1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. We are delighted that you are able to join us today;
很高兴你能收听我们今天的节目；
3. and, today, we are continuing our series of messages from the Book of Daniel,
今天，我们将继续但以理书的系列信息，
4. which we are calling, “Standing Firm in a World of Shifting Sands;”
我们称它为“在流沙的世界里要站立得稳；”
5. and we will be looking at Daniel, Chapter 10;
我们将学习但以理书10章；
6. but, first, I want to share with you a story.
不过，首先，我想和你分享一个故事。
7. Back in 1995, one of my children gave me a painting, which hangs in my office.
1995那年，我的一个孩子送给我一幅画，就挂在我的办公室。
8. It is a picture of a child in bed.
这画上有一个小孩躺在床上。
9. The child’s father is kneeling beside the bed, praying over the child;
孩子的父亲跪在床边，在为他祷告；
10. and, as the father prays, an angel of the Lord is holding back a satanic attack.
就在父亲祷告的同时，一个天使正在阻止撒但的攻击。
11. This poster illustrates something of what really happens when the righteous pray.
这幅画展示了，义人祷告时，所发生的一些真实的情况。
12. It illustrates the invisible war that takes place behind the invisible spiritual curtain.
它展示了在看不见的属灵帘幕后面，无形的战争正在进行。
13. In the last message from Daniel, Chapter 9, we saw Daniel on his face before God interceding on behalf of His people,
在上一讲的信息中，但以理书的第九章，我们看到但以理在神面前俯伏为神的百姓代求，
14. even though most of God’s people did not know and did not care about their condition;
即使神的百姓大部分都不知道，也不在意自己所处的境况如何；
15. and the reason they did not care was because they were oblivious to their desperate spiritual condition.
他们不在意的原因是，他们对自己所处的属灵险境蒙眛无知。
16. Let me remind you that Daniel, who stood firm for God at the age of 14, is now an old man.
你要知道，这个在十四岁时就为神持守真道的但以理，如今已经是一个老人了。
17. Daniel, who longed all of his life to go back from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem, is now too old for the journey.
但以理一辈子都渴望，能从巴比伦被掳的生活回到从前在耶路撒冷的日子，可现在，他已经老得不能旅行了。
18. Daniel now comes to realize that his personal desire will not become a reality.
但以理已经意识到，他的个人愿望可能不会成为现实了。
19. I wonder, if you were in Daniel’s place, if you would have continued to pray.
我很想知道，如果你处在但以理的位置，你会不会继续祷告。
20. Why pray when your personal desire is not going to be granted?
如果你的个人愿望不会被满足时，为什么还要祷告呢？
21. My listening friend, it is very important to understand that, if all of our prayers are for our own wants,
亲爱的朋友，这一点非常重要，如果我们所有的祷告只是为了我们自己的需要，
22. if all our prayers are focused on our own circumstances,
如果我们所有的祷告，仅仅专注于我们自己的状况，
23. then we have not yet learned to pray;
那么，我们还没有学会祷告；
24. but prayer that seeks the glory of God,
其实，祷告是为了寻求神的荣耀，
25. prayer that is often on behalf of others,
祷告常常是为了他人的利益，
26. prayer that is offered on behalf of the work of God,
祷告该是为了神的事工的好处，
27. prayer that is selfless prayer,
祷告是无私的，
28. that is the prayer that honors God.
这才是荣耀神的祷告。
29. That is why the Bible often speaks of prayer for others.
因此，圣经常常提到为他人代求。
30. Maybe some of you are saying, “Is it wrong, then, to pray for ourselves?”
也许你们中间有人说：“那么，为我们自己祷告，就错了吗？”
31. The answer is “no.” It is not wrong to pray for our own needs;
答案是“没有错。”为我们自己的需求祷告没有错；
32. but, if your prayer is only for the fulfillment of your own desires and nothing else,
但是，如果你的祷告仅仅是为了满足你自己的愿望，而没有别的目标，
33. then there is something wrong with your prayer life;
那么，你的祷告生活就有些不对头了；
34. and that is why James said that this kind of prayer will not be answered.
这也就是为什么雅各书说，这样的祷告不蒙垂听。
35. James, Chapter 4, verse 3, says, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures...”
在雅各书4章3节说：“你们求也得不着，因为你们妄求，要浪费在你们的宴乐中……”
36. and, my listening friend, there is a biblical principle, here, that runs throughout the whole Bible.
