Tag: 成圣

  • How do we renew our fellowship with God?

    Preached on 2023-2-16 at DTS.

    (Image)

                I like to tell you a story about a little girl named Priscilla. Priscilla’s father that loves her very much, and she loved her father too. Growing up, she enjoyed sweet fellowship with her father. She especially enjoyed their fellowship when they walked a beautiful garden near their house on every Saturday morning. She eventually grew up to be a successful businesswoman. She worked very hard to advance her career. But she seldom had the time to call her father. The father calls her frequently and longs for his daughter to visit him, but Priscilla had other priorities and seldom returns his calls. They have not walked the garden for a long time. They are not as close as before. She is losing her fellowship with her father.

    (Needs)

                How about you? Are you so busy with studies and ministry that you have neglected to fellowship with God, your heavenly Father? Maybe you are not as close to your heavenly Father as before. Maybe you are feeling lonely or empty deep inside you. These may be signs that you are losing your fellowship with God. It is a sad thing to gain your ThM but lose your fellowship with God. What do you need to know about God to renew your fellowship with Him? What do you need to change if you want to renew your fellowship with God?

    (Subject)

                My subject today is “How do we renew our fellowship with God?”. Again, my subject today is “How to renew our fellowship with God?” Our text for today is 1 John 1:5-10. In 1 John 1:5-10, God tells us there are three things we to need to do to renew our fellowship with God.

    (Background)

                1 John was written by Joh at his old age to his spiritual children so that they can have fellowship with John and with God the Father and with His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Please look with me at 1 John 1:3, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

    (Body)

    (Transition)

                How do we renew our fellowship with God?

    (Main Point 1)

    First, we must know God is light.

    (Explain)

    Please look at 1:5 with me, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” Why must we know God is light to have fellowship with God? Because John singled this out of all God’s characters when discussing fellowship with God. This is very obvious that John 1:5-10 is about fellowship with God, for John mentioned fellowship twice in verse 3 and again twice in verses 6-7, which we will discuss later.

    What is the meaning that God is light? It means God is holy. Please look at the second part of verse 5 with me. “in God there is no darkness at all.” Light represents moral purity. The light-darkness theme is one of John’s signatures in his gospel and his epistles. Later in 2:20, he wrote  that God is “the Holy One”. God’s moral purity forms the basis of His relationship with us. No darkness “at all” means God is absolutely pure. Holiness is the only character of God that is repeated three times in a roll in Scripture. In Rev 4:8, John wrote that in heaven, the four living creatures worship God by singing, “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God Almighty.”

    (Illustration)

                Let me illustration this. I brought my family to visit the McDonald Observatory in West Texas recently. The Observatory has one of the largest telescopes in the US. We joined its Sun viewing program, where an expert showed us live views of the Sun through a telescope. The Sun is so bright that if you look at it with your bare eyes, you will go blind. They had to put in special filters in the telescope to look at the Sun. I know that the Sun is bright, but the experience expanded my knowledge and understanding of the brightness of the Sun. However, I found out that even the Sun has dark spots due to different in temperature on the surface of the Sun. The sun, God is bright, God is light, He is Holy. But unlike the sun, God has not dark spots, in Him is no darkness at all!

    (Application)

                You can only enjoy fellowship with God to the extent of your knowledge of His holiness. He is light, He is holy, and in Him is no darkness at all!

                Next time when you sing the song, “Holy, Holy, Holy,” do not just sing it. You need to know that God is light, He is Holy, and in Him is no darkness at all! You need to see with your spiritual eyes that God is light, He is Holy, and in Him is no darkness at all! You need to meditate that God is light, He is Holy, and in Him is no darkness at all! You need to grasp that God is light, He is Holy, and in Him is no darkness at all! I suggest you take time in your devotion to meditate on the holiness of God. He is light, He is holy, and in Him is no darkness at all!

    (Transition)

                How do we renew our fellowship with God? First, we must know God is light. But fellowship with God is not only about our mind; it is also about our will and our actions. How do we renew our fellowship with God?

    (Main Point 2)

    We must walk in the light because God is in the light.

    (Explain)

    Please see look verses 6-7 with me, “If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practise the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

    What is the meaning of walking in the light? Walking in the light means walking with God. How do I know that? Look at verse 7 with me. “If we walk in the light, as He is in the light.” God is in the light; when we walk in the light, we are walking with God. What does it mean to walk with God? It means living a life in obedience to the word of God. Fellowship with God is not only in our devotion, although that is important. Fellowship with God, who is light, is a lifestyle of walking in holiness with God, who is holy, who is in the light.

    What would happen if we do not walk in the light and say that we have fellowship with God? We become liars, and we do not practice the truth.

    What would happen if we walked in the light? When we walked in the light, two things will happen. First, we have fellowship with one another. Some commentators think it means fellowship with God; some think it means fellowship with other believers. I think John could mean both. When we walk in the light, we will have fellowship with God, but we will also have fellowship with other Christians as a result of us living according to God’s word.

    Second, the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. Walking in the light does not mean we live a sinless life. Walking in the light means we sincerely practice God’s word, although we still will fall short of the perfect holiness of God, or else there is no sin to cleanse. This verse shows us that the blood of Jesus does not only work to make us righteous in our justification; it also works to make us holy in our sanctification. We thank God for the blood of His Son! Because nothing can wash away our sin, but the blood of Jesus! “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” The text emphasized the blood of “Jesus His Son” to highlight God’s love for us! The theme of love is another of John’s signatures in his writings. The blood of Jesus is a reference to the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. God loves us so much that He sent His begotten Son to die for us!

    (Illustration)

                Let me illustrate this. Last Summer, I brought my family to hike the Rocky Mountains. One day, we were hiking the Chasm Lake trail, one of the more challenging but beautiful trails in the entire park. Its peak is at 9400 feet elevation! We told my son he must walk with us. We told him we must walk in the daylight because it would be dangerous to walk at night. At one point, my son did not obey my words; we were separated. We could not have fellowship when we were not walking together. We were so worried about his safety. Thank God we finally found him, and we walked together again. (Explain the illustration) In the same manner, to renew our fellowship with God the Father, we must walk with God by walking in the light as God is in the light.

