7月3日

標　　題：攻破堅固營壘

經　　節：「你們也不可與這地的居民立約，要拆毀他們的祭壇。你們竟沒有聽從我的話！為何這樣行呢？」因此我又說，「我必不將他們從你們面前趕出；他們必作你們肋下的荊棘。他們的神必作你們的網羅。」（士師記二章2∼3節）

神清清楚楚地指示以色列人：要完全趕出迦南人，消滅他們所有可鄙的偶像敬拜。這個任務充滿挑戰性！他們的敵人擁有可怕的戰車，那些迦南人擁有外觀看來很難攻陷的防禦工事。以色列人並沒有把所有的迦南人趕出迦南地，許多迦南人的生活習性與宗教，十分吸引以色列人罪惡的本性。以色列人非但沒有消滅他們和他們的偶像，反而妥協了。對以色列人來說，迦南人是個麻煩，會分散人的注意力。他們拜偶像的習性會一直試探以色列人。

當你成為基督徒，神向你生活中罪惡的堅固營壘宣戰。罪惡的行為與態度會牢牢地霸佔你，但是神命令你要拆毀這個要塞。聖靈會指出，我們生命中有哪些地方拒絕順服神的心意。你是否僅僅想與罪簽訂休戰協議，而不去消滅它們？憤怒是否是你其中一項罪惡堅壘？若是如此，它會在你軟弱時冒出來。情欲是否是你生命中的罪惡堅壘？若是如此，它會在你不提防時使你屈服。在你不注意的時候，這些堅壘會試探你，讓你繼續行過去罪惡的行為。

不要小看罪惡的毀滅能力。倘若你的生命中，仍有未被對付的堅固營壘，要知道聖靈早就預備好，要幫助你得到完全的勝利。

Strongholds

"And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars." But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this? Therefore I also said, "I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you." (Judges 2:2-3)

God gave the Israelites specific instructions: Drive the Canaanites out of every corner of the land, and obliterate any vestige of their abominable idol worship. This assignment was challenging! Their enemies had formidable chariots. The Canaanites had seemingly impregnable fortresses that were dangerous and difficult to overcome. The Israelites failed to drive all the Canaanites from the land. Much about the Canaanite lifestyle and religion appealed to the Israelites’ sinful nature. Rather than destroying them and their idolatry, Israel compromised. The Canaanites would prove to be a troublesome distraction to the Israelites. Their idol worship would present a constant temptation.

When you became a Christian, God declared war on sin’s strongholds in your life. Sinful behaviors and attitudes were firmly entrenched in your character, but God commanded you to tear them down. The Holy Spirit pointed out areas of your life that were resistant to God’s will. Were you tempted to merely establish a truce rather than obliterating every sin? Is anger one of sin’s strongholds? If so, it will rise up against you in moments of weakness. Is there a stronghold of lust in your life? If so, you will succumb to it when caught off guard. In careless moments, these strongholds will still tempt you to continue your past sinful behaviors.

Do not underestimate the destructive power of sin. If there are strongholds in your life that you have never defeated, the Holy Spirit is still prepared to bring you complete victory.