创世记生命读经 · 第51篇

一次荣耀的代祷

A Glorious Intercession

（2）一次荣耀的代祷

2) A Glorious Intercession

1在本篇信息中，我们来看另一粒撒在创世记中神圣启示的种子，就是代祷的种子。在创世记前十七章，没有代祷的记载。虽然我们会推想，麦基洗德会在背后为亚伯拉罕代祷，但没有这事的记载。圣经中第一次清楚的题到代祷是在创世记十八章，在那里我们看见，亚伯拉罕是第一个代祷的人。这段代祷的记载不仅仅是种子，因牠包含了相当程度的发展。创世记十八章不但有代祷的故事，也有代祷基本原则的清楚启示。代祷在圣经中是一件大事。没有代祷，神的经纶就无法成就。今天基督作我们君尊神圣的大祭司，祂超特的职事就是代祷的职事。罗马八章三十四节和希伯来七章二十五节都告诉我们，基督在为我们代求。代祷这件事既是这样重要，我们就必须用整篇信息来专一的说到，主要是来看代祷的基本原则。

1In this message we come to another seed of the divine revelation sown in the book of Genesis—the seed of intercession. In the first seventeen chapters of Genesis, there is no record of any intercession. Although we may suppose that Melchisedec was interceding behind the scene for Abraham, there is no record of this. The first clear mention of intercession in the Bible is in Genesis 18, where we see that Abraham was the first intercessor. This record of intercession is not simply a seed, for it contains a certain amount of development. In Genesis 18 we not only have a story of intercession but a clear revelation of the basic principles of intercession. Intercession is a great thing in the Bible. Without it God’secon o my cannot be accomplished. The excellent ministry of Christ today as our kingly and divine High Priest is a ministry of intercession. Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 both tell us that Christ is interceding for us. Since this matter of intercession is so important, we must devote an entire message to it, mainly considering the basic principles of intercession

（a）照著神的启示

a) According to God’sR evelation

2代祷的第一个基本原则是必须照著神的启示。（创十八17，20～21。）在神眼中惟一算得数的代祷，乃是照著神启示的代祷。这就是说，正确的代祷不是我们发起的，乃是神在祂的启示中发起的。这在创世记十八章有清楚的描绘。亚伯拉罕并不是一天早晨醒来，挂念到罗得，于是跪下来向那在天上宝座上的一位，为罗得代祷。不是。当时亚伯拉罕在大热天坐在他的帐棚门口纳凉，神以平常人的形态来临。因著神没有在祂的荣耀里，带著祂的威严来临，亚伯拉罕起先并没有认出访问他的是耶和华神。最终，亚伯拉罕察觉到这一位就是神。然而，亚伯拉罕没有被吓住，他非常安息的与神交谈，好像与亲密的朋友交谈一样。这次谈话必定持续了好几小时，因为豫备饭食并吃饭都需要时间。当神和两个天使要离开的时候，亚伯拉罕没有向他们说再见，乃是送他们上路，可能和他们走了很长的路程。在这里我们看见，我们的神不但是爱的神，也是试验人的神。祂虽然爱我们，并且知道一切，但祂常常试验我们。祂知道我们的心，知道我们全人最深的部分，但祂常常不说甚么。祂藉著试验，将我们里面的东西引出来。

2The first basic principle of intercession is that it must be according to God’sr evelation (18:17, 20-21). The only intercession that counts in the eyes of God is that which is according to His revelation. This means that proper intercession is not initiated by us but by God in His revelation. This is clearly portrayed in Genesis 18. Abraham did not wake up one morning concerned for Lot and then kneel down to pray to the One on the throne in heaven regarding him. No, while Abraham was sitting at his tent door to cool himself in the heat of the day, God came to him in the form of a mortal man. Since God did not come to Abraham in His glory with His majesty, Abraham did not recognize at first that it was Jehovah God who was visiting him. Eventually, Abraham realized that this One was the very God. Nevertheless, Abraham was not terrified; he was very restful, conversing with God as with an intimate friend. This conversation must have lasted for several hours, for it took time to prepare the meal and to eat it. When God and the two angels were about to leave, Abraham did not bid them good - bye but conducted them on their way, probably walking with them for a good distance. Here we see that our God is not only a loving God but also a testing God. Although He loves us and knows everything, He often tests us. He knows our heart, the innermost part of our being, but He often says nothing. By testing He draws out what is within us.

