新年蒙新恩
经文：申11:11-25；
证道：郝书霞牧师
岁 首年终是人们比较忙碌的日子，无论单位或个人都在忙于总结过去的一年的工作和经验，查找不足，并要为新的一年定下计划，好在新的一年有更大的收获和成绩。 基督徒不但每天在神面前省察，在辞旧迎新的时刻更愿意除旧迎新、生命有新长进，希望新年蒙新恩、新年得新福。上帝也应许他的儿女生活中要恩上加恩，力上加 力，荣上加荣。
一、恩上加恩——从岁首到年终的看顾(申11:11-12)
约1:16“从他丰满的恩典里，我们都领受了，而且恩上加恩。”
1、上帝给予选民的应许
以色列人经过旷野40年的生活，即将进入迦南地，摩西向选民述说旷野中神的眷顾、引领、保护，重申神的诫命，告诉选民“你要爱耶和华—你的神，常守他的吩咐、律例、典章、诫命”（申11:1），就必蒙福。蒙什么福？从圣经我们知道，福就是选民在神应许他们流奶与蜜的地上得以长久。那地有山、有谷、雨水滋润，是耶和华所眷顾的。从岁首到年终，耶和华神的眼目时常看顾那地（申11:9-12）；神还要按时降秋雨春雨在地上，使之可以收藏五谷、新酒和油，并且吃得饱足，田野为牲畜长草（申11:14-15）；也要得强大者的地土，凡脚掌所踏之地都必归选民（申11:23-24）。对一个旷野漂流40年 的民族，神给他们的应许是何等样的激励和鼓舞，又是何等样的满足。由此我们知道，神赐的福不只是属灵的，也包括属世的。其实，人生就好像一次旅行，每一个 经历就是一个风景点，每个景点都会遇见不同的人和事，面对这些人和事，有天父的陪伴，就少了恐惧和艰辛，该是多么幸福的事情。
什 么是幸福？着名主持人杨澜在微博说，我们通常说信仰带给我们幸福。心理学家发现，通过信仰所产生的情感联系：渺小个体与更高存在之间的联系，同一信仰的成 员之间看到联系，才是幸福的来源。幸福是你软弱，神仍然爱你；你不足，神愿意帮助你；你惧怕，神安慰你；你忧伤，神擦去你的眼泪；你绝望，神赐下永恒盼 望；你懊悔，神就饶恕赦免；你疲惫，神加添力量。幸福不是你有多强大，而是在软弱中靠主变刚强；幸福不是你有多完美，而是通过你让神得荣耀，幸福不是你多 富有，而是明白这是天赋世界；幸福不是你的爱人多么漂亮，而是你爱人的笑容多灿烂；幸福不是越多越好，而是要恰到好处；幸福不是吃得好穿得好，而是有衣有 食就知足；幸福不是你成功时喝彩多热烈，而是失意时有个声音对你说：“孩子，加油！”幸福不是你听过多少甜言蜜语，而是你伤心落泪时天父对你说：“不要 怕，有我在！”
2、蒙神看顾的条件
上帝应许他的儿女，从岁首到年终的看顾，他的信实决定他从不改变他的应许，若是得此应许，人生就多了平坦，有劳动不会有劳苦；有工作就少有泪水，岁月不再沧桑，因为人生有神相伴，就是有爱相伴。
(1)听主话。听见神的话，存在心中，照着去行。诗1:2“惟喜爱耶和华的律法，昼夜思想，这人便为有福！”熟读神的话，反复思想，让神的话作我们生活的引导。圣经告诉我们，“人活着不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话”（申8:3；太4:4）。神的话，是我们属灵生命的食物，更是我们成长的力量。
(2)守主命。有了主的话，不是为了让我们单单的知道，“凡遵守主道的，爱神的心在他里面实在是完全的。从此，我们知道我们是在主里面。人若说他住在主里面，就该自己照主所行的去行” (约翰一书2：5、6)。
(3)行主道。圣经上说，听了主的道，又去行的，这人便为有福，耶稣在登山宝训中告诉我们，“凡称呼我‘主啊，主啊’的人不能都进天国；惟独遵行我天父旨意的人才能进去”（太7:21）。接着在登山宝训的结尾又告诉我们，“所以，凡听见我这话就去行的，好比一个聪明人，把房子盖在磐石上；雨淋，水冲，风吹，撞着那房子，房子总不倒塌，因为根基立在磐石上”（太7:24-25）。
二、力上加力——给予信者盼望与力量(申11:13-15)
诗84:5-7、11-12“靠 你有力量、心中想往锡安大道的，这人便为有福！他们经过‘流泪谷’，叫这谷变为泉源之地；并有秋雨之福盖满了全谷。他们行走，力上加力，各人到锡安朝见 神。……因为耶和华—神是日头，是盾牌，要赐下恩惠和荣耀。他未尝留下一样好处不给那些行动正直的人。万军之耶和华啊，依靠你的人便为有福！”
1、什么是力上加力？
顾名思义就是在自己的力量上加上力量。神对人的祝福是，你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何（申33:25）！我的理解是在自己工作的力量上，上帝要帮助我们，给我们足够的力量胜任工作，胜过生活中的艰难。
力量在现代汉中的解释是：1、指力气，有份量。2、能力。3、作用；效力。力量可以预示着成功，力量能给予人坚强的意志，坚强意志对一个人的健康成长和事业成功起着关键作用；坚强意志是成功的保证。成功其实也容易，就是先养成成功的习惯。世界上最可怕的力量是习惯，世界上最宝贵的财富也是习惯。
2、如何得力量？
神的话是我们能力的来源，“因为，出于神的话，没有一句不带能力的”（路1:37），可惜，许多信徒虽然读了神的话，但神的话却不放在心上，生命没有改变，行不出神的话。诗46:1“神…… 是我们的力量，是我们在患难中随时的帮助。”新的一年，让我们来到神面前，每天从他支取足够的力量，让我们新的一年成为得胜的一年、蒙福的一年、荣耀主名 的一年。大卫在诗篇中告诉我们，神眷顾人，为人预备生活中的一切，并“以恩典为年岁的冠冕，你的路径都滴下脂油”（参诗65:11）。
三、荣上加荣——以恩典为年岁的冠冕（申11:21-25）
荣上加荣，就是不断增添荣耀的意思，荣上加荣来自神的灵。
林后3:16-18“但他们的心几时归向主，帕子就几时除去了。主就是那灵；主的灵在哪里，那里就得以自由。我们众人既然敞着脸得以看见主的荣光，好像从镜子里返照，就变成主的形状，荣上加荣，如同从主的灵变成的。”
1、仰望耶稣，与神面对面
只要知道仰望神的荣耀，仰望耶稣的脸，就能找到荣耀。
2、靠着主，生命不断长进
不断改变自己，更像主，就是荣上加荣。
孝子之有深爱者必有和气，有和气者必有愉色，有愉色者必有婉
