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歌罗西书生命读经 · 第65篇

坚定持续的祷告

PERSEVERING IN PRAYER
1读经：歌罗西书4:2-6，希伯来书4:14-16。
1Scripture Reading: Col. 4:2-6; Heb. 4:14-16
2在前几篇信息里，我们论到歌罗西三至四章所启示基督徒行事为人的四个主要方面：思念在上面的事，新人的更新，基督的平安在我们里面作仲裁，以及基督的话住在我们里面。我们若有这四件事，就有正确基督徒的行事为人─丈夫爱自己的妻子，妻子服从自己的丈夫，儿女顺从父母，父母合宜的照顾儿女，甚至主人和奴仆也有正确的关系。基督徒生活中的每一件事都正常了，神的荣耀也会在我们中间。
2In the foregoing messages we have covered four important aspects of the Christian walk revealed in chapters three and four of Colossians: setting our mind on the things above, the renewing of the new man, the peace of Christ arbitrating in us, and the word of Christ inhabiting us. If we have these four things, we shall have a proper Christian walk. Husbands will love their wives, wives will submit to their husbands, children will obey their parents, parents will care for their children properly, and even masters and slaves will have the right kind of relationship. Everything will be normal in the Christian life, and the glory of God will be among us
3保罗说过这些事情以后，在四章二节嘱咐我们：『要坚定持续的祷告。』坚定持续的祷告就是坚忍、坚定、并热切的祷告。我们这些人常常在一些消极的事上坚定持续。在婚姻生活中，丈夫和妻子也许坚定持续的吵嘴。一旦辩论起来，夫妻谁都不肯让步。我多年在召会生活中，观察到许多事例，圣徒坚定持续的发表自己的主张、观念或意见。不论情况怎样，他们的看法总是不肯改变。这些消极的例子表明，我们不懂得坚定持续是甚么意思。
3After covering all these matters, in 4:2 Paul charges us, “Persevere in prayer.” To persevere in prayer is to continue persistently, steadfastly, and earnestly. As human beings, we all persevere in certain matters, often in negative things. In married life a husband and wife may persevere in the exchange of words. Once an argument begins, neither the husband nor the wife may be willing to give in. During my many years in the church life, I have observed many cases where the saints persevered in the expression of their ideas, concepts, or opinions. No matter what the situation, they were not willing to change their opinion. These negative examples show that we do know what it means to persevere
祷告与争战
PRAYER AND WARFARE
4根据保罗在四章二节的话，我们必须坚定持续的事，乃是祷告。我们必须坚定持续的祷告，因为祷告与争战有关。神与撒但双方彼此敌对。撒但这名字是对头的意思。撒但是外面的仇敌，也是里面的对头。一面，他是仇敌，想要打败神；另一面，他是对头，在神的范围里想要制造破坏。撒但是对头，在神的范围、神的国度里敌挡神。圣经清楚的指明，甚至今天撒但都还能到神的宝座那里。在约伯记我们看见，撒但能站在神的宝座前，在祂面前控告人。（一6～12。）我们很难明白，为甚么神给仇敌这样的自由。按照启示录十二章十节，撒但昼夜控告我们。
4According to Paul’sword in 4:2, the thing that requires our perseverance is prayer. We need to persevere in prayer because prayer involves a battle, a fight. Two parties, God and Satan, are hostile to each other. The meaning of the name Satan is adversary. Satan is both the enemy without and the adversary within. On the one hand, he is the enemy trying to defeat God; on the other hand, he is the adversary within God’s realm seeking to cause damage. As the adversary, Satan opposes God from within God’s realm, God’skin gdom. This is the reason the Bible clearly indicates that even today Satan has access to the place of God’s throne. In the book of Job we see that Satan can stand be fore the throne of God and accuse people before Him (Job 1:6-12). It is difficult for us to understand why God allows His enemy such freedom. According to Revelation 12:10, Satan accuses us day and night.
