Sermon on Psalm 85 诗篇85

Our Father’s Heart
Shalom.
Today we will be reading Psalm 85. This Psalm is a prayer to the Lord that he will restore his favour to the Land, a prayer of hope. It was written during the period whereby there were drought and famine.
We will break this Psalm into bite size for easy digestion. Let’s start with verses 1–3. I will be reading from the New Living Translation.
Psalm 85:1-3
For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
1 Lord, you poured out blessings on your land!
You restored the fortunes of Israel.
2 You forgave the guilt of your people—
yes, you covered all their sins.
3 You held back your fury.
You kept back your blazing anger.
Verses 1-3 recalled how God poured out blessings to the land and restored his people. It is likely that this restoration refers to Israel’s return to the land after their release from the Babylonian exile. And this restoration is possible because of God’s grace and forgiveness of his people.
As stated in v2, he covered all their sins. The Psalmist had no knowledge of Jesus at that time, but they are aware of God’s steadfast love and his forgiveness of their sins. The imagery of grace in this Psalm is indeed very rich.
Talking about blessings of the land, do you know how blessed Jubilee Church is?
1883 – Rev Cook started mission work @ Hong Lim Market
1885 – Tiny rental unit @ China Town
1899 – Rental unit @ Tanjong Pagar
1904 – Tanjong Pagar Church
1939 – Outram Church
1946 – Jubilee Church @ Outram
We had a very strong choir called the Jubilee Songsters
1964 to 1967 – Our leaders searched for new place to build a bigger church. We had more than 500 members then, which can be said to be a mega Chinese church at that time. They found current York Hill location but could not afford it as the land itself cost more than SGD500k. SGD500k at that time is a lot of money. Our leaders prayed and handed it to God.
1968 – URA offered York Hill location in exchange of Outram Location
Favour and Blessings from God
SGD500k  SGD 0
50 years leasehold land  99 years
Squatter at site – left without compensation
Road access – SGD1 yearly lease (YWCA)
As we enjoy this favour and blessings of God, an elder reminded me a week ago that the $1 road access will end in 35 years’ time as YWCA lease will end before ours. Will the government take back the land since we are sitting on prime land? I believe it is not too early to start praying.
I was going through Jubilee Church 50th Anniversary magazine during my preparation of today’s sermon. As I flipped through the pages, I was filled with deep emotion.
What touched me?
The extracts from the leaders:
“…ardent hope, to the future for the extensive field in which we carry HIS witnesses…….”
S. E. Ting (Christmas Eve, 1954)
“许多教会工人…牧师们…为着行政事物太过忙碌…祷告工夫过少…讲台缺少生命供应..听道没精打彩…灵性…枯燥”
石新我 一九五五年二月一日
Three things struck me:
1) Jubilee Church had a very humble beginning, started with a mission station followed by a tiny rental unit in China Town.
2) The dedication and commitment of our fore fathers, the clarity that the church is to ‘carry HIS witnesses’ to the community.
3) The reminder ‘ to pray and connect to God’.
I recalled some weeks back, Pastor Enoch shared in his sermon that a church brother asked him if church leaders come together to pray. Have we lost our focus?
Psalm 85:4-7
4 Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
Put aside your anger against us once more.
5 Will you be angry with us always?
Will you prolong your wrath to all generations?
6 Won’t you revive us again,
so your people can rejoice in you?
7 Show us your unfailing love, O Lord,
and grant us your salvation.
Verses 4-7 appeal to God to continue His mercy, put aside His anger and restore the people once more.
It seems contradictory that v1-3 already presented a celebration of God’s forgiveness and restoration, but v4-7 pleaded that God again to restore and revive them. Did the Psalmist mixed up in his presentation?
The Psalmist did not make a mistake. He is aware of the continual sinfulness of the people and the displeasure this brings to God. Throughout the history of Israel, we saw the rise and fall of Israel due to the sins of the people.
But God is full of grace, he would forgive and restore his people again and again.
Speaking of that, remember at the beginning of this Psalm we read that the descendants of Korah wrote it? Have you ever wondered who Korah is? He belongs to the tribe of Levite, serving at the tabernacle, but he incited a rebellion against Moses, together with 250 leaders of the community. His action was not a mere rebellion against God chosen leader, but against God, as he wanted to be on par with Moses to serve as the chief priest in the tabernacle. God was angry and caused the ground to split open, just like in some Hollywood movies, and swallowed Korah, his followers, their households, and everything they owned. The earth closed over them, and they all vanished.
