約書亞記 第03章 中英摘要

  沒有人不會害怕,所以我們都需要救主,但是神怎麼說,約書亞就怎麼做,這是他的得勝秘訣,也是我們需要學到的東西。

  若有人自認已經夠認真,反正還有人比他不認真,就要思想耶穌曾說:「這人將來如何,與你何干?你跟從我吧!」。我們沒辦法要求那些不跟從的,但我們每個人都要交賬。

  《約書亞記》第一章第一節告訴我們:耶和華的僕人摩西死了以後,耶和華曉諭摩西的幫手,嫩的兒子約書亞,說:我的僕人摩西死了。現在你要「起來」。

  神對約書亞說這塊地已經賜給他們,要他們得地為業,要他們剛強、壯膽。約書亞並沒有等神說完話之後很久才去行動,等了三天,是為了要有「共識」。

  每到春天,黑門山的積雪融化使約旦河氾濫到一公里那麼寬闊。這河不是平靜的河流,是從加利利海一千呎高度湧入死海的急流。瞭解事實背景,才會知道事情有多不容易做。看見神蹟對約書亞來說沒困難,因為他看過紅海分開,但對其他人來講有困難,神說:「我必與你同在」。人心是容易害怕的,所以生命需要培訓、練習,需要榜樣。

  神總是在我們的前面帶領,以色列人與約櫃相離兩千肘,所以每個人都可以遠遠地就看到約櫃,四個抬著約櫃的祭司最勇敢,當他們站在河裡,水便在30公里外的亞當城停住,立起成壘,不只是以色列人,連迦南人也都看見了。

  神只對約書亞一個人講剛強壯膽,所以領袖要負責,而其他人要「彼此相愛」,那就是盡心、盡性、盡意、盡力愛你的主,要「各盡其職」才能完成使命、使萬民作神的門徒,就是完成神的「大誡命」和「大使命」。

  神要用我們每一個人,沒有人是「不行」被神使用的,但也不是自己說「行」就行,想要「行」就需要有一個順服的靈,需要裝備,不是等到裝備好了才來服事,一邊裝備一邊服事,生命、知識才會都增加。

  當我們看到約旦河,這麼兇猛的河流在約書亞的面前,以色列人的信心,卻像可以走過乾地一樣。願主幫助我們領受來自祂的異象,也祝福每個聽道的人都要行道,無論在何地都要用生命影響別人。

  主的心意是:願萬人得救,不願一人沈淪;所以我們都要:去,為主多救一個靈魂!

2015/8/13  葉長老 風美小組信息/周映廷 弟兄 摘要

Joshua 3

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  No one is fearless, so we all need our Savior. Joshua followed every command of God; it is the key to his success and victory, and it is also what we need to learn from him.

  Anyone who thinks that he/she has done enough, or that there are always someone who has done less, he/she should think about what Jesus said; “what is that to you? You must follow me.” We cannot force others to follow Jesus, or to do more for God, but we have to remember that we all must answer to God in the future.

  In Joshua 1:1, God spoke to Joshua, the son of Nun and Moses’ servant, “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise.”

  God told Joshua that the land had been given to them. God wanted them to be strong and courageous and go in to possess the land. After God had spoken to him, Joshua did not wait for a very long time to take actions. He waited only for three day in order to build up a consensus.

  Every spring, the snow on Mount Hermon would melt, widening the Jordan River to 1 kilometer. Jordan River is not still water, it flows 10 km/hour from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. When you know the geography of this place, you would know how difficult the task of the Israelis was. Joshua were not strangers to miracles; he had seen the Red Sea separated in front of him. However, the other Israelis were not familiar with miracles. When God says, “I will be with you,” many people would still be afraid, that is why we need trainings, practices, and examples for us to learn from.

  God always lead us ahead. The Israelis were 2000 cubits behind the Ark of the Covenant, so everyone can see it from afar. The four priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant were the bravest of them. When they step into the water, the river was stopped; it rose up in one heap, 30 km away at Adam. Not only the Israelis saw it, but also the people in Canaan.

  God only told Joshua to be strong and courageous. So we know that leaders must take up responsibilities, and the others must love each other. That is, we need to Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength. We must all fulfill our roles in order to complete our task which is to go and make disciples of all nations.

  God uses every one of us. No one is unusable for God, but we cannot be usable just by saying so ourselves. We need to be obedient to, and be equipped by God. We do not serve after we are fully equipped, but we are being equipped as we serve. Our life and knowledge will grow as we serve.

  Jordan River so fiercely flowing in front of Joshua, but the Israelis can cross it as if walking on dry land because of their faith. May God help us to receive visions from Him. May we not only listen to the words of God, but also do as He commands so that we can all influence others with our lives wherever we go.

  God does not want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. So we must all go to win over one more soul for the Lord.

2015/8/13 Message by Elder Yeh