1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. Thank you for tuning in.
感谢你的收听。
3. This is the third in a series of messages entitled, “God Talk”;
今天是第三次讲“上帝如是说”这个系列信息。
4. and I want to begin by telling you that the most frequently asked questions by believers are, as follows:
首先我要告诉你：基督徒最常问的问题就是：
5. “What is the will of God for my life?”
“神在我身上的旨意是什么？”
6. “How can I be sure of God’s plan for my life?”
我怎么才能确定神在我生命中的计划呢？”
7. Everyone wants to read or hear about discovering God’s will for their life.
每个人都想知道，如何寻求神对他们的旨意。
8. Single people want to know if it is God’s will for them to marry;
单身的人想知道神是否要他们结婚；
9. and, if they should marry, then, whom should they marry?
如果是的话，要和谁结婚？
10. For those who are unhappy in their job, they want to know, “What is the next move?
对于那些不满足他们工作现状的人，他们想知道：“我下一步该怎么走？
11. Will it be in town, or, out of town?”
是在城里找工作呢，还是到农村去？
12. To those who are considering going to university, they want to know to which university does God want them to go.
那些准备进大学的人想知道，神让他们上哪一所大学呢？
13. For those who may be feeling God’s call to full-time ministry,
那些想要献身作传道的人，
14. they want to know when, how and where;
他们想知道神要他们侍奉的时间、地点和方式；
15. then, there are some believers who seem to be in constant turmoil.
还有些基督徒，似乎整天都处在混乱中。
16. They wonder whether they are in God’s perfect will or not.
他们搞不清楚自己是否行在神完美的旨意当中。
17. Many of them go from one advisor to the next.
许多人整天咨询这个，咨询那个。
18. Sometimes, they go to as many as ten or twenty different people.
他们问了十个人，甚至二十个人。
19. They want to be told the will of God for their lives,
就想要别人告诉他，神对他的心意究竟是什么，
20. but they end up with conflicting advice.
结果，却听到互相矛盾的各种说法。
21. One time, I was going through an uncertain time in my life, many years ago,
多年前，我经历了一段让我很困惑的时期，
22. and a friend of mine told me about someone who sees visions.
朋友告诉我，有一位看得见异象的人。
23. This man was supposed to be the mouthpiece of God.
据说，这个人是神的代言人。
24. He was supposed to be able to tell me what I should do;
所以，他能够告诉我应当走的路；
25. so, I called him on the phone,
于是，我给他打了个电话，
26. and, this man told me what he claimed was God’s will for me;
这位先生告诉我：他所说的话，就是神的旨意；
27. but, in reality, he gave me totally false counsel;
可是，事实却证明，他给我的建议是大错特错了；
28. so, be very careful of anyone who tells you that God told them to tell you something.
所以，当有人声称：“神如何如何对他说”的时候，你就要小心了。
29. Most often, these people are, either, deluded, or, want to manipulate you.
这些人往往不是被蒙骗了，就是想要蒙骗你。
30. In this series of messages entitled, “God Talk,”
在“上帝如是说”这个系列当中，
31. we have studied, first, the sovereignty of God.
我们在第一次信息中讲到，神有绝对的主权。
32. We saw that God’s sovereignty is the hub around which all of His attributes revolve;
神的主权是神其他所有属性的枢纽；
33. then, we saw the holiness of God, upon which all of our lives should be molded.
第二次，我们讲到神的圣洁，是我们生活的典范。
34. Today, we are going to see the guidance of God, upon which our decisions should be based.
今天，我们要谈到神的引领，这是我们对任何事作出决定的依据。
35. First of all, I want to tell you this:
首先，我要强调：
36. it is absolutely wrong for someone who truly wants to obey the Lord to live in turmoil, trying to discern the will of God.
一个真心愿意顺服神的人，却因为不知如何分辨神的旨意而整天处于混乱中，这是很糟糕的。
37. Oh, it’s great to want to discern and obey the will of God.
当然，愿意寻求并听从神的旨意是非常好的。
38. It is healthy and admirable and wonderful to submit to the will of God;
顺服神本就是天经地义，令人羡慕，美好的事情；
39. but it is wrong to get yourself into a spiritual frenzy trying to discern the will of God.