But God did not hold his anger over Korah’s descendants, unlike some Chinese emperors whom would execute all related family members (满门抄斩), yet He allowed them to continue to serve at the tabernacle and wrote a number of Psalm for worship. He forgave and restored Korah’s descendants.
In v6, ‘Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?’, talks about bringing back the spiritual and moral life into the community. In today’s church, when we talk about revival, we tend to think about mass conversion or growth of the church. But this verse is on spiritual revival and the relationship with God.
During this Covid-19 period, are we walking closer or further away from God? I know the inability to gather in church seems to result in some kind of distance, especially with the mask and face shield on, and we are unable to participate in corporate worship and fellowship.
In v7, our salvation is not based on our good work but on the unfailing love of God, His unmerited grace on us.
The people have been forgiven, but they are constantly in need of forgiveness. They have been restored, but they are also constantly in need of restoration. Just like us, we are forgiven, but in our weaknesses, we constantly need forgiveness. We are restored to right relationship with God, yet we constantly require restoration. Is there a resolution to this? Yes, only through JESUS Christ.
Psalm 85:8
8 I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people.
But let them not return to their foolish ways.
Listening to God is an act of our will. We can choose to focus on our challenges in life, be distracted with the desires of our hearts, or listen to the voice of our Heavenly Father. The Psalmist declared his willingness to listen to God, and in doing so, found the solution to his challenges of faith.
Let me share with you one of my favourite word, the 繁体字 of . So how should we be listening to God?
We listen with our ear, not mouth as in the 简体字. Giving full attention with our eyes upon Him with one heart, as He is our KING.
My children asked me, ‘dad, how come we don’t hear God anymore like in the O.T.?’ When we are so engrossed with the things of this world, our FB, Instagram, youtube, Netflix, with the ear phones stuck in our ears, how can we hear God? Our God desires to speak to us. So please remember this Chinese word for listen.
In v8, the Hebrew text of speaks peace, simply says ‘He speaks shalom to his people’. This ‘speaks’ is absolute, as in Gen when God spoke during creation. He spoke, ‘let there be light’ and there was light. And the Hebrew concept of shalom is beyond peace, it encompasses wholeness, completeness, health, safety and prosperity, the abundance of God’s blessings.
Shalom between God and his people is disrupted by sin, but God himself, by his spoken word, recreates that shalom relationship. Thus，Psalmist emphasized that turning away from God’s path is simply STUPID, and is to be avoided at all costs.
In v9, ‘Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, so our land will be filled with his glory’. Salvation is not about our merits or how good we are, it is purely the grace of God. So, what does it means to fear God? This fear of God is not being afraid of him, but as in Deut 10:12, to live according to his ways, love and serve him with all our heart and soul, and keeping his teachings.
Those who fear God are not perfect, but they have a genuine desire to please God and devote their lives to him.
Psalm 85:10-13
10 Unfailing love and truth have met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed!
11 Truth springs up from the earth,
and righteousness smiles down from heaven.
12 Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings.
Our land will yield its bountiful harvest.
13 Righteousness goes as a herald before him,
preparing the way for his steps.
This part of the Psalm speaks of the covenantal relationship between God and his people. God’s people failed to keep their end of the covenantal responsibilities, and God was forced to use the lighter punishment of exile as a means of awakening his people.
Why do I say exile is the lighter punishment? When God made a covenant with Abraham in Gen 15, they followed the practice of the ancient Near East by splitting the animals into half, except the birds, to create a path where both parties will walk through. This signify that if any party broke the covenant, they would perish like the animals. This ceremony demonstrated how serious a covenant is.
In this covenant, God’s unfailing love is to be responded with the faithfulness and truth of his people. And the righteousness of the people would be met with the kiss of God’s shalom.
However, God’s people were unable to be faithful. God is gracious and his unmerited love never give up on his people. When the people could not fulfil their covenantal responsibilities, God provided the righteousness from heaven, and ultimately sacrificed his beloved son Jesus Christ.
God’s Grace
As human, our love for one another is conditional, depending on what we receive in return. We must do something to merit the love, or acceptance of others. In my counselling work, the issue of ‘being good enough’ surfaces frequently, especially in relationship work. Am I good enough for my parents? Am I good enough for my spouse? Have I done enough to deserve the love?
