『數學之美』Beauty
of Math
愛恋 ‧ 情曲 ‧ 神の語
《Descendants of the Son》
愛，是生命最美的樣貌
《Descendants of the Son》
愛，是生命最美的樣貌
猴媽上《我可能不會愛你》片尾之三行情語（六集、九集）
http://spiritword.pixnet.net/blog/post/2267534
目前分類：神の話分享 (107)
- Jul 13 Tue 2010 01:18
「數學之美」 Beauty of Math
- Jun 16 Wed 2010 20:38
Sensing in the Spirit Vs. Discerning the Will of God
There will be less sharing on the Word of God (written or audio) during my "pruning period" (John 15) as my life-ministry cycle is at the ending year. But since something surround my leaving Taiwan temporarily, a brief sharing is posted here because in the general Christian population, it seems that a majority tends to easily mix up the issue of "sensing in the spirit" and "discerning the will of God."
"Sensing in the spirit" means someone picks up something with their spirit, whether about themselves or others, or from objects. What they pick up in the spirit may be true, however, it does not equal to God's Will. A classic example can be found in Acts 21, where the disciples told Paul not to go to Jerusalem "through the Spirit" because they sensed danger there in their spirit. This is true, for Paul encountered great difficulty there, and also confirmed by the Prophet Agabus. However, the disciples did not discern between their sensing and God's Will. Or maybe some of them did. Nevertheless, normal human emotions and logic would be to flee from danger, which is very understandable. But Paul knew in his heart that Jerusalem is where God wanted him to go. This was vividly confirmed when the Lord Jesus Himself appeared to him and confirmed this call. Another principle seen here is that the greater the task and trial, the greater the manifestation of God's presence and love to strengthen the called of God.
Most Christians, when praying for God's will, tend to think that what they sense in their heart might be God's call. Sometimes this could be true, but it is not necessary. One can pick up anything anytime, but what he/she senses are only facts (ie if what they sensed was truly from the spirit) and not God's direction in their or others' lives. A practical example would be, when someone prays for a person who is seeking a career field, the person praying picks up the word "music." However, this can mean that God has gifted the person being prayed for with musical ability, or that he/she has something to do with music, but all these facts and interpretation do not necessarily have anything to do with God's specific direction. Certainly, the giftedness in music may have something to do in the person's future career, but it may or may not be so. Only someone who is more mature in the spirit can discern whether what he picks up is a pure fact or God's directional word. Another example would be, someone sensitive in the spirit can usually pick up something when touching an object used constantly by another, such as a pillow. When he sleeps on the pillow, he can sometimes pick up some of the things in the owner's life when sleeping on it, usually via spiritual dreams. However, what he dreams is only a reflection of the spiritual state of the owner, and may not have to do with God's specific word directly.
Hope this would help to clarify, as one of the most often-asked questions in the Christian life is "what is God's will" in all areas of life: family, friendship, ministry, career, marriage, and all the various issues of life.
How one can sharpen their discerning in the spirit (also sensing) are the good old steps of seeking God in worship, the Word, and prayer. Praying in the spirit helps. But more importantly are the meditation on God's Word (Heb 4:12) and more knowledge and understanding of God's eternal, unchanging Word of Truth. Blessings to all.
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb 4:12)
In His Grace and Love.
- Apr 13 Tue 2010 12:12
帶來圓滿結局的福音
帶來圓滿結局的福音
羅馬書15-16章
羅馬書15-16章
https://youtu.be/bOycVX-wZkw
帶來圓滿結局的福音 - 羅馬書15-16章
上帝愛你、賜福你！
聯絡信箱：
spiritword@gmail.com
- Apr 11 Sun 2010 16:25
Motivation: The Most Important Thing in Life
Taken from Fatherly Talk
Motivation: The Most Important Thing in Life
Dear Beloved
In this present life that can sometimes get so busy with people hustling and bustling through all the activities, people tend to be oriented towards results or goals rather than motivation. The 'what' we do and the 'how' we do it occupies the main consciousness of most people. From the spiritual point of view, it is more important 'why' we want to do what we do or how we do some things. For this reason, it sometimes takes time for God and His angels to bring about an answer to prayer, not because He could not do it sooner, but rather because the person concern has a lot of work to do to get the motivation correct. It sometimes takes years or decades for a person to yield their motivation to God.
