1. Hello listening friends, we are delighted you joined us again.
亲爱的朋友，你好，很高兴你能再次收听我们的节目。
2. This is the last broadcast on the series of messages entitled “How God Works”.
这是《上帝的方法》系列信息的最后一讲，
3. You may want to turn with me to II Kings chapter 2.
请将你的圣经翻到列王纪下第2章，
4. Through this example we will learn about the three stages which every believer must experience.
通过这个例子，我们要来学习每个信徒都必须经历的三部曲。
5. Elijah has been given a word from the Lord.
以利亚得到神的话指示他说，
6. And now it is a matter of hours before he will be propelled into the presence of God.
神快要用旋风接他升天了。
7. Before that,
在他升天以前，
8. He goes on a quick missionary journey to visit the three seminaries that he has founded.
他要尽快地去访问他所创办的三所先知学校，
9. They are three Bible schools in three different cities where the sons of the prophets studied under him.
那是他在三个不同的城市建立的三所先知学校，年轻一代的先知们就在那里跟他学习。
10. And Elijah goes there to say good-bye to each of them before he goes to be with God.
以利亚要在升天以前去那里向他们每个人道别。
11. Elisha his understudy and disciple and the heir apparent would not leave him.
以利沙是以利亚的学生，门徒和继承人，他始终不愿意离开以利亚。
12. He went everywhere Elijah went.
他一直跟随着以利亚，
13. Even when Elijah implored him to leave.
即使以利亚恳求他，他也不愿意离开。
14. But these towns that Elijah went into with Elisha have very important symbolic meanings.
以利亚和以利沙去的这些城镇有着很重要的象征意义。
15. There is significance in the sequence with which he visited these places.
他访问这些地方的先后顺序也非常重要。
16. They represented the three stages through which every believer goes.
它们代表着每个信徒都要经过的三个阶段。
17. In verse one,
在第1节：
18. He went to Gilgal.
他去到吉甲，
19. We know about Gilgal from Joshua 4.
我们从约书亚记第4章中看到过吉甲，
20. Gilgal represented a place of beginning.
吉甲代表一个开始的地方，
21. Gilgal represented a place of security and safety.
吉甲代表了一个安全的地方，
22. Gilgal represented a place of communion and sharing with God.
吉甲代表了一个和神交流和分享的地方，
23. Gilgal represented a place of preparation.
吉甲代表了一个预备的地方。
24. In Joshua chapter 4,
在约书亚记4章中我们看到，
25. Gilgal became engraved on the minds of every Jew.
吉甲被铭记在每一个犹太人的心中。
26. Because there Joshua piled up 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel.
因为在那里，约书亚堆起了12块石头代表以色列的十二个支派，
27. There he told the Israelites that in the future when their descendants ask their fathers what these stones mean.
他对以色列人说，日后你们的子孙问他们的父亲说，这些石头是甚么意思？
28. They are to tell them,
你们就告诉他们说，
29. This is where God dried up the Jordan River so that Israel could cross over into the Promised Land.
耶和华你们的神，使约但河的水干了，让以色列民能走过河，进入应许之地。
30. Gilgal is a symbol of preparation.
吉甲代表着预备，
31. And there Elijah remembered the beginning of his obedience to God.
以利亚在那里回想起，当初他如何开始顺服神，
32. It was the time when God gave him a challenge telling him to go to Ahab.
那时神给他一个挑战，让他去见亚哈，
33. And Elijah obeyed.
以利亚顺服了，
