And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. Matthew 24:12
In the end times, the greatest hindrance to the work of God among believers will not be the legalism of contemporary religious Pharisees. Jesus says that the one weapon Satan will unleash upon the Church in the last days is lawlessness. It is designed to kill the love and passion Christians have for God. In fact, the Antichrist is called the “lawless one” (2 Thess. 2:8-9).
The concept of lawlessness is encapsulated in a heretical belief system called antinomianism. The Oxford Dictionary defi nes antinomianism as “a belief that Christians are released by grace from obeying moral laws.” Antinomians outrightly renounce the Ten Commandments.
They reject the process of continuing sanctifi cation in a believer’s life. One of the greatest heroes of faith of the 20th century was Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945). He was a German theologian, pastor, preacher, radio broadcaster and author. Bonhoeffer’s most famous work is The Cost of Discipleship, fi rst published in 1939. This work is an exposition of The Sermon on the Mount and it calls for radical living if a Christian is to be an authentic disciple of Christ.
Bonhoeffer’s major concern was the concept of “cheap grace,” a phrase he coined. To him, this is grace that has become so watered down that it no longer resembles the grace of the New Testament. Cheap grace doesn’t transform a sinner but instead brings chaos and destruction to his
life. It is the justifi cation of the sinner without the fruit and works that should accompany the new birth.
Bonhoeffer says of cheap grace: “It is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
Cheap grace arises when a sinner desires to be saved but doesn’t want to become a disciple. Can you remember your fi rst conviction at the moment of your conversion? Can you recall your first response to Christ? It was to see a change, wasn’t it? You longed to have righteousness, purity and holiness in your life. If you wanted to remain in sin, you would have remained as an unbeliever and stayed outside the bounds of God’s kingdom. Resist antinomianism today. Warn those who are seduced by it. Don’t ever lose your first love for Jesus.
2010年1月8日星期五
2010年1月6日星期三
Humility
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12
God promises to dwell “with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble” (Is. 57:15). A key determining factor for personal revival is humility.
Pride is seeking independence from God. The result of pride is always rebellion, disaster, grief and sorrow.
In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus talks about a certain rich man who arrogantly boasted, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink and be merry.’” Do you notice how many times this rich man said “I” and “my”?
In a certain sense, he was probably a good man. He must have been sensible, respectable, smart, prudent and a good manager. Just look at the crops he harvested! In our contemporary world, he could well be a churchgoer, an elder or even a benefactor sitting on the finance committee. Yet, Jesus called him a “fool.” And the essence of his foolishness was that he acted as if he were independent from God. God was never in the equation of his balance sheet.
That rich man didn’t take into account that he depended on God for his daily breath. That he depended on God for seed to bring forth a harvest. That he depended on God for his health and strength. And basically, for everything in his life! He was a fool because he didn’t see his dependance on God and he didn’t acknowledge God. The root of his sin was pride.
You need to remember today that your life is dependant on God. The key to continual personal revival is humility. The usual danger of God blessing a Christian is that the person becomes lifted up by the boastful pride of life. Make a decision not to be proud today!
2010年1月5日星期二
Spiritual Legacy
Now Amram took for himself Jochebed, his father’s sister, as wife; and she bore him Aaron and Moses. And the years of the life of Amram were one hundred and thirty-seven. Exodus 6:20
Genesis teaches us that everything produces after its kind. An apple tree produces apples. An orange tree produces oranges. This is the irrevocable law of creation. Jesus takes it further when He says that you can know the quality of a tree by the fruit it produces (Matt. 7:20). The fruit depends on the stock it came from.
Moses came from a lineage of priests. Moses’ father, Amram, was the son of Kohath, who was the son of Levi (Ex. 6:16,18). They were all Levites. They were all priests unto the Lord. Our spiritual fervency and passion for God can be passed from one generation to the next. Another interesting thing is the spiritual progression in Moses’ family. Miriam and Aaron were Moses’ older sister and brother. Miriam was a prophetess. Aaron was a prophet and a high priest. But Moses was the greatest of all. He became “as God” to Pharaoh (Ex. 4:16). Herein lies an observation: the parents’ spiritual state while parenting the child determines the spiritual state of the child. As the parents make progress in their spiritual lives, the children benefit.
As Amram and Jochebed progressed spiritually, their children became greater and greater in stature. Max Jukes lived in New York. He neither believed in Jesus Christ nor allowed his children to go to church, even when they wanted to. Max Jukes ended up with 1,026 descendants, of which 300 were sent to prison for an average term of 13 years, 190 were public prostitutes and 680 were admitted alcoholics. Jukes’ family, so far, cost the US Government more than half a million dollars to rehabilitate. They have made no contribution to society.
