Month of Praising - Day 31

Psalm 150
1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!
2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!
4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

Today is not only the last day of the Month of Praising, but also the year end of 2016. We are going to read the last Psalm in the Bible, which devotes to praise. In the total of 6 verses, the word "praise" is used thirteen times. In this short Psalm, the psalmist answers three fundamental and essential questions:

• Who is to praise the Lord? - everything that has breath;
• Why is the Lord to be praised? - for His mighty acts which refers to His doing: His works of creation, provision and redemption; and for His excellent greatness which refers to His Being: all His attributes.
• How is to praise the Lord? - with all kinds of instruments: trumpet, lute, harp, timbrel, dance, stringed instruments, flutes, loud cymbals and clashing cymbals, and most importantly the voice of you and me!

Our journey in 2016 may just like walking through the 150 psalms of the book of Psalms, during which we meet with joys and sorrows, tears and trials, pains and pleasures. But the book of Psalms closes on the highest note of praise! How should we end up with the year of 2016?

Let's praise the Lord with all that is within us - for His mighty acts and His excellent greatness!

詩150
1 你們要讚美耶和華！在神的聖所讚美他！在他顯能力的穹蒼讚美他！
2 要因他大能的作為讚美他，按着他極美的大德讚美他！
3 要用角聲讚美他，鼓瑟彈琴讚美他！
4 擊鼓跳舞讚美他！用絲弦的樂器和簫的聲音讚美他！
5 用大響的鈸讚美他！用高聲的鈸讚美他！
6 凡有氣息的都要讚美耶和華！你們要讚美耶和華！

今天不僅僅是讚美月的最後一天，也是2016年的最後一天，我們將一同來讀最後的一篇詩篇。詩篇150篇是一篇讚美的詩篇。在短短的6節經文中，“讚美”就出現了13次之多。詩人在6節經文中回答了3個非常重要的問題

• 誰要讚美耶和華？ - 凡有氣息的都要讚美耶和華；
• 為什麼要讚美耶和華？ - 為著祂他大能的作為： 祂的所作 - 創造，保守和救贖的工作；為著祂極美的大德：祂的所是，祂的美善。
• 如何來讚美耶和華？ - 各樣的樂器： 角聲、鼓瑟彈琴、擊鼓跳舞、絲弦的樂器、簫、大響的鈸和高聲的鈸，更重要的是我們的聲音！

也許我們的2016年就像走過150篇的詩篇一樣，我們經過喜樂和憂愁，經過歡笑和眼淚，經過高山和低谷。但150篇的詩篇結束在一個真實向 神的敬拜和讚美上。那麼，你我又當如何來結束我們的2016呢？

讓我們一同來讚美耶和華 - 因祂大能的作為讚美他，按着祂極美的大德讚美他！

Month of Praising - Day 30

Ephesians  3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,[a] 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Yesterday's Scripture shows us that God has a plan to transform every believer to the image of His Son Jesus Christ from glory to glory. In today's Scripture, Paul's prayer reveals that that God's plan is not only about each individual, but also about His body - the Church. God wants to be glorified in the Church through all generations forever and ever!
In Jesus Christ, God has already be gloried! But Paul prays that the Church, the body of the Christ, the fullness of God, can also glory God, not only in this generation, in the past generations, but through all generations, forever and ever! Is that also your prayer?

弗3:14-21
14 因此，我在父面前屈膝，15 （天上地上的各（註：或作“全”）家，都是從他得名。）16 求他按著他豐盛的榮耀，藉著他的靈，叫你們心裡的力量剛強起來。17 使基督因你們的信，住在你們心裡，叫你們的愛心有根有基，18 能以和眾聖徒一同明白基督的愛是何等長闊高深！19 並知道這愛是過於人所能測度的，便叫 神一切所充滿的，充滿了你們。20 神能照著運行在我們心裡的大力，充充足足地成就一切，超過我們所求所想的。21 但願他在教會中，並在基督耶穌裡，得著榮耀，直到世世代代，永永遠遠。阿們。

