害怕死去的麥子
對自己說「不」，對神說「是」
經文
歌羅西書三1-17
1所以，你們若真與基督一同復活，就當求在上面的事；那裡有基督坐在神的右邊。
2你們要思念上面的事，不要思念地上的事。
3因為你們已經死了，你們的生命與基督一同藏在神裡面。
4基督是我們的生命，他顯現的時候，你們也要與他一同顯現在榮耀裡。
5所以，要治死你們在地上的肢體，就如淫亂、污穢、邪情、惡慾，和貪婪。貪婪就與拜偶像一樣。
6因這些事，神的忿怒必臨到那悖逆之子。
7當你們在這些事中活著的時候，也曾這樣行過。
8但現在你們要棄絕這一切的事，以及惱恨、忿怒、惡毒（或作：陰毒）、毀謗，並口中污穢的言語。
9不要彼此說謊；因你們已經脫去舊人和舊人的行為，
10穿上了新人。這新人在知識上漸漸更新，正如造他主的形像。
11在此並不分希利尼人、猶太人，受割禮的、未受割禮的，化外人，西古提人，為奴的、自主的，惟有基督是包括一切，又住在各人之內。
12所以，你們既是神的選民，聖潔蒙愛的人，就要存（原文作穿；下同）憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心。
13倘若這人與那人有嫌隙，總要彼此包容，彼此饒恕；主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人。
14在這一切之外，要存著愛心，愛心就是聯絡全德的。
15又要叫基督的平安在你們心裡作主；你們也為此蒙召，歸為一體；且要存感謝的心。
16當用各樣的智慧，把基督的道理豐豐富富的存在心裡，（或作：當把基督的道理豐豐富富的存在心裡，以各樣的智慧），用詩章、頌詞、靈歌，彼此教導，互相勸戒，心被恩感，歌頌神。
17無論作甚麼，或說話或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名，藉著他感謝父神。
信息分享
讓我們來繼續昨天的討論。我們說今天有很多基督徒挺容易向試探投降，那是因為他們從沒有真正學會如何向神降服。很多尋求輔導的人會面對這樣的掙扎（我是說很多，並不是所有）──他們從來不知道應當如何完全放棄自己的意願，只為神的目的而活。在多年輔導的過程中，我常常看到許多人逐漸發現自己的問題不是來自所發生的事情，而是來自他們自己對那些事情的反應，而他們往往就會決定不採取任何行動。
許多人以為聖經的原則具有選擇性而不是絕對性，這使我感到相當憂慮。令人驚訝的是很多人對聖經抱著相當隨便的態度，他們說：「我大概不應該這樣生活下去，如果可以的話，我最好嘗試改變一下。」一個人一旦有了這種隨意的態度，他的生命就不可能經歷太大的改變。你明白嗎？如果沒有經歷過死亡，就不可能經歷生命。
無論我們喜歡與否，無論遇到甚麼痛苦，我們都需要承認──神的方法就是順服，並且要把錯誤的思想和行為的模式治死。如果我們不明白這兩點的重要性，就不可能獲得勝利和改變。要穿上新的性情以前我們首先得脫下舊的本性，不論肉體的本性提出怎樣的抗議，我們都要肯定自己是走在神的道路上。
「聖經的原則是絕對性、並非選擇性」
進深研究
雅四1-8；弗六11；彼前五8-9
1. 雅各書四章提出哪三個可以勝過魔鬼的步驟？
2. 你會如何應用這些步驟？
祈禱
天父，求您幫助我向所有違反您的事情高喊「不」，而向您所要在我生命中行使的計劃說「好」。當我肉體的本性提出抗議的時候，求您幫助我把它放在我的腳下。奉耶穌的名祈求，阿們。
The Corn of Wheat Afraid to Die
"No" to self - "Yes" to God
Bible reading:
Colossians 3:1-17
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.[b]
7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.
8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices
10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Message
We continue from where we left off yesterday, saying that the reason why many of today's Christians surrender so easily to temptation is because they have never really learned how to surrender to God. Many (not all) of the people who come for counselling are struggling with the fact that they have never understood how to die to their own purposes and live for God's purposes. Time and time again in counselling, it has been my experience to watch a person slowly recognise that his problem is due, not so much to what is happening to him as his reactions to what is happening to him - and then decide not to do anything about it.
I am saddened by the trend to treat biblical principles as optional rather than obligatory. It is amazing to notice the casualness with which so many approach Scripture and say: "I suppose I shouldn't really be living like this, I had better try to change - if I can." When that attitude is present, there is little hope of change. You see, if there is no experienced death, there can be no experienced life.
When a person does not see the importance of recognising, albeit painfully, that God's way is the way of obedience, irrespective of whether we feel like it or not, and involves death to wrong patterns of thinking and wrong patterns of behaving, there will be no victory and no change. Putting on the new nature requires first putting off the old nature by asserting, with all the conviction possible, that one is going to go God's way no matter how much the carnal nature argues to the contrary.
"Biblical principles are obligatory not optional"
Prayer
O Father, help me shout a thunderous "No" to anything that is contrary to You, and a mighty "Yes" to all You want to do in my life. And when my carnal nature argues back, help me to put it in its place - under my feet. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.
Further study
James 4:1-8
Ephesians 6:11
1 Peter 5:8-9
1.What 3 steps are given in James 4 for overcoming the devil?
2. How would you apply these steps in a practical way?
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