1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. Thank you for tuning in.
感谢你再次收听我们的节目。
3. If you are listening for the first time today,
如果你是第一次收听，
4. this is the last in a short series of messages called, “God Talk”.
今天，是“上帝如是说”这个系列的最后一次信息。
5. First, we saw the sovereignty of God, the hub around which all of His attributes revolve.
第一次我们讲到，神的主权，是神所有属性的中心枢纽。
6. Secondly, we saw the holiness of God as the model for our lives.
第二次我们强调，神的圣洁，是我们生活言行的模范。
7. Thirdly, we saw the guidance of God as the rudder by which our decisions are made.
第三次讲到，神的引领，是我们的人生之舵，是我们一切抉择的根据。
8. Fourthly, we saw the keeping power of God as the promise upon which our souls rest.
第四次信息告诉我们，神保守的大能，是神对我们的应许，是我们灵魂安歇之所。
9. Fifthly, we saw the love of God upon which our identity is established.
上一次，我们看到，神的慈爱，是我们属天身分地位的根源。
10. Today, I want to talk to you about the commissioning of God as our only call.
今天，我要和你谈到，神给我们的托付，是这一生唯一最重要的呼召。
11. If there is one thing that distinguishes biblical faith, it is this:
圣经里说到，我们所信的神有什么特点呢？那就是，
12. that our God is a caring God,
我们的神是关心我们的。
13. that our God reaches out to us,
我们的神是主动来找我们的，
14. that our God is a seeking God,
我们的神是来寻觅我们的，
15. that our God is a pursuing God.
我们的神是不断追寻着我们的。
16. While there are many millions of people who are trying to reach out to God,
虽然，千万人想要寻求神，
17. in biblical Christianity, God is the One who reaches down to us.
但圣经告诉我们，是神来到世上寻找我们。
18. From the very beginning, God chose to reach out to humanity through human voices.
从起初，神就决定用人的声音来呼唤人。
19. From the very beginning, God chose to use flawed human beings to call out and invite others.
从一开始，神就决定使用有瑕疵的人去呼唤人，邀请人来到神那里。
20. I’m sure you probably thought of this, as I have thought about it also.
我相信，你也许和我有类似的想法。
21. If I were God, I would most assuredly have done it some other way.
那就是，假如我是神的话，我就不会这么做了。
22. If I were God, I would not have delegated this most important task to flawed human beings;
如果我是神，我决不会把这么重大的使命交托给有瑕疵、有缺点的人；
23. but, praise God, I am not God.
可是，感谢神，我不是上帝。
24. Let us try to understand the depth of Jesus’ commission to us to be His witness in the world.
我希望你能明白，耶稣所托付我们为祂作见证的这个使命，是何等的神圣与伟大。
25. First, we must understand the historical account of God’s longing desire for His people to be His witnesses.
首先我们要知道，神渴望祂的子民成为祂见证人的历史背景。
26. Only then will we understand how God’s people have disappointed Him again and again.
当我们了解了历史背景才会明白，神的子民是如何一次次地让神失望和伤心。
27. Do you know what a commission is?
你知道什么叫“使命”吗？
28. A commission is simply a task that has been assigned to someone by another person.
所谓“使命”，就是一个人委派另外一个人去完成的任务。
29. When Christians talk about the “Great Commission,” we are referring to Jesus’ commissioning of the 500 believers after the resurrection.
基督徒所说的“大使命”，就是指耶稣复活以后，对那500个门徒的委派。
30. Let us read it, in Matthew 28:18 to 20;
我们一起读马太福音28章18-20节。
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU READ IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE Matthew 28: 18-20 HERE, IF TIME PERMITS.
（请读经文：马太福音28章18-20节。）
31. but here is what I want to tell you:
在这里，我要强调一点：
32. God’s commission for His disciples did not begin in Matthew 28.
神对门徒所颁布的使命，不是从马太福音28章才开始的。
33. God’s commission for His children to make Him known began in Genesis 12.
其实，远在创世记12章的时候，神就已经把祂的使命托付给祂的儿女了。
34. When God revealed Himself to Abraham, He revealed to him His plan for the world.
当神向亚伯拉罕显现时，祂向亚伯拉罕彰显了神对全人类的计划。
35. What was God’s plan?
神的计划是什么呢？
36. God’s plan was that Abraham and his descendents would be God’s witnesses in the world.
神的计划就是，神要亚伯拉罕和他的子孙能够成为神在世上的见证人。
37. They were to be the spokesmen of God in the world.
他们要在这个世界上成为神的代言人。
38. They were to make God known to the people of the nations.
神要借着他们，使万国都认识神的名。
39. Let’s look at it in Genesis 12:3.
我们一起读创世记12章第3节。
40. God said, “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you, I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
神说：“为你祝福的，我必赐福与他；那咒诅你的，我必咒诅他。地上的万族，都要因你得福。”
41. What does God mean by “blessing the nations” through Abraham?
“地上的万族都要因亚伯拉罕得福”这话是什么意思呢？
42. He means that the nations are going to hear about the God of Abraham from Abraham and his descendents,
意思就是说：世上的万国万邦，都要借着亚伯拉罕和他的后裔，而认识亚伯拉罕的神。
43. and, the nations will believe in God and be blessed.