3在创世记十八章，神临到亚伯拉罕的目的是甚么？祂来当然不是为著吃饭；祂来也不是为了坚定关于撒拉生儿子的应许。神临到亚伯拉罕，乃是因为祂在寻找代祷的人。神在天上的宝座上，已经定意要对邪恶的所多玛城执行审判。但神绝不会忘记，祂的一个子民罗得在那城里。罗得甚至不晓得，他必须从所多玛被救出来。神怎么办呢？祂必须找到一个人为罗得代祷。神知道在地上没有一个人像亚伯拉罕那样关切罗得，并且像亚伯拉罕那样与神同在。所以，神临到亚伯拉罕，目的是要找到一个代祷的人。没有代祷的人为神的子民代祷，神就不能作甚么。神有祂神圣的原则，其中一个乃是：若没有代祷，祂就不能拯救任何人。每一个基督徒得救，都是因著代祷而成就的。神不是留在祂天上的宝座上等候这样的代祷。祂乃是以平常人的形态下来访问亚伯拉罕，使亚伯拉罕容易和祂谈话，并为罗得代祷。在创世记十八章，亚伯拉罕不是向神祷告，或者呼求神的名，他乃是和神谈话，好像和亲密的朋友谈话一样。因此，在本章里，神访问亚伯拉罕的目的乃是使他接受负担，照著神的愿望为罗得代祷。神虽然在亚伯拉罕的帐棚门口停留了好几小时，也和他谈了很多话，但神只字不题祂来寻找代祷者的目的。我们也常常这样作。也许你要一位弟兄为你作一件事。你若是有智慧的话，你不会一到他那里，就立刻请他作那件事。你会先和他谈谈别的事，藉以断定他的心境。在你访问的末了，如果这位弟兄送你到门口，或者送你一程，你就可以向他敞开自己，把你的心愿告诉他。然而，他若不是对你依依不舍，不过说，『今晚聚会见，』你就晓得他的心很冷淡，不会对你要他作的事感兴趣。但是他若说，『我想要和你多耽一会儿，』那么你就知道你能向他敞开自己了。

3What was God’s purpose in coming to Abraham in Genesis 18? He surely did not come for a meal; neither did He come to confirm His promise regarding Sarah’s giving birth to a son. God came to Abraham because He was seeking an intercessor. On His throne in heaven, God had decided to execute His judgment on the wicked city of Sodom. But God would never forget that one of His people, Lot, was in that city. Lot did not even realize that he had to be rescued from Sodom. What could God do? He had to find someone to intercede for Lot. God knew that there was no one on earth who was as concerned for Lot and who was so much with God as Abraham was. Hence, God came to Abraham for the purpose of finding an intercessor. Without an intercessor to intercede for His people, God cannot do anything. God has His divine principles. One of them is that without intercession He cannot save anyone. The salvation of every Christian has been accomplished through intercession. God did not stay on His throne in heaven waiting for such intercession to occur. Rather, He came down to visit Abraham in the form of a mortal man so that Abraham might easily talk with Him and intercede for Lot. In Genesis 18 Abraham did not pray to God or call on the name of God; he talked to God as with an intimate friend. Thus, the purpose of God’s visit to Abraham in this chapter was that Abraham might take up the burden to intercede for Lot according to God’s desire. Although God remained at Abraham’st ent door for several hours, talking a great deal to him, God did not say a word about His purpose in coming to secure an intercessor. We often act in the same way. Perhaps you want a brother to do a certain thing for you. If you are wise, you will not come to him and immediately ask him to do what you desire. You will first determine his mood by having a talk with him about various matters. At the very end of your visit, as the brother is seeing you to the door or conducting you on your way, you may open yourself to him and tell him of your desire. However, if he does not linger with you but says, “See you in the meeting tonight,” you will realize that his heart is too cold and that he would not be interested in doing what you want him to do. But if he says, “I would like to stay with you for a while longer,” then you will know that you can open yourself to him.

4当时神临到亚伯拉罕，亚伯拉罕欢迎祂，给祂豫备水，又用佳肴款待祂。在豫备饭食并吃饭的时候，神虽然和亚伯拉罕说话，却没有揭示祂来的目的。乃是在神起身走出帐棚，亚伯拉罕陪著祂和两个天使，送他们一程的时候，神才将祂的心意告诉亚伯拉罕。亚伯拉罕和他们同行的时候，主说，『我所要作的事，岂可瞒著亚伯拉罕呢？』（创十八17。）神不能向亚伯拉罕，祂亲爱的朋友并祂所呼召的人，隐瞒祂的心意。亚伯拉罕在神面前逗留，甚至当两个天使离开他们往所多玛去以后，他仍旧站在神面前，（创十八22，）那时神就向他敞开自己。神不是直接向亚伯拉罕敞开，而是以暗示的方式向他敞开。神不是说，『亚伯拉罕，我不久就要毁灭所多玛。罗得在那里，我非常关切他。我来要你为他代祷。』神不是那么简单。神乃是说，『所多玛和蛾摩拉的罪恶甚重，声闻于我。我现在要下去，察看他们所行的，果然尽像那达到我耳中的声音一样么？若是不然，我也必知道。』（创十八～21。）神只字不题罗得，但祂说到所多玛，心意乃是为著罗得。这两个朋友谈罗得，但都不题罗得的名字。他们是以奥秘、暗示的方式谈罗得。亚伯拉罕知道神关切罗得，他就为罗得代祷，但他也不题罗得的名字。然而，神知道亚伯拉罕的心意，正如亚伯拉罕知道神的心意一样。

