^{Hosea 3:1-5} Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of [her] friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine. So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and [for] an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for [another] man: so [will] I also [be] for thee. For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim: Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days.

Hosea 3 is a very short chapter, but it displayed God's entire salvation plan: children of Israel represent God's elects. Although they are like adulteress (Israel was the LORD's wife, but “who look for other gods”, and became other gods' wife), according to the Law (Deu 22:23-24), “ ye shall stone them with stones that they die”, the LORD still loves them: therefore the LORD paid by himself (fifteen [pieces] of silver, and [for] an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley: total cost of thirty pieces of silver (Mat 26:15 Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver)) and “I (the LORD) bought (redeemed) her to me (himself)”. Therefore that Jesus was sold, crucified and raised on the third day was a payment to buy/redeem/engage us for Himself, before He went up to heaven, He promised to come again to marry us as a bride (Rev 21:2). Thus before He comes again, we the fiancee shall abide for Him many days and “ shalt not play the harlot, and shalt not be for [another] man (shalt not worship other god)”! Wonderfully He Himself also promised us that “so [will] I also [be] for thee.”: the LORD will abide for us as well? What does this mean? “Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.” (Heb 9:1) But in the new convenant, this divine service was fulfilled once Jesus raised on the third day (fully paid for). (Heb 9:10 [Which stood] only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed [on them] until the time of reformation.), from then on the LORD Jesus He Himself will not receive gift (divine service/worship) from men until He comes again. (Mat ^26:29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.) So during these “many days” while we are waiting for Him as His fiancee, we shall keep His words: “without a king”: lest we might worship a king, “and without a prince”: lest we might listen to a prince, “and without a sacrifice”: lest we might perform worship service again, “and without an image”: lest we might worship idols, “and without an ephod”: no priest lest we might follow to perform woship service again, “and [without] teraphim”: lest we might worship our own god(s). He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Afterward (when Jesus returns) shall the children of Israel (we) return, and seek the LORD their God, and David (Jesus) their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days (marry Him). Amen.

何西阿書3:1-5: 耶和華對我說_、你再去愛一個淫婦_、就是他情人所愛的_、好像以色列人_、雖然偏向別神_、喜愛葡萄餅_、耶和華還是愛他們_。我便用銀子十五舍客勒_、大麥一賀梅珥半_、買他歸我_。我對他說_、你當多日為我獨居_、不可行淫_、不可歸別人為妻_、我向你也必這樣_。以色列人也必多日獨居_、無君王_、無首領_、無祭祀_、無柱像_、無以弗得_、無家中的神像_。後來以色列人必歸回_、〔或作回心轉意〕尋求他們的　神耶和華_、和他們的王大衛_．在末後的日子_、必以敬畏的心歸向耶和華_、領受他的恩惠_。

何西阿書第三章雖短,卻把神的救贖計畫完整地勾畫出來:色列人預表神所揀選所要拯救的子民.雖然在神眼裡他們就像一個淫婦(原來色列人是耶和華的妻子,但卻偏向別神,成了別神的妻子),這罪照著律法本該用石頭打死(申22:23-24), 但耶和華還是愛他們: 便用自己(銀子十五舍客勒_、大麥一賀梅珥半,共值三十塊錢(太26:15耶穌被賣的銀價))下聘『買(贖)他歸我』.因此耶穌被賣釘死後三天復活,就是下聘贖我們歸他自己,升天前答應我們還要再來『娶』我們(啟21:2).在這段等候他再來的日子裡,我們這未婚妻當多日為他獨居,不可行淫(拜別神)!奇妙的是耶穌也答應『我向你也必這樣』:耶和華也獨居. 這是什麼意思呢? 原來前約有禮拜的條例(來9:1),但到了新約這禮拜的條例就被完成了(來9:10命定到振興的時候為止),從此耶和華就是耶穌他自己不再受人間的供奉(禮拜)一直到他再來的日子.所以我們在這段等候他再來獨居的日子裡就當守著他的話: 『無君王』:免得我們拜君王_、『無首領』:免得我們聽首領的話_、『無祭祀』:免得我們作禮拜!_、『無柱像』:免得我們拜偶像_、『無以弗得』:不立祭司,免得我們作禮拜! 『無家中的神像』:免得我們拜自己立的偶像.聖靈向眾教會所說的話_、凡有耳的_、就應當聽!後來(耶穌再來)以色列人(我們)必歸回_、〔或作回心轉意〕尋求他們的　神耶和華_、和他們的王大衛(耶穌)_．在末後的日子_、必以敬畏的心歸向耶和華_、領受他的恩惠(與耶穌完婚)_。阿們.

