束上帶、點著燈（一）--警醒等候

你們腰裏要束上帶，燈也要點著；自己好像僕人等候主人，從婚姻的筵席上回來；他來到叩門，就立刻給他開門。主人來了，看見僕人儆醒，那僕人就有福了；我實在告訴你們，主人必叫他們坐席，自己束上帶，進前伺候他們。（路十二35-37）

    主耶穌在世上講了很多的比喻，也希望真心想要了解天國道理的人可以得著屬靈的智慧，更加地認識他，因此講了許多的比喻。在此提及主人也就是天上這位神，叫做耶穌，他要再次從天降臨，那時就要來審判萬民，主人來了，能夠蒙福得稱為忠心有見識的僕人，並非他的能力過強，而是因為他懂得束上帶、點著燈，表明他維護一個僕人的精神，不容一刻打盹，時常點著神的話語，靠著聖靈常常禱告，而具體束上帶、點著燈的內容是什麼呢？

一、警醒等候

家主若知道賊甚麼時候來，就必儆醒，不容賊挖透房屋，這是你們所知道的。（路十二39）

    僕人可以一看到主人回來，就立刻給他開門，是因為他警醒等候，如同等候賊來到一樣，賊來了不會告訴你明確的時間，但是一個心理有預備的人他也相信必定會來，即使沒有說什麼時候來，但總是常常警醒，即使信仰上已經束上帶了，表明是個僕人的精神了，但也不因此鬆懈，深信主必再來。

    有時我們因為生活的忙碌，信仰上的成就感，或者對照周圍的『僕人們』鬆懈信仰狀態，導致我們也漸漸地覺得似乎也是如此等候也沒有關係，主人會回來的事實就漸漸地變成一種口號與自我安慰，一但屬靈的眼睛不小心閉起來了，沈睡了，當主人臨時回來時，我們就沒有辦法『立刻』給他開門，得著主人的稱讚與賞賜。

因為你們自己明明曉得，主的日子來到，好像夜間的賊一樣。人正說平安穩妥的時候，災禍忽然臨到他們，如同產難臨到懷胎的婦人一樣；他們絕不能逃脫。弟兄們，你們卻不在黑暗裏，叫那日子臨到你們像賊一樣。你們都是光明之子，都是白晝之子；我們不是屬黑夜的，也不是屬幽暗的；所以我們不要睡覺，像別人一樣，總要儆醒謹守。（帖前五2-6）

    主來的日子好像賊來到一樣，又好像產難臨到懷胎的婦人一樣，預產期在怎麼準也不能百分百確定（小弟的小孩一個提早兩個禮拜，一個去催生)，為什麼人會失去那顆警醒的心，不小心活在黑暗裡呢？原因就是必定有『平安穩妥』的時候，生活很平穩，也沒有太大的風浪，處在這樣的信仰狀態久了，主人要回來的事情就會漸漸地不是這麼地在意了。

    主耶穌在馬太福音二十四章，講述了他要再臨前世界的現象和教會的逼迫後，在馬太福音二十五章就講了三個比喻要我們得以做預備，而第一個講到就是十童女的比喻，五個聰明的和五個愚拙的童女，他們同樣都有燈，同樣也有油，同樣都睡著了，可是為什麼會分成聰明與愚拙呢？差別就是在『預備』，新郎也沒有說何時會回來，可是聰明的卻懂得預備油，因為他們深信『新郎必定回來』，而這些愚拙的為什麼會沒有預備油呢？或許有個心態是：我已經有油了。一旦有這樣的認知，認為油已經夠了，也就對新郎要回來的期待感也會降低，也知道新郎會回來，可是那預備的心就漸漸地失去了，而最後是在門外哀哭切齒了。

