第47章 区会会长
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第47章 区会会长
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Chapter 47—Conference Presidents
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[《给传道人和工人的特别证言》系列一，第8号，1897年，第11-15页。]
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（1896年8月2日）
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我的注意力被吸引到主在《传道良助》中所乐意赐下的教训。我凌晨三点起来，阅读书中第232页《区会会长》的内容。这些教训再三呈现在我面前。我们的弟兄们愿意注意这些教训吗？还是避开亮光呢？总会会长应该遵照所赐的亮光行事，不要违背它。如果人闭眼不看上帝所乐于赐下的证言，并以为行在自己所点着的火光中乃是智慧，那就会毁坏教会。这种人没有资格成为传道人和区会会长。他们没有向一切智慧之源请教。{TM 327.1}[1]
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[Special Testimonies, Series A 8:11-15 (1897).]
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(August 2, 1896.)
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My attention has been called to the instruction the Lord has been pleased to give in?Gospel Workers. I have arisen at three o’clock a.m., and have read the matter in the little book entitled?Conference Presidents, page 232. The same things have been presented to me again and again. Will our brethren take heed to these things? Or will they turn aside from the light? The president of the General Conference should act upon the light given, not contrary to this light. If men close their eyes to the testimonies God has been pleased to give, and think it wisdom to walk in the light of the sparks of their own kindling, it will spoil the church. Such men are not qualified to become either ministers or presidents of conferences; they have not taken counsel from the Source of all wisdom.?{TM 327.1}[1]
§9
担任区会会长的人必须认识到人心是刚愎自用的，必须警醒祈祷，严密看守。当他本着良心坚持不懈地寻求主时，他就受教于上帝，成长为一个代表，得到信任，就象上帝信任亚伯拉罕一样。他需要上帝的全副军装；因为他要打信心美好的仗，并在做了上帝的灵教导他去做的一切事情之后，还能站立得住。他的敌人可能是他家里的人，他的妻子和儿女，也可能是他自己先天遗传和后天养成的种种倾向，这些倾向不断在寻求掌权。人不过是人，在品格上是有缺陷的，必须予以制胜。要有正确的开始，就必须从心里开始。要从真诚的口中发出热切的祷告：“上帝啊，求你为我造清洁的心”（诗51:10）。主的回答必是：“我也要赐给你们一个新心”（结36:26）。{TM 327.2}[2]
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He who is placed as a president of a conference must learn that the human heart is wayward, and that it needs to be strictly sentineled by watchfulness and prayer. As he seeks the Lord conscientiously and constantly, he is taught of God to grow into a representative man, and can be trusted as God trusted Abraham. He needs the whole armor of God; for he has to fight the good fight of faith, and having done all that the?Spirit of God has taught him to do, to stand. His enemies may be those of his own household, his wife and children, or they may be his own hereditary and cultivated tendencies, which continually seek for the mastery. Man is human and defective in character, and must battle for the victory. Everyone who begins aright must begin at his own heart. Let the fervent prayer go forth from unfeigned lips, “Create in me a clean heart, O God,” and it will bring the response, “A new heart also will I give you.”?{TM 327.2}[2]
§11
凡将进入要受上帝考验之位置的人，都有功课要学习，看看他们是不是每天被记录为上帝所赐才干的忠心管家。他们在与上级、下级或同级接触的时候，有没有表现对上帝的敬畏呢？他们必须把真理当作持久的原则，能使人心成圣。上帝圣灵创造和改变人心的能力会使他们与耶稣基督合作。他们既与基督一同负轭，就能藉着祂得胜有余。{TM 328.1}[3]
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Lessons need to be learned by all who shall step into places where they are to be proved and tested by God, to see whether they shall be registered day by day as faithful and true stewards of God’s entrusted talents. Have they shown that they have the fear of God before them, whether they are dealing with superiors, inferiors, or equals? They need to cherish the truth as an abiding principle, that it may sanctify the soul. The creating, transforming power of God’s Holy Spirit will make them copartners with Jesus Christ. Yoked up with Christ, they can be more than conquerors through Him.?{TM 328.1}[3]
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人若充分意识到自己是侍奉耶稣基督，就会渴望与上帝建立友谊。他必在上帝面前谦卑，视自己一无所有，视上帝为他的一切。这样的人是与基督合作的，适于管理一个州区会。他如果证明自己是慎重周到的，就准备好按照自己的经验和资格充任任何职位。要让众教会明白，这样的人是可以受到信任和支持的。他们可以到他那里与他谈话。这样的人决不会感到在没有上帝不断赐下恩典的情况下足以承担这工作，就是一个州区会的工作。他不会选择独自去做这工作，担负责任。藉着明智的管理，他必有见识看到别人身上的才干。他必使用那些拥有这种才干的人，并且帮助他们，而他们也必帮助分担他的重担。{TM 328.2}[4]
