Transcription downloaded from https://sermons.pcbc.nz/sermons/56314/flourishing-in-gods-kingdom-matthew-51-16/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] How many weeks after the level 2 that you're actually in the office? [0:25] I think we went into lockdown. Yeah. Three, four days after. Yeah, that's right. For about three, four weeks, right? Yeah. Yeah. I always feel sorry for you, right? That's fine. Yeah. [0:35] It's good to see people. Good evening, everyone. It's a privilege to be here with you this evening. [0:48] So why don't we pray as we come into God's Word? Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Thank you that it speaks to us in every season whether we are feeling good or whether we are feeling bad. [1:06] Father, would you please open our eyes to see wondrous things from your Word this evening. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. I wonder what comes to mind when you think of a crisis. [1:20] When we are in a crisis. When we are in a crisis. We live in an age of crisis, don't we? We live in an age of crisis, don't we? We live in an age of crisis, don't we? [1:31] Day after day, our news tells us of urgent things happening around the world. We live in an age of crisis, don't we? And we live in an age of crisis. [2:06] And sometimes people will say when there's no marmite on the shelf, they call that a crisis. Yet we also live in an age of moral crisis. [2:26] There's a global crisis, I think of knowing what is right and what is wrong, what is good and evil. We vote down. [2:42] If you go on Facebook, it's so polarized. One person's unborn child is another person's do what you want with it. Sometimes you read an article that says they are called rioters, and then sometimes they are protesters. [3:05] Sometimes this is must share news. Sometimes it is fake news. [3:16] There are some people who are saying these messages are always true. But the ones that are false news are true. We live in a world confused of what is right and wrong. And this world is very strange. [3:28] What is right, what is wrong, what is wrong, what is wrong. But it's not just out there in the news, right? It's not just out there in the news, right? A crisis of right and wrong impacts us personally too. [3:39] And these kinds of危機影響到我們自己. What will you do when your mom or dad is diagnosed with not long to live? Maybe they have cancer. And now euthanasia is an option on the table. [3:51] If we have a cancer, especially if we have a cancer, we have cancer. We have to go through this one. We have to go to the hospital. What about after this service, you go out to night in town, and someone invites you to get drunk or to try a drug? [4:07] Or if you go out to the city, there are people who say, hey, see it, it's good. How do we respond when someone walks across us at the street and says a racist comment at you? [4:17] Or if you go out to you, just like a species of us, we will be able to respond. And I think in this age we live in, the first 16 verses of Matthew chapter 5, I think it's more relevant than ever. [4:32] These words from the sermon on the mount. In the Mark of the Holy Spirit, the 5th verse, 1-6 verses, we have a great提醒 and a great教導. [4:46] We've actually been going through the whole book of Matthew from chapter 1 in English service, but today we are up to chapter 5. We are up to the English verse 5. [5:00] In Matthew chapter 5, we see Jesus the teacher, we have been introduced to