路 加 福 音 Luke 1
26 到 了 第 六 个 月， 天 使 加 百 列 奉 神 的 差 遣， 往 加 利 利 的 一 座 城 去， 这 城 名 叫 拿 撒 勒。 27 到 一 个 童 女 那 里 ， 是 已 经 许 配 大 卫 家 的 一 个 人， 名 叫 约 瑟 ， 童 女 的 名 字 叫 马 利 亚 。 28 天 使 进 去 ， 对 他 说 ， 蒙 大 恩 的 女 子， 我 问 你 安 ， 主 和 你 同 在 了 。 29 马 利 亚 因 这 话 就 很 惊 慌 ， 又 反 复 思 想 这 样 问 安 是 什 么 意 思 。 30 天 使 对 他 说 ， 马 利 亚 不 要 怕 。 你 在 神 面 前 已 经 蒙 恩 了 。 31 你 要 怀 孕 生 子， 可 以 给 他 起 名 叫 耶 稣。 32 他 要 为 大， 称 为 至 高 者 的 儿 子。 主 神 要 把 他 祖 大 卫 的 位 给 他。 33 他 要 作 雅 各 家 的 王， 直 到 永 远 。 他 的 国 也 没 有 穷 尽。
The only people who enjoyed the first Christmas were the people who were looking for it.
What do you want or looking for in Christmas this year?
At the very first Christmas, many people missed it because they were too busy or looking for other things. The politicians, businessmen, innkeeper (管理旅社者) and religious people missed the first Christmas, because they were too busy or looking at other things.
The only people, who enjoyed the very first Christmas, more than two thousand years ago, were those who were looking for it.
Angels: "You'll find the baby ... lying in a manger." Shepherds: "Let's go and see!" (See Luke 2:12, 15)
12 你 们 要 看 见 一 个 婴 孩 ， 包 着 布 ， 卧 在 马 槽 里 ， 那 就 是 记 号 了 。 13 忽 然 ， 冇 一 大 队 天 兵 同 那 天 使 赞 美 神 说： 14 在 至 高 之 处 荣 耀 归 与 神 ！ 在 地 上 平 安 归 与 他 所 喜 悦 的 人 （ 冇 古 卷 作 ： 喜 悦 归 与 人 ）！ 15 众 天 使 离 幵 他 们 ， 升 天 去 了 。 牧 羊 的 人 彼 此 说： 我 们 往 伯 利 恒 去 ， 看 看 所 成 的 事 ， 就 是 主 所 指 示 我 们 的。
The shepherds found Jesus because they were searching. They were seeking Him.
And later on, another group, the wise men, found Jesus because they were looking for Him, too.
Wise men came from the East, asking, "Where is the baby...? We have come to worship Him." (Matt. 2:1-2)
1 当 希 律 王 的 时 候 ， 耶 稣 生 在 犹 太 的 伯 利 恒 。 冇 几 个 博 士 从 东 方 来 到 耶 路 撒 冷 ， 说 ： 2 那 生 下 来 作 犹 太 人 之 王 的 在 那 里 ？ 我 们 在 东 方 看 见 他 的 星 ， 特 来 拜 他 。
For those of you still looking: what are you going to find this Christmas? I'll tell you what you're going to find: You'll find what you're looking for.
Seek, and you will find. (Matt. 7:7 NKJV)
7 你 们 祈 求 ， 就 给 你 们 ； 寻 找 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 ， 就 给 你 们 幵 门 。 8 因 为 凡 祈 求 的 ， 就 得 着 ； 寻 找 的 ， 就 寻 见 ； 叩 门 的 ， 就 给 他 幵 门 。
In our journey of life, we are bound to ask, "Is there any meaning to my life? Does my life count? If there is a God, can I get to know Him?" That's what Christmas is all about – getting to know God and have a relationship with Him.
Where do you think those questions are coming from? God is putting those questions in our mind because He's creating a desire in us – a thirst to know Him. God knows all about you; He wants you to know Him. And there's no better time than Christmas to become the kind of seeker the wise men embodied. Wise people will seek Christ.
In response, God says, "I know everything about you: the good, the bad, the ugly, your past, present, even future." He wants you to know Him, so He sent Jesus at Christmas.
This Christmas God wants to give you three Christmas gifts that you'll find if you seek them. Because whatever you're looking for is what you'll find.
The miracle of Christmas is in Jesus Christ. Through Jesus, God offers you forgiveness for your past, peace of mind in the present, and an assured future in eternity.