34. Gilgal is a symbol of Elijah's obedience to the Lord when he called him initially.
对他来说，吉甲代表着神呼召他时，他对神的顺服。
35. Then from Gilgal, Elijah went to Bethel, with Elisha close on his heels.
离开吉甲后，以利亚来到伯特利，以利沙则紧紧跟着他。
36. Bethel is a place of altars.
伯特利是一个献祭的地方。
37. Bethel means the house of God.
“伯特利”这个字的意思就是神的家，
38. Abraham returned to Bethel where he had built an alter.
亚伯拉罕回到伯特利后就建了一座祭坛，
39. After he went to Egypt and repented from his lying about his wife.
因为他曾在埃及因自己的妻子欺瞒撒谎，他为此认罪悔改。
40. Jacob built an alter in Bethel.
雅各也在伯特利建了一座祭坛，
41. Bethel is a place of heart searching and self-examination.
伯特利是一个反省内心的地方，
42. Bethel is a place of sacrificing.
伯特利是一个献祭的地方。
43. Bethel is a place of putting whatever is close to your heart and whatever you are holding onto on the alter of God.
伯特利是把你最心爱的，和最不舍得放弃的东西献给神的地方。
44. Let me ask you this.
让我来问你一个问题，
45. What is God asking you to put on the alter?
神要你把什么献在祭坛上？
46. God does not ask you to do that because he wants it or he needs it.
神希望你这么做，不是因为为祂需要你的祭品，
47. But because he knows that you need to do that.
而是因为祂知道，你需要这么做。
48. And there Elijah was remembering his giving of his life to serve and follow the word of God.
正是在伯特利，以利亚回想起，如何把自己奉献给神，并开始顺服神的话。
49. Then he went to Jericho from Bethel.
然后，他从伯特利去到耶利哥。
50. Jericho represented battles.
耶利哥是个争战的地方，
51. Jericho is the place where God supernaturally gave victory in the battle.
在耶利哥，神用超自然的力量帮助以色列人在战争中得胜，
52. Jericho represented the battles in Elijah's life.
耶利哥代表着以利亚一生中好几场的战役。
53. Jericho represented the battle with the prophets of Baal.
耶利哥代表以利亚和巴力的先知们争战，
54. Jericho represented the battle with Jezebel and Ahab.
耶利哥代表着他与耶洗别和亚哈之间的争战，
55. Jericho represented the battle with depression and discouragement.
耶利哥代表着他和沮丧与挫折的争战，
56. Jericho represented the battle of injustice against Naboth.
耶利哥代表着他为拿伯伸冤抱不平之战，
57. There Elijah remembered the battle.
在耶利哥，以利亚回忆起这些争战。
58. As if to say,
好像在说，
59. I am just so glad that the battle is over.
真高兴，这些争战都过去了。
60. First to Gilgal,
以利亚先来到吉甲，
61. Then to Bethel,
然后是伯特利，
62. Then the departing point.
最后来到离别的地方。
63. Some of you have just begun your Christian walk.
你们中有些人刚刚决定跟随主耶稣，
64. You may have just begun the process of sanctification.
你们或许刚刚开始你成圣的旅程，
65. Symbolically speaking, you are at Gilgal right now.
从象征意义上说，你现在正在吉甲，
66. Others of you are walking on your way to Bethel
另外有些人可能正在去伯特利的路上，
67. Where you are building an alter for God.
在那里，你们为神建起祭坛，
68. There you are hearing the voice of God telling you to sacrifice.
在那里，你会听到神的声音告诉你去献祭，
69. You are hearing the voice of God saying to you.
你会听到神亲自对你说，
70. The reason you feel there is dryness in your Christian walk is because you are not obeying me and sacrificing in Bethel.