him as the promised king, and now he comes and becomes a teacher. [5:15] He says, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He only is a teacher. He is only a teenager. He is the Lord. [5:38] him up a mountain where Jesus enacts a Moses moment. He is like a new Moses going up on a mountain, sitting down and beginning to teach his disciples. [5:48] 马太福音第五章形容到耶稣上到山那里 其实那些跟随的人 就知道其实在那个时候 耶稣好像扮演在旧约 摩西的角色 又是去将上帝的律法 去讲出来 就好像生命记的续集 他就教导那些跟随的人 在神国的里边 天国的里边 生命应该是这样的 在这个道德 或者在这个完全反转了的 这个世界里边 作为基督的门徒 应该是怎么样生活的 That's what we need, isn't it? [6:41] We need to know, I think in 2020 Not just how to do good things but actually how to be good things 所以我们作为基督徒 其实在2020里边 我们真的要知道 不单单我们应该知道 我们应该怎么做好 那是我们的生命 应该是怎么样 是成为合神心意的 To live as flourishing men and women of God in light of the kingdom of heaven 作为一个 作为耶稣基督的门徒 我们应该怎么 活出这种丰盛的生命 在人的面前 去表彰上帝 在我们生命当中的作为 Now this is teaching This sermon on the mount and these beatitudes This is teaching admired even by non-Christians 以耶稣所说的 这些无论八幅 或者在灯山部分里边 就算很多未信的人 都觉得这些教导是很好的 I'll tell you about one author Russian author His name is Leo Tolstoy He read these and he was so amazed and he tried to follow these teachings by himself But what happened is that he tried to follow it in his own power [7:44] And it drove a wedge between him and his wife He sold everything And then he alienated his family And then he ran away And died a homeless man 其实很多人 都很欣赏耶稣所教导的 但是就没错意 他就纯粹跟随他 其中一个很出名的 一个叫托尔斯泰 一个苏联 一个韩国的一个文学家 他就跟随耶稣所说 他还没信耶稣的 他就卖了他所有东西 但是在最后 他其实他都做不到 他就很孤孤单单的 一个人 离开世界 所以我们看马太福 这个灯山补分的里边的时候 我们真的要有一个正确的心态 即不是单单去羡慕 哇 这些教导很好 我们用我们的尝试 用我们的能力来去做 其实是做不到的 耶稣是这样教导的 什么他想我们活着 但记得 这个是一道道 从一王 谁会一天死 但他有弟弟 记得耶稣是教导的 人应该如何遵守 但是不要忘记 耶稣他这样去教导 有一天这位的君王 他是其实要 钉在十字架上面 为众人死的 当我们听到的时候 我们记得 如果不是神的恩典 是耶稣基督十字架的大能 一些对我们完全没有作用 耶稣的说话 我们当然不可以忽略他所说 但是也不可以靠我自己 我要做得好好 我们一定要去凭信心 去仰望耶稣 我们才可以实践 [9:40] So I'd like to invite us as a congregation to read Matthew 5, 1, 16 together I'll put it up on the slide And let's read it together 我们作为会众 我们一起同心同声的 一起读 马太福音五章1-16 好吗 我们一起读 全部能在power point上面 耶稣看见这许多的人 就上了山 既已坐下 门徒到他跟前来 他就开口教训他们说 去心的人有福了 因为天国是他们的 哀动的人有福了 因为他们必得安慰 温柔的人有福了 因为他们必承受地土 既渴慕无疑的人有福了 因为他们必得饱足 连述的人有福了 因为他们必蒙连述 清心的人有福了 因为他们必得见神 使人和睦的人有福了 因为他们必称为神的儿子 为以受迫伯的人有福了 因为天国是他们的 人若因我欲骂你们 迫伯你们 毁造各样坏话 毁谤你们 你们就有福了 应当欢喜快乐 因为你们在天上的赏赐是大的 在你们以前的先知 人也是这样迫伯他们 你们是世上的盐 盐若失了味 怎能叫他再咸呢 以后无用 不过雕在外面 被人浅踏了 你们是世上的光 成造在山上 是不能隐藏的 人点灯 不放在斗底下 是放在灯台上 就照亮一家的人 你们的光 也当这样照在人前 叫他们看见你们的好行为 便将荣耀归给你们在天上的父 这是上帝的说话 我认为当我们看到这个词 整体的整体 我认为我们看到耶稣 两种方法 他的侧蓝 侧蓝 我认为耶稣 当看这段圣经的时候 我相信耶稣 好像指出有两样的东西 作为他的门徒 应该如何付着封城的生命 当我们跟随耶稣 真是他作门徒的时候 我们能够透过 在这个世界上 一个反方向 一个文化的取向 和我们透过 存在 活在人中间 我们能够活出 这个封城的生命 [12:34] Now you notice that in English I try and use the word Flourish and not blessed 你发觉英文 我尝试用这个 风性 或者是 凡 凡 凡 凡 这个这样的字 就不是用有福 I struggle with this all week How do we communicate this Because I think Today when we say blessed What comes to mind Is usually money Cars Material blessings 所以我特意尝试 避了福这个字 因为我们一说到有福 我们就想着车 钱 所有那些 物质的一些 享受 There are many false teachers that when they say 有福 Or 有福 They are thinking How you can get richer And better 在当今 有很多的 我觉得是 不是很正确的教导 就是当我们说有福的时候 就会讲到这个世上的一些福气 And we can fall into that trap We get a selfie With a picture With like the prime minister And we say we are blessed 我们有时都会 跌落这些 方华的树里边 我和这个总理 拍了一张照 放上去IG 然后就说 我好有福气了 [13:43] You get a perfect coffee With a nice picture Or if you get the perfect noodles At your restaurant You are blessed 我吃得好 那碗面 多一些 好正 好吃 我就觉得好有福了 But we need to understand In the original language The word blessed here In Matthew 5 Is not just a