Human Journey

Human journey is a one-way street of our choices according to our concept of valueWe make choices everyday.
We choose how to spend our time.
We choose how to handle our finance.
We choose how to react to certain situation.
A lot of times, our choices resulted in time wasted, matters mishandled, relationships damaged, or health ruined. Consequently, we regretted the choices we made.

This is a one-way street because we can not turn back the clock. Many things can not be undone. Fortunately, we can make a U turn. We can change our mind NOW to match God’s mind. We can repent! If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, they have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The only thing new in the universe is God Himself.

Human journey is a sum total of various repetitionsWe breathe the same air every moment.
The same Sun rises every morning.
We drink the same H2O everyday.
We enjoy the same food over and over again.
We enjoy God’s speaking in the Word over and over again.
We enjoy calling on the Lord’s name a thousand times a day.
We eagerly look forward to our gathering certain times a week.

All these are simple, pure, necessary, repetitious and life-giving. We can never graduate from these necessities. They may seem old, but they are actually new (1 John 2:7-8). It is in this process God imparts Himself into us, making us His duplication, His enlargement and His expression.

Each journey has a destination or an endWhat is your destination?
Where does your journey lead you to - New Jerusalem or gnashing of teeth in darkness (Matthew 22:13, 25:30)?
Shall we start making our choices TODAY according to God and let our temporary journey be connected to eternity?

Our concept of value

We make choices based on our concept of value. The question is – do we make our daily choices according to God? Do we value what God values? Does my concept of value match His?
Many have rejected Him, but would you treasure Him?所以祂在你們信的人是寶貴的，在那不信的人卻是“匠人所棄的石頭，已成了房角的頭塊石頭，” (1 Peter 2:7, Psalm 118:22)

He must increase; we must decrease. Are you willing to be reduced?因為十字架的話，對那正在滅亡的人為愚拙，對我們正在得救的人卻為神的大能。(1 Corinthians 1:18)

What is more important to you, His desires or your desires?因為這一切都是外邦人所急切尋求的，你們的天父原知道你們需要這一切。但你們要先尋求祂的國和祂的義，這一切就都要加給你們了。(Matthew 6:32-33)

Do you love Him with the best love, or with left-over love?愛父母過於愛我的，配不過我；愛兒女過於愛我的，配不過我；
不背起他的十字架，並跟從我的，也配不過我。(Matthew 10:37-38)

Do you love the Lord more than your own accomplishments?人若賺得全世界，卻賠上自己的魂生命，有甚麼益處？人還能拿甚麼換自己的魂生命？(Matthew 16:26)

Would you allow Him to expand into your feeling, thinking and choosing?所以那照神旨意受苦的人，也要在善行上，將他們的魂交與那信實的創造主。(1 Peter 4:19)

Do you desire fame and position more than the Lord?於是耶穌叫了他們來，說，你們知道外邦人有君王為主治理他們，也有大臣操權管轄他們。但你們中間不是這樣；反倒你們中間無論誰想要為大，就必作你們的僕役；(Matthew 20:25-26)

Which would you choose - worldly enjoyment or God’s house?摩西因著信，長大了就拒絕稱為法老女兒之子；他寧可選擇和神的百姓同受苦害，也不願有罪的短暫享受；(Hebrews 11:24-25)

What is your choice?在你的院宇住一日，勝似在別處住千日；我寧願站在我神殿的門檻，也不願住在惡人的帳棚裏。(Psalm 84:10)

(a little overflow from the 2010 Memorial Day Conference, Msg #5)
http://christophers-notes.blogspot.com/2009/11/00001-vs-10000.html

每况愈下 (Downward Spiral)

一个年轻人失恋了，沮丧之余借酒浇愁，后来竟然染上酒瘾，无法自拔，最后荒废学业，意志消沉，成了无家可归的流浪汉。

一个中年的工程师被解聘了，之后数日一语不发，极度忧郁，末了持枪自尽。老婆孩子成了寡妇孤儿，又是一场人间悲剧。

类似的事件在世界各地不断重演，有人说二十一世纪是忧郁的世纪实不为过。圣经说"你們的對頭魔鬼，如同吼叫的獅子，遍地遊行，尋找可吞喫的人；(彼得前書五8)" 真是一针见血地点出我们的光景。人生不如意，十之八九。基督人该如何应付逆境呢？基督人该如何看待忧虑呢？

