第61章 有效的祈祷
§1
第六十一章 有效的祈祷Effectual Prayer
§2
所献上的许多祷告都没有信心。说了一通套话，却不情辞迫切。这些祷告是怀疑、犹豫的；一点不能给献祷的人带来解脱，也不能给别人带来安慰或盼望。虽有祷告的形式，却缺乏祷告的精神，表明请求的人并不觉得自己有需要，也不饥渴慕义。这些冗长冷淡的祷告是不合时宜而且令人厌倦的；它们太象是对主讲道了。{GW92 425.2}
§3
Many prayers are offered without faith. A set form of words is used, but there is no real importunity. These prayers are doubtful, hesitating; they bring no relief to those who offer them, and no comfort or hope to others. The form of prayer is used, but the spirit is wanting, showing that the petitioner does not feel his need, and is not hungering and thirsting after righteousness. These long, cold prayers are untimely and wearisome; they are too much like preaching the Lord a sermon.{GW92 425.2}
§4
要学会作简短中肯的祷告，只求你所需要的。要学会在只有上帝能听见你的地方扬声祷告。不要献上虚假的祷告，而要献上恳切有感的请求，表达心灵对生命之粮的渴求。我们若多作私祷，就应该能更加聪明地公祷。这些疑惑犹豫的祷告就会止息。而当我们与弟兄们一起公开礼拜时，我们就能给聚会增添兴致了；因为我们应该随身带有某种天国的气氛，我们的敬拜也应该成为一个现实，而不仅仅是一个形式。我们周围的人很快就能断定我们有没有祷告的习惯。我们如果没有在密室的祷告中和在白天从事业务的时候倾心于上帝，就会在祷告会中显出缺乏。公祷就会枯燥而且形式化，尽是重复话和老生常谈，会给聚会带来黑暗而不是光明。{GW92 425.3}
§5
Learn to pray short, and right to the point, asking for just what you need. Learn to pray aloud where only God can hear you. Do not offer make-believe prayers, but earnest, feeling petitions, expressing the hunger of the soul for the Bread of Life. If we prayed more in secret, we should be able to pray more intelligently in public. These doubtful, hesitating prayers would cease. And when engaged with our brethren in public worship, we could add to the interest of the meeting; for we should bring with us some of the atmosphere of heaven, and our worship would be a reality, and not a mere form. Those about us can soon tell whether we are in the habit of praying or not. If the soul is not drawn out in prayer in the closet, and while engaged in the business of the day, the lack will be manifest in the prayer-meeting. The public prayers will be dry and formal, consisting of repetitions and customary phrases, and they will bring darkness rather than light into the meeting. {GW92 425.3}
§6
心灵的生命取决于与上帝的习惯性交通。它的需要既被表明，便敞开心门领受新鲜的福气。从真实无伪的口中涌出感激之辞；从耶稣领受的安舒在积极仁慈的言行和公开献身上表现出来。心中有对耶稣的爱；而哪里有爱存在，它就不会受压抑，而会表达出来。私祷维持内在的生命。爱上帝的心会希望与祂交通，且会以圣洁的信任倚靠祂。{GW92 426.1}
§7
The life of the soul depends upon habitual communion with God. Its wants are made known, and the heart is open to receive fresh blessings. Gratitude flows from unfeigned lips; and the refreshing that is received from Jesus is manifested in words, in deeds of active benevolence, and in public devotion. There is love to Jesus in the heart; and where love exists, it will not be repressed, but will express itself. Secret prayer sustains the inner life. The heart that loves God will desire to commune with him, and will lean on him in holy confidence.{GW92 426.1}
§8
让我们聪明地祈祷吧，清晰准确地说出我们的请求。让我们摆脱已经陷入的倦怠懒散的习惯，当真祷告吧。“义人祈祷所发的力量是大有功效的”（雅5:16）。信心稳稳把握上帝的应许，热切地力陈她的请求；而当心灵的生命停滞时，外表的祈祷就变成形式而毫无能力了。{GW92 426.2}
§9
Let us learn to pray intelligently, expressing our requests with clearness and precision. Let us put away the listless, sluggish habit into which we have fallen, and pray as though we meant it. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” [James 5:16.] Faith takes a firm hold of the promises of God, and urges her petitions with fervor; but when the life of the soul stagnates, the outward devotions become formal and powerless.{GW92 426.2}
