第407号 代祷
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第407号 代祷
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MR No. 407 - Intercessory Prayer
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我记得在巴特尔克里克有些人心中为未曾悔改和处在黑暗中看不到光明的人有了负担，就决定举行祈祷会，好使上帝的能力成为他们自己的力量。每逢这样的情形，天上的生灵总是配合他们的努力，于是就有人得了救。（《文稿》1893年32号第7页，无标题，1893年2月16日）{6MR376.1}[1]
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I remember in Battle Creek when there were those who felt the burden for the unconverted, and those who were in darkness and saw no light; then prayer meetings were appointed that they might make the strength of God their strength. In every case the heavenly intelligences worked with these efforts, and souls were saved.--Ms 32, 1893, p. 7. (Untitled, February 16, 1893.) {6MR 376.1}[1]
§5
国内固然有布道的工作要做；我们也听到有人辩称：既然我们本国也有这么多的罪恶，这么需要服务，为什么要对外国表现那么大的热心呢？我回答说：我们的田地乃是全世界。各地的罪恶增多到了令人惊恐的程度。救主曾指示祂的门徒要从耶路撒冷开始工作，然后经过犹太全地、撒玛利亚，直到地极。接受这道理的虽然只有一小部分人。但传信息的人却要将信息迅速传至各方各处，从这国到那国，将福音的旌旗竖立在地上远近各处。然而要作一番准备工作。救主应许说：“但圣灵降临在你们身上，你们就必得着能力，……作我的见证”（徒1:8）。凡不依从自己的意志与愿望，但求主指教的人，不会成为迟钝的学者，因为主必教导他们。{6MR376.2}[2]
§6
There is home missionary work that is to be done, and we hear the plea, So long as there is so much sin and such need of labor in our own country, why manifest such zeal for foreign countries? I answer, Our field is the world. Wickedness abounds to an alarming extent everywhere. The Saviour directed His disciples to begin their work in Jerusalem, and then pass on through Judea and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Only a small proportion of the people accepted the doctrine; but the messengers bore the message rapidly from place to place, passing from country to country, lifting the standard of the gospel in all the near and far-off places of the earth. But there was a preparatory work. The Saviours promise was, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,, and ye shall be witnesses unto me. Those who will not follow their own will and desires, but seek counsel of the Lord, will not be dull scholars for the Lord will teach them. {6MR 376.2}[2]
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尽管成千上万在国内的人忽略了这么大的救恩，证明自己不配得永生，还是让我们为那些处在午夜黑暗中的人付出热心努力吧。上帝必向未受启迪的人说话。这光要照在道德的黑暗中。“我已经立你作外邦人的光，叫你施行救恩，直到地极”（徒13:47）。既然还有那么多人要寻找，那么多人处在浓重的黑暗中，我们岂不要大声喊叫，不可止息吗？{6MR376.3}[3]
§8
Although thousands at home neglect this great salvation and prove themselves unworthy of eternal life, let zealous efforts be put forth for those who are in the midnight of darkness. God will speak to the unenlightened. This light is to shine amid the moral darkness. I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. While there are so many to be sought for, so many that are in gross darkness, shall we not cry aloud and spare not? {6MR 376.3}[3]
§9
还需要多么多呀！需要多么明智的、计划周全的努力藉着出版物和活的传道人传扬真理啊！我们很高兴地说，许多人在做许多事，开辟新园地，在各地扩展圣工。然而有许多方式是我们个人可以采取的，藉着实行舍己，过不取悦自己的生活，来做比已经做的更多的事。每一位接受这个真理的人都应当为拯救朋友、亲人和邻居而付出个人的努力。应将个人的情况作为我们代祷的主题呈到我们的天父面前。让我们效法基督的生活吧。（《信函》1893年42a号第1,2页，致S.N.赫斯格，无日期）{6MR377.1}[4]
§10