This Christmas, You Can Find Forgiveness
What people need these days is some good news.
We are aware of many dangers this Christmas season, and this causes us to be afraid. We are afraid of the person living on the other side of town. Afraid of the person who speaks a different language, worships a different religion, or represents a different race or dialect (方言) group. Such fear some time gives way to misunderstanding and hatred (仇恨), which turns into vengeance (复仇), violence and vicious (狠毒) conflict. This hatred that burns inside these people is destroying (毁坏) them slowly and as surely as any incurable disease (疾病).
What they needed is some good news.
"Today your Savior was born... He is Christ, the Lord." (Luke 2:11 NCV)
11 因 今 天 在 大 卫 的 城 里， 为 你 们 生 了 救 主， 就 是 主 基 督。
That's what Christmas is all about. But why do we need a Savior anyway? The Bible says that heaven is a perfect place. There are no mistakes (差错) or inconsistencies (不一致); it is perfect (完美). Because of that, only perfect people get to go there. If God let imperfect people into heaven, it wouldn't be perfect anymore. So I don't stand a chance of getting into heaven on my own effort (努力), how about you? So God by His profound (深刻) grace (雍容) sent us a Savior so we could get in through Him. That's the good news: A Savior has been born!
John 3:17, "For God sent not the Son into the world to condemn (谴责) the world, but that the world through him might be saved."
17 因 为 神 差 他 的 儿 子 降 世， 不 是 要 定 世 人 的 罪 （或 作 ： 审 判 世 人 ； 下 同）， 乃 是 要 叫 世 人 因 他 得 救。
None of us can be perfect or always right. If we examine (审查) our pass, what we have said, or done, most of us would be extremely (极端) embarrassed (困窘). We all live with a sense of loss because none of us are and can be perfect. That's why we need a Savior.
"Unto you is born a Savior." Yes, you can be forgiven. Now that's the most priceless gift (礼物) you can get, the gift of a clear conscience (良心). It's a free gift of God. After the 1st Christmas, God offers us the chance to have our sin forgiven and wiped (抹) clean (干净), so you can start over, brand new. That's good news!
Now, how do I let Christ save me? It's really simple. "All who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins through Jesus' name" (Acts 10:43 NCV).
43 众 先 知 也 为 他 作 见 證 说 ： 凡 信 他 的 人 必 因 他 的 名 得 蒙 赦 罪。
Notice that is simply says "all who believe." All means you and me. You just let go. Do you know how you can get Christ to save you? Just admit that you need Him.
Most people believe we can save ourselves and work or buy our way into heaven. We say, "Oh, God, I have done so much good works for You, and my bad works are so few. Surely I'm good enough for You!" but God says, "Only perfect people can get into a perfect place." You might say, "Well, I'm better than so and so." Well of course you are – you're likely to be better than me too. Let's say that my goodness is slightly above floor (地板) level (水平), yours might be at the roof level, but God's perfection is beyond the highest sky. So God doesn't judge (判断) you by comparing with me or anybody else but Himself. We need Jesus Christ, for He is the perfect gift from God for the atonement of our sins, to make us perfect in His sight.
Mark 10:45--"The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."
45 因 为 人 子 来， 并 不 是 要 受 人 的 服 事， 乃 是 要 服 事 人， 并 且 要 捨 命 作 多 人 的 赎 价。
This is good news, and God want to have an intimate (亲密) relationship (关系) with us. God show us the way to salvation (救世) by His love for us through Christ on the cross.
This Christmas You Can Find Peace of Mind and the Grace to Forgive Others
It is interesting (感兴趣) to note that God introduces (介绍) Himself to us in the 1st Christmas season as a baby (婴孩). Anyone who holds a baby feels in that moment (片刻) great peace and joy. In Christ, we have the beginning of a Peace that will last forever. Come and hold Christ. Experience (经验) Him free of force, fear or hatred. Come and beheld by God in silence. Let down your barriers (障碍) and let him find a place in your heart. Let Christ begins His good work of salvation in your life.
Those who love your teachings shall find true peace. (Ps. 119:165 NCV)
165 爱 你 律 法 的 人 冇 大 平 安 ， 甚 么 都 不 能 使 他 们 绊 脚
Peace is what we yearn (盼望) for, but most people don't know where to find it. For many, peace of mind means drinking until they're drunk and numb (麻木) that they can no longer feel the pain in their hearts and minds.
