Thursday, 8th December 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-9 We are the Children of God
When we have the presence of God, then we will know that we are not alone, God is with us no matter what. This is not just a theory, everyone, who follows God must know the importance of following God. We need the presence of God, and we need to live out the image of God. When we follow God, we are not just being dragged by God, but to walk with fruits. When we say we have the presence of God, we must examine ourselves, do we really have the image of God in our lives?
In here, John is telling us that we must live in Jesus Christ. God does not come to judge us, Adam and Eve were scared of God, they hid from God when they sinned. But God is here to embrace us, and we should also embrace God. He does not want us to be the defeated ones but be the true children of God. It’s impossible for us not to sin, and when we try to use our own strength to live a holy life, we will feel tired and weary. Because we then become our own God, and we do not realise that we are all fall short of God’s glory. On the other hand, when we embrace God, when we let God enter our lives, He will take away our sins and forgive all our transgressions.
What attitude do we have when we come to our God, do we see Him as our loving Father? Do we know that through Jesus we can come to the Father? Or are we still trying to use our good behaviour? Only through Jesus we can become righteous, not by how much good we have done. Is our interaction with God full of love? When we come before God, we can see Him face to face, and we be filled by His love. There is no fear in love, God loves us, we are not orphans, we are His children, we can reflect His Image, and we can live out this image of God. Let God’s Word comes into our lives, let us respond in love for God, and let us be filled by God’s love and let it influence those around us.
Section Two V10-17 We are to Love One Another
When we don’t walk in the Way of God, we become the unrighteous. When we receive the love of God, we must also love others, because this is a commandment from God for those who follow God. We are the followers of God, and we are the children of God, God told us to love others as ourselves. John also stresses this in this chapter, that love one another is a commandment, it is an order, and it is what we must do.
When we are unable to do what others can do, what is inside our hearts? When we see others fail, we must have love and action, to support one another and to show love to one another. When we have this love, then we can receive the rewards from above. Often, we might feel that our love has no return, but we do not realise that everything we do is for God, not to receive anything in return. God will use His supernatural power to reveal to us and to return his favour upon us.
Section Three V18-24 We are to Stay in the Presence of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit comes for us to convict ourselves for sins, for righteousness, and for judgement. Only when we are in the presence of the Holy Spirit, then we can reveal the image of God. When we live in the presence of the Holy Spirit, then our hearts can be at peace. God’s Will for us is good, He is bringing peace to our lives. What are we facing right now? What do we fear right now? What is in our hearts right now? Our way forward may be dark and may be uncertain, but when we see God face to face, He is our Father, He knows our needs, and out hearts will be at peace.
Do we know our hearts as well as God does? We must listen to our hearts, hear our heartbeats, know what is inside of it. God wants us to know our hearts, to know ourselves, to live out the Image of God, then we can love one another.
约翰一书 3 – 活出神的样式
2022年12月8日 星期四
潘锡安牧师
我们有神的同在，然而我们的生命是否活出神的样式？
一、v.1-9 我们是神的儿女
亚当夏娃犯罪后很怕神找到他们，但耶稣基督来救赎我们，是要我们成为真儿女，不是去躲避神，而是去拥抱他。我们没有办法不能犯罪，我们若自己努力成圣反而遍体鳞伤。“凡住在他（耶稣）里面的，就不犯罪”，我们是亏欠神荣耀，是不配的，但当我们拥抱耶稣的时候，神就让我们的罪被赦免了。耶稣在地上时，每当疲倦，都会祷告。我们又是用什么态度来对待我们的阿爸父？是负面还是带着盼望？我们是否相信我们是借着耶稣到父那里去？没有人能认识父，除非我们认识子。当我们觉得跟从神是一个苦差事时，说明我们没有认识耶稣。
V7 我们能成为“义人”不是因为自己做得有多好，而是因为耶稣基督的救赎。我们跟从神是在爱的里面吗？若是在doing里跟随，就很容易疲倦、想放弃，若是在爱里，我们就能像我们的长兄耶稣一样不会跟父神斤斤计较，即使牺牲自己都不在乎。我们是神的儿女，我们不是在埃及为奴为仆地做工。能够与神面对面，我们就可以满足了。
V9 我们不是孤儿，是神所爱的儿女，有神的道在我们里面。撒旦会欺骗我们，让我们以为我们一无是处，很想躲回自己的山洞。然而，我们不需要去赚得神的爱，我们所做的一切都是对父神爱的回应。
二、v.10–17 我们是彼此相爱的
V10-11 “不义”就是没有行在神的标准里 – 神的“标准”就是爱。我们是否只是单单用嘴巴说爱神？若要爱神，就要“彼此相爱”。这不是一个选择，而是所有跟从神的人都不能违背的命令。
V12 当我们自己做不到，但别人却可以做到的时候，我们是否会为他们高兴、是否会帮助他们做得更好？该隐杀了比自己好的弟兄，因为他的心有问题。“杀”在原文是分割的意思，我们在现实生活中，是否看到别人能够做到事情就跟他们分割、划清界限，是否活在doing里？还是有爱弟兄的心，看到他们比自己更好的时候还愿意为他们祷告？
V13-15 我们不是表现自己有多好，当我们看到别的弟兄有“善”的行为时，我们要爱他们，愿意为他们出生入死。
V16-17 我们要愿意让别人站在我们的肩膀上，使他们更加得到神的奖赏。我们是否有为我们的弟兄舍命？很多时候我们可能为人付出了很大的代价，却似乎看不到什么结果。当我们觉得愤愤不平的时候，我们其实不是在爱里服事，而是心里对人的回馈怀着期待。跟从神不是劳苦重担，不是为了达标，而是生命影响生命。
三、v.18-24 我们要在圣灵的同在里
圣灵来，是让我们能为罪为义为审判自己责备自己，让我们的生命能活在神同在里、彰显神的样式。
V18-19 耶和华所怀的意念是赐平安的意念。如今我们里面有平安吗，还是看到一堆解决不完的问题、讨厌的人、或是令我们忧虑的未来？当我们拥抱耶稣的时候，我们的需要父都知道，我们的心就得“安稳”了。
V21 我们可能很享受方言祷告，然而在祷告的时候，我们是否听到我们的“心”？我们时常希望别人了解我们的心，但唯有圣灵才明白我们的心。
V22-23 若没有真理，我们所听到、所感动的部分可能就会出问题。当我们生命不对的时候，我们听不到自己的心，所以我们需要有权柄来帮助我们调整生命，这样才能正确听到自己的心。我们的顺序常是错的，总想要先有圣灵的同在，追求神秘的力量来满足自己里面的不完全，却忘了神给我们这些超自然的能力是为了能行出大使命。最重要的是先恢复神儿女的身份，活出真理、彼此相爱，才能在圣灵的同在里。
V24 我们渴慕神的同在，但若没有活出神的样式，神同在就只是乌托邦和口号而已。神不会逼我们活出他的样式，唯有我们自己愿意。