Category: 260靈修

加拉太書  第一章  1—8節

1  作使徒的保羅（不是由於人，也不是藉著人，乃是藉著耶穌基督，與叫他從死裡復活的父　神） 2 和一切與我同在的眾弟兄，寫信給加拉太的各教會。 3 願恩惠、平安從父　神與我們的主耶穌基督歸與你們！ 4 基督照我們父　神的旨意，為我們的罪捨己，要救我們脫離這罪惡的世代。 5 但願榮耀歸於　神，直到永永遠遠。阿們！ 6 我希奇你們這麼快離開那藉著基督之恩召你們的，去從別的福音。 7 那並不是福音，不過有些人攪擾你們，要把基督的福音更改了。 8 但無論是我們，是天上來的使者，若傳福音給你們，與我們所傳給你們的不同，他就應當被咒詛。

 

默想

1. 在辯證信仰的真實性時，若要用我信仰基督生命得到改變，來作實例時，我會分享哪一方面？我個人經歷神的經驗，對我向別人作見證，有什麼重要性？
2. 我是否認識什麼人，當初是十分反對基督的，但是現在卻成為了基督徒？什麼原因帶來如此的改變？

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Galatians 1:1-8

1. Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2. and all the brothers with me,  3. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4. who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5. to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.   6. I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7. which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

 

Meditation

1. If I had to argue for the reality of the gospel by giving one example of how I have changed by faith, what would I share?  How is my personal experience of Christ an important part of my witness to others?
2. Whom do I know who was once very hostile to Christ, but is now His follower?  What brought about that change?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

雅各書 第五章13-20節

13你們中間有受苦的呢，他就該禱告；有喜樂的呢，他就該歌頌。14你們中間有病了的呢，他就該請教會的長老來；他們可以奉主的名用油抹他，為他禱告。15出於信心的祈禱要救那病人，主必叫他起來；他若犯了罪，也必蒙赦免。16所以你們要彼此認罪，互相代求，使你們可以得醫治。義人祈禱所發的力量是大有功效的。17以利亞與我們是一樣性情的人，他懇切禱告，求不要下雨，雨就三年零六個月不下在地上。18他又禱告，天就降下雨來，地也生出土產。19我的弟兄們，你們中間若有失迷真道的，有人使他回轉，20這人該知道：叫一個罪人從迷路上轉回便是救一個靈魂不死，並且遮蓋許多的罪。

 

默想

1. 在我信仰的路程中，我是否曾經幾乎“失迷真道”，想要離棄神、回頭追求世界？是誰幫助我回轉到神的跟前？用些時間回想那次的經歷，以及心中感受？
2. 求問神，是否有那位信徒，目前也落在我當時的“失迷”光景中，我當如何來幫助他，重新回到信仰的真道上？
3. 為教會和小組的弟兄姐妹彼此間的關係禱告，我們都是破碎的人——肉體上、情感上、靈命上——因此我們需要彼此代禱，使我們的痊愈。求主賜下和諧、接納、寬恕、相愛的靈在當中，使我們能彼此相顧，見證神的能力。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

James 5:13-20

13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

 

Meditation

1. Recall a time when I came very close to wandering from the faith?  Who helped bring me back?  Spend some time revisit that experience and all my emotions then and now.
2. Is God putting someone in my heart that is in the “wandering from the faith” situation as I was?  How would I help him/her come back to the faith?
3. Pray for the people in the church and in my cell. We are all broken people—physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc—and we need each other in the community of faith to pray that we might be healed. Ask God to give us a spirit of harmony, acceptance, forgiveness, compassion, and love so that we would care for each other and witness God’s power.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

雅各書 第四章11-17節

11弟兄們，你們不可彼此批評。人若批評弟兄，論斷弟兄，就是批評律法，論斷律法。你若論斷律法，就不是遵行律法，乃是判斷人的。12設立律法和判斷人的，只有一位，就是那能救人也能滅人的。你是誰，竟敢論斷別人呢？13嗐！你們有話說：「今天明天我們要往某城裏去，在那裏住一年，做買賣得利。」14其實明天如何，你們還不知道。你們的生命是甚麼呢？你們原來是一片雲霧，出現少時就不見了。15你們只當說：「主若願意，我們就可以活著，也可以做這事，或做那事。」16現今你們竟以張狂誇口；凡這樣誇口都是惡的。17人若知道行善，卻不去行，這就是他的罪了。

 

默想

1. 訂立目標原是好的，但問題是我們常會認為是我自己在掌控我的生命和我的未來，而將神拋在我生命之外。如果我們的計劃中從來沒有把神包括在內，我們就不能參與在神的計劃中，因為沒有人能控制明天，未來是掌握在神手中的。我們應該在神面前謙卑，慎重地尋求神在我們生命中的心意。
2. 我對未來的十年、一年或明天有甚麼打算呢？假若神要介入我的計劃，替我重新安排，我願意嗎？我是否願意放開我的手，放開我對自己的計劃，雖然會面對不知，決心以信心來選擇跟隨神所為我安排的道路？事實上，只有當我選擇容許神來指引我的道路，我才能真正的活出神為我安排的豐盛生命。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

James 4:11-17

11 Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. 12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? 13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

 

Meditation

1. Setting goals and making plans can be good. The temptation, however, when we plan is to think that we are in control of our lives and our future, which pushes God away from our lives. And when God is not at the centre of our planning, we will find that we are not participating in His story—the things that he is doing in this world. Our lives and the future are in God’s hands. We need to come humbly to God and carefully seek God’s will for our lives.
2. What plans do I have for tomorrow, this year or next ten years? Am I willing to submit all of them to God so that I can be involved in his work for his glory and honour?  Am I willing to hold loosely to my own plans, and to take risky steps of faith to follow what God has in store for me?  Only when I choose to allow God to direct my path, will I be able to live the best life, the one God has in store for me.

 

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

雅各書 第三章1-12節

1我的弟兄們，不要多人作師傅，因為曉得我們要受更重的判斷。2原來我們在許多事上都有過失；若有人在話語上沒有過失，他就是完全人，也能勒住自己的全身。3我們若把嚼環放在馬嘴裏，叫牠順服，就能調動牠的全身。4看哪，船隻雖然甚大，又被大風催逼，只用小小的舵，就隨著掌舵的意思轉動。5這樣，舌頭在百體裏也是最小的，卻能說大話。看哪，最小的火能點著最大的樹林。6舌頭就是火，在我們百體中，舌頭是個罪惡的世界，能污穢全身，也能把生命的輪子點起來，並且是從地獄裏點著的。7各類的走獸、飛禽、昆蟲、水族，本來都可以制伏，也已經被人制伏了；8惟獨舌頭沒有人能制伏，是不止息的惡物，滿了害死人的毒氣。9我們用舌頭頌讚那為主、為父的，又用舌頭咒詛那照著　神形像被造的人。10頌讚和咒詛從一個口裏出來！我的弟兄們，這是不應當的！11泉源從一個眼裏能發出甜苦兩樣的水嗎？12我的弟兄們，無花果樹能生橄欖嗎？葡萄樹能結無花果嗎？鹹水裏也不能發出甜水來。

 

默想

1. 倘若把上週我所說過的話全部錄下來，並且在這週崇拜中播放出來，有那些內容我會希望刪除？
2. 花一些時間思想9-10節的經文，想想我一般說話是咒詛多、或是頌讚多？我怎樣才可以多說讚美鼓勵的話？
3. 在本週中，有那一位家人、同事或朋友，我要向他/她說些鼓勵的話？寫下我要講的話，並禱告求主提醒幫助我能確實做到。

 

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

James 3:1-12

1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

 

Meditation

1. If I were to record everything I said last week to have it played back during church, what would I want to erase from the recording?
2. Meditate on 3:9-10. Have I been doing more praising or cursing? What are ways that I can praise and encourage others more?
3. Is there a family member, a friend or colleague, to whom I may say some encouraging words? During this week, pray that God will help me to speak words of kindness and grace, and pray for one particular person with whom you find it difficult to speak with love.  As we pray for others, even ones whom we feel like we can’t love, God transforms our hearts to love them like He does.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

雅各書 第二章14-26節

14 我的弟兄們，若有人說自己有信心，卻沒有行為，有甚麼益處呢？這信心能救他嗎？15 若是弟兄或是姊妹，赤身露體，又缺了日用的飲食；16 你們中間有人對他們說：「平平安安地去吧！願你們穿得暖，吃得飽」，卻不給他們身體所需用的，這有甚麼益處呢？17 這樣，信心若沒有行為就是死的。18 必有人說：「你有信心，我有行為；你將你沒有行為的信心指給我看，我便藉著我的行為，將我的信心指給你看。」19 你信　神只有一位，你信的不錯；鬼魔也信，卻是戰驚。20 虛浮的人哪，你願意知道沒有行為的信心是死的嗎？21 我們的祖宗亞伯拉罕把他兒子以撒獻在壇上，豈不是因行為稱義嗎？22 可見，信心是與他的行為並行，而且信心因著行為才得成全。23 這就應驗經上所說：「亞伯拉罕信神，這就算為他的義。」他又得稱為　神的朋友。24 這樣看來，人稱義是因著行為，不是單因著信。25 妓女喇合接待使者，又放他們從別的路上出去，不也是一樣因行為稱義嗎？26 身體沒有靈魂是死的，信心沒有行為也是死的。

 

