What Every Christian Needs To Know… by John Owen

137 第三十七，三十八課試探（約翰歐文）

Lecture 37-38 Temptation: John Owen

Temptation 試探

A. The Savior’s warning against temptation 主耶穌關於試探的警告

Every Christian must constantly be on guard against temptation

基督徒必需隨時儆醒﹐提防試探。

To ‘Fall into temptation’ is to experience temptation in its most powerful and dangerous form.

『墮入試探』的意思是﹕經歷罪的權勢﹐ 是最危險的經歷。

To avoid being harmed by such an experience of temptation the believer must learn to ‘watch and pray’.

為了避免經歷到試探中的失敗﹐信徒必需儆醒禱告。

Two types of temptation兩種試探﹕

1. The good kind that God uses is trial; it is also called test.

第一種試探是好的﹐神用這種『試煉』在我們身上。

a. Why does God test? 神為什麼要試煉我們﹖

i. Helps believers to know about his spiritual health.

幫助信徒們認識自己屬靈的健康狀況。

1. Either he is encouraged by fruits that God produced, or

信徒要就是看見神在他身上結出果子而得鼓勵﹐

2. He becomes alert of the weaknesses that are manifested.

或者就是看見自己的弱點顯出而得警告。

ii. Helps believer to know more about God.

幫助信徒更認識神自己。

1. Learn that we can only handle things through the grace of God.

讓我們學習﹐知道無論面對何事﹐唯靠神的恩典。

b. Ways of testing神試煉我們的不同方式

i. God tests people by giving duties that are beyond their own resources.

神會給我們一些責任﹐是超乎我們所能作的。

ii. God tests people by permitting them to suffer for their faith.

神容許信徒為他們的信仰受苦﹐用苦難試煉他們。

iii. God tests believers by allowing them to meet false teachers or false teaching.

神也讓信徒面對異端與傳異教的教師﹐來試煉信徒。

1. Test the believer’s loyalty toward God.

考驗信徒對神的忠心。

2. The evil kind of temptation that Satan uses.

第二種試探是惡的﹐來自撒但。

a. This type of temptation is designed to lead a person to sin, and God is never the author of that.

這種試探的目的﹐是要引誘信徒犯罪。神從不給人這種試探。

b. Who are the tempters?誰試探人﹖

i. The devil 魔鬼

1. Put evil or blasphemous thoughts into one’s mind.

在我們的心思放置邪惡或褻瀆的思想。

a. One has sinned only if he believes, and ponders in these thoughts.

我們相信﹐默想這些思想時﹐才是犯罪。

ii. The world (including worldly people) 世界

1. The devil often uses the bait of some attraction of the world to persuade a person to sin.

魔鬼常用世界的某種吸引作餌。

iii. The flesh (i.e. selfish desire) 肉體（自我的慾望）

1. Devil works through a person’s desires in order to tempt him.

魔鬼用我們的慾望來試探我們。

Christian, on guard! 基督徒﹐提防﹗

Temptations bring great harms. 試探帶來莫大的傷害。

A major aim of temptation is to lead a person into sin, which will harm the spiritual health of a believer.

試探一個重要的目標﹐就是引人犯罪。而犯罪會傷害信徒的靈命。

Varieties of temptation 不同種類的試探

Anything that hinder to implementation of the will of God.

任何攔住我們活出神的旨意的事。

Anything that provokes or encourages a person to sin.

任何刺激我們﹐激勵我們去犯罪的事。

i. Almost any desire could be a source of temptation. It is not sinful in itself to want such things as an easy life, friends, a good standard of living, a good reputation, etc, but if one put them above the Lord, sin has knocked on the door.

差不多任何的慾望都可能是試探的來源。願望有這些東西 - 例如舒服的生活﹐好朋友﹐優質生活水準﹐好聲譽等 - 本身並

不是犯罪。不過當我們把這些事放在神的前面﹐罪就離我們不遠了。

B. Temptation – handle with care! 試探 - 必須謹慎面對﹗

Ponder on the danger of temptation by considering two phrases in the New Testament.

