1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. Thank you very much for tuning in to this very last message in the series that we’ve been preaching.
谢谢你收听我们正在播出的系列信息的最后一讲。
3. We are calling it, “Looking Up”… when life knocks you down,”
我们称之为“遭遇挫折，举目仰望”。
4. and it is based on the life of the Apostle Paul from the Book of Acts;
这个系列是以使徒行传中所记载的，使徒保罗的经历为根据的；
5. and I want to begin this last message with a fact.
在最后的一讲中，我想讲述一个事实来开始。
6. It is a fact that it is always easier to start something than finishing it.
这个事实就是，人们做事总是虎头蛇尾。
7. It doesn’t take a great deal of discipline to be enthusiastic about the commencement of something;
想要人们在开始做事时拥有热情，并不太难；
8. but it takes a real commitment to see it through;
但要让这份热情贯彻始终，就需要很好的委身了。
9. and, as we come to the end of this series of messages from the life of Paul, we come to a very intriguing ending.
我们已进入了有关保罗的系列信息的尾声了，其结局很激励人。
10. It is not the kind of ending that you would expect.
它并不是你想象的那种结局。
11. Most of the Book of Acts has been concerned with the Apostle Paul;
使徒行传中的大部分篇幅都与使徒保罗有关；
12. and you would expect that it will end by telling us what happened to the Apostle Paul;
你也许期待在结局的时候，这卷书会跟我们讲使徒保罗后来怎么样了；
13. and I want you to turn with me, please, to the very last Chapter, Chapter 28 of the Book of Acts, verse 30 and 31.
我想请你跟我一起翻到使徒行传的最后一章，就是28章30，31节。
14. This is how the Book ends:
这卷书是这样结束的：
15. “For two years, Paul stayed in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to him and he preached the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
保罗在自己所租的房子里，住了足足两年。凡来见他的人，他全都接待，放胆传讲神国的道，将主耶稣基督的事教导人。
16. That’s how the Book ends;
这就是本卷书的结尾；
17. but, if you are curious, like me,
如果你跟我一样好奇，
18. you have to ask the all-important question.
你就会问一些很重要的问题。
19. Why does the Book end without telling us what happened to Paul,
为什么这卷书的结尾没有告诉我们保罗后来怎么样了呢？
20. or, what happened to Peter,
或者，彼得后来又如何？
21. or, what happened to Philip?
以及腓利又怎样了？
22. None of that is here at the ending.
在结尾的时候，这些都没有提到。
23. Why do you think the Book ends that way?
你觉得为什么这卷书要这样结尾呢？
24. Because Dr. Luke, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this history, is more concerned with the Gospel than the preachers of the Gospel.
因为路加医生，他被圣灵感动所写下的这段历史，更着重于福音本身，而不是福音的传播者。
25. He was more concerned with the power of the Gospel to convert people to Christ than with the instruments God uses to bring these people into conviction;
他更关注使人归向基督的福音大能，而不是这些领人回转的，神所使用的器皿；
26. and, today, I want to show you three principles from Acts 28.
今天我要告诉你们，使徒行传28章所讲的三项原则。
27. These principles will unlock the secret to finishing well.
这些原则要告诉我们，如何保持晚节的秘诀。
28. I think every one of us wants to finish well.
我想每一个人都希望能保持晚节。
29. It is a lot easier to start well, but it is much harder to finish well;
很多时候有一个好的开始容易，但想要有个好的结束并不容易；
30. and Chapter 28 of the Book of Acts will help us unlock the secret for finishing well.
使徒行传28章告诉了我们，保持晚节的秘诀。
31. First,
首先，
32. you must believe that obstacles will not hinder the plan of God.
你一定要相信，任何障碍都不会阻挡神的计划。
33. Secondly,
其次，
34. objections will not halt the work of God;
任何拦阻也不能中断神的工作；
35. and, thirdly,
第三，
36. obedience will harvest the blessing of God.
