Tuesday, 6th July 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
400 years after prophet Malachi, God did not talk to people until in the New Testament. When we don’t see God and don’t hear God, how can we live our lives? We listen to the Word of God, we come to Sunday Service and attend cell group, but we don’t see and hear God. Gathering becomes a regular event, we pray what we want to pray, not what God wants us to pray.
Both the Books of Luke and Acts were written by Gentiles and both Books talk about things outside Jewish traditions. These two Books talk a lot about the power of the Holy Spirit. As Gentiles, by the Grace of God, we can become the descendants of Abraham. Therefore as we are facing Torah, the Word of God, what attitude do we use to look at it and listen to it? Do we see Torah from the religious perspective or the perspective of the Holy Spirit?
Section One V1-4: Must Commit
This Book was written to Theophilus, who was a Gentile official, but his name means ‘friend of God’. Theophilus was Luke’s disciple. Luke was carrying out discipleship for Theophilus, teaching him the truth through this letter of the Book of Luke. Luke passed on to his disciples what Jesus’ disciples experienced and learnt from Jesus. Everything we learnt is not just for ourselves but to be passed on to others.
Are we willing to be committed and become the friend of God? To follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, believe God can change people through us? Luke, by faith, shared God’s Word with a Gentile official. No matter how unlikely it may be for a Gentile official to believe in God, Luke committed himself in God’s Will. We must do the same, be committed in the people God gave to us, and believe through us, God can do great work!
Section Two V5-38: Must Humble
The Jewish people did not hear God for 400 years but they didn’t give up on following God’s teaching. Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous in front of God. They believed in the Promise of God, they did not lose themselves in lustful desires of the world but were determined to follow God. We should not wait until we feel we are ‘ready’ to serve and follow God. Do not wait for others to follow us or listen to us, but believe God knows it all, His promises for us never fail.
God is Jehovah Jireh, He prepares and provides abundantly, we must grow into maturity and believe God’s promise, restore our identity, and know that God remembers us. Zacharias and Elizabeth lived a faithful and righteous life, but they didn’t have any children. Elizabeth couldn’t give birth and she was in her old age. When they received the Word from God’s Messenger they didn’t believe God will give them children. Do we believe God will do great things through us? We must humble ourselves and walk with God, no matter how difficult the task might seem.
God’s Messenger was also sent to Mary to bring her God’s Word and told her she was the highly favored one. What does it mean by being highly favored? To receive money, fame, power or gifts? When Mary heard what God will use her to do, she was troubled, but it’s not about if we can do it or not, it’s about God can do it. Be humble and miracle will happen.
Section Three V39-56: Must Act
It’s a powerful message, when Mary heard what God’s Messenger said to her she arose. When Mary took action by faith, she went to Elizabeth and saw the confirmation from God. Both Mary and Elizabeth were hidden when they were pregnant but when they took action they saw each other’s miracles.
Section Four V57-80: Must Respond
People tried to use traditional way to make decision. We thought what our parents did we should do the same. But Elizabeth believed in the promise of God and she knew she couldn’t follow the worldly tradition. Then Zacharias also came out and responded by faith, then he was able to talk again. When we respond by faith then miracle will happen.
We must respond by faith not by tradition or past experience then God will do His Work! John grew up and was strong in spirit. God’s promise for John was for him to be filled by the Holy Spirit and bring many people to Christ. God is gracious, we must bring our children before God and receive His Grace. Let them grow in God’s Promises for their lives.
Prayer & Pursuit
Lord, help us to repent and no longer see how impossible our environment is, but by faith we must respond to Your Promises for us. Not only we believe in it but also lead our next generation and disciples to believe Your Promises will be fulfilled. Amen.
