2 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV) 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.
It is humanly impossible for anyone to use their own strength to tame the tongue or get a grip of their lip, due to the sin nature and the fact that unbelievers are under the influence of the prince of the power of the air. However, it is not so for born-again Christians because they are new creations and have the nature of God in them. It is on this basis that James addressed the brethren that blessing and cursing should not proceed from the same mouth (James 3:10).
We are born again the moment that we choose to acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. This new creation is in the heart or the inner man. The opening Scripture says that God has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness because we have the nature of God. We have been set free from the law of sin and death, and are able to walk in the newness of life by operating in the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. This new life in Christ will enable us to live a godly life, including getting a grip of our lip and tongue.
We also need to remind ourselves that we are a new creation with the nature of God and the Holy Spirit living in us, and we are no longer the old person who used to speak negatively, condescendingly, pessimistically, or even divisively. What we were unable to do before is now enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit and the new creation in Christ.
If your word has been destroying your life, relationships, and work, you need to believe in the redeemed personality, and begin to speak forth what you can do and speak differently! A wise person speaks words that impart life. If you used to be bitter, don’t deny that you have been hurt, acknowledge the pain but choose to forgive the person by name. Choose not to repeat the story over and over and allow bitterness to flow out of you, and don’t react to this person but choose to bless and not curse.
Believe that the old person who used to say foolish, harsh, condescending and hurtful words is dead and buried with Christ. As a new creation, you are able to walk in the newness of life. There is fresh water flowing out of you that brings life and blessing to those around you.
Sermon Series: Cell Group Campaign (Session 4)
清新活水在你里面
彼得后书1:3-4,正如他的神力赐给我们一切与生命和敬虔有关的东西,是因为他认识了那个以荣耀和美德召唤我们的人,他给了我们极其伟大和宝贵的承诺,通过这些承诺,你可以分享神性,通过欲望逃脱了世界上的腐败。
任何人都无法凭借自己的力量驯服舌头或控制自己的嘴唇。这种无力感源于罪的本性以及不信主的人受到空中掌权者的首領的影响。然而,对于重生的基督徒来说,情况并非如此,因为他们是新造的人,在他们里面有上帝的本性。这就是为什么雅各对弟兄们说,对我们来说,不应该是这样,祝福和咒诅不应该从同一张嘴中发出(雅各书3:10)
在我们选择承认耶稣基督是我们的主和救主之际,我们就重生了。这新造之人是在心里或内在灵人里。开篇经文说上帝已将与生命和敬虔有关的一切赐给我们,因为我们拥有上帝的本性。我们已经从罪与死的律中被解脱出来,通过在基督耶稣的生命之灵的律中运作,我们得以在生命的全新之中行走。因此,这个在基督里的新生命将使我们能够过圣洁的敬虔生活,包括控制我们的嘴唇和舌头。
我们还需要提醒自己,我们是一个具有上帝本性的新造的人,并且有圣灵住在我们里面。我们不再是过去消极、居高临下、悲观甚至分裂的旧人。我们以前不能做的事,如今有了圣灵的能力和基督里的新造之人。
如果你的言语一直在破坏你的生活、人际关系和工作,你需要相信蒙赎的人格,并开始说出你能做什么,并且用不同的方式说!一个智慧人所说的话能赋予生命。如果你曾经心中苦毒,不要否认自己受到了伤害,承认自己的痛苦,但要选择点名原谅对方。选择不要一遍又一遍地重复这个故事,让苦毒从你身上流出去,不要对这个人做出反应,而是选择祝福而非诅咒。
相信那个过去常说愚蠢、严厉、居高临下和伤人的话的旧人已经死了,并与基督一起埋葬了。作为一个新造的人,你能够在全新的生活中行走。有清新的活水从你身上流出,给你周遭的人带来生命和祝福。
讲章系列: 细胞小组活动(第4部分)
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