顺服神让你获得神所赐的福。
37. To finish well, you must understand that obstacles will not hinder the plan of God for your life.
要让自己保持晚节，你必须明白，任何障碍都不会阻挡神在你生命当中的计划。
38. One of the biggest reasons why some Christians do not finish well is discouragement.
一些基督徒晚节不保的一个最主要的原因，就是灰心丧气。
39. The moment they hit an obstacle, they give up.
他们在遇到障碍的那一刻，就放弃了。
40. The moment they face problems, they give up;
碰到困难的那一刻，就投降了。
41. but, from the human perspective, the Apostle Paul’s life was filled with obstacles;
但从人的角度来看，保罗的一生可以说是困难重重；
42. and each obstacle that the Apostle Paul faced in his life was designed by Satan.
使徒保罗所遇到的每一个困难，都是撒但精心设计的。
43. It was designed to stop his ministry.
是用来阻碍保罗的事工的。
44. Every one of these obstacles were planned by the enemy to destroy the work of God.
敌人设计了一个个的困难，想毁坏神的工作。
45. Persecution was a hindrance.
迫害是一种拦阻。
46. Imprisonment was a hindrance.
被囚也是一种拦阻。
47. Being beaten and stoned and falsely accused were all hindrances;
遭鞭打，被人丢石头，受诬告都是拦阻；
48. and Paul had his fair share of all of them;
保罗也毫不例外地经历了所有的这一切；
49. but, through it all, the Apostle Paul believed that obstacles cannot hinder the will of God.
通过这些经历，保罗深信任何拦阻都不能妨碍神的旨意。
50. They may have bound Paul in chains,
他们可以用铁链锁住保罗，
51. but they would not bind the power of the will of God.
但他们不能束缚神旨意的大能。
52. They may have tried to gag him from speaking,
他们可以堵住他的口不让他说话，
53. but they could not gag the power of the Word of God;
但他们挡不住神话语的能力；
54. and that is why he could keep going in the toughest of times.
这也是保罗能够在困难中继续前进的动力。
55. My listening friend, I want you to listen very carefully.
我的朋友，请仔细听我说。
56. There are two sides to every obstacle that you face in your life.
你所面临的每一个拦阻都有两面性。
57. There is a human side and there is God’s side.
一面是从人的角度，一面是从神的角度。
58. From your side, obstacles appear as huge boulders;
从你的角度来看，每一个拦阻都是一块巨石；
59. but, from God’s end, they are only stepping stones to get you to the top of the mountain.
但从神的角度来看，他们只是帮助你登上山顶的垫脚石。
60. From the human side, obstacles are frustrating;
从人的角度来看，这些拦阻让人心灰意冷；
61. but, in God’s hand, they are mere instruments He uses to sanctify you and bless you.
但在神的手中，它们是神让你成为圣洁，并蒙福的途径。
62. I want to speak to every one of you who are facing insurmountable obstacles in your life right now.
我想告诉你们当中那些正在经历磨难的人们，
63. I want to speak to you with confidence in the Word of God
我因对神的话语有信心才这样说，
64. and in the God who promised in His words.
同时也是信任那位话语中带有应许的神才这样说。
65. All of you, who are facing difficulties, must stop seeing these obstacles from your point of view
你们当中所有正面临难处的人，不要再从自己的角度来看待这些困难，
66. and begin to see them from God’s point of view;
而是尝试着从神的角度来看；
67. and realize that God wants to use these obstacles to fulfill His plan in your life;
要明白神会使用这些拦阻，来实现祂在你生命中的计划；
68. so, we see the first secret to finishing well, here from the life of Paul, is that obstacles will not hinder the plan of God;
在这里，我们从保罗的经历中看到，要保持晚节的第一个秘诀是，确信任何困难都不能拦阻神的计划；
69. but, secondly,
第二点，
70. he saw that objections will not halt the work of God.
保罗懂得，任何的拦阻都不能中断神的工作。
71. One of the greatest temptations today is to see people openly objecting to the truth of the Gospel;
今天最大的一个试探，就是看到人们公开地抵挡福音的真理；
72. and the most important thing to do, when you see this, is not to be intimidated.
当你碰到这种情形时，最重要的是，不要被吓倒。
73. One of the greatest temptations for Christians is to be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
对基督徒而言，当今最大的试探是，以耶稣基督的福音为耻。
74. Throughout the Book of Acts, Paul was facing these objections;
贯穿整个使徒行传的，是保罗一直在面对这些抵挡；
75. and, yet, the reason he finished well is because he understood that objections will not halt the work of God;
他能保持晚节的原因，是他明白这些拦阻不能妨碍神的工作；
76. and we see another objection that Paul faces, here in Acts 28, when his ship was wrecked on the island of Malta.
