Dec. 2, 2018 靈命 Spiritual Life @ Eric@TRM 的部落格

復原耶穌基督教會 台灣佈道所

December 2nd, 2018 靈命 Spiritual Life

安德魯弟兄 Brother Andrew Naylor

The Church of Jesus Christ

Taiwan Restoration Mission

正奇怪為何對方上線了, 卻一直沒Call out, 原來是大部分的人, 都忙著教會聖誕劇的公演彩排, 不克前來小教室上課, 只留莎菈姊妹等人來開機, 操作上似乎略顯生疏, 所以遲疑連線時間.

(據悉, 聖誕劇的公演, 一直以來都是南克萊斯勒分會的年度大戲, 幾乎動員全教會的人力和資源, 可說是精心策劃的好戲, 期待有一天, 可以親臨觀賞.)

[詩歌 #10 頌唱] [Andrew Naylor 課前禱告]

在安德魯弟兄的簡單說明後, 今天就由他帶領大家, 一起來研讀經典. 因為安德魯弟兄是位音樂家, 教授小提琴和薩克斯風, 所以很高興, 有小提琴悠揚的琴聲, 也是首次的伴唱詩歌, 好棒, 我喜歡.

#10.jpg

馬太福音-Matthew 22:1-14

22:1 耶穌又用比喻對他們說，

And Jesus answered and spoke again in parables to them, saying,

22:2 諸天的國好比一個作王的人，為他兒子擺設婚筵。

The kingdom of the heavens has become like a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son.

22:3 他打發奴僕去召那些被召的人來赴婚筵，他們卻不肯來。

And he sent his slaves to call those who had been called to the wedding feast, yet they would not come.

22:4 他又打發別的奴僕去，說，你們要告訴那些被召的：看哪，我的筵席已經預備好了，公牛和肥畜已經宰了，各樣都齊備，請來赴婚筵。

Again, he sent other slaves, saying, Tell those who have been called, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatted cattle have been slain, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding feast.

22:5 但那些人不理就走了；一個到田里去，一個作買賣去，

But they disregarded it and went off, one to his own field and another to his business,

22:6 其餘的抓住他的奴僕，凌辱他們，把他們殺了。

And the rest took hold of his slaves, treated them shamefully, and killed them.

22:7 王就動怒，發兵除滅那些兇手，燒燬他們的城。

And the king became angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

22:8 然後對奴僕說，婚筵已經齊備，只是所召的人不配。

Then he said to his slaves, The wedding feast is ready, but those who have been called were not worthy.

22:9 所以你們要往岔路口去，凡遇見的，都召來赴婚筵。

Go therefore to the crossroads, and as many as you find, call to the wedding feast.

22:10 那些奴僕就出去，到大路上，凡遇見的，不論善惡都聚集了來，婚筵上就滿了坐席的。

And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both evil and good, and the wedding feast was filled with those reclining at table.

22:11 王進來觀看坐席的，見那裡有一個沒有穿婚筵禮服的，

But when the king came in to look at those reclining at table, he saw there a man who was not clothed with a wedding garment,

22:12 就對他說，朋友，你沒有穿婚筵的禮服，是怎麼進到這裡來的？那人無言可答。

And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

22:13 於是王對僕役說，把他的手腳捆起來，扔在外面黑暗裡，在那裡必要哀哭切齒了。

Then the king said to the servants, Bind his feet and hands, and cast him out into the outer darkness. In that place there will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

22:14 因為被召的多，選上的少。

For many are called but few are chosen.

讀過這則寓言, 讓我留下深刻印象, 相信你們也會一樣, 寓言裡說 神召喚我們, 要與祂同在, 雖然我們都被召喚了, 可是能夠被選上的, 卻是微乎其微.

這裡談的是, 已經準備好的人, 一旦被召喚了, 才有機會被選上- 伴在 神身邊; 也就是說, 並不是阿貓阿狗, 任何人都會被選上的.

