Author: Al Ngu, MDiv

AMY CONEY BARRETT AND CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY

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Our Charismatic Moment in America

I don’t know if this is prophetic, but I sensed a sense of rejuvenation for charismatics in America when I read the article AMY CONEY BARRETT AND CHARISMATIC CHRISTIANITY published in First Things by Dale M Coulter. I was really encouraged reading that, all I can say is thank you Lord for Catholics. She is actually part of the People of Praise, which I checked out, they are a multi denominational ecumenical covenant group that wants to practice the gifts of Spirit, long for the presence of God, etc. It’s actually in America, I thought that’s in Asia or Latin America or Africa. I am pumped. I am sensing something is coming to America! Revival! Renewal! Pray folks!

From their website: “Jesus desires unity for all people. We live out this unity the best we can, in spite of the divisions within Christianity. We are Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, Pentecostals, Presbyterians and other denominational and nondenominational Christians. Despite our differences, we are bound together by our Christian baptism. Despite our differences, we worship together. While remaining faithful members of our own churches, we have found a way to live our daily lives together.” [1]–Amazingly they are a charismatic group consisting of folks form different churches including Presbyterian church, imagine that? There are charismatic Presbyterians!

Coulter wrote: “The modern charismatic movement began in the 1960s, when the spirituality of Pentecostalism influenced mainline Protestantism and the Catholic Church. Central to this spirituality is a focus on “baptism in the Spirit.” While interpretations of this work of God vary within the global charismatic movement, the common elements of the experience are a strong sense of the personal presence of Christ and empowerment through the Holy Spirit, a deep love for others, the exercise of gifts that the Spirit brings, and spoken utterances that approximate human languages (speaking in tongues).”[2]

I thought this is a real refreshing way of summarizing it in one paragraph, especially in a land of America, where literally Pentecostalism is a scarcity, especially in New York.

  1. A strong sense of the personal presence of Christ

This is a hallelujah! A primal moment in every charismatic renewal Sunday service or any other day. The presence of God is the real deal. Everyone hungers for the presence of God. Psalm 63:1–4 (ESV)
1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,
beholding your power and glory.
3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
4 So I will bless you as long as I live;
in your name I will lift up my hands.

This is like David longing for God’s presence. For the charismatics, it’s all about the presence of God, the glory of God, the power of God, beholding them all, exactly as in verse 2. It’s absolutely biblical. The presence of God is so edifying, personal, electrifying, surreal, and quintessential of the divine. It’s a moment you will look back, recall, soaking in it. I remember after I preached one of my first serious teachings in a church camp years ago, I felt so good through the session, and after the sessions, I walked out to the open air, for some fresh air by the beach, I felt goose bumps over me, just thinking about the time I had in the preaching. I felt the presence of God in a powerful way, that’s the presence of God. More often it would be the time of worship, you feel the presence of God, and your heart is moved, and sometimes with tears rolling down your cheeks, as I have experienced numerous times. That’s the beautiful presence of God.

  1. Empowerment through the Holy Spirit
    Acts 1:5–9 (ESV)
    5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
    That’s the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit by Jesus right here.
    6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Just before the ascension of Jesus,, Jesus promised in v8 “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” That’s the last promise of God before his ascension back top heaven. It’s his last words to the disciples. Imagine how important is that! That’s usually the most important words. And that’s the power of the Holy Spirit will come upon us. For the longest time growing up in charismatic churches, that’s the power that comes upon you when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit. I am not fully convinced that’s the case, but nevertheless, it helps. But what’s that power for? It’s for us to be witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria, or all over the world. Then he was lifted up to heaven and cloud took him out of sight.
This the empowerment of the Holy Spirit!

Acts 2:17–18 (ESV)
17 “ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

That’s what we stand on. The last days, which had already begun, we are awaiting and doing prophecy, seeing visions for the Spirit who moves in us.

  1. A deep love for others

Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This is the result of the outpouring of the Spirit of God upon the folks in Acts when they met together regularly with many signs and wonders and they had all things in common, meeting together eating food with glad and generous hearts, praising God. They loved one another.  This is the beginning of the Pentecostalism worldwide, it started in Acts 2, how early church is that?

  1. The exercise of gifts that the Spirit brings
    1 Corinthians 12:4–11
    4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

It’s all in the Bible: v6 God empowers them. V7 manifestation of the Spirit ; v8 Word of Wisdom; Word of Knowledge; v9 Faith; gift of healing; v10 Working of Miracles; Prophecy; Discerning of the spirits, divers kinds of tongues; interpretation of tongues. All these can’t just be applied to the apostles only. Why would God just give speaking in tongues to the apostles only?? Don’t make sense. If it’s the revelation of the inspired word of God, the canon has closed, I agree. But the gift of healing goes on! It doesn’t stop with the apostles! Miracles etc.

  1. Spoken utterances that approximate human languages (speaking in tongues)

Acts 2:1–8 (ESV)
2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

That’s the beginning of speaking in tongues as the Spirit filled them.

Acts 10:44–48 (ESV)
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

There is no laying on of hands, merely Peter teaching the word of God. Right in the midst of it, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word, and they started speaking in tongues and extolling God. This is spontaneous. Not organized, not under compulsion, or confusion, or acting up, not coercion. Spontaneous, and organic. This is so spontaneous, leaving no doubt in your mind this is the work of the Holy Spirit, I loved it. Recalling ,I myself being baptized in the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues while I was in Leicester University England in a charismatic church, after being laid hands and prayed for the second time, before I received tongues. There are other specifics of instances of the out-pouring of the Spirit of God elsewhere in the Bible, especially in Acts.

Conclusion

Charismatic Christianity is beautiful, powerful, energetic, filled with the presence of God, longing for more of God and a close knitted community. What has been the negative is the excesses we heard round the world of some bad church leadership, but don’t throw out the whole basket of apples just because of some bad ones. This can all be fixed with proper theology. Also, the other aspect is the theological understanding of the bible has been shallower compared to reformed theology. This can be corrected, and I intend to bridge that. Amen, glory to God.

[1] People of Praise, https://peopleofpraise.org/
[2] Dale Coulter, First Things, https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2020/10/amy-coney-barrett-and-charismatic-christianity?fbclid=IwAR2AFqhcIW8YlyvOndWt4Rw6viMm7RmVU-MLUpeTFwDkgedLwwIvaQcnQIM

Satu-satunya Tuhan yang Telah DikurniakanYesus dikurniakan oleh Allah Bapa?