We bring this belief system into our relationship with God. We long to be good enough to be considered worthy of God’s love. But God’s unmerited Grace chose to see us faithful even when we are not. When we fall, we struggle to accept that God still loves us and that his grace is sufficient to forgive our sins.
Our God is different. His unmerited grace and love do not depend on our work.
Psalm 85 in Practice
I asked God what he wants us to take home from Psalm 85, so that we can respond to God’s unfailing love with our faithfulness and truth, and our righteousness can connect with God’s shalom.
The first thing that struck me was ‘He loves us not because of what we have done for him or how good we are, but because He chose to do so, it is purely His unmerited grace’. It is the same grace he showed to the Israelite.
We are to respond to his love and unmerited grace. As in Deut 6:5, we are to ‘love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength’. It is impossible for anyone to love God with our ALL, as we do get distracted at certain point of our life. We may love ourselves, love our career, love our children, love our hobby, love our possession, more than God.
God knows our limitations, just as Israel was unable to keep their part of the covenant. Thus, He extended His grace to us by loving us with all His heart, all His soul and all His strength; by sending His beloved son Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross. That’s our Father’s heart. He longs for his children to connect to him, just like any earthly father. Reserve your time for Him. It is not about serving in church or being involve in ministry, it is about spending time with him.
The next area is as per Deut 6:6, ‘…to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the commands that God gave us. Repeat them to our children’. Why repeat? Because we forget. Just like how the Israelite forgot, sinned against God again and again, and asked for forgiveness.
Just last year, the Bible Society of Singapore invited my agency to partner them in the D6 conference at Hainan Island. The goal of the D6 movement is to pass on a spiritual legacy for future generations through the learning of Deut 6. Let me bring all of you to Hainan Island.
Hainan Island, named as the Hawaii of China, is five times the size of Singapore, with a population of about 10 million. There are more than 400 churches in Hainan, half of them are under the umbrella of 三自教会, while the other half are independent home churches.
As you can see, we only ministered in Haikou city and the seminary in the North, and I have no idea how the Hawaii of China looks like in the South.
The pastors and leaders from different churches travelled all the way to Haikou just to attend the three days conference. They are so hungry to learn and very appreciative of the teachings imparted to them.
Let me share with you slides from the D6 conference. As you can see, in Singapore, only 1% of the Christian families (with youth) read the bible together while 58% do not. 7% of families pray/worship together either daily or almost daily but 41% do not.
I am aware that it is easier to pray, worship and read the bible with younger children as teenagers may find it awkward. My teenage children used to do them with me but now they comment that I preach too much. But let’s remember to pass on this Spiritual Legacy to our next generation.
Before I left Hainan Island, I took a picture of this as it reminds me of our Christian walk. 不忘初心，牢记使命, meaning, ‘not forgetting our calling, remember his commandment’.
We need to be ready to carry his words on our lips as Jesus commanded in Matt 28, and commit to His teachings in Deut 6. As you walk out of this auditorium today, may you take with you four things: (1) God’s unmerited grace, (2) love our God with all our heart, soul and strength, (3) repeat his teachings and (4) make disciples.
Let’s not forget our FIRST LOVE and believe that his grace will deliver us. Amen.
何等恩典/天父的心意
弟兄姐妹平安
今天我们一起来学习诗篇85.
