Sunday, 22 November, 2020
Rev. Daniel Poon
Exodus 20:1-3
And God spoke all these words, saying:
2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
Introduction: God created human beings because He values relationships. When we look at the Ten Commandments from the perspective of relationships, we can find many treasures. In the beginning, God spoke to the people, “I am the Lord your God.” When I talk to my eight-month-old son, I will not say in a fierce voice, I AM YOUR DAD! I will say in a very gentle tone, I am your father. How did the relationship start? What attitude we choose to treat the relationship is not to be influenced by others. This is our choice. How do you start a relationship? Single sisters, there are often many boys chasing after you. If you treat everyone in the same way, they will get confused. When we start a relationship, we choose whom to be with. This is our choice and decision. It is your choice to marry a special one. How to start a relationship with God is our choice, not God’s choice, because God is love, and God loves everyone. God even loves those who do not love him or know him, and God also loves those who resist him. His love is long, wide, high and deep, more than we can understand. 2000 years ago, when we did not know God, He prepared Jesus Christ for us to die on the cross. God has already prepared. God is always here. He is ready to wait for us to respond to him.
1.This Is Our Choice
Exodus 20:18-21
When Israelites saw things happen, they were afraid. They told Moses that you can talk to us but don’t let God talk to us. The Israelites made the decision to stop establishing a relationship with God. This was out of their fear. What they saw and heard scared them, and they forgot what they had experienced with God: how they were saved from Egypt where they were slaves for four hundred years. God even separated the Red Sea for them to cross it and gave them manna to eat in the wilderness. They forgot that God love them. They were scared by what was happening, so they decided not to have a relationship with God. So, they just did what was asked to do – the “doing” mode started from then. The Ten Commandments told them what they were allowed and not allowed to do. In the past, we learned the Ten Commandments from Sunday schools and homes. They told us what we are allowed and not allowed to do. The purpose of God’s Ten Commandments is not like this. God wanted to establish a relationship with the Israelites.
Instead of looking at the Ten Commandments from the perspective of doing, we should look at them from the perspective of relationship building. The Lord Jesus also said that He came to fulfil the law, not to abolish the law. What we see is that the people of Israel refused to establish a relationship with God from the beginning. On the other hand, in verse 20, Moses said to all the people, don’t be afraid, God came to test you. Moses told them not to fear. Fear is the killer of relationships. Fear will make you misunderstand what comes from God and authority. What God said to you is to love you. For example, if you were told by your authority to do something, your first thought is being controlled by him. This is because we have the idea of doing, which is rooted from the people of Israel. What God says is not that you have to do these things. Every Israelite knew the Ten Commandments, but why still Israel was split into two countries, Israel and Judah in the end? God will never bind people, and your authority will not bind you to do anything. They advise you but you view their advice in a negative way. Because we twist it into doing, we don’t see the relationship and love in the relationship. All we see is manipulation or suppression from our spiritual authority. But God is not like this and this is not the truth. The truth is that God wants us to be close to Him. However, because of fear, people choose to keep a distance from Him.
Psalm 103:7 : What Moses saw was “why” God did this behind everything? Because of fear, the Israelites had problems with God. They couldn’t feel love. All they saw were just “what” God did. Even if they have freedom, they can’t see it. But God is love, and He cherishes their relationship. Relationships are very important.
2. No Other Gods
“Have no other gods” is the first of the Ten Commandments. Often when we read this, our interpretation is that “God does not allow me to have other gods, and I’m just allowed to do what I have been told”. We need to understand why God said this to the Israelites. When we focus on what we can and cannot do, we are trapped in a box. Remember the Israelites had lived in Egypt for over 430 years until they were led by Moses out of it. Joseph was the prime minister in Egypt for 30 years then the new king who did not know him came into power. The Israelites worked hard in Egypt for 400 years. What they did was to make bricks day and night. Their children had no choice but to work as slaves just as their fathers did. After living in Egypt for 400 years, these Israelites were all brainwashed by the Egyptian culture.
Moses asked God, who are You? God said, “I AM WHO I AM”. The Israelites are Israelites in their appearance but Egyptians inside.
