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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Luke 12 – Followers of Christ 路加福音 12 – 主的跟從者

Friday, 10^th November 2023

Rev Daniel Xi An Poon

V1-12 The Choice of the Followers 跟從者的選擇

V1 “In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” When we decide to be the followers of Christ, we need to make choices. During the time of Luke, the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law were waiting for Jesus to make a mistake, so they could accuse Him and capture Him. At the same time, many people gathered to follow Jesus, there were so many of them that they trampled each other, because everyone wanted to come to the front and go near Jesus. It was a dangerous time for Jesus, troubles were coming to Him, yet there were so many people that were in need. What did Jesus choose?

V1『這時，有幾萬人聚集，甚至彼此踐踏。耶穌開講，先對門徒說：你們要防備法利賽人的酵，就是假冒為善。』當我們決定成為基督的跟隨者時，我們需要做出選擇。在路加的時代，法利賽人和文士就等著耶穌犯錯，控告祂，抓捕祂。同時，許多人聚集起來跟隨耶穌，人多得互相踐踏，因為每個人都想走到前面靠近耶穌。對耶穌來說，那是一個危險的時刻，困難臨到祂，但還有那麼多人需要幫助。耶穌選擇了什麼？

There will be time that we will face problems in our own lives, but at the same time, they may be many people around us that need to hear the Gospel. What do we choose? So often we spend so much time tending to our own problems, even more time than in the Kingdom of God, then the devil will also notice. It will stop us preaching the Gospel at all cost. When we focus on the things happening around us, Satan will also know where our focus is, it knows what we care more about, and it will continue to strike us with these things. If we focus too much on our finance, Satan may let us lose or earn lots of money to take our attention away from the Kingdom of God; if we focus too much on our health, Satan may let lots of sickness come to us to take our attention away from the Kingdom of God; if we focus too much on our family, Satan may arose lots of family issues to take our attention away from the Kingdom of God…

有時我們會面臨自己生活中的問題，但同時，我們周圍可能有很多人需要聽到福音。我們選擇什麼？我們常常花太多的時間來處理自己的問題，甚至比在神國度裡花的時間還多，那麼魔鬼撒但也會注意到。它會不惜一切代價阻止我們傳福音。當我們關注身邊發生的事情時，撒但也會知道我們的焦點在哪裡，它知道我們更關心什麼，它就會繼續用這些事情來打擊我們。如果我們太專注於財務，撒旦可能會讓我們損失或賺很多錢，從而將我們的注意力從神的國度上轉移開；如果我們過度關注自己的健康，撒但可能會讓許多疾病臨到我們身上，使我們的注意力從神的國度上轉移開；如果我們過於關注我們的家庭，撒但可能會製造很多家庭問題來轉移我們對神的國度的注意力…

V2-3 “For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” This is our choice; can we hear and walk the Truth? Jesus was facing life-threating situation Himself, but He chose to talk to His disciples, those who were committed to follow Him, to be aware of the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law. Jesus was reminding the disciples to have their hearts right, nothing will be hidden forever, they must first guard their hearts! It’s not about what the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law did, but the hearts of the followers of Christ!

V2-3『掩蓋的事沒有不露出來的，隱藏的事沒有不被人知道的。 因此，你們在暗中所說的，將要在明處被人聽見；在內室附耳所說的，將要在房上被人宣揚。』這是我們的選擇；我們能聽到並實踐真理嗎？耶穌自己面臨生命危險，但祂選擇先與他的門徒，就是那些委身於跟隨祂的人說話，以了解法利賽人和律法師。耶穌提醒門徒要擺正自己的心，沒有什麼是永遠隱藏的，首先要保守自己的心！這不是法利賽人和文士所做的事，而是基督跟隨者的心！

V8-9 “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” What do we choose to behave in front of people? In front of those who are in authority, what is our attitude? We are afraid of being alone, we are afraid that when we choose God, something will happen to us. But Jesus told us, the Holy Spirit will help us, we don’t need to be afraid.

