1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. We welcome you to this last broadcast on the series of messages from the Epistle of James.
今天是雅各书系列信息的最后一讲，欢迎你收听。
3. In the last broadcast, I was talking to you about two important reasons for praying from the Book of James.
在上一次的信息中，我讲到了关于祷告的前两个重要性。
4. The first is praying in and out of tough times.
第一个是，不论困难与否，都要随时祷告。
5. The second is praying for others.
第二是，为别人代求。
6. Today, I want to talk to you about the prayer that releases the power of God.
今天我要讲，祷告带来神的大能。
7. Turn with me, please, to James, Chapter 5, verse 16.
请翻到雅各书第五章16节，（请读经文雅五：16）
8. Verse 16 gives us a guideline for the release of the power of God in prayer:
这一节经文给我们一个指引，告诉我们怎样可以使祷告大有功效：
9. confessing your sins and praying for one another.
就是要彼此认罪，互相代求。
10. Now, some people interpret this to mean that believers should get together and hang out their dirty laundry so that everyone will know what they’ve done.
有人解释这节经文说：基督徒应该聚在一起，把他们所有的罪都供认出来，让大家知道。
11. There is a place for accountability to other believers, but going around telling everyone about your sin will do two things.
当然，我们应该坦诚地对待每一位信徒，但是，向所有的人承认你的罪，只会导致以下两种结果。
12. Number one,
第一，
13. it will keep you focused on your sins; not on God.
这会导致你只注意自己的罪，而不仰望神。
14. Number two,
第二，
15. the devil can use this to tempt you to get back into sin;
魔鬼会趁机引诱你，重新落入罪中；
16. so, what is James saying?
那么，雅各的意思是什么呢？
17. First, he is saying that we need to confess our sins to God.
首先，他说：我们需要向神承认我们的罪。
18. John said, in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
在约翰一书1章9节那里，约翰说：“我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。”
19. Secondly, we must confess our sins to those who have been affected by them.
第二，我们要向自己得罪的人认罪。
20. Thirdly, we must never confess sin beyond the circle of the sin influence.
第三，我们不应该向与该事件无关的局外人认罪。
21. Private sin requires private confession to the individual who was wronged.
私下犯的罪，需要个别地去向被得罪的人认罪。
22. Why is confessing our sins to God, and to those against whom we have sinned, critical for the release of God’s power in prayer?
为什么我们向神和我们所得罪的人认罪，可以使我们的祷告大有功效呢？
23. I want to give you three things.
有三个原因。
24. Number one,
第一，
25. unconfessed sin puts a barrier between us and God.
未承认的罪，会成为我们和神之间的隔阂。
26. It puts a strain in our fellowship with the Father.
它中断了我们和天父之间的交通。
27. Confession gets us close to Him.
承认罪，我们才可以亲近神。
28. Secondly,
第二，
29. confession forces us to realize that we can start afresh.
认罪使我们明白，我们可以重新开始。
30. Confession prevents us from being bogged down with guilt.
认罪使我们脱离罪咎感的拖累。
31. It keeps us effective in what we do for God.
认罪使我们能事半功倍地服事神。
32. Thirdly,
第三，
33. confessing of our sins to God and those whom we have offended is essential for spiritual growth;
向神和被得罪的人认罪，是我们灵命成长的必要条件；
34. but there are also three things that tend to prevent us from confession.
然而，也有三样东西会阻碍我们认罪的。
35. Number one is pride.
就是我们的骄傲。
36. We never want to admit that we were wrong or vulnerable.
我们不愿承认自己的错误，或者脆弱的一面。
37. We equate confession with weakness.
我们把认罪当成懦弱。
38. The second hindrance is fear.
第二个阻止我们认罪的原因是：恐惧。
39. Fear keeps us timid, lest our confession will not be met with adequate forgiveness,
恐惧让我们畏缩，唯恐我们认罪后，别人不会谅解我们，
40. and the third hindrance is dishonesty.
第三个阻碍我们认罪的就是不诚实。
41. We just don’t want to admit to God, or to a person that we wronged, that we have failed.
我们就是不愿意向神或向被我们得罪的人承认我们做错了。
42. Pride, fear and dishonesty - combined or a single one of them—can keep us from following the prescription for confession and cleansing.
