圣经

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圣经

耶稣却回答说：“经上记着说，人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠 神口里所出的一切话”（马太福音4:4）

平安弟兄姊妹们！圣经就是上帝的话语，那么我们身为基督徒不就应该按照 “经上所记的” （马太福音4:4）谨慎遵行吗？可是，我们却经常这么说：“咳，没关系的，我没照圣经去做上帝是不会介意的，祂是一位慈爱又宽容的上帝，祂知道我是不懂圣经。”好，既然你不懂，那你就应该用心读圣经、研究圣经、学习圣经，直到你精通基督的知识！（腓立比3:10 使我认识基督，晓得祂复活的大能，并且晓得和祂一同受苦，效法祂的死）。

“不要只会解释圣经，还要把上帝的话语活出来。”圣经里清楚明白地写着：要照经上所记的去做。

经常会听到基督徒说：“这些经文所讲的不可能是上帝的意思，因为我根本无法做到，所以这不可能是上帝的真正意思，祂肯定有别的意思”。例如，圣经说不能有女牧师或女教师在会中讲道，那么你说这是在说女人要“保持安静”吗？（哥林多前书14:34 妇女在会中要闭口不言。因为不准她们说话。她们总要顺服，正如律法所说的）；还有，女人是不能辖管男人吗？（提摩太前书2:12 我不许女人讲道，也不许她辖管男人，只要沉静）。有的人就会这么回答：“对于当代来说，这不是这些经文的真正含义，因为现今与那时是处在不同的文化和时代背景之下。处在当代，我们就要查考其他的解释来解析。”实际上，这些人这样做就是在变相改变圣经的原意，就是在说：上帝在圣经里的旨意，人能够以各种理由来改变，就像蛇对夏娃声称上帝在说谎一样：“你们不一定死，因为 神知道……”（创世纪3:4）

我经常会听到这样的说法：从上帝的话语中寻找“新的真理”或“隐藏的真理”。好的，既然要从圣经中寻找真理，那么当我们竭力尽忠服从上帝时，就能很容易找到“我该怎么做”的答案了。因为圣经上的话平实易懂，而我们所需要做的就是“作上帝话语的执行者，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己”（雅各书1:22）

如经上所记：“上帝的话语既美妙又能唤醒人心！”我们的上帝写下了圣经，祂比任何人都懂得圣经，也比那些先知更懂得他们代笔记下的每一个字。“论到这救恩，那预先说你们要得恩典的众先知早已详细地寻求考察，就是考察在他们心里基督的灵，预先证明‘基督受苦难，后来得荣耀’是指着什么时候，并怎样的时候。他们得了启示，知道他们所传讲的一切事不是为自己，乃是为你们。那靠着从天上差来的圣灵传福音给你们的人，现在将这些事报给你们，天使也愿意详细察看这些事”（彼得前书1:10-12）

如经上所记：上帝的话是“我们脚前的灯，是我们路上的光”（诗篇119:105）。圣经，只有圣经才是出自上帝之口：“我口所出的话也必如此，决不徒然返回，却要成就我所喜悦的，在我发他去成就的事上必然亨通”（以赛亚55:11）；“祂嘴唇的命令，我未曾背弃；我看重祂口中的言语，过于我需用的饮食”（约伯记23:12）。

因此，只有愚昧骄傲的人才会作出这样的决定：必须把上帝的话语修改得“简单易懂”，使圣经更符合政治需要，更能“友善地”迎合当代大众不受约束的心态，也让圣经更符合当今的社会潮流，所以我们不要得罪任何人，也不需要任何人改变（悔改他们的罪），只要让每个人听经听得“舒服”、“喜欢”，愿意“接受”改过的圣经就行。

我完全能预料到，讲到这里，我会受到很多人的激烈反对，尤其是那些埋没圣经真理的牧师和讲经者。因为我是忠于上帝的真理讲真话，所以我所讲的是他们最不喜欢听的。“世人若恨你们，你们知道，恨你们以先已经恨我了”（约翰福音15:18）

