1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. If you are joining our broadcast for the first time, we have just begun a series of messages.
如果你是第一次收听这个节目，我们刚开始一系列的信息，
3. We entitled this series of messages, “The Blessings of Surrender.”
这个信息叫”献身之福”。
4. In the first two messages, . . .
在前两个信息里，
5. we learned that at our lowest point in life, . . .
我们知道，在人生最低落的时候，
6. we can become a candidate for the inter-filling of the Holy Spirit and can receive the greatest blessings.
却可以成为圣灵充满我们的机会，而且得到神所赐的厚恩。
7. When the widow yielded the little she had to God, . . .
当那寡妇交出她所仅有的给神时，
8. God brought a miracle into her life.
神就在她生命中行神迹。
9. We learned that this can happen to us, too.
我们知道，神迹也会在我们身上发生。
10. How?
如何发生呢？
11. First, . . .
第一，
12. we have to present to God our empty vessels and leave ourselves open to him.
我们要将我们的空器皿交给神，并向祂开放自己。
13. We must empty ourselves so that God can fill us up with His Holy Spirit.
我们必须倒空自己，让神的圣灵充满。
14. Second, . . .
第二，
15. we must go to our prayer closet and shut the door and be willing to receive the gift God will bestow on us.
我们必须进到祈祷密室，关上门，并愿意接受神所赐的恩典。
16. Third, . . .
第三，
17. we must yield and surrender all that we are and have to the Lord.
我们必须向主交出我们所有的一切。
18. We must adopt the spirit of total surrender.
我们必须存一颗完全降服的心。
19. This is not always easy,
这是很不容易的，
20. for many of us have a controlling spirit.
因为很多人都想要支配一切。
21. Many of us think we can provide and improve on God’s plan.
很多人以为，我们能够提供和改善神的计划。
22. While we all struggle with the problem of control, . . .
我们都在支配欲的问题上苦苦挣扎，
23. there are some of us who struggle a little harder than others.
但有些人比别人挣扎得更厉害。
24. Today, we will look again at II Kings, Chapter 4.
我们今天要再看列王纪下第四章。
25. Here we will see how intrusion upon God's provision brings misery and death.
在这里我们会看见，干扰神的供应将要带来愁苦和死亡。
26. We are going to see how improvement on God's plan and purpose is a deadly prospect.
我们要看见，更改神的计划和旨意，就只有死路一条。
27. Let’s look at the Word together.
让我们一起看神的话语，列王纪下第四章38节到44节。
38 Elisha returned to Gilgal and there was a famine in that region. While the company of the prophets was meeting with him, he said to his servant, "Put on the large pot and cook some stew for these men."
(38) 以利沙又来到吉甲，那地正有饥荒。先知门徒坐在他面前，他吩咐仆人说：你将大锅放在火上，给先知门徒熬汤。
39 One of them went out into the fields to gather herbs and found a wild vine. He gathered some of its gourds and filled the fold of his cloak. When he returned, he cut them up into the pot of stew, though no one knew what they were.
(39) 有一个人去到田野掐菜，遇见一棵野瓜藤，就摘了一兜野瓜。回来切了，搁在熬汤的锅中，因为他们不知道是什么东西。
40 The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, "O man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it.
(40) 倒出来给众人吃，吃的时候，都喊叫说：神人哪，锅中有致死的毒物，所以众人不能吃了。
41 Elisha said, "Get some flour." He put it into the pot and said, "Serve it to the people to eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
(41) 以利沙说：拿点面来。就把面撒在锅中，说：倒出来，给众人吃罢。锅中就没有毒了。
42 A man came from Baal Shalishah, bringing the man of God twenty loaves of barley bread baked from the first ripe grain, along with some heads of new grain. "Give it to the people to eat," Elisha said.
(42) 有一个人从巴力沙利沙来，带着初熟大麦作的饼二十个，并新穗子，装在口袋里，送给神人。神人说：把这些给众人吃。
43 "How can I set this before a hundred men?" his servant asked. But Elisha answered, "Give it to the people to eat. For this is what the LORD says: 'They will eat and have some left over.'"
(43) 仆人说：这一点岂可摆给一百人吃呢？以利沙说：你只管给众人吃罢，因为耶和华如此说：众人必吃了，还剩下。
44 Then he set it before them, and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD.
(2 Kings 4:38 44 NIV)
(44) 仆人就摆在众人面前，他们吃了，果然还剩下，正如耶和华所说的。（列王纪下4章33至44节）
28. let me summarize the story for you.
