Lent continues on, and our message of overcoming temptation continues on as well. 大斋期继续进行,我们胜过试探的分享也继续进行。The season of Lent is continually encouraging us to live for the Lord by giving graciously, even giving ourselves as a living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. 大斋期激励我们不单要慷慨给出去的为主而活,更是把自己当做活祭献给神,这是圣洁的,也是神所喜悦的。I’m sure, if we live by God’s word, we will have more testimonies to share! Do you think so?我确信,我们若持守神的话,就会有更多见证出来,你信不信?
Last week we examined first temptation of Jesus, this week we are gonna to look at the second one – the pride of life. Let’s read Matt 4: 5-7. 上周我们分享了第一个耶稣所受的试探,这周我们要来看第二个——今生的骄傲。我们来读马太福音4:5-7:
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’魔鬼就带祂进了圣城,叫祂站在殿顶上,对祂说:“你若是神的儿子,可以跳下去,因为经上记着说:‘主要为你吩咐他的使者用手托住你,免得你的脚碰在石头上。’”耶稣对他说:经上又记着说:不可试探主─你的神。
Here the devil took Jesus to the top of temple of Jerusalem and quoted Psa91:11-12, to tempt him again. 魔鬼把耶稣带到耶路撒冷圣殿顶上,并且引用《诗篇》91:11-12,又来试探祂。Do you see? Even Satan quotes Scripture, but he twists the meaning of the words of truth. 看到了吗?魔鬼也引用圣经,却是要弯曲真理。Psalm 91 is a promise about God’s protection to those who love Him by trusting in Him, but the promise is not to be used as a way of testing God.《诗篇》91 章是神对爱祂并信靠祂的人,给予保护的应许;但是,不要用神的应许来试探神。
Have you experienced something like this, when you struggle to decide whether to do something or not, because you are not sure if it is a sin against God or not. 你有没有经历过这样的事?就是你不确定那样做,会不会得罪神,正在做或不做上纠结,then you may hear: “Don’t worry about it, because God loves you, so you can do whatever you want, He will forgive you” 然后你可能会听到:“别担心,神是爱你的,你做什么都可以,祂会原谅你的。”
When people of God listen to this, they will fall into temptation, and give the devil an opportunity to come and to steal, destroy and kill, then they may suffer pain and loss from doing it. 当神的子民听从这声音后,他们就在试探中跌倒了,并给了恶者一个地步、进来偷窃、杀害、毁坏。并且,还要为此受苦和受损。
Once a brother came to our place, I saw something in heart, so I asked him: “Have you done something?” He asked me: “What do you mean?” I said: “Something is wrong with you, isn’t it?” 有一次,一个弟兄来我们家,我看到他里面有些东西,就问他:“你是不是做了什么?” 他问我,你什么意思?我说,你出了什么问题?He said: “oh, yes, I don’t know why I have been quarrelling with people around me recently? I’ve lost peace I feel like that God is far away from me” 他说:“哦,是的,不知道为什么,最近我和很多人吵架,失去平安,感觉上帝离我很远。”
“Have you watched some porno movies or that sorts of things?” I asked him bluntly. 我就直接了当地问:“你有没有看色情电影或类似的东西?”He said: “oh, my friends who are non-believers recommended that I look at some online photos I struggled to resist because I know God is Holy But another voice in my heart said: “God is love He will allow you to do that.’ 他说:“哦,我的朋友,不信主的,让我看一些网上图片;我犹豫着看不看,我知道神是圣洁的,但另一个声音在我心里说,“神是爱,祂会让你看的。”So, I looked at all the pictures, would that be the root cause of my trouble?”因此,我就看了,这会不会就是引起这些搅扰的原因?
I asked him: “What if you open a door, allow a thief enter your house? It will be like this: he will steal, he will destroy, he will kill. 我问:“如果你开了门让贼进来,会发生什么事?贼就进来偷了,破坏了,来杀害了。”That’s why your peace has been stolen, and your relationships with others have problems as well.” 这就是为什么 你的平安被偷走了,你和别人的关系被破坏了。A week later, he testified as to how his peace came back after he had confessed to the Lord and stopped looking at those sorts of photos. Hallelujah! 过了一星期,他来见证说,当他向主悔改,不再去看那些图片时,他就重得平安了。哈利路亚!