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The man who is fully sensible that he is in the service of Jesus Christ, will aspire for the friendship of God. He will lie low before God, that he may be nothing, and God everything. Such a man is a copartner with Christ, fitted to preside over a state conference. If he proves himself circumspect, he is prepared for any position, according to his experience and qualifications. Let the churches understand that such man is to be trusted and sustained. They may go to him and talk with him. Such a man will never feel sufficient to carry the work, even of a state conference, without the constant grace which God will give. He will not choose to do the work and bear the responsibility alone. Through wise management, he will have the tact to?recognize talent in others. He will use those who have this talent, and help them, while they help to share his burdens.?{TM 328.2}[4]
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【与弟兄们联合】
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人如果感到自己有某一项工作要为主作，希望独自做那工作，拒绝与愿意帮助他们的人接触，害怕自己得不到他们乐意去做的这项善工的全部荣誉，就是自私的。这大大妨碍了上帝的工作。要让弟兄与弟兄携起手来。让彼得和约翰联合起来。每一个人都要鼓励弟兄站在他旁边，进行热心、有兴趣的侍奉，在这项大工中与他同工。两三个人可以一起祷告，一起歌唱赞美上帝，长成上帝同工的身量。要重视完美的和谐。所有的人都要象小孩子那样侍奉主，认识到自己是同一个母干上的枝子。{TM 329.1}[5]
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【Unite With Brethren】
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It is a selfish thing for men who feel that they have some service to do for the Master, to wish to be alone in their work, and to refuse to connect with those who would be a help to them, because they fear that they will not obtain all the credit for doing the good work which they flatter themselves they will do. This has greatly hindered the work of God. Let brother lay hold of brother. Link up a Peter and a John. Let each encourage his brother to stand by his side, doing zealous, interested service, as partners in the great work. Two or three can pray together, sing the praises of God together, and grow up into the full stature of workers together with God. Perfect harmony must be cherished. All must serve the Lord as little children, feeling that they are branches in the same parent stock.?{TM 329.1}[5]
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州区会的会长们要谦卑地与上帝同行。他们没有必要写信给总会会长，要求他离开自己的工作去为他们解决小问题。甚至连许多大问题也可以带到上帝面前。上帝必为每一个州区会提供指导。每一个人都可以接近主。祂比总会会长容易接近得多。总会会长要教育州区会会长们聪明地照管好当地他们那部分的道德葡萄园，不要把他们的担子加在他身上。要带领这些有能力有才干的人仰望上帝，接受祂的教导。要教育他们到那源头寻求公义的指导。要查考圣经。“圣经都是上帝所默示的，于教训、督责、使人归正、教导人学义都是有益的，叫属上帝的人得以完全，预备行各样的善事”（提后3:16,17）。你没有理由转离无限智慧的主，去请教象你一样软弱有限的人。有一位已经为你受难。那位义的已经为不义的受了难。{TM 329.2}[6]
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Let the presidents of state conferences walk humbly with God, and they will not have occasion to write to the president of the General Conference to leave his work to settle little matters for them. Even many large matters may be carried to God, and God will give counsel in every state conference. The Lord can be approached by all. He is much more accessible than the president of the General Conference. Let the president of the General Conference educate the presidents of state conferences to take care of their portion of the moral vineyard where they are situated wisely, without laying their burdens upon him. Lead these men who have ability and talent to look to God, that they may be taught by Him. Teach them to go to the Fountainhead for instruction in righteousness. Search?the Scriptures. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” What, then, is your excuse for turning for counsel from One who is infinite in wisdom to finite men, who are as weak as yourselves? One has suffered for you, the Just for the unjust.?{TM 329.2}[6]
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人们把多少小委屈写在了纸上，倒进了同胞的心里啊！把那些最好应埋在心底的事情长久记住并传给别人是多么不智啊！不要散布灰心的气氛。你如果遵循耶稣的指示，就会得到帮助。“凡劳苦担重担的人可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。我心里柔和谦卑，你们当负我的轭，学我的样式；这样，你们心里就必得享安息”（太11:28,29）。主上帝已赐下大量的证据，证明祂乐于背负我们的重担。当你担祂的担子时，祂就担起你，也担起你的担子。祂邀请凡劳苦担重担的人，“到我这里来。”主并没有叫你走遍世界去述说你的困难，把你的重担推给同胞。基督说：“我常与你们同在，直到世界的末了”（太28:20）。{TM 330.1}[7]
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How many petty grievances man traces upon paper, and pours into the soul of his fellowmen! How unwise it is to perpetuate and communicate to others those things you had better have kept to yourself! Never trace a line of discouragement. If you do just as Jesus has told you to do, you will find help. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” The Lord God has given abundant evidence of His willingness to carry our burdens. As you lift His burdens, He lifts you, and the burdens also. He invites all who labor and are heavy-laden, “Come unto Me.” You are not told that you must go around the world to tell your troubles and unload your burdens to your fellowmen. “Lo, I am with you alway,” Christ says, “even unto the end of the world.”?{TM 330.1}[7]