那些人不相信上帝所用的仆人，当他们毁谤上帝所用的仆人时，根本是在论断他们所不懂的。不要批评，除非你们已经达到被上帝认同的地步。我是被上帝认同的，我所传讲的信息也得到了圣经的一一考证，所以我能说我达到了被上帝认同的地步，我明白我所讲的。作为基督徒，“你们就是这些事的见证”（路加福音24:48）。“他们见彼得、约翰的胆量，又看出他们原是没有学问的小民，就希奇，认明他们是跟过耶稣的” （使徒行传4:13）。

当我讲以上的话时，就好像踩到了一些人的脚，他们会激烈地攻击我。然而也有一些人会感叹说：“终于有人有胆量遵照圣经讲真话了” ，并且他们也认同我所讲的。

主耶稣说：“我告诉你们，你们的义若不胜于文士和法利赛人（按己意乱讲经、乱传道的人）的义，断不能进天国。”（马太福音5:20）尔后，他们这些领袖（现今的假牧师、假传道人）因使徒（现今遵行圣经真道的传道人）教训百姓本着耶稣，传说死人复活，就很烦恼（使徒行传4:2）

主耶稣说：“凡我所吩咐你们的都教训他们遵守，我就常与你们同在，直到世界的末了” 【注意，主耶稣并没有说：凡我所吩咐的，你们可以去改。你们改了，我就与你们同在。主耶稣说的是：“凡”我所吩咐你们的，“都”要叫他们遵守】（马太福音28:20）

耶和华说：“你们要追念上古的事。因为我是 神，并无别 神；我是 神，再没有能比我的。我从起初指明末后的事，从古时言明未成的事，说：‘我的筹算必立定；凡我所喜悦的，我必成就’”【注意，上帝并没有说：照你们所喜悦的，我必成就；凡符合你们的潮流、你们听得顺耳的，我必成就---上帝根本没有这么说（以赛亚46:9-10）】。“凡我所吩咐的，你们都要谨守遵行，不可加添，也不可减少【上帝并没有说，你们可以随意改】”（申命记12:32）

神的儿子说：“就是到天地都废去了，律法的一点一画也不能废去，都要成全”（马太福音5:18）【你要注意，在天国里被称为“大”的，是那些遵行上帝的道并教与众人的人】。“我们若遵守祂的诫命，就晓得是认识祂。人若说‘我认识祂’，却不遵守祂的诫命，便是说谎话的，真理也不在他心里了”（约翰一书2:3-4）

最后，圣经警告那些一心想篡改上帝话语的人：“所吩咐你们的话，你们不可加添，也不可删减，好叫你们遵守我所吩咐的，就是耶和华---你们的 神的命令”（申命记4:2）；“若有人在这预言上加添什么， 神必将写在这书上的灾祸加在他身上；这书上的预言，若有人删去什么， 神必从这书上所写的生命树和圣城删去他的分”（启示录22:18-19）阿们！

Holy Scriptures

Matt. 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of GOD.’

Shalom Brothers and Sisters,

God's Word, the Holy Scriptures. As Christians, how carefully do we adhere to the specificities of "it is written?" (Matt4:4) How often do we rather, "Oh, GOD doesn't really care. HE is a loving and forgiving GOD. HE knows I don't understand." Well...READ IT! Study it. Learn it. Come to an intimate knowledge of Christ! (Phil3:10 - I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death)

"Don't interpret Bible. . . REALIZE it." The Bible has been written clearly and plainly. Just do it as written.

We often hear Christians saying “GOD couldn't possibly have meant that. I can't do it. Thus, it's not possible. Surely, GOD had something else in mind!" For example: What do you mean, we can't have a woman pastor or teacher of a mixed adult class? What? It says the women should "keep silent?" (1Cor14:34 - Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.) That a woman shouldn't be "over" the man? (1Tim2:12 - I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.) Well, It doesn't really mean that. That was for a different culture and a different time. Let's check some other translations . . . . and see what they say. Like the serpent's claim to Eve that GOD had lied, "you shall not surely die...for GOD knows..." (Gen3:4 - “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman.)

How often I have heard the expression of "looking for new truths" from GOD's WORD. Or looking for "hidden truths".  Well, as we seek to follow God faithfully, the "how to" is easy to find, because Scripture is really quite simple to understand as far as what it says plainly. All we need to do is "be doers of the WORD, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."(Jas1:22 - Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.)