4When God came to Abraham, Abraham welcomed Him, providing Him water and serving Him a good meal. Although God spoke to Abraham during the preparation and eating of the meal, He did not disclose the purpose for which He came. Only when God rose up and walked away from the tent and Abraham accompanied and conducted Him and the two angels on their way, did God tell Abraham of His intention. While Abraham walked with them, the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (18:17). God could not hide His intention from Abraham, His dear friend and called one. As Abraham lingered in God’s presence, even after the two angels had left for Sodom, remaining standing before Him (18:22), God opened up to him. God did not open to Abraham directly but in the way of implication. God did not say, “Abraham, I shall soon destroy Sodom. Lot is there, and I am very concerned about him. I have come to ask you to intercede for him.” God was not that simple. Instead, He said, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know” (18:20-21). Although God did not say a word about Lot, His intention in speaking 20 about Sodom was for Lot. These two friends talked about Lot, but neither of them mentioned his name. They spoke about him in a mysterious way, in a way of implication. Abraham knew that God’s concern was for Lot, and he interceded for Lot without mentioning him by name. Nevertheless, God knew Abraham’s in tent i on as Abraham knew God’sin tent i on.

5不要以为神关于代帱的启示是那么突然、神奇、『灵恩』的临到。我们要从神的心领受这样的启示，必须经过一段漫长的过程。我们必须从迦勒底的吾珥，一路经过许多地方，来到希伯仑幔利橡树的帐棚门口。首先，神向亚伯拉罕显现为荣耀的神，藉以呼召他。那时亚伯拉罕还没有豫备好，没有资格从神的心领受启示。他没有在与神亲密的交通里。甚至在亚伯拉罕杀败了基大老玛和别的诸王以后，他也还没有豫备好与神亲密的交谈。在创世记十五、十六章，我们看见亚伯拉罕虽然是寻求神、爱神的人，但他还相当在肉体里。在十七章他受了割礼，被了结了，他的名字由亚伯兰改为亚伯拉罕，他成了另一个人。然后在十八章，神在希伯仑幔利橡树那里临到他。祂不是以荣耀的神，或者至高的神，天地的主，或者以利沙代的身分，而是以平常人的身分来临，和祂亲密的朋友共享一餐。那时神找到了一个合祂心意的人。在创世记十八章，亚伯拉罕在神面前荣耀的代祷，不是地上的人向天上的神祷告，乃是两个朋友之间的交谈。神从天降下，降卑自己，穿上平常人的形态，和亚伯拉罕交谈。最终，祂向亚伯拉罕表明祂是全能的神；但他们继续像两个朋友一样谈话。当亚伯拉罕在这种情形里，他就豫备好，有资格从神的心领受关于祂心愿的启示。代祷乃是照著神心愿的揭示来与神密谈。这是代祷的第一个基本原则。

5Do not think that God’sr evelation regarding intercession comes in a sudden, miraculous, “Pentecostal” way. In order to receive such a revelation from the heart of God, we must pass through a long process. We must come all the way from Ur of Chaldea through many places to the tent door at the oaks of Mamre in Hebron. Firstly God called Abraham by appearing to him as the God of glory. At that time Abraham was neither prepared nor qualified to receive a revelation from God’she art. He was not in intimate fellowship with God. Even after he had slaughtered Chedorlaomer and the other kings, Abraham was not ready to converse with God in an intimate way. In chapters fifteen and sixteen we see that although Abraham was a man who sought God and loved Him, he was still so much in his flesh. In chapter seventeen he was circumcised and terminated, his name was changed from Abram to Abraham, and he became another person. Then, in chapter eighteen God came to him at the oaks of Mamre in Hebron not as the God of glory nor as the Most High God, the Possessor of heaven and earth, nor as the El-Shaddai, but as a mortal man to enjoy a meal with His intimate friend. At that time God had found a man who was after His heart. The glorious intercession which Abraham made before God in Genesis 18 was not a prayer from man on earth to God in heaven; it was a human conversation between two friends. God came down from heaven, lowering Himself, putting on the form of a mortal man, and conversing with Abraham. Eventually, He indicated to Abraham that He was the Almighty God; yet they continued to talk as two friends. When Abraham was in this condition, he was prepared and qualified to receive a revelation from God’she art concerning His desire. Intercession is an intimate talk with God according to the unveiling of His heart’s desire. This is the first principle of intercession.

