第53章 教会与传道
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第53章 教会与传道
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Chap. 53—The Church and the Ministry
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现今正是我们教会的信徒作出确切的努力，维持那些正将最后怜悯的信息传遍天下之人的时候了。但愿信徒们用实际宗教的表现，为上帝的使者们所传给世人的警告信息提供强有力的证据。有识之士也因世上的局面而警觉了。如果具有真理知识的人都愿实行圣经的原则，显出他们已因真理而成圣，是真正跟从柔和谦卑之救主的人，他们就必发挥一种得人归向基督的感化力。{6T417.1}[1]
§4
It is high time that the members of our churches made decided efforts to sustain the men who are giving the last message of mercy to the world. Let church members, by a manifestation of practical religion, give weight to the message of warning which is being borne to the world by God’s messengers. Intelligent people are alarmed at the outlook in the world. If those who have a knowledge of the truth will practice Bible principles, showing that they have been sanctified by the truth, that they are true followers of the meek and lowly Saviour, they will exert an influence that will win souls to Christ.?{6T 417.1}[1]
§5
无论何事，若非积极而热心地为主服务，便是否认我们所自称的信仰。惟有藉着热诚而切实之工作所表现的基督教，才能使凡死在过犯与罪恶中的人受到感动。凡祈祷不倦，谦卑而诚信的基督徒，就是那些藉着自己的行为，显明其最大愿望乃为使人明白那考验万民之救赎真理的人，才能为主收集丰盛的生灵庄稼。{6T417.2}[2]
§6
Anything less than active, earnest service for the Master gives the lie to our profession of faith. Only the Christianity that is revealed by earnest, practical work will make an impression upon those who are dead in trespasses and sins. Praying, humble, believing Christians, those who show by their actions that their greatest desire is to make known the saving truth which is to test all people, will gather a rich harvest of souls for the Master.?{6T 417.2}[2]
§7
我们需要打破我们宗教活动的单调状态。虽然我们正在世上进行一种工作，但是却没有显出充分的活动与热心来。如果我们是更恳切的话，人们就要确信我们信息的真理了。我们在事奉上帝的事上表现的平淡无奇和一成不变，拒退了许多需要看到深切圣洁之热诚的上流人物。徒具形式的宗教实不足以应付这一时代的要求。我们纵然奉行种种外表服务的行动，依然缺少圣灵苏醒人心的感化力，就象基利波山缺少雨露一般。我们都需要属灵的滋润，同时也需要那公义日头的亮光，来软化我们的心，使之驯服。对于原则，我们务须始终如磐石一般地屹然固守。圣经的原则在教导之外，要辅之以神圣的实践。{6T417.3}[3]
§8
We need to break up the monotony of our religious labor. We are doing a work in the world, but we are not showing sufficient activity and zeal. If we were more in earnest, men would be convinced of the truth of our message. The tameness and monotony of our service for God repels many souls of a higher class, who need to see a deep, earnest, sanctified zeal. Legal religion will not answer for this age. We may perform all the outward acts of service and yet be as destitute of the quickening influence of the Holy Spirit as the hills of Gilboa were destitute of dew and rain. We all need spiritual moisture, and we need also the bright beams of the Sun of?Righteousness to soften and subdue our hearts. We are always to be as firm as a rock to principle. Bible principles are to be taught and then backed up by holy practice.?{6T 417.3}[3]
§9
凡为上帝服务的人，必须在救灵的工作上显出活力和决心来。要记得：除非你我作上帝器皿的人抱着既不灰心也不丧胆的决心去从事工作，则有一班人将要趋于沦亡。施恩的宝座要成为我们随时的依靠。{6T418.1}[4]
§10
Those in the service of God must show animation and determination in the work of winning souls. Remember that there are those who will perish unless we as God’s instrumentalities work with a determination that will not fail nor become discouraged. The throne of grace is to be our continual dependence.?{6T 418.1}[4]
