第68章 我们大能的帮助者
§1
第六十八章 我们大能的帮助者Our Mighty Helper
§2
我们有特权与保罗一起说：“我……是因信上帝的儿子而活；祂是爱我，为我舍己”（加2:20）。可是多少人却以行走圣洁的窄路为辛劳的苦工啊。在许多人看来，这蒙福之路的平安与静息，今日不比往年更近。他们遥望那本在近处的；把耶稣简化了的事复杂化。祂是“道路、真理、生命”（约14:6）。上帝的圣言已将救恩的计划明白地启示了，可是人们却过多寻求属世的智慧，太少寻求基督之义的智慧。结果许多原可在耶稣的爱里获得安息的人，却一直对许多的事疑虑愁烦。{GW92 457.1}
§3
It is our privilege to say with Paul, “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” [Galatians 2:20.] And yet how many are making laborious work of walking in the narrow way of holiness. To many the peace and rest of this blessed way seems no nearer today than it did years in the past. They look afar off for that which is nigh; they make intricate that which Jesus made very plain. He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” The plan of salvation has been plainly revealed in the word of God, but the wisdom of the world has been sought too much, and the wisdom of Christ’s righteousness too little. And souls that might have rested in the love of Jesus, have been doubting, and troubled about many things.{GW92 457.1}
§4
你们必须亲自倚靠耶稣，将上帝的应许据为己有，否则你们怎能教导别人对祂有谦卑圣洁的信心呢？你们觉得自己疏忽了责任，没有照着所应该的祈祷。你们似乎离上帝很远，以为祂已经离开了你们；但其实是你们与祂隔绝的。祂正等着你们回来。祂必悦纳痛悔的心。祂向我们保证：祂非常乐意把圣灵赐给求祂的人，过于父母把好东西给自己的儿女。我们都被罪恶污秽了；但我们脱离这罪恶的麻风症而得到痊愈是可能的事。我们要仰望“上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的”（约1:29）。{GW92 457.2}
§5
You must trust Jesus for yourselves, appropriate the promises of God to yourselves, or how can you teach others to have humble, holy confidence in him? You feel that you have neglected duties, that you have not prayed as you should. You seem at a distance from God, and think that he has withdrawn from you; but it is you who have separated from him. He is waiting for you to return. He will accept the contrite heart. He has assured us that he is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. We are polluted with sin; but it is possible for us to be healed from its leprosy. We are to look to the “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”{GW92 457.2}
§6
重要的将来在我们前面；要应付将来的考验和试探，要履行将来的种种责任，需要很大的信心、精力和毅力。但我们可以光荣地夸胜。凡等候、警醒、祷告、相信的人，一个都不会被仇敌的诡计陷害。全天庭都关心我们的福利，等着我们要求它的智慧和力量。我们任何一个人如果没有得救，必是因为我们选择事奉基督的大仇敌并与他的从者为伍。{GW92 457.3}
§7
The important future is before us; and to meet its trials and temptations, and to perform its duties, will require great faith, energy, and perseverance. But we may triumph gloriously. Not one waiting, watching, praying, believing soul will be ensnared by the devices of the enemy. All heaven is interested in our welfare, and awaits our demand upon its wisdom and strength. If any of us are not saved, it will be because we have chosen the service of Christ’s great adversary and the companionship of those who are his followers. {GW92 457.3}
§8
上帝愿意为我们施行大事。我们得胜不在于人数多寡，而在于是否将心完全献给耶稣。我们要靠着祂的能力前进，信赖以色列大能的上帝。{GW92 458.1}
§9
The Lord is willing to do great things for us. We shall not gain the victory through numbers, but through the full surrender of the soul to Jesus. We are to go forward in his strength, trusting in the mighty God of Israel.{GW92 458.1}
§10
任何时候都不要感到意外。决不可卸下军装。要准备好应付任何紧急状况，接受任何职责。要迅速行动。上帝希望你们作召之即来的战士。传道人往往过于拘谨和多虑。正当他们筹划伟大的工作时，行善的机会却白白放过。传道人做事，仿佛全部的担子都在自己这个可怜有限的人身上，其实耶稣正在承担着他和他的重任。弟兄们，要少靠自己，多倚赖耶稣。祂乐于拯救我们的工作对象。因为祂活着为我们代求，我们要见到祂的大权能。祂“能充充足足的成就一切，超过我们所求所想的”（弗3:20）。耶稣希望我们祈求帮助；祂希望我们将我们无助的心灵投靠祂；祂就必按照我们的信心赐给我们。{GW92 458.2}
§11
You should never be surprised, you should never be without your armor on. Be prepared for any emergency, for any call of duty. Act promptly. God would have you minute men. Many times workers are too precise, too calculating. While they are getting ready to do a great work, the opportunity for doing a good work passes unimproved. The worker moves on as though the whole burden rested upon himself, a poor, finite man, when Jesus is ready to carry him and his burden too. Brethren, trust self less, and Jesus more. He is willing to save the souls for whom we labor. Because he lives to intercede for us, we shall see of his great power. He “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” [Ephesians 3:20.] Jesus wants us to ask for help; he wants us to cast our helpless souls on him; and he will give us according to our faith.{GW92 458.2}
§12
自足自负、觉得没有自己不行的人，不给耶稣作工的地方，当祂行事的时候也不把功劳归给祂。他们信赖自己的能力，忘了基督的话：“离了我，你们就不能做什么”（约15:5）。自以为义、自视聪明的人，——自以为富足，已经发了财，一样也不缺，——无法本着信心祈求和领受，因为他信赖他自己，并不感到有缺乏。他的行为证明他是在基督之外努力的。那些觉得自己有罪、可怜而且无助的人，才是耶稣喜爱帮助的人；因为他们必感激祂的帮助。他们渴望做主的工作，此外，他们既知道能力并不是出于自己，就握住上帝大能的膀臂，并且凭信心要求祂的应许。{GW92 458.3}
