2 Mar 2018, Gen 29 创29章, The Deceiver being Deceived 骗子被骗

Posted on Feb 2, 2018 in Expired |

Scripture Reading        : Gen 29

Theme                            : The Deceiver being Deceived

 

Abraham’s faithful servant had found a wife for Isaac, but Jacob had to find his own wife. God’s plans are different for each of us, and we must accept His will (Phil. 2:12–13).

The guest(1–14).

God’s providence brought Jacob to the well just as Rachel was arriving. (See Gen. 24:27.) True to his scheming nature, Jacob tried to get rid of the shepherds so he could have her all to himself! It was love at first sight. That first month in Uncle Laban’s home must have been heaven on earth to Jacob, but it didn’t take long for things to change.

The worker(15–30).

Jacob was not wealthy as Isaac was when he got his wife (Gen. 24:36, 53), so he had to work for his uncle to have the woman he loved. But love takes the burden out of work and makes time pass quickly. Jacob the schemer met his match in Laban and soon began to reap what he had sown. Jacob had deceived his father, and his father-in-law deceived him.

The father(31–35).

The building of Jacob’s family was vitally important to God’s plan of salvation, for God would use the nation of Israel to give the world the Bible and the Redeemer. Although Rachel had great beauty, she was unable to conceive, while Leah gave birth to four sons: Reuben (“see, a son!”), Simeon (“hearing”), Levi (“joined”), and Judah (“praise”). The Lord was in control and had a special purpose for each son (Ps. 139:14–16; Eccles. 3:2).[1]


Praying the Scripture

  1. Jacob didn’t have an easy life after he left his father’s house. Though God forgave his sins, he still suffered the consequences of his sins. We reap what we sow. Jacob had deceived Isaac, but he was deceived by his father-in-law Laban also. During the years he worked for Laban, Jacob endured many trials. The thing that kept him going when the going gets tough was his faith in the promises of God. Let’s pray that we cleave to God’s promised when life is tough.
  1. It must have been painful for Leah to give herself to a husband who was only doing his duty and not sharing his affection. However her spiritual growth was clearly seen from how she named her the sons. Leah named her firstborn Reuben, which means “see—a son!” she was certain that this baby would cause her husband to love her. However, she was wrong. Her second son was named Simeon which means “one who hears” and suggests that Leah had been praying to God about her misery. Levi was the name she gave her third son, and it means “attached”; for Leah was still hoping that Jacob would love her for the sons she had borne him. But the birth of her fourth son seemed to bring a new joy to her life, for she called him Judah, which comes from the Hebrew word meaning “praise.” Instead of complaining to the Lord about her unresponsive husband, she was now praising the Lord for His blessings (29:35).

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Ge 29:1.

 
 
 

经文：创29章

主题：骗子被骗

 

亚伯拉罕忠心的仆人为以撒讨妻，但雅各必须自己寻找妻子。神对每个人的计划是不同的，因此我们必须接受祂的旨意。

客人 (1–14)

在神的安排下，神把雅各和拉结都带到井边（创24:27）。但诡计多端的雅各试图摆脱那群牧羊人，以让自己能和拉结在一起！雅各对拉结可说是一见钟情。在舅舅拉班家的第一个月对雅各来说真是一个人间天堂，但是没过多久，事情就开始有变化了。

工人（15-30）

雅各不如以撒一样富裕（创24:36，53），所以为了自己心爱的女人不得不为伯父打工。但是爱使得工作变得轻松，也让时间过得很快。雅各这阴谋专家却碰上对手拉班，最终雅各自食其果。雅各欺骗了他的父亲，但却被自己的岳父欺骗了他。

父亲（31-35）

雅各家庭的建立对神救恩的计划极为重要，因为在神的计划里救世主是通过以色列而来。虽然拉结美丽动人，但是她无法生育，而利亚却生下了四个儿子：流便（“看，儿子！”），西缅（“听见”），利未（“联合”），和犹大（“赞美”）。


