禱告
The story of Acts is certainly a riveting story, isn’t it? Behind the story is this subtle question: How is it that this group of tent makers, dye merchants, fisherman, tax collectors, homemakers, and metal workers - how did they ignite a global movement? How did these ordinary women and men have an indelible impact on civilisation, on culture, on education, on medicine, on freedom, and of course on the lives of countless people worldwide?
使徒行传的故事当然是一个引人入胜的故事，不是吗？故事的背后是一个微妙的问题：这群制造帐篷的、买卖染料的、渔夫、税务员、做家庭制造的和金属工人——他们是如何点燃一个全球运动的？这些普通男女如何对文明、文化、教育、医学、自由，当然还有全世界无数人的生活产生不可磨灭的影响？
So far, we’ve identified 7 seismic shifts that answer that question:
With the message of the kingdom in their hands (seismic shift #1),
and the Spirit of God dwelling in their lives (seismic shift #2), they poured into the streets of Jerusalem just weeks after Easter Sunday and declared that they had indeed seen Jesus and spoke of the difference he was able to make.
On the first day of the church, three thousand came to believe. Within another couple of weeks, Luke tells us that number had grown to over five thousand men, plus women and children – so seismic shift #3 multiplication.
到目前为止，我们已经用 7 个巨大转变来回答这个问题：
他们手中握着天国的信息（巨大转变#1），
上帝的灵住在他们的生活中（巨大转变#2），他们在复活节周日后几周涌入耶路撒冷的街道，并宣布他们确实已经看到了耶稣，并谈到了他能够做出的改变。
在教会建立的第一天，就有三千人信了主。路加告诉我们，之后的两周里这个数字已经增长到
超过 5000 名男性，加上女性和儿童——因此发生了翻天覆地的变化 #3 倍增。
As the community grew, so did the other traits of these vibrant believers:
#4 Hospitality – the way the church was a warm and welcoming whānau that created space for others.
#5 Generosity – the open-handed way of life – sharing with each other.
#6 Service – the way they embraced their common and uncommon calling to serve others.
随着社区的发展，这些充满活力的信徒的其他特征也在增长：
#4 热情好客——教会的方式是一个热情好客的 whānau 家庭，为他人创造了空间。
#5 慷慨——开放的生活方式——彼此分享。
#6 服恃——他们接受他们共同和不寻常的呼召为他人服务的方式。
And last week – #7 Diversity – the way the church experienced explosive growth when they welcomed and empowered minorities in the work of the gospel. Today, we want to hone in on the seismic shift #8: Prayer: You have ready access to the words and presence of your Creator in order to grow and spread the news.
In many ways, Prayer goes together with Word so we can talk about Word and Prayer. It’s a conversation where we genuinely listen and converse with our heavenly Father. Listening to what He has to say to us. Letting him know what’s going on in our lives and communities.
上周——#7 多样性——当教会在福音事工中欢迎少数群体并赋予他们权力时，他们经历了爆炸式增长。今天，我们一起来看另一个巨大转变#8：祷告：你已经获得了随时聆听造物主的话语和感受他的同在的通道，可以更好地发展和传播福音。
在许多方面，祷告与神的话语（圣经）是相辅相成的，所以我们可以同时谈论神的话语（圣经）和祷告。这是一次我们真诚地倾听并与天父交谈的对话。聆听祂要对我们说的话。让他知道我们的生活和社区正在发生什么。
This is one of those traits you expect to hear about in church, right? It’s also one of those areas where a lot of people struggle. It’s not that we don’t pray. We pray more than we exercise. We pray when the money runs out, when the unborn child hasn't kicked for a while, or when our teenager isn’t home yet. In fact, research indicates that one in five unbelievers pray. …Just in case!... But, prayer can be a struggle. Deep down, we want it to be more than a spiritual equivalent of a 111 call.