骄傲、恐惧和不诚实，三者或其中任何一项，都足以妨碍我们认罪而得蒙洗净。
43. Why is it essential that we confess and pray?
为什么认罪和祷告是这么重要呢？
44. In verse 16, it says, “… that you may be healed.”
在16节，圣经告诉我们：“使你们可以得医治。”
45. Healing, here, is referring to mended relationship with others.
在这里，“医治” 的意思就是：修复和他人的关系。
46. It is the healing of our walk and fellowship with the Lord.
修复与神同行、与神相处的关系。
47. Why is my prayer life powerless when I have unconfessed sin?
当我们不肯认罪的时候，为什么祷告就没有能力呢？
48. Look at the last part of verse 16.
请看16节的后半部分。
49. The effective prayer of a righteous person is able to do much.
义人祈祷所发的力量，是大有功效的。
50. When we properly harness the power of prayer, it can do incredible things in our lives.
当我们好好发挥祷告的力量时，我们的生命将产生奇妙的果效。
51. In verses 17 and 18, James goes on to tell us and give us an example of a man just like ourselves,
在17节和18节，雅各给我们举了一个例子，他提到一个与我们性情相同的人，
52. a man who knew how to harness the power of prayer.
这个人知道怎样可以使祷告大有功效。
53. This man knew what it meant that the prayer of the righteous man can achieve much.
这个人明白，义人的祷告能成就大事。
54. Later, after this broadcast, let me suggest that you read 1 Kings, Chapters 17 and 18,
如果你有时间，盼望你能读一下列王记上17章和18章，
55. in order to see how this Prophet of God, Elijah, learned to release the power of God in prayer.
你就会明白，先知以利亚怎样学会了，借着祷告获得神的大能。
56. Let me give you a quick summary here.
我们来回顾一下这个故事。
57. When the evil King Ahab and his equally evil wife, Jezebel, ruled Israel,
当邪恶的亚哈王，和他邪恶的妻子耶洗别统治以色列时，
58. Elijah prayed that there would be no rain for three and a half years,
以利亚祷告神，求神三年零六个月不降雨在地上，
59. and so it was. For three and a half years, not a drop of rain fell.
果然，有三年半之久，一滴雨也没有落下。
60. It was a national disaster,
这是一场全国性的大灾难，
61. and God permitted this in order to teach that evil King and evil Queen, and all those who followed them into idol worship, that God is the Lord and He cannot be mocked.
神降这灾，为的是教训邪恶的国王和皇后，还有那些跟随他们去拜偶像的人，让他们明白，神是至高的主宰，是轻慢不得的。
62. After three and a half years of drought, Elijah returned and challenged the false prophets of Baal.
三年半干旱期过后，以利亚回来，向拜巴力的假先知挑战。
63. The confrontation will show whose god is the true God.
决战的结果将显示，哪一位才是真神。
64. At the top of Mount Carmel, Elijah summoned four hundred and fifty priests and four hundred prophets, and, with confidence in the God of Israel, Elijah challenged them.
在迦密山上，以利亚凭着对以色列神的信心，面对巴力那四百五十个祭司和四百个假先知，开始较量。
65. He told them to build an altar for their god
他叫他们给自己的神建一座坛，
66. and offer a bull on the altar;
并献上公牛为祭物；
67. and, if Baal heats up the sun and sends up fire, takes your offering, then, Baal is God;
如果巴力能从天上降下火来点燃祭物，那就证明巴力是神；
68. and Elijah said, “… and I’ll do the same to Yahweh, my God,
以利亚说：“我也不点火，来求告耶和华我神的名，
69. and if He sends fire to consume my offering, then, He is God.”
如果祂降下火来点燃祭物，那么，耶和华便是真神。”
70. About nine o’clock in the morning, the prophets of Baal started praying.
从早上九点钟开始，这些巴力的先知就开始向他们的神求告。
71. A few hours later, they were wailing and dancing and shouting and screaming;
在几个钟头内，他们不断地捶胸顿足、声嘶力竭地狂呼乱叫；
72. then, on high noon, there was no sign of smoke.
直到中午，还是一点动静也没有。
73. Elijah, confident in Jehovah God, began to mock them.
对耶和华神满有信心的以利亚开始嘲笑他们。
74. He said, “You need to shout louder.
他说：“大声求告吧。
75. Perhaps your god is in deep thought. Scream to get his attention.
你们的神或许正在默想，你们要大声叫醒他。
76. He is probably just busy or traveling,
他也许正在忙，或者外出旅行，
77. or, probably, he’s asleep. You must wake him up.”