/ Al Ngu, MDiv / 1 Comment

Kepentingan soalan ini

Ini adalah soalan yang sangat penting dan penting yang mesti dijawab secara alkitabiah. Ini bukan hanya untuk biasiswa akademik. Saya rasa semua pastor perlu mengetahui perkara ini, dan semua orang Kristian juga harus tahu. Banyak orang Kristian evangelis sering mengabaikan keseluruhan’dilahirkan’ ini perkara Yesus yang. Selagi kita tahu bahawa Yesus adalah Anak Tuhan, itu tidak menjadi masalah lagi. Itu juga berlaku untuk pendeta. Saya mohon berbeza di sini. Tidak cukup sekadar mengetahui bahawa Yesus adalah Anak Tuhan, tetapi persoalan sebenarnya ialah Yesus sama dengan Tuhan, dan sebenarnya Tuhan? Sekiranya Yesus tidak dilahirkan selama-lamanya, dan hanya pada suatu saat ia dilahirkan menjadi makhluk, maka dia adalah makhluk, ciptaan Tuhan, seperti manusia, seolah-olah lelaki yang bersih dan benar yang baik. Itulah yang dipercayai oleh ahli teologi liberal. Sekiranya demikian, seluruh agama Kristian akan runtuh. Penebusan dosa umat manusia baru saja dibuang, kerana tidak ada makhluk yang dapat menebus dosa sesama makhluk. Kita mesti mempunyai Manusia-Tuhan untuk menyelamatkan kita, untuk menebus kita.

Konsep Triniti Augustine

Saya begitu tertarik dengan pertanyaan ini sehingga di Kelas Kristologi saya, saya bertekad untuk menulis sebuah makalah yang berjudul “Adakah Yesus Anak Allah setara dengan Tuhan Bapa?” Saya cukup berpuas hati dengan makalah itu, terutama yang saya petik dari Augustine yang menulis pernyataan yang mengejutkan:

Augustine menjelaskan tentang generasi abadi berdasarkan Yohanes 5:26 “Karena Bapa memiliki kehidupan dalam dirinya sendiri, demikian juga Dia telah memberikan Putra untuk memiliki hidup dalam dirinya sendiri.” Itu bukan kehidupan manusia, melainkan kehidupan Tuhan, tidak berubah dan tidak bergantung pada apa-apa di luar Tuhan (Tract 19.8, 149). “[1]

Bapa mempunyai kehidupan dalam dirinya sendiri. Tidak ada makhluk yang memiliki itu, semua kehidupan pada manusia diberikan oleh Tuhan, pada saat penciptaan untuk Adam & Hawa, dan bagi kita, pada masa pembuahan di rahim ibu kita. Itu konsep yang luar biasa. Hidup ada dalam dirinya! Dan Yesus juga diberi kehidupan dalam dirinya sendiri ! Itulah maksudnya ‘dilahirkan’. Dalam bahasa Inggeris, begoten adalah bahasa lama, seperti ayah yang melahirkan anak lelaki, yang bermaksud secara biologi, kesatuan seksual ayah dan ibu menghasilkan kehamilan dan akhirnya melahirkan bayi, dan itulah yang menarik. Tetapi bagi Allah di tempat yang Trinitarian, beranak cara Allah memberi yang hidup dalam diri. Anda melihat ibu dan ayah melahirkan seorang anak, tetapi akhirnya kehidupan itu datang dari Tuhan ciptaan. Tuhan menciptakan kehidupan itu di dalam rahim ibu. Tetapi bagi Triniti, misterinya adalah kata ‘hibah’ – garis bawah, kehidupan Yesus tidak ‘diberikan’ oleh Bapa, dan pastinya tidak diciptakan oleh Bapa, tetapi Tuhan hanya menganugerahkan bahawa Yesus mempunyai kehidupan dalam dirinya sendiri.

Anak dan Bapa bukan hanya memiliki kehidupan, tetapi kehidupan dalam dirinya  yang tidak diberikan oleh siapa pun. Pemberian hidup dalam dirinya kepada Anak adalah apa yang Augustine sebut sebagai ‘melahirkan’ atau ‘generasi kekal’. (Jejak 19.13, 152). Augustine menyebutnya “telah diberikan (hibah)” kira-kira setara dengan “dilahirkan”. [2] 

Saya suka cara Augustine menjadikannya dapat disampaikan makna ‘begotten’ — itulah maksudnya Yesus dilahirkan.

Bilakah Yesus dilahirkan?

Saya menikmati artikel Dr. Charles Lee Irons https://credomag.com/article/the-only-begotten-god/ di Credo Magazine baru-baru ini.[3]

Saya sangat diberkati ketika dia menangani masalah “Hari ini saya memperanakkan kamu” dengan Yesus sebagai Anak kepada Allah Bapa, namun kita tahu dari Nikaeas Yesus dilahirkan selama-lamanya. Nampaknya ada percanggahan. Namun, dia memetik Roma 1: 3-4 yang menyelamatkan hari untuk saya.

Roma 1: 3-4 (ESV) 3 mengenai Putra-Nya, yang diturunkan dari Daud menurut daging 4 dan dinyatakan sebagai Anak Allah yang berkuasa menurut Roh kekudusan oleh kebangkitan-Nya dari kematian, Yesus Kristus Tuanku.

Yesus “diisytiharkan” sebagai Anak Tuhan oleh Roh oleh kebangkitan-Nya dari kematian. Dia selalu Anak Tuhan, tetapi secara resmi, hal itu dinyatakan pada saat kebangkitannya. Oleh itu, kita dapat menggunakannya untuk “dilahirkan”. ‘Hari ini saya telah dilahirkan’ merujuk pada hari kebangkitan, seperti yang diumumkan, dinyatakan, tetapi dia selalu dilahirkan.

Kesimpulannya

Ini hanya permulaan perjalanan untuk memahami lebih banyak mengenai Tuhan Trinitarian. Yesus adalah Tuhan yang setara dengan Bapa.