那麼什麼是已經準備好的人呢? 人的一生, 會有很多的目標, 而其目的不只是為己私慾而已, 而是有利己也利他的心; 比如說, 上天賜予每個人, 不同的天分, 練習久了, 成了自己的處世能力, 隨時等待上場.

這時候已經是“有所準備”了, 如果我們在把目光, 放在耶穌基督的身上, 跟隨祂的腳步, 以基督為我們永恆生命的救贖, 追求永恆生命的價值, 那才可以說你已經準備好了.

路加福音-Luke 14:16-21

14:16 耶穌對他說，有一人擺設大筵席，請了許多人。

And He said to him, A certain man was making a great dinner and invited many;

14:17 到了坐席的時候，打發奴僕去對所請的人說，請來吧，樣樣都齊備了。

And he sent his slave at the dinner hour to say to those who had been invited, Come, for all things are now ready.

14:18 眾人一致推辭。頭一個對他說，我買了一塊地，必須去看看，請你准我辭了。

And they all with one consent began to make excuses. The first said to him, I have bought a piece of land, and I need to go out and see it. I ask you, have me excused.

14:19 另一個說，我買了五對牛，要去試一試，請你准我辭了。

And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to prove them. I ask you, have me excused.

14:20 還有一個說，我才娶了妻，所以不能去。

And another said, I have married a wife, and because of this I cannot come.

14:21 那奴僕回來，把這些事都報告了主人。家主就動怒，對奴僕說，快出去到城裡大街小巷，帶那貧窮的、殘廢的、瞎眼的、瘸腿的到這裡來。

And the slave came up and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and told his slave, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and crippled and blind and lame.

這節經文, 與前一節所說的雷同, 都著重在一個重點上: 就是為什麼受邀請赴宴的人, 通通不來參加呢? 一個個的盡找理由推搪, 甚至逃避主的呼喚?

深思一下, 種種理由, 不一為奇, 有人是等著準備充分了, 比如等我賺夠多錢, 等我爬上上位等等, 認為這樣才有能力回饋, 才要來回應召喚, 我們是不是也是其中之一啊?

摩賽亞書 Mosiah 8:77-79; 83-89

７７　但是要記得，凡堅持他肉慾的本性，繼續行走於罪的道路中，並背叛　神的人， 他必留在他要角落的境地中，魔鬼有一切的力量控制他。

77 But remember, that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state, and the devil hath all power over him.

７８　所以，對於他，救贖就像未曾有過一樣；他是　神的敵人；魔鬼也是　神的敵人。

78 Therefore he is as though there was no redemption made; being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

７９　現在，我把未來之事當過去之事來講，如果基督沒有來到世上，就不會有什麼救贖。

79 And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come, as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.

８３　甚至必死必成為不死，必腐朽的必成為不朽，並要被帶去站在　神的審判欄前，按照他們行為的好壞而受審判。

83 Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God, to be judged of him according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

８４　如果他們是好的，歸入永遠生命和幸福的復活；如果他們是壞的，就歸入永遠罪刑的復活，

84 If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness, and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation;

８５　因為他們已投降了魔鬼，魔鬼已使他們服從了他，那就是罪刑；

85 Being delivered up to the devil, who has subjected them, which is damnation;

８６　他們已照著他們自己肉慾的意思和願望做去；當那慈悲之臂向他們伸出時，他們從未向上主呼求。

86 Having gone according to their own carnal wills and desires; having never called upon the Lord while the arms of mercy were extended towards them;

８７　慈悲之臂曾向他們伸出，他們卻不要；他們的罪惡曾受到警告，然而他們不願離開他們的罪惡。

87 For the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities, and yet they would not depart from them;

８８　他們曾被吩咐要悔改，然而他們不肯悔改。

88 And they were commanded to repent, and yet they would not repent.

８９　現在，難道你們不應當發抖而悔改你們的罪，並記住祗有靠著基督和經由基督你們纔能得救嗎？

89 And now had ye not ought to tremble and repent of your sins, and remember only in and through Christ ye can be saved?

神的本意, 期待世人的悔改, 回歸祂身邊, 就可以得到永生的救贖; 可是世人卻是不悔改, 忘記 神的慈愛和恩賜, 也忘記要順服祂的誡命, 以及遠離魔鬼的種種誘惑, 似乎已經忘記了, 死後還要面對審判.