默想

1. 我們的信心，正如雅各所說，是不能眼見的，但卻藉著我們的行為表明出來。雅各告訴我們信心與行為是相齊並進的，我們因為相信耶穌基督，因此對世界、自己並神的工作，有不同的看法。當我們與基督的關係日漸增長時，我們的看法及價值觀也就因此而改變，我們的舉止行為也就會越來越貼近神的心意。這樣，我們的行為就顯明我們對神的信心。
2. 信主以後，我的信心怎樣影響我對生命、關係、工作、教會的看法？我如何使用我的時間？神如何在我身上開始祂的陶造工作？我怎樣與其他信徒一同活出我們的信心來？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

James 2:14-26

14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

 

Meditation

1. Faith is something that we cannot see but faith is made real and visible in our works. James tells us that faith and works go hand-in-hand; our faith in the person and gospel of Jesus Christ changes the way that we see the world, ourselves, and God’s work. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, our changed perspective and value system will cause us to behave closer to God’s way.  Thus, our actions reveal our faith in God.
2. How has my faith affected the way in which I view my life, relationships, work, the Church, how I spend my time, etc? How is God already at work around me?  How can I join others to live out my faith in actions?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 第一章 1-11節

1作神和主耶穌基督僕人的雅各請散住十二個支派之人的安。2我的弟兄們，你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂；3因為知道你們的信心經過試驗，就生忍耐。4但忍耐也當成功，使你們成全、完備，毫無缺欠。5你們中間若有缺少智慧的，應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的神，主就必賜給他。6只要憑著信心求，一點不疑惑；因為那疑惑的人，就像海中的波浪，被風吹動翻騰。7這樣的人不要想從主那裏得甚麼。8心懷二意的人，在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見。9卑微的弟兄升高，就該喜樂；10富足的降卑，也該如此；因為他必要過去，如同草上的花一樣。11太陽出來，熱風颳起，草就枯乾，花也凋謝，美容就消沒了；那富足的人，在他所行的事上也要這樣衰殘。

 

默想

1. 人生必然會遇上各種考驗，我們若相信神，也就確信，即使我們遭遇愁煩，祂會藉著我們掙扎的過程來陶造我們，因為“信心經過試驗，就生忍耐”（3節），使我們更成熟，更能為主所用。當我們遭遇財務上、關係上、健康上，的種種困難時，這是我們最能夠專注並依賴神的時候。而當我們明白“我本軟弱主剛強”時，我們也就能夠充滿喜樂。
2. 回想我曾經遭遇的一個試煉，是什麼？當時我對神的信心承受怎樣的壓力？我從這經歷的當中得到什麼“智慧”？
3. 在現今這個崇尚財富的社會，9-11節對我有什麼意義？雅各教導我應當以那些事情為榮？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

 

Meditation

1. Life involves us in many kinds of testing; it is in God that the testing of our faith produces endurance and because of Him, we are able to grow mature.  When we experience difficult times—whether financially, relationally, or otherwise—those times are when we are most able to focus and be dependent on God. These times can be filled with joy when we realise that He is strong when we are weak.
2. Recalling a trial I have experienced, what pressures did it bring on my faith?  What “wisdom” did I gain through it?
3. In this wealth-chasing modern society, what do vv 9-11 mean to me?  What might James say I should “take pride in”?  Will I heed his teaching?  Why?

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第廿八章

23 他們和保羅約定了日子，就有許多人到他的寓處來。保羅從早到晚，對他們講論這事，證明神國的道，引摩西的律法和先知的書，以耶穌的事勸勉他們。 24 他所說的話，有信的，有不信的。 25 他們彼此不合，就散了；未散以先，保羅說了一句話，說：聖靈藉先知以賽亞向你們祖宗所說的話是不錯的。 26 他說：你去告訴這百姓說：你們聽是要聽見，卻不明白；看是要看見，卻不曉得； 27 因為這百姓油蒙了心，耳朵發沉，眼睛閉著；恐怕眼睛看見，耳朵聽見，心裡明白，回轉過來，我就醫治他們。 28 所以你們當知道，神這救恩，如今傳給外邦人，他們也必聽受。（有古卷在此有： 29 保羅說了這話，猶太人議論紛紛的就走了。） 30 保羅在自己所租的房子裡住了足足兩年。凡來見他的人，他全都接待， 31 放膽傳講神國的道，將主耶穌基督的事教導人，並沒有人禁止。

 

默想

1. 保羅有兩年在羅馬受到軟禁，凡來見他的人，他都接待。使徒行傳是從十字架轉成復活開始，之後有監禁，鞭打，殉道——不單是保羅，而是初期教會中許多信徒的經歷。他們遭遇公開的恐嚇，私下的勾結；還有更微妙的妥協——回歸猶太教的儀式，謹守舊有的規條。但雖經過這些，基督的福音還是傳出去了。雖有拘限，妥協，阻攔，拒絕，福音終由羅馬帝國傳向世界各處。
2. 使徒行傳最後留下的圖像就是：保羅開放自己，開放住所，接待所有來見他的人，向他們放膽傳講，沒有人禁止。他曾接受別人的接待，現在他也接待他人。而「神是不偏待人(10:34)」，因此神的使者亦當如此。
3. 禱告，求主幫助我對到我身邊來的人，慷慨、仁慈的接待他們。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 28

²³They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. ²⁴Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. ²⁵They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet:  ²⁶” ‘Go to this people and say, “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”  ²⁷For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears,  and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ ²⁸“Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” ³⁰For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. ³¹Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

Meditation

1. Paul spent two years of imprisonment in Rome welcoming everyone who came to his house.  Acts began with a crucifixion turned into a resurrection.  There had been imprisonments, beatings, martyrdoms – not just for Paul but for many members of the early church.  There had been open threats and secret intrigues.  And there had been the more subtle danger of compromise – the pressure to be drawn back into Jewish ritual, absorbed into the old rule keeping.  Through it all, the gospel of Christ was spread to the world.  Every attempt to confine it, to compromise it, to muffle it, to reject it was finally ineffective.  It spread from the center of the world in Rome through the far reaches of the globe.
2. Acts closes with this image: Paul, opening his home and his heart, preaches boldly and without hindrance to all comers without.  As he has received hospitality, he offers it to “all who came to him.”  As “God shows no partiality” (10:34), God’s messengers must be similarly inclusive.
3. Pray that God will help me to offer hospitality to all who came to me and to show no partiality just as God does.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第廿七章

13 這時，微微起了南風，他們以為得意，就起了錨，貼近克里特行去。 14 不多幾時，狂風從島上撲下來；那風名叫友拉革羅。 15 船被風抓住，敵不住風，我們就任風颳去。 16 貼著一個小島的背風岸奔行，那島名叫高大，在那裡僅僅收住了小船。 17 既然把小船拉上來，就用纜索捆綁船底，又恐怕在賽耳底沙灘上擱了淺，就落下篷來，任船飄去。 18 我們被風浪逼得甚急，第二天眾人就把貨物拋在海裡。 19 到第三天，他們又親手把船上的器具拋棄了。 20 太陽和星辰多日不顯露，又有狂風大浪催逼，我們得救的指望就都絕了。 21 眾人多日沒有吃甚麼，保羅就出來站在他們中間，說：眾位，你們本該聽我的話，不離開克里特，免得遭這樣的傷損破壞。 22 現在我還勸你們放心，你們的性命一個也不失喪，惟獨失喪這船。 23 因我所屬所事奉的神，他的使者昨夜站在我旁邊，說： 24 保羅，不要害怕，你必定站在凱撒面前，並且與你同船的人，神都賜給你了。 25 所以眾位可以放心，我信神他怎樣對我說：事情也要怎樣成就。 26 只是我們必要撞在一個島上。

 

默想

1. 「我們得救的指望就都絕了」（20節），雖然在這樣絕望的情況下，保羅卻滿有希望的勸勉大家，因有神的使者在夜晚向他顯現，向他保證他必會到羅馬，在凱撒面前受審；並告訴與他一起的每一位也將去到羅馬。他說「不要害怕……放心」（24-25節）神將攔阻他們認識神的事物撥開——無論是船、工作、及想到達羅馬的意願等，但保全他們的生命，為的是使他們能深刻認識創造風浪和海水的真神。
2. 神今天也一樣要得到我們。每一件我們認為是損失的遭遇，都可以成為發掘神在當中的機會，使我們了解生命的寶貴，在沒有慾望、自大、及貪心妨礙的情況下，使我們了解愛的寶貴。神的聲音不斷地在恐怖、災難和絕望中對我們說道：「不要害怕。。。放心」。
3. 將心中的害怕、無助告訴神，並在問題的當中，尋找神的同在，聆聽神對我說：「不要害怕……放心」。

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 27

¹³When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. ¹⁴Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the “northeaster,” swept down from the island. ¹⁵The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. ¹⁷When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. ¹⁸We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. ¹⁹On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.  ²¹After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. ²²But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. ²³Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me ²⁴and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ ²⁵So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. ²⁶Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

Meditation

1. In spite of the terrible conditions, Paul spoke hopefully that an angel of God had appeared to him in the night and assured him that he would arrive in Rome and stand trial before Caesar; and all who were with him would get there, too.  He said, “Don’t give up… take heart” (the Message vv24-25).  God would strip them of what had obscured their awareness of him – the ship, the job, and the mad rush to Rome.  But their lives would be preserved.
2. God is also out to get us.  Everything we consider a loss can be a chance to discover God at the center, to realize the preciousness of life itself, of love unencumbered by lust and pride and greed.  The Voice keeps arriving in the midst of terror, disaster and hopelessness: “Don’t give up… take heart.”
3. Tell God my fear and helplessness.  Find God in the midst of my problem and His presence.  Listen to Him telling me: “Don’t give up… take heart.”

