[峇里島] 2016 阿拉姆烏布文化別墅 Alam Ubud Culture Villas and Residences

峇里島的第2和第3個晚上，我們入住阿拉姆烏布文化別墅 Alam Ubud Culture Villas and Residences。

會訂這家別墅是因為我深深地被他的無邊際泳池吸引，而且價格合理。雖然網上有些人反映房間打掃不乾淨，昆蟲多，蟲鳴流水聲太吵等，但 Booking.com 的評分還在8份以上 （8.6分），所以就訂了這間。

這天一整天包車遊Ubud，抵達旅館已經是晚上9點了。雖然如此，我們還是有酸酸甜甜的迎賓飲料 － 檸檬草雪碧 Sprite with Lemongrass

[峇里島] 2016 峇里島按摩與公主花瓣浴 Karsa Spa

 
3/5/2016

出發前，峇里島之旅我一共安排了兩次的按摩行程，兩次都在 Ubud，因為這裡的按摩比Kuta或Nusa Dua市中心的價格合理，評價也很好。

其中一家是 tripadvisor 排名第一的 Karsa Spa。雖然名聲很好，但價格不貴，兩個小時的全身精油按摩加去角質和花瓣浴只須 IDR 300000, 也就是大約新幣＄30，非常划算。

[峇里島] 2016 烏布猴子森林 Ubud Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary

2/5/2016

峇里島的第二天，我們離開咖啡園後，南下前往猴子森林。

進入猴子森林需要入門票，成人的票價是 IDR 40000，孩童的票價是 IDR 30000。

一進去便可以看到遍地的猴子，有小猴子，大猴子，母猴子，老猴子，非常隨意的溜達，但主要都是在吃東西。

[屬靈分享] 好書推薦 － 《你能改變》 You Can Change by Tim Chester （3）

 我就继续我的分享吧！Again, read English rather than Chinese, English is the original work.

 

Chapter 5: What Truths do you need to turn to? 你应该转向什么真理？

1. Trying to change behaviour alone doesn't work because the lies that create that behaviour are still there.

单单只想要改变行为没有果效，因为罪背后的谎言仍然存在。

 

2. Just as lies about God lead to the slavery of sin, so the truth about God leads to the freedom of service.

 正如谎言领我们成为罪的奴隶，同样神的真理也会使我们得释放。

 

3. Lloyd Jones said: "Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?" Our problem is that we think with our feelings. We don't always feel joy in God, but by faith we can tell ourselves he is our joy.

我们的问题在于我们常跟随自己的感觉。我们不一定常感觉到在主里的喜乐，但凭着信心我们可以知道他是我们的喜乐。

 

4. One common reason why we sin is that we crave the approval of people or we fear their rejection. We talking of 'needing' the approval or acceptance of others, but our true need is to glorify God and love people.

我们常犯罪的其中一个原因是我们渴慕得到别人的认同，或害怕别人的拒绝或排挤，但我们真正需要做的是荣耀神，及爱人。

 

5. The answer to the fear of man is fear of God. We need a big view of God. To fear God is to respect, worship, trust and submit to him. If you are controlled by people's expectations, then you need to learn the fear of the Lord.

 害怕被人拒绝或排挤的解决方法是敬畏神

 

6. Whenever you see someone whom you fear or whose approval you crave, imagine God next to them. Who is the more glorious, majestic, holy, beautiful, threatening, and loving? Whose approval really matters to you?

每当你看到你害怕被拒绝的人，或你希望得到认同的人，试想像神在他们的旁边，谁更加荣耀，全能，圣洁，美丽，慈爱？谁的认同对你更加重要？

 

7. The fear of God is liberating. We take people's expectations seriously because we want to love them as God commanded. But we're not enslaved by them. We don't serve them for what they can give us in return -- approval, affection, security or whatever. By submitting to Christ's lordship, we are free to serve others in love. (Galatians 5: 13)

敬畏神是得释放的。我们在乎别人的期望因为我们想要照着神所吩咐的爱他们，但我们并不是被别人的期望捆绑，我们服事人不是想要得到别人的认同，称赞，安全感等。把自己交托在基督的带领下，我们能够在爱中自由的服事别人。

 

8. God is good, so we do not have to look elsewhere. Whatever sin offers, God offers more, for God offers us himself. God isn't just good; he is better - better than everything else, and the true source of all joy.

