1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. Thank you for tuning in to this broadcast.
谢谢你收听我们的节目。
3. If you are joining our broadcast for the first time
如果你是第一次收听这节目的话，
4. We are nearing the end of a series called, “Ordinary People Who Prayed Extraordinary Prayers”
我们正在讲《平凡人非凡的祷告》这个专题系列，现在已经近尾声了。
5. In the last broadcast
上次节目里，
6. I promised you that we would find out how long the people of God had been waiting to see what Simeon saw
我答应要告诉你，究竟神的子民等了多久才看到西面所见到的。
7. Before I tell you about that, let’s look back where we left off in the Scripture
在我还没有讲这件事之前，让我们来看看上次所讲的经文，
8. We were looking at Luke 2:25
路加福音2:25，
9. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon
在耶路撒冷有一个人，名叫西面。
10. We know from our study that Simeon was not a great man by earthly standards
我们知道，西面在世人的眼中，不是一个了不起的大人物，
11. We know very little about him
我们对他所知的很少，
12. But we do know that he had all of the qualifications that God finds important
但是，我们知道他拥有神所看重的品格。
13. Do you remember what these qualifications were?
你还记得他的特质吗？
14. Let’s go over Simeon’s qualifications one more time
让我们温习一下西面的特质，
15. Qualification number one
第一个特质，
16. He was righteous
他是公义的。
17. Qualification number two
第二个特质，
18. He was devout
他是虔诚的。
19. Qualification number three
第三个特质，
20. He was looking for or watching for the consolation of Israel
他素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到。
21. I know someone who used to think that accumulating degrees was the most important thing in life
我有一位朋友，他曾经认为追求许多学位是生命中最重要的事，
22. Today he would gladly trade all his degrees for those three qualifications
今天他情愿用他所有的学位来换取这三项特质。
23. Righteousness
公义、
24. Devout
虔诚、
25. Expectant of the return of the Lord
对主耶稣再来的盼望。
26. If you take time and meditate on Simeon’s prayer
如果你花点时间思想西面的祷告，
27. You will get a sense about the godliness of this man
你就可以体会到他的虔诚。
28. He lived every single moment of every day of his life being on duty
他每天，每时每刻都坚守岗位；
29. He lived all of his life like a sentinel
他活着就像个卫兵一样，
30. He was always watching and waiting
他常常儆醒等候，
31. He lived all his life in the watchtower looking for the appearance of a star
他一辈子都在守望台上，等候着晨星出现，
32. And when that star appeared, he announced it to the world
当晨星一出现时，他立刻向全世界宣告。
33. So he starts his prayer by saying
所以他的祷告一开始就这么说，
34. Now it’s time for me to be relieved of my post
现在是我解除任务，离开岗位的时候了；
35. Now it’s time for me to step down from my watchtower
现在我可以从守望台下来了；
36. Now after a long wait I can relinquish my post of watching and waiting
我已经守候多时，现在可以下岗，不需要再等了；
37. What I have been watching and waiting for is here
我儆醒等候的，如今就在眼前；
38. What God had promised he now delivered
神的应许如今应验了；
39. What we have hoped for, for centuries, is now here
我们历代以来所盼望的，已经来临。
40. Let’s look at verse 29 of Luke chapter 2
请看路加福音2:29，
41. Now let your servant depart in peace according to your word
主啊，如今可以照你的话，释放仆人安然去世。
42. Why is he ready now to depart?
为什么这时候他准备要离开呢？
43. We find the answer in verse 30
答案就在路2:30。
44. Because my eyes have seen the fulfillment of all of Israel’s expectations