这诗篇是为以色列求福，祈求上帝再次的祝福以色列地。诗人写这诗时，以色列地正面临干旱与饥荒。
我们要把这诗篇分成几个小段，好帮助我们学习。
让我们一起来读第一到第三节。
诗篇 85
可拉后裔的诗，交给乐长。
85 耶和华啊，你赐福了你的土地，
使雅各的子孙重返家园。
2 你赦免了你子民的罪过，
遮盖了他们所有的过犯。
3 你收回自己的怒气，不发烈怒。
第一到第三节回顾上帝怎么赐福以色列地，也再次的复兴祂的子民。这复兴指的应该是以色列民被虏到巴比伦之后，再次的回到以色列地。
因上帝的恩典与赦免，以色列才得以复兴。
第二节说到, ‘遮盖了他们所有的过犯’。诗人还不认识耶稣, 但清楚知道神对他们那坚定不移的爱与再三的赦免。恩典的确据在这诗篇就已非常清楚的体现出来。
说到赐福之地，禧年堂也一直被祝福。
让我们一起来回顾。
1883年 – 阁牧师在芳林巴刹开始了佈道工作。
当时有很多人到芳林巴刹附近的同济医院去看诊，在那里传福音非常恰当。可见阁牧师的智慧。
1885 年 – 我们在牛车水租了一小单位（翠兰亭），也聘请了传道人。
1899 年 – 搬到丹戎巴葛
从阁牧师开始佈道工作，一直到二十年后，我们才有自己的地方。
1904/5 年 – 丹戎巴葛礼拜堂建成
1939 年 – 我们搬到欧南路，当时称为欧南路礼拜堂，也设丹戎巴葛分堂
1946 年 – 我们教会才正式命名为禧年堂
禧年堂圣歌团当时取的英文名‘Jubilee Songsters’
1964 to 1967 年间 – 禧年堂寻找新址建堂，当时我们的聚会人数已超过500人，儿童也有200多人。他们找到了约克山这块宝地，但单单这地就要星币五十多万（SGD500k），还不包刮建堂费用。在那个年代，星币五十多万是一笔可观的数目。当时禧年堂没有这经济能力，同工们就祷告交托上帝。
1968 年 – 地政局来函，旧址要建路，最终同意交换约克山
神大大的祝福禧年堂
SGD500k -> SGD 0
50年地契 -> 99年地契
擅自占地者–免付搬迁费
女青年会割让36尺宽路，以 SGD1 年租，开路给我们。
天佑长老上个月刚提醒我，我们租的这条路，只剩35年。女青年会的地契，比我们早12年到期。政府到时会不会把我们的地一起收回？对面的地铁站建好后，我们这块地更值钱。
如果大家有注意到，我们对上帝怎样祝福禧年堂的记载，停留在百年纪念刊。伟康牧师上周在乐龄视频的分享，我们应该还没有文字记录。我想请教牧长执们，考虑把过去40年，上帝怎样祝福禧年堂，仔细的记录下来。好让我们的后人能继续数算神的恩典，而不是停留在百年。
当我在准备今天的讲道时，我翻开了禧年堂建堂五十周年纪念册。我边翻边读，情绪波动很大，最后感动到泪流满面。
我被什么感动了呢?
前辈们写的一些话，深深的感动了我。英文的这一段提醒我们，教会的存在是要为主做见证。
“… with ardent hope, to the future for the extensive field in which we carry HIS witnesses and to answer the call to meet the challenge of this deteriorating world”
S. E. Ting （丁世荣长老） (Christmas Eve, 1954)
中文的这一段，提到：
“许多教会工人…牧师们…为着行政事物太过忙碌…祷告工夫过少…讲台缺少生命供应..听道没精打彩…灵性…枯燥”
石新我 一九五五年二月一日
这两段话提醒了我以下几点:
1) 禧年堂艰辛的建堂之路
2) 前辈们对传福音的坚定, 而这教会，禧年堂，座落在欧南路，就是要为主做见证。
3) 祷告与交托的重要
几个月前，国成牧师在华英崇拜分享说，有一位弟兄时常会关心的问说教会领袖是否常常一起为教会的事工祷告交托。希望我们不要忽略这温馨的提醒。
诗篇 85:4-7
4 拯救我们的上帝啊，
求你复兴我们，
止息你对我们的怒气。
5 你要向我们永远发怒吗？
你的怒气要延续到万代吗？
6 你不再复兴我们，
使你的子民靠你欢喜吗？
7 耶和华啊，求你向我们施慈爱，拯救我们.