2021年7月6日 星期二
-潘锡安牧师-
路加福音 1
如何与神同行
从旧约最后一卷书（玛拉基书）的时代到主耶稣出生的时代，整整四百年，神没有对人说话。这期间仍有圣殿，圣殿里也有祭司供职，但神没有对他们说话。这是否是我们过去经历的场景？有些夫妻结婚多年，但他们是否在他们婚姻路上听见神经历神呢？我们平时去主日、参加小组，我们是否真的听到主讲话？当我们没有听见神的时候，我们如何存活呢？路加福音的作者路加不是犹太人，这位外邦人写了两卷重要的书卷：路加福音和使徒行传。他记录的不仅是宗教的东西，更多的是圣灵的作为，因我们这些外邦人面对神的话语，不是从宗教的角度去解读，而是需要圣灵的大能。我们跟从神的态度是什么呢? 我们不是观众，而是与圣灵同工。
一、要委身（v.1-4)
提阿非罗是当时一个外邦人的官 – 他的名字意思是“神的朋友”。这卷书本是写给一个外邦人看的。
V4 路加对提阿非罗的身份是师傅带领门徒，他要提阿非罗知道他所学的道是确实的。
V1 “有好些人”亲身与耶稣同行，将他们所经历的记下来，传给后人。我们上课或听讲道时要记笔记，是帮助我们将我们领受记下来，传给下面的人。我们现在可以在网络上找到很多神学资料，但这些知识都是给我们的吗？我们在晨祷领受的才是神特别赐给我们的。我们是否愿意委身于神给我们的托付？是否愿意将自己领受的教导下面的人，让外邦人成为“神的朋友”？
二、要谦卑（v.5-37)
“撒迦利亚”意思是“被耶和华纪念的人”。犹太人400年没有听见神说话，但撒迦利亚夫妻二人没有放弃，“在神面前都是义人，遵行主的一切诫命礼仪”（V6)。我们不要在人面前故意表现敬虔，而是在神面前“是义人”。我们能否像他们这样无论景况如何，都不放纵自己？我们常常以“我们要先预备好”为借口不服事神，但是神的仆人并非完全没有问题时才来服事神，我们要学习谦卑，不放大自己的情绪。我们要相信我们是被耶和华纪念的，相信神给我们的应许永不改变。
撒迦利亚夫妇虽然在神面前“没有可指摘的”，但两人年纪老迈时都没有孩子。我们从我们父母、祖先承受很多诅咒，对于这些先天的事情我们可能觉得没有办法改变。但无论先天后天，这些在神的国都是起不了作用的，只要我们愿意相信神，他都能为我们行大事。
V13-17 我们是否愿意相信我们在神面前是被记念的吗？撒迦利亚的祷告是迫切的呼喊，所以天使跟他说“你的祈祷已经被听见了”。
V18-22 很可惜，撒迦利亚的回复表示了他的怀疑，跟神说自己不行。我们是否相信神是守约施慈爱的神，能够成就那看上去不可能的事，还是只看到自己的不能够？撒迦利亚不谦卑相信神的话，于是天使告诉他，“到了时候，这话必然应验。只因你不信，你必哑巴，不能说话，直到这事成就的日子”。我们是否愿意相信我们权柄给我们的教导，是否愿意去带领门徒？我们不要因为不相信神以致变成一个不能向神呼喊也不能向人传讲真理的人。
V26-38 神的使者奉差遣对马利亚说话。他称马利亚是“蒙大恩的女子”- 如果天使跟我们说我们是“蒙大恩的”，我们是否只想到属世的祝福？马利亚听到天使的话，就“很惊慌，又反复思想”。我们是否现实中遇到的困难来推辞神对我们的呼召？V35 – “圣灵要临到你身上”- 临到我们的恩典不是钱财等身外之物，在神没有难成的事，不是我们能不能够，而是神能够。我们是否相信至高者的能力会覆蔽我们？V37-38 神透过天使对马利亚说话，马利亚就赞叹神的话是大有能力的。我们是否愿意看重神的仆人、我们的牧者对我们的教导？当我们愿意谦卑服在神的教导，神迹就会发生。
三、要行动（v.39-56)
马利亚听了天使的话，就起身去观看神的作为。伊丽莎白怀孕的前5个月是隐藏的（V24)，马利亚并不知道，但她愿意相信神，便行动起来去找伊丽莎白 – 一个年纪老迈的妇女。马利亚还未结婚，她怀孕的事别人也不知道，但伊丽莎白一看见她就知道她怀孕，这就是神的作为。当我们愿意在一切不可能中相信神、用行动回应神，我们就会看见神的大作为。
四、要回应（v.57-80)
伊丽莎白生了孩子，大家都开心快乐，他们要给孩子照着父亲的名字起名，但伊丽莎白说不可以。人们倾向于跟随传统，但当我们愿意凭信心跟随神，不被传统捆绑，神迹就发生了。信心是在还没看见的时候就回应神。
V80 约翰的命定是帮助以色列人回转向神，为主预备合用的百姓（V14-17）。我们每个人都是父母或属灵父母，我们要养育我们的孩子，不是用知识来填满他们的头脑，最重要的是要帮助他们的心灵能够健壮，成就神给他们的命定。“约翰”的意思是“耶和华是有恩惠的”，我们要让人看到我们的神是有恩惠的。
*追求祷告：
如今我们有什么事情拦阻我们与神同行？圣灵就在这里，让我们在神面前悔改。
主我们来到你的面前，承认我们对你信心不足，只看到自己或环境的不能。求主帮助我们挪去这些与你同行的拦阻，凭信心回应你的应许，不仅是我们相信，也帮助我们所带领下一代一起经历你圣灵的大能！奉耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！