6要神向人启示祂的心愿，人必须豫备好。虽然千百万的人属乎神的名，但非常少的人豫备好，受过管教、训练、割礼并被了结。虽然我们不是那么像亚伯拉罕，但有时我们也有类似的经历。我们若是愿意放弃自己，弃绝肉体；那时，令我们非常惊讶的，神会像朋友一样临到我们。我们不是向祂祷告，或者呼求祂的名，而是和祂谈话，好像和亲密的朋友谈话一样。要符合代祷的第一个原则，就是照著神心愿亲密的启示，我们必须经过一段漫长的过程。我们需要受对付、受割礼、被了结。然后我们就豫备好得以与神亲密的交通。神要临到我们，不在神的水平上，乃在人的水平上，正如祂临到亚伯拉罕一样。假定神今天这样临到你，那你就要接待祂吃饭，和祂交谈，面对面的说话。这样和神交谈是何等美好！当我们这样与神有交通，我们不觉得自己是和全能、威严的神谈话，乃觉得是和另一个人谈话。这就是照著神启示代祷的意义。这种代祷总是亲密的、奥秘的，并且以暗示的方式来进行。

6In order for God to reveal His heart’s desire to a man, that man must be prepared. Although millions of people belong to the name of God, very few have been prepared, disciplined, trained, circumcised, and terminated. Although we are not very much like Abraham, occasionally we have had similar experiences. We were willing to abandon ourselves and reject our flesh. Then, much to our surprise, God came to us as a human friend. We did not pray to Him or call on His name; we talked to Him as to an intimate friend. In order to fulfill the first basic principle of intercession— that it should be according to an intimate revelation of God’she art’s desire—we need to pass through a long process. We need to be dealt with, circumcised, and terminated. Then we shall be ready for intimate fellowship with God. God will come to us on a human level, not on a divine level, just as He came to Abraham. Suppose God would come to you in this way today and you would serve Him a meal and talk with Him, speaking with Him face to face. How good it is to talk with God in this way! When we have fellowship with God like this, we do not have the sense that we are talking to the almighty, majestic God, but to another human being. This is the meaning of intercession being according to the revelation of God. This intercession is always intimate, mysterious, and in the way of implication

（b）表面上为著所多玛，实际上为著罗得

b) Apparently for Sodom, Actually for Lot

7神向亚伯拉罕启示祂的心愿以后，亚伯拉罕立刻领会了神的意思。表面上亚伯拉罕是为所多玛代祷，实际上他是为罗得代祷。『亚伯拉罕近前来说，无论善恶，你都要剿灭么？』（创十八23。）这里隐指罗得。亚伯拉罕似乎在说，『主，你岂不知在所多玛，就是你即将毁灭的邪恶之城，有一个义人么？也可能有别的义人和他在一起。你要将义人与恶人一并剿灭么？』神没有向亚伯拉罕题罗得的名字，但亚伯拉罕懂得。照样，亚伯拉罕没有向神题罗得，但神也知道。他们以奥秘的方式彼此交谈。外人没有一个知道他们在说甚么，但他们彼此懂得，因为他们是亲密的朋友。我们如何能证明亚伯拉罕实际上是为罗得代祷呢？这证明是在创世记十九章二十九节：『当神毁灭平原诸城的时候，祂记念亚伯拉罕，正在倾覆罗得所住之城的时候，就打发罗得从倾覆之中出来。』这里不是说神记念罗得，乃是说神记念亚伯拉罕。本节清楚的给我们看见，神答应了亚伯拉罕的代祷，将罗得从所多玛救出来。因此，亚伯拉罕在十八章的代祷实际上不是为著所多玛城，乃是为著罗得。原则上，亚伯拉罕为罗得的代祷，就像新约里召会的代祷一样。在亚伯拉罕的时代，神在地上的子民由两个家所组成，就是亚伯拉罕家和罗得家。神的部分子民，就是罗得家，已经漂流到罪恶的所多玛城里。照样，一些召会的人也已经漂流到世界中。亚伯拉罕怎样为漂流到所多玛神的那部分子民代祷，照样，我们也必须为漂流到世界中的弟兄姊妹代祷。亚伯拉罕的代祷，是头一个与召会生活中的代祷相像的。

7When God revealed to Abraham what was on His heart, Abraham immediately understood what God meant. Apparently Abraham interceded for Sodom; actually he interceded for Lot. “Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” (18:23). Lot is implied here. Abraham seemed to be saying, “Lord, don’t You know that in Sodom, the wicked city which You are about to destroy, there is a righteous person? There might also be other righteous ones with him. Do You intend to destroy the righteous with the wicked?” God did not mention the name of Lot to Abraham, but Abraham understood. Likewise, Abraham did not mention Lot to God, but God knew. They spoke to one another in a mysterious way. None of the outsiders knew what they were talking about, but they understood each other because they were intimate friends. How can we prove that Abraham was actually interceding for Lot? The proof is in 19:29: “And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” We are not told that God remembered Lot but that He remembered Abraham. This verse tells us clearly that God answered Abraham’s intercession by rescuing Lot from Sodom. Thus, Abraham’s intercession in chapter eighteen actually was not for the city of Sodom but for Lot. In principle, Abraham’s intercession for Lot was like the intercession in the church in the New Testament. In Abraham’st i me, God’sp eople on earth were composed of two families, the families of Abraham and Lot. A part of God’sp eople, Lot’s family, had drifted into the wicked city of Sodom. In like manner, some of the church people have drifted into the world. Just as Abraham interceded for that part of God’sp eople who had drifted into Sodom, so we must intercede for the brothers and sisters who have drifted into the world. Abraham’s intercession was the first that resembles the intercession in the church life.