但是，为了分辨神的旨意，使自己的情绪常常激动，灵性起伏不稳，那就不对了。
40. It is wrong to constantly run around from counselor to counselor, trying to find what is the will of God.
为了搞明白神的旨意，到处去东问西问的，也很不妥当。
41. Living in fear that you will cause your spiritual ruin by not discerning the will of God is not of God.
如果你惟恐自己因为不明白神的旨意而伤害了你的灵性，这样，已经不合神的心意了。
42. Let me give you a common scenario among many believers.
让我举一个基督徒常有的现象为例来说明。
43. Say that you have sought the mind of God about a certain matter in your life
比如说，你想要知道神在某一具体事情上的旨意是怎样的，
44. and you truly want God to lead you;
而且，你也真心盼望神能引领你；
45. and you inwardly want to obey the will of God, whatever it may be;
不管结果怎样，你从内心深处愿意顺服神；
46. then, when you see an opportunity—an open door—you will enter that door.
这时，你有了一个机会，并尝试了。
47. Sometime later, things may not work out the way you thought they were going to work out;
之后，你发现事情并不顺利；
48. so, you pray for guidance for the next step,
于是，你祷告求神带领你下一步，
49. and, then, suddenly, another door will open;
忽然间，在你面前出现了另外一次机会；
50. and things really work out great for you in this second door;
这一次的确如你所愿，一切都很顺利；
51. but, when this happens, most people think that the first door was a mistake, right?
这时候，大多数人都会认为，第一次做错了，是吗？
52. No, that’s wrong.
其实不然。
53. You did not make a mistake.
第一次并没有错。
54. Sometimes, in order for God to get you through Door Number Two, He first gets you through Door Number One.
很多时候，神往往在给你第二次机会之前，先让你有第一次的经历。
55. You may think that Door Number One was a mistake or a waste of time.
也许你会认为第一种出路是个错误，至少也是浪费时间。
56. You may think that Door Number One was a terrible disaster;
也许你认为，第一次的经历是个恶梦；
57. but that’s wrong thinking.
其实你错了。
58. If you genuinely wanted to obey the will of God in your life
如果你真心愿意顺服神在你生命中的旨意，
59. and you made your decision based on obedience, then, Door Number One was never a mistake.
而且，只要你决心顺服神的旨意，第一次的经历绝不是个错误。
60. Door Number One was the sovereign God’s way of taking you to Door Number Two.
掌管万有的主宰，就是要让你经过第一关后，再到第二关。
61. For reasons known only to the sovereign God, He knew that you could not go through Two without going through One.
无所不知的神知道，如果你过不了第一关，就无法通过第二关。
62. Now, my listening friend, I want to give you the secret to knowing the will of God in your life.
亲爱的朋友，我要告诉你，如何知道神旨意的秘诀。
63. Do you want to know what it is?
你想知道那是什么吗？
64. I’ll give it to you.
我现在就告诉你。
65. It is your inward willingness to obey the will of God in your life.
要想明白神在你身上的旨意，其秘诀就是一颗顺服的心。
66. You say, “How is that a secret?”
也许你会问：“这怎么是个秘诀呢？”
67. First of all, I want to tell you something of uttermost importance.
首先，我要告诉你一些非常重要的事情，
68. You cannot develop a willingness to obey God’s will by reading a book.
你不能仅仅阅读一本书，就培养起顺服神的心。
69. You cannot develop a willingness to obey God’s will by listening to a sermon.
你不能单单听道，就有了顺服神的心。
70. Obeying the will of God cannot be learned from a conference or a seminar.
对神顺服的心不是从学术研讨会或者讲座中学来的。
71. You can only develop that inward willingness to obey the will of God when you spend time with God’s Word.
只有当你肯在神的话语上下功夫，才能够真正学到顺服神这个功课。
72. The secret for knowing the will of God is inward willingness to obey the will of God,
明白神旨意的秘诀就在于，有一个顺服神的心志，
73. and, that only comes from spending time with Him and His Word.
