(Matt 7: 21-23) (马太7：21-23）

God is good神是良善的! He is compassionate and gracious耶和华有恩惠，有怜悯, slow to anger不轻易发怒, abounding love and faithfulness大有慈爱! Are you excited about the news that Louie now is cancer free听到路易癌症没有了你兴不兴奋? People may think that it’s just a cancer that has been cured to his body through receiving medical treatment 人会觉得这只是一个癌症借着治疗得了医治。But I can tell of lots of stories to testify that God was using this process to purify Louie’s faith, 但我可以告知很多的故事来见证这是神借此在炼净他的信心，and renewing his understanding of the knowledge of the grace of God和更新他对神的恩典的认识，and clarifying the purpose for him和指明他的人生目标。God is full of mercy神是满有怜悯。Even before he was diagnosed with cancer就算他还没有确诊是癌症，God had sent a dream to foretell that a testing of faith was beginning神已经赐下异梦来预告信心的考试要来了…

We praise God for His profound purpose为神所怀深远的心意，我们赞美祂 – the plan Jesus has for each of us那是主耶稣对每个人的计划! If you discover your purpose你若明白你生命的目的– the plan God has for you就是神向你所怀的计划, if you discover the call on your life你若明白你生命的呼召, your life will be meaningful indeed你的生命就有意义! although we all will go through hardships我们虽都经历患难, challenges挑战, and difficulties艰难, trials and temptations试炼、试探, yet if you know your purpose但只要你明白你人生的目的 – what your call is你的呼召是什么, and are obedient to Him顺服神, you will never lose your way就不至于迷路! God will be your faithful guide until you die神会引导你直到死时.

A week ago前一周, we shared a message of how to discern false prophets我们分享过怎样辨别假先知. Jesus said主耶稣说, “By their fruit you will recognise them凭着他们的果子，就可以认出他们来.” But they are very deceptive但假先知极具迷惑性, if we don’t root and build ourselves in the word of God我们若没有在神的话语上生根建造, we can easily stumble when trials and temptations come试炼试探来临时就会失脚. So our Lord continues His teaching因此主继续教导我们: “Matt 7:21（太7：21）, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ 凡称呼我’主啊，主啊’的人，will enter the kingdom of heaven不能都进天国; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去. Then Many will say to Me on that day当那日，必有许多人对我说, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name主啊，主啊，我们不是奉你的名传道, and in Your name cast out demons奉你的名赶鬼, and in Your name perform many miracles奉你的名行许多异能吗?’ And then I will declare to them我就明明地告诉他们说, ‘I never knew you我从来不认识你们; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS你们这些作恶的人，离开我去吧. ”

1, Are they Christians这些人是基督徒吗? Does every Christian do the will of the Father每个基督徒都遵行神的旨意吗?

People may say人们会说, “Oh, I’m not included哦，不是说我, because I’m a born-again Christian我是重生基督徒, they are false他们是没重生的.” Wait a minute停住! To find out the answer要知道答案, we must look at the bible to see how the word of God judges我们必须看神的话怎么断定. 1 Cor 12:3（林前12:3） says, Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’被神的灵感动的，没有说耶稣是可咒诅的， and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit若不是被圣灵感动的，也没有能说耶稣是主的. This verse tells us这节经文说, that when we have a relationship with Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit我们因圣灵与主建立关系, we call Jesus “Lord.” 就称耶稣为主。The amplified bible translates this passage《扩展圣经》将这句话翻译为: “no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit若不是借着圣灵的能力和引导，没有人能真正称耶稣为’我的主’.” After Thomas had put his hand into Jesus’ side where he had been pierced by a spear多马探了主肋旁被矛刺穿之处, Thomas cried out to Jesus然后叫道, “My Lord and my God!我的主，我的神” This is an expression of a relationship就是在表达这关系, and also an expression of surrender也在表达他的降服, “You are the Lord of my life你是我生命的主…I surrender my will to Your will交出我的旨意，顺服你的旨意...” . “You are the Lord of my life over everything你是我一切的主.” If we confess with our mouths “Jesus is Lord”我们若口里承认“耶稣是主”, and believe in our hearts that God raised Christ from the dead心里相信神叫祂从死里复活, we are saved就必得救! (Romans 10:9，罗10：9). But this is just the beginning stage for us of entering the Kingdom of God但这仅仅是起步进入神国, which is not yet qualified to inherit the Kingdom还不足以承受天国. That’s why Paul said因此保罗说, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection我是攻克己身，叫身服我, lest, when I have preached to others恐怕我传福音给别人, I myself should become disqualified自己反被弃绝了. 1 Cor 9:27（林前9：27）” Was Paul worried about that he would lose his salvation保罗在担心自己又不得救了吗? Of course not当然不是! Because from the whole passage we see that he was talking about win the race and receiving the reward 因这里整段都在说赢得赛跑和得赏赐的事(v.24，24节)。