How much more is needed! How much wise, well-planned efforts to send the truth by publications and the living preacher! Many, we are happy to say, are doing much, opening new fields and broadening the work everywhere. But there are many ways in which we can personally do much more than we have done, by practicing self-denial, living not to please ourselves. Every soul who has accepted this truth should make personal efforts for the salvation of friends and relatives and neighbors. Individual cases should be presented as subjects of our prayers, to our heavenly Father. Let us imitate the life of Christ.--Letter 42a, 1893, pp. 1, 2. (To S. N. Haskell, undated.) {6MR 377.1}[4]
§11
耶和华本为善，当受大赞美。祂已赋予你向别人传达真理的才干。我很渴望你和你家中的每一个成员都能得着赐给受过考验的忠心之人的奖赏；渴望你们得救，得着永远的救恩。我很渴望这样，远过于你所认为的。在我们每一天的敬拜中，常常按名提到你的家人。我向上帝恳切祈祷，使你和你的妻子儿女蒙祂的能力保守。我将继续为你们祷告，我的弟兄和姐妹，也为你们亲爱的孩子们祷告，我对他们深感关心。我希望他们每一个人都藉着与上帝合作得到宝贵的经验。让我们的祈祷升到上帝面前吧，弗兰克弟兄和姐妹，为了你们儿女的得救。他们都是祂的心所亲爱的。祂正等着要施恩给他们。祂必接纳他们。他们若是愿意来到祂面前，向祂学习，祂就会使用他们拯救其他青少年。祂就必以一份神圣的委托尊荣他们，使他们成为与祂同工的人。父亲、母亲和儿女们都献身侍奉基督的家是多么蒙福，多么加倍蒙福啊！（《信函》1902年126号第4,5页，致弗兰克弟兄和姐妹，1902年8月7日）{6MR377.2}[5]
§12
The Lord is good and greatly to be praised. He has bestowed on you the talent of communicating the truth to others. I have a longing desire that you and every member of your family shall receive the reward to be given to the tried and faithful; that you shall be saved with an everlasting salvation. I have a far greater desire that this shall be, than you suppose. In our daily worship, your family is often mentioned by name. My earnest prayer to God is that you and your wife and children shall be kept by His power. I shall continue to pray for you, my brother and sister, and for your dear children, in whom I am deeply interested. I desire that every one of them shall have the precious experience that they may gain by cooperating with God. Let our prayers ascend to God, Brother and Sister Franke, for the salvation of your children. They are all dear to His heart. He is waiting to be gracious to them. He will receive them. If they will come to Him and learn of Him, he will use them in saving other youth. He will honor them with a sacred trust, making them laborers together with Him. How blest, how doubly blest, is the home in which father, mother, and children are consecrated to the service of Christ.--Letter 126, 1902, pp. 4, 5. (To Brother and Sister Franke, August 7, 1902.) {6MR 377.2}[5]
§13
主已警告我，将有一场大背道来到。在灵性上将有一场倒退。许多人转耳不听真道，且会接受虚言。我们的疗养院要由明智的、敬畏上帝的人管理，他们要教导纯正的道理，说明我们为何相信真理，为何应该在凡事上严格实行节制，研究如何避免一切有害的行为和影响。美德和圣洁要得到实行。{6MR378.1}[6]
§14
The Lord has warned me that there will come a great apostasy. There will come a falling away in spirituality. Many will turn away their ears from hearing the truth, and will accept fables. Our sanitariums are to be conducted by wise, God-fearing men, who will teach sound doctrines and show why we believe the truth and why we should practice strict temperance in all things, studying how to avoid all harmful practices and influences. Virtue and holiness shall be practiced. {6MR 378.1}[6]
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鉴于圣经所警告我们的事正在临到地上，我感到必须敦促我们的人建立疗养院的必要性。我们不能祈求那些不知道真理的人奇迹般地得到医治。他们已经出卖了自己的能力，要是他们这样得了医治，他们是不会归荣耀于上帝的，而会继续藉着遵循错误的做法来羞辱祂。我们要教育那些来到我们疗养院的人，教导他们如何藉着遵循正确的吃喝及着装习惯来与上帝建立正确的关系。……{6MR378.2}[7]
§16
