1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. We are so pleased that you joined us today.
我们很高兴你今天收听我们的节目。
3. We pray that this series of messages are blessing you
我们祈求神，让你借着这一系列的信息而蒙福。
4. We have been studying a series of messages entitled “Ordinary People Who Prayed Extraordinary Prayers”
我们目前所讲的题目是：《平凡人非凡的祷告》，
5. And today I want to begin with a new one
今天我要讲一个新的祷告。
6. And I want to begin by saying this
首先我想告诉你，
7. There is an issue that has plagued me personally for a number of years
多年来，有一件事一直困扰着我。
8. Why is emotional depression on the increase worldwide?
为什么世界上的人越来越忧郁？
9. I’m not talking about clinical depression or chemical depression or anything physiological
我并不是指那些医学方面，或因身体缺乏某种化学元素而引起的忧郁症。
10. I am talking about shear emotional depression
我讲的是一般情绪的低潮。
11. You find that the more prosperous countries get, the more depressed the people become
你发觉一个国家越富庶，她的人民就越忧郁。
12. For example, in countries where there is the highest per capita income on the earth
举例来说，在国民收入最高的国家，
13. In countries with some of the highest technological advancement
在拥有尖端科技的国家，
14. In countries where modern conveniences abound
在非常现代化的国家，
15. You find that there are more depressed people in those countries than anywhere else in the world
你会发现，这些国家的国民患上忧郁症的，比世界上任何地方都多。
16. A few years ago I began to sense the answer to my question
几年前，我开始意识到其中的原因，
17. And the answer was simply this
原因很简单，
18. In fact, it’s one word
只是一个词，
19. Expectations
就是“期望＂。
20. What do I mean by this?
我的意思是，
21. The higher the expectations, the greater the disappointment when the expectations are not met
期望越高，失望越大。
22. The higher the build-up the harder the fall
爬得越高，摔得越重。
23. The greater the expectations, the deeper is the despair
期盼越大，失落越深。
24. The more unrealistic the expectations are, the steeper the disappointments
越是不切实际的期望，往往带来更深的失望。
25. I have seen my fair share of unrealistic expectations
我就曾经有过不切实际的期望，果然是这样。
26. I have seen unrealistic expectations between husbands and wives
我见过夫妻间不切实际的期望；
27. I have seen unrealistic expectations of children
我见过对儿女不切实际的期望；
28. I have seen unrealistic expectations of a job
我见过对工作不切实际的期望；
29. I have seen unrealistic expectations of a boss
我见过对老板不切实际的期望；
30. I have seen unrealistic expectations of a church
我见过对教会不切实际的期望。
31. Most of the discontentment in a marriage is due to unrealistic expectations
大部份不美满的婚姻，是因为双方都有不切实际的期望。
32. People who marry for physical attraction and expect the youthful desire to stay the same through the passing years
有些人因外表的吸引而结婚，于是期望青春永驻；
33. People who marry for financial security are amazed when the marriage sustains financial problems
有些人为了经济的安全感而结婚，却没想到婚后充满了金钱的烦恼；
34. People who marry to run away from their problems, do not expect their marriage to create new problems
有些人借着婚姻逃避问题，却没想到婚姻制造更多麻烦；
35. Unrealistic expectations
都是不切实际的期望。
36. Of course some people move to the other extreme and join those whose motto is, “Blessed is he whose expecting nothing, for he shall never be disappointed”
当然，也有人走向另一极端说：“没有期望，就没有失望。＂
37. Someone said, always borrow from a pessimist, he never expects to be repaid
有人说，最好向悲观的人借钱，因为他们不会期望你还钱。
38. Any unrealistic expectations can lead to depression
不切实际的期望带来忧郁。
39. But on this broadcast I want to tell you about one expectation that will never disappoint you
今天我要告诉你，有一个盼望是永远不会落空的。
40. What expectation is this
是怎样的盼望呢？
41. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ
如果你已经是一个基督徒，
42. When you place your expectations on the promises of God you will never be disappointed
当你把你的期望建立在神的应许上，你就永不会失望，
43. No matter how long it may take, it will come to pass
无论等多久，它必定会实现。
44. Whenever you place your expectations on what God said
只要你把盼望建立在神的话语上，
45. No matter how long it takes, he will always keep his word