The evil one never stop tempting God’s people, even enticing us to misuse God’s truth, to please the sinful nature’s desires. 那恶者从没有停止来试探神子民,引诱我们曲解真理,满足属肉体的罪的私欲。Let’s go back to the topic of the second temptation of Jesus, I’m gonna toshare three points with you: 让我们回到耶稣受的第二个试探上,我想分享三点:
1, overcome the temptation to glorify self. 胜过“荣耀自己”的试探。
Imagine if Jesus Jumped off the top of the Temple, what would happen?Would he have died? 你想,如果耶稣从殿顶上跳下来了,会怎样?他会不会死?Many people ask such questions: Why did Jesus have to be crucified on the cross? 很多人这样问:耶稣为什么要被钉死在十字架上。Why didn’t he do a miracle so that people would have immediately acknowledged him as the Messiah the coming King? 祂为什么不显个神迹,人们不就马上可以认出祂是弥赛亚、是要来的君王了吗?
If he had jumped off the top of the Temple, he wouldn’t have died, as He is the Son of God, and people would have immediately worshiped Him as their King.如果耶稣从殿顶上跳了下来,因他是神的儿子,也不会死,人们就会马上拜他为王。Isn’t that why Jesus came to earth to be a King to his people? If he had done so, he would have taken a shortcut to glory. 这不就是耶稣来到地上,要做神子民的王的目的吗?如果祂这样做了,走这捷径 不就很快 得了荣耀了吗?
Satan tried to trap Jesus into a shortcut to glory, but Jesus refused because he knew what really glory is that can last forever. 撒旦想要引诱耶稣走捷径来得荣耀,但耶稣拒绝了,因他知道 什么是真荣耀,而唯有那真荣耀才能存到永远。When Jesus was about to go to the cross, he prayed for his 12 disciples and all those who believe in him. John 17: 22-24 当耶稣要上十字架前,他为十二个门徒和所有属自己的人祷告.
22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.【约翰福音】17:22-24你所赐给我的荣耀,我已赐给他们,使他们合而为一,像我们合而为一。我在他们里面,你在我里面,使他们完完全全地合而为一,叫世人知道你差了我来,也知道你爱他们如同爱我一样。父啊,我在哪里,愿你所赐给我的人也同我在那里,叫他们看见你所赐给我的荣耀;因为创立世界以前,你已经爱我了。
Jesus prayed that he would give us the glory because of the Father’s love,and that this glory was given to him before he could give it to us. . 耶稣祷告,因天父的爱,祂将天父赐给他的荣耀,也赐给了我们。He also prayed that we might be with him where he is and see his glory. What does “glory” really mean? 他还祷告说,他在哪里,我们也在那里,叫我们见到他的荣耀。 什么是荣耀真正的意思?The bible has told us that the devil is a liar, who leads the whole world astray.圣经告诉我们,魔鬼是那说谎者,迷惑普天下的。
If we don’t have truth in mind, we will be deceived, because the world tells us if you are rich and successful, then you will have glory. But God so loves us,the glory He gave to Christ, now He also has given us. 如果我们心里没有真理,就会被迷惑, 因为世界告诉我们,有钱有成功,就是荣耀。但神何等爱我们,祂把赐给基督的荣耀,也赐给我们。
What does “glory” really mean? Do you remember in Exodus 33, when Moses asked the Lord: “Show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. 到底真荣耀是什么?记不记得《出埃及记》33 章,当摩西问神:“求你显出你的荣耀给我看。”耶和华说:“我要显出我一切的恩慈,在你面前经过,宣告我的名。”Ex 34:5-6, Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 《出埃及记》34 章 5-6:耶和华在云中降临,和摩西一同站在那里,宣告耶和华的名。耶和华在他面前宣告说:“耶和华,耶和华,是有怜悯有恩典的神,不轻易发怒,并有丰盛的慈爱和诚实。
From reading the truth, we know, what real glory is. Glory is the Lord Himself.真理告诉我们,什么是荣耀?荣耀就是神自己。When Jesus came down to earth, God Himself was in him, now through his love, who suffered the death for our sins, and was resurrected for our justification, He has given us himself who is the Spirit to live in us. 耶稣基督来到世上,神自己就在他里面,现在,借着祂的大爱,让基督为我们的罪受死,为我们的称义而复活,把圣灵赐在我们里面,圣灵就他自己。
