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Week:09, Season:1,
2014
Posted on Saturday by PCT
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Primary Data: Witness Christ
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Scripture：《
2 Peter 1:16-21
》
1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
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Every day a group of women called “Dawn Club”, a breast cancer patients’ support group, come to visit my sister. They shared their own journey of fighting breast cancer: fears, chemotherapy, hair loss, and constantly receiving treatment until finally the cancer came under control. Their hair regrew and is now healthy, dark and shiny these positive testimonies motivated my sister and she joined this group. Now it is her turn to pass on her experience to encourage others.
A testimony is what you have seen, heard and experienced in person rather than a story you made up. At the beginning of 2 Peter, it is written, “I, Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.” Peter testified, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” What does this testimony mean for us today？
A personal testimony is really powerful! Therefore, Peter said his name before telling his testimony to show this was a real experience rather than something he made up. In today’s world, many Christians also continuously witness the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. My dear friends, if you do not know who Jesus is, you will be able to know him and this faith through the wonderful grace descending on you and your family from the Christ.
The purpose and effect of testimonies
Peter’s purpose in writing this letter to people is, “To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
Peter witnessed the abundance of grace and peace in his life given by God and led by Jesus Christ. The grace of the Lord is a lamp in the darkness to light up the road for people so that we are not trapped but walking in the right direction. Peter said, “We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” This is the effect of testimony.
The way to know the truth── Bible study
1.The right way to read the Bible: joining the right Bible study group. There are many types of “du jing ban (classic study group)” in Taiwan, such as children’s study groups of “I Ching (the Classic of Changes, Book of Changes, Zhouyi and Yijing)” and “Chuangzi (one of the two foundational texts of Daoism, along with the Laozi (Dao De Jing)” which have been running for years. These study groups are also held on Sundays, similar to church Sunday Schools but only replace the Bible by other classics. Very often when I invite children in the community to come to the church Sunday School, they say, “I’m going to du jing ban.” It seems that gradually these “du jiing ban” have started to be rooted in society. Christian churches should encourage children to join the right study group: to read the Bible so that the pure Christian faith may be rooted in them.
2.Different paths of life: it is sad to see that the Christian Bible study group is being copied by other faiths for their own classics: the same approach but completely different content. It is the responsibility of we Christians to judge right and wrong because different content brings different impacts; different values will lead to different consequences. We must learn to witness to our faith and share it with families and friends and explain to them why studying different classics leads to different ends. Studying “I Ching” and “Chuangzi” will not bring us eternal life; only the Word of God in the Bible changes our life.
3.Understanding the Bible: we need to read the Bible regularly and study the messages from the verses. Peter reminded us about this, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (verses 20-21)
God reveals his message to us in many ways; one of these is to study the Bible and understand the meaning of our faith. We sometimes will feel confused about the passages we read but never give our meaning to the words. The writing of the Bible is influenced by being written in many different periods of history where the Lord raised different prophets and messengers to deliver his messages. Through ministers, Bible study publications, Bible text commentaries, etc. we will be able to understand this Bible more. We will thus be able to know the meanings behind all the writing whenever it was written and how it speaks to us today. This is the reason why we should join a Bible study group.
4.Building your faith: everyone can read the Bible but the question is: how do you read it？ Some people read the Bible with a sceptical mind. The Bible thus becomes for them a book filled with contradictions. The scepticism makes them criticise all the more to show that they are knowledgeable. The Bible is not to be read with scepticism; it is because people read it with judgement and criticisms which prevents them from receiving the Word of God.
Being a Christian who is willing to tell life stories
Whether you are a baptised Christian or a church goer, when you ask God to enter your heart by faith and by a longing heart and eyes, your life will be changed and become abundant through reading the Bible. As Peter said, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
It is because of the love of God that we can receive his grace, peace and joy. We must live and survive (and not just be satisfied by this like other animals do); more importantly, we will live in abundance and witness this wonderful life to share the best gift, the grace of the Lord, to others. Let us live out our life with great purpose and not just in this life but in eternal life.
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For discussion：
1.Does your family attend church regularly？ Please share your ideas of how to witness to Jesus with your family？
2.When someone judges the Bible with scepticisms and slanders the Bible, what is your attitude toward this？
3.Please share how you read the Bible. What help have you have received from the Bible study group？
Please pray for：
1.For people in this city receiving the word of the gospel and may there be harmony in society.<br/><br/>2.For families whose spiritual life is weak.<br/><br/>
Prayer：
Merciful Father, let us experience your abundant grace. Allow this grace to enter every heart in this world. Help us to witness the wonderful work of Jesus and share this beautiful message. Let the gospel change this society and bring more people to God to share this grace. In the name of Christ, Amen.
Something you can do：
1.Pray for friends and families who never go to church or have not been for sometime. Invite them to church events.
2.Set up a pastoral team to visit brothers and sisters whose spiritual life is weak and bring peace to them.
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