"The WORD of GOD is exciting . . . . it is beautiful" as written. Our God, Who wrote the Scriptures, knows them better than any man. He knows it even better than the prophets whom He used to pen its words. e.g. "10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the MESSIAH and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (1 Pet. 1:10-12)   

God's Word as written is a "lamp to our feet and light to our path.(Ps119:105). The Scriptures, alone, as spoken from His mouth, "shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."(Is55:11). I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. (Job23:12)  

So, what ignorance and arrogance makes man decide that he must make God's Word "simpler" to understand by modifying it. Making it more politically correct and "user friendly" to accommodate "today's" liberated  mentality. Make it "fit" our current society structure, so we don't offend anyone, nor require anyone to change (repent of their sins). Just make everybody "feel good" and "loved and accepted."

I fully expect I will receive all sorts of reactions to my article which exposes the "liberties taken" by many preachers and pastors. My "message" is one that most will not want to hear.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated ME first. . . . . “(John 15:18)

Discredit the credentials of the servant of GOD. You don't know what you're talking about. Don't criticize unless you've been there. I have been there. I know. I can say, "I know...I was there." As Christians we are "witnesses of these things." (Luke. 24:48)

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus."(Acts 4:13)

Attacks will come from people whose toes are being stepped on. But, there will also be those who will sigh, "Finally...Someone is saying it! This needed to be said." And will agree.

Jesus said, "For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:20). Later, these same leaders were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. (Acts4:2)

JESUS said, “ . . . . and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20).

Thus says the Lord, "I am GOD, and there is no other; I am GOD, and there is none like ME, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'MY counsel shall stand, and I will do all MY pleasure.'"(Is 46:9-10) "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." (Deut12:32)

The SON says, "till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled."(Matt 5:18) You notice the one "who is called great" in the kingdom of heaven is the one who "does and teaches" God's Word...AS IT IS. "Now by this we know that we know HIM, if we keep HIS commandments. He who says, 'I know HIM' and does not keep HIS commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."(1 Jn. 2:3-4)

And finally: to the one who wishes to tamper with GOD's WORD, “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your GOD that I give you.” (Deut. 4:2). "If anyone adds to these things, GOD will add to him the plagues that are written . . . . and if  anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, GOD shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the Holy City, and the things which are written in this book."(Rev22:18-19) Amen!

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你们要彼此相爱，这是我的命令

你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样，这就是我的命令。人为朋友舍命，人的爱心没有比这个大的（约翰福音15:12-13）

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，“爱”是主耶稣赐给我们的首要命令，可是太多自称的“基督徒”（他们声称自己服从了上帝的命令，可事实上他们是骗子，他们没有服从上帝）却忽视遵行主的命令，主耶稣在路加福音6:46里说：“你们为什么称呼我‘主啊、主啊’，却不遵我的话行呢？”

我所谈到的基督徒，他们可以引用很多的经文，一天也能说上四、五十次“奉主耶稣的名”，可是当面对主内弟兄姊妹们有切实的需求时，他们或是敷衍或视若无睹，甚至对待他们的亲人也是如此。他们自称为“侍奉上帝”而忙碌，但却没有时间服侍上帝的子民，让我们看主耶稣在马太福音25:40所讲的：“王（主耶稣）要回答说：‘我实在告诉你们（服从上帝命令的人），这些事（仁爱的善事）你们既作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是作在我身上了’”。在马太福音25:45-46里，主耶稣对那些违背祂命令的人说：“我实在告诉你们（假冒伪善、表面的基督徒），这些事（仁爱的善事）你们既不作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是不作在我身上了。”那些自称的“基督徒”（也包括那些误导人相信‘一次得救永远得救’的人），因违背主耶稣的命令就要往永刑里去；那些义人（持守遵行上帝的命令，直到生命尽头的人）要往永生里去。”“纷争”，就是这些表面的基督徒和误导人的基督徒的标志。

