Wednesday, 7th October, 2020
Title: Great Things He Had Done
Author: Pastor Wallace Ong

Psalm 126 (ESV)
1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
3 The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

If your country has never been conquered, your home has never been destroyed, your great possessions have never been taken along with every member of your family being led away captive in a foreign land for 70 years, you could never know how the Israelites felt during the time of captivity in Babylon. However, the good day had, at last, arrived when the Lord God brought them back to the holy city of Jerusalem. With the Lord’s help in their hopeless time, the people of Israel felt as if they were in a dream.

If we look at our life journey with the Lord, we could see that we had been held captive to sin. It is only because of God’s grace and His power that we have been able to walk our journey, to overcome difficulties, and been brought back to the place of fellowship with God. He has broken the bonds of slavery and freed us to live for Him in Christ Jesus. That is why Christians rejoice with songs of joy knowing that the Lord has done great things in our lives and continues to do so as the Holy Spirit dwell among us. We are filled with great joy.

However, sometimes some may say, “But my life is filled with trouble, sickness, sorrow, grief, and temptations that continue to overwhelm me? How do I rejoice in such a time as this?” Yes, it is true. Some days it seems that life is so bleak that it is difficult to even get up from bed or put one foot ahead of the other. How can we deal with this?

We are the children of God and we serve the Lord who has been through everything we face as a man. Jesus lives in us now, you and me. He talks and prays to God on our behalf as He promised He will never leave us nor forsake us. We cannot even imagine what God can do for us if only we open our lives and our hearts to Him. Apostle Paul pray and believe that, by the Holy Spirit who lives in us, we are empowered.

“16) I pray that He will use His glorious riches to make you strong. May His Holy Spirit give you His power deep down inside you. 17) Then Christ will live in your hearts because you believe in Him.18) May you have power together with all the Lord’s holy people to understand Christ’s love. 20) God is able to do far more than we could ever ask for or imagine. He does everything by His power that is working in us. 21) Give Him glory in the church and in Christ Jesus. Give Him glory through all time and for ever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3: 16-18, 20-21)

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,
We want to give thanks to You for the love and grace you have extended to us. You personally know each and every one of us by name – You are the God of all comforts who comforts us and provides to us according to our needs. We thank You for the strength and joy You give us, even when we have nowhere else to turn to. Increase in us, O Lord, greater faith so that we can see the benefit in trials and how all these circumstances make us better, fit to live with You in eternity. May the Holy Spirit remind us each day that our lives are not about us but about bringing glory to You and honor to Your name. We pray in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

每日灵粮
星期三，2020年10月7日
标题：祂行了大事
作者：王振威传道​
翻译：陈健萍姐妹

【诗篇 126】[和合本]
1 〔上行之诗。〕当耶和华将那些被掳的带回锡安的时候、我们好像作梦的人。
2 我们满口喜笑、满舌欢呼的时候、外邦中就有人说、耶和华为他们行了大事。
3 耶和华果然为我们行了大事、我们就欢喜。
4 耶和华阿、求你使我们被掳的人归回、好像南地的河水复流。
5 流泪撒种的、必欢呼收割。
6 那带种流泪出去的、必要欢欢乐乐的带禾捆回来。

倘若您的国家从未被征服、您的家园从未被摧毁、您的财产从未被掠夺以及您的每个家庭成员从不曾被掳至异乡长达70年，您永远都不会知道以色列人在巴比伦被俘期间的感受。然而，当主上帝把他们带回圣城耶路撒冷时，美好的日子终于临到了。在绝望的时候得到主的帮助，以色列人民感到自己仿佛在梦中。

如果我们察看与主同行的人生旅程，我们可以看到我们曾经被罪奴役。只因上帝的恩典与能力，我们才得以踏上路途，克服困难，并被领回与上帝团契的地位。祂已经废除了奴役的束缚，释放了我们，让我们在基督耶稣里为祂而活。这就是为什么基督徒欢乐歌颂，因为知道主在我们的生命中作了伟大的事情；并且因为圣灵住在我们中间，主会继续行大事。我们充满了极大的喜乐。

然而，有些时候人可能会说，“但我的生活充满了麻烦、疾病、悲痛、哀伤，还有诱惑不断地压垮我？在如此的时刻，我如何欢欣喜乐呢？” 诚然，这是真实的。有些日子，生活似乎如此凄苦，甚至难以起床继续向前行。我们该怎么办呢？

我们是上帝的儿女，我们所事奉的主如我们一般曾经历过我们人面对的一切。耶稣现在住在我们（你和我）里面。祂向上帝为我们说话、替我们代求，因为祂许诺祂永远不会离开我们，也不会撇弃我们。我们甚至无法想象，要是我们向主敞开心扉，祂能为我们作的事。使徒保罗祷求并相信，藉着住在我们里面的圣灵，我们已被赋予了能力。

【以弗所书3:16-18,20-21】
16 求他按着他丰盛的荣耀、借着他的灵、叫你们心里的力量刚强起来、
17 使基督因你们的信、住在你们心里、叫你们的爱心、有根有基、
18 能以和众圣徒一同明白基督的爱、是何等长阔高深、
20 神能照着运行在我们心里的大力、充充足足的成就一切超过我们所求所想的。
21 但愿他在教会中、并在基督耶稣里、得着荣耀、直到世世代代、永永远远。阿们。

祷告

亲爱的天父，
我们要感谢祢赐与我们的爱和恩典。祢知道我们每一个人的名字 – 祢是安慰之源， 是安慰我们并且依据我们的需要供应我们的上帝。我们感谢祢给予我们力量和喜乐，即便我们已无可倚靠。主啊，增添我们信心，好让我们能看见试炼的好处，并且明白所有的境况为要使我们更好，适合与祢同住在永恒里。愿圣灵每天提醒我们，我们的生命并不关乎我们，而是在于将荣耀与尊崇归与祢的名。奉我们的主救主耶稣的名子祷告。阿门。