使徒行傳16:1-5

 

16:1 保羅來到特庇，又到路司得。在那裡有一個門徒，名叫提摩太，是信主之猶太婦人的兒子，他父親卻是希臘人。
16:2 路司得和以哥念的弟兄都稱讚他。
16:3 保羅要帶他同去，只因那些地方的猶太人都知道他父親是希臘人，就給他行了割禮。
16:4 他們經過各城，把耶路撒冷使徒和長老所定的條規交給門徒遵守。
16:5 於是眾教會信心越發堅固，人數天天加增。

 

 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. ² The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. ³ Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. ⁴ As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

 

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    保羅和提摩太之認識可以說是上帝的安排，是在保羅第二次步道旅行認識。而提摩太的父親是希臘人，媽媽是猶太人。也因為這樣提摩太沒有受割禮，保羅就為他行割禮，可見彼此關係很好。

 

    不管這是不是信仰的傳承，至少保羅會給提摩太有好的信仰栽培。同樣，在教會的長者，要尋找可以造就的人，繼續造就然後完完全讓主用，不可以搶奪主的榮耀。

 

    求者幫助我們也像保羅一樣，來造就主的門徒，使合適的人為主所用，這是很重要的信仰傳承！

 

 

 

尼希米記1:1-11

      

1:1 哈迦利亞的兒子尼希米的言語如下：亞達薛西王二十年基斯流月，我在書珊城的宮中。
1:2 那時，有我一個弟兄哈拿尼，同著幾個人從猶大來。我問他們那些被擄歸回、剩下逃脫的猶大人和耶路撒冷的光景。
1:3 他們對我說：「那些被擄歸回剩下的人在猶大省遭大難，受凌辱；並且耶路撒冷的城牆拆毀，城門被火焚燒。」
1:4 我聽見這話，就坐下哭泣，悲哀幾日，在天上的上帝面前禁食祈禱，說：
1:5 「耶和華─天上的上帝，大而可畏的上帝啊，你向愛你、守你誡命的人守約施慈愛。
1:6 願你睜眼看，側耳聽，你僕人晝夜在你面前為你眾僕人以色列民的祈禱，承認我們以色列人向你所犯的罪；我與我父家都有罪了。
1:7 我們向你所行的甚是邪惡，沒有遵守你藉著僕人摩西所吩咐的誡命、律例、典章。
1:8 求你記念所吩咐你僕人摩西的話，說：『你們若犯罪，我就把你們分散在萬民中；
1:9 但你們若歸向我，謹守遵行我的誡命，你們被趕散的人雖在天涯，我也必從那裡將他們招聚回來，帶到我所選擇立為我名的居所。』
1:10 這都是你的僕人、你的百姓，就是你用大力和大能的手所救贖的。
1:11 主啊，求你側耳聽你僕人的祈禱，和喜愛敬畏你名眾僕人的祈禱，使你僕人現今亨通，在王面前蒙恩。」我是作王酒政的。

 

 The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

In the month of Kislev in the twentieth year, while I was in the citadel of Susa, ² Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem.

³ They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”

⁴ When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. ⁵ Then I said:

“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, ⁶ let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

⁸ “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

¹⁰ “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. ¹¹ Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”

I was cupbearer to the king.

 

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    尼希米是一位禱告的人，他勇敢的向上帝求。不過他的禱告是以認罪做開始，這是一個禱告重要的原則。因為我們來到上帝面前的時候，感受到自己是有罪和虧欠上帝的人，所以首要的次序就是要認罪，讓主來潔淨我們的罪！

 

    當然人要在上帝面前站立得住，就需要贖罪祭的獻上，靠著羔羊的血才能得潔淨！今日我們到上帝面前也是靠羔羊的血，就是主耶穌的寶血。然而不僅要有羔羊血，人也要認罪與自潔！

 

    尼希米的禱告，是我們親近主的禱告之典範，也是我們享受與父神美好關係的開始！切記，我們早上、晚上的私禱和禮拜的公禱，都要以「認罪」來親近上帝！

 

 

尼希米記1章

         尼希米記1:1-11  ,

         認罪---尼 希 米 記 1:5-9  , 

         尼希米記 1:5-9  , 

         尼希米記1章5-9節  ,

       

尼希米記 1:5-9

 

Nehemiah 1:5-9 NIV (New International Version)

⁵ Then I said:

“O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome

God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who

love him and obey his commands, ⁶ let your ear be

attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your

 servant is praying before you day and night for your

servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we

Israelites, including myself and my father’s house,

have committed against you. ⁷ We have acted very

wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the

commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant

Moses.

