Thursday, 13th May 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-4 Walk in the Truth
As John started the letter to Gaius, he mentioned that it’s important to have a healthy body as well as a healthy soul. Looking after our own health is also important as following of Jesus. We walk by truth and by the teaching of Jesus. If we live a life by the truth then people can see it, we will bear the fruits of life. It’s not about how well we can speak, because without action, we are never able to testify for God. Let God help us to live and walk by the truth, and let our spirit, our body and all the things in our hands, are testifying for God.
Section Two V5-8 Love in the Truth
We can live out the truth but can we love in the truth? John reminded us here to love and to show hospitality to others, especially the servants of God, because when we welcome them, we are also involved in the ministry in their hands. The work of hospitality is so important, but we tend to miss out the needs of the servants of God, instead we always take their offerings for granted.
Section Three V9-15 Testify in the Truth
Our life in the truth is to walk, to love and to testify in the truth. Because life affects life, in here John talked about Diotrephes, who liked to be recognised but did not live out the truth. Furthermore, he used untruthful words to attack John and his team. We must honour the servants of God, no words of judgement should come out of our mouth about them because only God is their Judge.
Another person John mentioned was Demetrius, who was doing good things and people were testifying for him. If we really are doing good, God and people will testify for us, we don’t have to prove it. God is a God of fellowship, He wants interactions with us, and John also knew that it was important to talk to people face to face. Are we spending time on people?
Prayer and Pursuit
Lord, only by humbling ourselves, be willing to let go, then we can walk in faith and love in faith. The world continues to put us down, but in You we regain strength. Give us faith so we can love, Your grace is sufficient for us, so we can love and have faith from Jesus. We want the ‘being’ from God, not the ‘doing’ from men. Let us be filled with Your love, which is full of hope and influence. Amen!
2021年5月13日 星期四
-潘锡安牧师-
约翰三书 1
在真理里的生命
若要活在真理里(约翰二书),我们就需要有一个在真理里的生命。耶稣就是真理,而我们每一个跟从耶稣的人都是为真理作见证的。
一、按真理而行(v.1-4)
V2 当时的教会面临很大的挑战和异端的冲击 – 诺斯底主义(二元论:他们不相信有神格的耶稣会道成肉身),所以在这里约翰才跟该犹说“愿你凡事兴盛,身体健壮,正如你的灵魂兴盛一样”。他提醒我们每一个跟从耶稣的人,不要受那些异端思想欺骗,要知道我们的灵魂和身体是一起的。当我们的灵兴盛、健康的时候,我们更明白神的心意,就更能在生活工作上活出神的样式,自然就会“凡事兴盛”,同时,因为知道“身体是神的殿”,我们自然就不会暴饮暴食、而是有节制、锻炼身体、作息规律,使“身体健壮”。
V3 我们若“按真理而行”,人会看见,因为生命树上的果子会结出来。要听道而行道,求神帮助我们按着真理而行,使我们手上的工有果效,能被看见。
二、按真理而爱(v.5-10)
V5 当我们按真理去行事,我们的心是否去爱?我们如何待人,别人是看得见的。约翰二书提醒过我们,不要去接待那些传讲错误思想的人,但面对为真理奉献自己的人,我们要以爱来接待。
V7 我们所做的一切,是否是要人给我们回报?还是能向人“一无所取”?
V8 很多时候我们眼睛只看到外面厉害的人,然而对待我们自己的属灵领袖呢?我们是否以一个消费者的心态对待他们,还是用心去爱?我们是否看到他们的需要?当我们好好照顾神的仆人,我们就“与他们一同为真理做工”了。求神帮助我们在神的国度里能够抢到恩典。
三、有真理作见证(v.9-15)
V9-10 “丢特腓”是一个喜欢做领袖的人,在团体中高谈阔论表现自己做得好,爱批评论断别人,也害怕别人看不到或认同自己, 但这不是一个在神国度里的生命。他还“用恶言妄论”使徒,甚至“将接待弟兄的人赶出教会”。我们在教会要尊重权柄,更不能使用暴力。
V11 这些恶的事情我们都不要去学习,因为行恶的就不是属于神的。
V12 “低迷丢”做对的事情,人就看到。当我们行出对的事,不仅众人会作见证,连真理和我们的权柄也会为我们作见证。
V13-14 神看重我们的关系,这个关系是需要我们彼此互动的。我们是否只能祷告而不愿意花时间在人的身上?身为基督徒,我们要与人建立好的关系,以神的爱吸引人。
*追求:
我们唯有愿意谦卑、愿意放下,才能得到生命,按着真理而行。每一天的晨祷都是争战得胜的印证,高举神的胜利。让我们呼求神,帮助我们愿意听道而行道,愿意去爱!世界一次次的打击我们,让我们灰心,觉得爱是没有功效的。求神恢复我们的爱,唯有爱能遮掩一切!
主 我们要行出真理,在真理里去爱,主你就会为我们做见证。我们一次次的去爱却又被伤害,但主你的话语给我们力量,不是我们能够做什么,而是你的真理浇灌我们。我们不再惧怕去爱、去做见证、去接待你的仆人,因为你给我们的力量是足够的,不再害怕被伤害。让我们活出爱和充满见证的生命!求主更多用你的话语对我们说话!
求主耶稣加添我们力量,帮助我们爱不疲倦,有从耶稣而来的盼望,不是从人而来的doing, 而是有从神而来的being. 让我们每一个属灵儿女充满从你而来、充满盼望、有影响力的爱。奉耶稣基督得胜的名祷告!阿们!