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第廿六章

12 「那時，我領了祭司長的權柄和命令，往大馬士革去。13 王啊，我在路上，晌午的時候，看見從天發光，比日頭還亮，四面照著我並與我同行的人。14 我們都仆倒在地，我就聽見有聲音用希伯來話向我說：『掃羅！掃羅！為甚麼逼迫我？你用腳踢刺是難的！』 15 我說：『主啊，你是誰？』主說：『我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。16 你起來站著，我特意向你顯現，要派你作執事，作見證，將你所看見的事和我將要指示你的事證明出來。17 我也要救你脫離百姓和外邦人的手。
18 我差你到他們那裏去，要叫他們的眼睛得開，從黑暗中歸向光明，從撒但權下歸向　神；又因信我，得蒙赦罪，和一切成聖的人同得基業。』」

 

默想

1. 為什麼耶穌不直接說：「我是神的兒子，你完全錯了。趕快改過」？

雖然掃羅曾經殺害基督徒，耶穌還給掃羅工作，如果我是保羅，我會怎樣回應？這說明耶穌是怎樣的一位神？

想想看，保羅這時會怎樣禱告；那時他雙眼全盲，且由手下牽引著走。

1. 禱告：和耶穌有個類似保羅的對話。（填入適合我情況的字句）

首先，耶穌問我，「你為什麼……？」我會怎樣回答？

然後，耶穌告訴我祂是誰——是我忽略的一面：「我是耶穌，是你……」

最後，耶穌說，「起來——我有工作要你去做。」這會是什麼工作？我會如何回應？

1. 在今天一天的生活中，不斷地問耶穌：我對你還有什麼地方是忽略的？是我不明白或不能接受的？請指明給我看。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 26

¹²“On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³About noon, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’  ¹⁵“Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’    ” ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. ¹⁷I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

 

Meditation

1. Why didn’t Jesus just say, “I’m the Son of God.  You got it all wrong. Change it”?

How would I respond to Jesus’ giving Saul a job to do even though he’s been murdering Christians?  What does this tell me about Jesus?

Consider what Paul might have prayed next; there he is, blind, with his underlings leading him to safety.

1. Prayer:  Have a conversation with Jesus similar to Paul’s. (Fill in the appropriate personal situation)

First, Jesus asks me, “Why are you…?”  How would I respond?

Next, Jesus tells me exactly who he is – a glimpse of him I have missed:   “I am Jesus the One you’re …”

Finally, Jesus says, “Up on your feet – I have a job for you.”  What is the job?  How would I respond?

1. Live today asking Jesus: Is there anything about you I’m missing out on?  That I don’t understand or accept?  Show me.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

第廿五章

1 非斯都到了任，過了三天，就從凱撒利亞上耶路撒冷去。2 祭司長和猶太人的首領向他控告保羅， 3 又央告他，求他的情，將保羅提到耶路撒冷來，他們要在路上埋伏殺害他。4 非斯都卻回答說：「保羅押在凱撒利亞，我自己快要往那裡去。」 5 又說：「你們中間有權勢的人與我一同下去，那人若有甚麼不是，就可以告他。」 6 非斯都在他們那裡住了不過十天八天，就下凱撒利亞去。第二天坐堂，吩咐將保羅提上來。7 保羅來了，那些從耶路撒冷下來的猶太人周圍站著，將許多重大的事控告他，都是不能證實的。8 保羅分訴說：「無論猶太人的律法、或是聖殿、或是凱撒，我都沒有干犯。」 9 但非斯都要討猶太人的喜歡，就問保羅說：「你願意上耶路撒冷去，在那裡聽我審斷這事嗎？」10 保羅說：「我站在凱撒的堂前，這就是我應當受審的地方。我向猶太人並沒有行過甚麼不義的事，這也是你明明知道的。11 我若行了不義的事，犯了甚麼該死的罪，就是死，我也不辭！他們所告我的事若都不實，就沒有人可以把我交給他們。我要上告於凱撒。」 12 非斯都和議會商量了，就說：「你既上告於凱撒，可以往凱撒那裡去。」

 

默想                     

1. 保羅守住了他羅馬人、猶太人、基督徒的身份，他竭力的為主盡上基督徒的本份，卻沒有因此不顧他身為羅馬人、猶太人的身份；他遵守羅馬的法律，也沒有干犯污穢聖殿，所以非斯都和亞基帕王根據羅馬法律，證明他是無罪的。
2. 每個人在這世界上，有好幾種身份，一個國家的國民、公司或學校的成員、你朋友的朋友（不管是教會中還是沒有信主的朋友）、家中的一分子。每個角色都有權利和義務。在我諸多的身份中，我是否盡力地守住？
3. 求聖靈光照，讓我看見有什麼地方需要改善的？並懇求神賜力量。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 25

¹Three days after arriving in the province, Festus went up from Caesarea to Jerusalem, ²where the chief priests and Jewish leaders appeared before him and presented the charges against Paul. ³They urgently requested Festus, as a favor to them, to have Paul transferred to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way. ⁴Festus answered, “Paul is being held at Caesarea, and I myself am going there soon. ⁵Let some of your leaders come with me and press charges against the man there, if he has done anything wrong.”  ⁶After spending eight or ten days with them, he went down to Caesarea, and the next day he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him. ⁷When Paul appeared, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many serious charges against him, which they could not prove.  ⁸Then Paul made his defense: “I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar.”  ⁹Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Are you willing to go up to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there on these charges?”  ¹⁰Paul answered: “I am now standing before Caesar’s court, where I ought to be tried. I have not done any wrong to the Jews, as you yourself know very well. ¹¹If, however, I am guilty of doing anything deserving death, I do not refuse to die. But if the charges brought against me by these Jews are not true, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”  ¹²After Festus had conferred with his council, he declared: “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

 

Meditation

1. Paul has kept his identity as a Roman, a Jew, and a Christian.  He diligently laboured for the Lord, he obeyed the Roman’s law, and he didn’t defy the Temple.  Therefore, Festus and King Agrippa knew he was innocent.
2. Everyone has different identities, a citizen of a country, an employee of a company, a student of a school, a friend to someone, a member of a family.   How am I keeping my various identities?  In trying to maintain one identity, am I overlooking the others?  Who am I at the core of my identity?
3. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show me where I need to change and improve.  Ask God for the needed strength.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

「耶和華以智慧奠定大地，以聰明堅立高天。…我兒，要謹守大智慧和明辨的態度，不可讓它們離開你的眼目。這樣，它們就必作你的生命，作你頸上的華飾。你就可以安然走路，你的腳必不致絆倒。」 [箴3:19~23]

星期日: 為今天崇拜中的領受禱告「我成長」

• 為今日葉牧師的信息感謝，為自己的得著禱告。
• 求神幫助自己在本週，能夠在五日中，每天抽出15分鐘來閱讀260，並默想禱告，經歷神的同在。

星期一: 為萬民堂禱告「我相愛」

• 為萬民堂計劃自立事宜禱告，求主賜恩，使得申請手續順利進行，並賜全教會信徒同心一致，實際做到 “我成長，我相愛，我傳揚”。
• 為教會中無論是幼稚園，小學，中學，大學的學生禱告，在即將開學之際，求主祝福每一位學生及家長，在新學期中，認真學習，友愛同學，活出主門徒的見證，並積極在同學，及家長中傳福音。
• 九月是新學年的開始，為教會中各個年齡的學生禱告，求主祝福每一位學生及家長，在新學期中，認真學習，友愛同學，活出主門徒的見證，並積極在同學，及家長中傳福音。特別為將離家就讀大學的學生，很快能適應學校生活，並保持與主親密的關係。

星期二: 為未信主的親友鄰居禱告「我傳揚」

• 求主提醒每一位信徒，持續為仍未信主的家人、朋友的得救禱告；並接受裝備，把握機會為主作見證。特別在小組聚會中經常為Oikos禱告，仰望等候神拯救的工作。

星期三: 為教會肢體禱告「我相愛」

• 為今年神賜給教會一些弟兄姐妹家庭增添的新成員而感謝。並為目前懷孕，將要生產的家庭禱告，“常存信心、愛心，又聖潔自守”（提前2：15），得蒙神的祝福。
• 為最近肢體中有家人去世的，求主繼續安慰，保守。
• 為身體有疾病軟弱的，求主施恩，在病患中減少痛苦，並且身、心、靈均獲得完全的醫治。

星期四: 為細胞小組及牧區禱告「我相愛」

• Hingstone 初職青年區的退修會，求主攔阻撒但的攪擾，讓聖靈通暢地在大家的心中作工，使年輕弟兄姐妹靈命得到復興，慕道友決志信主。

星期五: 為本地、世界及遠方的宣教士禱告「我傳揚」

• 為東非飢荒禱告：求神憐憫受東非大旱影響的人民，並賜下恩雨，使旱情得以舒緩。在糧食嚴重短缺的情況下，求主保守救援工作人員的安全。

星期六: 為教會牧者和明天崇拜/主日學禱告「我成長」

• 為明天蕭牧師的信息禱告，並賜福諸位主日學老師，能以神的愛與智慧教導眾人。

第廿四章

10 巡撫點頭叫保羅說話。他就說：「我知道你在這國裡斷事多年，所以我樂意為自己分訴。」

22 腓力斯本是詳細曉得這道，就支吾他們說：「且等千夫長呂西亞下來，我要審斷你們的事。」 23 於是吩咐百夫長看守保羅，並且寬待他，也不攔阻他的親友來供給他。24 過了幾天，腓力斯和他夫人、猶太的女子土西拉一同來到，就叫了保羅來，聽他講論信基督耶穌的道。25 保羅講論公義、節制和將來的審判。腓力斯甚覺恐懼，說：「你暫且去吧！等我得便再叫你來。」26 腓力斯又指望保羅送他銀錢，所以屢次叫他來，和他談論。27 過了兩年，波求非斯都接了腓力斯的任。腓力斯要討猶太人的喜歡，就留保羅在監裡。

 

默想                     

1. 本章似乎對保羅來說是個失敗，他在羅馬巡撫腓力斯面前作了場強而有力的辯護，指出大祭司的控訴錯漏百出。但腓力斯舉棋不定，拒絕裁定本案。保羅因此被拘留有兩年之久。腓力斯因希望保羅行賄，偶而召見作為聽審。看起來，保羅是一敗塗地。
2. 但事實上卻是成功！因為保羅，以及福音都被傳講出來了。我們不應期望在世人當中極受歡迎，或是絕大部分的人會立刻悔改信主，但至少，我們需要有機會來傳講福音給人聽。
3. 跟進第廿二章的第四個默想問題，有沒有機會向一個人分享我得救的故事？那人肯聽嗎？他肯接受嗎？我從這個經驗學習到什麼？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 24

¹⁰When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense.