Moses took forty long years before his prideful desire to be seen as the deliverer of his brethren was eradicated from his life. In his Egyptian pomp and pride, he killed the Egyptian guard thinking that with that act of protecting his brethren, they would have understood that by his hand God would deliver them (Acts 7:25). His was greatly learned in all the Egyptian wisdom and was mighty in deeds (Acts 7:22). The book of Josephus (a Jewish historical book) records of successful wars fought by Moses (Book 2 chapter 10). What could be Moses' motivation when he killed the Egyptian or visited his brethren constantly (Acts 7:23)? I am sure that there is some level of compassion and empathy but the central motivation was that he would be seen and known as their deliverer. And this is not acceptable in God's sight. Thus God allowed Moses to enter a wilderness period for forty years, till he had no more motivation to be the superman for Israel. In fact he became so contented as a herdsman that he preferred if God sent someone else (Exodus 4:10-15). Moses became the very opposite of what he was, even denying his eloquence when he was mighty in word and deeds before. He had no more self ambition. And this is what God can use to make a man great in Him, for then the instrument He uses will always give God the glory for all things accomplished.
- Mar 30 Tue 2010 04:54
The Joy of the Lord
Article taken from: Fatherly Talk – The Joy of the Lord
Dearly Beloved,
In exegetical teaching through the book of Philippians, which is a book of New Testament joy (Greek words 'chairo' and 'chara' as expressed by Paul writing from prison, I saw more clearly the place of joy in the Christian life (the sermons are available free online in the Singapore cathedral of glory site – 8 sermons in all with notes from Philippians 2 onwards). Paul spoke of the joy of faith (Philippians 1:25) and called the Philippians his joy and crown (Philippians 4:1). We do know that this joy is spiritual and supernatural and not from ourselves. It is the joy of Jesus in us and can be at different levels, the highest being full (John 15:11). It is as real as and more important than food or drink (Romans 14:17). It is the result of our believing and faith; believing fills us with joy and peace which crushes Satan underneath us (Romans 15:13; 16:20). Joy is something which we cannot quite express with words and it is the strength through which Jesus underwent the cross successfully (1 Peter 1:18; Hebrews 12:2).
The fact is that many Christians have a measure of peace through forgiveness of sins but not many Christians seem to have joy. All of us are greatly loved by God our father but yet this joy of the Lord promised to us by Jesus is not sufficiently demonstrated by many Christians. There are several attributes to the joy of the Lord that we need to know:
1. It is not dependent on outward circumstances
- Mar 30 Tue 2010 04:48
Did Jesus go to Hell after He Died on the Cross?
The article link you sent has a very nice explanation and mostly right
on.
http://www.gotquestions.org/did-Jesus-go-to-hell.html
Hades (Greek) in the NT is the equivalent as Sheol (Hebrew)
in the OT because of their usage and interchangeability. Where NT quoted
OT passage with 'Sheol', it used the word 'Hades'. And this is highly
consistent throughout the whole NT.
- Mar 11 Thu 2010 17:26
The Love of the Father
Excerpt Taken from Fatherly Talk
Dearly Beloved
We read of the love of the Father in our introduction into the New Testament within the famous verse of John 3:16, how God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. We also know the great extent of the love of Jesus for us (Romans 5:8). There has never been a problem about the revelation of God's love to us; the problem has always been as to whether we understand and receive the revelation of God's love. Not everyone of us know how to receive and appreciate the great love of the Father.
In the parable of the talents, three servants are given different amount of talents: to the first, five talents, to the second two talents, and to the last servant one talent (Matthew 25:14-30). The first produced another five talents, the second produced another two talents but the last servant had hidden the original talent and not produced any results. The strangeness of the story is also the fact that it would have been naturally easier for the one with one talent to produce as he had only one responsibility and that was to multiply that one while the other two servants had more responsibility and yet succeeded gloriously. The answer is revealed in the one talent servant. Since in this story, the owner represents God and Christ, the perception of the owner by the servant is as follows:
1. He perceived that the master was a hard man reaping where he has not sown and gathering where he had not scattered seed (Matthew 25:24). Such accusations cannot be true for it is against the law of the Bible which states clearly that everyone reaps what they sow (Galatians 6:7). He might not have seen how the master sows or scatters seed but it is a fallacy to think that one can reap what they did not sowed. It would be equivalent to calling the master a thief.
2. The servant also expressed his fear and reacted by hiding the one and only talent he had (Matthew 25:25).
In his judgment and punishment of the owner, the owner reveals the true nature of the one talent servant: he was wicked and he was lazy (Matthew 25:26). Who do we believe, the owner or the one talent servant? Of course the owner, for the other five talent and two talent servants had no such problems with the owner. The real reason why the one talent servant did not multiply the talent was because he was lazy and probably did wicked things which the owner knows about (could be the very reason why the owner tested him with one talent) (Matthew 25:26).
