5月18日 撒但权势的局限
撒但权势的局限
那曾胜过了你悖逆之心的无限大能，也必胜过你内外的一切仇敌。
如果你是属神的圣徒，你就被全能者永恒的膀臂所环抱。然而，魔鬼却被那永远定罪的锁链所捆绑，无论牠如何竭力挣扎，都无法摆脱。如果魔鬼连自己都无法从神的锁链中释放，又怎能把你从神的手中夺去呢？魔鬼只有在神的许可之下才能试探圣徒。既然你相信神爱你，那么当祂暂时放手任凭撒但攻击你时，你理当信靠神的智慧。难道那不正是在撒但最蒙羞地被击退的时刻吗？
得知撒但的能力是有限的，而神的恩典是无限的，这应当使那些常常忧虑自己能否恒忍到底的软弱信徒得着复兴。神已经将圣约方舟中每一个灵魂的生命都托付给了基督。如果你属于祂，你永恒的安全已得着了保障。难道祂没有能力使你甘心在祂的旌旗下前行，并使你加入祂与罪恶和地狱的争战吗？那曾胜过了你悖逆之心的无限大能，也必胜过你内外的一切仇敌。神既能使“剩下受伤的人”起来攻取城邑，也必能使忧伤痛悔的灵胜过罪恶与撒但（参耶37:10）。“抬耶和华约柜的祭司在约旦河中的干地上站定，以色列众人都从干地上过去，直到国民尽都过了约旦河。”（书3:17）基督的圣约也是如此，约柜正是这圣约的预表。基督连同祂的圣约一同站立，为要确保圣徒安全经过，直到进入天家。
然而，我们必须发出警告：信徒极易从这安慰的教义中滑落，陷入漫不经心的安全感和僭妄的胆量中，这是极大的危险。虽然基督徒不会彻底且最终地背道，但他仍可能经历惨痛的跌倒，以致损伤良心、削弱恩典，并使福音蒙羞。意识到这些危险正潜伏在该教义的阴影之中，这应当足以提醒基督徒时刻保持警醒。
麦琴（麦克谦）读经计划进度
家庭敬拜：民27章，诗70-71章，
个人灵修：赛17-18章，彼前5章
MAY 18, MONDAY
SATAN’S POWER IS LIMITED
The same limitless power that overcame your rebellious heart will overcome all your enemies within and without.
If you are a saint, you are wrapped up in the everlasting arms of almighty power. The devil, however, is wrapped up in chains of everlasting condemnation and cannot shake them off no matter how hard he tries. If he cannot free himself from God’s chains, how can he tear you from God’s grasp? The devil can tempt a saint only by God’s permission. If you believe God loves you, then surely you can trust His wisdom when He releases Satan to assault you. Will it not be when he can be repulsed with the greatest humiliation?
To know that Satan’s power is limited, and God’s grace is limitless, should restore the spirits of weak believers who fear they will not hold out to the end. God has given Christ the life of every soul within the ark of His covenant. If you are His, your eternal safety is provided for. Was He not able to make you willing to march under His banner and join His quarrel against sin and hell? The same limitless power that overcame your rebellious heart will overcome all your enemies within and without. The God who can make a few wounded men rise up and overthrow a city can also make a wounded spirit triumph over sin and Satan (Jeremiah 37:10). The ark stood in the midst of Jordan until the whole camp of Israel was safely over into Canaan (Joshua 3:17). So does Christ’s covenant, which is typified by the ark. Christ, covenant and all, stand to secure the saints a safe passage to heaven.
A word of caution must be given. There is a great danger of believers falling from this comfortable doctrine into a careless security and presumptuous boldness. Although the Christian is secure from a total and final apostasy, yet he may suffer a grievous fall which bruises his conscience, weakens his grace, and brings reproach to the Gospel. To know these dangers lurk in the shadows of this doctrine should be enough to keep the Christian upon his watch at all times.