 

⁸ "Remember the instruction you gave your servant

Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you

 among the nations, ⁹ but if you return to me and

obey my commands, then even if your exiled people

 are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from

there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a

dwelling for my Name.’

 

***************

1:5 「耶和華天上的神，大而可畏的神啊，你向愛你，守你誡命的人守約施慈愛。

1:6 願你睜眼看，側耳聽，你僕人晝夜在你面前，為你眾僕人以色列民的祈禱，承認我們以色列人向你所犯的罪。我與我父家都有罪了，

1:7 我們向你所行的甚是邪惡，沒有遵守你藉著僕人摩西所吩咐的誡命、律例、典章；

1:8 求你記念所吩咐你僕人摩西的話，說：『你們若犯罪，我就把你們分散在萬民中；

1:9 但你們若歸向我，謹守遵行我的誡命，你們被趕散的人雖在天涯，我也必從那裏將他們招聚回來，帶到我所選擇立為我名的居所。』

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尼希米雖然身處波斯王宮，卻心繫耶路撒冷，關心其重建之問題，所以為其禱告。

 

在他的禱告中，首先呼籲上帝垂憐，赦免以色列全族過去和現在的罪，因為以色列人犯罪，所以遭到滅國；但是上帝曾應許以色列人若悔改的話，要重新把他們招聚回應許之地。所以，尼希米是靠著上帝的應許來禱告，求主實行祂的所預定的事。

 

    這樣的禱告，也指導與引領我們的禱告生活。我們奉主耶穌的名禱告，天父必定垂聽並應允，但這樣之禱告不是隨己意妄求，而是要明白上帝的旨意與應許，順著上帝所預定的，來祈求和仰望，只憑上帝所賜之信心，不看環境。正如主耶穌所教導的先求上帝的國和上帝的義，表明自己願意順著上帝之引導來行事，參與上帝榮耀之作為，使主的名得著榮耀！阿們！

 

尼希米記1章5-9節

 

5 「上主─天上的上帝啊，你是至大可畏的；你向愛你並且遵守你誡命的人信守你的約。 6 上主啊，我日夜為你的僕人以色列人民呼求，請眷顧我，聽我的禱告！我承認我們以色列人犯了罪；我的祖先和我都犯了罪。 7 我們惡意反抗你，沒有遵行你的誡命，沒有守住你藉你的僕人摩西頒佈給我們的法律誡命。 8 求你記得你曾經告訴過摩西：『你們以色列人若對我不忠，我要把你們分散到別的國家； 9 但你們若回轉到我這裏來，遵行我的命令，我會帶你們回來；即使你們被流放到天涯海角，我也會帶你們回到這塊我選擇作為敬拜我的地方。』

 

Nehemiah 1:5-9 NIV

 

Then I said: ‘O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 'Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, 'If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’

 

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    上帝雖然是公義的，但是祂也是慈愛的。祂的心意是盼望人人都悔改，回轉歸向祂，並遠離惡事。

 

    這是尼希米的禱告，他抓住上帝告訴過摩西的話來禱告。『你們以色列人若對我不忠，我要把你們分散到別的國家；但你們若回轉到我這裏來，遵行我的命令，我會帶你們回來；即使你們被流放到天涯海角，我也會帶你們回到這塊我選擇作為敬拜我的地方。』

 