The above parable illustrates how strange perception can be. We perceive other people through our own inner perception and lenses. We sometimes see the reflection of ourselves in others, whether good or bad. The wicked and lazy servant perceived the master to be wicked and lazy. When we judged other people, we are judging ourselves (Matthew 7:1-2). The same measure we use is the same measured back to us. How then can we perceive truth? Only the Spirit of truth can show truth. Only God who has no darkness in Him can perceive all of us for who we are. And only in His Spirit and light can we perceive the true nature of people (1 Corinthians 2:10-14).
For this reason, despite having created the whole world in His great and abundant love, people still mistrust and misperceive God. Some people see God as a cruel master because of the cruelty in their own hearts. Some others perceive God as lacking love because they themselves lack love. We see our own belief system and convictions reflected back at us when we see God through our own eyes. The Bible has the story of the prodigal son and the father that clearly illustrates this misperception of God. The story of the prodigal son is not really just the story of the prodigal son, rather it is the story of the Father of the prodigal son who represents our loving Father in heaven (Luke 15:11-32).
The prodigal son asked (demanded) for his inheritance from the father and received it. He spent all that he had and when he was in want, he ended up working in a pig sty. In great hunger such that even pig's food looked good to him, he reasoned within himself that it was much more better to work as a hireling for his father than to remain where he was (Luke 15:14-17). He even was willing to repent, acknowledged his sin and be disowned remaining just a hired servant. We then have the famous story of the prodigal son's father running to the lost son from afar putting on the best robes on him, plus rings and a pair of sandals on his feet, slaughtered the fatted calf for a celebration. The elder brother upon hearing of the celebration became angry and refused to go the party. His anger was probably directed at the father and the brother. He clearly stated that even though he has served the father faithfully all these years without transgression, his father had never gave him a young goat that he might make merry with his friends. Thus we have the contrast of two sons who had grown up and lived with the same father. One a transgressor and the other a law abiding man. The saddest thing was that both did not know the love of the father.
The prodigal son was like one of those who knew how to claim his rights and knew how to wriggle his way to have his needs met. He claimed his right of inheritance and received it. In famine and having nothing, he knew how to join himself to a swine herdsman. And when he compared how good the life of the servants under his father with the hard life he was living, he decided to become like one of the father's servants. At no time was it ever stated that he returned to the father because he loved the father. He was only interested in himself. That was his life. It typifies many Christians who are only in it for themselves. As long as God provides for them and feed their hunger, they will serve Him. Like the people who would make Jesus king because He could supernaturally feed them (John 6:15). Their motivation for singing Hail King Jesus would have been that which arises from self-interest. The prodigal son did not return to the father for the sake of the father. He cared not that his father was pining for him and longing for him each day. He cared not that his father was in pain and distress wondering where his beloved son was. He cared not for the sense and loss of the father. He never cared when he demanded for his inheritance nor did he cared when he was returning home to work for the father. He only cared for himself. In the midst of all his selfishness, he never ever saw the heart of the father. He never knew the love of the father nor could he empathise with his father's compassion.
The elder brother did not fare better either. He served the father. He obeyed the father. He was law abiding and most likely was very thrifty since he had never had a party with his friends before. He was also self-righteous for he considered himself better than his brother pointing to the harlotry of the younger brother. In all his law abided-ness, in all his self-righteousness, in all his hard work slogging day and night to serve and work under the father, in all his thriftiness and avoid waste, he never knew the love of his father nor understood his father's compassion and love. It was clear that he had no confidence in his father's generosity and love. For he was the opposite from his brother; his younger brother was selfish and dared to ask and demand of the father; he was not confident in his father's love for him and never dared to ask of the father. All his life working under the father and yet he still was not confident in his father's love. His father had made it clear that all the time that he was with the father, everything was his to use and be blessed. It was not the father who stopped him from having a party and enjoying the goat and all that was in the household, it was his own perception of the father that prevented him from enjoying the father's generosity. It is quite apparent that he did not understand the father's love and compassion for he was angry at the love shown to the younger son. He never shared the pain and the loss of the father's heart when his younger brother left home. He never shared in the constant grief and compassion and pining of the father for the younger son. Because he did not shared in the sorrow of love of the father for the younger son, he could not thus understand the joy that the father had when the younger son returned.
Two brothers living in the same house, brought up by the same father, having opposite personalities (one a transgressor and the other a law abiding man) both of them did not know the father's love. How can this be? I believe that the basic reason is that the two sons probably never ever took time to be with the father to understand his heart, to understand his nature, to know him for who he was and is. One son was too involved in satisfying his own desires, the other son was too involved in work and duty to be with the father. One took from him, the other dare not take from him. Both failed miserably in the test of love for the father. Where were the empathic tears that the elder brother could shed for the father, when finally the pining and agonising pain of the loss of a father for his son was healed upon his brother's return? Where were the tears of the younger son, that said that he missed the father and wanted to be with him forever? Nay, they both did not know the father's love.