默想新約聖經兩段經文﹐好好考慮試探的危險。

‘To enter into temptation’ (Matthew 26:41).

進入試探 (馬太福音26﹕41) 。

When temptation gets past ‘the door’ and enters into ‘the room of our heart’, then we ‘enter into temptation.

當試探誇進門框﹐進入到我們的心房時﹐我們已經進入試探了。

It means to experience a usual degree of the captivating power of temptation.

意思是﹕經歷試探掌握我們生命的力量。

It is easy to dismiss a salesman when he is knocking, but when he gets past the door, it would be much harder.

推銷員還在叩門時﹐拒絕他比較容易。可是他進門後﹐就難得多了。

Its sources

試探的來源﹕

i. Satan’s power from the outside.

撒但在外地力量

1. By intimidation.

透過恐嚇

a. Like Deny Christ, or die!

例﹕不認主罷﹐不然你要死﹗

2. By attraction

透過吸引

ii. Indwelling sin’s power (sinful desire) from the inside.

從我們裡面﹕內住的罪(邪惡的慾望) 的力量。

1. It is like a traitor who live inside of the human kind.

就像在人間的賣國賊。

2. It takes side with the tempter, and persuades one to give in.

他站在試探者的一面﹐游說我們投降。

‘The hour of temptation’ (Revelation 3:10). (Code Red, Code Red!!!!)

試探的時候 (啟示錄3﹕10) ﹕紅燈亮了﹗

When the captivating power of temptation reaches the height of its strength. (When the f (t), function of temptation, is at the point when its first derivative is zero, and its second derivative is less than zero, please laugh).

當試探掌握我們生命的力量達到高峰時。

Ways that brings temptation to its hour.

試探如何達到高潮的一刻。

i. When Satan frequently present the same temptation to one’s mind to make it dull to that particular sin.

撒但不停的經常把某一種試探放在我們的思想裡﹐好教我們對那種罪麻木起來。

ii. When a person is not responding to a brother’s sin with hatred, and pity toward that person, but with envy.

當弟兄犯罪時﹐我們沒有恨惡那罪﹐沒有可憐犯罪的弟兄﹐反而對他嫉妒。

iii. When temptation is hidden by other consideration that is good in themselves.

當試探隱藏在別的考慮中﹕這些考慮本身是好的﹐正確的。

1. Like getting a good grade in itself is not a sin, but cheating, and pride are.

例如﹕考試得高分本身不是犯罪。可是做弊和驕傲乃是罪。

The time of the hour has come. 試探的時刻到了。

i. Whenever temptation presses on all sides (from within and without) to gain the consent of the will to sin.

當試探從四方八面來的時候（從外面﹐從裡面） ﹐ 要得到

意志的同意去犯罪。

ii. When temptation combines the power of fear with the power of attraction.

當試探結合恐懼的勢力與吸引力的勢力來攻擊我們的時候。

iii. (Note – When one enter into temptation, it is hard to get out. When the time of temptation has come, it is almost impossible to get out, except when God has given the strength to do so).

（注意﹕我們進入到試探的時候﹐就很難出來。當試探的時刻來臨時﹐就差不多不可能出來﹐除非神賜力量離開。）

To avoid harm from the experience of temptation.

如何避免因經歷試探帶來的傷害。

Need to watch 必須儆醒

i. To watch means to be on guard, to take heed, to consider to strategy of the enemies that can be used to overwhelmed you with temptation.

儆醒的意思就是提防﹐注意﹐考慮仇敵們的詭計/策略﹐牠們如何以試探引誘克服我們。

Need to pray 必須禱告

i. This is the means by which one can receive God’s help to watch as a person should, and to resist Satan’s advances.

這是神所賜的方法﹐以此獲得神的幫助﹐使我們盡我們的本分驚醒﹐抵擋撒但的進攻。

WATCH AND PRAY TO KEEP OUR SOUL FROM TEMPTATION.

儆醒禱告﹐保守我們的心遠離試探。

C. Why be so serious about temptation?為什麼須要對試探那麼認真?

It is the great duty of every believer to make all effort, using the means Christ has given, not to fall into temptation.

