9月3日靈修禱文|DEVOTION

September 3rd, 2020

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:15-18

Thought

Being moved by the Holy Spirit does not necessarily have a special sign. We easily think of "Holy Spirit Inspiration" as the Holy Spirit being active, and we are passive. As described in Ephesians "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18), being filled with or under the control of the Holy Spirit becomes an excuse for our passiveness. Therefore, we did not expect that the Holy Spirit would speak to us when we seek God's will. Both understand God's will under a state of communion. Refer to what Elijah said to Elisha: “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said to Elijah: “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” (2 Kings 2:9). It means that, may the Holy Spirit in your heart touch me more in double. How to get double touched by the Holy Spirit? The author of 2 Kings did not provide an answer. Did Elisha not step up his search for the Spirit of God and just wait for the Holy Spirit to double touch him? From reading the work of the Holy Spirit in the Bible, there is no formula for how to speak to people and when to move people. We should open our hearts to the control and guidance of God/Holy Spirit and not to stay in a state of stagnating faith. Live in the Holy Spirit and be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Lord! Please open up our minds, let us know your truth and stay sharp on the words of the Holy Spirit. Knowing our own shortcomings, forgive us for our hidden sins. Save us from the world so that we can hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Eddie Chu

你們要謹慎行事，不要像愚昧人，當像智慧人，要愛惜光陰，因為現今的世代邪惡，不要作糊塗人，要明白主的旨意如何，不要醉酒，酒能使人放蕩，乃要被聖靈充滿。

以弗所書5:15-18

思想

被聖靈感動不一定有特別的表徵。我們很容易將「聖靈感動」視為聖靈主動，我們被動，即如以弗所書所述「不要醉酒，酒能使人放蕩，乃要被聖靈充滿」(弗五18) ，被聖靈充滿，或受聖靈管理，成為我們處於被動的藉口。故此，我們並沒有想到，聖靈就在人尋求神的心意的時候，向我們說話。雙方就在交融的狀態下，明白神的旨意。參照以利亞對以利沙說：『我未曾被接去離開你，你要我為你作甚麼只管求我。』以利沙對以利亞說：『願感動你的靈加倍的感動我。』」(王下二9) 意思是說，願在你內心的聖靈加倍的感動我，英文double portion of your spirit。怎樣才得到聖靈加倍的感動，列王紀下的作者沒有提供答案，難道以利沙自己不要加緊尋求神的靈，一味只等待聖靈加倍感動？！縱觀聖經中講論聖靈的工作，如何對人說話，何時感動人，找不到任何的公式。我們就要不停滯在無動於衷的信仰狀態，心靈開放給神/聖靈的掌管及指引，活在聖靈裏面，被聖靈掌管。