第17章 需要上帝的能力和智慧
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第17章 需要上帝的能力和智慧
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Chapter 17—Need of Divine Power and Wisdom
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[《给传道人和工人的特别证言》（系列一，第2号，1892年），第12-16页。]
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（1892年7月3日于澳大利亚墨尔本。）
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一直有人问我们，为何在各教会中能力那么少？为何在我们的教师中效能那么低？答案是在自称跟随基督的人中怀有各种形式已知的罪，而且良心因长期犯罪已经变得刚硬了。答案是人没有与上帝同行，而是与耶稣分离，结果我们就在教会中看到自私、贪心、骄傲、争竞、心肠刚硬、荒淫、以及种种恶行。甚至在那些传讲上帝圣言的人中，也会见到这种邪恶的情形。那些不圣洁未圣化的人如果不进行一场彻底的改革，这种人离开传道工作会更好。他们可以去选择其他的职业，免得他们没有重生的种种观念给上帝的子民带来灾难。{TM 162.1}[1]
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[Special Testimonies, Series A 2a:12-16 (1892)..]
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(Melbourne, Australia,July 3, 1892)
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We have been asked why it is that there is so little power in the churches, why there is so little efficiency among our teachers. The answer is that it is because known sin in various forms is cherished among the professed followers of Christ, and the conscience becomes hardened by long violation. The answer is that men do not walk with God but separate company with Jesus, and as a result we see manifested in the church selfishness, covetousness, pride, strife, contention, hard-heartedness, licentiousness, and evil practices. Even among those who preach the sacred word of God, this?state of evil is found; and unless there is thorough reformation among those who are unholy and unsanctified, it would be better that such men should leave the ministry, and choose some other occupation, where their unregenerate thoughts would not bring disaster upon the people of God.?{TM 162.1}[1]
§9
【等待和守侯】
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使徒劝诫弟兄们说：“我还有末了的话：你们要靠着主，倚赖祂的大能大力，作刚强的人。要穿戴上帝所赐的全副军装，就能抵挡魔鬼的诡计。……好在磨难的日子抵挡仇敌，并且成就了一切，还能站立得住”（弗6:10-11,13）。前面将有何等的日子等待着我们啊！在自称是上帝儿女的人中要有一场何等的筛选啊！不义的人将从义人中找出来。那些拥有大光却没在行在其中的人将会进入与他们所轻视的亮光相应的黑暗。我们务必听从保罗话语中的教训：“我是攻克己身，叫身服我：恐怕我传福音给别人，自己反被弃绝了”（林前9:27）。仇敌正在殷勤作工，要看他能把谁加到背道者的行列中。但主必快来，不久每个案件都要永远决定了。那些按照厚赐给他们的亮光而行的人将被列入主的一边。{TM 163.1}[2]
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【Waiting and Watching】
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The apostle exhorts the brethren, saying, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand ... in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Oh, what a day is before us! What sifting will there be among those who claim to be the children of God! The unjust will be found among the just. Those who have great light and who have not walked in it will have darkness corresponding to the light they have despised. We have need to heed the lesson contained in the words of Paul, “But I keep under my body, and bring it in subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” The enemy is diligently working to see whom he can add to the ranks of apostasy; but the Lord is soon coming, and erelong every case will be decided for eternity. Those whose works correspond with the light graciously given them will be numbered on the Lord’s side.?{TM 163.1}[2]
§13
我们正在等待和守侯地球历史结束时大而可畏的场面。但我们不只要等候。为了这一严肃的事件，我们要警醒作工。上帝的活教会必是等候、守望、作工的教会。没有人可站在中立的位置。大家都要以积极恳切的努力拯救将亡之人，以此来代表基督。现在教会岂可袖手旁观无所作为吗？我们岂可象比喻中愚拙的童女那样昏睡吗？现在应该采取一切措施，因为工作无计划会导致属灵的衰退，而那日子就会象贼一样突然临到我们。我们的心智需要得到加强，好使我们可以有深刻的认识，看清我们信仰的缘由。心灵的殿要被真理所洁净，因为只有内心清洁的人才能抵挡撒但的诡计。{TM 163.2}[3]
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We are waiting and watching for the grand and awful scene which will close up this earth’s history. But we are not simply to be waiting; we are to be vigilantly working with reference to this solemn event. The living church of God will be waiting, watching, and working. None are to stand in a neutral position. All are to represent Christ in active, earnest effort to save perishing souls. Will the church fold her hands?now? Shall we sleep as is represented in the parable of the foolish virgins? Every precaution is to be taken now; for haphazard work will result in spiritual declension, and that day will overtake us as a thief. The mind needs to be strengthened to look deep and discern the reasons of our faith. The soul-temple is to be purified by the truth, for only the pure in heart will be able to stand against the wiles of Satan.?{TM 163.2}[3]
