1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. We are so glad you joined us again for this series of messages called, “Standing Firm in a World of Shifting Sands.”
很高兴你能再次收听这个系列信息，我们称之为“在流沙的世界里要站立得稳”。
3. In this series, we are looking at portions of the Book of Daniel which are particularly relevant to us today.
在这个系列中，我们将学习但以理书的部分章节，这是与我们今天的生活息息相关的。
4. One of the lessons that we all seem to forget is this one:
我们似乎都遗忘了一个功课就是：
5. we often stumble on the very blessings that we want.
我们常常被自己所期待的福分绊倒。
6. Why do we do that?
我们为什么会那样呢？
7. Because we repeatedly forget that the times of blessings in our lives can be dangerous times.
因为我们总是忘记，在我们的一生中蒙神赐福的时候，往往也正是一些危险的时刻。
8. Some of you may say, “Wait a minute. I thought blessings were good things.
也许有人会说：“等一等，我以为蒙神赐福是好事，
9. How can blessings be dangerous?”
蒙福怎么会是危险的呢？”
10. Well, I want to tell you why.
好，我来告诉你为什么。
11. With every blessing comes a test.
神所赐的每一个福气，都会伴随着一个考验。
12. What we often ignore is that, with blessings, comes clear choice.
我们经常忽略的是，神所赐的福总是跟着一个明确的选择。
13. Do I use this blessing as a stepping stone to go upward and onward, or, do I stub my toe on my blessings and fall flat on my face?
我是把赐福当作踏脚石，使自己不断上进呢，还是，因赐福而绊跌，导致彻底的失败呢？
14. If you ask yourself that question every time you receive a blessing,
如果你能够在每一次得到福分的时候，都问自己这个问题，
15. you will save yourself a lot of trouble.
你就会让自己免去很多的麻烦。
16. We all know what school tests are supposed to accomplish.
我们都知道学校的考试必定有它的目的性。
17. Those students who are diligent and are prepared will succeed and move on to the next level.
那些勤奋，有准备的学生将会成功，顺利晋级。
18. Those who are derelict and negligent will fail.
而那些疏忽，漫不经心的就会失败。
19. It works the same way in spiritual tests.
属灵的考试也是如此。
20. If you are on your guard and always prepared, then you will progress to the next level of blessing with flying colors;
如果你总是有所准备，保持警醒，你就能胜利地进入到更高层次的赐福里；
21. but, if you ignore the fact that a test comes with every blessing,
但如果你忽略了每一个赐福都会带来一个考验的事实，
22. and delve into the blessing without thought for the test,
你只是一头钻进所想得到的福气里，而没有去想考验的事，
23. sooner or later, you’ll find yourself lying on the ground, crying, “Why didn’t I remember that with every blessing comes a test?”
迟早你会发现自己倒在地上哭喊着：“为什么我没有记住，每一个赐福都会带来一个考验这个事实呢？”
24. In Daniel, Chapter 3,
在但以理书第3章，
25. we find Nebuchadnezzar stumbling all over his blessings.
我们看到尼布甲尼撒践踏了自己所得到的福。
26. We find him failing to recognize that, with the blessings from Jehovah God, came a testing time;
我们发现他没有认识到，伴随耶和华神的赐福都会带来考验；
27. and, here, in Daniel, Chapter 3, we find him failing miserably.
在但以理书第3章，我们看到他输得很惨。
28. By contrast, Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, will pass their tests with flags waving.
相反，但以理的三个朋友，沙得拉、米煞、埃布尔尼歌却胜利地通过了考验。
29. Why?
为什么呢？
30. Because they were always prepared for testing time.
因为他们总是为考验做着准备。
31. In fact, the most important thing about this incident of the fiery furnace was not only the miracle of deliverance,
事实上，在烈火窑这个事件里，最重要的不仅仅是一个得救的神迹，
32. the most important part of Daniel, Chapter 3, is not the fact that these three young believers walked through the fire without burning a single hair,
但以理书第3章最重要的部分，不是这三个年轻的信徒，毫发无损地从火中走了出来，
33. but the most important part of this incident is this:
这个事件中最重要的部分是：
34. these young believers did not compromise their convictions, even at the thought of death.
