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1.“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
“父啊,赦免他們,因為他們所作的,他們不曉得”(路加福音23:34)

2.“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”(Luke 23:43)
“我實在告訴你,今日你要同我在樂園裡了。”(路加福音23:43)
3.“Woman, behold your son!(John 19:26)”“Behold your mother!” (John 19:27)
“婦人,看哪,你的兒子。看哪,你的母親”(約翰福音19:26-27)

4.“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46)
“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (Mark 15:34)
“以利!以利!拉马撒巴各大尼?”(“我的神!我的神!為甚麼離棄我?”)(馬太福音27:46)
“以羅伊!以羅伊!拉馬撒巴各大尼?”(馬可福音15:34)

5.“I thirst!” (John 19:28) “我渴了!”(約翰福音19:28)

6.“It is finished!” (John 19:30) “成了”(約翰福音19:30)

7.“Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”(Luke 23:46)
“父啊,我將我的靈交在你手裡”(路加福音23:46)



Saturday, March 26, 2016

Holy Week - Day 7 十架七言 (七)

Holy Week - Day 7 十架七言 (七)

(Scroll down to view in English)

Scriptures 經文
“Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”(Luke 23:46)
“父啊,我將我的靈交在你手裡”(路加福音 23:46)


Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18)

我父愛我,因我將命捨去,好再取回來。 沒有人奪我的命去,是我自己捨的。我有權柄捨了,也有權柄取回來,這是我從我父所受的命令。(約翰福音10:17-18)

And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. (John 17:5)
父啊,現在求你使我同你享榮耀,就是未有世界以先我同你所有的榮耀。(約翰福音17:5)


Psalm 31:1-8
詩篇31:1-8


Message 信息分享
As we stand at the foot of the cross and hear this final saying, we realize this is not any ordinary death and history would be forever changed. Jesus had earlier told us that he would not die at the hands of men but by his own obedient volition (Jn. 10:17-18). For Jesus, death is no out-of-control enemy. No matter how bleak the moment, he knows his Father is present with Him and there to accept, protect, and redeem Him and so into God’s loving hands our Lord the Christ entrusts His spirit. The word commit here is to deposit as a trust for protection and as Jesus lets go of this life, in faith He trusts His redemption and glorification to the Father's everlasting arms.


當我們在十架前靜默思想耶穌這最後一句話時,會發現他的死非同尋常 —— 因著他的死,人類的整個歷史地被永遠地改變了。耶穌之前告訴我們說,沒有人能奪去他的命,除非是他自己因著順服願意捨命(約翰福音10:17-18)。對耶穌而言,死亡並非他所不能對付的仇敵。無論他在十架上所受的煎熬何等難捱,他都清楚地知道天父會接受他,保守他,並且將他從十架上救贖回來,他因此將靈魂交付在了天父慈愛的手中。“交”這個字意味著託付,耶穌相信在他放下自己生命的那一刻,父神會完全地保守他,并成就那榮耀無比的救恩。


These words have been called Jesus’ entrance-greeting to Heaven. Jesus, who had been with the Father in glory from eternity past, is going to step back into his full glory (Jn. 17:5) in honor, power, and authority at the Father’s right hand. This amazing turning point in the earthly life of Christ and the pinnacle of all human history was actually visible: the sky turned an ominous black in the middle of the day and the heavy, thick temple curtain was torn in two, surely an ominous sign to Jews of the new reality in the heavens and on earth that the sacrificial system of the temple was at a close—a new era had begun. Then in the first recorded statement of faith after Jesus’ death, we hear a Gentile centurion cry out "Truly this was the Son of God" (Matt. 27:54), a racial outsider to the covenant of God now coming to know the Son of God and fulfillment of Jesus’ truth that in being lifted up on the cross He would draw all men unto himself (Jn. 12:32).