也许，他正在睡觉，你们应当叫醒他。”
78. As Elijah taunted them, they got themselves whipped into a frenzy,
正当以利亚嘲笑他们的时候，他们却发狂地鞭打着自己，
79. shouting louder and slashing their wrists.
他们大声喊叫，还用刀枪自割、自刺。
80. Running around and around, they were pleading for Baal to send fire, but Baal did not have a spark.
他们围绕着祭坛又跑又跳，不断地求告巴力，却一点儿火花都没有。
81. By 3:00 p.m., they fell on the ground in sheer exhaustion.
到下午3点钟，他们都筋疲力竭地倒在地上。
82. At that point, Elijah gets up.
这时候，以利亚站了起来。
83. He quietly rebuilt the altar of the Lord, which had fallen into disrepair from disuse,
他沉着地修理、重建荒废已久耶和华的坛，
84. and he said, “Get four barrels of water and pour them on the altar and the sacrifice.
对众人说：“你们用四个桶装满水，倒在燔祭和坛上。
85. Dig trenches around the altar.
又在坛的四周挖水沟。
86. Double the amount - eight barrels of water.
再加倍倒水在坛上，再多倒八桶水，
87. Pour them in the trenches.
让水流在坛四围的沟里。
88. Get everything soaking wet so that it would be impossible to light fire.”
让坛上的一切都湿透，不可能被点着。”
89. Are you noticing Elijah’s faith in God’s word was complete?
你有没有注意到，以利亚对神的信心是百分之百的？
90. His confidence was not in himself.
他的信心不是来自他自己。
91. He only knew too well of his own fears and weaknesses,
他太了解他自己的恐惧和软弱，
92. for later on, we see him discouraged and despondent.
在这件事情之后，我们就会发现他的胆怯和气馁。
93. Oh, but not this time.
但，不是现在，
94. This time, Yahweh had spoken, and Yahweh is not going to let him down.
这个时候他知道，耶和华言出必行，绝不会令他失望。
95. Let me ask you a question.
让我问你一个问题。
96. How are you in the trusting area?
你的信心怎么样呢？
97. Do you ask God for miracles
你有没有向神求神迹呢？
98. and, then, spend every waking moment removing the obstacles so that He can answer your prayer?
当你这样祷告后，你是否费尽心思除去一切障碍，好让神快点答应你的祈求呢？
99. Do you ask God for supernatural intervention, then, you try to make things easy for God?
你有没有在求神施行祂超然的大能后，却想法子帮助神，使祂作起来容易一点呢？
100. Not Elijah.
以利亚没有这样做。
101. He did none of that.
他完全没有这么做。
102. He esteemed God too much to try to help Him.
他认识神，知道神根本不需要他的帮助。
103. He knew that his God was totally powerful.
他知道他的神是全能的。
104. He knew that if God said He would do something. He would do it.
他知道，神说过要做的事，没有一件做不到的。
105. Far from making it easy for God, he made it triply difficult;
他不但没有为神提供方便，反而增加了好几倍的难度；
106. then, he offered a quiet prayer.
跟着，他做了一个无声的祷告。
107. Read about it later in 1 Kings 18:36 and 37.
在列王纪上18章36和37节。
108. He said, “O, Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
他祷告说：“亚伯拉罕、以撒、以色列的神，耶和华啊，
109. let it be known today that you are God in Israel
求你今日使人知道你是以色列的神，
110. and that I am Your servant, and have done all these things at Your command.
也知道我是你的仆人，又是奉你的命行这一切事。
111. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that these people will know that You, O Lord, are my God,
耶和华啊，求你应允我，应允我，使这民知道你耶和华是神，
112. and that you are turning their hearts back again...”
又知道是你叫这民的心回转。”
113. and, at that moment, a mega-bolt of fire flashed from the sky and ignited the animal sacrifice on the altar.
就在那时，耶和华降下大火，烧着了坛上的祭牲。
114. Even the water that was in the trenches evaporated from the heat.
甚至连沟里的水也被烧干了。
115. “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” shouted all of the timid, frightened Israelites who were waiting in the distance.
远远站着观望的以色列人害怕极了，大声喊着说“耶和华是神！耶和华是神！”
116. Because sin had to be dealt with and cut off from the land,
由于罪必须被对付，从以色列人中被剪除，
117. the prophets of Baal were slaughtered.