用经文祷告

  1. 在离开父亲家后，雅各的生活并不如意。虽然神赦免了他的罪，但他仍然需面对罪的后果。我们种的是什么，收的也是什么。我们必自食其果。雅各欺骗以撒，但他也被自己的岳父拉班欺骗。在为拉班打工的这些年，雅各也经历了许多的考验。但是因他紧握神的应许不放，这样的信心使他可以坚持下去。请祷告让我们在艰难的日子里，也会紧握着神的承诺。
  1. 嫁给一个只履行职责而在感情上没有交流的丈夫，利亚来一定非常痛苦。然而，从她如何为她的儿子取名，我们可以清楚看到她属灵上的成长。长子的名字“流便”，意思是“看，是一个儿子”，她以为丈夫会因为这孩子而疼爱自己。但是，她错了。第二个儿子西缅，意思是 “听见”，利亚不断的向神祷告，诉说自己的痛苦。第三个儿子利未，它的意思是“联合”。利亚仍然希望因她为丈夫所生的儿子，雅各会开始爱她。但她第四个儿子的出生似乎带给利亚新的喜悦，“犹大”希伯来文的意思是“赞美”，她不再向神抱怨对自己毫无反应的丈夫，她已开始赞美主对自己的祝福（29:35）。

29 Jun 2017, 1 Corinthians 9 哥林多前书 9, The Illustration of Christian Liberty 运用基督徒自由的例子

Posted on Jun 19, 2017 in Expired |

Scripture Reading        : 1 Corinthians 9

Theme                            : The Illustration of Christian Liberty       

 

After setting out the limits of Christian liberty in chapter 8, Paul now illustrates how he followed the principle in his own life in chapter 9.

  1. Paul’s rights to be supported (9:1-14). As an apostle, Paul had the right to be supported by the churches to whom he ministered. This is a right ordained by Jesus Himself (cf. Luke 10:7). The principle of workers being paid for their work is not merely according to human judgment, but is also taught in God’s law. If God wants to be certain that oxen are “paid” for their work, how much more is He concerned that men be compensated for theirs.
  1. Paul’s refusal to be supported (9:15-27). Paul had the right, but he willingly waived his right for the gospel’s sake, for the brethren’s sake and for love’s sake. This is done for two reasons: first, he did not want to lose his reward for preaching the gospel without charge (v.16-18) and secondly, he wanted absolutely nothing to hinder his reaching the lost with that gospel (v.19-27). Therefore, this has become his policy wherever he went (cf. 1 Thess. 2:9, 2 Thess. 3:8) and he gladly modify his habits, his preferences, his lifestyle in order to win people to Jesus Christ. Though Paul’s willing adjustment of his living helped many unbelievers to be more open to receive the gospel, it does not imply that he has compromised the gospel truth to satisfy anyone. But he would condescend in any way for anyone if that would help bring him to Christ.

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. The Lord’s servants deserve to be supported well. There should not be a lower standard for preachers, missionaries and other Christian ministers than that set for those laboring in the system of man. Obviously, we should give our money only to ministries that are biblically sound and responsible, for being wise in our giving is part of our stewardship. But Christians are also to reflect their heavenly Father’s generosity in supporting the Lord’s servants and give happily, generously and trustingly to a servant who is worthy. Let’s pray that we will follow the model of the Macedonia church in their giving (2 Cor. 8:1-5) and provide generous support to our pastors, our missionaries and leaders of any kind who minister to us, just as God has been so immeasurably generous to us (Phil. 4:19).
  1. Liberty cannot be limited without self-control. Our sinfulness resents and resists restrictions, sometimes even in the name of spiritual freedom. However, no Christian will be successful in witnessing, or in anything else worthwhile, without discipline and self-control. Part of Pauls’ fight to win souls for Christ is against his own body. Like an athlete who follows training rules, not his body, in order to win the race, Paul put his body into subjection in order to fulfill his mission. However, many people today, including Christians, are slaves to their own bodies. They start the Christian life with enthusiasm and devotion. They train carefully for a while but soon tire of the effort and begin to “break training”. Before long, they are disqualified from being effective witnesses. They do not have what it takes because they are unwilling to pay the price. The flesh, the world, everyday affairs, personal interests and often simple laziness hinder spiritual growth and preparation for service. Let’s pray that we will learn to develop self-control and discipline in our own life so that we will not be disqualified.
 
