2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NKJV) But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!
Don’t the above verses fully describe what we see in society today? We can be religious and regular churchgoers, yet not live a surrendered life in Christ. We can be easily offended by others’ remarks and actions, and brutal in our treatment of those who have wronged us. There are Christians who are haughty, headstrong, full of themselves, lovers of the world, and like to belittle others because they have never practised crucifying the flesh, picking up the cross, and following Jesus to live peaceably with all men. If we are carnal in our thinking and our ways, our lifestyles will be no different from the people of the world.
Idolatry does not just mean worshipping physical images because we can also idolise money. When we become lovers of money, we will dishonour our words just to make sure that we do not lose out. We might even idolise ourselves by being “lovers of ourselves” as the opening Scripture says. How can Jesus be the Lord of our lives when we idolise ourselves and do whatever we want with no regard for what Scripture says? Idolatry can be subtle but will nonetheless come out of our conversations, our decision-making, and the lifestyles that we lead. Sometimes, people have misconceptions about God and blame God for what they are experiencing. Some of them may demand that God does things their way. However, God will never act or answer prayers that are contrary to His Word, attributes, and character. On the contrary, we are the ones who need to align with God’s Word, values, and principles if we want to have our prayers answered.
God is unimpressed by us having a form of godliness; He is more concerned with how we live out the newness of life in Christ Jesus through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. A power has been made available to us through the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to enable us to have victory over the law of sin and death.
Therefore, let us engage the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus to walk in the Spirit and not deny that power, so that we can be gracious, loving, forgiving, forbearing, patient, kind, and merciful towards people, even those who do not agree with us.
Sermon Series: Unless Your Presence Goes with Us
从圣灵而来的能力
提摩太后书 3:1-5你该知道，末世必有危险的日子来到。 2因为那时，人要专顾自己，贪爱钱财，自夸，狂傲，谤讟，违背父母，忘恩负义，心不圣洁， 3无亲情，不解怨，好说谗言，不能自约，性情凶暴，不爱良善， 4卖主卖友，任意妄为，自高自大，爱宴乐，不爱 神， 5有敬虔的外貌，却背了敬虔的实意；这等人你要躲开。
上面的经文不正是描述了今天的社会吗？我们可以虔诚地经常去教堂，但不能在生活中顺服基督的教导。我们很容易被他人的言行冒犯，也很容易鲁莽地对待那些曾经冤枉我们的人。有些人即便是基督徒，也会表现出傲慢、刚愎自用、自大、贪爱世界、容易轻视他人，因为他们没有训练将肉体而来的邪情私欲钉在十字架上、背起十字架、跟随耶稣并追求与众人和睦相处。如果我们的思想和行为是属从肉体而来的邪情私欲的，我们的生活方式就与不跟随耶稣的人没有什么不同。
偶像崇拜不仅仅意味着崇拜一个具体的人或物，因为我们也可以把钱财当作偶像。 当我们成为贪爱钱财的人时，我们会违背自己的诺言，只是为了确保自己不会遭受损失。 我们甚至将自己当成崇拜的偶像，成为“专顾自己的人”，正如这段经文开头所说的那样。 当我们崇拜自己，为所欲为，不顾圣经的教导时，耶稣怎么能成为我们生命的主呢？ 我们有时可能意识不到自己里面的偶像崇拜，但它仍然会从我们的谈话、决策和生活方式中流露出来。有时，人们会对神产生误解，把自己的遭遇归咎于神。他们中的一些人可能会要求神按照他们的方式行事。然而，神不会回应与祂的话语、属性和品格相悖的祷告。相反，如果我们想让我们的祈祷得到回应，我们就需要与神的话语、价值观和原则保持一致。
神并不在意我们有敬虔的外表；祂更关注我们如何透过从圣灵而来的能力，活出在基督耶稣里的新生命。在耶稣基督里，因着赐生命的圣灵的律，我们得着这能力，并能战胜罪和死亡的律。
因此，让我们参与在基督耶稣里那赐生命的圣灵的律中，与圣灵同行，并不否认这从圣灵而来的能力，使我们对他人甚至是那些不同意我们的人， 能给出祝福、爱心、宽容、忍耐、恩慈，和怜悯。
讲章系列：除非你亲自与我们同去
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