February 7 - 不要为上帝设限

[VicHetrot]

讲员：陈约翰牧师
讲题：《不要为上帝设限》
讲道经文：以赛亚书 55：8-9

耶和华说：我的意念非同你们的意念；我的道路非同你们的道路。
天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路；我的意念高过你们的意念。

Preacher: Reverend John Tan
Preaching topic: <Do not set limits for God>
Preaching Scripture: Isaiah 55:8-9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord .
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

[suzannaho]

Don't Limit God in Your Life
"Yes, again and again they tempted God,
and limited the Holy One of Israel."

Psalm 78:41


Israel limited God in the wilderness, after being delivered from slavery in Egypt. God had a promised land for them in Canaan, but they chose not to go there. God had good things for them, but they limited the Holy One of Israel. God has good things for His children today, but we can make the same mistake. Don't limit God in your life.

When we limit God in our lives, the days of our lives become meaningless and fearful. This is exactly what happened to Israel in the wilderness. They went around in circles, with no clear direction for their lives. Worse than that, they lived in fear, rather than walking by faith. "Therefore their days He consumed in futility, and their years in fears," Psalm 78:33.

When we limit God in our lives, it's because our hearts are not right with God. The people of Israel said the right words, but they lied to God. We may have the right "God-talk" and not truly believe God in our hearts. "And they lied to Him with their tongue, for their heart was not steadfast with Him," Psalm 78:36-37. Saying the right words in prayer, and singing the right songs, will not fool God, if we have doubt and unbelief in our hearts.

When we limit God in our lives, we need to confess our sin and change the direction of our lives. We may seek God for a change of heart. He will forgive us, and He can change our hearts. "But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them," Psalm 78:38. Change in our lives always begins at the point of God's compassion. Even when we have tempted and grieved God, He has compassion for us. He has blessings for us. He wants us to be able to say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life," Psalm 23:6. Don't limit God in your life.

Father, give me a heart to trust you, I admit that many a times, my faith has waiver and I've doubted in You. I even set limits to what You can do or accomplish, please forgive me, Abba Father! Amen!

[`char]

I learned that..
The more we limit God, the less He can actually do through us. Our minds are so small as compared to the mind of the one who created the vast sky. It's like comparing an ant's brain to the internet.

Also, He's so close that He can feel what we feel. Thus, He knows our needs perfectly. There's no need to ask God for something and assume that our prayers will be answered through a particular way. God knows best. Besides, everyone has his/her own unique experience in God. No one is the same..

Since God knows best, when we trust and obey, we can obtain God's blessings through God's perfect way

[Sherman Low]

Thanks to Ps John for reminding us through today's sermon that how often we tend to put God in a box. I am in the midst of facing some challenges in my job and the learning point for me is to subject myself in total reverence to Him. While I can bring my requests to God, I am reminded that "His ways are higher than my ways and His thoughts than my thoughts".

I can't agree more with Sis Charlene statement "He's so close that He can feel what we feel. Thus, He knows our needs perfectly. There's no need to ask God for something and assume that our prayers will be answered through a particular way. GOD KNOWS BEST. Besides, everyone has his/her own unique experience in God. No one is the same.." THANKS CHARLENE, WELL SAID!

[yehosaphat]

I thought the sermon on Sun was so succinct. It is as simple and clear as it can get. That the ways and wisdom of the Father far exceeds that of us. I once remembered hearing a speaker explain it is like expecting an ant to understand the ways of humans... impossible! So lets stop trying to teach our Father what to do and "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" and see how He leads you in miraculous ways!

The simplest of my experience: Recently had a really bad headache and prayed that God will take it away... instead, He let me experience the joy of being taken care of... which is better?

[VicHetrot]

After reflecting on what I've always prayed to God, I think maybe I'm somehow limiting His doing...

I prayed that I could get a work permit with good pay and only working from Mon-Fri (at most Sat half day) and stay in Singapore. So far I have not yet received anything and still stuck here and I think it may be due to my diminutive mindset?

I told myself at the beginning of this year that this year WILL be different. I do not want to linger around anymore like what I did for the last 5-6 years. Of course, I do not forget that it's because of this "stuck" that I may be able to experience God's amazing work and came back to Charis. And serving in this church, meeting and knowing so many of our brothers and sisters...

What are Your thoughts? What are Your ways?
I do not know yet but I pray this short little prayer:
"May Your will be done. Because they are surely the best. Amen."

[shalom]

“只有完全相信和顺服，我们就能得到上帝的应许和祝福，进而成就上帝的旨意。”
Only thru TOTAL believe and obedience, then we will be able to receive blessings and then to accomplish God's will.