 
 

经文：哥林多前书9

主题：运用基督徒自由的例子    

 

在第八章列出了基督徒自由的范畴后，保罗要在第九章举例自己是如何在生活中遵循这原则的。

  1. 保罗有权得支持（9:1-14）。身为使徒，保罗有权力向他所事奉的教会得到支持；这是耶稣自己所设的权力（参：路10:7）。工人得工价的原则并不只是人的理念，也是神的律法所教导的。若神要确保在场上踹谷的牛会得到“工价”，祂必然更在乎人为他们的劳力得到应得的工价。
  1. 保罗拒绝得到支持（9:15-27）。保罗本有这权力，但他甘愿为福音、教会弟兄及爱的缘故取消这权力。其原因有二：一、他不想失去免费传福音的赏赐（16-18节）；二、他不想任何事成为他向人传福音的阻碍（19-27节）。因此，不论到哪儿，这已成了他的原则（参：帖前2:9，帖后3:8）。而他甘心调整自己的作息、嗜好及生活习惯，为要赢得人心归主。虽然保罗甘愿在生活中做调整，以便向更多非信徒传福音，但这并不表示他为要讨好人而改变福音真理。可是，若人能因保罗放下身段而亲近神，他愿意随时那么做。
 

 

 

用经文祷告

  1. 主的仆人配得到充足的支持。对传道人、宣教士与其他基督徒事工的仆人而言，他们所得的标准不当低于人类的劳工系统所设。显然，我们只应该奉献给合乎圣经及负责任的事工，因为智慧奉献也是我们作管家的一部分。然而，基督徒也当在支持主仆人的事工上反映他们天父的慷慨，乐意、阔手，并在信任中奉献给配得的仆人。让我们祷告我们在奉献中会效法马其顿教会的榜样，慷慨支持我们的牧者、宣教士及凡事奉我们的教会领袖，如同神如此充足的供应我们一样（腓4:19）。
  2. 自由不是在自制之外的。我们的罪性厌恶并抵挡限制，甚至以属灵自由的名义那么做。然而，基督徒在见证或其他事物上若没有纪律与自制之心，是绝对无法成功的。在保罗为基督赢取灵魂的争战中，其中的阻碍是自己的肉身。如一名运动员遵从锻炼的规矩而不是他的身体一样，保罗为要赢得比赛，必须束缚自己的身体，才能完成他的使命。但是，今日有许多人，包括基督徒，是自己肉身的奴隶。他们在作基督徒路程的起点充满了激情与忠心，起初小心锻炼，但很快就累了，开始偷懒。不久后，他们不再是有效的见证；他们不愿付出代价，所以失去了这个资格。肉体、世界、每日琐事、个人关注，及懒惰阻碍了属灵增长及对事奉的预备。让我们祷告我们在生活中会学习自制及自律，叫我们不会被取消资格。

GBF Christmas Service + Concert 2015

Posted on Dec 9, 2015 in Expired | Tags: ,

xmas2015
 
Join us for the annual GBF Christmas Service and Dinner on 19 December 2015, 6-7:30pm for an evening where we will hear about the true meaning of Christmas and the Gospel through songs, worship, preaching and a concert presentation from the Vacation Bible School kids aged 3-7 years old.
 
P.S. A Potluck Christmas Dinner will follow thereafter…. 🙂
 
 
So be sure to update your calendars for 19 Dec and invite all your friends and family!
 
 
 
 

Vacation Bible School (VBS) 2015, 17-19 Dec

Posted on Oct 26, 2015 in Expired | Tags: 

 

spy academy 3
Children’s Vacation Bible School (VBS) By Grace Bible Fellowship

With International Spy Academy, our mission is to instill in your children an understanding of the one true God of the Bible they can carry with them for the rest of their lives and share with those around them. They’ll uncover the clues that lead to the one true God who is the Creator of all and who calls people from every tribe and nation to have fellowship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ.

For details/reservations, contact us at 6336 6789 or email us at info@gracebible.sg

 
 

WHAT: VBS – “INTERNATIONAL SPY ACADEMY” AGENTS OF THE ONE TRUE GOD

WHEN: DEC 17 – 19, 2015; 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

WHERE: GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP, 50 Serangoon North Avenue 4, #07-19 First Centre, Singapore 555856

FOR: 4 – 12 YRS OLD

 
 
 

4 Sep 2015, Amos 阿摩司书 9:1-15, Visions of Destruction and Restoration 毁灭与复兴的异象

Posted on Sep 4, 2015 in Expired |

Scripture Reading : Amos 9:1-15

Theme                  : Visions of Destruction and Restoration

 

  1. Destruction (9:1-10). In chapters 7-9, there are five visions of destruction. Chapter 9 is the last vision. The series of five visions of destruction acts to depict the progression of a long funeral week. First the funeral is held in the void deck of the HDB, and then the body is cremated, and then the ash is put into a box. The five visions of destruction depicts Israel’s long funeral week.
  1. Restoration (9:11-15). However, in the end time, God will restore the nation of Israel. It will be the political and spiritual centre of the world because Jesus, the ultimate Davidic king, will rule from Jerusalem. The world will be renewed and restored to near paradise condition (Is. 65:20). There will be enormous prosperity such that planting and reaping seasons will overlap (ploughman shall overtake the reaper). All of this will be accomplished during the millennial kingdom of Jesus. The beginning of this fulfilment starts at the first coming of Jesus and the establishment of the church (Acts 15:16-17).