耶穌在十架上所說的這最後一句話,也被認為是他在進入天堂之際的開場白。從亙古就與父神同享榮耀的耶穌,終於要重新回到他完全的榮耀中,坐在滿了尊貴,能力,權柄的天父右邊 (約翰福音17:5)。耶穌在世間生命的拐點,全人類歷史的偉大巔峰,是真實可見的:午正時日頭變黑,遍地黑暗,殿里那厚重的幔子從當中裂為兩半。對猶太人而言,這預兆著一個全新屬靈時代的開始,也意味著在殿中獻祭時代的終結。隨著耶穌的死,我們聽到了外邦人百夫長的呼喊“這真是神的兒子” (馬太福音27:54)。一個本與神的約無分的外邦人,如今親眼認識了神的兒子,也證實了耶穌曾經所說,他若從地上被舉起,就要吸引萬人來歸他 (約翰福音12:32)。這位百夫長的呼喊,是耶穌死後第一個被記載的信仰宣告。


It is here through Jesus’ cross-work that we too are both drawn to the Christ and redeemed before our Father. At this moment too our Lord Jesus is restored to His full glory and we are given the chance to enter into that glory, into the very presence of God. As the temple curtain that had separated mankind from the holy of holies is removed, so too is the separation between our lives and God’s presence forever removed through the Jesus Christ’s final sacrifice and imparted righteousness.  


因著耶穌在十架上的工作,我們也被他吸引并救贖,回到天父面前。耶穌現在他完全的榮耀中與父神合一,如今我們也可以進入這榮耀,享受神的同在。隨著殿內幔子的裂開,人與至聖所之間不再有阻隔。藉著耶穌完美的贖罪祭,我們與神同在的阻隔被永遠除去了,因為耶穌自己成了我們的公義。

Meditation 靜思
Paul said in II Tim. 1:12, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." Meditate on the absolute security you have in Christ’s salvation and imparted righteousness. Now you can stand before the Lord with no condemnation and nothing can tear you away from the Father’s love, nothing can forfeit Christ’s redemption, and nothing can ever steal away the Spirit’s presence in your life. If this is true, think about the stunning security, intimacy, and fellowship with God that is yours for eternity.


保羅在提摩太後書1章12節說“因為知道我所信的是誰,也深信他能保全我所交付他的,直到那日”。思想我們在基督里對救贖絕對的把握,與加在我們身上的義。如今我們可以毫無指摘地站在神的面前,沒有任何東西可以讓我們與神的愛隔絕,喪失基督的救贖,或是丟掉在我們裡面的聖靈。因著救贖,我們在神裡面的安全感,與祂親密無間的關係都是存到永永遠遠的。請更多地去思想我們在神裡面這驚人的地位。


What we can do 我們能做什麼
  1. Jesus here quotes from Ps. 31, when David in distress expressed full confidence in the Lord’s deliverance. This week pray Jesus’ words as the truth of your salvation and ask the Lord to ground your trust in His deliverance from any overwhelming distress you’re suffering in your career, marriage, family, friendships, finances, and relationship with God.
耶穌在這裡引用了詩篇31篇中,大衛在極大的痛苦里對神拯救充滿信心的宣告。在這一週中,以耶穌的話為救恩的保障,向神禱告,并求祂將你的信心建立在祂的拯救之上,使你無論經歷何等的難處(工作,婚姻,家庭,友情,財務,與神的關係),都可以憑信心把自己放在神的手中,經歷祂的拯救。
  1. Ask the Spirit to examine your heart this week--is your trust only in God? Ps. 31 contrasts entrusting our lives to God with trusting in idols. Ask close Christian friends to also help you answer, “Am I practically putting my security, heart and hope in things other than Christ to fulfill and save me?”
求聖靈來鑒查你的心,看你是否單單相信祂。詩篇31章中對比了我們將自己交託給神和交託給偶像的不同。問一問你身邊要好的弟兄姊妹,看看你有否把你的心,你的希望,或你的安全感放在除神以外的事情上。



Kyle R. Allen on behalf of the English ministry

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Holy Week - Day 6 - 十架七言(六)

(Scroll down to view in English)

經文
耶穌嘗(註:原文作“受”)了那醋,就說:“成了!”,便低下頭,將靈魂交付神了。(約翰福音19:30

信息分享
正如賓路易師母所講的一樣:各各他是世界歷史的轉捩點,一切在它之前的都是指向它,一切在它之後的都是歸回它,一切未成的也都基於它,在天上那些蒙救贖的人所看見的,乃是在天上的中心,在寶座中間,『有羔羊站立,像是被殺過的』。

『成了!』這也許是耶穌『十架七言』中最重要的一句話。當耶穌說『成了』的時候,不是一個將亡之人痛苦的呼號,而是這位偉大的救主在信心中發出的一個偉大的得勝宣告:『你所託付我的事,我已成全了』(約17:4)。這位道成肉身的人子完成了祂在地上的使命:
  • 耶穌藉著死,敗壞那掌死權的的魔鬼;
  • 滿足了所有律法的要求,並成為挽回祭來滿足聖潔的 神對罪的憤怒;
  • 如今,每一個罪人藉著接受耶穌基督成為他個人的救主,就不僅僅可以與 神和好,更是與基督聯合成為 神的後裔,與基督同作後裔。
 或許更特別的是,中文的翻譯並沒有完全表達當時耶穌說這句話的意思。按著希臘原文τετελέσται - 的意思,主耶穌救贖的工作不僅僅只是在那一刻『成了』,更是『一次而又永遠地』作成了救贖的大工!哈利路亞,讚美我們的救主耶穌基督!