在使徒行传28章，我们看到的另一个拦阻，就是他的船在马尔他岛搁了浅。
77. Paul suffered misunderstandings and false accusations.
保罗饱受误解和诬告之苦。
78. When a snake bit him, people said that this man escaped from the shipwreck, but he must be a criminal,
因此当保罗被蛇咬了以后，他们说，这人虽然逃过了船难，但必是一个罪犯，
79. and that is why he could not escape the bite of the snake.
这就是为什么他逃不过被蛇咬。
80. This was a false perception;
这是一种错误的想法；
81. and, after a few days, when he did not get sick,
可是几天以后，他们看保罗没事，
82. they immediately changed their minds about him;
又马上改变对保罗的看法；
83. and they wanted to worship him as a god.
他们想拜他为神。
84. As I said before, people are fickle;
正像我前面所讲的，人总是反复无常的；
85. but Paul understood that objections will not halt the work of God.
但保罗明白，任何拦阻都不能中断神的工作。
86. Again, when Paul went to Rome, he shared the truth about Jesus;
保罗到了罗马以后，他与人们分享耶稣的真理；
87. and he taught that Jesus is the Hope of all prophecies from Genesis to Malachi;
他告诉人们，耶稣就是旧约中，从创世记到玛拉基书所有预言中所期待的那一位；
88. and, as he began to describe Jesus as the Fulfillment of all hopes and all dreams of the Old Testament,
接着他描绘，耶稣为旧约中所有期待和梦想的应验者，
89. many people objected and rejected his message;
很多人拒绝和反对他所传讲的信息；
90. but Paul knew that objections cannot halt the work of God.
但保罗知道，任何拦阻都不能中断神的工作。
91. My friends, none of us can stand in our own strength.
我亲爱的朋友，我们没有人可以靠自己而站立得稳。
92. None of us can stand without the power of God.
不靠神的能力，我们没有人能站立得稳。
93. None of us can persevere without the power of the Holy Spirit;
不靠圣灵的能力，我们没有人能持守到底；
94. so, to finish strong, you must understand that obstacles will not hinder the plan of God.
因此，要保持晚节，你必须懂得，任何困难都不能拦阻神的计画。
95. You must understand that objections will not halt the work of God.
你必须懂得，任何拦阻都不能中断神的工作。
96. Thirdly,
第三，
97. in order to finish strong, you must believe that obedience will harvest God’s blessing.
想要保持晚节，你必须相信，只有顺服神，才能获得赐福。
98. There is one thing about the Book of Acts that I don’t want you to miss.
在使徒行传中，有一点我要你记住。
99. The Gospel said that the Apostle Paul preached in Acts 28,
使徒行传28章，保罗所宣讲的福音，
100. and the Gospel that Peter preached in Acts, Chapter 2,
与使徒行传第二章中，彼得所宣讲的福音，
101. is exactly the same Gospel.
是完全相同的福音。
102. It was not two different Gospels because it was preached by two different persons,
这福音并没有因为由两个不同的人所传讲，而有所不同；
103. or, preached to different people,
并没有因传给不同的人群，而有所不同；
104. or, preached in a different environment,
没有因为在不同的环境下传讲，而有所不同；
105. or, preached in a different setting.
也没有因为不同的场合，而有所不同。
106. The commonality that Paul and all the great men of God shared was their obedience to preaching the truth of the Gospel,
保罗和所有属神的伟人的共同之处是，他们都顺服主，去传扬福音的真理，
107. without compromising it and without watering it down.
没有妥协，也没有淡化福音的内容。
108. Today, there are people who are trying to modify the Gospel just a little bit.
如今有些人试图对福音做些细微的更改。
109. Now, let me confess to you that obedience might not be easy;
我坦白对你说，顺服的功课是不容易学的；
110. but it’s the only way to peace.
但它是通向平安的唯一途径。
111. Obedience might not be comfortable;
顺服可能让人不舒服；
112. but, in it, you find your only comfort.
