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Manna issue 77 On the Front Line (II): Know the Enemy 站在前線 (II) - 認識敵人


Understand and fight the Ancient Foe. 認識並且打敗古老的大敵


Adapted from lectures by Vuthy Nol-Mantia—Dallas, USA

節錄自美國 德州達拉斯 Vuthy Nol-Mantia 傳道講道


To fight effectively on the front line, we must first understand our role. Part one of this series focused on establishing our
identity as soldiers of Christ. In part two, we learn to understand our enemy.

站在前線要能有效的戰鬥,我們一定要先了解自已的角色。
第一篇文章,會集中在建立自已身為基督精兵的認知。
第二篇文章,我們要認識敵人。


IDENTITY OF THE ANCIENT FOE 從古至今敵人的身份


It is human nature to treat someone
who has deeply offended or hurt us
as our mortal enemy. People may
also have such extreme differences
in opinions that they bear lifelong
grudges. Such conflicts happen at
workplaces, within families and even
in the church. However, Paul urges us
not to regard our brothers and sisters
as our enemy. Our true and terrifying
enemy is an invisible being who
cannot be defeated with physical
weapons and strategies.

人類的本性,會對待那個大大冒犯我們或是傷害我們的人,認為是重大的敵人。
人們也可能在思想上有這種極端的差異,因而帶著怨恨一生之久。
這種衝突會在工作場合中發生,在家中,甚至教會裡面也會。
然而,保羅鼓勵我們,不要把自已的弟兄姐妹當作敵人。
我們真正可怕的敵人,就是那看不見的靈體,它是不用物質上的武器或策略加以打敗的。


Paul warned the Ephesians
that believers wrestle not against
mere flesh and blood but “against
principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness
in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).

保羅警告以弗所教會,信徒要纏鬥的對象,不僅是屬血氣的,而是
"乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的,以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。"(弗 6:12)


Our cruel and unrelenting enemy is
Satan, the ruler of darkness in this
age. We must never underestimate
the intensity of the battle we have
to wage with Satan. No matter how
strong we are, we will not be able to
withstand Satan’s might without the
Spirit of God.

那殘忍及無情的敵人就是撒旦,在今世的黑暗統治者。
我們一定不可以低估,在這個戰役之中,我們需要起身對抗撒旦所會面對的慘烈程度。
不論我們如何堅強,若沒有神的聖靈幫助,我們是不可能可以抵擋撒旦的力量。


Apart from knowing the identity of
the enemy, we must also understand
his nature. This allows us to be betterprepared
to battle him.

除了知道敵人的身份之外,我們一定也要了解他的本質。
這會讓我們可以在與他戰鬥之前,有更好的準備。


NATURE OF THE ANCIENT FOE 從古至今敵人的本質


Satan’s Pride 撒旦的驕傲


In Ezekiel’s lamentation (Ezek 28:12–
15), the king of Tyre is an allegorical
reference to Satan. Satan, or
Lucifer, was described as the seal of
perfection, full of wisdom and perfect
in beauty. This is a stark contrast to
the descriptions of other angels in the
Bible; the archangel Michael and the
angel Gabriel are defined less by their
appearance and more by their duty.

在以西結先知的哀歌中(結 28:12-15),推羅王就是撒旦的寓言代表。
撒旦或者是路西法,被描述成為完全的標誌,充滿智慧,而且絕對美麗。
在聖經裡面,相對於其他天使的描述,這是相對突出的描寫;
大天使米迦勒(麥可),及天使迦百列,都被寫成外貌比較差,但有更多的工作職責。


In Lucifer, God had created
a cherub who was perfect and
beautiful. However, God gives free
will to His creatures; i.e., God allows
us to think and decide for ourselves.
Lucifer became Satan when iniquity
stemming from pride was found in
him.