    (Application)

                Are you walking in the light or walking in the darkness? If you say you are having fellowship with God but are walking in darkness, you are a liar. Do you practice what you teach and preach? Are you so busy with studies and ministry that you ignore loving your family and friends? I suggest you slow down, examine your current lifestyle, and ask the Lord what you can change so that you walk with God again. Maybe you need to call your parents more. Maybe you need to be more patience to difficult people in your life. Maybe you need to trust God more. Maybe you need to keep your body holy for God. Maybe you need to you need to stop watching the movies or youtube videos that are corrupting your mind and heart.

    (Transition)

                How do we renew our fellowship with God? We must know that God is light, we must walk in the light because God is in the light. Does that mean you need to be a sinless, perfect Christian in order to have fellowship with God? (pause) No. In fact, walking in the light will make us more aware of our sins. Therefore,

    (Main Point 3)

                We must confess our sins as we walk in the light (1:8-10)

    (Explain)

                Please look at verses 8-10. “ If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”

    Walking in the light will reveal our sin. The more we walk with God, the more we see our sins, not because we sin more, but because we are closer to the God who is holy. What would happen if we did not confess our sin? If we did not confess our sin, we will not lose our salvation, but we will lose our fellowship with God. Verse 8 says if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth of God is not shaping our thoughts, attitudes, and actions. Verse 10 says if we say we have not sinned, we made God a liar, and God’s word is not in us.

    What will happen if we confess our sins? God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The word sins is plural. It means we need to confess a particular sin, not just sin in general. Some Christians think they do not need to confess their sins. It is not biblical. Jesus also taught us to ask God for forgiveness in the Lord’s prayer. God is faithful means God will keep His promises. We can count on Him! God is just means God demands justice for our sins, and justice has been paid by the blood of Jesus His Son! What does all unrighteousness mean? All unrighteousness means all unrighteousness!

    (Illustration)

    Let me illustrate this. There is a super washing machine that is free. You don’t need to put in money in it. It is free. It can wash away the worst stain. But you need to put your dirty cloth in it. In the same manner, you do not need to pay for the forgiveness of your sins, because Jesus has paid it all. But you need to confess your sins. There is no sin that is deeper than the forgiveness of God. I like the song, Jesus has paid it all, do you? “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

    (Application)

                When was the list time you confessed your sins to God? Last week? Last month? Last year? How frequently do you confess your sins? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Yearly? Or never? Maybe you have slowly become arrogant as you learned more in seminary, confess your sin. God will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness! Maybe you have neglected your family when pursuing your ministry, confess your sin. God will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness! Maybe you have walked in the darkness, confess your sin. God will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness!

                God the Father is saying, “My child, confess your sins to me, I will forgive the wrong you had done. Any wrong you have done. Because my Son, has paid it all! My Son, has died for you. My Son had shed His blood for you! My child, confess your sins to me.”

    How do you actually confess your sins? One suggestion is you can incorporate confession into your daily routine, so you can do it daily. You can add a short confession time to your daily devotion. If you have neglected your daily devotional time with God, God is telling you today, you need to come to Him again. You need to walk with Him again. Ask the Lord to show you is there any thing you have done that have sinned against Him and ask for His forgiveness.

    (Conclusion)

    (Close Opening Image)

                One Saturday morning, Priscilla finally took the time to call her dad. She said, “Dad, I am sorry I have not returned your calls. Will you forgive me?” “Of course, my child,” her father replied. “Why don’t you come over for a brunch?” Priscilla drives across town to spend time with her dad on that bright Saturday morning. Her dad cooked a delicious brunch for her. After brunch, they walked together in the beautiful garden near his house, just like before. She had a wonderful time of fellowship with her dad. She had renewed her fellowship with her father.

    (HP)

    How do we renew our fellowship with God? To renew our fellowship with God, we must know God is light, we must walk in the light as God is in the light, and we must confess our sins as we walk in the light.

  • What can you do to win spiritual warfare? (James 3:1-4:12)

    生命之道
    生命之道
    What can you do to win spiritual warfare? (James 3:1-4:12)
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    1. Problem: our tongues reflect our heart
    2. Solution: Live by the wisdom from above
    3. Application: Submit and humble yourself before God. Apologize and Forgive.
  • What can you do to win spiritual warfare? (James 3:1-4:12)

    Preached at Prosper Fellowship Church Youth Service on Dec 4, 2022.

    Introduction (5 mins)

    Peace to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to speak God’s Word to you today. Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Ken Yeo. I was born and raised in Malaysia. I am married to Sarah, a godly beautiful lady from Chengdu, China. We have a 10-year-old boy, Isaac. I am a preacher. I moved here to continue my theological education at Dallas Theological Seminary a year ago.

    (Image) Because I am new to Texas, I like to bring my family to visit interesting places in Texas. During Thanksgiving week, we went to the National Pacific War Museum at Fredericksburg. It is a fantastic museum about World War II. Do you know that three days from today is Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day? 81 years ago, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched an air attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged the US into World War II. War is a horrible thing. At the end of the war, a total of 16 million Americans served in WWII. 750,000 were Texans. 25,000 Texans died. The soldiers could be as young as 15. Imagine how stressful it was for those 15-year-old boys and girls.

    (Need) Thank God that today we are not WWII. However, all Christians are involved in another kind of war. It is called spiritual warfare. You are at war with yourself, with the world, and with the devil. The devil is constantly using the world to tempt you to go against God. Conflict in life is a sign that you are in spiritual warfare.

    What kind of conflicts are you facing right now in your life? Maybe you have a conflict with your parents? Maybe you had an argument with one of your friends? Maybe you are not in a good relationship with one of your classmates. Maybe you have a tense relationship with one of your teachers at school. Or maybe you have a conflict with someone at church. How do you feel when you are in a conflict? Maybe you feel depressed? Maybe you feel nervous? Or lost? Do you feel powerless?

    (Subject) Today, my subject is “What can you do to win spiritual warfare?

    (Text) Our scripture for today is James 3:1-4:12. This section of James is a unit because it starts and ends with topics that are related to our words. Because I do not want you to stay here longer than you need to, and we have a large passage, I will only cover the main ideas.

    (Preview) I have three main points. I will take about the problem, the solution, and the practical application.

    Body (20 mins)

    Problem: Our tongues are destructive, and we cannot tame them (3:1-12) (7 mins)

    Main point 1 is the problem: Our tongues are destructive. What is the cause of conflicts in our life? Well, there could be main causes, but James is focusing on one major cause of conflict in our life, which is our tongue.