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【我们和世界的关系】
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我们不可效法世界的做法，但我们也不可远离世上的人；因为我们的亮光必须照在遮盖大地的道德黑暗中。教会中缺乏基督徒的彼此相爱是很可悲的。这种爱很容易被扑灭；但如果没有这种爱，我们就不可能有基督徒的友谊，也不会爱那些基督为之而死的人。{TM 164.1}[4]
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【Our Relation to the World】
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We are not to copy the world’s practices, and yet we are not to stand aloof from the people of the world; for our light must shine amid the moral darkness that covers the earth. There is a sad lack in the church, of Christian love one for another. This love is easily extinguished; and yet without it we cannot have Christian fellowship, nor love for those for whom Christ died.?{TM 164.1}[4]
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我们的弟兄们需要注意以下命令：“惟有那愚拙无学问的辩论，总要弃绝，因为知道这等事是起争竞的。然而主的仆人不可争竞，只要温温和和的待众人，善于教导，存心忍耐，用温柔劝戒那抵挡的人；或者上帝给他们悔改的心，可以明白真道，叫他们这已经被魔鬼任意掳去的，可以醒悟，脱离他的网罗”（提后2:23-26）。在世上和教会中，我们都得对付不诚实的人。有人会出来自称拥有大光。但是那些在上帝的圣工上有经验的人，会看出他们所提倡的亮光实际上乃是大黑暗。必须按照上帝圣言的说明对付这类人。那些陷在错误中的人会兴奋地鼓吹他们的观点，但行在光中的人却能镇静温柔地对待犯错的人，“善于教导，”证明他们已经寻求并领受了来自上帝的智慧。他们不需要兴奋行事，而是需要明智忍耐地行事，“用温柔劝戒那抵挡的人。”{TM 164.2}[5]
§20
Our brethren need to take heed to the injunction: “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” We shall have to meet crooked elements in the world and in the church. Men will come claiming to have great light; but those who have experience in the cause of God will see that what they present as light is great darkness. Men of this class will have to be treated according to the specifications of the word of God. Those who are in error may become excited in advocating their views, but those who are walking in the light can afford to be calm, gentle with the?erring, “apt to teach,” making manifest the fact that they have asked and received wisdom of God. They will have no occasion to move excitedly, but occasion to move wisely, patiently, “in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.”?{TM 164.2}[5]
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时候已经到了。那些在真理上扎根的人要表明他们的坚定和决心，使人们知道他们不为无知及摇动之人的诡辩、格言或虚言所动。人们会没有根据地说自己的话肯定都是真理；但是与他们争辩那些似是而非的主张是没有用的。对付谬论的最好方法就是呈现真理，让狂热的意见因无人理睬而消亡。只要与真理相对照，谬误的弱点就会在每一个有见识的人面前昭然若揭了。我们越是重复反对者、以及在我们中间起来骗人的人错误的言论，就越有利于错误的传播。越让撒但的种种建议公开，就越令撒但高兴；因为未经圣化的心会准备好接受他所提供的糠秕。即使在教会里，我们也得对付这等难题。人们会大题小作、小题大作。{TM 165.1}[6]
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The time has come when those who are rooted and grounded in the truth may manifest their firmness and decision, may make known the fact that they are unmoved by the sophistry, maxims, or fables of the ignorant and wavering. Without foundation men will make statements with all the positiveness of truth; but it is of no use to argue with them concerning their spurious assertions. The best way to deal with error is to present the truth, and leave wild ideas to die out for want of notice. Contrasted with truth, the weakness of error is made apparent to every intelligent mind. The more the erroneous assertions of opposers, and of those who rise up among us to deceive souls, are repeated, the better the cause of error is served. The more publicity is given to the suggestions of Satan, the better pleased is his satanic majesty; for unsanctified hearts will be prepared to receive the chaff that he provides for them. We shall have to meet difficulties of this order even in the church. Men will make a world of an atom and an atom of a world.?{TM 165.1}[6]