『成了』我們的救恩永遠穩固!

靜思
試著思想聖經中一切關於耶穌基督在十字架上所成就的舊約預言和新約的教導,並為此向 神獻上讚美與感恩。

我們能做什麼
  • 為著 耶穌基督在十字架上所成就的感謝讚美 神;
  • 藉著耶穌在十字架上所成就的,我們如今也和基督的生命聯合,耶穌的生命也在你我的裡面。嘗試站在耶穌得勝的地位上,用一個不一樣的眼光來看待自己目前所有的難處和捆綁。
诗歌:成了 (V1V2
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Scriptures
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. (John 19:30) 

Message
Calvary is the very pivot of the world's history. All prior things pointed forward to it; and all subsequent things point back to it. Even the future rests upon it, for the redeemed in heaven find it the center of heaven as they behold a Lamb in the midst of the throne, "standing as though it had been slain."  - Mrs. Jessie Penn-Lewis

“It is finished” is probably the most critical sentence out of the seven last sayings of Christ from the cross. When Jesus said, "It is finished” (“τετελέσται” in Greek), it was not a dying groan of pain, but rather, Jesus was speaking of the glorious truth that He has completely accomplished what the Lord had given Him to do (John 17:4). The work of the Incarnate Word has been finished:
  • Satan has been defeated;
  • Every requirement of the Law has been fulfilled and God’s holy wrath against sin has been satisfied;
  • By simply believing in Christ and receiving Him as savior, every sinner can not only be reconciled with the holy God, but also united with Jesus Christ, as a child of God and fellow-heir with Christ.
Perhaps what is even more worth noticing is that the original Greek word τετελέσται actually means that "it has been now and forever finished”. Since Jesus has proclaimed that God’s salvation plan is now and forever accomplished, we have the full assurance that our redemption is eternally secured. He left no unfinished business behind. 

Hallelujah! It is finished …… indeed!

Meditation
Try to recall all of the related prophecies from Old Testament and teachings from New Testament about what Jesus has accomplished on the cross, and give your praise and thanks to God as you meditate on them.

Our response
  • Give thanks and praise to Lord Jesus for what He has accomplished for us on the cross.
  • Through what Jesus has accomplished on the Cross, we are now united with Him. He is in us, and we are in Him. Therefore, let us try to internalize the truth of Jesus’s victory, and see how it can change the way we look at our current difficulties or bondages.
Hymn: It is finished (V1V2)

Holy Week - Day 5 十架七言 (五)

Holy Week - Day 5 十架七言 (五)

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經文
28 這事以後,耶穌知道各樣的事已經成了,為要使經上的話應驗,就說:我渴了。29有一個器皿盛滿了醋,放在那裡;他們就拿海絨蘸滿了醋,綁在牛膝草上,送到他口。30耶穌嘗(原文作受)了那醋,就說:成了!便低下頭,將靈魂交付神了。 (John 19:28-30)


信息分享
我渴了”,這三個字表明耶穌基督在肉身上,為我們飽受至深的苦楚。這是《約翰福音》強調主耶穌感覺到 “” 的原因。約翰在這裏特別指出主耶穌在肉身上為我們忍受人世間最大的痛苦;也讓我們看見耶穌流血捨命的大愛 -- 祂為要拯救無望的罪人,竟願降卑成為人的樣式,“既有人的樣子,就自己卑微,存心順服,以至於死,且死在十字架上。” (腓2:8)我們不禁要思想:神的兒子、生命的主,為何願意為你、為我親自經歷了十字架的苦難、煎熬與受死?