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. The history of Israel is a sad story of rebellion and judgment. We see their rebellion when Jesus came the first time. Instead of embracing their Messiah, they crucified Him. Their rebellion will continue until the end time. This is sad. The prophecies of the OT concerning Israel testifies to the divine nature of the Bible. The Bible accurately describes the history of Israel and its future. Let us be confident of the Bible’s description of the certainty of heaven and hell. Let us be busy to rescue sinners from hell through the sharing of the gospel and let us be busy to lay up treasures in heaven.
 
 

经文：阿摩司书9:1-15

主题：毁灭与复兴的异象

 

  1. 毁灭（9:1-15）。第7-9章共有关乎毁灭的五个异象；第九章列的是最后一个。这一系列形容五种毁灭的异象好比新加坡长达一周的丧礼。首先，丧礼会在政府组屋楼下举行，然后尸体会被火化；最后，骨灰将被装在盒子里。这五个异象象征的就是以色列的葬礼。
  1. 复兴（9:11-15）。然而，到了末日，神会复兴以色列国。她将是世界的政治与属灵中心，因为耶稣，即大卫宝座最大的王，将从耶路撒冷统治世界（赛65:20）。国家的富裕繁荣极大，以致栽种与收割的日子会重叠（踹葡萄的必接续撒种的）。这一切将在耶稣的千禧国度应验。应验的开端是在耶稣首次降临与教会建立的时候（使15:16-17）。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 以色列的历史是个关乎悖逆与审判的凄凉故事。耶稣首次到来时，我们便看到了她的悖逆。他们不但不迎接自己的弥赛亚，反倒钉祂十架。他们的悖逆会延续下去，直到末日。这是很悲哀的。旧约中与以色列相关的预言见证了圣经的神圣性。圣经精确地形容了以色列的过去与未来。让我们也全然相信圣经所叙述的天堂与地狱。让我们为拯救罪人下地狱忙于传福音，并为积累天上的宝藏而忙碌。

3 Sep 2015, Amos 阿摩司书 7:1-8:14, Visions of Destruction 遭毁灭的异象

Posted on Sep 3, 2015 in Amos, Devotions, Expired |

Scripture Reading        : Amos 7:1-8:14

Theme                          : Visions of Destruction

 

  1. Visions of Destruction (7:1-9). God shows Amos three visions of Israel’s imminent destruction. For the first two visions, Amos pleads for mercy and God relents. But for the third vision, God did not relent. The plumb line symbolizes a standard of measurement. The Israelites have failed to measure up to God’s covenantal faithfulness. They have rejected Him and continues to spurn him. Therefore, God will not be patient with them (never again pass by them), but will judge them.
  1. Visions Confronted (7:10-17). When Amaziah, priest of the sanctuary at Bethel, heard Amos’ prophetic judgment on Israel, he informed the king, Jeroboam, and forced Amos to stop and return to Judah. Because Amaziah continues to rebel against God and to defile God’s house, God will defile him. His children will die and his wife will become a prostitute. He himself will be exiled to an unclean land and be defiled.
  1. Vision of Summer Fruit (8:1-3). The Jews love puns and rhymes. It is a literary device used to sear God’s truth into their heads. The Hebrew word for summer fruit sounds similar to the word end. This vision reinforces the certainty and inevitability of God’s judgment on Israel through the Assyrian exile.
  1. Vision Described (8:4-14). The utter destruction of Israel is based on its spiritual adultery and subsequent social evils. God’s judgment will come like a flood like the flooding of the Nile. There will also be another judgment, which is the lack of God’s word. There will be a famine for God’s truth, which can nourish the soul.

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10). Those who are rebelling against God need to fear God’s judgment on their sins in order to be saved. Although the fear of punishment alone cannot frighten people into heaven, it serves as a catalyst to true faith by leading people to see the glorious grace of Jesus and take refuge under Him. Let us pray that non-believers would fear the Lord and be convicted of sin, judgment and righteousness by the Holy Spirit (John 16:8).
  1. Because we know our ultimate destiny is in the glorious heaven, we can suffer for Christ in this life, knowing that our rewards will be great in heaven (Matt. 5:10-12). We can be like Amos who boldly proclaimed the truth of God’s word in the face of opposition. May God give us this boldness in proclaiming the gospel.

