永恆的歸宿 Eternal Rest

1. 永恆的歸宿Eternal Rest 詩90 Psalm 90

2. 永恆的歸宿 • 詩篇九十篇是摩西在三千年前(周文王前五百年,荷馬史詩之前), 所寫的ㄧ首對人生感愾的詩歌,可以說是世界上最古的詩歌 • 這首詩歌其實是一個牧者對教會(會眾)命運的感慨和領悟:這些會眾(教會)永恆的歸宿只有神 • 主 阿 、 你 世 世 代 代 作 我 們 的 居 所 (1)。

3. Eternal Rest • Psalm 90 was composed by Mosses roughly 3,000 years ago. (Before the time of Greek poet Homer) It can be said as one of the oldest poems in history. • Moses wrote this poem to express his outlook on the frailty of humanity: the ultimate rest of the congregation can only be found in God. • Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations(1)。

4. 會眾的歸宿 • 這五十年,受到教會增長運動的影響,教會不再以建立信心,領人進入永恆為使命,許多教會所追求的,只是人數的多寡,我們計算人數,報告人數,比較人數,無所不用其極的想盡辦法,追求人數的增長,傳道人以教會人數來衡量自己的成就,會友以教會人數的多寡來衡量自己教會的好壞,但是,誰又在乎這些人的歸宿是什麼. • 摩西帶領以色列會眾四十年,看著他們由年青變年老,在曠野中求生存,最後老死,那種感慨,在神永恆的光芒中,成為對命運的覺悟

5. Ultimate Rest of the Congregation • In these past 50 years, by influence of the “Church Growth Movement”, churches no longer build upon the mission of “Leading People to Eternity.” Instead, churches nowadays focus on the quantity of people. We count attendances, report them, compare them; ministers use these numbers to gauge their self-worth; congregants use them to measure the health of their churches. But, who really pays attention to the “Final Resting Place of the people”. • Mosses led the Israelites in the Wilderness for 40 years, seeing them turn from their youth into elderly, watching them tried to survive in that harsh environments, and finally return to dust. Mosses’ heart was welling with emotions and came to a realization in God’s glory.

6. 流浪的教會 • 旅行,是為了達到目的地,否則就叫作流浪. • 摩西曾經帶領過有史以來最大的教會(會眾)-兩百萬人,卻只是一個流浪的教會,雖然有崇拜場所(會幕)有神職人員(祭司)有經典(律法)有組織(支派)有領導(長老千夫長…,)但是,整個世代的會眾卻ㄧ再的得罪神,在曠野中流浪了四十年,最後,一個個的都老死在曠野. • 教會需要有這些外形,但是,如果失去了目標和使命,就只是個流浪的教會,流離失所,一無是處.

7. Wandering Church • To journey, is to reach a “destination”, otherwise, it called “wandering”. • Mosses led the biggest church in history – 2 million congregants, but it was only a “wandering church”. Although, it had a worship place (Tabernacle), ministers (Priests), Scriptures (Laws), Organization (Tribes), Leadership (Elders, Commanders..), but the whole generation kept on offending God, and at the end all died off in their 40 years of wandering. • A church needs these external elements, but if it losses its direction and mission, then a church is merely a wandering church without a purpose and without any merit.

8. 教會的命運 • 這一群會眾雖然是被神從埃及的奴役之下拯救了出來(受洗,得救了,)卻因為不能堅持信心,一再的效法埃及人(世俗)敬拜偶像(人造假神、肉體情慾、爭權奪利..),惹了神的怒氣,才會被神扔在曠野流浪,老死在曠野,不能進到神所應許的永恆居所-迦南美地.但是,在曠野出生的新生代,卻因著看重神的律法,專心的信靠神,得以跟著堅持信心的領導者(耶書亞)進入迦南美地 • 教會(會眾)的命運和其牧者,以及會眾,對人生路線的選擇是有絕對的關聯:不論選擇歸屬神或選擇追求世上的偶像,都有著不同的路徑和結局

9. Church’s Destiny • Although, this (Moses’) congregation was delivered from Egyptians’ slavery by God (baptized, saved), but they couldn’t remain steadfast in their faith. Repeatedly, they imitated the Egyptians’ (secular) idol worships (man-made gods, desire of the flesh, power struggles..) offended God, and ended up by wandering in the wilderness “Until Death”; couldn’t enter the eternal Promised Land of “Canaan”. But the new generation born out of wandering in the Wilderness was able to focus on God’s Commandments, and rely on God, so with their strong faithful leader in Joshua, they were able to enter Canaan. • A church’s (congregation) way of life, its minister together with its congregants “life choices,” have a direct effect on their destiny : to choose “God” or choose to “Love the World”, it will all bring different paths and consequences.