In a similar way, we who are believers all share the same Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. But do we know the Father? Do we truly know His love? Do we feel His heart beat? Do we know His love for all of His creation? Do we feel His compassion flowing in our veins? Do we truly, truly love Him?
May we know the Father's heart and let our heart beat in tune to His heart beat of unconditional and eternal compassionate love.
In Christ Jesus
這個世界需要更多的勇者
勇於改變自己缺點的人
大膽的抗議!
做個勇者其實可以很好玩
做個有生命、有靈魂的人!
- Mar 03 Wed 2010 18:25
The Call to be a Disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Excerpt Taken From Fatherly Talk
Dearly Beloved
The vast majority of Christians today are believers or converts and not disciples. Yet the command of our Lord Jesus Christ was not to make converts but rather to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). A convert or believer looks forward to receive from our Lord Jesus Christ but a disciple looks forward to give and truly follow in the footsteps of Christ. Of course, we all do know that no one can live the Christ-life except as Christ lives within us (Galatians 2:20) but the key is that 'Christ DOES live through us." Many who called themselves Christians are not interested in Christ living in them or being like Christ rather all they want is the benefits of Christianity.
When people wanted to follow after Christ saying that he would follow him wherever He goes, Jesus immediately pointed to the cost of following Him (Luke 9:57-62).To one Jesus reminded that He the Son of man had nowhere to lay His head upon, to another Jesus said that He is to let the dead bury the dead and to yet another Jesus said that no one, having put his hand upon the plow looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that to be a disciple one must neither just look at the benefits of following Him, nor be involved in activities of the spiritually dead, nor be looking back and longing after the things of this life or the world. Indeed, those who love the world or the things of the world do not have the love of the Father in their lives (1 John 2:15-16). Indeed, when Jesus spoke of discipleship, He expects that those who chose to follow Him would have love for Him so great that in comparison of their love for Christ to those of their father, mother, wife, children, brother, sister, and their own life, too, it would be equivalent to hate! (Luke 14:26). For those who can't raise their love for Jesus to that level, Jesus considers that they cannot be His disciples.
To Jesus a disciple is one who can bear the cross (Luke 14:27). What is it to bear one's cross? Jesus illustrated it with the cost of discipleship as of a builder who counts the cost and as king who counts the cost. There is a cost of discipleship. The cost of discipleship is the cross - which represents the placing of our whole spirit, soul and body as a sacrifice to God and Jesus. The cross was Jesus giving His life for us; our personal cross is we giving our lives to God and to others. At the heart of discipleship is the love of God. Without the love of God, we cannot be disciples. God so loved the world that He gave His Son (John 3:16). Jesus so loved us that He gave Himself to us (Romans 5:5-8). As disciples we continue in the same flow of God's love and love others the same way Jesus loved (John 13:34-35). A true disciple of Christ is a disciple of God's and Christ's love.
- Mar 01 Mon 2010 12:13
過去、現在、未來的喜訊
過去、現在、未來的喜訊
- 羅馬書8:14-26釋經講道 -
- 羅馬書8:14-26釋經講道 -
https://youtu.be/X9Jbki-ZEYI
過去、現在、未來的喜訊 - 羅馬書8章
上帝愛你、賜福你！
聯絡信箱：
- Feb 22 Mon 2010 14:49
The Lifestyle of Humility
Excerpt Taken from Fatherly Talk
The Lifestyle of Humility
Dearly Beloved,
Having analysed various areas and people of humility in the Bible, we look at the application of humility in our daily lives. There are always differences of methodology between the humble and the proud. Jesus is the full personification of what the way of humility is. He chose the birth in the manger, chose to live humbly in a carpenter family when he could have been born to the elite or to royalty. He was an expert in all the Scriptures even at age twelve but chose not to be identified among the educated Pharisees but rather was identified among the working class; himself working as a carpenter until the age of thirty. When He ministered in His home town, people familiar with His natural life questioned how a carpenter could be the Messiah (Mark 6:2). Throughout His ministry, He had the upper class included among His followers but He is more known to associate with the common people and despised people (Luke 7:34). At His death on the cross for us, He was hung among thieves and robbers although a rich man gave His tomb for Jesus.