^{2 Kings 6:14-17} Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that [be] with us [are] more than they that [be] with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, did we see more tribulation than spiritual blessings in this world? Why so?

Let's read another section of Bible from John chapter nine:

^{John 9:1-3} And as [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man which was blind from [his] birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

^{John 9:6-7} When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

^{John 9:35-39} Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

In Spirit, we all are born blind like this man. We cannot see God's blessings, neither know the Son of God. One day, Jesus found us that we were blind and cannot see God's blessings, only saw the tribulation of this world. Thus He has mercy on us, opened our eyes and let us see: once our Spiritual eyes were opened, then we can see the love of our Father, we can see the faith of His Son, we can see the hope of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Saviour. From then on, we are asured by the one who said: I will not leave you comfortless^*:(*orphans) I will come to you. (John 14:18) ---- that he will be with us all the way to the end of world.

Now Jesus said unto you, “What wilt thou that I should do unto thee?” (Mark 10:51) ---- Lord, that I might receive my sight. Amen.

列王紀下6:14-17 王就打發車馬_、和大軍_、往那裡去_、夜間到了_、圍困那城_。 神人的僕人清早起來出去_、看見車馬軍兵圍困了城_。僕人對神人說_、哀哉_、我主阿_、我們怎樣行才好呢_。 神人說_、不要懼怕_、與我們同在的_、比與他們同在的更多_。 以利沙禱告說_、耶和華阿_、求你開這少年人的眼目_、使他能看見_。耶和華開他的眼目_、他就看見滿山有火車火馬圍繞以利沙_。

親愛的弟兄姐妹們,我們是否看見這世界的難處比屬靈的祝福還多呢? 為什麼呢?

請讓我們讀一段出自約翰福音第九章的經文:

Jhn 9:1-3耶穌過去的時候_、看見一個人生來是瞎眼的_。門徒問耶穌說_、拉比_、這人生來是瞎眼的_、是誰犯了罪_、是這人呢_、是他父母呢_。耶穌回答說_、也不是這人犯了罪_、也不是他父母犯了罪_、是要在他身上顯出　神的作為來_。

Jhn 9:6-7耶穌說了這話_、就吐唾沫在地上_、用唾沫和泥抹在瞎子的眼睛上_、對他說、你往西羅亞池子裡去洗、（西羅亞繙出來、就是奉差遣）他去一洗、回頭就看見了。

Jhn 9:35-39耶穌聽說他們把他趕出去_．後來遇見了他_、就說_、你信　神的兒子麼_。他回答說_、主阿_、誰是　神的兒子_、叫我信他呢_。耶穌說_、你已經看見他_、現在和你說話的就是他_。他說_、主阿_、我信_．就拜耶穌_。耶穌說_、我為審判到這世上來_、叫不能看見的_、可以看見_．能看見的_、反瞎了眼_。

在靈裡,我們就像這位生來就瞎眼的孩子,看不見神的恩賜,也不認識神的兒子.有一天,耶穌來找我們,看見我們的光景,不忍心我們活著看不見神的恩賜,只看見世上的苦難,他就憐憫我們,開我們的眼睛,讓我們能看見,看見父的慈愛,看見神兒子的信實,看見耶穌基督復活的盼望,從此我們便知道那位說過:我不撇下你們為孤兒_、我必到你們這裡來_。(Jhn 14:18) --- 他必與我們同在直到世界的末了.