这是您希望在教会听到的那些特征之一，对吗？这也是很多人苦苦挣扎的领域之一。不是我们不祷告。我们的祷告多于我们的练习。当钱用完时，当肚子里的孩子有一段时间没有胎动时，或者当我们的十几岁的孩子晚上还没回家时，我们会祷告。事实上，研究表明五分之一的非信徒也祷告。 …仅仅是为了以防万一！... 但是，祷告可能是一场斗争。在内心深处，我们希望它不仅仅是精神上的 急救呼叫。
What I love about the story of Acts is the way Luke uses a range of stories that ignite a greater understanding of what ordinary prayer looks like in ordinary believers that leads to thriving lives. Re-reading through Acts, I’ve observed five traits about prayer among ordinary believers – then, and now that all lead to thriving lives. First of all, we see that…
我喜欢使徒行传的故事，因为路加使用了一系列故事，这些故事激发了人们对普通信徒的普通祷告是什么样子的理解，这些祷告会带来生活的繁荣。重读使徒行传，我观察到普通信徒祷告的五个特点——过去和现在祷告都带来了兴旺的生活。首先，我们看到……
#1 Prayer is a regular habit – a simple conversation
It’s almost a summary point here in the first chapter in Acts when Luke tells us:
“They all met together and were constantly united in prayer”/ Acts 1:14
How’s that for a description of their live?! And this wasn’t just some leaders in the group. It was a regular trait of ordinary followers. In the next chapter, he tells us…
All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer./ Acts 2:42
#1 祷告是一种习惯——简单的对话
当路加告诉我们时，这几乎是使徒行传第一章中的一个总结点：
“他们都聚在一起，都同心合一的恒切祷告。”/使徒行传 1:14
怎么形容他们的生活？！这不仅仅是这个群体的一些领导者。这是普通追随者的常态。在下一
章中，他告诉我们……
所有的信徒都献身于使徒的教导、团契、分餐（包括圣餐）和祷告。 都 恒 心 遵 守 使 徒 的 教 训 ， 彼 此 交 接 ， 擘 饼 ， 祈 祷 。/使徒行传 2:42
Did you notice the way Luke highlights four habits they had here?
“teaching” – so the way they came around the Word together, just like we’re doing right now.
“fellowship” – a commitment to doing life together in relationship with others
“sharing meals” – this seismic shift of hospitality
and then he says “they devoted to prayer.” They ensured that their day was punctuated with particular times to pray and converse with God. It was a regular habit for them.
你注意到路加强调他们在这里有四个习惯的方式了吗？
• “教导”——他们一起围绕圣经而来的方式，就像我们现在正在做的那样。
• “团契”——承诺在与他人的关系中共同生活
• “共享餐食”——这种好客的巨大转变
• 然后他说“他们专心祷告”。他们确保每天都有特定的时间来祷告和与上帝交谈。这对他们来说是一个常规的习惯。
Look at what happened as a result:
“And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”/ Acts 2:47
Because of their healthy habits, the Lord grew their church. Health most often leads to growth.
Because Word and Prayer were such traits of these believers, Luke even describes the growing
movement by saying things like “the word of God spread.”/ Acts 6:7 or “the word of God continued
to spread and flourish.”/ Acts 12:24.
Because wherever they went, Word and Prayer were these traits they took with them.
看看结果发生了什么：
“赞 美 神 ， 得 众 民 的 喜 爱 。 主 将 得 救 的 人 天 天 加 给 他 们 。”/使徒行传 2:47
由于他们健康的习惯，主发展了他们的教会。健康常常带来成长。
因为读经和祷告是这些信徒的特征，路加甚至通过说“上帝的道传播开来”这样的话来描述不断
增长的运动。/使徒行传 6:7 或“上帝的道继续传播和繁荣。”/使徒行传 12 :24。
因为无论他们走到哪里，读经和祷告都是他们随身携带的特质。
We see this in – what could be a off-the-cuff comment when Luke tells us what Paul did when he was farewells the leaders in the city of Ephesus. Paul reminds them of the importance of holding to the Word that he had taught. Then we read: “When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.” / Acts 20:36
This may well be out by the port, awaiting to dock the boat that would take him to his next destination.
Luke wants us to see that prayer is a regular habit for followers of Jesus. Yet, many of us still struggle with it. Perhaps you palpable fear when you are part of a group and someone says, ‘let’s go around the circle and each take a turn to pray.’
我们看到了这一点——当路加告诉我们保罗在告别以弗所城的领袖时做了什么时，这可能是一个即时的评论。保罗提醒他们坚守他所教导的神的话语的重要性。然后我们读到：“保 罗 说 完了 这 话 ， 就 跪 下 同 众 人 祷 告 ” / 使徒行传 20:36
这很可能在港口附近，等待停靠将带他前往下一个目的地的船。路加希望我们看到，祷告是耶稣追随者的常规习惯。然而，我们中的许多人仍然在为此苦苦挣扎。当你是一个小组的一员并且有人说：“让我们围成一圈，每个人轮流祈祷时，你可能会感到恐惧。”
It’s your worse nightmare.