Jonathan Edwards also lived in New York at the same time as Jukes. He loved the house of God and saw that his children were in church every Sunday. Jonathan Edwards ended up with 929 descendants. Of these, 430 were ministers, 86 became university professors, 13 became university presidents, 75 became best-selling authors, fi ve were elected to the United States Congress, two were elected to the Senate and one became the Vice President of America. Edwards’ family never cost the state one single cent but contributed immensely to their society. Your walk with God and love for His house play an important role in the spiritual legacy you leave behind for your children.
Genesis teaches us that everything produces after its kind. An apple tree produces apples. An orange tree produces oranges. This is the irrevocable law of creation. Jesus takes it further when He says that you can know the quality of a tree by the fruit it produces (Matt. 7:20). The fruit depends on the stock it came from.
Moses came from a lineage of priests. Moses’ father, Amram, was the son of Kohath, who was the son of Levi (Ex. 6:16,18). They were all Levites. They were all priests unto the Lord. Our spiritual fervency and passion for God can be passed from one generation to the next. Another interesting thing is the spiritual progression in Moses’ family. Miriam and Aaron were Moses’ older sister and brother. Miriam was a prophetess. Aaron was a prophet and a high priest. But Moses was the greatest of all. He became “as God” to Pharaoh (Ex. 4:16). Herein lies an observation: the parents’ spiritual state while parenting the child determines the spiritual state of the child. As the parents make progress in their spiritual lives, the children benefit.
As Amram and Jochebed progressed spiritually, their children became greater and greater in stature. Max Jukes lived in New York. He neither believed in Jesus Christ nor allowed his children to go to church, even when they wanted to. Max Jukes ended up with 1,026 descendants, of which 300 were sent to prison for an average term of 13 years, 190 were public prostitutes and 680 were admitted alcoholics. Jukes’ family, so far, cost the US Government more than half a million dollars to rehabilitate. They have made no contribution to society.
Jonathan Edwards also lived in New York at the same time as Jukes. He loved the house of God and saw that his children were in church every Sunday. Jonathan Edwards ended up with 929 descendants. Of these, 430 were ministers, 86 became university professors, 13 became university presidents, 75 became best-selling authors, fi ve were elected to the United States Congress, two were elected to the Senate and one became the Vice President of America. Edwards’ family never cost the state one single cent but contributed immensely to their society. Your walk with God and love for His house play an important role in the spiritual legacy you leave behind for your children.
2010年1月3日星期日
Found Faithful
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. Exodus 3:1
Whenever God does a mighty work in a generation, He raises up people to whom He gives wisdom, faith and the Holy Spirit. The Book of Exodus is really centered upon one such chosen vessel, Moses, the great deliverer. He led his generation out of the bondage of Egypt into their inheritance, the land God had promised to Abraham and his seed.
Moses’ life can be divided into three parts:
(1) The first 40 years in Egypt, when he thought he was a somebody;
(2) the next 40 years at the back of the desert, when he realized he was a nobody; and
(3) the final 40 years as a deliverer, when he learned that God could take a nobody and turn him into a somebody. To become the person God uses, you must be willing to go through God’s process. As you learn to humble yourself, allow your pride to be broken by God’s dealings and let Him shape and mold you into a “Moses: to your generation. “Many are called, but few chosen: (Matt. 20:16). It is one thing to be called of God, it is quite another to be chosen by God. But Revelation 17:14 says, “Those who are with [the Lamb] are called, chosen, and faithful.: Moses wasn’t just called and chosen by God, he was found faithful in everything he did for the Lord in His house (Heb. 3:2).
Similarly, there will be three distinct divisions in your life. You must have the call of God. Then there will be a preparation period. If you pass that preparation period, there will come a time when God will choose you and put you into a ministry. But for that ministry to flourish and bear great fruit, you must be found faithful in serving God in His church.
2010年1月1日星期五
Repentence
“They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’” Zechariah 13:9
Zechariah was prophesying about the coming of the Messiah, the One who was pierced. It is amazing how Jesus was sentenced to die by crucifixion even though the Jewish law required Him to be stoned. And when He was crucified, the Roman soldier, though ignorant of the prophecy, pierced him with his spear. The prophecy was fulfilled right down to the very last detail. Jesus Himself testified that every prophecy in the Old Testament would be fulfilled: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matt. 5:17).
