福音的重要信息:成聖(三)
帖撒羅尼迦前書五章16至24節
16要常常喜樂,
17不住的禱告,
18凡事謝恩;因為這是神在基督耶穌裡向你們所定的旨意。
19不要消滅聖靈的感動;
20不要藐視先知的講論。
21但要凡事察驗,善美的要持守,
22各樣的惡事要禁戒不做。
23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!
24那召你們的本是信實的,他必成就這事。
信息分享
希伯來書十二章14節說:「你們要追求與眾人和睦,並要追求聖潔。」換言之,我們必須有迫切渴慕的心,讓神隨祂旨意模造我們。
神藉著祂的話語告訴我們,甚麼會成為我們屬靈成長的障礙。詩篇一一九篇9節說:「少年人用甚麼潔淨他的行為呢?是要遵行你的話。」這引發我們反省一個問題:神的話語在我們生命中佔甚麼樣的位置?我們是否經常細讀神的話語,並付諸行動?
聖靈,這位奇妙的引導者,希望在我們裡面建立基督的品性(加四19)。我們若願意,祂會成就各樣有利於基督性情成長的條件。羅馬書八章29節指出,神的計劃是要我們學效祂兒子的模樣。
有甚麼會阻礙聖靈的工作呢?有許多:不馴服的舌頭、不受控制的脾氣、自我中心的態度,及錯誤的思想等等。如果聖靈住在你心裡,祂有能力幫助你在這些問題上得勝。何不讓祂掌管你的生命,見證祂在你身上的作為?
立志:
立志追求成長永不言遲。
GREAT WORDS OF THE GOSPEL: SANCTIFICATION (3)
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 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.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Message
Hebrews 12:14 reads, 'Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy.' There must be a strong desire on our part that we might become what God wants us to be.
God uses His Word to speak to our hearts about those things which would hinder spiritual growth. Psalm 119:9 says, 'How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your Word.' That raises the question - what place does the Word of God have in our lives? How often do we read it and apply it?
Then the Holy Spirit, the Divine Workman, wants to reproduce the character of Christ in us. (Galatians 4:19) If we allow Him, He will maintain the conditions under which the image of Christ will grow. God's plan is stated in Romans 8:29, that we might be conformed to the likeness of His Son.
What can hinder the Spirit's work? It could be any number of things - an unsurrendered tongue, an uncontrolled temper, a self centered attitude, or a wrong thought of life. But if the Holy Spirit is living within you, there is a power now which can overcome those problems. Why not let Him take control of your life and watch the difference He can make?
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY: It is never too late to start growing.

