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以西结书 第十七章(英文)

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Ezekiel 17 talks about how God will save Israel and raise Israel up, while God will bring Babylon down. The last verse:

24 And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, have brought down the high tree and exalted the low tree, dried up the green tree and made the dry tree flourish; I, the Lord, have spoken and have done it.

reminds me of another verse:

James 4

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:

“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

which also relates to this verse:

Proverbs 16

18 Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before [f]a fall.

19 Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,

Than to divide the [g]spoil with the proud.

These verses show us that God delights in humility and will exalt the lowly, but those who are proud will be humbled by their fall, or perhaps by God. We can see that being proud is not an admirable quality to have and God also resists the proud, hence there is no reason to be proud. However, as humans, it can happen that we become proud due to different reasons, and these reasons point to our bruised inner world and how we are comparing ourselves to others, or exalting our own selves. Comparison with others also means one is judging them, and when one thinks of oneself as better than others, it is like this verse says:

Matthew 7

3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

Being blind to one's own weaknesses, one cannot even see others clearly.

Matthew 7

4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

When the plank is removed and one’s vision is restored, one can see the beauty in others and their strengths.

Therefore, this chapter reminds us of lowliness and humility in our lives.

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我是否可以到任何教会去?

我是否可以到任何教会去?

今天,基督教界中有众多教派,而这些教会也与使徒时代当时所设立的教会大为不同。各教派对于圣经的解释各有其说。对于大部分基督徒而言,这些分歧并不重要。这是因为他们认为所有的教会,都是基督身体的一份子。因此,他们相信只要成为了基督徒,就可以得救。曾经有一回,我邀请了一位基督徒朋友到教会来。他不解地跟我说,“但是。。。我。。我已有去教会,你怎么不去邀请其他非基督徒呢?” 真的说我们一旦成为基督徒,无论到哪一个教会去都能够得救吗? 所有的教会真的都是基督身体的一份子吗?一些基督徒就持有这种观点。因此他们认为无论到哪个教会去都无妨。 “又 将 万 有 服 在 他 的 脚 下 , 使 他 为 教 会 作 万 有 之 首 。教 会 是 他 的 身 体 , 是 那 充 满 万 有 者 所 充 满 的 。” 弗一22-23 “他 也 是 教 会 全 体 之 首 。 他 是 元 始 , 是 从 死 里 首 先 复 生 的 , 使 他 可 以 在 凡 事 上 居 首 位 。” 歌一18 教会是基督的身体,而基督为教会的元首 - 这是圣经中教导的概念。圣经也进一步记载到: “身 体 只 有 一 个 , 圣 灵 只 有 一 个 , 正 如 你 们 蒙 召 同 有 一 个 指 望 。一 主 , 一 信 , 一 洗 ,一 神 , 就 是 众 人 的 父 , 超 乎 众 人 之 上 , 贯 乎 众 人 之 中 , 也 住 在 众 人 之 内 。” 弗四4-6 这些章节清楚记载只有一体、一主、一信、一洗、一神。但这是否是今天所有基督教所相信的呢? 我们是否能够说我们今天只有一个洗礼?不同的教会对于洗礼的教导各有其说。一些教会赞成婴儿洗礼,一些却反对。而每个教会对于进行洗礼的方式,还有洗礼是否与得救有关,看法也有所分歧。这是否还可被称为在基督身体里的“一洗”? 这就让我们来到圣灵的议题。在五旬节那天,神藉着圣灵的能力设立了教会(使二)。在使徒行传,我们也清楚看到圣灵如何带领使徒们(使十六6)。主耶稣曾说,圣灵就是真理的灵: “只等真理的圣灵来了,他要引导你们明白一切的真理,因为他不是凭自己说的,乃是把他所听见的都说出来,并要把将来的事告诉你们。” 约十六13 若所有的教会都是由同一个圣灵所带领并设立,那又怎么会有那么多不同版本的“真理”? 就如之前所提,不同的教会对洗礼有不同的见解。其他不同之处包括对说方言的解释。一些教会说方言,一些教会不说方言。不说方言的教会声称如今已没有说方言之事。一些教会在安息日聚会,并把该日守为圣日。而大部分的教会则在星期日聚会,并声称在安息日崇拜并不重要。这些相互矛盾的讯息难道都是来自同一个圣灵,来自真理的灵吗? 这就让我们来到下一点:一信。若我们在教义上有那么多不同之处,我们是否还可以说我们是一信的呢? 一些基督徒争辩说我们确实是一信的。因为我们相信同一位赏赐救恩给我们的主耶稣。所以,这些在教义上的差异并不重要。而很多人都引用这为理由,认为既然如此,那自己到哪一个教会去崇拜都无所谓。他们也常引用以下的章节为依据: “神爱世人,甚至将他的独生子赐给他们,叫一切信他的不致灭亡,反得永生。” 约三16 没错,圣经确实有记载信耶稣可以得救。但我们是否因此就否认圣经中其他的记载?难道圣经对于得救之事,就只有这个记载吗?耶稣在马可福音十六16不也说了,人必须受洗才可得救吗?难道就因为双方都信耶稣基督,即使一方相信得救必须受洗,另一方相信得救不需要受洗,我们都认为双方是出于一信的吗? 当加拉太人被迫要遵守犹太律法,包括行割礼,保罗特别警告他们要持守纯正的话语。从此,我们就可以看出保罗多看重福音的独一性。 我稀奇你们这么快离开那借着基督之恩召你们的,去从别的福音。 那并不是福音,不过有些人搅扰你们,要把基督的福音更改了。 但无论是我们,是天上来的使者,若传福音给你们,与我们所传给你们的不同,他就应当被咒诅。 我们已经说了,现在又说:若有人传福音给你们,与你们所领受的不同,他就应当被咒诅! 加一6-9 我们来看看主耶稣曾说过的话。这也许会让一些人觉得很震惊: 凡称呼我‘主啊,主啊’的人不能都进天国,唯独遵行我天父旨意的人才能进去。 当那日,必有许多人对我说:‘主啊,主啊,我们不是奉你的名传道,奉你的名赶鬼,奉你的名行许多异能吗?’ 我就明明地告诉他们说:‘我从来不认识你们。你们这些作恶的人,离开我去吧!’ 太七21-23 我们从这里可以看到虽然有些人已信主,但主耶稣却不拯救他们!若我们真相信耶稣在此所说的,我们就能清楚意识到,一个人并非相信耶稣、承认耶稣,就可以得救。 若我们说我们信耶稣,却不信祂所说的,比如,祂对于洗礼得救的教导,那我们是否真正相信了祂? 这就让我们来到最后一点:一体。若所有的教会都是圣灵所设立,那就不会有那么多不同版本的教义。这些不同的信仰,不可能都被视为一信,被统称为“相信耶稣基督”。如保罗所说,只有一个福音。只有一个完整的真理让人得救。若耶稣在圣经中只教导了我们一个有关得救的讯息,这个讯息岂不应该是由圣灵所启示,而不是按人意来解释吗? 而教会所扮演的角色则是要持守这个真理!如保罗所说写到: “ 假如我来迟了,你也可以知道在 神的家里应该怎样行。这家就是永活 神的教会、真理的柱石和根基。” 提前三15 教会是真理的柱石和根基。换句话说,教会是有责任持守真理的。若这些教会根本没有真理,那他们又怎么能被称为圣经中神的教会,基督的身体? 如以弗所书四章所记载,只有一信和一体。这意味着只有一个教会具有全备、拯救人的真理。若你到一个没有全备、让人得救真理的教会,一个不真正属基督身体的教会,你认为自己可以得救吗? 今天,真耶稣教会相信我们是神的独一真教会。我们所传的是全备的真理,是使徒们在圣经中所传讲的真理。真耶稣教会相信洗礼、洗脚礼和圣餐礼都是要得救,必行的圣礼。我们也守安息日,并相信领受圣灵即说方言,是得救的必备条件。而这些教义的相关章节,都记载在圣经中。而且也是圣经中,使徒们所信奉的同样的信仰。我们将不会在此文章中,详细阐述说这些教义。但您若有兴趣了解得救的真理,敬请与我们联系。

但以理书 第五章(英文)

但以理书 第五章(英文)

