Category: 260灵修

第十八章

1 此後，我看見另有一位有大權柄的天使從天降下，地就因他的榮耀發光。2 他大聲喊著說：巴比倫大城傾倒了！傾倒了！成了鬼魔的住處和各樣污穢之靈的巢穴（或譯：牢獄；下同），並各樣污穢可憎之雀鳥的巢穴。3 因為列國都被她邪淫大怒的酒傾倒了。地上的君王與她行淫；地上的客商因她奢華太過就發了財。

4 我又聽見從天上有聲音說：我的民哪，你們要從那城出來，免得與她一同有罪，受她所受的災殃；5 因她的罪惡滔天；她的不義，神已經想起來了。6 她怎樣待人，也要怎樣待她，按她所行的加倍地報應她；用她調酒的杯加倍地調給她喝。7 她怎樣榮耀自己，怎樣奢華，也當叫她照樣痛苦悲哀，因她心裏說：我坐了皇后的位，並不是寡婦，決不至於悲哀。8 所以在一天之內，她的災殃要一齊來到，就是死亡、悲哀、饑荒。她又要被火燒盡了，因為審判她的主神大有能力。

 

默想：

1. 這首詩是有關巴比倫，大淫婦的滅亡。第一段的詩指出，巴比倫是個魔鬼很舒服的地方，因為那裡面的價值觀與神的價值背道而馳。
2. 這首詩的第二段指出，世人所享受的權利與奢華會摧毀屬靈生命。神賜給了我們各樣的事物來享受，但沒有一事比愛神，以及愛鄰舍更重要。巴比倫被定罪，是因他們太過珍惜物質財富，甚至在所不惜一切來獲得。
3. 思想這句呼喚：「出來吧！我的子民，要從那城出來，免得在她的罪上有分，」（ 4節，新譯本）。這是今天神對我的柔聲地呼喚呢？還是祂在向我大聲地疾呼？是要從什麼事情中出來？
4. 禱告，求聖靈照亮我心中的所有黑暗之處，讓我明白，並且願意順從地聽主的招喚，從那些事情中「出來吧！我的子民」。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 18 

¹After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. ²With a mighty voice he shouted:
   “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons
and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird.  ³For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

⁴Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
   “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; ⁵for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.  ⁶Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. ⁷Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself.  In her heart she boasts, ‘I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.’  ⁸Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her:  death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her.

 

Meditation

1. This song is about the destruction of Babylon, the Prostitute.  Babylon is a place where demons feel comfortable, because the values expressed in the society Babylon represents are at such odds with the values of our God.
2. The second part points out that power and luxuries enjoyed by the people of this world are devastating to the spiritual life.  God has given us all things richly to enjoy.  But nothing must become more important to us than loving God and loving our neighbour.  Babylon is condemned because her people value material possession so much that they willingly commit crimes against their fellow human being.
3. Meditate on this, “Get out, my people, as fast as you can, so you don’t get mixed up in her sins …” (v. 4). Is God whispering this to me today?  Or is He shouting at me?  Where does He want me to get out of?
4. Pray, ask the Holy Spirit to shine in every dark corner in my life and help me see and be willing to obey.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十七章

1 拿著七碗的七位天使中，有一位前來對我說：「你到這裏來，我將坐在眾水上的大淫婦所要受的刑罰指給你看。2 地上的君王與她行淫，住在地上的人喝醉了她淫亂的酒。」3 我被聖靈感動，天使帶我到曠野去，我就看見一個女人騎在朱紅色的獸上；那獸有七頭十角，遍體有褻瀆的名號。4 那女人穿著紫色和朱紅色的衣服，用金子、寶石、珍珠為妝飾；手拿金杯，杯中盛滿了可憎之物，就是她淫亂的污穢。5 在她額上有名寫著說：「奧祕哉！大巴比倫，作世上的淫婦和一切可憎之物的母。」6 我又看見那女人喝醉了聖徒的血和為耶穌作見證之人的血。我看見她，就大大地希奇。……

12 你所看見的那十角就是十王；他們還沒有得國，但他們一時之間要和獸同得權柄，與王一樣。13 他們同心合意將自己的能力、權柄給那獸。14 他們與羔羊爭戰，羔羊必勝過他們，因為羔羊是萬主之主、萬王之王。同著羔羊的，就是蒙召、被選、有忠心的，也必得勝。」

