 We must have faith in God to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). Without faith, we are without God, His blessings, hope, Christ, and salvation.
First, the Bible declares that pleasing God depends on faith in God’s grace through Christ, and not on our merit, morality, kindness, religious behaviors, or self-denial. To go to God, we must have faith that God is who He said He is: the Trinity God, who is just, merciful, all-knowing, and omnipresent, who hears every word we pray and blesses those who earnestly seek Him. Without faith, prayer is useless. The importance of faith is taught throughout the scripture. Justification, righteousness, and salvation are by faith through Christ, not by observing any laws. When you don’t trust a person, you can’t please him. A child always doubting his father won’t please him. To doubt God’s power or goodness is to insult Him. If you distrust that God will keep His promises, or if you question His power to save you or forgive your sin, you assume God is a liar (1 John 5:10). You can’t get anything from God if you don’t trust Him. Also, if you distrust God’s words, promises, or wisdom, you will have difficulty loving God or being zealous for Him; you won’t appreciate his discipline, nor rejoice in Him. There are many examples in the Bible. Through faith, Enoch experienced no death. Without faith, the Israelites couldn’t get into Canaan (Hebrews 11:5). We must examine our faith carefully. Do we have child-like trust in God’s words, or do we trust our knowledge, judgment, or invention more than God? We should integrate faith into every part of our life, such as teaching, working, making money, or raising our children. Trust that God will accomplish His work. Don’t be afraid of trouble; trouble helps us grow. We tend to trust God the most when things are the worst. Don’t trust yourself or your work for salvation. Trust Christ’s work. God promised never to leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). Whatever God has promised, He can and will perform! So, trust Him. Not by might nor by power but, it is by God’s Spirit that anything is accomplished (Zechariah 4:6). A summary of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDAGy1jXuqY&t=1s
0 Comments
 Christ said, “in that day,” Father would give whatever we asked (John 16:23-27). And now is “that day.”
Now we have the Holy Spirit guiding us how and what to pray according to the Father’s will. We are enlightened even more than the disciples. Now Christ, our advocate, intercedes for us. “In that day” we can ask in His name (John 16:23). This is like the king allowing us to use his signature to write checks and endorsing them. If Father refuses us, He is refusing Christ! But Christ’s name must be used properly. Ask God not to grant our prayer if we ask for things Christ won’t ask. Our requests will be granted if they are right and if we believe. Now we can ask because the Father loves us and listens to us. Christ told us we don’t need Him to ask because the Father loves us (John 16:26-27). In His love, the Father sacrificed His Son to cover our sins. There are two categories of love. We can love the undeserving and we can love those who are good to us. Similarly, Father loves us, the undeserving, when we were sinners; and the Father loves us more if we love Christ (John 16:27). Like husband and wife brought together by loving their child, the Father and we are held together by loving Christ. But don’t be mistaken that the Father loves us because we love Christ. We love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Christ tells us to ask (Matthew 7:7-8). It’s never in vain to wait upon the Lord, who delights to give great things to those who ask. So, ask continually. Satan wants you to stop praying. Don’t listen. Don’t give up. Ask simply and sincerely. Also, pray for others. When God wanted to destroy the Israelites, He listened to Moses pleading for them. “In that day” is also the day of persecution. Again, we must pray. Imitate David in declaring how God answered prayers (Psalm 118:5-7). Tell your children so. Declare to your neighbors trusting God far better than trusting man (Isaiah 26:4). Don’t reject God “in that day” because one day the door of mercy will close. “In that day” is the day of mercy. Ask earnestly now and receive from Him abundantly. Summary of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcHlM6uTTA4 祈祷，不断地祈祷！ 基督说天父上帝会在“那日”赐给我们所求的（约翰福音 16：23-27）。如今就是“那日”了。 现在信徒有圣灵带领按神的旨意怎样祷告和祷告什么， 所以我们甚至比当时的门徒更蒙光照。 现在信徒的中保基督在为我们代求。 “在那日”可以奉祂的名祈求（约翰福音 16:23），好像国王允许用他的签名来开支票。 如果天父拒绝我们，祂就是在拒绝基督！然而要正确地使用基督的名。如果我们祈求基督不会祈求的，求上帝不要应允。如果我们的要求是正当的，并且凭着信心求，祷告就会蒙应允。 更好的是，现在我们祈祷是因为天父的爱和聆听。 基督说我们不需要祂祈求天父，因为天父爱我们（约翰福音 16：26-27）。 天父在爱里赐下基督为我们牺牲，遮盖了我们的罪。 爱有两种类型： 爱不值得爱的人和爱对我们好的人。同样地，当我们还是罪人时，天父就爱我们这些不配的人; 不仅如此，如果我们爱基督，天父会更爱我们（约翰福音 16:27）。 就像丈夫和妻子因爱自己的孩子而团结在一起，天父和我们因爱基督而团结在一起。 谨记不要误以为天父爱我们是因为我们爱基督。 我们爱神，因为祂先爱我们 (约翰一书 4:19)。 基督告诉我们要祈求（马太福音 7:7-8）。 等候主永远不徒然，祂乐意将美好宝贵的东西赐给祈求的人。 所以，当不断地祈祷。 撒但要你停止祷告，不要听从， 不要放弃。 简单而真诚地祈求。 也当为他人代求。 当上帝要毁灭以色列人时，摩西为他们恳求，上帝就应允了他的祷告。 “在那日” 也是受逼迫的日子， 所以我们一定要祷告。 当效法大卫的榜样，宣告上帝将如何回应祷告（诗篇 118:5-7）。 教导你的儿女如此行. 向你的邻居宣告，信靠上帝远胜过倚赖人（以赛亚书 26:4）。 不要“在那日”拒绝上帝，因为有一天怜悯之门会关闭。 “在那日” 是怜悯的日子。现在恳切地祈求吧，从祂那里得到丰盛的领受。  Many see Christ as a moral teacher, highly ethical, full of wisdom, with a brilliant and sane mind.
But Christ can never be considered just a moral teacher. Some even consider Him a lunatic or a megalomaniac. See some of His offending remarks below:
Other religions claim to have the truth, but Christ proclaimed:
Could His followers have created such remarks? Unlikely as they came from a nation convinced of only one God. Initially they were also reluctant to embrace Jesus’s claims. Could Christ be a legend? According to literary historian CS Lewis, too many descriptions in the story are clumsy, not artistic enough, and not properly explained to have been created as a legend. Hardly any ancient literature includes dialogue like the four gospels. Someone building a legend wouldn’t allow this to happen. Also, realistic novels only came about a hundred years ago. It is difficult to come up with an alternative explanation for Christ, other than He was telling the truth: God, coming to earth to become a man, died and resurrected. If Christ is what He said He is, ignoring Him would be catastrophic. So, choose wisely. A summary of a presentation by CS Lewis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGU2JN2a3Cs 我们应该怎样看待基督？ 许多人认为基督是道德教师，品德高尚，充满智慧, 拥有杰出而理智的头脑。 但基督绝不可能仅仅是一个道德老师。有些人甚至认为祂是个疯子或自大狂。 看看祂的一些骇人听闻的言论:
其它宗教声称拥有真理，但基督宣称：
这些言论可能是祂的追随者编造的吗？ 这是不合理的，因为以色列是一个相信只有一位上帝的民族。 此外，最初他们也不愿意接受基督的这些宣告。 基督可能只是一个传奇吗？ 根据文学史学家 CS Lewis 的分析，基督不太可能是传奇，因为这个故事中的很多描写都很笨拙，不够艺术，也没有恰当的解释。 在古代文学中几乎没有像四福音这样的对话。 建立传奇的人不会允许这种情况发生。 此外，现实主义小说大约在一百年前才出现。 很难对基督提出其它合理的替代解释，除了祂说的话是真实的: 上帝降世为人，死了，又复活。 如果基督是祂所说的，忽视祂的后果将是灾难性的，所以做出明智的选择吧！  Our natural environment, such as the stars, cosmos, and atoms, witnesses God and His glory (Psalm 19:1, Romans 1:19-21). But God is beyond us.