每一位基督徒的重大責任﹐就是竭力用各樣主賜的方法﹐避免墮進試探。

Reason one: Jesus knew that temptation is dangerous, which is shown when he put ‘lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’ (Matthew 6:13) into the Lord’s Prayer to remind us to pray for God’s deliverance.

第一個理由。主耶穌知道，試探是危險的，祂在主禱文裏包括：『不叫我們遇見試探，救我們脫離兇惡。』提醒我們要求神搭救我們。

Reason two: There is a reward, deliverance from a testing trial that would come upon the whole world, to those who preserved themselves from temptation.

第二個理由。神應許有賞賜：堅持不墮入試探的，被搭救脫離將來世界要面對的試煉。

Reason three: The consequences for those who enter into temptation are horrifying.

第三個理由。墮入試探的後果是恐怖的。

For people who appear to be Christian, but have no root.

對那些外表像基督徒的，可是信心沒有根的人：

Entering into temptation for such people is an entrance into apostasy (abandonment of faith).

墮入試探等于墮入離經背道（放棄信仰）。

For people who are truly believers

對真信徒來說：

The consequences can be seen in the life of different saints in the Bible. They give painful evidence of how easily saints can fall into grievous sin as the result of entering into temptation.

可以從《聖經》裏不同聖徒生命中看出：聖徒是多麼容易墮入

試探，然後犯大罪，讀到這些證據實在讓我們傷心。

Even David, the man after God’s own heart fell into temptation,

so it is foolish to go into temptation willingly.

就算是大衛，心中追求神，神所喜悅的人，墮入試探，因此自

愿地墮入試探是愚蠢的。

Reason four 4. The power of temptation): people are weak, so they need to take temptation seriously by watching and praying.

第四理由：試探的力量。人是軟弱的，因此需要認真正視試探：儆醒，禱告。

We have no power to withstand ‘the hour of temptation’. When one thinks that he has a good heart, and he is able to stand against temptation, he has become a fool. ‘He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool’ (Proverbs 28:26). ‘The heart is deceitful above all things’ (Jeremiah 17:9).

我們并沒有能力阻擋『試探的時刻』。我們若以為自己的心是清潔的，能夠抵擋試探，那麼我們是愚蠢的。

箴28:26

耶17:9

Fearing of losing honor, of shame, of losing peace, of sinning against God are not enough to preserve one from sinning.

恐怕丟臉，蒙羞，失去平安，得罪神，這些都不足夠保守人不犯罪。

Example: fear of losing peace to persevere

例如：怕失去平安而堅忍

Sometimes the peace that is preserved is false.

有時候，所保存的平安是假平安。

A deceitful heart can trick one into abandoning peace.

一個詭詐的心，可以欺騙自己放棄（真）平安。

The power of temptation can darken the mind.

試探的力量能使人的思想昏暗。

It can dominate one’s thought.

試探能掌管人的思想。

It can use one’s desires and emotions to muddle his mind and hinder him from thinking clearly, so that he would justify or excuse sinful action.

試探能使用人的欲望和情感來使思想混亂，阻止他心思清晰，

因而為犯罪找理由或藉口。

It can feed the sinful desire to a point that it starts ruling one’s mind.

試探能滋長人犯罪的欲望，因而管理人的思想。

The power of communal temptation. 集體試探的力量。

Punishment of the world which has despised the gospel.

一個藐視福音的世界所面對的懲罰。

Punishment for those who falsely profess to be Christians.

對虛假承認自己是基督徒的人的懲罰。

The punishments are carried out by a powerful delusion as a judgment from God, so that the people will believe the lie.

這種懲罰，是透過強而有力的欺騙，這是上帝的審判，因此人會相信這謊言。

This kind of temptation involves those who follow after those who seems to be godly, but neglect the fellowship of God.

這種試探：有些人跟隨那些外表敬虔，可是忽略與神親近的人。

The power of personal temptation.

個人試探的力量。

In the ‘hour of temptation’, the power of temptation from the outside, and sinful desire from within strengthen each other.