Just as the prophecy of Jesus’ death was fulfilled, the conversion of the Jews promised in this same verse will come to pass. Though the Jewish people were guilty of Jesus’ death, the day will come when they will repent and believe on Him. In Zechariah 12:10, it reveals the way this repentance will come to the Jewish people. This is also the same way we experience repentance.
1) Repentance is the work of the Holy Spirit. “I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication.” “And when He [the Holy Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8). Repentance is not produced by our conscience, by terror, or by the persuasion of men. It comes as a gift of grace. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8).
2) Repentance comes by looking to Jesus. “Then they will look on Me whom they pierced.” As we gaze at the holiness and purity of Jesus, we will realize how terrible a sinner we are. When we look at the cross of Calvary, we see the horrible hatred that sin bears toward purity, because it slew an innocent Man, the Holy Son of God. We will realize such is the terrible guilt of our sin that nothing but death can atone for it. Jesus became that sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sin.
3) Repentance is a deep godly sorrow. “They will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son.” The effect of us looking to Christ is that it makes us mourn in sorrow for the condition of our heart. Paul said that “godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted” (2 Cor. 7:10). This was what happened on the Day of Pentecost, when Peter preached to the multitude. When the people heard the message, those who had a hand in “piercing the Messiah” were cut to the heart, and cried out, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). As a result, there was great repentance.
2009年12月31日星期四
The Day Of The Lord
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” Malachi 4:5
Today you will read the last of the 929 chapters, 23,214 verses in the Old Testament. Congratulations! You’ve reached a significant milestone in your Christian walk … you’ve read through the entire Bible!
Malachi the prophet and Nehemiah the builder were contemporaries, and the problems Nehemiah faced became the basis for the sermons Malachi preached. Years after the restoration from exile, the spiritual condition of God’s people had deteriorated. Again they lapsed into the same sins that brought about their captivity and exile to Babylon. They tithed sporadically, ignored the Sabbath, and intermarried with unbelievers. Their hearts had grown hard and their love for God had grown cold.
Malachi came to remind the people of God’s love for them. Using a question-andanswer approach, Malachi probed deeply into their problems of hypocrisy, infidelity, divorce, false worship and arrogance. For 400 years after Malachi’s ringing condemnations, God was silent. Malachi’s final warning was about the Day of the Lord (Mal. 4:5). The Day of the Lord is a common theme of the prophets. That day signifies the final judgment of God on the earth and the eventual time of blessing and peace. It’s not a literal 24-hour day, but a culmination of God’s plan—including the return of Christ, the final judgments, and the end of history as we know it.
Both aspects—judgment and salvation, punishment and peace—are contained in the Day of the Lord. The Bible says that those who desire the Lord’s coming must know that He requires clean hands and a pure heart (Ps. 24:3-4). The Day of the Lord may be frightening to some, but for the believer who loves God, it’s a day of great rejoicing.
In 2 Timothy 4:8, Paul says, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” As Christians, we should be longing for the Day of the Lord to come. Jesus says, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:12). Are you ready for the Day of the Lord? Jesus may not return tomorrow, but we should live our lives as if He is. We must seize every moment of our lives and make it count for the Lord.
As Malachi brings down the curtain on Old Testament prophecy, God’s silence is broken in the New Testament with John the Baptist declaring, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 3:2)! On this last day of the year, search your heart before the Lord to see if there are any areas that you need to repent from. Rededicate your life to Jesus, so that He may continue to use you greatly in the days to come!
2009年12月3日星期四
The Glory Of God
The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple. Ezekiel 43:5
After Ezekiel had patiently surveyed the temple of God, the Spirit of God lifted him up and brought him into the inner court. Though the temple was very big and magnificent, it was not until the glory of God was manifested that it truly became the holy temple of the Lord.
What is the glory of God? The glory of God is the intrinsic value of who He is. It is His radiance, the brightness of His light and beauty, and the honor that is due to Him. The idols of the heathens have no glory because they owe what you see on them to the goldsmith or the painter. There are two things which Ezekiel observed in this appearance of the glory of God:
1) The power of His Word which he heard. “His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory” (Ezek. 43:2). It could be heard from afar and it made an unforgettable impression on Ezekiel. In the book of Revelation, His voice was like the sound of many waters and the voice of loud thunder (Rev. 1:15; 14:2). The sound of many waters and the earth shining with God’s glory speak of the preaching of the gospel message to the world. The gospel will be proclaimed aloud. The report of it will be heard afar off. It will be preached to the ends of the earth and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14). To some it will be an indication of life, but to others it will be like the thunderous roar of a fearful expectation of judgment and death.