Christ is the image of God, full of grace and truth (John 1:14, 14:8-9; 2 Corinthians 4:4). He shows us our amazing God. He became a man, humbly teaching, serving, and suffering till death for us. It is difficult not to believe Christ based on what He said and did. Many of Christ’s disciples died for Him. Given Christ’s life, death, and resurrection as depicted in the Gospel and corresponding evidence, we can understand those disciples’ behavior. Their behaviors endorse Christ. The character of the New Testament’s writers, as illustrated in their writings, is further endorsement of Christ, such as John and Paul, the latter of whom wrote 13 letters in the NT. Their writings preclude us from considering them liars or lunatics, as they demonstrate a character supporting the truthfulness of their writings. We assume that we and our work have some significance, and we aren’t just talking nonsense. Such assumptions require accepting certain fundamental laws of logic, causality, and existence. These laws can’t have any bearing of significance unless they are rooted in God. For example, when you write poetry, you don’t want others to consider it like a dog barking. You want others to take you seriously and understand the messages you are trying to convey. Therefore, you are assuming something important as the basis of what you’re doing, which is only possible with this Christian construction of God. But despite these logic-based arguments, we can only see God and His glory if we are enlightened by Him (Ephesians 1:18). Based on our nature and ability, we are blind to God and can’t understand Him (1 Corinthians 2:14). When Christ raised Lazarus from the dead, instead of seeing God’s power and glory, the Pharisees plotted to kill Christ (John 11:40-53). Without a miracle, without God shining into our hearts, no one can see God and His glory in Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). May God open our eyes and hearts to know and accept Christ. Summarized from two talks by John Piper: “Why do you think Christianity is true?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLi6UkYG8H0 “God’s Peculiar Glory: How We Can Know the Bible Is True” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B7169_1NC4 我们怎么知道基督教是真的？ 我们的自然环境，如浩瀚的星辰、无边的宇宙和微小原子世界，无不见证上帝和祂的荣耀（诗篇 19:1，罗马书 1:19-21）。 但上帝是远远超越我们的。 基督是上帝的像，充满恩典和真理（约翰福音 1:14、14:8-9；哥林多后书 4:4）。 基督向我们展示奇妙的上帝。 祂成为一个人，谦卑地教导我们，服侍我们，为我们受苦以至于死。 基于基督的言行，很难不相信祂。 许多基督的门徒为祂而死。根据福音书所描述基督在地上的生活、祂的受死、祂的复活，以及相应的证据，我们可以理解那些门徒的行为。他们的行为是对基督的认可. 从新约的著作中可以看出作者的性格。 他们的性格是对基督的进一步认可，例如约翰和保罗。保罗在新约中写了 13 封书信。 他们的作品使我们无法将他们视为骗子或疯子，因为他们展示了支持其作品真实性的性格。 我们假设自我和自己的工作具有一定的意义，而不是在胡言乱语。 此类假设需要接受某些逻辑、因果律和存在性的法则为真实的。如果不是根植于上帝，这些法则就没有任何份量。例如当你写诗时，你不想让别人认为这首诗像狗叫一样。 你希望其他人认真对待你，并理解你试图传达的信息。 因此，你假设一些重要的东西作为你所做事情的基础，这只有在基督教对上帝的建构下才有可能。 但是尽管有这些基于逻辑的论点，我们只有被上帝光照才能看见祂和祂的荣耀（以弗所书 1:18）。 按照本性和能力，人是看不见上帝, 且无法理解祂的（哥林多前书 2:14）。 当基督使拉撒路从死里复活时，法利赛人没有看见上帝的大能和荣耀，反而密谋杀害基督（约翰福音 11:40-53）。 如果没有神迹，没有上帝照耀在心中，就没有人能看见上帝或祂在基督里的荣耀（哥林多后书 4:6）。 愿上帝开启我们的眼睛和心灵，让我们认识并接受基督。  We deserve to die because of our sins. We live only because of God’s grace, which He gives and can take away.
How God takes life is His call. He can use humans as His instrument. For example, with sin unbridled in Jericho, God told Joshua to kill everyone there. Today God gives government, but not their citizens, authority to kill (Genesis 9:6). So why is there so much killing in the Old Testament? The OT and NT focus on God’s different attributes. Killings in the OT show God’s just wrath against sin. The NT focuses on God’s mercy, Christ coming to save the world (John 3:17). For example, when He cited Isaiah 61:1-2, Christ did not include its ending—the day of vengeance of our God (Luke 4:16-20). Now is the time of mercy and forgiveness, the day of welcoming sinners. But one day, the window of mercy will shut. The NT closes with Revelation, depicting lots of horrific killing. Violence in the Bible also reflects the world. Some of us live in a soft, easily offended, and emotionally fragile culture. But history is full of violence and cruelty. Our sin caused violence and suffering. When humans betrayed God (Genesis 3), God cursed our bodies and other physical creations (Genesis 3:17-18, Romans 8:20-22). Moral decay is displayed in physical evil, such as flood, famine, pandemic, and war. In addition, violence in the Bible shows the need for civil authority. “No kings in Israel” was repeated four times in Judges (18:1, 19:1, 17:6 & 21:25), the last two followed by everyone doing as they saw fit, and one followed by violence, describing humans with no restrain (19:1). Don’t romanticize the goodness of our hearts, thinking we don’t need civil authority. Finally, violence shows the love of God. The atrocity of Christ’s crucifixion was actually in God’s original plan (Revelation 13:8), even praised in a heavenly song (Revelation 5:9). God saved us through Christ’s blood and the violence done to Him. Summarized from three short teachings by John Piper: What Made It Okay for God to Kill Women and Children In the Old Testament? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taYhbRm6pnU Why was God so harsh in the Old Testament but more forgiving in the New? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prlr5qa1UsE Why Is the Bible So Violent? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxszErfCwzo 圣经中的暴力和杀戮 人类面临死亡的现实乃是咎由自取。 今天能生存完全是上帝的恩典，祂既可以赐下，也可以收回。。 上帝如何收回生命是祂的决定。 祂可以使用人作为祂的工具。 例如当耶利哥的罪恶肆无忌惮时，上帝吩咐约书亚杀死其中的所有人。 今天，上帝赋予政府而不是公民杀戮的权力（创世记 9:6）。 既然如此，为何旧约中有那么多的杀戮？ 旧约和新约聚焦于上帝不同的属性。 旧约中的杀戮显示公义的上帝对罪恶的忿怒。 新约着重于神的怜悯, 基督来为要拯救世人（约翰福音 3:17）， 例如基督引用以赛亚书 61:1-2 时没有包括结尾的部分——我们上帝报仇的日子（路加福音 4:16-20）。 现在是怜悯和赦免的时刻，是欢迎罪人的日子。 但有一天怜悯之窗会关闭， 新约以启示录结束，那里描绘了许多恐怖的杀戮。 圣经中的暴力也反映了世界上的暴力。 今天的一些人生活在一种软弱、容易被冒犯和情感脆弱的文化中，但真实的历史却充满了暴力和残忍。 人的犯罪带来了暴力和痛苦。 当人类背叛上帝时（创世记 3），上帝诅咒我们的身体和其它受造之物 (创世记 3:17-18，罗马书 8:20-22）。 道德败坏的恶果表现为洪水、饥荒、流行病和战争等灾害。 此外，圣经中的暴力表明需要民事权柄。 “以色列中没有王”在士师记中重复了四次（18:1、19:1、17:6 和 21:25）。最后两次紧随其后是各人任意而行, 有一次还伴随着暴力的场面（19:1），描述人类肆无忌惮的邪恶肆虐。 因此， 不要把人内心的善良浪漫化，以为不需要民事权柄。 最后，暴力显示了上帝的爱。 基督被钉十字架的残暴实际上是在上帝最初的计划中（启示录 13:8），甚至在天上的诗歌中得到赞美（启示录 5:9）。 上帝藉着基督的宝血和施加在祂身上的暴力来拯救世人。  Apologetics is the study of defending fundamental Christian doctrines. Science changes based on contemporary thoughts, but Christian fundamental doctrines are timeless (Ephesian 4:14, Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33).
Politics examines what means are effective; and if preachers explain politics, they must state them as personal judgment, not from Christ (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). Many trivialize things because they happened thousands of years ago. But remember that your lifetime is just a tiny sliver of a long, ever-expanding history and shouldn’t solely inform your perspective. Many distrust ancient texts. But the science of textual criticism authenticates their accuracy. Many don’t take responsibility of their mistakes, always blaming others and even God. Help them see they are ordinary people, capable of greed, envy, unfairness, and conceit. Learn the language of our audience. Paraphrase Christian terms, such as “atonement” and “church,” with more accessible vernacular. If you can’t translate these ideas into simple words, you don’t really understand them. The Bible teaches what God had done for humans, but it doesn’t cover everything, such as what God has accomplished for other parts of our universe. Earth is insignificant in the universe. Maybe God sought after earth because it had strayed, not because it is special (Matthew 18:12-14, and Luke 15:4-7). It is difficult to argue the existence of God. Some suggest Christ was a great moral teacher deified by His followers. But this is not probable because His followers were Jews who vehemently believed there was only one God. The Gospels cannot be legends because many descriptions seem clumsy and were not properly explained. Also, the genre of realistic fictions didn’t exist before the 18th century. Don’t water down Christianity and ignore the supernatural. Focus on Christianity being true, not being good or moral. If false, it is of no importance, but if true, is of infinite importance. Salvation is through Christ, but we can’t conclude that Christ can’t save those who have not accepted Him in their lifetime. We can’t say all other religions are false. But Christianity has perfected whatever is true in all other religions. In Christianity, a savage is taught to obey enlightened universal ethics, while the well-educated is taught to fast to a mystery and drink the blood of the Lord. Christian apologists must fall back to Christ, not to their own arguments. Summary of an essay by C. S. Lewis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMAjOHGvV2I 基督教护教学 基督教护教学是捍卫基督教基本教义的研究。 科学会根据当代的思想而变化， 但基督教的基本教义却永恒不变（以弗所书 4:14，马太福音 24:35，马可福音 13:31，路加福音 21:33）。 政治要看什么手段有效。 如果讲道的人谈及政治，就必须说这是自己个人的判断，而不是来自基督（哥林多前书 7:32-35）。 因为一些事发生在几千年前，许多人就轻视它们。 但请记住，您的一生只是漫长而不断扩展的历史中极其微小的一部分，不应是塑造您整个观点的唯一推手。 许多人不相信古代文献，但考据学的批判验证了它们的准确性。 许多人不为自己的错误承担责任，总是责怪他人，甚至上帝。 帮助他们看到自己不过也是平凡的人，贪婪、嫉妒、不公平和自负也是自己的亏缺。 要学习听众的语言, 将许多基督教术语用容易理解的话语表达出来，例如“赎罪”和“教会”这些用语。 如果您不能将这些想法转化为简单的文字，您其实还没有真正理解它们的含义。 圣经教导上帝为人类所做的事，但没有涵盖祂一切所行，比如上帝为宇宙其它部分所做的事。 地球在宇宙中微不足道， 也许神专注于地球，可能是因为它的迷失，而不是它的特别（马太福音18:12-14，和路加福音15:4-7）。 人很难争论反驳上帝的存在。 有些人认为基督是一位伟大的道德导师，被祂的追随者神化了。 但这不太可能，因为祂的追随者是坚信只有一位上帝的犹太人。 福音不是传奇，因为其中很多的描写看似笨拙，也没有恰当的解释。 此外，现实主义小说的文体类型在 18 世纪之前并不存在。 不要淡化基督教，忽略里面的超自然性。 当专注于基督教的真实性，而非其道德或善良。 如果基督教是假的，它就无关紧要；但如果基督教是真的，它就具有无限的重要性。 救恩藉着基督而来，但不能断定基督不能拯救那些在一生中没有机会接受祂的人。 不能说所有其他宗教都是错误的， 但是基督教完善了所有其它宗教里所包涵的真理。 在基督教中，野蛮人受教要遵守开明的普世伦理，而受过良好教育的人则受教为神秘的领域去禁食，并且“喝”主的宝血。 基督教护教者必须回归到基督，而不是自己的论点。  1. What happens to infants who die?
