腓立比書1:12-26

 

1:12 弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺，
1:13 以致我受的捆鎖在御營全軍和其餘的人中，已經顯明是為基督的緣故。
1:14 並且那在主裡的弟兄多半因我受的捆鎖就篤信不疑，越發放膽傳上帝的道，無所懼怕。
1:15 有的傳基督是出於嫉妒紛爭，也有的是出於好意。
1:16 這一等是出於愛心，知道我是為辯明福音設立的；
1:17 那一等傳基督是出於結黨，並不誠實，意思要加增我捆鎖的苦楚。
1:18 這有何妨呢？或是假意，或是真心，無論怎樣，基督究竟被傳開了。為此，我就歡喜，並且還要歡喜；
1:19 因為我知道，這事藉著你們的祈禱和耶穌基督之靈的幫助，終必叫我得救。
1:20 照著我所切慕、所盼望的，沒有一事叫我羞愧。只要凡事放膽，無論是生是死，總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。
1:21 因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。
1:22 但我在肉身活著，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道該挑選甚麼。
1:23 我正在兩難之間，情願離世與基督同在，因為這是好得無比的。
1:24 然而，我在肉身活著，為你們更是要緊的。
1:25 我既然這樣深信，就知道仍要住在世間，且與你們眾人同住，使你們在所信的道上又長進又喜樂，
1:26 叫你們在基督耶穌裡的歡樂，因我再到你們那裡去，就越發加增。

 

¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[c] and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.^{[d] 20} I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. ²² If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! ²³ I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; ²⁴ but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. ²⁵ Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶ so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

 

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    保羅寫這封信是在監獄之中，讓我們感受到他為福音付出的代價。而保羅入監是世界之人處事的方法，他們總是利用權勢來壓迫人，好達成他們控制人的目的。正如我們今日也會遇到這樣的壓迫，通常世界的力量會用經濟和性命安全做為控制的手段。

 

    然而上帝會保守祂的兒女十分平安，不受世界的力量所影響。正如保羅在這裡所見證的：「弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺，以致我受的捆鎖在御營全軍和其餘的人中，已經顯明是為基督的緣故。並且那在主裡的弟兄多半因我受的捆鎖就篤信不疑，越發放膽傳上帝的道，無所懼怕。」

 

    保羅這樣說的目的，就是要我們看見魔鬼利用世界權勢的力量來壓迫我們是無效的，反而讓主的福音更廣傳。這更是見證基督的大能，必定勝過魔鬼和世界，我們要靠主堅立，不要害怕惡者的力量，主必永遠得勝！

 

腓立比書1:1-11

 

1:1 基督耶穌的僕人保羅和提摩太寫信給凡住腓立比、在基督耶穌裡的眾聖徒，和諸位監督，諸位執事。
1:2 願恩惠、平安從上帝我們的父並主耶穌基督歸與你們！
1:3 我每逢想念你們，就感謝我的上帝；
1:4 每逢為你們眾人祈求的時候，常是歡歡喜喜地祈求。
1:5 因為從頭一天直到如今，你們是同心合意地興旺福音。
1:6 我深信那在你們心裡動了善工的，必成全這工，直到耶穌基督的日子。
1:7 我為你們眾人有這樣的意念，原是應當的；因你們常在我心裡，無論我是在捆鎖之中，是辯明證實福音的時候，你們都與我一同得恩。
1:8 我體會基督耶穌的心腸，切切地想念你們眾人；這是上帝可以給我作見證的。
1:9 我所禱告的，就是要你們的愛心在知識和各樣見識上多而又多，
1:10 使你們能分別是非（或譯：喜愛那美好的事），作誠實無過的人，直到基督的日子；
1:11 並靠著耶穌基督結滿了仁義的果子，叫榮耀稱讚歸與上帝。

 

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons^[a]:

² Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

³ I thank my God every time I remember you. ⁴ In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy ⁵ because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, ⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

⁷ It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. ⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

 

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    保羅用禱告的心來和腓立比教會的弟兄姊妹交流，使他們感受到不只是保羅自己與他們交往，還有保羅背後的基督也與他們有關係。而保羅這樣做的目的，就是要腓立比教會與基督建立關係！

 

    而保羅的作法對於教會的傳道人或是小組的服事同工有很大的啟發作用，讓我們看見帶領弟兄姊妹需要付出禱告的代價。禱告更是讓上帝的大能介入我們事工的途徑，是我們享受上帝的同在所必需的！

 

    求主保守我們，讓我們因著禱告來保守我們所事奉的弟兄姊妹，讓他們快快和主耶穌建立正確合宜的關係，這樣的人生才是合乎上帝旨意的人生，才是真正蒙福的生命！

 

以弗所書6:21-24

6:21 今有所親愛、忠心事奉主的兄弟推基古，他要把我的事情，並我的景況如何全告訴你們，叫你們知道。
6:22 我特意打發他到你們那裡去，好叫你們知道我們的光景，又叫他安慰你們的心。
6:23 願平安、仁愛、信心從父上帝和主耶穌基督歸與弟兄們！
6:24 並願所有誠心愛我們主耶穌基督的人都蒙恩惠！

 

 ²¹ Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. ²² I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

²³ Peace to the brothers and sisters,^[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.^[d]

 

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    這是問候與祝福，也願上帝賜福大家！

 

 

 

 

 

以弗所書6:10-20

6:10 我還有末了的話：你們要靠著主，倚賴他的大能大力作剛強的人。
6:11 要穿戴上帝所賜的全副軍裝，就能抵擋魔鬼的詭計。
6:12 因我們並不是與屬血氣的爭戰（原文是摔跤；下同），乃是與那些執政的、掌權的、管轄這幽暗世界的，以及天空屬靈氣的惡魔爭戰。
6:13 所以，要拿起上帝所賜的全副軍裝，好在磨難的日子抵擋仇敵，並且成就了一切，還能站立得住。
6:14 所以要站穩了，用真理當作帶子束腰，用公義當作護心鏡遮胸，
6:15 又用平安的福音當作預備走路的鞋穿在腳上。
6:16 此外，又拿著信德當作盾牌，可以滅盡那惡者一切的火箭；
6:17 並戴上救恩的頭盔，拿著聖靈的寶劍，就是上帝的道；
6:18 靠著聖靈，隨時多方禱告祈求；並要在此警醒不倦，為眾聖徒祈求，
6:19 也為我祈求，使我得著口才，能以放膽開口講明福音的奧祕，
6:20 （我為這福音的奧祕作了帶鎖鍊的使者，）並使我照著當盡的本分放膽講論。

 

 ¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

 

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    基督徒的一生是充滿戰鬥的，正如以色列人進入迦南地，也就是上帝所賜的應許之地，是必須征戰的，不是垂手可得的！然而上帝保證我們征戰必定勝利，因為基督已經得勝了！