“Honor and Serve God in Everything” “在凡事上榮耀及服事神” 帖前 1 Thess 4:1-12

“A dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God.” Martin Luther 馬丁路德 “A dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God.” “農家女子能藉著擠牛奶 來榮耀神.”

帖前 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 (NIV84) 1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

帖前 1 Thess 4:1–12 (NIV) 1弟兄們，我還有話說‧我們靠著主耶穌求你們，勸你們，你們既然受了我們的教訓，知道該怎樣行，可以討神的喜悅，就要照你們現在所行的，更加勉勵‧2你們原曉得我們憑主耶穌傳給你們什麼命令‧3神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔，遠避淫行‧4要你們各人曉得怎樣用聖潔尊貴，守著自己的身體‧5不放縱私慾的邪情，像那不認識神的外邦人‧6不要一個人在這事上越分，欺負他的弟兄‧因為這一類的事，主必報應，正如我預先對你們說過，又切切囑咐你們的‧7神召我們，本不是要我們沾染污穢，乃是要我們成為聖潔‧8所以那棄絕的，不是棄絕人，乃是棄絕那賜聖靈給你們的神‧9論到弟兄們相愛，不用人寫信給你們，因為你們自己蒙了神的教訓，叫你們彼此相愛‧10你們向馬其頓全地的眾弟兄，固然是這樣行，但我勸弟兄們要更加勉勵‧11又要立志作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手作工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的‧12叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有什麼缺乏了‧

I. Life is a gift from God’s hand. 生命是神親手所給我們的禮物. (傳 Ecc 5:18-20) The opportunity and ability to labor is a gift. (勞碌的机會与能力…) The fruit of labor is a gift. (勞碌的果子…) The ability to enjoy the fruit of labor is a gift (享受勞碌果子的能力…) Thanksgiving is the key (感恩的心是享福的秘訣)

II. Everything is for God’s purpose and glory. 一切事物都是為了神的目的及榮耀 II. Everything is for God’s purpose and glory. 一切事物都是為了神的目的及榮耀. (4:1; 西 Col 1:16; 羅 Rom 11:36; 箴 Prov 16:4) 帖前 1 Thessalonians 4:1–2 (NIV84) 1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 1弟兄們，我還有話說‧我們靠著主耶穌求你們，勸你們，你們既然受了我們的教訓，知道該怎樣行，可以討神的喜悅，就要照你們現在所行的，更加勉勵‧2你們原曉得我們憑主耶穌傳給你們什麼命令‧

羅 Rom 11:36 (LB) Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory. 因為萬有都是本於他，倚靠他，歸於他‧願榮耀歸給他，直到永遠‧阿們‧

歌羅西 Col 1:16 (Msg) “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible,… everything got started and finds its purpose in Him.” 因為萬有都是靠他造的，無論是天上的，地上的，能看見的，不能看見的，或是有位的，主治的，執政的，掌權的，一概都是藉著他造的，又是為他造的‧

神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔，遠避淫行‧ 帖前 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV) III. Sanctification is God’s will for us as Christians. 成圣(分別為圣)是神對我們(基督徒)的旨意. (4:3-8; 羅 Rom 12:1-2; 雅 James 1:26-27) 帖前 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NIV) It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔，遠避淫行‧

Sanctification 分別為聖;成聖 Set apart for God’s purpose 為神的目的被從世界分別出來

羅 Romans 12:1–2 (NIV) 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 1所以弟兄們，我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的‧你們如此事奉，乃是理所當然的‧2不要效法這個世界‧只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良，純全可喜悅的旨意‧

Offer your body as a living sacrifice 將你的身体獻上當作活祭 (羅 Rom 12:1) Live for Christ in your real world. 在你真實的世界裡為主而活.

雅各 James 1:27 (NIV) Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 在 神我們的父面前，那清潔沒有玷污的虔誠，就是看顧在患難中的孤兒寡婦，並且保守自己不沾染世俗‧

11又要立志作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手作工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的‧12叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有什麼缺乏了‧ IV. To be a Christian is not about religious rituals; it’s all about life and living. 基督徒信仰的內容不是宗教儀式, 乃是像基督的生命及生活. (4:12; 太 Matt 15:7-9) 帖前 1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 (NIV) 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 11又要立志作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手作工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的‧12叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有什麼缺乏了‧

太 Matthew 15:7–9 (NIV) 7 You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 8 “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’” 7假冒為善的人哪，以賽亞指著你們說的預言，是不錯的‧他說，8『這百姓用嘴唇尊敬我，心卻遠離我‧9他們將人的吩咐，當作道理教導人，所以拜我也是枉然‧』