From Isaiah 45:5, we see the Israelites knew that God was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but they did not have any personal relationship with him at all. The Egyptians are polytheistic, which means they had more than 2,000 gods, among whom there were 29 main gods and more than 2,000 minor ones. Having lived in Egypt for 400 years, they all knew these gods. So, God told them that there were no other gods besides Him. He said, “I chose your ancestor Abraham and used signs and wonder to prove that I am your God. Jacob, your great-great-grandfather saw me as his only true God. Because of all the miracles and wonders, you would know that I am the only true God besides all gods.” What God told the Israelites was not to worship other gods. God told them the truth. The firstborns of the Egyptians were dead while the Israelites’ survived, through which God wants to tell us that we should have the right relationship with Him, which is not to bind us.
Today God wants to save us. When we feel bound and suppressed, our response is to leave. Because of God’s grace and mercy, we will not be dominated by the lies of the enemy. If you feel that you are being controlled and suppressed, there is a problem.
The vows of traditional weddings are similar to what God told us. There should be no other gods besides me. Before getting married, it does not matter that one has many affairs. However, on the wedding day, you have to make your decision. After the wedding, you are only mine and I only have you. When you make your wedding vows, you will not feel that your husband suppresses or controls you, instead, you will get moved with tears because you feel loved. God loves us and does everything for us. He cherishes His relationship with us.
3. Put God First
Genesis 4:2-5
God is pleased with Abel and his sacrifice. The original word is “respect”. Why does God respect people? Is it reasonable? In a relationship, every side is equal and we cannot look down on others or look up to others. Maintaining a relationship is through love, and God feels Abel’s love.
The scripture says that what Abel offered was the firstborn of the flock. To offer the “Firstborn” in the Bible means even when he had not seen any more offspring coming, he still gave the only one he had to God, which showed his love and faith in God, so God respected Abel and his sacrifices. Can you see the loving relationship between Abel and God?
1 Kings 17:12-15
When Elijah asked the widow to make food for him, she told him that I had no bread, only a handful of flour and a little oil and I was ready to make the last meal, so I could die with my son. This was the reality, but Elijah told her, don’t be afraid, and make me bread first. Fear is the killer of relationships. The widow made bread for Elijah first, but it is impossible for us not to give our children food first.
The woman did what Elijah said. If you are a “doing” person, you will think it is because of the woman’s faith that she was blessed. But from the perspective of relationship we are talking about today, God actually knows her problem. God can provide Elijah’s other food, for example, let the crows bring him meat and He can drink from the brook to survive, but God used this woman. She and her son only had flour and oil for the last meal, and they waited to die. God sent Elijah to save them. She respected his authority and gave Elijah the last meal. Because of this, the whole family was provided with more food for longer time. Not only that, in the book of Joshua, we have learned that the story of the two spies. After Rahab saw them, she acknowledged God in front of the spies and gave testimony to the spies. She respected God and her whole family was saved. God is love, and He values the relationship between us and Him.
The message released today is for God’s children. Most of the people here have relationship problems. We are injured in relationships. We no longer believe in relationships. We don’t want to know about relationships, and what we are interested is just to do things. Even if you cherish the relationship, the relationship is not based on true love. What Jesus said, love your neighbour as yourself, but it is so hard for us to make it because we were hurt in relationships. Today we are going to restore everyone.
Response:
Many of us experience illness and financial difficulties because of the unforgiveness in relationships.
It is very important to understand the Ten Commandments. Because of the “doing” attitude, we cannot receive the love of God. Relationships bring healing. When you read Bible and you do not understand it, just focus on the love from God and feel the love from your heart. It is love that He tries to convey to us, rather than knowledge from Bible.