    今年隨著補班補課、過年、228連假等，時間已經飛快地進入三月，隨著忙碌的生活也漸漸沖淡了世界上所發生的災難，我自己也是，照理來說，越忙碌的事奉生活應該是要幫助我們更加地警醒，但怎麼在忙碌的事奉生活中反而漸漸地忘記了主人要再來這件事情呢？三、四月是我們真耶穌教會的靈恩會期，願我們能夠互相提醒，主人必快回來這件事，得以再次警醒成為那忠心的僕人，主人一回來，就立刻給他開門！

你們也要豫備；因為你們想不到的時候，人子就來了。（路十二40）

飛行天使為何要飛？

我又看見另有一位天使飛在空中，有永遠的福音要傳給住在地上的人，就是各國各族各方各民；他大聲說，應當敬畏神將榮耀歸給他；因他施行審判的時候已經到了；應當敬拜那創造天地海和眾水泉源的。（啓14:6-7）

聖經中的啟示錄是耶穌基督的啟示，讓當時的使徒約翰看到，啟示末後的事情，若深信這本聖經者，時常閱讀啟示錄者，必能在末後的日子有信心、有盼望，等候耶穌基督再臨，審判萬民。

使徒約翰看到另有一位天使飛在空中，傳講永遠的福音給住在地上的人，而這個天使，原文是使者，可以指著一個人，也可以指著一個群體，有人稱這飛行的天使是『網路』，然而網路本身不會傳福音，而是人願意善用最快速度的資源，飛在空中，來傳達永遠的福音。這個飛行的天使飛出來的時間，是神施行審判的時候，表明這是神所派的一個已領受永遠福音的群體，提醒地上的人，把握成為天上人最後的機會，因為最後的大災難，是專給地上的人(啓八13)。

近年來，也因為疫情的緣故，網路的宣教越來越普及，有許多宗教團體走上網路，也讓更多的人有機會，將福音『宅配到家』，更是許多教會也開始推出『飛行天使』有關的事工，善用網路的資源，將福音觸及到各個角落，相信這也是神在動工，然而我們也當注意的是，根據聖經，飛行的天使是永遠福音的本質，而非只重視硬體的設備，倘若有著最好的『飛行設備』，但卻沒有傳講永遠的福音，如此就不是聖經中所談及這飛行的天使，當然，如果是真的飛行的天使，有著良好的飛行裝備，相信是可以更有效地將福音傳給各國、各族、各方、各民的。

有鑑於此，當教會在訓練有關飛行天使的事工，應當要重視的這群人對『永遠的福音』的認識與傳講，在靈性上操練，有信心地走上網路，如此一來，才符合聖經神對這飛行天使的要求，而地上的人如何分辨這是否是出於神所派飛行的天使，就是去看他是否傳講『永遠的福音』。

因此，飛行天使為何要飛？很重要的原因就是：因神施行審判的時候已經到了！而這個天使願意飛起來傳講，是因為有一種拯救靈魂的使命感，也是出於對神的敬畏，更可以說是一種急迫性，因為時候不多了，若從聖經的架構看到，這些天使需要經過忍耐(啓十二12)，而傳講完了，神審判的快鐮刀就臨到，所以這個天使會不斷地傳講，直到審判前的最後一刻。

或許這飛行的天使有時也會心累，因為『永遠的福音』的內容是末世大環境中不能接受的道理，願我們互相鼓勵，藉著聖經神的話語，靠著聖靈的幫助，使我們可以更有信心地飛起來，忠心傳揚，也願還沒領受這永遠的福音的人，趕緊悔改轉向神，躲避最後的大災難，因爲，神施行審判的時候已經到了。

狂風暴雨中的洗禮

現在你為甚麼耽延呢，起來，求告他的名受洗，洗去你的罪。(徒22:16)

感謝神，昨天(2022/10/16)石牌教會完成了今年秋季靈恩會的洗禮，有兩位接受了合乎聖經中大水赦罪的洗禮，一早起來狂風暴雨，職務同工也先到原先要洗禮的外雙溪，但是溪水暴漲，原本要洗禮的地方連站的地方也沒有，於是緊急開了線上職務會，討論當天洗禮該如何，雖在緊急當中，職務同工還是先禱告約20分鐘，求問神該如何，再來討論。

