Last Sunday we talked about the parable of the sower,上周日，我们讲了撒种的比寓, where Jesus sows the seed of the gospel into our hearts.耶稣撒好种就是福音的种子在我们心中。In the beginning,一开始, it is just a seed.它只是个种子。A seed doesn’t bear fruit,种子不能结果，unless you water it,除非你浇水, fertilize it,施肥, wait for it to grow,等候它成长, after you make an effort,花心血，eventually, you’ll see the fruit.最后 你看到了果子。It’s the same for the growth of our spiritual life. 我们属灵的生命成长也是如此。 

Nowadays,当今，we’re living in a technological world.我们活在信息技术时代。There are so many distractions and noises that can stop us spending time with God,这样就有太多的分心和干扰会阻止我们亲近神，through our cell phones,借着手机, laptops, computers and so on.手提电脑和电脑等等。Last Sunday morning,上主日早上，I deleted a news app from my cell phone.我从手机里删除了一个新闻。That evening,那天傍晚, God showed me evidence that He was pleased with what I did.神显明它喜悦我做这事的凭据。I ministered to a brother,我服事一个弟兄, and the power and the love of God poured out,神的大能和爱倾倒下来，both of us were touched with tears and runny noses during the prayer I led him to,在领他 祷告时我们都被主爱感动得眼泪鼻涕，and he was set free from the feeling of unforgiveness which he couldn’t get rid of it before. 他也从不饶恕感里被释放，这是他从前饶恕不了的。The presence of God’s love was strong enough to deliver him from negative feelings. 神的同在大爱释放他脱离负面情绪。After that,这以后，I wondered what would have happened,我想, if that morning I disobeyed God by keeping that news app?要是我不顺服神的感动去删除那个新闻app, 事情会怎样？I can’t imagine.不敢想象。There are so many distractions and noises that we need to get rid of from our lives.有太多的干扰和杂音在我们的生命中需要去删除。Because they steal our time,因为他们是偷窃时间的, so that we aren’t be able to do what we need to do.叫我们不能做该做的事。Time is free,时间是免费的, but it’s priceless and can’t be reversed.但却是宝贵和不可逆转的。

Today, we’ll look at 2 Peter 1:3-11, 今天我们要来看彼后1：3-11, to see what we need to do persistently in God’s grace,看看什么是我们持续要行的, so that we may grow fruitfully and won’t stumble frequently.因此就多结果子也不至于常跌倒。 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 　神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。 因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与　神的性情有份。 正因这缘故，你们要分外地殷勤；有了信心，又要加上德行；有了德行，又要加上知识； 有了知识，又要加上节制；有了节制，又要加上忍耐；有了忍耐，又要加上虔敬； 有了虔敬，又要加上爱弟兄的心；有了爱弟兄的心，又要加上爱众人的心。 你们若充充足足地有这几样，就必使你们在认识我们的主耶稣基督上不至于闲懒不结果子了。 人若没有这几样，就是眼瞎，只看见近处的，忘了他旧日的罪已经得了洁净。 所以弟兄们，应当更加殷勤，使你们所蒙的恩召和拣选坚定不移。你们若行这几样，就永不失脚； 这样，必叫你们丰丰富富地得以进入我们主－救主耶稣基督永远的国。(彼得后书 1:3-11) 

1, Call to a godly life.v.1-4 过敬虔生活的呼召1-4节 

It says that we are called to live a godly life. 这里说我们被召是要过敬虔的生活。A godly life rather is to participate in His divine nature. 过敬虔生活就是要活出神的性情。Think about it, 试想想，what a blessing it would be! 这是何等大的祝福！if our soul, 如果我们的灵魂，our emotions, 我们的情感，our physical health, 身体健康，our families, 家庭，our relationships, 人际关系，our work lives, 工作事业，and everything about us was controlled by the divine power of Jesus who is truth and peace. 关乎我们的一切都能被耶稣的神的大能所覆庇，而他就是真理与和平。 And we no longer gave in to the desires of the old nature, 我们不再顺服于旧人的私欲，which only allows the power which steals, kills, and destroys to torment us emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. 因为这私欲就是让恶者进来盗窃，杀害和毁坏我们的情感，意志，灵和身体。God cares about our whole well-being. 神顾念我们的方方面面。He wants us to grow in Him,他要我们在他里面长大，so that we may escape from the deception and torment of the evil power of our enemies. 使我们可以脱离恶者所带来的迷惑和折磨。