我渴了”,這也證明了 “神在肉身顯現” 的真理。(提前3:16)同時,也應驗了舊約的預言,“他們拿苦膽給我當食物;我渴了,他們拿醋給我喝。” (詩69: 21) 另外,讓我們體會到主耶穌是何等地樂意拯救世上所有的罪人,因為“祂不願有一人沉淪,乃願人人都悔改。” (彼後3:9)祂迫切等待世人都歸向神,使一切飢渴慕義的人,得到鮑足,他們不僅可以親嚐天恩的滋味,也可享受救恩的快樂。


靜思
思想和紀念主耶穌在十字架上,如何親自為你忍受這至深的苦楚?感謝祂流血捨命的大愛,體貼祂渴望罪人悔改的迫切。你是否願意更積極邀請福音朋友來參加我們週末的聚會?


我們能做什麼
1.花15-30分鐘唱詩禱告,讚美神的救恩和大愛。
2.至少為一位福音朋友的救恩迫切向神禱告。


詩歌:H60  主,袮聖首滿傷跡

Scripture
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (John 19:28-30)


Message Sharing
I thirst.” This short sentence conveys the excruciating pain Jesus experienced on the cross. The book of John specially mentions the Lord’s thirst on the cross to remind us that Jesus bore the greatest suffering in the world for us. His love demonstrated on the cross is profoundly sacrificial. To save helpless and hopeless sinners, He stepped down from heaven, took the form of a bondservant, and came in the likeness of men, as “being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8) Compelled by the great love of Jesus, we should all meditate on how the Son of God, and the Lord of all creation, is willing to go through such torment and even suffer from death on the cross for us.


I thirst” proves that “God was manifested in the flesh”(1 Timothy 3:16) and at the same time also fulfills the prophecy of Psalm 69:21, “they also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” Jesus eagerly expected all lost souls to turn back to God, so that all who hunger and thirst for righteousness would be filled, and that all who believe in Him would taste heaven on earth and experience the joy of Christ’s salvation, for “he is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9b)


Meditation
Meditate on the great suffering Jesus has gone through on the cross for us. Give thanks for His sacrificial love. Share Jesus’ deep desire of seeing lost sinners repenting and receiving His salvation. Step out in love to invite more of your friends, neighbors, classmates and co-workers to come and meet Jesus at our Good Friday and Easter worship this weekend.


What we can do
1. Set apart 15-30 minutes everyday to sing hymns and pray, giving praise and thanks to Jesus for His salvation and amazing grace.
2. Also let the Spirit conform your heart to Jesus’ heart for the lost souls. Pray for at least one lost person you know today and ask God for boldness and an open opportunity to share the gospel with Him.   



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Holy Week - Day 4 十架七言 (四)

Holy Week - Day 4 十架七言 (四) (Scroll down to view in English)

經文 耶和華使我們眾人的罪孽都歸在他身上。(賽53:6b) 神使那無罪的,替我們成為罪,好叫我們在他裏面成為 神的義。 (林後5:21) 從午正到申初,遍地都黑暗了。 約在申初,耶穌大聲喊說:「以利!以利!拉馬撒巴各大尼?」就是說:「我的 神!我的 神!為甚麼離棄我?」(太27:45-46) 信息分享 這是耶穌在十字架上最痛苦的一句話!因為祂是神的兒子,與父原為一,從來沒有與父神分開過。但是在這三個小時裡,父神掩面不顧並且離棄了祂至愛的獨生子,因為耶穌代替我們成了所有人的、歷世歷代、還有未來的罪。聖潔的 神與罪無法並存,卻因為愛的緣故,捨了祂的愛子,為了成全祂自己公義的要求。罪何等的可怕!任何的罪都是 神無法容忍的。若不流血,罪就不得赦免。而為我們流血的,是 神的兒子,親自成了 神的羔羊。 默思 如果連神的兒子為了我們承擔罪,父神都要離棄,我如今對罪的態度是如何呢? 試著想想自己是否有蒙受不白之冤、替人代罪,而且付出極大代價的經驗。 我們能做什麼 思想我這個人如何與 神和好,是因為耶穌為我成了罪的祭牲,代替我為罪付了代價。我豈能容忍還有任何罪惡留在我身上?「父神啊,求袮使我恨惡罪如同袮恨惡罪,絕不與罪為伍。今天,如果還有任何罪的權勢存留在我的身上或生活中,在這一刻,我已經決定與牠們不再有交集。願為耶穌作見證的聖靈,鑒察我的心,讓我為罪、為義、為審判,自己責備自己。奉耶穌基督得勝的名禱告!」