到了八點討論時間，提出是否轉到海邊，當然難免有所顧慮，但討論時提到舊約洗禮的預表就是過紅海，以及過約旦河，當時的摩西要百姓不要懼怕，只管站住，看神今日要向你們施行的救恩，只管靜默，不要作聲，吩咐百姓往前走(出十四13-15)，倘若已經走到紅海邊，若不洗禮，就被法老抓回去埃及繼續作罪的奴僕；約旦和當時的河水漲過兩岸，但當祭司的腳踏下去時，水就從上頭止住了，表明今天要領受救恩的人，真的要有對神的信心，提出這些時難免有些擔憂，但是負責人卻說：好啊！走！讓當時開會的我也受到鼓舞，所以職務同工有共識，臨時改變洗禮的地點，地點改變了，狂風暴雨卻沒有改變。

感謝神，九點20要從教會出發，全教會要觀禮的人竟比以往還要多，雖然外面狂風暴雨，大家也有如此的信心，一起前往洗禮場，到了海邊，看到全教會的人已經站在風雨中準備洗禮，有些人的傘已經開花，或穿著雨衣，感謝主，雖然因為評估風浪因素，以致沒有辦法一次就全身入水，所以洗了幾次才全身入水，感謝神，在大家的代禱下，完成了這次這麼艱辛的洗禮，事後聽到有些同靈在岸上就已經不斷地靈言禱告，讓我們有信心來完成拯救靈魂的工作，幾位同靈和新受洗的姐妹談到：很開心，跟你一起濕，臉上是喜樂的淚水，想必主耶穌找尋遠離羊圈的我們，也是這種心情吧！為什麼這麼麻煩呢？因為洗禮與赦罪有絕對的關係。

有不可抗力的因素，乾脆點個兩滴吧！

在人的軟弱下還真的會很想這麼的做，因為人的軟弱下，確實很容易會想要更改神原本設立的得救方法，但是聖經引導我們看到，當時耶穌傳的道理，使徒們照樣地傳，並且勉勵當時的信徒，他們所傳講的福音不可更改(加一6-8)，因為這是和人得救有關的道理，是不能隨著人意而更改的，曾經遇過幾次很艱辛的洗禮，在過程中，真的可以體會那種人的軟弱，但感謝主，真耶穌教會不更改主所傳的教導，也因著我們的信心，主不斷地賞賜見證來證實這樣的洗禮完全符合聖經。

願主激勵，感動我們的心，相信愛神的你，也正在找尋赦罪的洗禮，願主感動你的心，看到聖經的真理，一起來接受這赦罪的洗禮！

眾人聽見這話，覺得扎心，就對彼得和其餘的使徒說，弟兄們，我們當怎樣行。彼得說，你們各人要悔改，奉耶穌基督的名受洗，叫你們的罪得赦，就必領受所賜的聖靈；(徒二37-38)

Judges 10

(Judges 10:16) 16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel. 

    In the book of Judges, the chosen people’s belief in the true god presents wave-like regular ups and downs pattern.

    The rebellious Israel people begged in the bottom of the distressed, God will then rise a judge to save them and they will serve God again. They will destroy all other gods. Faith shows an upward trend. However, as the grace of peace reaches its peak, those who choose people will do evil things because they don't know how to cherish, and their faith goes to the depths of misery. This recurring pattern is no exception in Chapter 10. This kind of belief is that "the judge is there, the faith is here; the judge is dying, the faith is dying". 

    Tola’s 23 years (Judges 10:1-2) and Jair’s 22 years (Judges 10:3). For 45 years, the brilliance of the colourful, short-lived bubble, has shattered into a phantom. Compared to the faithful and unchanging true God (Deuteronomy 7:9), God knows him and cares about him (Psalm 144:3). 

