第十六章
7 然而,我將真情告訴你們,我去是與你們有益的;我若不去,保惠師就不到你們這裏來;我若去,就差他來。 8 他既來了,就要叫世人為罪、為義、為審判,自己責備自己。 9 為罪,是因他們不信我; 10 為義,是因我往父那裏去,你們就不再見我; 11 為審判,是因這世界的王受了審判。 12 「我還有好些事要告訴你們,但你們現在擔當不了(或譯:不能領會)。 13 只等真理的聖靈來了,他要引導你們明白(原文是進入)一切的真理;因為他不是憑自己說的,乃是把他所聽見的都說出來,並要把將來的事告訴你們。 14 他要榮耀我,因為他要將受於我的告訴你們。 15 凡父所有的,都是我的;所以我說,他要將受於我的告訴你們。」
默想:
- 聖靈在世上有三樣事工:為罪:因為罪的本質是不信(9節),而信徒對耶穌有堅定的信心,這與世界對祂的抗拒對立,正是證實世界的罪。為義:義的終極標準就是父神透過耶穌表現出來;現在耶穌已回到天父身邊(10節),證實祂的真確性。雖然人現在看不見耶穌,祂的性情卻表現在信徒學效耶穌的生命中;因此,日常生活中我們不斷顯示罪人和神之間的差距。為審判:十字架與復活的真實性,就是在信徒靠著耶穌的復活大能(羅8:11)而活出的嶄新生命;這就毫無疑問地證明撒但已被擊敗。因此,牠所統治的世界,只不過是個虛晃的空架。
- 我們無法作任何事來定世界的罪;但是,當我們的生命注入聖靈的能力,並表現出天國的恩典時;我們便能勇敢地向世界宣告神的審判。
- 感謝聖靈的引領,幫助我每天活出學效基督的生活來。
禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前,與神對話,並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中的思想(心得),或是與神的禱告,記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。
Chapter 16
7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt[a] in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
Meditation
- The Holy Spirit has three ministries to the world. In regard to sin: the essence of sin is unbelief (v9). Our trust in Jesus contrasts the world’s rejection of Him, this confirms its guilt. In regard to righteousness: the ultimate standard of righteousness is God Himself, expressed in Jesus, whose claims have been vindicated by His return to the Father’s side(v 10). Though men see Jesus no longer, His character is displayed in believers’ Christlike lives. We continually exhibit the gap that exists between sinners and the Lord. In regard to judgment: The Cross and Resurrection – the reality of which are seen in the believer who lives his life in Jesus’ resurrection power (Rm 8:11), proves unequivocally that Satan is a defeated foe. Thus the world system he dominates is an empty sham.
- There is nothing we can do to convict the world we live in. It is our lives, infused by the Spirit’s power and displaying heaven’s grace, that boldly proclaim the judgment of our God.
- Thank the Holy Spirit for His guidance in helping me to live out the Christlike life daily.
Prayer & Journaling:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.