²²Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” ²³He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.  ²⁴Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁶At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.  ²⁷When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.

Meditation

1. This chapter seems to be a defeat for Paul.  He made a compelling defense before the Roman Governor Felix, and showed how weak the chief priest’s case against him was.  But Felix waffled, and refused to decide the case.  Paul was put under house arrest, and kept there for two years.  Felix only talked to Paul from time to time in the hope of a bribe.  It looked like failure.
2. But in fact it was success!  For Paul, and the Gospel, had a hearing.  We shouldn’t expect to be popular, or that the majority of folks will experience instant conversion.  But at least we must have a chance to be heard.
3. To follow up on #4 of Ch 22’s meditation; was there an opportunity for me to share my story with someone?  Did I have a hearing?  How was it received?  What did I learn from this experience?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

 

 

第廿三章

1 保羅定睛看著公會的人，說：「弟兄們，我在　神面前行事為人都是憑著良心，直到今日。」2 大祭司亞拿尼亞就吩咐旁邊站著的人打他的嘴。3 保羅對他說：「你這粉飾的牆，　神要打你！你坐堂為的是按律法審問我，你竟違背律法，吩咐人打我嗎？」 4 站在旁邊的人說：「你辱罵　神的大祭司嗎？」 5 保羅說：「弟兄們，我不曉得他是大祭司。經上記著說：『不可毀謗你百姓的官長。』」 6 保羅看出大眾一半是撒都該人，一半是法利賽人，就在公會中大聲說：「弟兄們，我是法利賽人，也是法利賽人的子孫。我現在受審問，是為盼望死人復活。」 7 說了這話，法利賽人和撒都該人就爭論起來，會眾分為兩黨。8 因為撒都該人說沒有復活，也沒有天使和鬼魂；法利賽人卻說兩樣都有， 9 於是大大地喧嚷起來。有幾個法利賽黨的文士站起來爭辯說：「我們看不出這人有甚麼惡處，倘若有鬼魂或是天使對他說過話，怎麼樣呢？」 10 那時大起爭吵，千夫長恐怕保羅被他們扯碎了，就吩咐兵丁下去，把他從眾人當中搶出來，帶進營樓去。11 當夜，主站在保羅旁邊說：「放心吧！你怎樣在耶路撒冷為我作見證，也必怎樣在羅馬為我作見證。」

 

默想

1. 為什麼大祭司對保羅這麼粗魯（參21：21，28）？保羅如何表明他遵守猶太人的律法（1-5節）？
2. 之後保羅將論證的焦點從他是否遵守律法，轉向他對復活的盼望。由於法利賽人與撒督該人在此論點上的爭執，當時公會聽證堂裡很可能會演變成什麼情況？這對保羅的案件有何影響（7-10節）？
3. 神上次對保羅說話是18章9-10節，在他經歷一連串的挫折後。這時11節神再次向他說話，對他有何意義？如何會讓他想起神對亞拿尼亞說的話（9:15-16）？
4. 回想一次神與我特別親近的經歷。是什麼令我有這種神同在的感覺？這對我有什麼影響？

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

Chapter 23

¹Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, “My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.” ²At this, the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth. ³Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit there to judge me according to the law, yet you yourself violate the law by commanding that I be struck!”  ⁴Those who were standing near Paul said, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”  ⁵Paul replied, “Brothers, I did not realize that he was the high priest; for it is written: ‘Do not speak evil about the ruler of your people.'”  ⁶Then Paul, knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, called out in the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee. I stand on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead.” ⁷When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. ⁸(The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.)  ⁹There was a great uproar, and some of the teachers of the law who were Pharisees stood up and argued vigorously. “We find nothing wrong with this man,” they said. “What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?” ¹⁰The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them. He ordered the troops to go down and take him away from them by force and bring him into the barracks.

Meditation

1. Why would the high priest react so violently to Paul’s statement in v1 (see 21:21, 28)?  Why and how does Paul show his respect for the Jewish Law (vv1-5)?
2. Paul then changed the focus of attention from whether he has kept the law to his hope in the resurrection.  Given the tension on this issue between the Pharisees and Sadducees, what must the next few minutes of the assembly have been like?  What effect does the split have on Paul’s cases (vv7-10)?
3. The last time God spoke to Paul was in 18:9-10, after he had experienced a series of setbacks.  How would the Lord’s message here (v11) help Paul again?  How might this help Paul remember what the Lord said about him to Ananias in 9:15-16?
4. Describe a time when I felt the Lord especially near to me.  What circumstances caused this sense of the Lord’s presence?  What were the impacts on me?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第廿二章

1諸位父兄請聽，我現在對你們分訴。 2 眾人聽他說的是希伯來話，就更加安靜了。

3 保羅說：我原是猶太人，生在基利家的大數，長在這城裡，在迦瑪列門下，按著我們祖宗嚴緊的律法受教，熱心事奉神，像你們眾人今日一樣。 4 我也曾逼迫奉這道的人，直到死地，無論男女都鎖拿下監。 5 這是大祭司和眾長老都可以給我作見證的。我又領了他們達與弟兄的書信，往大馬士革去，要把在那裡奉這道的人鎖拿，帶到耶路撒冷受刑。

6 我將到大馬士革，正走的時候，約在晌午，忽然從天上發大光，四面照著我。 7 我就仆倒在地，聽見有聲音對我說：掃羅！掃羅！你為甚麼逼迫我？

8 我回答說：主啊，你是誰？他說：我就是你所逼迫的拿撒勒人耶穌。 9 與我同行的人看見了那光，卻沒有聽明那位對我說話的聲音。

10 我說：主啊，我當做甚麼？主說：起來，進大馬士革去，在那裡，要將所派你做的一切事告訴你。

 

默想

1. 保羅是在大馬士革的路上奇妙地開始他信心之旅，他很勇敢地講述他的故事，也就是神與人的故事。這段經文簡要地解說了保羅信主前的情況，如何遇見主，以及信主後的改變。
2. 思想一下我自己的故事——我信主前是怎樣的？怎樣遇見基督的？自從遇見基督後，我生命有怎樣的改變？是否有其他人因為我與主的相遇，使得他們的生命也得到改變？
3. 想想我可以怎樣描述與神相遇、生命改變的經歷？然後用兩、三個段落寫下我的信心故事。最後，找一位主內的朋友幫助潤飾，將最恰當的細節寫進去。
4. 禱告。求神在要來的一週內，給我機會可以向一個人分享我與神的故事。當我留意到面前有個敞開的門時，求主給我勇敢去與人分享。

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 22

¹“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.” ²When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.    Then Paul said: ³“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. ⁴I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, ⁵as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.  ⁶“About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. ⁷I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  ⁸” ‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.    ” ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. ⁹My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.  ¹⁰“‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked.    “‘Get up,’ the Lord said, ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’

Meditation

1. Paul’s faith began in an amazing way on the road to Damascus.  He was bold to share his story and ultimately The Story, the one of God and man.  This passage gives us a thorough yet succinct explanation of the person Paul was before he met Christ, how he met Christ, and the person he became after he met Christ.
2. Reflect on my story –Who was I before Christ?  What was meeting Christ like?  In what ways is my life different now as a result of meeting him?  Are other people different today because of my interaction with Jesus?
3. Think about how I might describe my life-altering encounter with the Living God and my faith journey.  Now write my story of faith in just two or three paragraphs.  Finally, ask someone to help me hone it to include the most appropriate details.
4. Pray that God will provide me an opportunity to present my story of God and me with another person in the coming week.  When I sense the open door plainly before me, take the risk and share the stories.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第廿一章

10 我們在那裡多住了幾天。有一個先知，名叫亞迦布，從猶太下來。11 到了我們這裡，就拿保羅的腰帶捆上自己的手腳，說：「聖靈說：『猶太人在耶路撒冷要如此捆綁這腰帶的主人，把他交在外邦人手裡。』 」 12 我們和那本地的人聽見這話，都苦勸保羅不要上耶路撒冷去。13 保羅說：「你們為甚麼這樣痛哭，使我心碎呢？我為主耶穌的名，不但被人捆綁，就是死在耶路撒冷也是願意的。」 14 保羅既不聽勸，我們便住了口，只說「願主的旨意成就「便了。15 過了幾日，我們收拾行李上耶路撒冷去。16 有凱撒利亞的幾個門徒和我們同去，帶我們到一個久為（註：「久為」或作「老」）門徒的家裡，叫我們與他同住；他名叫拿孫，是塞浦路斯人。