2) The brightness of His appearance which he saw. “The earth shone with his glory” (Ezek. 43:2). This appearance of the glory of God was the same one in the vision which Ezekiel saw when he first received his commission (1:4). God is always the same and His glory has no variation. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). That glory which shone in the temple in the time of Ezekiel is still shining today. God has not changed. The gospel message is as glorious and powerful today as when it was first preached in Jerusalem. It brought the entire Roman Empire to its knees and it too will bring our generation to its knees.
After Ezekiel had patiently surveyed the temple of God, the Spirit of God lifted him up and brought him into the inner court. Though the temple was very big and magnificent, it was not until the glory of God was manifested that it truly became the holy temple of the Lord.
What is the glory of God? The glory of God is the intrinsic value of who He is. It is His radiance, the brightness of His light and beauty, and the honor that is due to Him. The idols of the heathens have no glory because they owe what you see on them to the goldsmith or the painter. There are two things which Ezekiel observed in this appearance of the glory of God:
1) The power of His Word which he heard. “His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory” (Ezek. 43:2). It could be heard from afar and it made an unforgettable impression on Ezekiel. In the book of Revelation, His voice was like the sound of many waters and the voice of loud thunder (Rev. 1:15; 14:2). The sound of many waters and the earth shining with God’s glory speak of the preaching of the gospel message to the world. The gospel will be proclaimed aloud. The report of it will be heard afar off. It will be preached to the ends of the earth and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14). To some it will be an indication of life, but to others it will be like the thunderous roar of a fearful expectation of judgment and death.
2) The brightness of His appearance which he saw. “The earth shone with his glory” (Ezek. 43:2). This appearance of the glory of God was the same one in the vision which Ezekiel saw when he first received his commission (1:4). God is always the same and His glory has no variation. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). That glory which shone in the temple in the time of Ezekiel is still shining today. God has not changed. The gospel message is as glorious and powerful today as when it was first preached in Jerusalem. It brought the entire Roman Empire to its knees and it too will bring our generation to its knees.
2009年11月29日星期日
Showers Of Blessing
“I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:26
Who can say, “I will cause showers to come down,” besides God? There is only one Person that can speak to the clouds and cause them to rain. Who sends down the rain upon the earth? Who scatters the showers upon the fields? It is the Lord. So grace is the gift of God and is not created by man. The whole of creation depends on His grace.
What would a farmer do without rain? He may till the land; he may sow his seeds, but what can he do without the rain? Therefore, it is absolutely necessary for us to have the divine blessings of God. Unless God gives the rain and sends salvation, we who labor will labor in vain.
“I will cause showers to come.” It does not say, “I will cause drops to come.” If God gives a blessing, He usually gives it in such a measure that there is not room enough to receive it. It’s God’s abundant grace! We need God’s grace for everything. We need abundant grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful and to make us holy. We need abundant grace to make us zealous, to preserve us through this life, and at last to land us in heaven. We need to saturate ourselves with showers of grace.
It is also seasonable grace. “I will cause showers to come down in their season” (Ezek. 34:26). What is your season today? Is it a season of drought? Then it is the season for showers—showers of blessings. Is it a season of great heaviness and black clouds? Then it is your season for showers—showers of grace. “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deut. 33:25).
“There shall be showers of blessing.” The word “showers” is in the plural. God will send all kinds of blessings. All of God’s blessings go together, like links in a chain. If He gives saving grace, He will also give comforting grace. What are you waiting for? Look up toward the heavens today and expect God to shower you with His abundant blessings.
2009年11月22日星期日
Gratitude To God
“Son of man, how is the wood of the vine better than any other wood, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest?“
Ezekiel 15:2The vine here refers to the people of God. But the question was asked: Why are they by nature better than others? Wasn’t it the goodness of God that caused them to be fruitful? What would they be without Him? Who would they become without the continual influence of the Spirit in them?
There was a certain rich man in the Gospel of Luke whose ground had yielded plentifully. As a result, he thought of pulling down his barns to build a greater one to store his crops and goods. He thought he would have many years to enjoy life and be merry because of the great harvest he had achieved. God called him a “fool” and he died that day instead. Through that, God wanted to show that man cannot live independent of Him. He alone holds the universe and is the Source of all life. Jesus said the man acted like a fool because he was one who “lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (12:21).
