世界上自以為最強的人也需要有所依靠，因為沒有人能獨自自足地生活。一般人只有三樣東西可以依靠；第一就是自己的能力、智慧和健康；第二是錢財和物質；第三是別人，特別是有能力保護自己的人。
對於基督徒來說，我們也需要這些依靠，因為我們也生活在社會中，就需要依靠這些人與物。在某程度上，依靠這些人與物不單是沒有錯的，而且也是必須和應該的；但我們同時也應該認識到，這些依靠都是有限的，不應該成為我們唯一的依靠，更不要因為有了這些依靠，就以為有了一切，自滿自足起來，甚至驕傲起來。
我們真正的依靠是什麼呢？我們真正的依靠，而祂又有能力保守我們到永遠的，就是那位創造天地萬物的耶和華神。
在今天的敬拜中，讓我們認識這個真理，以神為我們依靠的，並且仰望祂，我們便有福了。
People need to rely on something, even for the strongest people, they will also rely on something, because no one can live alone without any support. There are three things everybody will rely on, and they are (1) our strength, wisdom, and health;
(2) money and material possessions; (3) people, especially those who have power to protect us.
As Christians, we also need these things to hang on, because we live in a society that we have to rely on other people or something. It is not wrong to rely on people and things and we do need some supports to live and function, but on the other hand, we need to realize that these supports are very limited, and should not become our only help. Even if we have a lot of things to hang on, we should not be fooled by the feelings of self-sufficiency and pride.
What or who should we totally rely on? Only God, who has created and is sustaining the universe, will protect and provide us, and He is our everlasting helper.
Today in this worship service, let us learn this truth and rely on Jesus. We will be blessed if we turn our eyes upon Him.
與神的話相遇 Encounter With the Word
在敬拜中，神永遠都是那唯一被敬拜的對象。無論是唱詩歌、禱告、讀聖經、奉獻和聽講道，都是因為我們要向神表達崇敬和愛慕。
尤其在讀聖經和聽講道的時候，更是我們直接與神的道相遇的機會。換句話說，讀聖經和聽講道是讓神在敬拜中，以祂的話語來與我們同在。神從創世開始，就以祂的話語與人同在，一直藉著祂的使者和先知，最後以「道成了肉身」的完滿方式來與人相遇。讀聖經和聽講道，的確更能讓人體會神就是敬拜的中心，於是人就在話語中與神相遇。
特別在聽講道的時候，我們應該用什麼態度來敬拜呢？首先，聽講道是敬拜的一部份，是人要在話語中與神相遇的時刻，因此等候的心便很重要。撒母耳向神說，「耶和華啊，請說，僕人敬聽！」（撒上三9）
我們也要在聽道時求聖靈引導，使我們藉聽道明白聖經更深入的教訓與真理。耶穌要差遣聖靈在我們中間做一件很重要的工作，就是帶領我們進入（或明白）真理之中（約十六13）。在讀聖經或聽講道時，如果我們獲得了鼓勵、安慰、提醒或責備，就在神的話語中與祂相遇。
我鼓勵大家帶一本靈修日誌來崇拜，把從敬拜中所獲得的一點一滴屬靈的教導或體會記錄下來，因為那是與神在祂的話語中相遇的寶貴經歷。
God is always the center of worship service. All the elements in worship service, such as hymn singing, prayer, Scripture reading, offering and listening to the sermon, are our expressions of reverence and love to God.
Especially in reading the Scripture and listening to the sermon, they are the ways for us to directly encounter God in His word. In another word, reading the Scripture and listening to the sermon will allow us to experience God’s presence in worship service. God was with us in His word since the beginning of His creation, and He kept sending His servants and prophets to minister to us with His word, until the coming of the incarnated Word, who brought us the fullest form of the presence of the word. Therefore, reading the Scripture and listening to the sermon will truly allow us to experience God as the center of our worship service, and we will encounter Him in the word.
What attitude should we bring to worship Him, especially in listening to the sermon? First of all, listening to sermon is a part of worship, and in it we will encounter God in His word, so we should wait upon Him and His word. Samuel responds to the Lord by saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” (1 Samuel 3:9)
And then, we should ask the Holy Spirit to guide and help us understand the teaching and the truth. When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us, He has a very important task to do, which is guiding and leading us into the truth (John 16:13). If we receive any encouragement, comfort, warning or rebuking when we listen to the sermon, we are encountering God in His word.
I encourage you to bring your Spiritual Journal to every worship service to put down any insight you have during the worship service, for they are your valuable spiritual experience of encountering God in His word.