§10
耶稣是我们今日的救主。祂正在天上的至圣所为我们恳求；祂也必赦免我们的罪恶。我们是毫无疑问地依赖上帝，如同在一个稳固的根基之上，还是先在自己里面寻找某种公义，再来到祂面前，这会使我们在世上的属灵状况大不相同。要转脸不看自己而看上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的。怀疑乃是一宗罪。最少的不信，若藏于心中，也会使人陷在罪里，带来极大的黑暗和灰心，就会说主是错的，说祂不会照自己所应许的而行；于是祂就大受羞辱。{GW92 426.3}
§11
Jesus is our Saviour today. He is pleading for us in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, and he will forgive our sins. It makes all the difference in the world with us spiritually whether we rely upon God without doubt, as upon a sure foundation, or whether we are seeking to find some righteousness in ourselves before we come to him. Look away from self to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. It is a sin to doubt. The least unbelief, if cherished, involves the soul in guilt, and brings great darkness and discouragement. It is saying that the Lord is false, that he will not do as he has promised; and he is greatly dishonored.{GW92 426.3}
§12
有些人已经怀存了疑惑、不满和一种站在反面的性情，直到他们处在一种疑惑的氛围里，似乎以为站在疑惑一边是值得称赞的事了。然而当信主的人领受他们信心的结果，就是他们灵魂的得救时，那些怀疑的人既撒下了不信的种子，就会收获他们所种下的，而那将是不受欢迎的收获。{GW92 427.1}
§13
Some have cherished doubts, discontent, and a disposition to be on the wrong side, until they are in an atmosphere of doubt, and seem to think it praise-worthy to be on the side of the doubting. But when the believing ones shall receive the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls, the doubting ones, who have sowed unbelief, will reap that which they have sown, and an undesirable harvest it will be.{GW92 427.1}
§14
有些人祷告得了应允，有了一点自由，就得意洋洋起来。他们不在信心上长进，不在力量和勇气上长进，却依赖感觉。他们若是碰巧感觉很好，就以为自己是蒙上帝眷爱的。有多少人在这里绊跌啊！有多少人被胜过了啊！感觉并不是我们任何一个人的标准。“信就是所望之事的实底，是未见之事的确据”（来11:1）。我们要用上帝的镜子，就是祂圣洁的律法检查我们的品格，发现我们的错误和不完全之处，然后靠着基督的宝血除掉它们。{GW92 427.2}
§15
Some obtain answers to prayer, a little freedom, and they become elated. They do not increase in faith, do not grow in strength and courage, but they depend on feeling. If they happen to feel well, they think they are in favor with God. How many stumble here! how many are overcome! Feeling is no criterion for any of us. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” [Hebrews 11:1.] We are to examine our character in God’s mirror, his holy law, to detect our errors and imperfections, and then to remove them by the precious blood of Christ.{GW92 427.2}
§16
我们可以将自己的灵魂交给上帝保守，如同交给一位信实的造化之主，不是因为我们无罪，而是因为耶稣受死为要救我们脱离这种错误有缺点的状态。我们可以依赖上帝，不是因为我们自己的功劳，而是因为基督的义归给我们。我们必须不看自己而看上帝无瑕疵的羔羊，祂并没有犯罪；我们本着信心仰望祂，就会变得象祂。{GW92 427.3}
§17
We may commit the keeping of our souls to God as unto a faithful Creator, not because we are sinless, but because Jesus died to save just such erring, faulty creatures as we are. We may rest upon God, not because of our own merit, but because the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. We must look away from self to the spotless Lamb of God, who did no sin; and by looking to him in faith we shall become like him.{GW92 427.3}
§18
圣经为我们提供了丰富的应许。对我们的供应并非狭窄有限。救赎的计划非常宏大充裕。我们不必信赖一个月或一年以前的凭据，而是在今日就可以得到耶稣活着为我们代求的保证。我们自己缺乏属灵的生命时，就无法向周围的人行善。{GW92 427.4}
