Bible Passage: John 5:19-47

Although Jesus did speak about judgement and resurrection in this passage, I found my mind wandering to two other topics as I read the passage.  But this has very much to do with the future judgement of God and our resurrection to the heavenly kingdom.

Who Are You Pointing To?

³¹ “If I bear witness of Myself, My witness is not true. ³² There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true.

~ John 5:31-32

Jesus was telling us that only God could bear witness that He is who He said He is.

This same Jesus also tells God in Heaven… He intercedes for us…  to witness that we are indeed on the side of God.

What is the reason we are here on earth?

What is the meaning of life?

The answer to life is….

What is your answer?

The answer to life is Jesus.  He is our all in all.  He is my first and last.  He is evermore.  He is… the list just goes on and all.

It’s all about Jesus.

So everything we say or do… we should be looking to Jesus.

And we should also point people to Jesus.

If we truly believe in Him and the witnesses that we have around us that tells us of Jesus – do we point others to Jesus too?  Or are we pointing in the wrong direction and not at Jesus and Him alone?

We have witnesses around us telling and confirming to us about Jesus.  We should believe.  And be that witness to others too.  So that they too can escape from the judgement and resurrect together to the Holy City of our Lord Jesus!

“But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”

The above words are taken from John 5:40.

One of the ways to learn is to challenge our own ingrained perceptions and examine our insights critically.  Many a times we learn best when we are faced with critical situations or come across a dilemma… cause that is when we will dig deep and critically reflect on what we know and believe in.  And perhaps learn and grow.

When Jesus healed on a Sabbath, He actually challenged the deeply held beliefs of many of the religious leaders in those days.  And they hated Him for it and wanted to kill Him (John 5:16-18).

Jesus answered with these famous words….

³⁹ You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. ⁴⁰ But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

~ John 5:39-40

People of all times have tended to turn to religious traditions, prophetic leaders, and holy writings for guidance in life.  But they do not necessarily turn to God Himself.

Jesus rebuked His listeners for looking for life in all the wrong places.  His words were validated by His deeds and signs- all confirming that He indeed is the Son of God sent by the Heavenly Father.  Yet, still many people did not believe Him.

What about us today?

Being “religious” isn’t the point.  Jesus calls us to “come” to Him.

When we read this passage, we would often associate this with the unbelieving people of the world or those who have rejected Christ.  But are there not times in our lives that we fail to show in our actions and deeds that we love the Lord but still remain consistently and vigourously religious?

We attend almost all services.  We even go for the Home Fellowships.  But our life has no evidence of Jesus anywhere.

Why?

Because we are not willing to really come before Jesus – so that we may have life.

So let us draw near to Jesus today.

Bible Passage:  Matt 11:7-15; Lk 7:24-30

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

~ Luke 1:76-79

The above describes the role and purpose of John – the son of Zacharias, a priest and Elizabeth, also from a family of priests.

Matthew 11:7-15, Luke 1:5-80, John 1:6-9, John 1:19-28 and John 3:27-36 give good accounts of the ministry of John, who was also known as John the Baptiser or Baptist.

John’s Mission

“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying … … … … But wisdom is justified by her works.”

~ Matt 11:16-19

If we take stock of our daily activities and interaction with people, how much of it is centred on God or edifies Christ? Without wisdom from God and a heart to put into practise God’s words, we are lost in all the pride and vying in the world. Instead of joyfully encouraging one another, we pass judgements on others and gossip about them. Instead of reflecting on our own mistakes, we gripe about others’ mistakes. Instead of being a good Christian role model, we may have been a stumbling block and perhaps even caused some to turn away from Christ.

As prophesized by prophet Malachi and prophet Isaiah, John the Baptist played an instrumental role in causing many people to look to the Lord, realising their disobedience and preparing their hearts to receive His abidance in their lives.

This was no mean feat – making people realise their sins and then causing them to actually repent of their sins. Today, we often talk about preaching and bringing people to Christ. To cause someone to believe what we say and gain their trust is not something that can be done overnight. Of course with God’s grace and help in opening up the hearts of those whom we preach to, things are much easier. But when we get down to actually doing the work e.g. door-to-door or our own personal evangelism, we need a lot of hard work and plenty of prayers.

Our lives are a book for others to see. Do we ourselves realise God’s grace in our lives? Do we have testimonies to share, to make this faith in our lives real to others? Do we know our role in the grand scheme of things and feel the joy in sharing this message of salvation to others?