5虽然在宇宙中激烈进行的争战是在神与撒但之间，但与另一方也有牵连。这第三方包括神所拣选并救赎的人，他们是真正决定这场争战胜负的人。如果我们与撒但站在一起，即使神是全能的，祂也会失败。神是无限、全能的创造者，祂不会降低自己来与一个受造之物争战。因此，神的另一种受造之物─人─就必须与撒但争战。实在说来，神需要我们。没有我们，祂就无法进行对撒但的争战。祂必须维持创造者的身分。因这缘故，祂需要我们来进行争战的实际工作。为了要在神这一边与撒但争战，我们就必须坚定持续的祷告。这种的坚定持续是必需的，因为整个世界的趋向都是远离神的。祷告乃是在堕落的宇宙中抵挡潮流。坚定持续的祷告就像逆水行舟。你若不坚定持续，就会随波逐流。无疑的，要这样坚定持续的划船或祷告，都需要极大的力量。整个宇宙都在撒但的影响之下，与神的旨意相对。因此，世界上有一股强大的潮流，敌挡神的旨意。我们这些与神站在一起的人，发现整个宇宙都在反对我们，尤其是反对我们的祷告。
5Although the battle raging in the universe is between God and Satan, another party is involved. This third party consists of God’s chosen and redeemed people, the ones who will actually decide the outcome of the battle. If we take sides with Satan, God will lose, even though He is almighty. As the infinite, all-powerful Creator, God will not lower Himself to fight against one of His creatures. Thus, it is necessary for another of God’s creatures— man—to fight against Satan. In a very real sense, God needs us. Without us, He would not have a way to carry on the battle against Satan. He must maintain His status as the Creator. For this reason, He needs us to carry on the actual work of warfare. In order to fight on God’ss i de against Satan, we need to persevere in prayer. This perseverance is needed because the course of the whole world is away from God. To pray is to go against the current, the trend, in the fallen universe. Persevering in prayer is like rowing a boat upstream. If you do not persevere, you will be carried downstream by the current. No doubt, to persevere in this way, either in rowing or in praying, requires a great deal of energy. The entire universe is under Satan’s influence and is contrary to God’s will. Hence, there is a strong current in the world in opposition to the will of God. As those who take sides with God, we find that the whole universe is against us and, in particular, against our prayer.
6在我们天天祷告的事上，许多经历都能证实，撒但尽其可能的反对我们祷告。譬如，你正好祷告到非常要紧的点上时，电话响了。你已经把自己祷告到灵里，摸著天了。就在那一刻，电话响了。你去接电话，才晓得有人拨错了号码。这件事激怒你，你祷告的灵就受到严重的破坏。我们想要祷告的时候，也许是我们的孩子，门外的访客，或是家里的宠物，来搅扰我们。因著有许多东西会来敌挡我们的祷告，所以我们的确需要坚定持续的祷告。有些姊妹说，她们没有多少时间可以祷告。她们替自己找藉口，指出她们每天要尽的责任。然而，这些姊妹却有充分的时间在电话中闲聊。她们在电话上谈话非常容易，要祷告却很难。对她们来说，祷告就像爬山一样，又令人疲劳，又需要极大的力气。但她们不觉得闲聊使人疲倦。这个例子指明，敌挡祷告的不仅在我们外面，也在我们里面。这就是我们都觉得祷告很难的原因。
6Many of the experiences we have with respect to prayer day by day prove that Satan opposes our prayer in every way possible. For example, a telephone call may come just when you are at a very important point in your prayer. You have prayed yourself into the Spirit, and you are touching the heavens. Then, at that very moment, the telephone may ring. You may answer the telephone only to learn that someone has dialed the wrong number. Your praying spirit may be seriously damaged by the irritation this causes you. When we try to pray, we may also be disturbed by our children, by callers at the door, or by any animal pets there may be in the house. Because there is so much resistance to our prayer, we definitely need to persevere in prayer. Some sisters claim that they have very little time to pray. In their attempt to make excuses for themselves, they may point to all the responsibilities they must fulfill day by day. However, these same sisters may have plenty of time to gossip on the telephone. They find it extremely easy to talk on the telephone, but very difficult to pray. To them, praying is like climbing a mountain. It is tiring and takes tremendous energy. But they do not find it exhausting to gossip. This illustration indicates that resistance to prayer lies not only outside us, but even within us. This is the reason we all find it difficult to pray.
