Living in this world means we are subject to all kinds of temptations. Thankfully, God has given us the ability to walk in godliness, but we also need to actively apply our faith based on our conviction to flee from them.
2 Peter 1:2-4 (NKJV) Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Though we are saved by grace through faith, it doesn’t mean that the law is no longer important. In fact, through the born-again experience, God has enabled us to walk within the law. He has given us a new creation in the spirit man and His nature. In addition, He has given us the Holy Spirit, who lives in us and empowers us to yield to Him. Because Jesus is the Lord of our lives, we can submit to the Lordship of Christ.
There will be a victory if we truly want to be free from habitual sin, but it has to come from a pure heart. It must be a desire (“want to”) rather than an obligation (“have to”) out of fear of being monitored or caught. We must not deceive ourselves by having a dead faith, which has a mental assent that we believe in God, but deny the resurrection power in us to overcome the temptation. The devil also believes and trembles at the name of Jesus. Therefore, we must be convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead and His resurrection lives in us and empowers us. We must stand on the Scriptures that say we are free!
Once we know that we are free and the devil no longer has any stronghold over us, we will disassociate or distance ourselves. Therefore, flee from any places, movies, or websites that cultivate the sensual craving! Flee from unwanted approaches, suggestions, and flirtations! Flee from suggestions to visit drinking holes that lead to an inability to control our senses and entertainment joints that have sleazy activities! Flee from friends and companies that influence you negatively! Don’t be an ostrich that deceives itself by burying its head in the sand, pretending that nothing is happening, thus allowing the devil to steal, kill, and destroy! The simple term for flee is run away quickly, and that is active faith!
You are blessed when you act on your conviction that you are free and no longer need to identify yourselves with all these activities, and you will get stronger spiritually as you build your faith muscle every time you listen to the Word, believe it, and act on it!
Sermon Series: Faith with works
逃离罪与诱惑
生活在这个世界上意味着我们会受到各种各样的诱惑。感恩的是，上帝给了我们行在敬虔中的能力，但我们也需要积极地靠着信心，行出信心，逃离试探。
彼得后书1:2-4 愿恩惠、平安，因你们认识神和我们主耶稣，多多的加给你们，神的神能已将一切关乎生命和虔敬的事赐给我们，皆因我们认识那用自己荣耀和美德召我们的主。 因此，他已将又宝贵又极大的应许赐给我们，叫我们既脱离世上从情欲来的败坏，就得与神的性情有分。
虽然我们因信蒙恩典得救，但这并不意味着律法不再重要。事实上，通过重生的经历，上帝使我们能够行在律法中。祂赐给了我们一个灵里新造的人还有祂的本性。此外，祂还赐给我们圣灵，圣灵住在我们里面，使我们有能力顺服他。因为耶稣是我们生命的主，我们可以顺服基督的主权。
得胜来源于我们是真心想逃离罪的惯性，但这需要来自一颗纯洁的心。需要有一种渴望（“想要”）去做而不是恐惧被监视或指认，或出于义务（“不得不”）才这么做。我们不能以死的信心自欺，所谓死的信心就是：在头脑中同意自己是相信上帝的，却否定我们里面那克服诱惑的复活的大能。耶稣的名鬼魔也信，却是战兢！我们需要确信并坚信耶稣已经从死里复活，祂复活的生命住在我们里面并赋予我们能力。我们必须站立在经文上，宣告我们已经自由了！
一旦我们知道自己是自由的，并且魔鬼不再有任何掌控我们的营垒，我们就会使自己脱离或疏远诱惑。因此，要逃离任何培养感官欲望的地方、电影或网站，或刺激我们感官欲望的地方。我们还应该逃离不受欢迎的接近、建议甚至调情！逃离那些去酒吧的建议，那种地方可能导致你无法控制感官，逃离有低俗活动的娱乐场所，逃离对你产生负面影响的朋友和公司…不要像鸵鸟那样欺骗自己，把头埋在沙子里，假装什么都没发生，一任魔鬼偷窃、杀害和毁灭！逃离简而言之就是赶快跑开，这就是积极的信心！
你是自由的，你不再需要以所有这些活动来定义自己–当你凭着这个信念而行时你是蒙福的，并且当你每次听了神的话语都相信并行出它时，你是在锻炼你的信心肌肉，你的灵命将更加强壮。
讲章系列：有行动的信心
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