Eric@TRM 的部落格

復原耶穌基督教會 台灣佈道所

May 6th, 2018 試煉 Trial

馬太牧師 Pastor Matthew Moellmann

The Church of Jesus Christ

Taiwan Restoration Mission

“我們今天將會有個不一樣的主日學,芮克牧師會全程使用中文佈道…”;話還沒說完,電視機裡外全部的人,就已經笑成一堆,笑聲一歇,他繼續說如果此事成真,各位可是見證一樁奇蹟囉(真是愛說笑,其實今天是馬太牧師輪值主持的).

頌讚詩歌唱過幾首後,Jai-yu姐妹帶領大家做課前禱告.緊接著馬太牧師,要大家翻閱經文,指出如耶穌基督的苦難歷練,世人有幾個經歷過?

試煉(歷練) Trial,有大有小,有時輕易,有時嚴重,一般我們也稱為“人生風暴 The Storm of Life”;人生宛如一條船,行駛在河道或海洋上,隨時都可能遇上突如其來的風暴,今天藉由經文來指引我們,如何面對生命中的風暴.

以下章節,雖然我們耳熟能詳,但是我要把場景拉回耶穌基督的年代,來探討耶穌基督對我們所產生的影響.

馬太福音 Matthew 14:14-21

14:14 耶穌出來，看見大批的群眾，就對他們動了慈心，治好了他們的病人。

And going forth, He saw a great crowd, and He was moved with compassion for them and healed their sick. 

14:15 到了黃昏，門徒到祂跟前來，說，這是野地，時候已經晚了，請解散這些群眾，他們好往村子裡去，為自己買食物。

Now when evening fell, the disciples came to Him, saying, This place is deserted and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves. 

14:16 耶穌卻對他們說，不用他們去，你們給他們吃吧。

But Jesus said to them, They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. 

14:17 他們就對祂說，我們這裡除了五個餅兩條魚，再沒有別的。

And they said to Him, We do not have anything here except five loaves and two fish. 

14:18 祂就說，拿過來給我。

And He said, Bring them here to Me. 

14:19 於是吩咐群眾坐在草地上，就拿著五個餅兩條魚，望著天祝福，擘開餅，遞給門徒，門徒便遞給群眾。

And after commanding the crowds to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. 

14:20 眾人都吃，並且吃飽了。他們拾起剩下的零碎，裝滿了十二籃子。

And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve handbaskets full. 

14:21 吃的人，除了婦女孩子，約有五千。

And those who ate were about five thousand men, apart from women and children.

有聽過這故事內容嗎?有!好的,他們帶領這些群眾,整日張羅飲食,很是忙碌,不是嗎?見證奇蹟後,再繼續讀下去:

馬太福音 Matthew 14:22-31

14:22 耶穌隨即催門徒上船，在祂以先到對岸去，等祂解散群眾。

And immediately He compelled the disciples to step into the boat and to go before Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 

14:23 既解散了群眾，祂就獨自上山去禱告。到了晚上，只有祂單獨在那裡。

And after He sent the crowds away, He went up to the mountain privately to pray. And when night fell, He was there alone. 

14:24 這時船在海中，因風不順，被浪折磨。

Now the boat was already in the midst of the sea, being battered by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 

14:25 夜裡四更天，祂在海上向他們走去。

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 

14:26 門徒看見祂在海上走，就驚慌，說，這是個鬼怪！由於懼怕，便喊叫起來。

And the disciples, seeing Him walking on the sea, were startled, saying, It is a ghost! And they cried out for fear. 

14:27 耶穌連忙對他們說，放心，是我，不要怕。

But immediately Jesus talked to them, saying, Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid. 

14:28 彼得回答說，主，若是你，請吩咐我從水上到你那裡去。

And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water. 

14:29 祂就說，來吧。彼得就從船上下去，在水上向耶穌走去。

And He said, Come. And Peter, coming down from the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 

14:30 只因見風甚大，就害怕，將要沉下去，便喊著說，主啊，救我！

But seeing the strong wind, he became frightened; and as he began to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! 