They are saved. All people should know God and glorify Him as God. We are without excuse not to do so because we have access to lots of things God made and see the power of Him. Instead of glorifying Him, many suppress what they know and the truth by their wickedness. They worship and serve created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:18-23, 25), resulting in their condemnation. In other words, we are accountable based on whether we have access to the necessary knowledge. If one doesn’t have access, one shouldn’t be held accountable. Since babies and those with profound mental disabilities don’t have access to the necessary knowledge, they should not be condemned. Therefore, somehow and in some way we don’t understand, they are saved. God, through Christ, covers these people, as God honors this principle of accountability. 2. What are the Christian view of suffering? “Rich” in Matthew 19:23, Mark 10:23, and Luke 18:24 implies abundance in wealth, health, popularity, etc. Such people tend to feel contented without God, making them hard to enter God’s kingdom. The “rich” live in a false happiness, which God, in His mercy, may take away to bring them to eternal happiness. 3. Is it our works or God’s grace that earns our salvation? It is God who works in you and brings salvation to you. Yet we need to continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-13). 4. Is ambition good? Ambition for personal success is bad if the goal is to be better than others. But ambition is good if the goal is to do something well. 5. What about science? Christianity encourages scientific inquiry and knowledge, and all that helps humans. However, scientific knowledge is bad if it becomes the only thing that is of concern to you. 6. Does Christianity make you happy? Worshipping yourself can give you happiness. A bottle of wine can give you more happiness than Christianity for a short duration of time. 7. Benefits of going to church? Going to church can let you see others’ goodness and get you out of your solitary conceit. Summary of “What happens to infants who die?” by John Piper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCUAi8JfWk0 Summary of a Q&A session by C. S. Lewis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNIoZGMzsg 关于基督教一些问题的答案 1. 死去的婴儿会得救吗？ 死去的婴儿会得救。 所有人都应该认识上帝并把祂当作上帝来荣耀。 人没有理由不这样做，因为他们触手可及许多上帝所造之物，并看到祂的大能大力。 许多人非但没有荣耀祂，反而以自己的邪恶压抑心之所知的真理。 他们敬拜和侍奉受造之物，而不是造物主（罗马书 1:18-23, 25），因此而被定罪。 换句话说，人的责任与可以接触到的知识相关。 如果无法获得必要的知识, 应不被追究。 婴儿和患有严重精神障碍的人无法获得必要的知识，因此不应谴责他们。 他们以某种人们不理解的方式方法得救了。 上帝通过基督保护这些人，因为上帝尊重这一责任原则。 2. 基督教对苦难的看法是什么？ 马太福音19:23、马可福音10:23和路加福音18:24中提到的“富足”，指的是财富、健康、声望等方面的丰富。享受这样“富足”的人安于没有神的生活，很难进入上帝的国度。 “富人”生活在一种虚假的快乐中. 上帝可能因祂的怜悯带走这种快乐，使他们获得永恒的喜乐。 3. 我们得救是因为自己的行为还是神的恩典？ 人得救是因为神在他心里面动工。 然而，我们需要继续以战兢惧怕的态度，活出得救后应有的生命（腓立比书 2:12-13）。 4. 一个人拥有自己的抱负是好事吗？ 如果一个人抱负的目标是比别人更好，这样的抱负是不好的。 但是，如果他的目标是做好某件事，这样的抱负就是好的。 5. 科学是一件好事吗？ 基督教鼓励科学探究和知识，以及一切对人类有帮助的事物。 但是，如果科学知识成为您唯一关心的事情，那么它就不是一件好事。 6. 基督教让你快乐吗？ 自我崇拜可以带给你快乐。 一瓶酒可给你带来比基督教更多短暂的快乐。 7. 到教会去有什么好处？ 到教会去可以让你看到别人的善良，让你摆脱孤独的自负。  We should dedicate ourselves to God. This is pleasing to Him (Romans 12:1). We no longer live, but Christ lives and reigns in us (Romans 14:8, Galatians 2:20). Rather than depend on our own understanding, which leads to destruction, we should follow God’s lead, and He will renew our minds (Romans 12:2, Ephesians 4:2).
All our actions should be channeled through sobriety (temperance, chastity, discipline), righteousness (equity to all), and godliness (connecting us with God); and be zealous in doing good works (Titus 2:11-14). Know that we are pilgrims in this world. Focus on our heavenly inheritance, which is based on what Christ has done for us. We should not long excessively for wealth, power, human favor, and honor. God curses those too eager for riches and honor. They may have them but without true happiness. Remove pride and ostentation and other things caused by self-love (Matthew 16:24). Never use fraud to get fortunes. Never think of prosperity apart from God’s blessing. Attribute your success entirely to God, never to yourself. Everything we have are gifts from God. Intellect or labor are worthless unless the Lord prospers them. We are merely stewards of God’s gifts, so use them to serve the church and our neighbors (1 Corinthians 4:7, 12:12). Honor and love everyone, including strangers, evil people, and our enemies, because we are all made in the image of God (1 Corinthians 13:4, Galatians 6:10, Isaiah 58:7). Remove self-love. Sincerely promote your neighbors’ advantages (Romans 12:10, Philippians 2:3). Seek the good of your neighbors (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). Have humble opinion of yourself and respect others, including their gifts from God. Perform such duties in love, cheerfully and with compassion in their misfortune. Trust God over your strength, others’ favor, and fortunes. Accept the lot God provided, even when catastrophes—like pandemic, war, fire, and famine—happen to you. Contemplate the mercy and love of God. Always bless God and trust Him (Psalm 79:13). Have a calm, contented, and grateful mind because we are assured that whatever happens to us is ordered by the Lord and is most conducive to our salvation (Psalm 131:1-2). God is the ruler and arbiter of fortune. A summary of a sermon by John Calvin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVqSv3oTSkw 我们不属于自己 我们应该将自己献给上帝，这是上帝所喜悦的（罗马书 12:1）。现在活着的不再是我们，而是基督在我们里面活着，并且执掌王权（罗马书 14:8，加拉太书 2:20）。 与其依赖, 具有破坏性的, 自己的理解，我们应该跟随上帝的带领. 祂会不断更新我们的心意（罗马书 12:2，以弗所书 4:2）。 让我们所有的行为都以清醒（节制、贞洁、纪律）、公义（人人平等）和敬虔（将我们与上帝联系起来）为引导， 并要热心行善（提多书 2:11-14）。 知道信徒在世上是天路客。在基督里，我们有属天的产业， 应当专注于它。 不应该对财富、权力、人的喜爱和个人荣誉过分地渴望。 上帝诅咒那些过于渴望财富和荣誉的人。 人可能拥有这些，却没有真正的快乐。 除去骄傲、虚荣和其它的自爱（马太福音 16:24）。 切勿使用欺诈手段获取财富。 永远不要想得到没有上帝祝福的繁荣。 当将成功完全归功于上帝, 永远不要归功于自己。人所拥有的一切都是来自上帝的礼物。除非主使之繁荣，否则智力或劳力都毫无价值。 信徒只是上帝百般恩赐的管家, 所以要用它们来服事教会和自己的邻舍（哥林多前书 4:7， 12:12）。 每个人都是按照上帝的形象被造的, 应当恭敬和爱所有人，包括陌生人、邪恶的人和我们的敌人（哥林多前书 13:4，加拉太书 6:10，以赛亚书 58:7）。 不要自爱。 真诚地为邻舍的好处着想（罗马书 12:10，腓立比书 2:3），寻求他们的好处（哥林多前书 13:4-7）。 谦虚地看待自己，尊重他人以及他们从上帝那里得到的恩赐。 当怀着爱心, 喜乐地如此而行，并对他们的不幸表达同情。 信靠上帝胜过信靠你自己的力量、别人的喜爱和手中的财富。即使灾难（如全球大流行病、战争、火灾和饥荒）发生在身上， 也当接受上帝给你的一切。 默想上帝的怜悯和慈爱。 永远赞美上帝并信靠祂（诗篇 79:13）。 拥有一颗平静、知足和感恩的心，因为我们确信凡临到我们的事情，都是主安排的，最有利于我们的拯救（诗篇 131:1-2）。 上帝掌管和仲裁所有人的丰盛。  Have a mindset shaped by the following five realities (Colossians 3:1-4).