    (Subpoint 1) Our tongues control the rest of our bodies. Let’s look at verses 2 and 4. “For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.” He says our tongues, although small, control our bodies. Just like a small bit could control a large horse, and small rudders could control a big ship.

    (Subpoint 2) Our tongues are destructive. They defile us and hurt others. Let’s read verses 5-6, “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”

    (Subpoint 3) And we do not have the power to tame our tongues. Verses 7-8 say, “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

    (Subpoint 4) Our tongues reveal our hearts. Let’s look at verses 11 and 12, “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” When you yell at your parents, your tongues reveal the pride of your hearts.

    Our tongues are destructive, and we cannot tame them.

    (illustration) Two ducks and a rather egotistical frog developed a friendship. When their pond dried up, the ducks knew they could easily fly to another location, but what of their friend the frog? Finally, they decided to fly with a stick between their two bills, and with the frog hanging onto the stick by his mouth. All went well until a man looked up and saw them in the sky. “What a clever idea,” said the man. “I wonder who thought of that?” “I did,” said the frog. Just like the frog, our prideful words hurt us. And in real life, hurt others as wellOur tongues are destructive, and we cannot tame them.

    (Application) I want you to think about the conflicts you have with your parents. What words did you say that hurt your parents lately? (pause) Think about the hurt your words have caused in their hearts. Maybe your friend said something that hurt you.

    (Transition) What can you do to win this spiritual warfare?

    Solution: We need the wisdom from above to win this war (3:13-18) (7 mins)

    Main point 2 is the solution. The solution is we need the wisdom from above to win this spiritual warfare.

    (Subpoint 1) The tongues reflect our hearts: full of jealousy and selfishness (3:14). Look at verse 14 with me. “But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.” Our words manifest the condition of our hearts.

    (Subpoint 2) The reason you have jealousy and selfishness in your heart is that you have been influent by worldly wisdom. Let’s look at verses 15-16: “This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” Pay attention to the adjectives of worldly wisdom: earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. Worldly wisdom is demonic. It came from the Devil. Satan wants to influent your heart with the wisdom of the world. He uses materialistic social media influencers to ignite your heart with jealousy. He uses music videos that are filled with selfish ambition to fuel your lustful passion.

    (Illustration) Recently I witnessed the power of worldly influent on a youth. I was at a thanksgiving dinner. A mom asked her son to come to eat dinner. The son, who was busy playing violent video games on his phone and, at the same time, watching a violent video on his iPad, replied, “get out of my face!”. This youth was being influent by worldly wisdom.

    (Application) What area of your life is being influent by worldly wisdom? I want you to ask the Holy Spirit to examine your heart right now. Ask the Spirit to reveal to you what you have done that hurt people whom you love in your life. Or maybe you have been hurt by someone who is influent by worldly wisdom.

    (Subpoint 3) Do we have hope for our problem? Yes. Our hope is the wisdom from above. Look at verses 17-18 with me, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” If you live by the wisdom from heaven, your life will fill with peace, shalom. Think about the feeling of lying on a beach listening to the wave of the ocean. Think about standing at the top of a secluded high mountain, looking out at the vast beautiful landscape in silence.

    We need the wisdom from above to win this spiritual warfare.

    (Transition) We talked about the problem is our tongues, which is a reflection of our hearts’ condition, and the solution is the wisdom from above. But what does living out the wisdom from above look like?

    Application: Submit and humble yourselves before God, and He will exalt you (4:1-10)

    This is our third and final main point. To live by the wisdom from above, you need to submit and humble yourselves before God, and He will exalt you.

    You have two choices. Option 1, befriend the world, but enmity with God! Option 2, befriend God but enmity with the world. What would you choose?

    (Subpoint 1) If you live by the wisdom of the world, you will be at war with ourselves and others, and be friends with the world and become enmity with God. Let’s look at 4:1-4, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

    (Subpoint 2) If you live by the wisdom from above, you should submit and humble before the Lord, and He will exalt you, meaning God will give you the power to have victory over your sinful nature, the devil, and the world. Let’s look at 4:7-10, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

    (Summary) You are in conflict with people because of what you speak. What you speak reveals the condition of your heart. Satan is constantly influencing your heart with this fallen world. Therefore, you need the wisdom from above. To live by the wisdom from above, you need to submit yourself to God and humble yourself before the Lord.

    Conclusion (5 mins)

    (Christ) I know some of you have tried and failed. That is because you do not have the power to do it (pause)… unless you see that Jesus Christ is the only one who has fully submitted Himself to God and humbled Himself before God. Christ is the Son of God. He is equal in power and majestic with God the Father. But He willingly submitted Himself to the Father to come down on this earth as a human to live a completely devoted life to God. Jesus came to find you. He was in total submission to the Father, to the point that He was crucified on the cross for your sins.

    Your words are destructive, but His words are truth and give life. The solution to resolving conflicts in life is to live by the wisdom from above. You know what? Jesus is the wisdom from heaven! Col 2:3 says all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ! 1 Cor 1:30 says, Jesus Christ became to us wisdom from God! You failed to fight with the world and the devil. But Christ has complete victory over the world and the devil. The tomb is empty. Christ has risen.

    Not only that. If you believe in Him, He is going to come and live in you. Many of you grew up in the church, but you have not believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. You have been living under the kingdom of darkness. Today, Christ is taking to you. He wants to redeem you from the power of the world and the dominion of the devil. Will you put your trust in Jesus Christ now? (pause) Please come to talk to me after the service if you want to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.

    Many of you are already Christians. But you are living under the influent of the devil instead of Christ. You are living by the wisdom of the world instead of wisdom from heaven. To submit to nobody instead of submitting to God, who saved you. You are living with pride in your heart instead of living in humbly before the Lord. Will you repent and renew your commitment to Christ today? When you submit to God, you will have the power to resist the devil, and the devil will flee from you. When you humble yourselves before the Lord, He will exalt you. That is the promise from God. No matter what conflict you are facing in life, you can have victory. That is God’s promise to you. He will exalt you.

    How does submission to God looks like? First, if you hurt someone, apologize to him or her. Second, if you have been hurt by someone, forgive him or her, because Christ has forgiven you.

    Let’s pray.

