於2021-05-10發佈


通往勝利的道路 

過去幾週我們談到聖靈的果子是如何成為強大的屬神武器。隨著日益上升的不和與衝突,更重要的是,我們要將生命建造在耶穌這磐石上,並且在主裡堅固自己,透過不斷尋求在祂的本質上成長。這是藉由在我們生命中聖靈的果子所彰顯出來的。 

為此緣故,我們將在以下內容談到一些聖經勸誡,以給予我們如何在主裡堅固自己的清楚指示。我們會從彼得所寫的書信開始,主將天國的鑰匙賜給彼得,我們可以在他的信中找到打開祂國度的鑰匙。我們先從彼得前書一章6-9節來看: 

因此,你們是大有喜樂;但如今,在百般的試煉中暫時憂愁。 
叫你們的信心既被試驗,就比那被火試驗仍然能壞的金子更顯寶貴,可以在耶穌基督顯現的時候得著稱讚、榮耀、尊貴。
你們雖然沒有見過祂,卻是愛祂;如今雖不得看見,卻因信祂就有說不出來、滿有榮光的大喜樂; 
並且得著你們信心的果效,就是靈魂的救恩。 

耶穌來是為了賜給我們更豐盛的生命,這未必表示一切都會很好,不過仍會有著許多美好的事。耶穌也說在世上我們會有苦難或困境,現今的世代讓我們有試煉的目的是為了幫助我們效法祂的樣式,預備我們在要來的世代與祂一起掌權。這些試煉是為著我們的緣故,正如彼得所說的,當我們在主裡成熟,我們會開始瞭解試煉比金子更為寶貴。

因此,要在基督裡成熟,我們應當以興奮看待每個試煉,彷彿找到一袋金子。對於真實的靈性而言,試煉遠比金子更有價值,完全不可測量。這一生不過是「一片雲霧」,我們在地上所擁有的任何金子頂多只能存到今生。試煉在我們裡面動工所產生的基督本性,為此生所帶來美好的事,遠超過我們所能買到任何數量的金子,而且可以存到永遠。

我們無法使自己成為我們應當成為的樣子,但我們可以成為祂的工作。為此緣故,為自己或他人製造試煉便是擅權。然而,我們可以做一些製造部分試煉的事情─主要是行在信心裡、信靠主,並為著祂允許在我們身上的一切獻上感恩。

雅各認同這樣做,他寫著:你們落在百般試煉中,都要以為大喜樂」(雅各書1:2)。他說「都要以為大喜樂」意味著我們或許並不覺得,至少在一開始時。然而,我們若真實相信聖經說:我們曉得萬事都互相效力,叫愛神的人得益處,就是按祂旨意被召的人」(羅馬書8:28),那麼我們就會相信祂的話勝過我們對試煉的任何懷疑或懼怕,正如我們看見雅各對此所說的話:

我的弟兄們,你們落在百般試煉中,都要以為大喜樂;
因為知道你們的信心經過試驗,就生忍耐。
但忍耐也當成功,使你們成全、完備,毫無缺欠。
你們中間若有缺少智慧的,應當求那厚賜與眾人、也不斥責人的神,主就必賜給他。
只要憑著信心求,一點不疑惑;因為那疑惑的人,就像海中的波浪,被風吹動翻騰。
這樣的人不要想從主那裡得什麼。
心懷二意的人,在他一切所行的路上都沒有定見(雅各書1:2-8 

在這裡我們看見,試煉的一個目的是要在我們裡面生出忍耐。我們若與神同工,透過信靠祂來忍受試煉,過程會容易得多。從上述經文我們看見在試煉中第二重要的事,即是我們應當尋求神的智慧如何來面對試煉,祂應許一定會賜予我們。

最後我們要抵抗疑惑,定意信靠神,相信祂的話超越我們可能有的任何感覺,超越一切景象,或是魔鬼企圖誘惑我們使我們喪膽的話。要相信神永遠是對的─懷疑祂對試煉沒有益處,只會讓試煉的時間更久。

 (摘自喬納word for the week, Week 18, 2021)
 

The Path to Victory

 We have been covering how the fruit of the Spirit are divinely powerful weapons. In this day of increasing discord and conflict it is even more crucial that we build our lives upon the Rock, Jesus, and strengthen ourselves in Him by continually seeking to grow in His nature. This is demonstrated by the fruit of the Spirit in our life.  

         For this reason, we will now cover some of the biblical exhortations that give us clear instructions as to how we strengthen ourselves in the Lord. We will begin with those written to us by Peter, the one to whom the Lord gave the keys of the kingdom, and in these we can find those keys that open His kingdom to us. We begin with I Peter 1:6-9:

         “In this you greatly rejoice even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.

         “This is so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

         “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now you believe in Him, and greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 

         “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

         Jesus came to give us an abundant life. That does not necessarily mean that it would be all good, just that there would be a lot of it. He also said that in the world we will have tribulation, or troubles. This present age is for the purpose of us having trials that help conform us to His image and prepare us to rule with Him in the age to come. They are for our sake, and when we mature in Him we begin to understand how these trials really are more valuable than gold as Peter wrote. 

         So, the mature in Christ should consider every trial as something we should be as excited about as if we had just found a bag of gold. To the truly spiritual a trial is worth immeasurably more than gold. This life is but “a vapor” and any gold we have here will only last that long at best. The nature of Christ that trials work into us results in far greater things in this life than any amount of gold could ever buy, and they will last forever.

         We cannot make ourselves into what we should be, but we are to be His workmanship. For this reason, it is presumptuous to make our own trials, or anyone else’s. However, there are things we can do to make the most of trials—mostly to walk in faith, trust Him, and thank Him for all that He allows in our life. 

         James acknowledges this when he wrote to: “Count it all joy when you encounter various trials” (see James 1:2). For him to write to “count it all joy” implies that we may not feel that way, at least at first. However, if we truly believe the Scriptures that “all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28), then we will trust His Word more than we do our doubts or fears about the trial, as we see in James’ word about this:

         “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 

         “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 

         “Let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

         “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 

         “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 

         “For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 

         “being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (James 1:2-8).

         Here we see that a purpose of trials is to produce endurance in us. This will go much better if we work with God to endure them by trusting Him. The next important thing to do in a trial that we see here is that we should ask God for wisdom in how to deal with it, which He promises to always give us. 

         Then we resist the doubts by resolving that we are going to trust God and believe His Word above any feelings we may have, above any appearances, or words of discouragement the devil may try to tempt us with. Believing God is always right—doubting Him is not, and can at best result in a much longer trial.