Therefore, as we meditate on this thought, let us learn to reject pride and embrace God’s goodness in humility, seeing that we have no ground for self-boasting. Whatever we are, we have nothing on our own to make ourselves proud. For Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The more you have, the more you are indebted to God. Let us also consider our origin, looking back to where we came from. We would still be in our sin if God had not transformed us. Consider who you would have become had it not been for His grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). David rightly puts it this way, “My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26). Therefore, let us humble ourselves in the sight of God, knowing that He will lift us up in due course!
Ezekiel 15:2The vine here refers to the people of God. But the question was asked: Why are they by nature better than others? Wasn’t it the goodness of God that caused them to be fruitful? What would they be without Him? Who would they become without the continual influence of the Spirit in them?
There was a certain rich man in the Gospel of Luke whose ground had yielded plentifully. As a result, he thought of pulling down his barns to build a greater one to store his crops and goods. He thought he would have many years to enjoy life and be merry because of the great harvest he had achieved. God called him a “fool” and he died that day instead. Through that, God wanted to show that man cannot live independent of Him. He alone holds the universe and is the Source of all life. Jesus said the man acted like a fool because he was one who “lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (12:21).
Therefore, as we meditate on this thought, let us learn to reject pride and embrace God’s goodness in humility, seeing that we have no ground for self-boasting. Whatever we are, we have nothing on our own to make ourselves proud. For Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
The more you have, the more you are indebted to God. Let us also consider our origin, looking back to where we came from. We would still be in our sin if God had not transformed us. Consider who you would have become had it not been for His grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). David rightly puts it this way, “My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73:26). Therefore, let us humble ourselves in the sight of God, knowing that He will lift us up in due course!
2009年11月21日星期六
You Are A Witness For God
“In their sight you shall bear them on your shoulders and carry them out at twilight; you shall cover your face, so that you cannot see the ground, for I have made you a sign to the house of Israel.” Ezekiel 12:6
The Word of God came upon Ezekiel regarding the approaching captivity of Zedekiah, king of Judah. He was faced with a tough task of convincing his fellowmen that Zedekiah, instead of being their deliverer, would very shortly be taken captive like them. One would think that it might be sufficient if the prophet had only told them the truth in God’s name.
But Ezekiel had to prepare the people for the prophecy by first giving a sign of it; to speak it to their eyes first, and then to their ears. This was because they were a group of stubborn and rebellious people who would not take heed if no deep impression was made upon them. As such, Ezekiel had to speak to them through his own life.
To make a lasting impression, Ezekiel deliberately moved his entire household during the day in front of all the people, and left the city through a hole he dug by himself. He had to carry all his possessions upon his own shoulders, and steal away at evening in their sight, with fear and trembling, covering his face as if being ashamed of being seen or known. By doing so, Ezekiel was making himself a “sign” to the people.
Ezekiel’s prophecy was a reflection of how Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his people would be led away into captivity. They would make a vain attempt for escape, but would nevertheless end up in captivity. In the same way that Ezekiel had carried his possessions and goods upon his own shoulders, Zedekiah would do likewise. He would be made a prisoner and be carried captive into Babylon.
Ezekiel’s life speaks of ready obedience to the orders of God. As a minister of God, he was willing to go through the most difficult and inconvenient tasks. He serves as an example for us to:
(1) Obey with cheerfulness every command of God, even if it is most inconvenient;
(2) Do all we can for the saving of the souls of others; (3) Allow ourselves to be affected by those things we desire to affect others. Your life is often a testimony and a sign for people around you. Jesus says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus didn’t say you will do witnessing, but He said you will be witnesses. When others see your good works, they will glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Jesus demonstrated the righteousness of God and His love for us when He shed His blood on Calvary’s cross. Therefore let us avail ourselves as Jesus did, to serve not ourselves, but others.
The Word of God came upon Ezekiel regarding the approaching captivity of Zedekiah, king of Judah. He was faced with a tough task of convincing his fellowmen that Zedekiah, instead of being their deliverer, would very shortly be taken captive like them. One would think that it might be sufficient if the prophet had only told them the truth in God’s name.
But Ezekiel had to prepare the people for the prophecy by first giving a sign of it; to speak it to their eyes first, and then to their ears. This was because they were a group of stubborn and rebellious people who would not take heed if no deep impression was made upon them. As such, Ezekiel had to speak to them through his own life.