試探來到的時刻，外在的試探的力量，和內在的欲望，彼此呼應。

Temptation feed the desire àconscience opposeà temptation keep comingà desire grows (causes dullness to sin)à full-grown desire (self justifying behavior) à suitable occasion provided by temptation à SIN à DEATH.

試探滋長欲望->良心阻擋->試探繼續來->欲望增長（對罪麻木）->欲望完全長大（自己為罪找藉口）->試探提供適當的場合->犯罪->死亡。

As soon as sinful desire is detected, either it is pride, self-ambition, worldliness, or anything else, put it to death.

一旦發現邪惡的欲望，不管是驕傲，野心，貪愛世界，或任何的欲望，必須治死它。

SINFUL DESIRE MUST DIE OR THE SOUL WILL DIE.

犯罪的欲望必須被治死，否則我們的靈魂會死（滅亡）。

Seldom, if ever, does one come out of temptation without spiritual loss.

人很少墮入試探，出來的時候沒有屬靈的損失的。

In every temptation the ultimate aim is to dishonour God and to ruin our souls.

每一個試探的目的，就是要我們不榮耀神，破毀我們的心靈。

Is the effort necessary? Yes. 必須努力嗎﹖是的。

One should rejoice in the good purpose that God could bring in different tests, but not in the test itself. Needless to say, one has no reason to rejoice in the temptation from the devil.

我們必須為神智慧的計劃，安排不同的試煉而喜樂。

可是不要為試探喜樂。

我們當然不應該為從撒但來的試探喜樂！

One can never come out of a temptation like Jesus did, but one must do all to avoid temptation.

我們不可能好像耶穌那樣，面對試探之後仍然沒有受損害。可是我們必須避免墮入試探。

The promise of strength during temptation is for those who enter temptation in spite of all their effort to avoid it.

神應許我們在遇見試探時有能力；這應許是給那些雖然盡力避免試探而仍然面對試探的人的應許。

A Christian should tremble in the thought of dishonoring God when he falls into sin.

基督徒墮入罪，應該為不榮耀神而懼怕。

To enter temptation is to take sin slightly.

墮入試探，表示我們輕看罪。

Christian is a like one who purchased at great expense a cargo of costly merchandise. He would be a fool if he willingly allowed his ship to smash itself because he believes that he could swim to the shore on a plank.

基督徒好像一個人，用重價買了一批名貴的貨物。他若自愿讓船沉掉，因為以為自己可以拿著木板游泳到岸上，不是一個愚蠢的人嗎？

E. What are the symptoms when one is entering into temptation?

當一個人進入到試探時﹐有什麼跡象﹖

When the sin has been committed, one has entered into temptation already.

當人已經犯罪時，他已經墮入試探了。

One will never suddenly fall into sin without first entering into temptation. If one wishes to conquer any sin, one must consider what is tempting him to that sin and aim at avoiding that temptation.

一個人除非先進入試探，不然不回忽然墮入罪中。若愿意克服一項罪，必須留意，是什麼誘惑自己進入那項罪，然後以避免那種試探為目標。

When temptation is violent, or constantly repeating, giving the soul no rest, then we may be sure we have entered into temptation.

試探若是強而有力，或常常重復的話，不要讓自己的心靈安逸，這樣能清楚知道自己是否已經墮入試探。

A person’s sinful desires have the power to seduce, but it is not the same as entering into temptation.

一個人的犯罪欲望是有誘惑自己的能力的，可是這與墮入試探不同。

Sinful desires are like a stream flowing its way to the sea (eternal ruin),

and temptation is like a powerful wind that blows on that stream.

犯罪的欲望好像一條河，流進大海（永恒的滅亡）；而試探好像大風，吹在這條河上。

One is like a little boat on a stream (sinful desire), without fighting, sooner, or later, the boat will go into the sea (eternal ruin), but with a strong wind (temptation) it is even worse because the boat may come to a complete wreck by hitting rocks before it comes to a eternal ruin.

人像在河上的小船（犯罪的欲望），而不抗衡，早晚河就流進大海（永恒的滅亡），可是若有大風（試探）則更糟糕，因為小船可能還沒有到大海（永恒滅亡）以前已經觸礁，完全破開。

When one started to like a temptation secretly, and is content to provide for it and give it an opportunity to grow. He has entered into temptation.