神是美好的。 罪能够给我们的，神给的更多，因为神给我们他自己。神不只是好的，他比任何东西更好，他是喜乐的源头。

 

9. One of our problems is that we think only of moments. In the moment, we think the pleasures of sin are real and the joy of God is insubstantial or distant. But the truth is the other way round: every joy we experience is but a shadow of the source of all joy, which is God. Marriage, for example, is a reflection of the joy of union with God; adultery is a distorted reflection.If you commit adultery then you've settled for less than living water.

我们的其中一个问题在于我们只想到当下。当下，我们只想到罪给我们的快乐是真实的，而神给的喜乐不切实际和很遥远。但事实是相反的，所有我 们在今生享受的快乐只是将来真正的喜乐的倒影。比方说，婚姻是与神连结的喜乐的反映，而淫乱却是他被扭曲的影子。如果你犯奸淫，你其实只满足于不比活水更 好的东西。

 

10. Life with God and for God is the best life you could live. Change is about enjoying the freedom from sin and delight in God that God gives to us through Jesus.

与神同行及为神而活的生命是你能够活出最好的生命。改变是享受得释放的自由和藉着基督享受神的同在。

 

11. Without grace, we view life as a contract between us and God: we do good works and in return he blesses us. When things go well, we're filled with pride. But when things go badly, wither we blame ourselves and feel guilty or we blame God and feel bitter. But the contract or covenant between us and God already reads 'Paid in full by the blood of Jesus'. Only when we grasp God's grace are we free to serve him for his own sake, not for reward.

没有了恩典，我们视生命只是一个人与神的契约：我们行善神便祝福我们，一切顺利时，我 们便骄傲，但我们犯罪或生命不顺利，我们会怪罪自己并感到内疚，或我们会怪神并感到苦毒。但这份契约其实已经写上“已被耶稣的宝血付清”只有当我们抓住神 的恩典，我们才可以自由的服事他，并不是为了自己。

 

12. We can sin only if we suffer from a radical loss of perspective. Only if we forget that God is great and good can we sin. We forget our God and the identity he gives.

只有当我们忘记神是伟大又良善时，我们会犯罪。我们忘了我们的神，和他给我们的身份。

 

13. First, we need to nurture our trust in God's greatness, fear of God's glory, delight in God's goodness, longing for God's future, rest in God's grace. Second, when we face temptation we need to say not only 'I should not do this', but also 'I need not do this' To say to temptation 'I must not do this' is legalism. To say 'I need not do this because God is bigger and better' is good news.

第一，我们应该更加信靠神是大能的，敬畏神的荣耀，享 受在神的美善，渴望将来的国度，安息在神的恩典里。第二，当我们遇见试探，我们不单能说“我不可以这样做”，也能够说“我不需要这样做”。对试探说“我不 可以这样做”是律法主义，说“我不需要这样做”因为神更大更好，这是一个好消息。

 

Chapter 6: What desires do you need to turn form?

1. God's agenda for our lives is for us to be holy, just as he is holy. This holiness is the fruit of what we think or trust and what we desire or worship. We sin because we desire or worship idols instead of worshipping God.

神对我们生命的计划是要我们成为圣洁，正如神是圣洁的。圣洁是我们思想，信靠，追求和敬拜的果实。我们犯罪是因为我们追求或敬拜偶像，而不敬拜神。

 

2. Our double sin is, first, rejecting the truth of God's greatness and goodness, and second, placing our affections elsewhere.

我们的罪是双重的，第一，我们拒绝神是伟大和美好的真理，第二，我们把我们的眼目和喜爱转向其他的地方。

 

3 Our idols are those things we count on to give our lives meaning. They are the things of which we say 'I need this to make me happy' or 'If I don't have this my life is worthless and meaningless.' Your idol is whatever you are greedy for. It may be money, approval, sex or power.

偶像是我们依靠或给我们的生命意义的东西。他们是，我们会说‘我需要这些使我开心’或‘没有了他我的生命没有价值和意义’的东西。偶像是你贪爱的东西，有可能是金钱，别人的认同，性，权力等。

 

4. Desire or lust is more than liking. It is the will to possess. Lust turns good things into objects of worship. Whatever you treasure most is the thing that has your heart and controls your life.

