Thursday, 15th December 2022
Ps Kathy Poon
Section One V1-3 The Greatest Joy
V2-3 ‘Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.’ Where does our root build upon? John focus on the people more than the world, his joy was built upon if the people have received the truth and the life. No matter how much we have or how successful we are in this world, we can never predict what will happen tomorrow. We must be rooted in the truth of God, then whatever we have and whatever we do by following God can be everlasting.
What is our greatest joy? For the problem in our lives can be solved? For our work and family to be at a certain expectation? Or can we be like Apostle John, when we see the people of God walk in the truth, then we can have the greatest joy?
Section Two V5-8 Become the Workers of Truth Faithfully
V5-7 ‘Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.’ We are called to serve in different areas in life, in school, in workplace, in family… but at the same time, we are also called to serve one another. A lot of people need to give up many things to serve God, but whatever we do, we must work in the truth. When we serve willingly then we can receive the greatest reward.
Section Three V9-15 Do Not Imitate What is Evil but What is Good
John was writing the Book of III John to Gaius and encouraged him to accommodate those whom John sent to them. But during this time, there are challenges, including people in the church that oppose the people John sent. Our body, soul, and spirit should be in unity, and we need the Word of God to make us strong. It’s jus like a baby learning to walk, at the beginning there will be falling but gradually we will learn how to walk, and we will not fall so easily. John wanted the church to walk in the truth of Christ, and he was trying to stop the false doctrine to come into the people in the church. The truth is that Jesus Christ comes to the world in flesh, He is 100% man and 100% God.
V11 ‘Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.’ We need wisdom from God, to follow what pleases God, and reject what displeases God. When we know where the light is, then we must discern in truth, to go into the light.
约翰三书 – 按真理而行
2022年12月15日 星期四
Kathy 师母
一、v.1-4 最大的喜乐
V1 这一卷书是特别写给“亲爱的该犹”的。
V2 神希望我们有灵魂体兴盛的生命。“兴盛”是一个因为我们走在神轨道里而蒙神祝福的结果。在约翰二书的时候，约翰曾提醒信徒提防二元论 – 他们只在乎灵魂得救，在肉体、道德上继续败坏。这这里他再次强调，我们不仅“灵魂兴盛”，也是“凡事兴盛，身体健壮”。
V3-4 老约翰有为父的心，听到该犹“按真理而行”，他就“甚喜乐”。作长老的约翰不是因为所带领的人事工做得多大而喜乐。他看重人多过事工，一切人的建造 都在个人的生命上。若人不能心存真理、按真理而行，就算他再厉害、做了再多伟大的事、经历多丰富的物质祝福，都不能保证自己不会跌倒。福音最大的拦阻不是困难，因为在人的尽头有神的帮助，最大的拦阻其实是安逸。在安逸中人很容易忘记神。我们个人的根基一定要建造在神的真理上，如此我们才不会动摇，所结出来的果子是永不朽坏了。你我最大的“喜乐”是什么呢？是否是最大的问题得到解决，或自我、儿女有什么成就？还是能像约翰一样看到儿女们按真理而行，心中“喜乐就没有比这个大的”？
二、v.5-8 忠心一同为真理做工
该犹不仅心存真理，在行为上也很有爱心, 忠心接待“作客旅的”（宣教士）。各人蒙神呼召都在不同的位份上领受神的托付，除了在自己的位份上忠心外，也要互相帮助、连接与主，“叫我们与他们一同为真理做工”（v8)。我们无论做什么工，都是要为主、为真理做工，有人可以亲手做事，有人可以为他人代祷，最后一同看到事情成就。正如圣经说的，“上阵的得多少，看守器具的也得多少”。不管是在台前做别人看得见的服事，或是蒙神托付在家庭里做别人看不见的事，只要我们忠心在自己被托付的事上，甘心乐意去付出，就有从神而来的大奖赏。
三、v.9-15 不要效法恶，要效法善
约翰希望该犹接待宣教士，使他们能继续向前行。然而在他们教会，他遇到了“丢特腓”。这个人似乎在教会掌权，但他的权柄并非来自使徒。这个人不仅不愿意接待约翰差去的人，还禁止别人接待。在他的掌控下，教会出现问题，真理被二元论冲击。于是约翰鼓励该犹要勇敢起来抵挡。当我们按真理而行的时候，我们的灵魂体是一体的。我们如何不再被过去的思维模式影响，就是要求圣灵来帮助我们。我们经过了外部环境的撞击之后，才能在真理上更坚定。我们所领受的真理若没有行出来，就如一个没有出生的婴儿、胎死腹中。所以我们要祷告求神帮助我们能灵魂体合一。我们在思想上有限制，因此要愿意让神的话语来带领我们，虽然过程中会跌倒，只要持续走下去，总会越走越顺。
老约翰希望教会行出真理，所以不希望那个不承认耶稣道成肉身的二元论会影响任何人。我们不仅追求灵魂兴盛，在肉体上也要持守真理，不犯罪。如何能不惧怕，抵挡不法的声音，就要求神帮助我们能站立起来。
我们要有分辨的灵，在真理里明白善恶，分辨出什么是神所喜悦的，什么是光明和黑暗。