[1] Keith E Johnson, Apa yang Akan Dikatakan oleh Augustine kepada Evangelikal yang Menolak Generasi Anak yang Abadi? SBJT 16.2 (2012): 26

[2] Ibid., 29

[3] Charles Lee Irons- Dewa Tunggal Generasi Abadi dalam Nicene Creed, Credo Magazine

唯一的 独生子神耶稣永远被父神生出吗？

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这个问题的意义

这是一个非常重要的重要问题，必须从圣经上回答。这不仅是学术奖学金。我认为所有牧师都需要知道这一点，所有基督徒也应该知道。许多福音派基督徒常常只是掩饰整个“被生化”的 耶稣的事物。只要我们知道耶稣是上帝的儿子，就不再重要了。这也适用于牧师。我想在这里有所不同。仅仅知道耶稣是上帝的儿子是不够的，但真正的问题是耶稣与上帝平等，实际上是上帝吗？如果耶稣不是永远被生出来的，只有在某个时候被生出来，那么他就是一个像人类一样的造物，是上帝的创造，就好像一个超级善良，公义的人。那就是自由派神学家所相信的。在这种情况下，整个基督教将崩溃。赎回人类的罪过，只是因为没有人能赎回同伴的罪过。我们必须有一个神人来拯救我们，赎回我们。

奥古斯丁的三位一体概念

我对这个问题很感兴趣，以至于在我的基督教学课上，我决定写一篇论文，题为“神的儿子耶稣与父神等同吗？”我对那篇论文感到非常满意，尤其是我引用奥古斯丁的话，他发表了开创性的声明：

在永恒的一代奥古斯丁阐述了基于约翰5:26“因为父有生命 在 自己，就赐给他儿子也有生命 在 自己身上。”那不是人类的生命，而是人类的生命，是永恒的，是永恒的，不依赖于上帝以外的一切（道19.8，149）。”[1]

父亲内心有 生命。 没有任何一个生物拥有这样的东西，在亚当夏娃（Adam＆Eve）创造之时，以及在我们母亲的子宫受孕之时，人类的一切生命都是由上帝赋予的。这是一个不可思议的概念。生活 在 他自己里面！耶稣也被允许有 在自己里面生命 也！那就是“被生”的意思。在英语中，被遗忘是一种古老的语言，就像父亲生儿子一样，从生物学上来说，父亲和母亲的性结合会怀孕并最终生一个婴儿，这就是在生孩子。但上帝在三位一体，不断产生手段上帝 赋予 生活 在自己身上。 您会看到父母生下一个孩子，但最终，生命来自创造的上帝。上帝在母亲的子宫里创造了生命。但对于三位一体的神秘的词“授予”汉字线，耶稣的生活并 没有“给定” 由父，绝对 不是创建的 由父亲，但上帝只 授予 耶稣有生命 在 自己身上。

儿子和父亲不仅拥有生命，而且拥有没有生命的 生命  。奥古斯丁称之为“生子”或“永恒的一代”。 （道19.13，152）。奥古斯丁称其为“已给予（赠予）”，大致相当于“生了”。 [2] 

我喜欢奥古斯丁将其表达为“被生化”的意思的方式，那就是耶稣被生化了。

耶稣什么时候被生了？

我欣赏了Charles Lee Irons博士的文章 https://credomag.com/article/the-only-begotten-god/ 最近，在Credo杂志上。[3]

当他处理“时，我格外高兴耶稣是天父的儿子”耶稣的问题，但我们从尼加亚人知道耶稣是永生的。似乎有矛盾。但是，他引用了罗马书1：3-4为我节省了一天的时间。

罗马书1：3-4（ESV）3关于他的儿子，他是按照肉体4从大卫后裔而来的，根据被 圣灵通过死而复生宣布为掌权的上帝儿子耶稣基督我们的主

耶稣“宣告从死里复活，被圣灵”为上帝的儿子。他永远是上帝的儿子，但官方，这被宣布 在 他的复活。因此，我们可以将其应用于“被生”。 “今天我已经被生”是指的 日子 复活，就像宣布，宣布那样，但是他被 总是生。

结论

这只是更多了解三位一体神的旅程的开始。耶稣是与父平等的上帝。

[1] 基思·约翰逊（Keith E Johnson）， 奥古斯丁会对那些拒绝儿子永恒一代的福音派人士说些什么？ SBJT 16.2（2012）：26

[2] 同上，29

[3] 查尔斯·李·艾伦斯Charles Lee Irons）-独生子 （ 尼西亚信条中的永恒一代，《 信条》杂志

The Only Begotten God–Is Jesus eternally begotten by God the Father?

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The Significance of this question

This is an incredibly important and significant question that must be answered biblically. This is not just for academic scholarship. I think all pastors need to know this, and all Christians should too. Many evangelical Christians often just gloss over this whole ‘begotten’ thing of Jesus. As long as we know that Jesus is the Son of God, it doesn’t matter anymore. That applies for pastors too. I beg to differ here. It’s not enough just to know that Jesus is the Son of God, but the real question is Jesus equal with God, and in fact God? If Jesus is not eternally begotten, and only at some point he is begotten into being, then he is a creature, a creation of God, like man, as if a super good clean and righteous man. That’s what liberal theologians believe and want you to believe.  In that case, the entire Christianity will collapse. The redemption of sins of mankind has just been trashed, because no creature can redeem the sins of fellow creatures. We must have a God-Man to save us, to redeem us.

Augustine’s Trinity Concept

I was so intrigued with this question that in my Christology Class, I determined to write a paper entitled “Is Jesus the Son of God equal with God the Father?” I am pretty satisfied with that paper, especially I quoted from Augustine who wrote a groundbreaking statement:

Augustine expounds on the eternal generation based on John 5:26 “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.” That is not human life, but rather  God’s life, immutable and dependent on nothing outside God (Tract 19.8, 149).”[1]

The Father has life in himself. No creature has that, all life in humans is given by God, at the time of creation for Adam & Eve, and for us, at the time of conception in our mothers’ wombs. That’s an incredible concept. Life is in himself!  And Jesus is granted to have life in himself too! That’s what it means ‘begotten’. In English language, begotten is an old language, like father begets son, means biologically, father and mother’s sexual union produces a pregnancy and eventual a baby, and that’s begetting. But for God in the Trinitarian, begetting means God grants that life in himself. You see mother and father begets a child, but ultimately that life comes from God of creation. God created that life in the mother’s womb. But for Trinity, the mystery is the word ‘grant’ –bottom line, Jesus life was not ‘given’ by the Father, and definitely not created by the Father, but God merely grants that Jesus has life in himself.

The Son and the Father do not only possess life, but life in himself  that was given by none. That granting of life in himself to the Son is what Augustine calls ‘begetting’ or ‘eternal generation’. (Tract 19.13, 152). Augustine calls it “has been given (grant) ” is roughly equivalent to “begotten”. [2] 

I love the way Augustine made it communicable the meaning of ‘begotten’—that’s what it means Jesus was begotten.

When was Jesus begotten?

I enjoyed Dr. Charles Lee Irons’ article https://credomag.com/article/the-only-begotten-god/ in Credo Magazine recently.[3]

I am particularly blessed when he dealt with the “Today I have begotten you” issue with Jesus as the Son to God the Father, and yet we know from Nicaean  Jesus is eternally begotten. There seems to be a contradiction. However, he quoted Romans 1:3-4 that saved the day for me.