欲望不只是普通的喜爱，而是想要占有的愿望。欲望把好的东西变成敬拜的对象。你最珍惜的东西有能力控制你的心和生命。

 

5. Sin begins with desire. That's why we can't change ourselves simply by changing our behaviour. We need god to change us by renewing our hearts and giving us new desires.

罪始于欲望。这就是为什么我们不能够单凭行为而改变。我们需要神更新我们的心和给我们新的欲望来改变我们。

 

6. Desire itself isn't wrong. Desire is part of being human. We should desire God and his glory. A sinful desire is a desire that is bigger than God. It could be a desire for a good thing that has become more important to us than God.

欲望本身不是罪，他是人的自然本能。我们应该追求神和他的荣耀。但有罪的欲望是任何高过对神的追求的欲望 。这有可能是一个好的东西，但他在我们的心中取代了神的地位。

 

7. To want to be married or successful or healthy, for example, is to desire a good thing. but if my singleness or failure or illness makes me bitter, then my desire has grown too big, bigger than my desire for God. As a result, I cannot be content with God's sovereignty over my life.

比方说，想要结婚，成功，健康是好的追求，但如果我的单身，失败和疾病使我产生苦毒，我的欲望便已经大过对神的追求，因此我不能对神在我生命中的主权感到满足或喜乐。

 

8. The world is full of good things given by God. We can and indeed should enjoy them. But they're meant as bridges to joy in God. We delight in the gift and the Giver. But a good thing can become a 'god-thing' if it eclipses God, if the gift matters more to us than the Giver.

这世界有很多从神而来美好的东西。我们可以也应该享受在其中。但他们只是享受在神的喜乐的桥梁。我们喜爱神的礼物和神自己。但如果我们注重神给的礼物多过神本身, 美好的东西有可能会变成崇拜的对象。

 

9. God promises to meet our true needs, but we can't expect him to satisfy our selfish desires. God isn't the key to the good life. He is the good life. He defines the good life.

神答应会满足我们的需要，但我们不能够期望神会满足我们自私的欲望。神不是通往美好生命的钥匙，神本身就是美好的生命，神定义什么才是美好的生命。

 

10. Sin arises because we desire something more than we desire God. Overcoming sin begins by reversing this process: desiring God more than other things. The Bible calls this 'repentance'. The word means 'turning': we turn away from our idolatrous desires and turn in faith towards God.

罪产生因为我们追求别的东西胜过追求神。要胜过罪，就必须追求神过于其他的东西。圣经告诉我们这叫悔改。悔改的意思是转向：我们必须转离有崇拜性的欲望，而凭着信心转向神。

 

11. Repentance (turning from sinful desires) or mortification (killing off sinful desires) is Christ's work for us and the Spirit's work in us.

悔改（转离罪恶）或杀死罪恶是基督为我们所做的，和圣灵在我们里面所做的。

 

12. You discover that a desire is sinful when it produces bad fruit in your life. ... When our thoughts are filled with the glory of God and our lives are filled with the service of God, there'll be less room for sin and temptation.

你会发现那个欲望是有罪的，当你发现有不好的果子在你的生命中，但当我们的思想被神的荣耀充满，及我们的生命被服事神充满，能够容纳罪和试探的空间就小了。

 

13. Turning to God in faith and turning form sin in repentance are the same movement. Try it now. Stand facing the window. Then turn to face the opposite wall. The act of turning from the window and the act of turning towards the wall is one movement. You can't turn towards the wall without turning away form the window. When we trust God, we're affirming that he's bigger and better than our sinful desires. Repentance is in itself an act of faith.

凭信心转向神，和悔改转离罪恶是同一种行动。试看，站着面对窗口，然后转身面对背后的墙壁。转离窗口，和转向墙壁是一个行动，你不能不转离窗口，但却转向墙壁。当我们信靠神，我们便是宣告神比罪和欲望更大更好。悔改是信心的行为。

 

Chapter 7. What Stops you changing? 什么让你停止改变？

1. The number one reason why people don't change is pride, closely followed by hating the consequences of sin, but actually still loving the sin itself.

人们不改变的第一原因是骄傲，紧接着是恨恶罪所带来的后果，但事实上是人们其实还是喜爱罪本身。

 

2. One of the main ways in which pride wrecks the process of change is when we hide our sin from others. We want good reputation, so we hide, we pretend, we don't seek help. We love our reputation more than we hate sin.