If we are one, just as He is one with the Father, that may reveal the glory. This is the depth of God’s great love for us.如果我们成为一,就像基督和父成为一,就能彰显荣耀。这是神对我们的大爱。How He loved his Son Christ and how He loves us, he has given us the glory that gave Christ Jesus.祂怎样爱祂的儿子,把荣耀赐给他,也怎样爱我们,把这荣耀赐给我们。
But the devil tries to entice us into a trap where we look for self-glory, “Umm, I can do this…and I can do that umm, I’ m better than he”kinds of thoughts can lead us into the temptation of pride without realising it. 但魔鬼总要引诱我们,让我们寻求自己可以得荣耀,“嗯,我可以做这个,我可以做那个,嗯,我比他好一点”等等的意念,会把我们不知不觉地引到骄傲试探中去。
Or in the opposite way, if we fail to gain self-glory, we may accept lies, which twist the truth: “I’m a loser I’m not as good as he is I can’t accept myself ”或者走骄傲的另外一面,就是若我们没能荣耀到自己,就接受一些谎言,扭曲关于真理对我们的断定,说:“我是个失败者,我没有他好,我接受不了自己。”Lies can pull us down, and destroy our emotional heath that God wants us to have by believing in His truth; 谎言会把我们打垮,会夺去神所赐的情绪健康的祝福,就是应许给那些信靠真理的人。
Lies also can cause us to fear and to feel rejected, so that our interpersonal relationships may be destroyed, and we can’t be sent free and live out a joyful victorious life, when we choose to live according to the sinful nature. 谎言导致害怕,使我们有拒绝感,因此我们的人际关系就会被破坏,并且,若我们选择随从肉体活着,就不能活出自由,释放,喜乐的生命。
Yes, we can be sent free totally, we want to share in our Lord Jesus’ victory.不,我们完全可以被释放得自由,我们要得享主耶稣得胜,喜乐的生命。We must believe that God is with us, and that He has given us the glory, we must not put the Lord our God to test by trying to gain self-glory when temptation comes. Trust in God’s word, live out our faith. 我们必须相信神与我们同在,祂已经把荣耀赐给了我们,当试探来到,我们不该再为荣耀自己而试探神了。当信靠神的话,活出信心。
2. overcome the temptation to manipulate God. 胜过“操纵神”的试探
“Don’t put the Lord your God to test”, which was quoted by Jesus from Exodus 17:1-7, 不可试探主你的神,主耶稣引用的是出埃及记 17:1-71 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?"3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord , "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."5 The Lord answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
7 And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"以色列全会众都遵耶和华的吩咐,按着站口从汛的旷野往前行,在利非订安营。百姓没有水喝, 所以与摩西争闹,说:“给我们水喝吧!” 摩西对他们说:“你们为什么与我争闹?为什么试探耶和华呢?” 百姓在那里甚渴,要喝水,就向摩西发怨言,说:“你为什么将我们从 埃及 领出来,使我们和我们的儿女并牲畜都渴死呢?”
摩西 就呼求耶和华说:“我向这百姓怎样行呢?他们几乎要拿石头打死我。”耶和华对摩西说:“你手里拿着你先前击打河水的杖,带领以色列的几个长老,从百姓面前走过去。 我必在何烈 的磐石那里,站在你面前。你要击打磐石,从磐石里必有水流出来,使百姓可以喝。”摩西就在以色列的长老眼前这样行了。 他给那地方起名叫玛撒 ,又叫米利巴 ;因以色列人争闹,又因他们试探耶和华,说:“耶和华是在我们中间不是?”
when the Israelites complained to Moses about being thirsty in a place called Massah, and said: "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" 以色列人在玛撒很渴,要喝水,就向摩西发怨言,说:“你为什么将我们从埃及领出来,使我们和我们的儿女并牲畜都渴死呢?”They put God to the test, saying: “Is the Lord among us or not?” 百姓试探神,说:“耶和华是在我们中间不是?”