對路西法來說,是神從以前到現在所創造的基路伯之中,最為完美和美麗的。
然而,神給了祂的受創之物有自由的意志;這就是,神讓我們會思考,並且可以自已決定事情。
當根源於驕傲的邪惡在路西法身為出現的時候,他變成了撒旦。


“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the
ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the
stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the
congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of
the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’ ”
(Isa 14:12–14)

12明亮之星,早晨之子啊,你何竟從天墜落?你這攻敗列國的何竟被砍倒在地上?
13你心裡曾說:我要升到天上;我要高舉我的寶座在神眾星以上;我要坐在聚會的山上,在北方的極處。
14我要升到高雲之上;我要與至上者同等。
(賽 14:12-14)


Isaiah’s record reveals the thoughts
and motivations of Satan. These were
all centered upon himself, as can be
seen from the number of times he said
“I”. Satan’s thoughts also highlight
his pride—the critical weakness that
led to his literal downfall. He had
the recklessness to think he could
usurp the position of the Most High
God. God then demonstrated His
infinite superiority—He knew exactly
what Satan was thinking. God took
decisive and punitive action. As Jesus
recounted: “I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven” (Lk 10:18).
Like a flash of lightning, Satan’s fall
was very quick.

以賽亞的記載,表明了撒旦的思想及動機。
一切都集中在他自已身上,也可以從他說了多少次"我"的數字,來看出他的自我中心。
撒旦的思想也強調了他的驕傲 - 也是最重要的弱點,讓他變得實質上的墮落。
他不顧後果認為自已可以奪取至高神的位置。
然後神就展示祂極大的至高無上 - 因為他真的知道撒旦現在正在想什麼。
神就下了果斷且懲罰性的行動。
就像耶穌再重覆說,"我曾看見撒但從天上墜落,像閃電一樣。"(加 10:18)
就像一道閃電一樣,撒旦的墮落是非常快速的。


Satan’s plummet from Son of
Morning to Father of Lies, from
anointed cherub to the evil one,
teaches us two things about pride.
First, pride will bring us down
very quickly. Second, pride works
from within. Like an undetected
hemorrhage, it may kill us before we
even realize it! Hence, we must always
be wary of pride, lest we fall as Satan
did. Paul understood that status and
position may turn men’s heads. Thus
Paul advised Timothy that a bishop
should “not [be] a novice, lest being
puffed up with pride he fall into the
same condemnation as the devil” (1
Tim 3:6).

撒旦從晨星之子,跌落成為說謊之人的父,從受膏的基路伯,變成惡者,教導了我們二件有關驕傲的事。
第一,驕傲會讓我們非常快速的跌倒。
第二,驕傲是從內心裡面開始工作的。
就像是一個還沒被發現的內出血,甚至在我們知道之前,就可以殺了我們。
因此,我們一定要總是對驕傲非常的小心,以免我們跌倒像撒旦一樣。
保羅知道,身份和地位會讓人頭抬高,變得驕傲。
因此保羅勸告提摩太,身為神的僕人,應該
" 初入教(新手,新信徒)的不可作監督,恐怕他自高自大,就落在魔鬼所受的刑罰裡。"
(提前 3:6)


History—both biblical and
secular—is replete with examples
of downfall caused by hubris. But
why does pride persist in us? This
is because man is often unable to
detect his own flaws, especially pride
(cf. Lk 6:42; 18:11–12). We are
often complacent and numb to these
warnings, thinking that they apply
to other people. Nebuchadnezzar
had been warned by God through
Daniel not to think too highly of
himself but still ended up suffering
the consequences of pride (Dan 4).

歷史上 - 不只聖經和世俗的歷史 - 都充滿了許多跌倒的例子,他們都因為狂妄自大而變成這樣。
但是為什麼驕傲會一直堅持存留在我們身上呢?
這是因為人們常常不能夠發現自已的缺點,特別是驕傲。(cf. 加6:42;18:11-12)
我們常常變得自滿自足,對於這些警告變得麻木,且視而不見,認為這些警告只是對別人說的而已。
透過但以理,尼布甲尼撒王曾經被神所警告,不要把認為自已很偉大,但是他最後仍到受到因為驕傲所帶來的苦果。(但 4)


Hence, we must always examine
ourselves and quickly root out the
smallest weed of pride from the
garden of our hearts. Our intelligence
is a gift of God, and our knowledge is
acquired through opportunities given
by Him. These should not make us
exalt ourselves above others. The
more we know, the more alert we
should be to pride in our hearts (1
Cor 8:1). The branch that bears more
fruits should hang lower. We may
claim to be abundant in fruit but if
our branches are pointing upward,
we are clearly bearing no fruits at all.