所以說, 不管公義的人, 或是不悔改, 而沉迷在罪惡裡的人, 其實都會面對死後的審判, 往往在基督耶穌裡悔改的人, 常常是得到赦免、寬恕的那一位.

隨心所欲, 耽迷肉慾, 因而墮入罪的淵藪, 離不開魔鬼誘惑的人, 斷然是忽視 神的召喚, 而一直不肯悔改的人; 看著別人的惡, 就是我們的明鏡, 足當警惕之鑑.

在穆爾曼經裡的敘述, 世人一直以種種理由, 迴避主持續不斷的召喚, 也不肯悔改, 都是肉慾蒙蔽清明的心靈, 是人心的腐敗, 以致錯過享用主的豐盛宴席.

而福音的經文, 卻是只召喚困苦的世人, 也是因為窮困之人, 私慾較少, 信靠主的心, 反而更加的虔誠. 那麼, 等你賺夠多錢? 等你爬上上位? 看來似乎都已構不成, 你拒絕悔改, 拒絕參加、享用主的盛宴的理由了. 是不是?

我分享一個個人的見證 Testimony:

幾年以前, 我由愛荷華州, 搬遷到坎薩斯市, 這幾年來, 曾為球賽開賽拉小提琴祈福; 也常常指導小朋友, 練習小提琴, 有一次, 因為久坐輪椅, 腳神經麻木, 竟影響我的手指, 感覺不聽使喚, 無法操作演練.

當時有些神職人員(長老、牧師), 幫我祈福禱告(靈療), 我聽他們的祝禱詞, 說的不單只是為我手腳祈福而已, 竟然是要我拋棄世俗雜念, 使心靈渴求更深一層的靈命Spiritual Life的境界.

其實, 當時我的手腳已相當不靈活, 而神職人員的祈福, 卻是讓我不要為世俗的不便而感到難過, 反應該追求更高層次的豐富生命.

自此, 使我更加的仰望耶穌, 不再斟酌於身體上, 或是物慾上的需求, 轉而對靈命有所渴求; 近幾年我也曾接到晉升神職人員的召喚, 更加的體認到, 要為主挺身而出, 期望做一個更為稱職的見證人.

在這一段追求靈命的過程當中, 手的不適感, 也已經痊癒, 繼續指導小朋友的小提琴練習, 也傳輸仰望耶穌的訊息, 轉移身體物慾的需求, 進而探索追求靈命的永恆價值.

仰望耶穌, 追求靈命, 主要是減少物慾的需求, 思考如何為主來服事, 今天的經文談到, 祂已為我們備好宴席, 邀約我們入座, 我們是不是已經準備好, 接受並赴宴呢?

前面也說了, 必須是已經準備好的人, 才能赴宴享用主所準備的盛宴, 因此要全心全意的仰望耶穌, 不可以三心兩意的投機, 才有機會成為座上客.

準備就緒的意義, 簡單來說, 就是親近耶穌基督, 也就是親近耶和華, 而這一切應當由仰望耶穌開始. 你準備好了嗎?

彼得前書-1 Peter 3:14-15

3:14 你們就是因義受苦，也是有福的；不要怕人的威嚇，也不要驚慌；

But even if you suffer because of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid with fear from them, nor be troubled,

3:15 只要心裡尊基督為聖，以祂為主，常作準備，好對每一個問你們裡面盼望因由的人有所答辯，

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, being always ready for a defense to everyone who asks of you an account concerning the hope which is in you,

結束之前, 我再分享一下我的體驗, 對於主的召喚, 不要以任何理由來搪塞、忽衍了事, 實應該主動追求, 仰望耶穌和永恆的靈命; 縱使生病(意指身體的殘缺)了, 也把它當成是試煉的ㄧ環, 目光望向終點, 因為那裡有主在等候.