路加福音［第3章］
Book of Luke 3
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路加福音［第3章］|Book of Luke 3【为主的再来作好預备】
26/10/2023
引言: 警队护送组
一、回应神呼召（v1-6）
1. 败坏的时代背景（v1-2）
从路加医生的描述，我们知道当时是一个社会淫乱，信仰腐败的时代。在这样黑暗的时刻，沉默了400年后的神，终于开口对约翰说话。这是施洗约翰回应神的呼召，事奉生涯的开始。
2. 基督的开路先锋（v3-6）
路加引用以赛亚书40:3-5所记载的这段经文，目的是要让当时熟悉旧约圣经的犹太人明白，他之后要介绍的耶稣就是预言中的弥赛亚。而施洗约翰在旷野回应神的呼召成为基督的开路先锋，到约旦河一带传悔改的洗礼，目的就是要为主预备人的心，使人的罪得赦免。见到神的救恩。
基督第一次来是为人类带来救赎恩典。但是第二次的再来却是为了审判。在这黑暗悖谬的世代，我们都是神所拣选，为基督再来预备道路的先锋。让我们都起来回应神的呼召。
二、生命的预备（v7-21）
当时的犹太人中间有这样的传说：他们的祖宗亚伯拉罕坐在地狱门口，不许他任何一个子孙下到地狱’，因此认为自己是不会被审判。约翰指出他们的想法完全错误，并警告，要逃避神将来的审判，逃避地狱之火，除了受洗外，更重要的是生命要结出好果子来，与悔改的心相称：
1. 怜悯施予（v11）
施比受更为有福。怜悯和施予是基督徒活出悔改生命的最好证明。因为主的怜悯和施予我们恩典，让我们白白领受救恩和祝福。因此当看到别人的需要，我们也要伸出援手，成为神祝福的管道。
2. 知足诚实（v12-14）
税吏是替罗马帝国政府征收税款的犹太人，在当时都有贪婪的问题。 他们欺压同胞，中饱私囊。 兵丁是罗马政府在当地雇用的护卫兵。 这些兵丁常仗势欺人，蛮横对待一般平民，夺别人的钱财，占为己有。因此约翰说正直诚实，知足不讹诈人，乃是真正悔改的表现。
3. 高举基督（v15-16）
施洗约翰很清楚自己是被呼召作基督的开路先锋。所以当群众猜测他是否就是弥赛亚时，他及时澄清误解，并且高举基督。
在牧养上，我们要谨慎守住本位。要把人带到主的面前，不是自己面前。更别挡住别人仰望基督的视线。
4. 要传福音（v17-18）
这里提到的是主基督再来时所施行的审判。麦子要收在仓里。没用的糠要被灭尽。世界局势让我们知道基督再来的日子不远了。让我们趁恩典之门仍然敞开，审判没到之前，竭尽所能的传福音。
5. 维护真理（v19-20）
约翰为了维护真理，不妥协于道德沦亡而最终为主殉道。
现今的世代有许多歪曲真理的学说和教导，有许多错误的价值观和潮流都会使基督徒掉入妥协和牺牲真理的光景，我们要谨慎。
6. 圣灵充满（v21-22）
约翰呼吁人悔改，用水施洗只是悔改的记号，并不能施行拯救或改变生命。因此，我们需要从耶稣而来的圣灵与火的洗礼来炼净我们的生命。使我们能拥有谦卑的生命。以至于天门为我们打开，过得胜的生活、服事充满果效和能力来荣耀神。
三、耶稣是人子（v23-38）
路加所记载耶稣的家谱，是要凸显耶稣的人子身份。与施洗约翰一样，主耶稣盼望我们能与祂同工同配搭，成就神国更大的事。
总结：你预备好了吗？
弟兄姐妹，在神末后所要成就的事上，你有份吗？主耶稣如果今天就回来，你预备好了吗？是否能坦然无惧地迎接祂呢？
我们都是被神呼召为主第二次再来预备道路的警队护送组、开路先锋。不但要帮助我们所爱的人预备好面对末后的审判。昨天，在爱新加坡举办的青年牧者聚会中也鼓励教会要门徒训练年轻的一代成为收割庄稼的工人，成为现代的施洗约翰！GK正积极的预备我们年轻一代的YAY，你会参与在当中吗？
Luke 3 Preparing for the Lord’s second coming
GK611 Morning Devotion
26/10/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps. Deborah Tan
Introduction:
1. Responding to God's Call (v1-6)
(1) The background of a corrupted age (v1-2)
From Dr Luke’s description, we know that it was a time of social debauchery and corruption of faith. In such a dark time, God, after 400 years of silence, finally spoke to John. This was the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry career in response to God’s call.