We believe that God is with us, and that He has shown His love for us by sending His Beloved Son to die for our sins, and to suffer and to bear stripes for our reconciliation and our healing. 我们信神与我们同在,信祂的爱是差祂爱子,为我们的罪而死,背负我们的痛苦,为我们受鞭打,使我们与神和好,使我们得医治.Can you imagine what kind of love God has shown us through His Son Jesus Christ? 你能想象神籍爱子耶稣基督向我们显示的是何等的爱吗?If you had a child, would you be hard-hearted enough to let him suffer the punishment that a stranger deserved? 若你有一个儿子,你忍心让他去为 那该受刑罚的陌生人 而受刑吗?
Even with a dog that you had only adopted, would you just watch it suffer cruel torture, because of other strange dogs that need to be rescued? 就算你养的狗,为了营救别的狗 你能忍心看着你的狗为他们受酷刑吗?No, we wouldn’t, because we love our own children and our own dogs. 我们都不会的,因为我们爱自己的孩子和我们养的狗。So, in the same way, we are not strangers to God, 同样的,对于神,我们也就不是陌生人了。
For we can be rescued, He didn’t spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all to be our atonement, 我们蒙拯救,是因神不爱惜自己的儿子,为我们众人舍了,成为我们的赎罪祭,so that we could have new lives, new hopes, new selves, which are being renewed in knowledge of our Creator (Colossians 3:10). This is God’s love for us. Hallelujah! 使我们得救,有新的生命,有新的盼望,新的人;这新人在知识上渐渐更新,正如造他主的形象。这就是神对我们的爱。哈利路亚!
The old self, has sinned and separated us from God’s peace. Because of sin and fear, the old self never feels secure in times of trouble.我们的旧人已经犯了罪,使我们与神的平安隔绝。因为罪和惧怕,当遇到困难时,我们的旧人就有不安全感。Just as the Israelites asked, “Is God with us or not?”…We may have question like this: “If He loved me, how could he let me suffer in this way?” 就像以色列人问,“神在我们当中吗?我们也这样问“如果他爱我,他怎样会让我这样受苦?”
“God, if you love me, why do I suffer so much If you don’t give me what I want, how can I believe that you love me?”神啊,如果你爱我,为什么你让我受这么多苦,如果你不给我想要的,我怎样相信你爱我?”God’s Love for us was shown on the Cross when He gave His Only Son for us all! The gift of God is eternal life.神为我们众人舍了自己的独生爱子,神的爱就在十字架上彰显,神的恩赐就是永生。If we believe our troubles are evidence of God’s indifference, we have been deceived by the evil one. 我们若因自己经历了患难就说神不爱我们,那就是中了魔鬼的诡计。
Peter the Apostle also has discovered the secret of overcoming temptation of pride. In 1 Peter 4: 1-2, Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 【彼前 4:1-2】1 基督既在肉身受苦,你们也当将这样的心志作为兵器,因为在肉身受过苦的,就已经与罪断绝了。2 你们存这样的心,从今以后就可以不从人的情欲,只从 神的旨意,在世度余下的光阴。
What does “the same attitude with Christ” mean? 什么是“与基督有同样的心志”?Christ suffered in his body for being obedient to the Father’s will, his attitudewas an attitude of being 100% submissive to the Father’s will, even to the point of death. 基督在肉身受苦,顺服神的旨意。祂的心志是 100%完全地顺服天父,甚至顺服至死。
He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done.” 祂在客西马尼园这样祷告:“我父啊,倘若可行,求你叫这杯离开我;然而,不要照我的意思,只要照你的意思。”During the prayer, his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. 祷告的时候,祂的汗珠如大血点,滴在地上。Medical reports explain this: if a person is under great stress, the vessels blood will constrict. Anxiety causes the blood vessels to dilate to the point of rupture. 医学报告显示,当人在极大的压力下,血管会收缩。人的焦虑情绪会导致血管扩张和破裂。