如果你在成圣的旅程中觉得生命枯干，那是因为你没有顺服我，没有在伯特利献祭。
71. That sacrifice may be a broken romance.
你需要献上的祭品可能是一段破裂的感情，
72. That sacrifice may be a shattered dream.
可能是你破碎的梦想，
73. The sacrifice may be a lost job or a career.
你的祭品可能是你失去的工作或事业前途，
74. That sacrifice may be a loss of a loved one.
也可能是失去你所爱的人，
75. Don’t ever forget that whenever you are placing on the alter of Bethel, God is at work in your life.
可是千万不要忘记，什么时候你把这些放在祭坛上，神就会在你生命中动工。
76. Some of you have not only been to Gilgal and to Bethel, but you have also been to Jericho.
也有些人不仅去过吉甲和伯特利，还到了耶利哥。
77. You have known the places of victory after battle.
你们品尝过战胜的滋味。
78. It may have been a battle in your own home and God gave you victory.
那可能是发生在你家里的争战，神帮助你获胜，
79. It may have been a battle where your son or daughter after years of rebellion turned to Christ.
你获得的胜利，可能是你的儿女在多年的叛逆后，终于决定归向耶稣基督，
80. It may have been a battle of thought where you have wrestled with doubt and fear and disbelief.
那也许是一场你和自己的怀疑，恐惧，和不信的争战。
81. And now you have made it across the river.
现在你已经越过了那条河流，
82. It may have been a battle of prayer where God is telling you to spend time with him.
那也许是一场祷告的争战，神告诉你，要和祂亲近。
83. It may have been a battle of sensuality.
那也许是一场对付情欲的争战，
84. Whatever Jericho you are in,
不论你处于哪一种争战里，
85. God has given you the victory in the past.
神曾经帮助你，使你得胜。
86. Let that victory serve as a reminder that God will give you victory again and again.
让这个胜利时时提醒你，神将来还会给你一次又一次的胜利，
87. Now you notice Elijah wanted to walk into these places alone.
我想你已经注意到了，以利亚是想一个人去这些地方的，
88. You will remember after Mt. Carmel he was discouraged and he left his servant at Beersheba and was alone.
还记得吗？经过迦密山上的事件之后，以利亚感到灰心，于是把仆人留在别是巴，一个人独自离开。
89. When he got there alone, he said to God take my life.
当他单独一人时，他向神求死，
90. He was discouraged and despondent.
他非常气馁，非常沮丧。
91. And had the servant been there, he probably would have encouraged him.
如果当时他的仆人在场的话，他就会鼓励以利亚，
92. Because the young man would have reminded him of the goodness of God.
因为这位年轻的仆人会提醒他，神是良善信实的。
93. And here again Elijah wants to go it alone.
现在，以利亚又想一个人离去。
94. But Elisha out of a sense of love and loyalty and commitment and devotion does not let him walk there alone.
可是，出于爱，忠诚，责任感和献身的决心，以利沙不让以利亚独自前往。
95. Oh, what a friendship.
这是多么珍贵的友谊啊！
96. Oh what a commitment.
这是何等的责任感啊！
97. Such devotion is rare indeed.
这样的献身决心真是难得，
98. But it is also blessed indeed.
但它也会得到很大的祝福。
99. For later on you will discover that Elisha got double portion of Elijah’s blessing.
以后，你就会发现以利沙得到了双倍于以利亚的福分。
100. If you have one person who walks with you to Gilgal.
如果你能有一个朋友陪伴你前往吉甲，
101. And walks with you to Bethel.
陪伴你前往伯特利，
102. And he walks with you to Jericho.
并且陪伴你到耶利哥，
103. You are blessed indeed.
你实在是很有福气的。
104. If you don’t,
如果你没有，
105. I would urge you to take time and cultivate such a person who will walk with you.
我鼓励你花些时间，找一位愿意与你同行的朋友，并培养你们之间的关系。
106. Not only to Gilgal.
不仅仅到吉甲，
107. Not only to Bethel.
不仅仅到伯特利，
108. Not only to Jericho.
不仅仅到耶利哥，
109. But all the way to Jordan.
而是一直到约旦河。
110. A man should choose a man.
男士应该选择男士做这样的朋友，
111. And a woman chooses a woman.
女士也应该选择女士做这样的朋友，
112. To walk with you.
你们一起同行。
113. When they go to the Jordan,