  • 系统神学导论-成圣

    系统神学导论-成圣

    基要真理
    基要真理
    系统神学导论-成圣
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    1.成圣的定义

    2.成圣的阶段

    3.成圣的看法

    4.成圣的途径

  • Come feast with Jesus (Proverbs 9:10)

    Come feast with Jesus (Proverbs 9:10)

    生命之道
    生命之道
    Come feast with Jesus (Proverbs 9:10)
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    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

  • 祂必兴旺,我必衰微(约3:22-30)

    祂必兴旺,我必衰微(约3:22-30)

    生命之道
    生命之道
    祂必兴旺,我必衰微(约3:22-30)
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    我们如何作一个喜乐的人呢?

  • Do Not Love the World (1 John 2:15-17)

    Do Not Love the World (1 John 2:15-17)

    生命之道
    生命之道
    Do Not Love the World (1 John 2:15-17)
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    This world is against God and is passing away, only those who strive to love God and live an obedient life to God will abide forever.

  • 得胜生活的依据

    得胜生活的依据

    基要真理
    基要真理
    得胜生活的依据
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    1. 属灵争战的开始
    2. 撒旦的两种武器
    3. 基督作成的工作
    4. 圣徒得胜的途径

  • 全然成圣(帖前5:19-28)

    全然成圣(帖前5:19-28)

    讲员:杨全荣

    今天我们分享的是帖撒罗尼迦前书5章第19节一直到末了,我们先把经文念一遍。

    大家一起读经:

    5:19 不要消灭圣灵的感动.

    5:20 不要藐视先知的讲论.

    5:21 但要凡事察验.善美的要持守。

    5:22 各样的恶事要禁戒不作。

    5:23 愿赐平安的神、亲自使你们全然成圣.又愿你们的灵、与魂、与身子、得蒙保守、在我主耶稣基督降临的时候、完全无可指摘。

    5:24 那召你们的本是信实的、他必成就这事。

    5:25 请弟兄们为我们祷告。

    5:26 与众弟兄亲嘴问安务要圣洁。

    5:27 我指着主嘱咐你们、要把这信念给众弟兄听。

    5:28 愿我主耶稣基督的恩常与你们同在。

    祷告:

    赐平安的神,我们感谢你,把宝贵的话语赏赐给教会,感谢你带领我们走这属灵的道路,走这成圣的道路,我们今天早晨来到你施恩的宝座前,聆听主跟我们说话。求你借着出口的把主你自己的心意,启示给你的教会。让所有听见的弟兄与姊妹,能够思考自己的生活,是不是讨神喜悦的生活。也能够去明白神在我们成圣的道路上,所扮演着的角色。愿我们的生命,我们的一生,在神面前能够讨主的欢喜。让我们活的有意义,有价值。愿今天早晨,你与我们同在,奉主耶稣基督宝贵的圣名祷告,阿门。

    保罗写给帖撒罗尼迦的书信,这是一个传道人,向一个年轻的教会所写的信,我们知道帖撒罗尼迦,从保罗写信的时候,他们信主不会超过两年。所以当这个传道人他要结束这封信的时候,他会用什么的题目来结束呢?我们也会好奇。如果你收到一个年长的弟兄,要跟你们写一封信,他会选择什么题目来结束。我们来看看保罗,他究竟选择什么样的题目来结束这一封书信,这个书信结束的时候,他说,23节,“赐平安的神亲自使你们全然成圣”。然后26节,他说“愿众弟兄亲嘴问安,务要圣洁”。所以保罗是选择“成圣、圣洁”这个主题来结束他的书信,今天我把这个这段经文的主题取名为“全然成圣”。

    全然成圣是保罗的话,所以今天早上我们用这个时间去思考,我们跟随主的道路,在这成圣的过程当中,我们的责任和神的角色是什么,“成圣”是帖撒罗尼迦书信一个很重要的主题,在第四章第三节,告诉我们神的旨意。“就是要你们成为圣洁”,这个是神的旨意,神救了我们,我们信靠了他的儿子耶稣基督,在十字架上作成的救赎计划,我们就立刻重生,神的义就加在我们身上,我们就称义。这个是神救赎工作的开始,神的旨意,不单只是要我们称义,不单只是要我们犯罪后会被赦免。神的旨意,是要我们不再去犯罪,明白吗弟兄姊妹。有一些弟兄姊妹,有一些基督徒不明白,他以为,既然我们犯的罪,基督在十字架上都解决了,那么我就可以随便犯罪,反正我信了耶稣,神就会赦免我,这个是不符合圣经的想法。神不单只是要我们信耶稣罪被赦免,神更是要我们信了耶稣,罪被赦免之后,要过一个成圣的生活,不再去犯罪。当然你犯罪了,你愿意向神祈求,神也会赦免你的罪。可是这不是说我们有一个可以犯罪的执照。现在这个经文告诉我们几件事,19节20节,他说“不要消灭圣灵的感动,不要藐视先知的讲论,要凡事察验,美善的要持守,各样恶事要禁止不作”。

    他说到一些好像不是很有关联的事情,有几个对于基督徒的要求。我们读了,好像明白,可是又不是很明白,所以今天我们希望能够靠着神的恩典,能够更加的清楚,神要我们这些蒙恩得救的人身上。我们应该怎么样去过一个圣洁的生活,为什么我说这个是跟圣洁有关呢?我们成圣,我们的问题是:究竟是我去做事情,让我能够成为圣洁的人而不犯罪?还是基督在十字架上钉死了,我们啥都不用做,我们就成为圣洁了,我们啥都不用做,神对我们没有一点的要求。究竟是哪一个对?圣经有没有对信神的人有要求?有!如果没有的话,我不知道你读的是哪一本圣经。神对我们有很多的要求,这个是你信了主耶稣以后,神对你有很多的要求,对我们有很多的要求,这些要求是为了让我们能够成圣。能够像他的儿子耶稣基督。这些要求不是我们得救的原因,不是我们罪得赦免、得永生的原因,这个是我们得永生之后,神对我们——他的儿女,他儿子用宝血买赎回来,我们这些他宝贝的人,活在这个世上,他的见证人的要求。就像神带领以色列人从埃及出来,过旷野进迦南,进了迦南的时候,迦南有好多的迦南人,这些迦南人不认识耶和华独一的真神。所以神对以色列人有要求,他给他们律法,要他们给他献祭,让他们与所有的外邦人,与这些拜偶像的迦南人分别出来,过一个分别的生活。