阻止你改变的其中一个原因是我们向别人隐藏我们的罪。我们想要好的名声，所以我们隐藏，掩饰，不寻求其他人的帮助。我们喜爱自己的名声过于我们厌恶罪。

 

3. Sin is like mould: it grows best in the dark. Expose it to the light and it starts to dry up. Hiding leads to sin and sin leads to hiding. But grace breaks the cycle. Grace disarms the fear of exposure, bringing us in the light, into the arena of change.

罪在黑暗里成长得更好，把罪曝光，他就开始蒸发。隐藏会引导我们犯罪，罪又会领我们隐藏。但恩典打破这样的循环，恩典粉碎对曝光的害怕，把我们置于亮光中，引导我们改变。

 

4. Every day I struggle between the desire to be known as holy and the desire actually to be holy. The truth I need to keep telling myself is that reputation is a small price to pay for the joy of knowing more of God and reflecting his glory.

每一天我们都在挣扎于想要被人认为是圣洁的，和真正想要成为圣洁。但其实，我们必须不断告诉自己名声，和更加认识神的喜乐与反映神的荣耀不能相比。

 

John Flavel identified six arguments Satan uses in tempting us, together with model responses. Spot the voice of temptation in your life and identify how you should respond.

这里有六个撒旦常用来试探我们的谎言，和应作的回应。找出这些试探在你生命里的声音，并想想你该如何回应。

 

1. The pleasure of sin 罪带来的快乐

Temptation: Look at my smiling face and listen to my charming voice. Here is pleasure

                   to be enjoyed. Who can stay away from such delights?

试探：看看我的笑脸，听听我美丽的声音，这里有你能够享受的快乐，有谁能拒绝这种快乐？

 

The believer: The pleasure of sin are real, but so are the pangs of conscience and the

                     flames of hell. The pleasures of sin are real, but pleasing God is much

                     sweeter.

信徒：罪带来的快乐是真实的，但与良知的冲击和地狱的火也是真实的。罪带来的快乐或许真

         实，但讨神喜悦更加甜蜜。

 

2. The secrecy of sin 罪的隐秘

Temptation: The sin will never disgrace you in public because no one will ever find out.

试探：罪不会把你曝露于公众，因为没有人会知道。

 

The believer: Can you find somewhere without the presence of God for me to sin?

信徒：你能找到一处是没有神的同在使我可以犯罪的吗？

 

3. The profit of sin 罪的好处

Temptation: If you just stretch your conscience a little, you will gain so much. This is

                   your opportunity.

试探：只要你稍微伸展一点你的良知，你就会得到很多。这是你的机会。

 

The believer: What do I benefit if I gain the whole world but lose my own soul? I won't

                    risk my soul for all the good in this world.

信徒：如果我赚得了全世界，却赔上自己的生命，那有什么益处呢？我不会为了世界可以给的好

         处而牺牲我的生命和灵魂。

 

4.The smallness of sin 罪的渺小

Temptation: It's only a little thing, a small matter, a trifle. Who else would worry about

                   such a trivial thing?

试探: 这只是很小的罪，很微不足道的，有谁会为这样琐碎的罪操心？

 

The believer: Is the majesty of heaven a small matter too? If I commit this sin, I will

                    offend and wrong a great God. Is there any little hell to torment little

                    sinners? Great wrath awaits those the world thinks are little sinners. The

                    less the sin, the less the reason to commit it! Why should I be unfaithful

                    towards God for such a trifle?

信徒: 难道天堂的宏伟也是小事？如果我继续犯罪，我是在得罪大能又美善的神。难道还有比较小

        的地狱来惩罚那些小罪人？神极大的愤怒在等着那些在世上认为是小罪人的人。如果那罪真

        的微不足道，那更没有必要去犯！为什么要为了这样琐碎的事而对神不忠心呢？

 

5. The Grace of God 神的恩典

Temptation: God will pass over this as a weakness. He won't make a big deal of it.

试探：上帝一定会把这罪当作是人的软弱，他不会小题大做。

 

The believer: Where do I find a promise of mercy to presumptuous sinners? How can I

                     abuse such a good God? Shall I take God's glorious mercy and make it a

                     reason to sin? Shall I wrong him because he is good?

信徒: 就因为这恩典，我们就可以滥用吗？难道我们要将神的慈爱和恩典当作是我们可以继续犯罪

        的理由吗？

 

6. The example of others 他人的示范

Temptation: Better people than you have sinned in this way. And plenty of people have

                   been restored after committing this sin.

