Wednesday, 16th November 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
God loves us, He wants us to stay in the Promised Land and enjoy the eternal blessings. But first of all, we must have a relationship with Him, we must have interactions with Him, when we worship Him, we must worship Him with spirit and truth. But what does it mean by worshipping in spirit and in truth? Do not make our worship a religious ritual?
Section One V1-11 Proclaim the Power of God
Without the power of God, our worship will be pointless. When we worship, we use out body and our words to completely surrender before God. When we make offering, we should offer our first fruits, and trust in God, knowing that everything we receive is not by our hard work but by God. Without God, no matter how hard we work we will receive nothing. When we offer, we should show our humility before God and before the servants of God. This is an action to show God that we have offered everything, we have come to the place of appointment, and we will completely rely on God. When we follow God, we should not leave a back door for ourselves, but to fully rely on God.
Section Two V12 The Action to Set Apart as Holy
Not only we should offer our tithe to God, but also to give to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and he widow. God wats us to realise that all the blessings we have are from God and therefore we should also freely offer to others, to love our neighbours as ourselves. Do we live a life setting ourselves apart for God? Or do we think we can be our own god and decide where we are going to spend our money? We will never not have enough, God is our provider, and He will always support us, but we must not sin against Him. Can we be completely honest before God? Do not be afraid, and do not become our own god. We often fear that God will not help us to the end, and we try to keep something in secret for ourselves. What is our attitude towards God? Can we set our lives apart for Him? He will take care of us until the end.
Section Three V16-19 Live in the Promises of God
There are laws and commandment to help us stay in the Promised Land, not by our own strength but by the strength of God. It’s so easy to become self-righteous, we think that we have already done enough for God. To live in the Promises of God, we must humble and obey, deny ourselves and benefit others. All our labour and toil are not the reason for what we have and who we are today, but it’s God, who will lift us up and give us honour. We have the identity of the citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom, what is better than this? Stop following this world’s values and start worshipping God in the Promised Land.
申命记 26 – 在应许之地的敬拜
2022年11月16日 星期三
潘锡安牧师
在应许之地，我们如何回应神？我们常常讲的“用心灵与诚实敬拜神”具体表现如何？我们的敬拜是否只是宗教仪式？
一、v.1-11 宣告神的权能
V1-2 敬拜是我们完全降服在神的权能中。“取些来”的原文就是“拿来”，“初熟的土产”就相当于现代人赚的“第一桶金”，“你神所选择要立为他名的居所”相当于教会。你相信神的供应并愿意全然摆上吗？你相信你所得的一切都是神赐的吗？我们有神，就什么都有了。
V3 来敬拜神的人要在祭司面前“明认” – 就是宣告、承认，全然的摆上，并没有为自己“留一手”。
V5-9 我们不仅是在行动上、还要在言语上承认自己的低点，看到我们过去如何的软弱、见证并宣告神的权能。
二、v.12-15 分别为圣的行动
V12 真正的敬拜要带出分别为圣的的行动。“饱足”就是满足的意思。神要我们记念我们的邻舍，看到我们所得到的东西原本并不是属于我们的，而是从神而来的恩典。我们是否在奉献的时候对神斤斤计较？不要再钱财上得罪神，要相信他会照顾我们的一切需要。
V13 我们所奉献出来的其实是属于神的“圣物”，在神面前不可轻慢、欺骗他。
V14-15 “守丧”就是在亲人过世、需要财务支持的时候，我们仍然没有偷拿圣物来吃；“不洁净”是指即使得罪神、没有神与我们同在的时候，我们也没有倚靠自己、没有为自己私自留下圣物；“为死人送去”就是祭拜祖先。在这一切的事情上，我们要都听从神的话，照神所吩咐的行。真正的敬拜不仅在言语上宣告，也要有分别为圣的行动。
三、v.16-19 活在神的应许里
V16-18 能遵守神的话是不容易的，所以我们不能靠自己的努力去做，而要谦卑，靠神的帮助来谨守遵行，因为我们与神之间不是宗教，而是亲密关系。
V19 我们在世上能够得到的名利其实都是神的恩典。当我们愿意在心灵和诚实里敬拜神，神就会高举我们，并且给我们属天国的圣洁国民的身份。我们所追求的是属天的身份、还是为自己留一手、为地上的生活奔波？让我们一生都能在神的看顾和祝福中。
Zion Bread of Life Christian Church 
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