如今『耶穌說_、要我為你作甚麼?』(Mak 10:51) 主阿,我要能看見! 阿們.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as [do] others; but let us watch and be sober.”

In the Bible, there are several verses referring to “the day of Lord so cometh as a thief in the night” (1Ts 5:2)(2Pe 3:10) and “I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Rev 3:3)(Rev 16:15) The Lord also said “But of that day and hour knoweth no [man,] no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Mat 24:36)(Mak 13:32)(Act 1:7).

Dear Brothers and Sisters, according to Bible, do we know when is the day of Lord? Indeed the answer is already in the verses we read: if we are still “children of darkness”, and still live in the night (in the flesh), then to us the day of Lord will come as a thief, “For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” (1Ts 5:7) how would the slept and drunken “children of darkness” in the night know when the Lord has arrived? To them, wouldn't that the day of Lord come as a thief in the night? Therefore, the Lord said to the “dead” church of Sardis (Rev 3:1) “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Rev 3:3) “ If therefore thou shalt not watch” means: Church of Sardis, if you still sleep (not repent), and continoue to be “children of darkness” slept and drunken in the night, I (the Lord) will come and judge you, and when I come, you will not know, to you I come like a thief entering a slept drunk's house in the night!

On the contrary, if we are “children of light”, and live in the day (in the Spirit), and watch and sober, love one another, then when our Lord returns and knocks the door, we will open for him immediately (Luk 12:36)(Rev 3:20), our Lord will say to us: “Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” (Luk 12:37)

Dear Brothers and Sisters, now we shall know: “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night;” (2Pe 3:10) speaks to whom? To those who are “children of light”? Or to those who are “children of darkness”?

Dear Brothers and Sisters, if we are still “in darkness” (1Jn 2:11), we may call upon the name of whom “ hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” Jesus Christ our saviour. He is willing and able to save us and wake us up to escape the wrath of God.

帖撒羅尼迦前書5:4-6 『弟兄們_、你們卻不在黑暗裡_、叫那日子臨到你們像賊一樣_。你們都是光明之子_、都是白晝之子_、我們不是屬黑夜的_、也不是屬幽暗的_．所以我們不要睡覺_、像別人一樣_、總要儆醒謹守_。』

聖經在多處提到主再來的日子『好像夜間的賊一樣。』(1Ts 5:2)(2Pe 3:10)『我幾時臨到、你也決不能知道。』(Rev 3:3)(Rev 16:15) 主也親自說過『但那日子、那時辰、沒有人知道』(Mat 24:36) (Mak 13:32)(Act 1:7) .

親愛的弟兄姊妹們, 根據聖經, 請問我們到底知不知道主再來的日子呢? 其實答案已經在我們所念過的經文裡了: 若我們還是『黑暗之子』, 還活在夜間(血氣之中), 那麼主來了就像夜間的賊一樣, 『因為睡了的人是在夜間睡_．醉了的人是在夜間醉_．』(1Ts 5:7)一個在夜間睡了醉了的『黑暗之子』, 怎麼會知道主來了呢? 對『黑暗之子』而言主來豈不像夜間的賊一樣嗎? 所以主才對那 『其實是死的』撒狄教會(Rev 3:1)說: 『若不儆醒、我必臨到你那裡如同賊一樣．我幾時臨到、你也決不能知道。』(Rev 3:3) 『若不儆醒』意思是說: 撒狄教會阿你若還不醒(悔改)過來, 還是繼續做在黑夜裡睡了醉了的『黑暗之子』那麼我(主)必來審判你, 並且當我來的時候你也不知道, 就如同賊進了一個在夜間睡著了人的房子一樣!

相反的, 若我們已是『光明之子』, 是活在白晝(聖靈之中), 時時儆醒謹守主的話,彼此相愛,那麼主來的日子,我們必立刻給他開門(Luk 12:36)(Rev 3:20),主便說:『主人來了、看見僕人儆醒、那僕人就有福了．我實在告訴你們、主人必叫他們坐席、自己束上帶、進前伺候他們。』(Luk 12:37).