 

默想     

1. 凱撒利亞的信徒苦勸保羅不要回去耶路撒冷，卻沒有果效，便說「願主的旨意成就」。將這句話，與主禱文中「願你的國降臨，願你的旨意[成就]」，以及耶穌在客西馬尼園禱告時說「願你的旨意成就」，有什麼異同？
2. 這個禱告如何說明人的生命應該由誰掌管？我的生命是誰在掌管？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 21

¹⁰After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”  ¹²When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. ¹³Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” ¹⁴When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”  ¹⁵After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Manson, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

 

Meditation

1. Believers in Caesarea pleaded Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but to no avail.  So, they said, “The Lord’s will be done.”  Compare this with the Lord’s Prayer: “your kingdom come, your will be done”; and Jesus’ prayer “Not my will, but your will be done” in Gethsemane.  Is there any similarity and difference?
2. How would this prayer explain who’s really in control of my life.  Now, who’s in charge of my life?  Is God in his rightful place in my life, or is there another “god” seated on that throne?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

第二十章

17 保羅從米利都打發人往以弗所去，請教會的長老來。18 他們來了，保羅就說：「你們知道，自從我到亞西亞的日子以來，在你們中間始終為人如何，19 服事主凡事謙卑，眼中流淚，又因猶太人的謀害，經歷試煉。20 你們也知道，凡與你們有益的，我沒有一樣避諱不說的。或在眾人面前，或在各人家裡，我都教導你們。21 又對猶太人和希臘人證明當向　神悔改，信靠我主耶穌基督。

22 現在我往耶路撒冷去，心甚迫切（註：原文作「心被捆綁」），不知道在那裡要遇見甚麼事。23但知道聖靈在各城裡向我指證，說有捆鎖與患難等待我。24 我卻不以性命為念，也不看為寶貴，只要行完我的路程，成就我從主耶穌所領受的職事，證明　神恩惠的福音。

 

默想     

1. 保羅和以弗所教會長老道別時，形容自己「服事主凡事謙卑，眼中流淚」。《生命陶造版》聖經給「服事」的定義為：「滿有愛心和體貼，積極謀求他人的好處，並努力促使神的旨意在世上通行無阻。我們這樣服事，便能成長，超越自我，經歷老我的日益消亡。」
2. 對保羅向主的委身，在那一方面最令我受感動？
3. 在這一週內，我能做些什麼，效法保羅的服事，力求他人的好處，並促使神的旨意實現在世上？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 20

¹⁷From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. ¹⁸When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. ¹⁹I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. ²⁰You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. ²¹I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.  ²²“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. ²³I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. ²⁴However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.

 

Meditation

1. In his farewell to the elders of Ephesus, Paul describes himself as “serving the Lord with all humility and with tears.”  The Spiritual Formation Bible has the definition of Service as: loving, thoughtful, active promotion of the good of others and the causes of God in our world, through which we experience the many little deaths of going beyond ourselves.
2. What impresses me the most in Paul’s commitment to the Lord?
3. How can I follow Paul’s example of service to “promote the good of others and the causes of God in our world” this week?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

第十九章

13 那時，有幾個遊行各處、念咒趕鬼的猶太人，向那被惡鬼附的人擅自稱主耶穌的名，說：「我奉保羅所傳的耶穌，敕令你們出來！」 14 做這事的，有猶太祭司長士基瓦的七個兒子。15 惡鬼回答他們說：「耶穌我認識，保羅我也知道。你們卻是誰呢？」 16 惡鬼所附的人就跳在他們身上，勝了其中二人，制伏他們，叫他們赤著身子受了傷，從那房子裡逃出去了。17 凡住在以弗所的，無論是猶太人，是希臘人，都知道這事，也都懼怕，主耶穌的名從此就尊大了。18 那已經信的，多有人來承認訴說自己所行的事。19 平素行邪術的，也有許多人把書拿來，堆積在眾人面前焚燒。他們算計書價，便知道共合五萬塊錢。20 主的道大大興旺，而且得勝，就是這樣。

 

默想     

1. 擅自妄稱耶穌的名字，並不是得到超然能力的關鍵；最主要的關鍵是需要與耶穌建立個人的關係，並願意為神所用，且學習隨處觀察神的作為。
2. 我有沒有隨意的呼喚耶穌的名？
3. 我家裡是否還有與偶像、邪術有關的符咒和其他物品？我願意全部丟掉嗎？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 19

¹³Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” ¹⁴Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵(One day) the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” ¹⁶Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.  ¹⁷When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. ¹⁸Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. ¹⁹A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. ²⁰In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.

 

Meditation

1. Uttering or chanting the name of Jesus is no key to supernatural power.  The key is having a personal relationship with Jesus, being available to Him and learning to see where He is at work.
2. Do I use Jesus’ name lightly?
3. Is there still something in my life that belongs to the idols or witchcraft?  Am I willing to get rid of them all?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

第十八章

24 有一個猶太人，名叫亞波羅，來到以弗所。他生在亞歷山大，是有學問的，最能講解聖經（註：「學問」或作「口才」）。25 這人已經在主的道上受了教訓，心裡火熱，將耶穌的事詳細講論教訓人；只是他單曉得約翰的洗禮。26 他在會堂裡放膽講道，百基拉、亞居拉聽見，就接他來，將　神的道給他講解更加詳細。27 他想要往亞該亞去，弟兄們就勉勵他，並寫信請門徒接待他（註：或作「弟兄們就寫信勸門徒接待他」）。他到了那裡，多幫助那蒙恩信主的人，28 在眾人面前極有能力，駁倒猶太人，引聖經證明耶穌是基督。

 

默想     

1. 亞波羅熟讀聖經，口才了得，心裡火熱，為人謙卑，不介意受教於織帳篷的百基拉和亞居拉，應邀去到亞波羅家中，聆聽他們將神的道向他詳加解釋，澄清他的觀念與認知。
2. 當我看見別人犯錯時，我的反應為何？是否有百基拉和亞居拉的愛心與智慧，來指正並教導？
3. 我是否像亞波羅那樣有謙卑受教的心，虛心接受別人的指正？

對我，並不是你教我的真理，

對你那麼清楚，對我卻模糊不清；

但當你到我這裡來時，

你帶了祂來！

從你的眼中祂呼喚我，

從你的心裡流出祂的愛；

直到我不再看見你，

卻看到了基督。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 18

²⁴Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. ²⁵He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.  ²⁷When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. On arriving, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. ²⁸For he vigorously refuted the Jews in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Meditation

1. Apollos is characterized positively for knowledge of Scripture, eloquence, and spirit, and yet he was willing to learn from the tentmakers.  Priscilla and Aquila invited him over and explained to him the way of God more accurately and clearly.
2. When I see someone making mistakes, what is my reaction?  Do I have the love and wisdom to correct and to teach?
3. Do I have a humble and receptive spirit for other people’s teaching and correction?

For me ‘twas not the truth you taught,

To you so clear, to me so dim,

But when you came to me you brought

A sense of Him!

And from your eyes He beckons me,

And from your heart His love is shed,

Till I lose sight of you and see

The Christ instead.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

第十七章

22 保羅站在亞略巴古當中，說：眾位雅典人哪，我看你們凡事很敬畏鬼神。 23 我遊行的時候，觀看你們所敬拜的，遇見一座壇，上面寫著未識之神。你們所不認識而敬拜的，我現在告訴你們。 24 創造宇宙和其中萬物的神，既是天地的主，就不住人手所造的殿， 25 也不用人手服事，好像缺少甚麼；自己倒將生命、氣息、萬物，賜給萬人。 26 他從一本（有古卷作血脈）造出萬族的人，住在全地上，並且預先定準他們的年限和所住的疆界， 27 要叫他們尋求神，或者可以揣摩而得，其實他離我們各人不遠； 28 我們生活、動作、存留，都在乎他。就如你們作詩的，有人說：我們也是他所生的。 29 我們既是神所生的，就不當以為神的神性像人用手藝、心思所雕刻的金、銀、石。 30 世人蒙昧無知的時候，神並不監察，如今卻吩咐各處的人都要悔改。 31 因為他已經定了日子，要藉著他所設立的人按公義審判天下，並且叫他從死裡復活，給萬人作可信的憑據。

默想     

1. 保羅在亞略巴谷山的講章，以希臘人明白的事例來開始，為獨一真正的神建立論據。雅典人設立名為「未識之神」一個偶像，因他們唯恐因少拜這神而失去祝福或受到懲罰。保羅以此「未識之神」打開與雅典人的溝通之門，用此作為切入點，見證獨一的真神（22-23節）。接著他從他們對神虔誠的觀點，引用希臘詩人的詞句，建立共同立場，詳述神是宇宙萬物和人類的創造者，因此我們最終都要向祂交待；將金、銀、寶石所做的偶像當作神是無知的（24-29節）。最後，保羅強調神使耶穌從死裡復活，要證明將有審判日的來到，且基督將憑公義審判世人（30-31節）。
2. 今天的社會絕大部分人仍然未認識神，我是否學習好如何向人介紹基督，並清楚說明耶穌基督為全人類所成就的救恩？求神幫助我效法保羅：運用例子、建立共同立場，引導人作出決定，接受基督。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 17

