創世記17:1-2

 

17:1 亞伯蘭年九十九歲的時候，耶和華向他顯現，對他說：「我是全能的上帝。你當在我面前作完全人，
17:2 我就與你立約，使你的後裔極其繁多。」

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. ² Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”

 

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    亞伯蘭的生命在之前已經與上帝相遇，也過著與上帝有交通的生命，然而在他年九十九歲的時候，耶和華向他顯現，並且向他宣告：「我是全能的上帝。你當在我面前作完全人，我就與你立約，使你的後裔極其繁多。」

 

    在這裡的「你當在我面前作完全人」，照英文的翻譯是「你信實和無可指責的行在我面前」（walk before me faithfully and be blameless）。上帝這樣要求是有原因的是「我是全能的上帝」(希伯來文為[El Shaddai])！

 

    其實「Shaddai」是源自「shadad」一詞，是有像天然災害一般猛烈的破壞力的意思，是讓人畏懼的，甚至要逃避的大能，對人來說是有巨大毀壞性的，是人要屈服的！也因此亞伯蘭聽到這段話的時候，是「俯伏在地」（17:3），連反抗的意志都被上帝所擊倒！

 

    也因為這樣，為何我們要向人說上帝的全能和權能，因為人在始祖犯罪之後，就已經存著悖逆的心，處處與上帝為敵，若沒有真正感受到上帝的全能，是不知道上帝是有權能在我們身上的，不知我們的生命是掌握在他手中的，更不知他掌管我們的永恆。

 

    也惟有透過上帝自己(包括聖靈)的能力，我們才能屈服。然而上帝的目的不是光讓我們屈服，更要我們與祂有美好的關係，這當然是靠祂所預備的救恩，正如祂應許亞伯蘭的「我就與你立約，使你的後裔極其繁多」。

 

    然而這樣的應許是讓亞伯蘭仰望基督，因為全能上帝透過基督與我們立永遠的約，這個約是超越生死與環境的困難，也超間和空間的，是永遠長存的！今天我們只要透過基督，也可以進入這永遠的約中，成為上帝的兒女、後嗣了！

 

 

使徒行傳9:32-43

 

9:32 彼得周流四方的時候，也到了居住呂大的聖徒那裡；
9:33 遇見一個人，名叫以尼雅，得了癱瘓，在褥子上躺臥八年。
9:34 彼得對他說：「以尼雅，耶穌基督醫好你了，起來！收拾你的褥子。」他就立刻起來了。
9:35 凡住呂大和沙崙的人都看見了他，就歸服主。
9:36 在約帕有一個女徒，名叫大比大，翻希臘話就是多加（就是羚羊的意思）；她廣行善事，多施賙濟。
9:37 當時，她患病而死，有人把她洗了，停在樓上。
9:38 呂大原與約帕相近；門徒聽見彼得在那裡，就打發兩個人去見他，央求他說：「快到我們那裡去，不要耽延。」
9:39 彼得就起身和他們同去；到了，便有人領他上樓。眾寡婦都站在彼得旁邊哭，拿多加與她們同在時所做的裡衣外衣給他看。
9:40 彼得叫她們都出去，就跪下禱告，轉身對著死人說：「大比大，起來！」她就睜開眼睛，見了彼得，便坐起來。
9:41 彼得伸手扶她起來，叫眾聖徒和寡婦進去，把多加活活地交給他們。
9:42 這事傳遍了約帕，就有許多人信了主。
9:43 此後，彼得在約帕一個硝皮匠西門的家裡住了多日。

 

³² As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the Lord’s people who lived in Lydda. ³³ There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. ³⁴ “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. ³⁵ All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.

³⁶ In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. ³⁷ About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. ³⁸ Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!”

³⁹ Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

⁴⁰ Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. ⁴² This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. ⁴³ Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

 

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    彼得在這裡又出現了，他開始向外邦傳福音。而在這裡的記載，讓我們看見主和彼得同在，因為有醫治的能力從他而出。

 

    雖然這一段經文有點像「橋段」一樣，把我們從保羅引到彼得，也藉此宣告上帝的宣教要臨到外邦人，使主耶穌大使命可以實現！

 

    彼得是將福音傳給外邦人的開始，在這之後由保羅和巴拿巴接棒，因為他們進行旅行佈道，福音就由猶太地傳到歐洲，甚至後來傳到全世界各角落，這一切都是上帝藉由聖靈來運行的！

 

 

 

使徒行傳9:19b-31

 