可能你作基督徒已经45年了，可能你说方言能说一整天，但是如果你心里有纷争，没有活出主耶稣爱的命令，那么这些灵命上的事情对于你来说根本无从谈起。

当你存在以上的情况时（表面的基督徒），你 “奉主耶稣的名”全无功效，你的信心也毫无功效，因为经上说“仁爱的信心才有功效”（加拉太5:6）。事实上，如果你没有爱，那么圣灵所赐的任何一种恩赐都不会为你而运作。哥林多前书13章说：“我若能说万人的方言并天使的话语，却没有爱，我就成了鸣的锣，响的钹一般。我若有先知讲道之能，也明白各样的奥秘、各样的知识，而且有全备的信，叫我能够移山，却没有爱，我就算不得什么。 我若将所有的赒济穷人，又舍己身叫人焚烧，却没有爱，仍然与我无益。 爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈；爱是不嫉妒，爱是不自夸，不张狂， 不作害羞的事，不求自己的益处，不轻易发怒，不计算人的恶；不喜欢不义，只喜欢真理；凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐；爱是永不止息。先知讲道之能终必归于无有，说方言之能终必停止，知识也终必归于无有。我们现在所知道的有限，先知所讲的也有限。等那完全的来到，这有限的必归于无有了。我作孩子的时候，话语像孩子、心思像孩子、意念像孩子，既成了人，就把孩子的事丢弃了。我们如今彷彿对着镜子观看，模糊不清。到那时，就要面对面了。我如今所知道的有限，到那时就全知道，如同主知道我一样。 如今常存的有信、有望、有爱这三样，其中最大的是爱。”

你想看到上帝的惊人大能彰显在你的生命中吗？如果你的回答是肯定的，那么现在就将上帝爱的命令付诸于行动，开始爱你身边的人吧！

没有爱，上帝的大能就不会运作，这就是为何我们在基督徒的身上看到很多能力失效的事情。但是从今天开始，你和我能够扭转能力失效的现状。现在就立定心志，让上帝的话语充充满满地住在我们里面，恒心谨守主耶稣的命令，并且以有行动信心、有权柄地讲出“奉主耶稣的名”，更重要的是我们要彼此相爱。

这样，我们将会实在地看到上帝的大能流淌在我们之中。

研经：哥林多前书13:1-8

This is MY commandment - that ye love one another

"This is MY commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“Love” it is the first and foremost command JESUS gave us, yet all too many ‘Christians’ ( that’s what they claim to be, but they are actually liars) neglect to follow it, and JESUS said in Luke 6: 46 “Why do you call ME, ‘LORD, LORD,’ but you don’t do what I say?  . . . . . “

I'm talking about Christians who can quote tremendous amounts of scripture and who may speak the Name of JESUS 40 or 50 times a day, yet they're rough and insensitive to the needs of their brothers and sisters in Christ and even their own family members. They're so busy "serving GOD,"  they don't have time to serve people. Let’s see what JESUS said in Matt. 25: 40 And the KING (JESUS) shall answer and say unto them (those who obey HIS command), “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it (loving kindness) unto one of the least of these MY brethren, ye have done it unto ME.” And JESUS said to those who disobey HIS command in Matt 25: 45 “Then shall HE answer them (the hypocrites – those superficial Christians), saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it (loving kindness) not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to ME. 46 And these “Christians” (also those, who had been misled into believing ‘once saved always saved’) disobeyed the commands of JESUS shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous (those who abide GOD’s WORD unto the end of their life) into life eternal. “Strife is the hallmark”, of these superficial and misled Christians.

You may have been a Christian 45 years; you may talk in tongues all day long; but if you have strife in your heart and you're not living by the love commandment of JESUS, spiritual things are foolishness to you.

When you're in that condition (being a superficial Christian), the NAME of JESUS won't work. Faith won't work because the Bible says that ‘faith works by love’ (Gal. 5:6). In fact, none of the gifts of the SPIRIT will work if you don't have love. 1 Corinthians 13 says so: “1 I may speak in different languages, whether human or even of angels. But if I don’t have love, I am only a noisy bell or a ringing cymbal. 2 I may have the gift of prophecy, I may understand all secrets and know everything there is to know, and I may have faith so great that I can move mountains. But even with all this, if I don’t have love, I am nothing. 3 I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. 8 Love will never end. But all those gifts will come to an end—even the gift of prophecy, the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages, and the gift of knowledge. 9 These will all end because this knowledge and these prophecies we have are not complete. 10 But when perfection comes, the things that are not complete will end. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. 12 It is the same with us. Now we see GOD as if we are looking at a reflection in a mirror. But then, in the future, we will see him right before our eyes. Now I know only a part, but at that time I will know fully, as GOD has known me. 13 So these three things continue: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love.”