Contrast this with the modern pastor who desires to join the elite clubs, drive the best cars, live in the best mansions, wear the most expensive clothes and associate with the famous, high and mighty of society. Jesus did have many followers who were high up in society ministering to him and opening their homes to Him but He kept His balance in associating with the lowest of society and being available to them. Contrast this with ministers who have body guards, behave like Hollywood stars and become totally inaccessible to the man or woman on the street. What has our modern Christianity come to? We have ended up becoming the modern Pharisees who loved the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogue, being greeted and adulated and acknowledged by all of society (Matthew 23:6-8). In place of teaching the Bible, we have shallow oratory; in place of miracles, we have expensive programs; in place of prayer, we have social gatherings. What has our modern Christianity come to?
- Feb 15 Mon 2010 12:01
中國農曆新年的福音
中國農曆新年的福音
福音短講 + 見證詩歌
https://youtu.be/Z6esuMP_xuA
福音短講 + 見證詩歌
https://youtu.be/Z6esuMP_xuA
中國農曆新年的福音 - 福音信息
上帝愛你、賜福你！
聯絡信箱：
spiritword@gmail.com
====================================
信仰立場：基於基督教聖經，認同普遍基督教福音信仰、使徒信經。
- Feb 15 Mon 2010 11:46
Humility in the Life of the Apostle Paul
Dearly Beloved,
The Scriptures are full of the stories of men and women whom God breakdown from the altar of pride and produced in their lives an exemplary life of humility. Moses was such a man in the Old Testament and in the New Testament we have the apostle Paul. Paul (formerly named Saul) grew up in a privilege background. He was brought up at the feet of the foremost scholars of his time, Gamaliel, and rose to be a Pharisee (considered by secular society of that time to be the top rank in society) and possibly even to be part of the Sanhedrin council (Acts 22:3). He was a brilliant man who excelled beyond his contemporaries (Galatians 1:14).
There is no doubt that Saul, Paul's name before his conversion, was a very proud and religious man. He was instrumental in obtaining letters from the high priest to persecute and pursue the Christians (Acts 9:1-2). He was the man behind the death of Stephen and all the persecution of the Christians, for when he was converted, the persecution ceased (Acts 7:58; 8:3; 9:31). Paul, himself, admits that he was a persecutor, a blasphemer and an insolent man (1 Timothy 1:13). The root word "hubristes" from which the word "insolence" is translated speaks of one who is violent and who insults others. Paul was like a gangster and a big bully – all symptoms of an over-inflated ego and pride uncontrolled. He wanted to dominate and subjugate others to his thinking and beliefs. God cannot use him until he is broken.
Like a wild horse that is no use to the owner, Paul was no use to God until he was broken. An unbroken wild horse will not do what the master wants nor be willing to go where the master wants it to go; it must be broken first. In analysing the details of the breaking down of a man or horse, it is not the spirit that needs to be broken but rather the stubborn will. Break the will but not the spirit; this principle applies to bringing up a child in the ways of the Lord. The spirit of the horse or man that loves adventure, that is brave, that is courageous, that is persistent, etc.; all these good qualities must be preserved otherwise the horse or man loses the uniqueness that God has gifted the individual.
In the Old Testament, it speaks about the breaking of the spirit – a broken and contrite spirit God will not despise (Psalm 34:8; 51:17). It also speaks of a broken heart. Surely God does not want us to go around with a broken heart but a heart healed and whole. The Old Testament has two great differences from the new: firstly, the concept of the tripartite man (spirit, soul and body) is neither clearly revealed nor expressed and secondly, the concept of the new spirit (which must not be broken) was reserved for the New Testament era possible only in Christ. It is such that in the Old Testament, when it speaks about anger, which is a product of the soul and not the spirit, it uses the word "ruach" or spirit rather than "soul" (nephesh) (Proverbs 16:32; 19:11; 25:28; Ecclesiastes 7:9). Yet at the same time the Old Testament advocates a wholeness of spirit as being an important part of one's attributes to health and life (Proverbs 15:13; 17:22). Surely, it is not the will of God that one goes around with a sad sorrowful spirit that causes sicknesses or a broken spirit that dries the bones. We need to understand that the Old Testament has a way of using the word "ruach" translated "spirit" in a general sense like that of the English language. For example, when we use the phrase that the "spirit of a place is depressing" or that "the person has a wrong spirit," we do not necessarily mean that there are demons involved or a person is possessed. Rather it could be used in reference to the attitudes of a society or community or a person; which strictly speaking and technically, would be more a soul quality rather than a spirit quality. In Aramaic which was literally translated into Greek, Jesus said to His disciples, who wanted to call down fire on a village that rejected Him, that they do not know what spirit they are of (Luke 9:55-56). The problem was not in their spirits but it was in their judgmental and anger-vengeance type personality of their soul. And remember, that one of them was John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. So we can definitely surmise that the fiery temper of John had been broken and conquered before God used him to be the apostle of love. Thus we can conclude that the Bile usage of the word "spirit" especially in the Old Testament sometimes refers to attitudes and perceptions of people's souls and technically not their spirit per se.