declaration It's not like the saying The Lord bless you 在马太福音里边 这个所谓有福 就不是好像一个宣告 神次福你是这样的 The word really means Someone It's like trying to say That someone It's observing someone Who is truly happy Joyful and fruitful In a whole way 但是其实当你看到一个人 他的生命 是这样 封城的 你就发觉这个人 真的是很有福气 那种的 The closest place you can go to The closest place you can go to Is Psalm 1 Where if you think of Psalm 1 It says Blessed is the one Who walks not on the counsel Who delights and meditates [14:45] On the law of the Lord And it describes this person Like a tree Planted by streams of water Prospering Bearing fruit That's the kind of picture we have 好像最接近 好像在诗篇第一篇 就形容这个人的生命 就有一棵树 栽种在溪水旁边 就是这个人 是不跟随恶人的计谋 不在罪人的道路上面 这个人就是有福的 Jesus teaches that The way to true blessing As he shares these beatitudes The way to true blessing Starts not with doing something Or buying something Or getting something But by becoming something 耶稣所说的 这个有福 或者这个叫封城 就不是你拥有多少 你去做了些什么 你去买了些什么 或者拥有些什么 但是 是我在神的里面 那种生命的质素 这个才是有福 我妈妈就记得 当她初初来纽西兰的时候 她就去报名 参加英文的一个课程 叫Kiwi Aura 可能有些人都知过 然后在一中的课程中 他们教了他们 how to say common New Zealand phrases 然后在一中的课程中 然后在一中课程中 他们教了他们 how to say [16:13] Good on your mate 初初的时候 就教他们一些 很Kiwi的Slang 这样就说 喂 你好棒啊 这样 即你好棒啊 你好吗 你好好啊 那个意思是什么呢 你是不是真的 说他们真的很好呢 其实他不是真的 那么好的 你就是在赞他们 那么其实你是赞他 可能他做了一些好的东西 你觉得他真的好棒啊 你这样 And so here from verses 3 to 12 Jesus is not giving nine commands He's actually making nine observations Nine good on your mates 耶稣当于说这九样东西的时候 他不是给九种的 九个的命令 但是说 这样的状态 这九样 我们在生命里边流露出来 你就好碰了 And so that's what Jesus is saying These kinds of people [17:13] Good on them 这一种 这这样的人 这些就是很好的人 很有福的人 I wonder As you read You notice how rich these phrases We can't go into them All of them in detail tonight 我们刚才读的时候 我们发觉 其实每一样东西都很丰富 我们不可以每一样东西 很仔细地去研究 Let me encourage you A friend told me That he memorized this section And just think about it Over and over again Let me encourage you to do that 我鼓励大家要背 要背圣经 就背了这九样东西 一路在我们老去里边的思想 上帝在我们当中提醒我们 But there's an unusual thing In the original text Where the first four of these blessings Actually start with the same letter Start with the same letter P 如果我们留意 其实头那四个的有福 一开始同一个希腊文的字母 那个字的 So the poor and spirit Those who mourn The humble or the meek [18:14] And those who hunger and thirst 这些四个 Matthew seems to group together 头那四样呢 灵女贫穷 总之头那四样呢 马太将它来到去 group了 放在一起的 Once a teacher asked Jesus What is the greatest commandment 有一次有一个律法师 就问耶稣 什么是最大的解明 记不记得我上个礼拜说的吗 And he said The greatest commandment is this Love God with all your heart soul, mind and strength And love your neighbor as yourself 你要尽心尽性 尽以尽力 爱主你的神 然后爱人如己 And Christians in the past used to divide even the ten commandments This way They would divide them into two parts Right? [19:00] There were commands about loving God And then commands about loving your neighbor 基督徒都会将这个界明分开 就算十界都是 头那些是向着上帝来遵守的 其他那些就在我们生活上面 我们周围的人都是履行的 And so perhaps for these Matthew is doing something similar He's got two broad categories There are nine statements Nine beatitudes And he's showing that Half of them or some of them About a changed character before God And some of them are a changed character Before others 可能这个马太都是这样 将他的福分 就是将他一半 就是我们在神面前 怎么被神去更新改变 另外那些就是我们在心意更新里 怎么去对人 I mean have a look at verse 3 for example It says this Blessed are the poor in spirit For theirs is the kingdom of God 我们就去看看第三节 就是灵女贫穷 就是虚心的人有福了 因为天国是他们的 [20:01] Matthew records Jesus didn't just say being poor 但 adds in spirit 马太呢 如果你看有些的版本 直接不是就说贫穷 或者虚心 是灵女的贫穷 因为它是我们的心灵在神面前 是我们的心灵在神面前 是多贫乏 不是我们外在的 就是有没有钱 当我们警觉我们的灵是多贫乏 