CKI基督國度代禱團

 每週一妥拉 2013/8/25-8/31（+真實的信心(喬納)）

每週一妥拉 2013/8/25-8/31
從古時起，世界各地的猶太會堂會一週一次在安息日讀經，從摩西五經（妥拉）到先知的書（先知書）。每週的讀經內容都有一個希伯來名稱，其出自經文內容起頭的字。每週慣例讀經的實例剛好記載在路加福音四章16節，耶穌來到拿撒勒的會堂，讀了一段先知書（以賽亞書61章）。我們發現每週一次閱讀這些內容，不僅提供我們機會，與世界成千上萬的猶太人來確認神話語的內容，在我們為以色列與猶太人的代禱上，聖靈更時常貼切的啟發具體的內容禱告。

這週的閱讀進度（8/25-8/31）是雙倍閱讀，讀經內容包括：

I.『你們站立』（Nitsavim）
妥拉：申命記29:10-30:20

II. 『去』（VaYelech）
妥拉：申命記31:1-30
先知書：以賽亞書61:10-63:9

*申命記29:10. 『今日，你們的首領、族長（原文作支派）、長老、官長、以色列的男丁，你們的妻子兒女，和營中寄居的，以及為你們劈柴挑水的人，都站在耶和華─你們的神面前。』在這裡所使用的『站在』在希伯來文裡是一個軍事術語，意指『部署』、『就定位』。『以色列軍隊的神』（撒上17:45b）把我們每一個人放在合適的位置（我們都在爭戰中），不論我們的年紀、性別、種族與社會地位。

*申命記29:14-15. 『我不但與你們立這約，起這誓，凡與我們一同站在耶和華─我們神面前的，並今日不在我們這裡的人，我也與他們立這約，起這誓。』神使以色列存活的話語不單是給那時的人(參考30:19!)，也是給世世代代站在祂面前聽這些話的後裔。此釋放了從主而來永遠有效的話語，二千年後仍由大祭司主耶穌的禱告中說出：『我不但為這些人祈求，也為那些因他們的話信我的人祈求，使他們都合而為一。正如你父在我裡面，我在你裡面，使他們也在我們裡面，叫世人可以信你差了我來。』（約翰福音17:20-21）

*申命記29:18. 『惟又怕你們中間有惡根生出苦菜和茵蔯來。』此情況來自『行事心裡頑梗』（19b節），最終將『從本地拔出來』（28節）。希伯來書12:14-15似乎存記著這節經文：『你們要追求與眾人和睦，並要追求聖潔；非聖潔沒有人能見主。又要謹慎，恐怕有人失了神的恩；恐怕有毒根生出來擾亂你們，因此叫眾人沾染污穢。』

*申命記30:6. 『耶和華─你神必將你心裡和你後裔心裡的污穢除掉，好叫你盡心盡性愛耶和華─你的神，使你可以存活。』最後一句話的另一種翻譯是『為著你生命的緣故』；神是生命的神，我們不能行事心裡頑梗（參考上面29:19），神要除掉需要除掉的事物，不僅是在我們心裡的污穢，還要除掉從我們出來的─我們後裔的污穢（29:14），好叫我們能『盡心盡性愛耶和華─我們的神，使我們可以存活』！

*申命記30:9. 『你若聽從耶和華─你神的話…耶和華必再喜悅你，降福與你，像從前喜悅你列祖一樣。』

*申命記30: 11,14. 『我今日所吩咐你的誡命不是你難行的，也不是離你遠的；這話卻離你甚近，就在你口中，在你心裡，使你可以遵行。』『難行的』與耶利米書32:27『難成的』希伯來文一樣。義人靠信心而活，使不可能成為可能，『因為人心裡相信，就可以稱義；口裡承認，就可以得救。』（羅馬書10:10）

*申命記30: 19-20. 『我今日呼天喚地向你作見證；我將生死禍福陳明在你面前，所以你要揀選生命，使你和你的後裔都得存活；且愛耶和華─你的神，聽從祂的話，專靠祂；因為祂是你的生命，你的日子長久也在乎祂。這樣，你就可以在耶和華向你列祖亞伯拉罕、以撒、雅各起誓應許所賜的地上居住。』

甚至在我們能愛祂、聽從祂、專靠祂之前，神就賜給我們啟示、恩典與力量來『揀選生命』。『日子長久』與『永遠』的意思一樣，也是詩篇23篇最後的話。一生一世住在主家中直到永遠的渴望，是從祂所給予我們的自由選擇開始！