§13
People who are self-sufficient, and feel that so much depends upon themselves, give Jesus no room to work, and but little credit when he does work. They trust in their own ability, forgetting the words of Christ, “Without me ye can do nothing.” [John 15:5.] The man that is self-righteous, and wise in his own eyes,—rich and increased in goods, having need of nothing,—cannot ask in faith, and receive, because he trusts in himself, and feels no lack. His works testify that he labors out of Christ. It is those who feel themselves sinful before God, poor and helpless, that Jesus loves to help; for they will appreciate his aid. They have a longing desire to do the Master’s work, and, knowing that the power is not of themselves, they take hold of the mighty arm of God, and by faith claim his promises. {GW92 458.3}
§14
上帝的仆人们若是一直软弱、缺乏勇气、信心、盼望、仁爱，结果在祂的圣工中成了没有效率的工人，上帝是不喜悦的。上帝赐给人们推理能力，不是让人留着不用，也不是让人滥用于属世的、卑鄙的追求，而是希望这些能力可以发展到极致，并且用来事奉祂，推进祂国度的利益。{GW92 459.1}
§15
God is not pleased when his servants remain weak, wanting in courage, in faith, in hope, in love, and consequently inefficient laborers in his cause. God has given men reasoning powers, not to remain inactive or to be perverted to earthly and sordid pursuits, but that these powers may be developed to the utmost, and used in his service, to advance the interests of his kingdom.{GW92 459.1}
§16
纯洁高贵之品格的一个高标准树立在基督徒面前，他惟有藉着基督的帮助才能达到这么优秀的程度。但许多人却遭受忧伤、痛苦和失望，因为他们不愿充任上帝的天意指定给他们的谦卑地位，他们在那里会一直不受注意，默默无闻。他们喜爱高位，而他们的渴望使他们行事与弟兄们不利，惟恐别人会比他们优越。猜忌、恶意、嫉妒和不信任受到珍爱，耶稣则无法住在这些品性受到接待的地方。祂邀请那些有争先野心的人到祂这里来，在髑髅地十字架的脚下学习祂心里柔和谦卑。若有什么人可胜任高位要职，主就会把担子放那些已经试验过他们，并能聪明地敦促他们前进的人身上，而不是他们身上。{GW92 459.2}
§17
A high standard of purity and nobility of character is set before the Christian, and he can attain to this excellence only through the aid of Christ. But many suffer grief, pain, and disappointment, because they are unwilling to fill the humble place which God’s providence assigns them, where they will remain unnoticed and unknown. They love the supremacy, and their anxiety leads them to work against their brethren, fearing that others will be preferred above themselves. Envy, malice, jealousy, and distrust are cherished, and Jesus cannot dwell where these traits are entertained. He invites those who are ambitious of preferment to come to him, and at the foot of the cross of Calvary learn his meekness and lowliness of heart. If any are qualified for high positions of trust, the Lord will lay the burden, not on them, but on those who have tested them, and can understandingly urge them forward.{GW92 459.2}
§18
跟从基督的人不应该彼此称赞奉承；因为撒但会做大量这种工作，要是人们自视能力甚高，这就会阻止他们在基督门下学习。谁也不要责难和谴责别人；因为他们这么做就是与那控告弟兄的同工，他会从他们心中偷走每一点彼此相爱的心。基督徒不会设法彼此拆台以便造就自己，而会大家都彼此加强，彼此鼓励。{GW92 459.3}
§19
The followers of Christ should not praise and flatter one another; for Satan will do a plenty of this work, and if persons have a high opinion of their own ability, it will prevent them from learning in the school of Christ. Let none censure and condemn others; for in doing this they are co-laborers with him who is the accuser of the brethren, who would steal from their hearts every particle of love for one another. Christians will not seek to tear one another down in order to build up self, but all will endeavor to strengthen and encourage one another. {GW92 459.3}
§20
我们应该天天留意培养对彼此的同情和关爱。这是长在基督徒树上的果子；它并不产生仇恨和纷争的荆棘与蒺藜。我们有时听到的刺耳无情的话语，见到人表现出的铁石心肠，是完全邪恶的，而这种精神必须被基督的精神所取代。耶稣吩咐我们：“我怎样爱你们，你们也要怎样相爱。你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了”（约13:34,35）。祂是我们大能的帮助者；祂若住在我们心里，我们就会表现祂的精神。我们就会彼此相爱；我们就忍不住彼此相爱；因为祂就是爱。{GW92 460.1}
§21
We should make it our daily care to cultivate sympathy and affection for one another. This is the fruit that grows on the Christian tree; it does not produce the briers and thorns of hatred and strife. The harsh, unsympathetic words we sometimes hear spoken, and the hardheartedness we see manifested, are wholly satanic, and this spirit must be supplanted by the spirit of Christ. Jesus bids us, “Love one another, as I have loved you.... By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” [John 13:34, 35.] He is our mighty Helper; and if he abides in our hearts, we shall manifest his spirit. We shall love one another; we cannot help it; for he is love.{GW92 460.1}