Do you want to see the incredible power of GOD released through your life? Then start putting the love command in action. Start loving those around you.

God's power just won't work without love. That's why we've seen so many power failures in the BODY of CHRIST. Starting today, you and I can turn those failures around. We can make up our minds to let the WORD of GOD dwell richly within us. We can set our hearts on keeping the commands of JESUS and speak HIS Name with confidence and authority. And, most important of all, we can begin to love one another.

Then we will truly see the power of GOD begin to flow.

Scripture Study:  1 Corinthians 13:1-8

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永生 神的儿子

平安弟兄姊妹们！耶稣基督不仅是上帝的儿子，而且永远都是上帝的儿子，祂在万物受造之先就是上帝永恒的儿子。

我们是在耶稣基督里灵系上的儿子，只有基督徒才是上帝真正的子民，被称为永生 神真正的儿子。

“我说那承受产业的，虽然是全业的主人，但为孩童的时候却与奴仆毫无分别，乃在师傅和管家的手下，直等他父亲预定的时候来到。我们为孩童的时候受管于世俗小学之下，也是如此。及至时候满足， 神就差遣祂的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法以下，要把律法以下的人赎出来，叫我们得着儿子的名分。你们既为儿子，　神就差祂儿子的灵进入你们的心，呼叫‘阿爸父’。可见，从此以后你不是奴仆，乃是儿子了。既是儿子，就靠着　神为后嗣”（加拉太 4:1-7）

“儿子”或“儿子名分”的概念运用在整本圣经中。该隐是圣经记录的第一个儿子， “儿子”一词第一次出现是在创世纪4:17（该隐与妻子同房，他妻子就怀孕，生了以诺。该隐建造了一座城就按着他儿子的名，将那城叫作‘以诺’）。路加福音3:38告诉我们，亚当是上帝第一个儿子（以挪士是塞特的儿子，塞特是亚当的儿子，亚当是　神的儿子）。

出埃及记4:22-23告诉我们，上帝指示摩西：“你要对法老说，耶和华这样说，以色列是我的儿子、我的长子。 我对你说过，容我的儿子去好事奉我，你还是不肯容他去，看哪，我要杀你的长子”。  

这节中，上帝认定以色列民作为祂的儿子且为长子。以色列人是上帝拣选的子民，上帝要通过救赎计划赎回他们。

虽然上帝视以色列为立约的儿女，从某种意义上称他们为“儿子”（申命记14:1-2你们是耶和华你们　神的儿女。不可为死人用刀划身，也不可将额上剃光，因为你归耶和华你　神为圣洁的民，耶和华从地上的万民中拣选你特作自己的子民），但是上帝从来没有打算为自己创造一支嫡系血统的儿子，而是只在基督耶稣里收纳为灵系的儿子。只有基督徒才是上帝真正的子民，被称为永生 神真正的儿子（何西阿1:10然而以色列的人数必如海沙，不可量、不可数。从前在什么地方对他们说‘你们不是我的子民’，将来在那里必对他们说‘你们是永生　神的儿子’。玛拉基3:17万军之耶和华说：“在我所定的日子他们必属我，特特归我。我必怜恤他们，如同人怜恤服事自己的儿子”），成为光明之子（约翰福音12:36你们应当趁着有光，信从这光，使你们成为光明之子。帖撒罗尼迦前书5:5你们都是光明之子、都是白昼之子，我们不是属黑夜的，也不是属幽暗的）；