2020年11月22日 主日信息
潘锡安牧师
出埃及记 20:1-3
神 吩 咐 这 一 切 的 话 说 ：2 我 是 耶 和 华 ─ 你的 神 ， 曾 将 你 从 埃 及 地 为 奴 之 家 领 出 来 。3 除 了 我 以 外 ， 你 不 可 有 别 的 神 。
引言：神创造人，是因为神看重关系，当我们从关系的角度看十诫，可以找到很多宝藏。在一开始，神就对子民说话，我是耶和华你的神。我跟八个月的宝宝说话时，我不会用很凶的声音说，我是你爸！我会用很温柔的语气说，我是你的爸爸。关系是怎么开始建立的呢？我们选择什么态度去对待关系，不是被别人影响，这是我们的选择，你怎样开始一段关系。未婚的姐妹，往往会有很多男生会追求你，想要成为你的另一半，如果你对每个人都一样，他们就会困惑。我们当然不会这么做，我们开始一段关系的时候，我们会选择跟谁在一起。这是我们的选择和决定，你跟那个人结婚，是你的选择。如何跟神开始一段关系，这是我们的选择，不是神的选择，因为神是爱，神爱每个人。神甚至爱那些不爱他、不认识他的人，神也爱那些抵挡他的人。他的爱是长阔高深的，超过我们能理解的。2000年前，我们不认识神的时候，他就为我们预备耶稣基督死在十字架上，神已经做好预备了，神总是在这里，他已经准备好了等我们回应他。
一、这是我们的选择
出20：18-21
看到事情发生，百姓就害怕，他们就跟摩西说，你跟我们说话就可以了，不要让神跟我们说话。以色列人做了决定，就是停止与神建立关系，这是出于他们的恐惧。他们看到、听到的事情让他们害怕，他们忘记了他们曾经与神一起经历的事情——神如何讲他们从四百年为奴的埃及拯救出来。神甚至分开了红海，让他们跨越红海，赐下吗哪给他们吃，他们却忘记神爱他们。他们被现在所发生的事情吓到，所以他们决定不要跟神有关系，他们只是做被要求做的事情，doing就从那时候开始了。十诫告诉他们可以做什么，不可以做什么。过去我们在学校、家庭都是学到十诫，是你可以做什么，不可以做什么。我们自己读圣经，也是我们可以做什么，不可以做什么。神给十诫的目的不是如此，神希望与以色列人建立关系。
我们若从doing的角度看待十诫是错误的，我们应该从建立关系的角度来看。主耶稣也说，他来是成全律法，不是废掉律法。我们看到的是，以色列百姓从一开始就拒绝了与神建立关系。另一方面，第二十节，摩西就对所有的百姓说，不要害怕，神降临是为了试验你们。摩西告诉他们，不要惧怕。惧怕是杀死关系的杀手，惧怕会让你曲解从神和权柄来的本意。神跟你说的本意是爱你，比如说你要尊敬你的权柄，我们第一个反应就是doing，感觉自己会被操控，万一权柄跟我讲错的事情，我也要去做吗？这是因为我们有doing的想法，这是从以色列百姓来的根。神说的话不是你一定要去做这些事情。每个以色列人都知道十诫，但是为什么以色列后来分裂成了以色列和犹大两个国家？神永远不会捆绑人，你的权柄不会捆绑你去做什么，他们给你建议，告诉你该做的事情，我们为什么会看作是负面的？因为我们把它扭曲成doing，我们没有看到里面的关系、爱，所有看到的只是操控而已，被别人压制。但是神不是这样，这不是真理。真理是神希望我们与他亲密，但是因着惧怕人选择跟神保持距离。
诗篇103 ：7 他使摩西知道他的法则，叫以色列人晓得他的作为。
摩西看到的是所有事情背后，神“为什么“做这件事，以色列人因着惧怕，与神的关系有问题，他们感受不到爱，看到的只是神做的“是什么“。就算他们有自由，他们也看不到，他们看到的就是要求。但是神是爱，他很珍惜他们的关系。关系是非常重要的。
二、不可有别神