    成圣的意思就是分别的意思,他要以色列人在迦南那块地,成为耶和华神对世界、对迦南人、对外邦人的一个见证。所以今天这个是一个图画,今天在新约里面,神对我们这些活在新约的人,同样神把我们从世界拯救出来,可是他没有把我们提到天上,还是把我们放在这个世上活着,神对我们也有要求。这个要求是他要我们在这个弯曲悖谬的时代,做神无瑕疵的儿女,好像明光照耀,将生命的道表明出来,因为世上的人不认识神。只有通过我们——基督徒,神的见证,他们才认识神。所以他要我们分别出来,这个分别就是成圣。成圣就是分别,不像世界,而是慢慢的像耶稣。这个就是分别、成圣。

    那么,圣经告诉我们,我们成圣的秘诀,我们人的责任,他告诉我们有两件事情,一个事是顺从圣灵,不要消灭圣灵的感动,另一件事是不要藐视先知的讲论。所以这个是我们的责任。我先跟弟兄姊妹分享——不要消灭圣灵的感动,什么是不要消灭圣灵的感动?在19节,他说这个“消灭圣灵的感动”。我们知道我们信主了之后,圣灵就住在我们心里面。罗马书8章告诉我们,我们信主以后圣灵就住在我们里面。那圣灵住在我们里面做什么呢?我们这么肮脏的人,我们常常有一些恶念的人,我们身体好像也不是很好的房间,那圣灵为什么要住在我们里面呢?哎哟,你没有想过圣灵住在你里面,你有没有想过,神的灵住在我们心里面,我们是圣灵的殿。他有这么多的地方,为什么神有创造的天使,为什么不是住在那边,却住在我们里面,他干嘛?我们知不知道,我们走来走去,我们是带着圣灵与我们同在,我们去到哪里,我们带着圣灵,圣灵与我们同在。

    但是圣灵住在我们里面,他是有功能的,它的功能是要我们成圣。他要我们像耶稣。所以圣灵他的工作,他会拦阻我们去做一些不好的事,或者他会催促我们去做一些好的事,这个就是圣灵的感动。我们信主的时候我们会有圣灵的感动,这个感动是要你去认识、去感觉的。我们越亲近主,我们也愿意读主的话,我们就会越对圣灵有更明锐地感觉。圣灵会感动我们,比如你有亲戚来探访你,在你家住一两天。然后你跟他喝茶的时候,突然间你觉得好像有一个微小的声音,你这个时候。只有你跟他同在,坐在那边喝茶,原本你是谈天说地,天气好不好、空气好不好。这时你突然有一个感觉,你想跟他传福音,这个很可能就是圣灵的感动。可是很多时候呢,我们会害怕向家人传福音。所以我们常常就说,先把这杯茶喝完再说吧,喝完了呢,你等一下做什么啊,然后我们就怕讲了之后,对方会拒绝我们,我们会受伤或者伤害我们的感情,我们就不敢传福音,然后我们就过去了,这个就是消灭圣灵的感动。

    “消灭”,圣经中的消灭这个字,什么是消灭?他好像一个图画,好像有火,如果有火在这里燃烧,你用一桶水,倒在火上消灭那个火,这个图画是这样。亲爱的弟兄姊妹,圣灵在我们里面,他就是是像一团火一样。在使徒行传,圣灵降到教会里的时候,使徒行传第二章说,“好像有火焰在那些圣徒的头上”,这个火在我们里面燃烧,需要我们去爱主,传扬福音,爱弟兄姊妹。这个火是要带领我们走向神圣的道路。可是,我们常常就泼冷水,消灭那个火。很可能,你面对一个人生选择,选择A,或选择B。你心里有一个感动,如果我选择A的话,我会有更多的时间亲近神,更多的时间读圣经。若选择B的话,我读圣经的时间就少了,而且那里有很多的试探。我常常要面对许多金钱的诱惑,或者是情欲的诱惑,如果选择B的话,我的钱是多了,可是我亲近主的时间少了。然后你心里有一个感动,我其实应该选择A。可是,我们常常就拿一桶水,把他熄灭掉。你们不要圣灵这个感动,我们常常去选择B,我们这个看起来好像比较实际。虽然我们知道,我们选择B之后,我们面对许多的试探,我们常常会这样作。这个就是消灭圣灵的感动。圣灵的声音是一个微小的声音,在我们里面说话,用约翰的话,就是说“恩膏的教训”,圣灵会带领我们。消灭这个字,在新约圣经里面出现了好多次。他出现的时候都是说,他的比喻都是用来灭一些火,把一些火消灭掉。

    你记得保罗,他很出名地写“全副的军装”。以弗所书第五章里面。当他说到“全副的军装”的时候,他说到有几个兵器,其中一个兵器是一个盾牌,这个盾牌是信德的盾牌。在第六章第16节里面,他说。此外要拿着信德当作盾牌,信德就是信心,可以消灭那恶者一切的火箭。消灭就是跟帖撒罗尼迦,消灭圣灵的感动,这个字是一样的词。以弗所书那个消灭是正面的,说仇敌要攻击我们,要用火箭射我们。我们要用信心来消灭这个火箭,这个消灭是好的,我们要用信心消灭。可是保罗要跟帖撒罗尼迦教会说的是,你们不要消灭圣灵的感动,要消灭就消灭仇敌的这个火箭,它要引诱你,你用信心抵挡它,说我不去选择这个。我信靠神,神的应许、神的带领,我们消灭仇敌的火箭。可是,我们常常做的去消灭的是圣灵的感动。

    你在这里有两团火,一团是仇敌用火箭射过来要杀死我们的,要让我们不再去跟随神的,这个是我们要消灭的。可是不要消灭圣灵的感动。还有一句话用的这个意思是一模一样的,主耶稣曾经说过,他说,压伤的芦苇他不折断,这个是说到主的温柔。在旧约里面有这个预言,他说“将残的灯火他不吹灭”。这个火虽然很弱,可是主不会把它吹熄。吹灭就是这个消灭,所以亲爱的弟兄姊妹,我们不要消灭圣灵的感动,当我们把它吹熄的时候,圣灵的火就会慢慢在我们里面越来越微小。每次圣灵感动你,你就拒绝他,你都不相信是圣灵的感动。每一次圣灵来感动我们,我们就浇水,把它熄灭。慢慢的,我们可能对于圣灵麻木了,我们不再听神的话。