For some, peace means hopping from one relationship to another all the time, with the hope that somebody will fill the void (空隙) in their life. But nobody ever will.
For some, peace means staying busy all the time so that they are so very tire and don't have to think. These are hard and meaningless lives.
For other people peace means becoming a workaholic (工作狂) or overachiever, so they can boost of their success or to prove to the world that they're important! But deep inside them, they don't really feel right.
As for Christians, real peace of mind is:
- having a relationship with Jesus Christ and becoming friends with God.
- knowing that no matter what I do, God will never stop loving me.
- knowing that no matter what happens, God will never leave me alone. He'll always be with me.
- knowing that no matter what happens in the New Year, or in the years to come, God is going to give us the strength to handle it.
- living by God's Word, the Bible, so that we can avoid a lot of the needless problems and hurts (创伤) and habits that mess up (弄糟) our lives.
- teaching our children God's Word as a foundation for life, so that our kids can make the right decision on their own.
There are three things that will deny us of the peace of mind: guilt (罪状), grief (哀情), and grudges (吝惜).
You don't have to walk around with guilt. God said, "I sent a Savior to wipe away your sins so you can be forgiven." Jesus gives us a clear conscience. If you haven't been cleansed from your sins by placing your faith (信念) in Jesus, then guilt will take away your peace.
You may also be in major pain (痛苦) right now, because there are all kinds of hurtful memories (记忆) in you. You may remember the loss or death of someone you love, or a parent or spouse who has been unkind to you or a divorce you went through, etc. You have grief that deprives (剥夺) you of joy and a peace of mind. If you're carrying pains in your hearts, and they still hurt. Your brothers and sisters around you who know you will feel the pain as well. But I want you to know that beyond our concern for you, God cares about your hurt. He sees it, and He knows all about it. You were never meant to carry that grief all on your own. Never! God says to cast all your cares upon Him, and He will care for you. Give Him your worries and troubles, and receive the gift of peace. Cast all your burdens on the Lord.
Grudges cause us to be resentful. We feel guilty when we hurt others, but we become resentful or grudging when others hurt us. You will be hurt in life, whether intentionally or unintentionally. How you respond to that hurt will determine your level of happiness in life. And for your own sake, your own peace of mind, you've to let go of those hurts, because resentment doesn't hurt the other person; it only hurts you.
It is not wise to let people or issues from your past hurting you today. You've to let them go. But you may say, "I can't. They hurt too much. I can't forgive." You're right. That's why you need Jesus Christ, because only He can give you His power of love to let go. Not because those who hurt us deserve (该当) it. They may not even deserve it; but you need to forgive so that you can get on with your life and a bright future God has promised (许诺).
When we receive forgiveness from God, we must also forgive those who have wronged us and let God deals with that person. Luke 11:4 "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us", this is the Lord's Prayer.
4 赦 免 我 们 的 罪， 因 为 我 们 也 赦 免 凡 亏 欠 我 们 的 人。 不 叫 我 们 遇 见 试 探； 救 我 们 脱 离 凶 恶 （冇 古 卷 无 末 句）。
God don't want you to stay in the past over a grudge, a hurt, or resentment (怨气), He has given us new lives of joy and peace.
Choose the tree of life and not the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden (伊甸园). Perhaps Nellie will share with you about this choice when she next speaks to you. You can find peace of mind (心境的安宁) only if you're willing to do the things God's ways not by our own thinking and knowledge. The 1st couple on earth, Adam and Eve, was fooled into choosing the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and death came into this world.
This Christmas You Can Find Eternal Life
There are two facts about our lives. Firstly, we're all going to die someday, and that's not a pleasant thought (宜人的想法). We don't need to be worrying or scare about it, by the fact that physically we are all going to die someday.
Secondly, we're going to spend more of our life beyond death than we're going to spend before death. We may get to be sixty, eighty, maybe hundred years or more here on this earth. But we'll spend the rest of eternity after we pass away.
Are you prepared for something you know is inevitable (不可避免), that one day you'll leave this world but have not prepared for it? There is a wise saying, "we're not ready to live until we're ready to die." The good news of Christmas is that God ready (准备好) us for heaven when we put our faith and trust (信任) in Christ to save us, "The man who finds life will find it through trusting God." (Rom. 1:17 TLB)
17 因 为 神 的 义 正 在 这 福 音 上 显 明 出 来 ； 这 义 是 本 于 信 ， 以 致 于 信 。 如 经 上 所 记 ： 义 人 必 因 信 得 生 。
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes on him should not perish, but has everlasting life."