詩歌:真神羔羊

Scriptures The LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (Isa. 53:6b) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Cor. 5:21) Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mat. 27:45-46) Message Sharing This is the most painful moment for Jesus! Jesus, the Holy Lamb of God, never sinned, yet bore the iniquities for the whole world, and is the propitiation for our sins. The Father forsook the Son because the Son took upon Himself all of our iniquities. Jesus Christ not only bore man’s sin but actually became sin on our behalf (2 Cor. 5:21), in order that those who believe in Him might be saved from the penalty of their sin. He is the substitute for you and me, and for all mankind. Without this substitute, we would not be able to be reconciled with the Father. Yet, this “substitution” caused such excrutiating pain in Jesus - for He had to be separated from Father! The holy God can never coexist with sin! If God the Father even forsook Jesus, His only begotten Son, because sin was on Him, how is it possible that we can run away from God’s wrath if we sin? Yet, we are all sinners saved by Grace now. Meditation 1) What is my attitude toward sins after I understand that God can not tolerate sin? 2) Have you ever been wrongly accused for something that you did not do and have to suffer greatly for it? Think today of how great a price Jesus has paid for you. What we can do “Father God, please let me see sin the way you see it. Please help me not to take it lightly. If there are any sins in my life right now, I promise to cut off all ties to them them. May the Holy Spirit who testifies for Jesus Christ convict me of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement. In the victorious name of Jesus I pray.”

Monday, March 21, 2016

Holy Week - Day 3 十架七言 (三)

Holy Week - Day 3 十架七言 (三)

(Scroll down to view in English)

經文
"站在耶穌十字架旁邊的,有他母親與他母親的姊妹,並革羅罷的妻子馬利亞,和抹大拉的馬利亞。 耶穌見母親和他所愛的那門徒站在旁邊,就對他母親說:「母親,看,你的兒子!」 又對那門徒說:「看,你的母親!」從此,那門徒就接她到自己家裏去了。 一(約19:25-27)"
分享
今天的經文是主耶穌在十架上所説的第三句話,我們將從兩個角度來體會這句話的寶貴意義: A. 它充分地表達了耶穌美麗的人性 耶穌基督道成肉身之後,祂不僅在肉身中完全遵行 神的旨意,完成了 神所給祂所有的托付,祂的一生也更是在肉身中彰顯了 神的榮耀,也在衪一切的生活言行中流露出最榮美的人性。正如老約翰所見証的:「從來沒有人看見 神,只有在父懷裏的獨生子將祂表明出來。」(約1:18),也如希伯來書作者所説的:「祂是 神榮耀所發的光輝,是 神本體的真像,」(來1:3)。聖經中關乎祂那親切、柔和、謙卑、充滿愛與體恤...等完美人性的記載很多,不勝枚舉。然而,正當基督在十字架上承受最可怕的刑罰與經歷最深痛苦之時,祂仍然顧念祂母親的痛苦與需要,特別將她托付給所愛的門徒來照顧。聖靈似乎在此為我們開了一扇小窗,使我們得以一窺祂那無微不致的愛與完美的人性。祂不僅是真 神,祂也是真人 - 唯一擁有且真正活出完美人性的人,也只有祂能完全體恤我們所有的軟弱與需要 - 因為「我們的大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱...」(來4:15)。

靜思
試著思想聖經中一切關乎耶穌美麗人性的記載,並為此向祂獻上讚美與感恩。 我們能做什麼 效法基督,請花兩三分鐘,為著自己的父母或最親的家人禱告,並且寫下你的禱告。 B. 在基督裡『我們都是一家人』 主耶穌在十字架上不僅僅藉著為我們流血捨命流露了祂的大愛,也藉著這句話可以讓我們看見在基督裡、在祂偉大的生命裡,因著愛,我們都成為了一家人。十字架不僅為我們廢掉了一切的冤仇,也為我們除去了一切隔斷的牆 (弗2:14-15),使我們『不再作外人和客旅,是與聖徒同國,是 神家裏的人了。』主耶穌在世時也特別提醒我們說:「凡遵行我天父旨意的人,就是我的弟兄姊妹和母親了。」 (太12:50)
         靜思
為什麼需要藉著耶穌基督的十字架才能使我們成為 神家的一分子?
我們能做什麼
身為 神家的一分子,你為 神家最真切的禱告是什麼?若是願意,請與小組組員分享你的禱告。
詩歌:哦,我要像袮