親愛的弟兄姊妹們, 現在我們當曉得:『主的日子要像賊來到一樣』(2Pe 3:10) 是對誰說的呢?是對『光明之子』說的呢? 還是對『黑暗之子』說的呢?

親愛的弟兄姊妹們, 若我們還在黑暗裡(1Jn 2:11), 我們可以求那能召我們『出黑暗入奇妙

光明』(1Pe 2:9) 的救主耶穌基督, 他必能叫我們醒過來, 躲避那將來的憤怒.

马太福音9:20-22‘有一个女人_、患了十二年的血漏_、来到耶稣背后_、摸他的衣裳繸子_． 因为他心里说_、我只摸他的衣裳_、就必痊愈_。 耶稣转过来看见他_、就说_、女儿_、放心_、你的信实救了你¹_．从那时候_、女人就痊愈了_。’

圣经里的信实指的是什么? 当耶稣说‘女儿_、放心_、你的信实救了你’又是什么意思呢?

信实就是他的大能:根据歌罗西书2:12‘你们既受洗与他一同埋葬_、也藉着信实与他一同复活_、这信实_、就是那叫他从死里复活　神运行的大能²_。’信实就是神的大能.这大能曾叫耶稣从死里复活.如今也能叫我们一切凡信他与他同死的从死里复活.所以简单地说,信实就是神死里复活的大能.

信实就是他的工作:以弗所书2:8-10‘你们得救是本乎恩_、也因着基督的信实_、这并不是出于自己_、乃是　神所赐的³_．也不是出于行为_、免得有人自夸_。 我们原是他的工作_、在基督耶稣里造成的_、为要叫我们行善_、就是　神所豫备叫我们行的_。’这段圣经强调我们得救‘不是出于[人的]行为(功劳)_、免得有人自夸_。’而是‘是他的工作(功劳)’他的工作所赚得的工价(功劳)替我们偿还了罪债.他的工作就是在提多书2:14所说的‘他为我们舍了自己_、要赎我们脱离一切罪恶_、又洁净我们_、特作自己的子民_、热心为善_。’这也就是为什么在加拉太书2:16所说‘既知道人称义_、不是因律法的功⁴_、乃是因耶稣基督的信实⁵_、连我们也信了基督耶稣_、使我们因基督的信实⁶称义_、不因律法的功称义_．因为凡有血气的_、没有一人因律法的功称义_。’这节经文告诉我们这个真理:一个罪人(天国的穷人)变成义人(天国的富人)不是藉着人的工价(功劳),世人都犯了罪(罗马书3:23),不管我们多么努力工作,我们所做的尽都是恶,因为我们终日所思想的尽都是恶(创世记6:5),所以我们(罪)的工价就是死(罗马书6:23).但藉着耶稣基督的工作,就可以让一个罪人(天国的穷人)变成义人(天国的富人).因为耶稣是唯一无罪的(哥林多后书5:21),他的工价就是义就是永生.他的工作确实好:‘因我们还软弱不敬虔的时候_、基督就按所定的日期为我们死_。⁷ 为义人死_、是少有的_、为仁人死_、或者有敢作的_。 惟有基督在我们还作罪人的时候为我们死、　神的爱就在此向我们显明了。’(罗马书5:6)

信实就是他自己:以赛亚书65:16‘这样_、在地上为自己求福的_、必凭阿们⁸的　神求福_．在地上起誓的_、必指阿们的　神起誓_．因为从前的患难已经忘记_、也从我眼前隐藏了_。’希伯来文‘阿们’就是真理和信实的意思.所以‘阿们的神’就是‘信实的神’.因此在启示录3:14,耶稣自称其名为阿们,也就是称自己的名为信实.‘...那为阿们的_、为信实的和真实的见证人⁹_、在　神创造万物之上为元首的...’

亲爱的弟兄姊妹们,下次当我们听到耶稣说‘你的信实救了你’,现在我们晓得了,其实他在说:你的耶稣救了你,他为你舍命,他复活的大能已经覆庇你,他要救你脱离死亡.我的救赎主阿,我的神,我要在你的信实里称谢你,阿们.