无论等多久，神一定履行诺言。
46. Whenever you cling to God’s covenant with you
只要你抓紧神跟你立的约，
47. No matter what’s going on around you, he always keeps his side of the covenant
无论你周围发生什么事，祂必定信实守约。
48. Whether you see it or not
不论你看得见或看不见，
49. Whether you experience it firsthand or not
不论你是否亲身经历到，
50. God will always keep his word
神必定信守诺言。
51. Whenever your expectations are placed firmly and squarely on God’s pledges
只要你把盼望牢牢地建立在神的应许上，
52. No matter how long it takes
无论等多久，
53. God will always fulfill those expectations
神一定会满足那些期望。
54. Today I want to draw your attention to another ordinary person who prayed an extraordinary prayer
今天我要请你看另外一个平凡人作的不平凡的祷告。
55. If you are joining us for the first time
如果你是第一次收听这个节目，
56. We are approaching the end of a series called, “Ordinary People Who Prayed Extraordinary Prayers”
我们所讲的题目是：《平凡人非凡的祷告》，这一系列信息已接近尾声了。
57. Our study comes from the historical record according to Dr. Luke
我们根据路加医生所记载的历史，来讲今天的信息。
58. If you do not have a Bible, write to us and we’ll get you one. Let me remind those who have been following this series of broadcasts about what we have studied so far
如果你一直都在收听这个系列，让我们来温习一下所讲过的内容。
59. The first thing we studied was the prayer of Abraham’s servant, Eliezer
我们先从亚伯拉罕的仆人，以利以谢的祷告开始讲的。
60. Eliezer prayed a prayer of faith and God met the details of his prayer
以利以谢带着信心向神祷告，神一一应允了他的要求。
61. Next we saw the prayer of Samuel’s mother, Hannah
然后，我们看撒母耳母亲哈拿的祷告，
62. She prayed with faith and absolute confidence in the God of power and might
她凭信心祷告，专心仰望神的大能大力，
63. And God met her needs and fulfilled the promises
神应允了她的祷告，成全了她的愿望。
64. Today we look at a prayer of Simeon
今天我们要看西面的祷告，
65. Listen as we read Luke chapter 2 verses 22 to 33
请听我们读出路加福音2:22-33。
按摩西律法满了洁净的日子，他们带着孩子上耶路撒冷去，要把他献与主。
（正如主的律法上所记：“凡头生的男子必称圣归主；＂）
又要照主的律法上所说，或用一对斑鸠，或用两只雏鸽献祭。
在耶路撒冷有一个人，名叫西面；这人又公义又虔诚，素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到，又有圣灵在他身上。
他得了圣灵的启示，知道自己未死以前，必看见主所立的基督。
他受了圣灵的感动，进入圣殿，正遇见耶稣的父母抱着孩子进来，要照律法的规矩办理。
西面就用手接过他来，称颂神说：
主啊！如今可以照你的话，释放仆人安然去世；
因为我的眼睛已经看见你的救恩，
就是你在万民面前所预备的：
是照亮外邦人的光，又是你民以色列的荣耀。
孩子的父母因这论耶稣的话就希奇。
66. We know few things about Simeon
关于西面的事，我们知道的不多。
67. He placed his expectations squarely upon the promises of God
他把他的指望单单建立在神的应许上，
68. He trusted God completely
他完全信靠神，
69. He let all of his expectations, hopes, and dreams be based upon the Word of God
他把他所有的盼望和梦想都建立在神的话语上，
70. And God did not disappoint him
神没有叫他失望。
71. I want you to look at Luke 2:25
请看路加福音2:25，
72. Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel and the Holy Spirit was upon him
在耶路撒冷有一个人名叫西面，这人又公义又虔诚，素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到，又有圣灵在他身上。
73. Let me tell you a few things that are Biblically and historically accurate
让我告诉你一些合乎圣经真理又具有历史准确性的事。
74. In times of spiritual degeneracy
当人的属灵光景退化的时候；
75. In times when the official church hierarchy is focused on the form of religion, but deny its power
当教会的领袖埋首于宗教的形式，却否定教会的能力时；
76. In times where the clergy of the church are more concerned about the institution than the gospel of Jesus Christ
当教会的牧者关心教会架构，多于传扬耶稣基督的福音时；
77. In times of spiritual crisis
在属灵危机当中；
78. In times where religious leaders become preoccupied with politics and compromise
当宗教领袖忙着谈论政治，并且向世界妥协让步时；
79. In those times
就在这些时候，
80. God always calls ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things
神往往使用平凡的人为祂作大事；
81. God calls ordinary people to pray extraordinary prayers
神叫平凡人作不平凡的祷告。
82. When Hannah prayed her prayer and God blessed her with Samuel
当哈拿向神祷告，神就赐福给她生下撒母耳。
83. Eli the priest was preoccupied
祭司以利为别的事分心，
84. So God called an ordinary woman to exercise extraordinary faith
于是神让一个平凡的妇人，使用超凡的信心。
85. God always calls ordinary people to believe the impossible