Romans 1:3-4 (ESV) 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus was “declared” to be the Son of God by the Spirit by his resurrection from the dead. He was always the Son of God, but officially, it was declared at his resurrection. So we can apply that to “begotten”. ‘Today I have begotten’ refers to the day of resurrection, like it was announced, declared, but he was always begotten.

Conclusion

This is only a beginning of the journey to understand more about the Trinitarian God. Jesus is God equal with the Father.

[1] Keith E Johnson, What Would Augustine Say to Evangelicals Who Reject the Eternal Generation of the Son? SBJT 16.2 (2012): 26

[2] Ibid., 29

[3] Charles Lee Irons- The Only Begotten GodEternal Generation in the Nicene Creed, Credo Magazine

Domba Saya Mendengar Suara Saya

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Yohanes 16: 13 Tetapi ketika dia, Roh kebenaran, datang, dia akan membimbing kamu ke dalam semua kebenaran. Dia tidak akan bercakap sendiri; dia akan bercakap hanya apa yang dia dengar, dan dia akan memberitahu kamu apa yang akan datang. 14 Dia akan memuliakan saya kerana dari saya-lah dia akan menerima apa yang akan Dia ketahui kepada anda. 15 Semua yang menjadi milik Bapa adalah milikku. Itulah sebabnya saya mengatakan Roh akan menerima dari saya apa yang akan Dia ketahui kepada anda. “

Word Commentary menyatakan isi ayat 13 dengan ringkas: “Yesus membawa kebenaran, dan menjadikannya hadir melalui kedatangannya ke dunia; Roh-membuka kebenaran ini dan menciptakan jalan masuk ke dalamnya untuk orang-orang percaya”.[1]

Kebenaran diberikan oleh Yesus, tetapi Roh Kuduslah yang membuka kebenaran ini, sehingga kita dapat memahami bukan hanya dengan pikiran kita, tetapi dengankita hati. Dan kemudian Roh menciptakan jalan masuk ke dalam kehidupan atau hati orang-orang yang beriman. Persimpangan antara Roh dan Firman, atau persimpangan teologi dan pengalaman. Karismatik besar dan kaya dengan pengalaman, tetapi entah bagaimana tidak memiliki kedalaman Firman, sementara Reformed sebaliknya dalam bidang pemberian rohani. Anda melihat betapa pentingnya ajaran dalam kehidupan Kristian kita?

Itulah hubungan dinamis antara Roh Kudus dan kebenaran atau Alkitab yang kita ada sekarang dalam hubungannya dengan Yesus. Saya percaya tidak ada perselisihan mengenai perkara ini antara Reformed dan Charismatics. Namun, ada perbedaan di antara mereka karena tafsiran Reformed benar-benar membuka kebenaran atau Firman Tuhan ke dalam hati kita, sementara karismatik akan memiliki begitu juga dengan mendengar suara Roh, dan kenabian. Pembukaan firman Tuhan kepada orang percaya oleh Roh, adalah apa yang disebut Rhema, firman Tuhan yang dipercepat, per karismatik. Jadi itu adalah perkara biasa bagi kedua-duanya. Namun, karismatik juga mengaitkan ayat ini berdasarkan:

 John 10: 27 Domba-domba saya mendengar suara saya, dan saya mengenal mereka, dan mereka mengikuti saya. 28 Aku memberi mereka kehidupan yang kekal, dan mereka tidak akan binasa, dan tidak ada yang akan merampasnya dari tanganku. 29 Bapa-Ku, yang telah memberikannya kepadaku, lebih besar dari semua, dan tidak ada yang dapat merampasnya dari tangan Bapa. 30 Saya dan Bapa adalah satu. “

Domba-domba saya mendengar suara saya, dan saya mengenali mereka, dan mereka mengikuti saya. Itu garis penting dari Yesus. Kita mendengar suara Yesus sebagai domba-domba-Nya, dan Dia mengenal kita, dan kita mengikutinya. Masalahnya, bagaimana anda dapat mengikuti gembala, jika anda tidak mendengar suaranya? Saya melihat model literal ini, bukan hanya dari Alkitab. Tetapi dalam kehidupan nyata, domba yang sebenarnya harus mendengar gembala memanggil mereka, sebelum mereka bertindak. Itulah kebenarannya. Domba tidak bertindak balas terhadap suara yang berbeza dari tuan atau gembala mereka. Mereka mendengar suara yang mereka kenali dan bertindak balas, berjalan ke arahnya. Itulah kehidupan sebenar, juga secara rohani. Kita mengenali suara Tuhan dalam hidup kita.
Jadi saya percaya ada ruang untuk suara ‘mendengar’ sebenar dari Tuhan, dan itu akan menjadi dorongan Roh Kudus.

Kisah 16: 9 Dan suatu penglihatan muncul kepada Paulus pada waktu malam: seorang lelaki Macedonia berdiri di sana, mendesaknya dan berkata, “Datanglah ke Makedonia dan tolonglah kami.” 10 Dan ketika Paulus melihat penglihatan itu, segera kami berusaha untuk pergi ke Makedonia, menyimpulkan bahawa Tuhan telah memanggil kita untuk memberitakan Injil kepada mereka.

Ini adalah kejadian jelas Roh Kudus berbicara kepada Paulus dalam penglihatan. Ini adalah arahan utama Tuhan kepada Paulus dalam penanaman gereja globalnya yang memberitakan Injil dan Kerajaan Tuhan. Ia tidak seperti perkara kecil yang kita fikirkan dalam hidup kita mengharapkan Tuhan bercakap dengan kita. Kita perlu mempunyai penghormatan yang mendalam kepada Tuhan dalam sikap kita.

Roma 8 14 Sebab semua orang yang dipimpin oleh Roh Tuhan adalah anak-anak Tuhan.

Amin, dipimpin oleh Roh.