 

默想：

1. 七碗的審判終結出現了一位大淫婦，這淫婦代表屬靈的不貞，象徵歷世歷代以來，將自己出賣給撒但勢力的個人或是組織和機構，它們背棄永活的真神，幹這種勾當，就是為了擁有特權，獲得財富，享受世上的榮華富貴。
2. 其實，我是否也很容易跟隨其他的「假神」，被誘導去崇拜「偶像」。不見得是實際的偶像，但有哪些偶像、有哪些試探，會將基督徒牽制住、不去跟從神？
3. 思想：目前我所面對的試探是什麼？我的偶像是什麼？我如何能保守對主「從一而終」，而不至「晚節不保」？安靜坐在主前，向主禱告，祈求主的保守。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 17

¹One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. ²With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

³Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. ⁵This title was written on her forehead:  Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Prostitutes, and of the Abominations of the Earth. ⁶I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.… …

¹²“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. ¹³They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

 

Meditation

1. The judgment scene comes to an end with the portrayal of the Great Prostitute.  Although Prostitute is a sexual image, here it is about spiritual infidelity.  This figure embodies those people and institutions that, across the ages, have betrayed the living God and sold themselves to Satan’s forces, doing their bidding in order to enjoy privilege and riches.
2. In fact, we, too, also quickly follow other gods. We are so easily seduced into idolatry of one kind or the other. What are some the temptations that would draw Christians from God?
3. Think: What are the temptations that I face today? What can help me to remain faithful to the very end to “FINISH WELL”? Sit quietly before the Lord and pray for His protection and empowerment.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十六章

1 我聽見有大聲音從殿中出來，向那七位天使說：「你們去，把盛神大怒的七碗倒在地上。」2 第一位天使便去，把碗倒在地上，就有惡而且毒的瘡生在那些有獸印記、拜獸像的人身上。3 第二位天使把碗倒在海裏，海就變成血，好像死人的血，海中的活物都死了。4 第三位天使把碗倒在江河與眾水的泉源裏，水就變成血了。5 我聽見掌管眾水的天使說：昔在、今在的聖者啊，你這樣判斷是公義的；6 他們曾流聖徒與先知的血，現在你給他們血喝；這是他們所該受的。7 我又聽見祭壇中有聲音說：是的，主神─全能者啊，你的判斷義哉！誠哉！8 第四位天使把碗倒在日頭上，叫日頭能用火烤人。9 人被大熱所烤，就褻瀆那有權掌管這些災的神之名，並不悔改將榮耀歸給神。

 

默想：

1. 在這一景中，七位天使離開天上，要將盛滿神大怒的七碗傾倒在地上。這七碗，與七號相似，也讓人聯想起埃及的十災。這想法更加使約翰強調崇拜的重要，因為十災的降下並非因埃及人特別邪惡，而是因為他們定意阻止以色列人去敬拜神。
2. 有人曾這麼說，「信徒從外界遭受的最大邪惡，就是對敬拜的阻擋；而他們所面對內在的最大邪惡，就是對敬拜的漠視」。我明白這說法的含意嗎？今天，教會應當如何與這種勢力來抗衡？
3. 對於我自己，現代社會中有什麼勢力會對我有這樣的影響——或是阻擋我對神的敬拜，或是腐化我對敬拜的重視？我是否曾經因為我的行為或態度，攔阻了別人對神的敬拜？我應當如何悔改？並重整我的敬拜生活？

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 16

¹Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” ²The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly and painful sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped his image.  ³The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died.  ⁴The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:    “You are just in these judgments,   you who are and who were, the Holy One,       because you have so judged;  ⁶for they have shed the blood of your saints and prophets,  and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”  ⁷And I heard the altar respond:  “Yes, Lord God Almighty,  true and just are your judgments.”  ⁸The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. ⁹They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

 