First is the existence of God (Colossians 3:1, 3). He is not an imaginary idea to encourage you to be good. He is self-existing. He created all things and holds creation together (Colossians 1:15-17). Second, Christ, above all creation, sits at the Father’s right hand after accomplishing the salvation work (1 Peter 3:22, Hebrews 1:3, Colossians 3:1). Christ is God and also works for the Father. Furthermore, Christ intercedes for us before God (Romans 8:34). Third, the worst is over. United with Christ, we have passed from death to life. Baptism signifies our death, burial, and resurrection with Christ through faith (Colossians 2:12, 1 John 3:14). But our glorious life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:1,3). We can’t see and taste our true life (2 Corinthians 4:4). Currently, we live in pain, frustration, and uncertainty. We need to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Fourth, Christ is going to appear (Colossians 3:4). Though currently hidden, He controls this world. One day, Christ will return gloriously (Titus 2:13-14). Fifth, one day, our hiddenness will be over. We will appear with Christ in glory (Colossians 3:4). Few will see our good deeds and give glory to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16), as few saw Christ’s during His time on earth. But one day, we will come out from hiding; we will look like God, shining like the sun! These five realities are of things above, and we should shape our mindsets and desires by them (Colossians 3:2, Philippians 2:4-5). To be shaped by these realities, we need to actively seek them, though we already have them! You are already dead, but you still seek to die. You are already risen, but you still seek to be raised (Colossians 3:1, 3). The seeking that succeeds is by those who already have them. Don’t waste your life. These five realities are found in God’s word, the Bible. Meditate on them and treasure them. May the Holy Spirit help us so that we are shaped by these five realities. Summary of a sermon by John Piper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nRYyl6V4uk 寻求天上的事 信徒当拥有被以下五个现实来塑造的心态（歌罗西书 3:1-4）。 第一个现实是上帝的存在（歌罗西书 3:1, 3）。 祂不是一个虚构出来的理念使你做一个好人。 祂是自有永有的。 祂创造了万有，并且万有都是靠祂而立（歌罗西书 1：15-17）。 其次，基督在所有受造物之上，完成拯救大工之后，坐在父神的右边（彼得前书 3:22，希伯来书 1:3，歌罗西书 3:1）。 基督是神，也为父神作工， 并且在父神面前为人代求（罗马书 8:34）。 第三，最坏的时间已经过去。 与基督联合的人已经出死入生。 洗礼象征因信与祂一同受死、埋葬和复活（歌罗西书 2:12，约翰一书 3:14）。 但信徒荣耀的生命与基督一同隐藏在上帝里面（歌罗西书 3:1,3）。 不信之人看不到，也尝不到真正的生命（哥林多后书 4：4）。 我们现在生活在痛苦、沮丧和对未来的不确定之中。 行事为人需要凭信心，而不是凭眼见（哥林多后书 5：7）。 第四，基督将要显现（歌罗西书 3：4）。 祂虽然目前是隐藏的，却掌控着这世界。 基督有一天将在荣耀中再来（提多书 2:13-14）。 第五，信徒的隐藏有一天会结束, 将在荣耀中与基督一同显现（歌罗西书 3：4）。 今天很少有人因为看到信徒的善行就将荣耀归给他们在天上的父（马太福音 5:16），就像当年很少有人看到基督在世时的善行一样。 但有一天，他们会从隐藏中走出来; 那时他们将像上帝，如同太阳一样闪耀发光！ 以上这五个现实都是关乎天上的事，信徒的心态和心愿都应该藉着这五个现实来塑造（歌罗西书 3：2，腓立比书 2：4-5）。 要被这些现实塑造 ，需要积极主动地寻求它们。 但要意识到信徒已经有了它们。 你已经死了，但你仍然要寻求死； 你已经复活了，但你仍然要寻求复活（歌罗西书 3:1,3）。 唯一成功的寻求是那些已经拥有它们的人。 不要浪费你的生命。 这五个现实都在上帝的圣言里, 都在圣经中可以 找到。 默想它们，并珍藏它们。 愿圣灵帮助你，使你被这五个现实所塑造。  Life should be devoted to pursuing pleasure in God, to fill us with joy in Him (Psalm 16:11). God wired us to seek joy and increase our pleasure. Unlike the stoics, we should not try to avoid happiness.
We sin because sin is pleasurable. The way to eliminate sin is to replace it with something that gives us more pleasure. If we have more pleasure in God than in sin, we will not sin but rather shine in this world (Philippians 2:15). If we focus on money, fame, sex, or earthly power in pursuing happiness, we are too easily satisfied. Consider the wonderful promises in the Bible. Since Christ offers us infinitely more joy, we should focus on pursuing Him. It is important to glorify God. He created the universe, including us, to display His glory (Psalm 19:1, 2 Thessalonians 1:10). Can we glorify God while pursuing happiness? Daniel Fuller, CS Lewis (“The weight of glory”, “Reflection on the Psalms”), and Jonathan Edwards teach us that we can (1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 6:9). God reveals Himself to our minds and our hearts. If we can rejoice in Him, He is glorified. If we prefer Him and want to be with Him over everything on earth, we honor Him. Rejoicing also leads to praise, which expresses what we value. If we don’t enjoy and value the subject we praise, we are hypocrites. But we spontaneously praise what we enjoy. So, if we rejoice in God, we will praise Him. Praising not only expresses but increases and completes our enjoyment. That’s why God commands us, and the psalmists taught us, to praise Him. In other words, our happiness in God glorifies Him. When we are satisfied in God, we praise Him, and He is glorified. It is more blessed and joyful to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Loving others will draw them to us, and we can draw them to God. This will give them great joy and, in turn, will increase our happiness. Loving others is the natural overflow of our joy in God. Summary of a sermon by John Piper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cRkUt4glaE 上帝如何让我因祂而喜乐 人生应该致力于追求上帝里面的喜乐，使我们被这喜乐充满（诗篇 16:11)。 上帝创造我们成为寻求喜乐，增加喜乐的人，而不是像斯多葛学派一样不追求喜乐。 人犯罪是因为罪令人感到快乐，带来好的感觉。 除去罪恶的方法是用能带来更多快乐的东西代替它。 如果我们以上帝为乐多于以罪为乐，就不会犯罪，而是在这个世界上发光（腓立比书 2:15）。 如果在追求快乐中专注于金钱、 名誉、 性或世俗的权力，人就太容易满足了。 思想圣经中美好的应许。 既然基督带来无限的喜乐，我们就应该专注于追求祂。 荣耀上帝很重要。 祂创造了包括人类在内的宇宙，以彰显祂的荣耀（诗篇 19:1，帖撒罗尼迦后书 1:10）。 人能够在追求快乐的同时荣耀上帝吗？ Daniel Fuller、CS Lewis（“荣耀的重量”、“对诗篇的反思”）和 Jonathan Edwards教导我们是可能的（哥林多前书 10:31，马太福音 6:9）。 上帝在人的头脑和心灵中启示祂自己。如果我们以上帝为乐，祂就得到荣耀。 如果我们选择上帝, 想和祂一起超过世界上的一切万事，我们就荣耀祂。 喜乐也会带来赞美，而赞美表达一个人的价值观。如果不喜欢和不重视赞美的对象，那就是虚伪。 但人们会自然而然地赞美所享受的美好一切。因此，如果一个人以上帝为乐，就会赞美祂。 赞美不仅表达喜乐，更增加喜乐, 使喜乐圆满。 这就是为什么上帝命令我们赞美祂，诗篇作者教导我们赞美祂的原因。 换一种说法, 以神为乐就是荣耀祂。当我们以神为满足时，就赞美神，祂就得着荣耀。 施比受更有福、更使我们喜乐（使徒行传 20:35）。 用爱可以把人吸引到我们身边，而我们可以把他们吸引到上帝面前，带给他们极大的喜乐，转而也增加我们的喜乐。 爱人就是我们在上帝里面喜乐的自然流露。  We are born corrupt and selfish, following the ways of the world. By nature, none of us is good (Ephesians 2:2). Since God cannot look at evil, His wrath should be on us (Habakkuk 1:13, John 3:36). But our Holy God still takes pleasure in us (Isaiah 62:4, Zephaniah 3:17, Colossians 1:9-10, 2 Corinthians 5:9, Philippians 4:18, Hebrews 13:16). How can our Holy God take pleasure in sinners?
