此外,又拿著信德當作籐牌,可以滅盡那惡者一切的火箭。(弗6:16)
基督徒一信主就必面對屬靈爭戰─肉體情慾與聖靈相爭,自我為王與以神為王來相爭,魔鬼更不會放過我們,藉著我們的私慾來試探我們。既是屬靈爭戰,就需要爭戰用的武器,穿上屬靈的全副軍裝。其中要手拿信德的藤牌。
· 信德的藤牌,拿在手中蒙神保護
藤牌是拿在手上,非用來觀賞的。信德就是活出信心的內涵,因此信德建立在與神的親近中,對神話語的渴慕中,聖靈的感動中、並不斷加上屬靈的敬虔中,信德的藤牌也建立在對主耶穌的愛上,因愛產生的順服,盡心竭力的愛主。
· 真假的盾牌,慎思明辨切莫自欺
同時,也要有辨別藤牌真假的能力,因為有假先知、假使徒、假教師。信心沒有行為是死的,真正的信德是憑著信心效法耶穌基督的生命,因信稱義,並從行為可以辨認信心的真假。
· 發威的盾牌,滅盡惡者一切火箭
信德的威力可以滅盡仇敵撒旦的火箭。當我們生命不走在聖潔的路上,就成為魔鬼的靶子。但我們藉著信心,從神而生,就能勝過世界。
在新冠病毒流行、全球恐慌,我們是否拿起信德的藤牌? 靠著主、因著信,讓我們不懼怕,抵擋一切誘惑,口唱心和來讚美神、愛神、順服神。
“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
Christians face spiritual warfare as soon as they believe in the Lord - the war between our flesh and the Holy Spirit, the war between ourselves or God as King. Satan will not let us go easily and will tempt us by our pleasure and desires. Given that it’s spiritual warfare, we need spiritual weapons, putting on the full armor of God. One of the weapons is the shield of faith.
· Shield of Faith, Take it up for protection: the shield is held by your hand, not just for display. Faith means to live out our faith; faith is built by drawing near to the Lord, hungering for the Word, with the Holy Spirit’s conviction, and continuously increasing in godliness; the shield of faith is also built on our love for the Lord Jesus and obedience produced from love, and love the Lord with all our hearts and strength.
· Shield of True/False, Able to discern, do not be deceived: At the same time, we need to have the ability to discern between true faith and false faith because there are false prophets, false apostles, false teachers. Faith without deeds is dead. True faith will imitate Jesus’ life through faith, being justified by faith; and from one’s actions we can discern whether a person’s faith is true or false.
· Shield of Power, Extinguishes all flaming arrows of the evil one: The power of faith that can put out the enemy Satan’s flaming arrows. If we do not walk on the holy path, we become the devil’s target. But through faith, born of God, we can overcome the world.
During the coronavirus pandemic and global panic, will we take up the shield of faith? Relying on the Lord, because of faith, let us not be afraid, resist temptation, with our mouths and hearts praise God, love God, obey God.
By Rev. Benguang Du 都本光牧師
May 1, 2020
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