[1] WBC62 Vol Injil John

我的羊听到我的声音

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约翰福音 16:13 但是，当他，真理的灵降临时，他会引导您进入所有真理。他不会自己说话。他只会说他所听到的，他会告诉你还有什么要发生。 14 他会荣耀我，因为他是从我这里得到他要告诉你的信息。 15 属于父的都是我的。这就是为什么我说圣灵会从我那里得到他将向您传达的信息。”

文字评论简明地陈述了第13节的内容：“耶稣带来了真理，并通过他进入世界而使真理得以呈现；圣灵打开了真理，并真理 创造了进入的入口 为信徒”。[1]

真理是耶稣所赐的，但圣灵才打开了这个真理，所以我们来理解 不仅可以 用我们的思想，而且可以用我们的 心。 然后，圣灵为信徒的生活或内心创造了一个入口。圣灵与圣言的交集，或神学与经验的交集。具有超凡魅力的人经验丰富，但在某种程度上缺乏话语的深度，而“归正者”则在属灵恩赐的领域反其道而行。您知道教义在我们的基督徒生活中有多重要吗？

那就是圣灵与真理或圣经之间的动态关系，而我们现在已经与耶稣有关系。我相信，改革派和魅力派在这一点上没有分歧。但是，它们之间的区别在于，改革宗的解释确实是在向我们的心开放真理或神的话语，而超凡魅力的人将在同时，获得真理或圣言 聆听的声音 圣灵和预言家的。圣灵向信徒敞开神的话语，就是所谓的“灵玛”（Rhema）。因此，这对于两者来说都是很常见的。但是，魅力也基于以下原因归因​​于这节经文：

 约翰福音 10：27 我的羊听见我的声音，我认识他们，他们跟随我。 28 我赐给他们永生，他们永不灭亡，也没有人将他们从我手中夺走。 29 我父将他们赐给我，比所有的人都更大，没有人能将他们从父的手中夺走。 30 我与父同在。”

我的羊听到我的声音，我认识他们，他们跟随我。这是耶稣说的非常重要的一句话。我们听到耶稣的声音作为他的羊，他认识我们，我们跟随他。问题是，如果您听不到牧羊人的声音，该如何跟随牧羊人？我正在看这个文字模型，而不仅仅是圣经。但是在现实生活中，真正的羊必须在行动前听牧羊人呼唤它们。这是事实。绵羊不会回应与主人或牧羊人不同的声音。他们听到他们认可并回应的声音，走向他。那就是现实生活，在精神上。我们在生活中认识到主的声音。因此，我相信主会有实际的“聆听”声音的空间，而这将是圣灵的提示。

使徒行传16： 9 晚上有一个异象出现在保罗面前：一个马其顿的人站在那里，催促他说：“到马其顿来帮助我们。” 10 当保罗看见异象时，我们立即寻求进入马其顿，得出结论，上帝呼召我们向他们传福音。

这显然是圣灵在异象中对保罗说话的结果。这是主在保罗的全球教会中种植福音和神国的主要方向。这不是我们生活中想到的小事，希望上帝与我们交谈。我们需要以我们的态度深深地敬畏上帝。

罗马书8 14 因为所有受上帝圣灵带领的人都是上帝的儿子。

阿们，被圣灵带领。

[1] WBC62 约翰福音

My Sheep Hear My Voice

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John 16: 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

Word Commentary states the content of v 13 concisely: “Jesus brings the truth, and makes it present through his coming into the world; the Spirit-opens up this truth and creates the entrance into it for the believers”.[1]

The truth is given by Jesus, but it’s the Holy Spirit who opens up this truth, so we can understand not only with our minds, but with our hearts. And then the Spirit creates an entrance into the believers lives or hearts. The intersection between the Spirit and the Word, or the intersection of theology and experience. Charismatics are big and rich in experience, but somehow lacks the depth of the Word, while the Reformed the other way around on the realm of spiritual gifts. You see how important doctrine is in our Christian life?

That’s the dynamic relationship between the Holy Spirit and the truth or the Bible we have now in relationship to Jesus. I believe there is no disagreement on this between Reformed and Charismatics. However, there is a difference between them in that the Reformed interpretation is really opening up the truth or the Word of God into our hearts, while charismatics will have that as well as the hearing the voice of the Spirit, and prophetic. The opening up of the word of God to believers by the Spirit, is what is called Rhema, the quickened word of God, per charismatics. So that is common for both. However, charismatics also attribute to this verse also based on:

 John 10: 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. That’s a really important line from Jesus. We hear Jesus’ voice as His sheep, and He knows us, and we follow him. The thing is, how can you follow the shepherd, if you don’t hear his voice? I am looking at this literal model, not just from the bible. But in real life, real sheep has to hear the shepherd calling them, before they act. That’s the truth. Sheep don’t respond to voices that are different from their master or shepherd. They hear the voice they recognize and respond, walking towards him. That’s the real life, also spiritually. We recognize the voice of the Lord in our lives. So I believe there is room for actual ‘hearing’ voice from the Lord, and that will be a prompting of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 16: 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

This is a clear incidence of the Holy Spirit speaking to Paul in a vision. This is a major direction of the Lord to Paul in his global church planting preaching the gospel and the Kingdom of God. It’s not like a petty stuff we think in our lives expecting God to talk to us. We need to have deep reverence to God in our attitude.

Romans 8 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Amen, be led by the Spirit.

[1] WBC62 Vol Gospel of John

Tuhan Mengawasi Anda

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Mazmur 121
3 Dia tidak akan membiarkan kakimu tergelincir –
dia yang mengawasi kamu tidak akan tidur;
4 Sesungguhnya, dia yang mengawasi Israel
tidak akan tidur atau tidur.
5 Tuhan mengawasi kamu-
Tuhan adalah tempat teduhmu di sebelah kananmu;
6 Matahari tidak akan membahayakan kamu pada siang hari,
dan juga bulan pada waktu malam.
7 TUHAN akan menyelamatkan kamu dari segala bahaya –
Dia akan mengawasi hidupmu;
8 TUHAN akan memerhatikan kedatanganmu dan pergi
sekarang dan selama-lamanya.

Tuhan mengawasi kamu. Sangat betul. Kerana Tuhan itu hebat, dia sangat setia, cintanya yang teguh melampaui awan. Mazmur 108:4 Kerana kasihmu yang mantap itu besar di atas langit; kesetiaan anda sampai ke awan.

Bagaimana rupanya?

Tetapi seperti apa itu? Ketika Tuhan mengawasi Anda, itu bukan hanya untuk perlindungan, tetapi juga untuk pengudusan, yang bermaksud perubahan dalam hidup kita menjadi lebih saleh dan lebih seperti Kristus.

