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以弗所书生命读经 · 第66篇

藉祷告来应用

THE APPLICATION BY PRAYER
1在本篇信息中，我们来到以弗所六章十七至二十节，这里特别说到祷告这件事。
1In this message we come to 6:18-20, which in particular covers the matter of prayer
2壹祷告是神各项军装的应用我们已经看见神的军装是由六项所组成：真理的腰带、义的胸甲、和平福音的稳固根基、信的盾牌、救恩的头盔、以及那灵的剑。当我们有了这样全副军装的装备，我们就能站住抵挡仇敌的攻击，甚至能进攻仇敌。保罗说过神军装的这些项目之后，就转到祷告上。十七至十八节说，『还要藉著各样的祷告和祈求，…时时在灵里祷告，并尽力坚持，在这事上儆醒，且为众圣徒祈求。』『藉著各样的祷告和祈求』这句话，乃是形容下文的『接受』。藉著祷告，我们不仅接受救恩的头盔，也接受神的话。这指明我们需要藉著各样的祷告和祈求，接受神的话。我们接受神的话时，需要祷告。我们已经看见，神全副的军装有六项，祷告可视为第七项。这一项是惟一、具决定性、不可或缺的凭藉，叫我们藉以应用其他各项，使军装实际的供我们使用。十七节『藉著各样的祷告和祈求』这个形容的句子，与十四至十七节所说的六项军装有关。我们乃是藉著各样的祷告和祈求，用真理束腰，穿上义的胸甲，以和平福音的稳固根基当作鞋穿在脚上。不仅如此，藉著祷告，我们拿起信的盾牌，并接受救恩的头盔，和那灵的剑，那灵就是神的话。每当我们要穿上军装或拿起军装的任何一项时，都需要祷告。我们不能，也不该没有祷告，就想使用神军装的任何部分。祷告是应用神军装惟一的路，祷告使军装对我们成为实用的。譬如，我们也许有救恩的头盔，但使这头盔实用且发挥功效的，乃是祷告。因此，祷告是重大且紧要的。
2I. PRAYER AS THE APPLICATION OF THE ITEMS OF GOD’S ARMOR We have seen that the armor of God is composed of six items: the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the firm foundation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. When we are equipped with such a full armor, we can stand against the attack of the enemy and even take the offensive against him. After these items of the armor of God, Paul turns to prayer. Verse 18 says, “By means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit, and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.” The phrase “by means of all prayer and petition” modifies the word receive in verse 17. By prayer we receive both the helmet of salvation and the word of God. This indicates that we need to receive the word of God by means of all prayer and petition. We need to pray as we are receiving the word of God. We have seen that the whole armor of God is composed of six items. Prayer may be considered the seventh. It is the means by which we apply the other items. The modifier “by means of all prayer and petition” in verse 18 is related to all six items of the armor covered in verses 14 through 17. It is by means of all prayer and petition that we gird our loins with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, and have our feet shod with the firm foundation of the gospel of peace. Furthermore, it is by prayer that we take up the shield of faith and receive the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Whenever we are about to put on the armor or to take up any item of the armor, we need to pray. We cannot and we should not attempt to use any part of God’s armor without prayer. Prayer is the unique way to apply the armor of God. It is prayer that makes the armor available to us in a practical way. For example, we may have the helmet of salvation, but it is prayer that makes this helmet available and prevailing. Therefore, prayer is crucial and vital
贰 祷告
II. PRAYING
3在十七节，保罗不仅说到一样的祷告，乃是说到各样的祷告和祈求。祷告是一般的，祈求是专一的，二者都是为著我们过正确、得胜的召会生活。我们应当有普通的祷告；在有需要时，也要用特别的方式，或许禁食、禁睡，为著某一种光景向主祈求。
3In verse 18 Paul speaks not just of one kind of prayer, but of all prayer and petition. Prayer is general, whereas petition is particular. We should pray both in an ordinary way and, when necessary, in an extraordinary way, perhaps giving up sleep or food in order to petition the Lord concerning a certain situation.