经文：阿摩司书7:1-8:14

主题：遭毁灭的异象

 

  1. 遭毁灭的异象（7:1-9）。神赐阿摩司的三个异象都是关于以色列即将面临的毁灭。在前两个异象中，阿摩司求神怜悯，神也应允了，但在第三个异象中，神并不做让步。准绳象征的是衡量的标准。以色列人达不到与神立约时为信实所定的标准。他们拒绝神，还继续藐视祂。因此，神也不会对他们宽厚（我必不再宽恕他们），乃要审判他们。
  1. 对抗异象（7:10-17）。当伯特利殿中的祭司亚玛谢听到阿摩司对以色列所下的审判预言后，他通知了耶罗波安王，并强制要阿摩司停止说话，回到犹大。由于亚玛谢继续违背神，继续玷污神的殿，所以神要毁灭他。他的孩子会死，妻子也将成为妓女。他自己将被放流至污秽之地，自己被玷污。
  1. 夏果的预言（8:1-3）。犹太人喜爱双关语和韵文。神便使用这个文学体裁将祂的真理钻入他们的脑海里。“夏果”的希伯来文发音与“末期”接近。这个异象强调了神必然审判以色列，藉着亚述将他们放流。
  1. 形容异象（8:4-14）。以色列是因着她的属灵奸淫及随后的社会败坏才会遭彻底的毁灭。神的审判将如同尼罗河的涨起，像洪水般临到。此外，以色列还面临另一个审判，即缺乏神的话。这地不会有能滋养灵魂的神之道。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 敬畏耶和华是智慧的开端（箴9:10）。凡悖逆神的需要惧怕神对他们罪行的审判，才能得救。虽然惩罚所产生的惧怕不能吓着人进入天堂，但它能作信心的催化剂，引导人看见耶稣荣耀的恩典，依偎在祂的膀臂下。让我们祷告非信徒能敬畏耶和华，而圣灵能在他们的心里定罪，定审判，也定下公义（约16:8）。
  1. 由于我们晓得自己最后的终点是荣耀的天堂，我们今世能为基督受苦，深知在天上的赏赐是大的（太5:10-12）。我们能像阿摩司一样，在面对抵抗时仍能大胆宣扬神道中的真理。愿神能赐我们这等胆量去传福音。

2 Sep 2015, Amos 阿摩司书 5-6, Social Evils 社会罪恶

Posted on Sep 2, 2015 in Amos, Devotions, Expired |

Scripture Reading        : Amos 5-6

Theme                          : Social Evils

 

  1. Funeral Song (5:1-17). The Jews are so stubborn that their end is near. To make their end even more graphic, God sings a funeral song to them. Again God highlights their spiritual betrayal and resulting social evils. Heresy will always turn into immorality. The Jews continue to worship idols. They turn justice into wormwood, i.e. bitterness. They afflict the righteous and needy by taking bribes. They love evil instead of good. Even as God accuses them, He again calls them to repentance. God is a compassionate and patient God.
  1. Justice Called (5:18-27). God calls for justice to roll down like waters, righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Since justice is not delivered in Israel, God will deliver justice on the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord is a time of God’s reckoning. This is most likely referring to the Assyrian exile (5:27), not the end time judgment in Revelation since the context never describes any end time events. But the Assyrian exile, this near future day of the Lord, foreshadows God’s end time judgment against Israel, the future day of the Lord. Israel will continue to rebel against God until the end time, but a remnant will always be kept (Rom. 11:5). This is why evangelizing the Jews is important.
  1. Carnal Ease and Security (6:1-14). While the nation of Israel languishing in spiritual filth and social evils, some of the Jews continue to live a carnal life of ease and false security. Instead of mourning over the sins of the nation, these men are apathetic to evil and God’s judgment. They trust in their own strength to protect themselves from foreign invasion.

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. It is good to contemplate our eventual death, not in a morbid way, but in a way to remind ourselves of our glorious and ultimate destination with Jesus in heaven, so that we may live for what will count in heaven. If you are living in sin, your contemplation of death should sober you and cause you to forsake sin and live for eternity (Eccl. 7:1-5; Ps. 90:12)
  1. It is sinful to put our security in things of the earth, whether it is in money, military or political power. Of course it is wise and responsible to provide for our family, but we put no trust in these things for security and life. We must put our trust only in God. Do not heap up treasures on earth and say to yourself, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” Judgment will come upon such foolish and sinful person (Luke 12:19), like these Jews.