昨天的經文讓我們看見 神盼望在每一個基督徒的身上作榮上加榮改變的工作，但今天的經文讓我們進一步看見 神的心意。 神不僅僅盼望得著單個被改變的生命，祂更是盼望得著一個團體豐滿的見證！保羅的禱告是 神在教會中，並在基督耶穌裡，得著榮耀，直到世世代代，永永遠遠！在基督身上， 神已經得著榮耀；但今天， 神盼望在教會中得著榮耀，不止是我們這一代，也不是過去的世代，而是世世代代，直到永遠永遠！這是否也是你今天的禱告？

Month of Praising - Day 29

2 Corinthians 3:16-18
16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord，the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit；and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory，just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Our annual theme of this year is 2 Corinthians 3:17 - "where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty". I am not sure after all the practices this year, have you experience more freedom compared to before? It is amazing that we can be transformed into the same image of the Lord from glory to glory, through the ministry of the Spirit of God! However, such transformation process won't happen automatically simply because the Holy Spirit indwells us. All Christians are indwelt and sealed with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. But to experience the continuous transformation work of the Spirit, we need to make sure there are nothing between us and the Lord so that we can see Him with unveiled face.  May we give glory to God by our transformed life!

林後3:16-18
16 但他們的心幾時歸向主，帕子就幾時除去了。 17 主就是那靈；主的靈在哪裏，那裏就得以自由。 18 我們眾人既然敞着臉得以看見主的榮光，好像從鏡子裏返照，就變成主的形狀，榮上加榮，如同從主的靈變成的。

我們教會今年的主題是“主的靈在哪裏，那裏就得以自由”。 當一年即將過去的時候，您是否更多地經歷了聖靈中的自由？一件非常奇妙的事情就是我們新約的聖徒可以藉著內住的聖靈被榮上加榮地改變成為主的形狀!但是這一個榮上加榮的過程不會因著聖靈的內住而自動發生。每一個蒙恩得救的基督徒都得著了聖靈的內住，但要經歷每一天聖靈在我們身上那改變的大能，我們需要常常能夠敞着臉得以看見主的榮光。是否有任何的事情攔阻在你我和 神之間，讓我們沒有辦法真實地經歷聖靈改變的大能？求主來幫助我們，讓我們的一個被榮上加榮改變的人生成為 神榮耀的見證！

Month of Praising - Day 28

Rev. 5:6-14

6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Worthy Is the Lamb 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

In the past two days, we looked at the Scriptures that we praise God as the Creator of the universe. The praise in today's Scripture centers on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Redeemer. 

At the beginning of Revelation 5, a cry went out from the strong angel, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” The answer comes in song in verse 9 “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals.” Why is the Lamb worthy to take the scroll and open the seals? The Lamb is worthy because he was slain. Through the death of the Lamb he has ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation. By the blood of the Lamb He bought the people for God. His death bought us. The cross is the single defining act that makes us possible for us to be God’s people. We were lost. Jesus bought us. The cross is the Lamb’s act of victory.

While an unconverted person could praise the Creator, he certainly could not sincerely praise the Redeemer. Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Redeemer? If so, please share in these heavenly worship services by saying "Amen" together with all the other creatures! 

啟示錄 5:6-14

6 我又看見寶座與四活物並長老之中，有羔羊站立，像是被殺過的，有七角七眼，就是 神的七靈，奉差遣往普天下去的。7 這羔羊前來，從坐寶座的右手裡拿了書卷。8 他既拿了書卷，四活物和二十四位長老就俯伏在羔羊面前，各拿著琴和盛滿了香的金爐；這香就是眾聖徒的祈禱。9 他們唱新歌，說：“你配拿書卷，配揭開七印。因為你曾被殺，用自己的血從各族、各方、各民、各國中買了人來，叫他們歸於 神，10 又叫他們成為國民，作祭司，歸於 神，在地上執掌王權。” 11 我又看見，且聽見寶座與活物並長老的周圍，有許多天使的聲音；他們的數目有千千萬萬，12 大聲說：“曾被殺的羔羊是配得權柄、豐富、智慧、能力、尊貴、榮耀、頌讚的！” 13 我又聽見在天上、地上、地底下、滄海裡和天地間一切所有被造之物都說：“但願頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、權勢都歸給坐寶座的和羔羊，直到永永遠遠！” 14 四活物就說：“阿們！”眾長老也俯伏敬拜。