神常常叫平凡的人相信那不可能实现的事；
86. God calls ordinary people to expect the unexpected
神常常叫平凡的人期待那出乎意料的事；
87. God always calls ordinary people to hope for hopeless
神常常叫平凡的人指望那没有希望的事；
88. God always calls ordinary people to attempt the unthinkable
神常常叫平凡的人尝试那不可思议的事；
89. God always calls ordinary people to be convinced of the inconceivable
神常常叫平凡的人接纳无法想象的事；
90. God always calls ordinary people top see the invisible
神常常叫平凡的人看得见隐密的事；
91. God always calls ordinary to do the undoable
神常常叫平凡的人去作常人做不到的事。
92. Let no one therefore say, I am just an ordinary Christian
所以我们不该说，我只是个平凡的基督徒。
93. God specializes in using ordinary Christians who believe in an extraordinary God
神专门使用一些普通的基督徒，但他们相信神是伟大超凡的神。
94. Now there are some people who try to speculate about this man Simeon
有些人喜欢猜测这个叫西面的，到底是个怎么样的人。
95. Someone said, he must have been a rabbi
有人说，他大概是犹太教的老师；
96. Others said, he must have been a retired priest
也有人说，他大概是已经退休的祭司；
97. This is all speculation
这全都是瞎猜。
98. Why do they speculate
为什么他们要猜测？
99. fact that Simeon was an ordinary man
因为他们不愿意相信西面不过是一个平凡的人，
100. They do not want to accept the fact that God uses ordinary people
他们不愿意相信神会使用一个平凡的人。
101. But the whole Scripture proves it
可是，整本圣经充满这样的例证，
102. What Luke is telling us about this man is that he was an ordinary man
路加告诉我们，这是一个平凡的人，
103. But he had unshakable expectations about the coming Messiah
但是，他对弥赛亚的来临深信不疑。
104. Dr. Luke was a very meticulous man and a scientist
路加医生是个非常细心的人，他也是一个科学家，
105. He paid attention to details and did not leave anything out
他注意每一个细节，绝对不会遗漏什么的。
106. If Simeon were anything other than just an ordinary man that was filled with the Holy Spirit, Luke would have told us
如果西面不是一个被圣灵充满的平凡人，路加一定会告诉我们。
107. While we do not know a great deal about Simeon
虽然我们对西面所知不多，
108. We know the few things about him that are mentioned in Luke chapter 2
但路加福音第二章的记载，让我们知道一些有关他的事。
109. The few things that we know about him, are the things that really matter to God, if not to people
神一定觉得我们所知道的这些事很重要，即使人不认为是重要的。
110. What do I mean by that?
我的意思是，
111. We often think that people who really matter are people with big titles
我们常常以为只有带着显赫身分的人才重要；
112. We often think that people who really matter are people with a string of degrees after their name
我们常常以为那些拥有好几个学位的人才了不起；
113. We often think that people who really matter are people who are highly regarded in society
我们常常以为只是那些拥有社会地位的人才举足轻重，
114. But God the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to tell us what is important to God about this man
但是，神的灵感动路加告诉我们，神为什么看重这个人，
115. Verse 25 of Luke chapter 2
路加福音2:25说，
116. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon
在耶路撒冷有一个人，名叫西面。
117. Then Luke gives us the man’s qualifications
然后路加告诉我们这人的特质，
118. Qualification number one
第一个特质，
119. He was righteous
这人是公义的。
120. Qualification number two
第二个特质，
121. He was devout
这人是虔诚的。
122. Qualification number three
第三个特质，
123. He was looking for or watching for the consolation of Israel
他素常盼望以色列的安慰者来到。
124. Now my listening friend, my time is coming to an end
亲爱的朋友，我们的节目时间又差不多到了，
125. In the next broadcast we will be looking at all these qualifications in detail
下一次节目我们会详细地讨论这些特质，
126. But before I conclude this broadcast I want to ask you this
但是，在结束以前，我想问你一个问题，
127. Can people look at your life and say that you are righteous, devout, and looking with expectations for the coming of the Lord Jesus
别人可以从你身上看出你是一个正直、虔诚和指望着主耶稣再来的人吗？
128. My prayer is that your answer is yes
我祈求神让你回答说，是的！
129. Tune in to our next broadcast when we will learn how long the people of God had been waiting to see what Simeon was able to see.
下次请继续收听，我们会讲神的子民等了多久才看到西面所见到的。
130. Until then, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大的赐福给你，我们下次节目时间再会。