试探：很多比我好的人也都这么做。

 

The believer: God didn't record the examples of good people sinning for me to copy,

                     but to warn me. Am I willing to feel what they felt for sin? I dare not follow

                     their example in case God plunges me into the deeps of horror he cast

                     them into.

信徒：神没有把比你好的人犯罪的例子录下叫你学习，而是警告我们。我们不能跟从别人的例子

         犯罪，免得神把我们陷入更恐怖的深渊。

 

这些是面对试探时撒旦的谎言，找找看哪一些常出现，或自己最容易被动摇，并想看你应该怎么回答。以上只是一些例子，可以跟其他信徒讨论如何应对，并祷告寻求神的帮助。

[屬靈分享] 好書推薦 － 《你能改變》 You Can Change by Tim Chester （2）

 Chapter 3: How are you going to change? 你如何改变？

1. It seems our first instinct when we want to change is to DO something. We think activity will change us. But our rituals and disciplines can't change us. External activities can't change us, says Jesus, because sin comes from within, from our heart. We need heart change.

当我们说我们要改变时，第一反应便是我们应该做些什么。我们认为我们所作的可以改变我们，但实际上我们的行为举止不能够改变我们。外在的活动不能够改变，因为耶稣说罪是从里面出来的，是从心里出来的。我们需要心的改变(heart change)。

 

2. We become Christians by faith in Jesus, we stay Christians by faith in Jesus, and we grow as Christians by faith in Jesus. If we would be sanctified, our course is clear and plain - we must begin with Christ.

我们凭信心藉着耶稣成为基督徒，我们凭信心藉着耶稣继续持守，保持基督徒，我们凭信心藉着耶稣在基督里成长。我们的成圣也是一样，我们必须从基督开始。

 

3. What the law does do is show us we can't change ourselves or make ourselves good enough for God. The purpose of the law is to point to the righteousness that Jesus offers. (Romans 3: 21-22) The law isn't meant to be the starting point for change. It's meant to bring us to an end of ourselves and so drive us into the arms of Jesus.

律法的作用就是告诉我们我们不能做什么让自己在神面前更好，律法的功用在于指向耶稣基督为我们成就的公义。因此，律法不是改变的起跑点，而是终点，让我们看到自己不能做什么，然后把我们指向耶稣。

---

4. Legalism is appealing for two reasons. First, it makes holiness manageable. Second, legalism makes holiness an achievement on our part. Once of its by-products is comparison with other people. We check whether we are holier than other people or look down on those who don't appear to be as good as we are. No one thinks of themselves as a legalist. They just think of themselves as someone who takes holiness seriously.

律法主义吸引人因为我们可以操控圣洁，还有圣洁成为我们的成就。但律法主义也带来比较，使我们常检测我们是否比别人圣洁，或瞧不起那些看似不比我们好的人。没有人会承认自己是律法主义者，我们只会说自己是一个很看重圣洁的人。

 

5. Deep in the heart of each one of us is the proud desire to prove ourselves. Sin is wanting to live our lives our own way without God. The terrible irony is that we even want to overcome sin our own way without God.

在我们的内心深处都有着骄傲想要证明自己。罪就是我们想要走自己的路，用自己的方式，而拒绝神。讽刺的是我们还想要靠着自己，用自己的方式胜过罪恶。

 

6. But only God can bring true and lasting change. And that's because only God can change our hearts. Jesus changes us on the inside with the Holy Spirit. Jesus does what legalism can never do: he gives us a new heart and a new spirit. Without this inner transformation, we can never please God. God is in the business of change.

只有神可以带来真正及永久的改变，因为神改变的是我们的心，耶稣藉着在我们里面的圣灵改变我们。耶稣成就了律法主义不能够完成的，那就是赐给我们新心和新的灵。没有这内在的改变，我们是不能够讨神喜悦的。改变是神的工作。

 

7. The Father is intimately involved in our lives so that our circumstances train us in godliness. The Son has set us free from both the penalty and the power of sin so that we now live under the reign of grace. The Spirit gives us a new attitude to sin and a new power to change. The combined forces of the Trinity are at work in our lives to set us free and make us holy.