I think one of the reasons so many struggles in prayer is that we forget it’s a conversation.
Sadly, so many of us have heard people pray in very formal ways that sound more like a polished speech in another language. It sounds formal. It uses religious language that is never used elsewhere in our lives. It’s like we’re in a different country.
And have you noticed that the way so many of us pray is different to the way we talk at other times. We deepen our voice. Raise or lower the volume. Or, we insert ‘father’ or ‘lord’ every line or two. But, I don’t talk to Robyn like that. ‘Robyn, I ask that you pick up the milk on the way home. And Robyn, I ask that you would be near me. And Robyn I ask that …” It’s doesn’t convey the heart of prayer – which is conversation.
这是你糟糕的噩梦。
我认为许多人在祷告中挣扎的原因之一是我们忘记了这是一场对话。
可悲的是，我们中的许多人都听过人们以非常正式的方式祈祷，听起来更像是用另一种语言进行的优美演讲。听起来很正式。它使用了我们生活中从未在其他地方使用过的宗教语言。就像
我们在另一个国家一样。你有没有注意到，我们这么多人祈祷的方式与我们其他时候说话的方式不同。我们加重我们的声音。提高或降低音量。或者，我们每隔几句就插入“天父”或“主”的词语。但是，我不会那样和罗宾说话。 “罗宾，我请你在回家的路上取牛奶。还有罗宾，我请求你靠近我。罗宾， 我请求……” 这些并没有表达出祷告的核心——祷告是对话。
None of this is how Jesus taught us to pray. Luke is aware of that because he gives us ‘the Lord’s Prayer’ in his prequel to Acts known as the Gospel of Luke. How did Jesus teach us to pray? Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: Remember what the very first word is?
“Father …”/ Luke 11:2
That word is ‘Abba.’ It’s not a formal word. Rather, it’s a word that conveys warmth and relationship.
I think best translation for that today would be ‘Papa.’
This reminds us that prayer is primarily relational, not transactional. We are talking to one we can trust, one who loves us.
这些都不是耶稣教我们祷告的方式。路加意识到这一点，因为他在被称为使徒行传前传的路加福音中给了我们“主祷文”。耶稣如何教导我们祷告？耶稣说：“你应该这样祷告：
还记得第一个词是什么吗？
“我 们 在 天 上 的 父啊……”/路加福音 11:2
那个词是“阿爸”。这不是一个正式的词。相反，这是一个表达温暖和关系的词。我认为今天最好的翻译是“爸爸”。
这提醒我们，祷告主要是关系性的，而不是交易性的。我们正在与一个我们可以信任的人交谈，一个爱我们的人。
Perhaps we need to see ourselves more as children when we come to pray. After all, children come carefree. Curious. Excited. Kids don’t talk to their dad in formalities. If they’re wanting icecream, do they say: “Dear Household father, who pays the bills and provides thy great bounty to eat. It is most gracious of you to provide me with the dinner spread in front of me. Please know of my deep gratitude for your benevolence. For thou art splendid in thy attentive care and diligent in your preparation. May I ask that thou have some icecream following this rich harvest…” NO – “dad, can we have icecream!”
当我们来祷告时，也许我们需要更多地将自己视为孩子。毕竟，孩子们是无忧无虑的。好奇的。兴奋的。孩子们不会拘于形式的与他们的父亲交谈。如果他们想要冰淇淋，他们是否会说：“亲爱的家庭之主父亲，他支付了账单并提供了丰富的食物。你慷慨地为我提供摆在我面前的晚餐。请知道我对您的善意深表感谢。为你对我们的细心照顾和勤奋的预备。在大丰收之后，请您允许我吃点冰淇淋……”不——“爸爸，我们可以吃冰淇淋吗？”
Prayer is natural communication. The only difference is that we are talking to our heavenly papa, sharing with him what’s on our mind and heart. As I continue to grow in my own prayer habits, I’m finding myself asking more questions in my prayer. So, if I’m confused about some direction - my first instinct now is to say, ‘Jesus, what do you think we should do? What’s the best way forward between these two options?’ Around our dinner table this week, I was so encouraged when my 9 year old out of nowhere said – I think we should all take a turn to pray for each other. We continued eating while each family member prayed for another. It was natural. It was built on the awareness that Jesus was there at the table with us.