在耶稣的面前 我们的灵 我们的心灵其实是破产的 我们需要依靠神 这样呢 我们才能够去有福 在教会的历史 在早期的都是 耶稣说 这些东西 我们警觉我们的灵 是需要上帝 我们几个需要上帝的时候 我们就是有福了 跟着那三个的福气 就是第四节六节 都是我们跟上帝的关系 当今天在我们遇到 很多很即时有的一些资讯 我们streaming啊 各样 我们有多少呢 真的我们可以安静在神面前 有那种哀动的心呢 今天在这些现今的世代 你不会将你的弱点 去被人看到 因为你的弱点 你的软弱就是不好的 但是耶稣说 我们游和谦卑 因为他自己都是心里游和谦卑 我们谦虚的人就有福了 因为我们承受地土 今天我们看到 这个就算世界上 这些不同的国家的领袖 都大家在这儿互相来攻击 但是耶稣说 叫我们呢 谦卑 什么是它呢 叫我们呢 叫我们呢 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 今天呢 谦卑 谦卑 以我们的 谦卑 跟我们去 容易地去面对这些事情 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 谦卑 [23:28] Often you'll hear more and more, someone does something wrong, and we celebrate their being authentic, they're truthful to themselves. [23:53] We don't talk much anymore about being good or truthful or right. But verse 7 reminds us, blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. [24:23] The kingdom of heaven will be shown through ordinary men, ordinary women, who long to be holy and just want to become like Jesus together. 当我们跟随耶稣的时候,我们要学习像耶稣那样,我们要真是什么叫圣结,我们要跟随耶稣基督. [24:43] 刚才那几样就是我们在神面前,我们跟神的关系, 跟着那几样就是被人制之间, 我们要实现出来的。 当我们看联述清心, 使人和睦, 当我们跟人相处的时候, 我们是不是联述人, 我们望着人, 是不是一个清洁的心呢? [25:24] 因为我们是否愿意成为使人和睦呢? 如果我们问一问我们家人, 我们家人就知道我们跟神的关系是如何。 当家人一定会知道, 当家人犯了错的时候, 我们对他是不是有恩慈有连述的呢? [25:56] 你可以问一个你自己很熟的朋友, 很真正的朋友, 喂,我有几圣结呢? [26:11] 当我去post一些东西上Facebook或者IG的时候, 那个心是怎样的呢? 你可以问一下我们的同事, 或者我们的邻居, 他们看我的, 是不是一个愿意使人和睦的人呢? [26:32] 或是我们透过我们港人的坏话来破坏呢? 第十节之后,第十二节呢? [26:54] 我们有多少, 就是我们的心呢? 是不是愿意因为耶稣基督的缘故, 我们忍受一些给人的所谓欲骂或者迫害呢? 弟兄弟们记得这些, 这些是在这里的主意, 这些都是一种草莲的基督, 而这些不是一步的成为一种。 我们留意,再提大家, 这些所谓的福气, 这些不是明灵, 不是我们要做足这些, 我们就可以得到进入天国。 乃是我们在神的面前, 我们去操练这些靠神的恩典的时候, 这些就是一些福气去表达出来的。 通过整个福气, 它一直说, 再次说, how we live before our neighbors is connected to our relationship with God. [27:44] 一路在圣经都有这么说的了, 我们在人群当中, 我们怎样来和人相处呢? 其实反映着我们和神的关系。 如果在我们当中是未认识耶稣的, 我们千万不要误会, 这些这样的福气, 我们做了, 我们做了, 我就去到天堂了。 但你能够做的是, 看着耶稣的王子, 和他接受, 然后跟他, 然后让他改变你的生命。 乃是我们来到他仰望耶稣, 我们愿意相信耶稣, 然后将我们的生命交给他, 我们就发觉, 我们的生命就会不断地改变。 这些的福分就会在我们的生命里面, 一直彰显出来。 他为我们钉身十字架, 他为我们流血, 为我们牺牲, 当我们愿意将我们的生命, 我们回转, 我们归向他的时候, 我们就可以经历, 他给我们那种生命的改变。 [28:54] Some of the most merciful people I have met, Are Christians who have tasted God's mercy in Christ. 是, 我一定在我生命当中所认识一些, 最有慈爱, 最有连述的人, 就是那些, 他们经历了他们的生命, 在神里面有那种改变, 在我生命当中, 我体会到, 原来这些就是生命的改变的能力。 所以就是耶稣说, 连述的人有福了, 因为他们必蒙连述。 当我专心仰望我看到耶稣的美丽的时候, 而周围的一些情欲上面, 那些的试探, 再没有那种的影响力, 再没有那种吸引力。 以至, 因为我是清心, 所以耶稣说, 清心的人有福了, 因为他们必得见神。 如当我们的生命是因着耶稣基督的十字架, 去叫我和神和好, [30:20] I talked with Casey Wong, a missionary that we support recently. [30:39] Do you know what he told me? That our persecuted brothers and sisters in China want us to pray for? I talked with Casey. They never asked to pray, remove the suffering from us. [31:05] They never asked that. Instead, they asked us to pray that they keep fixing their eyes on Jesus, pray that they stay faithful. They asked us to pray for the Lord. [31:18] How to pray for the Lord. Blessed are those, verse 10, who are persecuted for righteousness. Good on them. These beatitudes, they seem upside down, don't they? [31:32] These eightfold, ninefold, are the ones that are divided into the world. Compared to what our world, our society values and celebrates, it just seems so upside down. [31:47] They probably wouldn't make it on any school rules or any checklist of what to do or how to live. And the first way that followers of Jesus will flourish is by an upside down character. [32:11] Remind me. But we are the one that is coming from Him. We are the one that is coming from Him. We have been in this role for three months now. And one thing I've noticed