§11
我们各教会的信心如此薄弱衰微，实在无可推诿。“你们被囚而有指望的人，都要转回保障”（亚9:12）。因为在基督里有为我们所预备的力量。祂在天父面前是我们的中保。祂差遣自己的使者到祂所管辖的各处去，将祂的旨意传达给自己的子民。祂在自己的教会中间行走；并渴望凡跟从祂的人都能成圣，得蒙拨擢，达到高贵的地步。凡真正相信祂的人所发生的影响，要在世上成为活的香气。祂用右手持着众星，目的就是要藉着这些星将祂的光照在世上。祂亟愿从而可预备祂的子民，使之能在天上的教会中从事更高的服务。祂既已将伟大的工作交托我们，所以我们就当精确而坚毅地去作。在我们的生活中，也当表现出真理为我们所有的成就。{6T418.2}[5]
§12
There is no excuse for the faith of our churches to be so faint and feeble. “Turn you to the Stronghold, ye prisoners of hope.”?Zechariah 9:12. There is strength for us in Christ. He is our Advocate before the Father. He dispatches His messengers to every part of His dominion to communicate His will to His people. He walks in the midst of His churches. He desires to sanctify, elevate, and ennoble His followers. The influence of those who truly believe in Him will be a savor of life in the world. He holds the stars in His right hand, and it is His purpose to let His light shine through these to the world. Thus He desires to prepare His people for higher service in the church above. He has given us a great work to do. Let us do it with accuracy and determination. Let us show in our lives what the truth has done for us.?{6T 418.2}[5]
§13
“那……在七个金灯台中间行走的”（启2:1）。这一节经文显出基督与各教会的关系。祂在地上自己的各教会中间纵横行走，祂热切地关怀她们，注意她们，要看她们属灵的景况是否足以拓展祂的国度。教会所举行的每一次聚会，基督无不出席。每一参与祂服务工作的人，祂都熟悉。祂认识那些心中能被祂圣油充满以便分给别人的人。凡在世上忠心推进基督的工作，在言行上代表上帝的品格，并成全主在他们身上所有旨意的人，在祂的眼中都是极其宝贵的。基督因他们而感到快乐，正如人在修整完美的庭园和他所栽种的各种花木的芬芳中感到快慰一般。{6T418.3}[6]
§14
“Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”?Revelation 2:1. This scripture shows Christ’s relation to the churches. He walks in the midst of His churches throughout the length and breadth of the earth. He watches them with intense interest to see whether they are in such a condition spiritually that they can advance His kingdom. Christ is present in every assembly of the church. He is acquainted with everyone connected?with His service. He knows those whose hearts He can fill with the holy oil, that they may impart it to others. Those who faithfully carry forward the work of Christ in our world, representing in word and works the character of God, fulfilling the Lord’s purpose for them, are in His sight very precious. Christ takes pleasure in them as a man takes pleasure in a well-kept garden and the fragrance of the flowers he has planted.?{6T 418.3}[6]
§15
目前所建立的各种布道事业，无一不是由于克己，自我牺牲，和不屈不挠的努力，以及大量的祈祷所培植出来的。可怕的是有些人刚担任工作，虽无成效，便已安息满足；认为不再需要象从前传扬这一信息的先贤们那样地克己，殷勤，从事艰苦而令人厌烦的工作；他们认为时代已经改变了；还认为现在上帝的圣工既然有了更多的进款，无须置身于信息发起之时许多人所必须应付的艰难境况之下。{6T419.1}[7]
§16
It has cost self-denial, self-sacrifice, indomitable energy, and much prayer, to bring up the various missionary enterprises where they now stand. There is danger that some of those now coming upon the stage of action will rest content to be inefficient, feeling that there is now no need of so great self-denial and diligence, such hard and disagreeable labor, as the leaders in this message experienced; that times have changed; and that since there is now more means in the cause of God, it is not necessary for them to place themselves in such trying circumstances as many were called to meet in the rise of the message.?{6T 419.1}[7]
§17