4-7节祈求上帝向以色列民施慈爱，止息祂的怒气， 再次复兴祂的子民。
不知大家读了会不会觉得前后有些矛盾。第1-3节才刚刚歌颂上帝的慈爱以及复兴祂的子民，第4-7节又再求上帝复兴与拯救他们。诗人是不是排版排错了？
不是的，诗人并没有排错版。诗人清楚知道，以色列民再三的犯罪，触怒了上帝。从以色列的历史，我们看到以色列的亡国都是因为人的罪。
最近我刚好在读民数记，越读就越火大。以色列人亲眼看见，亲身经历了神的神迹奇事，怎么三两章就记载了他们的埋怨，犯罪。真想一把火把他们灭了。还好我们不是上帝。
上帝是充满慈爱与无限恩典的神，祂一而再，再而三的赦免与复兴了祂的子民。
记得诗篇 85篇前面提到可拉后裔是这诗的作者。可拉属于利未支派, 在会幕服侍。但他一心想当祭师，就招集了250位社区领袖，一起反对与攻击摩西和亚伦。这谋反行动，看似针对摩西和亚伦，但摩西和亚伦是神拣选的，反对他们就是针对神。他们合谋反叛的其实是耶和华。
神大大动怒，使地裂开，可拉与他的同伙，他们的家眷及所有属于他们的一切就这样活活地坠入阴间，地在他们上面合拢起来，他们就从会众中消失了。
但上帝并没有迁怒于可拉的后裔，不像一些历代王帝会满门抄斩，株连九族。神允许可拉的后裔继续在会幕服侍，也写了几篇诗篇。因祂的慈爱，怜悯与恩典，祂复兴了可拉的后裔。
第6节, ‘你不再复兴我们，使你的子民靠你欢喜吗？’, 这里指的是灵性，道德与神关系的复兴。在现今教会，我们一谈到复兴，就会把它与教会增长挂钩。
第7节, ‘耶和华啊，求你向我们施慈爱，拯救我们’。神的救恩，不是因为我们的功绩或作为，乃是因神的慈爱，那不配领受的恩典。
以色列民被赦免了，但他们还是不断地需要被赦免。他们修复了与神的关系，但他们还是时刻地需要修复。我们也是一样，被赦免了，但还是不断地需要被赦免。我们修复了与神的关系，但还是时刻地需要被修复。
有什么一劳永逸的方法吗？有！就是靠着耶稣基督。
诗篇 85
8 我要听耶和华上帝所说的话，
因为祂应许赐平安给祂忠心的子民。
但我们不可再犯罪。
聆听神的话取决于我们的意愿。我们可以专注于我们所面对的挑战与欲望，或选择聆听天父的声音。诗人选择聆听神，也因如此，克服了生命中的挑战。
让我与您分享我最喜欢的中文字, 的繁体字. 我们应该怎么聆听神呢?
我们用耳朵听，不是用口。再以参见王的态度，十目专注，一心一意的等侯，因为祂是我们的王。
我的孩子曾经问我，为什么我们不再像圣经人物那样的听见神？很多时候，当我们满脑子塞满了这世界的挑战与欲望，又被科技娱乐填满了我们的时间（比如，脸书, Instagram, youtube, Netflix）, 加上两耳塞着耳机，我们怎能听到神那温柔的声音？我们的天父渴望与我们沟通。请牢记这 字。
第8节, 应许赐平安的希伯来原文是：{说} shalom, speaks shalom。这里的{说}是绝对的， 就如创世记1：3节，上帝说：“要有光！”就有了光。神一说，就成了。希伯来文的 shalom ，除了平安，还包含了完全，健康，安全，富足，神满满的祝福。
神与人那完美的关系，因人的罪给隔绝了。但神自己, 以祂的慈爱与恩典，与人重新建立关系。诗人提醒人们不可离弃神的话语，因为那是愚蠢的。
第9节, ‘祂拯救敬畏祂的人，好让祂的荣耀常驻在我们的地上’. 神的救恩，不是因为我们的功德或成绩，不是因为我们有多好，乃是因为神的恩典。
这里说的敬畏，不是害怕神。乃是活出申命记10:12的教导：‘遵行祂的旨意，爱祂，全心全意地事奉祂‘。
敬畏神的人并非圣贤，但他们诚心的遵行祂的旨意，爱祂，按神的心意而活。
诗篇 85:10-13
10 慈爱和忠信同行，
公义与平安相亲。
11 忠信从地而生，
公义从天而现。
12 耶和华赐下祝福，
我们的土地就出产丰富。
13 公义要行在祂面前，为祂开路
这里提的是神与以色列民的约。以色列民三翻四次的没有履行这约，神就允许他们被虏到巴比伦去。对我来说，这已是比较轻的惩罚。