God resolved this dilemma through Christ. His beloved Son’s crucifixion not only saves us from God’s wrath, but also justifies us while we are sinners (Romans 5:1, 5:6-9, 8:32). Through faith in God, we are united with Christ. Our sins are nailed to the cross, with Christ’s righteousness counted as ours (Romans 3:24, 4:5, 8:30; Psalm 32:1-2; Colossians 2:14; 1 Peter 2:24). We contribute nothing to this (Philippians 3:9, Romans 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:21). However, we still sin. Fortunately, through union with Christ, we are still pleasing to God (Matthew 3:17). Note that God doesn’t approve our remaining corruption. He will discipline and refine those He loves, while simultaneously we are forgiven and pleasing to Him (Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrew 12:5-6). Because of Christ, we have been made perfect once and for all (Hebrews 10:14). But the essence of Christian ethics is that we pursue holiness because we are holy (1 Corinthians 5:7). We seek to please God when we are already perfectly pleasing to Him (Colossians 1:10, Philippians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:9, Ephesians 5:10). We depend on Christ for our righteousness and sanctification, where we will be made holy gradually. Through faith in His grace, God empowers us to realize our desire for doing His will. God is pleased with our works of faith. Christ gets the glory in us, and we get the glory in Him (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12; Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 11:6, 13:20-21). The faith for our justification is also the faith for our sanctification. Through faith in God, we are perfectly pleasing to Him, while progressively pleasing to Him as He gradually transforms us. Summary of a sermon by John Piper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1RsfVM-ZTk 圣洁的神怎么能喜悦罪人呢？ 我们生来就自私败坏，随从这个世界的风俗。 从本性上讲，世上没有一个好人（以弗所书 2:2）。 既然上帝不能忍受罪恶，祂的忿怒应该临到世人身上（哈巴谷书 1:13, 约翰福音 3:36）。但神仍喜悦我们（以赛亚书 62:4，西番雅书 3:17，歌罗西书 1:9-10，哥林多后书 5:9，腓立比书 4:18，希伯来书 13:16）。 圣洁的神怎么能喜悦罪人呢？ 上帝藉着基督解决了这个两难的挑战。 祂的爱子被钉十字架，不仅救我们脱离上帝的忿怒，而且在我们还是罪人的时候就称我们为义（罗马书 5:1、5:6-9、8:32）。 我们靠着对上帝的信心与基督联合。 我们的罪被钉在十字架上，基督的义算为我们的义, 归于我们（罗马书 3:24、4:5、8:30；诗篇 32:1-2；歌罗西书 2:14；彼得前书 2:24）. 我们对此没有任何贡献（腓立比书 3:9，罗马书 5:19，哥林多后书 5:21）。 然而，我们仍然犯罪。 幸运的是藉着与基督联合，我们仍然蒙上帝喜悦（马太福音 3:17）。 请留心上帝不赞成我们余下的败坏，祂会管教并熬炼祂所爱的人。但同时我们会被上帝赦免并蒙祂喜悦（箴言 3:11-12，希伯来书 12:5-6）。 我们因为基督，已经一次完全，并且永远完全了（希伯来书 10:14）。 但基督教伦理的本质是追求圣洁，因为我们是圣洁的（哥林多前书 5:7）。 当我们已经完全取悦上帝时, 我们持续不断地寻求取悦上帝（歌罗西书 1:10，腓立比书 4:18，哥林多后书 5:9，以弗所书 5:10）. 我们靠着基督称义成圣，逐渐成为圣洁。 上帝通过我们对祂恩典的信心，赐给我们力量, 将遵行祂旨意的渴望化为实际的行动。 上帝喜悦我们靠信心的行为, 同时基督在我们里面得荣耀，而我们也在祂里面得荣耀（帖撒罗尼迦后书 1:11-12；以弗所书 1:6；希伯来书 11:6、13:20-21）。 使我们称义的信心也是使我们成圣的信心。 我们藉着对神的信心，完全地讨神喜悦。同时当祂逐渐地改变我们时，我们也不住地取悦祂。  Before Christ, God selected some under Abraham to Himself (Romans 9:6-7). After Christ, God shows mercy to and selects from all different types of people.
We are utterly blind and can’t go to God by ourselves. Our wicked nature alienates us from God (John 6:44, Romans 8:7). To be able to go to Him, we need God to give us a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19). God chose to bestow special grace to some people (Deuteronomy 29:4, 7:6; Romans 9:6-7). He elected them as He pleased before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). In a way, this is similar to God sending rain to one town but not to another (Amos 4:7). God lets the gospel take root and sprout in some (Acts 16:7). Through the Holy Spirit, He draws them in, opens their eyes, and turns them around. No one can take the everlasting elections out of the Father’s hand, and Christ shall lose none (John 6:39, 10:29). God will finish what He has started. Since God’s election isn’t due to any of their works, virtues, or worthiness, they should be humble and give God the glorify for His choosing and enlightenment. However, God also wants all people to repent and all to be saved (Ezekiel 18:23, 1 Timothy 2:3-5). All in here doesn’t mean all individually but all sorts of people, people of all different conditions. We don’t understand why one is chosen and another is not. To accommodate our limited capacity, God used human terms, like He had ears and hands. Still, we can’t fully comprehend Him. God shows us the parts of His will that we ought to know. For the many aspects we don’t understand, we need to have faith that God is just. God wants all people to know Him and be saved (1 Timothy 2:3-5). He reaches out His hands inviting all to Him (Isaiah 65:2). Those who refuse Him are condemned. So, don’t keep Him to ourselves. Instead, invite unbelievers in and pray for their salvation. Labor as much as possible to bring them to Him and wait patiently till He shows Himself to them, as He has to us. A summary of a sermon by John Calvin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWqnTPh0ZAQ 神愿万人都得救 在基督之前，上帝拣选了亚伯拉罕的一些后裔归祂自己（罗马书 9:6-7）。在基督之后，上帝怜悯和拣选各国各族的人。 我们完全是瞎眼的，不能靠自己去到上帝面前。我们邪恶的本性使我们与上帝疏远（约翰福音 6:44，罗马书 8:7）。我们需要上帝给我们一颗新心才能够去见祂（以西结书 11:19）。 上帝选择赐给一些人特别的恩典（申命记 7:6, 29:4; 罗马书 9:6-7）。祂在创造世界之前随着自己的心意拣选了他们（以弗所书 1:4-5）。这就好像上帝选择降雨到一个城镇，但不到另一个城镇一样（阿摩司书 4:7）。 上帝还使福音在一些人心中生根发芽 （使徒行传 16:7）。祂藉着圣灵吸引他们，打开他们心灵的眼睛，使他们回心转意。没有人能从天父手中夺走祂永恒的拣选（约翰福音 10:29），基督也不会失去其中任何一个（约翰福音 6:39）。上帝会完成祂所开始的工作。 上帝的拣选不是因为人的任何工作、美德或价值，所以人要谦卑，为上帝的拣选和光照而将荣耀归于祂。 然而，上帝盼望万人都悔改得救（以西结书 18:23，提摩太前书 2:3-5）。在这里万人并不是指所有的人，而是指各种各样情况不同的人。 我们不明白为什么上帝选中这一个人而不是另外一个人。为了帮助我们有限的理解力，上帝使用人类的术语，就像祂讲到自己有耳有手一样。然而，我们仍不能完全理解祂。 上帝显示给我们的，是我们应该知道的那部分旨意。 对于很多不明白的方面，我们要相信神是公义的。 上帝盼望万人都认识祂并且得救（提摩太前书 2:3-5）。祂伸出双手邀请所有人归向祂（以赛亚书 65:2）。那些拒绝祂的人就被定罪。 所以，不要把上帝只留给自己。相反地，我们要邀请不信的人认识上帝，为他们的得救祷告。尽可能努力地把他们带到上帝面前，耐心等待直到祂向他们显示自己，正如祂向我们显示的那样。  Romans 12:1-2 teaches us to offer ourselves to God, which pleases Him. Our lives become an act of worship, showing that God is much more valuable than anything on earth. Also, continually renew our mind, though we are new through Christ already (Colossians 3:10, 2 Corinthians 5:17). This is similar to the teaching of getting rid of yeast from the bread without yeast (1 Corinthians 5:7). Then we will know and be satisfied of God’s will.
Note that the will of God has two meanings. One is His sovereign will that’s going to happen no matter what. Such could involve someone sinning. For example, Christ’s crucifixion was God’s plan (Matthew 26:39). For such predestined events to occur, Herod and others had to murder Christ (Acts 4:27-28). Ultimately, it will be for the good. His sovereign plans always happen (Ephesians 1:11, Matthew 10:29, Proverbs 16: 33). Another meaning of God’s will is what God wants us to do and to be (Matthew 7:21, 1 Thessalonians 4:3). Whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17). But many of us don’t, causing lots of pain and suffering. God hates evil behavior, and we need to believe God is sovereign. Ultimately, the evil behaviors are for the good. In the case of Romans 12:2, to know God’s will is to know what God wants us to be and do, to get our minds renewed so we know what God wants from us; but not to know His sovereign will so we can predict the future. Renewing our minds requires reading the Bible and learning how to live and do every good work (2 Timothy 3:16). For things not taught in the Bible, renewing our minds requires praying and asking God to enlighten us so we can infer from the Bible’s teachings on such things. Renewing our minds also requires us to be transformed because most of our actions are instinctive. So, ask the Holy Spirit to renew and continually transform us (Ephesians 4:23-24, Titus 3:5, Psalm 51:10, 2 Corinthians 3:18). If we ask, God will do it (Matthew 7:9-11). Then we will know God’s will and follow Him spontaneously. Summary of a sermon by John Piper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIOgYPkNA7g 如何知道上帝的旨意 罗马书 12:1-2 教导我们将身体献给上帝，这是上帝所喜悦的。当让我们的生命成为敬拜，显示上帝比地上任何其它事物都更有价值。 此外，尽管已经藉着基督成为新造的人, 我们的思想需要不断地更新（歌罗西书 3:10, 哥林多后书 5:17），就像圣经教导从无酵饼中去除酵母一样（哥林多前书 5：7）。 如此，我们就会知道并且以上帝的旨意为满足。 请注意上帝的旨意有两个不同的含义。 第一个是指祂至高无上的旨意，没有任何人事能够拦阻它的发生。这可能涉及某人犯罪。例如，基督被钉十字架是上帝的计划（马太福音 26:39）。为了使这预定的事件发生，希律和其他人不得不谋害基督（使徒行传 4：27-28），而这最终都是有益的。万事都按照祂主权的旨意发生（以弗所书 1:11，马太福音 10:29，箴言 16:33）。 上帝旨意的另一个含义是祂要我们如何行事为人（马太福音 7:21, 帖撒罗尼迦前书 4:3）。遵行神旨意的人将永远存活（约翰一书 2:17）。 但是，我们许多人不这样做，为人为己带来很多痛苦和苦难。 上帝恨恶邪恶的行为，我们需要相信上帝是至高无上的， 最终邪恶的行为都可以为上帝的良善使用。 就罗马书 12 章 2 节而言，知道上帝的旨意就是明白祂要我们如何为人处事，就是要更新心意，明白祂的期望， 而不是明白祂至高无上的旨意，使我们能预测未来。 心意更新需要通过阅读圣经并学习如何生活和做好每一件善事来实现（提摩太后书 3:16）。 对于圣经没有直接教导的事，心意更新需要祷告，求上帝开启我们的心，使我们可以从圣经的教导中推断出祂的旨意。 心意更新也需要自己被改变，因为人大部分的行为都是靠直觉。 所以，祈求圣灵不断更新改变我们（以弗所书 4:23-24，提多书 3:5，诗篇 51:10，哥林多后书 3:18）。我们如果祈求，上帝就会如此行（马太福音 7:9-11），这样我们就会知道上帝的旨意，自然而然地遵循祂的心意。  After leaving Egypt, the Israelites crossed the Jordan river to claim Canaan through many battles.