一 时时
A. At Every Time
4保罗在十八节说，『时时…祷告。』有人认为『时时』这辞的意思只是指每次我们祷告的时候。另有人认为这辞的意思是随时。时时（随时）祷告，与保罗在帖前五章十七节所说不住的祷告相符。
4In verse 18 Paul speaks of “praying at every time.” Some think the phrase “at every time” means simply every time we pray. To others it means all the time. To pray all the time corresponds to Paul’sword in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing
二 在灵里
B. In Spirit
5保罗在十八节特别说到，我们要在灵里祷告。这是指我们重生、有神的灵内住的灵。这灵可视为调和的灵，就是我们的灵与神的灵调和的灵。每当我们在我们的灵里，我们也就在圣灵里，因为我们的灵与主是一。（林前六17。）因此，保罗要我们在灵里祷告的吩咐，含示我们也必须在神的灵里祷告，因为这二灵在我们里面乃是调和的。在祷告中，我们所该用的主要机关，就是我们的灵。我们的心思若是过分活动，我们的情感若不受控制，我们就会发觉很难祷告。当我们祷告时，我们的心思应当安息，我们的情感应当受规律，不太热也不太冷。按照我的经历，当我的心思被其他事物霸占时，祷告就容易受打岔。照样，当我的情感没有适当的规律，我就发觉很难在祷告中从我的灵里说出话来。因此，要在灵里祷告，我们的心思就需要被调整，我们的情感就需要受平衡。这需要许多内里的操练。不仅如此，我们若要时时在灵里祷告，我们的意志必须是刚强的。一个意志像水母般的人不能祷告。祷告看起来容易，实际上并不容易。说话或者读书很容易，但是祷告不容易。这是祷告需要运用我们意志的原因。
5In verse 18 Paul says specifically that we are to pray in spirit. This refers to our regenerated spirit indwelt by the Spirit of God. It may be considered the mingled spirit—our spirit mingled with God’s Spirit. Whenever we are in our spirit, we are also in the Holy Spirit, for our spirit is one with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17). Therefore, Paul’s charge to pray in spirit implies that we must also pray in the Spirit of God, for these two spirits are mingled in us. In prayer, the main faculty we should use is our spirit. If our mind is overactive or if our emotion is not under control, we shall find it difficult to pray. When we pray, our mind should be at rest, and our emotion should be regulated, neither too hot nor too cold. According to my experience, I easily become distracted in prayer when my mind is preoccupied with other things. Likewise, when my emotion is not properly regulated, I find it difficult to utter something from my spirit in prayer. Hence, in order to pray in spirit, we need to be adjusted in our mind and balanced in our emotion. This requires a great deal of inward exercise. Furthermore, if we would pray at every time in spirit, our will must be strong. A person with a will like a jellyfish cannot pray. It may seem that prayer is easy, but actually it is difficult. It is very easy to talk or read, but it is not easy to pray. This is the reason that prayer requires the exercise of our will
6基督徒必须是祷告的人。不祷告乃是罪；你若没有为别人、为圣徒、或为你的家人祷告，你就是在犯罪。然而，没有多少基督徒认为缺少祷告乃是罪。我们需要运用我们的意志，成为一班祷告的人。为著正当祷告生活的缘故，我们的心思必须是清明自守的，我们的情感必须受规律，我们的意志必须被加强；这样我们才能时时在灵里祷告。
6A Christian must be a praying person. It is a sin not to pray. If you fail to pray for others, the saints or those in your family, you are sinning. However, not many Christians regard the lack of prayer as sin. We need to exercise our will to be people of prayer. For the sake of a proper prayer life, our mind must be sober, our emotion must be regulated, and our will must be strengthened. Then we shall be able to pray at every time in spirit.
