12月18日

標　　題：你們是誰呢？

經　　節：惡鬼回答他們說：「耶穌我認識，保羅我也知道。你們卻是誰呢？」（使徒行傳十九章15節）

靈性經驗是沒有二手經歷的。沒有任何人可以為你培養靈性的成熟。有先祖基督教的遺產是項資產，但是它不能代替你與基督建立活力、成長的關係。

保羅與神同行。神大大地使用他，在他的生命中行了許多神跡奇事。有人由保羅身上拿手巾或圍裙，放在病人的身上，病人就痊癒了。邪靈被趕走。保羅的講道與教導，幫助建立以弗所的教會。保羅的事工是那麼令人震撼，事實上，有人想模仿他。

猶太祭司長士基瓦的七個兒子，就學保羅的方法驅鬼。他們向那被惡鬼附著的人說：「我奉保羅所傳的耶穌，勒令你們出來！」這些人想使用保羅歷年來緊密與主同行所得的大能行事。他們模仿保羅所說的話，然而，他們不能仿效保羅與神個人的關係，而得到神的大能。惡鬼反駁：「耶穌我認識，保羅我也知道。你們卻是誰呢？」那些邪靈惡狠狠地攻擊他們，羞辱他們。邪靈畏懼耶穌的名（雅各書二：19），他們知曉保羅對抗黑暗勢力的影響力。但是，邪靈不認識士基瓦的七個兒子。

你可以模仿靈性成熟的基督徒的言行，但你不能承繼他們與神同行的生命。基督徒的成熟是需要付出心力的，它需要經過時間的培育。如果你忽略禱告，忽視你與基督的關係，你的信心不會成長的。仿效他人的信心不會帶來勝利。只有當你細心培育自己與基督的關係，你的屬靈生命才會成長，才會充滿神的大能。

Who Are You?

And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" (Acts 19:15)

There is no secondhand spirituality. No one else can develop Christian maturity on your behalf. A strong Christian heritage is an asset, but it cannot take the place of your own vibrant, growing relationship with Christ.

Paul had a powerful walk with God. God used him so mightily that extraordinary miracles occurred through his life. Cloths that touched Paul were taken to the sick, and the sick were healed (Acts 19:10–12). Evil spirits were cast out. Paul’s preaching and teaching were instrumental in building a strong church in Ephesus. Paul’s ministry was so impressive, in fact, that others tried to duplicate it.

Seven sons of the chief priest, Sceva, attempted to cast out demons the way Paul did. They confronted an evil spirit and attempted to exorcise it “by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” These men were trying to use a spiritual power that Paul had acquired after years of walking closely with his Lord. They could imitate Paul’s words, but they could not duplicate the power that was his through his personal relationship with God. The evil spirit retorted, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The demon then viciously attacked them and humiliated them. The evil spirits were fearfully aware of Jesus (James 2:19); they were familiar with Paul’s influence over the powers of darkness. But the demons had no knowledge of the seven sons of Sceva.

You can duplicate the words and deeds of a spiritually mature Christian, but you cannot inherit his or her walk with God. Christian maturity takes effort; it comes over time. If you ignore the place of prayer and if you neglect your relationship with Christ, you will not grow in your faith. Imitating the faith of others will not give you victory. Only as you nurture your own relationship with Jesus will your life be filled with spiritual maturity and power.