當一個人開始偷偷愛上試探﹐滿足於體貼試探﹐給試探機會滋長時﹐他已經進入試探。

When one finds himself in a situation where his sinful desires are being given the opportunity of being satisfied, and he is encouraged to do so. He has entered into temptation.

人若發現在一種情況裡﹕他的邪惡的慾望有機會滿足﹐他又加上鼓勵去滿足慾望。這時他已經進入試探。

Inflammable material (sinful desire) must be kept away from fire (temptation).

容易著火的物件（邪惡的慾望）必須遠離火（試）。

Whenever a man’s spiritual life is weakened, that man has entered into temptation. 一個人的靈命軟弱時﹐他已經進入到試探裡了。

Negligence of Christian duties always leads to the weakening of spiritual life.

忽略我們作基督徒的任務﹐必導致靈命軟弱。

It is important to be aware that one can go through all the motion of Christian worship, yet with a cold unaffected heart; there is no real life in it, and he has still entered into temptation.

我們必須知道﹐可能在敬拜的形式上盡了本分﹐可是我們的心仍是冷淡的﹔在心裡沒有真正的生命--這時我們已經進入試探了。

SELF EXAMINATION IS ONE OF THE WAYS TO REALIZED ONE’S SPIRTUAL LIFE. 如何知道自己靈命的光景﹖必須自我省察﹗

How can we keep out of temptation? 如何避免進入試探?

Need to watch必須儆醒

Make an effort to understand and feel how dangerous it is to enter into temptation because sin and temptation are put together by Satan and it is extremely hard for any man to separate them.

要努力認識﹐感受﹕進入試探是多麼的危險。因為罪和試探乃魔鬼連起來的﹐叫人很難把它們分開。

Temptation could mean going to certain places, hanging out with certain people, etc.

試探可能是﹕去某些地方﹐與某些人交朋友。

If you despise temptation, it will conquer you. If one is sensitive and watchful here, half the work of avoiding entrance into temptation is done.

你若藐視試探﹐試探必戰勝你。人若在這方面敏感﹐驚醒﹐提防試探的功夫已經作了一半。

Need to pray. 必須禱告。

Have no confidence in our own strength, for we have none. Pray against entering into temptation as to pray for help once we have entered into temptation.

不可信靠自己的力量，因為我們什麼力量都沒有！禱告，求神不讓我們墮入試探，就像在墮入試探時求救一樣那麼迫切。

i. Believers can be sure that those who pray out of the knowledge of their own weakness will not be put to shame.

信徒必須知道，若因為知道自己的軟弱而禱告，必不蒙羞。

ii. If one is aware of his need, and looking to God to supply it, he will be careful to apply himself to what God has appointed for his preservation.

我們若知道（察覺）自己的軟弱，向上帝求幫助，他必會留意去做那些神用來保守我們的事。

Have faith. 必須有信心。

Have faith in the promise of the Lord.

要信靠主的應許。

i. If one trusts God’s promise and prays for preservation God will either keep us from entering into temptation or He will provide a way of escape.

人若信靠神的應許，求神保守自己，神必使我們不墮入試探，或者祂必給我們一條出路。

More.還有的事。

Believing that God can preserve us is not enough. God means us to pray for that preservation and God wants us to continue in prayer, ‘praying always’ (Ephesians 6:18).

相信神會保守我們是不夠的。神要我們禱告，求祂保守自己，神要我們不住地禱告（弗6：18）。

Every day one should specifically pray for preservation from temptation.

我們應該每天禱告，求神保守自己，不使我們墮入試探。

If one learns to pray with a real conscious sense of needing God’s help, he will experience deliverance.

我們若學會真正意識到自己需要神的幫助，以這樣的心態來禱告的話，我們會經歷到神搭救我們。

If one refuses to pray, he shall constantly falling into sin.

我們若拒絕禱告，我們必然常常墮入罪中。

G. What are we watching for? (Time to watch out, when to watch?)

我們要在哪些事上儆醒?