因为我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩。
45. Because of all of my expectations of the fulfillment of the promise of God have been met
因为神已经成就了祂的应许，我所盼望的都已经落实；
46. Now all of my dreams have been fulfilled
现在，我所有的梦想已经成为事实；
47. Now all of my hopes have been realized
现在，我所有的希望都实现了；
48. Now all of my watching and waiting have met their purpose
现在，我一切的儆醒等候已经达到目的；
49. Now I can be set free
现在我可以安然离去。
50. Those are the expectations that will never disappoint you
这些指望是永不会落空的，
51. Because when your expectations are based on the promises of God
因为，当你把盼望建立在神的应许上，
52. God will never disappoint you
神绝对不会让你失望。
53. Well what was that dream
那梦想是什么？
54. What was that hope
那盼望是什么？
55. What was that expectation
那期待是什么？
56. That he would see the Messiah
就是他会看到弥赛亚；
57. That he would see the only hope for the world come on the world scene
他可以看到世界唯一的盼望降临地上；
58. That he would see the Savior
他可以见到救世主。
59. The one that God had promised long ago is now here
自古以来，神所应许的那一位终于出现在眼前，
60. Simeon’s world did not need more experts or judges
西面所处的世界，并不需要更多的专家或者是法官，
61. Simeon’s world needed a Messiah
西面所在的世界需要弥赛亚，
62. And that is why when Simeon saw the baby Jesus he knew that all of his expectations had been fulfilled
所以当西面一看到婴孩耶稣，他就知道他所期待的已经实现了；
63. The one that God promised long ago is now here
长久以来，神所应许的那一位，如今就在眼前。
64. Can you imagine Simeon’s excitement as he held the baby Jesus in his hands?
你可以想象吗？当西面抱着婴孩耶稣的时候，他是多么的兴奋？
65. And then he prayed
然后他祷告，
66. The one for whom people longed for generations
历代以来，人们一直等待的那一位，
67. I am now seeing with my own eyes
如今我亲眼看见了；
68. God has privileged me to see him and now I can die in peace
神特别恩待我，让我看见主，现在我可以安然去世。
69. Simeon was an ordinary man but he prayed an extraordinary prayer
虽然西面只是一个平凡的人，但他的祷告是非凡的；
70. He was an ordinary man who received an extraordinary blessing
他是一个平凡的人，却得到非凡的福气；
71. He was an ordinary man who received an extraordinary privilege
他是一个平凡的人，却得到特殊的荣幸；
72. He was an ordinary man who witnessed an extraordinary fulfillment of prophecy
他是一个平凡的人，却见证了一个非比寻常的预言应验。
73. Simeon followed in a long line of faithful men and women
西面跟随着历代忠心男女的脚踪，
74. The men and women who had waited and watched from their watchtowers
那些在自己的守望台上，儆醒等候的男女信徒，
75. And then they passed their duty of watching and waiting to the next generation
他们把守望的责任交给下一代，
76. And this happened generation after generation
代代相传。
77. This small number of faithful people never lost hope
这一小群忠实的信徒，从没失去他们的盼望，
78. This remnant of faithful Messiah watchers never gave up
这些余留下来等候弥赛亚的人，永不放弃。
79. Why?
为什么？
80. Because their expectations were placed firmly on the promises of God
因为他们的盼望牢牢地建立在神的应许上。
81. Simeon was the last in a long line of generations that faithfully passed on this expectation
西面成为那些历代以来忠心地传递这盼望的最后一棒。
82. My listening friend, let me ask you a question
亲爱的朋友，让我问你一个问题，
83. When was the last time that you talked to your children or to someone in the next generation to be expectant of the return of Jesus Christ?