为我们的祷告生活许愿
A VOW CONCERNING OUR PRAYER LIFE
7祷告有很大的阻力，所以我们要在这个事实的光中，非常实际的来看，如何坚定持续的祷告。在你想要坚定持续的祷告以前，首先该为你的祷告生活和主办交涉，要确定的向主祷告说，『主，在祷告的事上，我向你是认真的。我呼天唤地作见证，从现在开始，我要有祷告的生活。我不要作一个不祷告的人，我要作一个祷告的人。』如果你没有向主有过这样的祷告，你就无法坚定持续的祷告。我们要对祂说，『主，我在这事上很迫切。我把自己献给你，好叫我有祷告的生活。主，保守我在祷告的灵里。如果我忘记了，忽略了，我知道你不会忘记。求你一再题醒我要祷告。』这样的祷告可以当作向主所许的愿。我们都必须为著我们的祷告生活向主许愿。我们应当告诉主，『主，我知道如果我忘了所许的愿，你不会忘记。主，从一开始我就要清清楚楚的把责任交给你。主，不要让我过去，要题醒我祷告。』
7In light of the fact that there is great resistance to praying, let us now consider in a very practical way how to persevere in prayer. Before you try to persevere in prayer, you should first make a deal with the Lord concerning your prayer life. Pray to Him in a definite way and say, “Lord, I mean business with You about this matter of prayer. I call heaven and earth to witness that from this time forth I will have a life of prayer. I will not be a prayerless person. Rather, I will be a praying person.” If you do not have such a prayer to the Lord, you will not be able to persevere in prayer. We need to say to Him, “Lord, I am desperate about this. I offer myself to You so that I may have a prayer life. Lord, keep me in the spirit of prayer. If I forget this or neglect this, I know that You will not forget it. Remind me again and again about prayer.” This kind of prayer may be regarded as a vow made to the Lord. We all need to make a vow to Him concerning our prayer life. We should tell the Lord, “Lord, I know that if I forget this vow, You will not forget it. From the very beginning, Lord, I want to clearly hand the responsibility over to You. Lord, don’t let me go. Remind me to pray
划出确定的时间
SETTING ASIDE DEFINITE TIMES
8我们为祷告和主办了这样的交涉以后，就该划出定时祷告的时间。比方说，你可以每天早晨留下十分钟。在这段时间里面，最重要的事必须是祷告。我们的态度应当把祷告当作我们最重要的事，不让别的事情打岔。如果我们没有这种态度，我们的祷告生活就无法成功。不论我们每天必须作多少事，我们至少能在某些时段留下几分钟来祷告。早晨我们可以有一些祷告，然后中午、下班后、以及晚间可以再有些时间祷告。我们在一天之内划出确定的时间，就能留下半个钟头来祷告了。你在家里守著定时祷告的时候，要把电话听筒拿起来。这样会帮助你免去打岔。祷告的时间不是接电话的时候。此外，你也要注意那些敲门的人。你奉献给主为著祷告的时间，只该用来祷告，不该为著别的事情。在这一点上，你必须刚强、坚定持续。
8After we make such a deal with the Lord concerning prayer, we should set aside definite times for prayer. For instance, you may reserve ten minutes every morning. During this time, prayer must be the top priority. Our attitude should be that prayer is our most important business and that nothing should be allowed to interfere with it. If we do not have this attitude, we shall not be able to have a successful prayer life. No matter how many things we have to do each day, we can reserve at least a few minutes here and there for prayer. We may pray a little in the morning. Then again at noon, after work, and in the evening we may have other times for prayer. By setting aside definite times during the day, we may be able to have a half hour reserved for prayer. When you are observing a set time for prayer at home, take the telephone off the hook. This will help eliminate distractions. Prayer time is not the time for telephone calls. Furthermore, you should not pay attention to those knocking at your door. The time you have dedicated to the Lord for prayer should be used only for prayer, not for anything else. Regarding this, you need to be strong and persevering.
