Category: 260灵修

雅各書 第三章1-12節

1我的弟兄們，不要多人作師傅，因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。2原來我們在許多事上都有過失；若有人在話語上沒有過失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。3我們若把嚼環放在馬嘴裏，叫牠順服，就能調動牠的全身。4看哪，船隻雖然甚大，又被大風催逼，只用小小的舵，就隨著掌舵的意思轉動。5這樣，舌頭在百體裏也是最小的，卻能說大話。看哪，最小的火能點著最大的樹林。6舌頭就是火，在我們百體中，舌頭是個罪惡的世界，能污穢全身，也能把生命的輪子點起來，並且是從地獄裏點著的。7各類的走獸、飛禽、昆蟲、水族，本來都可以制伏，也已經被人制伏了；8惟獨舌頭沒有人能制伏，是不止息的惡物，滿了害死人的毒氣。9我們用舌頭頌讚那為主、為父的，又用舌頭咒詛那照著　神形像被造的人。10頌讚和咒詛從一個口裏出來！我的弟兄們，這是不應當的！11泉源從一個眼裏能發出甜苦兩樣的水嗎？12我的弟兄們，無花果樹能生橄欖嗎？葡萄樹能結無花果嗎？鹹水裏也不能發出甜水來。

 

默想

1. 倘若把上週我所說過的話全部錄下來，並且在這週崇拜中播放出來，有那些內容我會希望刪除？
2. 花一些時間思想9-10節的經文，想想我一般說話是咒詛多、或是頌讚多？我怎樣才可以多說讚美鼓勵的話？
3. 在本週中，有那一位家人、同事或朋友，我要向他/她說些鼓勵的話？寫下我要講的話，並禱告求主提醒幫助我能確實做到。

 

 

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。

 

James 3:1-12

1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

 

Meditation

1. If I were to record everything I said last week to have it played back during church, what would I want to erase from the recording?
2. Meditate on 3:9-10. Have I been doing more praising or cursing? What are ways that I can praise and encourage others more?
3. Is there a family member, a friend or colleague, to whom I may say some encouraging words? During this week, pray that God will help me to speak words of kindness and grace, and pray for one particular person with whom you find it difficult to speak with love.  As we pray for others, even ones whom we feel like we can’t love, God transforms our hearts to love them like He does.

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

雅各書 第二章14-26節

14 我的弟兄們，若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有甚麼益處呢？這信心能救他嗎？15 若是弟兄或是姊妹，赤身露體，又缺了日用的飲食；16 你們中間有人對他們說：「平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖，吃得飽」，卻不給他們身體所需用的，這有甚麼益處呢？17 這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。18 必有人說：「你有信心，我有行為；你將你沒有行為的信心指給我看，我便藉著我的行為，將我的信心指給你看。」19 你信　神只有一位，你信的不錯；鬼魔也信，卻是戰驚。20 虛浮的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？21 我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕把他兒子以撒獻在壇上，豈不是因行為稱義嗎？22 可見，信心是與他的行為並行，而且信心因著行為才得成全。23 這就應驗經上所說：「亞伯拉罕信神，這就算為他的義。」他又得稱為　神的朋友。24 這樣看來，人稱義是因著行為，不是單因著信。25 妓女喇合接待使者，又放他們從別的路上出去，不也是一樣因行為稱義嗎？26 身體沒有靈魂是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的。

 

默想

1. 我們的信心，正如雅各所說，是不能眼見的，但卻藉著我們的行為表明出來。雅各告訴我們信心與行為是相齊並進的，我們因為相信耶穌基督，因此對世界、自己並神的工作，有不同的看法。當我們與基督的關係日漸增長時，我們的看法及價值觀也就因此而改變，我們的舉止行為也就會越來越貼近神的心意。這樣，我們的行為就顯明我們對神的信心。
2. 信主以後，我的信心怎樣影響我對生命、關係、工作、教會的看法？我如何使用我的時間？神如何在我身上開始祂的陶造工作？我怎樣與其他信徒一同活出我們的信心來？

 

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。

 

James 2:14-26

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

 

Meditation

1. Faith is something that we cannot see but faith is made real and visible in our works. James tells us that faith and works go hand-in-hand; our faith in the person and gospel of Jesus Christ changes the way that we see the world, ourselves, and God’s work. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, our changed perspective and value system will cause us to behave closer to God’s way.  Thus, our actions reveal our faith in God.
2. How has my faith affected the way in which I view my life, relationships, work, the Church, how I spend my time, etc? How is God already at work around me?  How can I join others to live out my faith in actions?

