尋求神的旨意（下）

使徒保羅提醒屬神的人要「察驗」及「明白」主的旨意（弗5:10, 17），那麼我們該如何尋求神的旨意？ 

曾有網上資料說，每人每日要作約35,000個決定。不論這數字能否確實，但根據2007年美國Cornell University的研究，我們每天便要作226.7個與食物有關的決定了。事實上，我們每天最終都會作出無數的決定，當中很多或許沒有經過深思熟慮，僅是我們認為最舒適和自然的選擇而已。況且，許多甚至不是決定，而是我們避免作出決定後，情況迫使下得出來的結果。

作為基督徒，我們應如何作出合神心意的決定？上次我已提出一些尋求神旨意時可依循的思想方向，今次我們一起看看屬靈前輩或守望者之印證的需要。有人會問，尋求神的旨意不只是我與神的事嗎？為何我需要與他人來一起尋求神呢？簡單有兩個原因。

第一，保羅在以弗所書第5章談及察驗神的旨意時，比對光明與黑暗、良善與邪惡的本質及結果（弗5:8-14）。既然信徒活在光明裡，合神心意的決定也應在光明中進行。所以如果在尋求神的旨意當中，能與可信的守望者分享，一起交托在主的手裡，便避免作出「暗昧無益」的決定。 

第二，由於撒但也可裝作光明的天使（林後11:14），令一些不是出於神的事情看似美好；而且，正所謂「當局者迷」，我們很容易把自己的意願看成是出於神的，結果誤解為神的心意。所以，有其他人在旁提點、一起分辨，便叫我們免跌入這些陷阱裡。

你有哪些事需要尋求神的旨意呢？你可有一些屬靈導師或守望者與你一起尋求神嗎？

尋求神的旨意（上）

尋求神的旨意是歷世歷代的信徒都在學習的功課。在聖經裡，有人（如基甸）透過求神給予一些印證來確認神的呼召（士6:33-40），有人（如但以理）透過禁食禱告來明白神的計劃（但10:2-14），亦有其他（如耶穌）藉整夜禱告來決定誰成為跟隨自己的使徒（路6:12-13）。

在教會歷史裡，不同屬靈傳統及教會宗派，都有其獨特尋求及明白神旨意的方法。活在講求效率的現代社會裡，我們或許都想有一些，如：「明白神旨意的三個步驟」、「尋找伴侶的七部曲」、「培育敬虔兒女的十個招數」等可依循的方法，既方便又直接，更可無誤地掌握所當做的，以免自己犯錯而承受惡果。

然而，尋求神的旨意不只是一堆理性的習作，更講求我們的內在生命，和與神、與人的關係等。若果你正在尋求神的旨意，鼓勵你從以下幾方面思想。

假如你真的作了這個決定：

- 你的信心、愛心和盼望有否增加？（林前13:1-13）
- 你能否感到神的同在與同行？（書1:8-9; 賽43:1-2）
- 你內心有否平安 — 不是完全沒有懷疑，但心底裡有否出人意外的平安？（約14:27; 腓4:7）
- 你是否充滿良善及純全的渴望？（羅12:1-2）
- 你行事能否光明磊落 — 沒有不可告人的動機？（約壹1:5）

我期望以上的思想問題，可以幫助你好好地尋求神的旨意。但不可少的 — 或許是更重要的 — 是通過與一些屬靈前輩或守望者，與你共同尋求神的旨意（提後2:22），這點容我們下一次再談吧！ 

The Death of the Five-Year Plan

I am very much amazed by what Lifechurch.tv senior pastor (Craig Groeschel) wrote about long term planning - "no idea". Long-term or mid-term plans do not always eventuate as planned. Here the bottom line that church leaders need to be flexible and be prepared to move when God leads and guides. That is we plan to be "without" plans, which is hard for many.

Are we prepared to let our 5-year plan die? Are we prepared to be moved and touched by God in ways surpassing our expectations? And just how well are we prepared to be led by the Spirit of God?

Watch out! It's a spiritual warfare. (Part 2)

About a week after we cast out a demon from a girl, I was led to do some Bible study to hopefully observe and learn the Jesus' way of ministry of deliverance. From there I observe how the disciples and Jesus dealt with evil spirits. The Bible often recorded that when Jesus cast out a spirit, (i) He identified and named it ("deaf & mute spirit" ~ Mk 9:25; "legion" ~ Lk 8:30).

In replying and instructing His disciples how to drive out the evil spirits, the following are explicitly required: (ii) faith, even faith like a mustard seed can move mountains (Mt 17:21), (iii) prayer & fasting (Mt 17:21; Mk 9:29 ~ some versions had prayer only while others had prayer and fasting).

Furthermore, a few others can be observed: (iv) the demons need to go a place (Lk 8:31-32; Rev 20:3, 10), and (v) they come out under the authority of Jesus and in Jesus' words (Mk 9:25-26; Lk 8:32-33).

In short I believe, as Christians, we can cast out demons:

- in the name of Jesus

- with God's Word

- by faith

- through prayer (& fasting)

- (and command them) to a place destined for them

Above all, we need to be discerning and examining ourselves before we participate in any such ministry. Prayers for family members are also required.

"Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes ..." (Eph 6:11-18a) ~ to read this passage, click here

The "Journey" will now start unexpectedly by tomorrow

My wife and I woke up at around 2:30am this morning when Karis cried quite a bit. After she settled after 3:20am, I felt like hard to get to sleep again. Playing with my new PDA for a while, I still couldn't get to sleep. My dear wife was very sleepy though and she "made" it.

I then started to come to my senses and became "alert" if it's a God call to me. I decided to go out to the family living and read a book that came to my mind. I spent some time interacting with the author and also praying & asking if God wants me to push my plan forward - "Lord, do you want me to start now? Are you serious about it?"

Having reasoned that I do need some time preparing for the journey, I am going to embark again on a wonderful spiritual journey which will start on 26/2. 

"Lord, here I am, walk with me as I desire to walk closer with you!"