掃羅和大馬士革的門徒同住了些日子，
9:20 就在各會堂裡宣傳耶穌，說他是上帝的兒子。
9:21 凡聽見的人都驚奇，說：「在耶路撒冷殘害求告這名的，不是這人嗎？並且他到這裡來，特要捆綁他們，帶到祭司長那裡。」
9:22 但掃羅越發有能力，駁倒住大馬士革的猶太人，證明耶穌是基督。
9:23 過了好些日子，猶太人商議要殺掃羅，
9:24 但他們的計謀被掃羅知道了。他們又晝夜在城門守候，要殺他。
9:25 他的門徒就在夜間用筐子把他從城牆上縋下去。
9:26 掃羅到了耶路撒冷，想與門徒結交，他們卻都怕他，不信他是門徒。
9:27 惟有接待他，領去見使徒，把他在路上怎麼看見主，主怎麼向他說話，他在大馬士革怎麼奉耶穌的名放膽傳道，都述說出來。
9:28 於是掃羅在耶路撒冷和門徒出入來往，
9:29 奉主的名放膽傳道，並與說希臘話的猶太人講論辯駁；他們卻想法子要殺他。
9:30 弟兄們知道了就送他下凱撒利亞，打發他往大數去。
9:31 那時，猶太、加利利、撒馬利亞各處的教會都得平安，被建立；凡事敬畏主，蒙聖靈的安慰，人數就增多了。

 

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall.

²⁶ When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a] but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

³¹ Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers.

 

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    掃羅信主之後，就大發熱心傳揚福音。雖然在這種景況要面對雙重的壓力，但是主讓他一一度過，也安排巴拿巴來接納他，使得他可以和使徒見面，很快融入教會之中。

 

    從保羅的信主讓我們看見：教會要勇接納新人，不管他過去如何，信主之後就是新造的人，就是基督身體的一部分了，就有基督的新生命湧流在他的心裡面了！

 

    我們信主之後，也同樣是新創造的人，舊事已過都變成新了！我們要為這新生命來讚美主！

 

 

 

使徒行傳9章

      使徒行傳9:1-19a ,    使徒行傳9:11-12 ,

      使徒行傳9:19b-31 , 

      使徒行傳9:32-43 ,

使徒行傳9:1-19a

 

9:1 掃羅仍然向主的門徒口吐威嚇凶煞的話，去見大祭司，

9:2 求文書給大馬士革的各會堂，若是找著信奉這道的人，無論男女，都准他捆綁帶到耶路撒冷。

9:3 掃羅行路，將到大馬士革，忽然從天上發光，四面照著他；

9:4 他就仆倒在地，聽見有聲音對他說：「掃羅！掃羅！你為甚麼逼迫我？」

9:5 他說：「主啊！你是誰？」主說：「我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。

9:6 起來！進城去，你所當做的事，必有人告訴你。」

9:7 同行的人站在那裡，說不出話來，聽見聲音，卻看不見人。

9:8 掃羅從地上起來，睜開眼睛，竟不能看見甚麼。有人拉他的手，領他進了大馬士革；

9:9 三日不能看見，也不吃也不喝。

9:10 當下，在大馬士革有一個門徒，名叫亞拿尼亞。主在異象中對他說：「亞拿尼亞。」他說：「主，我在這裡。」

9:11 主對他說：「起來！往直街去，在猶大的家裡，訪問一個大數人，名叫掃羅。他正禱告，

9:12 又看見了一個人，名叫亞拿尼亞，進來按手在他身上，叫他能看見。」

9:13 亞拿尼亞回答說：「主啊，我聽見許多人說：這人怎樣在耶路撒冷多多苦害你的聖徒，

9:14 並且他在這裡有從祭司長得來的權柄捆綁一切求告你名的人。」

9:15 主對亞拿尼亞說：「你只管去！他是我所揀選的器皿，要在外邦人和君王，並以色列人面前宣揚我的名。

9:16 我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的苦難。」

9:17 亞拿尼亞就去了，進入那家，把手按在掃羅身上，說：「兄弟掃羅，在你來的路上向你顯現的主，就是耶穌，打發我來，叫你能看見，又被聖靈充滿。」

9:18 掃羅的眼睛上，好像有鱗立刻掉下來，他就能看見。於是起來受了洗；

9:19 吃過飯就健壯了。

 

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

¹⁰ In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹ The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹ and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

 

 

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    保羅(掃羅)信主的過程完全是上帝的作為，因為他本是逼迫教會的人，並不是對福音有好感的人，在他的心中教會是一群異端和拜「偶像」之人。祂不相信主耶穌是基督，可是主耶穌卻用奇特的方式向他顯現，並且對他說話。

 

    當然為了迎接保羅的信主，主耶穌也透過異象向亞拿尼亞來顯現，使他清楚保羅的角色：「你只管去！他是我所揀選的器皿，要在外邦人和君王，並以色列人面前宣揚我的名。我也要指示他，為我的名必須受許多的苦難。」

 

    也因為這樣亞拿尼亞勇敢的去為掃羅(保羅)施洗，並且宣告：「兄弟掃羅，在你來的路上向你顯現的主，就是耶穌，打發我來，叫你能看見，又被聖靈充滿。」

 

    而保羅在這一次經歷之後，深深感受到：人能夠信主是出於上帝的恩典，教會是基督的身體，逼迫教會就是逼迫基督。這樣的認知也讓他相信上帝的主權，確認得救是上帝的揀選，而這一切是上帝在永恆之中預備的。

 

    其實我們每一位信主的人，也像保羅一樣確認這是出於上帝的奇妙作為。我們會為所蒙的恩，來讚美上帝！

 

 

以斯拉記4章

       以斯拉記4:1-24   ,