因此我們一定總要檢查自已,從自已內心的花園中,快速拔除微小驕傲的秧苗。
我們的智力是神的禮物,我們的知識也是因為祂所給我們的機會,才可以獲得。
這些事,不應該成為我們自已認為比其他人更高級,更優透的藉口。
我們知道的越多,我們就應該更加謹慎,以免內心生出驕傲。(林前 8:1)
生出許多果實的樹枝,就應該垂的更低。
我們或許會說,自已有結出許多果實來,但若是我們的樹枝是往上生長的,很清楚地我們一定都沒有結出任何果子。


Satan’s Deception 撒旦的欺騙


Elder John warns us that when Satan
is released, he will use his full power
to deceive (Rev 12:9). In addition,
he will go out to the four corners
of the earth to create his army, Gog
and Magog, to wage war with the
army of God (Rev 20:7–8). So as we
approach the last day, we must be on
the front line, ready to fight. When
that day arrives, there will be no more
time for us to prepare ourselves, and
those who are unprepared will be
deceived and lost.

約翰長老警告我們,當撒旦被釋放的時候,他會使用全力來欺騙。(啟 12:9)
除此之外,他們行走到地的四方,並且創造他的軍隊,就是歌革和瑪各,叫他們聚集和神的軍隊爭戰。(啟 28:7-8)
所以當我們臨近末日的時候,我們一定會站在前線上,準備好要戰鬥。
當那日來到,我們就沒有時間來準備,而那些沒有準備好的人,就會受到欺騙而迷失自已。


What are some of Satan’s weapons 
of mass deception?

撒旦最主要欺騙的武器有那些呢?


Weapon #1: Re-interpreting the Bible 武器一 #1:重新解釋聖經


Jesus described Satan as the father of
lies (Jn 8:44). Right at the beginning in
the Garden of Eden, from the serpent’s
conversation with Eve, we can see
how brilliantly he could twist God’s
word and instructions. Satan subtly
suggests re-interpretations, and the
potency of these lies in their apparent
reasonableness and resemblance to
God’s teachings. Satan’s lies will be
so close to the teachings of God that
it will be difficult to discern right from
wrong, unless we have good spiritual
eyesight.

耶穌形容撒旦就像是說謊之人的父親。(約 8:44)
就是一開始在伊甸園的時候,從蛇與夏娃的交談中,我們可以看到他有多麼的聰明,可以扭曲神的說語和教導。
撒旦輕微地建議著他的重新再解釋聖經,而這些謊言的潛在效力,表面上看起非常的合理,也非常符合神的教導。
撒旦的謊言和神的教導非常的相似,要分辨其中的對錯也很困難,除非我們已經擁有一附屬靈的好眼光。


For example, the Bible has very clear
injunctions against homosexuality.
Romans 1:26–32 talks about men
who lust after other men, and
women who lust after other women,
leaving us with no doubt that
homosexuality is wrong and is an act
“deserving of death.” But Christians
are increasingly persuaded to accept
that a loving God loves everyone
regardless of sexual orientation. The
implicit suggestion is thus: whatever
mankind does “in the name of love”
will be tolerated by the Father. As
homosexuality becomes socially and
globally acceptable, we too may
become more ambivalent towards
it. We may not accept it but we
do not unequivocally reject it. We
ought not to be deceived into such
“neutrality.”

例如,聖經裡面有非常清楚的禁令,不允許同性戀的行為。
羅馬書一章 26-32 節,討論到有關男人渴望得到其他的男人,女人也渴望得到其他的女人,
讓我們可以毫無疑問的認為,同性戀是錯的,是一種"罪有應得"的行為。
但是有許多基督徒逐漸被人說服,且有人數增加的趨勢,會去接受這種說法,一個慈愛的神會愛每一個人,不論他們有什麼性的傾向。
這個暗示性的建議就是這樣:無論什麼事,人類用"愛的名義"去作,都會被天父所容忍。
當同性的性行為在社會上及全世界都為人所接受的時候,我們對於這一點,或許也變得更加互相矛盾。
我們或許不會接受這個觀點,但是我們確無法明確地拒絕它。
我們應該不要受到欺騙,而變成陷入了"中立的立場"。


In His love, God forgives sin. But a
just and holy God does not declare
sin to be righteousness. So while we
continue to love people around us, we
must boldly reject their deliberately
sinful acts. If we are asked whether
the practice of homosexuality should
be allowed, good soldiers of Christ
must be ready to step forward to
the front line to say, “No.” Do not
be deceived by Satan whispering,
“Are you sure that God would not
allow two people who truly loved
each other to be together?” Our
answer may hurt the listener or get
us branded as narrow-minded and
unloving but doing otherwise would
jeopardize the salvation of both our
listener and ourselves (Rom 1:32).
Do not allow Satan to persuade us to
risk salvation for the sake of feelings
or human relationships.