In the journey of our faith在信心的旅程中, when we are born-again自重生后, it is counted for us as righteousness我们就被算为义. But for those who are qualified to inherit the kingdom must practice righteousness但那些可以去承受天国的人，必须行义, “the acts of the flesh are obvious情欲的事是显而易见的: sexual immorality就如奸淫, impurity污秽 and debauchery邪荡; 20 idolatry 拜偶像and witchcraft邪术; hatred仇恨, discord争竞, jealousy忌恨, fits of rage恼怒, selfish ambition结党, dissensions纷争, factions异端 21 and envy嫉妒; drunkenness醉酒, orgies荒宴, and the like等等. I warn you, as I did before我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God行这样事的人必不能承受神的国. Gal 5: 19-21（加5：19-21）.”

Will a born-again Christian still do like this重生基督徒是否还会如此? Yes是的! A sister’s dad came to our home church and received Christ Jesus as his personal saviour有个姊妹的父亲来我们教会信了主, he was really born again and rejoiced in God’s salvation, then went back his home town受洗重生，欢喜领受救恩回到老家. A month later he died of a heart attack in his mistress’ house一个月后他在情人家中心脏病发去世. Was he saved他得救了吗? of Course当然! Because he confessed his sins before God and believed in Christ因他向神认罪，也信了耶稣 (Romans 10:9, Eph 2:8，罗10：9，弗2：8). Will he inherit the Kingdom to rule with Christ as a reward when Jesus returns可他在基督再来时会承受天国、得赏赐、并与基督一同作王吗? Of course not! Those who acts of the flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God随从肉体的不能承受神的国. To inherit the Kingdom is to rule with Christ, that is different from just entering the Kingdom.

That’s why 1 John 3:7-8a（约一3：7-8a） says才会说, “little children, let no one deceive you小子们哪，不要被人诱惑. He who practice righteousness is righteous行义的才是义人, just as He is righteous正如主是义的. He who sins is of the devil犯罪的是属魔鬼. After entering the Kingdom of God踏入神的国, we are in a race我们就开始了一场赛跑. What does cause Christians to sin against God什么让基督徒得罪神? The will of the sinful nature是旧人的私欲. “I want我想…I will我要…I我…me我’, if we do as we want我们若想做什么就做什么, we can’t do the will of the Father就不能顺服父的旨意. Jesus says主说, “but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven惟独遵行我天父旨意的人，才能进去.” Jesus will never require non-believers to do the will of the Father主耶稣从不要求非信徒遵行天父旨意, only His people who have the Holy Spirit对有圣灵的神子民才这样要求.

2, Who are they他们是谁?

Then Many will say to Me on that day当那日，必有许多人对我说, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name主啊，主啊，我们不是奉你的名传道, and in Your name cast out demons奉你的名赶鬼, and in Your name perform many miracles奉你的名行许多异能吗?’ Apparently显然, they are so confused and puzzled这些人很困惑, because they prophesied in Jesus’ name因他们奉主名传道, they cast out demons in Jesus’ name奉主名赶鬼, and performed many miracles in Jesus’ name奉主名行许多异能, so they thought that for sure they would go into the kingdom of heaven因此他们想说一定能进天国, (it doesn’t say the kingdom of God这不是说神国, but heaven而是天国, I will explain the difference next time我下次再解释其区别). But Jesus refused to allow them to enter但主耶稣不让他们进去. By saying “I never knew you”却说“我不认识你”. Could the omniscient God really never know有什么是全知的神所不知道的吗? God knows everyone and everything from the beginning to the end从始到终，神认识万人，知道万事! For He is the creator of all因祂是万有的创造主! Everything was created by Him, through Him and for Him万有都本于祂，倚靠他，归于他! He knows everything indeed祂测透万事!

