QT 28/05/2024 Tuesday Acts 18. God sustains you. You sustain who? 上帝支撑着你。你支持谁？
QT 28/05/2024 Tuesday Acts 18.
READ & LISTEN here
https://www.esv.org/Acts+18/
LISTEN TO Acts 18
https://www.biblegateway.com/audio/mclean/esv/Acts.18
The preaching of the gospel to the ends of the earth is consistently challenging.
(1) The challenge includes CONSISTENT struggle for the physical sustenance of the gospel workers. There might be times when the gospel worker needs to increase more time spent working with his/her hands for daily physical needs (Acts 18:3-5).
Paul had to work as a tentmaker together with Aquila & Priscilla (Acts 18:2,3). Paul "reasoned in the synagogue" every Sabbath (18:4). However, after Silas & Timothy came to join Paul, "Paul was occupied with the word" (Acts 18:5).
REFLECTION: In every generation since the Levites of the Old Testament system, God's workers and the community they minister in need to figure out for that generation the sustainable arrangement for the support of worker who "preaches" or mediates the spiritual matters to that generation (Acts 18:5). We pray that the Holy Spirit would guide our generation too.
(2) The challenge includes CONSISTENT opposition, even abuse (Acts 18:6). This was the last straw for Paul, "From now on I will go to the Gentiles" he said (Acts 18:6).
(3) However, the Lord is also CONSISTENTLY present with His workers. Acts 18:9-10 recorded the comforting words of the LORD, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people" (Acts 18:9-10). Therefore, Paul extended his stay to teach (Acts 18:11).
True to God's promise - "And surely I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, to the very end of the age" (Matt 28:20), God stayed close to Paul. On the other hand, Satan has great plans for Christians too - seeking to pounce on the disappointments and weaknesses of Christians.
APPLICATION: Let us be reminded of God's unending & unexpected provision and presence for those who carry the gospel to the ends of the earth and press on!
星期二2024年5月28日 今日读经：使徒行传18章。上帝支撑着你。你支持谁？
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Act/18/
听音频使徒行传18章
https://www.bible.com/bible/41/act.18.cnvs
把福音传到世界的地极常常具挑战性。
(1)面临的挑战就包括维持福音工作者的日常所需。有些时候，福音工作者必须增加劳力的时间以赚取钱以支付每日所需(徒18:3-5)。
保罗必须和亚居拉和百基拉一起搭帐棚(徒18:2,3)。保罗每逢安息日就“在会堂辩论”(18:4)。然而，自从西拉和提摩太加入保罗后，“保罗就专心传扬主的道”(徒18:5)。
反思：自旧约制度的利未人开始，每一代人，神的仆人和他们服事的群体必须做出妥当的安排，以维持那“传道”或为那代的人传讲属灵的事的人的日常所需(徒18:5)。我们祈求圣灵也会指引我们这一代。
(2) 这挑战包括不断的抗拒，甚至是亵渎(徒18:6)。保罗再也忍无可忍了，他说:“从今以后，我要到外族人那里去了。”(徒18:6)。
(3) 然而，主也常常与祂的同工在一起。徒18:9-10记载了主给人安慰的话语，“不要怕，只管讲，不要闭口！有我与你同在，必定没有人能害你，因为在这城里有许多属我人。”(徒18:9-10)。所以，保罗在那里把神的道教导他们，把驻留的时间延长了。(徒18:11)
就如神所应允的--“我就常常与你们同在，直到这世代的终结”(太28:20)，神与保罗紧密同行。另一方面，撒旦在基督徒身上也有计划--在基督徒的失望和软弱上趁机而入。
应用：让我们记住，对于那些传福音到世界的地极并持之以恒的，神必与他们同在，在他们身上的供应也是无止境并超出他们所想的！继续前行！