- Feb 02 Tue 2010 14:35
發掘生命的呼召 - 基礎篇（輕鬆廣播）
發掘生命的呼召 - 基礎篇（輕鬆廣播）
https://youtu.be/ni7S00KcAkI
發掘生命呼召 - 基礎篇（輕鬆廣播版）
上帝愛你、賜福你！
聯絡信箱：
spiritword@gmail.com
- Feb 01 Mon 2010 14:20
Lessons of Humility from the Life of Moses
Article taken from Fatherly Talk
Dearly Beloved
Continuing on the theme of humility we now look at the person whom the Bible declares to be the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3). It is a strange little verse especially knowing that it was Moses who was supposedly the author of the Pentateuch (all five books of the Bible from Genesis to Deuteronomy). Moses might have dictated God's words and recount of the incidents to Joshua and others who put the remarks of his humility in parenthesis. For humility doesn't self advertised itself. (For example, the book of Romans is attributed to Paul but the scribe was Tertius (Romans 16:22). (O Yes, they have their secretaries - scribes - to take down notes even in those olden days).
Moses lived a life of privilege and luxury being brought up as the son of the daughter of Pharaoh (Hebrews 11:25-26). It is so easy to become proud when one is surrounded by great wealth, power or fame. For this reason the Bible exhorts those who are rich to be humble (1 Timothy 6:17). That such a verse is in the Bible tells us that the pride of life is an easy thing to fall into especially those who have riches, power and influence. This does not mean that the poor or middle class is exempted from such temptation. Poor people can also fall into pride to their self-effort (self-made people) or intelligence or skills. Pride is a temptation to everyone and is evident when we look down on others in whatever way, shape or form. There is even such a thing as spiritual pride, where one thinks they are spiritually better than others. If all things are equal, the rich and powerful do have more temptation to fall into pride. Thus the need for Paul and James to exhort them to walk in humility (1 Timothy 6:17; James 4:1-6; 5:1-6).
Those who have not tasted fame, fortune and power at its height do not realize how easy it is to subconsciously fall into a pride of life. You get used to people serving you all the time that you forgot that Christianity teaches us that a true disciple of Jesus must lower himself or herself to serve others first (John 13:3-17). Saul, the first king of Israel, became proud and wanted to preserve his own kingdom for himself; many times doing things that are profitable only to himself not truly caring for the people whom he was appointed to rule over. Yet, he started with seeming humility regarding himself as low in the eyes of prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 9:21). Many humble people do become proud when they tasted of power, wealth and fame; and this includes those in the ministry, too. Pride and pomp made King Nebuchadnezzar think that he was someone special and God had to deal with him (Daniel 4:28-37). Herod thought that he was someone special; dressing himself in great pomp and allowing people to link his oratory to the voice of God (Acts 12:21-24). He died eaten by the humblest and basic of God's creatures – the worm. No one is special. No one is above another human no matter what our gift or talents or education or adornment or wealth or fame. We are all equal in God's sight and should think of others better than ourselves (Romans 12:3, 10). The greatest among us must be the servant of all (Mark 9:35; 10:44). The sad thing in the ministry is that many fivefold ministers and churches struggle much to be successful and finally after much travail and pain do become successful; they subsequently forget where they came from, begin to behave and adopt proud ways and methods, setting themselves for a major fall and discipline by God. For God does resist the proud (James 4:6). It is sad because many such have never tasted success before and having come unto their own forget their humble roots. Of course, this also applies to the business person also who forgets the God of his earlier humble days when they were nobodies. We all need to learn to eat the humble pie of serving others continually or our flesh will cause us to be proud.
- Jan 28 Thu 2010 14:51
100%蒙神垂聽的禱告
- Jan 17 Sun 2010 03:58
期盼已久的好消息
期盼已久的好消息
羅馬書1:1-20 系統釋經講道 (expository preaching)
羅馬書1:1-20 系統釋經講道 (expository preaching)
https://youtu.be/lX5oGkzcMmQ
期盼已久的好消息 - 羅馬書1章
上帝愛你、賜福你！
- Jan 16 Sat 2010 14:42
Lessons in Humility from Joseph's Life
The life of Joseph is one of the most dramatic and touching real stories in the Bible, one of my personal favorite. The last few paragraphs on Joseph being determined to serve life in prison without any reward or recognition is most moving. No wonder he became what he became, similar are the accounts of that of Daniel and David.