我亲爱的朋友，有一个圣经的原则，贯穿了全本圣经。
37. It is in giving that we receive.
这原则是，在施予当中我们才会有收获。
38. It is in seeking first the Kingdom of God that all of our needs are met;
它是指，我们先求神的国和神的义，这些东西都要加给我们了；
39. and it works the same way in prayer.
在祷告上也是同样的道理。
40. Daniel’s prayer is a model prayer, because it is selfless prayer;
但以理的祷告是一个典范，因为他的祷告是无私的；
41. and, because Daniel’s prayer was a selfless prayer, God answered his prayer in abundance.
也正是因为他的祷告是无私的，神就丰丰富富地回应了他的祷告。
42. In Daniel 10:1 and 2, it says that, in the third year of Cyrus, King of Persia, Daniel was praying and fasting for three weeks.
在但以理书10章1到2节说到，波斯王塞鲁士第三年，但以理祷告并禁食了三个七日。
43. What was he praying for?
他在为什么事情祷告呢？
44. Was it for Cyrus to allow God’s people to return to Jerusalem?
是让塞鲁士王，允许神的百姓返回耶路撒冷吗？
45. No.
不是。
46. In Ezra 1:1, it says that, in the first year of Cyrus’ reign, the decree was issued for the Jews to go back to Jerusalem, if they wanted to.
在以斯拉记1章1节记载，波斯王塞鲁士元年，王下诏书，允许想回到耶路撒冷的以色列人返回。
47. Now, my listening friends, what I’m going to tell you is very important. Don’t miss it.
亲爱的朋友，我现在想告诉你一个非常重要的信息，请不要错过。
48. Two years after the decree was issued, Daniel is on his face before God praying and interceding.
诏书下达以后的两年，但以理俯伏在神的面前代祷祈求。
49. What in the world was he doing?
他当时在做什么呢？
50. Was he out of his mind?
难道他失去理智了吗？
51. He is praying for something two years after it was answered?
他仍在为已经应允了两年的事来祷告吗？
52. Ezra and Nehemiah have already gone back with a contingent of God’s people;
以斯拉和尼希米，已经带领部分神的百姓回归了；
53. and my natural reaction would be to say to Daniel, “Daniel, you should be rejoicing, not fasting.”
我直觉的反应就想对但以理说，“但以理，你应该喜乐，而不是禁食。”
54. Oh, but Daniel would have said to me, “You do not understand.
然而，但以理将会回答我说，“你不明白。
55. It is only a tiny minority of people who have availed themselves to this God-given opportunity.
只有极少数神的百姓，对神所给的机会，做出了回应。
56. The vast majority of God’s people have no desire to go back.
而大多数神的子民，并不想回归。
57. For 70 years, I have longed for my people and me to turn back to our spiritual heritage;
七十年来，我渴望我和百姓能回到我们属灵上的祖国；
58. and, now, that the opportunity is here, there are very few takers...”
现在，机会来了，却只有少数人愿意回归……”
59. and Daniel knew that this window of opportunity might not stay open forever.
还有，但以理知道这扇机会之窗不会永远敞开。
60. My listening friend, we are in a similar spiritual danger today;
亲爱的朋友，我们今天处在同样的属灵危机里；
61. and that is why we must pray for a Holy Spirit revival;
因此，我们必须祈求圣灵来复兴我们；
62. and to make things worse for Daniel, news from Jerusalem came in and said that the Temple walls were broken.
从耶路撒冷传来圣殿城墙毁坏的消息，让但以理更难受。
63. The workers are few and are discouraged, and the opposition is fierce;
建城的工人很少，又心情沮丧，反对者的势力仍很强大；
64. and the Samaritans are appealing to Cyrus to reverse his decree;
同时，撒玛利亚人正在请求塞鲁士王撤回他的诏书；
65. and the people in Jerusalem are losing hope;
并且，耶路撒冷的百姓正在失去盼望；
66. and that is why we see Daniel, as an old man, on his face before God.
因此，已经垂垂老去的但以理，在神的面前俯首祈求。
67. He was asking for the glory of God;
他在寻求神的荣耀；
68. and God answered his prayer mightily.
而且，神以祂的大能回应了但以理的祷告。
69. He gave him a vision of all visions,
神给了他异象中最重要的异象，
70. which we will see in the next two messages;
我们会在下面两讲中谈到这个异象；
71. but, today, I want to show you what can happen when the righteous pray.