Meditation

1. In this scene, the seven angels leave heaven to pour out their bowls filled with God’s wrath. The seven bowls, similar to the seven trumpets, are reminiscent of the judgments plagues in Egypt.  This reinforces John’s emphasis on worship because the ten plagues on the Egyptians not because they were extraordinarily evil but for their determination to prevent Israel from worshipping God.
2. It has been said, “The greatest evil that people of faith face from the outside is the obstruction of worship.  The greatest evil that they face from the inside is the subversion of worship.”  Can I identify some these forces in our contemporary society? How should the church counteract these external and internal forces?
3. Have I noticed such forces in me – either hindering my worship of God or corrupt my sense of significance of worship? Have I ever hindered others from worshipping God by my behaviours or attitudes? How do I need to repent, and claim victory in Christ?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十五章

1 我又看見在天上有異象，大而且奇，就是七位天使掌管末了的七災，因為神的大怒在這七災中發盡了。2 我看見彷彿有玻璃海，其中有火攙雜。又看見那些勝了獸和獸的像並牠名字數目的人，都站在玻璃海上，拿著神的琴，3 唱神僕人摩西的歌和羔羊的歌，說：主神─全能者啊，你的作為大哉！奇哉！萬世之王啊，你的道途義哉！誠哉！4 主啊，誰敢不敬畏你，不將榮耀歸與你的名呢？因為獨有你是聖的。萬民都要來在你面前敬拜，因你公義的作為已經顯出來了。

默想：

1. 在蠻橫混亂的世界，我們經常會迷失方向，敬拜使我們重新定位，擺正方向。在我們生活的每個方面來敬拜神——每天將我們自己獻上當作活祭（羅12;1-3），是我們在屬靈爭戰中，是最有力的武器。
2. 在我的屬靈旅程中，敬拜和爭戰佔有怎樣的位置？
3. 存著對神最高的崇敬，慢慢讀3-4節，輕唱「我心旋律」詩歌《敬拜萬世之主》，作為今天對主的敬拜：

 

主啊！有誰不敬畏你，不將榮耀歸你名；

因為獨有袮是至聖，萬民都要來到你面前；

敬拜，尊崇，因你公義的作為已彰顯。

主神，全能者啊！袮的作為大哉奇哉！

萬世之王！我敬拜你，你的道途義哉誠哉！

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeP0AMPO0DM)

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 15：

¹I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. ²And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God ³and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
   “Great and marvelous are your deeds,  Lord God Almighty.    Just and true are your ways,  King of the ages.
⁴Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

 

 Meditation

1. In a turbulent world where we are constantly getting disoriented, worship is the way we get re-orientated.  Worshipping God in all areas of our lives—daily giving all of our selves as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2)—is our powerful weapon in the midst of a spiritual warfare.
2. In my spiritual journey, how does worship and spiritual battle play a role in my spiritual growth?
3. With my most reverence to God, read slowly vv3-4 a few times as my worship to God this day.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十四章

6 我又看見另有一位天使飛在空中，有永遠的福音要傳給住在地上的人，就是各國、各族、各方、各民。 7 他大聲說：應當敬畏神，將榮耀歸給他！因他施行審判的時候已經到了。應當敬拜那創造天地海和眾水泉源的。 8 又有第二位天使接著說：叫萬民喝邪淫、大怒之酒的巴比倫大城傾倒了！傾倒了！ 9 又有第三位天使接著他們，大聲說：若有人拜獸和獸像，在額上或在手上受了印記，10 這人也必喝神大怒的酒；此酒斟在神忿怒的杯中純一不雜。他要在聖天使和羔羊面前，在火與硫磺之中受痛苦。 11 他受痛苦的煙往上冒，直到永永遠遠。那些拜獸和獸像，受他名之印記的，晝夜不得安寧。 12 聖徒的忍耐就在此；他們是守神誡命和耶穌真道的。

13 我聽見從天上有聲音說：你要寫下：從今以後，在主裡面而死的人有福了！聖靈說：是的，他們息了自己的勞苦，作工的果效也隨著他們。

 

 默想：

1. 自從成為基督徒以後，有沒有灰心喪志的時刻？或是在忙碌中迷失了自己，甚至有時會自問：「我這樣辛苦，到底是為了甚麼？」
2. 這段經文給了意想不到的應許：「是的，他們息了自己的勞苦，做工的果效也隨著他們。」（13節）信徒如同一般人一樣，也會死去，可是，我們死了，乃是從辛苦的工作中享受休息。而且工作果效會隨著我們，我們為主盡心的工作並非徒然，神會記念；因此死亡再不是咒詛，而是休息（睡了）。
3. 再讀幾遍13節，讓這節的意義沉澱我心。這節經文對我有什麼安慰與鼓勵？這樣的安慰，是否幫助我面對死亡？又如何面對生活？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 14：

