Wednesday, 7th July 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
How to let people following us to see God is a loving God, who keeps His promises? God is real, He would do everything to make His promises for us fulfilled. The Bible is not only for the past, but also for the present and the future.
Section One V1-20: God Prepares
When did this event take place? It was after 400 years of God’s silence, 400 years without any prophecy for people. It was during the time when the nation of Israel was destroyed and people lived without hope. God still works with His principles, His Word, which never changes.
In Micah 5:2-5, God already said the Saviour would be born in Bethlehem. God prepared for a long time for the birth of Jesus. What He prepares for us is what we don’t know. His Will is higher and deeper than everything we pray and ask for. Everything happens to us had God’s good intention for us. Mary was very pregnant but she was willing to travel far away to Bethlehem. Don’t let the words of complaints coming out from our mouth, but choose to speak the words of thanksgiving, believe God prepares and blesses.
Not only God allowed Caesar’s decrees to happen, He also strengthened the faith of the shepherds. Everything is to fulfil the promise. God’s Messenger told the shepherds not to be afraid. When we are in fear we will be unwilling to receive the revelations from God. We will think everything is difficult and impossible.
The shepherds were willing to take action, and they were able to see God’s Great Work. Every miracle happens because we are willing to respond to God. There will be challenges and troubles but when we chose not to be afraid, then God will reveal the miracles to us.
Section Two V21-40: People’s Response
If we don’t respond to God’s calling, then it will never have any connection with us, because we do not participate in the preparation process of God. Joseph and Mary responded to the instructions of God, to go to Jerusalem. God also called Simeon, who responded to God by faith, and spoke to Joseph and Mary about Jesus.
God prepared Mary so she would be ready for what she was going to face after Jesus grew up. God is using everything to prepare us for what’s ahead. Do not underestimate our prayers and fasting, we are interceding for ourselves and for other people. We respond by prayer and God remembers.
Section Three V41-52: God Blesses
God remembers our simple hearts that follow and respond to Him and He will bless us. God will do everything to help us grow, and we should not follow God only because people ask us to do, but because of God’s calling for us. Mary remembered everything God said to her through the Messenger and prophets. Do we remember God’s promises for us? He’s blessing us all along but do we see it? Jesus grew up in love and His life was a witness to all. Do people see how God bless us?
God’s way for us is higher than we can imagine, what’s in our lives? Bitterness, complaints or criticism? Let us get rid of all these negative things in our lives and allow God’s blessings to come to us and come through us to others!
Prayer & Pursuit
Lord, thank You for Your promise never fails. Many times what happened might not be what we expected; but help us, Lord, take away all the blockage in our hearts so we can respond to You with a humble attitude. Lord, You prepare everything for us through environment and circumstances. So we can live in the favours of You and of people. Thank You for Your love. Amen.
2021年7月7日 星期三
-潘锡安牧师-
路加福音 2
神所预备的道路
耶稣的降生并不普通，是按照神所应许的发生。神的应许并不是随便给的，而是根据他与我们所立的盟约。本章有很多部分可以看到神调动万有来成就之前他与以色列民立的约定。神的话语不是过去，也是现在和将来。
一、v.1-20 神预备
V1 四百年间神没有跟他的百姓说话，以色列人只是过着宗教的日子，且被罗马人统治。“那些日子”就是当时的以色列人非常没有盼望的日子。
V2-4 “头一次” – 之前都没有发生过，罗马皇帝的这个旨意要求人民各归各城。神做事是按照他的法则 – 也就是他的话语。弥迦书5:2-5预言到耶稣的出生在伯利恒，这同时也是大卫出生的地方。圣经曾应许救主是从大卫的子孙中生出，而耶稣的出生成就了这个预言。神为我们所预备的并非一定是让人觉得开心顺利，但他的预备超乎我们所想所求 。
V6-7 若不是需要回到本地报名上册，耶稣就不会按着圣经上的预言在伯利恒出生。所以，马利亚挺着大肚子长途跋涉从加利利来到伯利恒，不知不觉中成就了神的应许。我们在跟随神的道路上，不是所有的事情都是按照我们的期待来发生，神会使用环境和人来完成他曾应许的事。我们要相信一切临到我们的事情都有神的预备，所以不要说出抱怨的话，而是选择思想和赞美值得感恩的事。
V8-9 神预备耶稣的出生，神也预备了牧羊人去给马利亚增添信心。
V10 神给我们做的事都不是我们平常会做的事，所以我们一开始听到的时候都会“惧怕”，甚至选择离开。当我们惧怕的时候，我们就不能领受从神而来的信息。当权柄交代我们事情的时候，我们若在心里有很多拒绝的借口，这就是“惧怕”。我们要相信，当神呼召我们，他会供应我们，我们只需要回应神。
V15-16 “去”- 当我们选择回应神，愿意“去”的时候，我们就会看见神迹奇事。神不会让我们羞愧。
二、v.21-40 人的回应
V25-32 耶稣在第八天的时候按着犹太人的律法被父母带到圣殿。神在圣殿预备了西面，此人并不普通，是一个义人，他相信神的应许。他在圣殿迎接约瑟和玛利亚的到来，所以一看到小耶稣，就受感说话,为耶稣一家祝福。神在我们身边也预备很多人来对我们说话。
V34-35 神在耶稣12岁的时候就预备马利亚的心，让她知道21年之后会发生耶稣身上的事。我们是否愿意领受神对我们说的话？
V36 除了西面，神也预备了 女先知亚拿。神会为我们预备，我们愿意回应神吗？
V37 当我们在禁食祷告的时候，我们其实是在事奉神，我们的心与神在一处。我们是否愿意花时间禁食祷告，不仅为自己，也为他人，为教会祷告？
V40 若没有父母的关爱，孩子无法“强健起来”，且有敬畏耶和华的智慧。我们是否能像约瑟马利亚那样愿意摆上，领受从神而来的恩典？
三、v.41-52 神祝福
“圣殿”相当于当时的神学院。当耶稣在那里提出问题的时候，人“都稀奇他的聪明和他的应对”。约瑟并没有接受过神学训练，但他教养出来的儿子能有如此成就，这是神的祝福。我们不要担心未来如何，神会调动万有来帮助我们。
V49 “我父”就是天父的意思。我们的优先次序是什么呢？是地上的这些事情呢，还是天父的事情。我们要学习舍己利他、谦卑顺服，活在生命树下，才能得到神的祝福。耶稣的话，约瑟和马利亚都听不懂。我们所说所做的事不可能让周围所有人都明白，但我们仍然忠心去做，因为有神呼召我们。
V51 马利亚“把这一切的事都存在心里”。我们是否将我们生命中神给我们的应许记下来呢？是否记得住神为我们行的事呢？
V52 耶稣是被爱的，他的生命也被改变。我们可能自称灵命很好，但我们外面表现出来的是否是充满感恩的生命呢？我们里面是否有感恩、欢喜？我们要相信神所为我们预备的道路是充满祝福的。
*追求祷告：
感谢主，你的应许永不改变！虽然在跟随你的道路上很多事情的发生不是我们所期待的，但求主帮助我们，挪走我们里面一切的抱怨和拦阻，让我们来谦卑回应你的护照。主你是那调动万有、为我们预备环境预备人的主！你如何按着应许预备了主耶稣的出生，你也会为我们预备一切。愿你和人对我们的喜爱不断加增！奉耶稣基督的名祷告，阿们！