万国都要因信靠真神而蒙福。
44. Abraham and his descendents were commissioned by God to make Yahweh known to the nations.
神把使命托付给亚伯拉罕和他的子孙，为要让万族都认识耶和华这位自有永有者。
45. God ordered Abraham and his descendents to tell their neighbors about God
神吩咐亚伯拉罕和他的子孙把耶和华介绍给他们的邻舍。
46. so that others could believe in Him and be blessed.
为要让他们因信主而蒙福。
47. That is God’s plan for the world;
这就是神对全人类的计划；
48. but history shows us that Abraham’s descendents failed miserably.
可是，历史告诉我们，亚伯拉罕的子孙在这项使命上却失败得很惨。
49. They became inward-looking.
他们变得故步自封。
50. They became enamored with themselves.
他们自视甚高。
51. They were proud of their association with God and did not want anyone else to join in.
他们因为自己和神有了盟约而骄傲自大，不愿意其他人介入。
52. Selfishly, they kept the message to themselves;
他们自私地把福音据为己有；
53. and the best examples of this inward-looking refusal to obey God’s commission is found in the Book of Jonah.
约拿书就是体现这种自我中心，而不去履行神的使命的最有力证明。
54. Poor Jonah—he thought that he could ignore God’s commission and escape punishment;
可怜的约拿，他自以为可以不理会神的使命，并能逃脱神的管教；
55. and, throughout the Old Testament history, God gave His children victory after victory,
整本旧约圣经都告诉我们，神带领祂的子民胜过无数仇敌的攻击，
56. blessing after blessing,
把无限的福分赐给他们，
57. warning after warning,
也一次次警告他们，
58. one prodding after another;
一次一次地督促他们；
59. and, finally, about 700 years before Christ,
而且，在主降生700多年以前，
60. the Prophets began to prophesy that God’s children had failed in their commission,
先知宣告说，神的子民没有实践神托付他们的使命。
61. and that God was about to reveal the rest of His plan -
神将要显明祂计划的后半部──
62. that God was going to send His Son from the descendents of Abraham
那就是，神要差遣祂的独生子，借着亚伯拉罕的后裔来到世上。
63. and that His Son would make Him known to the nations of the world;
祂的爱子要把神的名传遍天下；
64. and that is why you find the following comparison in the Gospel of Matthew:
这就是为什么在马太福音里头，你会发现有这样的比喻，说：
65. the nation of Abraham is God’s disobedient son and Jesus Christ is God’s obedient Son.
亚伯拉罕后代所建立的国家是悖逆的儿子，而耶稣基督却是顺命的儿子。
66. My listening friends, I don’t want you to miss this point, because history repeats itself,
亲爱的朋友，千万不要忽视这一点，以至于重蹈了以色列人的覆辙，
67. and, that is why Jesus repeatedly spoke to the Disciples about their witnessing.
这就是耶稣基督不断地对门徒强调要为祂作见证的原因。
68. He did not want them to fall into the old sin of keeping their mouths and their hearts shut.
因为主不希望他们紧闭着心与口，落在以色列人所犯的罪里。
69. The most common misconception by most believers is this:
大部分的基督徒都有个错误的观念，那就是：
70. they think that the task of witnessing and making Christ known is intended only for professional evangelists and preachers.
他们以为，为主做见证，带领人认识基督，只是给那些专职传道人的任务。
71. Now, let me tell you something of uttermost importance to contradict this.
事实恰恰相反，我来告诉你一些非常重要的事。
72. When Jesus pronounced his commission to the 500 at the Mount of Olives,
当耶稣在橄榄山上向那500人宣告祂的大使命时，
73. none of them were professional priests.
其中没有一个是专职作牧师的。
74. None of them occupied a prominent place in the House of Worship.
没有一个是在礼拜堂里有地位的。
75. None of them had degrees in philosophy or theology;
也没有一个人拥有哲学或神学的学位；
76. but Jesus said to them, “I’m going to be with you, and that’s enough.”
但耶稣却对他们说：“我必与你们同在。”这就已经足够了。
77. Listen carefully, my listening friend.
亲爱的朋友，请仔细听我说。
78. Throughout church history, we see examples of how God’s people ignore His commission,
纵观教会历史，我们发现，神的儿女无数次忽视了神的使命，
79. and, each time they ignore His commission, God’s spirit of witnessing moved on.
而每一次，当他们轻忽了这一伟大的使命，神的灵就亲自督促福音继续地广传下去。
80. In the Book of Acts, the disciples got too comfortable at home;
使徒行传记载，当门徒待在家里、安于现状时，
81. and, so, the Lord sent persecution to force them out of their city.