尤其在讀聖經和聽講道的時候，更是我們直接與神的道相遇的機會。換句話說，讀聖經和聽講道是讓神在敬拜中，以祂的話語來與我們同在。神從創世開始，就以祂的話語與人同在，一直藉著祂的使者和先知，最後以「道成了肉身」的完滿方式來與人相遇。讀聖經和聽講道，的確更能讓人體會神就是敬拜的中心，於是人就在話語中與神相遇。
特別在聽講道的時候，我們應該用什麼態度來敬拜呢？首先，聽講道是敬拜的一部份，是人要在話語中與神相遇的時刻，因此等候的心便很重要。撒母耳向神說，「耶和華啊，請說，僕人敬聽！」（撒上三9）
我們也要在聽道時求聖靈引導，使我們藉聽道明白聖經更深入的教訓與真理。耶穌要差遣聖靈在我們中間做一件很重要的工作，就是帶領我們進入（或明白）真理之中（約十六13）。在讀聖經或聽講道時，如果我們獲得了鼓勵、安慰、提醒或責備，就在神的話語中與祂相遇。
我鼓勵大家帶一本靈修日誌來崇拜，把從敬拜中所獲得的一點一滴屬靈的教導或體會記錄下來，因為那是與神在祂的話語中相遇的寶貴經歷。
God is always the center of worship service. All the elements in worship service, such as hymn singing, prayer, Scripture reading, offering and listening to the sermon, are our expressions of reverence and love to God.
Especially in reading the Scripture and listening to the sermon, they are the ways for us to directly encounter God in His word. In another word, reading the Scripture and listening to the sermon will allow us to experience God’s presence in worship service. God was with us in His word since the beginning of His creation, and He kept sending His servants and prophets to minister to us with His word, until the coming of the incarnated Word, who brought us the fullest form of the presence of the word. Therefore, reading the Scripture and listening to the sermon will truly allow us to experience God as the center of our worship service, and we will encounter Him in the word.
What attitude should we bring to worship Him, especially in listening to the sermon? First of all, listening to sermon is a part of worship, and in it we will encounter God in His word, so we should wait upon Him and His word. Samuel responds to the Lord by saying, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” (1 Samuel 3:9)
And then, we should ask the Holy Spirit to guide and help us understand the teaching and the truth. When Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us, He has a very important task to do, which is guiding and leading us into the truth (John 16:13). If we receive any encouragement, comfort, warning or rebuking when we listen to the sermon, we are encountering God in His word.
I encourage you to bring your Spiritual Journal to every worship service to put down any insight you have during the worship service, for they are your valuable spiritual experience of encountering God in His word.
擴大禱告生活 Expending Our Prayer Life
耶穌指出基督徒的禱告應該以天國中心的，而禱告的能力就彰顯在生命和生活為著天國所作的改變。因此，禱告是靈命成長的重要操練，也是一種心靈的服事，使神的旨意和國度得以降臨在地上。今年教會為大家編製一本靈修日誌，當中有一個很重要的禱告操練，幫助我們擴大禱告的生活，讓我們的禱告由以自己為中心轉變為以天國為中心。在一週五天的靈修禱告中，安排了五個不同的重點，而每一天就以一個重點為禱告的重心。鼓勵大家按著這些重點，每天集中為一個來禱告，讓我們在更大的範圍去經歷神的作為。
第一天， 專心為自己的靈命成長禱告。我們不會忘記為生活和物質的需要禱告，卻常常忘記自己屬靈成長的需要。在一週中，應該最少為自己的靈命禱告一次。
第二天， 第二天，要為教會的肢體禱告。請你按著教會的名單，每天為一位弟兄或姊妹禱告，關心他們的靈命和生活的需要。
第三天， 第三天，要為所參加的小組或團契禱告。如果要有美好的小組或團契生活，就不要忘記為它禱告。神要求我們有團契生活，因為只有在團契中，我們的靈命才有健康的成長。
第四天， 第四天，要為教會的事工，或一位慕道者禱告。教會是我們屬靈的家，更是我們事奉神和人的地方，所以要常常為教會和各種事工禱告。我們也可以為慕道者禱告，因為禱告是一種屬靈的事奉，讓聖靈藉著我們的禱告作工。
第五天， 第五天，要為主日學和崇拜禱告。如果要有一個可以滿足屬靈需要的主日，就不要忘記為主日學和崇拜禱告，也求主預備我們的心來敬拜祂。
如果每週按著這些重點來禱告，我們的禱告生活，以至屬靈生命，都會更豐盛，更滿足。
Jesus has pointed out that the kingdom of God is the focus of our prayer life, and the power of prayer is the power of transforming our life for the kingdom. Therefore, prayer is a very important spiritual discipline. It is also a spiritual act of service, in which we will fulfill God’s will and bring the kingdom on earth. Our church has produced a Spiritual Journal for everybody, and a prayer program is included in it to help us expend our prayer life. If we do it accordingly, it will transform our prayer into a kingdom prayer. There are five different emphases in the prayer program, and we are encouraged to pray for one emphasis for each day during the week. That will help us experience God’s wonderful grace in different areas of the Christian life.