9我们要有更多的时间来祷告，就要想办法在一天之内把时间节省下来。譬如，我们也许可以减少梳装或与人谈话所花的时间。不必要的谈话会使我们祷告的灵软弱，破坏祷告的气氛，并且霸占了可以用来祷告的时间。祷告的争战是接连不断的，也许一直要持续到永世。我所交通祷告的事，不仅仅是道理，这是从多年的经历来的。论到祷告，我也必须承认，我有许多的失败。我不敢夸口我的祷告生活有多成功，反而因著仇敌的反对、周围的打岔、甚至自己里面的拦阻，我遭遇了许多的失败；我的确晓得，祷告是一种争战。祷告既是一种争战，我们就必须坚定持续在其中。
9In order to have more time for prayer, we should try to save time during the day. For example, perhaps we can reduce the time spent in personal grooming or in conversation with others. Unnecessary talk weakens our praying spirit, damages the praying atmosphere, and occupies time that can be used for prayer. The battle over prayer is continual. Probably it will last until eternity. What I have been sharing about prayer is not mere doctrine. It comes from years of experience. As far as prayer is concerned, I must admit that I have had much failure. I do not boast of great success in my prayer life. Rather, I have suffered many failures because of the opposition of the enemy, the distractions around me, and even the hindrances within me. I have surely learned that prayer is a battle. Because it is a battle, a fight, we must persevere in it.
祷告的益处
THE BENEFITS OF PRAYER
10坚定持续的祷告有许多的益处。藉著祷告，我们就思念在上面的事。事实上，祷告是我们思念在上面的事惟一的路。当我们藉著祷告来思念在上面的事，我们就不为琐事祈求。反之，基督属天的代求、职事和行政，要占有我们的祷告。因著基督为全世界的召会代求，我们也为众召会代求。让主来照顾我们生活中的一切小事。我们的责任乃是先求神的国和神的义。父既知道我们的需要，祂就要顾念我们，并满足我们的需要。我们在祷告的时间里思念在上面的事，就成为基督在诸天之上职事的返照。藉著我们的祷告，元首基督就得著一条路，藉著祂的身体来施行祂的行政。我们祷告的时候，就是属天的大使，在地上延展神的国度。但我们闲谈的时候，就完全不是属天的大使了。惟有祷告的时候，我们才能实际的成为属天国度在地上的大使。
10Persevering in prayer has many benefits. By prayer we set our mind on the things above. In fact, prayer is the only way to have our mind set on the things in heaven. When we set our mind on things above by praying, we shall not pray for trivial matters. Instead, our prayer will be occupied with Christ’she aven ly intercession, ministry, and administration. Because Christ is interceding for the churches around the world, we also pray for the churches. Let the Lord take care of all the small matters in our living. Our responsibility is to seek first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness. Since the Father knows our need, He will take care of us and meet our need. When we set our mind on the things above during our times of prayer, we become a reflection of Christ’s ministry in the heavens. Through our prayer, Christ, the Head, is given a way to carry out His administration through His Body. When we pray, we are a heavenly ambassador on earth with the extension of God’skin gdom. However, when we are gossiping, we are not a heavenly ambassador at all. Only when we pray do we become an ambassador of the heavenly kingdom on earth in a practical way
11我们祷告的时候，就进入至圣所，来到施恩的宝座前。希伯来四章十六节说，『所以我们只管坦然无惧的来到施恩的宝座前，为要受怜悯，得恩典，作应时的帮助。』祷告乃是来到施恩宝座前的路。我们来到施恩的宝座前，就受怜悯，得恩典，满足我们应时的需要。我们来到施恩的宝座前祷告的时候，怜悯和恩典就像江河一样，在我们里面涌流，并供应我们。这是何等的赏赐！在祷告中得著恩典的水流，的确比我们的祷告得著答应还要重要。我们的祷告有没有得著答应是次要的，主要的乃是恩典如同江河从宝座流到我们里面。
11When we pray, we enter into the Holy of Holies and approach the throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for timely help.” Prayer is the way to come forward to the throne of grace. Coming forward to the throne of grace, we receive mercy and grace to meet our timely need. When we pray, approaching the throne of grace, mercy and grace will become a river flowing in us and supplying us. How rewarding this is! Receiving the flow of grace in prayer is actually more important than having our prayers answered. Whether or not our prayer is answered is secondary. The primary thing is that grace flows like a river from the throne and into our being.