先来读几处的经节：
我們曉得萬有都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人。(羅馬書八28)
應當一無罣慮，只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求，帶著感謝，將你們所要的告訴神；(腓立比書四6)
你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為祂顧念你們。務要謹守、儆醒。(彼得前書五7)
基督人必须领会我们是一班以基督作生命的人，是一班以神为乐、接受圣灵引领的人。我们深信万事互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处。我们如果爱神，事情一来，我们会回到深处的灵里呼求主、与主交通，寻求神的心意及神的带领。反过来说，我们如果不爱神，事情一来，我们立刻反应、自作主张，那就不得益处了。

基督人会有逆境、但不该忧虑。基督人若忧郁，就表示他向神独立，没有依靠主。每一个环境可能是危机，也可能是转机。这与我们平常的操练有很大的关系。如果平常操练不够，小小的难处就会让我们陷在忧郁里。愿意所有的弟兄姊妹都能在聚会中，在日常生活中，有健康的操练与实行，作个与主亲密，喜乐的基督人。

那等候耶和華的必重新得力；他們必如鷹展翅上騰；(以賽亞書四十31)
http://www.hymnal.net/hymn.php/ch/508

Portrait of a tiger

What do you see in the above painting? A tiger. That’s right. It is a portrait of a tiger. Do you also see bamboo leaves, grass and rocks? Are these items parts of the overall picture? Yes, they are. Are they the focus of the picture? No, they are not.

How about the Bible? Do you know that the Bible portraits a Person (John 5:39)? Many Bible readers have missed the focus (John 5:40). The Bible also portraits His purpose and His plan (Matthew 6:9-10, 16:18, Ephesians 1:10, 22)

The genuine gospel is this Person (Romans 1:2-4). Any so-called gospel apart from this Person is not gospel (Galatians 1:6-7).

A proper baptism joins us to this Person (Romans 6:3-5). Many Christians are carried away by how a baptism should be done. How a baptism should be done is NOT the focus. The focus is to be baptized into His Person through His death and His resurrection.

Do you know that Ephesians 5:22 is just a background? The focus is 5:32. Christ is the Head. He needs a counterpart to be His expression and His satisfaction (Genesis 1:26).

Many Christ-seekers pay much attention to the great tribulation. Well, it is also a background item. The focus is our loving the Lord. Through our giving ourselves to the Lord we are growing and are being built up in the Body of Christ. Forget about the great tribulation. Give yourself to the Lord and to the Body.

(Romans 12:1-5, 14:17, 16:24)

Christians, read Acts 2:4, Ephesians 4:1-16, 1 John 1:3, 1 Timothy 1:3-4. Don’t be carried away by background items or man-made systems / traditions (Ephesians 4:14).

http://5loaves-2fish.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post_18.html

The complete gospel

國度的福音就是神全備的福音 ─ 將罪人稱義, 聖別, 作成神的兒子, 構成基督的身體 (全地的召會)，實際地顯在各地的地方召會
1. The kingdom of God is the person of Christ sown into our being. This is the gospel.
這福音是神從前藉著祂的眾申言者，在聖經上所應許的，
論到祂的兒子，我們的主耶穌基督：按肉體說，是從大衛後裔生的，
按聖別的靈說，是從死人的復活，以大能標出為神的兒子；
(Romans 1:2-4)
2a. This gospel not only justifies us, it enlivens us and enables us to live a new living according to who God is.
因為神的義在這福音上，本於信顯示與信，如經上所記：“義人必本於信得生並活著。” (Romans 1:17)
2b. Not only we are saved objectively (doctrinally), much more we need to be saved subjectively (experientially)
因為我們作仇敵的時候，且藉著神兒子的死得與神和好，既已和好，就更要在祂的生命裡得救了。(Romans 5:10)
3. Furthermore, God will cause all persons, all things and all matters to conform us into God’s many sons, bearing the image of the Firstborn, Christ.
還有，我們曉得萬有都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人。因為神所豫知的人，祂也豫定他們模成神兒子的形像，使祂兒子在許多弟兄中作長子。(Romans 8:28-29)
4. Not only we are saved experientially and conformed, we need to be built up in the Body, knit together according to the God of peace. This organic building will crush Satan. (Matthew 16:18)
平安的神快要將撒但踐踏在你們的腳下。(Romans 16:20)
5. This is the gospel of the kingdom, the complete gospel. When we see it, practice it, teach it and preach it, God will establish us according to His eternal will. (Matthew 24:14)
神能照我的福音，就是關於耶穌基督的傳揚，照歷世以來密而不宣之奧祕的啟示，堅固你們；(Romans 16:25)

