coronavirus. Save the world from sin and death. Help the whole world know Jesus Christ and receive Your salvation through faith in Your Son. In the precious and holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray. Amen!