    在圣经里面,我们看见,我们常常活在这个世上,做基督徒要面对争战。你在生活中,每天起来你就要面对争战:我要选择这个,我要选择那个。这个争战在罗马书七章告诉我们,我们里面有一个罪,立志行善由得我,行出来由不得我。然后第八章告诉我们,这个得胜罪的秘诀,你就要顺从圣灵,你就能够胜过罪。顺从圣灵,就是圣灵跟我们说话,我们要跟随他。可是当我们两次、三次、四次、五次,每次我们都消灭圣灵的感动的话,慢慢的我们会对神的灵麻木。圣灵要感动我们,我们都好像无动于衷,因为我们已经完全没有防备,仇敌的火箭已经射到我们的心里面去了。我们再不去跟随我们的神,所以不要消灭圣灵的感动。保罗写一封书信,他年老的时候写了一封书信给提摩太。他说提摩太,这个以前我按手所赐给你的这个恩赐,你好好的去应用。第六节,为此,我提醒你,将神借着我按手所给你的恩赐,如火挑旺起来。他这里把圣灵给的恩赐,比喻像火一样。

    圣灵赐给我们有恩赐,每一个弟兄姊妹都有圣灵所赐的恩赐。没有一个在神的家是多余的,保罗在这里劝勉跟鼓励提摩太,要把圣灵的这个恩赐挑旺起来,挑旺就是那个火好像就要熄灭了,要让他继续燃烧。用一个棍子,把他的炭火挑一挑,有氧气进去,它就再次燃烧了,让他挑旺起来。弟兄姊妹,在神的家里面,神给你有一份责任,可能是在家里把孩子带到神面前,养育孩子。可能是在公司、在企业做神的见证,可能在教会里,做某一种的服侍。可是神给你有一份恩赐,有一个责任。神给你有一份产业,你要去发掘神给你的那一份。而且当你知道之后,你要挑旺他,好让你的一生不会浪费掉。现在的弟兄姊妹,我们只有一生,我们要挑旺神给我们的恩赐,不要拿起冷水消灭圣灵的火。

    当我们不去思考神给我们的那一份恩赐,不去想神给我的责任,我的呼召是什么。慢慢的,这个火就会熄灭。所以保罗说,不要消灭圣的感动。可是我们会问一个问题?我们怎么知道我这个感觉,我这个领受,是圣灵的呢?还是我自己的想法?这个是很好的问题,那我们怎么去衡量呢?感谢神,他没有让我们去猜,神给了我们圣经。神的话就是让我们去考量是否是圣灵感动的工具。神的话和圣灵就好像是火车轨道,火车轨道是不是有两根,有看过只有一根轨道的火车铁轨吗?没有。所有的火车铁轨都是两根,圣灵和圣经就好像是火车的轨道一样,他们是平行的,他们是圣灵带领我们,还有神的话带领我们,二者是平行的,去到神要我们去的终点。神要我们要去的终点是哪里?要让我们成为圣洁,无有瑕疵,像她的儿子耶稣基督。好像教会能够装备整齐,等待耶稣回来,神会带领我们走向这个方向。他怎么代理,就是用火车的轨道——圣灵和圣经,圣经和神的话。

    那我们怎么知道,我们的一个感觉是从圣灵来的,还是从其他的方面来的呢?这个是很好的问题,因为不是每一个感动都是从圣灵来的,有时候是我们自己的肉体的,有时候甚至是撒旦来迷惑我们的。因为这个世上除了圣灵,还有邪灵。所以我们要像庇哩亚的圣徒,庇哩亚是东欧的一个城市,当保罗第二次传道去到了这个地方。好像我现在跟弟兄姊妹传道的时候,我跟弟兄姊妹说的话。路加记载说,庇哩亚圣徒就查考圣经,看看保罗所说的,是不是跟圣经所说的是吻合的,所以我们也应该要这样做。当我们有一个感动,我们要去查考圣经,看看这感动给我们所认识神的原则,是不是吻合的,是不是同一个轨道的。如果神是圣洁的、公义的,这轨道是走向那边的。若你的感动是带领你去不圣洁、不公义的这个方向的,这个轨道就分岔了,这个肯定不是从神来的,不是圣灵的感动。所以,我们一定要用神的话来衡量我们对于圣灵的认识。

    他说,叫我们不要藐视先知的讲论,什么是先知的讲论?弟兄姊妹,在旧约和新约,先知主要的工作,就是要传递神的心意。里面包括有讲到未来的事情,可是这个不是最主要的,那个最主要是要传递神的心意。我觉得新约里面告诉我们,讲到先知讲道最好解释的一段经文是,哥林多前书14章第三节。他告诉我们先知讲道的内容是什么,这个是一个很好的定义。哥林多前书14章第三节。但对先知讲道的是对人说,造就、安慰和劝勉,这个就是说先知讲道的内容。亲爱的弟兄姊妹,你们做了几年的基督徒?弟兄姊妹,请让我看看,五年以上的请举手,十年以上的请举手,十五年以上的,哇,老基督徒了,在中国很多地方可以算是老基督徒了。20年以上的呢?那你可能听过很多次讲道,我很可能就知道,这个人讲道,我都知道他讲什么了。弟兄姊妹,我们不要藐视先知的讲论。我观察,我们初信主的时候,初信主的弟兄姊妹很可爱。问他什么都不知道,他一来聚会,哇,看到弟兄姊妹分享信息,弟兄姊妹带领小组查经,或者那个讲道的人讲道,他就很渴慕,也很单纯。讲道人讲什么,他就照单全收,基督这个信仰就是这样的。可是慢慢的,我们听的道的次数多了,他又是讲耶稣,又是讲十字架,圣经我全部都听过了。慢慢慢慢我们来聚会,只是我是基督徒,主日要来聚会吧,不然的话不像样,弟兄姊妹可能也会说我的坏话。还是来一次,出个面,好塞住弟兄姊妹的口,然后聚会完之后,我就可以去做我的事。作为一个基督徒啊,好让自己来聚会,好像是了了一个差事。很多基督徒落在这种光景。