当以利亚和以利沙来到约旦河，
114. As the gust of wind began to blow,
狂风吹起，
115. Elijah’s mantle fell and Elisha picked it up.
吹掉了以利亚的外衣，以利沙帮他捡起来。
116. When the departing moment came,
当他们离别的时候来到，
117. Elijah the mentor, the discipler asked his disciple what he could do for him.
以利亚这位老师问他的徒弟：你要我为你做什么？
118. And I love Elisha’s boldness.
我非常欣赏以利沙在这里的大胆，
119. I have prayed for God to give me such boldness.
我也祷告求神能给我这样的胆量，
120. I hope that you would pray for such boldness.
我同样希望你求神给你这样的胆量。
121. Elisha could have said,
以利沙大可以这么说，
122. I don’t need anything.
我不需要什么了，
123. I’m not worthy to receive anything.
我不配接受任何东西，
124. You don’t have to do anything for me.
你不用为我做什么。
125. He didn’t do that.
但以利沙没有这么做。
126. I want a double portion of your spirit.
他说，愿感动你的灵加倍地感动我。
127. Elisha knew exactly what he was asking.
以利沙知道他在求什么。
128. Can I be bold as to ask you a very personal question?
现在请容许我问你一个私人的问题，
129. If the Lord Jesus Christ were to come to you in person and sit with you today,
如果现在主耶稣来看你，和你并肩而坐，
130. If he would ask you, what can I do for you,
如果祂问你，我能为你做什么？
131. What would you ask for?
你会向祂求什么呢？
132. What would you say?
你会说什么呢？
133. Think about this.
想一想，
134. Elisha could have asked for power to call down fire from heaven.
以利沙可以求那从天上唤来烈火的能力，
135. But he didn’t.
可是他没有；
136. Elisha could have asked for power to raise the dead widow’s son.
以利沙可以要求那种使寡妇儿子复活的能力，
137. But he didn’t.
可是他没有。
138. This wise man asked for the spirit of God that dwelt in Elijah to dwell in him.
他很有智慧，他求那住在以利亚身上的灵也能够住在他身上，
139. And he asked for that spirit in abundance.
而且他求神的灵能够丰丰富富地与他同在。
140. Listen to what James says,
我们来看看雅各怎么说，
141. You do not have because you do not ask.
你们得不着，是因为你们不求。
142. And when you ask, you do not receive.
你们求也得不着，
143. Because you ask with the wrong motive.
是因为你们妄求。
144. I believe that when it comes to God’s work.
我相信如果是为了神的工作，
145. When it comes to God’s glory.
如果是为了神的荣耀，
146. God wants us to ask for big things.
神希望我们求大事，
147. God expects us to come to him and ask for an ocean.
神希望我们来到祂面前，向祂求一大片海洋，
148. But instead we bring him a small cup.
可是我们却只带了一个小杯子。
149. And I can almost hear God saying, why a small cup.
我几乎可以听到神说：为什么带这么小的杯子呢？
150. I want to bless you.
我希望赐福你，
151. I want to use you.
我想使用你，
152. When you read of the life of Elisha you are going to discover that God answered his prayer exactly.
如果你去读以利沙的生平，你就会知道神答应了他的祷告。
153. While Elijah performed 4 miracles, Elisha performed 8.
以利亚行过4个神迹，以利沙则行了8个。
154. So let me challenge you today.
所以，我今天向你挑战，
155. Dare to ask God for big things.
你要放胆向神求大事，
156. Dare to ask God for great things.
要放胆向神求伟大的事物，
157. Dare to ask God for mighty things.
要放胆向神求了不起的事情，
158. He wants to do it.
祂希望我们这么做。
159. When it comes to the work of God.
如果是为了神的工，
160. When it comes to the kingdom of God.
如果是为了神的国度，
161. When it comes to the salvation of souls.
如果是为了要拯救灵魂，
162. When it comes to building up the body,
如果是为了要建立基督的身体，
163. When it comes to impacting the world for Jesus Christ,
如果是为了基督要影响整个世界，
164. You can ask boldly.
你可以大胆地向神求。
165. In the ascension of Elijah in the Old Testament and in the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament.