参 儆醒
III. WATCHING
一 为著祷告儆醒
A. For This Prayer
7保罗在十八节继续说，『并尽力坚持，在这事上儆醒，且为众圣徒祈求。』这指明我们需要为这祷告的生活儆醒，警戒。我们需要当心，免得我们应当专心祷告的时间被夺走了。为要实际的儆醒，召会中有许多人分出特定的时间祷告。在祷告上儆醒，含示我们操练我们的意志，安定我们的心思，规正我们的情感，好有正确的祷告。在此需要相当多的操练，好使我们的心思、情感、和意志降服且顺从。因著许多人没有这样实行，他们的心思是背叛的。当他们对自己的心思说要安定下来，他们的心思反而变得更活跃。有的人情感是麻烦的。我们需要操练自己到一个地步，在结束一段很长的谈话时，还能立刻祷告。我们需要这样的操练，这含示在保罗所说，要儆醒祷告的话中。我们若不在祷告的生活上儆醒，就会浪费光阴。我们整天晃来晃去，时间都浪费掉了。我们所以会浪费时间，乃是因为我们的时间没有安排，也没有控制。当我们上班时，我们的时间也许非常有规律。但是在祷告的事上，许多人没有安排他们的时间。结果，很多可以用来祷告的时间就失去了。我们若不赎回光阴，并抓住每个可利用的机会，许多时间就会徒然浪费了。虽然你也许十分忙碌，但不要拿这个作为不祷告的藉口。你若对你的祷告生活有高的估价，就会在这事上儆醒，为此安排时间。不论你多忙，你仍有时间祷告。按照圣经中的榜样，最好每天分别一次以上的时间来祷告。譬如，但以理一天三次祷告神。（但六10。）诗篇的著者也说到在早上、晌午和晚上祷告。（诗五五17。）我们若建立起每天定时祷告的习惯，这会带进莫大的祝福。这祝福不仅会影响我们个人的生活，也会影响召会、我们的邻居、甚至我们的国家。
7In verse 18 Paul goes on to speak of “wa tching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints.” This indicates that we need to be watchful, on the alert, for this prayer life. We need to be on guard lest we be robbed of time that should be devoted to prayer. To be watchful in a practical way, many in the churches set aside specific times to pray. To watch unto prayer implies that we exercise our will, calm our mind, and regulate our emotion in order to pray properly. It takes a considerable amount of exercise to make our mind, emotion, and will submissive and obedient. Because many do not practice this, their mind is rebellious. When they tell the mind to calm down, it becomes all the more active. Others have trouble with the emotion. We need to be those who exercise ourselves to such a degree that as soon as we have finished along conversation we are able to pray. The need for such an exercise is implied in Paul’sword about watching unto prayer. If we do not watch unto our prayer life, we shall lose time. Here and there throughout the day, our time will be wasted. We may lose time because our time is neither scheduled nor controlled. When we are at work, our time may be closely regulated. But when it comes to prayer, many do not schedule their time. As a result, much time which could be devoted to prayer is lost. If we do not redeem our time and grasp every available opportunity, much time will be needlessly lost. Although you may be very busy, do not use this as an excuse for not praying. If you place a high value on your prayer life, you will watch unto it and arrange time for it. No matter how busy you may be, you will still have time to pray. According to the examples in the Bible, it is better to have more than one time set aside for prayer daily. For example, Daniel prayed three times a day (Dan. 6:10). Also the psalmist spoke of praying in the morning, at noon, and in the evening (Ps a. 55:17). If we build up the habit of praying at regular times every day, great blessing will be brought in. This blessing will affect not only our personal lives, but also the church, our neighborhood, and even our nation.
二 尽力坚持
B. In All Perseverance
8保罗吩咐我们要尽力坚持，在祷告上儆醒。要保持祷告的生活，我们需要尽力坚持，经常、持久的留意。你若在早上分出某段时间祷告，你就需要坚定的守住这段时间，不要让任何事情打岔。在那段时间，你也许要把电话话筒拿起来。我们若在祷告上不坚定儆醒，仇敌就会送上许多的打岔。
8Paul charges us to watch unto prayer in all perseverance. To keep a prayer life we need all perseverance, a constant, persis tent care. If you have set aside a certain time in the morning for prayer, then you need to persistently watch regarding this time. Do not allow any distractions. You may want to take the telephone off the hook for that period of time. If we are not persistent in watching unto prayer, the enemy will send in many distractions.
