歷代志下17:1-19

 

17:1 亞撒的兒子約沙法接續他作王，奮勇自強，防備以色列人，
17:2 安置軍兵在猶大一切堅固城裡，又安置防兵在猶大地和他父亞撒所得以法蓮的城邑中。
17:3 耶和華與約沙法同在；因為他行他祖大衛初行的道，不尋求巴力，
17:4 只尋求他父親的上帝，遵行他的誡命，不效法以色列人的行為。
17:5 所以耶和華堅定他的國，猶大眾人給他進貢；約沙法大有尊榮資財。
17:6 他高興遵行耶和華的道，並且從猶大除掉一切邱壇和木偶。
17:7 他作王第三年，就差遣臣子便亥伊勒、俄巴底、撒迦利雅、拿坦業、米該亞往猶大各城去教訓百姓。
17:8 同著他們有利未人示瑪雅、尼探雅、西巴第雅、亞撒黑、示米拉末、約拿單、亞多尼雅、多比雅、駝巴多尼雅，又有祭司以利沙瑪、約蘭同著他們。
17:9 他們帶著耶和華的律法書，走遍猶大各城教訓百姓。
17:10 耶和華使猶大四圍的列國都甚恐懼，不敢與約沙法爭戰。
17:11 有些非利士人與約沙法送禮物，納貢銀。阿拉伯人也送他公綿羊七千七百隻，公山羊七千七百隻。
17:12 約沙法日漸強大，在猶大建造營寨和積貨城。
17:13 他在猶大城邑中有許多工程，又在耶路撒冷有戰士，就是大能的勇士。
17:14 他們的數目，按著宗族，記在下面：猶大族的千夫長押拿為首率領大能的勇士─三十萬；
17:15 其次是，千夫長約哈難率領大能的勇士─二十八萬；
17:16 其次是，細基利的兒子亞瑪斯雅〈他為耶和華犧牲自己〉率領大能的勇士─二十萬。
17:17 便雅憫族，是大能的勇士以利雅大率領拿弓箭和盾牌的─二十萬；
17:18 其次是，約薩拔率領預備打仗的─十八萬。
17:19 這都是伺候王的，還有王在猶大全地堅固城所安置的不在其內。

 

ehoshaphat his son succeeded him as king and strengthened himself against Israel. ² He stationed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah and put garrisons in Judah and in the towns of Ephraim that his father Asa had captured.

³ The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals ⁴ but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. ⁵ The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. ⁶ His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

⁷ In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah to teach in the towns of Judah. ⁸ With them were certain Levites—Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tob-Adonijah—and the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught throughout Judah, taking with them the Book of the Law of the Lord; they went around to all the towns of Judah and taught the people.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands surrounding Judah, so that they did not go to war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Some Philistines brought Jehoshaphat gifts and silver as tribute, and the Arabs brought him flocks: seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred goats.

¹² Jehoshaphat became more and more powerful; he built forts and store cities in Judah ¹³ and had large supplies in the towns of Judah. He also kept experienced fighting men in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Their enrollment by families was as follows:

From Judah, commanders of units of 1,000:

Adnah the commander, with 300,000 fighting men;

¹⁵ next, Jehohanan the commander, with 280,000;

¹⁶ next, Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered himself for the service of the Lord, with 200,000.

¹⁷ From Benjamin:

Eliada, a valiant soldier, with 200,000 men armed with bows and shields;

¹⁸ next, Jehozabad, with 180,000 men armed for battle.

¹⁹ These were the men who served the king, besides those he stationed in the fortified cities throughout Judah.

 

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    亞撒的兒子約沙法接續他作王，敬畏上帝！所以，上帝繼續賜福於猶大，使猶大繼續強盛。

 

    這也提醒今日教會，要敬畏上帝，上帝才會大大使用教會，使教會成為萬民之福！正如保羅所說：「上帝能照著運行在我們心裡的大力充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。但願他在教會中，並在基督耶穌裡，得著榮耀，直到世世代代，永永遠遠。阿們！」(以弗所書3:20-21)

 

約翰福音8:48-59

 