（c）照著神的心

c) According to God’sHe art

8一切正确的代祷，因为都是照著出于神的心的启示，所以必是照著神的心。代祷不是照著神的话。我已经指出，神虽然没有题罗得的名字，但亚伯拉罕晓得神的心意。亚伯拉罕不是照著神外面的话代祷，乃是照著神里面的心意代祷。正确的代祷总得摸著神的心。当亚伯拉罕代祷的时候，神就喜乐了，祂能在心里说，『何等好，我在地上找到了一个知道我心的人！』我再说，正确的代祷总是由在人水平上之神的眷临所发起的。每当我们深深觉得神在人的水平上临到我们，我们就要晓得，这是神要发起一次代祷，要我们完成的时候。为此我们必须学习逗留在神面前。就是祂要走开，我们也必须留在祂面前，告诉祂说，『主，我不要失去你的同在，我要和你留在这里。』你在祂面前的逗留，会开启祂的心，引出祂的愿望。我们已经看见，亚伯拉罕没有突然的向主说再见，而是和祂同行一段路程。这启示在某种意义上，神是非常有人情味的。我们若是愿意逗留在祂面前，祂会相当有人情味，不肯离开我们。因著我们与祂依依不舍，祂就留下来与我们同在。我多次经历到这个。我不离开神的面，神也不离开我的面。那样逗留的结果，就叫神向我开启祂的心，正确的代祷也出来了。

8Since all proper intercession is according to the revelation which is out of God’she art, it must also be according to God’she art. Intercession is not according to God’sword. As I have already pointed out, although God did not mention Lot by name, Abraham realized what was on God’she art. Abraham did not intercede according to the outward word of God but according to the inward intention of God’she art. Proper intercession must always touch the heart of God. While Abraham was interceding, God was happy and could say within Himself, “How good it is that I have found a man on earth who knows My heart!” I say once again that proper intercession must always be initiated by God’s visitation on the human level. Whenever we have the deep sense that God has come to us on a human level, we shall realize that this is the time when God will initiate an intercession for us to carry out. For this we must learn to linger in the presence of God. If He would begin to walk away, we must stay in His presence and tell Him, “Lord, I don’t want to lose Your presence. I want to linger here with You.” Your lingering in His presence will open up His heart and draw out His desire. We have seen that Abraham did not abruptly say good-bye to the Lord but walked with Him for a certain distance. This reveals that, in a certain sense, God is very human. If we would linger in His presence, He would be so human as not to leave us. He would remain with us because of our lingering with Him. I have experienced this many times. I did not leave God’s presence and He did not leave mine. As a result of that lingering, God opened His heart to me and the proper intercession came forth

9代祷不仅仅是祷告，乃是亲密的谈话。在创世记十八章里，亚伯拉罕不是在祷告，乃是和那在人水平上的密友谈话，说，『无论善恶，你都要剿灭么？』亚伯拉罕似乎对神说，『这是你的作法么？让我题醒你，你不该这样作。在那城里可能有五十个义人。为著可能在那里的五十个义人，你不饶恕那城么？』这是一种谈话。亚伯拉罕又接著说，『将义人与恶人同杀，将义人与恶人一样看待，这断不是你所行的；审判全地的主，岂不行公义么？』（创十八25。）这是向主有力的挑战。你与神有过这样挑战的谈话么？很少人这样作过。但是当你进入与那在人水平上的神亲密的交通里，并且知道祂的心愿，你就能向祂挑战，说，『主，这是你的作法么？这既不是祷告，也不是恳求，乃是在非常友善的谈话中向神挑战。主回答亚伯拉罕说，『我若在所多玛城里见有五十个义人，我就为他们的缘故，饶恕那地方的众人。』（创十八26。）代祷的基本原则乃是，代祷是挑战的谈话，不是祷告或恳求。神要我们向祂挑战。当亚伯拉罕向神挑战时，神也许说，『我在地上找到了一个深知我心的人，他不是祷告、求问或恳求，乃是向我挑战。我必须照他所说的去行，因为我亲爱的朋友已经向我挑战。现在我关切罗得，不如关切我自己。』你曾否经历过这样的代祷，用挑战的方式和神谈话，说，『主，这是你作事的方法么？审判全地的主岂不行公义么？将义人与恶人同杀，是你的作法么？当然不是！』这是真正的代祷。

