天使与魔鬼 雅各在旷野睡觉时，看见一架梯子立在地上，梯顶通天，有神的使者在梯子上，上去下来。这不是一个奇异的梦而已，也不是一段神秘故事。圣经中的异象从来不是随意出现的。神让雅各看见天梯，是要向他显明：天并没有向他关闭，神也没有离他遥远。就在雅各前路不明、心中可能充满惧怕的时候，神亲自宣告祂的应许。 神对雅各说：“我是耶和华你祖亚伯拉罕的神，也是以撒的神；我要将你现在所躺卧之地赐给你和你的后裔……我也与你同在；你无论往哪里去，我必保佑你，领你归回这地；总不离弃你，直到我成全了向你所应许的。”（创世记28:13–15）这段话告诉我们，天梯所带来的，不只是天使的活动，更是神信实的同在。 第一，天梯带来神的应许。神再次向雅各确认祂与亚伯拉罕、以撒所立的约。今天许多信徒软弱，不是因为神没有应许，而是因为我们不熟悉神的话。我们若不知道神已经说了什么，就很难凭信心站立。人不能支取自己不知道的宝藏。神的话像天上的真理进入地上的生活，使我们在灰心时有根据，在争战时有方向。 第二，天梯带来神的同在。雅各醒来时惊讶地说：“这地方何等可畏！这不是别的，乃是神的殿，也是天的门。”（创世记28:17）他给那地方起名叫伯特利，意思是“神的家”。对中国读者来说，“家”常代表归属、安全和关系。神让雅各知道，他并不是孤单漂泊的人；即使身在旷野，也可以活在神的同在里。 第三，天梯带来神的保护。神告诉雅各：祂必保佑他，并带他归回。后来以利沙也经历类似的保护。亚兰军队围城时，仆人惊慌，以利沙却说：“不要惧怕！与我们同在的，比与他们同在的更多。”（列王纪下6:16）当神开了仆人的眼睛，他看见满山有火车火马围绕以利沙。我们未必看见天使，却可以相信神的保护真实存在。 第四，天梯带来神的供应。以利亚逃避耶洗别时，神差天使供应食物，使他重新得力。主耶稣在旷野禁食四十天，胜过撒但试探以后，圣经说：“有天使来伺候他。”（马太福音4:11）这提醒我们，神的供应有时不喧哗，却很及时；不一定照我们想象的方式，却一定照祂智慧的安排。 所以，不要只看环境。痛苦可能是真的，压力可能是真的，眼泪也可能是真的；但魔鬼常在真实处境里加入谎言，使人以为神已经离弃自己。天梯的信息正好粉碎这个谎言：神有应许，神有同在，神有保护，神有供应。跟随基督的人不是孤军奋战，而是活在天上恩典与地上顺服相连接的道路中。 如果你对天使、属灵争战、神的保护，或任何信仰问题有疑问，欢迎留言提出你的问题或你想讨论的主题。我们将陆续回应读者的请求，一同在圣经真理中寻求亮光。 愿主使你在不安中记得祂的应许，在孤单中经历祂的同在，在危险中信靠祂的保护，在缺乏中仰望祂的供应。愿天上的恩典扶持你今天的脚步，直到主成全祂在你生命中的美意。 Pastor Hogg
Tag Archives: spiritual warfare
WHEN THE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD IS NOT GOD
On Second Thought There are moments in the Christian life when the loudest battles are not visible to anyone around us. We smile in church, continue our routines, and carry out responsibilities, all while inwardly wrestling with accusations that quietly drain joy and confidence. The enemy has always worked this way. Satan is called theContinue reading “WHEN THE VOICE IN YOUR HEAD IS NOT GOD”
When the Lie Sounds Spiritual
On Second Thought “But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’” — Matthew 16:23 One of the most startling moments in the ministry of Jesus occurs immediately after Peter makes oneContinue reading “When the Lie Sounds Spiritual”
The Enemy Within Is Not You
On Second Thought “It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Romans 7:17 Many believers quietly live exhausted spiritual lives because they misunderstand the nature of their battle. They wake each morning determined to follow Christ, yet by evening they feel defeated by anger, lust, pride, bitterness, jealousy, orContinue reading “The Enemy Within Is Not You”
The Battle Before the Victory
On Second Thought Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1–14 There is something remarkable about the opening verses of Luke 4 that we often overlook. Immediately after His baptism, immediately after the Father’s affirmation—“You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased”—Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. We might expect a seasonContinue reading “The Battle Before the Victory”
Resting in the Strength of God
As the Day Ends As this day comes to a close, Psalm 144 reminds us that spiritual victory does not begin with human strength but with identity rooted in God. David declared, “Praise be to You, the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” The enemy works tirelessly toContinue reading “Resting in the Strength of God”
When Hidden Enemies Follow You Forward
A Day in the Life “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” — Exodus 17:16 As I walk through the Gospels and observe the life of Jesus, I am struck by how consistently He identified and confronted what I might call “spiritual Amalekites”—those persistent forces thatContinue reading “When Hidden Enemies Follow You Forward”
When Hidden Enemies Follow You Forward
A Day in the Life “Because the Lord has sworn: the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” — Exodus 17:16 As I walk through the Gospels and observe the life of Jesus, I am struck by how consistently He identified and confronted what I might call “spiritual Amalekites”—those persistent forces thatContinue reading “When Hidden Enemies Follow You Forward”
When the Night Feels Like a Battlefield, God Still Reigns
As the Day Ends There are evenings when the weight of the day does not easily lift. The mind replays moments, the heart carries burdens, and there is a quiet sense that the enemy has been near. David understood this deeply. He wrote, “They have now surrounded us in our steps; they have set theirContinue reading “When the Night Feels Like a Battlefield, God Still Reigns”
Taking Possession of What God Has Already Won
As the Day Ends As the evening settles in and the noise of the day begins to quiet, there is often a moment when unresolved tensions rise to the surface. Fatigue lowers our defenses, and worries we managed to hold at bay return with renewed insistence. The statement placed before us tonight—“Your enemy is standingContinue reading “Taking Possession of What God Has Already Won”