三 各样的祈求
C. In All Petition
1 为众圣徒祈求
1. Concerning the Saints
9保罗在十八节也说到『为众圣徒祈求』。这指明我们需要特别为众圣徒祷告。要在我们的祷告生活上儆醒，我们需要特别的祷告。这意思是说，我们应该专特的为我们的儆醒祷告来祷告，也就是为我们的祷告生活，为我们的祷告时间祷告。我们也需要为众圣徒祈求。想想看你需要多少时间为本地、和其他城市、以及各国的圣徒祷告！
9In verse 18 Paul also speaks of “petition concerning all the saints.” This indicates that we need to pray for the saints. In order to watch unto our prayer life, we need to pray in a particular way. This means that we should pray particularly for our watching unto prayer, that is, pray for our prayer life, for our prayer time. We also need to make petition concerning all the saints. Consider how much time is required to pray for the saints in your locality and for the saints in other cities and countries
2 为使徒祈求
2. Concerning the Apostle
ａ有发表赐给他
a. That Utterance May Be Given to Him
10保罗在十九节继续说，『也替我祈求，使我在开口的时候，有发表赐给我，好放胆讲明福音的奥秘。』发表，按原文也可译作，话语，言辞，口才。保罗请求信徒祷告，使话语能赐给他。他盼望放胆开口讲明福音的奥秘。保罗需要话语和胆量来宣扬福音。福音的奥秘，就是基督与召会，为著成就神永远的定旨。（五32。）有些基督徒传福音，其中没有奥秘。但保罗宣扬福音的奥秘。这奥秘含示整个新约的经纶。基督是神的奥秘，召会是基督的奥秘。基督与召会都是为著神的经纶，而神的经纶也是奥秘。这一切奥秘都与福音有关。
10In verse 19 Paul continues, “And on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth to make known in boldness the mystery of the gospel.” The Greek word rendered utterance also means word, speech, expression. Paul was asking the believers to pray that the word would be given to him. He desired to open his mouth with boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel. Paul needed both the word and the boldness to declare it. The mystery of the gospel is Christ and the church for the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose. Some Christians preach a gospel in which there is no mystery. But Paul declared the mystery of the gospel. This mystery implies the entire New Testament economy. Christ is the mystery of God, and the church is the mystery of Christ. Both Christ and the church are for God’secon o my, which also is a mystery. All these mysteries are related to the gospel
11我相信，主巴望众地方召会中能发展出传福音的空气。请为这样的空气兴旺起来祷告。在我们的福音聚会里，我们不能光唱诗并告诉别人说，基督能应付他们的需要，满足他们。反之，我们需要释放完全的信息，说到关于神经纶高超的事物。让我们把神永远的心意告诉不信的人。不要低估他们的领悟力；他们所领悟的也许远过于你所以为的。这种的传福音必定会把不信的人吸引到主面前。
11I believe that the Lord intends for a gospel preaching atmosphere to be developed in all the local churches. Pray for such an atmosphere to become prevailing. In our gospel meetings we must do more than sing and tell others that Christ can meet their need for satisfaction. On the contrary, we need to give full message son the high things concerning God’s economy. Let us tell the unbelievers of God’s eternal intention. Do not underestimate their ability to understand. They may understand much more than you expect. Surely this kind of gospel preaching will draw unbelievers to the Lord.
12在福音聚会里，我们需要传讲和教导；我们应当在传讲的气氛中教导。圣徒必定会带他们的亲戚和朋友来参加这种聚会。我们的负担乃是讲明福音的奥秘。要为这事祷告，求主赐给我们发表，并开我们的口，放胆教导并传讲福音的奥秘。我们都需要以这种拔高的方式来宣扬福音。
12In our gospel meetings we need to both preach and teach. We should teach in a preaching atmosphere. Surely the saints will want to bring their relatives and friends to this kind of meeting. Our burden is to make known the mystery of the gospel. Pray about this. Pray that the Lord will give us utterance and open our mouths with boldness to teach and to preach the mystery of the gospel. We all need to declare the gospel in this uplifted way
ｂ他好放胆讲说
b. That He May Speak Boldly
13保罗在二十节继续说，『（我为这福音的奥秘，作了带锁炼的大使，）使我带著锁炼，照我所当讲的，放胆讲说。』保罗为福音作了大使。大使乃是受特权所差，去接触某些人的。保罗把自己看作是神所差的大使；他受宇宙最高的权柄所差，去接触某些人。然而，他是带著锁炼的大使。『锁炼』在原文是指一种成对的锁炼，将囚犯和看守的人锁在一起。保罗的盼望是，他能带著这成对的锁炼，放胆讲说。虽然保罗与看守他的人锁在一起，他仍然巴望照他所当讲的，放胆讲说。
13In verse 20 Paul goes on to say, “On the behalf of which I am an ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” Paul was an ambassador on behalf of the gospel. An ambassador is one sent by a particular authority to contact certain people. Paul considered himself an ambassador sent by God; he was one sent by the highest authority in the universe. However, he was an ambassador in a chain. The Greek word for chain is a term for the coupling chain, a chain which bound the prisoner to his guard. Paul’s desire was that in this coupling chain he might speak boldly. Although Paul was chained to the one who guarded him, he nevertheless desired to speak boldly, as he ought to speak