NOONDAY DEVOTIONS IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH

JEREMIAH 14

13 Then said I, Alas, Lord God! Behold, the [false] prophets say to them, You will not see the sword, nor will you have famine; but I [the Lord] will give you assured peace (peace that lasts, the peace of truth) in this place.

14 Then the Lord said to me, The [false] prophets prophesy lies in My name. I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, nor have I spoken to them. They prophesy to you a false or pretended vision, a worthless divination [conjuring or practicing magic, trying to call forth the responses supposed to be given by idols], and the deceit of their own minds.

15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the [false] prophets who prophesy in My name—although I did not send them—and who say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land: By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

FANTASY PROPHETS幻想先知

Jeremiah was the weeping prophet.. well wouldn't you of wept if you had heard what the false prophets were saying?

耶利米是哀哭先知。如果你聽假先知們說的，你还会會哭吗？

Times have not really changed.. today we have many so called prophets who say exactly what they want to say. They have no vision from God at all.

時代還沒有真正改變。今天我們有許多所謂的先知，他們說他们想说的，沒有從神来的異象。

Today many in the church, have itching ears, they want to hear the latest word from these false prophets.. in verse 14 in brackets.. look at what it says.. compares what they say to black magic and divination.

今天，許多教会里的人，耳朵發癢，他們渴望聽到這些假先知最新的声音。在14節内..看看它說什麼。。把他们所说与黑魔法和占卜比较

Why do they do it?.. Well they want a response or more importantly, they want to be recognised, the more recognised they become, the more deceitful and false they become.

他們為什麼這樣做呢？..他们想要的是（人们）的回應，或更重要的是，他們希望被認可，越多的認可變得越虚假。

The prophets in Jeremiah's day said that it was Ok.. just go on as you are.. nothing is going to happen.. God is going to bless you.. WHATEVER YOU DO.. WRONG.

在耶利米時代的先知說，没问题..就当沒有事情發生.....上帝會继续保佑你..無論你做什麼..。。大错特错。

You are going to be blessed.. sound familar?.. listen to any of the prosperity preachers and they will say.. sow your seed into my ministry and get a blessing from God.

神会继续祝福你..这话听起来并不陌生吧？..聽任何的成功神学的傳教士，他們會說..你在我的事工上撒种来得到神的祝福。

Let me use an example.. Todd Bentley.. someone who uses bad language on screen.. do you think he is true prophet of God?.. one who has committed adultery.

讓我用一個例子..Todd Bentley..他在电视上骂脏话......你覺得他真是神的真先知吗？..一個犯了姦淫的人？

Jesus does promise blessing.. but he also promises persecution, trials etc etc.

耶穌確實有承诺与祝福来敲门..但他也承諾迫害，試驗及其他等等的来到。

An example is the Apostle Paul.. look at what he went through.. he is such a dedicated Pastor. His trials and persecutions were many.. look at these prophets, in their big houses and fancy suits.. it's time to bleed them dry church and stop pandering to their lusts.

使徒保羅就是一个例子..看看他經歷就知道j......他就是這樣一位委身（给上帝）的牧師。他经历无数的试探及逼迫..看看這些（假）先知，他們的豪宅和花哨的衣服......该是停止他们榨干教会及拒绝被他们私欲勾引的时候了。

GOD BLESS YOU愿上帝祝福你们

Keith

2 TIMOTHY 4

7 I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith.

8 [As to what remains] henceforth there is laid up for me the [victor’s] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me and recompense me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and yearned for and welcomed His appearing (His return).

FIGHTING, FINISHING AND FIRMLY对抗，完成及坚定不移（的心）

Paul is facing the gallows, he is preparing for his death. He has days to live.

保羅即将面對死刑台，他正为他的死亡準備。他只有几天可活。

He is looking back over his life, stating that he has done these three things

他回顧過去他的生活，說他做的这三件事

Firstly, he has fought the fight.. and it certainly had been a battle. The Christian life is not easy, it is not a bed of roses. Look at what Paul went through, persecutions, beatings and imprisonment were common to Paul.

首先，他已打了那美好的战。。.他它肯定打过。基督徒的生活不是一帆风顺而是困难重重。看看保羅經歷了你就知道，迫害，毆打和監禁对他来说就像吃饭一样。

Secondly, He had finished the race. Paul said in other places that we was pressing towards the prize and was in a race, to do this, he had to cast off all the things that hampered him and that stopped him winning the prize. Philippians 3;10-14 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.

其次，他已經完成了竞赛。在其他地方保罗说到，比賽中的竭力为了是要得到奖赏要做到這一點，他必須擺脫一切阻礙他和停止他拿獎的事。腓3;10-14和哥林多前書9：24-27

Thirdly, he had firmly kept hold of the faith, the one that was first delivered upon him and the one that he delivered unto the saints. Paul did not stray from the gospel, he did not waver in his beliefs, he did not change his doctrine to suit men.

第三，他已經牢牢把握住他的信心。第一次在他交付的也是他對聖徒交付。保羅沒有背叛福音，他的信心並沒有動搖，他並沒有为了满足人而改變他的教义。

Because he had done these three things, he could expect the most wonderful reward. Look at what it says, that God himself will award it to Him, don't you love that thought, you like Paul will be personally rewarded by God for your acts on earth.

因為他做了這三件事，他能想到最美好的獎勵。看看它說什麼，上帝親自授予他奖赏，你不喜歡這個想法吗？你也会像保羅因你在地上的行为而被上帝奖赏。

Paul could say all these things in his last hours on earth.. I wonder if we could say the same things in our last day on earth

若世上仅仅有限的数日，保羅确可以如此说。我在想在我们世上最后一天，我們是否能說同樣的话

Keep on fighting the fight, so that you can finish the race and keep firm hold of the precious faith.

我不放弃屢敗屢戰的竞赛为了是完成了此賽，並保持坚定不移的寶貴信心。

God bless you愿上帝保佑你

KEITH