在神的愛中,神會繞恕罪過。
但是神是公義且聖潔的神,不會就因此宣佈罪過會變成公義。
所以當我們繼續愛著那些在我們身邊的人,我們一定要勇敢地拒絕他們故意性的犯罪行為。
若是我們被別人問到,同性戀的行為是不是有可被允許,身為好的基督精兵一定要準備好,站出來到前線去大聲說,"這是不可以的"。
不要被撒旦的輕聲細語所蒙騙,"你真的很確定,神不會允許這兩個真正相愛的人可以在一起嗎?"
我們的回答或許會傷害到聽的人,或是讓我們被標注為心胸狹窄的人,沒有愛心,
反而作了相反的行為,告訴別人可以接受這件事,但這樣作會讓聽我們說話的人以及我們自已,在救贖的事上受到危害。(羅 1:32)
不要允許撒旦來說服我們,不要冒著失去得救的風險,只因為個人的感情,或是與其他人的人際關係。


Weapon #2: Leveraging Neutrality 武器2:中立的立場


Now the serpent was more cunning
than any beast of the field which the
LORD God had made. And he said
to the woman, “Has God indeed
said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree
of the garden’?” (Gen 3:1)

耶和華神所造的,惟有蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾。蛇對女人說:神豈是真說不許你們吃園中所有樹上的果子麼?
(創 3:1)


Satan used the serpent to tempt
Eve because the serpent was “more
cunning than any beast of the field
which the LORD God had made”
(Gen 3:1). The serpent was a neutral
party, but he allowed Satan to use
him as a mouthpiece to deceive
Adam and Eve. Likewise for us, we
may accept all that is said to us with
a neutral mind, but this may give
Satan the opportunity to deceive us,
turning us against our brothers and
sisters in church and making us a
child of Satan. Therefore, whenever
we listen to a speaker on the pulpit,
even if they were ordained ministers,
we must discern if the message is
according to the Bible. We must
not simply accept any teachings
concerning God without checking it
against the Bible. The truth must act
as a spiritual filter for everything we
hear from anyone, otherwise we risk
our own spiritual lives.

撒旦使用蛇來引誘夏娃,因為蛇是"耶和華神所造的,惟有蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾。"(創 3:1)
蛇是中立的一方,但他讓撒旦來利用,成為一種說話的工具,來欺騙亞當和夏娃。
對我們是同樣的情況,我們可能會接受一切別人向我們所說的話,並且自以為是身處中立的立場,
但是這樣卻可能讓撒旦有機會來欺騙我們,用我們來對抗自已教會的弟兄姐妹,也把我們變成撒旦的兒女。
所以,無論什麼時候我們聽別人在講台上講道時,甚至或許他們就是受過按立的負責人或長執,
我們一定要分辨,是不是這個訊息有根據聖經。
我們一定不能只接受任何有關神的教導,但卻沒有去查証有沒有違背聖經的教導。
真理一定可以成為一種屬靈的過瀘器,讓我們過瀘那些從別人那裡聽到的說,
若不是這樣,我們就是冒著損害自已屬靈生命的風險了。


Weapon #3: Stirring Pride 武器3:激起個人的驕傲


Satan fell on account of his pride. 
Hence he will seek to stir up our pride
and cause us to fall.