圣父介入我们的生命，藉着各样的环境训练我们更加圣洁。圣子从罪的代价和捆绑中释放我们，使我们如今能活在恩典里面。圣灵给我们对罪有新的态度和能力去改变。三位一体的神在介入我们的生命中，释放我们，使我们圣洁。

 

8. Conversion is all God's work, but we have a responsibility to respond with faith and repentance. Sanctification is God's work. But we are not passive. We have to respond with faith and repentance.

转变全是神的工作，但是我们有责任凭信心回应及悔改。成圣是神的工作，但我们却不是被动的。

 

9. There are important differences between justification (being right with God) and sanctification (becoming like God). God counts me right with him solely because of what Christ has done outside me without any change on my part. Sanctification, however, takes place within me. Justification is a change of my status in God's sight; sanctification is a change of my heart and character.

称义和成圣有些不同。称义是在神眼中被算为义，而成圣是像神。神算我们为义人单单因为基督为我们所成就的，而不是我们所作的任何改变。成圣却发生在我们里面，我们如何改变。称义是我们在神眼中身份的改变，而成圣是我们内心和个性的改变。

 

10. But we shouldn't separate justification and sanctification. They are joined together so that sanctification follows where justification leads. We are justified because we're united to Christ, the Righteous One. But union with Christ also brings with it a change of life. What both justification and sanctification have in common is that they take place through faith in Christ.

但是我们不能够将称义和成圣分开。他们是连在一起的，因为称义紧接着的是成圣。我们被称为义因为我们与基督的连结，但与基督连结所带来的是生命的改变。称义与成圣的共同点在于在基督里的信心。

 

11. They key to continual and deeper spiritual renewal and revival is the continual re-discovery of the gospel.

持续并深层的属灵转变的关键在于不断的回到福音。

 

Chapter 4: When do you struggle?

1. According to the Bible, the source of all human behaviour and emotions is the heart.Every sinful action and negative emotion reveals a problem in our hearts.

圣经说，人类所有的行为举止和意念都来自内心。所有有罪的行为和负面的情绪揭发我们内心的问题 。

 

2. Only when we understand the role of our hearts can we truly understand the role of our circumstances in sin. Our struggles and temptations often trigger but but they never cause it. The root cause is always the heart and its sinful desires.

只有当我们知道心的角色，我们才能够知道使我们犯罪的环境的角色。试探诱惑往往牵引我们犯罪，但从不导致我们犯罪。导致我们犯罪的根本原因是我们的内心和有罪的欲望。

 

3. External pressures have an impact on our behaviour VIA OUR HEARTS. We can't blame our circumstances. Desires lead to sin, and sin leads to death. The deadly effects of sin in our lives, emotions and relationships stem from the evil desire of our hearts.

外在的因素可以藉着我们的内心，影响我们的行为。我们不能够责怪环境。罪在我们生活，情绪，关系上所带来的破坏始于我们的内心。

 

4. There is a twofold problem in heart: What we think or trust and what we desire or worship. Sin happens when we don't trust God above everything (when we interpret in the wrong way) and when we don't desire God above everything (when we worship the wrong thing).

心有两个层面的问题：我们所想和相信的；以及我们所期望和崇拜的。罪发生，当我们不相信神过于一切（自己的解释错误），以及当我们不崇拜神过于一切（敬拜的对象错误）

 

5. Destructive or sinful behaviour such as lying, manipulation, violence, theft, adultery, addictions ... all arise when our hearts don't trust God as we should and don't worship God as we should. So the answer is faith and repentance.

具破坏性及有罪的行为，例如说谎，操纵，暴力，偷盗，奸淫，负面情绪如焦虑，绝望，妒嫉，骄傲等，产生全因为我们的内心没有信靠我们应该信靠的神，及敬拜我们应该敬拜的神。所以答案在于信靠及悔改。

 

6. Trust God instead of believing lies = faith;

   worship God instead of worshiping idols = repentance

与其相信谎言不如信靠神＝信心

与其崇拜偶像不如敬拜神＝悔改

 

Chapter 5: What Truths do you need to turn to? 你应该转向什么真理？

1. Sinful acts always have their origin in some form of unbelief. Behind every sin is a lie. The root of all our behaviour and emotions is the heart: what it trusts and what it treasures.

有罪的行为源于某种不相信。每个罪的背后是个谎言。我们所有的行为和意念来自内心：我们所相信的，及我们所珍惜的。

 

2. We sin because we believe the lie that we are better off without God, that his rule is oppressive, that we will be free without him, that sin offers more than God. This is true of every sin and every negative emotion.