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 第一章 1-11節

1作神和主耶穌基督僕人的雅各請散住十二個支派之人的安。2我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；3因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。4但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。5你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的神，主就必賜給他。6只要憑著信心求，一點不疑惑；因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被風吹動翻騰。7這樣的人不要想從主那裏得甚麼。8心懷二意的人，在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見。9卑微的弟兄升高，就該喜樂；10富足的降卑，也該如此；因為他必要過去，如同草上的花一樣。11太陽出來，熱風颳起，草就枯乾，花也凋謝，美容就消沒了；那富足的人，在他所行的事上也要這樣衰殘。

 

默想

1. 人生必然會遇上各種考驗，我們若相信神，也就確信，即使我們遭遇愁煩，祂會藉著我們掙扎的過程來陶造我們，因為“信心經過試驗，就生忍耐”（3節），使我們更成熟，更能為主所用。當我們遭遇財務上、關係上、健康上，的種種困難時，這是我們最能夠專注並依賴神的時候。而當我們明白“我本軟弱主剛強”時，我們也就能夠充滿喜樂。
2. 回想我曾經遭遇的一個試煉，是什麼？當時我對神的信心承受怎樣的壓力？我從這經歷的當中得到什麼“智慧”？
3. 在現今這個崇尚財富的社會，9-11節對我有什麼意義？雅各教導我應當以那些事情為榮？

 

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。

 

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

 

Meditation

1. Life involves us in many kinds of testing; it is in God that the testing of our faith produces endurance and because of Him, we are able to grow mature.  When we experience difficult times—whether financially, relationally, or otherwise—those times are when we are most able to focus and be dependent on God. These times can be filled with joy when we realise that He is strong when we are weak.
2. Recalling a trial I have experienced, what pressures did it bring on my faith?  What “wisdom” did I gain through it?
3. In this wealth-chasing modern society, what do vv 9-11 mean to me?  What might James say I should “take pride in”?  Will I heed his teaching?  Why?

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第廿八章

23 他們和保羅約定了日子，就有許多人到他的寓處來。保羅從早到晚，對他們講論這事，證明神國的道，引摩西的律法和先知的書，以耶穌的事勸勉他們。 24 他所說的話，有信的，有不信的。 25 他們彼此不合，就散了；未散以先，保羅說了一句話，說：聖靈藉先知以賽亞向你們祖宗所說的話是不錯的。 26 他說：你去告訴這百姓說：你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得； 27 因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉著；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裡明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。 28 所以你們當知道，神這救恩，如今傳給外邦人，他們也必聽受。（有古卷在此有： 29 保羅說了這話，猶太人議論紛紛的就走了。） 30 保羅在自己所租的房子裡住了足足兩年。凡來見他的人，他全都接待， 31 放膽傳講神國的道，將主耶穌基督的事教導人，並沒有人禁止。

 

默想

1. 保羅有兩年在羅馬受到軟禁，凡來見他的人，他都接待。使徒行傳是從十字架轉成復活開始，之後有監禁，鞭打，殉道——不單是保羅，而是初期教會中許多信徒的經歷。他們遭遇公開的恐嚇，私下的勾結；還有更微妙的妥協——回歸猶太教的儀式，謹守舊有的規條。但雖經過這些，基督的福音還是傳出去了。雖有拘限，妥協，阻攔，拒絕，福音終由羅馬帝國傳向世界各處。
2. 使徒行傳最後留下的圖像就是：保羅開放自己，開放住所，接待所有來見他的人，向他們放膽傳講，沒有人禁止。他曾接受別人的接待，現在他也接待他人。而「神是不偏待人(10:34)」，因此神的使者亦當如此。
3. 禱告，求主幫助我對到我身邊來的人，慷慨、仁慈的接待他們。

 

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 28

²³They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:  ²⁶” ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”  ²⁷For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,  and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ ²⁸“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” ³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Meditation

1. Paul spent two years of imprisonment in Rome welcoming everyone who came to his house.  Acts began with a crucifixion turned into a resurrection.  There had been imprisonments, beatings, martyrdoms – not just for Paul but for many members of the early church.  There had been open threats and secret intrigues.  And there had been the more subtle danger of compromise – the pressure to be drawn back into Jewish ritual, absorbed into the old rule keeping.  Through it all, the gospel of Christ was spread to the world.  Every attempt to confine it, to compromise it, to muffle it, to reject it was finally ineffective.  It spread from the center of the world in Rome through the far reaches of the globe.
2. Acts closes with this image: Paul, opening his home and his heart, preaches boldly and without hindrance to all comers without.  As he has received hospitality, he offers it to “all who came to him.”  As “God shows no partiality” (10:34), God’s messengers must be similarly inclusive.
3. Pray that God will help me to offer hospitality to all who came to me and to show no partiality just as God does.