During lockdown, 在封城期间，we shared a series of messages about how Christians’ disobedience to God keeps them under the influence of generational curses (see Deut 28), 我们分享了一系列关于基督徒如何因不顺服神而活在家族诅咒里的信息（参见申命记28），like some repeated or chronic sickness in the history of a family, 比如家族历史上反复出现的疾病或是一些慢性疾病，history of suicides and untimely deaths, 有自杀或早死的，mental or emotional breakdowns, 精神或情感崩溃的，continuing financial insufficiency and so on. 持续的财务不足的状况等等。And how obedience to God through the redemption of Christ can break those curses and allows us to live a blessed life in Christ. 顺服神，藉着基督的救赎，可以打破那些咒诅，使我们在基督里过有福的生活。 1 Tim 4:8 提摩太前书4章8节，tells us, 告诉我们，that living a godly life has value for all things, 唯独敬虔凡事都有益处，holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 因有今生和来生的应许。

A godly life doesn’t begin with something that we need to do. 敬虔的生活不是始于我们必须做什么。Instead, it begins with what God has already done for us. 而是，从神已经为我们所做的开始。V.3-4. 3-4节中，Some people say, 有人说， “A godly life is hard to pursue, 过圣洁生活太难了，because we live in a world full of temptation, 这个世界满了诱惑，- the lust of the flesh,肉体情欲，the lust of the eyes, 眼目情欲，and the pride of life.并今生的骄傲。” Yes, there are temptations, 是的，世上是有诱惑，but the truth says, 但真理告诉我们， “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life.神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们” God has given us everything we need, 神已经给了我们一切我们所需要的，the love that conquers rejection!那爱胜过拒绝！The wisdom that defeats all lies and deceptions! 那智慧胜过谎言和欺骗！The divine power that breaks the bondage of addictions and demolishes strongholds.那神的大能打破一切瘾的捆绑，拆毁各种坚固营垒。In Him,在祂里面, we lack nothing to be able to live a victorious life,我们一无所缺, 完全可以活出得胜的生命this is the truth.这是真理。Because God’s given us everything we need. 因为神给了我们一切所需。

But how do we know that God has given us everything we need? 但我们如何能知道神已经赐了一切我们所需？“through our knowledge of him” 借着我们去认识祂 “the knowledge of God” means getting to know God. 真正认识神意味着要你要更多的真知道祂。In other words, 换句话说，to live a godly life and grow in Him is to rely on getting to know Him more,过敬虔的生活和在祂里面成长是依赖与对祂更多的认识，not to rely on our own strength. 而不是倚靠自己的能力。The more we get to know Him,我们越多认识祂，the more we are able to live a godly life.我们就越能活出敬虔的生活。In 1 John 2:12-14, 在约翰一书2章12-14节中，when John the apostle talks about the three stages of spiritual maturity, 使徒约翰谈到灵命成熟的三个阶段时，he didn’t say much about those spiritual fathers. 他没有过多地讲属灵父老。He only says,他只说， “I’m writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning” “父老啊，我写信给你们，因为你们认识那从起初原有的。” They are considered as fathers not because that they have been Christians for a long time, 他们被称为父老不是因为是老基督徒，or they have done more for the church, 或因为他们为教会服事很多，but because they know who God is, 而是因为他们真正认识神，due to walking in the knowledge of God, so that they are more mature and experienced believers. 由于行走在认识神的道路上，使他们成为更加成熟和有经历的信徒。

We can see this in Abraham’s story. 这让我们可以在亚伯拉罕的故事里看到。When Abraham was a spiritual infant, 当亚伯拉罕还是属灵婴孩的时候，he lied twice because he was afraid to be killed due to his wife Sarah’s good looks.他因为害怕因妻子的美丽自己会被杀就撒了两次谎。Although God had promised him that He would make him a great nation and would bless him in Genesis chapter 12, 虽然神在创世纪第12章应许他要使他成为一个大国并且赐福给他，he wouldn’t have been killed,他不会被杀，yet in Abraham’s personal experience of hard times,但在他经历的难处时，he gave himself in to lies because of fear. 就因为惧怕把自己交给了说谎。But after more than 20 years when the promised Isaac was born in Abraham and Sarah’s old age and their bodies were as good as dead in Genesis Chapter 21, 但在创世记第21章，经过20多年后，在亚伯拉罕和撒拉都年老的时候，神应许的以撒出生了，after that, 那之后，Abraham’s faith had matured and he knew who God is.亚伯拉罕的信心成熟了，因他认识了神。We see this in the next Chapter, 在下一章中，where God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his one and only son as a burnt offering. 神考验亚伯拉罕的信心，要他把自己的独生子献为燔祭。 