你最近什么时候告诉你的孩子或你的下一代，要盼望主耶稣基督再来？
84. When was the last time you were expectant of the Lord’s return?
最近，你自己又是什么时候盼望着主的再来？
85. That’s what believers are supposed to do
所有基督徒都应该这么做。
86. We need to remember that our earthly condition is not our home
我们必须记住，地上的处境不是我们的家乡，
87. Our home is in heaven
我们的家乡在天上。
88. We seem to forget this
我们似乎忘记了这一点，
89. We get busy in our daily lives that we forget that heaven is our destiny
我们每天忙着世上的生活，却忘了天上永恒的归宿。
90. Simeon never forgot that
西面没有忘记，
91. Faithful generations before him did not forget this
在他以前忠心的信徒也没有忘记，
92. Simeon was the last in a long line of generations that faithfully passed on this Godly expectations
西面成为那些历代以来忠心地传递这属天盼望的最后一棒，
93. They knew that they would not be disappointed
他们都知道这盼望决不会落空。
94. In fact this expectation goes all the way back to Adam and Eve
事实上，这盼望可以一直追溯到亚当夏娃的时候。
95. In the book of Genesis, God told them to wait for the seed of the woman
根据创世记的记载，神告诉他们要等候女人的后裔；
96. Then they were followed by the people in the book of Exodus
在出埃及记里的人继承了这盼望，
97. Who were told to be waiting for the lamb of God
神告诉他们，要等候神的羔羊；
98. Then they were followed by the people in Leviticus
接着是利未记时代的人，
99. Who waited for the High Priest
他们等候至高无上的大祭司；
100. Then in the book of Numbers they were waiting for the smitten rock
在民数记，他们等待那被击打的盘石；
101. Then in the book of Deuteronomy where they waited for the Prophet
在申命记，他们等待那位先知；
102. Then in the book of Joshua they were waiting for the Captain of the Lord of Hosts
到了约书亚记，他们等待耶和华军队的元帅；
103. And in the book of Judges they were waiting for the great and final Judge
在士师记里，他们等待那位最后最伟大的审判官；
104. In the book of Ruth, they were waiting for the heavenly kinsman redeemer
在路得记，他们等待着从天而来为他们赎身的亲属；
105. In Samuel
在撒母耳记，
106. They were waiting for the Anointed One
他们等待着受膏的那一位；
107. In the book of Kings
在列王纪，
108. They were waiting for the King of all kings, and the Lord of all lords
他们等待万王之王、万主之主；
109. In the book of Chronicles
在历代志，
110. They were waiting for the glory of God and the temple of God
他们等待神的荣耀和神的殿；
111. In the book of Ezra
在以斯拉记，
112. They were waiting for the Teacher who was coming from God
他们等待从神而来最伟大的老师；
113. In the book of Nehemiah
在尼希米记，
114. They were waiting for the Rebuilder of broken lives
他们等待那位重建破碎生命的建筑师；
115. In the book of Esther
在以斯帖记，
116. They were waiting for the Protector of His people
他们等待着人民的保护者；
117. In the book of Job
在约伯记，
118. They were waiting for the only Comforter in the times of trouble
他们等待困苦中的安慰者；
119. In the book of Psalms
在诗篇，
120. They were waiting for the Good Shepherd
他们等待好牧人；
121. In the book of Proverbs
在箴言，
122. They were waiting for the Wisdom of God to appear
他们等待神的智慧来临；
123. In the book of Ecclesiastes
在传道书，
124. They were waiting for the Preacher of the Kingdom of God
他们等待神国度的传道者；
125. In the book of Song of Solomon
在雅歌，
126. They were waiting for the Bridegroom of His bride the church
他们等待新郎，就是教会的新郎；
127. In Isaiah
在以赛亚书，
128. They were waiting for the mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
他们等待全能的神、永在的父、和平的君；
129. In the book of Jeremiah
在耶利米书，
130. They were waiting for the Potter who shapes the clay of our lives into the image of God
他们等待那位把我们的生命陶造成神样式的泥匠；
131. In the book of Lamentations
在耶利米哀歌，
132. They were waiting for the Weeping Prophet
他们等待那位哭泣的先知；
133. In the book of Ezekiel
在以西结书，
134. They were waiting for the wheel inside the wheel