Similarly, after being saved, you are called to be God’s vessels to claim “your land.” The world is in turmoil. To face it, first, reflect on our past problems and God’s deliverance. Reflect on God’s wonderful blessings, His love and sacrifice, particularly the salvation He gave us. God told the Israelites to set up monuments to remember His work for them. The more we count God’s blessings, the more we appreciate Him and want to serve Him. Then, we can look forward to our future blessings. God told us to claim the promised land. Like He commanded Joshua, God told us not to be afraid or discouraged, but be strong and courageous because He is with us (Joshua 1:9). Don’t be frightened of your environment. Trust God’s unchanging promise. Steadfastly focus on the mission God put in your life and thank Him (Deuteronomy 8:4-10). Don’t depend or focus on power, fame, wealth, romance, and your friends and family. They seem like dreams and the world is cruel, as described in “好了歌” in “红楼梦” (Dream of the Red Chamber). We are God’s witnesses. Many are watching us, including God Himself (Joshua 4:10-13, 1 Corinthians 4:9). Through our actions and prayer, we pass our faith to our children. One day, they will remember and will be influenced by our thankful heart and steadfast faith to God. Christians executed for not giving up their faith during the Roman empire were God’s witnesses. Their actions converted many. Less than 300 years later, the empire collapsed. Time flies. Use your remaining days effectively. Use difficult time to grow. Build with Christ as our foundation and build with strong materials. Otherwise, though we are still saved, we will fail under trial and waste our lives (1Corinthians 3:11-15). The world and its passions will pass away. But whoever does the will of God lives forever (1 John 2:17). To be God’s vessels and fight the many battles before us, we must trust God’s guidance and depend on His words and the filling of the Holy spirit. Then we can be strong and courageous, accomplishing God’s mission and claiming our promised land. A summary of a sermon by Luke Cheung: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqmhplXa_WQ&list=PLg3M9TBbMGt0Ot9JWkfiUDfLOU8KMAgf0&index=2 from 27 minutes. 起來得地為業 以色列人离开埃及后，渡过约旦河, 经过多次战斗, 终于得迦南地為業。 同样地，我们得救之后，蒙召成为神所使用的器皿，要得应许之地為業。 如何面对今天动荡不安的世界？ 首先要反思自己过去的艰难和上帝的拯救。 反思上帝奇妙的赐福, 慈爱和牺牲, 尤其是祂赐下的救恩。 上帝吩咐以色列人立碑纪念祂为他们所行的事。我们越数算上帝的赐福，就越感激祂，越想侍奉祂。 然后，我们可以期待未来的福份。上帝告诉我们要得应许之地為業。 就像祂命令约书亚一样，上帝告诉我们不要灰心害怕，而要勇敢坚强，因为祂与我们同在（约书亚记 1:9）。 不要被环境吓到，要相信上帝不变的应许，坚定不移地专注于上帝赋予的使命，并衷心感谢祂（申命记 8:4-10）。 不要依赖或专注世上的权力、名誉、财富、浪漫和家人朋友。 如《红楼梦》中的“好了歌”所描述的，它们似乎像梦一样，并且世界是残酷无情的。 我们是上帝的见证人，许多人都在注视着我们，包括上帝祂自己（约书亚记 4:10-13，哥林多前书 4:9）。 我们通过行动和祈祷将信仰传递给儿女。 有一天他们将会记得这一切，我们感恩的心和对上帝坚定的信仰也会影响他们的生命。 在罗马帝国时期，有基督徒因不愿放弃信仰而被处决，他们是上帝的见证人。他们的行动使许多人归主，罗马帝国不到 300 年后就崩溃了。 时光如梭，飞逝而去。要有效地利用剩余的日子，利用困难的时期使生命成长。 当以基督为根基，用坚固的材料来建造这工程。否则，我们虽然得救，但会在考验中失败，浪费了自己的生命（哥林多前书 3:11-15）。 世界和它的情欲都要过去, 但那遵行神旨意的却存到永远 (约翰一书 2:17）。 如果我们要成为神所使用的器皿，勇敢面对摆在面前的许多争战，就必须相信神的带领，倚靠神的话，被圣灵充满。如此，我们就可以勇敢坚强，完成上帝的使命，得应许之地為業。  If you were facing suffering (like having terminal cancer) or being tortured for His name, would you still trust God, willing to be His martyr? Or would you be angry with Him?
When such challenges come, if you hold onto God, He will give you the strength to endure and the resolve to magnify His name. You will be blessed with the glorious Holy Spirit resting on you (1 Peter 4:12-14). When the Holy Spirit comes, He will: 1. Bring truth to you (John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13) to fight back the forces of darkness that try to confuse you. 2. Glorify Christ in you (John 16:14). 3. Sustain your love for Christ by reminding you of His preciousness and inspire you to worship Him (Philippians 3:3). 4. Help you see your lost not worth keeping because of gaining the infinitely-better and imperishable glory (1Peter 1:23); and help you see your momentary sufferings of no comparison to the eternal glory. The Holy Spirit seals the hope in you (1Peter 5:10). 5. Overcome your doubt and strengthen your faith. 6. Give you the words to witness for Him (Matthew 10:19-20, 13:11). 7. Bring you Himself, and with Him, the Trinity God—the Father’ care, the Son’s redeeming love covering your sins, and the Spirit’s upholding your faith (2Corinthians 13:14, 1 Peter 4:14). The Holy Spirit gives you new birth (John 3:8), enables you to confess Christ as Lord (1Corinthians 12:3), puts to death your misdeeds (Romans 8:13), helps sanctify you (2Thessalonians 2:13), gives you wisdom (Ephesians 1:17), gives life to your mortal body (Romans 8:11), and forever helps you (1Corinthians 12:7, John 14:16). So, though we have the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), seek more experience of Him, like seeking more faith in God. Also, “Be filled with the Spirit” is a command (Ephesians 5:18). How to be filled by the Holy Spirit: 1. Listen to and meditate on God’s words (John 6:63). Christ’s message dwelled in you (Colossians 3:16) and filled by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-19) go hand-in-hand. 2. Believe in His words (Galatians 3:5). 3. Obey Christ’s words. Then the Father will love you, and the Trinity will make their home with you. (John 14:22-23). 4. Thirst for the Holy Spirit (John 7:37-38, Psalm 42:1-2). Ask the Father for the greatest gift, the Holy Spirit, and you will have Him (Luke 11:9-13). Summary of a sermon by John Piper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqgeT26BAnE 如何寻求圣灵 如果你在痛苦中(例如患上晚期癌症) 或因祂的名而受折磨，你仍会相信上帝, 仍愿意成为祂的殉道者吗， 还是会怒气以对呢? 当这样的挑战来临时，如果抓住上帝, 祂会赐给你坚忍的力量和彰显祂圣名的决心。 你将为此蒙福, 荣耀的圣灵要住在你身上（彼得前书 4:12-14）。 当圣灵来临时，祂将如此行：
圣灵使我们重生（约翰福音 3:8），使我们认基督是主（哥林多前书 12:3），治死我们的恶行（罗马书 8:13），使我们成圣（帖撒罗尼迦前书 2:13） ，赐给我们智慧（以弗所书 1:17），使我们必死的身体活过来（罗马书 8:11），并永远成为我们的帮助者（哥林多前书 12:7，约翰福音 14:16）。 所以，我们虽然有圣灵（罗马书 8:9），但仍要寻求更多经历祂, 就像寻求更多对上帝的信心一样。 此外，“被圣灵充满”乃是一个命令（以弗所书 5:18）。 怎么才被圣灵充满呢？
当向天父祈求最伟大的礼物 (圣灵)，你就会拥有祂（路加福音 11:9-13）。  God shows His greatness by working for His people (Acts 17:25). He doesn’t actually need our service, but He gives us everything we need (2 Chronicles 16:9).