12要得著这恩典的江河，就要把我们属灵的电池充满属天的电流。属天的电流，神圣的电流，乃是三一神作恩典从宝座流到我们里面。这流带来说不出的供应和享受。今天基督徒所以软弱，原因就在于他们属灵的电池没有充电。他们因著缺少祷告，就缺少属天的传输。我们在一天的生活当中，必须一再充满神圣的电流。这的确是坚定持续祷告的赏赐。祷告的另一项益处和与主交通有关。我们都宝爱主的同在和膏油的涂抹，我们也都宝爱与主交通。但我们怎样才能享受主的同在，并与祂交通？惟一的路乃是祷告。当我们祷告时，就进入与主的交通中，并且觉得我们真与祂成为一灵，祂也的确与我们成为一灵。我们越祷告，就越经历与主成为一；我们也越享受祂的同在，越多与祂交通。这是何等奇妙的赏赐！
12To receive this river of grace is to have our spiritual battery charged with heavenly current. The heavenly current, the divine electricity, is the Triune God as grace flowing out of the throne and into us. The supply and enjoyment this brings is unspeakable. Christians today are weak because their spiritual batteries are not charged. Because they are short of prayer, they are short of the heavenly transmission. Again and again during the day, we need to be charged with the divine electrical current. This surely is a reward for persevering in prayer. Another benefit of praying is related to fellowship with the Lord. We all love the Lord’s presence and anointing, and we all love to have fellowship with Him. But how can we enjoy the Lord’s presence and have fellowship with Him? The only way is to pray. When we pray, we enter into fellowship with the Lord and become conscious of the fact that we are truly one spirit with Him and that He is actually one spirit with us. The more we pray, the more we experience being one with the Lord, and the more we enjoy His presence and have fellowship with Him. What a marvelous reward
13要有正确的祷告生活，起初总是不太容易。但你长久这样实行的话，就会越过越容易了，因为你晓得祷告的赏赐。我们已经看见，正常基督徒的行事为人必须思念在上面的事，有新人的更新，有基督的平安在我们里面作仲裁，并让基督的话住在我们里面。然而，这四件事都需要祷告。我们要实行这四件事，经历这四件事，就需要祷告。祷告引我们进入这四件事的实际里，并保守我们在这实际里。
13It is always difficult at first to have a proper prayer life. But if you practice this for a long period of time, it will get easier and easier, for you will realize the rewards of praying. We have seen that for a normal Christian walk we need to set our mind on things above, have the renewing of the new man, have the peace of Christ arbitrating in us, and allow the word of Christ to inhabit us. These four matters, however, all require prayer. To practice them and to experience them we need to pray. Prayer ushers us into the reality of these four things and keeps us in this reality
儆醒感恩
WATCHING WITH THANKSGIVING
14保罗嘱咐我们要坚定持续的祷告，他告诉我们要在此儆醒感恩。（西四2。）这指明我们若没有为著甚么感谢神，我们就必定缺少祷告。我们要终日感谢神。我们要成为那些不断向神献上感谢的人。如果我们一直向主献上感谢，你想弟兄会与妻子争辩么？当然不会！夫妻之间争辩，乃是缺少祷告的表记。夫妻所以争执，乃是因为他们缺少祷告。一个祷告之人的表记乃是感谢。倘若你是一个坚定持续祷告的人，你就会不住的感谢主。这样向主献上感谢，会保守你在祷告的生活中。
14In charging us to persevere in prayer, Paul tells us to watch in it with thanksgiving (4:2). This indicates that if we are not thankful to God for anything, we must be lacking in prayer. All day long we need to thank God. We need to be those who continually offer thanks to Him. If we are constantly giving thanks to the Lord, do you think it will be possible for a brother to argue with his wife? Surely not! Arguments between husband and wife are a sign of prayerlessness. They argue because they are lacking in prayer. The sign of a praying person is thankfulness. If you are one who perseveres in prayer, you will always be thankful to the Lord. This giving of thanks to Him will preserve you in your life of prayer