When Abraham saw the place in the distance, he said this to his servants, 亚伯拉罕举目远远地看见那地方，就对他仆人说，“stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you. 你们和驴在此等候，我与童子往那里去拜一拜，就回到你们这里来。” What great faith he offered to God! 他向神献上的信心是大的！Instead of panic and complaints, 没有惊慌没有抱怨，there was  peace and reassurance due to his growing knowledge of who God is! 他里面有的是平安和放心，因他在认识神上成长了！What did he believe? 他信的是什么？Romans 4:24 罗马书4：24 says, 说到“he believed - the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not亚伯拉罕所信的，是那叫死人复活、使无变为有的神。”.

A mature spiritual life without panic and complaints when facing storms and challenges in life is based on knowing God. 一个成熟的属灵生命，在面对人生的风暴和挑战时，没有惊慌和抱怨是因为真认识神。In Gen 22, 创世纪22章中，we see that after Abraham passed the testing of his faith, 亚伯拉罕通过了信心的考试，he called that place 他称那地方为“Jehovah Jireh, the Lord will see or provide”耶和华以勒，耶和华必预备。Abraham got to know more about who God is. 那时亚伯兰罕已经更多的认识神。 

This is not because of a bible story that was passed down to Abraham, 不是因为他听了圣经里的故事，but through walking in relationship with God and his growth in the knowledge of God, 是因为他建立与神关系亲密，和他在认识神做事的法则上成长，his faith was growing. 他的信心就增长。These are the footsteps of faith that we are called to follow, 这是我们要跟随的信心的脚踪，from my own experience,我自己, every beginning of a year.每一年的起头。I must do a prayer that is to ask God to make Himself known to me more than ever,我必须做的一个祷告就是求祂让我更多认识祂，and to lead me to a level where I’ve never ever reached before.并引导我进入一个新层面。God is faithful that He hasn’t denied this prayer.神是信实的，从来没有拒绝这祷告。You also can do this prayer,你可以做这样祷告，so that you make sure that you’re growing in the knowledge of God literally by His grace.以至于你确实的在认识神上因祂的恩典长进。

2, Take steps to grow. V.5-7 逐步长进5-7节 

Growing in the knowledge of God is not hollow and automatic. 要更多的认识神，并不是空谈或自然而然就能达成的。Some people ask, 有人问，“Why don’t I have faith when things get tough, I lose peace just like 10 years ago when I was a non-believer? “怎么环境一来我就失去信心了呢？跟10年前我没信主的时候一样，心里一点没有平安？I say I entrust myself to Him, but I actually can’t live out that faith?”我说我交托主，但却交不出来？” Why? 为什么？Faith grows in knowing who He is deep in our hearts not just in our heads.信心的增长是我们心里深知祂是谁，而不是头脑里的认识。 V.5-8 tells us that we need to make every effort to possess certain qualities in increasing measure, 5-8节告诉我们要分外殷勤，充充足足地有这几样的品格，so that we won’t be unfruitful. 叫我们不至于不结果子。

There’ are 8 virtues that we need to pursue as we grow in the knowledge of God. 这里列举了8种美德是我们在认识神上要追求的。 

Faith — trusting in God’s words rather than trusting what we think. 信心—信神的话过于信自己所想的。This is where our journey of faith starts. 这是我们信心之旅的开始。2 Peter 1:1, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours. 写信给那因我们的神，和（有古卷无和字）救主耶稣基督之义，与我们同得一样宝贵信心的人。We receive faith as a gift for our salvation in the beginning.在得救之初，信心是（神）给我们的礼物。We also need to live by faith in sanctification. 我们也当靠信心过分别为圣的生活。Faith is not from ourselves but a gift of God. 信心出于神，而不是我们自己。 