http://5loaves-2fish.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_8671.html

Gospel of the kingdom

1. God’s desire is to establish His kingdom on the earth.願你的國來臨，願你的旨意行在地上，如同行在天上。(Matthew 6:10)

2. Our entrance into the kingdom – turning our heart to Him, obeying His word and receiving His life耶穌又說，神的國是這樣，如同人把種子撒在地上，(Mark 4:26)
凡聽見國度之道不領悟的，那惡者就來，把撒在他心裏的奪了去；這就是那撒在路旁的。(Matthew 13:19)
耶穌回答說，我實實在在的告訴你，人若不是從水和靈生的，就不能進神的國。(John 3:5)

3. After our initial entrance into the kingdom (being regenerated in our spirit), we need to let Christ reign in our soul (being transformed in our mind, emotion and will). We also need to be headed up by Christ so that we may be His organic Body as His corporate expression.堅固門徒的魂，勸勉他們恆守信仰，又說，我們進入神的國，必須經歷許多患難。(Acts 14:22)
因為神的國不在於喫喝，乃在於公義、和平、並聖靈中的喜樂。(Romans 14:17)
那些受洋溢之恩，並洋溢之義恩賜的，就更要藉著耶穌基督一人，在生命中作王了。(Romans 5:17b)
我們如果忍耐，也必與祂一同作王；我們如果不認祂，祂也必不認我們；(2 Timothy 2:12)
因為基督必要作王，直到神把一切仇敵都放在祂的腳下。(1 Corinthians 15:25)
平安的神快要將撒但踐踏在你們的腳下。(Romans 16:20a)
又叫他們成為國度，作祭司，歸與我們的神；他們要在地上執掌王權。(Revelation 5:10)

4. This is the gospel of the kingdom. Preaching the gospel of grace is not sufficient to end this age.這國度的福音要傳遍天下，對萬民作見證，然後末期纔來到。(Matthew 24:14)

5. Ultimately, the kingdom will be manifested in the millennium (as a reward for overcomers) and the eternity (for all the believers).第七位天使吹號，天上就有大聲音說，世上的國，成了我主和祂基督的國，祂要作王，直到永永遠遠。(Revelation 11:15)
在頭一次復活有分的有福了，聖別了，第二次的死在他們身上沒有權柄；他們還要作神和基督的祭司，並要與基督一同作王一千年。(Revelation 20:6)
不再有黑夜，他們也不需要燈光日光，因為主神要光照他們；他們要作王，直到永永遠遠。(Revelation 22:5)

http://christophers-notes.blogspot.com/2009/11/2-qs-re-kingdom-of-god.html

Balloons

The above picture is very interesting (taken from the January 2006 edition of Reader’s Digest). Don’t you think it describes the church life vividly?

Living the church life is a matter of being filled with God’s Air (= Spirit). The following verses prove this point:

The wind blows where it wills, … so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)
God is Spirit, and we must worship Him in spirit. (John 4:24)
… the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:6)
If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not unto death, he shall ask and he will give life to him,… (1 John 5:16)

When we turn our hearts to God who is dwelling in our spirit, we will be filled with the heavenly Air and we will be happy and healthy “balloons”. Many Christians are not used to exercising their spirit. They need help! “Give him some air!” This is why we need to be with all the saints as frequently as possible. Let’s help one another to be filled with God. Let’s give life to one another.

“Give him some air!” Pray that there will be a lot of “balloons” in the church life, the Body life. May the Lord fill us unto the fullness of God. Amen!