This forerunner knew his role and purpose. He neither overstepped nor played up his role.

He was outspoken and did not shy away from calling the Pharisees and Sadducees a ‘brood of vipers’ (Matt 3:7). Yet he had understood and assimilated the great principles on which the kingdom is built, that of self-denial and service.

“… I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him. He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.”

~ John 3:28-30

 John’s Messages

These were John’s messages to the people then to prepare them for the coming of the Saviour:

• “Behold the Lamb of God”
• “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
• “His fan is in His hand”

Some food for thought:

1. Where in the Bible can we find John’s messages and what was the significance of each of them?
2. How can we make John’s messages our own messages to our friends and do we have accompanying testimonies to share?
3. Are we able to build upon John’s messages and further share our basic doctrines with our friends?

圣经章节 ：太13：1-52； 可4：1-34； 路8：8-14； 18-21

每当耶稣以天国的比喻教训时，祂都会给予负面与正面的例子。 负面的例子有如那撒种的不得结实，或是那将稗子撒在麦子里的，或是面酵。  正面的例子有如那所撒的种子发芽而带来丰盛的收成或那做买卖人变卖他一切所有的去买颗珠子。

这告诉了我门，教会 – 神在世上的国度，在耶稣再来之前必然会有问题的存在，因为它仍在不断的追求完美。  既然主耶稣已经告诉了我们，当我们今日看到教会里发生问题时，就不应感到稀奇或气馁。

相反的，我们应当谦恭聆听和真正了解神的道以致结果子。当我们真正了解神的道时，我们的言语与行为会自然展现出基督的爱、圣洁与正直以及热衷于基督。

让我们不断地审查自己 – 我们是否硬心不听呢？  神的道是否仍然对我们说话并感动我们？  我们是否有在结果子或是已经成了稗子？  我们是否还重视这天国和我们的救恩以及隐藏的宝藏呢?

所以你们应当小心怎样听。 因为凡有的、还要加给他。 凡没有的、连他自以为有的、也要夺去。  （路 8 ：18）

耶稣说、这一切的话你们都明白了么。  他们说、我们明白了。  （太 13 ：51）

希望我们可以真正了解和遵守神的道，并发出光来如同天父国里的太阳一样。

Bible Passage:  Matt 13:1-52; Mk 4:1-34; Lk 8:8-14; 18-21

When Jesus gave examples of the kingdom of heaven, He gave both negative and positive examples. A negative example would be the seeds that were sown but did not bear fruit, or the tares among the wheat, or leaven. A positive example would be the seed that sprang up and yielded a bountiful harvest or the merchant who sold everything to gain that precious pearl.

This shows us that there will inevitably be problems in the church, the kingdom of God on earth, before Jesus comes again because she is still striving for perfection. Since Jesus has told us long ago, we should not be surprised or discouraged when we see problems in the church.

Instead, let us strive to humbly listen to and truly understand God’s word as well as bear fruit. When we truly understand God’s word, our words and actions will naturally exhibit the love of Christ, the holiness and uprightness of Christ as well as the zeal of Christ.

Let us constantly examine ourselves—have we become hard of hearing? Does God’s word still speak to us and touch us? Are we bearing fruits or are we nothing but tares? Do we truly value the kingdom of heaven and our salvation as a priceless pearl and a hidden treasure?

“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

(Lk 8:18)

Jesus said to them, “Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”  (Mt 13:51)

May we truly understand and keep the word of God, and shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of our Father.

今天要读的经节不多。。。却是一些合宜的提醒。。。

马太福音 7

这段让我目不转睛:

“你 们 祈 求 ， 就 给 你 们 ； 寻 找 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 ， 就 给 你 们 开 门 。

 因 为 凡 祈 求 的 ， 就 得 着 ； 寻 找 的 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 的 ， 就 给 他 开 门 。“

~ 太 7:7-8

这是我们再熟悉不过的。但是，它告诉了我们关于天国的什么呢？

最近你有注意到代祷的名单吗？我不知道你怎么想，我算了算，在直落古楼的名单，每次有大约十个名字。还有一些投影的名字是没有念出来。

好多名字。

好多病患。

好多需要代祷的人。

这些人当中，有些是亲密的人，有些则只是一个名字。

我们是怎样为他们祷告呢？在聚会以外，我们是否有在祷告里记念他们？

我必须承认，往往，我会遗忘这些需要代祷的名字。

我有始无终。

当我看见他们的名字，或者收到电邮或简讯唱名代祷，我会把代祷记在心里。但是，很多时候，开始的时候我会记得，很快的我会遗忘他们。当我再被提醒时，代祷的循环又重新再来。

