Ephesians 2:2-3 (NKJV) In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
There is a course of this world that is influenced by the prince of the power of the air. The course of this world in these days is that your significance is determined by your success and status in society. Therefore, we grew up with only one purpose and that is to be successful at all cost. We are driven to own our first house, a brand new or luxury car and have lots of cash. The rest is really immaterial. The course of this world has this form and determines these so-called top values that we should adopt in life or else we are nobody. The course of this world tells us to associate with the rich and famous. When circumstances in life turn for the worse, however, all our valued friends think that we are nobody.
The course of this world tells us that only woman with a nice figure and a pretty face is good, attractive and should be lusted after instead of focusing on the good character and great personality. The course of this world tells us that being liberal and relevant to the society of today is important, therefore forget about the ancient book called the Bible. It tells us that it is acceptable to live together and that committing fornication is alright. The influence of the media and society tells us that there isn’t a need to commit to a marriage when we know that it will not last.
We think that it is good to go with the flow rather than being rejected and ostracized by our peers. However, when we are dumped by our partner, we are left alone to either carry out an abortion, or raise the child single-handedly and continue to live with the disillusion, rejection, dejection and guilt on our own. Some have even taken their own lives and their children lives because they became disillusioned.
Some have drowned their sorrow and pain with hard liquor and designer drugs. This is what the course of this world is telling us and it is influenced by the prince of the power of the air! This is the futility of the mind, the deception of the devil and packaged as cool to destroy, kill and steal from our lives!
Perhaps we may start off becoming successful because of the favor of God in our lives and we also know the Word of God so well that it becomes part of us. However, as we become more successful, our career demands more of our time, our attention and gradually we shift our focus on the success of our career and status instead of on God and His word.
There is nothing wrong with being successful but we have to think of the cost that comes with it, especially if it costs us our relationship with God. God’s will for us is to be successful in all aspects of our lives but not at the expense of losing our relationship with Him! We need to constantly go back to the Word of God and be reminded that He is the source of our favor, opportunities, and provision. Everything that we need is from Him!
Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV) The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.
When our success is based on His blessings being poured out into our lives, He adds no sorrow to it and our lives become a testimony of His glory! Out of that outpouring of His blessings, our lives can also become a blessing to others around us!
John 15:4-5,7-8 (NKJV) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
It is only when we abide in Him, we will bear much good fruit in Him and our Father shall be glorified!
Sermon series: Inner man
为上帝多结果子
以弗所书 2:2-3 那时，你们在其中行事为人，随从今世的风俗，顺服空中掌权者的首领，就是现今在悖逆之子心中运行的邪灵。我们从前也都在他们中间，放纵肉体的私欲，随着肉体和心中所喜好的去行，本为可怒之子，和别人一样。
这个世界的风俗是受空中掌权者所影响。现今的风俗是：你的价值是由你的成就和你在这个社会的地位所决定的。因此，我们成长的唯一目的就是不计代价换取成功。我们受驱使去拥有第一间房子，一辆名车并很多的钱。其他的东西都不重要了。世界的风俗是这个样子，也因此决定我们必须采纳的所谓顶尖价值观，否则我们就是无名小卒。世界的风俗告诉我们要和有名有钱的人交往。然而，当生活出现不好的情况，这些我们所珍视的朋友却会认为我们一无是处。
今世的风俗告诉我们女性有美好的身材和漂亮的脸蛋是好的，即吸引人、也应该让人垂涎，而不是聚焦于建立好人品和好性格。今世的风俗告诉我们开放和迎合现今的社会是重要的，因此，忘记那本叫圣经的古书吧。世界告诉我们同居和婚前性行为是无妨的。媒体的影响和社会告诉我们无需委身于婚姻既然我们知道婚姻难以持续。
我们以为，与其被人拒绝或嘲笑，不如跟随潮流好。然而，事实是当我们被伴侣遗弃，就得孤独一人去堕胎或一手带大孩子，并继续活在幻灭、拒绝、沮丧、罪恶感中。有些人甚至因为梦想破灭而让自己和孩子走上绝路。
有些人借酒消愁或服药麻痹自己。这是今世的风俗告诉我们的，而这却是受空中掌权者的影响！这是徒劳的思想、魔鬼的欺骗手段、包装的工具为要来摧毁、杀害、偷取我们的生命！
一开始我们取得成功是因为上帝的恩泽，我们也对上帝的话语如此熟悉，以至于神的话成为我们生命的一部分。然而，当我们越成功，我们的事业就会要求我们更多的时间和注意力，渐渐地我们把焦点放在事业上的成功和身份，而不是上帝和祂的话语。
获取成功并没有错，但我们要思想随之而来所要付上的代价，特别是如果那个代价是我们和上帝的关系。上帝的旨意是要我们在生活的各个方面成功，但不是以失去我们和祂的关系为代价！我们需要常常回到上帝的话语、提醒自己，祂是我们的供应、机会、恩泽的来源。我们所需的一切来自祂！
箴言 10:22 耶和华所赐的福，使人富足，并不加上忧虑。
当我们的成功是基于祂倾倒在我们生命里的祝福时，祂不加上忧虑，我们的生命就成为荣耀祂的见证！从祂所倾倒出来的祝福，我们的生命可以成为其他人的祝福！
约翰福音 15:4-5,7-8 你们要常在我里面，我也常在你们里面。枝子若不常在葡萄树上，自己就不能结果子；你们若不常在我里面，也是这样。你们若常在我里面，我的话也常在你们里面；凡你们所愿意的，祈求就给你们成就。你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。
只有当我们常在祂里面，我们才能多结果子，我们天上的父就因此得荣耀！
讲章系列：内在灵人
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