二月二十日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/02/0220.mp3″]
经文: 当时，耶稣被圣灵引到旷野，受魔鬼的试探。（马太福音四：1）
当撒但试探我们时，它以点燃的火花丢在我们身上。但是当它试探基督时，火花如同落到水面上一样。然而，敌人仍继续其恶毒工作。魔鬼尚且在火花无法燃烧的情况下一而再、再而三地点火，若它知道我们心中充满易燃之物，岂不是会更多次多方地试探我们。即使你已藉圣灵大大洁净，仍可预期地狱之犬会向你狂吠。在人群中，我们会预期受到试探，但是即使隐遁也无可避免受到相同的试验。那稣基稣被圣灵引导离开人群，来到旷野，就受到魔鬼的试探。独处有其好处，但是魔鬼也紧随我们进入最甜美的隐退中。不要以为只有属世的思想中才有可怖的意念和亵渎的引诱，即使属灵人也会遭受相同的试探。最圣洁的心灵也不保证能抵挡撒但的引诱。基督的食物和饮料是遵行那差祂来者的旨意，然而，祂也曾经受试探！你的心可能因爱耶稣而燃烧着，魔鬼却试图将你的爱降至不冷不热。倘若你能告诉我上帝何时容许基督徒放下武器，我就能告诉你撒但何时会放弃试探人。我们必须像古代的战士一样，即使睡觉也必须戴着头盔穿上护心镜，因为欺骗者之首脑在我们放松警戒的刹那，就已将我们掳去成为它的猎物了。愿主保守我们时刻儆醒守望，助我们最终能逃脱。
Evening, February 20
Scripture: “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”(Matthew 4:1)
A holy character does not avert temptation－Jesus was tempted. When Satan tempts us, his sparks fall upon tinder; but in Christ’s case, it was like striking sparks on water; yet the enemy continued his evil work. Now, if the devil goes on striking when there is no result, how much more will he do it when he knows what inflammable stuff our hearts are made of. Though you become greatly sanctified by the Holy Ghost, expect that the great dog of hell will bark at you still. In the haunts of men we expect to be tempted, but even seclusion will not guard us from the same trial. Jesus Christ was led away from human society into the wilderness, and was tempted of the devil. Solitude has its charms and its benefits, and may be useful in checking the lust of the eye and the pride of life; but the devil will follow us into the most lovely retreats. Do not suppose that it is only the worldly-minded who have dreadful thoughts and blasphemous temptations, for even spiritual-minded persons endure the same; and in the holiest position we may suffer the darkest temptation. The utmost consecration of spirit will not insure you against Satanic temptation. Christ was consecrated through and through. It was his meat and drink to do the will of him that sent him: and yet he was tempted! Your hearts may glow with a seraphic flame of love to Jesus, and yet the devil will try to bring you down to Laodicean lukewarmness. If you will tell me when God permits a Christian to lay aside his armour, I will tell you when Satan has left off temptation. Like the old knights in war time, we must sleep with helmet and breastplate buckled on, for the arch-deceiver will seize our first unguarded hour to make us his prey. The Lord keep us watchful in all seasons, and give us a final escape from the jaw of the lion and the paw of the bear.