这两节经节提醒了我，作为天国的一份子的，我们要竭力的成为“我们说了要为别人或事代祷，我们真的做到”的这一等人。

我们必须相信当我们祈求、寻找、叩门。。。神会垂听和应允我们的祈祷。当我们为有迫切需要的人代祷，更是如此。

保罗劝勉提摩太。。。

“ 第 一 要 为 万 人 恳 求 、 祷 告 、 代 求 、 祝 谢,”

~ 提前 2:1 (ESV)

当我们不知道要如何为有需要的人祈求和祈求些什么，我们有圣灵的应许。。。

“况 且 我 们 的 软 弱 有 圣 灵 帮 助 ， 我 们 本 不 晓 得 当 怎 样 祷 告 ， 只 是 圣 灵 亲 自 用 说 不 出 来 的 叹 息 替 我 们 祷 告 .”

~ 罗 8:26

我知道，我不是保罗或者不如保罗，我想用他的话来要求自己和呼吁大家同心合一的祷告。。。

“弟 兄 们 ， 我 藉 着 我 们 主 耶 稣 基 督 ， 又 藉 着 圣 灵 的 爱 ， 劝 你 们 与 我 一 同 竭 力 ， 为 我 祈 求 神,”

~ 罗 15:30

天国应该包括在主耶稣的爱中彼此代祷的兄弟姐妹。。。这样无论我们奉祂的名求什么，祂必成就 (约 14:14) ，于祂美好的旨意和恩典。

愿主怜悯我们。

圣经章节:  路加福音 6:20-49; 12:22-31, 57-59; 16:17

天国在哪里呢？

既然我们在谈论这个国度的特征，这似乎是一个合理的问题。

高兴的是耶稣已经在两个地方回答了这个问题。

愿你的国降临。

愿你的旨意行在地上，

如同行在天上。(太6:10)

因为神的国就在你们心里。(路 17:21)

一方面神的国是我们在肉体生命结束后竭力要进入的国度、一个永恒，荣耀、属灵的国度、同时， 神的国清楚地是指着神的子民。

当神的子民遵行神的旨意，祂的国就建立在人的心里了。很自然地，这些人有了神的国在他们里面，他们也就在神的国里面了。

因此，耶稣教导我们照着之前所提到的方法祷告。这不仅是要告诉神向别人行使祂的旨意，更重要的是要提醒我们要成为遵行祂旨意的人，好让我们去到地球的任何角落时，都能让人瞥见天国，因为神就存在我们身上。

这就是耶稣讲述神的国的原因。他并没有提到精金的街道或宝石，反而描述了这国度的子民的心和行为。

因为我们今天所读的章节分布在好几章，所以我会将这个‘国度’的行为和心做以下简述：

态度：

• Inhistime 之前提过的圣徒的八“蒙福行道”

行为：

• 不论断他人
• 施舍与宽恕
• 结出好果子
• 以遵行主的吩咐来建立坚固的信仰基础
• 先求属灵，方求属肉

心：

• 爱仇敌
• 慈悲
• 积存真正的财宝

每一天，你不间断的睡觉和在世界活、动，请记得：你是个永恒的国度寄居在暂时的空间。。。因为。。。神的国在你心里。

Bible Passage:  Luke 6:20-49; 12:22-31, 57-59; 16:17

Where is the kingdom of heaven?

Since we are talking about the characteristics of this kingdom, this question seems reasonable.

Happily, Jesus has answered it in two places that I can think of.

Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10)

“…For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk 17:21)

While the kingdom of God is the place that we are all striving to enter after our physical lives end, an eternal, glorious and spiritual realm, it is rather clear that the kingdom of God is also the people of God.

When the people of God do the will of God, His kingdom is established in the hearts of man. Naturally, these people have the kingdom of God within them and they will also be within the kingdom of God.

Hence, Jesus teaches us to pray in the way mentioned earlier. It is not just to tell God to do what He wants to others but more importantly to remind ourselves to be the ones to do His will so that wherever we are on earth will be a glimpse of heaven because we bring with us the presence of God.