(2) Christ’s pioneer (v3-6)
Luke quoted this passage from Isaiah 40:3-5 in order to make the Jews, who were familiar with the Old Testament at that time, understand that the Jesus he was to introduce later was the prophesied Messiah. And John the Baptist responded to God's call in the wilderness to be the pioneer of Christ, and went to the area of the Jordan River to preach the baptism of repentance, with the purpose of preparing the hearts of men for the Lord, so that they might receive forgiveness of sins. Seeing God's salvation.
Christ's first coming was to bring salvation for mankind. But the second coming is for judgment. In this dark and perverse age, we are all God's chosen pioneers to prepare the way for Christ's second coming. Let us all rise up and answer God's call.
2. Life's preparation (v7-21)
There was a legend amongst the Jews at that time that their ancestor Abraham sat at the gates of hell and did not allow any of his descendants to go down to hell', and therefore thought that they would not be judged. John pointed out that their thinking was totally wrong, and warned that to escape God's future judgment and the fires of hell, apart from baptism, it was more important that the life should bear fruits worthy of repentance：
(1) To give mercy (v11)
It is more blessed to give than to receive. Mercy and giving are the best evidence of a Christian living a life of repentance. Because of the Lord's mercy and grace to us, we freely receive salvation and blessing. Therefore, when we see the needs of others, we must also reach out and become channels of God's blessing.
(2) Be content and honest (v12-14)
Tax collectors were Jews who collected taxes for the Roman government, and at that time all had a problem with greed. They oppressed their fellow man and enriched themselves. Soldiers were local guards employed by the Roman government. These soldiers were often bullying and brutalizing the common people, taking other people’s money and possessing it for themselves. So John says that being upright and honest, being content and not blackmailing people, is a sign of true repentance.
There are many doctrines and teachings that distort the truth in today’s generation, and there are many false values and trends that can cause Christians to fall into compromising and sacrificing the truth, and we need to be careful.
(3) Exalting Christ (v15-16)
John the Baptist was well aware that he was called to be a pioneer for Christ. So when the crowds speculated whether he was the Messiah or not, he promptly cleared up the misunderstanding and exalted Christ.
In pastoral care, we have to be careful to keep our place. Bring people to the Lord, not to ourselves. Let us not block the view of others to Christ.
(4) Evangelise (v17-18)
The reference here is to the judgment that will be administered at the return of the Lord Christ. The wheat will be gathered in the barn. The useless chaff will be destroyed. The world situation lets us know that the day of Christ's return is not far off. Let us do all we can to evangelise while the door of grace is still open and the judgment has not come.
(5) Defend the truth (v19-20)
John was ultimately martyred for his Lord in order to defend the truth and not compromise with moral deprivation.
(6) The filling of the Holy Spirit (v21-22)
John calls for repentance, baptism with water is only a sign of repentance, it does not effect salvation or change of life. Therefore, we need the Holy Spirit from Jesus and the baptism of fire to purify our lives. So that we may have a life of humility. So that the gates of heaven will be opened for us to glorify God by living a victorious life and serving with fruitfulness and power.
3. Jesus is the son of man (v23-38)
The genealogy of Jesus recorded by Luke is meant to highlight Jesus' identity as the son of man. Like John the Baptist, the Lord Jesus expects us to be co-workers and partners with Him in accomplishing the greater things of the Kingdom of God.
Conclusion: Are you ready?
Brothers and sisters, do you have a part in what God will accomplish? If the Lord Jesus were to return today, would you be ready? Would you be able to welcome Him without fear?
We are all called by God to prepare the way for the Lord's Second Coming as police escorts and pioneers. Not only do we need to help our loved ones prepare for the Last Judgment, but we also need to help our loved ones prepare for the Last Judgment. Yesterday, at the Youth Pastors' Gathering organised by Love Singapore, the church was also encouraged to disciple the younger generation to become workers in the harvest field and modern day John the Baptists! GK is actively preparing our younger generation for YAY, will you be a part of it?
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