Ketika seseorang mengalami kesusahan, dia didorong untuk mencari Tuhan, dan melalui masa-masa itu, terutama jika orang itu menjawab untuk berpuasa dan berdoa, Tuhan memperhatikan bahawa, ada ketenangan yang menimpa orang itu, berbicara dari pengalaman. Tetapi lebih dari itu, kerana ketika kita berseru kepada Tuhan, merendahkan diri kita, dengan doa dan puasa, kerana kita tahu tidak ada jalan keluar, saya merasakan ego saya mulai menguap. Apabila ego menguap, saya merasakan suasana peribadi yang sangat berbeza, dalam keadaan yang lebih rendah hati. Itulah sebabnya pengalaman biara sangat berharga, untuk kita melarikan diri dan hanya fokus pada bermeditasi mazmur dan kitab suci, serta doa dan ibadah. Ini adalah pengalaman rohani yang menyegarkan, dan saya telah melakukannya beberapa kali. Ia adalah sikap yang indah untuk berada di hadapan Tuhan. Mazmur mengatakan bahawa Tuhan ada bersama orang-orang yang lemah lembut. Mazmur 57 17 Pengorbanan Tuhan adalah semangat yang hancur; hati yang patah dan menyesal, ya Tuhan, kamu tidak akan memandang rendah.

Mereka yang percaya diri, sombong atau tidak peduli, penuh dengan diri mereka akan berbohong rendah, tetapi mereka yang rendah hati akan diangkat. Mat 23 12 “Bagi mereka yang memuliakan diri mereka akan rendah hati, dan mereka yang merendahkan diri akan ditinggikan.”

Masalahnya ialah Tuhan sedang melakukan sesuatu yang indah ketika kita melalui masa-masa sukar, atau disiplin. Saya melihat bahawa sebagai satu batu dua burung. Yang pertama, tentu saja kita berseru, meminta pertolongan Tuhan, seperti yang selalu dilakukan Daud dalam Mazmur, dan yang lain sebenarnya melalui proses itu, ia membawa transformasi ke dalam hati kita. Kita menjadi kurang gelisah, lebih tenang, dan lebih pada belas kasihan Tuhan kita. Ini adalah ketika kita memusatkan perhatian pada rahmat, kebaikan, belas kasihan dan kedaulatan Tuhan dalam kerendahan hati seperti doa dan puasa. Sama seperti di Israel ketika mereka berdosa terhadap Tuhan, dan Tuhan menghakimi mereka dengan membiarkan mereka kalah, mereka akan mengenakan kain kabung dan abu di kepala mereka dalam berkabung dan menangis kepada Tuhan. Ia sama. Perkara yang indah adalah “Tuhan mengawasi kita”. Betapa indah dan menghiburkan apabila anda mengetahui bahawa Tuhan mengawasi anda semasa naik turun. Yang paling buruk ialah Tuhan itu menyedihkan, tidak peduli kita naik atau turun. Anda tidak mahu itu. Yang paling penting ialah anda tahu Tuhan Tuhan kita mengasihi kita dan mengawasi kita, walaupun di luar dia kelihatan pendiam. Dan itu kerana, menurut saya, dia suci, dan mulia, dan tidak dapat dimengerti oleh pemahaman dan persepsi daging manusia, kita memerlukan Roh Kudus untuk menyatakan hatinya kepada kita. Itulah sebabnya kita tidak dapat merasakannya setengah masa atau lebih, jujur, kerana Tuhan kita ilahi dan transenden, dan kita hanyalah manusia yang diselamatkan oleh rahmat Tuhan yang mutlak, rahmat-Nya, seratus persen, tidak ada yang telah kita lakukan .

Jadi tidak kira berapa lama, akan ada titik balik, akan ada cahaya di hujung terowong. Tuhan tidak akan meninggalkan kita sendiri, tetapi akan selalu bersama kita ketika seorang gembala mengawasi domba-dombanya. Masalahnya adalah persepsi kita tentang dia, hanya karena kita tidak melihat kehadirannya bersama kita, bukan berarti dia tidak mengawasi kita oleh Roh-Nya. Dia selalu ada. Roh Tuhan tinggal di dalam kita sekarang. Kita bahkan dapat bersedih dengan Roh-Nya ketika kita melakukan dosa. Apalagi dia memerhatikan kita. Persepsi kita tentang dia akan semakin diperkuat dengan doa dan puasa kita dan merendahkan diri kita secara berkala. Itu ditambah dengan meditasi harian firman Tuhan adalah satu penurunan. Tuhan mengasihi umat-Nya datang kepadanya dan berseru kepadanya, dan berkomunikasi dengannya. Dia benar-benar relasional, tidak legalistik.

Selalunya daripada itu, Tuhan tidak dapat mengubah hati kita dengan spesifik tertentu, walaupun kita mungkin merenungkan firman Tuhan setiap hari, satu-satunya cara untuk dia melakukan itu adalah melalui masa-masa pencobaan dan yang memaksa kita untuk mencarinya. Dia mendapat perhatian kita, ketika kita tidak punya cara untuk berpaling. Tetapi yang menakutkan adalah ketika kita begitu tidak peka terhadapnya, ketika dia memanggil kita untuk menyisihkan waktu untuk mencarinya, memerlukan situasi yang lebih buruk untuk menarik perhatian kita. Itu menunjukkan betapa lemahnya kita, sehingga terbiasa dengan dunia saat ini, kemalasan kita, kurangnya motivasi, dan perniagaan, semuanya menjadi halangan terhadap apa yang Tuhan ingin lakukan dalam diri kita.

Mazmur 105

Oh bersyukurlah kepada Tuhan; memanggil namanya;
beritahu perbuatannya di kalangan masyarakat!
2 Nyanyikan kepadanya, nyanyikan pujian kepadanya;
menceritakan semua karya luar biasa!
3 Kemuliaan dalam nama suci-Nya;
biarkan hati mereka yang mencari Tuhan bersukacita!
4 Carilah Tuhan dan kekuatannya;
cari kehadirannya secara berterusan!
5 Ingatlah karya-karya luar biasa yang telah dilakukannya,
mukjizat-mukjizatnya, dan penghakiman yang diucapkannya,
6 Wahai keturunan Abraham, hambanya,
anak-anak Yakub, yang dipilihnya!

Bersyukur kepada Tuhan, berseru kepada Tuhan! Maklumkan perbuatannya! Nyanyikan kepadanya, kemuliaan atas nama kudusnya; biarkan hati mereka yang mencari Tuhan bersukacita! Carilah dia dan kehadirannya secara berterusan! Ingatlah karya luar biasa yang dilakukannya! Saya suka semua ini!

Tuhan adalah pahala bagi mereka yang mencarinya

Ibrani 11 6 Dan tanpa iman tidak mungkin menyenangkan dia, kerana siapa yang akan mendekat kepada Tuhan harus percaya bahawa dia ada dan bahawa dia memberi ganjaran kepada mereka yang mencarinya.

