John 16:33 (NKJV) “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
The Christian life is like a marathon rather than a sprint, and there will be times when we feel like giving up. Therefore, we need to build up resilience so that we will not quit when we face adversity along the way.
When we choose to live out a sanctified life, one that is characterized by holy and righteous living, God will allow trials to come and mould us (such as a difficult and ungodly boss) to refine our character. These would be lessons from which we can learn.
On the other hand, although Jesus says that there will be tribulations in this world, He has overcome the world. One important foundational truth is our knowledge of the source of the tribulation, because this will help us fight the good fight of faith, and enable us to reject and rebuke the devil when he attempts to devour us with his schemes.
2 Corinthians 4:4 (NKJV) “…whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”
Mark 4:17 (NKJV) “…and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.”
When Adam sinned against God, he handed over the governance of this world to the devil and we have lived in a fallen world ever since. The devil is the god of this age, who together with his cohorts of fallen angels—the principalities, rulers of darkness, powers, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places—influence the world. However, not only is Jesus seated far above all demonic forces, He has also raised us up to be seated with Him in the heavenly places. Nonetheless, the devil is a deceiver and the father of lies, and he can blind believers and unbelievers from the truth because he wants to lure people away from God. He uses tribulations and persecution to try and kill us physically and to demoralise us spiritually. His desire is to steal the teaching of the Word from us to prevent faith from arising within us, and to destroy our dreams and passion for the Lord. Because he is the god of this age and we are living in a fallen world, he can manipulate circumstances and nature towards his goal.
Therefore, we need to build a foundation that’s unshakable and to resist, reject, rebuke and fight the devil with the Word. This is how we can be resilient in the midst of tribulations as we continue to run towards the finishing line in the marathon of life.
Sermon Series: Resilience (Part 2)
知道你的对手是谁
约翰福音16:33 我对你们说了这些事，是要使你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难，但你们要有勇气，我已经胜过世界。
基督徒的生活就像是一场马拉松而不是百米短跑，我们会有想要放弃的时候。因此，我们需要建立韧性，这样当我们在途中面临逆境时就不会放弃。
成圣的生命是一种以圣洁和公义的生活方式为特色的生命，当我们选择活出成圣的生命，神会允许试炼（例如一个难缠而不敬虔的老板）来塑造我们的品格。这些都将是我们能够从中学习的功课。
另一方面，虽然耶稣说世上会有苦难，但祂已经胜了这个世界。一个重要的基本真理是我们对苦难根源的认识，因为这将有助于我们打赢那美好的信心之仗，并使我们能在魔鬼企图用牠的阴谋吞噬我们时拒绝和斥责牠。
哥林多后书 4:4此等不信之人，被这世界的神弄瞎了心眼，不叫基督荣耀福音的光照着他们，基督本是神的像。
马可福音 4:17但他心里没有根，不过是暂时的，及至为道遭了患难，或是受了逼迫，立刻就跌倒了。
当亚当得罪了 神，就把治理世界的权柄交给了魔鬼，我们从此就活在这堕落的世上。因此魔鬼是这个时代的“神”，牠和牠的堕落天使们—执政的、掌权的、管辖这幽暗世界的、以及天空属灵气的恶魔军队—一起影响着世界。然而耶稣不只远超乎所有这些恶魔力量之上，耶稣也兴起了我们，与祂同坐在天上。不过，魔鬼是一个骗子，是谎言之父，牠能够使包括信徒在内的人看不见真理，因为牠的意图是引诱人们离开神。祂试图以患难和逼迫在肉体上杀死我们，使我们意志消沉。牠迫切想从我们这里偷取圣经的教导，阻止信心在我们里面生长，摧毁我们对主的梦想与热爱。因为牠是这个时代的神，而我们生活在一个堕落的世界，于是牠就能驱策环境与自然向着牠的目标运作。
因此，我们需要建立一个不可动摇的根基，以神的话来抵制、拒绝、斥责并与魔鬼战斗。这使我们能够在患难中保持韧性，在这场人生马拉松中向着终点直跑。
讲章系列: 韧性（第二部分）