9Intercession is not merely prayer; it is an intimate conversation. In this chapter Abraham was not praying; he was talking to his intimate Friend on a human level, saying, “Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?” Abraham seemed to be saying to God, “Is this Your way? Let me remind You that You should not do it this way. There might be fifty righteous people in the city. Will You not spare it for the fifty righteous people who might be there?” This was a conversation. Then Abraham continued, “That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (18:25). This was a strong challenge to the Lord. Have you ever had such a challenging talk with God? Very few have ever done this. But when you have come into intimate fellowship with God on the human level and know His heart’s desire, you can challenge Him, saying, “Lord, is this Your way?” This is neither praying nor begging; it is challenging God in a very friendly conversation. The Lord answered Abraham, saying, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes” (18:26). A basic principle of intercession is that intercession is a challenging talk, not a praying or a begging. God wants us to challenge Him. When Abraham challenged God, God might have said, “I have found a man on earth who knows My heart so well that he does not pray, ask, or beg; He challenges Me. I must do what he says because I have been challenged by My dear friend. Now I am not as concerned for Lot as I am for Myself.” Have you ever experienced this kind of intercession, talking with God in a challenging way, saying, “Lord, is this Your way of doing things? Will not the Judge of all the earth do right? Is it Your way to slay the righteous with the wicked? Surely it isn’t!” This is real intercession.

10我们从创世记十八章二十七至三十二节看见，亚伯拉罕继续与神谈论，要饶恕那城需要多少义人。耶和华说，『我若在所多玛城里见有五十个义人，我就为他们的缘故饶恕那城。』亚伯拉罕就问，假若少了五个，祂要毁灭那城么？祂回答说，『我在那里若见有四十五个，也不毁灭那城。』四十五这数目是耶和华说的，不是亚伯拉罕说的。祂似乎说，『四十五个也行，但我在那里找不到那么多。』然后亚伯拉罕问，四十个怎么样呢？祂说，『为这四十个的缘故，我也不作这事。』亚伯拉罕又题议三十个，祂说，若在那里找到三十个，祂也要饶恕所多玛。然后，在亚伯拉罕一面，又把数目减到二十，祂又说，为这二十个的缘故，祂也不毁灭那城。最后达到底数了，亚伯拉罕第六次题议，假若在那里找到十个义人，也求主饶恕那城。神说，甚至为那十个人，祂也不毁灭那城。亚伯拉罕向主六次题议，把数目从五十减到十。此后，他没有负担题议第七次了。也许神的同在引导他不要这样作。当神告诉亚伯拉罕，为十个义人的缘故，祂也不毁灭那城，（创十八32，）亚伯拉罕很失望。罗得有妻子，有两个未嫁的女儿，和几个已嫁的女儿连同她们的丈夫。照著亚伯拉罕的估计，罗得一家连所有的女婿在内，至少该有十个人。当亚伯拉罕得知，在所多玛连十个义人也没有，这令他吃惊并失望。

10In verses 27 through 32 we see that Abraham continued to talk to God about the number of righteous people it would take to spare the city. After the Lord had said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the city for their sakes,” Abraham asked if He would destroy the city if the number was five less than that. To this the Lord replied, “If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.” The number forty-five was spoken by the Lord, not by Abraham. The Lord seemed to be saying, “The number forty-five is all right, but I can’t find that many there.” Then Abraham asked about forty, and the Lord said, “I will not do it for forty’ss ake.” When Abraham proposed that thirty be the number, the Lord said that He would spare Sodom if thirty were found there. Then, on Abraham’ss i de, the number was reduced to twenty. Once again, the Lord said that He would not destroy the city for the sake of twenty. Finally, reaching the bottom number, Abraham made his sixth proposal, asking the Lord to spare the city if ten righteous people were found there. God said that even for the ten He would not destroy the city. Abraham made six proposals to the Lord, reducing the number from fifty to ten. After that, he did not have the burden to make a seventh proposal. He might have been led by God’s presence not to do so. When God told Abraham that He would not destroy the city for the sake of ten righteous persons (18:32), Abraham was disappointed. Lot had his wife, two unmarried daughters, and some married daughters with their husbands. According to Abraham’s figuration, there must have been at least ten people in Lot’s family, if all his sons-in-law were included. Abraham was surprised and disappointed to learn that there were not even ten righteous people in Sodom

（d）照著神公义的法则

d) According to God’s Righteous Way

11亚伯拉罕向神挑战，乃是照著神公义的法则。（创十八23～25。）亚伯拉罕对祂说，『你是审判全地的主。你要这样作么？这不是你公义的法则。』正确的代祷既不是照著神的爱，也不是照著神的恩，乃是照著神的义。向神最有力的挑战不是对祂说，『神阿，你不是爱的神么？』我们若是这样说，神也许会说，『不错，我是爱的神，但爱是在乎我。我高兴就爱，我不高兴就不爱。我这样作有甚么不对？』对这我们无话可说。我们该向神说，『神阿，你不是义的神么？』我们若照著神的义向神挑战，祂会回答说，『我的确是义的。』祂绝不会说，『我若高兴，我就是义的；我若不高兴，我就不是义的。』这会是怎样一位义的神呢？我们必须照著神的义向神挑战，因为祂的义比祂的爱和恩更约束祂。神没有义务要爱人或施恩，但祂有责任要公义。没有甚么像神的义那样坚固的约束神。每一个好的代祷者都知道，约束神最有效的作法，乃是照著祂的义向祂挑战。我们应当说，『审判全地的主会作这样的事么？』神要回笞说，『不会。我是公平的，我绝不会那样作。但你必须给我看见使那城得称义的合式人数。你若给我看见称义的人数，我就得称义，我就是义的。我绝不毁灭那城。』正确的代祷绝不照著神的爱恳求神，乃是照著神义的法则向神挑战。