成为上帝之子（路加福音20:36 因为他们不能再死，和天使一样。既是复活的人，就为 神的儿子。 罗马书8:14 因为凡被 神的灵引导的，都是 神的儿子。哥林多后书6:18“ 我要作你们的父，你们要作我的儿女。”这是全能的主说的。加拉太3:26 所以你们因信基督耶稣，都是 神的儿子。加拉太 4:4-7及至时候满足， 神就差遣祂的儿子，为女子所生，且生在律法以下，要把律法以下的人赎出来，叫我们得着儿子的名分。你们既为儿子， 神就差祂儿子的灵进入你们的心，呼叫“阿爸、父”。可见，从此以后你不是奴仆，乃是儿子了。既是儿子，就靠着　神为后嗣。希伯来2:10 原来那为万物所属、为万物所本的，要领许多的儿子进荣耀里去，使救他们的元帅因受苦难得以完全，本是合宜的）；

成为复活之子（路加福音20:36）。

关于“收纳灵系的儿女”，清楚地显明在约翰福音1:12 -13：凡接待祂的，就是信祂名的人；祂就赐他们权柄作 神的儿女。这等人不是从血气生的、不是从情欲生的、也不是从人意生的，乃是从 神生的。  

约翰在这里写得很清楚，成为上帝的儿子并不是凭着自然血统（这等人不是从血气生的、不是从情欲生的、也不是从人意生的），而是靠着上帝的恩典、以有行动的信心接待基督的人（不是从人意生的，乃是从 神生的）。后来，保罗也亲自在罗马书8:14-15里告诉我们：因为凡被 神的灵引导的都是 神的儿子。你们所受的不是奴仆的心，仍旧害怕，所受的乃是儿子的心，因此我们呼叫“阿爸、父”；并且他们不能再死，和天使一样。既是复活的人，就为 神的儿子（路加福音20:36）。

Sons of the living GOD

Shalom Brothers and Sisters,

JESUS CHRIST is and always has been the SON of GOD, and existed as GOD’s eternal SON before creation.

We are a spiritual lineage of sons by adoption into CHRIST JESUS. Only believers are true members of GOD’s people and are called true sons of the living GOD.

Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father. So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:1-7).

The idea of sons or sonship is a concept running deep throughout all of Scripture. Cain is the first recorded son in the Bible, and the word son is first used in Genesis 4:17 (Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch.). We are told in the New Testament that Adam is the first son of God (Luke 3:38 - the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. ).

In Exodus 4:22-23 we are told: GOD instructed Moses “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Israel is My son, My firstborn. “So I said to you, ‘Let My son go that he may serve ME’; but you have refused to let him go. Behold, I will kill your son, your firstborn.” ’ ”

Here God identifies the nation of Israel as HIS son, his firstborn. They are HIS chosen people through whom HE will accomplish HIS redemptive plan.

Although God considered Israel as the natural children of the covenant in one sense as his “sons” (Deut 14:1-2 You are the children of the Lord your God. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead, 2 for you are a people holy to the Lord your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the Lord has chosen you to be his treasured possession.) it was never his intention to create an ethnic lineage of sons, but rather a spiritual lineage of sons by adoption into Christ Jesus. Only believers are true members of God’s people and are called true sons of the living God (Hosea 1:10 “Yet the Israelites will be like the sand on the seashore, which cannot be measured or counted. In the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘children of the living God.’; Mal 3:17- “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him.), as well as sons of light (John 12:36- Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”; 1 Thess 5:5 - You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.);

sons of God (Luke 20:36 - and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.; Rom 8:14 - For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.; 2 Cor 6:18 - “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”; Gal 3:26 - So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith,; Gal 4:4–7 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.; Heb 2:10 - In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered.);

and sons of the resurrection (Lu 20:36).

The idea of spiritual adoption is presented  clearly in the New Testament, as John tells us in John 1:12:But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Here John is quite clear that being a child of God is not by natural descent (not of blood, nor of the will, nor of the flesh) but rather by receiving Christ by grace through faith (nor of the will of man, but of God). Later, Paul himself will tell us in Romans 8:14,15 that all who are being led by the Spirit of God are sons of God, and believers have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but rather have received a spirit of adoption as sons. And in Galatians Paul says: So that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Luke 20:36 -- and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.).