在旧约中以利亚的升天，和在新约中耶稣基督的升天，
166. Both were witnessed by personal disciples.
都有他们的门徒为目击证人。
167. Not the large crowds.
并不是一大群人，
168. But personal disciples.
而是亲近的门徒，
169. Had I been staging Elijah’s ascension.
如果由我安排以利亚升天的这一幕，
170. I would want the whole royal family of Israel to be there.
我会让整个以色列的王室家族都在场。
171. Thank God this is not a series about how I work.
感谢神，这个系列信息不是讲《我的方法》，
172. But about how God works.
而是讲《上帝的方法》，
173. And God doesn’t work the way I would work.
神没有用我的方法来工作。
174. These moments were reserved only for those who lived by faith.
这些特殊的时刻是保留给凭信心而活的人，
175. God saves his best for those who have faith.
神把最好的留给那些相信祂的人。
176. When Elijah was ascended,
当以利亚升天的时候，
177. His mantle which represented the spirit of God was given to Elisha.
他把他那件代表着神的灵的外衣留给了以利沙。
178. And when the Lord Jesus Christ ascended to heaven.
当耶稣基督升天的时候，
179. The Bible says,
圣经上说，
180. That he gave the Holy Spirit of God to all who desire him.
祂把圣灵留给所有渴望得到祂的人。
181. I want to end this series of messages by reminding you of what I said in the last message.
我想在结束这个系列之前，再来回顾一下上次讲的信息，
182. If you really desire heaven in the hereafter,
如果你真的渴望将来在天堂，
183. You have to walk with God in the here and now.
你必须从现在开始就与神同行。
184. In Matthew 24:36 Jesus said,
在马太福音24章36节，耶稣说，
185. Only the Father knows the hour.
但那日子，那时辰，没有人知道，唯独父知道。
186. If you were to die today,
如果你今天死了，
187. And face the Lord Jesus.
你去见主耶稣，
188. If you look into the eyes of the one who died for you,
你面对着曾经为你而死的主，
189. The one who paid the price for your sin and saved you and redeemed you.
祂曾经为你的罪付代价，拯救你，赎回你，
190. What would you say?
你会说什么呢？
191. If you are not sure you will go to heaven today, you can be sure once and for all.
如果你还不确定自己死后能不能上天堂，今天你必须彻底搞清楚。
192. Just take God at his word.
只要全心相信神的话。
193. It is not because of anything you do.
这不是因为你做了什么，
194. But because Jesus promised that when you come to him in repentance and faith you will receive eternal life.
而是因为耶稣应许我们，如果你来到祂面前认罪悔改，并且相信祂，你就会有永生。
195. But if you have known the Lord Jesus Christ and you have not walked with him.
如果你知道耶稣基督，但是你还没有跟随祂，
196. What will you say when you see him.
当见祂的时候，你会说什么呢？
197. Will you say, I am sorry I wasn’t different from the unbelievers?
你是否会告诉祂：对不起，主耶稣，我和那些不信的人没有分别。
198. I am sorry I was cold.
对不起，我一直很冷淡，
199. I am sorry I was busy.
对不起，我太忙了，
200. I am sorry I didn’t realize your kingdom needed me.
对不起，我以前没有意识到你的国度需要我，
201. Will you apologize for all these things or will you say Lord, God I have given you my all?
你是为这些事情道歉呢，还是你会说：主耶稣，我已经奉献我所有的了。
202. In II Timothy 4:7 & 8,
在提摩太后书4章第7第8节里，
203. When the time came for the apostle Paul to go and face the Lord Jesus, there was no regret.
当使徒保罗将要离世见主的时候，他没有任何的遗憾，
204. He said, I fought the good fight.
他说，那美好的仗我已经打过了。
205. Therefore, he knew that the crown is awaiting him.
所以他知道，必有公义的冠冕为他存留。
206. It is my prayer that this will be your condition when you are getting ready to meet the Lord.
我盼望当你见主时，你就是处于这样的情况。
207. Until we meet in heaven, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，直到我们见主的那天。
