1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. It is always a delight for us to come to you through the air
很高兴可以跟你在空中相聚，
3. And we are glad that you tuned in
你能收听这个节目，使我们很开心。
4. We are about to begin a new series of broadcasts on prayer
我们要开始一个新的系列信息，是有关祷告的。
5. More specifically, it is about the prayers of ordinary people
更具体地说，是关于平凡人的祷告。
6. But these are ordinary people who prayed extraordinary prayers
可是这些平凡人的祷告却是不平凡的。
7. And we will begin by studying Genesis 24:1 to 21
我们先看看创世记24:1-21，
8. And this whole series is called, “Ordinary People Who Prayed Extraordinary Prayers”
这个系列的题目就是“平凡人非凡的祷告＂。
9. The very first prayer that we will look at has to do with the marriage and marrying
我们所要看的第一个祷告，跟婚姻有关，
10. It has to do with matching two people in marriage
那是为在婚姻中两个相配的人互相结合的祷告。
11. It has to do with seeking the mind of God, and God answering the prayer
这祷告是要寻求神的旨意，并等候神应允祷告。
12. I’m talking of course about the first prayer ever recorded in the Bible
很显然的，我所要讲的祷告，就是圣经里记载的第一个祷告。
13. The first prayer that we encounter in the Bible is the prayer of Abraham’s servant found in Genesis 24
圣经里记载的第一个祷告，就是创世记二十四章所记载亚伯拉罕仆人的祷告。
14. Please listen to this Scripture, Genesis 24 verses 1 to 21
请听创世记24:1-21所记载的。
亚伯拉罕年纪老迈，向来在一切事上耶和华都赐福给他。
亚伯拉罕对管理他全业最老的仆人说：“请你把手放在我大腿底下。
我要叫你指着耶和华天地的主起誓，不要为我儿子娶这迦南地中的女子为妻。
你要往我本地本族去，为我的儿子以撒娶一个妻子。”
仆人对他说：“倘若女子不肯跟我到这地方来，我必须将你的儿子带回你原出之地么？”
亚伯拉罕对他说：“你要谨慎，不要带我的儿子回那里去。
耶和华天上的主曾带领我离开父家和本族的地，对我说话，向我起誓说：‘我要将这地赐给你的后裔。’他必差遣使者在你面前，你就可以从那里为我儿子娶一个妻子。
倘若女子不肯跟你来，我使你起的誓就与你无干了，只是不可带我的儿子回那里去。”
仆人就把手放在他主人亚伯拉罕的大腿底下，为这事向他起誓。
那仆人从他主人的骆驼里取了十匹骆驼，并带些他主人各样的财物，起身往米所波大米去，到了拿鹤的城。
天将晚，众女子出来打水的时候，他便叫骆驼跪在城外的水井那里。
他说：“耶和华我主人亚伯拉罕的神啊，求你施恩给我主人亚伯拉罕，使我今日遇见好机会。
我现今站在井旁，城内居民的女子们正出来打水。
我向哪一个女子说：‘请你拿下水瓶来，给我水喝’，他若说：‘请喝！我也给你的骆驼喝’，愿那女子就作你所预定给你仆人以撒的妻。这样，我便知道你施恩给我主人了。”
话还没有说完，不料，利百加肩头上扛着水瓶出来。利百加是彼土利所生的；彼土利是亚伯拉罕兄弟拿鹤妻子密迦的儿子。
那女子容貌极其俊美，还是处女，也未曾有人亲近他。他下到井旁，打满了瓶，又上来。
仆人跑上前去迎着他，说：“求你将瓶里的水给我一点喝。”
女子说：“我主请喝！”就急忙拿下瓶来，托在手上给他喝。
女子给他喝了，就说：“我再为你的骆驼打水，叫骆驼也喝足。”
他就急忙把瓶里的水倒在槽里，又跑到井旁打水，就为所有的骆驼打上水来。
那人定睛看他，一句话也不说，要晓得耶和华赐他通达的道路没有。
15. This is a very significant prayer
这是一个非常重要的祷告，
16. It has two levels of significance
它的重要性可以分两个层次来说，
17. That is why I will be spending several broadcasts looking at this prayer
所以我需要用几次的节目时间来讲这一个祷告。
18. Abraham commissioned his trusted servant, the chief steward, or the head of his household
亚伯拉罕吩咐他忠心的仆人，就是那位管理他所有产业的总管家，
19. Most likely it was Eliezer of Damascus of whom we read earlier in Genesis 15
很可能就是创世记十五章提到的大马色人以利以谢。
20. Abraham commissioned him to go back to Nahor
亚伯拉罕吩咐他回到拿鹤的城，
21. Nahor is where Abraham came from
亚伯拉罕就是从拿鹤城来的。
22. Remember, Abraham came from Ur, where modern day Iraq is
还记得亚伯拉罕是从吾珥出来的，吾珥就是今天伊拉克的所在地，
23. But God called Abraham to the place called Canaan
但是神呼召亚伯拉罕往迦南去，
24. So Abraham went from Ur to Canaan in obedience to the Lord
于是亚伯拉罕听从神的吩咐，从吾珥到迦南去。
25. Abraham left everything behind
亚伯拉罕把他所有东西都留在故乡，
26. He left his family
他离开他的家人，
27. He left many of his belongings
他留下他的财物，
28. He moved into the land of Canaan in obedience to the voice of God
他顺服神的吩咐就迁往迦南。
29. We don’t know how long it took him from the time he was called of God in Nahor to the time he went to the Promised Land
我们不晓得，从神呼召亚伯拉罕离开拿鹤，到亚伯拉罕抵达迦南，有多长的时间，
30. But none the less, at that time, Abraham obviously knew God
无论如何，亚伯拉罕那时候已经认识神了。