⁶ Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth —to every nation, tribe, language and people. ⁷ He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.” ⁸ A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” ⁹ A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, ¹⁰ they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. They will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. ¹¹ And the smoke of their torment will rise for ever and ever. There will be no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and its image, or for anyone who receives the mark of its name.” ¹² This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus.

¹³ Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

 

Meditation

1. Since becoming a Christian, have I ever felt disappointed and discouraged?  Or have I been so busy that I lost myself even to the point of asking myself: “Why am I doing this?  What’s this for?”
2. This passage gave us an unexpected promise in v 13.  Believers will die just as anyone else.  However, when we die, it’s a blessed rest from our hard, hard work.  And none of what we’ve done is wasted for God will bless us for it all in the end. (ref. the Message Rev 14:13)
3. Read v13 again and allow it to sink in.  Does this bring any comfort and encouragement to me?  How does it help me to face death?  And life?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十三章

11 我又看見另有一個獸從地中上來，有兩角如同羊羔，說話好像龍。12 牠在頭一個獸面前，施行頭一個獸所有的權柄，並且叫地和住在地上的人拜那死傷醫好的頭一個獸。13 又行大奇事，甚至在人面前，叫火從天降在地上。14 牠因賜給牠權柄在獸面前能行奇事，就迷惑住在地上的人，說：「要給那受刀傷還活著的獸作個像。」15 又有權柄賜給牠，叫獸像有生氣，並且能說話，又叫所有不拜獸像的人都被殺害。16 牠又叫眾人，無論大小、貧富、自主的、為奴的，都在右手上或是在額上受一個印記。17 除了那受印記、有了獸名或有獸名數目的，都不得做買賣。

 

默想：

1. 魔鬼設計要在地上施展強大的軍力，並要欺詐威迫我們不許敬拜真神，卻要崇拜假神。另一方面，撒但亦會企圖蒙騙我們，假扮成世界的救主，自稱可以賜我們健康、財富、快樂和不朽生命。我是否看得出現今社會中撒但的作為？
2. 要脫離撒但欺騙的網羅，就要將我的信心專注在基督和祂的話語上。
3. 我是否預備好，來面對政治壓迫、或是經濟誘惑？我是否每天刻意有屬靈的操練：讀經（260）、禱告（五個簡短的禱告）等，來增強自己的屬靈生命力、洞察力、抵抗力？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 13

¹¹Then I saw another beast, coming out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, but he spoke like a dragon. ¹²He exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. ¹³And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven to earth in full view of men. ¹⁴Because of the signs he was given power to do on behalf of the first beast, he deceived the inhabitants of the earth. He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived. ¹⁵He was given power to give breath to the image of the first beast, so that it could speak and cause all who refused to worship the image to be killed. ¹⁶He also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, ¹⁷so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name.

 

Meditation

1. In the Devil’s design, Satan will deploy his troops.  The land beast will dupe us and coerce us into idolatry.  On the other hand, Satan tries to deceive us by disguising itself as the world’s saviour, claiming to deliver health, wealth, happiness and immortality.  Do I see Satan’s activities in our society today?
2. The way to be out of Satan’s trap of deception is to fix my confidence in Christ and His written Word.
3. How prepared am I in facing the political persecution, or the economic temptation?  How am I engaged in the daily deliberate practices of Bible reading (260) and prayer (5 simple prayers) as they are part of the effort toward spiritual maturity, sensitivity and defences?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十二章

7 在天上就有了爭戰。米迦勒同他的使者與龍爭戰，龍也同牠的使者去爭戰，8 並沒有得勝，天上再沒有牠們的地方。9 大龍就是那古蛇，名叫魔鬼，又叫撒但，是迷惑普天下的。牠被摔在地上，牠的使者也一同被摔下去。10 我聽見在天上有大聲音說：「我神的救恩、能力、國度，並他基督的權柄，現在都來到了！因為那在我們神面前晝夜控告我們弟兄的，已經被摔下去了。11 弟兄勝過牠，是因羔羊的血和自己所見證的道。他們雖至於死，也不愛惜性命。12 所以，諸天和住在其中的，你們都快樂吧！只是地與海有禍了！因為魔鬼知道自己的時候不多，就氣忿忿地下到你們那裏去了。」

