Psalm 113 – To Shine for God 詩篇113 – 為神發光
Tuesday, 21st February 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-3 Uplift the Name of God
This is one of the Psalms of Hallelujah, which are used when the men in Israel went up to the Holy Temple three times a year to worship God. They would sing the psalms and walk up to the Holy Temple. When we praise God and sing Hallelujah, we will shine for God. We will no longer stay un our negative emotions and our darkness, but we can shine for God. Jesus taught us to gather treasure in the Heaven, let us focus on the Heaven, not on things of this earth.
The recent flood and cyclone gave us a wake up call, a signal, a lot of rich people’s houses were destroyed because they were building on the mountain top. No matter how big the house we have, when the flood and the cyclone come, it may not stand firm. V1 ‘Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!’ The servants of the Lord is also the worshippers of the Lord, God is our banners, He has received victory in our lives, have we shown people that we have received the victory? He wants us to lift Him up and to shine for Him.
V2 ‘Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!’ His Name is worthy of all praises, do we praise His Name and can we stand up for God? When we uplift the Name of God, then we can also lead an army for God to go forward, not a group of refugees. Right now God wants us to lift Him up, not when we are ready, but start from now.
V3 ‘From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.’ New Zealand is the place of the rising of the sun, this is a land flowing with milk and honey, but do we see the blessings we have from God for this land? Do we let people see the Name of God in this land? Or do we only see the negative things happening around us? Let God arise in our lives, in our land, in our nation…
Section Two V4-6 Proclaim the Power and Authority of God 宣告主權能
V4 ‘The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens.’ God is full of power and authority, when we proclaim this then people can see it. The more we proclaim the power of God the more we can receive this power in our lives, and the more we can show people the power of God in our lives!
V5-6 ‘Who is like the Lord our God, Who dwells on high, Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?’ Do not take everything we have for granted. Do we know that God blessed us all this time? When we don’t have the protection of God, then the devil will come to kill, steal, and to destroy. God never wants to harm us, but our choice made us where we are and who we are today. Do we choose to be in the army of God? Or do we choose this world? When we follow the worldly values, then we will fall into the world and we will fall into temptation of the devil.
Section Three V7-9 Release the Power and Authority of God 釋放神權能
V7-8 ‘He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes— With the princes of His people.’ Do we know that we need God? It’s so easy to see the problems and hurt in our lives, but do we know God? Do we seek God? And do we release the power and authority of God into our life and the lives of others? God has restored our glorious identity; we are no longer in lack but we are abundant in God.
V9 ‘He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!’ Do we feel ashamed when we cannot produce for God? We will become the barren women when we don’t have disciples and people following us. Do we have this hunger and thirst for God and for preaching the Gospel? Our children are the inheritance of God, not only our physical children but also spiritual children. God wants us to become a joyful mother of children, He wants us to become a satellite cell group church. We can all become cell group leaders, we can all have our own satellite cell group, and we can all shine for God. His light is here! Awake! Arise! Shine!
詩篇113 – 為神發光
2023年2月21日 星期二
潘锡安牧师
一、v.1-3 高舉主的名
这是哈利路亚的诗篇之一，当以色列人一年三次上圣殿敬拜神时，他们会唱着诗歌，然后走到圣殿。当我们赞美神，唱哈利路亚时，我们将不再停留在负面情绪和黑暗中，而是可以为神发光。耶稣教导我们要在天堂收集财宝，让我们专注于天堂，而不是这个地球上的事物。最近的洪水和飓风给我们敲响了警钟，很多有钱人的房子因为建在山顶上而被摧毁了。不管我们的房子有多大，当洪水和飓风来临时，它可能站不住脚。主的仆人也是主的敬拜者，神是我们的旌旗，祂在我们的生命中得胜了，我们有没有向人表明我们已经得胜了？他要我们高举神，为神发光。
祂的名配得一切赞美，我们赞美祂的名，我们能为神站立吗？当我们高举神的名时，我们也可以带领神的军队前进，而不是一群难民。现在神要我们高举祂，不是在我们准备好后，而是从现在开始。新西兰是太阳升起的地方，这是一片流奶与蜜的土地，但我们是否看到神对这片土地的祝福？我们让人们在这片土地上看到神的名字吗？还是我们只看到身边发生的负面事情？让神出现在我们的生活中，出现在我们的土地上，出现在我们的国家中……
二、v.4-6 宣告主權能
神充满了力量和权威，当我们宣扬这一点时，人们就能看到。我们越宣扬神，我们就越能在生活中领受这权能，也就越能向人们展示神在我们生活中的大能！不要认为我们拥有的一切都是理所当然的。我们知道神一直在祝福我们吗？当我们没有神的保护时，魔鬼就会来杀戮、偷窃、毁坏。神从不想伤害我们，但我们的选择造就了我们现在的处境和今天的我们。我们选择加入神的军队吗？还是我们选择这个世界？当我们随从世俗的价值观时，我们就会堕入世界，我们就会落入魔鬼的试探。
三、v.7-9 釋放神權能
我们知道我们需要神吗？我们很容易看到生活中的问题和伤害，但我们认识神吗？我们寻求神吗？我们是否将神的能力和权柄释放到我们和他人的生活中？神恢复了我们荣耀的身份；我们不再缺乏，我们在神里面是丰盛的。当我们不能为神生产时，我们会感到羞愧吗？没有门徒，没有人跟从，我们就成了不孕不育的人。我们对神和传福音有这种饥渴吗？我们的孩子是神的产业，不仅是我们肉身的孩子，也是属灵的孩子。神要我们成为有很多孩子的乐母，祂要我们成为卫星小组教会。我们都可以成为小组长，都可以拥有自己的卫星小组，都可以为神发光。祂的光来了！苏醒吧！興起吧！發光吧！