To make a lasting impression, Ezekiel deliberately moved his entire household during the day in front of all the people, and left the city through a hole he dug by himself. He had to carry all his possessions upon his own shoulders, and steal away at evening in their sight, with fear and trembling, covering his face as if being ashamed of being seen or known. By doing so, Ezekiel was making himself a “sign” to the people.
Ezekiel’s prophecy was a reflection of how Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his people would be led away into captivity. They would make a vain attempt for escape, but would nevertheless end up in captivity. In the same way that Ezekiel had carried his possessions and goods upon his own shoulders, Zedekiah would do likewise. He would be made a prisoner and be carried captive into Babylon.
Ezekiel’s life speaks of ready obedience to the orders of God. As a minister of God, he was willing to go through the most difficult and inconvenient tasks. He serves as an example for us to:
(1) Obey with cheerfulness every command of God, even if it is most inconvenient;
(2) Do all we can for the saving of the souls of others; (3) Allow ourselves to be affected by those things we desire to affect others. Your life is often a testimony and a sign for people around you. Jesus says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Jesus didn’t say you will do witnessing, but He said you will be witnesses. When others see your good works, they will glorify your Father in heaven (Matt. 5:16).
Jesus demonstrated the righteousness of God and His love for us when He shed His blood on Calvary’s cross. Therefore let us avail ourselves as Jesus did, to serve not ourselves, but others.
2009年11月19日星期四
God's Goodness And Mercy
“Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries.” Ezekiel 6:8
Judgment had hitherto triumphed, but here in Ezekiel 6:8, mercy rejoices against judgment. God leaves a remnant, a little remnant of the children of Israel. It is purely by God’s grace that they were spared. In other words, they deserved to be cut off from the rest, and they would have been cut off if God had not protected them (Is. 1:9). Why did God preserve a remnant of the people of Israel? Let’s understand it from two perspectives.
1) They are a preserved remnant. This remnant would be the seed of another generation, out of which Jerusalem would flourish again. In the midst of God’s wrath, mercy is remembered. There is a mixture of judgment and mercy here. There was judgment because they were carried away as captives to a foreign land. Yet mercy was present because they escaped the sword in the land of their captivity. We see this same principle repeating itself again and again regarding God’s dealings with His people, that in judgment, God always remembers mercy.
2) They are a penitent remnant. God is merciful. He gives us time to repent. This remnant here, marked for salvation, is a type of the remnant reserved out of the body of mankind to show forth God’s mercy. God was using them to show His salvation through man’s repentance. Sin takes place when we start forgetting God in our lives (Jer. 3:21). Repentance takes place when we begin to remember who God is, His love for us and His promises to us.
In Ezekiel 6:9, God says the remnant will remember Him. They could only do so by the grace of God. That grace shall find them out wherever they are, and by bringing God to their minds, “they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations” (6:9).
As with the prodigal son, we see how he came back to the father when he remembered how the servants in his father’s house had enough bread to eat. And when he returned, he was met with a loving and merciful father who embraced and restored him to his rightful place. God in his mercy is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9). Let us not glory in our own strength, but in the mercy and grace of God, without which, we are nothing. “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). God in His mercy laid on Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, the iniquity of us all (Is. 53:6). Let us be thankful once again, that it is God’s goodness and mercy that leads us to repentance.
Due His Sacrified to redeemus from satan and evil as we are so unvalue...
Jesus Is MY SAVIOR what about you?
2009年11月15日星期日
The Chastening Of The Lord
“Do not fear, O Jacob My servant,” says the LORD, “For I am with you; for I will make a complete end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but I will not make a complete end of you. I will rightly correct you, for I will not leave you wholly unpunished.” Jeremiah 46:28
In judgment, God always remembers mercy. Even though Israel was punished for her disobedience, she remained as God’s beloved nation. The book of Hebrews says “For whom the LORD loves He chastens” (Heb. 12:6). The chastening of the Lord will not crush a person. He always chastens us with love, knowing that something good will come out of it. When you are going through discipline, you need to remember three things:
(1) You need endurance (Heb. 12:7-8). “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.” If you endure chastening, God is dealing with you “as with sons.” It will eventually yield the fruit of righteousness in your life, thus enabling you to partake of His holy nature.
(2) Maintain the right attitude (12:5). Don’t despise the chastening of the Lord. Don’t reject it or run away from it, thinking that it’s completely unnecessary. Discipline is part of the process of making you a true disciple of Christ.