让我把这故事总括一下。
29. There was a famine in the land.
那地正有饥荒，
30. Physical distress was everywhere.
有形的苦难，处处都有。
31. Spiritual distress was all around the community.
社会上也充满了心灵的愁苦。
32. While in the midst of this famine, . . .
在饥荒之中，
33. The prophet Elisha was in the school of prophets which Elijah had established.
先知以利沙在以利亚所创办的先知学校里。
34. Elisha was now the head of that school.
现在由以利沙担任校长，
35. He was suffering with the rest of the community.
他和当地其他人一样受着饥荒之苦。
36. Elisha, had been on the road preaching.
以利沙曾经出外传道，
37. He came back to Gilgal to minister to the college of prophets.
如今他回到吉甲的先知学校任教。
38. My listening friends, I want to stop here and make this very clear.
我亲爱的朋友，我想停在这儿，把话说清楚。
39. Heaven is never embarrassed by human needs.
天国永不会被人类的需要难倒。
40. God always has His Elishas who bring a voice of hope in a time of distress.
在困难的时刻，神常借着像以利沙这样的先知把希望带给人。
41. God has His Elishas who bring good news in the midst of spiritual sorrow.
神差遣以利沙，将好消息带到心灵愁苦的人当中。
42. God always has His Elishas who declare God's sufficiency in the midst of human bankruptcy.
当人类的处境面临破产时，神的先知就会出来宣告神的丰富。
43. God always has His Elishas who bring spiritual food in the midst of spiritual famine.
神的先知就会将灵粮带给心灵饥渴的人。
44. So, in the midst of the famine, Elisha commands his servant to put on a large pot of stew for the sons of the prophets.
因此在饥荒中，以利沙吩咐仆人将大锅放在火上，给先知的门徒熬汤。
45. This in itself was a miracle.
这事本身就是一个神迹。
46. We find in II Kings 8:1, . . .
在列王纪下八章一节里，
47. Elisha had prophesied that there would be 7 years of famine as God's judgment upon human sin.
以利沙曾预言将有七年的饥荒，是神对人犯罪的惩罚。
48. Yet, even in the midst of the judgment . . . God was able to provide for His faithful children.
然而，在惩罚之中，神为祂忠心的儿女们，仍然有充足的供应。
49. The scripture tells us again and again . . .
圣经一次又一次的告诉我们，
50. of how in the midst of disaster . . . God takes care of His faithful children.
在苦难中，神眷顾祂忠心的儿女。
51. Even today, many Christians testify about how in the midst of depression and grief . . . God blesses, watches and provides for them
什至今天，许多基督徒见证神如何在他们失意愁烦时，赐恩看守，并供应他们的所需。
52. That is our God,
这就是我们的神哪！
53. He is a faithful God.
神是信实的，
54. Do you know Him?
你认识祂吗？
55. In the Book of Genesis, . . .
在创世记里，
56. we learn that a severe famine hit the land of Canaan
在迦南地有严重的饥荒。
57. It was a famine so great that it would have killed Jacob and all of his family,
那饥荒极其严重，很可能会危害到雅各和他的家人，
58. but God had already sent Joseph ahead of them to Egypt . . .
但神预先让约瑟到埃及去。
59. so that Jacob and his descendants could survive.
这样，雅各和他的子孙就可以存活了。
60. In the Book of Exodus, Chapter 10, . . .
在出埃及记第十章，
61. when the entire nation of Egypt was plunged into darkness . . .
埃及全国都陷入黑暗里，
62. the Bible said that there was light where the people of God lived.
圣经说：惟有神的选民以色列家中有亮光。
63. In I Kings 17, . . .
在列王纪上17章，
64. while all of Israel experienced perishing hunger . . .
当所有以色列人都落在致命的饥荒中，
65. God supplied His servant Elijah with food and water.
神却为祂的仆人以利亚提供食物和水。
66. That is our God.
那就是我们的神哪！
67. Do you know Him?
你认识祂吗？
68. No wonder the Psalmist, after experiencing the goodness of God, could say in Psalm 84:11:
难怪诗人经历过神的美善之后，能够在诗篇84篇11节说：
69. "The Lord will give grace and glory, no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly."