²²Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.  ²⁴“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. ²⁵And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. ²⁶From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. ²⁷God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. ²⁸‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  ²⁹“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill. ³⁰In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Meditation

1. Paul’s sermon on Mars Hill (Areopagus) began by drawing on pagan Greek poets to establish a point of contact, and then went on to proclaim God’s truth.  Paul had caught glimpses of God’s truth in the religion and culture of those people but knew that they needed to be pointed to the one who says “I am the truth”. So Paul’s quotes connected him with the Athenians and set the stage for his teaching.  That message directly confronted the worldview of his listeners.  God is the Creator of the world.  God is the Creator of all men, and all are responsible to Him. It is ignorant to think of the divine Being in terms of gold, silver, or stone idols.  A day of judgment is coming, and the proof is that God has raised Jesus from the dead.  And He will judge one day.
2. 2.        Majority of the people today still doesn’t know the true God.  Am I equipped to share the gospel effectively and clearly?  Have I studied the culture that surrounds me, asking God to help me see those glimpses of truth that I can use to begin conversations with others around life, meaning, and ultimately God?  Ask God’s help to be prepared to be His witness to unbelieving folks around me.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十六章

22 眾人就一同起來攻擊他們（保羅和西拉）。官長吩咐剝了他們的衣裳，用棍打； 23 打了許多棍，便將他們下在監裡，囑咐禁卒嚴緊看守。24 禁卒領了這樣的命，就把他們下在內監裡，兩腳上了木狗。

25 約在半夜，保羅和西拉禱告唱詩讚美　神，眾囚犯也側耳而聽。26 忽然地大震動，甚至監牢的地基都搖動了，監門立刻全開，眾囚犯的鎖鏈也都鬆開了。27 禁卒一醒，看見監門全開，以為囚犯已經逃走，就拔刀要自殺。28 保羅大聲呼叫說：「不要傷害自己！我們都在這裡。」

29 禁卒叫人拿燈來，就跳進去，戰戰兢兢地俯伏在保羅、西拉面前，30 又領他們出來，說：「二位先生，我當怎樣行才可以得救？」

31 他們說：「當信主耶穌，你和你一家都必得救。」 32 他們就把主的道講給他和他全家的人聽。33 當夜，就在那時候，禁卒把他們帶去，洗他們的傷；他和屬乎他的人立時都受了洗。34 於是禁卒領他們上自己家裡去，給他們擺上飯。他和全家，因為信了神，都很喜樂。

35 到了天亮，官長打發差役來說：「釋放那兩個人吧！」 36 禁卒就把這話告訴保羅，說：「官長打發人來叫釋放你們。如今可以出監，平平安安地去吧！」

 

默想

1. 為什麼獄卒因為保羅和西拉的行為，會有這麼大的反應和轉變？想一下這樣幾乎不可思議的情景：獄卒接待囚犯到家中；保羅和西拉為全家人施洗；大家在不知明天保羅和西拉會有怎樣的下場的情況下，一起飽享一頓豐富的午夜餐。
2. 告訴神，這段經文中最感動我的是什麼？這說明我需要向神求什麼？現在就向神求。
3. 保羅這句話「你和你一家都必得救」並非應許每個孩子都必定得救，而是說，孩子們和我們一樣，都可以因著信主而得到拯救。我是否常為家中的成員逐一提名為他們的得救禱告？現在就一一提名為他們禱告吧！

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 16

²²The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. ²³After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. ²⁴Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  ²⁵About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. ²⁷The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. ²⁸But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  ²⁹The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. ³⁰He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  ³¹They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.  ³⁵When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”

Meditation

1. Why was the jailer so dramatically affected by Paul and Silas’ behavior?  Picture these scenes: the jailer making his prisoners feel at home with his family, Paul and Silas baptizing the family, the group eating a festive meal together, not knowing what would happen to Paul and Silas the next day.
2. Talk to God about what touches me the most in this passage.  What does that tell me about what I need from God?  Ask God for that.
3. Paul’s words on salvation to “you and your household” is not a blanket assurance that one’s children will someday be saved, but as assurance that they, like us, can find salvation through faith in the Lord.  Do I often pray for the salvation of my family members and mention their names to the Lord?  Pray for each one of them NOW!

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

第十五章

7 辯論已經多了，彼得就起來，說：「諸位弟兄，你們知道　神早已在你們中間揀選了我，叫外邦人從我口中得聽福音之道，而且相信。 8 知道人心的　神也為他們作了見證，賜聖靈給他們，正如給我們一樣； 9 又藉著信潔淨了他們的心，並不分他們我們。 10 現在為甚麼試探　神，要把我們祖宗和我們所不能負的軛放在門徒的頸項上呢？ 11 我們得救乃是因主耶穌的恩，和他們一樣，這是我們所信的。」

12 眾人都默默無聲，聽巴拿巴和保羅述說　神藉他們在外邦人中所行的神蹟奇事。13 他們住了聲，雅各就說：「諸位弟兄，請聽我的話。 14 方才西門述說　神當初怎樣眷顧外邦人，從他們中間選取百姓歸於自己的名下； 15 眾先知的話也與這意思相合。

 

默想

1. 耶路撒冷會議是處理教會內紛爭的好榜樣：正視問題，聽取各方面的論點，不可偏私，要由靈命成熟的領袖帶領討論，作出明智決定；並且決定一出，人人都樂意遵守。
2. 在我們教會中，是否曾出現過問題紛爭？當時是怎樣處理的？與耶路撒冷會議的處理方式相比，我們有什麼可以學習的？
3. 目前我的小組中，有沒有什麼問題？我應當如何作？如何處理？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 15

⁷After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. ⁸God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. ⁹He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. ¹⁰Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? ¹¹No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”  ¹²The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. ¹³When they finished, James spoke up: “Brothers, listen to me. ¹⁴Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. ¹⁵The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written:

 

Meditation

1. The Jerusalem council is a good model of handling conflicts within a church: to face the problem, listen to all sides, try to show no partiality, appoint spiritually mature leaders to lead the discussion, to make wise decision, and when the decision is made that the community will obey.
2. In our church’s brief history, has there been any problem or conflict?  How was it handled?  Compare it with the Jerusalem Council, what can we learn from them?
3. Is there any problem in my cell?  What should I do or how to handle it?

 

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

第十四章

20 門徒正圍著他，他就起來，走進城去。第二天，同巴拿巴往特庇去。

21 對那城裡的人傳了福音，使好些人作門徒；就回路司得、以哥念、安提阿去， 22 堅固門徒的心，勸他們恆守所信的道，又說：“我們進入　神的國，必須經歷許多艱難。”

23 二人在各教會中選立了長老，又禁食禱告，就把他們交託所信的主。

 

 

默想

1. 對保羅來說，事奉的目的就是要「堅固」信徒（22節），「成全聖徒」，裝備他們（弗4:12-13）。主不但吩咐我們領人作祂的門徒，且要教訓他們遵守主一切的命令。今天許多教會都忽略了大使命中的這個部分，成為我們「大使命中的一大疏忽」(Great Omission from the Great Commission)。
2. 我是否知道，目前教會中有那些裝備的事工，供信徒投入參與學習？
3. 信主以來，我接受了多少「裝備」？我是否願接受更多的靈命成長和事奉的裝備？
4. 「與主有約260」，就是一個裝備的機會。為這個學習的機會感謝神，也求主幫助自己能堅持完成這個學習。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 14

²⁰But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe. ²¹They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²²strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. ²³Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

 

Meditation

Paul believed that the purpose of ministry was to “strengthen believers’ souls” (v22) and “equip the saints” (Eph 4:12-13).  We are commanded by Jesus not only to make disciples, but also to teach them to obey everything that Jesus commanded.  This is the “Great Omission from the Great Commission” in many churches.

How much do I know of the various Equipping opportunities at my church?  What have I been committed in?

Recalling my own Christian journey, how much equipping have I received?  Am I willing to receive training for spiritual growth and ministry preparation?

This “260 Appointments with God” is an Equipping opportunity.  Thank the Lord for this exercise, and pray that God will help me persevere to the finish line.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

第十三章

1 在安提阿的教會中有幾位先知和教師，就是巴拿巴和稱呼尼結的西面、古利奈人路求，與分封之王希律同養的馬念，並掃羅。

2 他們事奉主，禁食的時候，聖靈說：“要為我分派巴拿巴和掃羅，去做我召他們所做的工。”

3 於是禁食禱告，按手在他們頭上，就打發他們去了。

 

默想

1. 在揀選、按立巴拿巴和掃羅為宣教士的過程中，敬拜、禱告和禁食缺一不可。今天一般的教會，在按立牧師、差派宣教士的典禮中，敬拜和禱告都是不可缺少的，禁食卻不常見到，為什麼呢？是否可以建議教會下一次按牧或差傳聚會中，或是在下次舉行全教會性有關將來計劃的會議時，將禁食加在聚會程序中？
2. 仔細重覆地閱讀下列定義，直到有更清楚的了解。並在本週內找機會來操練其中一項。

禁食：為了專注屬靈的事，自願禁戒某些正常的活動，最常見的例子是不進食；或是不上網，不看電視，球賽，不吃最愛的食物等。

禱告：與神對話，交流彼此的想法，討論共同合作的事情。因此，有我說，也有神說，我就安靜不語，聆聽神。

敬拜：用言語、音樂、禮儀和靜默的崇敬，來表述神的偉大和美善，並藉著這些方式進入神奇妙的榮耀中。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 13

¹In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. ²While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” ³So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

Meditation

1.        In this passage, worship, prayer and fasting are integrated into the selection and installation of Barnabas and Saul as missionaries.  Today worship and prayer are common in the ordination of pastors and installation of missionaries, but fasting is not.  Why has fasting been dropped from the preparation for these times of consecration?  How possible would it be to suggest that fasting be part of the next ordination or installation service in our church?  Or for the next church-wide meeting regarding future planning?