 

默想：

1. 撒但確是存在，且像咆哮的獅子遍地游行。牠是要試探並欺騙信徒。我們多麼容易就會陷入撒但的陷阱網羅中！
2. 但基督徒的保障就是基督已經得勝撒但和死亡。救恩是肯定的，神的國度毫不動搖。不論龍（撒但）有多威猛，基督終會得勝。信徒當持定對神的信心，為主的見證，宣揚基督的執掌王權。
3. 用這首詩歌，加入千萬聖徒的大詩班，向神、也向我自己重新肯定「對神的信心，為主的見證」：

祂是主，祂是主，祂是勝過死亡又復活的主；
萬膝當跪拜，萬口當承認，耶穌基督是主。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 12

⁷And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. ⁹The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

¹⁰Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Christ.  For the accuser of our brothers,  who accuses them before our God day and night,  has been hurled down.
¹¹They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb  and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much  as to shrink from death.
¹²Therefore rejoice, you heavens   and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”

 

Meditation

1. Satan is alive and is roaming the earth as roaring lion.  His goal is to keep people from coming to know Jesus personally, and to tempt and fool the believers.  How often we fall traps to the tricks of Satan!
2. But Christians are reminded of the victory of Christ over Satan and death.  Salvation is assured and God’s rule is intact. No matter how daunting the Dragon, Christ will prevail.  Believers have to keep trusting God and persist in their witness, proclaiming that Christ reigns.
3. Join the crowds of saints in singing this hymn to affirm my “trusting God and persisting in witness”.

He is Lord, He is Lord, He has risen from the dead, And He is Lord

Every knee shall bow, Every tongue confess, That Jesus Christ is Lord

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十一章

1 有一根葦子賜給我，當作量度的杖；且有話說：「起來！將神的殿和祭壇，並在殿中禮拜的人都量一量。2 只是殿外的院子要留下不用量，因為這是給了外邦人的；他們要踐踏聖城四十二個月。3 我要使我那兩個見證人，穿著毛衣，傳道一千二百六十天。」4 他們就是那兩棵橄欖樹，兩個燈臺，立在世界之主面前的。

 

默想：

1. 這兩位無名的見證人，有著舊約先知以利亞和摩西的特徵。自古以來，摩西代表律法的頒佈者，以利亞代表先知預言的宣告者。兩位都要扭轉人類的注意，指向基督是主與救主。律法與預言兩者缺一不可，而基督同時成全了律法與預言，成為完美的見證。
2. 教會在世界上是基督的見證，我們每個人都是基督身體的一個部分。我有沒有學效這兩個見證人，在我的生活小範圍內，作基督忠心的見證人？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 11

¹I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, “Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. ²But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. ³And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” ⁴These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.

Meditation

1. The two unnamed witnesses have the characteristics of the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Moses.  Through the centuries, these two men have accumulated symbolic greatness – Moses being the giver of Law and Elijah the giver of prophecy.  They direct the attention of all humanity to the Christ as Lord and Saviour.  There can be no complete witness when either Law or Prophecy is omitted, for Christ is both the fulfillment of the Law and the fulfillment of prophecy.
2. The Christian church stands in this world as a witness for Christ.  You and I are members of the body of Christ.  Am I following the steps of the two witnesses, in my smaller ways, as a faithful witness for Christ?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十章

8 我先前從天上所聽見的那聲音又吩咐我說：「你去，把那踏海踏地之天使手中展開的小書卷取過來。」9 我就走到天使那裏，對他說：「請你把小書卷給我。」他對我說：「你拿著吃盡了，便叫你肚子發苦，然而在你口中要甜如蜜。」10 我從天使手中把小書卷接過來，吃盡了，在我口中果然甜如蜜，吃了以後，肚子覺得發苦了。11 天使（原文是他們）對我說：「你必指著多民、多國、多方、多王再說預言。」