    来聚会的时候,浪费这个时间。讲道的信息只有一个小时,有一些地方可能只有半小时啊,很短的时间。我们一周有几十个小时,没有几个小时是真正坐下来,不做其他的事。不是在你炒菜、在你开车、在跟孩子讲话,是真正的坐着,全神注目地去思考神,有几个小时不是很多的。而且有几个小时是跟弟兄姊妹与众弟兄姊妹一起,保罗在以弗所书说了一句话。说,基督的爱是何等的长阔高深,是过于我们所能测度的。我们一个人不能明白全部圣经。所以我们要与众圣徒一同明白基督的爱,与众圣徒一起去听神的话。可是我们常常来聚会的时候,我们没有这个心,藐视先知的讲论。当然我不是说弟兄姊妹要照单全收,如果讲台的人讲什么你全部都信,也不去查考圣经。不是,我们要做一个有见识的基督徒,我们要自己在家努力地读圣经,把神的话记在我们里面。所以当有人传讲神的话的时候,圣灵感动你,你就知道他说的是不是神的话。如果你自己都不清楚,这个是圣灵的声音,不是圣灵的声音。讲道的人是讲神的话,还是人的话,我们也搞不清楚。

    所以亲爱的弟兄姊妹,不要藐视先知的讲论。每一次我们聚集,我们都希望弟兄姊妹能够渴慕神的话语,思考神的话,好让我们能够认识我们所信的神。好让我们离开聚会的时候,在家里的时候,在工作的时候,在学校,我们能够做一个合神心意的神的见证人。我们信主,如果有一段时间,十多年,二十多年,你就想,现在带领的这个弟兄信主才十年,他还没开口,你那个耳朵就已经关了一只。再看他的年龄,我已经是五六十岁了,他才一个三十多岁的小伙子,另外那个耳朵也已经关起来。人是坐在那里,但是已经完全听不见了。我们会有意无意地衡量,出口的与自己比较。我们应该有一个谦卑的心,其实我们常常藐视,不愿意听道,就是表示我们的骄傲。我们觉得我们都懂了,圣经我读过几遍了,道我听了几百次,我比你懂还多。我们常常有这个心态,我们耳朵就关了,听不到。我们是聚会了,可是我们完全听不到神的话题,藐视先知的讲论。还有神怎么带领我们走这神圣的道路呢?我们的责任是什么,我们的责任只是要顺从圣灵的带领,还有不要藐视先知的讲论,不要消灭圣灵的感动,我们要聆听神的话。

    而且不单只是聆听,弟兄姊妹,而且是要顺从神的话。因为他在第五章21节说,但要凡事察验,美善的要持守,恶事要禁止不做。他有没有说不要藐视先知的,除了好好的听道。周一自己想做的事就去做吧,没有,他说,美善的事要持守,弟兄姊妹。你有没有持守神话语,有没有持守神的教导?有没有持守基督给你的托付,我们的见证,持守,恶的事当然我们不去做。所以这个是雅阁跟我们说的,不要只是听到,要行道。只是听了不行,就好像看着镜子,看了镜子,走后,就忘记自己。早上起来看镜子,看自己,多整齐,多漂亮,等下我们去聚会啊,可能半个小时再照镜子,可能那时候比半个小时前更用心,可是看了之后走了,雅各说就忘记自己的样子了,对呀,雅各告诉我们,圣经就好像一个镜子。我看的时候如果我们不去信,我们好像看着镜子走后,忘记自己的样子,我们也不知道,只是要听。

    不可藐视先知的讲道,我们还要美善的要持守,亲爱的弟兄姊妹,你持守了神的话了吗。他说凡事要察验。察考圣经,神的话和圣灵的感动。就是我们要顺从神的带领,这个是我们的责任。我们成圣的过程,成圣的这个秘诀,就是顺从圣灵、顺从圣经。可是如果圣经只是告诉我们,我们的成圣的过程是我们的责任,那么我们可能,会有一个重担,我们可能会有压力。这个压力就是,主耶稣在十字架上作成的救赎的工作,他只是救我们,我们的罪被赦免了,我们被称义了。现在神说,让我们不单只是称义,刚才我读了,神的旨意是要我们成圣,成圣的这一部分是交给你来做了,因为主耶稣已经赦免你的罪了,你犯的罪耶稣已经赦免了,现在你不要再犯罪了,神把这个责任交给我们了。

    在某一方面是对,这个事实我们有责任,所以圣经对我们有许多的教导,我们要持守遵行,可是我相信保罗,他为了不要让弟兄姊妹误会,误解,还担着一个他们担不了的重担。保罗用下面的话来结束整本帖撒罗尼迦前书,他告诉我们,他不要让弟兄姊妹不平安地去做基督徒,他说愿赐平安的神,赐平安的神亲自使你们全然成圣。这个很重要,弟兄姊妹,是谁使我们成圣?是我们自己呢还是神?是神,是神使我们全然成圣。这个是何等大的救恩,弟兄姊妹,这是何等大的救恩。救恩不单只是我们犯罪了,神会赦免我们的罪,救恩还包括神让我们不再去犯罪。而且这个是神亲自要做的事情,神亲自要让我们全然成圣。而且他用的这个字,它不只是说成圣,他还加了一个形容词,是全然。他不是说你一部分成圣,只是你的脚成圣了,你不去那些不好的地方。可是你的嘴不成圣,你的嘴还是说一些污秽的话,没有。他说全然成圣,不是一半成圣,是全然成圣,这个是多么伟大的救恩,弟兄姊妹。是谁做的呢,是神自己亲自做的。

    表面上好像是我们要听从圣灵,顺从圣灵,这是持守神的话。可是在背后,其实是全能的神,赐平安的神,爱我们的神,他亲自去做这件事。借着圣灵,藉着他的话住在我们身上。感谢我们的神,那全然成圣,包括全然到什么地步呢?他告诉我们,又愿你们的灵与魂与身体得蒙保守,在我们主耶稣基督降临的时候,可以无可指摘。这个全然,包括我们的灵、我们的魂、还有我们的身体,全然。我们的灵是用来跟神交通的工具。约翰告诉我们,撒玛利亚女人以为她一定要在撒玛利亚山上才能够敬拜神。主耶稣告诉她,你不用去耶路撒冷,不用去撒玛利亚山上,你只要用心灵和诚实。心灵就是灵,灵去做什么呢,敬拜神。可是有时候我们用灵去敬拜一些偶像。可是神说,他要我们的灵全然成圣。我们的魂全然成圣,魂说到我们的这个人的心思,我们的心思,常常藏了许多的东西,可是有一天神会洁净我们的魂。让我们这个人的心思,完全地讨神的喜悦。还有我们的体,我们的身体,我们常常用我们的身体去犯罪,我们思想什么,我们口里就说出来。甚至有人用眼睛看了一些不该看的东西,做了一些不该做的事情。可是我们有没有想到我们的身体是圣灵的殿,神用宝血把我们买赎回来,是要我们用我们的身体去荣耀神。所以保罗在帖撒罗尼迦前书四章里面,他说,第四节,你们远避淫行,你们个人要晓得怎样用圣洁、尊贵,保守自己的身体,不要放纵私欲的邪情,像那些不认识神的外邦人。所以,我们看见圣经里面,神给我们的福音,是一个全备的救恩,这个救恩就是能够全然成圣,是神自己亲自做的,他要做成他的工作。他不但要我们称义,他还要我们成圣,罗马书第八章告诉我们,他还要我们得荣耀。