Day one, we pray for our spiritual life. We will pray for our material needs, but always forget our spiritual life. We should pray for our spiritual life at least once every week.
Day two, we pray for our brothers and sisters. Pray for one brother or sister by name to remember their spiritual and physical needs.
Day three, we pray for our small group fellowship. If we want to have a wonderful small group fellowship, we should pray for them always. God wants us to have fellowship for He knows that in it our spiritual life will grow more healthily.
Day four, we pray for church ministry or seekers. We should pray for our church for it is our spiritual home. We care about it so we pray for every ministry in church. We should also pray for the seekers for the Holy Spirit will use our prayer to bring conviction to them.
Day five, we pray for the Sunday school and worship service. If we want to have a wonderful Sunday that will meet our spiritual needs, we should pray for our Sunday school and worship service, and also ask the Lord to prepare our heart for it.
If we can pray accordingly everyday in our daily devotion, our spiritual life will definitely be satisfied and fruitful.
第一天， 專心為自己的靈命成長禱告。我們不會忘記為生活和物質的需要禱告，卻常常忘記自己屬靈成長的需要。在一週中，應該最少為自己的靈命禱告一次。
第二天， 第二天，要為教會的肢體禱告。請你按著教會的名單，每天為一位弟兄或姊妹禱告，關心他們的靈命和生活的需要。
第三天， 第三天，要為所參加的小組或團契禱告。如果要有美好的小組或團契生活，就不要忘記為它禱告。神要求我們有團契生活，因為只有在團契中，我們的靈命才有健康的成長。
第四天， 第四天，要為教會的事工，或一位慕道者禱告。教會是我們屬靈的家，更是我們事奉神和人的地方，所以要常常為教會和各種事工禱告。我們也可以為慕道者禱告，因為禱告是一種屬靈的事奉，讓聖靈藉著我們的禱告作工。
第五天， 第五天，要為主日學和崇拜禱告。如果要有一個可以滿足屬靈需要的主日，就不要忘記為主日學和崇拜禱告，也求主預備我們的心來敬拜祂。
如果每週按著這些重點來禱告，我們的禱告生活，以至屬靈生命，都會更豐盛，更滿足。
Jesus has pointed out that the kingdom of God is the focus of our prayer life, and the power of prayer is the power of transforming our life for the kingdom. Therefore, prayer is a very important spiritual discipline. It is also a spiritual act of service, in which we will fulfill God’s will and bring the kingdom on earth. Our church has produced a Spiritual Journal for everybody, and a prayer program is included in it to help us expend our prayer life. If we do it accordingly, it will transform our prayer into a kingdom prayer. There are five different emphases in the prayer program, and we are encouraged to pray for one emphasis for each day during the week. That will help us experience God’s wonderful grace in different areas of the Christian life.
Day one, we pray for our spiritual life. We will pray for our material needs, but always forget our spiritual life. We should pray for our spiritual life at least once every week.
Day two, we pray for our brothers and sisters. Pray for one brother or sister by name to remember their spiritual and physical needs.
Day three, we pray for our small group fellowship. If we want to have a wonderful small group fellowship, we should pray for them always. God wants us to have fellowship for He knows that in it our spiritual life will grow more healthily.
Day four, we pray for church ministry or seekers. We should pray for our church for it is our spiritual home. We care about it so we pray for every ministry in church. We should also pray for the seekers for the Holy Spirit will use our prayer to bring conviction to them.
Day five, we pray for the Sunday school and worship service. If we want to have a wonderful Sunday that will meet our spiritual needs, we should pray for our Sunday school and worship service, and also ask the Lord to prepare our heart for it.
If we can pray accordingly everyday in our daily devotion, our spiritual life will definitely be satisfied and fruitful.
