Ephesians 6:12-13 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Practices like horoscope, palm reading, tarot card reading, fortune telling, and witchcraft are prevalent today. However, once someone takes the first step out of curiosity to consult the dark forces, they will likely start to believe that their life is connected to what they have read or been told. Gradually, they will be drawn to think it is true. Some uninformed or carnal Christians who are dabbling with it are unaware that they have openly invited the work of the devil into their homes and their lives to torment them. They are tapping into the demonic realm instead of seeking the real supernatural power that is only found in God.
The world system operates differently from the kingdom of God because their values are opposites. In the kingdom of darkness, there is fear, torment, and control, whereas in the kingdom of God, there is liberty, joy, peace, and freedom.
The born-again experience enables us to operate free from the world system. As Jesus told us in Luke 16:13, we cannot serve two masters; we will love one and hate the other. We can only serve one master. Therefore, when it comes to financial provision, we can either operate in the world system or God’s system because we will be salve to whichever system we choose. In other words, we can either trust in God or Mammon. When we trust God to be the source of our provision, we won’t struggle with tithing and freewill offering, whereas trusting in Mammon will keep us in fear or lack, making it hard for us to part with the money, and fearful when our lives are affected by changes or uncertainty.
However, we will be in faith when we have experienced God’s faithful provision when He created opportunities for us, granted us favours, prompted us, and blessed us with wisdom and business acumen before the changes happened. We are immovable and unshakable in God’s rather than the world’s finance system. The benefits of choosing the kingdom of God are immeasurable.
As the world becomes increasingly uncertain, many people’s career development will either be disrupted or stunted by the upcoming changes. Christians will be increasingly forced to walk by faith because there will be many occasions where their ego, confidence, and identity will be shaken. Therefore, it’s better to begin the faith walk sooner than later. Trusting God by worshipping Him with our tithes and freewill offering is a walk of faith in the kingdom of God.
Sermon Series: The Weapon of Our Spiritual Warfare (Part 2)
你将选择哪一个国度？
以弗所书 6:12 因我们并不是与属血气的争战，乃是与那些执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的，以及天空属灵气的恶魔争战（两“争战”原文都作“摔跤”）。
占星术、看手相、塔罗牌、算命和巫术等做法是如今所盛行的。然而，一旦有人出于好奇迈出第一步，咨询黑暗势力，他们往往会开始相信他们的生命与他们所读到和被告知的是有联系的。渐渐地，他们会不由自主地认为这是真的。一些不知情或属肉体的基督徒在涉足这些时；并没有意识到他们已经公开邀请魔鬼的工作进入他们的家庭和生活来折磨他们。 他们正在进入魔鬼的地盘，却偏偏不去寻求那真正的超自然的能力，那惟有在上帝里面才能找到的能力。
世界体系的运作方式与神国的运作方式大不相同，因为它们的价值观截然相反。在黑暗的国度里有恐惧、折磨和控制，而在神的王国里，有自由、快乐、和平和释放。
重生的经历使我们能够脱离世界体系而运作。就像耶稣在路加福音16:13告诉我们的，我们不能侍奉两个主，我们会爱一个，恨另一个。我们只能侍奉一个主人。因此，当涉及到财务上的供应时，我们要么按照世俗的体系操作，要么按照上帝的体系操作，因为无论我们选择哪一个，我们就会被这个体系所影响。也就是说，我们要么相信玛门，要么相信上帝。当我们相信神是供应的源头时，我们就不会为什一奉献和自由奉献而感到为难。而相信玛门会让我们感到惧怕或匮乏，使我们很难松开攥着钱的手，当我们的生命受到变故或不确定性的影响时，就会惶惶不可终日。
然而，当我们经历了神信实的供应–当祂为我们创造机会，恩待我们、提拔我们，当祂在变故发生之前赐我们以智慧和商业头脑–我们就会有信心。与世俗的金融体系相比，上帝的金融体系才是坚不可摧、无以撼动的。选择神的国度，好处无可估量。
当世界越来越动荡，许多人的职业发展将被扰乱或者被即将到来的变化所阻碍。基督徒将越来越需要凭信心而行，因为我们的自我、自信和身份会在很多场合受到动摇。因此，开始信仰之旅宜早不宜迟。用我们的十分之一和自愿奉献来敬拜祂，以此来信靠祂，这就是神国度中的信心的行走。
讲章系列： 我们属灵争战的武器（第二部分）
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