31. And as we can see from this story
我们可以从这件事情看到，
32. Abraham’s knowledge of God and his relationship to God impacted his whole family
亚伯拉罕对神的认识和他跟神的关系，大大的影响着他的全家，
33. It impacted his cousins, and his nieces, and his nephews, and all those who surrounded him in that extended family
影响了他的堂兄弟、侄儿侄女，和他的远房亲戚们，
34. And because they were impacted by the knowledge of God
他们因为认识神，就能影响他们的生命。
35. Abraham commissioned Eliezer to go back to Nahor
亚伯拉罕吩咐以利以谢回到拿鹤那儿去，
36. He sent him back on the long journey through the desert
以利以谢要长途跋涉，经过沙漠地带才能抵达拿鹤。
37. Eliezer had one mission
以利以谢有一项任务，
38. He had to find a bride for Abraham’s son Isaac
他要为亚伯拉罕的儿子以撒找个对象。
39. Why go all the way back to Ur
为什么要回到吾珥那么远的地方去？
40. Because Abraham looked around the land of Canaan and he did not like what he saw
因为亚伯拉罕不喜欢他在迦南地所看见的，
41. Abraham saw the wickedness of the Canaanite women and feared for his son’s faith
亚伯拉罕看到迦南的妇女道德败坏，他为儿子的信仰感到担忧，
42. Not one of those women were suitable for Abraham’s son
那里没有一个女子，适合亚伯拉罕的儿子。
43. The Canaanite men and women were godless
迦南地的男男女女都不信神，
44. The Canaanite men and women were pagans
迦南地的男男女女都是拜偶像的，
45. Abraham wanted a godly woman for his son
亚伯拉罕要为儿子找一个属神的女子为妻。
46. Those of you who are not married, please listen carefully
还没有结婚的朋友，请留心听着；
47. Even if you are young and not ready for marriage yet, please listen
就算你还年轻，目前没打算结婚，也请留心听着，
48. What I’m going to tell you is very important
我要告诉你的事情很重要，
49. What I want to tell you is directly from the Lord
是神自己要告诉你的。
50. Before you make your list of qualifications for your perfect future spouse
在你为将来的理想配偶列出条件之前，
51. Make sure that he or she is what God wants for you
请弄清楚那个人是否神为你预备的。
52. You can be sure of one thing
有一件事你可以肯定，
53. God wants you first and foremost to marry a godly spouse
最首要的是，神要你和一个属神的人结合。
54. If you place any characteristic above that
如果你把其他条件放在这个原则之前，
55. If you place anything on your list above that person’s love for God
如果你看那人其他的条件，比那人爱神的心来得重要的话，
56. You’ll be making a mistake
你会铸成大错。
57. But take warning
要当心啊！
58. When your prayer is, God, give me a godly man or a godly woman
如果你向神求一个信主的配偶，
59. Then you will find that God will give you other things in that person as well
你会发觉神给你的那个人，也拥有你想要的其他条件。
60. I have been there
我是过来人，
61. When I cried to God to give me a woman, he gave me a wonderful woman
当我向神求一个妻子，祂赐给我一个非常好的妻子，
62. And I thank God for my wife
我为我的妻子感谢神。
63. First I want to deal with the Biblical foundation of Isaac and Rebekah’s marriage then we will examine the prayer of Eliezer
首先我要讲一下以撒跟利百加婚姻的圣经基础然后再看以利以谢的祷告，
64. Please feel free to read ahead for the next message
你可以先看这段经文。
65. If you do not have a Bible, please write to us and we will be glad to send you one
如果你没有圣经的话，请写信告诉我们，我们会给你寄上圣经
66. The Bible teaches that Isaac is a type of Christ
根据圣经的教导，以撒喻表耶稣基督。
67. In Acts 15:14, and in II Corinthians 11:2
在使徒行传15:14和哥林多后书11:2，
68. The Scriptures tell us that the church is the bride of Christ
圣经告诉我们，教会是基督的新妇。
69. Throughout the Old Testament Scripture
在整本旧约圣经里，
70. We see a picture of Israel as the wife of Jehovah
我们看到一幅图画，以色列就是耶和华神的妻子，
71. But Israel has become faithless and denied the power of God
但后来以色列不信神，否定神的权能，
72. Israel was the wife who ran after other gods
以色列就像不忠的妻子，去随从其他的神，
73. And that is why in the mercy of God and in the plan of God, he planned for a church to replace Israel