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第廿七章

13 這時，微微起了南風，他們以為得意，就起了錨，貼近克里特行去。 14 不多幾時，狂風從島上撲下來；那風名叫友拉革羅。 15 船被風抓住，敵不住風，我們就任風颳去。 16 貼著一個小島的背風岸奔行，那島名叫高大，在那裡僅僅收住了小船。 17 既然把小船拉上來，就用纜索捆綁船底，又恐怕在賽耳底沙灘上擱了淺，就落下篷來，任船飄去。 18 我們被風浪逼得甚急，第二天眾人就把貨物拋在海裡。 19 到第三天，他們又親手把船上的器具拋棄了。 20 太陽和星辰多日不顯露，又有狂風大浪催逼，我們得救的指望就都絕了。 21 眾人多日沒有吃甚麼，保羅就出來站在他們中間，說：眾位，你們本該聽我的話，不離開克里特，免得遭這樣的傷損破壞。 22 現在我還勸你們放心，你們的性命一個也不失喪，惟獨失喪這船。 23 因我所屬所事奉的神，他的使者昨夜站在我旁邊，說： 24 保羅，不要害怕，你必定站在凱撒面前，並且與你同船的人，神都賜給你了。 25 所以眾位可以放心，我信神他怎樣對我說：事情也要怎樣成就。 26 只是我們必要撞在一個島上。

 

默想

1. 「我們得救的指望就都絕了」（20節），雖然在這樣絕望的情況下，保羅卻滿有希望的勸勉大家，因有神的使者在夜晚向他顯現，向他保證他必會到羅馬，在凱撒面前受審；並告訴與他一起的每一位也將去到羅馬。他說「不要害怕……放心」（24-25節）神將攔阻他們認識神的事物撥開——無論是船、工作、及想到達羅馬的意願等，但保全他們的生命，為的是使他們能深刻認識創造風浪和海水的真神。
2. 神今天也一樣要得到我們。每一件我們認為是損失的遭遇，都可以成為發掘神在當中的機會，使我們了解生命的寶貴，在沒有慾望、自大、及貪心妨礙的情況下，使我們了解愛的寶貴。神的聲音不斷地在恐怖、災難和絕望中對我們說道：「不要害怕。。。放心」。
3. 將心中的害怕、無助告訴神，並在問題的當中，尋找神的同在，聆聽神對我說：「不要害怕……放心」。

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 27

¹³When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. ¹⁵The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. ¹⁷When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.  ²¹After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²²But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Meditation

1. In spite of the terrible conditions, Paul spoke hopefully that an angel of God had appeared to him in the night and assured him that he would arrive in Rome and stand trial before Caesar; and all who were with him would get there, too.  He said, “Don’t give up… take heart” (the Message vv24-25).  God would strip them of what had obscured their awareness of him – the ship, the job, and the mad rush to Rome.  But their lives would be preserved.
2. God is also out to get us.  Everything we consider a loss can be a chance to discover God at the center, to realize the preciousness of life itself, of love unencumbered by lust and pride and greed.  The Voice keeps arriving in the midst of terror, disaster and hopelessness: “Don’t give up… take heart.”
3. Tell God my fear and helplessness.  Find God in the midst of my problem and His presence.  Listen to Him telling me: “Don’t give up… take heart.”

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第廿六章

12 「那時，我領了祭司長的權柄和命令，往大馬士革去。13 王啊，我在路上，晌午的時候，看見從天發光，比日頭還亮，四面照著我並與我同行的人。14 我們都仆倒在地，我就聽見有聲音用希伯來話向我說：『掃羅！掃羅！為甚麼逼迫我？你用腳踢刺是難的！』 15 我說：『主啊，你是誰？』主說：『我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。16 你起來站著，我特意向你顯現，要派你作執事，作見證，將你所看見的事和我將要指示你的事證明出來。17 我也要救你脫離百姓和外邦人的手。
18 我差你到他們那裏去，要叫他們的眼睛得開，從黑暗中歸向光明，從撒但權下歸向　神；又因信我，得蒙赦罪，和一切成聖的人同得基業。』」

