cover of episode The Shield of Faith (Part 2)
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这段讲道探讨了以弗所书6:14-18中关于上帝盔甲的比喻，重点阐述了信仰之盾在抵挡试炼中的作用。凯勒牧师指出，上帝的盔甲象征着福音中各种资源和特权，而我们常常没有充分利用这些资源。他认为，当我们决心改善生活、侍奉上帝时，更容易遭遇痛苦的试炼，这并非偶然，而是因为我们正在挑战邪恶势力。凯勒牧师强调，信仰并非被动消极的，而是积极主动的，需要我们主动运用。他以罗马士兵的盾牌为例，说明信仰之盾的作用是在我们最脆弱的时候，抵挡来自撒旦的攻击。他解释说，上帝允许撒旦带来试炼，但上帝会控制试炼的程度，其目的是为了提炼和塑造我们，而非毁灭我们。他运用葡萄园主、炼金者和父亲三个比喻来解释上帝允许苦难的原因，指出苦难如同修剪葡萄树、提炼矿石和管教孩子一样，是为了促进我们的成长和成熟。凯勒牧师还指出，我们应该预料到，尤其在我们即将为上帝做大事的时候，会遇到痛苦的试炼。他以耶稣在旷野受试探为例，说明这是属灵争战中的一种常态。他鼓励新信徒和那些在属灵上积极进取的人，要预料到并勇敢面对这些试炼。最后，凯勒牧师解释了信仰之盾的实际运用，即在试炼中注目上帝而非试炼本身，并提醒我们，信仰是看见上帝的大能，即使在困境中。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The sermon discusses the shield of faith as a metaphor from the Bible, explaining how it protects us from fiery trials sent by Satan, especially when we are trying to do something significant for God. It emphasizes that faith is an active, not passive, response to these trials.

Shownotes Transcript

Fiery arrows do not come all throughout the battle. When do they come? Right when you’ve decided to storm the stronghold of the enemy. 

We’re looking at the armor of God—it’s an illustration Paul uses as a way of saying we have everything we need to meet the battles of life, but we must make use of those resources. And in looking at the shield of faith, we see that the more we decide to get our lives together, the more likely we are to find fiery arrows coming at us.

This passage on the shield of faith teaches us: 1) God lets Satan send us fiery trials, 2) we should expect fiery trials, and 3) faith is not a passive thing.

This sermon was preached by Dr. Timothy Keller at Redeemer Presbyterian Church on March 29, 1992. Series: Spiritual Warfare – The Armor of God. Scripture: Ephesians 6:14-18.

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