所以神按着祂的恩典和计划，以教会取代了以色列。
74. He planned for a church that is to be made of Jews and Gentiles alike to be the true bride of Christ
在神的计划里，教会是由外邦人和犹太人一同组成的，成为基督真正的新妇。
75. And as that true bride of Christ
作为基督真正的新妇，
76. Jesus is going to present us to the Father one of these days
有一天耶稣要带我们去见天父，
77. May it be soon
但愿这一天早日来临。
78. And the bride of Christ will be spotless and pure before him
基督的新妇在神面前是纯洁无瑕疵的，
79. God is the one who calls his bride the church
是神自己称教会为祂的新妇的，
80. And that is why you find so many exciting parallels between the story of Isaac’s search for a bride
这就是为什么你可以从以撒寻求妻子的故事里，看到许多让我们感到兴奋的类比，
81. Through the ministry of his father’s trusted, faithful steward Eliezer
是透过他父亲忠心的仆人以利以谢的努力所撮合的姻缘。
82. Try to contrast through Abraham sending his steward to find a bride
试从亚伯拉罕差派仆人为儿子娶妻，比较一下，
83. And the sending forth of the Holy Spirit of God
天父如何差派圣灵来到我们当中。
84. To do what
圣灵要做什么事？
85. To take out of both Jews and Gentiles alike, a bride for his son, the Lord Jesus Christ
从犹太人和外邦人中拣选信徒，成为教会，作祂儿子耶稣基督的新妇。
86. The symbolism abounds here
这里象征着，
87. The choice of a bride for Isaac was a bride through whom the Messiah will come
弥赛亚将要借着以撒所选的妻子降世为人，
88. That is why this choice had to be done very carefully
所以必须严格挑选，
89. It had to be done very thoughtfully
必须经过深思熟虑；
90. The choice of a bride for Isaac through whom the Savior will be born
救主是借着以撒选择的妻子所生的后代，来到世上。
91. Had to be God-ordained
所以这个选择必须出于神的命定，
92. And God-arranged
必须由神亲自安排，
93. And God-sustained
并有神的保守。
94. The choice of a bride for Isaac through whom Jesus will come into the world
耶稣要从以撒所选的妻子来到地上，
95. Had to be done with utter dependence on the Sovereign choice
所以必须仰赖神至高的主权，
96. Dependence on the Sovereign love
必须靠着神全权的大爱，
97. And dependence on the Sovereign call
必须出于神全能的呼召。
98. My listening friends, please listen very carefully
亲爱的听众朋友，请留心听，
99. This is the same way that the Holy Spirit of God calls each member of the bride of Christ
圣灵也是这样呼召基督的新妇，就是教会的每一位弟兄姊妹。
100. The Holy Spirit of god woos you
圣灵呼唤你，
101. The Holy Spirit of God loves you
圣灵爱你，
102. The Holy Spirit of God brings you to God
圣灵把你带到神面前，
103. The Holy Spirit of God ministers to you in order for you to become the bride of Jesus Christ
圣灵感动你，要让你成为耶稣基督的新妇。
104. Your call to Christ is a Sovereign call
呼召你归属耶稣基督的，是来自至高权威的呼召，
105. It is an incredible call
是不同凡响的呼召，
106. It is a Sovereign choice
是至高者全权的拣选，
107. What an incredible thing that is
实在非常奇妙！
108. That the God of the universe sends his Spirit to work in your life before you have ever known him
在你还没有认识宇宙的真神之前，祂已经差遣圣灵在你的生命中做工；
109. Before you ever knew him, he loved you
在你还没有认识祂以前，祂已经爱你，
110. He ministered to you
祂为你服务，
111. He planned you
祂为你计划，
112. He chose you
祂拣选了你。
113. He called you to be a bride of Jesus Christ
祂呼召你成为耶稣基督的新妇，
114. Each member of the bride of Christ is tenderly loved
每一位基督的新妇都蒙神怜爱；
115. Each member of the bride of Christ is carefully and thoughtfully called
每一位基督的新妇，都由神亲切而体贴的呼召；
116. Each member of the bride of Christ was sovereignty planned by God before the creation of the world
每一位基督的新妇，都是在创世以先，就按着神的主权精心挑选设计；
117. Each member of the bride of Christ is drawn to him by the faithful ministry of the Holy Spirit of God
每一位基督的新妇，都是圣灵忠心事奉而感召的；