Anda mesti mempunyai rasa kebaikan ilahi untuk mencari Tuhan. Tuhan membalas kita yang mencarinya. Calvin dengan tepat menulis, “… tidak ada yang akan berada dalam keadaan hati yang sesuai untuk mencari Tuhan kecuali rasa kebaikan ilahi sangat dirasakan, untuk mencari keselamatan darinya.”[1]

Calvin menulis dengan indah mengenai fakta bahawa jika anda tidak memiliki rasa kebaikan Tuhan, jika anda tidak merasakannya, tidak akan ada keadaan hati untuk mencarinya. Itulah sebabnya Ibrani 6 adalah mengenai iman dan mengatakan bahawa tanpa iman tidak mungkin mencari dia. Kita mesti mencarinya kerana kita percaya Dia baik, Dia adalah sumber semua kebaikan yang dapat kita temukan dalam kehidupan ini, kebaikan yang sebenarnya. Bukan sebagai pendapat, tetapi kepercayaan dan keyakinan yang mendalam. Banyak orang percaya bahawa Tuhan adalah sumber kebaikan, tetapi mereka tidak berpaling kepadanya, untuk mencarinya. Tetapi pastikan anda mengetahui bahawa bukan karya pahala kita yang pantas kita selayaknya mengawasi kita dari Tuhan, tetapi kepercayaannya kepada kita yang menjembatani kita dan Tuhan.

Shalom, dan bagi Allah kemuliaan. Amin.

[1] Calvin, J., & Owen, J. (2010). Ulasan mengenai Surat Paulus Rasul kepada orang Ibrani (hlm. 271). Bellingham, WA: Perisian Bible Logos.

主守护着你

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诗篇121篇
3 他不会让你的脚增滑剂
，他谁 保护你的 必不打盹;
4 的确，以色列的他
照看既不会沉睡，也不会睡觉。
5 耶和华 看着你-
耶和华是你右边的阴影。
6 太阳不会白天伤害你，伤害你
月亮不会夜晚。
7 耶和华必使你免受一切伤害，照顾
他必你的生命。
8 耶和华将 时刻监视你的来来往往
。

主守护着你。如此真实。因为上帝真棒，他是如此忠实，他坚定的爱超越了乌云。诗篇108：4 因为你坚定不移的爱在天上伟大。
您的忠诚如云。

它是什么样子的？

但是那是什么样子？当主照顾你时，这 不仅 是为了保护，也是为了 成圣，这意味着我们生活中的改变变得更加虔诚，更像基督。

当一个人经历艰辛时，他或她会被驱使寻求主，并且在那段时间里，特别是如果该人做出斋戒和祈祷时，主会注意到，一个平静的声音降临在这个人身上，说话从经验。但这还不止于此，因为当我们向主哭泣，谦卑，祈祷和禁食时，因为我们知道没有出路，我感觉到我的自我开始消散。当自我蒸发时，我发现自己的个人情绪大为不同，姿势谦逊。这就是为什么寺院的经历非常宝贵，因为我们可以逃脱，只专注于冥想诗篇和经文，以及祈祷和崇拜。这是一种令人耳目一新的精神体验，我已经做了几次。与上帝同在是一种奇妙的姿势。诗篇说神与那些con悔的人同在。诗篇57 17 上帝的牺牲是破碎的精神。上帝啊，破碎而痛悔的心，你不会轻视。

那些充满自信，自大或冷漠的人会被撒谎，但是谦卑的人会被抬高。马特23 12 “对于那些自高自大的人将是谦卑的，而那些自卑的人将被提升。”

问题是当我们经历困难或受到纪律约束时，上帝正在做一些美好的事情。我认为这是一石两鸟的事情。一个是我们在哭泣，当然是在哭泣，就像大卫在诗篇中所做的一样，是在上帝的帮助下，另一个实际上是通过这个过程，它使我们的心转变。我们变得更少激动，更平静，而更多地受到我们上帝的怜悯。这是我们专注于谦卑如祈祷和禁食时上帝的怜悯，善良，同情心和主权。就像在以色列人背叛上帝时，上帝通过让他们击败而审判他们一样，他们会在哀悼和向上帝哭泣时戴上麻布和灰烬。完全一样。美丽的事是“耶和华看着我们”。当您知道主在您的跌宕起伏时看着您时，这是多么的美丽和安慰。最糟糕的是上帝是可悲的，不在乎我们的上升或下降。你不要那样最重要的是，您知道主我们的上帝爱我们并守护着我们，尽管在外面他似乎很安静。那是因为，我认为，他是圣洁，光荣的，并且不能被人类的肉体理解和理解所理解，我们需要圣灵向我们展示他的心。这就是为什么我们不能在一半或更长时间内感觉不到他，因为我们的上帝是神圣而超凡的，而我们仅仅是被上帝的绝对恩典，他的怜悯，百分之一百所拯救的凡人，我们没有做过。

因此，无论花费多长时间，都会有一个转折点，隧道尽头会有一个亮点。上帝不会单枪匹马地离开我们，而当牧羊人守护着他的羊时，上帝将永远与我们同在。麻烦在于我们对他的看法，仅仅是因为我们没有意识到他在我们身边的存在，并不意味着他没有被他的圣灵守护着我们。他一直都是。上帝的灵现在住在我们里面。当我们犯罪时，我们甚至可以使他的圣灵悲伤。更不用说他看着我们了。我们的祈祷，定期禁食和谦卑会大大提高我们对他的认识。再加上每天对上帝圣言的沉思，真是令人着迷。上帝爱他的子民来到他那里，向他哭泣，并与他交往。他绝对是有关系的，不是合法主义者。

大多数情况下，即使我们甚至每天都在默想上帝的话，上帝也无法改变我们的内心，上帝做到这一点的唯一方法是经历考验并迫使我们寻求上帝。当我们无路可走时，他引起了我们的注意。但是，可怕的是，当我们对他如此不敏感时，当他打电话给我们拨出时间寻找他时，要引起我们的注意，情况会更加恶化。这表明我们是如此脆弱，以至于当今世界都适应了我们的懒惰，缺乏动力和生意，这些都是阻碍上帝想要在我们身上做的事情。

诗篇105

哦，感谢主。呼唤他的名字；
在各国人民中彰显他的作为！
2 歌颂他，歌颂他。
讲述他所有奇妙的作品！
3 荣耀归于他的圣名。
让那些寻求耶和华的人的心欢喜！
4 求主和他的能力。
不断寻找他的存在！
5 记住他所做的奇妙的工作，
他的奇迹和他的审判
。6 亚伯拉罕的后代，仆人，
雅各的子孙，所拣选的人！