    Currently, we face lots of tribulations, we are like being in the deep valley but God told us to be of good cheer as God had overcome the world. (John 16:33). After believing in the Lord and being called, We have been given multiply identities. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God own special people (1 Peter 2:9) What status is each person when he is called, and he still has to keep his status before God (1 Corinthians7:22) For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. (2 Corinthians 4:5) Don't let our heavenly Father who loves us worry for us because of our suffering. (Judges 10:16) 

    (Jeremiah 31:20) 20 Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord

Translated by 余姿瑩

The Bramble Establishes himself as king(Judges 9)

 (Judges 9:8-15)8 "The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!' 9 But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men, And go to sway over trees?' 10 "Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us!' 11 But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?' 12 "Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us!' 13 But the vine said to them, 'Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over trees?' 14 "Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us!' 15 And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of Lebanon!'

    Chapter 9 of the Book of Judges described the story of Abimelech. His mother was Gideon's concubine. (Judges 8:31). He belonged to Shechem. After Gideon passed away, Abimelech and his mother's brothers persuaded Shechem to anointed Abimelech to be a king. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to kill his seventy brothers except the youngest brother named Jotham. Jotham hid. While men of Shechem anointed Abimelech as a king, Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim to proclaim the parable of the trees. He used olive trees, fig trees, and vine as examples of Gideon and other wise men. They knew their role which was arranged by God. However, Abimelech was similar to the brambles. He thought he cover the shade for all other trees. He was pleased to be anointed as a king. If they didn't anoint him as a king, he will devour the cedars of Lebanon.

     Jotham then cursed Abimelech. (Judges 9:16-20) Jotham reminded the people how his father Gideon saved them by willingly sacrificing himself. As a result, he received "reply virtue with grievances" as his return.  Jotham did not ask for revenge for himself, but proclaiming a prophecy as a prophet “Start from thorns, let fire come from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo and devour Abimelech (Judge 9:20) “ Finally, as Abimelech broke up with Shechem, he attacked the tower of Shechem and killed a thousand of men and women.  On the other hand,  while Abimelech was attacking Thebez, he was crushed by an upper millstone on his skull and committed suicide.  God has let the event fulfill with Jotham’s curse.

    Abimelech’s father, Gideon, was appointed by God himself as a judge, and he knew that his position was to save the people from the enemy’s hands, but he did not have the authority to manage the people; In Contrast,  Abimelech used cruelty and deceit to get the position he wanted. Abimelech, didn't know that God was the king of the Israelites, and he didn't understand his position, so he became king only three years before he was retribution and defeated.

    Our generation often encourages people to pursue success, but it makes people like Abimelech lose sight of their position and seek high positions and authority as if achieving these is a success. As the people of God, we should not follow the crowd, but understand that our Lord is the God who saves our souls. Pray that God will let us know what kind of tree we are on this earth.  Don’t seek to float on top of the trees, but use God’s gift of talent in every place arranged by God, do our best to work, and finally attract people to return to the embrace of God, and believes that when we meet in heaven, we can say to each other: Thank God, we live up to our mission.

    (2 Timothy 2: 20-21) 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

    (Zechariah 4:6) 6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the Lord of hosts.

Translated by 余姿瑩

Gideon With Good Emotional Control(Judges 8)

(Judges 8:2-3) 2 So he said to them, "What have I done now in comparison with you? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abiezer? 3 God has delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. And what was I able to do in comparison with you?" Then their anger toward him subsided when he said that.

Gideon and the three hundred men who followed him took advantage of the victory and pursued the Midianites who fled. At this time, the Ephraim people guarding the Jordan River crossing came to ask for credit because they captured the two leaders of Midian and brought their heads to Gideon. The people of Ephraim spoke to Gideon in a proud tone, arguing about why they had not been gathered to fight. Seeing this, let’s think about it first. If we face the same situation, how would we react? Maybe the emotions will rise and shouting back with our response  or leave someone on read , but we can actually learn from Gideon. A witty answer.

(Proverbs 15:1) 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

(Proverbs 25:11) 11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.