Actually其实, Jesus said the same words in the parable of the ten virgins主耶稣关于十童女的比喻与此相同 (Matt 25:1-13，太25：1-13), where there are ten virgins有十个童女, five are wise and the other five are foolish五个是聪明的，五个是愚拙的. Those who are wise get ready for the second coming of Jesus 聪明的预备好等候主耶稣再来 (v.10), and they are spirit-filled servants是被圣灵充满的仆人 (v.2, 3, 7, 10) with the lamp lighting她们的灯也点着. What does a lamp mean here灯指的是什么呢? John 5:35（约5：35）, John was a lamp that burned and gave light约翰是点着的明灯, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light你们情愿暂时喜欢他的光. Apparently显然, Christians are lamps基督徒就是灯. The light in us is the light of Christ Jesus我们里面的灯就是耶稣基督的光, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit who is the oil内住的圣灵就是油.

The foolish virgins are lacking oil愚拙的童女没有预备油, so their light can’t shine before men她们的光就不能照在人前. Why为什么? because if we live according to the will of the flesh因我们若照着肉体私欲行事为人, the flesh is an enemy to God肉体是与神为仇的, the flesh is also like a bowl that can cover the light in us就像罩着光的斗. God wants the fruit of the Holy Spirit from us not the fruit of our labour in the flesh神向我们要的是圣灵所结的果子，不是靠肉体去做所结的果子. No works we have done in the flesh will remain靠肉体所做的工都不能存留, only the works that have been done by the Holy Spirit in us and through us will remain forever惟有靠里面圣灵所做的工存到永远!

We can see that Jesus didn’t deny the foolish virgins as his virgin主耶稣没有否认愚拙的童女不是童女（不属祂）! They are all virgins in the Lord她们全都是主的童女. To the church at Corinth, Paul says保罗对哥林多教会说, “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy我为你们起的愤恨，原是神那样的愤恨. I promised you to one husband因为我曾把你们许配一个丈夫, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him要把你们如同贞洁的童女，献给基督.”

In that context按着上下文, the church at Corinth was in complete confusion about their spiritual gifts哥林多教会对属灵恩赐的理解全乱了, and they thought that prophesying and speaking tongues or other spiritual gifts signified that they were spiritual认为他们能说预言、说方言、拥有其他属灵恩赐，就是属灵. So Paul the apostle addressed their problems by clarifying the goal for them to focus on所以使徒保罗指出问题所在，重新澄清他们所要关注的目标, that is to purify themselves那是洁净自己, and to sanctify themselves as a pure virgin (a pure bride) for their husband to come是要成为圣洁的新妇，等候丈夫来到, that’s Christ Jesus就是主耶稣的再来! And this is also true for us我们也是一样! After we have become Christians成为基督徒后, we are in a race我们进入赛跑! The goal for us in everything we do is not to achieve success like worldly people do我们做每件事的目的，不再要像世人追求成功, but to be sanctified (purified) in everything we do by turning away from the desires of the flesh 而是在每件事上转离己意，洁净自己，and believing the truth信真理, and being led by the truth受真理引导, to get ourselves ready for the wedding banquet of the Lamb预备自己赴羔羊婚宴.