2.        Read carefully and repeatedly the definition of these three elements until a better understanding is gained.  Find ways to implement one of these this week.  (Source: Spiritual Formation Bible)

Fasting: The voluntary abstention from an otherwise normal function – most often eating – for the sake of intense spiritual activity. Other examples include websurfing, TV, favourite food, sports, etc .

Prayer: Interactive conversation with God about what we and God are thinking and doing together. Therefore, there is talking and also the silently listening.

Worship: Expressing in words, music, rituals, and silent adoration the greatness, beauty, and goodness of God, by means of which we enter the supernatural reality of the glory, of God.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十二章

4 希律拿了彼得，收在監裡，交付四班兵丁看守，每班四個人，意思要在逾越節後把他提出來，當著百姓辦他。 5 於是彼得被囚在監裡；教會卻為他切切的禱告神。

6 希律將要提他出來的前一夜，彼得被兩條鐵鍊鎖著，睡在兩個兵丁當中；看守的人也在門外看守。 7 忽然，有主的一個使者站在旁邊，屋裡有光照耀，天使拍彼得的肋旁，拍醒了他，說：快快起來！那鐵鍊就從他手上脫落下來。

8 天使對他說：束上帶子，穿上鞋。他就那樣做。天使又說：披上外衣，跟著我來。 9 彼得就出來跟著他，不知道天使所做是真的，只當見了異象。 10 過了第一層第二層監牢，就來到臨街的鐵門，那門自己開了。他們出來，走過一條街，天使便離開他去了。

11 彼得醒悟過來，說：我現在真知道主差遣他的使者，救我脫離希律的手和猶太百姓一切所盼望的。 12 想了一想，就往那稱呼馬可的約翰、他母親馬利亞家去，在那裡有好些人聚集禱告。 13 彼得敲外門，有一個使女，名叫羅大，出來探聽， 14 聽得是彼得的聲音，就歡喜的顧不得開門，跑進去告訴眾人說：彼得站在門外。

15 他們說：你是瘋了！使女極力的說：真是他！他們說：必是他的天使！ 16 彼得不住的敲門。他們開了門，看見他，就甚驚奇。 17 彼得擺手，不要他們作聲，就告訴他們主怎樣領他出監；又說：你們把這事告訴雅各和眾弟兄。於是出去，往別處去了。

 

默想

是否必須有堅強的信心，禱告才蒙應允？當教會聚集齊心禱告時，他們當然希望神會拯救彼得。但當彼得站在門外敲門時，他們根本不信！

我是否經常向神祈求，但當神真的工作時，我卻非常震驚或不信？這表明我的禱告是帶著怎樣的信心？

我對神有什麼祈求——並且全心地相信祂會應允？今天開始放膽地以信心及盼望來禱告，知道神是大能的，且會聽我的禱告。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 12

⁴After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.  ⁵So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.  ⁶The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. ⁷Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.  ⁸Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ⁹Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.  ¹¹Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”   ¹²When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. ¹³Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. ¹⁴When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” ¹⁵“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.”  ¹⁶But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. ¹⁷Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the brothers about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.

Meditation

Does getting an answer to prayer depend on firm belief?  The gathered church certainly hoped that God would save Peter but they didn’t even believe it when Peter stood outside knocking!

How often do I pray for God to work and, when he does, react with shock or disbelief? What does this reveal about my faith?

What can I pray that God will do – and wholeheartedly believe that he will answer? Pray for that today, and continue to do so, with bold confidence and hope, knowing that God is powerful and is listening to my prayer.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十一章

19 那些因司提反的事遭患難四散的門徒直走到腓尼基和塞浦路斯，並安提阿；他們不向別人講道，只向猶太人講。 20 但內中有塞浦路斯和古利奈人，他們到了安提阿也向希臘人傳講主耶穌（有古卷作：也向說希臘話的猶太人傳講主耶穌）。 21 主與他們同在，信而歸主的人就很多了。 22 這風聲傳到耶路撒冷教會人的耳中，他們就打發巴拿巴出去，走到安提阿為止。 23 他到了那裡，看見神所賜的恩就歡喜，勸勉眾人，立定心志，恆久靠主。 24 這巴拿巴原是個好人，被聖靈充滿，大有信心。於是有許多人歸服了主。 25 他又往大數去找掃羅， 26 找著了，就帶他到安提阿去。他們足有一年的工夫和教會一同聚集，教訓了許多人。門徒稱為基督徒是從安提阿起首。

 

默想

1. 巴拿巴似乎在保羅影下是一個無足輕重的配角，他將賣了田地的錢交給使徒做慈善之用（4：37）；又鼓勵耶路撒冷信徒接納曾迫害基督徒的保羅（9：27）；他與保羅一同旅行佈道、教導關顧各處的信徒。這裡，巴拿巴被稱為「是個好人，被聖靈充滿，大有信心」。在使徒行傳中，巴拿巴靜悄悄地出現又消失，卻使我們想到耶穌的話，「你們中間誰願為大，就必作你們的用人」（太20：26）。
2. 回想一下，誰在我生命中留下最深刻的烙印？是誰像巴拿巴一樣，在我最需要時，信任我、支持我、堅固我的心、勸我恆守所信的道？
3. 巴拿巴可被譽為施予者——捨棄自己的金錢、時間、精力、權位，而施予他人。這些對我來說，哪一樣是最難捨棄的？此時此刻，神希望我捨棄什麼？施予什麼？
4. 我如何學效巴拿巴，對他人給予鼓勵、看見他們的潛力，激發他們熱心傳揚基督福音？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 11

¹⁹Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. ²⁰Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.  ²²News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. ²³When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. ²⁴He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.  ²⁵Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, ²⁶and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.

Meditation

Barnabas appears as a minor character taking a backseat to Paul.  His name means “son of encouragement.”  He brought the money, having sold a field, to the apostles for charity use (4:37).  Later he encouraged the believers to accept Paul(9:27).  Paul and Barnabas began an itinerary ministry, teaching, caring and evangelizing.  Barnabas is described as “a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith” (11:24).  The last time they minister together, they had a fierce disagreement and they separated (Ch 15).  Though Barnabas enters and disappears in Acts quietly, we hear echoes of Jesus: “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant” (Matt 20:26).

Who in my life has impacted me most deeply?  Who was like Barnabas that has believed in me, supported me when I sorely needed it? Who, as Barnabas did, “strengthened (my) souls… and encouraged (me) to continue in the faith” (14:22)?

Barnabas could be characterized as a giver – he gave of his money, time, energy, and position.  Which of these types of giving is most difficult for me?  In what way might God be asking me to give right now?

How can I imitate Barnabas as an encourager of others, seeing their potential, and spurring them on in proclaiming the good news of Jesus?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第十章

9 第二天，他們行路將近那城。彼得約在午正，上房頂去禱告， 10 覺得餓了，想要吃。那家的人正預備飯的時候，彼得魂遊象外， 11 看見天開了，有一物降下，好像一塊大布，繫著四角，縋在地上， 12 裡面有地上各樣四足的走獸和昆蟲，並天上的飛鳥； 13 又有聲音向他說：彼得，起來，宰了吃！ 14 彼得卻說：主啊，這是不可的！凡俗物和不潔淨的物，我從來沒有吃過。 15 第二次有聲音向他說：神所潔淨的，你不可當作俗物。 16 這樣一連三次，那物隨即收回天上去了。 17 彼得心裡正在猜疑之間，不知所看見的異象是甚麼意思。哥尼流所差來的人已經訪問到西門的家，站在門外， 18 喊著問：有稱呼彼得的西門住在這裡沒有？ 19 彼得還思想那異象的時候，聖靈向他說：有三個人來找你。

27 彼得和他說著話進去，見有好些人在那裡聚集， 28 就對他們說：你們知道，猶太人和別國的人親近來往本是不合例的，但神已經指示我，無論甚麼人都不可看作俗而不潔淨的。

 

默想

我的信仰生活中，是否有些因文化、背景、風俗、教育、習慣、興趣等的因素，阻礙或限制了我與他人的密切相交，或與人分享福音？

當我向朋友傳福音時，需要克服那些社會上或文化上的障礙？

反省一下我的禱告生活，神是否曾經透過禱告，幫助我突破在靈命和生活上的盲點、或固執持守的習慣？並更深經歷神的大能和引領？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

 

Chapter 10

⁹About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. ¹⁰He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. ¹¹He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. ¹²It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. ¹³Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”  ¹⁴“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”  ¹⁵The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”  ¹⁶This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.  ¹⁷While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. ¹⁸They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.  ¹⁹While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you.

²⁷Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. ²⁸He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

 

Meditation

Is there anything (of culture, background, custom, habits, education, interest) that have limited or prohibited me of true fellowship or reaching out to others?

Reflect on my prayer experiences.  In what areas have I experienced God’s guidance in prayer?