This is why when Jesus talked about the kingdom of God, He did not talk about streets of gold or precious stones but instead described the hearts and deeds of the citizens of this kingdom.

Our reading for today spans across several chapters so I shall condense here, the deeds and hearts of this ‘kingdom’.

Attitude:

• The ‘be-attitudes’ as mentioned by InHisTime previously.

Deeds:

• Is not judgmental
• Gives and forgives
• Bears good fruit
• Builds a strong foundation by doing what the Lord says
• Seeks the spiritual before the material

Heart:

• Loving towards enemies
• Merciful
• Full of good treasure

As you wake up each day and proceed with your business in this world, remember that you are an eternal kingdom in a temporal realm for…

Just a short one today… but I felt a much needed reminder…

Bible Passage:  Matthew 7

The passage that caught my eye today was this:

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

~ Matthew 7:7-8

Now this is a most familiar passage to us.  But what does it tell me about the kingdom of God?

Have you taken note of the prayer list recently?  I am not sure about you but I think I counted around 10 names that are read in TK every service.  And there are other names that are not read but are flashed on the wall.

So many names.

So many sicknesses.

So many people who need our prayers.

Some of these people are close to us.  Some are just names.

How do we pray for them?  Do we even remember them in our prayers outside of service times?

Very often, I will admit, I will forget the names of those who require my prayers.

I do nothing.

When I see their names or receive an email or SMS to pray for a certain person, I commit in my heart to pray for them.  But then, very often, I may remember it initially and then very often forget about it.  And then I am reminded again and the whole cycle starts again.

Reading the key verses above reminded me that as members of this Kingdom of Heaven, we need to strive to be the type of people that when we say we’re going to pray for someone or a situation, we really do.

We need to believe that by asking, knocking and seeking… God will be found and will answer our prayers.  Especially when we pray for those who are in great need.

Paul urged Timothy…

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,”

~ 1 Tim 2:1 (ESV)

And when we do not know how to pray and what to pray for those who are in need, we have this promise of the Holy Spirit…

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

~ Rom 8:26 (ESV)

Now, I know I am not Paul or am in anyway comparable to him, but I would like to use his words as a request for myself and also a call for unity in prayers…

“I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,”

~ Rom 15:30

The Kingdom of God should consists of brothers and sisters praying for one another in the love of Jesus…. so that whatever we ask in His name, He will do it (John 14:14) according to His marvellous will and grace.

May the Lord have mercy on us.

不要聚焦自己，因它时时改变。聚焦神，祂爱你且永不改变

听主耶稣的证道好比享用一顿丰盛大餐。

这美味佳肴包括一些容易吞咽的食，有些则需要我们用力咀嚼才咽下。

无论这些食物容易是否食用，我们必须带着喜悦的心去吃，最重要的是把它们消化吸收，即行道也。

经节: 马太福音 6

今天的证道可分为以下几个点：
1。行善以得神的喜悦(1 – 4)
2。模范的祷告 (5 – 15)
3。只要神看见的禁食(16 – 18)
4。积攒财宝在天 (19 – 21)
5。心里的灯 (22 – 23)
6。不能同时事奉神和财富 (24)
7。不要忧虑 (25 – 34)

由于版位的限制，我不能分享所有对于耶稣在这章里所讲的道理的感想，所以希望大家能分享自己的感想，让彼此受益，当然，让我们追求能消化神的道，进而行道。

前三点共同强调了无论行善、祷告或禁食，都只要神看见，而不是让别人看见。 (cf. v4, 6, 18)

我们务必行善。若有能力行善，我们不去行，这就是罪了（参.雅 4:17)， 但行善时，我们要谨慎自己的动机。

是的，如果我们夸口自己的善行，我们或许会得到人的称赞，让我们想一想，我们所寻求的是这种荣耀吗？ 我们行善是否为了赢得别人的掌声呢？

或许我们能以祷告生活来测量自己的灵程。但是我们不能常常祷告来夸耀自己，或者假装常常祷告来得到别人的赞美。

禁食也可以测量我们的灵程。我听过一些年长的信徒常常为教会禁食祷告，我之所以知道这件事不是他们自己夸耀的，而是通过别人偶然的知道了他们对教会发展的投入。

这种禁食的态度与精神是神所喜悦的，因为这种祷告只要神看见，不是为了人。

因此行善、祷告和禁食，我们是要寻求神的而不喜悦是人的掌声。

实在的，人的奖赏是毫无意义和用处的。因为人的奖赏不能长久，但，神的赏赐是永恒的，再加上基督来时，我们相聚在一个地方。

我 们 却 是 天 上 的 国 民 ， 并 且 等 候 救 主 ， 就 是 主 耶 稣 基 督 从 天 上 降 临 。

腓 3:20

这与‘积攒财宝在天’是息息相关的。

有些時候，我們会因着行善、常常祷告，定时禁食而得到人的贊美，但我们不可因得到这些“地上的财宝”而变得骄傲，反而我们要明白是神一直都在看顾我们，祂的圣眼垂看所有的事。