The blood goes into the sweat glands which produce a lot of sweat, it brings the blood to the surface - coming out as droplets of blood mixed with sweat.血液进入汗腺,造成血和汗一齐从皮肤表层滴出,就形成血汗。Can we imagine how great was the stress and anguish that Jesus had before he went to the cross? 我们能否感受耶稣上十字架前到底经历了怎样的压力和痛苦?His body was human just like you and me, he would feel any stress as intensely as we would. 祂有着和我们同样的血肉身子,在强大的压力下,他的感受和我们一样。
Under the pressure, his attitude was still like Lamb to be slaughtered for being obedient to the Father’s will, even to the point of death. 但在这巨大的压力下,他甘心顺服天父的旨意,如同将宰的羊,顺服至死。Now, hope that we can understand better how much Jesus loves us by suffering death for our sins. How can we still live in our sinful nature and despise his love? 现在,盼望这能使大家对耶稣为我们的罪 而死的认识可以多一点。 我们怎能仍活在旧人中去藐视祂的爱呢?
Let’s stop trying to manipulate God into doing what we think He should do, rather, let’s start trusting and waiting for Him to act the way He knows is best.不要再去操纵神,不要再让神照我们的意思行事了。乃是信靠祂、等候祂,惟有祂知道怎样行事是最好的。
Let’s forsake those kinds of prayers: “If you love me, God, you have to do this otherwise, how can I trust in you”让我们丢弃这样的祷告,说:“神啊,如果你爱我,你就应该这样做,那样做,否则,我怎能信你呢?.”Let’s start to pray in truth and in faith like this, “Lord, although this is not what I want, (this could a problem with a person accommodation anything )让我们操练在真理和信心里祷告,说:“主啊,虽然这不是我想要的(这些人我不喜欢,这个住处,不是我想要的,还有我不满意。)
I trust you because only You know what is best for me, so please give me wisdom to know Your will I desire your will in my life Lord,what do you want me to do I surrender ” 我仍信靠你,惟有你知道什么是对我最好的,求你赐我智慧能明白你的心意,我渴望明白你的旨意,主啊,你要我做什么?我降服。”If you surrender yourself to the Father’s will that will be the key to overcome the temptation to manipulate God. 你若愿意降服于神的旨意中,你就必能胜过“操纵神”的试探。
3, Overcome temptation by Humility and submission. 藉谦卑和顺服胜过试探
In the Bible passage, the devil tempted Jesus to jump from the temple, to see if God would save him or not. 在这段圣经里,魔鬼试探耶稣,让祂从殿顶跳下去,看神救不救祂。Jesus refused to test God in such a way, rather he chose the hard way that is to embrace the cross the Father gave him. 耶稣拒绝试探神,却选择了一条艰难的道路——他拥抱天父赐的十字架。
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.所以神将他升为至高,又赐给他那超乎万名之上的名,叫一切在天上的、地上的和地底下的,因耶稣的名无不屈膝,无不口称耶稣基督为主,使荣耀归与父神。This is the acclamation that Jesus Christ finally received after he had been despised and rejected by man.主耶稣基督虽被人藐视、被人弃绝,最终却被天父高举。
How can we follow Jesus footsteps in our daily lives, so that we also can share in His glorious victory? 我们当怎样在每天的生活中跟随主耶稣的脚踪行,使我们得享祂荣耀的得胜呢?We should humble ourselves by reading and keeping His words in mind with the help of the power of the Spirit. 我们要谦卑自己,靠圣灵的能力去读神的话,住在神的话语里。Let’s grow into maturity in Christ by forsaking what we think is rational, but by being submissive to the Father’s will even if it means we will suffer. 让我们丢弃自己认为有理的观念,借着顺服天父的旨意,直至让心志受苦,才能在基督里成熟长大。
