如何在隱秘處找到你的身份
約翰-貝爾特 John Belt
原文來源：以利亞名單 https://www.elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=27422
日期：2022.5.30
翻譯：Kate
轉載/轉寄 請註明出處：國度禱告網
當你掌握了你是如何被造，就能幫助你更好地駕馭你與神的關係。一旦你明白你是新造的人，動態的內在爭戰以及將自己完全降服在神的目的就更容易了。
"願賜平安的神親自使你們全然成聖！又願你們的靈與魂與身子得蒙保守，在我主耶穌基督降臨的時候，完全無可指摘！" （帖撒羅尼迦前書5:23）
當我們看保羅的話時，甚至從希伯來思維來看，我們可以清晰地認識如何創造我們--靈、魂和體。就像一個蘋果有皮、果肉，然後是種子，所以我們被造時也有靈、魂和體。
一個未得救的人一生都會為滿足肉體而活，滿足世俗的胃口。認識上帝的人，必須改變這種生活方式。我們不再為取悅我們的自然感官而活，而是真正地取悅上帝—祂是靈。我們曾經為肉體而活，現在卻作為活祭獻給神（羅馬書12:1）。在基督裡，我們的靈已經向神活過來了。我們現在是基督裡的新造的人。神已經喚醒了我們的靈，讓我們與祂的靈有了活潑的交通。
"如經上所記：神為愛他的人所預備的是眼睛未曾看見，耳朵未曾聽見，人心也未曾想到的。只有神藉著聖靈向我們顯明了，因為聖靈參透萬事，就是神深奧的事也參透了。除了在人裡頭的靈，誰知道人的事；像這樣，除了神的靈，也沒有人知道神的事。我們所領受的，並不是世上的靈，乃是從神來的靈，叫我們能知道神開恩賜給我們的事。"（哥林多前書2:9-12）
我們不再與啟示、洞察和理解神國現實的生活相隔絕。相反地，我們可以通過基督的寶血完全進入，通過聖靈獲得天上的智慧、恩典和引導。
恢復與神的交通--我們有完全進入的權限
簡而言之，神恢復了在伊甸園中失去的交流，在那裡人在涼爽的日子裡與神同行。由於我們是按照上帝的形象創造的，祂的計畫是將我們完全恢復到與祂同行的現實中--也讓我們親眼看到祂的愛在基督裡的展示。
我們可以看到，在整個舊約中，神一直在呼喚祂的子民親近。就像摩西會看到祂的榮耀一樣，上帝也邀請其他人走近祂；但由於恐懼，他們不走近。耶穌作為我們的先鋒進入神面前，使我們也能進入神面前。我們已經可以完全進入了。
當我們看舊約時代的會幕和聖殿時，我們看到同樣的靈、魂、體的畫面。外院是體的寫照；內院是魂的寫照；然後是最聖潔的地方（至聖所）--是我們靈人的寫照。最神聖的敬拜是在至聖所中進行的。正如我們可以大膽地來到神的寶座前--甚至是天上的至聖所—祂的靈也來住在我們靈人最神聖的地方，與我們交通。
從更新到轉化
在新的創造中，一切都更新了，按照上帝的形象創造。這就是我們的 "重生"。然而，魂是需要更新和改造的。那麼身體就要成為獻給上帝的活祭。只有當我們順服於持續與神的交通時，轉變才能發生。如果我們繼續追隨肉體和世俗的食欲生活，魂就不會有任何轉化。
只有神的話語、聖靈和順服的生活--一個遵循祂的命令和領導的生活--才能帶來真正的轉化。因為多給誰，就向誰多取。在新的創造中，我們都得到了很多。
"受割禮不受割禮都無關緊要，要緊的就是作新造的人。"（加拉太書6:15）
我們必須選擇跟隨聖靈生活，發現祂的同在對我們欲望的改變的現實......在這個地方，我們沒有什麼比我們的生命在祂裡面找到更願意擁有。
我們播種的量也就是我們收穫的量。這就是為什麼保羅鼓勵我們向聖靈撒種（見加拉太書6:8）。如果我們向聖靈播種，我們也將從聖靈那裡收穫祂生命的豐盛。如果我們向肉體播種，我們就會收穫毀滅，放棄最榮耀的轉化的生命。沒有什麼比戴著基督徒的徽章卻活得像世界一樣的人更糟糕了。當我們以祂為一切的主時，神呼喚我們離開這一切。
理論變成現實的時刻
這就是理論變成現實的時刻。當你把生命交給基督時，是為了一張蓋了章的天堂門票，還是你在說："我要跟隨你，聽你的聲音，做你說的事"？你想改變你的欲望嗎？你能放下你 "認為"自己知道的一切嗎？你總是要控制自己嗎？你總是必須是正確的嗎？
保羅把一切都當作損失--為了什麼？為了以最親密的方式認識耶穌。這都是關於與祂的關係。如果有什麼東西擋住了你和你與神的關係，你應該心甘情願地犧牲它。上帝是有耐心的，因為祂給了我們許多機會，讓我們走上轉化的道路。
很多時候，人們會為了暫時的滿足而浪費這些冒險與神建立更深關係的機會--甚至在他們與神的關係中失去地位。我們的世界充滿了試圖使自己的肉體和糟糕的選擇看起來很屬靈的例子。
如何在隱秘處找到你的身份
在隱秘處找到你的身份，讓神照顧你靈的深處。你怎樣才能做到這一點？
1. 將你的身體作為活祭獻上
這是什麼意思？這意味著你要算計自己 "與基督同釘十字架"。這不再是你想要什麼，而是祂想要什麼。你不要試圖讓神來實現你的夢想，而是要實現祂的夢想。
2. 委身在聖餐
在敬拜、禱告和領聖餐的生活中把你的心和靈交給神。讓聖靈的交通出現在你的生活。歡迎聖靈來，用祂的同在充滿你。只要每天繼續請求祂來。在你的日子裡，歡迎聖靈的到來。耶穌告訴我們，祂將差"幫助者"給我們。你需要幫助嗎？我們都需要。要學會依賴聖靈。
3. 獲得一種新的語言和圖書館