Gideon did not lose his footing in the face of these cheap and obedient Ephraim. He clearly understood that the primary goal now was to chase the remaining Midianites who had fled. Wouldn’t it be a loss if he spent time and energy arguing with Ephraim here. The opportunity to kill the enemy in one swoop also failed the grace of God's salvation? So, Gideon cleverly used metaphors to say how his deeds can be compared to Ephraim, and the contribution of his army is far less than Ephraim. Gideon knew how to retreat in exchange for harmony, be humble and used praise to subdue anger, successfully resolved the opposition and won the final victory, restraining the Midianites and restoring peace to the Israeli house.

(Romans 15:1-2) 1 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

In God's family, everyone is a member of each other, and we must always care for each other, because we are united to the head of Christ. The completion of each work is the joint effort of the brothers and sisters to put their hearts and minds before God, not the creation of someone alone. Therefore, we must be cautious, watchful and pray at all times, and give glory to God, lest we get caught in a snare and offend God because of our pride and pride.

Reflecting on Ephraim’s mentality, we understand that we are God’s workers and co-workers with God; aren’t today’s opportunities and abilities also bestowed by God? Completion is only the completion of the "mission" entrusted by God. It is our duty and should be done. In the face of spiritual warfare, in God’s house, we should not distinguish between you and me, we should be in the same boat, some people pray and watch, some people come to fight, and stay focus toward the goal, and in the future, bring the efforts of servitude to God to receive reward and crowns.

To learn from Gideon’s wisdom, how to overcome the situation of internal and external troubles with God is a topic that we often face, but Paul encourages us not to compete with the spirit, we should use gentleness to persuade those who resist, and pursue others. Harmony, pray for the weak and lacking with love, and strengthen each other with patience.

(Ephesians 4:1-3) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Translated by 余姿瑩

(Judges 7)

(Judges 7:2-3) 2 And the Lord said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, 'My own hand has saved me.' 3 Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, 'Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.' " And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained

God called his worker Gideon, told him to lead the Israel people to defeat the Midianites, facing 135000 armies from Midianites. The gap is huge, but God’s work is not to increase troops but to disarm. In the end, they were only 300 Midianites army left. God clearly stated the intention so that the Israelites would not exaggerate to God and give glory to themselves, and God wanted the people to know that the victory over the Midianites was solely dependent on God's power.

According to Moses’s law, if they were scared, they can go back (Deuteronomy 20:8). Because fear can be contagious, affect morale, have fatal consequences. Faced with difficult battles, God will need to use someone who had a lot of faith. God also uses these people's faith in God to demonstrate his power. Even if there are only a few people, but if everyone has a strong faith in God, God can be glorified from it.

From church’s experience, the most obvious spiritual battle is the work of expelling demons. The work of expelling demons requires many people to pray and have great faith to cast out demons. If anyone is afraid, the demons will stay because it will affect the expulsion.   Demons expel is based on people’s faith, it does not depend on number of  people.

(Judges7:5-6) 5 So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, "Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink." 6 And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.

Anyone who licks water with their tongues, like a dog, does not have a cautious heart. People who hold the water in their hands are alert and cautious at all times to guard against sneak attacks by the enemy. Fear, great confidence, and more need to have a cautious heart. They were afraid that a momentary relaxation will give the enemy a chance to attack. This is also a key to God’s choice of workers. Facing powerful spiritual enemies, we need to have these even more. "Elite", confident, fearless, cautious, and alert.

Faced with such a large gap in the number of people, Gideon can only rely on God, not on tactics, weapons, or strategies. Sometimes people are always weak. When the church's ministry is prosperous, they will boast of their abilities and give glory to themselves. If they don’t realize it, it will become obstruct in the ministry, then they will hinder the development of the holy work. It is worth for our readers to remind each other to humble under the power of God and to rely on God with all our hearts.

(Zechariah 4:6) 6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the Lord of hosts.

Translated by 余姿瑩