神允许逼迫临到，为要迫使他们离开所住的城市。
82. He wanted them to leave home and take the Gospel to those who had never heard it;
神要他们离开那里，好把福音传到那些从来都没听过福音的地方；
83. and, if you study church history, you will see the pattern emerges.
如果你读过教会历史，你就会发现同样的规律。
84. Let me go through history with you very quickly.
我们很快来回顾一下。
85. Jerusalem was the center of witnessing;
耶路撒冷是最初的福音中心；
86. but, when they became inward-looking, God sent persecution to remind them of their duty;
然而，当他们故步自封时，神就让逼迫临到，来提醒他们应有的责任。
87. and, when they stopped witnessing, the center shifted to Antioch;
当他们停止传福音时，神就把福音中心转移到了安提阿教会；
88. and, when the church of Antioch failed to spread the Gospel,
当福音不能够在安提阿教会继续传开时，
89. the center of Christian witnessing shifted to Egypt;
神就把福音中心转移到埃及去；
90. and the center of Christian witnessing remained in Alexandria, Egypt, for 200 years.
福音中心在埃及的在亚历山大城，持续了200年之久。
91. When they lost their zeal, the center of witnessing moved to Rome;
后来，他们失去了传福音的热诚，中心就转移到罗马；
92. and, then, the center of witnessing and missionary zeal shifted to England;
后来，福音的中心又转移到英国；
93. and, from England, the Gospel echoed not only throughout the land, but also around the world;
从英国，福音不仅在本土传开，更传到世界各地。
94. and some of them crossed the ocean to the New World for one purpose—that is witnessing for Christ;
有些人漂洋过海到新大陆，其目的就是为了要传扬基督；
95. and, when the British forfeited their commission, the center shifted to North America;
当英国人丧失了使命感，福音的中心就转到了北美洲；
96. and, now, it is moving to Korea and other Asian countries;
目前，福音的中心正转移到韩国和其它亚洲地区；
97. but the question is this, my listening friend:
我亲爱的朋友，我要问你：
98. will you open your heart, and mouth, and pocketbook,
你愿意敞开你的心、张开你的口，并打开你的支票簿来参与支持福音工作吗？
99. or, will you turn inward and become absorbed with your own concerns and problems?
还是你以自我为中心，单顾着自己的需要和烦恼呢？
100. Will you become a witness and do the work that God has called you to do?
你是否愿意回应神对你的呼召来作祂的见证吗？
101. I know what some of you are thinking.
我知道你心里在想什么。
102. Some of you probably are saying, “This message is not for me.
有人也许会说：“这话不是对我讲的。
103. This message is for Christian leaders.
而是对那些基督教领袖讲的。
104. I’m only a student.
我只不过是个学生而已。
105. I’m only a layman…”
我只不过是个平信徒而已。”
106. and some of you are saying, “But I’m only one person. What can I do?”
也有人会说：“就我一个人势单力薄的，能做什么呢？”
107. Let me give you two examples to answer your questions.
我用两个例子来回答你的问题。
108. Andrew, the Disciple of Jesus, was one person.
安得烈是耶稣的门徒之一。
109. He brought Simon Peter to Jesus.
他把西门彼得带到耶稣跟前。
110. Simon Peter was just one person;
西门彼得只是一个人；
111. but Simon Peter led 3,000 people to the Lord just in one day.
但西门彼得却在一天之内带领了3千人归主。
112. Ezra Kimball was a Sunday school teacher, not a preacher or an evangelist.
以斯拉金保只不过是一个主日学老师，他并不是牧师或传教士。
113. He was just one man.
他也只有一个人。
114. He brought one boy to the Lord.
但他带领了一个男孩儿认识主。
115. This one boy was a young, lowly shoe salesman;
这是一个年轻，卑微的皮鞋推销员；
116. but that young man, D. L. Moody, won thousands of people to faith in Christ.
然而，这位年轻人就是慕迪先生，后来带领了成千上万的人归向基督。
117. You say, “What difference will it make if I tell one person about my faith?”
也许你会问：“如果我只向一个人分享我的信仰，会产生怎样的影响呢？”
118. One person can be used of God to become a great power for God.
要知道，一个人一旦被神使用，就能够为神作大事。
119. Listen carefully, my listening friend, as I conclude.
亲爱的朋友，在结束的时候，请听我说。
120. Don’t underestimate what one person can do with the power of God.
千万别低估了一个被神大能所充满之人的能力。
121. Do not doubt what God can do with one person.
千万不要怀疑神使用一个人所能成就的大事。
122. God is a commissioning God and He has commissioned us.
神是差遣的神，祂已把重任委托给我们。
123. He has called us.
祂已向你发出呼召。
124. Will you respond to His call?
你愿意回应神的呼召吗？
125. It is my prayer that you say “yes” to Jesus.
盼望你今天就对主耶稣说：“主啊，我愿意。”
126. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
好，我们下次再见，愿神大大地赐福给你。