神的話是我們生活和真理的標準。默想神的話。在你的心中獲得這種語言和圖書館。祂的話是由作者--聖靈啟發的。用神的話語所說的真理來衡量你的每個想法。你這樣做，你就會朝著正確的方向前進！
"你們的心思要更新，穿上照著神所造的新人，有真正的公義和聖潔。" （以弗所書4:23-24）
4. 與信徒建造共同體
找到那些能引導你走向正確方向的人。那些有心追求神的人都在追求祂。找到那些有立約的人，在那裡你可以委身於一個團體並成長。不要像孤兒一樣生活，只是四處遊蕩；這將使你陷入屬靈貧困。神希望你在一個由致力於看到人間天堂和你作為一個信徒的成功的人組成的團體中繁榮。
神對你的生活有驚人的計畫。相信祂，祂將指引你的腳步。
How to Find Your Identity in the Secret Place
John Belt,
May 30, 2022
When you grasp how you have been created, it helps you to better navigate your relationship with God. The dynamics of the inward battle and how you can fully commit yourself to the purposes of God are easier once you understand that you are a new creation.
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
When we look at the language of Paul, or even from the angle of a Hebraic mindset, we can see that there is a clear understanding of how God has created us – spirit, soul and body. Just like an apple has skin, pulp and then seeds, so we are created with a spirit, soul and body.
An unsaved person will live their entire lives for the gratification of their flesh, fulfilling worldly appetites. For those who know God, this type of living must change. We no longer live to please our natural senses but actually live to please God – who is spirit. What we once used to live for (the flesh), we now offer as a sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1). In Christ, our spirits have been made alive to God. We are now new creations in Christ. God has awakened our spirits to a living communion with His Spirit.
"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God." (1 Corinthians 2:9-12)
We are no longer alienated from a life of revelation, insight and understanding into the realities of the Kingdom of God. Rather, we have full access by the Blood of Christ to gain heavenly wisdom, grace and leading through His Holy Spirit.
Communion with God Restored - We Have Been Given Full Access
In simplicity, God has restored the communion that was lost in the Garden of Eden, where man walked with God in the cool of the day. As we are created in the image of God, His plan has been to completely restore us into that reality of walking with Him – also allowing us to see firsthand the demonstration of His love in Christ.