*申命記 31:7. 『摩西召了約書亞來，在以色列眾人眼前對他說：你當剛強壯膽！因為，你要和這百姓一同進入耶和華向他們列祖起誓應許所賜之地；你也要使他們承受那地為業。』神在約書亞記一章不斷出現『剛強壯膽』這幾個字，是一個『命令式』，是直接對一個人以命令的口吻說話。

*申命記31:11. 『以色列眾人來到耶和華─你神所選擇的地方朝見他。那時，你要在以色列眾人面前將這律法念給他們聽。』 申命記31:17-18. 『那時，我的怒氣必向他們發作；我也必離棄他們，掩面不顧他們。因他們偏向別神所行的一切惡，我必定掩面不顧他們。』

在希伯來文，『臉/面』這個字與主相關時，代表祂的同在與榮耀照在祂子民身上。詩篇27篇不斷提到當我們聽到祂的呼叫聲，『尋求祂的面』的重要性（8節），我們決心尋求祂的面（8b節），並懇求祂『不要向我們掩面』（9節）。詩篇31:16則說神的臉光照在祂僕人身上，憑祂的慈愛拯救我們。在詩篇80篇三次宣告：『因你的臉發光，我們便要得救。』

請禱告：以色列厭惡黑暗並渴慕神臉上的光，並瞭解到『他們不是靠自己的刀劍得地土，也不是靠自己的膀臂得勝，乃是靠你的右手、你的膀臂，和你臉上的亮光，因為你喜悅他們』 （詩篇 44:3）。『因為，在你那裡有生命的源頭；在你的光中，我們必得見光』（詩篇36:9）。『我們若在光明中行，如同神在光明中，就彼此相交，他兒子耶穌的血也洗淨我們一切的罪。』（約翰壹書1:7）。

*以賽亞書62:1. 『我因錫安必不靜默，為耶路撒冷必不息聲，直到祂的公義如光輝發出，祂的救恩如明燈發亮。』

*以賽亞書62: 6-7. 『耶路撒冷啊，我在你城上設立守望的，他們晝夜必不靜默。呼籲耶和華的，你們不要歇息，也不要使祂歇息，直等祂建立耶路撒冷，使耶路撒冷在地上成為可讚美的。』

*以賽亞書63:9. 『他們在一切苦難中，祂也同受苦難；並且祂面前的使者拯救他們；祂以慈愛和憐憫救贖他們；在古時的日子常保抱他們，懷搋他們。』

下週的妥拉與先知書閱讀（9/1-9/7）稱為『側耳聽』（Ha’azimr），將包括吹角節 /猶太新年（9/5-9/6）的特別讀經，讀經內容包括：妥拉─申命記32:1-52；先知書─何西阿書14:1-9；約珥書2:15-27；彌迦書7:18-20。

馬汀和娜瑪•賽維士（Martin & Norma Sarvis）
於耶路撒冷

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大使命 33

真實的信心

主將最大的應許賜給啟示錄裡的最後一個教會─老底嘉教會，那些應許是給今日神的百姓，是給你我的。當大部分人想到老底嘉教會，多半是想到負面而非正面，現在是我們思想這些偉大應許的時候。首先，我們需要看到為何這些應許如此偉大，接著我們需要瞭解，當我們戰勝教會所遭遇的負面事情，教會將產生一些最偉大的得勝者，最偉大的聖徒，是世界未曾聽過的。

老底嘉教會是何等豐盛，以致於傅蘭吉（Francis Frangipane）曾說過今日的教會，『除了神以外，他們擁有一切所需』。這使他們變得不冷不熱，使主厭煩到要將他們從祂口中吐出。不冷不熱是一個基督徒所能跌落最糟的光景，其顯出對主的終極藐視。冷漠是任何關係中最大的冒犯；因此，認識全能神卻不冷不熱是對祂最大的侮辱。

主呼召老底嘉教會『要發熱心，也要悔改。』（參考啟示錄3:19）。倘若我們要勝過這些時候，我們必須重新找著對主的熱心並持守之。我們要如何做呢？

主從祂的同在中賜下火，點燃摩西會幕和所羅門所建造聖殿祭壇上的火，接著吩咐祭司讓壇上的火持續燒著。主在每一個轉向祂的人心中點火；然而，祂期待我們心中的火能持續燃燒，我們如此做是藉由禱告、敬拜、每天閱讀祂對我們寫的話、與其他有火的人相交，以及成為我們蒙召的見證。

