基督徒的內心衝突
加拉太書五章16至26節
16我說，你們當順著聖靈而行，就不放縱肉體的情慾了。
17因為情慾和聖靈相爭，聖靈和情慾相爭，這兩個是彼此相敵，使你們不能做所願意做的。
18但你們若被聖靈引導，就不在律法以下。
19情慾的事都是顯而易見的，就如姦淫、污穢、邪蕩、
20拜偶像、邪術、仇恨、爭競、忌恨、惱怒、結黨、紛爭、異端、
21嫉妒（有古卷在此有：兇殺二字）、醉酒、荒宴等類。我從前告訴你們，現在又告訴你們，行這樣事的人必不能承受神的國。
22聖靈所結的果子，就是仁愛、喜樂、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信實、
23溫柔、節制。這樣的事沒有律法禁止。
24凡屬基督耶穌的人，是已經把肉體連肉體的邪情私慾同釘在十字架上了。
25我們若是靠聖靈得生，就當靠聖靈行事。
26不要貪圖虛名，彼此惹氣，互相嫉妒。
信息分享
我們的舊本性（保羅常稱之為「屬肉體」的本性），總是想控制我們──包括我們的肉體、性格、心思、情感和意志。它是潛藏在我們裡面的一種慾望，但力量卻非常驚人。
我們若縱容這種舊本性，讓它隨心所欲，會有甚麼結果呢？請看第19至21節所列出的可怕惡行，由放縱情慾、拜偶像，到社會、家庭人際關係破裂，以致酗酒等等，真正是「無惡不作」。
保羅在第17節指出，我們的罪性會引領我們做出這一切惡行，恰好與聖靈要帶領我們所過的生活相違，結果便會帶來內心的衝突。但感謝神，因著祂所賜的聖靈，必能幫助我們勝過這一些惡慾，使我們結出第22至23節提及的美好果子。我們將留待明天繼續看這果子。不過，必須在這裡一提的是，聖靈的果子與聖靈的恩賜並不相同。沒有信徒可以擁有聖靈的所有恩賜；可是，所有信徒都可以在生命中結出完全的聖靈的果子。
禱告：
主啊，懇求聖靈幫助我，使我每天都能過得勝的生活。
THE CHRISTIAN CONFLICT
Galatians 5:16-26
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Message
Our old nature (often called 'the flesh') wants to control every part of us - our body with its desires, our personality, our mind, our emotions and our will. It is invisible but enormously powerful.
If that old nature is allowed to have its way, what will it produce? Look at the horrible list in verses 19 to 21. It covers everything from the misuse of sex, wrong religion, break-down of relationships in society and families and the results of excessive drinking.
In verse 17 Paul says our old sinful nature will lead us into doing these things which are the exact opposite of what the Holy Spirit wants to produce in our lives. What is the result? Conflict. But thank God, the Holy Spirit can give us victory over such desires and replace this awful list of wrongdoings with the beautiful fruit mentioned in verses 22 and 23. We will look at them tomorrow. As we look at the fruit of the Spirit together, remember that this is different from the gifts of the Spirit. Possibly no believer has all the gifts of the Spirit but every believer should be showing in their lives the complete fruit of the Spirit.
A PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, may your Holy Spirit enable me to live on the victory side today and everyday.