即使面对死亡，这三个年轻的信徒都没有妥协他们的信仰。
35. These young believers were tempted to go with the flow, but they refused.
这三个年轻的信徒，曾被引诱去随波逐流，但他们拒绝了。
36. These young believers had an opportunity to please man and fail God, but they chose to please God instead of man.
这三个年轻的信徒，曾有机会可以取悦人，得罪神，但他们选择了取悦神，而不是取悦人。
37. These young believers did not tolerate sin.
这三个年轻的信徒，没有姑息罪恶。
38. These young believers did not stumble over their blessing,
这三个年轻的信徒，没有因自己所得的福分而绊倒。
39. but they used their blessing as a stepping-stone to greater glory;
而是把神赐的福当作踏脚石，使自己进入更大的荣耀里；
40. so, look with me at three things in Daniel, Chapter 3.
请跟我一起，从三个方面来看但以理书第3章。
41. First, stumbling on God’s blessings in verses 1 to 15.
第一，从1到15节，践踏神的赐福。
42. Secondly, standing on God’s promises, verses 16 to 27;
第二，从16到27节，坚信神的应许；
43. and, thirdly, sentimentality of cheap repentance in verses 28 to 30.
第三，从28到30节，廉价悔改所带来的伤感。
44. Let us look at the first, stumbling on God’s blessings.
我们先来看第一点，践踏神的赐福。
45. In Daniel, Chapter 2, the King of Babylon had witnessed one of the great manifestations of God’s supernatural powers.
在但以理书第2章中，巴比伦王已经见到了神超自然能力的伟大彰显。
46. He saw with his own eyes and heard with his own ears the power of Jehovah God.
他耳闻目睹了耶和华神的大能。
47. He even said, “There is no God like Jehovah...”
他甚至说：“没有神可比得上耶和华……”
48. but, instead of letting this blessing be a stepping stone into greater blessing, he allowed his pride to interfere.
然而，他不但没有把这个赐福当作踏脚石，让自己更进一步蒙福，反而容许骄傲冒了出来。
49. He makes a grotesque statue of himself that was about 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide.
他给自己做了一个90英尺高、9英尺宽的古怪雕像。
50. Nebuchadnezzar looked at that statue and said, “I am the greatest.”
尼布甲尼撒看着这个雕像说：“我是最伟大的。”
51. Most of us, when we experience success, when we receive a great blessing from the hand of God, our natural inner thinking is, “I am God’s gift to humanity.”
大多数人，当我们获得成功，得到神赐福的时候，内在的本性就会想：“我是神给世人的礼物。”
52. We swell up with pride in ourselves.
自我的骄傲开始膨胀。
53. In reality, what we are doing is stumbling over our blessing.
实际上，我们所做的是在践踏自己所得的赐福。
54. Like Nebuchadnezzar of old, we can see the hand of God, but we want to forget it and replace it with the hand of man;
就像古代的尼布甲尼撒一样，我们看到了神的作为，却想把它忘掉，用人的作为来替代；
55. so, the Babylonian despot said that everyone must bow to the image.
因此，那个巴比伦的暴君，命令所有人必须向他的雕像下拜。
56. Many faithful Christians today face their own fiery furnace.
今天，许多忠心的基督徒也面临着他们自己的烈火窑。
57. It is the furnace of being scorned.
那是被藐视的火窑，
58. It is the furnace of being ridiculed.
是被嘲笑的火窑，
59. It is the furnace of being ostracized and ignored;
是被排斥和被忽略的火窑；
60. and so, first, we see the stumbling on God’s blessings.
首先，我们讲了践踏神的赐福。
61. Secondly, standing on God’s promises.
第二，坚信神的应许。
62. If you have your Bible, look at verses 16 to 27 of Daniel 3.
如果你有圣经，请翻到但以理书第3章16到27节。
63. When the King said, “You bow down,” the three friends said, “We will not bow down.”
当王说：“你们俯伏敬拜”，那三个朋友却说：“我们不会俯伏敬拜的。”
64. When the King said, “The whole empire bows down,” the three friends said, “We stand up.”
当王说：“全国的人都俯伏敬拜”，那三个朋友却说：“我们要站立不动。”
