Wednesday, 18th August 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
What are we looking for? The wonders of God? Or the decisions of humans? What’s our attitude towards the lockdown this time? When we quiet down our heart then we can really see God’s wonders in our lives. Paul and Silas were in the prison but they were still able to worship and praise God. We might be in a difficult situation right now, but what’s our interactions with God? Can we be still and see God’s wonderful work even in hard times?
Quiet down our hearts, stop looking around our environment, stop worrying, and start seeing God’s wonders. This is what touches the heart of God, when we are willing to connect with Him, simply because we want to come near to Him, not because we need anything from Him. From last year, God is preparing us to serve the children. He wants us to be simple, to serve without asking anything in return. Can we see God’s wonderful works in our lives?
We might be facing a lot of difficulties in life, but everything that happens cannot stop us praying and reading the Bible, to really see God’s wonders! When we face situations that happened unexpectedly, what is our attitude? Can we continue to give thanks and count the blessings of God?
God is revealing to us His Good Will everyday, and a lot of times God reveals His Will through our church. Church is a group of believers and we must have faith that God will talk to us through our church. This world is trying to make us become someone, who only worries about ourselves, but God allows us to receive the fragrance of the Tree of Life, to deny ourselves and benefit others, to be humble and obedient. During this time of lockdown, the city is filled with worries, fear and anger, but let us continue to praise God no matter what, to worship God in spirit and in truth.
In the first day of lockdown, let us pray together, for this land New Zealand, for every family, and those who are unwell. May the peace of God come into our hearts.
2021年8月18日 星期三
潘锡安牧师
V1 大卫在一开始的时候宣告神的权能，他看见耶和华是他的主，赞美神。一个人在何时能讲出这一段话？就是在他观看的时候。如今我们面对疫情、封城，是否在观看神的作为，还是在观看我们的政府能做什么？面对世上的纷纷扰扰，我们的心态如何？当年使徒被关押的时候，监牢因着他们的赞美而震动打开。如今的我们在神所赐给我们的一切中是否能赞美神创造的美好，还是抱怨？我们唯有愿意安静下来才能观看神的美好。
V2 大卫的生命中有很多挫折，但当大卫愿意放下肉眼所看到的周遭一切，神就让他看见奇事。大卫活在旧约时代，但他愿意谦卑单纯与神连结的时候，就看见神的预备，他所看到的“人子”其实是预言耶稣基督。大卫可以有借口为他的环境抱怨，然而他愿意安静下来，就看见神“从婴孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力” 。我们教会从去年的封城开始在晨祷中领受卫星网络教会的异象，知道每一个人都要兴起成为领袖，那时还不知道要如何行，直到后来有了学房，到今年才看到原来我们要带领和照顾的是别人所看不起的孩子。神的作为何等奇妙！
V3 古时的人用天象来计算一天的开始和结束，大卫在这里赞美神从白天到黑夜的作为。我们身边常常会发生不是我们预期的事情，那时我们会感恩吗？
V4 “世人”（Son of man）在这里预指耶稣基督。耶稣从出生，到受洗，到在山上祷告时，神都来造访他，向他启示。我们个人如果领受不到从神而来的启示，可以先从领受神给教会的启示开始，因为神将我们放在同一个教会中，教会就是我们的家。
V5 神给人荣耀的冠冕，所以撒旦不服气，尝试做一切的事情夺走我们的冠冕。我们有冠冕不是为了在地上享受公主王子的身份，而是学习耶稣基督以仆人的身份服事主。
V6 神给我们的能力使万物都服在我们脚下，所以我们不需要惧怕未知的将来。我们在今生努力，是否只是为了赚取地上的财富？我们的未来都在主的手上，要知道神给我们权柄，所以撒旦再厉害，也不能胜过神的旨意。
世上很多事情让我们成为只顾自己的人，但是神让我们领受生命树的气息，谦卑顺服、舍己利他，不仅爱神，也能爱人如己。在如今全国封城，众人彷徨甚至愤怒的时候，求神帮助我们仍然能赞美神，用心灵和诚实敬拜他！
*追求祷告：
在Lockdown的第一天早上，让我们一起为我们的国家、家庭、个人来祷告！
谢谢主你对我们说话，当我们愿意跟随你的时候，你就是我们的力量、盾牌！在这个困难的时刻，求主安慰我们！求主记念新西兰这片土地，记念我们的政府领袖团队，使你的平安归于这地上的领导，使他们做出智慧的决定！让我们每一个人在这段时期都能来亲近你！