但是，只有在顺服里，你才能找到唯一的安慰。
113. Obedience might not be popular;
顺服可能不受欢迎；
114. but it is your only way to blessing.
但它是你得以蒙福的唯一途径。
115. It is the only way to please the Lord.
它也是让主得满足的唯一途径。
116. Paul’s obedience may have led him into house arrest in Rome
保罗的顺服，也许导致他在罗马被囚，
117. and into three years in prison,
在监狱中待了三年之久，
118. but was that a waste of time?
那是在浪费时间吗？
119. No.
不是。
120. Because, in the prison in Caesarea, he was able to preach to the kings and the governors;
因为在该撒利亚的监狱里，他能够对君王和总督宣讲福音；
121. and, under house arrest in Rome, he wrote some of the most exciting Epistles that he was led by the Holy Spirit to write.
在罗马的看守所中，在圣灵的引导下，他写出了许多激励人心的使徒书信。
122. When you are obedient, you will see God in control of all of your circumstances.
只要你顺服，你就会看到神在掌管你周围的环境。
123. You will discover that there is no time that is wasted;
你会发现那并非在浪费时间，
124. and you will find no effort that has been misplaced,
你会发现你所做的没有什么是徒劳的，
125. and no sacrifice has gone unnoticed by God,
并且没有任何的付出不被神纪念，
126. that there is no obedience that will not be blessed by the Lord.
没有任何的顺服，神不赐福。
127. When you are obedient, even your prison will be turned into a pulpit,
当你顺服时，你所在的监牢也会变成讲台，
128. because that’s what happened with the Apostle Paul.
这就是在保罗身上所发生的事情。
129. From historical accounts, we know that the Book of Acts does not tell us about Paul’s end.
从历史学的范畴来看，我们知道使徒行传并没有交待保罗的结局如何。
130. We know that he was released after those two years
我们知道在两年以后他被释放了，
131. and he traveled for two more years and, then, he came back to Rome.
然后他周游各地两年多的时间，又回到了罗马。
132. Eusebius, the historian, tells us that Paul was arrested during that time;
史学家优西比乌告诉我们，保罗在这期间再次被囚；
133. and he was beheaded on the Appian Way;
最终他在阿庇安大道被斩首；
134. but, from God’s perspective, the details of Paul’s death were not important.
但是从神的角度而言，保罗殉道的细节并不重要。
135. It doesn’t mean that God didn’t care.
这不是说神漠不关心。
136. Listen to Psalm 116, verse 15.
请看诗篇116篇15节。
137. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”
“在耶和华眼中看圣民之死，极为宝贵。”
138. How Paul died is not important.
保罗殉道的方式并不重要，
139. What is important is that he finished well.
他能够保持晚节才是最重要的。
140. What is important is that he was able to say, “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Therefore, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award me on that day.”
重要的是他能够说：“那美好的仗我已经打过了，当跑的路我已经跑尽了，所信的道我已经守住了，从此以后，有公义的冠冕为我存留，就是按着公义审判的主到了那日要赐给我的。”
141. Listen, my listening friends, as I conclude, to the rest of the verse from 2 Timothy.
我的朋友，在我结束的时候，请注意提摩太后书中余下的经文。
142. After Paul said those words that I just mentioned to you,
保罗在说完我上面所提的这些话之后，
143. he goes on to say,
他继续说道：
144. “Not just only for me, but for all those who love His appearing.”
“不但赐给我，也赐给凡爱慕祂显现的人。”
145. The crown of righteousness henceforth is waiting for you when you finish well, my listening friend.
我亲爱的朋友，如果你能保持晚节的话，那公义的冠冕也会为你存留。
146. Will you finish well?
你能保持晚节吗？
147. Will you understand the secrets of finishing well?
你明白保持晚节的秘诀吗？
148. Let me give them to you again -
让我将这秘诀再告诉你一次：
149. that obstacles will not hinder the plan of God,
任何障碍都不会阻挡神的计划，
150. that objections will not halt the work of God,
任何拦阻也不能中断神的工作，
151. and that obedience will harvest the blessing of God.
顺服会让你获得神的赐福。
152. Until we meet in a new series of messages, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
让我们在新的系列信息中再会，愿神大大地赐福您！
