復 原 耶 穌 基 督 教 會 台 灣 佈 道 所
The Church of Jesus Christ Taiwan Restoration Mission
April 3rd, 2016 禱 告 Prayer
(長老多道福 Elder Duff Daugherty)
“好久不見” 一句字正腔圓的中文問候, 頓時炒熱了場面, 一開場就掌握住氣氛, 長老多道福果然灑脫開朗本性; 話鋒一轉, 隨即談到太太Kendra因大病一場(癌症), 刻正復養期, 謝謝大家這陣子以來的祈福祝禱, 並為無法出席而感到抱歉. (也在此誠摯祝福她早日康復. )
經上有說, 祈禱是我們跟 神溝通的唯一管道, 只要祈求, 祂必傾聽, 也會給予我們回應, 也許是瞬間就回應, 也許是隔一陣子才回應.
今天我們就來看看相關經文的說法:
馬太福音 Matthew 20:28-34
28 正如人子來、不是要受人的服事、乃是要服事人．並且要捨命、作多人的贖價。
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
29 他們出耶利哥的時候、有極多的人跟隨他、
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him.
30 有兩個瞎子坐在路旁、聽說是耶穌經過、就喊著說、主阿、大衛的子孫、可憐我們罷。
Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
31 眾人責備他們、不許他們作聲．他們卻越發喊著說、主阿、大衛的子孫、可憐我們罷。
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
32 耶穌就站住、叫他們來、說、要我為你們作甚麼。
Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
33 他們說、主阿、要我們的眼睛能看見。
"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
34 耶穌就動了慈心、把他們的眼睛一摸、他們立刻看見、就跟從了耶穌。
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
耶穌基督行走四方, 傳揚天國的福音時, 路上遇見瞎子哭喊, 隨從中有人要求瞎子們噤聲, 不要驚擾到耶穌基督, 耶穌基督卻主動喊瞎子們前來問話, 不僅醫治他們復明, 也收納他們為隨從之一.
記得大約是八年前的事了, 當時 Roger也是在這個掃墓時節, 忽然感到渾身不舒服, 經過簡單禱告後, 稍後就恢復正常, ( Roger今天剛好有來, 訝異於那麼多年前的事了, 他自己都快忘記有這一回事了, Duff 竟然還記得那麼清楚) 這剛好印證只要祈求, 必有回應. 不是嗎?
不單單只是生病了不舒服, 或者正陷入麻煩中, 或者眼瞎了, 等等日常可以碰到的情形, 「凡呼求主名的，就必得救。」 因為 神愛我們, 在我們因需要而禱告時, 就會幫助我們解決問題.
詩篇 Psalm 40:2-5
2 他從禍坑裡、從淤泥中、把我拉上來、使我的腳立在磐石上、使我腳步穩當。
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 他使我口唱新歌、就是讚美我們 神的話．許多人必看見而懼怕、並要倚靠耶和華。
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
4 那倚靠耶和華、不理會狂傲和偏向虛假之輩的、這人便為有福。
Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 耶和華我的 神阿、你所行的奇事、並你向我們所懷的意念甚多、不能向你陳明．若要陳明、其事不可勝數。
Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
假設說Jimmy陷入泥坑, 沒人發現怎麼辦? 禱告! 對了, 就是要禱告, 不過要有耐心等待的心裡準備, 因耶穌基督為我們所做的每一件事, 都有祂的計畫, 有時需要耐心才能看到結果.
約翰福音 John 15:7
7 你們若常在我裡面、我的話也常在你們裡面、凡你們所願意的、祈求就給你們成就。
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
信任和依靠耶和華, 再加上禱告, 可以成就很多事; 可是現今的亂象是：有人求豪宅, 有人想中大樂透, 或是買名車、賺大錢等等等, 在這裡我可以明確的告訴各位, 這些祈求都不會實現的; 因為這些都不是生活必需品, 我們要明白 神供應我們的一切, 都是生活之所需, 才是必需品, 而不是突發奇想的非分之財.
又比如Paul求成為好丈夫(品性改變), 或是Sharon求讀經書時的理解(求智慧), 這些則是被允許的祈求.
「凡呼求主名的，就必得救。」
馬太福音 Matthew 7:7
7 你們祈求、就給你們．尋找、就尋見．叩門、就給你們開門。
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
約翰一書 1 John 3:22
22 並且我們一切所求的、就從他得著．因為我們遵守他的命令、行他所喜悅的事。
and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him.
祈求禱告之外, 還要遵守誡命, 以取悅耶和華, 如此求告的事, 才會有所應答.
約翰一書 1 John 5:14-15
14 我們若照他的旨意求甚麼、他就聽我們．這是我們向他所存坦然無懼的心。
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 既然知道他聽我們一切所求的、就知道我們所求於他的無不得著。
And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him.
耶穌基督在受難前的夜晚, 與門徒的最後的晚餐之後, 獨自走到小花園, 跪下禱告, 如果這一切犧牲是免不了的時候, 祂願意順從耶和華的旨意, 為了救贖世人的罪, 慷慨赴義. 同時也祈求能夠少受點折磨, 以完成耶和華的旨意, 並在三天後死而復活.
