QT 19/05/2024 Sunday Acts 12. Relax—God Acts Strongly. 放宽心--上帝有强大的作为。
QT 19/05/2024 Sunday Acts 12.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Acts+12/
LISTEN TO Acts 12
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Acts.12
Violence against those "who belonged to the church" (Acts 12:1) was not new. This targeted messengers of the gospel (Acts 12:5). Herod the king did that to please the Jews (Acts 12:3), designed for political gain "after the Passover" feast (Acts 12:4). In the end, Herod died because "he did not give God the glory" (Acts 12:23).
REFLECTION: Jesus' disciples might be chained or killed (Acts 12:1-6), but Jesus' gospel CANNOT be chained ultimately (Acts 12:7-11). Are we hopeful?
NOTICE THAT in these dire circumstances, the church did not act by first gathering arms nor forming political factions nor any other lobby. Instead, the church first prayed (Acts 12:5). Pray first, trust God and expect Him to answer in His own way in His own time. Suitable actions and problem solving skills can follow through thereafter.
God intervened through His angel in freeing Peter (Acts 12:7-10) and executing Herod (Acts 12:23). In fact, "the word of God increased and multiplied" (Acts 12:24).
RECALL: The Book of Acts recounts the gospel of Jesus Christ powering through the Roman empire of the 1st century in spite of various numerous attempts to chain it, stop it, destroy it. These attempts still exist today. Stand Firm for the gospel.
星期日2024年5月19日 今日读经：使徒行传12章. 放宽心--上帝有强大的作为。
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Act/12/
听音频使徒行传12章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/act.12.cnvs
对那些“属于教会”的人使用暴力(徒12:1)一点都不稀奇。他们锁定的对象是那些传讲福音的人(徒12:5)。希律王为要搏犹太人的欢心而这么做(徒12:3)，希望在“逾越节”后从中获得政治上的利益(徒12；4)。到最后，希律王死了，因为“他不归荣耀给神”(徒12:23)。
反思：耶稣的门徒会续被锁链锁住或被杀害(徒12:1-6)，但耶稣的福音始终是不能被锁住的(徒12:7-11)。我们是否有所期待？
你注意到了吗，在这种可怕的处境里，教会并没有起来召集军火或形成政治派别或反对组织。相反的，教会祈求神(徒12:5)。先祷告，信靠神并期待祂会在祂的时间、以祂自己的方式应允你。 之后可以采取适当的行动和解决问题的技能。
神藉着祂的使者来解救彼得(徒12:7-10)和处死希律(徒12:23)。事实上，“神的道日渐兴旺，越发广传”(徒12:24)。
复习：使徒行传叙述了耶稣基督的福音如何突在第1个世纪里传遍罗马帝国，尽管有人多次尝试去锁住它、停止它和毁灭它。这些尝试至今仍存在。为着福音站立得稳。
