Psalm 138 – Praise Jehovah, Survive from the Dead End 稱謝耶和華，絕處逢生
Friday, 26th May 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-3 Wholeheartedly Praise, God Will Answer 全心稱謝，神應許
We are entering the great revival, God has chosen us and He doesn’t want us to lose hope in the great confusion. God wants to revive each one of us, because of our revival, we can change our city and our nation. Do not look down on our God, He is Jehovah our Almighty God.
Dangers are surrounding us, so how can we rise and shine for God? We must praise God no matter what. What is to praise? To give thanks, to worship, and also to repent. Repentance is as important as praising, we can praise and we can give thanks because we see God’s greatness. The darkness within us will come out in the light, we cannot hide it, so we must praise God, to repent, to lower ourselves, to see our problems, to see our weaknesses, then we will be able to praise God wholeheartedly.
Praising God is the only way out. In front of our enemies, in front of the world, we must praise God. Do not give up on our belief when we face challenges and troubles, but to uplift the Name of God, praise God and give thanks for how God saves us in our low point. Are we afraid of prosecutions and hardship? There are many things that may become our excuses to praise Him. But our God is Almighty, when we chose not to give up, He will surely face. In front of all gods and all authorities, can we still praise and worship?
God is love, His love for us endures forever. Are we willing to praise God in the light? Are we willing to chose God first, get rid of our fears, and God will show us His promises.
Section Two V4-5 Kings Praise, God Will Glorify 君王稱謝，神榮耀
When people of the world really see how great our God is, they will praise God and God will be glorified. By preaching the Word of God, by sharing the testimonies of God, He will be glorified in this world, and we will be glorified with Him. Do not give in to the world, to the problems ahead of us, and to not be afraid of the things we cannot control. Everything is from God, His Word is to bring us power and authority. People will see God through us, not weakness, not worries, and no fears.
God’s Word is our firm foundation, He will answer and He will respond. God’s Word is the Truth, when the world are this Truth they will also give all the glory to God. God will answer us, He will give us courage, and we can uplift the promises and the Word of God in front of all the kings. When we are willing, all the kings will come together to praise God and to worship Him.
Section Three V6-8 Humbly Praise, God Will Save 謙卑稱謝，神拯救
God is seeking those who are willing to go lower, not by our strength but to seek God always. When are we willing to admit our unable and to praise God’s able? Our prayers should not be a to do list for God, it should not be what we want God to do, instead, we should seek God’s Will, not our will. May the Will of God be done on earth as it is in Heaven, our prayers are too shallow, they are too weak, and they are useless. We treat God like an ATM machine, we want things from God and we tell God how to help us.
But what is God’s Will? He sees the prideful from far away, He also sees those who are willing to stay low. God will save the lowly, He will protect them, and He will fight against the pride. Do we want God to intervene? What is our attitude today? What is our interaction with God? We must praise and worship God, come to Him and admit our weaknesses. Don’t be the rich young man, he was prideful and he was unwilling to let go of what he had. Jesus sees through us, He wants to save us, but our attitude determines if we will be saved or not.
诗篇 138 – 称谢耶和华，绝处逢生
2023年5月26日 星期五
潘锡安牧师
神对我们教会的心意是让我们每个人都能复兴，借此而祝福这片土地。我们所处的环境充满危机，唯有称谢耶和华才能从中兴起发光。称谢的原文除了赞美感恩，也有认罪的意思。我们能够赞美和感恩，是因为看到神的伟大和权能。当光来到的时候，我们才看到自己生命的问题，所以不要视若无睹。我们若看到自己的软弱、低点，我们的赞美才真实。
一、v.1-3 全心称谢， 神应许
V1 “诸神”代表所有世界上的领袖、权柄。我们要在他们面前全心的歌颂赞美耶和华，俯伏敬拜他。我们不要害怕这些世界上的人，反要在他们面前高举神。
V2 面对巴比伦等所有迫害以色列的强国君王，我们不要害怕他们，不要因为人的逼迫而放下自己的信仰，而是在人前高举耶和华，见证、歌颂神如何在我们的低点拯救我们。如何能够全心称谢？就是在不可能的环境和人面前，高举神、不放弃神、以神为神，在所有权柄面前称赞神的慈爱和诚实。在逼迫的人面前，我们愿意不害怕而是全心称谢神吗？当我们全心的称谢、祷告，神就应允我们，他赐给我们的必过于他本“应该”给我们的。
二、v.4-5 君王称谢，神荣耀
地上的君王看到神说话算话，真实看到耶和华在众神之上，就愿意降服，承认耶和华是神。当我们愿意先神后人再大地的时候，别人就真的看到耶和华是锡安灵粮堂的神。“君王”不知道神和他的话语，唯有从我们生命的见证中看到神的能力。我们呢，是否向我们前面的问题和不能操控的事情举手？是否向我们的经济、健康、或压迫我们的人举手？若是这样，他们就从我们身上看不到神的能力，只看到惧怕不安。但是，当我们活出先神后人再大地的生命，别人就从我们身上看到神的话是真实。我们有能力和勇气在君王面前高举神的话，我们就成为让神得荣耀的见证。在大混乱中，让我们借着称谢耶和华而兴起发光。
三、v.6-8 谦卑称谢，神拯救
V6 我们不仅要称谢神、活出荣耀神的生命，也要完全谦卑，因为他“看顾低微的人”。神能从很远的地方看到那些自以为什么都能做的“骄傲的人”，但他看重的是那些愿意承认自己的不能、让神的能力彰显的人。我们常将神当成提款机，让神做这做那，要他成就我们自己的“旨意”，然而主耶稣教导我们的祷告是要让父神的旨意行在地上。我们知道神的旨意吗？我们愿意让神看到我们的低微吗？
V7 这里的“我”指的是“低微的人”。我们想要神出手拯救我们，我们是选择做骄傲还是低微的人？我们是否愿意认罪，还是像那个来到耶稣面前的少年财主那样看自己什么都好？看自己什么都好的人其实就是骄傲的人。
V8 大卫虽然是以色列的君，却愿意承认自己是低微的人。我们在大混乱中想要兴起发光，就要先成为低微的人。让我们愿意放下自己想要的东西、放下想操控神的想法，让“我”死去，用赞美、感恩和认罪与神建立关系，就能绝处逢生，经历神的应许、拯救、使他在我们的卑微中得荣耀。