我们犯罪是因为我们相信自己比神更强的这个谎言，相信他的带领是有约束性的，而我们离开神便能够得自由，并相信罪给的比神更多。在每个罪和负面情绪的背后，都有这样的谎言。

 

3. Not many people think of themselves as someone who believes lies! But every time we don't trust God's word we're believing something else, and that something is always a lie. Many of our negative emotions are sinful because they are symtoms of unbelief - the greatest sin and the root sin.

没有多少人会认为自己是相信谎言的人，但每一次我们不信靠神，而相信些别的，很多时候那些别的都是谎言。很多罪行和负面的情绪都出自不信，这是最大的罪和罪的源头。

 

4. The problems lie in the gap between what we believe in theory and what we believe in practice. Sanctification is the progressive narrowing of the gap between confessional faith and functional faith.

问题在于我们在理念上的信心和我们实际上行出来的信心的鸿沟。而成圣就是不断缩小理念上的信心和实际行出来的信心的距离的过程。

 

5. Recognizing that behind every sin is a lie not only gives us a radical view of sin, it points us to the road out of sinful behaviour and emotions. That road is trust in God!

了解到每个罪背后都是谎言帮助我们走回信靠神的路。

[屬靈分享] 好書推薦 －《你能改變》 You Can Change by Tim Chester （1）

 重新分享我在2011年读过的一本书《You Can Change》by Tim Chester

＊＊＊

在英国读了一些真的很好很好很好的书，学习到很多，在这里想要跟大家分享。 在英国的两 年，其实经历到最多的好像是跟罪的搏斗，以前曾经认为是‘大家 都会犯的罪’，也变得特别的敏感，想要改变，却发现我好像是罪的奴隶，每一次都输。这本书《You Can Change》提醒我很多神的能力，恩典，还有很多很实用的对策，所以希望慢慢和大家分享。我只把我觉得是重点的记录下来，还有英文的表达和中文的有点不 同，有些句子太难翻译的话，我就直接用英文。希望大家用心看完，彼此分享，一起学习。

第一章：What would you like to change? 你想要改变什么？

1. The New Testament sometimes says we should be like God and sometimes says we should be like Christ. It's because Christ is the true image of God.

新约有时说我们要像神，有时又说我们要像基督，那是因为基督就是神本体的真相。

 

2. The word 'holy' means 'set apart' or 'consecrated'. For Jesus, holiness meant being set apart from, or different from, our sinful ways. It didn't mean being set apart from the world, but being consecrated to God in the world.

圣洁的意思是从罪恶中分别出来。

 

3. Jesus is the perfect person, the true image of God, the glory of the Father. And God's agenda for change is for us to become like Jesus.

唯有耶稣是完美的人，神本体的真相，而神对我们的改变计划就是要我们更像耶稣。

 

4. However, trying to imitate Jesus on its own only leaves me feeling a failure. The great news is that Jesus is not only my example, but also my Redeemer.

然而，考着自己试着模仿耶稣只会让自己感到更加挫败，好消息是耶稣不只是我们的模范，也是我们的救赎者！

 

5. Moral effort, fear of judgement and sets of rules can't bring lasting change. But amazing things happen when we 'turn to the Lord'. On our own, we can't be the people we want to be. We're trapped by our emotions and desires. But when we turn to the Lord, Jesus sets us free through the Spirit.

道德上的努力，害怕审判，律法不能带来永久的改变，只有当我转向耶稣。考着自己我们不能成为我们想要成为的人。我们会被自己的欲望感受牵制，但当我们转向神，神的灵会释放我们。

 

第二章：Why would you like to change? 为什么你想改变？

 1. You would like to change  我想改变因为

(A) to prove myself to God 我要向神证明自己

The problem is that we seem to be hard-wired to think we must do something to make God favourably disposed towards us.

我们的问题在于我们认为我们必须要做些什么让神喜悦我们。

 

God can't love you more than he does now - no matter how much you change your life. And God won't love you less than he does now - no matter what mess you make of your life.

神不能爱你比现在更多，不管你多努力尝试想改变自己的生命；神也不会爱你比现在更少，不管你的生命有多糟糕。

 

(B) to prove myself to other people 向别人证明自己

Instead, we should be comparing ourselves to Jesus, finding we fall a long way short of God's standards, and discovering that we desperately need a Savior.