正如我們幾週前談過，當我們把自己給了罪與惡行，我們就會失去火，此將我們引致羅馬書六章所描寫的不法。主警告不法會使我們的愛漸漸冷淡，這在我們的時代隨處可見。

最近，當我與一位先知朋友鮑伯瓊斯（Bob Jones）一起午餐，他說了一件令人驚奇的事，他說將臨到教會的合一只包括百分之十的基督徒。我知道那聽起來難以置信，但有其真理依據。甚至在我們將要進入的最大收割，聖經不斷重複的真理是『餘民原則』（the remnant principle）。

餘民原則之例：當主復活後告訴500人去到耶路撒冷等候所應許的聖靈；然而，才不到幾週只剩下120人在那裡，但所餘剩之民卻是『同心合一』。你是否瞭解，常常我們的教會或事工人數變少，是為了讓我們能進到更高的合一，好釋放更大的榮耀與目的？

正如亞伯拉罕所展現出來的，真實的信心隨著時間更加堅固，而不是更加脆弱。在應許賜下和成就這段期間人群往往會減少，以除去那些只想湊熱鬧卻沒有真實信心的人。

這並不代表有真實信心的人不會動搖，但整體而言，真實的信心會隨著時間成長。我們的信心是成長得更加堅固，還是隨著群眾漸漸散去呢？

人們傾向將他們的安全感放在有多少人是在他們這一邊的，真實的信心卻不是這樣。真實的信心是對神的信心，而不在於有多少人在我們這一邊。真實的信心是藉由忍耐所彰顯出來的，這即是何以聖經告訴我們，我們承受應許是憑著『信心和忍耐』（參考希伯來書6:12）。

(摘自喬納 word for the week, Week 33, 2013)

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THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION:
From ancient times there has been a weekly portion (Parashah) from the first five books of Moses (The Torah) and an ending (Haftarah) from the Prophets read on the Sabbath in synagogues around the world. This portion is given a Hebrew name drawn from the opening words of the Torah passage. An illustration of this practice appears to have been recorded in Luke 4:16 where Yeshua (Jesus) arrived in the synagogue in Nazareth and was asked to read the portion (Isaiah 61) from the Prophets. We have found that in perusing these weekly readings, not only are we provided opportunity to identify in the context of God's Word with millions of Jewish people around the world, but very often the Holy Spirit will illumine specific passages pertinent that week in our intercession for the Land and people of Israel. All texts are those of English translations of the Scriptures.

The Parashah this week 25-31 August contains a "double reading":

I. Nitsavim-"You are Stationed"
Torah: Deuteronomy 29:10-30:20

II. VaYelech-"And he Went"
Torah: Deuteronomy 31:1-30
Haftarah: Isaiah 61:10-63:9

*Deuteronomy 29:10. "All of you stand today before the LORD your God: your leaders and your tribes and your elders and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones and your wives-also the stranger who is in your camp, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water." The Hebrew word used here for "stand" is a military term meaning to "be stationed", "be positioned". Elohei Ma'archot Yisrael-"The God of Israel's Arraying" (I Samuel 17:45b) has a 'positioning' for each of us in the war, whatever our age, our sex, our race, or supposed social status.

*Deuteronomy 29:14. "I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone, but with who stands here with us today before the LORD our God, as well as with who is not here with us today." God's word over Israel for life (see 30:19!) was not only for those present, but for the generations down through the ages whose seed was present in the bodies of those standing before him and hearing this word. This release of an eternally efficacious word from the Lord was continued beautifully some 2000 years later by Yeshua in His "High Priestly" prayer, John 17:20-21, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

*Deuteronomy 29:18. ".that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood." This condition came from "following the dictates of the heart" (vs. 19b) and could finally result in being "uprooted" (vs. 28). Hebrews 12:14-15 in the New Covenant seems to have had this verse in mind, "Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled."

*Deuteronomy 30:8. "And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live." Another translation of this last phrase is, "for your life's sake." God is a "Life-God" (Elohim Chaim-El Chai). We cannot follow the "dictates of the heart" (see 29:19 above) as it is-God desires to cut away what is necessary, not only in our hearts, but in those who will come forth from us-"our descendants" (29:14). Then we will be able to "Love the LORD our God with all our hearts and souls that we may live!"

*Deuteronomy 30:9. "For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers, if you obey."

*Deuteronomy 30:11. "For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.but the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it." "Too mysterious" is the same in the Hebrew as "Is there anything too wonderful for Me?" in Jeremiah 32:27. The righteous live by Faith and that which is impossible becomes possible, "For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:10).

*Deuteronomy 30:19. "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." God gives the revelation, the grace and power to "choose life", even before we are capable of loving and obeying and clinging to Him. "Length of your days" is the same as "forever", the last word of the 23rd Psalm. The desire to dwell in the house of the Lord forever begins with the free choice which He is offering us!