然而在现阶段的工作中，如果也象当初一样，表现出殷勤工作与自我牺牲的精神，那么我们就会看到有百倍于今日的成就了。{6T419.2}[8]
§18
But were there the same diligence and self-sacrifice manifest at the present stage of the work as at its beginning, we should see a hundred times more than is now accomplished.?{6T 419.2}[8]
§19
如果这工作继续以起初那高度的行动来推进的话，那么对于道德方面的资源，就绝不应使之低落。道德能力必须源源不绝地增加。如果那班新近加入工作的人觉得可以松懈他们的努力，认为现在并不需要克己，以及在时间与金钱上严格实行节约，这样，工作就必退步。今日的工人也应具有昔日领袖们同样程度的敬虔，精力，与坚毅。{6T419.3}[9]
§20
If the work is to go forward on the high plane of action upon which it started, there must be no falling off in moral resources. New accessions of moral power must continually be made. If those now entering the field as laborers feel that they may relax their efforts, that self-denial and strict economy not only of means but of time are not now essential, the work will retrograde. The workers at the present time should have the same degree of piety, energy, and perseverance that the leaders had.?{6T 419.3}[9]
§21
圣工的范围既已扩大，因此所包括的地区极为广泛，信徒的人数也已增加。然而，缺欠尚大，因为早期的布道精神若能复现于今日，则更大的工作原可完成。缺少了这种精神，则工人们对于上帝的圣工，只有毁坏与损伤而已。实在说来，上帝的工作不但未曾按照祂所指定的往前进展，反而已渐渐退步了。就我们信徒人数和工作范围比较来说，是远不如初期情形了。我们应当思想，假如每一位工人按着他所当行的，将自己的身，心，灵，全都献给上帝，则我们的工作原应有何等的结果。{6T420.1}[10]
§22
The work has been extended so that it now covers a large territory, and the number of believers has increased. Still there is a great deficiency, for a larger work might have been accomplished had the same missionary spirit been manifested as in earlier days. Without this spirit the laborer will only mar and deface the cause of God. The work is really retrograding instead of advancing as God designs it should. Our present numbers and the extent of our work are not to be compared with what they were in the beginning. We should consider what might have been done had every worker consecrated himself, in soul, body, and spirit, to God as he should have done.?{6T 420.1}[10]
§23
我们的教会应当在属灵的耕耘上合作，期待着不久以后的收割。会遇到许多不合情理的事，许多对圣洁计划和奉献努力的阻挠，这都是因为不信的恶心在作祟。但圣工必须要完成。土壤是顽固坚硬的，但未开垦的土地必须要破开，公义的种子必须要撒下。蒙上帝所爱的教师们哪，不要停顿下来，好像你们是在疑惑是否要继续从事一项随着进行会成长的工作。不要灰心，也不要丧胆。那流泪撒种的必欢呼收割。“我们是与上帝同工的；你们是上帝所耕种的田地，所建造的房屋”（林前3:9）。要记住你们不能信靠自我。{6T420.2}[11]
§24
Our churches are to co-operate in the work of spiritual tilling, with the hope of reaping by and by. There is much perversity to be met, much thwarting of holy plans and consecrated effort, because of the evil heart of unbelief. But the work must be done. The soil is stubborn, but the fallow ground must be broken up, the seeds of righteousness must be sown. Pause not, teachers beloved by God, as though doubtful whether to prosecute a labor which will grow as performed. Fail not, neither be discouraged. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. “We are laborers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.”?1 Corinthians 3:9. Remember that you cannot trust in self.?{6T 420.2}[11]
§25
我们要献上前所未有的祈祷，不但为那被差派到广大田地去的工人们祈祷，也为使我们自己对真理有清晰的观念祈祷，这样，当真理的使者来临时，我们就可以接受那信息，并且尊重传信息的人。{6T420.3}[12]
§26
As never before, we should pray not only that laborers may be sent forth into the great harvest field, but that we may have a clear conception of truth, so that when the messengers of truth shall come, we may accept the message and respect the messenger.?{6T 420.3}[12]