Watch for unusual outward prosperity

要對特殊的外在豐足儆醒。

Unless God gives special supplies of grace, prosperity in itself is a temptation in two ways. It is likely to provide opportunity for the sinful desires of man to grow; and, the devil knows how to use it for his advantage.

除非神賜特殊的恩典﹐不然富裕本身是兩方面的試探。它很能給人的慾望滋長的機會﹔而魔鬼也深知如何用富裕來達到牠的目的。

The believer can rejoice in prosperity (Ecclesiastes 7:14), but he must never forget that prosperity brings very real danger that needs to be carefully watched and prayed against.

信徒富裕時應該喜樂 (傳道書7﹕14)﹐但是他不可忘記﹐富裕帶來

很真的危險﹐須要小心地驚醒禱告以提防。

A sleepy spiritual state. 靈命狀況沉睡時。

Believers may be spiritually sleepy and unwilling to rouse themselves to active communion with Christ. They are likely to bring upon themselves heartache and pain. In many such cases the believer never fully recovers the spiritual vitality he once enjoyed.

信徒可能在靈命上沉睡，不愿喚醒自己，積極與基督親近。這樣很可能為自己招來痛苦。很多時候，信徒不能恢復以前享受的屬靈活力。

Self examination 自我省察。

i. Are you benefiting from the Bible as you used to?

你是否好像往日一樣﹐讀經得到幫助﹖

ii. Is your zeal cold?

你的熱心冷卻了嗎﹖

iii. Are you becoming negligent in the duties of prayer and hearing of the Word of God?

你有沒有忽略禱告﹐聽神的話這些責任﹖

iv. Are you growing weary of the Christian life?

你有沒有厭倦作基督徒﹖

v. Is your love and delight in the people of God growing faint and cold? Is the love changing from spiritual to carnal?

你對信徒們的愛心有沒有開始冷淡﹖你的愛心﹐是否從屬靈的愛變成屬肉體的愛﹖

Great spiritual enjoyment享受豐富屬靈祝福時。

In times of spiritual blessing one needs to be especially watchful or a blessing may become a curse.

得到屬靈的福分的時候，我們特別要儆醒，因為祝福可能變成咒詛。

If a person boasts of such experience of the love of God filling his soul, yet lives a worldly life, he is self-deceived and in danger of even greater deception.

我們若因神的愛充滿我們的心而自誇，同時過一種貪愛世界的生活，我們是自己欺騙自己的，很危險，可能面對更大的自欺。

Self-confidence. 自信。

If one is wise, he shall have no confidence in himself, but put all his confidence in the keeping power of God.

人若有智慧，就懂得完全不可自信，而把一切的信心放在神保守我們的大能上。

The first thing about watching is to know what are the things to watch for. One is watching for the dangerous times in which he is most likely to enter into temptation.

儆醒的第一步﹐就是知道在什麼事上要儆醒。我們在那些時候最危險﹐最容易墮入試探，就在那些時候儆醒。

H. How can we guard our hearts against temptation? (Things to watch out)

我們如何防備我們的心﹐遠離試探﹖ (要儆醒的事)

‘Guarding the heart’ (Proverb 4:23).

保守你心。 (箴言4﹕23)

Get to know you own heart. 要熟識你的心。

The better we know the strengths and weaknesses of our personality and temperament the better we can guard our hearts. We also need to know our own specific sinful desires, and spiritual weaknesses. (We need to know our weaknesses, so we can guard against them)

我們越認識我們自己本性的強弱點﹐就越能保守我們的心。我們也須認識自己獨特的慾望和屬靈軟弱。必須認清自己的軟弱﹐才能提防。

Take time to study your own nature, and do not justify your evilness, and weaknesses.

花一些時間去認識你的本性。不要為你的邪惡和軟弱找藉口。

Be thankful to any friend who is willing to tell you your weaknesses. ‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend’ (Proverbs 27:6).

要為願意指出你的軟弱的朋友感謝。

箴言27﹕6

Guard your weaknesses. 要儆醒﹐守住你軟弱的方面。

One must know the ways in which temptation would take advantage of his weaknesses, and to avoid them.