The sermon on sun to me are simple and 3 sharp points that Pastor John has pointed out. So simple yet we always need to be reminded about them :-
a) Don't tell God what to do
b) Don't teach God how to do
c) Don't limit God to what He will do

As the mission trip is coming up, there are some challengers that i have to face. It is always during the preparation and during mission trip that i always experience God's unlimited wisdom and also power. When human sees as impossible, God sees them as possible.

Lord, please let me learn to experience Your unlimited power, strength and wisdom once again during the preparation time for the mission trip. We are so super tiny and limited. But God You promise us to be with us no matter where we are, so long as we rely on You. Use me in this mission trip and once again let me experience You! Amen.

[Alvin]

Many thanks to Pastor John for the thought-provoking sermon on Sunday. Have once again been reminded not to repeat the same mistake that we are all so prone to committing (be it deliberately or unknowingly).

I remembered when I was young, I had a very bad cough and had to see a doctor. The doctor told me that I needed a very strong prescription but I refused cos I did not like that bitter taste. Instead I told the doctor to give me another type of cough syrup which tasted sweeter. Guess what? My cough did not recover until 6mths later when I finally decided to heed the doctor's advice and took the bitter medication.

To me, limiting God is just like that. We come to God, tell Him our problem and ask that He help us using our ways. If we stop and think, that really sounds absurd! Who are we to instruct God what to do, when to do and how to do it? Yes, God knows every single little thought that is going on in our tiny brain - even before we pray to Him about it. He knows what is BEST for us!

Like what Char mentioned - Since God knows best, when we trust and obey, we can obtain God's blessings through God's perfect way! Amen!

[yehosaphat]

I remembered when I was young, I had a very bad cough and had to see a doctor. The doctor told me that I needed a very strong prescription but I refused cos I did not like that bitter taste. Instead I told the doctor to give me another type of cough syrup which tasted sweeter. Guess what? My cough did not recover until 6mths later when I finally decided to heed the doctor's advice and took the bitter medication.

Reminds me of miah :p

[Malcom]

The fact that i know God has no limits really makes me feel peaceful..
I have alot of limitations in life, I need to eat, sleep.. if i dont, i'll die... these are my limitations..
But God doesnt have such limits like these.. He is above matter, above limitations...
So, from the sermon on sunday.. I learnt not to limit God because if I limit Him.. Then I'll never know what God can do..

The testimony from pastor John about needing the money really gave me a different perspective of what God can do.
We keep on praying that God helps us solve our problems through the way we want it to be solved..
But God has plans for us, He wants to help us in ways much better that we can imagine..
Pastor John prayed for $15 bucks, God blessed him with $150..

So, do not limit God.. Because He knows no limits..

[chengling]

Haha, I should start praying for...
Maybe $20?

[joshuatanch]