Article taken from Fatherly Talk
Article taken from Fatherly Talk
Lessons in Humility from Joseph's Life
- Jan 11 Mon 2010 16:59
Lessons in Humility from the Life of David
Article taken from Fatherly Talk
Lessons in Humility from the Life of David
Dearly Beloved,
Humility is not an option but an essential if one is to progress in this life and also in the next life. Besides learning definitions of humility, we must also learn lessons of humility in this life that will stand us well while on earth and in the next life in heaven. All the principles of spiritual progress in this life and in the next life are derived from the same Scriptural principles. Part of the lessons in humility involved knowing how to relate properly to authority (and authority figures), relating to our own God-given abilities and gifting without using it to lord it over others, and learning to respect both those who are above us and those who are under us (in position, power and fame) equally. True humility learns to relate to people for who they are and not just what they have or where they are. Some of the lessons in humility we can learn from the life of David are:
1. Humility is to keep the right respectful attitude to authorities and authority figures even though we may be more popular, more talented and more gifted than them.
After David became the most popular man in Israel after he defeated Goliath, all the women and songs composed were about his greatness even above King Saul (1 Samuel 18:7). Definitely this was not the only song that was composed but a sample of songs being sang for all Israel loved David (1 Samuel 18:16). King Saul was very insecure and reacted wrongly to David attempting to kill him (1 Samuel 18:9-10). David in spite of all the adulation and popularity remained humble and considered that he was not worthy to be the king's son in law (1 Samuel 18:18). It would have been easy for David to become proud and big headed possibly even plotting Saul's dethronement but such thoughts never occurred to David. He was satisfied to remain where he was until the Lord's fullness of time. Let us also not forget the fact that David was actually anointed to be king by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:1, 13). There were so many reasons and opportunities for David to fall into pride but he did not. Before promotion comes a test of humility.
Many people lesser than David have failed at such opportunities because they became proud and take things into their own hands. The test is an opportunity to become proud through one's ability and achievement. Success has a way of preventing further success if one became proud through the preceding one. Only continued humility can assure one of continued success. Many people begin very humble in their lives but when success comes immediately become proud and thus they become a hindrance to their own further success. For this reason many do not rise to be the top rank of number one (head and not the tail) despite their earlier success, which would have been a test for them, for it did not produce an attitude of humility. Many remain with mediocre success for they failed the first test of humility. Everyone will be given an opportunity to be proud and only those who choose to remain humble continue in their meteoric rise to be the head and not the tail. Besides that, those who finally achieve the fulfilment of the Scriptural promise to be the head and not the tail sometimes do not get to keep their position because they became proud the moment they became the head (Deuteronomy 28:13). The power to remain the head also is conditioned upon exercising humility when at the very top and pinnacle of success.
2. Humility is to keep the right respectful attitude to authorities and authority figures even though we might not agree with them.
King Saul out of his insecurity began to pursue and destroy David such that David was driven from the palace to the cave (1 Samuel 19:8-18; 22:1). There were many attempts of Saul to kill David both directly and indirectly: spears being thrown at him (1 Samuel 18:10-11; 19:10), creating difficult and dangerous situations hoping that David will be killed (1 Samuel 19:25), sending assassins to kill David (1 Samuel 19:1, 11). Saul made David his enemy even though David had only done Saul good (1 Samuel 18:29). Insecure people made even good people their enemies. Most of the time their enemy is only in their head for the darkness of their own insecurities make them think that people are out to get them or wanting to dethrone them from their position. Feelings of jealousy, insecurity and anger are deeply rooted in insecurity. The darkness in people who have such dark thoughts caused them to see darkness in others when it is not there.
The right way to respond to people who have only done good to you is to love them and be grateful but those that are deeply insecure cause even those who love them and desire good for them to be their enemies. How sad that such people will end up without any friends for they seek to destroy even the very friends who do good to them. One would have thought that with so much in Saul against David that David would have hated Saul and seek to destroy him in return. This was a different test of humility for David. The first test was a test of sweet success as to whether he will become proud from his achievements. This second test is a test of whether he will return evil with evil. If he did so, he would have himself become bad and evil. Instead, David returned good for evil. He spared Saul's life twice against the wishes of his own mighty men (1 Samuel 24:5-7; 26:8-11). He also refrain others from destroying Saul (1 Samuel 24:7; 26:9). Some people will not destroy others themselves but get others to do the dirty job for them. This was not David's attitude for he commanded his men not to harm Saul, who had positioned himself to destroy David. By being a bigger man than Saul, David had passed the test of greatness. He passed the second test of humility and set himself on the road to greatness in God.