14:31 耶穌趕緊伸手拉住他，對他說，小信的人哪，為什麼疑惑？

And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him and said to him, You of little faith, why did you doubt? 

14:32 他們上了船，風就止住了。

And when they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. 

14:33 船上的人遂都拜祂說，你真是神的兒子。

And those who were in the boat worshipped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God. 

先唸到這裡,我請大家把焦點放在故事裡,因為這(小信)不單單只是有關船上門徒,也有可能在我們每一個人的身上發生,那麼我們現在來討論一下,有沒有誰歷練過人生風暴啊?

Sharon說當然有,Joshua(馬太牧師的兒子),他坐在靠邊邊的椅子,也認為有.不過,馬太牧師這麼認為：相對於耶穌基督的苦難來說,我們的歷練應該都還算是小兒科等級吧?

比如說Joshua即將面對學校的期末考,他必須努力,而用功讀書,使他情緒感到緊張.這就是一場典型微小的人生風暴.

話說去年十一月,Jai-yu發生車禍意外受傷,這在她的人生風暴中,也只能算是大一點的歷練了;還有,我曾經的工作是駕駛大卡車,但是老闆認為人力過剩,把我給裁員了,在我所歷經的人生風暴中,無疑的這算是蠻嚴重的了(因為沒有工作,無法養家活口).

在這裡要探討的不是風暴的大小,而是我們每一次,(不可能只有一次吧?) 面對人生風暴時的反應.就像經文指出,彼得在小船上和耶穌基督的對話,彼得說:主啊!如果那真的是你,讓我走到你身邊吧.於是彼得跨出船邊,在水面行走,向著耶穌基督走去.

我問一下Jimmy,你知道彼得何時感到害怕呢?Jimmy說,當他把目光自耶穌基督身上移開,看到越來越大的風浪時.

說得好,就是這樣!我們回頭再來看一遍29、30節.

馬太福音 Matthew 14:29-30

14:29 祂就說，來吧。彼得就從船上下去，在水上向耶穌走去。

And He said, Come. And Peter, coming down from the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

14:30 只因見風甚大，就害怕，將要沉下去，便喊著說，主啊，救我！

But seeing the strong wind, he became frightened; and as he began to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me! 

一開始,彼得從船身跨出腳時,都還很好啊,怎麼突然間他開始害怕了呢?是什麼使彼得改變,從信心到害怕呢?雖然我點名Jimmy,但是有人願意回答這個問題嗎?彼得是從什麼時候,開始感到害怕的?是什麼使彼得改變,從信心到害怕呢?

對!你們說的好,就是彼得他把焦點,自耶穌基督身上移開後,看到滾滾風浪,使他開始害怕了起來.他應該把目光對著耶穌基督,而不是移轉焦點後,又看到翩翩起舞的風浪,促使信心逐漸消失,因而忘掉先前五餅二魚,餵飽五千多人的見證,害怕到大喊：主啊!救我!

所以,在面對人生風暴時,不要害怕,適時的做出抉擇,持續把目光放在全能的主耶穌基督身上,禱告祈求就對了.才不至於如經文中的彼得般驚慌失措.

另外在見證綠皮書裡,第73頁,也能找到相關的信心見證.

見證綠皮書 Testimony (Green) P.73

我的信心日益增長 My Faith Increased

禱告祈求使我的信心日益增長：我在夜裡兩點鐘時,被一陣陣可怕的風暴,給吵醒爬起床來.面對此場景,使我頓時想起,經文中在船隻遇到風暴的門徒,把睡覺中的耶穌基督吵醒;耶穌基督起身後,譴責並命令風暴停止,頓時風平浪靜.

After praying for my faith to be increased, I was awakened out of a sound sleep by terrified wind storm about two o'clock one morning. It brought to my mind the time the apostles awakened Jesus who was asleep in the boat. Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and there was a great calm.