16 「 神 爱 世 人， 甚 至 将 他 的 独 生 子 赐 给 他 们， 叫 一 切 信 他 的， 不 至 灭 亡， 反 得 永 生。
John 6:47-48 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. "I am the bread of life."
47 我 实 实 在 在 的 告 诉 你 们， 信 的 人 冇 永 生。 48 我 就 是 生 命 的 粮。
Jesus is our bread of life (生活面包)! God says you can find eternal life by trusting Christ. God says, "I'll take care of your past regrets (遗憾), your present problems, and your future fears (恐惧)." It's called salvation. It means God saves me through Jesus. It means He clears up my past, takes care of my present, and secures (巩固) my future. That's one gift you'll never get anywhere else.
What we're really looking for in life is God
Too often, we don't know what we're looking for in life or we think we're looking for love, happiness (幸福), success (成功), security (安全), significance (意义), or meaning (意味) and purpose (目的) in life (生活中) . We think we're looking for all these different things, but actually what we're really looking for is God. God has created in us a God-shaped (形状) vacuum (真空) that only He can fill. Our hearts are restless (不安定) until we find our rest in Him.
Christ, God's Son, has come to help us understand and find the true God. (1 John 5:20 TLB)
我 们 也 知 道 神 的 儿 子 已 经 来 到， 且 将 智 慧 赐 给 我 们， 使 我 们 认 识 那 位 真 实 的， 我 们 也 在 那 位 真 实 的 里 面， 就 是 在 他 儿 子 耶 稣 基 督 里 面。 这 是 真 神 ， 也 是 永 生。
The Bible says Jesus came to seek (寻找)and to save (保存). While you've been seeking, He's been seeking you. He says, "I offer you forgiveness for your past, peace of mind in the present, and a solid (坚实) future in eternity (永恒未来)." Those are the gifts, and they're all wrapped (包裹) up in Christ. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." (Jer. 29:13 (NIV).
13 你 们 寻 求 我， 若 专 心 寻 求 我， 就 必 寻 见。
Please remember that you matter to God (上帝). Your problems matter to God. Your pain matters to God. Your potential (潜力) matters to God.
God came to earth in human form, and He is just next to you while you're seeking Him. What better time than at Christmas to make contact (联系,联络)? He says, "Seek Me." More than two thousand years ago, wise men (明智的人) sought Christ. And wise men will seek Christ. I challenge (挑战) you to be a wise man or woman in the New Year, and to seek the Christ of Christmas, because God says, "Seek and you shall find." It's His promise. It's His gift of life to you.
God is saying to you, "I really care about you! I know everything about you. I saw your birth. I know when you're going to die. I know everything in between. I made you for a purpose, and I have a plan for your life. Life does have meaning when you get involved (涉及) in My plan and develop a relationship (关系) with Me. I love you, and I want you to know Me so badly that I sent My Son to earth two thousand years ago to show you what I'm like."
God don't care what your background is. What matters is that you have established a personal relationship with Christ? With the gifts of forgiveness, peace of mind, and eternal life that is in Him.
Have You Open the Gifts of Christmas
Can you imagine (想象) being given a gift at Christmas and never open it? I mean, if you gave me a gift at Christmas and a year later you came over and I still hadn't open it, you'd think I was a little funny.
"Why haven't you open it?"
"Oh, I love the wrapping paper. I'm sure I'm going to love your gift. I'm going to get to it one of these days."
And yet, some of you continue to move a little closer to God Christmas after Christmas after Christmas after Christmas. You've celebrated every Christmas for as many years as you are old; you know the songs and the stories, and you know what it's all about, but have you open the gift yet?. God says, "I am offering you forgiveness, peace of mind, and eternal life, come and receive these gifts, and taste My goodness."
You're never going to be offered (提供) a greater gift than Jesus!
For those who have yet to receive Jesus into their lives, I want to close by urging you to believe in Jesus and to receive this gift of life. And for those who have, I urge to live a life that magnifies God and reach out to others around you by his abounding love and grace as the giver of every good and perfect gift.
We are going to pass you some form (or the card in your worship folder) which is our effort to connect you with God.
- We want to talk to you if you have any questions for us.
- We would like to pray for you about any concern you have.
- If you have not put your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and receive the gift of eternal life, we want to pray with you today.
Have a Blessed Christmas and I want to close with the last prayer of Jesus while He was on earth in remembrance (记忆) of Him.
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