然而，唯有通过研读神的话语，并与神同行，才能养成顺服神的心志。
74. Why do I say this?
我为什么要这样说呢？
75. Because He’s going to teach you some things.
因为神要你学习功课。
76. He will teach you that where you are right now is exactly the place where He wants you to be.
神要教导你，你目前所在之处，正是神把你安置在这里的。
77. Where you are right now is the will of God.
把你放在这里，是神的旨意。
78. There is a Scripture that I hope you can memorize today.
有一节经文，我盼望你今天可以记住。
79. I pray that it will enter deeply into your spirit and into your heart today.
盼望这节经文可以进入你灵魂深处，打动你的心。
80. It is found in Psalm 25, verse 9.
是在诗篇25篇第九节。
81. “He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way.”
“祂必按公平引领谦卑人，将祂的道教训他们。”
82. I could give you at least twelve verses from the Scripture, but this is a powerful one.
我可以从圣经中找出很多经文来，但这一句真是强而有力。
83. If you allow the Holy Spirit to place this one verse in your mind and heart,
如果你让圣灵把这节经文放到你心里，
84. it can be the greatest blessing in your life.
就会成为你生命中极大的祝福。
85. “He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way.”
“祂必按公平引领谦卑人，将祂的道教训他们。”
86. Another word for “humble” is “obedient;”
“谦卑”的另外一种说法是“顺服；”
87. so, if, inwardly, I am willing to obey the will of God in my life, whatever it may be,
如果从我心灵深处愿意顺服神，无论祂的旨意如何，
88. then, I will stop doubting;
我都不会怀疑的；
89. Then, I will not waste another moment doubting whether God will guide me in every step in my life.
那么，我一刻也不用担心神到底会不会指引我生命中的每一步了。
90. Listen to what Jesus said in John 7:17:
请听耶稣在约翰福音7章17节所说的话：
91. “If anyone is willing to do God’s will, he will have discernment.”
“人若立志遵着祂的旨意行，就必晓得这教训或是出于神，或是我凭着自己说的。”
92. Jesus, of course, was speaking to the Pharisees, who did not have the discernment to recognize Jesus’ authority;
当然，在这里，耶稣是对那些法利赛人，就是那些没有属灵眼光、藐视耶稣权柄的人说的。
93. so, in John 7:17, we are told all we need to know about discerning the will of God.
所以，在约翰福音7：17这里，耶稣告诉我们，要学习怎样明白神的旨意。
94. It is that simple.
其实并不难。
95. All you need is the willingness to do the will of God;
只要你凡事都愿意顺服神就已经足够了；
96. but, my listening friend, do you know what the problem with most of us is?
然而，我亲爱的朋友，你知道对我们来说，最大的问题出在哪儿吗？
97. We secretly wish that God would do our will.
潜意识当中，我们总希望神能够按着我们的意思行。
98. We secretly crave God to bless our plans.
我们总盼着神能够赐福我们所制定的计划。
99. You know, when I talk to people, here’s what I hear:
当我和别人谈论的时候，常常听人说：
100. “I really, really, really want to know the will of God in my life...”
“我的的确确很想知道神在我生命中的旨意是什么呀……”
101. so I asked, “What is troubling you, then?”
于是，我就问他们说：“那你还烦恼什么呢？”
102. They say, “Well, I want out of my current job,”
他们回答说：“嗯，我想辞掉现在的工作。”
103. or, “I want to marry this particular person,”
“我想和某人结婚。”
104. or, “I want out of my current situation.”
“我想改变一下现有的生活方式。”
105. I say, “Wait a minute.
我说“且慢。
106. You’ve just told me that you want to know the will of God in your life.”
你刚纔不是说，你想知道神在你生命中的旨意是什么吗？”
107. They say, “Yes.”
他们说：“对呀。”
108. “Then, how do you know that where you are right now is not the will of God for you?”
我说：“那么，你怎么知道你目前的处境不是神的旨意呢？”
109. They say, “No, no, no, Dr. Michael, you don’t understand. I am miserable where I am.”
他们说：“不对，不对，迈克牧师，你不理解。我现在很痛苦呢。”
110. I say, “Okay, let me understand this.
我说：“那好，我想知道──
111. Do you want to know the will of God for your life, or, do you want God to bless your will?”
你是真想明白神对你的旨意呢，还是要神同意你的计划，赐福给你呢？”
112. This reminds me of a friend of mine who’s an architect,
我有一个朋友是建筑师，
113. and, he complained to me that many of his clients come to him and ask him to design a house;
他常常抱怨说，有些客户虽然要他设计房屋，
114. but, in reality, they have already made up their minds of what design they want.