Romans 10:17, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." 可见信道是从听道来的，听道是从基督的话来的。In other words, 换句话说，if we want to have faith, 如果我们想有信心，we have to come to the word of God, 就得来就神的话，spend time listening, reading and praying the word of God.花时间来听，来读，用神的话来祷告。Meanwhile, 同时，we need to act out the word that we’ve believed to prove that our faith is real.还要将所信的行出来，来见证我们的信是又真又活的。Faith and our actions working together make changes to our lives. 信心和行为并存才能真正改变我们的生命。In the book of Joshua,在约书亚记中，when Joshua delivered the word of God to the priests who carried the ark of the covenant to go across the Jordan,  当约书亚将神的话吩咐抬约柜过约旦河的祭司时，if the priests hadn’t set foot in the Jordan because of fear that they would have been washed away by the surging water,如果祭司们因为怕被约旦河的滔滔急流冲走，就不敢把脚踏进约旦河中，they wouldn’t have seen that even the water listened to God and stopped flowing, 就无法亲眼见证连水也要听从神而停住，so that they could cross the river.叫他们过了约旦河。But because they did what God had commanded them by dying to fear,但因他们听从了神的命令，向惧怕死，and they took the risk in trusting God’s word, 愿意冒险信神的话，as a result, they got to know God’s sovereignty,因此，他们得以见证神的大能，and their faith grew in the knowledge of God. 信心也因认识神而增长。So what kind of risks did you take for the Word of God so that your knowledge of God has increased?你为行神的话冒了什么险，以至于你在认识神上增长了？ 

Goodness, 德行Self-control, 节制Perseverance忍耐 — Actually, these are all the fruit of the Holy Spirit. 其实，这些都是圣灵所结的果子。Gal 5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱，喜乐，和平，忍耐，恩慈，良善，信实，温柔，节制。No plants bear fruit instantly, not does the fruit of the Spirit.没有树是马上就结果的，圣灵也不是马上就结出果子的。You can’t say, 你不能说，“in one minute I become a follower of Jesus, 这一秒我跟随了耶稣，then, the next minute, I could show off a life with goodness, self-control and patience.” “下一秒我就能活出有德行，节制，忍耐的生命。” That’s not the fruit of the Spirit but a counterfeit. 这不是圣灵的工作，是强装出来的。God has given us everything we need for a godly life, 神已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们， so we don’t have to rely on our strength to only imitate Jesus outwardly by restraining temper or any sinful desires to show off our maturity. 所以我们不必靠自己去压制脾气，或克制各样邪情私欲，只在外面做基督来显摆自己是生命成熟的。That’s not the way God wants us to be. 这不是神向我们要的。The faith we are given is to help us to fight! 神赐我们的信心是帮助我们争战的！As Christians, we are fighters and warriors!作为基督徒，我们是打仗的，是勇士！In the journey of growth, 在成圣的路上，we’re not to fight against people when we feel wronged or hurt.我们并不是与人相争，当我们觉得委屈或被伤害。We are to fight against all the following desires that cause us to stumble.我们是与一切叫我们跌倒的自己里面的情欲相争。

19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality (all sexual sins, including homosexuality) , impurity (unclean thoughts) and debauchery; 20 idolatry (greed, arrogance, stubbornness) and witchcraft (rebellion, disobedience) ; hatred (unforgiveness, bitterness), discord (gossip, criticism) jealousy, fits of rage (furious anger), selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 情欲的事都是显而易见的，就如奸淫、污秽、邪荡、 拜偶像、邪术、仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、结党、纷争、异端、 嫉妒（有古卷加：凶杀二字）、醉酒、荒宴等类。我从前告诉你们，现在又告诉你们，行这样事的人必不能承受　神的国。(加拉太书 5:19-21)  If we want to grow fruit like Jesus’ goodness, self-control, perseverance, 如果我们想像耶稣一样结出有德行，节制，忍耐的果子，we need to close the door to self-seeking in our daily lives, 就要每日操练不求自己的益处，we close the door to satisfying the passions and the desires of the self, we die to them.不去喂养老我的需要和满足。We make every effort to yield to the Spirit of truth and to memorize Jesus’ every move,我们要努力顺服真理的圣灵，并去思想耶稣的每一步，so that when we face any situation, 以至于当我们面对任何环境，we can respond as He did, 我们就可以行耶稣所行的– not my will but Yours be done, 照你的意思，不照我的意思成就, even when it hurts.即使有时候很痛。

In any situations, we grab the bible, we praise His love and faithfulness,在任何环境，我们拿起圣经，赞美神的爱和信实，we die to fear, we die to anxiety, we die to self-exaltation, 向惧怕死，向忧虑死，向高举自我死，we declare who He is,宣告祂是谁, we declare His sovereignty,宣告祂的掌权, we declare His power over sin and death…宣告祂的能力胜过罪和死亡…until all negative feelings are cast out of our hearts, 直到所有负面情绪从我们心里被赶出去，we yield to Jesus’ goodness, kindness, self-control and patience to forgive and love.我们顺服耶稣的良善，仁慈，节制，忍耐饶恕和爱。If we practice this day by day, we may grow in the knowledge of God, and the character of Jesus. 如果天天这样操练，我们必更多认识神和耶稣的生命。 