65. In many ways, our world is like that of Nebuchadnezzar.
我们当今的世界，也在许多方面与尼布甲尼撒的时代相似。
66. The world is perplexed and troubled by those who would walk out on a lucrative business deal for moral reasons.
对于那些基于道德理由，情愿放弃有利可图的生意的人，这个世界对他们感到困惑不解。
67. The world is perplexed and troubled by those who would rather stand up when everybody else is bowing down;
对于那些在众人俯伏跪拜之时仍然昂然站立的人，这个世界对他们感到困惑不解。
68. and, by doing this, they are hoping to persuade the faithful believers into bowing their knees to their idols;
他们希望能劝说那些忠心的信徒，也来向偶像屈膝敬拜；
69. but, when their persuasion does not work, they resort to greater punishment.
一旦劝说未能奏效，他们就采取更严厉的惩罚。
70. Listen to what the three friends said in verses 16 and 17.
请听那三个朋友在16到17节中所说的。
71. Here is the problem with some modern day believers.
当代，某些信徒的问题是：
72. We sing, “God is able,” but, then, we live as if He’s not able at all.
我们可以高唱“神是全能的”，但在我们的生活中，却似乎神什么都不能。
73. We pay assent to the fact that He is able, but we never do anything to prove that we really believe that He is able.
我们同意神是全能的这个事实，但我们却从不通过行动来证明，我们真心地相信祂是全能的。
74. These three friends stood on God’s promises.
这三个朋友坚信神的应许。
75. My listening friend, what I am going to tell you is very important.
亲爱的朋友，我要告诉你非常重要的一点。
76. As long as the devil knows that we are not willing to sacrifice anything for God,
只要魔鬼知道我们不愿为神做任何的牺牲，
77. then he knows that we do not really believe that God is able.
它也就明白，我们并不真正相信神是全能的。
78. As long as the devil knows that we are afraid to part with our comfort and our possessions and our reputations,
只要魔鬼知道，我们害怕失去自己的安逸、财物和名誉，
79. then the devil knows that we are only saying the words, “Our God is able,” but we do not really believe those words.
它也就明白，我们只是口里说说“神是全能的”而已，其实我们并不真正相信这句话。
80. As long as the devil knows that we are afraid of physical death, he knows that we are not sure about the words, “Our God is able.”
只要魔鬼知道，我们惧怕肉身的死亡，它也就明白我们并不确信，“神是全能的”。
81. Listen to verse 18.
请听第18节，
82. “But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
“即或不然，王啊，你当知道我们决不事奉你的神，也不敬拜你所立的金像。”
83. We have confidence because we are standing on the promises of God.
我们之所以有信心，乃是因为我们坚信神的应许。
84. Standing on the promises of God is not just positive affirmation, but an unconditional surrender to the will of God.
坚信神的应许，不是单单正面的肯定，而是无条件地顺服于神的旨意。
85. Standing on the promises of God means standing firm and saying to the world, the flesh, and the devil, “We cannot be frightened.
坚信神的应许，就意味着我们要站立得稳，并且向这个世界、肉体和魔鬼宣告：“我们不惧怕，
86. We will not be anxious.
我们不担忧，
87. Our life is in God’s hands.”
我们的生命在神的掌管之中。”
88. My listening friends, let me tell you something very important.
亲爱的朋友，我要告诉你非常重要的一点。
89. When you take a stand like this, the devil will not only flee,
当你能够像这样站立的时候，不仅仅魔鬼会逃走，
90. but you will have the most victorious and effective Christian life that you could ever have.
而且你还将会获得最有果效、最得胜的基督徒生命，这是你不曾拥有过的。
91. If and when you choose to truly believe the words of Jesus, you will be liberated like never before.
当你选择真心相信耶稣的话语时，就将得到从未有过的释放。
92. You will soar like an eagle, and you will run and not be weary.
你将像鹰一样展翅上腾，你将奔跑却不困倦。
93. The three friends said, “Our God is able.”
那三个朋友说：“我们的神是全能的。”
94. We must trust in His promises that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
我们必须相信神的应许，祂不会离弃我们，更不会抛下我们不管。
95. We are anchored on the Rock of ages.
我们被牢牢地固定在万古盘石之上，
96. We are unshakable and immovable.
我们是不可动摇，坚定不移的。
97. Even if we die, we will rule and reign over the universe with Christ in Heaven;
即使我们死去，我们将与基督一起在天上掌管宇宙；
98. so we saw the stumbling on God’s blessing.
