2018年5月5日 星期六

哥林多後書7:8-16


7:8 我先前寫信叫你們憂愁,我後來雖然懊悔,如今卻不懊悔;因我知道,那信叫你們憂愁不過是暫時的。
7:9
如今我歡喜,不是因你們憂愁,是因你們從憂愁中生出懊悔來。你們依著上帝的意思憂愁,凡事就不至於因我們受虧損了。
7:10
因為依著上帝的意思憂愁,就生出沒有後悔的懊悔來,以致得救;但世俗的憂愁是叫人死。
7:11
你看,你們依著上帝的意思憂愁,從此就生出何等的慇勤、自訴、自恨、恐懼、想念、熱心、責罰(或譯:自責)。在這一切事上,你們都表明自己是潔淨的。
7:12
我雖然從前寫信給你們,卻不是為那虧負人的,也不是為那受人虧負的,乃要在上帝面前把你們顧念我們的熱心表明出來。
7:13
故此,我們得了安慰。並且在安慰之中,因你們眾人使提多心裡暢快歡喜,我們就更加歡喜了。
7:14
我若對提多誇獎了你們甚麼,也覺得沒有慚愧;因我對提多誇獎你們的話成了真的,正如我對你們所說的話也都是真的。
7:15
並且提多想起你們眾人的順服,是怎樣恐懼戰兢地接待他,他愛你們的心腸就越發熱了。
7:16
我如今歡喜,能在凡事上為你們放心。

Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.

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    保羅雖然為哥林多前書的語氣過重而懊悔,但是他看見哥林多教會的悔改與更新,讓他大得安慰,也讓他感受到聖靈真的在教會大大的動工,就覺得放心並且心裡喜樂!

    牧者對教會是愛的,才會勇敢責備教會,不要要跟大家過不去。責備的目的,就是要教會行在真理當中。牧者不可以為自己的去留擔心而不敢責備教會,這是不智慧的,是虧欠上帝的。牧者有一個重大責任,就是成為教會的監督。看教會是不是行在真理之中,是否有偏離主的真道,有教訓與督責的職分,不可以放棄自己該有的立場。

    當然要責備之前也要多禱告,願聖靈大大的動工,也願自己順服在聖靈的引導,能真正一針見血使教會得已見到自己的問題,願意順著聖靈引導而更新,牧者是教會的良心。

哥林多後書7:2-7


7:2 你們要心地寬大收納我們。我們未曾虧負誰,未曾敗壞誰,未曾佔誰的便宜。
7:3
我說這話,不是要定你們的罪。我已經說過,你們常在我們心裡,情願與你們同生同死。
7:4
我大大地放膽,向你們說話;我因你們多多誇口,滿得安慰;我們在一切患難中分外地快樂。
7:5
我們從前就是到了馬其頓的時候,身體也不得安寧,周圍遭患難,外有爭戰,內有懼怕。
7:6
但那安慰喪氣之人的上帝藉著提多來安慰了我們;
7:7
不但藉著他來,也藉著他從你們所得的安慰,安慰了我們;因他把你們的想念、哀慟,和向我的熱心,都告訴了我,叫我更加歡喜。

Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.

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    保羅和哥林多教會之間的感情,超越今日教會和牧者的關係保羅對哥林多教會是心存感激,是因為他們的愛心和信心。雖然哥林多教會有許多的問題,也在哥林多前書中我們看見保羅的責備,但是保羅卻在這裡說到他們帶給他的安慰,始他在苦難中仍然喜樂!

    保羅與哥林多教會的關係,也告訴我們牧會最大的快樂是看見教會得以建立,在一個地區為主耶穌做美好的見證!因為傳道者是差遣到教會中,去建立教會的信徒,活出基督的樣式,成為基督的門徒。所以,我們要強調:教會的信徒就是基督的門徒,是不可分的!

     雖然現在暫時沒有牧會,但是我牧會的理念就是「信徒即門徒」,不需要特別從信徒中挑出一群人當門徒。牧者在教會,就是要喚醒平信徒成為基督的門徒。先知以西結也曾向荒原中的枯骨呼喊,他們就站起來成為耶和華的軍隊,今日牧者也該如此!


2018年5月4日 星期五

箴言16:12



作惡,為王所憎惡,因國位是靠公義堅立。


Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.

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    公義是上帝的屬性,可以閱讀下列文章來認識:  上帝的屬性—公義 , 上帝的公義必在審判之日顯明  ,  人沒有完全之公義上帝的公義不受惡人影響 , 上帝的公義

    而君王或執政者是上帝所立的,所以必須也是公義的,才能在上帝的保守下,維持其政權的長久性。正如,教會中的治理也是如此,必須是以上帝的公義為思考中心,使需要照顧的人得著幫助。

    上帝的公義就是要救人脫離罪惡的危害,使人從罪中得釋放,這也是耶穌基督來到這世界所成就的!
教會就是在聖靈的帶領下,讓基督的拯救實現在這世界,使上帝的公義成就




箴言16:11


公道的天平和秤都屬耶和華;囊中一切法碼都為他所定。

Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.

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    天平是司法機關的標誌,但是人心哪是如此呢?人都是希望自己這邊可以多點,常常用盡各種辦法來爭取。所以,人間的天平常常是不靈敏或是崩壞,以致不公平的現象常常發生,於是心中有許多的不滿。

    也因為心中對正義的感覺不滿意,才會使人期盼真正有正義的上帝的國實現,讓人覺得在最終還有真正的正義,雖然這個正義常常是遲到的,但人要有一顆契而不捨的心,才可以真正的盼望到。因為至少相信上帝是公義的,必讓正義時現!

    當然,人必須要對上帝的國的實現有確信,內心的不平才能真正滿足。這不是一個想像或臆測的狀態,是上帝在聖經當中明明的啟示,不是人想像的天堂與地獄而已,凡敬畏上帝的人都是心存盼望,希望主耶穌快再來,上帝國塊完全實現!