§19
There are rich promises for us in the word of God. It is no narrow, limited provision that has been made for us. The plan of salvation is ample. We are not obliged to trust in the evidences that we had a year or a month ago, but we may have the assurance today that Jesus lives, and is making intercession for us. We cannot do good to those around us while our own souls are destitute of spiritual life.{GW92 427.4}
§20
我们的弟兄没有象我们之前许多敬虔人那样，借祈祷整夜与上帝较力。他们伏案写作，或预备供上千人阅读的文章；他们将论据整理成章，使人信服要道。所有这些事都是必要的；但上帝能为我们做多少事，以分赐亮光和折服人心的能力来答应我们信心的祈祷啊！我们祷告聚会中的空座位证明基督徒没有意识到上帝对他们的要求；他们没有意识到他们的责任乃是要使这些聚会有趣并成功。他们单调、乏味地轮了一圈，回家时则未被更新，未蒙祝福。{GW92 427.5}
§21
Our brethren do not wrestle all night in prayer as many godly men before us have done. They sit up bent over tables, writing lessons, or preparing articles to be read by thousands; they arrange facts in shape to convince the mind in regard to doctrine. All these things are essential; but how much God can do for us in sending light and power to convict hearts in answer to the prayer of faith! The empty seats in our prayer-meetings testify that Christians do not realize the claims of God upon them; they do not realize their duty to make these meetings interesting and successful. They go over a monotonous, wearisome round, and return home unrefreshed, unblessed.{GW92 428.0}
§22
我们若要帮助别人振作起来，自己必须先就饮于那永不干涸的泉源。我们有特权熟悉我们的力量之源，握住上帝的膀臂。我们若愿有属灵的生命和活力，就必须与上帝交通。我们可以对祂倾诉我们真实的需要；献上恳切的请求，表明我们认识到自己的需要，且愿尽力响应我们的祈祷。我们必须听从保罗的命令：“当从死里复活！基督就要光照你了”（弗5:14）。{GW92 428.1}
§23
If we would refresh others, we must ourselves drink of the Fountain that never becomes dry. It is our privilege to become acquainted with the Source of our strength, to have hold of the arm of God. If we would have spiritual life and energy, we must commune with God. We can speak to him of our real wants; and our earnest petitions will show that we realize our needs, and will do what we can to answer our own prayers. We must obey the injunction of Paul, “Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light,” [Ephesians 5:14.]{GW92 428.1}
§24
马丁路德是一个常常祈祷的人。他以做工和祈祷为他的要务，而且立刻就做，事就成了。他先是祈祷，继而靠着上帝的应许勇敢地前进。在上帝的帮助下，他震撼了罗马教的权势，动摇了那个教会在各国的根基。{GW92 428.2}
§25
Luther was a man of prayer. He worked and prayed as though something must be done, and that at once, and it was done. His prayers were followed up by venturing something on the promises of God; and through divine aid he was enabled to shake the vast power of Rome, so that in every country the foundation of the papacy trembled.{GW92 428.2}
§26
上帝的灵与住在基督里并与祂交通的谦卑工人合作。当你们胆怯时，要祈祷。当你们沮丧时，要向他人紧闭双唇；把所有的黑暗都留在心里，免得你们在别人的路上投下阴影；但要把这黑暗告诉耶稣。当求谦卑、智慧、勇气和信心的增加，好使你们在祂的光里见光，且在祂的爱里欢喜快乐。只要信，你们就必看见上帝的救恩。{GW92 428.3}
§27
The Spirit of God co-operates with the humble worker who abides in Christ and communes with him. Pray when you are faint-hearted. When you are desponding, close the lips firmly to men; keep all the darkness within, lest you shadow the path of another; but tell it to Jesus. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage, increase of faith, that you may see light in his light, and rejoice in his love. Only believe, and you shall surely see the salvation of God.{GW92 428.3}