V. We must glorify and serve God in everything. 我們必須以生活中所有的事物來榮耀及事奉神 V. We must glorify and serve God in everything. 我們必須以生活中所有的事物來榮耀及事奉神. (4:1-12; 西 Col 3:23-24; 羅 Rom 12:1-2; 11:36; 林前 1Cor 10:31; 來 Heb 11:6) 帖前 1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 (NIV84) 1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

V. We must glorify and serve God in everything. 我們必須以生活中所有的事物來榮耀及事奉神 V. We must glorify and serve God in everything. 我們必須以生活中所有的事物來榮耀及事奉神. (4:1-12; 西 Col 3:23-24; 羅 Rom 12:1-2; 11:36; 林前 1Cor 10:31; 來 Heb 11:6) 帖前 1 Thess 4:1–12 (NIV) 1弟兄們，我還有話說‧我們靠著主耶穌求你們，勸你們，你們既然受了我們的教訓，知道該怎樣行，可以討神的喜悅，就要照你們現在所行的，更加勉勵‧2你們原曉得我們憑主耶穌傳給你們什麼命令‧3神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔，遠避淫行‧4要你們各人曉得怎樣用聖潔尊貴，守著自己的身體‧5不放縱私慾的邪情，像那不認識神的外邦人‧6不要一個人在這事上越分，欺負他的弟兄‧因為這一類的事，主必報應，正如我預先對你們說過，又切切囑咐你們的‧7神召我們，本不是要我們沾染污穢，乃是要我們成為聖潔‧8所以那棄絕的，不是棄絕人，乃是棄絕那賜聖靈給你們的神‧9論到弟兄們相愛，不用人寫信給你們，因為你們自己蒙了神的教訓，叫你們彼此相愛‧10你們向馬其頓全地的眾弟兄，固然是這樣行，但我勸弟兄們要更加勉勵‧11又要立志作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手作工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的‧12叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有什麼缺乏了‧

A. Sexual morality 性道德 (4:3-8) 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 3神的旨意就是要你們成為聖潔，遠避淫行‧4要你們各人曉得怎樣用聖潔尊貴，守著自己的身體‧5不放縱私慾的邪情，像那不認識神的外邦人‧6不要一個人在這事上越分，欺負他的弟兄‧因為這一類的事，主必報應，正如我預先對你們說過，又切切囑咐你們的‧7神召我們，本不是要我們沾染污穢，乃是要我們成為聖潔‧8所以那棄絕的，不是棄絕人，乃是棄絕那賜聖靈給你們的神‧

B. Love one another 彼此相愛 (4:9-10) 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. (NIV) 9論到弟兄們相愛，不用人寫信給你們，因為你們自己蒙了神的教訓，叫你們彼此相愛‧10你們向馬其頓全地的眾弟兄，固然是這樣行，但我勸弟兄們要更加勉勵‧

約 John 13:34–35 (NIV) 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 34 我賜給你們一條新命令，乃是叫你們彼此相愛‧我怎樣愛你們，你們也要怎樣相愛‧35 你們若有彼此相愛的心，眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了‧

C. Lead a quiet and productive life. 追求安份守己的生活. (4:11) 帖前 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (NIV) 11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 又要立志作安靜人，辦自己的事，親手作工，正如我們從前所吩咐你們的‧

C. Lead a quiet and productive life. 追求安份守己的生活. (4:11) Make it your ambition (立志,立下野心) (4:11a) Lead a quiet life (過安靜/安份守己的生活) (4:11b) Attend your own business (照顧好自己的事物) (4:11c) Work with your own hand (親手做工) (4:11d) Other words: Make your work God’s work (4:12) (把你的工作化為神的工作)

叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有什麼缺乏了‧ D. Use your daily life to honor and serve God. 用你每天生活上的大小事物來榮耀及服事神. (4:12) 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (NIV) 叫你們可以向外人行事端正，自己也就沒有什麼缺乏了‧

“A dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God.” Martin Luther 馬丁路德 “A dairymaid can milk cows to the glory of God.” “農家女子能藉著擠牛奶 來榮耀神.”

E. Pursue continuous improvement 不斷地追求進步 We need to excel some more. 我們應該更加追求卓越. (4:1-2, 10) For God is the avenger (rewarder). 因為神就是那報應者(賞賜者). (4:6b; 來 Heb 11:6)

來 Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) 人非有信就不能得神的喜悅‧因為到神面前來的人，必須信有神，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人‧ 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 人非有信就不能得神的喜悅‧因為到神面前來的人，必須信有神，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人‧

All things great and small have eternal, heavenly values

Connecting your work to God’s work. 將你的工作連接到/轉化為神的工作 Connecting your work to God’s work. 將你的工作連接到/轉化為神的工作. 西 Colossians 3:23–24 (NIV) 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 23無論作什麼，都要從心裡作，像是給主作的，不是給人作的‧24因你們知道從主那裡，必得著基業為賞賜‧你們所事奉的乃是主基督‧

IV. Personal response 個人回應