Scriptures
25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother,“Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home. (John 19:25-27)
Message Sharing
Today’s scripture is the third saying spoken by Jesus on the cross. We will dive into its precious meaning from two angles. A. It fully expresses the beautiful humanity of Jesus After Jesus, who is Word, became flesh, not only did He obey God’s will in His human body and thus fulfill what God has entrusted to Him, but His life speaks to glorifying God in the flesh. In his everyday life and speech, we see the most glorious of humanity. As John testifies, “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him” (John 1:18). The author of Hebrews states, “[Christ] being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person” (Hebrews 1:3). The Bible has a great number of depictions of Jesus’ kindness, gentleness, humility, love and empathy; all of them illustrate His perfect humanness. Even so, as Christ is about to endure the cruelest of trials and the deepest of sufferings, He still thinks of His mother’s pain and needs, and He entrusts her person to His beloved disciple. In this account, it is as if the Holy Spirit cracked open a small window for us to peer through, and we witness his most attentive love and perfect humanity. Not only is He the true God but also the true human. He is the only one that can live out perfect humanity, and he alone is able to understand all of our weaknesses and needs - “for we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15).

Meditation
Try to recall and meditate on every description of Jesus’ beautiful humanity in scripture. Give praise and give thanks to God for them. What we can do: Imitate Christ. Please spend two to three minutes and pray for your parents or your closest family. Write down your prayer. B. “We are a family” in Christ Not only did the blood of Christ show his great love for us, but through these words, we see that in Christ, through his glorious life and love, we have become family. The cross not only abolished all enmity, but it also removed all dividing walls (Ephesians 2:14-15). We “are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Just as when Jesus was on this earth, he reminded us, “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:50). Meditation Why is the cross of Jesus Christ necessary for us to become a member of the household of God?


What we can do
As a member of God’s household, what is your most earnest prayer for God’s House? If you are willing, please share this prayer with members of your small group.

Songs: O, To Be Like Thee

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Holy Week - Day 2 十架七言 (二)

Holy Week - Day 2 十架七言 (二)

(Scroll down to view in English)

經文
“我實在告訴你,今日你要同我在樂園裡了。”(路加福音 23:43) 
分享
耶穌在十字架上的第二句話居然是對一個強盜說的。這個垂死強盜的故事可以說是耶穌基督一生事工中非常奇妙的一個,是耶穌在肉體最痛苦,最軟弱,生命即將結束的時候所結的果子。那麼這犯人在十字架上經歷了什麼呢?他首先聽到一個驚人的禱 告:「父啊!赦免他們,因為他們所做的,他們不曉得。」(路加福音23:34,參昨日經文);這真是最寶貴、最安慰、最甘甜的聲音。他看見耶穌那充滿慈愛的面容、充滿聖潔無罪的榮光、充滿偉大救贖的能力。他知道雖然這人和他一樣釘在十字架上,但祂是神的兒子。便說:「你得國降臨的時候,求你紀念我。」主耶穌便說出了十字架上面的第二句話:「我實在告訴你,今日你要同我在樂園裡了。」他的罪立刻得到赦免,成為神的兒女,不再是神的仇敵。當他回到創造的主那裡,我相信他的眼淚必定會流下來,不單他一生的失敗在今日都挽回了,並且得到了救恩的確據。


靜思
這三個十字架上掛著的三種人,可以說是全世界的三種人。代贖的人子,滅亡的罪人與蒙恩的罪人。那滅亡強盜的結局理應是我們每個人的結局,但耶穌那十字架犧牲的大愛,藉著我們的信心,白白賜給了我們,使我們成為了蒙恩的罪人。

我們能做什麼
在你昨日列出所有的罪上面,寫上:主替________(你的名字)捨身,罪債全還清。並且獻上感恩的禱告。
詩歌:主替我還清

Scriptures
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”(Luke 23:43)
Message Sharing
The second sentence Jesus spoke on the cross was to a robber, whom Christ saved even while was the suffering from such excruciating physical weakness and pain. The salvation of that dying robber was a miraculous ministry of Christ. What did he (the robber) experience on the cross? He first heard a marvelous prayer from Jesus: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34, the verse for yesterday) - such a precious, comforting, and sweet sound. He then looked at the loving face of Jesus, who was full of holy and sanctifying glory, and with the full power of redemption. Although he saw Jesus hung and crucified on the cross no different than he was, the thief still recognized that Jesus was the Son of God. Therefore he said to Jesus: “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And there followed the second sentence Christ spoke on the cross: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Immediately, with all of his sins forgiven, the robber was no longer an enemy to God, but rather a child of God. Thinking of that moment he returned to the Lord in heaven, I’m sure the thief would break down in tears of joy -  not only had all of his life’s failures been redeemed on his very last day, but he also received assurance of his salvation directly from Jesus.