118. That is why the first thing Eliezer did when he embarked upon this journey
因此，以利以谢在启程达成任务前，首先要做的事情，
119. Was to declare his dependence upon the sovereign God for the choice of a wife for his master’s son
就是把为他主人儿子寻找妻子的事完全交托给神，让神全权引领。
120. There are a number of principles in this story that we must all learn from
在这故事中，有几个原则是我们必须学习的。
121. This principle in marriage arranging but there are also principles in business
这里有关于婚配的原则，也有处理事情的原则；
122. They are principles in the home
是可以运用在家庭里的原则，
123. These are principles that you can take with you everywhere and anywhere
这些原则也可以运用在其他任何场合，
124. And in any situation or circumstances of your life
以及你生命的任何境遇和状况中。
125. I want to share these principles with you
我要跟你谈谈这些原则，
126. But before we do that, we are going to look at the historic perspective
但是在我们讲这些原则之前，先来看看当时的历史背景。
127. Back then, there were not a lot of choices for the perspective brides and grooms
在那个时候，准新郎准新娘没有太多的选择；
128. Back then, there was no private moments for the young couple before they were betrothed
那个时候，年轻男女在订亲之前不可以单独相处；
129. Back then, they often did not even see each other before the wedding night
那个时候，男女在结婚之前甚至没见过面；
130. Back then, they did not marry out of pure desire for one another
那个时候，他们并不是因为彼此仰慕而结婚。
131. No
不是的！
132. A spouse was carefully chosen in terms of character
选择配偶要看品格如何；
133. A spouse was carefully chosen in terms of faithfulness
选择配偶要看是否忠诚；
134. A spouse was carefully chosen in terms of commitment
选择配偶要看愿不愿意委身。
135. I’m amazed at the reasons for which people marry these days
对于现代男女的结婚理由，令我感到很惊讶。
136. The people who marry for physical attraction alone will get over that very soon
单单为了对方外表的吸引力而结婚的男女，很快就会闹离婚，
137. Why?
为什么？
138. Because sooner or later, someone more attractive is going to show up
因为更具吸引力的人，迟早会出现。
139. To choose spouse for superficial reasons is absolutely disastrous for the future
以肤浅的眼光挑选配偶的，将来一定会吃苦果。
140. That is why the first thing Eliezer did was pray
因此以利以谢做的第一件事就是祷告。
141. The first thing that the servant of Abraham did was seek the mind of God
亚伯拉罕的仆人第一件做的事，就是寻求神的意念；
142. The first thing Eliezer did was to ask for God’s will and direction
以利以谢第一件做的事，就是寻求神的旨意和带领。
143. Eliezer wanted to know, who is the one that you have chosen for my master’s son
以利以谢想知道，哪一位才是神为他主人儿子所预备的妻子，
144. The first thing Eliezer did was to ask for the will of God
以利以谢第一件做的事，就是求问神的旨意、
145. And the mind of God
神的意念、
146. And the heart of God
神的心意。
147. As I told you earlier, this is the very first prayer recorded in the Bible
就如我开始的时候告诉你的，这是整本圣经里记载的第一个祷告。
148. I’m sure there are a lot of people who have prayed before Genesis 24, but this is the first prayer that is recorded, word for word
我相信在这以前已经有许多人向神祷告，但这是圣经记载的第一个祷告，非常详细。
149. Listen to it carefully
请你留心地听，
150. Oh, Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success this day
耶和华我主人亚伯拉罕的神阿，求你使我今日遇见好机会。
151. We are going to look at this later on in our next broadcast, as our time for today has ended
今天的时间差不多到了，让我们下一次再继续看这个祷告。
152. Before you tune in next time, I want to ask you a question to think about
在结束之前，我要问你一个问题，请你思想一下。
153. Where do you think Eliezer learned to pray like this
你认为以利以谢从哪里学到这样的祷告呢？
154. Next time, I want you to see if your answer will match mine
下一次节目时，看看你的答案跟我的一不一样，
155. Until then, I wish you God’s richest blessing
愿神大大的赐福给你，下次再会。