“我的意念非同你们的意念，我的道路非同你们的道路。天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路，我的意念高过你们的意念。”
这几节经文让我想到了 《三棵树的愿望》的故事：
很久很久以前，山顶上矗立着三棵小树，它们谈论着自己长大后的梦想。
第一棵小树梦想成为一个漂亮的珠宝箱，它对另外两棵树说道：“我想装载上最炫目的珠宝！”它开始想象自己是一个精雕细琢的珠宝箱，装满了贵重的宝石、闪闪发光的金子以及其他的珍宝。
第二棵小树梦想成为一艘坚固的轮船。它骄傲地宣布说：“我要承载有权柄的君王和王子们，让他们 乘着我周游世界，完成重要的旅行。”它开始想象自己是一艘巨型游轮，在大海里乘风破浪。
第三棵树不想离开这大山顶，它只想在山顶上茁壮成长。它说：“我希望当人们抬头看这座山的时候，会看到我站在这里，指向天堂。”它开始想象自己以后枝繁叶茂的样子，自豪、快乐地指向天空。它想象着，人们抬头看它时就想起了上帝和上帝对他们的爱。
许多年过去了，在雨水的沐浴和阳光的照射下，三棵小树长得又高又壮。一天，三个伐木工人爬上了山顶。
第一个伐木工人看了看第一棵树，他说道：“这棵树很漂亮。木匠一定愿意买这样好的树。”他砍倒了第一棵树，把它带到了木匠店里。 第一棵树想：“我马上就要实现自己的梦想，变成漂亮的珠宝箱了！”
第二个伐木工人看了看第二棵树，说道 ：“这棵树很强壮，造船的工匠一定会乐意买这样结实的树。”说完他砍倒了第二棵树，把它带走了。 第二棵树想：“很快我就要成为国王的御用轮船了。”
第三个伐木工人来到第三棵树面前，它站得更笔直了，自豪高兴地指着天空。但是那个伐木工人根本就没有抬头看第三棵树一眼，他喃喃自语道：“我要哪棵树都行！”然后他砍倒第三棵树，把它带走了。
在木匠的店里，第一棵树并没有被雕琢成漂亮的珠宝箱。
木匠仓促之中把这棵树做成了一个普通简陋的食槽，用来喂养牲畜。第一棵树陷入了深深的悲伤失望中：“我现在这个样子怎么能装珠宝呢？我只能装干草和麦秸了。”
在造船厂里，第二棵树并没有被造成能乘风破浪的大轮船。 曾经强壮的它被锯开，造成了一艘简陋的小渔船。它哀叹道：“我只能盛满奄奄一息的鱼了！我现在这个样子怎能承载君王呢？”
在木材厂里，第三棵树被劈成了木头柱子堆在院子里，它的愿望和美梦破灭了。它想：“我再也不能像我梦想的那样了，我现在这个样子怎能指向上帝呢？躺在这一堆木头里，只能等着被风化，然后腐烂了。”
　很多年过去了，三棵树也都忘记了自己曾经的梦想。 
　　一天晚上，第一棵树做成的马槽里被放入一个初生的婴孩，那是一个普通的犹太孩子，但却有天使在旁边飞翔歌唱。在圣洁的光中，第一棵树忽然知道，这个婴孩一定比全世界的珍宝加起来还贵重。 
　　一些年过去，第二棵树做成的小渔船被拉到加利利的海边，一个年轻人站在船上，对渴慕的人群传讲真理和生命的话语。小船听着听着，知道自己承载的，乃是万王之王的智慧。 
　　又过了几年，第三棵树被做成了一个十字架，树立在山顶上，这是羞辱与痛苦的记号，第三棵树绝望地在心里流泪，就像那个被钉在上面的年轻人手脚流出的血一样。 
　　然而，在看见存放那位年轻人的尸体却复活而空的墓穴之后，第三棵树忽然明白，它已经永远成为上帝爱的象征，无数的人把它当做拯救与幸福的记号，当做天堂的路标。 　　
这里的马槽依然还是马槽，渔船还是渔船，十字架还是十字架。可是，好像什么东西进入了它们的生命当中，他们似乎得到了比世界还贵重的东西，远远超过它们原来的梦想，它们从此就不一样了，而且永远不一样。 
　　马槽和珠宝箱都会朽烂，小渔船和大轮船也不会永远航行，山顶上的大树和十字架终会有倒下的一天。然而，生命中经历过了那位伟大的救主，就永远没有了遗憾。梦想已经实现，而且超过所求所想。他为我们预备的，是眼睛未曾看见，耳朵未曾听见，心灵未曾想过的。 
这就是童话的结局。


《三棵树的愿望》告诉我们：别看你平淡无奇，但神要使用你；别轻看你平凡的生活，那是主在预备他的器皿直至合他的心意，更不要在意人生一时的成败得失，风云际会，你的人生必将因遇见耶稣而改变，因为在主里的价值与意义无可比拟。



[joshuatanch]

“耶和华说，我的意念；非同你们的意念，我的道路。非同你们的道路，天怎样高过地，照样我的道路，高过你们的道路；我的意念，高过你们的意念。”(赛五五8-9)
满有能力的生命：这里我们看到了神就是神（I am I AM)
　　 神的道路是照着他自己的旨意。凡他所作的工作，都有确定的旨意和确定的范围，这范围不受人的限制。人必须知道自己是何等软弱。承认软弱是前进的第一步。我们必须承认的，就是靠著我们自己不仅无力讨神的喜悦，我们甚至无法抓住神的能力为我们作工。是的，我们前面学到了向神祷告时要有信心，要迫切，神必怜悯。但我们有些人祷告了一年或更久，似乎没有事发生。我们为着启示向神呼喊，而没有启示临到。然后我们觉得我们祷告不够，或不够恳切。我们觉得我们所作的必定在那里有什么缺欠，或者有些罪我们还未承认。但事實是我们必须领悟自己的无能，也领悟自己甚至无法抓住神的力量为我们作这事。我们无法作这事，我们也无法仰望神作这事。我们必须看见，凡神所作的都是按着他的意旨和意念，不在于我们的恳求。

　　我们的救恩就是这样做工在我们身上的。这两节经文的前面，都是说到救恩一事，说到神按着他的的意旨、他的喜悦、他的意念等拯救我们。他做工是按着他自己的目的，不是按着我们所要的。神不是按着我们的标准、程序、范围，乃是照着他自己的喜悦做工。彼得前书一章三节说，我们是照他的怜悯得救的。我们得救不是因着我们的寻求，乃是因为这是他的喜悦、他的意旨、他的目的。许多时候我们知道神有能力，我们想要抓住那能力，信靠那能力。但是，甚至我们的得救也是本于他，我们的信心也是来自他。神若愿意，就有救恩和恩典。我们看见保罗在以弗所书三章十六节的祷告：「按着……。」的确，我们必须祷告，但神听我们的祷告，不仅是因为我们求，也是因为他喜悦这样做。这就是“按着他丰富的荣耀”(弗三16)。这里不是按着我们所想的，乃是超过我们所能求、所能想的(20节)。