不可以有别的神是十诫的第一条，我们读到这里通常的理解就是：神不允许我有其他的神，我没有别的神，我就只能做被告知要做的事情。我们必须要明白，神为什么跟以色列人说这话的原因。我们专注在可以做什么，不可以做什么，我们就被套在框框里。今天真理就在这里，记得以色列人从约瑟开始，经过了430年，直到神带领所有以色列人离开埃及。约瑟在埃及做宰相30年，之后新王不认识他。以色列人在埃及劳苦做工400年，他们只知道每天起床就要做砖，他们的儿女只知道做法老要他们做的事情。我们说在新西兰出生和长大的中国人，香蕉人，外面是黄色的皮肤，里面还是白的。即便去学中文，他们跟父母和中文老师说中文，弟兄姐妹、同学都在用英文交流。想想以色列人，400年，没有希伯来文学校上学，他们听到的、说的都是埃及人的文化，他们已经被洗脑了。
摩西问神，你是谁？神说我是自有永有的。以色列人外面是以色列人，里面是埃及人。以赛亚书45：5，他们知道神是亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的神，但是他们跟神没有关系。埃及人是多神论，他们有超过2000多个神，29个主要的神，2000多小神。在埃及住了400年，他们都知道这些神。所以神跟他们说，除我以外，没有别神。我拣选了你们的先祖亚伯拉罕，用神迹奇事证明我是你们的神，雅各，你们的曾曾祖父看我是他的独一真神。因着所有的神迹奇事，你会知道我是在一切神之外的独一真神，在埃及400年所知道的，神告诉以色列人说的不是去拜其他神，神告诉他们真理。埃及人的长子都死了，但是你们因着神的保护可以存活，神想要告诉我们跟神有正确的关系，不是为了捆绑以色列人。
今天神要拯救我们，当我们感觉被捆绑、压制的时候我们的反应就是离开，这是毒药。魔鬼想让我们每个神的儿女都想要做的事情，因着神的恩典怜悯，我们才不会被仇敌的谎言辖制。如果你自己觉得是被控制和压制的，就有问题。
传统婚礼的誓言，完全是神跟我们说的事情，除我以外，不可有别神。在结婚之前，曾经有很多感情纠葛，但都不重要了，现在就要做决定，婚礼之后，你只有我，我只有你。你不会讲婚礼誓言的时候，觉得自己的丈夫压制、控制你，婚礼上因为觉得被爱而流泪。神爱我们，为我们做一切的事情，他珍惜与我们的关系。
三、将神放首位
创4：2-5
神喜悦亚伯和他的贡物，原文是respect，尊重。神怎么会尊重人呢？是不是合理？如果你把它放在关系里的话，在关系中是平等的，我们不能瞧不起别人，也不会仰望他人。维持一段关系是通过爱，神感受到亚伯的爱。
经文说，亚伯献上的是羊群中头生的。圣经中“头生”的意思是，即便没有看到以后要生的孩子也把仅有的第一个献给神，献上头生的意味着对神的爱和信心，所以神会尊重亚伯和他的祭物，你看到亚伯和神之间爱的关系了吗？
王上17：12-15
以利亚让寡妇给他做食物吃的时候，她跟他说，我没有饼，只有一把面和一点油。我预备好做最后一餐，就跟我的儿子去死了。这是现实，但是以利亚跟她说，不要惧怕，先给我做个小饼。惧怕是关系的杀手。寡妇就先给以利亚做饼，但是我们不可能不先给自己的孩子。
妇人就照着以利亚的话去做。如果你是个doing的人，你会想，因为妇人有信心，所以才得到了祝福。但是从今天讲的关系的角度去看，神其实知道她的问题，神可以给以利亚其他的食物吃，可以让乌鸦叼肉，喝溪水来生存，但是神却使用这个妇人。她和她的儿子只有一定面和油，只够最后一餐，他们就等死了。神却差遣了以利亚去拯救他们，她尊敬他的权柄，将最后一餐给了以利亚。因为如此，全家可以吃很久，不仅如此，在约书亚记，我们学过的，探子去到耶利哥城，喇合见到他们后，她在探子面前承认神，对探子讲出见证。她尊重神，她的全家都因此得救。神就是爱，他看重我们的关系。今天释放的信息，是给神的孩子。这里的大部分人，我们都有关系上的问题，我们在关系中受伤，我们不再相信关系，我们不想知道关系的事情，我们只想做事情。即便是珍惜关系，所建立的关系也不是在真的爱上面，耶稣说的，爱人如己，我们都做不到，因为我们在关系中受伤，今天我们要去恢复每个人。
回应：
我们很多人经历疾病、财务上经历困难，因为你在关系中没有饶恕。
理解十诫很重要，由于doing做事的心态，使我们无法得到神的爱。关系会带来医治。祷告以后读圣经的时候，不要想为什么会不明白，而是用心去感受神的爱。神不是给我们知识，而是爱。