15在四章二节保罗不是说，要坚定持续的祷告，并要儆醒。他乃是说，『你们要坚定持续的祷告，在此儆醒感恩。』我们藉著献上感谢而儆醒祷告。如果我们不断向主献上感谢，我们的对头就无法使我们离开祷告的生活。祷告乃是藉著儆醒感恩维持的。
15In 4:2 Paul does not say to persevere in prayer and to watch. He says, “Persevere in prayer, watching in it with thanksgiving.” We watch in prayer by the giving of thanks. If we continually offer thanks to the Lord, the adversary will not be able to carry us off from our prayer life. Prayer is maintained by watching in it with thanksgiving
恩典与智慧
GRACE AND WISDOM
16保罗在四章六节说，『你们的言语总要带著恩典，好像用盐调和，就可知道你们应当怎样回答各人。』如果我们是祷告的人，一面，我们会向主发出感谢；另一面，我们的言语会带著恩典。从我们的口中，会向神涌出感谢，向人涌出恩典。这样，我们就知道我们是祷告的人。然而，如果我们的言语缺少恩典，我们就必定缺少祷告。当我们觉得缺少恩典的时候，就必须再祷告，直到满了神圣的电流；然后我们的口就必满了恩典。
16In 4:6 Paul says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” If we are praying people, we shall utter thanks to the Lord, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, our speech will be with grace. Out of our mouth will flow thanks to God and grace to others. In this way we shall know that we are praying people. However, if our speech is lacking in grace, we must be short of prayer. When we become aware of the lack of grace, we need to pray again and be charged with the divine electricity. Then our mouth will be filled with grace
17保罗在四章五节说，『你们对于外人要凭智慧行事，要赎回光阴。』这是坚定持续祷告的结果。如果我们不住的祷告，向神献上感谢，言语满了恩典，我们自然而然就成为大有智慧的人，并且晓得如何赎回光阴。我们在日常生活里不会浪费光阴。如果我们对神满了感谢，对人满了恩典，我们就有智慧行事为人荣耀神，并且建造别人。这样，我们的光阴就赎回来了。论到坚定持续的祷告，我盼望再说一遍，我们要乐意和主办交涉，甚至向祂许愿说，我们要作祷告的人。如果各召会里的众圣徒都和主办这样的交涉，主的恢复就会大大的得著丰富并拔高。不仅如此，众圣徒也会享受主，享受主的同在和祂即时并常时的膏油涂抹。他们会终日享受主的笑脸。我们坚定持续的祷告时，基督活的人位就成了我们的经历和享受。
17In 4:5 Paul says, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are without, redeeming the time.” This is a result of persevering in prayer. If we pray without ceasing, offer thanks to God, and have speech filled with grace, we shall spontaneously become very wise and know how to redeem the time. In our daily living no time will be wasted. If we are filled with thanks to God and with grace toward others, we shall have the wisdom to walk in a way which glorifies God and builds up others. Then our time will be redeemed. Concerning persevering in prayer, I wish to say once again that we need to be willing to make a deal with the Lord, even to make a vow to Him, that we shall be a praying people. If all the saints in all the churches make such a deal with the Lord, the recovery will be greatly enriched and uplifted. Furthermore, the saints will enjoy the Lord, His presence, and His instant and constant anointing. All day long, they will enjoy the smile of the Lord’s face. As we persevere in prayer, the living Person of Christ becomes our experience and enjoyment.