他们等待轮中的轮；
135. In the book of Daniel
在但以理书，
136. They were waiting for the Son of Man coming in clouds of great glory and the fourth man in the fiery furnace
他们等待人子从云彩中荣耀地降临，和火窑里的第四个人；
137. In the book of Hosea
在何西阿书，
138. They were waiting for the love of God for the backsliders
他们等待神的爱临到堕落的人；
139. In the book of Joel
在约珥书，
140. They were waiting for the baptism of the Holy Spirit
他们等待圣灵的洗礼；
141. In the book of Amos
在阿摩司书，
142. They were waiting for the Author of judgement and mercy
他们等待审判和恩典的主；
143. In the book of Micah
在弥迦书，
144. They were waiting for the great Intercessor
他们等待伟大的代求者；
145. In the book of Nahum
在那鸿书，
146. They were waiting for the Stronghold in the day of trouble
他们等待苦难日子中的保垒；
147. In the book of Habakkuk
在哈巴谷书，
148. They were waiting for the God of mercy
他们等待恩慈的神；
149. In the book of Zephaniah
在西番雅书，
150. They were waiting for the Establisher of the Kingdom of God
他们等待神国度的建立者；
151. In the book of Haggai
在哈该书，
152. They were waiting for the Desire of all nations
他们等待万国所盼望的；
153. In the book of Zechariah
在撒迦利亚书，
154. They were waiting for the branch of Jehovah
他们等待耶和华的苗裔；
155. And in the book of Malachi
在玛拉基书，
156. They were waiting for the Refiners Fire
他们等待炼净的火，
157. The Son of righteousness that will rise over all the world with healing in his wings
公义的日头出现，其光线有医治之能。
158. Simeon said
西面说，
159. They all waited for him, but now I see him with my own eyes
历世历代所等待的那一位，如今我亲眼看见了，
160. Now take me to glory
现在让我进入荣耀里。
161. Simeon’s mission was accomplished
西面的使命完成了，
162. He said my expectations and the expectations of all my faithful ancestors have been fulfilled
他说：我和我先祖们的盼望，终于实现了。
163. God kept his word
神遵守祂的约，
164. God will keep his world
神必保守祂的世界。
165. Jesus will return
主耶稣要再回来，
166. Maybe we are the generation that will see him
可能我们这一代就会看到祂回来，
167. Are you expectant of his return?
你期待着主再来吗？
168. Wrong expectations will disappoint you
错误的期望会叫你失望，
169. High expectations in the wrong people or the wrong things will depress you
过高的期望和错误的期望对象，都会令你沮丧，
170. But expectations of the promises of God
但是，盼望神所应许的，
171. Will never, never, never disappoint you
永远都不会叫你失望。
172. Now let me ask you a very serious and solemn question
现在让我问你一个非常严肃的问题，
173. If Jesus comes back today, will you be ready to meet him
如果主耶稣今天就回来，你预备好迎见祂没有？
174. Jesus said that in his first coming he came as a Savior
耶稣说，祂第一次来是作世人的救主，
175. In his second coming, he will come as a Judge
祂第二次来是要审判世人。
176. Have you accepted his salvation?
你接受了祂的救恩吗？
177. You will be judged on the basis of whether you’ve accepted him as Savior and Lord or rejected him
将来的审判，是按照你接受了基督作救主和生命之主，或拒绝祂来审判的，
178. There is no third or neutral position
没有第三种，或者是中立的位置。
179. Today you can say to him
今天你可以对祂说，
180. Lord Jesus Christ
主耶稣基督，
181. Come into my life
请进到我的生命里，
182. Forgive me my sins
赦免我的罪过，
183. Receive me into your kingdom
容许我进入你的国度，
184. Thank you now that I am your child
感谢你，我现在已经是你的儿女了。
185. If you have prayed this prayer in faith
如果你凭着信心这样祷告，
186. You are now a new creation
你就是新造的人，
187. You belong to God
你是属神的，
188. He is now your Father
现在，祂就是你天上的父亲，
189. Jesus is your older brother
耶稣是你的长兄，
190. He is now interceding on your behalf in heaven
祂在天上为你代求，
191. Welcome to the family of God.
欢迎你成为神家中的一份子。
192. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessings.
愿神大大的赐福给你，我们下次节目时间再会。