Trust in our Lord, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and he received the promise of God. 让我们信靠主,就是为我们的信心创始成终的耶稣,他因那摆在前面的喜乐,就轻看羞辱,忍受了十字架的苦难,得着了神的应许。So do we, if we follow him in this way, we also will share in His Glorious victory. 我们若愿意这样的跟随主,也必能与祂荣耀的得胜有份。
Finally, I will tell a story with you, which is in the book of Daniel. The king of Nebuchadnezzar built a gold image, he forced people to worship, 最后,我要讲一个《但以理书》里的故事,尼布甲尼撒王造了一个金像,并命令所有人去敬拜金像。when the king heard that Daniel’s three friends refused to worship that image, he was very angry, and warned them that if they refused to do it, they would be put into a blazing furnace. 当听说但以理的三个朋友不敬拜金像,王大怒,威胁他们若不敬拜,就将他们扔进烈火的窑中。
Imagine, if it happened to you, what would you do? 要是这事临到你, 你会怎样?These three-young people replied to the king:King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 这三个年轻人回答王说:“尼布甲尼撒王啊,这件事我们不必回答你。If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 即便如此,我们所侍奉的神,能将我们从烈火的窑中救出来。But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” 即或不然,王啊,你当知道我们决不侍奉你的神,也不敬拜你所立的金像。”
Despite their peril, they showed respect to the king, and they didn’t forget that all authority is from God, even a king who worshiped idols. 尽管在危险中,他们仍然尊重尼布甲尼撒王,因为他们没有忘记纵然是不信的,他们的权柄都是出于神。These three young men put their trust in God, declaring that God was able to save them.这三个年轻人信靠神,他们宣告上帝有拯救大能。
But what is faith for a mature believer? A bible teacher who teaches bible doesn’t mean that his faith is mature, because from the video we watched has already confirmed this fact to us.什么是一个成熟基督徒的信心?一个教导圣经的老师并不代表他就是一个有信心的成熟基督徒。因为刚才我们看的那个视频可以证明这个事实。
Not only do we believe that God can deliver us from our peril, but also, even if he does not, we still believe that His will is best for us. 我们不单信神可以救我們脱离患难,我们更要信——即或不然,我们仍信祂的旨意是最好的。These three-young people didn’t put God to the test by telling God what He must do about their peril, rather they proclaimed in their superior faith – “even if”. 这三个年轻人在患难中没有试探神,没有要神在他们的险境中必须做什么,乃在他们信心的高峰里宣告——“即或不然”。
What a kind of faith about “even if”? They got themselves ready to die for their faith. 这是怎样的“即或不然”的信心?他们已经准备为他们的信仰献上性命。How can Satan overcome those who really follow the Lord’s footsteps, even give their lives up for their faith? 撒旦怎能胜过那些真正跟随耶稣的脚踪,甚至为信仰舍命的人呢?Only this kind of attitude and faith can ensure that we do overcome the devil’s schemes.只有这样的心志和信心,才能确保我们可以战胜撒旦的诡计。
Rev 12:11 tells us: They overcome him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 【启 12:11】弟兄胜过它,是因羔羊的血和自己所见证的道。他们虽至于死,也不爱惜性命。
These three young men kept their faith by showing their humbleness and submission to the Lord, even gave their lives for God, 这三个年轻人持守在信心里,在主的面前谦卑、顺服,甚至把生命交托给神,then, God did a marvellous miracle before the king by protecting them from the blazing fire, and they all were delivered from the threat of death! They all witnessed God’s Almighty Power. Hallelujah! 神就在王面前行了神迹,让烈火不能烧着他们,救他们脱离死亡,他们见证了神的大能。哈利路亚!