*Deuteronomy 31:7. "Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, 'Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it." "Be strong and of good courage" (Hebrew: Chazak v'ematz!) will appear again over and over from God Himself in Joshua 1. It is a "command form" of verb.strength and courage are commanded/proclaimed directly into the person.

*Deuteronomy 31:11. "When all Israel comes to appear before the face of YHVH your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this Torah before all Israel in their hearing." Deuteronomy 31:17-18. "Then my anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them.And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done." In Hebrew, the word "face" in relation to the LORD is used to signify both His Presence and the glory of His loving attention (or lack of it) shining upon His people. Psalm 27 repeatedly refers to the importance of "seeking His face" when we hear His call (8), that we set our hearts to do so (8b), and a plea that God "Hide not His face" from us (9). Psalm 31:16 links the shining of God's face on His servant with salvation in His lovingkindness; and three times Psalm 80 declares "Cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved."

PLEASE PRAY: for a hatred of darkness and a longing for the light of the face of God in Israel-with a realization that, "It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them." (Psalm 44:3). "For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9). "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Yeshua the Messiah His Son cleanses us from all sin" (I John 1:7).

*Isaiah 62:1. "For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a flaming torch."

*Isaiah 62:6. "I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and til He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth."

*Isaiah 63:9. "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the Angel of His Face saved them; In His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old."

Martin and Norma Sarvis
Jerusalem

[The Readings for next week (1-7 September) will include special readings for the Feast of Trumpets/Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 5 and 6), besides the Parashah for Saturday (7 Sept) called Ha'azinu-"Give Ear!": TORAH: Deuteronomy 32:1-52; Haftarah (Shabbat Shuvah): Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27]

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True Faith - The Great Commission, Part 33
Week 33, 2013
Rick Joyner

It was to the last church the Lord addressed in the Book of Revelation, the church of Laodicea, that He gave His greatest promise to. Those promises are for His people today. They are for you. When most people think of the church of Laodicea, they think of the negative rather than the positive. It is time to consider these great promises. First, we need to see why they are so great. Then we need to understand how overcoming the negative things this church confronted will produce some of the greatest overcomers, the greatest saints, the world has ever known.

The church of Laodicea was so prosperous that, as Francis Frangipane once said of today’s church, “They had everything they needed but God.” This caused them to become lukewarm, and made the Lord so sick that He would vomit them out of His mouth. Being lukewarm is the worst condition a Christian can fall into. It reveals an ultimate contempt for the Lord. Indifference is the greatest affront to any relationship. Therefore, to know Almighty God and be lukewarm toward Him is the greatest insult of all.

The Lord called the church at Laodicea to “therefore be zealous and repent” (see Revelation 3:19). We must recover and keep our zeal for the Lord if we are going to make it through these times. How do we do that?

The Lord sent fire from His presence to light the fire on the altar in both the Tabernacle of Moses and the Temple that Solomon built. He then commanded the priests to keep the fire going. God has lit every fire in every heart that has ever turned to Him. However, He expects us to keep it going. We do this by prayer, worship, daily reading and studying His written Word to us, fellowship with others who have the fire, and being the witnesses we are called to be.

As we covered several weeks ago, we lose the fire when we give ourselves to sin and wickedness. This leads to lawlessness as described in Romans 6. The Lord warned that lawlessness would cause the love of most to grow cold. This has been well proven in our times.

Recently, when I was having lunch with Bob Jones, a prophetic friend, he said an amazing thing. He said that the unity of the church that is coming would only include about 10% of Christians. I know that sounds unthinkable to many, but there is truth to this. Even in light of knowing we are entering the greatest harvest, a sound and repeated biblical truth is “the remnant principle.”

The remnant principle was at work when the resurrected Lord told five hundred people to go to Jerusalem to wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit. However, just a few weeks later, there were only 120 gathered there. Yet that remnant was in “one accord” or unity. Do you realize that often our churches or ministries are shrinking so that we can come into a higher unity that can release a greater glory and purpose?

As Abraham demonstrated, true faith grows stronger with the passage of time, not weaker. The passage of time between when the promise is given and the fulfillment of that promise will usually thin out the crowd by removing those who do not have true faith, but are just caught up in the excitement of the moment.

This does not mean that those with true faith will not waver sometimes too, but overall, true faith grows with the passage of time. Is our faith growing stronger, or are we going to slip into the majority that drifts away?

People tend to draw their security by how many people are with them. True faith doesn’t. True faith is faith in God, not how many people are with us. True faith is demonstrated by patience, which is why we are told that it is through “faith and patience” that we will inherit the promises (see Hebrews 6:12).