祷告是自然的沟通。唯一不同的是，我们是在与天上的爸爸交谈，与他分享我们的想法和内心。随着我在自己的祷告习惯上不断成长，我发现自己在祷告中提出了更多问题。所以，如果我对某个方向感到困惑——我现在的第一反应是，‘耶稣啊，你认为我们应该怎么做？这两种选择之间最好的方式是什么？这周在我们的餐桌旁，当我 9 岁的孩子突然说出——“我认为我们都应该轮流为彼此祷告”，我感到非常鼓舞。我们继续吃饭，而每个家庭成员都为另一个人祷告。这是很自然的。它建立在耶稣与我们同桌的意识之上。
To what extent is prayer a natural part of your day? To what extent do you believe that you have ready access to the words and presence of our Creator in order to grow and spread the news?
There is a second aspect about prayer that leads to thriving lives.
祷告在多大程度上是你一天中自然的一部分？你在多大程度上相信你已经准备好接受我们造物主的话语和同在，以发展和传播福音？
这是祷告可以带来繁荣的生活的第二个方面。
#2 Prayer is a catalyst for spiritual power
A few weeks ago, we saw the way the Spirit came on the church at Pentecost and gave them courage to preach about Jesus. Remember, this is just weeks after Jesus was crucified and raised. They’re saying to their audience - ‘you crucified him. We’ve seen the resurrected Jesus – right outside these walls.’ As you can imagine, this was a dangerous thing to do. Sure enough the Sanhedrin, the religious ruling body who just weeks earlier had orchestrated the crucifixion of Jesus – well they command Peter and John to ‘Stop preaching or else!’
#2 祷告是灵性力量的催化剂
几周前，我们看到圣灵在五旬节降临在教会身上，让他们勇敢地传讲耶稣。请记住，这是在耶稣被钉十字架并复活之后的几周。他们对听众说——‘你把他钉在十字架上了。我们已经看到了复活的耶稣——就在这些墙外。可以想象，这是一件危险的事情。果然是公会，几周前策划了耶稣受难的宗教统治机构——他们命令彼得和约翰“停止传道，否则！”
Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!
As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”/ Acts 4:19-20
Remember, these are the same people who weeks earlier fled when Jesus was crucified. Peter even denied knowing Jesus. Where does this amazing courage come from? It comes from the Spirit. It comes through Word and Prayer. They get home from their gutsy response to the Sanhedrin and my guess is that the reality of what they have done dawns on them. I imagine a wave of fear starts to swell within. Have that felt that before?
彼得和约翰回答说：“彼 得 、 约 翰 说 ： 听 从 你 们 ， 不 听 从 神 ， 这 在 神 面 前 合 理
不 合 理 ， 你 们 自 己 酌 量 罢 ！我 们 所 看 见 所 听 见 的 ， 不 能 不 说 。”/使徒行传4:19-20
请记住，这些人是几周前耶稣被钉十字架时逃跑的人。彼得甚至否认认识耶稣。这种惊人的勇气从何而来？它来自圣灵。它来自于神的话语和祷告。他们从对公会的勇敢回应中回到家，我的猜测是他们所做的事情的现实对他们来说是非常后怕的。我能想象他们的内心应该有一波恐惧。你以前有过这种感觉吗？
It’s understandable because they know what happened to Jesus. So, what do they do amidst their fear? In Acts 4, we read a prayer they pray. It’s laced with Scripture – as they interact and quote the Word through their prayer – reminding themselves that they are doing a good thing. As they pray, they are reminding themselves of what they know to be true of God from what they have heard in His Word. Then, they share their fears and request with their heavenly papa:
“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your
word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through
the name of your holy servant Jesus.”/ Acts 4:29-30
这是可以理解的，因为他们知道发生在耶稣身上的事。那么，他们在恐惧中做了什么？在使徒行传第 4 章，我们读到他们的祷告。它与圣经相结合——当他们通过在祷告中引用圣经——提醒自己，他们正在做一件好事。当他们祷告时，他们是在提醒自己，从他们在上帝的话语中听到的，他们所知道的上帝是信实的。然后，他们与天上的爸爸分享他们的恐惧和请求：
“他 们 恐 吓 我 们 ， 现 在 求 主 鉴 察 ， 一 面 叫 你 仆 人 大 放 胆 量 讲 你 的 道 ， 一 面
伸 出 你 的 手 来 医 治 疾 病 ， 并 且 使 神 迹 奇 事 因 着 你 圣 仆 （ 仆 ： 或 作 子 ） 耶 稣
的 名 行 出 来。”/使徒行传 4:29-30
Listen to what happens:
After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they
preached the word of God with boldness./ Acts 4:31
Prayer is the catalyst for that spiritual power.
