Those who 'go beyond' it cannot be from God ; 2 John

2 John 1-13
John sent message to the chosen lady and her children.
Because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever.
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the father's Son, will be with us in truth and love.
As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Chris does not have God; Whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.
Unlike 1 John, 2 John and 3 John are 'real letters, each long enough to be accommodated on a standard size sheet of papyrus and conforming to the letter-writing pattern of the time.
There is little doubt that 1,2 and 3 John are the work of one author, most like the apostle John or a close disciple of his. The writer calls himself 'the Elder' in both 2 and 3 John. the one addressed to 'the dear lady and her children', the other a private letter, like Paul's letter to Philemon.
2 John, like 1 John, warns against false teacher, encourages the readers to hold to the truth, and focuses on a favorite theme: Jesus command that those who follow him should love one another.
To love others as Jesus loves us means keeping God's commands. For Christians, love and truth go hand in hand.
Why?
Christ's teaching is the test by which to judge visiting teachers. Those who 'go beyond' it cannot be from God. John is combating the same sort of trouble here as in his first letter. From the start of the Christian mission there had been travelling evangelists and teachers, usually responsible to one of the apostles, who were given hospitality by the local churches. The time has come to tighten up. Those whose teaching contradicts the fundamental truth about Jesus Christ should not be made welcome.
John looks forward to a visit. There is so much more to be said than he can put in writing. The 'Children of your dear sisiter' are presumably members of John's own church.
Those who do not bring both the Father and the Son, do not welcome him and do not enter their church.
How?
May the truth and love be with me, walk in love and trust in both the Father and the Son.

We know

1 John 5:14-21
if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
All wrongdoing is sin,and there is sin that does not lead to death. If you see any brother or sister commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray and God will give them life.
We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.
The false teachers loves to talk about 'knowledge', John makes his own list of thing 'we know' for a certainty.

• We know that Christ himself keeps his followers from continuing in the old sinful way of life.
• We know we belong to God in an alien world.
• We know that through the Son of God we know God himself, and share his eternal life.

Having set out the certainties. John urges his readers in closing: 'Do not abandon the real for the illusory(虛幻)'
Why?
When we live in Him, we know God's will so we pray God will listen.
Pray for the brothers wrongdoing, it is sin but which are not lead to death.
Because we know these three truth, we have confidence to face the false teaching. Hold on the truth Jesus have given us.
How?
I know I belong to the Lord, I know I live in God and God is in me, I know through Jesus Christ I share his eternal life.

至於我和我家，我們必定事奉耶和華

10／22／2017臺南聖教會。  高敏智牧師
約書亞記24：11-15
思想：
耶和華在降福之後，必轉而降禍與你們，把你們滅絕。
神為何先給人…再讓人失去
因為得著神的恩典後沒有按照神的心意往前走。
尊重+引導…藐視+失格
1.回顧生命道路
1）大河那邊的祖宗。從大陸各省來的祖先
2）埃及的日子。 日據時代
3）曠野的日子。228事件
4）約旦河東的日子。  大陸來的壓力
5）應許之地的日子
2.回顧神的作為
1）引領走未知的路
2）賜給你未知的需要
3）讓你看見拯救的神蹟
4）轉咒詛為祝福
5）差遣大黃蜂的故事。迦納地的人都怕
大綱：
1.除掉 大河那邊和埃及所事奉的神。生命的傳統習慣…神所引導的道路裕恩典。誠信實意：沒有雜質。價值觀的突破…巴蘭的咒詛卻成為祝福。所倚靠的權勢…親眼看見神的大能與超越。
花店看花幾小時卻不買花送女友，沒錢卻說買花的不是真愛妳，都是謊言。應該是在花園看花
2.選擇 今日心中全心全意委身的神
你們心持二意要到幾時你？
3.至於 我和我家，必定事奉耶和華
    至於就是和以前不一樣，要有所選擇。不能事奉瑪門又事奉耶和華。如羅得選擇
馬利亞選擇那上好的福分
提醒：
1.
2.

Jesus passed three testify

1 John 5:4-13
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
This is the one who came by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement.
And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Faith is what 'overcomes the world'. God himself stands witness that Jesus is his Son. "To believe is life, to disbelieve is death"
Why?
Believe and trust is life, deny Jesus Christ is the Lord can not get the eternal life.
Faith can overcome the world!
Jesus Christ is Son of God and be testified by water, blood and Spirit. And three are in agreement, it is the truth.
How?
Jesus Christ is the Lord, I believe it and obey his word!

PS. I got following word from Paster Gau yesterday
Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.
Even I will work in Taipei, God is my portion, fear the Lord, God will help me, where I go is in pleasant places.
Psalm 16:4-6
以別神代替耶和華的（或譯：送禮物給別神的），他們的愁苦必加增
耶和華是我的產業，是我杯中的分；我所得的，你為我持守。
用繩量給我的地界，坐落在佳美之處；我的產業實在美好。

To love God is to share God's nature and to love others

1 John 4:13-5:3
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Love and obedience are bound up together. If we love and obey God, we need not dread the day of judgment.
Father is what brings us into God's family .To love God is to share God's nature and to love others. Love for God makes obedience natural, not burdensome.
Why?
Because God is love, whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is the truth and do not fear the judgment.The one who fears is not made perfect in love, the conscience will accuse us.
There is no fear in love like a mother loves his child.
Love one another is sharing God's nature, so it is not burden but make obedience.
How?
To love God is to share God's nature and to love others, it is joy!

His love and my love

1 John 4:7-12
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Why? because God is love. since God so loved us.
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
God is light and God is love. He showed his love for us in sending his Son to bring us forgiveness and new life.
The proof that we really share his life - his nature - is the love we show towards other.
Why?
God loves us first, it is not we loved God, so we ought to love one another.
If we do love one another we are live in Him, and his love is made complete in us.
His love and my love to others made his love complete.
Love can solve hates and separation among people, love overcome the loss and suffering.
How?
Love need the action to show our love! Love one another is not in tongue!

How to recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood

1 John 4:1-6
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
Every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
Dear children, you are from God and have overcome them, because one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
We are from God , and whoever knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.
John sets one basic test by which to judge any teacher - he must recognize that Jesus Christ came as a human being. He is not ignoring the equally essential recognition of Jesus as Son of God.
But it was Jesus' humanity that the heretics(pagan) of John's day denied. So they cannot possibly come with a message from God. Because we belong to God. John says, we can tell truth from error.
Why?
To brothers: do not believe every spirit but test spirits to see whether they are from God. Recognize Jesus Christ came as a human being.
To children: they are young.Do not overcome by the world because one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ is over the world.
Satan always try to grasp our heart through the attraction of the world.
How?
There are many spirits in the world, but Christian have to test it to see the truth and falsehood!