 

默想：

1. 天使要約翰把書吃下去，吃一本書的意思就是要將整本書吸收消化，融入身體當中。作見證的人，必須在未開口之前，首先成為所說所見證的人。我是否將神的話吸收消化，融入生活中，以至于可以成為神的代言人？
2. 每個見證人，都會經歷甜與苦兩種相反的感受。神的話是甜的，因為是從神而來的；但當神的話被拒時，就會給我們留下迂迴不散的苦味。我最近對神的話有什麼經歷？
3. 回想一些我作見證的甜與苦的滋味。安靜的細細回味當時的情景，靜坐主前數分鐘，繼續與主一起思想、回味。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter10

⁸Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

⁹So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” ¹⁰I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. ¹¹Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

Meditation

1. John is told to eat the book.  Eating a book means that one takes it all in, assimilating it into one’s body. Witnesses must first become what they say before they say it.  Am I assimilating God’s word so that I can be a speaker on His behalf?
2. Every witness experiences the opposite sensations of sweetness and bitterness.  The Word is sweet because it is from God; a bitter feeling will linger when it is rejected by others.  What are some of my recent experiences with God’s word?
3. Recount some of my sweet moments and the bitterness I experience when my witness is being rejected.  Sit quietly before God and continue to linger for a few minutes at the situations the Holy Spirit brings to mind.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第九章

1 第五位天使吹號，我就看見一個星從天落到地上，有無底坑的鑰匙賜給它。2 它開了無底坑，便有煙從坑裏往上冒，好像大火爐的煙；日頭和天空都因這煙昏暗了。3 有蝗蟲從煙中出來，飛到地上；有能力賜給牠們，好像地上蠍子的能力一樣，4 並且吩咐牠們說，不可傷害地上的草和各樣青物，並一切樹木，惟獨要傷害額上沒有神印記的人。5 但不許蝗蟲害死他們，只叫他們受痛苦五個月。這痛苦就像蠍子螫人的痛苦一樣。6 在那些日子，人要求死，決不得死；願意死，死卻遠避他們。

20 其餘未曾被這些災所殺的人仍舊不悔改自己手所做的，還是去拜鬼魔和那些不能看、不能聽、不能走，金、銀、銅、木、石的偶像，21 又不悔改他們那些凶殺、邪術、姦淫、偷竊的事。

 

默想：

1. 約珥書以蝗蟲災禍的預言（約珥書 1:2-2:11），規勸以色列上下當悔改歸向神。並且強調拒絕悔改，最終將受到審判與可怕結局。惟有由心中徹底悔改，才能從罪的恐怖中得拯救。
2. 20-21節，但是當時有些人，雖然經歷了神的審判刑罰，那些暫時得到倖免得以存活的，卻仍然繼續醉生夢死的生涯。而當年法老雖經過十災，依然也是拒絕反省悔改。其實，有時我們豈不也是如此？在這樣的時候，神其實是以惡劣的環境，來逼使我們省察自己內心的頑梗、輕忽神無比恩典的呼召。若我們能誠實的面對自我，必然會謙卑下來，而謙卑就能引領我們來到悔改的恩典中。
3. 安靜在神的面前。容許聖靈來光照我內心「內心的頑梗」，求神賜下「謙卑」，以及「悔改」的恩典。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。

 

Chapter 9

¹The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. ²When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. ³And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. ⁴They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. ⁵They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. ⁶During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.

²⁰The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. ²¹Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

 

Meditation

1. Joel’s prophecy (Joel 1:2-2:11) of locusts is to call for repentance of the Israelites to return to God.  He emphasized the final judgment and terrible consequence of refusing to repent.  Only in true repentance are we saved from the terror of sin.
2. Despite God’s judgment, those who are temporarily spared still go on their merry way (vv20-21). Pharaoh also refused to repent after the ten plagues.  And sometimes, we are just like them.  During such times, God is actually forcing us, through difficult circumstances, to look inside ourselves for persistent stubbornness that dismisses such invitation of grace from God.  If it’s an honest look, what we see should humble us, and that humility should pave the way to the grace of repentance.
3. Sit silently.  Allow the Holy Spirit to show areas of my “persistent stubbornness”.  Pray for humility to see and grace to repent.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.