過去兩天的經文讓我們看見因著 神是那位偉大的創造主，因此我們要來敬拜祂！今天的經文讓我們看見我們所敬拜的這位 神也是我們的救贖主！

啟示錄第五章的開頭約翰看見一位大力的天使大聲宣傳說：“有誰配展開那書卷，揭開那七印呢？”答案來自第九節 “你配拿書卷，配揭開七印”。為什麼羔羊配拿書卷，配揭開七印，因為祂曾經被殺，用自己的血從各族、各方、各民、各國中買了人來，叫他們歸於 神。十字架永遠是我們的榮耀。藉著祂的受死，我們得以贖回。

一位不認識救恩的人可能仍然會將 神作為創造的主來讚美，但卻永遠不會將 神作為救贖主來敬拜。對於你我這些已經真實地接受了耶穌成為我們個人的救主的人來說，讓我們加入天上、地上、地底下、滄海裡和天地間一切所有被造之物的行列來將“頌讚、尊貴、榮耀、權勢都歸給坐寶座的和羔羊，直到永永遠遠”！

Month of Praising - Day 27

Psalm 19

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. 13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

In today's Scripture, David was moved by observing the general revelation of God in nature. He then described the special revelation of God's Word which enlightened him. Then he prayed for complete cleansing so that his life would be acceptable to God. David realized how much he needed God to provide an integrated understanding of life. Should that also be our experience? Each time as we experience both God’s natural revelation and His specific revelation, we should also respond with a self-examination. May we give glory to God not only for the glorious universe He created and the precious Words He reveals, but also by our life!

詩19
1 諸天述說 神的榮耀。穹蒼傳揚他的手段。2 這日到那日發出言語；這夜到那夜傳出知識。3 無言無語，也無聲音可聽。4 他的量帶通遍天下，他的言語傳到地極。 神在其間為太陽安設帳幕。5 太陽如同新郎出洞房，又如勇士歡然奔路。6 它從天這邊出來，繞到天那邊，沒有一物被隱藏不得它的熱氣。
7 耶和華的律法全備，能甦醒人心；耶和華的法度確定，能使愚人有智慧；8 耶和華的訓詞正直，能快活人的心；耶和華的命令清潔，能明亮人的眼目；9 耶和華的道理潔淨，存到永遠；耶和華的典章真實，全然公義。10 都比金子可羨慕，且比極多的精金可羨慕；比蜜甘甜，且比蜂房下滴的蜜甘甜。11 況且你的僕人因此受警戒，守著這些便有大賞。
12 誰能知道自己的錯失呢？願你赦免我隱而未現的過錯。13 求你攔阻僕人不犯任意妄為的罪，不容這罪轄制我，我便完全，免犯大罪。14 耶和華我的磐石，我的救贖主啊！願我口中的言語，心裡的意念，在你面前蒙悅納。

在今天的經文中，大衛首先為著 神在自然界中的普遍啟示而讚美 神！接著大衛為了 神在祂話語中特別的啟示來感謝祂！最後大衛向 神來禱告求主來幫助他脫離任意妄為的罪，讓他口中的言語，心裡的意念，在 神的面前蒙悅納！大衛知道他需要 是的啟示和幫助才能對 神有一個全面的認識。這也應該是我們的經歷。
每一次當我們更多認識 神所造的世界和 神所賜給我們的話語的時候，我們都需要更多地來省察我們自己，讓我們的人生可以更討 神的喜悅！盼望 神的榮耀不僅僅在宇宙中，在祂的話語中彰顯，更是在我們的生命中來彰顯！

Month of Praising - Day 26

Rev.4:8-11
8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

True spiritual worship is perhaps one of the greatest needs in our individual lives and in our churches. We as God’s people are called not only to be witnesses for Christ and to work for Christ, but also to worship Him.
The Book of Revelation is filled with hymns of praise. It is significant when you remember that John actually wrote this book to encourage people who were going through suffering and persecution! The praise in Revelation 4:9-11 is given to the Father on the throne, the Creator of all things! You are not an accident. Your current circumstance is not an accident! Your life actually matters as you were created by the will of the eternal Creator for a special and glorious purpose!
Heaven is a place of worship, and God's people shall worship Him throughout all eternity. Perhaps it would be good for us to get in practice now, especially during the Christmas season!