 

默想

1. 為什麼耶穌不直接說：「我是神的兒子，你完全錯了。趕快改過」？

雖然掃羅曾經殺害基督徒，耶穌還給掃羅工作，如果我是保羅，我會怎樣回應？這說明耶穌是怎樣的一位神？

想想看，保羅這時會怎樣禱告；那時他雙眼全盲，且由手下牽引著走。

1. 禱告：和耶穌有個類似保羅的對話。（填入適合我情況的字句）

首先，耶穌問我，「你為什麼……？」我會怎樣回答？

然後，耶穌告訴我祂是誰——是我忽略的一面：「我是耶穌，是你……」

最後，耶穌說，「起來——我有工作要你去做。」這會是什麼工作？我會如何回應？

1. 在今天一天的生活中，不斷地問耶穌：我對你還有什麼地方是忽略的？是我不明白或不能接受的？請指明給我看。

 

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 26

¹²“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’  ¹⁵“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’    ” ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. ¹⁷I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

 

Meditation

1. Why didn’t Jesus just say, “I’m the Son of God.  You got it all wrong. Change it”?

How would I respond to Jesus’ giving Saul a job to do even though he’s been murdering Christians?  What does this tell me about Jesus?

Consider what Paul might have prayed next; there he is, blind, with his underlings leading him to safety.

1. Prayer:  Have a conversation with Jesus similar to Paul’s. (Fill in the appropriate personal situation)

First, Jesus asks me, “Why are you…?”  How would I respond?

Next, Jesus tells me exactly who he is – a glimpse of him I have missed:   “I am Jesus the One you’re …”

Finally, Jesus says, “Up on your feet – I have a job for you.”  What is the job?  How would I respond?

1. Live today asking Jesus: Is there anything about you I’m missing out on?  That I don’t understand or accept?  Show me.

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

第廿五章

1 非斯都到了任，過了三天，就從凱撒利亞上耶路撒冷去。2 祭司長和猶太人的首領向他控告保羅， 3 又央告他，求他的情，將保羅提到耶路撒冷來，他們要在路上埋伏殺害他。4 非斯都卻回答說：「保羅押在凱撒利亞，我自己快要往那裡去。」 5 又說：「你們中間有權勢的人與我一同下去，那人若有甚麼不是，就可以告他。」 6 非斯都在他們那裡住了不過十天八天，就下凱撒利亞去。第二天坐堂，吩咐將保羅提上來。7 保羅來了，那些從耶路撒冷下來的猶太人周圍站著，將許多重大的事控告他，都是不能證實的。8 保羅分訴說：「無論猶太人的律法、或是聖殿、或是凱撒，我都沒有干犯。」 9 但非斯都要討猶太人的喜歡，就問保羅說：「你願意上耶路撒冷去，在那裡聽我審斷這事嗎？」10 保羅說：「我站在凱撒的堂前，這就是我應當受審的地方。我向猶太人並沒有行過甚麼不義的事，這也是你明明知道的。11 我若行了不義的事，犯了甚麼該死的罪，就是死，我也不辭！他們所告我的事若都不實，就沒有人可以把我交給他們。我要上告於凱撒。」 12 非斯都和議會商量了，就說：「你既上告於凱撒，可以往凱撒那裡去。」

 

默想                     

1. 保羅守住了他羅馬人、猶太人、基督徒的身份，他竭力的為主盡上基督徒的本份，卻沒有因此不顧他身為羅馬人、猶太人的身份；他遵守羅馬的法律，也沒有干犯污穢聖殿，所以非斯都和亞基帕王根據羅馬法律，證明他是無罪的。
2. 每個人在這世界上，有好幾種身份，一個國家的國民、公司或學校的成員、你朋友的朋友（不管是教會中還是沒有信主的朋友）、家中的一分子。每個角色都有權利和義務。在我諸多的身份中，我是否盡力地守住？
3. 求聖靈光照，讓我看見有什麼地方需要改善的？並懇求神賜力量。

 

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 25

¹Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ²where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. ³They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. ⁵Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong.”  ⁶After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. ⁷When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.  ⁸Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”  ⁹Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”  ¹⁰Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”  ¹²After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

 

Meditation

1. Paul has kept his identity as a Roman, a Jew, and a Christian.  He diligently laboured for the Lord, he obeyed the Roman’s law, and he didn’t defy the Temple.  Therefore, Festus and King Agrippa knew he was innocent.
2. Everyone has different identities, a citizen of a country, an employee of a company, a student of a school, a friend to someone, a member of a family.   How am I keeping my various identities?  In trying to maintain one identity, am I overlooking the others?  Who am I at the core of my identity?
3. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show me where I need to change and improve.  Ask God for the needed strength.