撒旦因為他的驕傲而跌倒。
因此他會尋求機會,來引發我們的驕傲,讓我們也跌倒。


Then the serpent said to the woman,
“You will not surely die. For God
knows that in the day you eat of it
your eyes will be opened, and you
will be like God, knowing good and
evil.” So when the woman saw that
the tree was good for food, that it
was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree
desirable to make one wise, she
took of its fruit and ate. She also
gave to her husband with her, and
he ate.
(Gen 3:4–6)

蛇對女人說:你們不一定死;
5因為神知道,你們吃的日子眼睛就明亮了,你們便如神能知道善惡。
6於是女人見那棵樹的果子好作食物,也悅人的眼目,且是可喜愛的,能使人有智慧,就摘下果子來吃了,又給他丈夫,他丈夫也吃了。
(創 3:4-6)


This passage shows what drove
the woman to eat the forbidden fruit
from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil. The fruit was good
for food and pleasant to the eyes but
there were other trees in the Garden
which surely had fruits pleasant to
the sight and appealing to the palate.
The unique selling proposition that
Satan dangled and which persuaded
Eve was that eating the fruit could
make one wise; appealing to her
vanity and pride.

這段經節告訴我們,到底是什麼原因,讓這個女人從善惡知識的果樹上,拿取禁果來吃。
這個果子很適合成為食物,也悅人眼目,但是也有其他的果樹在園中,他們也一定有悅人眼目的果子,味道也非常的誘人。
撒旦提出了這個獨特用來說服別人的提議,它說服了夏娃,讓她認為吃了這個果子可以讓人變聰明;
引誘讓她產生虛榮和驕傲。


We also see that Satan does
not just restrict himself to the
deployment of single weapons of
deception. In the Garden of Eden, he
had started off by subtly insinuating
that there could be another meaning
of God’s command—“has God
indeed said?” (Gen 3:1b) He then
blurs the boundaries between right
and wrong—“you will not surely
die” (Gen 3:4a). Eve was no match
for the combined assault of Satan’s
weapons of re-interpreting the Bible
and stirring of one’s pride. Like
Satan, she desired to be like God.
She ate the fruit and convinced
Adam to do the same. They were
driven out of the Garden of Eden.
Sin and death entered the world. This
familiar incident should be a constant
reminder—the minute we feel pride
in our hearts, it is imperative that we
kill it, lest we sin and suffer the same
condemnation as Satan.

我們也可以看見,撒旦不會只限定自已只運用單單一種武器來欺騙而已。
在伊甸園中,他已經巧妙的暗示,神的命令可能有其他的意思 - "神豈不是真說?"(創 3:1b)
然後他模糊了對與錯的界限 - "你不一定會死"。(創 3:4a)
夏娃無法對抗撒旦這個多種武器組合在一起的攻擊 - 重新再解釋聖經,以及激起她的驕傲之心。
也像撒旦一樣,她希望可以像神一樣。
她吃了果子,並且也說服亞當作同樣的事情。
最後他們就被趕出了伊甸園。
罪和死亡就進入了世界。
這個大家都熟悉的事件,應該可以成為一種永永遠遠的提醒 - 
在我們內心感到驕傲的那一刻,我們有必要馬上就消滅它,以我們因此而犯罪,並且像撒旦一樣,受到相同的譴責和詛咒。


COUNTERING THE ANCIENT FOE 反擊這個從古至今敵人


As soldiers of Christ on the front line,
we are under constant attack from
our enemy. He will use every weapon
in his arsenal to do this – deception,
pride and temptation – and if we fall
into his trap, he will seek to recruit us
to his side. Therefore, we should be
ever vigilant against Satan’s schemes.
The Prince of Darkness is a master
manipulator so we must safeguard
both our hearts and minds. We
protect our hearts by ridding our
hearts of pride. We shield our minds
by pursuing the mind of Christ (1 Cor
2:16) and holding fast to the pattern
of sound words (2 Tim 1:13). Then,
Satan will hold no sway over us.

身為眾多的基督精兵站在前線之上,我們會遭受到來自適人的持續性攻擊。
他會使用他軍火庫中的任何武器來攻打我們 - 欺騙,驕傲和引誘 -
而且若是我們掉入陷井之中,他就會尋求機會把我們召募到他們那一邊去。
所以,對於撒旦的詭計,我們應該要時常謹醒。
黑暗的王子本身就是一個玩弄計倆的大師,所以我們一定要好好保衛自已的內心和思想。
我們保護自已的內心,藉由把驕傲從內心趕出去。
我們藉由追求有相同基督的心,就好像用盾牌來好好保護自已的思想,(林前 2:16)
並且堅守純正道理的規模(提後 1:13)。
那麼,撒旦就對我們沒有任何的影響力了。


[To be continued …] 待續

小頁 markvmax@hotmail.com


 

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