already is that we are a busy church. I've been in this role for three months now. [32:33] And one thing I've noticed already is that we are a busy church. I've been in this role for three months now. I've noticed that we are in this role for three months now. And it's wonderful. [32:44] Every day there is someone meeting. A brothers group, a fellowship group, an English class. Another meeting, three services. It's so good. So, in our教会, it's good. It's good. Every day there is a group of people. [32:56] And then on the week of the week, there are three things that are called. There are a lot of things that are called. But don't trick yourself to thinking that the more we do, the more you are blessed. But don't do it. Because we've just read that true blessing does not come with how much you do. [33:12] We've just read that true blessing does not come with how much you do. True blessing comes from who we are on the inside. [33:24] Friends, we flourish through upside-down character. We're in this generation. And once these upside-down characters are seen in us, then it will no doubt change how we live. [33:51] And that's actually what we see when we get into verses 13 to 16, don't we? When we're like this, we find that our lives are not different. That's the third part. Because once your upside-down character grows and grows, you then flourish through having a clear presence in the world. [34:12] That's our second part. When we're living with Jesus, we're in this world completely different. We're in this world, we're in this world. We're in this world, we're in this world. We're in this world. [34:23] We're in this world. Because we're in this world. Because we're in this world. If I become a Christian, and I'm going to be laughed at, made fun of, maybe my family will not talk to me anymore because I'm a Christian, wouldn't it be far easier just to hide away from the world, right? [34:39] If I'm a Christian, and I'm a Christian, and I'm not concerned about my family, and my family will not talk to me anymore. [34:52] And yet here in verses 13 to 16, Jesus doesn't say that. He doesn't say, alright, now you're blessed, and your character's changed. Now stay together, and that's it. Well done. No, he doesn't. He says something completely opposite. [35:04] Jesus will not say, you will not take me to this world, and I will not take you to you. That's it. Then you'll go together, and you'll be able to take me to you. Then you'll wait for me to take you back. No, Jesus will not say that. [35:16] Followers of Jesus, they don't flourish through upside-down character alone. They flourish as well when they have a clear presence. So that's the end of the world. That's the end of the world. It's not only that we are going to experience Jesus, but our life is different. [35:28] That's the end of the world. That's the end of the world. That's the end of the world. That's the end of the world. That's the end of the world. In verses 13, we read this very famous verse, right? [35:39] We talk about you are the salt of the earth. In 13, we're very familiar. You are the salt of the earth. Now salt in the ancient Near East was used in all kinds of ways. In the ancient Near East, the ancient Near East was used in many different ways. [35:54] It made food tastier, of course. It made food tastier, of course. It made food tastier, of course. It can preserve food. It can keep it from paying off. And it was used in offerings and sacrifices. [36:06] In