Thursday, 7th July 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-11 Experience the Word of God
V1-3 ‘Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.”’ The disciples were afraid as they again entered Jerusalem, because they knew about Jesus’ crucifixion, and they didn’t know what was going to happen. We’re also at the end times and we are also afraid about the future. With the uprising of the pandemic, the natural disasters, and all the negative news we saw… we have a lot of fear inside of us. But what’s our attitude?
V4-5 ‘So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?”’ The disciples must have a lot of questions, they didn’t understand why they had to do the things Jesus asked them to do. A lot of times we also don’t understand why we do the things we do but if we really trust in God, understand everything He wants us to do is for our own good and for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, then we should not need to be afraid.
V7-8 ‘Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.’ By taking off their clothes, it symbolises letting go of one’s own identity and letting Jesus to ride on it. We are at the end times, are we willing to get go of who we think we are, and let God mould us into the true identity He has given to us? We must learn to let go and let Jesus ride in our lives.
V11 ‘And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.’ In the House of God, Jesus only saw the displays but didn’t see anyone praying. What was in His heart? Our body is also the temple of God, and Jesus will come inside us to check and see what’s inside of us. Are we prepared for Jesus’ inspection?
Section Two V12-19 Protect the Word of God
V12-14 ‘Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.”’ It’s not only about Jesus being physically hungry but He was hunger to see the fruits of the fig tree. In Micah 7:1, it says, ‘Woe is me! For I am like those who gather summer fruits, like those who glean vintage grapes; there is no cluster to eat of the first-ripe fruit which my soul desires.’ God sees Israel as the fig tree and wants to see the tree bearing fruits. Jesus knew the heart of God and He also wanted to see the people of God bearing fruits and multiply.
V15 ‘So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.’ The previous day Jesus didn’t see anyone praying in the temple, and the next day Jesus saw people selling things at the temple. That’s why He was angry, because the Heart of God was not listened to and the Will of God was not followed through. We are also the temple of God, and we must cast away all the things in our lives that do not belong to God! Isaiah 56:7 says, ‘Even them I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.’ Our lives should also be the house of prayer for all nations, what is sustaining our lives? The entertainment and fulfilment of this world? Or the Word of God and the prayers from the heart?
Section Three V20-33 Obey the Word of God
V22-24 ‘So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’ What is Jesus’ prayer? For the Will of God to be on Earth as it is in Heaven. Why a lot of times, God did not answer what we pray for? Because we did not ask for the Kingdom of God and the Will of God. When our prayers are in the right direction, then even the biggest mountain in our lives will be moved!
Do we want to see miracles happening in our lives? Then seek God’s Will first! Follow the way of Jesus, and let the Word of God come into our lives in this end time!
马可福音 11 – 末世神的话
2022年7月7日 星期四
潘锡安牧师
我们所跟从的不是一个宗教，而是一位会对我们说话的神。神希望我们走出贫乏、进入丰盛，走出蒙蔽、进入光明。当我们遇到困难的时候，我们常会流露出负能量，看不到出路，然而，当我们将神话语带入的时候，我们看见的就不是宗教，而是生命。在这个疫情反复的末世，唯有神的话才能带我们出黑暗入光明。
一、v.1-11 经历神的话
V1 耶稣带领门徒接近耶路撒冷，这预示他在地上服事的三年快要接近尾声，他知道自己上十字架的时候快到了。现在的我们也从新闻中听到很多关于世界末日要到来的消息，然而我们真的相信世界要灭亡吗？我们是否还是处在梦幻中，想在这最后的时刻努力赢取这个世界，看天国只是一个思想？耶稣的门徒、历代的宣教士愿意放下一切来传福音，因为耶稣说过：“天国近了，你们应当悔改。”耶稣要我们知道，我们不能带什么离开这个世界，我们现在所看重的东西总有一天会过去。
V2-3 耶稣要的不是驴驹，而是要门徒学到重要的功课。“为什么做这事？”这句话其实也是门徒心底想问的话，他们不明白为什么耶稣要死或者为什么要去牵驴驹等等很多事。我们有很多事情不明白，但最重要的是要知道：“主要用它”。在困扰和不明白中，我们愿意相信“主要用它”吗？
V7 这说明门徒们愿意降服，把代表自己身份的衣服放下给主来坐。我们愿意这样谦卑照着主跟我们所说的话去做吗？
V8-10 这些人所喊的“和散那”原文有求救的意思，但他们不明白自己所说的话，因为这些现在列队欢迎的人最后反而变成唾骂耶稣的人。他们嘴里说着神的话，心却有自己的目的，想的是自己要的东西。
V11 那时圣殿里的人已经离开，耶稣看的是单单敬拜神的地方，里面只有陈设的物件，没有其他人。我们是跟从神的人，我们的身体是神的殿，但我们是否知道，耶稣会进来看我们的殿？
二、v.12-19 捍卫神的话
V12-13 耶稣不要留在只有宗教的耶路撒冷，而去到伯大尼 – 那里是施洗约翰给耶稣施洗的地方（约翰福音1:28）。在马太福音 5:6讲到“饥渴慕义（饥饿）的人有福了”，我们对神的话是否有渴慕？耶稣“饿了”，因他热切想看到无花果树结果。 弥迦书7:1说：“哀哉！我好像夏天的果子已被收尽，又像摘了葡萄所剩下的，没有一挂可吃的，我心羡慕初熟的无花果”- 神看以色列好像无花果树，希望他们有“初熟的无花果”。耶稣讲的话让门徒听见，使他们知道神的话重要。无花果树有茂密的树叶，只可以让人坐在下面乘凉，满足情欲的需要，但神所看重的初熟的果子能给人生命、使人饱足、有力量。神已经讲话，我们是否有回应，是否捍卫神的话，还是把神的话放在一边，我行我素过自己的生活？
V15-17 耶稣在前一天晚上没有看见人在殿里祷告，第二天来到神的殿，看见人在里面做买卖。我们来到神的殿，心却是如何呢？是否充满着情欲、充满自己的意图？ 以赛亚书56:7说“我必领他们到我的圣山，使他们在祷告我的殿中喜乐。他们的燔祭和平安祭在我坛上必蒙悦纳，因我的殿必称为万民祷告的殿”- 神所讲的真的是我们所看重的吗？我们的身体就是神的殿，里面充满的是什么？我们是否捍卫神的话，将我们里面一切不属于神的殿的东西都赶出来？
V19 这里虽然有圣殿，却不是神喜悦的地方。求神帮助我们，让神喜欢与我们同在，而不是“每天晚上”都离开。
三、v.20-33 顺服神的话
V20-21 “拉比”的意思就是老师，“信服神”就是“信神”的意思。
V23“这座山”在我们生命中是什么山呢？我们里面有什么拦阻了神的话？我们听到神的话后，愿意心里不疑惑的去相信吗？
V24 耶稣所祷告的是愿天父的旨意成就在地上如同在天上，但我们的祷告是否只是求神满足我们物质上的需要？我们若不是求神的国神的义，我们的祷告是没有用的。当我们按着神的心意求，就是大山也能挪移！