基督徒的内心冲突
加拉太书五章16至26节
16我说,你们当顺着圣灵而行,就不放纵肉体的情欲了。
17因为情欲和圣灵相争,圣灵和情欲相争,这两个是彼此相敌,使你们不能做所愿意做的。
18但你们若被圣灵引导,就不在律法以下。
19情欲的事都是显而易见的,就如奸淫、污秽、邪荡、
20拜偶像、邪术、仇恨、争竞、忌恨、恼怒、结党、纷争、异端、
21嫉妒(有古卷在此有:凶杀二字)、醉酒、荒宴等类。我从前告诉你们,现在又告诉你们,行这样事的人必不能承受神的国。
22圣灵所结的果子,就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、
23温柔、节制。这样的事没有律法禁止。
24凡属基督耶稣的人,是已经把肉体连肉体的邪情私欲同钉在十字架上了。
25我们若是靠圣灵得生,就当靠圣灵行事。
26不要贪图虚名,彼此惹气,互相嫉妒。
信息分享
我们的旧本性(保罗常称之为「属肉体」的本性),总是想控制我们──包括我们的肉体、性格、心思、情感和意志。它是潜藏在我们里面的一种欲望,但力量却非常惊人。
我们若纵容这种旧本性,让它随心所欲,会有甚么结果呢?请看第19至21节所列出的可怕恶行,由放纵情欲、拜偶像,到社会、家庭人际关系破裂,以致酗酒等等,真正是「无恶不作」。
保罗在第17节指出,我们的罪性会引领我们做出这一切恶行,恰好与圣灵要带领我们所过的生活相违,结果便会带来内心的冲突。但感谢神,因着祂所赐的圣灵,必能帮助我们胜过这一些恶欲,使我们结出第22至23节提及的美好果子。我们将留待明天继续看这果子。不过,必须在这里一提的是,圣灵的果子与圣灵的恩赐并不相同。没有信徒可以拥有圣灵的所有恩赐;可是,所有信徒都可以在生命中结出完全的圣灵的果子。
祷告:
主啊,恳求圣灵帮助我,使我每天都能过得胜的生活。
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.