V8-9『我又告訴你們：凡在人面前認我的，人子在神的使者面前也必認他； 在人面前不認我的，人子在神的使者面前也必不認他。』我們選擇在人們面前表現什麼？在當權者面前，我們的態度是什麼？我們害怕孤獨，我們害怕當我們選擇走神的道路時，某些困難的事情會發生在我們身上。但耶穌告訴我們，聖靈會幫助我們，我們不需要害怕。

V13-34 The Attitude of the Followers 跟從者的心態

V15 “And He said to them, take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” God looks at people not like how people look at people, God looks inside our hearts, what is inside our heart? When we choose to follow, what is in our heart? We follow but we don’t really follow. Jesus reminded us to be aware of our desires, not to lift things of the world, not to be greedy, but to trust in God, and to keep our hearts upright.

V15『於是對眾人說：你們要謹慎自守，免去一切的貪心，因為人的生命不在乎家道豐富。』神看人不像人看人，神看我們的內心，我們的內心是什麼？當我們選擇跟隨主的時候，我們的內心在想什麼？很多時候我們跟隨，但我們並沒有真正跟隨。耶穌提醒我們要意識到自己的慾望，不要貪圖世俗的東西，不要貪婪，而是要信靠神，並保持我們的心正直。

V21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” There are so many desires in us, but we can never be fully satisfied of the things of the world. Jesus was talking to His disciples, He did not lose His focus. Even though there were multitudes of people gathering around Jesus, but Jesus knew God wanted Him to disciple the nation. What is our attitude towards the position God has put us in? When there are many people coming to us, do we know where our focus is? Do we know what is it that God wants us to do?

V21『凡為自己積財，在神面前卻不富足的，也是這樣。』我們內心有那麼多的慾望，但世上的事物卻永遠無法讓我們完全滿足。耶穌在對門徒說話時，祂並沒有失去注意力。儘管有許多人聚集在耶穌周圍，耶穌知道神希望祂門訓萬民。我們對於神給我們安排的地位又持什麼態度？當有很多人來找我們時，我們知道我們的焦點在哪裡嗎？我們知道神要我們做什麼嗎？

V22 “Then He said to His disciples, therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.” We must focus in God, the things we are worrying about are only things, we must focus on the Kingdom of God, to pray for the Will of God to be done. What do we worry? We are not praying like the gentiles do, only for personal gains, but as followers of Christ, do we believe that God knows everything we need and He will fulfil us?

V22『耶穌又對門徒說：所以我告訴你們，不要為生命憂慮吃什麼，為身體憂慮穿什麼。』我們必須專注於神，我們所擔心的事情只是事情，我們必須專注於神的國度，求神的旨意得以行出來。我們擔心的是什麼呢？我們不像外邦人那樣禱告，只為了個人利益。作為基督的跟隨者，我們相信神知道我們所需要的一切，祂會滿足我們嗎？

V32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” God can give us the kingdom, what are we afraid of? He is our Father in Heaven, so why do we worry? What we must do is to gather treasure in Heaven. What are we trying to gather on this world? Money, fame, or authority? As the followers of Christ, God tends to our hearts, and He wants us to experience the Kingdom with our hearts.

V32『你們這小群，不要懼怕，因為你們的父樂意把國賜給你們。』神能把國度賜給我們，我們還怕什麼呢？祂是我們的天父，我們何必擔心呢？我們要做的就是聚寶在天上。我們想在這個世界上得著什麼？金錢、名譽、還是權威？身為基督的跟隨者，神會照顧我們的心，祂希望我們用心經歷天國。

V35-59 The Actions of the Followers 跟從者的行為

What is our life testimony? Are we good at talking but not good at acting out? God sits enthroned over the flood, do we have this firm faith? Or do we still use our own strength to fight and to walk this path of faith? It’s so easy for us to think that we must be better first then we can help others. But is this the truth? By our own strength, how much can we really do? It’s never about how much we can do, but by Christ, Who gives us strength, that we can do all things!

我們的生命見證是什麼？我們是否擅長說話但不擅長行出來？神在洪水氾濫之時坐著為王，我們有這樣堅定的信心嗎？還是依然用自己的力量奮鬥，用自己的方式去走這條信仰之路？我們時常認為，我們必須先變得更好，然後才能幫助別人。但這是事實嗎？靠我們自己的力量，到底能做到多少呢？重要的不是我們能做多少，而是靠著加給我們力量的基督，我們凡事都能做！