容。也就是说，孝子如果是有深爱的，一定会有和气；有和气的，一定会面有愉悦之色；有愉悦之色的，一定有和顺的容貌。
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A New Year Brings New Grace
Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:11-25;
Sermon: Pastor Hao Shuxia
The beginning and end of the year are busy times for everyone. Whether in organizations or individually, people are busy summarizing the past year's work and experiences, identifying shortcomings, and making plans for the new year to achieve greater success. Christians not only examine themselves before God daily, but also yearn for renewal and new growth in their lives at the turn of the year, hoping for new grace and blessings in the new year. God also promises His children that grace will be bestowed upon grace, strength upon strength, and glory upon glory in their lives.
I. Grace Upon Grace—Care from the Beginning to the End of the Year (Deuteronomy 11:11-12)
John 1:16 “We have all received from the fullness of his grace, grace upon grace.”
1. God's Promises to His Chosen People
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites were about to enter Canaan. Moses recounted God's care, guidance, and protection during their time in the wilderness, reiterated God's commandments, and told them, “You shall love the Lord your God and keep his commands, his statutes, his ordinances and his commandments” (Deuteronomy 11:1), and you will be blessed. What blessing? From the Bible, we know that the blessing is that the chosen people will live long in the land God promised them, a land flowing with milk and honey. That land has mountains and valleys, and is nourished by rain; it is a land the Lord cares for. From the beginning to the end of the year, the eyes of the Lord God continually visit that land (Deuteronomy 11:9-12); God will also send the autumn and spring rains on the land in their season, so that it may store up grain, new wine, and oil, and have enough to eat, and the fields may grow grass for the livestock (Deuteronomy 11:14-15); He will also possess the land of the mighty, and every place where the soles of his feet tread will belong to the chosen people (Deuteronomy 11:23-24). For a people who had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, what encouragement and inspiration, what satisfaction, God's promises were! From this, we know that God's blessings are not only spiritual but also worldly. In fact, life is like a journey; each experience is a scenic spot, and at each spot we encounter different people and things. Facing these people and things, with the Father's companionship, fear and hardship are lessened—how fortunate that is!