但今天，我想让你明白义人祷告可以成就的事。
72. Because of Daniel’s selfless prayer, the pre-incarnate Christ appeared to him --
因着但以理无私的祷告，即将道成肉身的基督向他显现，
73. not in Jerusalem, the city of his praise,
不是在耶路撒冷，那个赞美神的城市，
74. not in the Temple, the home of worship;
不是在圣殿，那个敬拜神的中心；
75. but the pre-incarnate Christ showed up where Daniel was by the river, Tigris.
即将道成肉身的基督，是在底格里斯河边向但以理显现的。
76. My listening friend, whenever you pray for the glory of God, Jesus will show up.
我亲爱的朋友，无论何时你寻求神的荣耀，耶稣都将向你显现。
77. How do I know that this was the pre-incarnate Christ?
我怎么知道，那一定是即将道成肉身的基督呢？
78. Daniel’s description of Him matches the description of others.
但以理的描述与其他经文的描述是相吻合的。
79. Whether it was Isaiah, or Ezekiel, or John the Revelator, all of their descriptions are very similar.
无论是以赛亚，还是以西结，或是写启示录的约翰，他们所有的描述都是非常的相似。
80. He was wearing white linen—the clothes of the high priests, not the clothes of an angel.
主耶稣身穿白色细麻衣，那是大祭司的服饰，而不是天使的打扮。
81. His appearance filled Daniel with awe.
祂的显现，使但以理充满了敬畏。
82. His splendor threw Daniel off his feet.
祂的荣光，使但以理俯伏在地。
83. His unveiled glory sucked the life out of Daniel.
祂所彰显的荣耀，使但以理浑身无力。
84. Satan tried to hinder Him, but he failed.
撒但曾尝试阻挡主耶稣，但是撒但失败了。
85. Above all, the victorious, pre-incarnate Christ gave Daniel supernatural strength to be able to speak to the King of Glory.
更重要的是，得胜的、即将道成肉身的基督给了但以理超自然的能力，使他能够与荣耀的王交谈。
86. My listening friend, there are two things that I want you to never forget about the prayer of the righteous;
亲爱的朋友，关于义人的祷告，有两件事我希望你永不要忘记；
87. and these two things come out of Chapter 10 of the Book of Daniel.
这两件事，是从但以理书第10章的记载而来。
88. First, the power of prayer is in the persistence of prayer.
第一，祷告的能力来自持续不断的祷告。
89. Secondly, the power of prayer is dependent on the righteousness of the one who’s praying.
第二，祷告的能力取决于祷告者的公义。
90. The power of prayer is in the persistence in prayer.
祷告的能力来自持续不断的祷告。
91. How long did Daniel continuously pray and fast?
但以理祷告并禁食持续了多久呢？
92. Three weeks.
三个星期。
93. When did God hear Daniel’s prayer?
神是什么时候听到但以理的祈求的呢？
94. Verse 12 of Chapter 10 says, “Then He continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel.
但以理书10章12节说：“他就说：‘但以理啊，不要惧怕！
95. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard.’”
因为从你第一日专心求明白将来的事，又在你神面前刻苦己心，你的言语已蒙应允。’”
96. Satan and his demons may be working behind the veil to hinder answer to prayer, but they ultimately fail.
撒但和他的邪灵可能在幕后捣鬼，阻止祷告蒙垂听，但是最终他们会失败的。
97. Satan and his demons may fiercely use people to oppose the righteous, but they will be foiled.
撒但和他的邪灵，可能会利用人们来猛烈地攻击义人，但是最终他们会被击败的。
98. If Jesus is the Lord of your life, then you are in a state of spiritual warfare.
如果耶稣是你生命的主，那么你就处在属灵争战的状态里。
99. You are in a spiritual conflict with the evil one.
你是在与灵界的魔鬼交锋。
100. The question is this: do you know how to fight and win?
问题是：你知道如何争战并且获胜吗？
101. Daniel was praying for the Persian King to come to the aid of God’s people and not side with the Samaritan’s opposition.
但以理祷告波斯王能够帮助神的百姓，而不是站在敌对的撒玛利亚人那一边。
102. At that very same time, Satan was working overtime to eliminate God’s people;
在那一时刻，撒但正努力要毁灭神的百姓；
103. but, even though the Persian King was under Satan’s control, the great God of Heaven, in response to Daniel’s prayer, thwarted Satan;
尽管波斯王处于撒但的管制之中，但是，高天之上的全能神，应允了但以理的祷告，摧毁了撒但。
104. and the Persian King obeyed the living God.