为什么我说这是比较轻的惩罚呢? 上帝在创世记第15章与亚伯兰立约时，他们是根据当时近东立约的习俗，把动物都劈成两半，一半对着一半地摆列，除了雀鸟，然后双方在肉块中走过。如果一方毁约，他的遭遇就会像这些动物一样，不得好死。可见这约的严重性。
在这约, 以色列民应以忠信来回应上帝的慈爱。因着以色列民的公义，上帝完美的祝福就大大的临到祂的民。
虽然以色列民无法对上帝忠心，但因神的慈爱与那不配得的恩典，祂没有放弃他们。以色列民没有履行这约，神自己就从天降下祂的公义，最终牺牲了祂的爱子，耶稣基督。
神的恩典
人与人之间的爱，很多时候是附带条件的。我们付出，因为我们希望达到某些目地，或得到某种回报。我们需要做某些事来换取人的爱或被接纳。在我的辅导工作上，‘我够不够好’，‘我做得够不够’这些课题常常浮现。
我们常常把这观念带入我们与神的关系。我们希望做得够多够好，以配得上帝的爱，但上帝那不配得的恩典，选择把我们看为忠信。每当我们跌倒，我们质疑上帝是否还爱我们。但那充满慈爱的天父，其实在默默地等待着我们。
活出诗篇 85
我们在现实生活中，要怎样让慈爱和忠信同行，公义与平安相亲以便活出诗篇 85呢？
第一，我们要谨(jin)记得神爱我们不是因为我们做了些什么，或有多好。乃是因为祂选择了爱我们，祂那不配领受的恩典。
我们该怎么回应祂的爱与恩典呢？申命记 6：5教导我们， ‘要全心、全意、全力爱我们的天父’。一个人要完完全全的爱我们的天父似乎不容易。我们有些时侯会爱我们自己多一点，或爱我们的工做，我们的家庭，我们的财富，比爱神多一些。
神非常清楚我们的软弱，就有如以色列民的软弱。祂伸出那不配领受的恩典，用全心、全意、全力来爱我们。最终牺牲了祂的爱子主耶稣，为我们死在十字架上。这，就是天父的爱。祂期待我们与祂同心，时刻与祂同行。
神在申命记 6:6-7, 吩咐我们要把祂的话牢记在心，也教导我们的儿女，无论在家在外，或起或卧，一直的重复。为什么需要重复？（感觉上好像有点唠叨哦）。因为我们人很容易忘记，就有如以色列民忘记了神的教导，一次又一次的犯罪，离弃神。
当约书亚还在世的时候，以色列人都事奉耶和华。他与他那一代人都去世后，士师记第2章10节就记载说：新一代的以色列人不认识耶和华，也不知道耶和华为以色列人所行的事，就做耶和华视为恶的事。可见人有多善忘。
说到神的话，我们也要谨（jin）记耶稣在马太福音28章的教导,‘…你们要去使万民做我的门徒…’。
去年，新加坡圣经公会邀请我工作的组织，参与D6大会的分享。D6就是申命记第6章的缩(suo)写。D6的宗旨就是要把申命记第6章的教导，传递给下一代。
让我与大家分享一些D6大会的PPT。在新加坡，只有百份之一的基督徒家庭（这里指的是有青少年的基督徒家庭）会天天或似乎每天一起读圣经。而百份之五十八的基督徒家庭从来没有一起读经的习惯。
至于祷告敬拜，百份之七的基督徒家庭会天天或似乎每天一起祷告或敬拜，而百份之四十一的基督徒家庭从来没有。
我知道要与青少年一起读经祷告有一定的挑战，因为他们可能会觉得别扭。我孩子小时候会天天要一起读经祷告，长大后就嫌我太唠叨。但不管多困难，让我们把上帝的教导传承下去。
去年，当我到中国时，我看到这八个字，不忘初心，牢记使命。 它提醒了我，神交托给我们的使命。
我们要牢记耶稣在马太福音二十八章给我们的使命，也不可忘记神在申命记第六章的教导与传承的提醒。
今天，通过诗篇85，我们被提醒了以下几点:
(1) 神那不配领受的恩典,
(2) 全心、全意、全力爱神,
(3) （把神的教导）牢记在心，（重复的）教导我们的儿女
(4) 使万民做耶稣的门徒。
讲到第四点，使万民做耶稣的门徒，我问神说：禧年堂许多乐龄的弟兄姐妹，体力有限，不大可能办幸福小组来传福音。提摩太后书第四章的这一段经文就浮现在我脑海里，这经节也出现在禧年堂建堂五十周年纪念刊。神似乎在对乐龄的弟兄姐妹说，我忠心的仆人。
让我们大家不要忘记那起初的心，牢记使命，神那不配领受的恩典，必不离弃我们。Amen.