We can see pictures of how God had been calling His people closer throughout the Old Testament. Just as Moses would see His glory, God also invited others to come closer; yet because of fear, they would not. Jesus went into the Presence as the forerunner for us so that we would also enter into the presence of God. Full access has been made available to us.
When we look at the tabernacle and temple in the Old Testament times, we see that same picture of spirit, soul and body. The outer court being a picture of the body; the inner court, a picture of the soul; and then the holiest of all (the Holy of Holies) – a picture of our spirit man. The most holy worship took place in the Holy of Holies. Just as we can come boldly before the throne of God – even the Holiest in the heavens – so His Spirit comes to dwell and commune with us in the holiest part of our spirit man.
From Renewal to Transformation
In the new creation, truly, ALL things have become new, as it is created after the image of God. It is where we have been "born again." However, the soul is in need of renovation and transformation. Then the body is to be a living sacrifice to God. It is only as we yield to fueling our communion with God that transformation can take place. If we continue to live after the flesh and worldly appetites, there will be no transformation of the soul.
It is the Word of God, the Spirit and a yielded life – a life that follows His commands and leadings – that brings forth real transformation. To whom much is given, much is required. We've all been given much in the new creation.
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation." (Galatians 6:15)
We have to choose to live after the Spirit, discovering the reality of His presence to the transformation of our desires...the place where there is nothing we would rather have than our lives found in Him.
The measure that we sow is also the measure that we reap. That is why Paul encourages us to sow to the Spirit (see Galatians 6:8). If we sow to the Spirit, we will also reap from the Spirit the fullness of His life. If we sow to the flesh, we reap destruction, forfeiting the most glorious transformed life. There is nothing worse than someone who wears the badge of a Christian but lives just like the world. God calls us to leave it all when we make Him Lord of all.
Where the Rubber Meets the Road
This is where the rubber meets the road. When you gave your life to Christ, was it just for a stamped ticket to Heaven, or was it you saying, "I will follow You, hear Your voice and do what you say"? Do you want your desires changed? Can you lay down everything that you 'think' you know? Do you always have to be in control? Do you always have to be right?
Paul counted all things loss – for what? For knowing Jesus in the most intimate way. It is all about the relationship with Him. If anything gets between you and your relationship with God, you should willingly sacrifice it. God is patient, as He gives us many opportunities to take the path of transformation. (Photo via Pixabay)
So many times people will squander these opportunities to venture into deeper relationship with God for temporal gratification – even losing ground in what they have attained with God. Our world is filled with examples that try to make their own flesh and bad choices look spiritual.
How to Find Your Identity in the Secret Place
Find your identity in the secret place with God tending to the depths of your spirit. How can you do this?
1. Offer You Body as a Living Sacrifice
What does this mean? It means that you count yourself "crucified with Christ." It is no longer about what you want but what He wants. You don't try to make God come and fulfill your dreams, but you fulfill His.
2. Commit to Communion
Give your heart and spirit over to God in a life of worship, prayer and communion. Let the communion of the Holy Spirit be in your life. Welcome the Holy Spirit to come and fill you with His presence. Simply continue to ask Him to come every day. Throughout your days, welcome the Holy Spirit. Jesus told us He would send us "The Helper." Do you need help? We all do. Learn to be dependent on the Holy Spirit.
3. Get a New Language and Library
The Word of God is our standard for life and truth. Meditate on the Word of God. Get that language and library in your heart. His words are inspired by the Author – the Holy Spirit. Weigh every thought you have by what God's Word says is the truth. You do this and you will be heading in the right direction!
"and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4:23-24)
4. Get in Community with Believers
Find those who will lead you in the right direction. Those who have a heart after God are in pursuit of Him. Find those who are covenant-hearted people, where you can commit to a community and grow. Don't live like an orphan that just wanders around; this will lead you into spiritual poverty. God wants you to prosper in a community of people that are committed to seeing Heaven on Earth and your success as a Believer.
God has amazing plans for your life. Trust in Him and He will direct your steps.