May all of us have such a faith: “Even if He does not”, by His grace and His unfailing love, we would not compromise for anything else even our own glory, but trust the Lord our saviour, 借着祂的恩典和慈爱,愿我们所有人,都有“即或不然”的信心,不向任何事物妥协,也不求自己的荣耀,单单信靠救主耶稣。so that we may be victorious over the temptation to put God to the test, and share in our Master’s joy of His victory. 那样,我们就能胜过 “试探神”,得享耶稣得胜的喜乐。
Prayer:Father, thank you for the glory that You have given us just as You gave Your Son Christ Jesus. You are the glory itself. You are compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. 天父,谢谢你把赐给基督耶稣的荣耀,也赐给我。你就是那荣耀本身,有怜悯,有恩典的神,不轻易发怒,并有丰盛的慈爱和诚实。
hank you for the unconditional love that You have shown us by going to the cross, where You were mocked and beaten, you were broken and suffered the cruel cross for my sins. 感谢你借着走上十字架,向我们彰显无条件的爱,你被讥笑讽刺,鞭打,为我承受十字架的酷刑。How can I still doubt and deny your love by living in my flesh? No Lord, I turn to You, and give my life to You for only Your love towards me is eternal.我怎能再继续住在肉体里怀疑你,否定你? 主啊,我不要,我要转向你,我把我的生命献给你,因为唯有你对我的爱是永存。
Forgive all the tests that I’ve ever put You to, consciously or unconsciously.求你赦免我,我有意无意的来试探你。Forgive me for wanting to earn glory for myself, which made me feel proud orotherwise made me feel inferior and caused me ups and downs. 求你赦免我,为得自己的荣耀,“比”得过,就自高,比不过就自卑,导致情绪上下翻腾。
I confess they are all lies that can’t bring me peace and real glory. Glory is You, You are the real glory. I believe in the truth. 我承认这些都是谎言,不能给我带来真平安和真荣耀。荣耀是你,你是真荣耀,我相信这真理。Real glory is not that I ‘m better than others, or that I’m gifted than others! Real glory is not that I‘m more successful than others真荣耀不是“我比他人好”,也不是我比他人有才干,也不是我比他人成功就是真荣耀。
Real glory is that no longer I live, but Jesus, You live in me, 真荣耀是:不再是我,乃是基督, 你在我里面活。So right now, please release Your resurrection power to tear down any strongholds of lies, pride and inferiority, to cast all of these out of my heart. Restore my soul and fill me with Your Spirit and Your light.因此求你释放你复活的大能,来拆毁我里面谎言的营垒,将那自高,自卑的谎言赶出去,苏醒我的灵魂,用你的光和圣灵来充满我。
I declare my old-self died, and my life is now Hidden with Christ in You. When I live in You, You are in me, that is living in the glory. 我宣告我的旧人死了,我的生命和基督一起藏在你里面。当我住在你里面,你在我里面,这就是住在荣耀里。Help me to keep this truth in mind, so that I won’t be deceived by any worldly teaching and any lies. 帮助我记住这个真理,因此我就不会被世界的谎言迷惑。
Also, Lord, help me to keep Your attitude in mind, “not my will, but your will be done.” because I am Your disciple and Your follower. 主啊,求你帮助我有和你一样的心志“不照我的意思,乃照父的意思”,因我是跟随你的门徒。Through Your grace and Your unconditional love and Your endless mercy, I commit myself again into Your hands. 借着你的恩典,你无条件的爱,和你无尽的怜悯,我再一次将自己献上。
Encourage me to read Your words daily, remind me to keep walking by Your Word and not by my feelings; Help my heart pure and undivided, so that my faith may be maturing day by day. 激励我每天读你的话语,行在你的话中,而不是自己的感觉里; 帮助我持守洁净和专一的心,因此我的信心也可以成熟起来。
And one day, if a severe test comes, I also can be like those three young men and stand firm in the test, and proclaim my faith. 将来有一天,若严峻的考验临到,使我可以像那三个年轻人那样,在试炼中凭信心站立,这样来宣告:
Lord, “Even if You don’t”…I would not deny my faith in You, because You are always faithful to me. Let my life glorify Your name! Thank You Lord, in Jesus name, we pray! Amen! “即或不然”,我也不离弃这信靠的心,因为你对我从没有失信。 让我的生命可以荣耀你的名,谢谢主耶稣,奉主名祷告。阿门!