经文：阿摩司书5-6

主题：社会罪恶

 

  1. 丧礼哀歌（5:1-17）。由于犹太人非常固执，所以他们的灭亡临近了。为要使他们的灭亡形象化，神向他们唱一首哀歌。神再次强调了他们的属灵背叛及所造成的社会败坏。异端或邪说一定会导致灵性的淫荡。犹太人继续拜偶像。他们将公义便为茵陈，即苦毒。他们借着收受贿赂苦待义人与需要帮助的人。他们喜爱邪恶，不爱良善。神即便在控告他们时，也再一次召他们悔改。神是有慈爱与耐心的神。
  1. 召唤公义（5:18-27）。神召唤公义如大水滚滚，使公义如江河滔滔。既然以色列没有公义，神会在耶和华之日秉持公义。耶和华之日是神施行审判的时候。这大有可能指的是以色列遭亚述的流放（5:27），不是启示录所指的末日之审判，因为上下文并无提及任何末日事件。但就近的耶和华之日，即在亚述的放逐，预示了神对以色列末日的审判，也就是将来主日的时候。直到末了，以色列会一直悖逆神，但神总会留下余数（罗11:5）。这也就是为何向犹太人传福音是重要的。
  2. 肉体上的安逸和安全感（6:1-14）。以色列国处在属灵污秽和社会败坏的同时，部分人继续过着肉体上安逸的生活，不居安思危。这些人不但不为国家的罪孽哀伤，反倒对邪恶与神的审判漠不关心。他们相信自己有足够力量抵挡外来人的侵入。 

    用经文祷告

    1. 沉思自己将来的死是好的（不是病态的思想），因为这能提醒我们日后与耶稣在天堂的荣耀及最终的目的地，叫我们为天上可算为贵的事生活。你若是活在罪中，你对死的沉思当使你苏醒，叫你舍弃罪孽，为永恒而活（传7:1-5；诗90:12）。
    1. 不论是钱财、军事或政治势力，我们若依靠的是世界上的东西，那是有罪的。当然，我们当以智慧和责任心照顾家人，却不能依靠这些东西作生命的保障。我们当唯独信靠神。不要为自己在地上积累财宝，并对自己说：“灵啊，你积累的财物足够多年的使用，当放轻松，吃喝享乐去吧。”审判必然临到这等如此愚昧与罪恶的人（路12:19），如同这些犹太人一样。

     


1 Sep 2015, Amos 阿摩司书 4, Women, Worship and Stubbornness 妇女、崇拜和固执

Posted on Sep 1, 2015 in Amos, Devotions, Expired |

Scripture Reading        : Amos 4

Theme                          : Women, Worship and Stubbornness 

 

  1. Women (4:1-3). The women of Israel is referred as cows of Bashan for their gluttony and pleasure seeking. They obtain ill gained goods and prompt their husbands to do their bidding. It is a sign of a society’s deep depravity when women, who are to be more nurturing by nature, do the opposite by oppressing the poor and innocent for luxury.
  1. Worship (4:4-5). Even while they sin greatly against God, they still regularly perform their rituals, thinking God is satisfied with just outward ceremonies. Like the Jews of Jesus’ time, they have turned God’s house into a house of thieves. They multiply transgressions in God’s house.
  1. Stubbornness (4:6-13). God tried many times to get their attention, but they would never return to God. They are stubborn, not humble. God repeatedly indicts Israel for this sin (Is. 48:4, Hos. 4:16, Eze. 3:7). They are dead in their transgressions.

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. Through Israel, we see how humans are stubborn and foolish. The human heart is a heart of stone that no punishment can take away. This is why hell cannot be corrective. Hell is final and a crystallization of the human heart. No one seeks God. Only by the grace of God and the proclamation of the gospel can sinners’ stony heart turn into a soft heart (Eze. 36:26) and seek God. Even as believers, we know how stubborn we can be sometimes. Let us pray that God will change our heart and give us a heart of humility and teachability.
  1. The Israelites had hypocritical worship and it displeased God. Let us draw near to God with a sincere and clean heart. It dishonours God by not going to church and it is also dishonouring to come to church to sin against God. Before we come to church, let us prepare our hearts to worship God by giving Him thanks, by trembling at His word, and be prepared to love others (Is. 66:2; Ps. 100:4).