感谢上帝，求主赐福！公布他的事迹！歌颂他，以他的圣名荣耀。让那些寻求耶和华的人的心欢喜！不断寻求他和他的存在！记住他所做的奇妙作品！我爱这些！

上帝是那些寻求他的人的报应

希伯来书11 6 没有信仰，就不可能取悦他，因为凡接近上帝的人都必须相信他的存在，并奖励那些寻求他的人。

你必须对寻求上帝有神圣的感觉。上帝奖励寻求他的人。加尔文正确地写道：“……除了深深地感受到神圣的善良，以寻求上帝的救赎外，没有人会以适当的心态寻求上帝。”[1]

加尔文写的优美的事实是，如果您对上帝的良善没有感觉，如果您没有感觉到上帝的良善，那么寻求他就不会处于心脏状态。这就是希伯来书6关于信仰的原因，它说没有信仰就不可能寻求他。我们必须寻找他，因为我们相信他是善的，他是我们今生可以找到的所有善的真正来源。并非作为意见，而是真正的深刻信念和信念。许多人确实相信上帝是善良的源头，但他们不会求助于他。不过可以非常肯定地知道，这 不是我们的优点的作品 是我们应得的神的注视着我们为好，但其 信心 在美国的，桥梁我们与神。

沙洛姆，荣耀归于上帝。阿们

[1] Calvin，J.和Owen，J.（2010）。 评《希伯来书使徒保罗书信》 （第271页）。华盛顿州贝灵汉：徽标圣经软件。

The Lord Watches Over You

/ Al Ngu, MDiv / Leave a comment

PSALM 121
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

The Lord watches over you. So true. Because God is awesome, he’s so faithful, his steadfast love goes beyond the clouds. Psalm 108 :4 For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

What does it look like?

But what does that look like? When the Lord watches over you, it’s not just for protection, but also for sanctification, meaning changes in our life to be more godly and more like Christ.

When a person goes through hardship, he or she is driven to seek the Lord, and through those times, especially if the person responds to take a fast and prayer, the Lord notices that, there is a serenity that dawns upon the person, speaking from experience. But it’s more than that, because as we cry out to the Lord, humbling ourselves, with prayer and fasting, because we know there is no way out, I sense my ego begins to evaporate. When ego evaporates, I find a very different personal mood, in a much humbler posture. That’s why monastic experience is very precious, for us to get away and just focus on meditating psalms and scriptures, and prayers and worship. It’s a refreshing spiritual experience, and I have done it a few times. It’s a wonderful posture to be with in front of God. Psalm says God is with those who are contrite in heart. Psalm 57:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Those who are self-confident, arrogant or apathetic, full of themselves will be lied low, but those who are humble will be lifted up. Matt 23 12 “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

The thing is God is doing something beautiful when we go through hard times, or being disciplined. I see that as a one stone two birds thing. One is we are , of course crying out, for God’s help, like David always does in Psalms, and the other one is actually through the process, it brings transformation to our hearts. We get less agitated, more calm, and more at the mercy of our God. This is when we focus on God’s mercy, goodness, compassion and sovereignty in humility like prayer and fasting. Just like in Israel when they sinned against God, and God judged them by letting them be defeated, they would put on sackcloth and ashes on their heads in mourning and crying to God. It is exactly the same. The beautiful thing is “The Lord watches over us”. How beautiful and comforting when you know that the Lord watches over you in your ups and downs. The worst thing is God is apathetic, doesn’t care our going up or down. You don’t want that. The most important thing is you know the Lord our God loves us and watches over us, though on the outside he seems to be quiet. And that’s because , I think, he is holy, and glorious, and cannot be understood by human fleshly understanding and perception, we need the Holy Spirit to reveal his heart to us. That’s why we can’t feel him half of the time or more, honestly, because our God is divine and transcendent, and we are mere mortals saved by the absolute grace of God, his mercy, one hundred percent, nothing that we have done.

So no matter how long it takes, there will be a turning point, there will be a light at the end of the tunnel. God will not leave us by our own, but will always be with us as a shepherd watches over his sheep. The trouble is our perception of him, just because we don’t perceive his presence with us, doesn’t mean he is not watching over us by His Spirit. He always is. The Spirit of God lives in us now. We can even grieve his Spirit when we sin. Let alone his watching over us. Our perception of him will be much sharpened by our prayer and fasting and humbling ourselves on a regular basis. That coupled with daily meditation of God’s word is a touch down. God loves his people come to him and cry out to him, and commune with him. He is absolutely relational, not legalistic.

Most often than not, God can’t change our hearts at certain specifics, even though we may even be meditating God’s word daily, the only way for him to do that is through times of trials and that forces us to seek him. He’s got our attention, when we have no way to turn. But the scary thing is when we are so insensitive to him, when he is calling us to set aside time to seek him, it takes an aggravated situation to get our attention. That shows how frail we are, so attuned to the world today, our laziness, lack of motivation, and business, are all stumbling blocks to what God wants to do in us.

And more than that, we are called to continually seek the Lord. Not just once, not just a day or two, but through our life span. Seek the Lord and his strnegth! His strnegth! Glory in him, worship him!

Psalm 105

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
3 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
6 O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones!

Give thanks to God, call upon the Lord! Make his deeds known! Sing to him, glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek him and his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works he’s done! I love all these!

God is a rewarder of those who seek him

Hebrews 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

You must have a sense of the divine goodness to seek God. God rewards us who seek him. Calvin rightly writes, “…no one will be in a suitable state of heart to seek God except a sense of the divine goodness be deeply felt, so as to look for salvation from him.” 1

Do you sense deeply the divine goodness? You see, Calvin is right, you can’t be casual about this. It’s either you feel deeply about God’s goodness, or you feel partially which will not sustain. Calvin writes beautifully on the fact that if you don’t have a deep sense of God’s goodness, you would not be in a state of heart condition to find him. God loves us to seek him, and this word ‘seek him’ is found all over psalms and the Bible.

Hebrews 6 says that without faith its impossible to seek him. We must seek him because we believe He is good, He is the source all goodness we can find in this life, real goodness. Not as an opinion, but real deep belief and conviction. Many people do believe God is the source of goodness as well, but they don’t turn to him, to seek him. And they got nothing!

Lastly, be very sure to know that it’s not our works of merits that we deserve God’s watching over us for good, but its God’s grace and goodness thats activated by our faith that will find God.

Seek him, and you will find him. Shalom, Amen.

[1] Calvin, J., & Owen, J. (2010). Commentary on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews (p. 271). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.