3. Humility is learning to both do what God says to do and NOT do what God says not to do even when we have the ability to do it.
King David had a good desire to build God a temple after he was firmly established in his throne and kingdom (2 Samuel 7:1-3). David was rich, popular, and powerful and had the natural ability to build God's temple. He even had received the plans by the revelation of God as to the details of the temple (1 Chronicles 28:12). David had very detail revelations of the dimensions of the temple, the running and divisions of the priests for the temple and even the materials for building the temple (1 Chronicles 28:1-21). The test, now that he was firmly established as king was whether he will do what God says; for in his position as king over all the land, only God was his restraining factor for no one else had the authority and power over him – he could practically do anything he wanted to do. When God said to David NOT to build the temple, David was humbled and obeyed God. God reminded him that he was nothing before he became a king and in God's sight would still be nothing without God (2 Samuel 7:5-16). God did bless and reward him for his right desires and love for Him but God did not allow him to build the temple, a job given to David's son.
There is a God watching every single human being on the earth: both the successful ones who are at the pinnacle of power and those struggling at the bottom of society. All are called to account before Almighty God. Anyone who disobeys God and steps outside the jurisdiction appointed and given to each will be dealt with severely just as Nebuchadnezzar was dealt with (Daniel 4:17). All men must humble themselves before God even the head of tribes, businesses, fields of studies, senior pastors of mega churches, heads of nations, yes, even the head of the whole entire human race and planet. It is a test of humility and perpetual greatness if one submits to God and only seeks to perform and do His Will as a servant even though one might be the mightiest and most popular and powerful man or woman on planet earth. David passed this test and became the standard by which every other king in Israel and Judah was measured.
David was not a perfect man but he was a humble man. Pride did rear its ugly head and David did fail some tests of humility. He failed the third test of humility given to those who have absolute power without any other human above them when he sinned with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:1-11). He did fail the test of pride when he numbered the Israelites (1 Chronicles 21:1-2). On the average, many men and women do pass the first test. Fewer pass the second test of humility and they end up in the deserts and wastelands of bitterness and strife. Their lives have become wasted time as they blame everybody but themselves for their lack of success. Each day and month and year is only more of the same as they either remain in a plateau or at the bottom of the barrel. They will only arise and experience more success in life when like the prodigal son, they stop blaming others and humble themselves and return to where they left the right path of progress both spiritually and naturally. Fewer still are those who make it through the second test and are tested at the third level of humility. For only very few men and women reach the top of their community or tribe or nation to have power and authority over others below them. Of those at the very top, very few are like Daniel or Joseph who preserved themselves from the sins of the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. More of them are like David who have made mistakes in these areas. Those who have not passed the second or third test should never judged the failures of those who fail for if you have not been in same level to be tested, you would not know whether you yourself would have passed or failed the test. For those who have failed in such areas and experience loss and shame like David, the key to redemption is as clear as it was in David's time. The key is repentance and humility. Since the test is actually a test of humility, it bears well to start at the throne of God by humbling oneself before Him. For God loves the humble exalting them and resisting the proud.
The good thing about God is that He allows us as many chances as we need to pass the test. It does not matter how many times one fails. It only matters that we keep close to God and keep humbling ourselves before Him. The lessons of humility from David who passed most tests but fail in some is that whenever you fail, humble yourself like David did and seek the mercies of God. In humbling himself in his failure with Bathsheba, God gave David a beloved son who would build the temple of his vision. In humbling himself in his failure for numbering the Israelites, God showed David the exact place to build the temple. The plans and the purposes of God move forward even through the meanderings of human failures. The river of God's perfect Will still gets done as long as humility comes forth easily and quickly.
Be aware that our humility is being tested at all times by Almighty God. Walk humble before God and before man and you will always experience exaltation by God into places of His delight and joy.
In Christ Jesus
- Dec 27 Sun 2009 13:41
Humility - the Road to Authority and Power
Article taken from Fatherly Talk
Humility - the Road to Authority and Power
Dearly Beloved,
It is clear to our lives today that humility is the primary key to the increase of grace and the workings of God in our life (James 5:5). The rewards are both on this earth and in heaven above. It would be good to outline the rewards and understand them in greater detail that we may be motivated to seek the road of humility rather than the road of pride and self. Amongst the rewards of humility are the very opposite of what we expect – authority and power. Those who desire power and seek it by their pride will only destroy themselves but those who do not desire power but only seek to humbly do God's will are rewarded with great authority and power that they might inherit the earth. The meek will always inherit the earth even though the strong and mighty try in vain to stop them or snatch it from them.
1. The humble are promoted to authority and power