11Abraham’s challenge to God was according to God’s righteous way (18:23-25). Abraham said to the Lord, “You are the Judge of all the earth. Shall You do this? This is not Your righteous way.” Proper intercession is neither according to God’s love nor according to His grace, but according to His righteousness. The strongest challenge to God is not to say to Him, “God, are You not a loving God?” If we say this, God might say, “Yes, I am a loving God, but to love is up to Me. When I feel happy, I love. But if I don’t feel happy, I don’t love. What’s wrong with My doing this?” We have nothing to say to this. We should say to God, “God, are You not the righteous One?” If we challenge God according to His righteousness, God would reply, “I certainly am righteous.” He would never say, “If I am happy, I shall be righteous, but if I am unhappy, I won’t be righteous.” What kind of a righteous God would this be? We must challenge God according to His righteousness because His righteousness binds Him more than His love and His grace do. God has no obligation to be loving or to show grace, but He is held responsible to be righteous. Nothing binds God as firmly as His righteousness. Every good intercessor knows that the way to bind God effectively is to challenge Him according to His righteousness. We should say, “Will the Judge of all the earth do such a thing?” And God will reply, “No, as the just One I would never do that. But you must show Me the proper number that will justify the city. If you show Me the justifying number, I’ll be justified and I’ll be righteous. I would never destroy that city.” Proper intercession never begs God according to His love but challenges Him according to His righteous way.

12我信在主的恢复中，许多人会被带进这样的代祷里。当神来临，在人的水平上访问亚伯拉罕，祂乃是来寻找代祷的人。今天神再次在人的水平上降临，不是要寻找单个的人，乃是要寻找团体的人。我信不久以后，在地上要有一班人完全像亚伯拉罕一样，他们知道神的心，并且在祂的同在里向祂作挑战性的代祷。我们可以向神说，『主，你岂不知你已经在新约里明确的应许我们，要完成你所动的善工么？』亚伯拉罕并没有哭著求神，为罗得的缘故饶恕所多玛，他乃是向神挑战。照样，我们不该哀哭、恳求，乃该向神挑战。神不要听我们的哀哭，祂要听我们挑战性的代祷。

12I believe that many in the Lord’s recovery will be brought into this kind of intercession. When God came down to visit Abraham on a human level, He was seeking one intercessor. Today God has come down to the human level once again, not to seek an individual but a corporate people. I believe that in not too long a time there will be a people on earth absolutely like Abraham, knowing the heart of God and making a challenging intercession in His presence. We may say to God, “Lord, don’tY ou know that You have promised us definitely in the New Testament to finish the good work that You have begun?” Abraham did not cry and plead with God to spare Sodom for Lot’ss ake; he challenged Him. Likewise, we should not weep and beg but should challenge God. He does not want to hear our crying; He wants to hear our challenging intercession

（e）表达神的愿望

e) Expressing God’s Desire

13亚伯拉罕的代祷回应了神关于罗得的心愿。当他照著神的心代祷时，他的代祷自然而然表达了神的愿望。正确的代祷总是表达神的愿望。这是代祷的另一个原则。我们的代祷若是由我们在与神亲密的交通里，对神启示的看见所发起的，就我们在代祷中无论向祂说甚么，都是祂心愿的表达，祂心意的回应。真实的代祷不是表达我们的愿望，乃是表达神的愿望。不是照著我们的心意寻求甚么，乃是寻求神心意的完成。

13Abraham’s intercession echoed the desire of God’she art concerning Lot. As he was interceding according to God’she art, his intercession spontaneously expressed God’s desire. Proper intercession always expresses God’s desire. This is another principle of intercession. If our intercession is initiated by our seeing of God’sr evelation in our intimate fellowship with Him, whatever we say to Him in our intercession will be the expression of His desire, the echo of His intention. True intercession is not to express our desire but God’s desire. It is not to seek anything according to our intention but to seek the fulfillment of God’sin tent i on.