可实际上，这些客户心里早就有了自己的设计图样。
115. All they want from the architect is for him to approve what they have already planned for themselves;
他们所需要的，只不过是想得到设计师的认可而已。
116. and we do the same thing.
我们也是这样。
117. We ask for wisdom and we ask for guidance;
我们一面求智慧，求神指引我们的前途；
118. but, in reality, many of us only want God to bless our plans.
但实际上，我们只是想要神同意我们的计划，赐福给我们罢了。
119. Listen, I have been in many tough situations in life,
在我过去的经历中，我曾经遇到很多的艰难，
120. but I have learned that God is working toward a purpose for me during those difficult times.
但我发现，神正是借着这些困难来达成祂在我身上的美意。
121. He teaches me incredible lessons.
祂让我学到宝贵的功课。
122. He is instructing me. He is training me. He is molding me, and He is testing me,
祂教导、训练我；祂也塑造、试验我，
123. because God guides us. He does not obey us.
一切都是神在引导我们，而不是我们引导神。
124. The sovereign God is in control of us. We are not in control of Him.
权能的神掌管着我们，而不是我们掌控着神。
125. The sovereign God is moving things in our lives for His purpose and for our good.
全能的神为了完成祂的计划并让我们得益处，就在我们生命中动工。
126. Of course, there are certain things in the Scripture that have been settled once and for all,
当然，有些事早就在圣经中明确指示，毫无争议，
127. and, it is hypocrisy to ask to know the will of God about these things that He has clearly explained in the Scripture.
但还有人为这些清楚阐明的事来询问神的旨意，其实他们是假冒伪善的。
128. Let me give you some examples.
我来举几个例子。
129. The Bible does not tell you whom to marry;
圣经没有告诉你，应该和谁结婚；
130. but it clearly tells you that you must keep yourself pure until you marry.
但圣经很清楚地告诫我们：婚前应当保持贞洁。
131. The Bible may not tell you whether you should be a doctor, or a lawyer, or a salesman, or an engineer;
圣经没有说，你应该当个医生、律师、生意人或工程师；
132. but it tells you that you cannot be a thief, or any profession that hurts people.
但圣经告诉我们：不可偷盗，不可做伤天害理的事。
133. Romans 12:1 and 2 tells us
在罗马书12章1到2节，圣经告诉我们说：
134. God’s will is our sanctification.
神的旨意就是要我们成为圣洁。
135. Anything that hinders your growing in sanctification is not the will of God for you.
任何妨碍我们成为圣洁的事，都不是神的旨意。
136. Let me give you some questions to ask yourself when you are facing uncertain situations.
如果你面临不明确的前景，你可以问问自己这几个问题，
137. Number one:
第一，
138. is this the best way for me to serve the Lord?
这是不是我服事主最好的方式呢？
139. Number two:
第二，
140. is this consistent with God’s Word?
这件事情符合圣经原则吗？
141. Number three:
第三，
142. will I be able to imitate Christ Jesus?
我是不是在效法基督呢？
143. Number four:
第四，
144. do I have the confirmation of a godly Christian leader?
我有没有属灵前辈给我的肯定和鼓励呢？
145. Number five:
第五，
146. has God set a restless spirit within me so as to prepare me for a change, but His timing is not yet?
是否神容许我暂时内心不安，让我预备好去接受改变，并等候神的时间来临呢？
147. Number six:
第六，
148. do I have inner peace toward this matter?
在面对前景时，我心中有平安吗？
149. Number seven:
第七，
150. has God opened the door wide?
神有没有为此事开路呢？
151. Whatever you do, my listening friend, do not forget what I am going to tell you.
亲爱的朋友，无论你做什么，都别忘了一件事，
152. God is a covenant-making God and a covenant-keeping God.
那就是，我们的神是信实守约的神。
153. If you remain willing to obey His will, He will redeem what may seem to be like a mistake to you.
假如你愿意听从祂的话，祂就会弥补你从前的过失。
154. God can use your mistakes as stepping-stones to His purpose.
神能够使用你的错误，来完成祂对你的美意。
155. 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。