Knowledge— we make sure that our growth is in the knowledge of God, 知识—要确保我们是在对神的认识上成长，which means day after day we know God better, 意思是我们每一天更加认识神，and because of knowing Him better we no longer fear. 并因更认识祂就不再惧怕。Godliness虔敬，--- Make that living a godly life.  ---过敬虔的生活。Brotherly affection爱弟兄的心，— This is talking about church family that we have to love our brothers and sisters, 指的是我们弟兄姊妹在教会的家中彼此相爱，rather than judge them critically. 而不是互相批评指责。 

Practicing love starts with the church family, 操练爱是从教会的家开始， “if you don’t love the people you see, 若你都不爱他看见的弟兄，how can you love the God whom you don’t see?”怎么能爱没有看见的神？”Romans 12:10 (ESV), Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor爱弟兄，要彼此亲热；恭敬人，要彼此推让。 (罗马书 12:10)。 Here, brotherly love is linked to showing honour to others. 这里的爱弟兄指的是彼此尊重。But in our flesh, we only honour those who are worthy of honour.但肉体里，我们只尊重那些自认为值得尊重的人。But 1 Tim 6:1, Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 凡在轭下作仆人的，当以自己主人配受十分的恭敬，免得　神的名和道理被人亵渎。 (提摩太前书 6:1) 1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 务要尊敬众人，亲爱教中的弟兄，敬畏　神，尊敬君王。(彼得前书 2:17) 

We are commanded to honour (respect) our bosses, the authority of our country,神吩咐我们尊敬上司和国家的权柄，no matter who they are, 无论他们是何人，or what religion they believe, 他们信什么宗教，they may be idol worshippers, 或许他们拜偶像，they may be Buddhists, 或许是佛教徒，or whatever, 无论是信什么的，we are told to respect them as people whom God made, 我们当把他们看作神所造的人来尊重，instead of criticizing them the way we did as non-Christians, 而不当像我们不信主的时候那样去批评他们，for the purpose of glorifying God’s name. 这样做是为荣耀神。 

We respect because we are respected by God when we don’t deserve the respect,我们尊重他人，因神尊重了我们，在我们不配的时候，in that He sent His Son Christ Jesus to die for us. 差遣了独生子耶稣基督为我们死。When we honour those who don’t deserve it like we were treated by God, 我们若尊重不配尊重的人，如同神这样尊重我们，we show our new nature in Christ. 就显明我们是基督里新造的人。This is the way God treats us, 神也这样待我们，and we should treat each other this way in church,我们也当在教会中这样彼此相待， to demonstrate that we’re new creations in Jesus. 来表明我们在基督里是新造的人。

Now my heart is stirring and moving in the love of God…现在我的心被神的爱摸着、我心感动……should we pray for each other for a moment?…我们好不好来彼此代祷？husbands pray for your wives, 丈夫为妻子祷告，wives pray for your husbands to respect each other. 妻子为丈夫祷告，来彼此尊重。To accept he or she just as God accepts you. 接纳对方，如同神接纳你。It’s not because he has something that’s worthy of your honour, 并非因为对方有点什么值得你去尊重，it’s just because Jesus honoured you by lifting you up through shedding his own blood, 而是因耶稣流宝血，尊重你，举起你，you pass this honour to him or to her,你也当将这样的尊重传递给对方，…and tell God that you are willing to die to the desires and impatience of the self,  对神说你甘愿向肉体私欲死，向无忍耐死，and that you’re willing to honour him or her, 你愿意尊重对方，so that God’s name may be glorified through your willingness to honour each other. 让神的名因你们的甘心乐意而得荣耀。You may have criticised him previously, 也许你之前会批评对方，because he didn’t meet your expectations but now, 因对方达不到你的标准，但现在， you tell God, that you also didn’t reach God’s holy measure,你对神说，你也没有达到神圣洁的标准，but he stepped down to lift you up. 但祂离开宝座为要举起你。He is merciful, He is love, 祂充满怜悯，祂是爱，Love — love is the ultimate goal of our growth. 爱——是我们成长的终极目标。We need to grow in love. 我们需要在爱中成长。Because our God is Love. 因神是爱。神爱了我们，Pray for each other with the love that God loved us…让我们在这样的爱中彼此祷告… 

Let’s sing the last song, “In Christ alone”. 我们来唱最后一首歌《单在基督里》。