The reason Jesus said “‘I never knew you; depart from me” is that “you practice lawlessness.”主耶稣所以说“我从不认识你”“离开我去吧”，意思是“你违背律法”， What is lawlessness in the NT新约中，违背律法指什么? In 1John 3:4（约一3：4）“Everyone who sins breaks the law凡犯罪的，就是违背律法, in fact, sin is lawlessness违背律法的就是罪. The bible defines lawlessness as sin圣经把违背律法定义为罪. Sin is lawlessness罪就是违背律法. Lawlessness is sin违背律法就是罪. The desires of the flesh can conceive sin从肉体私欲生出罪来. That’s why we need the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit to deal with the flesh when we go on the journey of our faith因此在信心的旅程中，我们需要十字架和圣灵的能力来制服肉体. We thank God for remaining in us in this life to purify us感谢在今生中，神就住在我们里面洁净我们! Don’t accept shameful feelings when it is pointed out that something you have done or you are doing is wrong若被指出过去或现在做错的事，不要接受羞耻感. Repentance is our weapon to ashame Satan悔改是使撒旦羞愧的武器. Turn to God and His truth with a humble heart谦卑转向神的话和真理, you will find mercy and renewal就能得怜悯和更新. That’s God’s will for us这就是神的旨意! He loves us so much祂如此爱我们, He gave us His Son Christ to redeem us and His Spirit to sanctify us赐下爱子基督赎买我们，赐下圣灵更新我们, so that one day we can inherit His Kingdom为使有一天我们能承受祂的国. He doesn’t want us to go naked like Adam and waste time in doing willful sins祂不愿我们像亚当赤身露体，把时间浪费在一味犯罪上（随心所欲上？）. Even when the time of the great tribulation comes就算大患难临到, God’s heart remains the same神的心意仍然没有改变，我们来看, we can see this in Re 16:15（启16：15）, behold, I come like a thief看哪，我来像贼一样! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him那警醒、看守衣服，免得赤身而行, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed叫人见他羞耻的有福了.   Also Col 3:1-15还有（西3：1-15） 

In the parable of the ten virgins在十童女的比喻里, Jesus said to those foolish virgins who are not ready耶稣对没有预备好的童女说, “I don’t know you我不认识你.” and they are kept out of the door她们就被关在门外了. What’s this door for那是去哪里的门? V,10（10节）, the virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet那预备好了的，同他进去坐席，门就关了. This door is for the wedding banquet是去新郎婚宴的门! Not for entering the kingdom of God不是通向神国的门. If you read the bible carefully如果仔细读四福音, you will discover that whenever Jesus mentioned “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in four gospels无论哪里说到“哀哭切齿”, they are talking about this thing都在说同样的事.

3, Who are those who are qualified for the wedding banquet of the Lamb谁可以赴羔羊的宴席?

Concerning the wedding banquet关于婚宴, we can find the time line in the book of Revelation启示录里的时间顺序是这样. In Revelation 19第十九章, those who made themselves ready for the wedding appeared第一次出现预备好赴婚宴的人. 7, Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory我们要欢喜快乐，将荣耀归给祂! For the wedding of the Lamb has come因为羔羊婚娶的时候到了, and his bride has made herself ready新妇也自己预备好了. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear就蒙恩得穿光明洁白的细麻衣.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people这细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义.) 9 Then the angel said to me天使吩咐我说, “Write this你要写上: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb凡被请赴羔羊之婚宴的有福了!” And he added又对我说, “These are the true words of God这是神真实的话.”

The feature of His bride新妇的特征是: 1, They get themselves ready for the second coming of the Lord他们为主再来预备好了. 2, They are given a fine linen cloth to wear他们得穿细麻衣. Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people细麻衣就是圣徒所行的义. Please listen请听, the overcomers are given linen cloth to wear得胜者是赐予细麻衣的, but those who are just saved are given white robes to wear (Re 7:9-10) 那仅仅只得救的，是穿白袍According to God’s just and true judgement照着神的公义真实的判定, we can see that the cloth will be given differently between those whom it is only counted to them as righteousness and act in righteousness in Christ (1 John 3:7-8a).我们看见那些只是被称义和行义的，所赐的衣服都不一样。

And then, to chapter 20然后到了二十章, there will come a thousand years reign of Christ提到将来出现的基督千年国度.

Revelation 20:4-6（启示20：4-6） I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge我又看见几个宝座，也有坐在上面的，并有审判的权柄赐给他们. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God我又看见那些因为给耶稣作见证、并为神之道被斩者的灵魂. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands和那没有拜过兽与兽像，也没有在额上和手上受过它印记之人的灵魂. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years他们都复活了，与基督一同作王一千年. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection这是头一次的复活。其余的死人还没有复活，直等那一千年完了. 6 Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection在头一次复活有份的有福了、圣洁了. The second death has no power over them第二次的死在他们身上没有权柄, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years他们必作神和基督的祭司，并要与基督一同作王一千年.