所以，我们领会了，践踏神的赐福是怎样的结局。
99. We saw the standing on God’s promises.
我们也明白了，坚信神的应许该是如何的光景。
100. Thirdly, let us see the sentimentality of cheap repentance.
第三，让我们来看看廉价悔改所带来的伤感。
101. When the three friends were thrown into the fiery furnace, everybody was anticipating the odor of the burning flesh;
当那三个朋友被扔到烈火的窑中，每个人都以为会闻到肉烧焦的味道；
102. but, instead, the only ones who got burnt were the ones who threw them in;
但只有那些抬他们，把他们仍进火窑的人被烧死了；
103. but, as for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, they were fine.
而沙得拉、米煞、埃布尔尼歌却安然无恙。
104. The place of pain became the place of joy.
痛苦之地变成了欢乐之乡，
105. The place of suffering became the point of glory.
磨难之地变成了荣耀之时，
106. The place of death became the garden of life;
死亡之地变成了生命之园；
107. but the King said,
但是，王说：
108. “But I heated the furnace seven times. Why are they not burning?
“我把窑烧热了七倍，为何他们没有被烧到呢？
109. And, also, I made sure only three were thrown in. Where did the fourth person come from?
而且，我明明只扔进去三个人，那么这第四个人是从哪里来的呢？
110. And the fourth one does not look like anyone I’ve ever seen before.”
这第四个人与我所见过的人都不一样。”
111. Oh, yes. Because He is the pre-incarnate Christ.
噢，是的，因为祂是即将道成肉身的基督。
112. Because He is the Stone that is not cut with hands.
因为祂是非人手凿出来的石头。
113. Because He has the Power to turn the fiery furnace in life into beautiful gardens.
因为祂有能力将生活中的火窑变成美丽的花园。
114. The King said, “But I made sure that their hands and their feet were bound.”
王说：“我确信他们的手脚都被捆着。”
115. Oh, but the ropes got burnt in the fire;
但绳子被火烧掉了；
116. and, once again, Nebuchadnezzar concludes that Jehovah is the true God;
随后，尼布甲尼撒王再一次地得出结论，耶和华是真神；
117. and, yet, his belief is mere sentimentality and not true conversion.
然而，他的相信仅仅是感性上的，并不是真正的转变。
118. In verse 28, he said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.”
在28节，他讲到：“沙得拉、米煞、埃布尔尼歌的神是应当称颂的。”
119. Ah, but you notice he did not say, “my Lord,”
但请注意，他没有说：“我主，”
120. because this was a cheap, temporary repentance without a change of heart.
因为这是一个廉价的、短暂的悔改，没有内心的改变。
121. What is happening here?
这是怎么回事呢？
122. Nebuchadnezzar was merely licking his wounds, which his pride had inflicted on him.
尼布甲尼撒只是在舔自己的骄傲所造成的创伤。
123. You know, my listening friends, there are so many people who acknowledge God when they feel broken;
亲爱的朋友，你要知道，有许多人在心灰意冷的时候，他们承认有神；
124. but they never truly surrender to God.
但他们从来没有真正地顺服于神。
125. There are so many people who pray to Jesus when they need healing;
有许多人在需要医治的时候，他们向耶稣祷告；
126. but they never receive Him as the Savior and Lord;
但他们从没有接受祂为救主和生命的主；
127. and the question to you is this:
对你而言，问题是：
128. do you truly trust in God?
你真正信靠神吗？
129. Can you say, “I truly trust God?”
你能够说：“我真心信靠神”吗？
130. Okay, are you willing to use His blessings, not as stumbling blocks, but as stepping-stones?
那么，你是否愿意把祂的赐福，不是当作绊脚石，而是当作踏脚石呢？
131. Only you can answer that.
只有你自己才能回答这个问题。
132. I will leave you with that question until next time, when I hope you will join us once again.
我把这个问题留给你，希望下次节目时间，你会再次地来到我们中间。
133. Until then, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