我們必須知道，試探有什麼方法來利用我們的軟弱。避免這些事！

Remember not to judge the others because no two people will have to avoid exactly the same things. In another word, something may be a temptation to one, but not to the other.

記得，不要論斷別人，因為沒有兩個人是面對同樣的事的。一件事，對某某人是試探，但是對另一個人卻不是試探。

One must try his best to avoid temptation, but if he still gets in to it, he must trust God to keep him.

我們必須盡力避免試探，可是若仍然進入試探中，必須信靠神來保守我們。

Store the heart with provisions against temptation.

在心中要常備預防試探的供應。

Why? 為什麼?

If Satan, the prince of this world, comes and finds us prepared and equipped to resist him, he not only departs, but as James says, he will flee from us (James 4:7).

撒但，這個世界的王，若來到，發現我們都有備而戰來抵擋牠，牠不但會離開，而且好像《雅各書》所說，會遠離我們。

What to store? 積存什麼?

i. Store up an awareness of the love of God in Christ.

積存我們對神在基督裡的愛的敏感。

Store up the provision of the law and the fear of death, hell, and punishment, with the terror of the Lord in them.

積存神的律法﹐積存對死、地獄、懲罰、和神的威嚴的畏懼。

ii. Store up an awareness of the love of God in Christ, a knowledge of the eternal purpose of his grace; a delight in the blood of Christ, and his love in dying for us.

積存對神在基督的愛的意識。積存對神永恆恩典的計劃的認識。積存對基督的寶血﹐祂捨命之愛的愛慕與喜悅。

iii. The Greek word translated ‘guard’ is a military word that could be translated ‘ shall keep as in a garrison’.

提防﹕希臘文原文的意思是﹕

1. Garrison is a place exposed to enemies, but it is safe from the enemies.

堡壘：是敵人可以攻打，可卻是安全的。

2. Our souls are also exposed to temptation and assaulted continually; but if they are kept in the garrison of God’s peace, temptation will not enter, and, as a result, we will not enter into temptation.

我們的靈魂不斷會面對試探和攻擊。但若在神所賜的平安的堡壘裏，試探不能進入，因此我們不會墮入試探。

Keep alert at all times. 常常儆醒。

Christian must be on the alert for the first signs of the approach of temptation.

基督徒對試探來臨的預兆必須提防。

Many fearful temptations have begun its course in a deed of thoughtfulness or kindness. One thing has led to another and before the person knows it he is involved in a temptation that is too great for him.

很多恐怖的試探的開始，只不過是作一件仁慈的事。一件導致一件；在沒有察覺時，已經進入到不能勝過的試探中了。

The devil delights in bringing evil out of good.

魔鬼喜歡在好的事上帶來邪惡。

Consider where temptation leads. 要知道試探引致何處﹗

One needs to remind himself repeatedly of his enemies, and to hate them (it is okay to hate these two enemies).

必須不斷提醒自己，我的仇敵是誰；還要恨惡牠們。（恨惡這兩個仇敵是對的。）

i. The traitor, which is the sinful desires from the inside.

我們裏面出賣我們的，就是裏面犯罪的欲望。

ii. The devil from the outside.

從外面來的魔鬼。

1. Remember that Satan desires more than to tempt one to sin. His ultimate desire is to ruin one’s soul.

必須記得，撒但最喜歡的，就是試探我們犯罪。牠至終的目標，就是完全毀滅我們的靈魂。

Use the shield of faith against temptation.

用信心作盾牌﹐抵擋試探。

Don’t make agreement with temptation, but resist by knowing that Christ died because of sins.

不可與試探和談；必須認識基督為罪死在十字架上：以此真理對抗。

In this case, faith helps one to resist temptation by relying on Christ’s death and remembering his love in willingly being crucified and enduring great agonies for our sins.

在此情況，信心幫助我們抵擋試探：信心依靠基督的死，記得祂的大愛。基督自愿為我們的罪被釘十字架，忍受極大的痛苦。

What happens if I have failed? 當我失敗時怎麼辦﹖

Never forget that God can make the temptation go away. Pray against the temptation, until it departs or God has renewed your strength to resist and overcome it.