令波斯王也遵从了永生神的权柄。
105. Remember what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:3 to 5?
记得使徒保罗在哥林多后书10章3到5节所说的吗？
106. Let’s read it to you.
让我读给你听。
107. The power of Daniel’s prayer was in Daniel’s persistence in prayer, and that is why his prayer was answered.
但以理祷告的能力，来自于他持续不断的祷告，因此他的祷告得蒙垂听。
108. Secondly, the power of prayer is dependent on the righteousness of the praying person.
其次，祷告的能力取决于祷告者的公义。
109. Daniel understood that the awesomeness of his prayer was influencing the events of history.
但以理知道，他的祷告令人敬畏，可以影响历史。
110. Just think of this, my listening friend.
亲爱的朋友，请试想一下。
111. An 87 year old man in a distant country praying, and history is changed!
一个八十七岁的老人在异国他乡祷告，历史因而被改变了！
112. That is because the power of prayer is beyond human calculation.
那是因为祷告的能力是超越人类的筹算的。
113. Do you think the devil knows that?
你认为魔鬼是不是知道呢？
114. Of course.
当然知道。
115. That is why very few people go to prayer meetings.
这就是为什么只有很少的人去参加祷告会。
116. Satan is not stupid.
撒但并不愚蠢。
117. He knows what God can do when God’s army becomes united in prayer.
他明白，当神的军队在祷告中合一，神会成就怎样的大事。
118. We are the ones who don’t understand and we don’t get it;
不明白的是我们，我们没有抓住要点；
119. but there is something about the power of prayer that you should not miss.
但是，关于祷告能力，请你一定要注意。
120. Some people talk about the power of prayer.
有些人在谈论祷告能力的时候，
121. That gives the impression that the power is in the prayer itself,
给人的感觉是，这个能力来自于祷告本身，
122. or, that there is power in the person that does the praying.
或者这个祷告的人带有能力。
123. No, no, no, no.
不，不，不是的。
124. That is a terrible mistake.
那是非常可怕的错误。
125. The power is the power of God in response to a whole-hearted dependence on Him in prayer.
这能力是神的能力，回应全心仰望祂的祷告者。
126. Not only that, but not all prayers are effective prayers.
但不是所有的祷告都有功效。
127. James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
雅各书5章16节说：“义人祈祷所发的力量，是大有功效的。”
128. You say, “What does that mean?”
你会说：“那是什么意思呢？”
129. It means that only those who have no discontinuity between the way they pray and the way they live will be effective in their prayers.
它意味着，只有祷告与生活相吻合的人，他们的祷告才是有功效的祷告。
130. Only those whose lives are pleasing to the Lord will prevail in prayer.
只有那些为讨神的喜悦而活的人，才会在祷告中获胜。
131. My listening friend, listen. Prayer is not magic.
我亲爱的朋友，请注意，祷告不是魔术。
132. Prayer is not some secret trick that one can use to manipulate God, regardless of how one lives.
祷告不是神秘的把戏，用来操纵上帝，它不是与你的生活状态无关的。
133. No.
不是的。
134. The only powerful prayer,
唯一有能力的祷告，
135. the only effective prayer,
大有功效的祷告，
136. is the prayer that is the expression of the righteous life.
是这祷告正表达了一个有公义的生活。
137. The only effective prayer is the prayer of a consistent life and a godly life.
这大有功效的祷告是，这祷告者有一个和谐一致及敬畏神的生活。
138. Certainly, Daniel did not expect Christ to show up.
当然，但以理没有想到基督会向他显现。
139. Daniel merely wanted to know the will of God for His people;
但以理只是想知道，神对祂百姓的旨意是什么；
140. but, because of Daniel’s brokenness in prayer,
然而，因为但以理悲伤而心碎的祷告，
141. because of Daniel’s selflessness in prayer,
因为但以理无私的祷告，
142. and, because of Daniel’s surrender in prayer,
也因为但以理降服的祷告，
143. God unveiled His majesty to Daniel.
神向但以理显示了祂的至高无上。
144. God assured Daniel that all would be well in the future because God rules the future;
神给了但以理确据，将来必然一切安好，是因为神掌管未来。
145. and, so, my listening friend, let me tell you this as I conclude.
所以，亲爱的朋友，在结束的时候，让我来告诉你。
146. Get on the road of righteousness now
从现在开始，走公义的道路，
147. so that your prayer will be the expression of a consistent, godly life.
那么，你的祷告将会表达一个和谐的、敬畏神的生命。
148. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