8:48 猶太人回答說：「我們說你是撒馬利亞人，並且是鬼附著的，這話豈不正對嗎？」
8:49 耶穌說：「我不是鬼附著的；我尊敬我的父，你們倒輕慢我。
8:50 我不求自己的榮耀，有一位為我求榮耀、定是非的。
8:51 我實實在在地告訴你們，人若遵守我的道，就永遠不見死。」
8:52 猶太人對他說：「現在我們知道你是鬼附著的。亞伯拉罕死了，眾先知也死了，你還說：『人若遵守我的道，就永遠不嘗死味。』
8:53 難道你比我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕還大嗎？他死了，眾先知也死了，你將自己當作甚麼人呢？」
8:54 耶穌回答說：「我若榮耀自己，我的榮耀就算不得甚麼；榮耀我的乃是我的父，就是你們所說是你們的上帝。
8:55 你們未曾認識他；我卻認識他。我若說不認識他，我就是說謊的，像你們一樣；但我認識他，也遵守他的道。
8:56 你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕歡歡喜喜地仰望我的日子，既看見了就快樂。」
8:57 猶太人說：「你還沒有五十歲，豈見過亞伯拉罕呢？」
8:58 耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我。」
8:59 於是他們拿石頭要打他；耶穌卻躲藏，從殿裡出去了。

 

⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?”

⁴⁹ “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

⁵² At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. ⁵⁵ Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” ⁵⁹ At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

 

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    主耶穌面對有上帝觀念的猶太人傳福音，不見得是容易的，因為他們不能接受主耶穌就是上帝的兒子，就是基督！更不能接受祂的神性，無法接受主耶穌說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，還沒有亞伯拉罕就有了我。」

 

    然而主耶穌既是全能的上帝，取了人身在人的中間，當然是清楚亞伯拉罕是誰，當然是看過亞伯拉罕。也因此，我們不要以為主耶穌只是一位年輕的猶太人，祂仍然是完全的上帝，只是祂取了人身是要完成獻祭的需要，祂是要所有屬祂的人代贖而死，完成救贖的計畫。

 

    也因為如此，我們要同眾聖徒一同來讚美主耶穌的救贖大功，將榮耀歸給預備救恩的上帝！

 

 

 

 

約翰福音8:31-47

 

8:31 耶穌對信他的猶太人說：「你們若常常遵守我的道，就真是我的門徒；
8:32 你們必曉得真理，真理必叫你們得以自由。」
8:33 他們回答說：「我們是亞伯拉罕的後裔，從來沒有作過誰的奴僕。你怎麼說『你們必得以自由』呢？」
8:34 耶穌回答說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，所有犯罪的就是罪的奴僕。
8:35 奴僕不能永遠住在家裡；兒子是永遠住在家裡。
8:36 所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。
8:37 我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的子孫，你們卻想要殺我，因為你們心裡容不下我的道。
8:38 我所說的是在我父那裡看見的；你們所行的是在你們的父那裡聽見的。」
8:39 他們說：「我們的父就是亞伯拉罕。」耶穌說：「你們若是亞伯拉罕的兒子，就必行亞伯拉罕所行的事。
8:40 我將在上帝那裡所聽見的真理告訴了你們，現在你們卻想要殺我，這不是亞伯拉罕所行的事。
8:41 你們是行你們父所行的事。」他們說：「我們不是從淫亂生的；我們只有一位父，就是上帝。」
8:42 耶穌說：「倘若上帝是你們的父，你們就必愛我；因為我本是出於上帝，也是從上帝而來，並不是由著自己來，乃是他差我來。
8:43 你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢？無非是因你們不能聽我的道。
8:44 你們是出於你們的父魔鬼，你們父的私慾你們偏要行。他從起初是殺人的，不守真理，因他心裡沒有真理。他說謊是出於自己；因他本來是說謊的，也是說謊之人的父。
8:45 我將真理告訴你們，你們就因此不信我。
8:46 你們中間誰能指證我有罪呢？我既然將真理告訴你們，為甚麼不信我呢？
8:47 出於上帝的，必聽上帝的話；你們不聽，因為你們不是出於上帝。」

 

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[b]”

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would^[c] do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. ⁴³ Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. ⁴⁵ Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! ⁴⁶ Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

 