Who are they这些人是谁? Further explanation of who they are who get themselves ready for Christ as His brides这段经文进一步解释了这些为基督预备好的新妇是什么人, this passage tells us, there are three groups of people他们是三群人：

1, Those who are seated on the throne with Christ and have been given authority与主同坐宝座、得着权柄的人.

Re 3:21（启3：21）; To him who overcomes得胜的, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne我要赐他在我宝座上与我同坐, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne就如我得了胜，在我父的宝座上与他同坐一般.  Those who overcome the desires of the flesh那些胜过肉体, the temptations from the world and of Satan世界和撒旦的试探, and their works are acknowledged by Jesus and will be given the right to sit with Him on His throne主耶稣承认他们所做的工，并赐他们权柄与祂同坐宝座. That’s also what the Lord promised to His true disciples这也是主应许祂的真门徒的 (Matt 19:27-28太19：27-28)  27 Peter answered him彼得就对他说, “We have left everything to follow you看哪，我们已经撇下所有的跟从你! What then will there be for us将来我们要得什么呢?”28 Jesus said to them耶稣说, “Truly I tell you我实在告诉你们, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones你们这跟从我的人，到复兴的时候，人子坐在祂荣耀的宝座上，你们也要坐在十二个宝座上, judging the twelve tribes of Israel审判以色列十二个支派.

For the ones who may desire to receive such a glorious inheritance对那些渴慕得这荣耀产业的人, Jesus says耶稣这样说, “and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of Me不背着他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒.”

Prophesying in Jesus name doesn’t signify that you are Jesus’ true disciples奉主名传道不意味你就是基督的真门徒casting out demons in Jesus’ name doesn’t signify that you are His disciples奉你的名赶鬼,也不意味你是基督的真门徒 performing many miracles doesn’t signify that you are Jesus’ true disciples,行神迹也不意味你就是基督的真门徒 acquiring all theological knowledge doesn’t signify that you are true disciples of Christ, 拥有全备的神学知识也不代表你是基督的门徒。and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of Me不背着他的十字架跟从我的，也不配作我的门徒.”

This is not talking about losing their salvation but losing the opportunity to reign with Christ as a reward这不是说人会因此不得救，而是失去得赏赐与基督一同掌权的机会. It seems to say就象在说, “if you don’t follow me in my way by taking up your cross and denying yourself你若不背起自己的十字架、否定自己，照我要的来跟从我, you are not my true disciples就不是我的真门徒, and I will not acknowledge you as my disciples我也不认你为我的门徒, even if you preach in my name就算你奉我的名讲道, cast demons in my name奉我的名赶鬼, perform miracles in my name奉我的名行异能…when I return到我再来时, you are not worthy of my reward你不配得我赏赐. I will not appreciate what you do我不欣赏你所做的.” The reward is so glorious那赏赐大有荣耀! that’s why Jesus calls us to follow his narrow road in this life所以主呼召我们今生跟从祂走窄路.

2, They are the martyrs throughout the human history他们是人类历史上的所有殉道者. They are killed for their faith他们为信仰被杀.

3, They are the martyrs during the tribulation他们是大患难中的殉道者. They will not bow down to the world for their personal needs in this life他们不会为今生所需向世界低头.

Those faithful followers will be acknowledged by the Lord to reign with Him for a thousand years那些将来被主来承认的衷心跟随者，他们要与主一同做王一千年. After the thousand years过了那一千年, go down to Revelation 20:11 -15往下看，到了（启20：11-15）, we see that the judgement throne comes出现审判的大宝座, and those who are non-believers will be put into the eternal fire那些不信的人将被投入永火中. Then in Revelation 21然后到了《启示录》二十一章, we see that eventually the promised new heaven and new earth come应许的新天新地终于来到, and those who are ready for Christ 那些为基督预备好自己的人 - the overcomers will not just reign with Christ for a thousand years就是得胜者，不但与基督作王一千年, but also will reign with Christ in the Holy City forever还要在圣城与基督作王到永远!  (21：1-7, 22:1-5，启22：1-5) After a thousand years outside the door weeping and gnashing teeth在门外哀哭切齿一千年后, In Cor 3:10-15 tells us like this《林前3:10-15》这样说,  if any man builds his building with using wood, hay and straw (the work of the flesh)若有人用草木、禾秸建造（指肉体的工作）, and it will be burned up during the testing of their faith当在信心试验的时候必被烧毁, yet they will be saved人却要得救, but only as one escaping through the flames却像从火里经过的一样. Those who have received Jesus will never lose their salvation信主的人会得救, but if they don’t pay the price to deny the flesh and follow Christ’s footsteps但若不付代价否定肉体跟从基督的脚踪, they will receive no reward at all when Jesus returns耶稣再来的时候就得不着赏赐.

