Thursday, 5th January 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-8 Take the First Step Out
Gideon was no longer Gideon; he changed his name to Jerubbaal. But he was still afraid, he still wanted a lot of people to go with him. When God revealed to him that there were too many people following him, he took the first step of faith and told those fearful to turn away, so twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained. Then God told Gideon there were still too many people, so again, by faith, Gideon took another step. At the end there were only three hundred people left.
The three hundred people would not have imagined that they were the ones, who saved all Israel. Do not think that when God chose us, we are only used by God in little things, but to know that when God chose us, He can use us to save all people! God wants to partnership with us and to work with us, and we must respond by taking the first step. It may not be comfortable, and we may not feel we are ready, but when we take this step of faith, we will see how God works with us.
Section Two V9-14 Experience God
We must listen to the Word of God, when we hear, then we will have the strength to continue this path. God did not need us to do a lot of great things for Him, He wants us to listen, to hear what He will tell us, then we will have the strength and boldness. What Gideon saw was an impossible mission, but God only wanted him to take a step at a time. Often we will be facing things that we cannot imagine, it seems difficult and scary, but can we believe that God has already prepared for us? Do not be influenced by the people around us or the environment, but know that when we hear, when we believe, when we step out, then we can experience God greatly.
Section Three V15-25 God Unites with Men
Gideon chose not to see what was in front of him, the enemies, but he chose to fix his eyes on God. Do not let the problems and difficulties around us stop us seeking God and believing in God’s guidance. When we are willing to walk into the destiny from God, then we can see God unites with us to be the bigger influencer! 300 men of Gideon was enough to do greater and unimaginable things for God. It was not by their own strength; they were only doing what God wanted them to do. Furthermore, they influenced more people to walk on this path of victory together.
2023 is a new year for us to experience God more and more. Let us leave all the fear and defeat in 2022 and enter this New Year with hope. God wants to use us to influence more people, we can arise and shine for God, and the victory will belong to us.
士师记 7 – 兴起发光 反败为胜
2023年1月5日 星期四
潘锡安牧师
从神怎样帮助那看起来软弱无力、躲在山洞里的基甸，我们可以学习到如何靠着神兴起发光、反败为胜，经历他要给我们的祝福。
一、v.1-8 踏出第一步
我们可能先经历了神同在，之后却又退步了，想“见好就收”，回到自己的山洞。然而神不放弃我们，继续给我们机会。
V1 “耶路巴力”就是那个能够拆毁巴力偶像的基甸。他曾经软弱无力，只敢在黑夜中回应神，但当他愿意踏出自己的那一步，经历神之后，别人也愿意回应他的呼召，有三万多人跟随他。
V2 基甸原本想靠着人多壮胆，但神知道这样是不能得胜的，他要基甸完全倚靠他，所以神告诉基甸“跟随你的人过多”。
V3 神让基甸所面对的是残酷的事实。原来这三万二千人中有二万二千只是来看热闹的。神让基甸看见，倚靠人是不行的。
V4 留下的一千人虽然没有惧怕胆怯，仍然不是所有人都合神使用。神继续让基甸带队伍下到水旁去“试试他们”。虽然过程艰难，基甸仍然踏出那一步回应神。
V5-6 那些不是只想着自己的需要而是能像狗一样舔水人被拣选留了下来。神对基甸说这些人是为要“拯救你们”。从最初的三万三千人，最后只剩下三百人，他们被神拣选不是只是被神“使用”，更是能“拯救”以色列人。神向来都是与人同工，连救赎的工作他都是让他的独生儿子来回应。我们是否只会躲在密室里祷告？即使心中有很多不情愿，我们也要跨出自己的第一步，与神同工，就会看见神的作为。
二、v.9-14 要经历神的预备
V9-11 神做事跟我们想的不一样。他没有要基甸直接去到米甸人那里打仗，而只是去“听”。我们在晨祷、主日的时候，是否有认真在“听”？我们总想一觉起来就摆上自己，然而神要我们先“听”，当我们听到后，我们的胆量就会壮起来。
V12 基甸看到的“事实”是不可能完成的任务。我们是否也是看到一堆不可能、不合理的事实、不相信神跟我们说的话会实现？
V13-14 基甸听到米甸人的对话后就知道，神真是那位预备丰盛的神。我们相信的是环境，还是那位预备的神？
三、v.15-25 神人合一
基甸选择去相信神，而不是他的眼睛所看见的多如海沙的敌人。今天我们所相信的是什么呢？是周围环境的不可能，还是耶和华神是供应、预备的神？我们愿意相信，就能经历神人合一。
当基甸的三百勇士愿意选择相信神的时候，生命影响生命，大家一起奋勇杀敌，甚至那些曾经没有与他们同行的以法莲山地的人都加入他们，以色列百姓就经历反败为胜。
让我们放下过去的挫败、不情愿，跨出我们的第一步，就能看见神是能让我们反败为胜的，他能我们这少数的人成为拯救者。不要再相信自己肉眼所看见的，而是相信神的话，神是不让我们羞愧的神，他为我们预备的是丰丰盛盛的供应，要相信，“兴起发光”是属于我们的。