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

「耶和華以智慧奠定大地，以聰明堅立高天。…我兒，要謹守大智慧和明辨的態度，不可讓它們離開你的眼目。這樣，它們就必作你的生命，作你頸上的華飾。你就可以安然走路，你的腳必不致絆倒。」 [箴3:19~23]

星期日: 為今天崇拜中的領受禱告「我成長」

• 為今日葉牧師的信息感謝，為自己的得著禱告。
• 求神幫助自己在本週，能夠在五日中，每天抽出15分鐘來閱讀260，並默想禱告，經歷神的同在。

星期一: 為萬民堂禱告「我相愛」

• 為萬民堂計劃自立事宜禱告，求主賜恩，使得申請手續順利進行，並賜全教會信徒同心一致，實際做到 “我成長，我相愛，我傳揚”。
• 為教會中無論是幼稚園，小學，中學，大學的學生禱告，在即將開學之際，求主祝福每一位學生及家長，在新學期中，認真學習，友愛同學，活出主門徒的見證，並積極在同學，及家長中傳福音。
• 九月是新學年的開始，為教會中各個年齡的學生禱告，求主祝福每一位學生及家長，在新學期中，認真學習，友愛同學，活出主門徒的見證，並積極在同學，及家長中傳福音。特別為將離家就讀大學的學生，很快能適應學校生活，並保持與主親密的關係。

星期二: 為未信主的親友鄰居禱告「我傳揚」

• 求主提醒每一位信徒，持續為仍未信主的家人、朋友的得救禱告；並接受裝備，把握機會為主作見證。特別在小組聚會中經常為Oikos禱告，仰望等候神拯救的工作。

星期三: 為教會肢體禱告「我相愛」

• 為今年神賜給教會一些弟兄姐妹家庭增添的新成員而感謝。並為目前懷孕，將要生產的家庭禱告，“常存信心、愛心，又聖潔自守”（提前2：15），得蒙神的祝福。
• 為最近肢體中有家人去世的，求主繼續安慰，保守。
• 為身體有疾病軟弱的，求主施恩，在病患中減少痛苦，並且身、心、靈均獲得完全的醫治。

星期四: 為細胞小組及牧區禱告「我相愛」

• Hingstone 初職青年區的退修會，求主攔阻撒但的攪擾，讓聖靈通暢地在大家的心中作工，使年輕弟兄姐妹靈命得到復興，慕道友決志信主。

星期五: 為本地、世界及遠方的宣教士禱告「我傳揚」

• 為東非飢荒禱告：求神憐憫受東非大旱影響的人民，並賜下恩雨，使旱情得以舒緩。在糧食嚴重短缺的情況下，求主保守救援工作人員的安全。

星期六: 為教會牧者和明天崇拜/主日學禱告「我成長」

• 為明天蕭牧師的信息禱告，並賜福諸位主日學老師，能以神的愛與智慧教導眾人。

第廿四章

10 巡撫點頭叫保羅說話。他就說：「我知道你在這國裡斷事多年，所以我樂意為自己分訴。」

22 腓力斯本是詳細曉得這道，就支吾他們說：「且等千夫長呂西亞下來，我要審斷你們的事。」 23 於是吩咐百夫長看守保羅，並且寬待他，也不攔阻他的親友來供給他。24 過了幾天，腓力斯和他夫人、猶太的女子土西拉一同來到，就叫了保羅來，聽他講論信基督耶穌的道。25 保羅講論公義、節制和將來的審判。腓力斯甚覺恐懼，說：「你暫且去吧！等我得便再叫你來。」26 腓力斯又指望保羅送他銀錢，所以屢次叫他來，和他談論。27 過了兩年，波求非斯都接了腓力斯的任。腓力斯要討猶太人的喜歡，就留保羅在監裡。

 

默想                     

1. 本章似乎對保羅來說是個失敗，他在羅馬巡撫腓力斯面前作了場強而有力的辯護，指出大祭司的控訴錯漏百出。但腓力斯舉棋不定，拒絕裁定本案。保羅因此被拘留有兩年之久。腓力斯因希望保羅行賄，偶而召見作為聽審。看起來，保羅是一敗塗地。
2. 但事實上卻是成功！因為保羅，以及福音都被傳講出來了。我們不應期望在世人當中極受歡迎，或是絕大部分的人會立刻悔改信主，但至少，我們需要有機會來傳講福音給人聽。
3. 跟進第廿二章的第四個默想問題，有沒有機會向一個人分享我得救的故事？那人肯聽嗎？他肯接受嗎？我從這個經驗學習到什麼？

 

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 24

¹⁰When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.