(3) Don’t be discouraged (12:5). When you are going through discipline, don’t feel discouraged and think that you have failed. Every great man of God would have gone through chastening by the Lord. Even Jesus had to learn obedience by the things which He suffered (5:8). God’s chastening is not meant to crush you (Is. 42:3). It is to make you stronger. God will not allow you to suffer beyond what you are able to bear. God is the best Disciplinarian. Jeremiah 46:28 says, “I will rightly correct you.” When David was asked how he wanted to be punished for numbering Israel, he said, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man” (2 Sam. 24:11-16).
As we run this race, the chastening of the Lord is inevitable. But it will change our character and mold us to be more like Jesus. When you sow good character into your life, it will reap a great destiny! Be encouraged as you go through the chastening of the Lord.
2009年11月14日星期六
Christ Our Redeemer
Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. Jeremiah 50:34
Judgment against Ammon, Edom, Damascus, Kedar, Hazor, Elam and Babylon was foretold in Jeremiah 49-50 and the redemption of Israel was promised. Jeremiah prophesied that the Ammonites, descendants of Lot, who were historically hostile to the Israelites, would be destroyed (49:2-5).
Then, the prophet’s attention was turned to Edom. Edom had always been a jealous enemy of Jacob’s descendants and had joined Nebuchadnezzar in plundering Jerusalem. They even expanded their territory into southern Judah, inhabiting an area later called Idumea, the birthplace of Herod, the king at the time of Jesus’ birth. Because of their actions toward Israel, Edom’s fate was foretold by the prophet: “I have made Esau bare … his descendants are plundered, his brethren and his neighbors, and he is no more” (49:10). In Jeremiah 50:1-3, judgment was pronounced against Babylon.
We can expect the forces of evil, like the enemies of Israel, to come and discourage us in an effort to destroy our faith in God. However, God is not glorified by our fears, doubts or frustrations. We must keep our eyes on the promises of God that have never failed.
2 Corinthians 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” The victory belongs to the people of God. Jeremiah continued to prophesy about the release of Israel from captivity, and the day when the Israelites would repent and accept their Messiah in a perpetual covenant thatshall not be forgotten (Jer. 50:4-5). The LORD promises that He will come as the Redeemer to plead their case (50:34).
Let us hold fast to our faith, for we know “it is Christ . . . who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom. 8:34). When we are facing insurmountable difficulties, we can take comfort that Jesus, our Messiah and Redeemer, always lives to make intercession on our behalf. He knows exactly what and how to pray for us. As we join the forces in heaven to pray, God will give us the victory like He did with the nation of Israel in their troubled times!
2009年11月12日星期四
Every Work Will Be Judged
For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:14
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Everything a Christian has done must fall into one of two categories—good or bad. There is no neutrality. Every act that is not performed in faith and obedience for the glory of God, is unacceptable to God and therefore bad. All these works will be judged when Jesus returns. However, this would not be a judgment of condemnation but one of reward (1 Cor. 3:11-15). So how will Jesus judge believers when we stand before Him?
(1) According to our RELATIONSHIP with Him (Matt. 7:21-23). There are some professing Christians who only have a head-knowledge about Jesus, but have never had an experiential intimate relationship with Him. These people will not stand the test of fire in that day.
(2) According to our OBEDIENCE (7:24-25). The man who hears and obeys God is likened to one who builds his life on a solid foundation which will stand the test of storms in life.
(3) According to our FAITHFULNESS (24:45-46). God wants us to be faithful at all times and in every situation, even when it is inconvenient; or when no one is watching; or when it is dangerous to be faithful. Faithfulness is the cornerstone of character. And God is more committed to building our character than our comfort.
(4) According to our FRUITFULNESS (25:21). God wants us to be faithful so that we will be fruitful. Jesus has chosen us to go and bear fruit—fruit that should remain (John 15:16). Everything that bears fruit, God will prune so that it will bear even more fruit. But everything that does not bear fruit, God will take away (15:1-2). This shows the importance of fruitfulness in God’s eyes. (5) According to our motives (Rom. 2:16). God judges our thoughts and intents, the deepest motives and impulse of our minds and hearts.
Knowing this, let us live our lives circumspectly and judge ourselves in these five areas so that our works will stand as we come before the judgment seat of Christ one day.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” Everything a Christian has done must fall into one of two categories—good or bad. There is no neutrality. Every act that is not performed in faith and obedience for the glory of God, is unacceptable to God and therefore bad. All these works will be judged when Jesus returns. However, this would not be a judgment of condemnation but one of reward (1 Cor. 3:11-15). So how will Jesus judge believers when we stand before Him?
