Tuesday, 20th September 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-4 No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll
Apostle John was imprisoned on the island when he wrote the Book of Revelation, but in hopelessness, he saw God. We also must see God in our lives of troubles and hardship. We cannot rely on our own understanding, but only rely on God. He gives us hope and encouragement in this generation, and we can live out this glory.
No one was worthy to open the scroll, no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth, and John cried. Why did he cry? We must ask this question. When we go back to Revelation chapter 1, we can see that God wants to give His scroll to the churches. But no one can open it, and no church can receive this revelation from the scroll. So John cried, he was hunger and thirst for the Word of God.
Do we also hunger and thirst for the Word of God as the deer thirst for water? John showed us the most important attitude as the follower of God, to be hunger and thirst for the Word of God. Who can open it?
Section Two V5-7 Only the Lamb as though it had been slain can open the scroll
The root of David is the root of the Kings. Jesus is God’s chosen One, the Lion of Judah, and the King of all kings. He can open the scroll and reveal the truth. Then John saw the Lamb standing among the elders. He was slain, and received victory. Jesus humbled Himself, willing to become the Lamb. He has set a good example for us as the Tree of Life.
What do we want to do for God? First we must humble and obey, not with the ways of the world. We want to do our own things and live in our own ways. But God sends us to go, to lay down ourselves.
Section Three V8-14 Angels and every creation must sing praises and worship
This glory can be seen, but no by our own stretch. The heaven and earth can reveal this glory. This is our prayers, to uphold the Lamb and to glorify Jesus. Jesus used His blood to cleanse all people so we can be the priests for the church of God. Yet not only that, but also hold authority on this world.
The world has been taken over by Satan, but Jesus has overcome the world, therefore we can take back the authority of this world from Satan. We can represent Jesus and reign in this world. Are we willing to take this mission? Jesus wants us to do greater things than what He did on this earth. He has given us everything we need. We only need to have faith and a willing heart.
启示录 5 – 荣上加荣
2022年9月20日 星期二
潘锡安牧师
神让被关在拔摩岛上的老约翰看见盼望。最近发生在台湾的地震更是让人看到自然界中的威力是人无法抵挡的，天灾人祸中，我们似乎只看到灰色的环境，但启示录的第五章经文给我们大有能力的鼓励。神的荣上加荣与我们地上的荣耀是不一样的。老约翰在一个孤岛的监狱中看到的是荣上加荣的景象，如今的我们如何看见并活出得胜、荣上加荣的生命？
一、v.1-4 天上、地上、地底下，没有配展开那书卷
老约翰看见神的手中有被封严的书卷，为什么会“因为没有配展开、配观看那书卷的”而“大哭”？这书卷不是耶稣在会堂中朗读的书卷，而是在启示录1:11所说要写给教会的看的书卷。原本要给教会看的如今们无法打开或看见，本来要给教会的福音、启示，如今没有人能得到，所以老约翰哭了。我们是否能像约翰那样对神的话语如鹿切慕溪水？跟从神最重要的是要有对神话语的渴慕，也要渴慕看到教会得着神的话语。
二、v.5-7 唯有曾被杀过的羔羊配拿书卷
V5 他们在天上才可以看见“犹大支派中的狮子，大卫的根”- 他是以色列的王，是神所拣选的。这位长老对老约翰说话时，耶稣还没有展开书卷，长老只是在述说耶稣“展开那书卷、揭开那七印”的能力。
V6 老约翰听到长老的话就去观看，不是看见犹大支派的“狮子”，而是“有羔羊站立”，并且这羔羊“像是被杀过的……奉差遣往普天下去的”。耶稣成为我们的主不是因为他是“狮子”或王，而是因为他是被杀过的。主愿意谦卑自己，成为被杀过的羔羊。耶稣的得胜不在于他多厉害，而是在生命树的气息下谦卑顺服、舍己利他，为我们树立了榜样。
V7 我们想为神的国得荣耀，荣上加荣，但神说我们若要荣上加荣，就要先谦卑顺服、舍己利他。我们想要在人前充面子、特意表现得很风光，然而我们的主耶稣表现出来的却是被杀过的、祭坛上的羔羊的样式。我们很难愿意被“差派”，因为只想要做自己喜欢的事。主耶稣不仅愿意摆上自己，还愿意被差派，不是做自己想做的，而是天父要他做的事。
三、v.8-14 天使与被造的万物的敬拜赞美
V8 荣上加荣并不是我们自夸，而是能被天上地上的受造物都看见的。荣上加荣的祷告是什么？就是高举耶稣、高举羔羊。
V9-10 这是天上地上的敬拜祷告，让我们看见自己里面的蒙蔽。原来耶稣基督要做的是“用自己的血从各族、各方、各民、各国中买了人来，叫他们归于神”，就是要福音广传列国，并且不只是让人信主，还要他们“成为国民做祭司，归于神，在地上执掌王权”。我们所认为的执掌王权是积极参政或在社会上的“七山”各个领域有地位。然而，这世界其实是被撒旦掌权的，当初它用计从亚当手里拿走了在地上执掌王权的权柄。但耶稣已经得胜，所以我们要从撒旦手中将它所偷窃的地上的王权拿回来。
V12 耶稣有的，我们也有。我们愿意使用神给我们的权柄、运用这个能力吗？让我们靠着我们的主、被杀过的羔羊，得到属天的荣上加荣！