The Father as Priest, Prophet, King - Derek Prince

 The Father As Priest

The Father As Prophet

The Father As King

Read More

On Confucius, Death, and Wisdom of Ecclesiastes - Green Funeral (Rev. Luther LI)

Message by Rev. Luther LI. 15 May 2022 

傳 道 書 Ecclesiastes

8:8     [hb5] 無 人 有 權 力 掌 管 生 命 、 將 生 命 留 住 ． 也 無 人 有 權 力 掌 管 死 期 ． 這 場 爭 戰 、 無 人 能 免 ． 邪 惡 也 不 能 救 那 好 行 邪 惡

的 人 。

          [kjv] There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death: and there is no discharge in that war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.

《论语》：先进篇 Extract from Analects

季路问事鬼神，子曰：“未能事人，焉能事鬼？”,曰：“敢问死。”曰：“未知生，焉知死？”

11.12 季路问事鬼神，子曰：“未能事人，焉能事鬼？”曰：“敢问死。”曰：“未知生，焉知死？"

[11:12] Chi Lu asked about serving the spirits. Confucius said, “If you can't yet serve men, how can you serve the spirits?”

Lu said, “May I ask about death?” Confucius said, “If you don't understand what life is, how will you understand death?”

 

His famous  or infamous   saying of Confucius has poisoned the thinking of many Chinese down the ages     just like the passage about studies:      

[11-23] 子路使子羔爲費宰。子曰。賊夫人之子 子路曰。有民人焉、有社稷焉、何必讀書、然後爲學。子曰。是故惡夫侫者。

[11:23] Zi Lu got Zi Gao installed as Prefect of Bi. The Master said: “You are damaging someone's son.” Zi Lu said: “There are people and there are national altars (to be administered). Why should it be necessary to read books to be regarded as learned.” The Master said: “This is why I don't like glib people.”

 

Confucius said, “If you don't understand what life is, how will you understand death?”    

This saying is like escapism     is like ignoring the ultimate possibility of men    in this life everything is under the rule of probability   e.g.  before crossing a road   the probability of being run down by a vehicle is   in theory   50:50      when taking a test/exam    the probability of pass: failure  could be  50:50      but there is one thing which is NOT under the rule of probability    what is it?

傳 道 書 Ecclesiastes

9:5     [hb5] 活 著 的 人 、 知 道 必 死 ．   For the living know that they shall die:

Death is certain    all of us know nothing about the future   what happening in the next minute?   No one can tell   no one can be 100% certain

But ALL of us can be 100% certain about this in future:  unless the Lord returns in our lifetime    all of us will die sooner or later 

So this ‘trash’ saying of Confucius must be rectified:

☹☹☹☹☹☹☹☹未not yet 知knowing生life，焉how can知know 死death? ☹☹☹☹☹   ☹☹

😊😊😊😊😊未not yet 知knowing死death，焉how can知know 生life? 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊  Not knowing the meaning of death   how can we know the meaning of life?    😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

 

We Christians DO know the meaning of death 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

 

腓 立 比 書 Philippians

20      [hb5] 照 著 我 所 切 慕 所 盼 望 的 、 沒 有 一 事 叫 我 羞 愧 、 只 要 凡 事 放 膽 ． 無 論 是 生 、 是 死 、 總 叫 基 督 在 我 身 上 照 常 顯 大 。

          [kjv] According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

1:21  [hb5] 因 我 活 著 就 是 基 督 、 我 死 了 就 有 益 處 。

          [kjv] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1:22   [hb5] 但 我 在 肉 身 活 著 、 若 成 就 我 工 夫 的 果 子 、 我 就 不 知 道 該 挑 選 甚 麼 。

          [kjv] But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

1:23   [hb5] 我 正 在 兩 難 之 間 、 情 願 離 世 與 基 督 同 在 ． 因 為 這 是 好 得 無 比 的 ．

          [kjv] For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

1:24   [hb5] 然 而 我 在 肉 身 活 著 、 為 你 們 更 是 要 緊 的 。

          [kjv] Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

1:25   [hb5] 我 既 然 這 樣 深 信 、 就 知 道 仍 要 住 在 世 間 、 且 與 你 們 眾 人 同 住 、 使 你 們 在 所 信 的 道 上 、 又 長 進 又 喜 樂 ．

          [kjv] And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

1:26   [hb5] 叫 你 們 在 基 督 耶 穌 裡 的 歡 樂 、 因 我 再 到 你 們 那 裡 去 、 就 越 發 加 增 。

          [kjv] That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

 

3:7     [hb5] 只 是 我 先 前 以 為 與 我 有 益 的 、 我 現 在 因 基 督 都 當 作 有 損 的 。

          [kjv] But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

3:8     [hb5] 不 但 如 此 、 我 也 將 萬 事 當 作 有 損 的 、 因 我 以 認 識 我 主 基 督 耶 穌 為 至 寶 。 我 為 他 已 經 丟 棄 萬 事 、 看 作 糞 土 、 為 要 得 著 基 督 ．

          [kjv] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

3:9     [hb5] 並 且 得 以 在 他 裡 面 、 不 是 有 自 己 因 律 法 而 得 的 義 、 乃 是 有 信 基 督 的 義 、 就 是 因 信 　 神 而 來 的 義 ．

          [kjv] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

3:10  [hb5] 使 我 認 識 基 督 、 曉 得 他 復 活 的 大 能 、 並 且 曉 得 和 他 一 同 受 苦 、 效 法 他 的 死 ．

          [kjv] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

3:11   [hb5] 或 者 我 也 得 以 從 死 裡 復 活 。

          [kjv] If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 

3:20   [hb5] 我 們 卻 是 天 上 的 國 民 ． 並 且 等 候 救 主 、 就 是 主 耶 穌 基 督 、 從 天 上 降 臨 。

          [kjv] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

3:21  [hb5] 他 要 按 著 那 能 叫 萬 有 歸 服 自 己 的 大 能 、 將 我 們 這 卑 賤 的 身 體 改 變 形 狀 、 和 他 自 己 榮 耀 的 身 體 相 似 。

          [kjv] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

Because I understand the meaning of death   I know the meaning of life    I know the purpose of life    ie living for the Lord    glorify God and helping men by fulfilling His will and plan for my life 

 

Because I understand the meaning of death   I have also made meaningful preparations for my funeral and post-death arrangement:

 

Song 1 at my funeral

This is the day, this is the day這是日子  這是日子

that the Lord has made, 主你所定的

that the Lord has made. 主你所定的

We will rejoice, we will rejoice我們歡樂  我們歡樂

and be glad in it, and be glad in it. 在其中高興 在其中高興

This is the day that the Lord has made; 這是主所定的日子

we will rejoice and be glad in it. 我們在其中高興歡樂

This is the day, this is the day這是日子  這是日子

that the Lord has made. 主你所定的

 

 

Benefits of sea burial of ashes:😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

• Ø FEHD providing free ship transport to open sea
• Ø FEHD free provision of petals for throwing into the sea with the ashes
• Ø FEHD free provision of clean drinking water on board
• Ø FEHD free provision of sea sick pills
• Ø 10 min. for each family 
• Ø FEHD free set-up of remembrance web site for the deceased
• Ø Solving a very big problem of HKSAR: seeking land for buildings to accommodate the ashes    most people hate such buildings near their homes  
• Ø Offspring need not visit the site of the ashes    the most important is we live in their hearts    our lives inspiring them to love and follow the Lord

Read More