永不可忘記，神能使試探離開我們的。要禱告抵擋試探，直到它離開，或直到神再次給你力量來抵抗，克服它。

Flee to Christ, who knows all about temptation. He will sympathize and come to your help.

奔向基督﹐基督完全理解試探。祂同情我們﹐必來幫助我們。

Look confidently to Him who has promised deliverance, for God never fails.

必須滿有信心地仰望基督﹐祂已應許要搭救我們。神永不失信的。

i. God can send an affliction that will deaden the particular sinful desire.

神可以差遣一種苦難來臨﹐它能讓那個邪惡的情慾麻木。

ii. He can alter the whole situation from which the temptation comes.

神可以完全改變試探來臨的情況。

iii. He can tread down Satan under your feet.

神可以踐踏撒但於你的腳下。

iv. He can give you such supplies of grace that you are preserved from being defeated.

神可以給你豐富的恩典﹐保守的不至失敗。

v. He can give you such comfort in the assurance that good will come through the temptation, so that you will feel refreshed in the midst, and not be harassed by it.

祂能給你安慰，給你確據，知道試探有神的美意，必有好的結果，而你在抵擋試探中必重新得力，不被它干擾。

vi. He can remove it and make you a complete conqueror.

神可以挪去試探﹐使你完全得勝。

Find out!!! 努力找出個究竟來﹗

i. Find out how temptation managed to get into your soul.

你要發現，試探如何能進到你的靈魂裏。

ii. If you do fail, confess and mourn before the Lord. Trust God to forgive you, and restore you.

你若失敗，要在神的面前承認，憂傷。信靠神赦免你，恢復你與祂的關系。

I. What happens if you do not ‘watch and pray’?

當你不儆醒禱告時﹐會怎樣?

Temptation leads to death. Perhaps if people believed this and seriously consider where temptation leads they would be more watchful and careful.

試探引致死亡。也許當人真的相信這事實﹐認真考慮試探引致何處時﹐他們會好好的驚醒禱告﹗

Jesus says, ‘watch and pray’. 耶穌說﹐要儆醒禱告。

You may have received much grace in the past; you may have enjoyed wonderful experiences; you may have made great resolve to stand firm. None of these will preserve you from falling unless you prayerfully watch.

你可能在過去曾經領受極大的恩典；你可能享受過奇妙的經歷；你可能曾經盡你的力量決志剛強。這些都不能保守你不跌倒的，除非你禱告，儆醒。

Do not presume on the Lord’s continued goodness. Wake up, be thankful for his tenderness and patience, and start watching before it is too late.

不可以為神必定繼續向你施恩。覺醒起來！為祂的慈悲，忍耐感謝祂。及時儆醒，不然會太遲了。

Jesus Christ is always watching you.

耶穌基督每時每刻都看守你。

Jesus sees all, and what do you think He feels when he sees a temptation hastening towards you and you are fast asleep?

耶穌是無所不知的，祂在鑒察。祂若看見有試探臨到你而你在沉睡，你想祂的感受如何？

When Jesus lived on this earth he considered his temptation while it was still on its way. He said, ‘the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me’ (John 14:30b). Dare we be negligent, having his example and knowing that he is watching us.

主耶穌在地上的時候，在試探還沒有來到時就考慮如何應對了。這世界的王要來。祂必不控制主耶穌。約14：30.我們豈敢疏忽？祂是我們的榜樣，我們也知道祂在鑒察。

God disciplines those who refuse to watch and pray.

神會管教那些拒絕儆醒禱告的人。

Falling into sin is bad, but God may add to the consequences of the sin with some discipline or judgment because of your negligent in fighting temptation.

墮入最罪是不好的事，但是神會在罪的後果中，加上管教或審判，因

為你在與試探斗爭上疏忽了。

A last word最後的話

Avoid all appearance of evil and all ways that lead to evil. Especially, watch carefully over anything that has caused you to stumble in the past.

任何外表像罪惡的事，引致罪惡的道路，都需避免。特別留意儆醒，哪些事過去曾使你跌倒。