与其向别人证明自己，我们应该跟耶稣比较，发现其实自己和神的标准还差得远，

 

(C) to prove myself to myself 向自己证明自己

What I feel when I sin is the offense against me and my self-esteem, not the offense against God.

 

2. What's wrong with wanting to change so that we can prove ourselves to God or people or ourselves? It doesn't work. We can never change enough to impress God. Trying to impress God, others or ourselves put US at the centre of our change project. It makes change all about MY looking good. It is done for MY glory.

为了向神，别人或自己证明自己的改变是没有果效的。我们永远不能改变足够来取悦神。这样的改变计划只是把自己放在中心，如何改变让自己感觉更好，为的是自己的荣耀。

3. It is pretty much the definition of sin. Sin is living for my glory instead of God's. Sin is living life my way, for me, instead of living life God's way, for God. Pharisees do good works and repent of bad works. But gospel repentance includes repenting of good works done for wrong reasons. We need to repent of trying to be our own saviour.

这其实就是罪。罪就是活在自己的荣耀，而不是神的荣耀，罪就是根据自己的方式生活，而不是行在神的旨意里。法利赛人也做善工，也为恶行痛悔，但是圣经的教导包括为了错误的出发点而行的善事痛悔。我们应该为着想要成为自己的救主而悔改。

 

4. We want to justify ourselves -- to demonstrate we're worthy of God or respectable in the eyes of other people. But we're justified through faith in what Christ has done. When you feel the desire to prove yourself, remember you're right with God in Christ. You can't do anything to make yourself more acceptable to God than you already are. Your identity isn't dependent on your change. You're a child of the heavenly king.

我们想要证明自己是讨神喜悦的，在别人眼中是值得尊敬的，但是事实是我们已经被耶稣所成就的，透过信心，称义了！当你想要证明自己时，记得你已经被神接纳，你不能再做些什么让自己比现在更被神接纳，你的身份不在于你的改变，而在于你是天父的孩子。

 

5. When we try to prove ourselves by our good works, we are saying that the cross wasn't enough. We don't do good works so that we can be saved; we are saved so that we can do good works.

每当我们想要藉着善行或自己的改变证明自己时，我们其实是在说十字架不足够。我们不是为了得救而做善事或改变，我们是已经得救了所以可以做善事和改变。

 

6. The essence of holiness is not new behaviour, activity or disciplines. Holiness is new affections, new desires and new motives that then lead to new behaviour.

圣洁的意义不在于新的行为举止，而是新的动机欲望，所带来新的行为。

 

7.  When you aim to prove yourself, your focus will be the consequences of your sin rather than hating the sin itself and desiring God in its place. Many people change their behaiour, but their motives and desires are still wrong so their new behaviour is no more pleasing to God than their old behaviour.

当你想要证明自己，你的焦点变会在恨恶罪所带来的后果，而不是恨恶罪本身，和想要把神放在第一位。很多人改变了不好的行为，但他们改变的动机错误，因此他们新的行为其实也没有比旧的行为多讨神喜悦。

 

8. The Bible talks about our new identity and provide us with strong motives for change. (A) You are a child of the Father (B) You are the bride of the Son (C) You are the home of the Holy Spirit

圣经提醒了我们的身份，并提供我们动力去改变，我们是神的孩子，是基督的新娘，是圣灵的居所

 

9. Our motive for change: To enjoy the freedom from sin and delight in God that God gives to us through Jesus

我们改变的真正动力：享受不被罪捆绑的自由，和神藉着耶稣给我们的在神里面的喜乐

 

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Reflection:

- Sin promises fun and excitement but it delivers pain and tragedy.

罪承诺刺激与享乐，但他带来痛苦与不幸

- Sin promises freedom but it delivers slavery and addiction.

 罪承诺自由，但他带来奴役与成迷

- Sin promises life and fulfillment but it delivers emptiness, frustration and death.

 罪承诺成就感，但他带来空虚，焦虑和死亡

- Sin promises gain but it delivers loss.

 罪承诺得着，但他带来失去

- Sin promises that we can get away with it, but the fact is, we don't.

罪承诺我们一定能离开他，但是事实是我们不能

 

 常常把罪的谎言记下，在面对试探诱惑的时候可以揭下他的面具，之后再跟大家继续分享！！