主题：阿摩司书4

主题：妇女、崇拜和固执

 

  1. 妇女（4:1-3）。文中的“巴珊母牛”即指以色列妇女，因为她们成天大吃大喝，只好宴乐。她们取了不义之财，又叫自己的丈夫听从她们的吩咐。这是社会极度腐败的现象，因为女人的培育性理当较强，但这里完全颠倒，反为钱财欺压贫穷和及无辜之人。
  1. 敬拜（4:4-5）。即便向神大大犯罪时，他们仍继续行圣殿礼仪，以为神就此满足了。如耶稣时代的犹太人一样，他们将神的殿变成贼窝，在神的殿中加倍犯罪。
  1. 固执（4:6-13）。神多次尝试得到他们的注意，但他们永不愿归神。他们是固执的，不愿谦卑。神不断为此定以色列的罪（赛48:4；何4:16；结3:7）。他们在罪中已死了。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 我们藉着以色列能看到人有多固执、愚昧。人心硬石，惩罚也无可改变。这就是地狱为何无可使人改邪归正。地狱是人心最终的硬化。无人寻求神。罪人唯有藉着神的恩典与福音，石心才能变成肉心（结36:26），从而寻求神。即使信主后，我们晓得自己有时也可以很固执。让我们祈求神能改变我们的心，赐我们谦卑与受教的心。
  1. 以色列的敬拜是虚伪的，惹神愤怒。让我们以真诚、清洁的心就近神。不到教会敬拜是对神的羞辱；到了教会犯罪也是对神的羞辱。因此，让我们到教会之前预备好自己的心要称谢神，要因祂的话战兢，并要彼此相爱（赛66:2；诗100:4），从而敬拜神。

31 Aug 2015, Amos 阿摩司书 2:6-3:15, Judgment and Justification 审判与称义

Posted on Aug 31, 2015 in Amos, Devotions, Expired |

Scripture Reading        : Amos 2:6-3:15

Theme                                    : Judgment and Justification

 

  1. Oracle against Israel (2:6-16). At the end of God’s seven oracles against Israel’s surrounding nations, Israel would have been at the height of their self-righteousness and rejoicing at the judgment of God and agreeing with God. But God shatters their self-righteousness by ending His oracle against Israel, who is the main recipient of the series of oracles. Their agreement with God’s judgment against other nations’ sins would also force them to agree with God’s judgment against their own sins. God does not just highlight one of Israel’s sins, He highlights multitude of sins, which meanings Israel has become worse than all of its neighbours, so God will severely punish them.
  1. Justification of the Oracle (3:1-15). At the end of the oracle against Israel, some may think God’s judgment is too harsh and doubt Amos’ message. Others many think the calamities will not be God’s doing, but the devil or some other more powerful supernatural forces. To put these doubts away, God gives a series of evidently clear examples of cause and effect (Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing?…), in order to make it clear that Amos’ message is from God and it is God who will make this calamity happen, not the devil or idols. God will destroy their luxuries and their pleasure seeking lifestyle (summer, winter and ivory houses), which further corrupted their souls. “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear” means evidence that a hired shepherd would produce to proof he did not steal a sheep, but was devoured by a wild animal. So the few survivors of Israel in exile will testify to its ruin. God often employs graphic and easily understood imageries in order to warn them of judgment.

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. Let us not look down on Israel with self-righteous pride, but to realize that, apart from God’s grace through Jesus, we would all be capable of committing the same sins as Israel. Apart from a relationship with God, any human heart will continue to degenerate and be capable of committing atrocious sins like the Jews. Give thanks to God for His grace and humble yourself before God. Be compassionate and gracious to sinners and share the gospel to them.
  1. God is impartial. He does not have a double standard of holiness: one for His people and another one for ignorant gentiles. All are accountable to Him; all have fallen short of His glory and all need His grace (Rom. 3:9-20). God’s impartiality is a testimony to the divine quality of the Bible. The God of the Bible is not a man-made god, who always sides with his people, no matter how evil they are. Nor is He a god who does the bidding of the idol maker (cf. Josh. 5:13-14).