耶和华要赐下恩惠和荣耀，祂未尝留下一样好处，不给那些行动正直的人。
70. And in Psalm 37, verse 25 said
又在诗篇37篇25节说：
71. ". . . I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor his children begging for bread."
我未见过义人被弃，也未见过他的后裔讨饭。
72. That is our God . . .
那就是我们的神哪！
73. do you know Him?
你认识祂吗？
74. Our God provides for those who meet His conditions.
神为那些符合祂要求的人供应所需。
75. God always blesses those who surrender.
神一向赐福给那些愿意献身的人。
76. God always delights in those who yield to Him.
神常常喜悦那些降服在祂面前的人。
77. Sometime ago an evangelist decided to go to a certain part of the world to evangelize
曾经有一位传教士，决定去世界某一个地区传道。
78. After winning some of the tribe to Christ, . . .
在他带领了一些部族归向基督之后，
79. they began to experience famine.
那地就发生了饥荒，
80. They had no rain for months and months.
几个月来都没下雨。
81. In all the years in which they worshiped their ancient gods the rains had never failed them.
过去当他们膜拜传统的偶像时，从不缺雨水，
82. But now that they followed Christ, they experienced drought!
但现在他们跟随了基督后，竟遇到旱灾。
83. So they ordered the evangelist to leave their country and take his god with him.
于是下令那传教士带他的神离开他们的国家，
84. But the evangelist refused to leave.
但传教士拒绝离开。
85. The chief warned him that unless it rained by sunrise the following day . . .
酋长警告他说：除非明天日出之前下雨，
86. they would drink his blood and eat his flesh.
否则他们就要喝他的血和吃他的肉。
87. The evangelist prayed just as Elijah prayed for God's supernatural intervention.
那传教士就好像以利亚一样的向神祈求超自然力量的介入。
88. Before daylight, thunder was heard in a distance, . . .
在日出之前，远处传来雷声，
89. and an abundant rain refreshed the entire region.
然后倾盆大雨降在整个地区上。
90. Elijah's God still lives and works today.
以利亚的神仍然活着，并且作工到如今。
91. But the problem with us is that we want to take things into our own hands.
但问题出在我们常要自己去支配事情，
92. We want to become God's little helpers.
我们想当神的小助手。
93. Elisha told his servant to put on a large pot and boil stew . . .
以利沙叫仆人用大锅熬汤，
94. in the midst of famine.
在饥荒之中，
95. All around them . . . there was death and distress . . .
有死亡和危难环绕他们。
96. but there was ample provision for the college of prophets.
然而，在先知学校里，却有丰富的供应。
97. When God provides, He always satisfies.
有神供应，必然饱足。
98. When we appropriate His provision, we are always contented.
当我们取用神的供应，就必得满足。
99. Are you wounded?
你是否受到伤害？
100. He is a balm.
祂就是膏油。
101. Are you sick?
你是否有病？
102. He is a medicine.
祂就是良药。
103. Are you poor?
你是否贫穷？
104. He is wealth.
祂就是财富。
105. Are you hungry?
你是否饥饿？
106. He is the bread of life.
祂就是生命的粮。
107. Are you thirsty?
你是否干渴？
108. He is the living water.
祂就是活水。
109. Are you in debt?
你是否欠债？
110. He is surety.
祂就是保人。
111. Are you in darkness?
你是否落在黑暗中？
112. He is the sunshine.
祂就是阳光。
113. Are you facing the gathering storm?
你是否面对将要来临的风暴？
114. He is the anchor.
祂就是船锚。
115. Are you on trial?
你是否正受考验？
116. He is your advocate.
祂就是你的辩护人。
117. Are you condemned?
你是否被定罪？
118. He is your pardon.
祂要饶恕你。
119. My listening friends, . . .
亲爱的朋友，
120. our problem is that we always try to improve on God’s provision.
问题是，我们常常想要更改神的供应，
121. And, we fail to receive his gracious gifts.
结果却失去了祂丰盛的赏赐。
122. Tune in next time, as we look more closely at how God helps us overcome our own controlling spirits.
请你下次再收听，我们会更深入的了解，神怎样帮助我们克服支配的欲望。
123. Until then, I wish you God’s richest blessing
愿神大大的赐福给你，下次再会。