    也因為這樣的禱告，使得尼西米回耶路撒冷建造城牆，好保護回歸的猶太人。同樣今日，我們也要鼓勵那些不小心犯罪的人回歸上帝面前。正如約翰一書1章9節：『如果我們向上帝認罪，他是信實公義的，他要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們所犯的各種過錯。』

 

 

 

使徒行傳15:36-41

 

15:36 過了些日子，保羅對巴拿巴說：「我們可以回到從前宣傳主道的各城，看望弟兄們景況如何。」
15:37 巴拿巴有意要帶稱呼馬可的約翰同去；
15:38 但保羅因為馬可從前在旁非利亞離開他們，不和他們同去做工，就以為不可帶他去。
15:39 於是二人起了爭論，甚至彼此分開。巴拿巴帶著馬可，坐船往塞浦路斯去；
15:40 保羅揀選了西拉，也出去，蒙弟兄們把他交於主的恩中。
15:41 他就走遍敘利亞、基利家，堅固眾教會。

 

³⁶ Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, ³⁸ but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. ³⁹ They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the believers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

 

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    這是保羅第二次旅行佈道的開始！

 

 

 

使徒行傳15:22-35

 

15:22 那時，使徒和長老並全教會定意從他們中間揀選人，差他們和保羅、巴拿巴同往安提阿去；所揀選的就是稱呼巴撒巴的猶大和西拉。這兩個人在弟兄中是作首領的。
15:23 於是寫信交付他們，內中說：「使徒和作長老的弟兄們問安提阿、敘利亞、基利家外邦眾弟兄的安。
15:24 我們聽說，有幾個人從我們這裡出去，用言語攪擾你們，惑亂你們的心。（有古卷加：你們必須受割禮，守摩西的律法。）其實我們並沒有吩咐他們。
15:25 所以，我們同心定意，揀選幾個人，差他們同我們所親愛的巴拿巴和保羅往你們那裡去。
15:26 這二人是為我主耶穌基督的名不顧性命的。
15:27 我們就差了猶大和西拉，他們也要親口訴說這些事。
15:28 因為聖靈和我們定意不將別的重擔放在你們身上，惟有幾件事是不可少的，
15:29 就是禁戒祭偶像的物和血，並勒死的牲畜和姦淫。這幾件你們若能自己禁戒不犯就好了。願你們平安！」
15:30 他們既奉了差遣，就下安提阿去，聚集眾人，交付書信。
15:31 眾人念了，因為信上安慰的話就歡喜了。
15:32 猶大和西拉也是先知，就用許多話勸勉弟兄，堅固他們。
15:33 住了些日子，弟兄們打發他們平平安安地回到差遣他們的人那裡去。（有古卷加：
15:34 惟有西拉定意仍住在那裡。）
15:35 但保羅和巴拿巴仍住在安提阿，和許多別人一同教訓人，傳主的道。

 

²² Then the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They chose Judas (called Barsabbas) and Silas, men who were leaders among the believers. ²³ With them they sent the following letter:

The apostles and elders, your brothers,

To the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia:

Greetings.

²⁴ We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. ²⁵ So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁷ Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. ²⁸ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: ²⁹ You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.

Farewell.

³⁰ So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. ³¹ The people read it and were glad for its encouraging message. ³² Judas and Silas, who themselves were prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers. ³³ After spending some time there, they were sent off by the believers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. ^{[34] [d] 35} But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.

 

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    這一次的會議會後，耶路撒冷教會寫了一封重要的信給外邦的基督徒，用建議的口吻勸戒他們：『因為聖靈和我們定意不將別的重擔放在你們身上，惟有幾件事是不可少的，就是禁戒祭偶像的物和血，並勒死的牲畜和姦淫。這幾件你們若能自己禁戒不犯就好了。願你們平安！』

 

    這段話樹立一個典範是︰基督徒看重在基督裡的自由，不要把重擔放在別人之身上。這也告訴我們：不要把福音教導成律法，以致使人被綑綁；但也不可把律法教導成福音，以致人覺得可以為所欲為，讓教會失去該有的次序。

 

    其實教會還是不可以離開福音和律法，但是不要混雜，這樣教會才會正常發展！