the Bible, salt was also used to show loyalty, to seal a promise, as it were, between God and his people. [36:19] And in the Bible, the God's people, the God's people in Leviticus 2.13, they actually asked, Add salt to all your offerings. [36:37] So, in Leviticus 2.13, it says, you have to put in all the conditions in your place. So, salt also points to something. This is a symbol. [36:50] I think of a wedding ring as a symbol for marriage. This is a symbol. This is a symbol. It is like a symbol for marriage. It is like a symbol for marriage. [37:01] Or at Amcaris and Ryo's wedding, there was that cool thing where they poured sand into this thing together. Ryo and Amcaris, they have to put in sand into this thing together. They have to put in sand. It is a very good example of a symbol for marriage. [37:13] They did it to symbolize a new life together. It is a symbol for marriage together. And so, when Jesus says to his followers, you are the salt of the earth, he is also saying this, you are meant to be signs pointing to Jesus. [37:26] So, when Jesus said, you are meant to be signs pointing to Jesus. You are a sign that a gracious king, he has kept his promise to save a broken world. [37:44] If you see them as a symbol, you see them as a symbol. You see them as a symbol. The world has been destroyed. He has been destroyed. [37:56] And if a signpost is missing, you can't find your way, right? If we are to a place, but the指示牌 is not gone, we will not go to that. [38:07] If salt isn't salty, what good is it for? If I don't wear my wedding ring, how will people know I am married? If I don't wear my wedding ring, how will people know I am married? [38:18] So, to point to Jesus, we need to be present in our society. We need to be salt of the earth. So, when we are to guide people to go to the path of Jesus, we need to be in the path of Jesus. [38:29] We need to be in the path of Jesus. We need to be in the path of Jesus. And likewise, Jesus says in verse 14, just saying the same thing in a different way, you are the light of the world. [38:48] If the true light of Jesus shines in you, don't hide it under a bowl. If we are called to let it shine and to shine to our neighbors. [39:10] We need to be in the path of Jesus. Verse 16 sums it up all for us. It says this, in this way, let your light shine before the people, so that they see your good works and glorify our Father in heaven. [39:24] The first verse is actually a conclusion. You are the light of the light as you are in the path of Jesus. Let them see your good works and glorify your good works. [39:36] And friends, these good works, they don't save us. They don't replace our need to keep believing in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. These are the people who are in the midst of Jesus. [39:47] These are the people who are in the midst of Jesus. But these are the people who are in the midst of Jesus. They don't have to be able to take care of Jesus. [39:58] But when we are saved by grace, through faith we are transformed and it results in good works that others will and should notice. When we are saved by Jesus, when we are saved by Jesus, our lives are not the same. [40:13] These are the people who are in the midst of Jesus. Your classmates will notice when you are not caught up in the same ambitions and passions as they are. And when you work hard at your job and you don't cut corners, your co-workers will notice. [40:42] And maybe they will