(1) According to our RELATIONSHIP with Him (Matt. 7:21-23). There are some professing Christians who only have a head-knowledge about Jesus, but have never had an experiential intimate relationship with Him. These people will not stand the test of fire in that day.
(2) According to our OBEDIENCE (7:24-25). The man who hears and obeys God is likened to one who builds his life on a solid foundation which will stand the test of storms in life.
(3) According to our FAITHFULNESS (24:45-46). God wants us to be faithful at all times and in every situation, even when it is inconvenient; or when no one is watching; or when it is dangerous to be faithful. Faithfulness is the cornerstone of character. And God is more committed to building our character than our comfort.
(4) According to our FRUITFULNESS (25:21). God wants us to be faithful so that we will be fruitful. Jesus has chosen us to go and bear fruit—fruit that should remain (John 15:16). Everything that bears fruit, God will prune so that it will bear even more fruit. But everything that does not bear fruit, God will take away (15:1-2). This shows the importance of fruitfulness in God’s eyes. (5) According to our motives (Rom. 2:16). God judges our thoughts and intents, the deepest motives and impulse of our minds and hearts.
Knowing this, let us live our lives circumspectly and judge ourselves in these five areas so that our works will stand as we come before the judgment seat of Christ one day.
Sowing In Difficult Time
He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. Ecclesiastes 11:4
For some reason, the fear of insufficiency tends to overshadow our faith in God. When we see the storms coming, we tend to withhold our seeds. In 1 Kings 17, a woman almost brought about her own financial collapse because of this fear. Her barrel of meal was nearly empty, so she stopped giving to God. Though she was under divine command to feed the prophet Elijah, she decided to disobey the Lord’s command (17:9-12). The fear of insufficiency had gripped her. When Elijah realized the problem, he immediately addressed the issue. He encouraged her to give toward her future harvest and not from her past shortages. “So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah” (17:15-16). Her victory came swiftly. The seed she planted resulted in a miracle harvest for herself, her son and Elijah. If you are willing to take God at His word, no matter what situation you may be in, God can perform His word.
In Genesis, we read of how Isaac was living in a difficult time of famine. He was overcome by the fear of insufficiency and made plans to leave the Promised Land, the land of God’s provision. He was heading to Egypt, the land of man’s provision. But God appeared to Isaac and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father” (Gen. 26:2-3). Isaac obeyed. In the next few verses, you will find that he sowed precious seeds into the famine-parched land. How foolish he must have seemed to the unbelievers. It looked like a total waste to plant good seeds then.
But Isaac used his faith as a shield against bad news and the advice of the best minds of his day. He boldly obeyed God. He knew that if he sowed no seed, there would be no hope for a harvest. “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him” (26:12-14). Again you see that if a person is willing to obey the voice of God no matter how bad the economy may seem, God is going to perform what He promised. Similarly, we can put away every fear of insufficiency and start sowing toward our future today!
For some reason, the fear of insufficiency tends to overshadow our faith in God. When we see the storms coming, we tend to withhold our seeds. In 1 Kings 17, a woman almost brought about her own financial collapse because of this fear. Her barrel of meal was nearly empty, so she stopped giving to God. Though she was under divine command to feed the prophet Elijah, she decided to disobey the Lord’s command (17:9-12). The fear of insufficiency had gripped her. When Elijah realized the problem, he immediately addressed the issue. He encouraged her to give toward her future harvest and not from her past shortages. “So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah” (17:15-16). Her victory came swiftly. The seed she planted resulted in a miracle harvest for herself, her son and Elijah. If you are willing to take God at His word, no matter what situation you may be in, God can perform His word.
In Genesis, we read of how Isaac was living in a difficult time of famine. He was overcome by the fear of insufficiency and made plans to leave the Promised Land, the land of God’s provision. He was heading to Egypt, the land of man’s provision. But God appeared to Isaac and said: “Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father” (Gen. 26:2-3). Isaac obeyed. In the next few verses, you will find that he sowed precious seeds into the famine-parched land. How foolish he must have seemed to the unbelievers. It looked like a total waste to plant good seeds then.
But Isaac used his faith as a shield against bad news and the advice of the best minds of his day. He boldly obeyed God. He knew that if he sowed no seed, there would be no hope for a harvest. “Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him” (26:12-14). Again you see that if a person is willing to obey the voice of God no matter how bad the economy may seem, God is going to perform what He promised. Similarly, we can put away every fear of insufficiency and start sowing toward our future today!
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