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    主耶穌在這裡對以色列人，也就是猶太人，更是亞伯拉罕的子孫說：「我實實在在地告訴你們，所有犯罪的就是罪的奴僕。奴僕不能永遠住在家裡；兒子是永遠住在家裡。所以天父的兒子若叫你們自由，你們就真自由了。我知道你們是亞伯拉罕的子孫，你們卻想要殺我，因為你們心裡容不下我的道。我所說的是在我父那裡看見的；你們所行的是在你們的父那裡聽見的。」

 

    而主耶穌更勇敢地說：「倘若上帝是你們的父，你們就必愛我；因為我本是出於上帝，也是從上帝而來，並不是由著自己來，乃是他差我來。你們為甚麼不明白我的話呢？無非是因你們不能聽我的道。你們是出於你們的父魔鬼，你們父的私慾你們偏要行。他從起初是殺人的，不守真理，因他心裡沒有真理。他說謊是出於自己；因他本來是說謊的，也是說謊之人的父。我將真理告訴你們，你們就因此不信我。 你們中間誰能指證我有罪呢？我既然將真理告訴你們，為甚麼不信我呢？出於上帝的，必聽上帝的話；你們不聽，因為你們不是出於上帝。」

 

.   聽了這話是不是很震驚？其實不只猶太人是魔鬼之子，全人類都是魔鬼之子！因為自從始祖亞當和夏娃犯罪以來，罪已經侵入人的生命中，人已經沒有行善的能力了！是被罪的勢力轄制了，表現的就是抵擋上帝，更是無法接受主耶穌是上帝的兒子、是基督，甚至是不容許主耶穌的存在，認為靠主耶穌得著上帝的救贖是荒謬的信仰。

 

    也因為這樣，我們不要以為人信福音是容易的，除非是聖靈的光照與引導，人是無法真正接受耶穌基督是救主，一切都是上帝的恩典！所以，必須有聖靈的有效的呼召在人心中，人才可以成為上帝的兒女！

約翰福音8:21-30

 

8:21 耶穌又對他們說：「我要去了，你們要找我，並且你們要死在罪中。我所去的地方，你們不能到。」
8:22 猶太人說：「他說『我所去的地方，你們不能到』，難道他要自盡嗎？」
8:23 耶穌對他們說：「你們是從下頭來的，我是從上頭來的；你們是屬這世界的，我不是屬這世界的。
8:24 所以我對你們說，你們要死在罪中。你們若不信我是基督，必要死在罪中。」
8:25 他們就問他說：「你是誰？」耶穌對他們說：「就是我從起初所告訴你們的。
8:26 我有許多事講論你們，判斷你們；但那差我來的是真的，我在他那裡所聽見的，我就傳給世人。」
8:27 他們不明白耶穌是指著父說的。
8:28 所以耶穌說：「你們舉起人子以後，必知道我是基督，並且知道我沒有一件事是憑著自己做的。我說這些話乃是照著父所教訓我的。
8:29 那差我來的是與我同在；他沒有撇下我獨自在這裡，因為我常做他所喜悅的事。」
8:30 耶穌說這話的時候，就有許多人信他。

 

²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”

²² This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

²³ But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

²⁵ “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶ “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy, and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”

²⁷ They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up^[a] the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. ²⁹ The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.” ³⁰ Even as he spoke, many believed in him.

 

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    主耶穌表明自己就是基督，並且明明地宣告：「你們是從下頭來的，我是從上頭來的；你們是屬這世界的，我不是屬這世界的。所以我對你們說，你們要死在罪中。你們若不信我是基督，必要死在罪中。」

 

    也因為這樣信耶穌是基督是多麼重要，這不是我們感覺如何的問題，而是我們要接受主耶穌的宣告，要信靠耶穌是基督，讓上帝的救贖臨到我們！

 

    主耶穌也清楚的說到：「你們若不信我是基督，必要死在罪中。」

 

    而且主耶穌更是加強地說：「你們舉起人子以後，必知道我是基督，並且知道我沒有一件事是憑著自己做的。我說這些話乃是照著父所教訓我的。那差我來的是與我同在；他沒有撇下我獨自在這裡，因為我常做他所喜悅的事。」

 

    親愛的朋友，不要再猶豫了，要勇敢承認耶穌是基督！同樣，已經信主的弟兄姊妹，要堅持唯有主耶穌是基督、是救主，除了耶穌基督以外沒有別的名可以靠著得救！