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【使用上帝所赐的才干】
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我们为什么不为众教会做更多的事，以唤醒他们遵照已经赐下的亮光行事呢？上帝已经给每个人指定了工作。最卑微的人和最有能力的人都被赋予应该用在主一边的感化力。他们应该将自己的才干奉献给祂。每一个人都在指定的岗位上作工。主期望每个人都尽全力。当亮光照入人心时，祂希望我们行事与我们的亮光相称，与我们已领受的基督长成的身量一致。我们越使用我们的知识，越实践我们的能力，就会得到越多的知识，获得越多的能力，以便做更多更好的工作。{TM 165.2}[7]
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【Using God-Given Talents】
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Cannot we do more for the churches, that they may be aroused to act upon the light already given? God has appointed to every man his work. The lowliest as well as the mightiest have been endowed with influence that should tell on the Lord’s side, and they should devote their talent to Him, each working in his appointed place of duty. The Lord expects everyone to do his best. When light shines into the heart,?He expects our work to correspond with our light, to be in accordance with the measure of the fullness of Christ which we have received. The more we use our knowledge and exercise our powers, the more knowledge we shall have, the more power we shall acquire to do more and better work.?{TM 165.2}[7]
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我们的才干不是自己的，而是主的财产。我们要用它们来作买卖。我们使用或滥用主的货财是要负责任的。上帝号召人们拿他们受托的才干去投资，以便当主来时，祂可以连本带利收回。祂已经用自己的血买了我们作祂的仆人。我们要不要侍奉祂呢？我们现在要不要竭力在上帝面前得蒙喜悦呢？我们要不要用我们的行动证明我们是祂恩赐的好管家呢？发自一颗纯洁真诚之心而为主付出的每一努力，对祂来说都会成为一个馨香的供物。{TM 166.1}[8]
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Our talents are not our own, they are the Lord’s property with which we are to trade. We are responsible for the use or the abuse of the Lord’s goods. God calls upon men to invest their entrusted talents, that when the Master cometh He may receive His own with usury. With His own blood Christ has purchased us as His servants. Shall we serve Him? Shall we now study to show ourselves approved unto God? Shall we show by our actions that we are stewards of His grace? Every effort put forth for the Master, prompted by a pure, sincere heart, will be a fragrant offering to Him.?{TM 166.1}[8]
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我们正在看不见的生灵眼前行事为人。有一位见证者在我们旁边，一直在看我们如何拿主所委托的货财作买卖。当那好管家连本带利地把他的银子还给主人时，他没有要求什么。他会认识到这些银子都是上帝给他的，并且归荣耀给主。他知道没有存款就不会得到利息，没有本金也不会获利。他会说：“主啊，你交给我五千银子。请看，我又赚了五千”（太25:20）。但愿教会的人现在考虑一下，他们是否在使主赐给他们的资本产生利润。如果没有基督的恩典，每个人都会永远破产；所以我们本不该要求什么。但虽然我们不能要求什么，如果我们是忠心的仆人，主也会奖赏我们，好像功劳都是我们自己的一样。祂说：“好，你这又良善又忠心的仆人，你在不多的事上有忠心，我要把许多事派你管理；可以进来享受你主人的快乐”（太25:21）。{TM 166.2}[9]
§30
We are walking in the sight of unseen intelligences. A witness is by our side constantly to see how we trade with the Lord’s entrusted goods. When the good steward returns his talents with usury, he will claim nothing. He will realize that they are the talents that God delivered unto him, and will give glory to the Master. He knows that there would have been no gain without the deposit, no interest without the principal. He will say, “Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.” Let the church now consider whether they are putting out to usury the capital the Lord has given. Without the grace of Christ every soul would have been bankrupt for eternity; therefore we can rightfully claim nothing. But while we can claim nothing, yet when we are faithful stewards, the Lord rewards us as if the merit were all our own. He says, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful?over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”?{TM 166.2}[9]
§31
当永远为时晚矣时，会有多少人因丧失的机会而悲哀啊！现今，我们拥有才干和机会，但我们不知道我们还能拥有多久。那么就让我们趁着白日作工吧；因为黑夜来到，就没有人能作工了。“主人来到，看见他这样行，那仆人就有福了”（太24:46）。{TM 167.1}[10]
§32
How many will mourn for lost opportunities when it is eternally too late! Today we have talent and opportunity, but we know not how long these may be ours. Then let us work while it is day; for the night cometh, in which no man can work. “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.”?{TM 167.1}[10]