（f）完成神的旨意

f) Carrying Out God’s Will

14代祷也必须完成神的旨意。虽然神有一个旨意要救罗得，但没有亚伯拉罕的代祷，神就无路完成祂的旨意。正确的代祷总是为著成就神的旨意铺路。牠为属天的火车铺轨道。神想要将罗得从所多玛救出来，但祂必须找出一条路这样作。因此，祂访问亚伯拉罕，目的是要他为罗得代祷。亚伯拉罕很能体谅神的心，神也能向他敞开祂的心。亚伯拉罕立刻用挑战性的代祷向神回应祂的心愿。这个代祷乃是神愿望的表达，也是祂旨意的完成。今天在召会生活中，迫切需要这种挑战性的代祷。主所给我们的一切信息，都是为著完成祂的旨意。在这本生命读经里，我们不是仅仅顾到圣经的教训，而是为著祂的恢复释放主今日的话。我们信在读过本篇信息以后，许多亲爱的圣徒会回应神的话，并对真正的代祷有充分的体认，因而使强烈的回声响彻主的恢复。从今以后，我们许多人要运用灵，照著神的心愿向神挑战而为召会代祷。我们知道，祂的心愿乃是要将祂的子民从邪恶的城里拯救出来，将今日的罗得从被定罪的光景中搭救出来。我们若是亲近神，与祂有亲密的交通，我们就能懂得祂的心，而在荣耀的代祷中向祂回应祂的心愿。在下篇信息中我们要看见，亚伯拉罕的代祷非常有效。在创世记十九章二十七至二十九节我们看见，亚伯拉罕仍和神的心相联。亚伯拉罕清早醒来，向著那城观看，十分挂念罗得。十九章二十九节清楚的告诉我们，神记念亚伯拉罕，『正在倾覆罗得所住之城的时候，就打发罗得从倾覆之中出来。』在召会生活中，这种有效的代祷要多而又多的得著体认并实行在我们中间。

14Intercession must also carry out God’s will. Although God had a will to rescue Lot, without Abraham’s intercession God had no way to carry out His will. Proper intercession always paves the way for the accomplishing of God’s will. It lays the tracks for the heavenly locomotive. God desired to rescue Lot from Sodom, but He had to find a way to do this. Thus, He visited Abraham for the purpose that he might intercede on Lot’s behalf. Abraham was intimately close to God’she art, and God was able to open His heart to him. Immediately Abraham echoed back to God His heart’s desire in a challenging intercession. This intercession was the expression of God’s desire and the carrying out of His will. There is the urgent need of this kind of challenging intercession in the church life today. All the messages that the Lord has been giving us are for the carrying out of His will. In this life-study we do not care for mere Bible teaching. We are concerned for the release of the present word of the Lord for His recovery. After reading this message, a strong echo will resound throughout the Lord’s recovery as many of the dear saints respond to His word and are brought into a full realization of genuine intercession. From now on, many of us will exercise our spirit to intercede for the church by challenging God according to His heart’s desire. We know that His heart’s desire is to save His people out of the wicked city, to rescue today’s Lot from the condition of condemnation. If we are so close to God, fellowshipping with Him in an intimate way, we shall be able to read His heart and echo His heart’s desire back to Him in a glorious intercession. In the next message we shall see that Abraham’s intercession was very effective. In 19:27-29 we see that Abraham was still with God’she art. Abraham woke up early in the morning and looked at the city, being very concerned for Lot. In 19:29 we are told clearly that God remembered Abraham and “sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.” This effective intercession will more and more be realized and practiced among us in the church life

（g）直到主说完了话

g) Until the Lord Has Finished His Speaking

15创世记十八章不是结束在亚伯拉罕的说话，乃是结束在神的说话。三十三节说，『耶和华与亚伯拉罕说完了话就走了。』这里是记载亚伯拉罕的代祷，但不是说亚伯拉罕说完了话，乃是说主说完了话。正确的代祷总是神的说话。表面上是我们在说话，实际上是神在我们的说话里说话。

15This chapter does not end with Abraham’s speaking; it ends with God’s speaking. Verse 33 says, “And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had finished speaking to Abraham” (Heb.). The record here is the record of Abraham’s intercession. But it does not say that Abraham had finished his speaking; it says that the Lord had finished His speaking. Proper intercession is always God’s speaking. Apparently we are speaking; actually God is speaking in our speaking.

16我喜欢这一节，说，『耶和华与亚伯拉罕说完了话就走了。』许多时候我们在祷告中说完了话，就说『阿们；』我们说『阿们，』等于说再见。我能作见证，千百次在主对我说完话之前，我就这样向主说再见了。我祷告了相当长的时间，然后说『阿们，』意思就是再见。但在我灵的深处，我觉得神在说，『你在作甚么？我还没有与你说完话，为甚么不再停留几分钟呢？』我们许多人都有这样的经历。我们的『阿们，』我们的再见，说得太快了。我们需要停留在神面前，直到祂对我们说完了话。我们的代祷必须说出神所说的。

16I like the verse which says that the Lord went His way as soon as He had finished speaking to Abraham. Many times in our prayers we say, “Amen,” after we have finished speaking. Our “Amen” means the same as good- bye. I can testify that hundreds of times I have said good-bye to the Lord in this way before He has finished speaking to me. I prayed for a certain length of time and then said, “Amen,” meaning good-bye. But deep in my spirit I sensed that God was saying, “What are you doing? I haven’t finished talking to you. Why don’ty ou stay for another few minutes?” Many of us have had this kind of experience. Our “Amen,” our good-bye, was too fast. We need to stay in the presence of God until He has finished His speaking to us. Our intercession must utter what God is speaking