In Revelation 22:14（启22：14）, it tells us, Blessed are those who wash their robes那些洗净自己衣服的有福了, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city可得权柄能到生命树那里，也能从门进城.

Those who are just saved by washing in the blood of Christ may have the right to go to the tree用基督的血洗净自己衣服的（得救的），可得权柄到生命树那里, but only the overcomers have been given the right to eat from the tree of life惟有得胜者才得吃生命树的果子 (Re 2:7，启2:7). Furthermore而且, those who are just saved by washing their robes in the blood of Christ may have the right to go through the gates into the city用基督的血洗净自己衣服的，可从门进城, but for those who are overcomers但得胜者, they will never again leave it却住在城内永不离开. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God得胜的，我要叫他在我神殿中作柱子. Never again will they leave it他也必不再从那里出去. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God我又要将我神的名和我神城的名, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God（这城就是从天上、从我神那里降下来的新耶路撒冷）; and I will also write on them my new name并我的新名，都写在他上面.

 Hallelujah哈利路亚! Praise God for His ways are just and true赞美神，祂的道途已哉、诚哉! Does this appeal to you你对此感兴趣吗? How you choose to live will affect you eternally你选择怎样生活，将产生永恒的影响! That’s why the bible tells us所以圣经说 “without faith it is impossible to please God人非有信，就不能得神的喜悦, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him因为到神面前来的人，必须信有神，且信他赏赐那寻求他的人. Heb 11:6（来11：6）”

This verse says that if we say we have faith in God这经文告诉我们若我们说我们对神有信心, and believe that God exists并信神的存在, but if we don’t believe that He rewards and so we don’t seek His promises earnestly in our lives但我们不信祂会赏赐，也就不去切切寻求祂的赏赐, our “faith” will not please God because it is not the faith that God wants from us!我们的所谓的信心就不能讨神的喜悦 This is not talking about the first step of receiving salvation but the next step of growing in faith. 这不是在说得救的第一步接受耶稣，而是在说在信心里成长。

For this promised city in Heaven为这天上的应许之城, Abel became the first martyr for his faith亚伯第一个为信仰殉道, Noah lived a different lifestyle in this world挪亚在世上持守与世不同的生活方式, Abraham offered his only son to the God who is the life and the resurrection亚伯拉罕为叫死人复活的神献上独生子! They were longing for a city in heaven by doing God’s will throughout their whole lives他们终生遵行神旨意，切慕盼望那天上的城! For they knew that God will never lie因他们知道神绝不至说谎!

Are you longing for the promised city in heaven?你切慕那天上的城吗？ Nothing is too Late in God’s kingdom在神的国里，不会太迟! It doesn’t matter how many times you have failed,不在乎你失败多少次 the matter is whether you are willing to deny the will of the self and turn to His will在乎的是你是否愿意否定自己而顺服神的旨意? And to do His will?行祂的旨意 even to take risk for the Father’s will!以至于为父的命令去冒险 His grace is sufficient!祂的恩典够用 His love is everlasting 祂的慈爱存到永远! He alone holds the keys of death and Hades!唯有祂拿着死亡和阴间的钥匙 Amen! 阿门！Lord Jesus,主耶稣 blessed are those who do the will of the Father! 那些行父旨意的人有福了！

How many people want to a make a renewed commitment today有多少人今天想再次献上自己，说, say, “Lord, I don’t want to be like the five foolish virgins主啊，我不想像那五个愚拙的童女, I wanna get myself ready for your wedding banquet我愿预备自己赴你的婚宴…I commit myself to you again我再次把自己献给你…make me your true disciple求使我成为你的门徒…whether in tears or in joy无论是喜是悲, whether in sickness or in health无论疾病或健康…whether rich or in need无论富有或贫穷…whether in hardship or in ease无论顺境逆境…make me your faithful follower求使我成为你衷心的跟随者…