God doesn’t need your help. In the day of trouble, you call on Him. He saves you and you glorify Him (Psalms 50:15). Don’t trust your intelligence or technologies but trust God. He works for those who wait for Him (Isaiah 64:1-4, 30:18; Psalm 20:7). Our God is unique. Isaiah contrasted Him to the Babylonian idols. God sustained, rescued, and showed the Israelites compassion from birth to death. But the Babylonian idols were their burdens instead (Isaiah 46:1-4). Christ came not to be served but to serve, even by giving His life, treating us far better than we deserve (Mark 10:41-45). God not only wants to help us, but He is also infinitely competent (Isaiah 46:9-10). So, pause and pray to God. Consult Him, particularly when you aren’t sure what to do according to His will. If God tells you to be still, you should let Him take over and just quietly observe (Exodus 14:13-14). God told the Israelites to wait for Him, and not to run to Egypt for help or fight for themselves. But they fought and quickly lost (Isaiah 30:15-16, 31:1). God may fight for you as He split the Red Sea for the Israelites. Or He may fight through you as He helped David swing the stone at Goliath. If God tells you to act, then let Him work through you (Isaiah 41:10). Note that even when you are charging on your war horses, you still wait for the Lord, listening to His voice (Psalm 33:16-22). Also, when you are working hard, know that it is God’s grace working in you (Proverbs 21:31, 1 Corinthians 15:10). Greatness is not measured by how many people work for you, but by you working for many, lifting them up, like Christ sacrificing His life for us. Never act as if you are in charge and God is irrelevant. Remember all authorities in heaven and earth are His. Always maintain an open channel with God and pray to Him. If He wants you to be still, then stand back and observe God acting on behalf of those who wait for Him (Isaiah 64:4). Summary of a sermon by John Piper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6t-iFeVavw 上帝为等候祂的人行事 上帝通过为祂的子民行事而彰显祂的伟大（使徒行传 17:25）。 祂其实不需要人来服侍，反倒赐下我们需要的一切（历代志下 16：9）。 上帝不需要你的帮助。 在患难之日，你求告祂， 祂就拯救你，而你也要荣耀祂（诗篇 50:15）。 不要相信你的智慧或科学技术，而要相信上帝。 祂为那些等候祂的人行事（以赛亚书 64:1-4，30:18; 诗篇 20:7）。 我们的神是独一无二的。 以赛亚将祂与巴比伦的偶像对比。 从出生到死亡，上帝都托住、拯救并向以色列人施怜悯。 但巴比伦的偶像却是他们的重担（以赛亚书 46:1-4）。 基督来不是要受人服事，而是要服事人，并且舍命，恩待我们远比我们应得的好太多（马可福音 10:41-45）。 上帝不仅想帮助我们，而且祂也有无限的大能（以赛亚书 46：9-10）。 所以，当停下来向上帝祈祷，寻求祂的意思，特别是不确定如何按照祂的旨意而行时。 如果上帝告诉你要安静, 你便应该让祂接手作工, 然后安静地观察（出埃及记 14:13-14）。 上帝告诉以色列人要等候祂，不要投奔埃及寻求帮助或为自己争战。 但他们却不听从而擅自战斗，结果很快失败了（以赛亚书 30:15-16, 31:1）。 上帝可能像分裂红海一样为你而战，也可能像帮助大卫向歌利亚挥石一样通过你来战斗。 如果上帝告诉你行动，就让祂通过你行事（以赛亚书 41:10）。 请注意即使当你骑着战马冲锋陷阵时，仍要等候耶和华，总要听祂的声音（诗篇 33:16-22）。 此外，当你努力工作时，也要知道这是神的恩典在你里面运行（箴言 21:31，哥林多前书 15:10）。 伟大不是用有多少人为你工作来衡量，而是你为很多人工作，高举他们，就像基督为我们牺牲生命一样。 不要表现得好像你在作主，而上帝无关紧要。 记住天上地下所有的权柄都是祂的。 当始终与上帝保持畅通的交流的渠道，向祂祈求祷告。如果祂要求你保持静止，那么退后一步，观察神为那些等候祂的人行大事（以赛亚书 64:4）。  What is the purpose of your short life on earth?
First, know that our amazing God wants to be known as Yahweh, which means “I am,” with no beginning and no end (Exodus 3:14). He created the universe, including us, to display His glory (Isaiah 43:6-7, 48:9; Psalm 106:7-8, 19:1; John 17:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:10). His name should be honored through us (the Lord’s Prayer). God wants us to know Him and reflect His glory (Romans 9:22-23). If we treasure, enjoy, and honor Him over everything on earth, we will reflect how valuable He is. When we are most satisfied in God, He will be greatly glorified by us. However, we inherently hate Him and want to be in His position. Self-denial is not naturally in our bones. For that, we deserve His wrath (Ephesian 2:3). Christ overcame this major obstacle. He was crucified to cover God’s wrath and become a curse for us (Romans 8:3, Galatians 3:13). Faith, repentance (Ephesians 2:8, 2 Timothy 2:25), new birth (John 3:8), and Christ Himself (John 6:44) are freely given to us. We can love and praise God and let God be our center. This is the glorious grace from God given to us before the world existed (Ephesians 1:5-6, 2 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Timothy 1:9, Revelation 13:8). An unwasted life shows Christ as more precious and satisfying than life itself. An unwasted life considers everything is rubbish compared to knowing Him (Philippians 3:8). If we suffer because of Him but we are still joyful, then we can clearly show Christ being most precious. If we can rejoice even when someone persecute us for being the salt and light of this world, then we will show we treasure Christ more than anything on earth (Matthew 5:11-16). Then we will show we are most satisfied in Him, and we consider seeing His glory as our ultimate reward (John 17:24). And our life will not be wasted. Summary of a sermon by John Piper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHdB1dYAteA 不要浪费生命 我们在地上短暂生命的目的是什么呢？ 首先，要知道奇妙的上帝希望我们认识祂是耶和华，就是“我是”的意思. 祂没有开始，也没有结束（出埃及记 3:14）。 祂创造宇宙（包括我们）之目的乃是显示祂的荣耀（以赛亚书 43：6-7, 48：9; 诗篇 106：7-8，19：1; 约翰福音 17：1; 帖撒罗尼迦后书 1：10）。祂的名应该受到尊崇（主祷文）。 上帝要我们认识祂，反映祂的荣耀（罗马书 9:22-23）。 如果我们珍视、享受和尊崇祂胜过世上的一切，就会反映出祂是何等宝贵。 当我们在上帝里面最满足时, 祂就在我们身上得到大大的荣耀。 但我们生来就恨上帝， 并且想站有祂的位置。 舍己不是我们的天性。 因此，祂的愤怒临到我们身上（以弗所书 2:3）。 基督战胜了这个主要的障碍。 祂被钉在十字架上以掩盖上帝的忿怒, 为我们成为诅咒（罗马书 8：3，加拉太书 3：13）。 上帝将信心、 悔改、 重生和基督自己都白白地赐给了我们（以弗所书 2:8, 提摩太后书 2:25，约翰福音 3:8，约翰福音 6:44）。 我们可以热爱和赞美上帝， 可以让祂成为生命的中心。 这是世界存在之前上帝就赐给我们的荣耀恩典（以弗所书1：5-6，哥林多后书4：4, 提摩太后书1：9，启示录13：8）。 没有虚度的生命表明基督比生命本身更宝贵， 更令人满足。 没有虚度的生命以万有为垃圾， 惟有认识基督是至宝（腓立比书 3:8）。 如果我们为基督受苦仍可喜乐, 便能清楚地表明基督为最宝贵。 如果我们因为是世界的盐和光而受到迫害仍欢欣鼓舞, 就表明珍视基督胜过世上一切（马太福音 5:11-16）。 如此也就表明我们在祂里面最满足， 将得见祂的荣耀视为最终奖赏（约翰福音 17:24）. 如此我们的生命也就不被浪费。  God wants us to mature spiritually. But as we become comfortable in life, typically we stop growing.