    神完备的救恩,赐平安的神,要把这个恩典赐给我们。所以保罗知道,当我们说到顺从神,顺从神的话,顺从圣灵,不要消灭圣灵的感动,我们可能会有重担。圣灵也告诉我们,是神自己亲自做的,第24节,他说,那召你们本是信实的,他必成就这事。如果我们全然成圣,我们的灵、魂、身体,都能够成圣。如果全然成圣,是靠着我们顺从神来做一个确据的话,我们有没有确据?我们没有确据,我们不知道我们能不能够持守着。可是他说是那召我们的神,弟兄姊妹是神召了你,你知不知道?杨弟兄是神召你。陈弟兄你知不知道是神召你,王弟兄是神召了你。是神召你来,他就会负责,他说“因为他是信实的”。圣经特别显出,谁是信实的呢,神是信实的,她要做成这个工作。这不是说我们没有责任,圣经里说我们有责任,整本圣经都说了,不该每天都倒冷水,我们不该消灭圣灵的感动。每一次听道就藐视先知的讲论,我们有责任。但是我们要知道是神、赐平安的神亲自做成这个工作,他召我们的,因为他就会做成。罗马书八章,告诉我们,他召我们的,就称我们为义,他称我们为义的,就使我们得荣耀。所以感谢我们的神,弟兄姊妹,他必成就这事,这是保罗这本书结束,他说他必成就的事。

    不是说他可能会成就,是他必成就,就因为它是信实的。这个是救我们的神,显出他对我们的爱,他的性情,他的信实,神说的话就一定要算数。还有就是神的大能,我们看见我们自己的光景,我们可能很难想象神怎么把我这个人,可能我们刚刚来聚会前,就在家里跟孩子、跟丈夫吵架了,我们这个人真的不能做,圣经说他是信实的。这个给我们极大的安慰,这个安慰让我们愿意去跟随他,愿意去顺从圣灵,不消灭圣灵的感动,愿意去追求他。最后两节是一个结束的问安,也是保罗的祷告,他说,他请弟兄姊妹为他与同工们代祷,因为他身边至少还有提摩太和西拉,他说请弟兄们为我们祷告,与众弟兄亲嘴问安,务要圣洁。借着主耶稣基督,借着圣灵的爱,请弟兄姊妹为我们代祷,我也为弟兄姊妹代祷,我常常为着这里的弟兄姊妹。愿主祝福你们,爱你们,衷心的跟随主。好像帖撒罗尼迦的教会,他们初信主,他们人数不是很多,可是他们这里说,好让他们,保罗说,不住地记念他们因信心所做的工夫,因爱心所受的劳苦,因盼望我们主耶稣基督所存的忍耐。圣经结束的时候再次提到,你们要圣洁。你们要向弟兄姊妹亲嘴问安,问安表示彼此相爱。

        务要圣洁,做一个圣洁的基督徒。远离恶事,远离一切不讨神喜悦的东西,让你的生命成为神的见证,到27节,他说,我指着主嘱咐你们,要把这个信念给众弟兄听。在保罗的年代,2000年前,不像我们现在这么幸福,大部分的平民是不认识字的。我们今天能够读直接读神的话,是神给我们极大的恩典,可是我们常常不去珍惜。以前,他们根本是不认识字的。所以使徒们写信的时候,他们收信的人会把信拿出来,告诉弟兄姊妹,我们收到保罗的一封信了。我们现在把书信读给弟兄姊妹听,他就把帖撒罗尼迦书信念给弟兄姊妹听,弟兄姊妹就坐在那边倾听。珍惜神的话,最后我也劝勉弟兄姊妹。珍惜神的话,聆听神的话,不要藐视先知的讲论。如果不是神的话,我们就会迷失方向。因为你不清楚的话,你就会听见世界许多的话,仇敌的谎言。不管你看什么媒体,微信、电视、电台、路上的那些广告,许许多多的话要占满我们的心,你希望你心是装满神的话,还是装满世界的谎言?最后书信是一个祝福来结束,我也以一个祝福来结束:愿我主耶稣基督的恩常与你们众人同在,阿门!

    我们一起低头祷告:

    主耶稣,我们感谢赞美你,因为你是那赐平安的神。感谢你赐给我们的救恩是何等的宝贝,感谢你是神自己亲自的使我们全然成圣。主我们感谢你,因为你是信实的,你是可靠的,我们敬拜你。感谢你,是你召我,是你召我们,你就负责我们到底,我们敬拜你,主。我们渴慕我们的一生都是能够讨主的欢喜。从今天开始,愿意我们不消灭圣灵在我们心里的感动,愿意我们学习聆听圣灵的声音,愿意选择顺从圣灵,不顺从肉体,愿意去成为主的见证人。愿意聆听主的话,不藐视先知的讲论,让我们带着渴慕的心,珍惜每一次的聚会,我们有这个渴慕,求主你垂听,求主你做工在我们里面。

    愿你的工作快快的做成。我们盼望那一天,那一天当我们全然成圣,让我们不单灵魂得救,让我们的身体也得赎。让我们能够有复活的身体,荣耀的身体,永远与基督同在,好得无比。我们盼望那一天,我们与历世历代的众圣徒,来敬拜赞美,那救我们的主耶稣基督,直到永永远远。这个是我们的盼望,求主你悦纳我们这样的祷告。感谢赞美敬拜你,一切荣耀都归给你,奉主耶稣基督宝贵的圣名祷告,阿们。