| 禁食禱告 | |
| 經文: 「耶穌說：是因你們的信心小，……至於這一類的鬼，若不禱告禁食，他就不出來。」（馬太福音十七：20，21） | |
| 這兒主耶穌教導我們信心的生活，需要禁食禱告。也就是說，禱告能抓住屬天的力量，禁食能戒除我們地上肉體的喜好。 耶穌自己也是禁食以抵擋魔鬼的誘惑，耶穌教導門徒禱告、行善，不要禁食給人看，上帝就必在明處報答我們。禁戒食物，拒絕食慾的引誘，有助於堅固裡面的人，讓我們能與上帝更有效地溝通代求。 讓我們領悟這真理——暫時棄絕肉體的需要，有助於內在靈性的強化，因為飽食之後，常常不會想禱告。若我們願意捨棄肉身的享受，眼目的情慾，有助於我們定睛於天上的事。禁食的舉動，可以給我們力量，在禱告中緊緊抓住上帝。 這兒我們得到一個教訓，因著貪圖逸樂享受，我們屬靈的觸覺就變得遲鈍。那些活在基督裡的人，卻是將肉體和肉體的情慾，同釘十字架。禱告不是一件簡單的工作，它可能會只成為一種形式。因為真正浸透、投入的禱告，可以緊緊抓住上帝，與上帝有親密的溝通，但這須付出代價，操練將肉體的需要，置諸死地。 親愛的弟兄姐妹們，為了能遇見上帝，領受祂屬天的祝福，攻克己身棄絕老我的操練，值得我們付任何代價去換取。 | |
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| PEAYER AND FASTING | |
| Scripture: "And Jesus said, unto them, 'Because of your unbelief. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.'"— MATT xvii. 20, 21. | |
| Our Lord here teaches us that a life of faith requires both prayer and fasting. That is, prayer grasps the power of heaven, fasting loosens the hold on earthly pleasure. Jesus Himself fasted to get strength to resist the devil. He taught His disciples that even as with prayer and almsgiving, fasting should be in secret, and the Heavenly Father would reward openly. Abstinence from food, or temperance in taking it, helps to strengthen the soul for intercourse with God. Let us learn this great lesson that abstinence, temperance, and self-denial in temporal things, is a help to the spiritual life. After having partaken of a hearty meal, one does not feel much desire to pray. To willingly sacrifice our own pleasure, or bodily enjoyment, and to subdue the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, will help to set our minds more fully on heavenly things. The very exertion needed in overcoming the desires of the flesh will give us strength to take hold of God in prayer. This great lesson is this. Our dullness in prayer comes from our fleshly desire of comfort and ease. "Those who are in Christ have crucified the flesh and its desires." Prayer is no easy work. It may easily become a mere form. For the real practice of prayer, and taking hold of God, and having com¬munion with Him, it is necessary that all that can please the flesh must be sacrificed, and given over to death. Beloved Christian, do believe that it is worth any trouble to deny ourselves daily, in order to meet the Holy God, and receive from Him heavenly blessings. | |
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