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Zion Bread of Life Christian Church

Isaiah 54:1-10Acts 8:39 – The True Security 真正的安全感

Tuesday, 5th March 2024

Rev Daniel Xi An Poon

V1-3 Do Not See the Environment, Just Believe 不看環境只要相信

“Sing, O barren, you who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you who have not labored with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married woman, says the Lord. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendants will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited.”

「你這不懷孕不生養的，要歌唱！你這未曾經過產難的，要發聲歌唱，揚聲歡呼！因為沒有丈夫的，比有丈夫的兒女更多。這是耶和華說的。要擴張你帳幕之地，張大你居所的幔子，不要限制；要放長你的繩子，堅固你的橛子。 因為你要向左向右開展，你的後裔必得多國為業，又使荒涼的城邑有人居住。」

The Israelites were used to the lives in Babylon, they are used to being slaves, and God was reminding them of their identities. God told them not to look at the environment, and not to limit themselves, because He would lead them out of Babylon, back to their Promised Land and reclaim their royal identities. God told those who have no children to sing and to praise. Having a husband does not mean we will be forever protected or secure. The true security is not from what we can see, it’s different to what the world tells us.

We can extend our tent and the curtains of our dwellings, we must not live by the environment, what we think and what we believe may not be what God has intended. God can do supernatural things that we have never seen before, but we must believe. When we believe, we break through out limitation, we let go of what we think should happen to us, and God will do the unlimited wonders in our lives. On the other hand, when we don’t believe in God’s power, when we limit ourselves and satisfy with the status quo, then we cannot break through, we will stay as we are in Babylon, and we cannot go back to the Promised Land destined by God for us.

V4-6 Do Not Fear God Will Save 不要懼怕神必救贖

“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. For the Lord has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused, says your God.”

「不要懼怕，因你必不致蒙羞；也不要抱愧，因你必不致受辱。你必忘記幼年的羞愧，不再記念你寡居的羞辱。 因為造你的是你的丈夫，萬軍之耶和華是他的名；救贖你的是以色列的聖者，他必稱為全地之神。 耶和華召你，如召被離棄心中憂傷的妻，就是幼年所娶被棄的妻。這是你神所說的。」

When we follow God, He will not let us be ashamed, and He will not let us be disgraced. When we are not afraid, everything we have lost God will redeem back for us, God is our help, and our refuge. He is our Husband, the Lord of Hosts, He is our protection, therefore we must not rely on people, because people have limitation. But rely on God, look upon Him, and His salvation will come upon us.

V7-10 God Has Mercy on Us with His Everlasting Love 神以永遠的慈愛憐恤我們

“For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you. With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says the Lord, your Redeemer. For this is like the waters of Noah to Me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah would no longer cover the earth, so have I sworn that I would not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has mercy on you.”

「我離棄你不過片時，卻要施大恩將你收回。我的怒氣漲溢，頃刻之間向你掩面，卻要以永遠的慈愛憐恤你。這是耶和華你的救贖主說的。這事在我好像挪亞的洪水，我怎樣起誓不再使挪亞的洪水漫過遍地，我也照樣起誓不再向你發怒，也不斥責你。大山可以挪開，小山可以遷移，但我的慈愛必不離開你，我平安的約也不遷移。這是憐恤你的耶和華說的。」

God can move the mountains, all the challenges and obstacles before us can be removed, and what cannot be removed is God’s loving kindness, His mercy and His salvation. There may be some experiences that are hurtful and shameful in the past, but God is telling us not to be afraid. The past experiences cannot stop us experiencing God’s love, but we must not fear. The true security is not about what we have, what we can do, or what we will receive, but Who our God is. He is our true security.