Welcome to
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Friday, 7th October 2022

Rev Daniel Xi An Poon

When our spiritual eyes are open, then we can see that we are not suffering in the wilderness but see the goodness and blessings of God. In wilderness, it’s difficult for us to see the love and goodness of God, because of our sins. 40 years, God stayed with His people, He led them morning and evening, with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. What’s more important than walk in the presence of God?

A lot of time, we pray about the things we want to receive and the things we wish to see happen, but today, in Deuteronomy 4, we must know the most blessed place is the place of God’s presence. The Israelites had so much favour, they were able to see God’s presence in the Tabernacle, they experienced God’s signs and miracles. We are also in the path of following God, can we see the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire? Do we know that God’s favour is with us?

Section One V1-14 Keep and Act Out the Word of God

A lot of people can enter the Promised Land, but can they receive the land as inheritance? God wants us to take the land He gives us as our inheritance, so we can take ownership of the land, we will no longer be the foreigners or the outsiders, but the citizens, who can receive the blessings given to the land. God has given us the Promised Land, but have we entered it? Where is our root? Stop thinking about where we lived in the past or where we were from, but to really inherit the land. To take the land as inheritance is not only a suggestion but an order from God. What is our attitude towards God’s orders and commands?

When we keep and act out God’s commands, then all people can see our knowledge and wisdom. Moses knew that the only thing stopped them going forward, keeping the commandments, and acting out was their hearts. We must protect our hearts above all else, what is inside our hearts? What is God’s heart for us? Stop using our own standards to restrict God’s Work, stop using our own mindset to limit God’s power, but to examine into our hearts. We must remember what God has done for us in the past, and how God will do greater things than we can ever imagine.

We are unworthy, but when we convict ourselves for sin, for righteousness and for judgement, then we can see God’s love with us. We can experience God’s goodness, not only about fulfilling our needs or forgiving us when we repent, but most importantly, knowing that we are unworthy, but we can still come before God. We are the ones being called, but how do we see this identity?

Section Two V15-31 Do Not Carve Images

God does not want us to carve idols, and He does not want us to put Him in a box, expecting Him to do want we want Him to do. God cannot be contained in anything or by anyone, when we wrestle our ways with God, we will always lose. We don’t need any image to remind us that God is with us because when we obey His commands and act out His Word, then God will be with us. He wants us to stay loyal, and He wants to give us every good thing.

Section Three V32-49 Only Jehovah

God wants His people to know that only He is our God, and He is the only God. He loves our forefathers and therefore He chose us. He is love, He wants to lead us out of the land of slavery, and He will bring us into the Promised Land. He will cast out our enemies and He will give us the land as inheritance. We must remember He is God and He is the only God. We should not be afraid in walking in the wilderness, because our life is in God’s hands. When we have the presence of God, we will not need to worry about anything!

申命记 4 – 行在神的同在里                             

2022年10月7日 星期五

潘锡安牧师

我们可能觉得跟从神很辛苦、以为自己被压制，其实这是因为我们的灵没有被打开。当我们的灵打开，即使在旷野中我们也能看见神的爱和良善。以色列人在旷野绕行四十年，一直没有进入迦南地，很容易就会怀念以前在埃及的日子。耶和华神用云柱火柱天天陪伴和保护这些不配进入应许之地的以色列人，这是神的爱和良善。在旷野的学房里，摩西苦口婆心的教导这一群没有经历过分辨善恶树的第二代以色列人，每一个蒙召的人一生最重要的事就是行在神的同在里。有神的同在，就算是旷野也变成天堂 – 以色列人看见的不仅是云柱火柱，还有神的荣光在会幕里。在跟从神的道路上，我们是否看见云柱火柱，是非看见神的荣光？我们如何行在神的同在里？

一、v.1-14 要谨守遵行神的话

V1 我们不但要进入应许之地，还要能得地为业，因我们不是在这里寄居的，而是要得到神给这个地方的一切应许和祝福。神带我们飘洋过海来到新西兰，我们是否得地为业，还是没有根、以寄居者的心态在这里漂流？

V2 我们是否看重神的命令，还是看自己的心情来决定是否听从? 神有怜悯，也是有公义的，他将生死陈明在我们面前，我们是否谨守遵行神的话语？

V3-4 在旷野死掉的人要对自己的行为负责，而不要把责任推到公义良善的神身上。

V5-6 为何摩西要这样苦口婆心？原来当我们谨守遵行神的律例典章时，万民都会从我们身上看见智慧、聪明。

V7-9 我们若体贴自己的肉体，就无法遵行神的话，所以要保守我们的心。若不能明白神的心，我们就会用自己的标准去要求神，想把神变成我们的跟从者，最后得到的只是死亡。摩西提醒百姓不要忘记他们曾亲眼看见地裂开吞灭悖逆的人、也看见很多大能的勇士死去，所以要鉴察自己。唯有为罪为义为审判自己责备自己，我们才看见自己是不配的罪人，才会真正感恩神的爱和良善，不会觉得神爱我们是理所应当。我们要的爱是什么呢？我们如何看我们蒙召的身份？

二、v.15-31 不可雕刻偶像

V15-16 这些人没有见过神，只听到声音。神不给我们看到他的形象，免得我们“败坏自己，雕刻偶像”，将神形式化，用地上的期待来要求神。但神的要求很简单，就是让我们谨守遵行他的话。我们可能会像雅各那样跟神摔跤得胜，最后脚却扭了，失去得地为业的祝福。谨守遵行神的话，神就与我们同在了！我们忠心摆上，神没有一个好处不给我们。

三、v.32-49 唯有耶和华

V32-39 神让以色列第二代蒙召的人看到他的一切作为，是要使他们知道“唯有耶和华他是神，除他以外，再无别神”。神是爱我们，所以拣选我们的后裔，要亲自带领我们走出为奴为仆之地，进入他的应许和祝福。

V40 我们得福的秘诀很简单，就是谨守遵行神的话。我们可能害怕瘟疫，但在神的教训、律例典章里，我们有平安，并且我们的日子在“神所赐的地上得以长久”。我们的一生都在神手里，只要有神同在，我们就什么都不用担心了！