What is happiness? Famous host Yang Lan said on Weibo, "We usually say that faith brings us happiness." Psychologists have discovered that the emotional connection formed through faith—the connection between the insignificant individual and a higher being, and the connection seen among members of the same faith—is the source of happiness. Happiness is when you are weak, yet God still loves you; when you are lacking, God is willing to help you; when you are afraid, God comforts you; when you are sorrowful, God wipes away your tears; when you are in despair, God gives you eternal hope; when you are remorseful, God forgives and pardons; when you are weary, God adds strength. Happiness is not about how strong you are, but about becoming strong through the Lord in weakness; happiness is not about how perfect you are, but about bringing glory to God through you; happiness is not about how rich you are, but about understanding that this is a gifted world; happiness is not about how beautiful your lover is, but how radiant their smile is; happiness is not about having more, but about having just the right amount; happiness is not about eating well and dressing well, but about being content with food and clothing; happiness is not about how enthusiastic the cheers are when you succeed, but about having a voice that says to you, "Child, keep going!" when you are down; happiness is not about how many sweet words you have heard, but about your Heavenly Father saying to you, "Don't be afraid, I am here!" when you are heartbroken and in tears.
2. Conditions for God's Care
God promises His children care from the beginning to the end of the year. His faithfulness determines that He never changes His promise. If you receive this promise, life will be smoother, labor will not be more arduous, work will bring less tears, and the years will no longer be turbulent, because life is accompanied by God, which is to say, by love.
(1) Listen to the Lord's words. Hear God's word, keep it in your heart, and do it. Psalm 1:2 "Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on it day and night!" Study God's word thoroughly, meditate on it repeatedly, and let it guide your life. The Bible tells us, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). God's word is the food of our spiritual life and the strength for our growth.
(2) Keep the Lord's commandments. Having the Lord's word is not merely about knowing that "in everyone who keeps the Lord's word, the love of God is truly made complete. By this we know that we are in the Lord. If anyone says he lives in the Lord, he must also do as the Lord has done" (1 John 2:5-6).
(3) Walk the Lord's path. The Bible says that blessed are those who hear the word of the Lord and put it into practice. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Then, at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, he tells us, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).
II. Adding Strength Upon Strength—Giving Hope and Strength to Believers (Deuteronomy 11:13-15)
Psalm 84:5-7, 11-12 "Blessed is the one in whom you have strength, whose heart desires the way to Zion. As they pass through the valley of tears, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains cover the whole valley. As they go, they make themselves stronger, and each one of them goes to Zion to meet God… For the Lord God is a sun and shield, who bestows favor and glory. He withholds nothing good from those whose walk is upright. Blessed is the one who trusts in you, O Lord Almighty!"
1. What does "adding strength upon strength" mean?
As the name suggests, it means adding strength to one's own strength. God's blessing to people is, "As your days are, so your strength will be" (Deuteronomy 33:25)! My understanding is that God helps us in our work, giving us enough strength to accomplish our tasks and overcome life's difficulties.
In modern Chinese, "力量" (liliang, strength) is interpreted as: 1. Physical strength, having weight. 2. Ability. 3. Function; effectiveness. Strength can foreshadow success, and it gives people a strong will. A strong will plays a crucial role in a person's healthy growth and career success; a strong will is the guarantee of success. Success is actually easy; it's simply about cultivating successful habits. The most terrifying force in the world is habit, and the most precious wealth in the world is also habit.
2. How to gain strength?
The word of God is the source of our strength. "For nothing from God is powerless" (Luke 1:37). Unfortunately, many believers, although they read God's word, do not take it to heart; their lives remain unchanged, and they do not live out God's word. Psalm 46:1 says, "God...is our strength, our ever-present help in trouble." In the new year, let us come before God, drawing sufficient strength from Him each day, so that our new year may be a year of victory, a year of blessing, and a year of glorifying the Lord's name. David tells us in the Psalms that God cares for people, prepares everything for their lives, and “crowns the years with grace; your paths drip with abundance” (see Psalm 65:11).
III. Glory Upon Glory—Crown the Years with Grace (Deuteronomy 11:21-25)
Glory upon glory means continually adding to one’s glory, and this glory comes from the Spirit of God.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 “But when their hearts turn to the Lord, then the veil is removed. And the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his likeness, from glory to glory, as from the Spirit of the Lord.”
1. Looking to Jesus, Face to Face with God
Simply by looking to the glory of God, looking to the face of Jesus, we can find glory.
2. Growing Through the Lord, Life Continues
Constantly changing oneself, becoming more like the Lord, is glory upon glory.
A filial son who has deep love will be gentle; a gentle son will have a joyful countenance; and a joyful countenance will have a kind and amiable appearance.
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