10. 僅此一生 • 教會,是神介入世界的場所,參加教會,不管你喜不喜歡,都要面對神.在永恆的神面前(2,4),每個人的人生都顯得極其的短暫(5-6,)然後,就是走入死亡(3.)因此,我們(每個教會/每個世代/每個家庭和個人)都要懂得把握這個短暫的人生,做一個智慧的選擇(12),因為,這會決定我們(個人及教會)永遠的命運: • 在罪孽中,活在神的怒氣之下,勞苦愁煩 -這是流浪教會的路徑和結局 • 專心尋求神的慈愛/作為/榮耀,以致擁有喜樂 -這是以信心尋求神的會眾,永恆的歸宿

11. Only Life • Church, it’s the place where God intervene the world. Despite your own preference, to participate in a church life is to face God. Before the Eternal God (2,4), everyone’s life seems short lived in comparison(5-6,)and then, we face our physical death.(3.)Hence, we (every church/every generation/every family and individuals)all need to understand and seize this “short lifespan”, to make a “wise decision”(12),because,this will determine (our own and church’s) the eternal outcome: • To live in sin,under God’s Wrath, with Trouble and Sorrow -This is the path of a Wandering Church and its outcome • To seek for God’s Compassion/Deeds/Glory, so we can be blessed with Joy -This is the eternal reward of the faithful.

12. 活在神的怒氣之下 • 我 們 因 你 的 怒 氣 而 消 滅 、 因 你 的 忿 怒 而 驚 惶 。你 將 我 們 的 罪 孽 擺 在 你 面 前 、 將 我 們 的 隱 惡 擺 在 你 面 光 之 中 。我 們 經 過 的 日 子 、 都 在 你 震 怒 之 下 ． 我 們 度 盡 的 年 歲 、 好 像 一 聲 歎 息 (7-9)。 • 我 們 一 生 的 年 日 是 七 十 歲 ． 若 是 強 壯 可 到 八 十 歲 ． 但 其 中 所 矜 誇 的 、 不 過 是 勞 苦 愁 煩 ． 轉 眼 成 空 、 我 們 便 如 飛 而 去 (10)。

13. Live under God’s Wrath • We are consumed by your “anger” and terrified by your indignation. You have set our “iniquities” before you, our “secret sins” in the light of your presence. All our days pass away “under your wrath”; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but “trouble and sorrow”, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. (7-10)

14. 尋求神的慈愛/作為/榮耀.. • 耶 和 華 阿 、 我 們 要 等 到 幾 時 呢 ． 求 你 轉 回 、 為 你 的 僕 人 後 悔 。求 你 使 我 們 早 早 飽 得 你 的 慈 愛 、 好 叫 我 們 一 生 一 世 歡 呼 喜 樂。 求 你 照 著 你 使 我 們 受 苦 的 日 子 、 和 我 們 遭 難 的 年 歲 、 叫 我 們 喜 樂 。願 你 的 作 為 向 你 僕 人 顯 現 ． 願 你 的 榮 耀 向 他 們 子 孫 顯 明 。願 主 我 們 　 神 的 榮 美 、 歸 於 我 們 身 上 ． 願 你 堅 立 我 們 手 所 作 的 工 ． 我 們 手 所 作 的 工 、 願 你 堅 立 (13-17)。

15. Seeking God’s Compassion /Deeds /Glory.. • Relent, LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. • Satisfy us in the morning with your “unfailing love”, that we may “sing for joy and be glad” all our days. • Make us “glad” for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. • May your “deeds” be shown to your servants, your “splendor” to their children. • May the “favor of the Lord” our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands. (13-17)

16. 你我的抉擇 • 在靠近年終,等一下又有本年度最後,最重要ㄧ次會友大會的時刻,讓我們很慎重的思考幾個問題: • 北約國語宣道會要作哪一種的教會? • 中/英文堂要做哪一種會眾? • 你和你的家,要選哪一條人生路線?

17. Your Decisions • As the year comes to an end, we have one last and the most important “Membership Meeting” of the year. There are several questions that require our utmost attentions: • What kind of church does NYMAC want to be? • What kind of congregants do you want to be? • As for you and your family, what kind of life do you want to lead?

18. 宣召:1-2 • 金句:12 • 回應:都歸你名(be unto your name) • 默想: • 北約國語宣道會要作哪一種的教會?流浪的?或是歸屬神的? • 中/英文堂要做哪一種會眾?只有宗教外形的?還是尋求住在神裡面的? • 你和你的家,要選哪一條人生路線?盲從世俗的?或是以信心事奉神的?