　　在约翰福音六章，我们看见五千人吃饱。他们没有期望这事！他们只是去听主说话。但主认为他们也需要吃，他就喂养他们。这就是恩典──神的丰满。在浪子的故事(路十五11-32)里我们看见，他回来时所想要的是食物──
“口粮”，但他得着的却是筵席。他期望作仆人，但他却作了儿子；父亲把一切都花费在他身上。神乃是作使他自己满足的事。他不是作你以为他要作的事，乃是作他自己要作的事；他是作符合他性情的事。在前三本福音书里，我们看见主如何行神迹，回应人的祷告或恳求，但在约翰福音里，我们看见显著的不同。贯串约翰福音的，是一条不同的线；我们看见主显明他的荣耀，在不同的水平上运行。在二章我们读到变水为酒的神迹。马利亚对主说，“他们没有酒了，”他就阻止她说，“我与你有什么相干？”(4节)这就是说，马利亚与这事无干。在四章，在叙加井旁，我们看见要水喝的那一位，在另一位里面产生干渴，然后满足那干渴。五章说到一个软弱的人，受到三十八年的苦。主自己问他：“你要痊愈么？”(6节)我们看见，那时甚至那人心里也没有盼望，但主对他说：“起来，拿你的褥子走吧。”(8节)甚至尼哥底母也没有带着问题来，他没有问什么；似乎他只是来炫耀自己的知识(三2)主直截了当的告诉他，他必须重生。在这里采积极路线的是主自己。六章说到五千人吃饱，并剩下十二篮。然后九章说，主“看见一个人生来是瞎眼的”(1节)，他回答门徒的问题说，是“要在他身上显出神的作为来”(3节)。瞎眼的人没有恳求，耶稣就和泥抹他的眼睛，那人就看见了。主要行神迹，不只是回应人的恳求，乃是因为他是神。我们若认识神，就会看见他所作的超过我们所求或所想的。我们要相信祷告，但我们更要相信神。他所作的事有许多是要显明他的荣耀。他是创造者，他要创造。我们看见主对马大和马利亚所作的事。他要在拉撒路身上行神迹，但她们何等眼瞎，马大甚至不愿把石头挪开(十一39)！但我们看见主发起这件事。

　　神的道路高过我们的道路，他的意念高过我们的意念。他是神。我们的会应只有敬拜。神若收回他在我们的祷告以外为我们所作的一切，我们所剩下的会是何等少！我们要来到他面前说：“主，我信你是神。”我们觉得自己甚至无法祷告，觉得自己徒然等候，没有盼望的时候，让我们说：“主，不是我的祷告，乃是你。我相信你，相信你的宝座，相信你的怜悯。”“不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，只在乎发怜悯的神。”(罗九16)我们需要相信，神比我们的祷告和我们意念更大。我们能祷告的时候，让我们祷告；但我们来到自己无法祷告的境地时，让我们仰望神，并宣告他是神。我们十分渺小；我们需要学习仰望神凭他自己成就事情！神若相信他自己，那么我们也该相信他。希伯来书六章十三节说神指着自己起誓。人总是指着比自己大的起誓，但神指着自己起誓。他是神。我们不仅必须承认我们不能作什么，因为我们如此软弱；我们也需要承认，我们甚至不能抓住神的力量。神不受我们软弱祷告的限制。他作工超过我们所能求或所能想的。主的回来，是在我们想不到的时候；照样，他也要作我们所想不到的工。他不是照着我们所求的，乃是照着他的丰富，供应我们的需要。 让我们向神说：“为我作那会荣耀你的事。”当我们向他呼喊，我们更要信他是神。我们的祷告能到尽头，我们的寻求能使我们软弱疲惫，但神不会疲倦或来到尽头。我们对神的想法、观念的度量，不是他作工的度量。我们可以说：“主啊，这里有一个疲倦的人，将自己交在你手中。」我们可能急躁不安，但这一点不会加速事情的进行。我们只需要仰望他，并信靠他。神说不在乎那定意的，也不在乎那奔跑的，在乎发怜悯的神。让我们谦卑自己服在他手下。我们所有的挣扎、祷告和叹息，都无济于事。他是一位不能背乎自己的神(提后二13)。他始终是信实的。

[VicHetrot]

感谢joshuatanch这么一个感动的三棵树的愿望的故事....还有那么丰富的分享...我在一次被提醒，神的意念的计划是超越我的计划与意念...