希伯來書 Hebrew 11:6
6 人非有信、就不能得 神的喜悅．因為到 神面前來的人、必須信有 神，且信祂賞賜那尋求祂的人。
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
耶利米書 Jeremiah 33:3
3 你求告我、我就應允你、並將你所不知道、又大又難的事、指示你。
'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'
當我們祈求禱告時, 神必垂聽且回應, 依靠 神的指示, 並且讓我們在不知情的狀況下, 避開了更大更難的災害.
以賽亞書 Isaiah 65:24
24 他們尚未求告、我就應允．正說話的時候、我就垂聽。
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
其實, 萬能的 神, 早在你還沒有開口呼求祂的名時, 早已經知道你要祈求的事; 因為 祂知古今、通中外, 通曉宇宙洪荒, 因為這是祂一手創建的寰宇世界, 一切的權柄都在祂掌中.
雅各書 James 5:16
16 所以你們要彼此認罪、互相代求、使你們可以得醫治。義人祈禱所發的力量、是大有功效的。
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
腓立比書 Philippians 4:6-7
6 應當一無罣慮、只要凡事藉著禱告、祈求、和感謝、將你們所要的告訴 神。
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 神所賜出人意外的平安、必在基督耶穌裡、保守你們的心懷意念。
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
簡單來說, 就是要常常禱告, 時時刻刻也都可以禱告, 好比生病了, 學校的考試, 找工作, 出外旅遊, 開車途中, 騎車上班等等, 都是日常生活中的形形色色. 重點是祈求你所必需的需要, 而不是祈求那些私心想要, 卻不是必需的非份之想.
馬太福音 Matthew 14:35-36
35 那裡的人、一認出是耶穌、就打發人到周圍地方去、把所有的病人、帶到他那裡．
And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him
36 只求耶穌准他們摸他的衣裳繸子、摸著的人、就都好了。
and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
今天的所有章節, 都是禱告的經典文章, 希望大家回家後, 好好的再看ㄧ遍, 如此一來, 就能夠更深刻的理解, 禱告的重要, 以及禱告所發揮的功效.
路加福音 Luke 17:11-19
11 耶穌往耶路撒冷去、經過撒瑪利亞和加利利。
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
12 進入一個村子、有十個長大痳瘋的迎面而來、遠遠的站著。
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance
13 高聲說、耶穌、夫子、可憐我們罷。
and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14 耶穌看見、就對他們說、你們去把身體給祭司察看。他們去的時候就潔淨了。
When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 內中有一個見自己已經好了、就回來大聲歸榮耀與 神．
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
16 又俯伏在耶穌腳前感謝他．這人是撒瑪利亞人。
He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him--and he was a Samaritan.
17 耶穌說、潔淨了的不是十個人麼．那九個在那裡呢。
Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?
18 除了這外族人、再沒有別人回來歸榮耀與 神麼。
Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"
19 就對那人說、起來走罷．你的信救了你了。
Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."
受到醫治的十個痲瘋病患中, 只有一個回頭來感謝耶穌基督的救治, 所以耶穌基督對他說：起來走罷．你的信救了你了, 想當然爾, 對於那些沒有感恩之心的其餘九個人, 我想就是因為他們不相信, 耶穌基督擁有這樣的權柄能救治他們.
雖然經上沒有點出, 但是我想他們會因為不信, 而錯失了醫治的良機, 不是嗎?
(Those Who Came: Eric Ho, Eileen Chen; Paul Lin; Roger Hsio; Shaeon Wu; Jimmy Hsu; Joanna Lin; Jason Lin, David Lin; Ruby Chen)
(Interpretor: Paul Lin)
(Skype to: <Daugherty> Duff, Amanda; Dan Brotherton; Frank Van Fleet; Elizabeth Woodward; <Henson> Todd, Stephen, Calvin; Ben Nelson; Adam Brendel; Nicole Robison; <Moellmann> Matthew, Jai-yu, Joshua; Maggie, Sashy, Uncel; Jonathan; <Lade> Rick, Nancy, Sarah, Amanda, David, Anna, Joseph)
PS.1
長老丹於課後補充說, 今天帶來兩個消息, 第ㄧ個是令人悲傷的.
我們的長老史提夫, 如果待久一點的應該都認識他, 往年常出差到東南亞地區, 尤其是台灣, 戮力傳揚福音, 令人遺憾的是他的夫人卡倫, 在今天(4/2)早上因病過世了. 請大家為他以及他的家人祈福祝禱.
PS.2
還記得這兩年都有年輕的教友志工, 在暑假期間前往台灣宣揚福音嗎? 現在, 我告訴你們這個好消息, 那就是莎菈和阿曼達姊妹花的家人, 包括父母親在內, “雷德家族” 全家一起出動, 將於七月十九日抵達台灣, 將可能為你們開辦靜修輔導營, 為時一個月之久. 祈望大家共襄盛舉, 好好的計畫並參與所有的活動.
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