In view of what the Word warns us is coming upon the earth, I felt that I must urge upon our people the necessity of establishing Sanitariums. We cannot pray for the miraculous healing of those who know not the truth. They have prostituted their powers, and were they thus healed, they would not return God the glory, but would continue to dishonor him by following wrong practices. We are to educate those who come to our sanitariums, teaching them how to bring themselves into right relation with God by following right habits of eating, drinking, and dressing. . . . {6MR 378.2}[7]
§17
我们要伺机说应时合宜的话，求上帝帮助我们以可接受的方式介绍真理，使我们正设法帮助的那些人不会见怪，而会说：“主啊，常将这粮赐给我们”（约6:34）！要高举耶稣，务必使你的言语和行为符合上帝之道的原则。藉着基督化品格的荣美，我们要向世人显明上帝之道原则的能力。……我们应该多么认真忠实地工作，向罪人指出上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪孽的啊。要让每一个在疗养院工作的人都认真努力预备自己为主作见证。{6MR378.3}[8]
§18
We are to watch for opportunities to speak a word in season, asking God to help us to present the truth in such an acceptable way that those we are trying to help will not take offense, but will say, Lord, evermore give us this bread. Hold up Jesus, and be sure that your words and deeds correspond with the principles found in the word of God. By Christlike beauty of character we are to show to the world the power of the principles of Gods word. . . . How earnestly and devotedly we should labor to point sinners to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Let every one connected with a sanitarium prepare himself by earnest effort to bear witness for the Master. {6MR 378.3}[8]
§19
我们不敢说，我们不可为病人祷告。在我们的各机构中要听到为病人祷告的声音，使他们可以置身能与主合作之处，祂能拯救他们的心灵与身体。许多一直甘心作撒但国民的人会转向伟大的医治者基督。人人都需要圣经的教导，命上加命，令上加令。偏见会让路，甚至那些已经成为心灵骗子的人也会转向上帝而得救。要教育、教育、再教育，向男男女女说明饮食上的改变会给他们带来怎样的解脱。要始终仁慈有礼，愉快而充满盼望。要继续不断地为生灵祈祷和作工。（《信函》1905年338号第7,8页，致J.H.凯洛格，1905年12月22日）{6MR379.1}[9]
§20
We dare not say, We must not pray for the sick. Let the voice of prayer be heard in our institutions in behalf of the sick, that they may place themselves where they can cooperate with Him who can save both soul and body. Many of those who have been Satans willing subjects will turn to Christ, the great Healer. All need Bible teaching, line upon line, precept upon precept. Prejudice will give way, and even those who have been seducers of souls will turn to God and be saved. Educate, educate, educate, showing men and women how much relief a change in diet will bring to them. Be always kind and courteous, cheerful and hopeful. Keep praying and working for souls.--Letter 338, 1905, pp. 7, 8. (To J. H. Kellogg, December 22, 1905.) {6MR 379.1}[9]
§21
我们必须在恳切的祷告中更多地与上帝在一起。我们必须以上帝为我们惟一的倚赖。主是我们的上帝，我们心灵的力量。我们必须持定主。当我们不仅为自己，也为那些需要帮助的人强求主的恩典和祂的眷爱时，祂是很喜悦的。让我们绝对信任我们的主耶稣吧。现在要祷告、相信、祷告，主就必听我们。（《信函》1906年403号第1,2页，致马根弟兄，1906年2月10日）1975年3月11日发布。{6MR379.2}[10]
§22
We must be much more with God in earnest prayer. We must make God our only trust. The Lord is our God, the strength of our soul. We must take hold upon the Lord. The Lord is pleased when we importune Him for His grace and His favor, not only for ourselves but for those who are in need of help. Oh let us put implicit confidence in our Lord Jesus. Now pray, and believe, and pray, and the Lord will certainly hear us.--Letter 403, 1906, pp. 1, 2. (To Brother Magan, February 10, 1906.) Released March 11, 1975. {6MR 379.2}[10]