因此我们务必寻求神的喜悦。神的喜悦确实是我们积攒在天上的财宝。

这章里其余的证道可归纳于我们要时常觉悟神时刻垂看我们，不是要挑我们的毛病，而是要引导我们的日常生活，和随时随地回应我们的祈求，加添力量来坚固我们。

我们当尽的本份是努力追求圣洁，让神的道的光充满我们的心，使我们与世界交结能时时谨慎自己的脚步。

事奉神而不是玛门，不要被世上忧虑掩没，要专注天上的事和把一切交托神的手中。

希望听到大家对主的证道的分享。

平安。

不要聚焦自己，因它时时改变。聚焦神，祂爱你且永不改变

听主耶稣的证道好比享用一顿丰盛大餐。

这美味佳肴包括一些容易吞咽的食，有些则需要我们用力咀嚼才咽下。

无论这些食物容易是否食用，我们必须带着喜悦的心去吃，最重要的是把它们消化吸收，即行道也。

经节: 马太福音 6
今天的证道可分为以下几个点：
1。行善以得神的喜悦(1 – 4)
2。模范的祷告 (5 – 15)
3。只要神看见的禁食(16 – 18)
4。积攒财宝在天 (19 – 21)
5。心里的灯 (22 – 23)
6。不能同时事奉神和财富 (24)
7。不要忧虑 (25 – 34)
由于版位的限制，我不能分享所有对于耶稣在这章里所讲的道理的感想，所以希望大家能分享自己的感想，让彼此受益，当然，让我们追求能消化神的道，进而行道。 

前三点共同强调了无论行善、祷告或禁食，都只要神看见，而不是让别人看见。 (cf. v4, 6, 18)

我们务必行善。若有能力行善，我们不去行，这就是罪了（参.雅 4:17)， 但行善时，我们要谨慎自己的动机。

是的，如果我们夸口自己的善行，我们或许会得到人的称赞，让我们想一想，我们所寻求的是这种荣耀吗？ 我们行善是否为了赢得别人的掌声呢？

或许我们能以祷告生活来测量自己的灵程。但是我们不能常常祷告来夸耀自己，或者假装常常祷告来得到别人的赞美。

禁食也可以测量我们的灵程。我听过一些年长的信徒常常为教会禁食祷告，我之所以知道这件事不是他们自己夸耀的，而是通过别人偶然的知道了他们对教会发展的投入。

这种禁食的态度与精神是神所喜悦的，因为这种祷告只要神看见，不是为了人。

 因此行善、祷告和禁食，我们是要寻求神的而不喜悦是人的掌声。

实在的，人的奖赏是毫无意义和用处的。因为人的奖赏不能长久，但，神的赏赐是永恒的，再加上基督来时，我们相聚在一个地方。

我 们 却 是 天 上 的 国 民 ， 并 且 等 候 救 主 ， 就 是 主 耶 稣 基 督 从 天 上 降 临 。

腓 3:20

这与‘积攒财宝在天’是息息相关的。

有些時候，我們会因着行善、常常祷告，定时禁食而得到人的贊美，但我们不可因得到这些“地上的财宝”而变得骄傲，反而我们要明白是神一直都在看顾我们，祂的圣眼垂看所有的事。

因此我们务必寻求神的喜悦。神的喜悦确实是我们积攒在天上的财宝。

这章里其余的证道可归纳于我们要时常觉悟神时刻垂看我们，不是要挑我们的毛病，而是要引导我们的日常生活，和随时随地回应我们的祈求，加添力量来坚固我们。

我们当尽的本份是努力追求圣洁，让神的道的光充满我们的心，使我们与世界交结能时时谨慎自己的脚步。

事奉神而不是玛门，不要被世上忧虑掩没，要专注天上的事和把一切交托神的手中。

希望听到大家对主的证道的分享。

平安。