even ask, why do you act this way? Why do you live this way? When we are in the midst of our work, our friends will see our own purpose. Our friends will see. [40:53] Or they may ask, why do you do this? And perhaps that opens up the opportunity for you to share about your King who brings true blessing to your life. So what does it look like to be salt and light for you today? [41:12] So what does it look like to be salt and light for you today? Maybe it's staying in your mahjong group. Or maybe it's saying yes when your non-Christian friends invite you to something. [41:25] Usually you might say no, I wouldn't go. Or that people invite you to something. Or you don't want to go, but you will also join. Maybe you have family dinners often with and your family is not Christian. [41:38] Maybe you'll stick around and you'll keep going. Or you don't trust Jesus. But you also want to join them in the midst of Jesus. Jesus encourages you to be salt and light for you. [41:51] Jesus calls us to be salt and light for you. Because look again how verse 16 ends. It ends with praise to your Father in heaven. [42:02] The 16th verse, the last thing is, we have to bring the glory to the Father in heaven. And Jesus knew his Father in heaven, didn't he? [42:14] Jesus knew that he could trust and he lived with a Father in heaven, his Father in heaven. Jesus knew that he was always faithful to his Father in heaven. [42:25] And knowing his Father intimately gave Jesus the strength to live like this. I am so proud to believe that he was faithful to his Father in heaven. And knowing his Father intimately gave Jesus the strength to live like this. [42:37] And when you and I, brothers and sisters, are secure in the love that the Father has for us through Jesus, then we also have everything we need to live this truly blessed, true flourishing life. [42:54] And we may not change the world. [43:06] We may not change all of East Auckland. But by God's grace, PCBC, we can follow Jesus with an upside-down character and a clear presence in our world. We may not change the world. [43:17] We may not change the world. But at least, as we are in Jesus Christ, and we are in the center of the world, and we are in the center of the world. We can live with Jesus with an upside-down character and a clear presence in the world. [43:29] And in a world that is full of crisis, perhaps living like this will help others to see our Savior and to bring glory to our heavenly Father. [43:46] And in this world that is full of crisis, we may not change the world. [43:59] So in Christ, let us take that road that leads to true flourishing in his kingdom together. So in Christ, let us take that road that leads to true flourishing in his kingdom together. Let's pray. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you that though we are in the world, thank you that though we are poor in spirit, though we have nothing to bring in our own selves. [44:23] Thank you that you have seen your Son dying on the cross for our sins. 天父,我們知道雖然我們在寧裏邊是貧窮,我們一無所有,但是多謝你耶穌基督,你差耶穌基督為我們的罪,掌身在十字架上. [44:39] Thank you that we don't only need to just copy his teachings without any help. but that your spirit lives in us through Jesus, and we can actually live out this blessed life. [44:51] 多謝你,天父,我們不是靠我們自己咬牙關地去履行耶穌基督所吩咐, 乃是聖靈在我們裡面內住,更新我們, 給我們有能力去活出這些生命. [45:07] We ask for your help now as we live like this day by day. In Jesus' name, I am. 當我們每一天這樣為主而活的時候, 靠你幫助我們,和耶穌基督的名, 阿門. [45:21] 阿門. 阿門.