My wife and I served as missionaries in China from 2003 to 2019. We were living out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), which turns out to be the way to grow. Let’s learn from it. The first requirement of the Great Commission is to go, to step out of our comfort zone (Matthew 28:19). I grew up in Paris, moved to New York, got married, and dreamed of getting rich. But God planted discontentment in us. We felt stuck and wanted more than just surviving and maintaining. In his book, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby used surfing as an analogy of experiencing God. Instead of creating your own wave, get into the water, wait, and watch to see what God is doing. When a wave comes, swim over and ride on it. In 2012, my wife and I prayed for nine months asking God to make us love and experience Him more. A year later, with three kids, we moved to China. I spoke very little Chinese and didn’t understand the culture. What is God asking you to do that feels uncomfortable? To grow, we must trust God is in control, take risks, and step out of our comfort zone. Second, seek to engage the lost (Matthew 28:19). Luke 15 describes three parables: the lost sheep out there; the lost coin inside the house; and the lost sons, one outside, the other inside. There are just as many lost outside as there are around us. To engage requires confronting and speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Tell your own stories to have transformation to take place. Third, teach others to obey everything Christ has commanded you (Matthew 28:20). Teaching helps us grow. Forget the title of “pastor” (James 3:1). Just perform its function. Have the heart of a shepherd to have impact on others. Walk the talk. Meditate on God’s words and show what it means to obey Him (Matthew 5:16). And you will grow. Finally, don’t worry. If you follow the Great Commission, Christ promises He will be with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Summary of a sermon by Luke Wong, starting at 19:45 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YibLiJZJsM&t=1186s 大使命：属灵成长的关键 上帝希望我们的属灵生命日趋成熟，但当我们生活变得舒适时，常常就会停止成长。 我和妻子从 2003 年到 2019 年在中国担任宣教士, 活出大使命（马太福音 28:18-20）。事实证明这是一种属灵生命成长的方式。让我们从中学习功课。 大使命首项要求是走出去，离开自己的舒适区（马太福音 28:19）。 我在巴黎长大，后来搬到纽约，然后结婚，并且做着发财致富的美梦。但上帝在我们心里种下了一种不满足的感觉，使我们觉得生命好像被卡住了，不想仅仅是保持现状地活着。 在 Henry Blackaby 《经历上帝》一书中，他使用冲浪来比喻经历上帝。不要创造自己的波浪。相反地，要踏入水中，等待和观察上帝的作为。当一个波浪冲来时，迎面游去踏浪而行。 在2012 年， 我和妻子祷告了 9 个月， 祈求上帝让我们更多地爱祂和经历祂。 一年后， 我们带着三个孩子搬到中国。 当时我只会说很少的中文， 也不了解中国文化。 上帝要你做什么会让你感到不舒服？ 如果想要成长， 就需要相信上帝掌管一切， 冒险走出舒适区。 其次，要寻找接触迷失的人（马太福音 28:19）。 路加福音 15 章描述了三个比喻: 迷失的羊在外面； 丢失的硬币在屋内； 还有迷路的两个儿子， 一个在外， 一个在内。 迷失者在外面和在里面的一样多。 与人相交需要用爱心面对，在爱中说真话（以弗所书 4:15）。 讲述上帝在你自己生命中的故事来转变他人的生命。 第三， 教导人遵守基督吩咐的一切命令（马太福音 28:20）。 教导人的同时可以帮助我们自己成长。 忘掉牧师的头衔（雅各书 3:1）， 只管履行其职责。 以牧羊人的心去影响他人的生命。 言行一致。 默想上帝的话，用言行显示服从上帝是什么意思 （马太福音5:16）。 如此我们的属灵生命定会成长。 最后, 不要担忧。 如果你跟随大使命， 基督应许祂将永远与你同在， 直到世界的末了（马太福音 28:20）。  We need faith to please God (Hebrew 11:6). How do we walk by faith and not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7)?
Many suffer, not getting God’s promises (Hebrew 11:39-40). Through suffering, we learn. In this fallen world, we won’t understand many things. Trust that God is good, with better plans and eternity to keep His promises. To have such faith, read His words (Romans 10:17). Focus on His power. Remember what He has done for us and look forward to the joy before us. Our anchor is Christ; He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way.” Summarized from two Rick Warren’s sermons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQNP6dQj20c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz6ow5ad7T0 怎样才能凭信心而行？ 没有信心的人不能得到上帝的喜悦（希伯来书 11:6）。 如何行事为人凭对上帝的信心，而不是凭眼见呢（哥林多后书 5:7)？ 1. 信就是对所盼望之事的把握，是还没有看见之事的明证（来 11:1）。 信心能看到尚未发生之事，在它们发生之前提前看到。 伟大的成就需要在行动之前已经相信所行之事会成就。 2. 信要求我们在不明白的时候顺服上帝。 诺亚虽然从未经历过雨水，仍然建造了方舟（希伯来书11:7）。 富裕的亚伯拉罕七十五岁的时候，没有从上帝那里得到任何细节，便离开了他的家乡（希伯来书11:8）。 以色列人走过红海时，水才分开（希伯来书11:29）。 玛丽亚因顺服而童女怀孕（路加福音 1:38）。 就像父母不向年幼的儿女解释一样, 上帝也不欠我们任何解释。 3. 当自己不喜欢的时候仍然坚持不懈。 虽然还没有看到成果，但任然坚持不放弃（希伯来书11:27、11:1）。 即使包括自己在内也没有人想继续做下去的时候， 伟大的人通过坚持不懈来完成大业。 4. 在拥有之前就宣布拥有。 信心之言蕴含着巨大的力量。 亚伯兰将自己的名誉置于危险之中，在九十九岁时改名为亚伯拉罕（许多国家的父亲）。 那时他和妻子没有儿女, 甚至至少最初时他也对上帝的应许持怀疑态度（罗马书 4:17，希伯来书 11:22，创世记 17:17） 5. 在尚未拥有之时就给予。 爱必须给予。 要像上帝一样，祂是给予的上帝（约翰福音3:16）。 金钱考验信心。如果在永恒的救恩上相信上帝，在财务上也应信靠祂。 先奉献给神，神必会供应（箴言3:9-10）。通过给予来操练信心，就像锻练肌肉一样. 这样就可以经历上帝的拯救。 6. 在收到之前感谢上帝。 在得到所求的之前，当感谢上帝, 好像已经得到了（马可福音11:24，马太福音9:27-30）。以色列人在高大坚固的耶利哥城墙周围走了七天，不住地感谢上帝。然后，城墙就倒塌了（希伯来书11:30）。 7. 如果没有得到，仍然坚信不移。 许多人经受苦难，却没有得到上帝的应许（希伯来书 11:39-40）。 生活在一个堕落的世界, 很多事情我们都不明白。 相信上帝是良善的，祂有更好的计划和永恒来信守祂的诺言。并且通过苦难我们也能学习功课。 如果想要拥有这样的信心，请阅读祂的话（罗马书 10:17）。 专注于祂的大能。 记住祂为我们所做的一切，并期待我们前面的喜乐。 我们灵魂的锚是基督，祂昨天、今天、明天都是一样的。 “信靠顺服，此外不能蒙福。”  In a trial, the children of God should pray to their heavenly Father with child-like confidence, so that they can bear whatever He decides to lay upon them. But then how should we pray?
Faith is essential in prayer. If you pray, “Not what I want but may your will be done,” you don’t have the resolve to persist. Prayers are ineffective without faith. (James 1:6-8). The Holy Spirit helps and strengthens God’s children. He shows them their conditions and brings to them God’s instructions. He is their counselor, calming and teaching them what to seek with faith. He is their advocate, teaching them how to plead their cases and pleading for them. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith (Romans 8:26). Let your ears always be open to His voice, so you can follow His suggestions, and confidently pray, “Lord, do what you have said.” Then you can believe without wavering that He who promises is also able to perform (Romans 4:21). The Holy Spirit can even put fire in God’s children, pushing them not to rest till their yearning hearts are fulfilled. But there are times when God’s children are weak and crushed. They cannot even articulate their prayers. When words can’t express their inner grief, they can moan to God. Such groaning, moved by the Holy Spirit, comes deep from their hearts (Psalms 38:8-9, 119:131). Their heavenly Father reads their hearts and knows their needs (Matthew 6:8). The Holy Spirit intercedes for God’s children according to the will of the Father (Romans 8:26-27). The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one. Prayers that are interceded by the Holy Spirit won’t contradict God’s commandments. They are consistent with the divine and eternal will of God. Surely the Father will accept such intercession. Therefore, ask the Holy Spirit for help. Pray in faith. Praise God before your prayer is answered. When God’s children don’t know how to articulate, prayers can simply be groans. These prayers are prompted by the Holy Spirit, who intercedes for God’s children before the Father. Such prayers will succeed. Summary of a sermon by Charles Spurgeon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcnLdcWEsfc 圣灵的代祷 上帝儿女经受考验时，应该像孩子一样满有信心地向天父祈祷，如此就可以承受祂决定发生的任何事。但我们当怎么祷告呢？ 祷告一定要有信心。如果你祷告“不是我想要的，但愿您的旨意成就,” 就没有坚持的决心。没有信心的祷告是无效的（雅各书 1:6-8）。 圣灵帮助并坚固上帝的儿女。祂将上帝的指示带给他们, 展现他们的光景。祂作保惠师，使他们心里平安，教导他们凭信心去寻求。祂作辩护人，教导他们如何为自己申辩，并为他们辩护。 祈求圣灵坚固你们的信心（罗马书 8:26）。让你们的耳朵永远聆听祂的声音，如此就可以按照圣灵的意思自信地祈祷，“主啊，成就你所说的.” 这样，你们就可以毫不动摇地相信那应许的也能按祂的应许而行（罗马书4:21）。 圣灵甚至可以在上帝儿女的心中点燃火焰，激励他们不息地追求，直到渴望之心得到满足。 但上帝的儿女也有软弱和被压垮的时候。那时，他们甚至无法表达自己的祈祷。当言语无法表达内心的悲伤时，我们可在上帝面前叹息。这种由圣灵引发的叹息发自我们的内心深处（诗篇 38:8-9, 119:131）。天父了解我们的内心，知道我们的需要（马太福音 6:8）。 圣灵按照天父的旨意为上帝的儿女代求（罗马书 8:26-27）。圣父、圣子和圣灵是合一的。 圣灵的代祷不会违背上帝的诫命，与祂永恒神圣的旨意一致。 天父当然会接受这样的代祷。 所以，请求圣灵帮忙，凭信心祷告。在你的祷告未得到应许之前赞美上帝。 当上帝儿女不知道如何表达时，祈祷可以只是叹息。这些祈祷是圣灵所催促的，祂在天父面前为天父儿女代求. 这样的祈祷必蒙垂听。 |