We see James 4:6 coming to pass in this chapter, through the end of Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans and Daniel being made the third ruler in the kingdom. "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”" James 4:6 V4 they did the wrong thing V7 they brought in ‘the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers’. They either did not know or did not care that they should not be turning to these men to find answers. As many secular beliefs become more prevalent through the media in this day and age, we must guard our heart against these beliefs as they may corrupt our faith. In our lives today, we also should not turn to such men to find answers in our lives. "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23 V11 & 13 the fact that they still sought counsel from Daniel, someone guided by God, is interesting, because it seemed unexpected for them, given that they turned to ‘the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers’. Let us rely on God through prayer and reading the Bible to find God’s will for our lives. It can also be through people God has placed in our lives, to remind us and nudge us in a certain direction. V17 Daniel did not accept the gifts. He still interpreted the writing, and was not in it for the benefits, but did so with genuineness and a humble heart, for the glory of God, and not for his own praise or glory. V29 by relying on God to interpret the inscription, he was made third ruler in the kingdom. V19 Nebuchadnezzar also took advantage of the power he was given and ‘Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down’. V20-21 God resists the proud and Nebuchadnezzar faced a downfall ‘till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.’ "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”" James 4:6 We must humble our hearts, especially since we know God and His Word. V23 they praised the gods but did not glorify God Is it the same with us today? That we know God is the One ‘who holds our breath in His hand and owns all [our] ways’ yet we have not glorified Him? Do we give praise to other things (e.g. hard work) and people in the face of success? They used what belongs to God to praise the gods of silver and gold. Do we also use what God has given us to praise other things and people? We must remember to give glory to God because God has given and provided us with these. Even what may seem like ours (e.g. our hard work) only exists because God gives us the strength and the days to achieve these things. We merely live on borrowed time, and we are but dust. "For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting On those who fear Him, And His righteousness to children’s children," Psalms 103:14-17 Every day we are given to live is a blessing. We should also not misuse our roles to oppress others. V25 the meaning of the inscription came to pass V27 ‘weighed in the balances, and found wanting’ could mean that Belshazzar’s life was wanted and would be taken away soon. We see that his soul was required of him that night. "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”" Luke 12:20-21 God’s Word will come to pass. We see that V28 also came true in V31. V28 the kingdom was given to Medes and Persians V31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom. It indeed came true. God’s Word coming to pass can be something we are fearful or hopeful about. It depends how prepared we are. Since God’s Word will come to pass, let us prepare ourselves so that we will remain hopeful for what is to come with faith and not fear.

以西结书 第四十和四十一章(英文)

以西结书 第四十和四十一章(英文)

From Chapter 40, it marks the start of the vision shown to Ezekiel of a new temple that is to be built in Jerusalem. Did your eyes glaze over as you read the 2 chapters?   Imagine you were Ezekiel and you were told to pay close attention to everything that he was being shown and then go and tell the people everything he had seen.   4 And the man said to me, “Son of man, look with your eyes and hear with your ears, and fix your mind on everything I show you; for you were brought here so that I might show them to you. Declare to the house of Israel everything you see.”  ~ Ezekiel 40:4 ~ What follows is Ezekiel being first led to see the Eastern Gateway of the Temple, then the Outer Court, Northern and Southern Gateway to the Temple, Gateways to the Inner Courts, where the sacrifices were made, the chambers for the priests and singers.  And then, very careful recordings of the dimensions of the different parts of the temple were specified and recorded down. Why do you think this was done? Being a person who is not very detail oriented, I cannot quite understand the need for all the exact measurements to be spelled out.  What’s wrong if the measurements are out by an inch or two? Then it struck me.  God cares for His people so much that He does not want to leave any stone unturned for His people.  In our daily lives many things happen - big or small.  Some are blessings and some are trials.  Some are good things, some are bad.  God is interested in us, His People.  Even to the most minute detail! And He has given us specific instructions in His Holy Word for many areas of our life.  The question is, do our eyes glaze over the Words from the Bible.  Or do we, like Ezekiel, listen carefully and then tell it to others? Last night I had a dream and in that dream, I had a very big pain in my leg and could not figure it out.  And for some reason, a Deacon of the church was examining me as if he was a doctor.  And then after he diagnose that there was some issue with my leg (could not remember what was said), his conclusion was this… “This is why you need to get better and after that, go out and preach the Gospel!” Tears welled up as I recall this and am writing this now.   Was this a rebuke?  Areminder?  A warning?  An admonishment?  An encouragement? God through His infinite wisdom. Mercy and grace has given us all the details (truth) of Salvation. Should we not go and tell others about it so that they also know of it? And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ~ Mark 16:15-16 ~ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ~ Romans 1:16 ~ Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ~ 2 Timothy 4:2 ~ May we be interested in all the little details that God reveals to us and after listening carefully to it, tell it to others as well.

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我们是真耶稣教会,一间建立在耶稣与使徒们的教导上的全球性非宗派教会。藉由圣灵创立,我们的使命是把全备的救恩真理传向地极/世界尽头。

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