這經文,如電光石火的閃過我的念頭,我也如是想著說：期望耶穌基督在這裡就好了.但是,另一個想法也同時併發：耶穌基督不必然要在這裡啊,我的信心呢?

The thought flashed through my mind, “Oh, how I wish Jesus were here!” Then another thought was presented: “Jesus doesn't have to be here, where is your faith?" 

幾乎是跳著離開床舖,並快速移動到窗前,把窗簾昇上來,看到風暴中的樹木,搖擺不定,心裡想著,在這麼下去,樹木肯定是要被連根拔起,而橫倒在地了.

Jumping out of bed and rushing to the window, I quickly raised the shade to witness the trees being tossed and blown with such force that I expected any minute to see trees and limbs ripping apart and falling to the ground.

快速低下頭來,大聲的呼求耶穌基督的名,祈求祂平定這場風暴,就像當年門徒們,祈求祂平定逼近死亡的驚濤駭浪一樣,使風暴趨於停歇下來.

Bowing my head I cried out, oh Jesus, as you calmed the winds and the waves of a raging sea when the apostles were so frightened in fearing death, so would you calm this powerful wind and cause it to be still.

禱告後,瞬間感受到風停雨歇,四周寂靜無聲,而我也沒有看到任何樹木的枝節,倒在地上.我驚訝的蹴立在窗前,只能一直的對主感恩和讚美!

我真正的見證到,祂是永不改變的主,千年前的平息風暴事工,在今天依然顯現出來祂的大能力,如果我們訓練信心,無疑的相信是很重要的,而祂也會給我們應答的.

Instantly the wind ceased and it became very quiet. After that prayer I could not see even the slightest movement among the branches of the trees. In my amazement I stood gazing. Expressing thanks and praise to God, I realized that he is truly unchangeable. He works today as he has worked in the past if we exercise faith and believe He will answer.

好了,見證說到這打住,注意在馬太福音的此章節裡,有兩個重要的部份,指出當我們遇到人生風暴時,應該如何的去面對.我們回頭再來看一遍30－33節,它更進一步的點出,我們要把目光焦點,放在耶穌基督的身上,而不是風暴本身.

如果,我們明白這個道理,那麼就不會再把焦點錯放在風暴上,而是專注在耶穌基督的身上,並且禱告祈求,將可以使我們的信心更加的增長.

Sharon說：禱告使我們更加有信心.

是的,只是有時候我們會虛弱的,無法專注在耶穌基督的身上,不過我們可以跟彼得學習,大聲呼求耶穌基督的名,祈求“幫助我、解救我”,如果我們這樣做,一定會得到耶穌基督的應答和幫助的.

我們可以算計,在耶穌基督的幫助下,平安度過我們的人生風暴有幾回;有人願意分享嗎?或者在你們用餐時,再互相探討如何?謝謝大家的出席,下周再見.

Jaron 一個人很安靜...

出席 Attended:

Paul Lin; Eric Ho, Eileen Chen; Taylor Morrison; Judy Chen, Jaron kuo; Jimmy Hsu; Sharon Wu.

速記 Stenographer:

Susan Shelton

字幕翻譯 Captions Interpreter:

Paul Lin

視訊連線 Skype to:

Matthew, Jai-yu, Joshua Moellmann; Rick, Nancy, Sarah, Amanda, David, Anna, Joseph Lade; Frank Van Fleet; Kelvin Henson; Elizabeth Woodward; Emma Brown; Charles, Hannah Sperry; Jacob Smith; Vitaliy Surova; Jacob Etter.

P.S 1

本週日,是泰勒弟兄來台月餘的最後一個主日學,課後不免俗的為他備餐歡送.

P.S 2

今天,安娜穿得美美的參加高中畢業舞會,在此恭喜她畢業了!

P.S 3

這是一對兄妹,最近從玻利維亞舉家遷回美國,結束在玻利維亞長達數年的傳福音、佈道志業.

Charles & Hannah Sperry

美美的安娜, 高中畢業囉!