所以，那些拜巴力的先知都被杀死了。
118. Elijah then cautioned Ahab to head up for the hills, for the rain is coming.
然后，以利亚让亚哈王赶紧出发到山上去，因为大雨就要来临了。
119. What did Elijah do?
以利亚干什么去了呢？
120. He prayed again.
他再一次向神祷告。
121. Earlier, Elijah prayed for the rain to stop and it stopped;
早些时候，以利亚曾经祈求神，不要让天下雨，雨就没有降下；
122. and, now, he is praying for rain to come.
现在，他求神叫雨下在地上。
123. He prayed, fully expecting his prayer to be answered
他满怀信心地仰望神一定会答应他的祈祷。
124. now that the purpose of the drought had been fulfilled and that the people returned to God;
现在，旱灾的目的已经达到，就是让以色列人回转归向神；
125. so, Elijah kept on sending his servant to bring him a weather report.
所以，以利亚不断地让他仆人给他汇报天气的状况。
126. Six times, in fact, he went out and he looked at the sky and he could not find a cloud in the sky.
前六次，仆人观察，看到的都是晴空万里，没有一丝云彩。
127. Do you think Elijah was discouraged?
你想，以利亚会失望吗？
128. No.
没有。
129. The first time,
第一次，
130. and the second time,
第二次，
131. and the third time.
第三次，
132. He sent him for a fourth time,
第四次，他又让仆人去查看，
133. and the fifth time,
第五次，也是这样，
134. and the sixth time.
第六次，还是同样的结果。
135. Now, by that time, Elijah would have given up,
这个时候，以利亚应该放弃了，
136. but no.
然而，他没有放弃。
137. This is the God of Heaven and earth that we are talking about and He will keep His word,
我们的神是天地的主宰，祂的话一句也不会落空。
138. but He will do it in His time.
祂按照自己的时候来做事。
139. Finally, the seventh time, the servant comes back, reporting that there is a cloud the size of a man’s hand;
到第七次的时候，仆人报告说：天空中有一小片云，不过像人的手掌那么大；
140. and that’s all Elijah needed to hear.
这就是以利亚想要听到的消息。
141. He said, "Okay, go out and get the umbrellas."
他说：“好，准备雨伞吧。”
142. Elijah’s prayers were answered.
神应允了以利亚的祷告。
143. Let me give you this advice.
让我给你一个建议。
144. Pray the will of God.
祷告寻求神的旨意。
145. Pray the timing of God.
祷告等候神的时间。
146. Listen to what James is saying:
请听雅各是怎么说的：
147. Elijah was a human with the same nature as we are.
以利亚与我们是一样性情的人。
148. He was no better or worse than any of us who know the Savior;
他不比我们强，也不比我们差，他和我们同样认识救主；
149. yet, the Lord answered his prayers because he prayed according to the will of God.
但是，神垂听他的祷告，因为他按着神的旨意祈求。
150. He trusted God. He believed God. He waited upon God.
他依赖神，他信靠神，他等候神。
151. Fourthly and finally, pray for faithfulness.
第四点，也是最后一点，雅各告诉我们，要为持守真道来祷告。
152. Do you know someone who has wandered from the truth?
你认识那些走错路，离开真理的人吗？
153. Do you know someone who has wandered away from the Word of God?
你认识那些迷失，远离神生命之道的人吗？
154. Do you know someone who has drifted away from fellowship with God?
你认识那些漂流，离开神面的人吗？
155. Do you know of a backsliding Christian?
你认识那些退后不前的基督徒吗？
156. Pray for them.
为他们祷告。
157. Don’t give up on them,
永远不要放弃他们，
158. and seek to help turn them back.
寻找机会帮助他们回转。
159. If you’re going to help an erring brother or sister, you must have an attitude of love.
假如你要帮助这些走错路的弟兄姐妹，你一定要有爱心。
160. Love does not mean you sweep the dirt under the carpet.
爱并不表明你为他掩饰过错。
161. Where there is true love, there must be also truth.
哪里有真爱，哪里就必有真理。
162. Where there is truth, there is honest confession of sin and cleansing of God;
在真理面前，人要诚实地向神认罪，求神赦免；
163. and, when there is confession and cleansing, there is answer to prayer.
认罪并得蒙赦罪之后，我们的祷告才蒙垂听。
164. It is my urgent and fervent prayer
我为你迫切的祷告，
165. that the Lord will bring each one of us to understand how to release the power of God in prayer;
求主带领你明白，怎样才能让你的祷告大有功效；
166. and, until we meet again, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
好，我们下次再见，愿神大大地赐福给你。