It’s what enables these same men who earlier ran – to now stand and witness.
It’s what enables this community to give, to be bold, to encourage, to share.
These are the traits we want in our lives, right? We want to be bold. We want to generous. We want to encouragers. We want to people of peace.
Some of you are confused and anxious right now. There is turbulence in your home. It might be in relationships. It might be in your business. All this can distract you from the mission. So, what do we do?
听听会发生什么：
祷 告 完 了 ， 聚 会 的 地 方 震 动 ， 他 们 就 都 被 圣 灵 充 满 ， 放 胆 讲 论 神 的 道 。/使徒行传 4:31
祷告是那种精神力量的催化剂。
这就是使这些早先逃跑的人现在能够站起来见证的原因。
这就是使这个社区能够给予、大胆、鼓励和分享的原因。
这些是我们生活中想要的特质，对吧？我们要大胆。我们要慷慨。我们要做鼓励者。我们希望人们平安。
你们中的一些人现在感到困惑和焦虑。你的家庭有动荡。可能是因为婚姻关系。可能是因为你的生意。所有这些都会分散你对事工的注意力。那么我们该怎么办？
Luke encourages us to pray. Because he knows that we have ready access to the words and presence of our Creator in order to grow and spread the news. But Luke knows we also need some more encouragement. This leads us a third aspect that comes through in the stories that Luke shares.
路加鼓励我们祷告。因为他知道我们可以随时获得造物主的话语和同在，以便发展和传播福音。但路加知道我们还需要更多的鼓励。这引出了路加分享的故事中的第三个方面。
3. Prayer changes what’s happening around us
Listen to this story in Acts 12:
“It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to
persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that
this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also…. After arresting him, he
put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod
intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.”/ Acts 12:1-3
3. 祷告改变我们周围发生的事情
请听使徒行传 12 章的这个故事：
“那时 ， 希 律 王 下 手 苦 害 教 会 中 几 个 人 ，用 刀 杀 了 约 翰 的 哥 哥 雅 各 。他 见 犹
太 人 喜 欢 这 事 ， 又 去 捉 拿 彼 得 。 那 时 正 是 除 酵 的 日 子 。”/使徒行传 12:1-3
So, Herod had arrested Peter and thrown him in jail because he saw that the religious leaders took delight when James was killed. Herod’s plan seems to be to have a quick trial after the Passover was over and then have Peter killed also. Same time, same place as Jesus. Peter’s death looks inevitable.
The power of Rome is being brought down on him.
To ensure no escape, Herod has Peter put under the guard of sixteen soldiers with two of these soldiers chained to Peter, one each side of him. A bit of overkill - there is absolutely no way out of this. Remember, the church has no legal rights. They’re powerless to do anything.
What does the church do?
“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.” / Acts 12:5
因此，希律王逮捕了彼得并将他投入监狱，因为他看到雅各被杀时宗教领袖们很高兴。希律王的计划似乎是在逾越节结束后进行快速审判，然后将彼得也杀了。与耶稣相同的时间，相同的地点。彼得的死似乎不可避免。罗马的力量正在将他倾轧。
为确保彼得不能逃跑，希律派十六名士兵看守彼得，用链子将其中两名士兵拴在彼得身上，每边一名。有点矫枉过正 – 在这种情况下彼得绝对没有办法逃脱。请记住，教会没有合法权利。
他们无能为力。
教会是做什么的？
“於 是 彼 得 被 囚 在 监 里 ； 教 会 却 为 他 切 切 的 祷 告 神 。” / 使徒行传 12:5
Let me summarise what Luke says happened in response to the prayers of God’s people: 1) An angel appeared and radiated piercing light in the prison cell where Peter was incarcerated. 2) The angelic being poked Peter and woke him up. 3) This angel spoke to Peter and told him to get up. 4) Peter’s chains fell off his wrists. 5) The angel told Peter to get dressed and follow him out of the jail. 6) They walked past all 16 guards without being noticed! 7) The iron gate swung open on its own accord. 8) Peter followed the angel all the way out of the prison. 9) Then the angel disappeared. All this was so staggering that Peter thought it must all be a dream. But when the angel disappeared, he finally came to his senses and made his way to the house where the believers were gathered.