作成得救的工夫 To Complete Our Salvation
（腓立比書Philippians 2:12-18）
一個人面對壓力和挑戰的態度，往往影響他能否勝過那些壓力和挑戰。保羅面對壓力的態度非常積極和健康，把它們看作是屬靈生活上的操練，讓自己的屬靈生命得著磨練與成長。
保羅知道他坐牢一事，為腓立比信徒帶來了壓力。但他並不埋怨自己的遭遇，反而感謝神讓他可以分享基督的苦難，藉著恩典與基督在苦難中團契。保羅更認為苦難可以讓信徒完成他們因信稱義的生命。
保羅說，我們要學效基督的受苦，專心地在壓力和挑戰中磨練自己的屬靈生命，藉此完成我們已得救的生命。原來我們因信得救了，只是在身份和地位上領受了神的恩賜，成為祂的兒女，但自己的生活習慣、思想和個性等等，都還是那個老我，與新的身份和關係並不相符。因此，保羅在前面便說，要我們「行事為人與基督的福音相稱」；現在又說，「就當恐懼戰兢，作成你們得救的工夫」。
我們日常所遭遇的事情，不論好壞都可以成為生命的祝福，只要我們肯定「萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人」（羅8:28）。
經文默想
保羅要我們全神貫注（恐懼戰兢），去成就我們已被稱義的生命（作成得救的工夫）。請默想這節經文（腓2:12）對你的屬靈生命有什麼提醒。
The attitude a person takes to face pressure and challenge will determine if he can overcome them or not. The ways Paul reacted to challenge and pressure were very positive and healthy, and he always took challenge and pressure as spiritual disciplines to grow his spiritual life.
Paul knew that his imprisonment would bring pressure to Christians in Philippi. Nevertheless, he did not complain, but took it as an opportunity to share Christ’s suffering, and enjoyed this fellowship of suffering grace with Jesus. Paul recognized suffering as the way to complete his spiritual life in faith and righteousness.
Paul told us to imitate Christ’s suffering, and devote our effort to transform pressure and challenge into spiritual disciplines to complete our redeemed life. For when we were saved through faith by grace, we have only inherited a new status and relationship of God’s children, but our lifestyle, thoughts, and characters are still affected by the old self, and do not comply with the new self. Therefore, Paul urged us to “conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” in 1:27, and “ to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling” in 2:12.
Things that we come across in our daily life, no matter they are good or bad, will become blessings to us if we realize that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28).
Meditation on the Scripture
Paul urges us to devote our whole being (with fear and trembling) to work out the status of our life of being claimed righteous. Please meditate on this verse (2:12) to inspire you in working out your spirituality.
一個人面對壓力和挑戰的態度，往往影響他能否勝過那些壓力和挑戰。保羅面對壓力的態度非常積極和健康，把它們看作是屬靈生活上的操練，讓自己的屬靈生命得著磨練與成長。
保羅知道他坐牢一事，為腓立比信徒帶來了壓力。但他並不埋怨自己的遭遇，反而感謝神讓他可以分享基督的苦難，藉著恩典與基督在苦難中團契。保羅更認為苦難可以讓信徒完成他們因信稱義的生命。
保羅說，我們要學效基督的受苦，專心地在壓力和挑戰中磨練自己的屬靈生命，藉此完成我們已得救的生命。原來我們因信得救了，只是在身份和地位上領受了神的恩賜，成為祂的兒女，但自己的生活習慣、思想和個性等等，都還是那個老我，與新的身份和關係並不相符。因此，保羅在前面便說，要我們「行事為人與基督的福音相稱」；現在又說，「就當恐懼戰兢，作成你們得救的工夫」。
我們日常所遭遇的事情，不論好壞都可以成為生命的祝福，只要我們肯定「萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處，就是按祂旨意被召的人」（羅8:28）。
經文默想
保羅要我們全神貫注（恐懼戰兢），去成就我們已被稱義的生命（作成得救的工夫）。請默想這節經文（腓2:12）對你的屬靈生命有什麼提醒。
The attitude a person takes to face pressure and challenge will determine if he can overcome them or not. The ways Paul reacted to challenge and pressure were very positive and healthy, and he always took challenge and pressure as spiritual disciplines to grow his spiritual life.
Paul knew that his imprisonment would bring pressure to Christians in Philippi. Nevertheless, he did not complain, but took it as an opportunity to share Christ’s suffering, and enjoyed this fellowship of suffering grace with Jesus. Paul recognized suffering as the way to complete his spiritual life in faith and righteousness.
Paul told us to imitate Christ’s suffering, and devote our effort to transform pressure and challenge into spiritual disciplines to complete our redeemed life. For when we were saved through faith by grace, we have only inherited a new status and relationship of God’s children, but our lifestyle, thoughts, and characters are still affected by the old self, and do not comply with the new self. Therefore, Paul urged us to “conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” in 1:27, and “ to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling” in 2:12.
Things that we come across in our daily life, no matter they are good or bad, will become blessings to us if we realize that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28).
Meditation on the Scripture
Paul urges us to devote our whole being (with fear and trembling) to work out the status of our life of being claimed righteous. Please meditate on this verse (2:12) to inspire you in working out your spirituality.
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