Meditation
The three people hung on the crosses indicate the three kinds of people on earth: Jesus, the Son of Man, the redeemer; perishing sinners; and sinners saved by grace. Theoretically we are all destined to be perishing sinners, however, through faith, the sacrificial love of Jesus demonstrated on the cross is given freely to us, and transforms us into sinners saved by grace.


What we can do
Write “Jesus Christ paid it all for __________(your name)” on top of the sins you listed yesterday, and offer a prayer of thanksgiving.
          Song: Jesus paid it all 

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Holy Week - Day 1 十架七言 (一)


Holy Week - Day 1 十架七言 (一)

(Scroll down to view in English)
 
經文
“父啊,赦免他們,因為他們所作的,他們不曉得” (路加福音 23:34)
分享
今天是棕櫚日,在紀念主耶穌受難日和復活節的這一周,我們回憶並紀念主在十字架上的痛苦經歷和為我們所成就的全備救恩。主耶穌在棕櫚日騎著驢駒榮耀的進入耶路撒冷,百姓高喊“和散那(​和散那是​「請​救​我們」​的​意思)盼望主耶稣救他们脱离外族奴役,谁也沒有想到,祂来是要順服 神的旨意,將自己獻上成為贖罪祭,救每一个人脱离罪,死亡,和永远的审判。當主赤身露体的被釘在十字架上,祂忍受著痛苦和羞辱,仰著满是血污的脸对着天祈求,“父啊!赦免他們,因為他們所做的,他們不曉得”。這是主在十字架上的第一句話。 当我们意识到主耶稣不仅仅是在对钉祂的犹太人和罗马的官兵说这话时,我们的心无比震撼,是我們的罪將主耶稣釘在十字架上的,而主卻說:“父啊!赦免他們,因為他們所做的,他們不曉得”。祂赦免了我們罪人釘祂,更是赦免了我們裡外一切的罪。感謝主,因着羔羊的代罪,我们都得以称义!

靜思
讓我們今天花一些時間,帶著悔改的心安靜在主面前, 思想:1)是我的罪把主钉在十字架上,因著進入主在十架上經歷的痛苦,使我個人對罪更敏感。2)祂的赦免是随时的,无条件的和完全的。

我們能做什麼
列出並承認我所有看得見的和隱而未現的罪(包括肉体的不顺服,骄傲,瘾,以及撒旦的权势和肉体的权势), 從心裏接受祂完全的赦免,從罪擔中得以自由 。

Scriptures
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

Message Sharing
Today is Palm Sunday.  In this upcoming week where we remember and honor the passion of Jesus Christ, we recall once more the complete salvation that Christ has accomplished through his suffering on the cross.  On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the crowd shouted, “Hosanna” (which means “save us”), in hopes that Jesus will deliver them from being subjects to gentiles.  No one knew, however, that Jesus came into Jerusalem to obey the will of God and to give himself as a sin offering so that people everywhere can be set apart from sin, death, and eternal judgement.  As Christ was nailed to the cross in his bare flesh, he withstood pain and shame, and with a face covered in blood, he looked to the heavens and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  This is the first sentence spoken by Christ on the cross.  Let us consider that Jesus was not only referring to the Jews and Roman soldiers who put in the nails, but it is our sins that have nailed Jesus to the cross.  In stark contrast to this act, Christ said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  He forgives the sinners who put him to the cross, and He forgives our sins from the inside out.  His forgiveness is for all of time, unconditional, and complete.  

Meditation
Let us spend a little time today and take our repentant heart and be still before the Lord.  Meditate on: 1) my sins have nailed Christ to the cross, and through entering his suffering on the cross, may I become more sensitive to sin.  2)  His forgiveness is always present, unconditional, and complete.

What we can do
List out and accept all of the sins that I can still identify in my person and sins that are hidden (including the disobedience of the flesh, pride, addiction, and Satan’s power and the flesh’s power).  Accept in my heart His complete forgiveness and be freed from the burden of sin.