啟 4:8-11
8 四活物各有六個翅膀，遍體內外都滿了眼睛。它們晝夜不住地說：“聖哉！聖哉！聖哉！主 神是昔在、今在、以後永在的全能者！” 9 每逢四活物將榮耀、尊貴、感謝歸給那坐在寶座上、活到永永遠遠者的時候，10 那二十四位長老就俯伏在坐寶座的面前，敬拜那活到永永遠遠的，又把他們的冠冕放在寶座前，說：11 “我們的主，我們的 神，你是配得榮耀、尊貴、權柄的，因為你創造了萬物，並且萬物是因你的旨意被創造而有的。”

對於今天的教會和個人來說，也許最需要的是真實屬靈的敬拜。作為 神的兒女，我們不僅僅被召來與 神同工並成為耶穌基督的見證人，我們更是被召來敬拜這位偉大的 神！
啟示錄是一本充滿了讚美的書。這實在是一件了不起的事情，因為作者約翰寫這本書是為了安慰那些當時在逼迫和患難中的基督徒！今天的經文中特別描寫了對 神作為一個全能創造者的敬拜和讚美！你我的存在不是一個偶然，乃是因着這位偉大的 神的旨意被創造而有的，我們目前的遭遇也不是偶然！我們的人生在 神的手中有特別的意義和榮耀的價值！
天堂是一個充滿讚美的地方，神的子民將在那裡敬拜我們的神直到永遠永遠！那麼，今天就讓我們在這個聖誕的季節將我們的敬拜和讚美來歸給坐寶座的神！

Month of Praising - Day 25

John  1:14-18
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

The message of Christmas is the message of the incarnation of Christ - fully God and fully man, two complete natures in one unique Person. This is what C. S. Lewis called “the Grand Miracle” of Christianity. Jesus came to this world to reveal God to us. While we can see God revealed in nature and in His mighty works in history, Jesus Christ is the "exegete" of the Father. As a result of His work, the nature of the invisible Father, which is full of grace and truth, is displayed! By faith, such fullness of Jesus Christ could also be received by sinners like us!

What an amazing grace! Isn't it wonderful that we have a Creator and Savor like that? How can we not proclaim such good news to people around us on Christmas Day!

約 1:14-18
14 道成了肉身，住在我們中間，充充滿滿地有恩典，有真理。我們也見過他的榮光，正是父獨生子的榮光。15 約翰為他作見證，喊著說：“這就是我曾說：‘那在我以後來的，反成了在我以前的，因他本來在我以前。’” 16 從他豐滿的恩典裡，我們都領受了，而且恩上加恩。17 律法本是藉著摩西傳的，恩典和真理都是由耶穌基督來的。18 從來沒有人看見 神，只有在父懷裡的獨生子將他表明出來。

聖誕節的真諦是這位道成肉身的耶穌基督 - 他是完全的 神，也是完全的人。這也是 C. S. Lewis所認為基督信仰最大的神蹟。耶穌的降生將那一位未曾看見，也是不能看見的父神表明出來。儘管我們可以從所造的萬物和 神在歷史上的作為來認識這位偉大的 神，但只有這一位道成肉身的耶穌才將 神的本性表現得如此淋漓盡致！我們的 神乃是一位有恩典有真理的 神。藉著簡單的相信，我們這些蒙恩的罪人也可以得著祂那豐滿的恩典！

何等奇妙的恩典！我們的 神真是奇妙，我們怎麼不能在聖誕佳節的時候向周圍的人來傳揚這個大好的消息！