sky5107

耶和华是我的牧者

耶和华是我的牧者，我必不至缺乏。他使我躺卧在青草地上，领我在可安歇的水边（诗篇23:1-2）

平安弟兄姊妹们！你是否思考过大卫的一生，他是怎样从一个牧童变成一个合上帝心意的人？对上帝拣选他作以色列的王，他怎么对上帝有如此强大坚固的信心？我思考过。

其实，我曾为此求问过上帝，上帝向我显明：是启示使大卫成为灵命兴盛的人---通过大卫数小时默想上帝的事情，上帝的启示就临到了他。我想象，当大卫写诗篇23章时，他坐在那里歌唱赞美上帝，并默想上帝的美善，他与上帝亲密地在一起，这时上帝的恩膏忽然临到他，他不禁油然而讲：“耶和华是我的牧者！”

他忽然想到，我作为看管羊群的牧童，为了这些羊会面对死亡的威胁，我带领它们到青草地和清凉、干净、安全的深水旁……他继续想着，直到他激动起来。当遇到狮子和熊的攻击时，上帝不是在它们面前为我摆设宴席，使我常得胜利吗？那么上帝不就是我的牧者，保守着我这只羔羊，常带领着我，为我而战吗？---“我的 神啊！我的 神为我而战。耶和华是我的牧者，我不至缺乏。”

大卫深深懂得这个启示的含义，所以他对上帝的信心能够如此强大，以致魔鬼根本无法击垮他。当歌利亚设法戏弄以色列人时，大卫追击他。虽然歌利亚能够吓退所有以色列人，但是他却无法吓倒大卫，因为大卫紧握上帝的启示，所以大卫能说：“我虽然行过死荫的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因为上帝与我同在”（诗篇23:4）。这个启示使大卫放胆对敌人讲：“我来攻击你，是靠着万军之耶和华的名”（撒母耳上17:45），然后大卫只打出一个机弦甩石，就击入巨人歌利亚的头，杀了他。

魔鬼正在摧毁你对上帝的信心吗？如果是的话，那么你跟着大卫去做吧---默想上帝的话语，歌唱赞美你的王，亲近上帝（从圣经中懂得上帝的教导，并且谨守遵行），直到上帝的启示激动你的灵。然后，使你能够放胆对魔鬼说：“你杀不了我，因为耶和华是我的牧者！”你用上帝所赐启示的知识，作为机弦甩石攻击魔鬼，那么每一次你都会击退他。

The LORD is my SHEPARD

"The LORD is my SHEPHARD; I shall not want. HE maketh me to lie down in green pastures: HE leadeth me beside the still waters."(Psalm 23:1-2)

Shalom Brothers and Sisters

Have you ever thought about David and wondered how a shepherd boy could become a man after GOD's own heart? A man so strong in spirit that GOD chose him to be king of Israel? I have.

In fact, I asked GOD about it, and HE showed me that revelation was what turned David into such a spiritual powerhouse--revelation that came to him through hours of thinking about the things of GOD. I imagine the day he wrote Psalm 23 he was just sitting and singing praises to GOD and meditating on HIS goodness. Just fellowshipping with HIM when suddenly the anointing of the LORD came upon him and he said, "The LORD is my SHEPHERD!"

Suddenly he thought about the sheep he watched over as a boy, I faced death for those sheep. I led them where pastures were green and waters were cool, clean, deep, and peaceful. He kept on meditating on that until it started to thrill him. When the lion and the bear came, didn't He prepare a table before me in the presence of those enemies? He gave me victory. "My GOD! My GOD will fight for me. The LORD is my SHEPHERD! I shall not want!"

That revelation welled up in David so strong that the devil couldn't beat it out of him. So when Goliath tried to make a fool out of Israel, David went after him. Goliath was able to scare off everyone else, but he couldn't shake David because he had a revelation inside him that said, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for my GOD is with me." That revelation enabled David to say, "I come against you in the name of the LORD of HOSTS" and to send a rock sailing into that giant's brain.

Is the devil out to destroy you? Do what David did. Meditate on GOD and HIS Word. Sing praises to your KING. Fellowship with HIM until the revelation of who HE is in you starts to thrill your soul. Then tell the devil, "You're not going to kill me. The LORD is my SHEPHERD!" Hit him with the rock of revelation knowledge, and you'll knock him flat every time.