What are some of the social and cultural barriers that I need to break through as I seek to reach out to my friends for the gospel?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第九章

1掃羅仍然向主的門徒口吐威嚇兇殺的話，去見大祭司， 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。 3 掃羅行路，將到大馬士革，忽然從天上發光，四面照著他； 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？

5 他說：主啊！你是誰？主說：我就是你所逼迫的耶穌。 6 起來！進城去，你所當做的事，必有人告訴你。

7 同行的人站在那裡，說不出話來，聽見聲音，卻看不見人。 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 三日不能看見，也不吃也不喝。

 

默想

1. 這是掃羅在基督裡新生命的開始，這奇妙經歷的中心就是耶穌基督。掃羅不單看見異象，而且親自遇見復活的基督（4-5節）。掃羅認耶穌為主，承認自己的罪，將生命交給耶穌，並決心順服。真正的悔改始於與耶穌的相遇，並與耶穌建立關係，而開始的新生命。
2. 再次回想當初我與主相遇的情景：怎樣認耶穌為主，承認自己的罪，將生命交給耶穌，並決心順服，與耶穌建立個人關係，開始我的新生命。
3. 為我得救的每一個環節，每一個經歷感謝神，並再次將自己奉獻給神，立志為主過順服的生活。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 9

¹Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest ²and 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. ³As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. ⁴He 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.”

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

 

Meditation

1. This is the beginning of Saul’s new life in Christ.  The focus of this marvelous experience is Jesus Christ.  Saul not only saw a vision, he personally met the risen Christ (vv4-5). He recognized that Jesus was the Son of God and changed the direction of his life. True repentance came through a personal encounter with Jesus, when a relationship with Jesus was established and new life began.
2. Recall my encounter with Jesus: how I acknowledged Jesus as my Lord, repent my sin, gave my life to Jesus, determined to live an obedient life, established a personal relationship with Jesus and began a new life.
3. Thank God for my conversion experience.  And dedicate myself to God once again to live an obedient life for God.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第八章

27 ……有一個衣索匹亞（即古實，見以賽亞十八章一節）人，是個有大權的太監，在衣索匹亞女王干大基的手下總管銀庫，他上耶路撒冷禮拜去了。 28 現在回來，在車上坐著，念先知以賽亞的書。 29 聖靈對腓利說：你去！貼近那車走。 30 腓利就跑到太監那裡，聽見他念先知以賽亞的書，便問他說：你所念的，你明白嗎？ 31 他說：沒有人指教我，怎能明白呢？於是請腓利上車，與他同坐。 32 他所念的那段經，說：

他像羊被牽到宰殺之地，又像羊羔在剪毛的人手下無聲；他也是這樣不開口。 33 他卑微的時候，人不按公義審判他（原文是他的審判被奪去）；誰能述說他的世代，因為他的生命從地上奪去。

34 太監對腓利說：請問，先知說這話是指著誰？是指著自己呢？是指著別人呢？ 35 腓利就開口從這經上起，對他傳講耶穌。

 

默想

1. 司提反殉道後，教會大遭迫害，信徒由耶路撒冷四散各地。聖靈叫腓利走進衣索匹亞太監的馬車，太監聽完腓利講解，很快就相信，且要馬上受洗。這個例子表明，很多人都不認識耶穌，也不明白何謂作耶穌的門徒，只是單單想遇見神，腓利扶他們一把，就簡單直接地將基督介紹給他們。
2. 腓利的生命提醒我們宣揚基督：是聖靈的愛激勵我們去接觸真誠尋求神的人；聖靈之前已經動工，並且在我們完工後繼續作工。我們可以效法腓利，向尋求神的人傳講耶穌，相信聖靈會使人得著救恩。
3. 在我所熟識的人中，我可以開始為什麼人的得救禱告？有什麼已經開始向我詢問“屬靈”的問題，有關生命的意義，信仰，人生目標等等？將他/她的名字寫在 “靈程筆記”簿上，經常定時地為他/她禱告；體察聖靈在他/她生命中有什麼工作？並求神賜我智慧，把握機會來向他/她作見證，傳講耶穌的福音。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

Chapter 8

^27………  an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”  ³⁰Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.  ³¹“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.  ³²The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,  so he did not open his mouth. ³³In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants?      For his life was taken from the earth.”

³⁴The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Meditation

1. After Stephen was martyred, persecution of the Church increased and Christians scattered.  Philip went to Samaria to speak of Jesus Christ, people believed quickly and many were baptized.  Later, the Spirit led Philip to the chariot of the Ethiopian eunuch.  The eunuch too believed quickly and wanted to be baptized.  In both instances, they didn’t know Jesus and did not understand what it meant to become a disciple of Jesus.  They simply wanted to meet God and Philip told them of Christ
2. Philip’s life reminds us of what it really means to proclaim Christ.  We come in the love of the Holy Spirit to those who honestly seek God, trusting that the Spirit began the work before we did and will carry it on after us.  We can all be like Philip, speaking Jesus to those who seek God, trusting that the Spirit can draw souls to salvation.
3. Who, among my closely acquainted, can I begin to pray for his/her salvation?  Is there anyone around me who has been asking “spiritual” questions—questions about life’s meaning, belief, purpose, etc.?  Write the name down and pray regularly, taking note of the Holy Spirit’s work and asking for wisdom to share the gospel with him/her.

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第七章

51 你們這硬著頸項、心與耳未受割禮的人，常時抗拒聖靈！你們的祖宗怎樣，你們也怎樣。 52 那一個先知不是你們祖宗逼迫呢？他們也把預先傳說那義者要來的人殺了；如今你們又把那義者賣了，殺了。 53 你們受了天使所傳的律法，竟不遵守。

54 眾人聽見這話就極其惱怒，向司提反咬牙切齒。 55 但司提反被聖靈充滿，定睛望天，看見神的榮耀，又看見耶穌站在神的右邊， 56 就說：我看見天開了，人子站在神的右邊。

57 眾人大聲喊叫，摀著耳朵，齊心擁上前去， 58 把他推到城外，用石頭打他。作見證的人把衣裳放在一個少年人名叫掃羅的腳前。

59 他們正用石頭打的時候，司提反呼籲主說：求主耶穌接收我的靈魂！ 60 又跪下大聲喊著說：主啊，不要將這罪歸於他們！說了這話，就睡了。掃羅也喜悅他被害。

 

默想

1. 不要以為司提反因為放肆說話，因此冒犯了當權派而喪命。正如耶穌被釘十架，司提反的殉道也是神拯救計劃中的一部分。其實，神經常將人認為「壞」的事轉變為意料之外的「美好」。
2. 我有沒有經歷過一些事情，當時看來是很倒霉、很悲慘、很不公。。。但後來卻有了出人意外的美好結果？這樣的經歷怎樣幫助我認識神的旨意？
3. 我是否願意有司提反這樣的態度，正如保羅在腓立比書一章所說，“我活著是基督，死了就有益處”？

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 7

⁵¹“You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵²Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— ⁵³you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

⁵⁴When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. ⁵⁵But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  ⁵⁷At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.  ⁵⁹While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

 

Meditation

1. Don’t think Stephen’s boldness was a mistake that cost his life.  In fact, just like the crucifixion of Jesus, Stephen’s martyrdom was part of God’s plan for saving His people. God has a habit of turning “bad” things into unexpected good outcome.
2. Have I had any experience that was terrible, disappointing, unfair…, but in the end, there was an unexpected good result?  How does this help me understand God’s will?
3. Am I willing to be like Stephen and, as Paul says in Philippians 1, have the attitude that “to live is Christ and to die is gain”?

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.

 

第六章

1那時，門徒增多，有說希臘話的猶太人向希伯來人發怨言，因為在天天的供給上忽略了他們的寡婦。 2 十二使徒叫眾門徒來，對他們說：我們撇下神的道去管理飯食，原是不合宜的。 3 所以弟兄們，當從你們中間選出七個有好名聲、被聖靈充滿、智慧充足的人，我們就派他們管理這事。 4 但我們要專心以祈禱、傳道為事。

5 大眾都喜悅這話，就揀選了司提反，乃是大有信心、聖靈充滿的人，又揀選腓利、伯羅哥羅、尼迦挪、提門、巴米拿，並進猶太教的安提阿人尼哥拉， 6 叫他們站在使徒面前。使徒禱告了，就按手在他們頭上。

7 神的道興旺起來；在耶路撒冷門徒數目加增的甚多，也有許多祭司信從了這道。

 

默想

1. 當我看到初期教會的生活中充滿神蹟、慷慨分享、信徒相交時，可能也會很希望自己成為這「完美」教會的一分子。事實上，初期教會也和現今的教會一樣，也是有問題的；沒有教會是完美的，惟有等到基督再來與信徒聯合，教會才會成為完美、毫無瑕疵的。
2. 若我經常會為自己教會的缺點而苦惱，我是否願意花同樣的精力來為教會及傳道人禱告？
3. 現在就花些時間為教會，牧者，其他信徒，及事工禱告。

 

禱告與筆錄：

繼續安靜在神面前，與神對話，並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想（心得），或是與神的禱告，記錄在“靈程筆記”簿上面。

 

Chapter 6

¹In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ²So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ⁴and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”  ⁵This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. ⁶They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.  ⁷So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

 

Meditation

1. The life of Early Church was full of miracles, sharing, and fellowship.  How wonderful it would have been to be a member of this “Perfect” church.  In fact, the Early Church also had problems just like today.  There is no perfect church until the coming of Christ in union with believers.
2. If I have been frustrated with my church, am I willing to spend the same amount of energy to pray for my church and pastors?
3. Spend a few minutes to pray for my church, pastors, ministries and other believers.

 

Prayer & Journaling:

Stay with God for a little longer.  Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me.  Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2011 “Spiritual Journal” book.