²²Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” ²³He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.  ²⁴Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁶At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.  ²⁷When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Meditation

1. This chapter seems to be a defeat for Paul.  He made a compelling defense before the Roman Governor Felix, and showed how weak the chief priest’s case against him was.  But Felix waffled, and refused to decide the case.  Paul was put under house arrest, and kept there for two years.  Felix only talked to Paul from time to time in the hope of a bribe.  It looked like failure.
2. But in fact it was success!  For Paul, and the Gospel, had a hearing.  We shouldn’t expect to be popular, or that the majority of folks will experience instant conversion.  But at least we must have a chance to be heard.
3. To follow up on #4 of Ch 22’s meditation; was there an opportunity for me to share my story with someone?  Did I have a hearing?  How was it received?  What did I learn from this experience?

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

 

 

第廿三章

1 保羅定睛看著公會的人，說：「弟兄們，我在　神面前行事為人都是憑著良心，直到今日。」2 大祭司亞拿尼亞就吩咐旁邊站著的人打他的嘴。3 保羅對他說：「你這粉飾的牆，　神要打你！你坐堂為的是按律法審問我，你竟違背律法，吩咐人打我嗎？」 4 站在旁邊的人說：「你辱罵　神的大祭司嗎？」 5 保羅說：「弟兄們，我不曉得他是大祭司。經上記著說：『不可毀謗你百姓的官長。』」 6 保羅看出大眾一半是撒都該人，一半是法利賽人，就在公會中大聲說：「弟兄們，我是法利賽人，也是法利賽人的子孫。我現在受審問，是為盼望死人復活。」 7 說了這話，法利賽人和撒都該人就爭論起來，會眾分為兩黨。8 因為撒都該人說沒有復活，也沒有天使和鬼魂；法利賽人卻說兩樣都有， 9 於是大大地喧嚷起來。有幾個法利賽黨的文士站起來爭辯說：「我們看不出這人有甚麼惡處，倘若有鬼魂或是天使對他說過話，怎麼樣呢？」 10 那時大起爭吵，千夫長恐怕保羅被他們扯碎了，就吩咐兵丁下去，把他從眾人當中搶出來，帶進營樓去。11 當夜，主站在保羅旁邊說：「放心吧！你怎樣在耶路撒冷為我作見證，也必怎樣在羅馬為我作見證。」

 

默想

1. 為什麼大祭司對保羅這麼粗魯（參21：21，28）？保羅如何表明他遵守猶太人的律法（1-5節）？
2. 之後保羅將論證的焦點從他是否遵守律法，轉向他對復活的盼望。由於法利賽人與撒督該人在此論點上的爭執，當時公會聽證堂裡很可能會演變成什麼情況？這對保羅的案件有何影響（7-10節）？
3. 神上次對保羅說話是18章9-10節，在他經歷一連串的挫折後。這時11節神再次向他說話，對他有何意義？如何會讓他想起神對亞拿尼亞說的話（9:15-16）？
4. 回想一次神與我特別親近的經歷。是什麼令我有這種神同在的感覺？這對我有什麼影響？

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 23

¹Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” ²At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”  ⁴Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”  ⁵Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'”  ⁶Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)  ⁹There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Meditation

1. Why would the high priest react so violently to Paul’s statement in v1 (see 21:21, 28)?  Why and how does Paul show his respect for the Jewish Law (vv1-5)?
2. Paul then changed the focus of attention from whether he has kept the law to his hope in the resurrection.  Given the tension on this issue between the Pharisees and Sadducees, what must the next few minutes of the assembly have been like?  What effect does the split have on Paul’s cases (vv7-10)?
3. The last time God spoke to Paul was in 18:9-10, after he had experienced a series of setbacks.  How would the Lord’s message here (v11) help Paul again?  How might this help Paul remember what the Lord said about him to Ananias in 9:15-16?
4. Describe a time when I felt the Lord especially near to me.  What circumstances caused this sense of the Lord’s presence?  What were the impacts on me?

 

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 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.