经文：阿摩司书2:6-3:15

主题：审判与称义

 

  1. 对以色列的审判（2:6-16）。神对以色列周遭列国做出了七项审判后，以色列会特别自义，心中欢喜并同意神对他们的审判。可是，神最后也审判了以色列，且是这一系列审判下来的主要对象，从而粉碎了他们的自义。他们既然同意神对列国的审判，就会被迫同意神对他们自己的罪所做的审判。神不只将以色列其中的一项罪晾出来，还摆出了她的众罪，意思就是以色列还不如她所有的邻居，所以神会重判他们。
  1. 审判的公义性（3:1-15）。审判以色列后，有人或许认为神未免太苛刻了，从而对阿摩司的预言产生质疑。许多人认为灾难并不是神的作为，而是恶魔或其他更大的超然能力在作祟。为了摆平这些疑惑，神给予一系列清晰的因果之例（网罗若无所得，岂能从地上翻起呢？……），表明阿摩司的预言确实是从神而来的，而神日后就是降灾难的那一位，不是魔鬼或偶像。神会毁灭他们奢华、只想宴乐的生活（过冬、过夏和象牙的房屋）；那些只会进一步腐蚀他们的灵魂。“牧人怎样从狮子口中抢回两条羊腿或半个耳朵”，就是被聘用的牧人会拿出的证据，证明自己没有偷羊，而羊是被野兽吞噬的。同样的，以色列流放后仅存的生还者将见证她的废墟。神常常使用图画及易懂的比喻警告他们未来的审判。


用经文祷告

  1. 让我们不要以自义的骄傲轻看以色列，而是领悟到，若无神藉着耶稣施恩，我们也能犯下与以色列同样的罪。若与神隔绝，人心只会继续败坏，犯下与犹太人相同的大罪。让我们为神的恩典感谢祂，并在神面前谦卑。让我们对罪人含怜悯和恩慈，向他们传福音。
  1. 神不偏袒人。祂的圣洁绝无双重标准，即一个为祂的子民，另一个为无知的外邦人。每一个人都要向祂交账；世人都亏缺了神的荣耀，都需要神的恩典（罗3:9-20）。神的公正是对圣经神圣特质的见证。圣经中的神不是人造的神；祂不会不顾自己子民的罪恶，一直偏袒他们。祂也不是听从制造偶像之人吩咐的神（参亚5:13-14）。

29 Aug 2015, Amos 阿摩司书 1:1-2:5, Seven Judgments 七个审判

Posted on Aug 29, 2015 in Amos, Devotions, Expired |

Scripture Reading        : Amos 1:1-2:5

Theme                          : Seven Judgments

 

Amos prophesied around 760 B.C. during the reign of Uzziah in Judah, while Jeroboam II reigned in Israel. During this time, both Israel and Judah were militarily strong and economically wealthy. Amos is a Judean prophet called to deliver a message primarily to Israel, the northern kingdom (7:12).

  1. Judgment on Foreigners (1:1-10). God proclaims His judgment on Israel’s surrounding nations as a way to get Israel’s attention and poignantly show their sins. Israel would whole-heartedly agree with God’s judgment on their neighbours’ sins, but when God’s judgment climaxes at the end with Israel, they cannot be blinded to their hypocrisy (cf. 2 Sam. 12:5-7; Matt. 7:2). The phrase “three transgressions…four” is an idiom that means many sins, but only one sin is highlighted. Because of these sins, God will judge Damascus (Syria), Gaza (Philistine), and Tyre (Phoenicia). All these nations committed atrocities that led to war and carnages during war time.
  1. Judgment on Blood Relations (1:11-2:3). Edom (Esau’s line), Ammon (Lot’s line), and Moab (Lot’s line) are relatives of Israel, yet they often fight against their relatives, both Israel and each other. For these sins, God will destroy them.
  1. Judgment on Sister Nation (2:4-5). Judah is the last of seven judgments by God. Her top sin is that they forsook the laws of God, i.e. they rejected a relationship with God, manifested by their rejection of His commandments (John 14:15). All these judgments against the seven nations and Israel, were fulfilled when Assyria and Babylon sacked these nations.

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. Every nation, every individual is accountable to God, whether they know God through His special revelation (The Bible) or through general revelation (Rom. 1:18-23). God’s judgment against every human being is just and righteous. God is not obligated to save anyone, but the fact that He does save some through the precious blood of His beloved Son testifies to His amazing grace. We should praise Him for His marvellous grace, instead of complaining and being suspicious of His “limited” grace.
  1. God is a gracious God, slow in anger (Ex. 34:6). The seven nations had sinned often and continued to sin. God tolerated their sins for a while, but there is a limit to His patience. Eventually God’s patience ended and they were destroyed for their stubbornness. Even now, God patiently offers salvation to people, but that offer will not always be there. So if you hear the gospel today, do not harden your heart, but repent and return to God (Heb. 3:15).

« Older Entries