让我总结一下路加所说的回应上帝子民祷告的事情： 1) 一位天使出现并在彼得被监禁的牢房里发出刺眼的光。 2) 天使戳了彼得，叫醒了他。 3) 这位天使对彼得说话，叫他起来。 4) 彼得链子从他的手腕上掉了下来。 5) 天使吩咐彼得穿好衣服，跟着他出监狱。 6) 他们从所有 16 名守卫身边走过而没有被注意到！ 7) 铁门自动打开了。 8) 彼得一直跟着天使走出监狱。 9) 然后天使消失了。这一切太惊人了，彼得认为这一定是一场梦。但当天使消失后，他终于回过神来，朝着信徒聚集的房子走去。
Guess what they were doing? They were having a prayer meeting – praying for Peter.
I imagine, Jacob praying away ‘Oh, God we know you can do all things. So, free Peter.’ Miriam prays.
‘Yes God, yes God..’ Then, there is a knock on the door.
A girl named Rhoda answered the door.
When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!”/ Acts 12:14
How do the group who are likely praying for Peter’s release respond?
“You’re out of your mind,” they told her. / Acts 12:15
This is one of the reasons I love the stories of the Bible. They are so true to life. They never paint anybody in glowing terms.
But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.
Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out
of prison. / Acts 12:16-17
猜猜他们在做什么？他们正在举行一个祷告会——为彼得祷告。
我能想象到，雅各布在祷告，‘哦，上帝，我们知道你可以做所有的事情。所以，请释放彼
得。”米里亚姆祷告： “是的，上帝，是的，上帝……”然后，有人敲门。
一个名叫罗达的女孩应门。
当她认出彼得的声音时，她喜出望外，没开门就跑回去，喊道：“彼得站在门外！”/使徒行传12:14
为彼得获释而祷告的那群人有什么反应？
“你疯了，”他们告诉她。 / 使徒行传 12:15
这也是我喜欢圣经故事的原因之一。这些故事对生活的描写如此真实。他们从不以光彩照人的方式描绘任何人。
彼 得 不 住 的 敲 门 。 他 们 开 了 门 ， 看 见 他 ， 就 甚 惊 奇 。彼 得 摆 手 ， 不 要 他 们 作 声 ， 就 告 诉 他 们 主 怎 样 领 他 出 监 / 使徒行传 12:16-17
This is so much like us, isn’t it. We ask for something but we don't believe it will actually happen. So why does Luke tell us this honest story that doesn’t portray the church all that well? He wants us to know that they are just like you and me. AND he wants us to know that prayers changes things. I sense some of you today have given up on that person you have been praying for. It’s too impossible. Luke wants to encourage us to keep praying.
这太像我们了，不是吗。我们向主请求一些东西，但我们不相信它会真的发生。那么为什么路加告诉我们这个真实的故事并没有很好地描绘教会呢？他想让我们知道他们就像你我一样。他想让我们知道祷告会改变事情。我感觉到今天你们中的一些人已经放弃了你一直为之祷告的那个人。这太不可能了。路加想鼓励我们继续祷告。
One of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century, Karl Barth, said:
“to clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”/ Karl Barth
In a similar way, Richard Foster writes in his popular book, Celebration of Discipline: “we are working with God to determine the future! Certain things will happen in history if we pray rightly. We are to change the world by prayer.”/ Richard Foster
When we pray, we’re not just mouthing words. We’re requesting that the very One who created this world do something to recreate and change the course of history. If we pray, history will turn out one way; if we don’t, it may well turn out another way. It seems almost too wild and wonderful to be true. The situation before you may seem impossible. Remember - God is able to do beyond what you or I can ever ask or imagine. In case we still need encouragement to pray, Luke gives us another reason.
二十世纪最伟大的神学家之一，卡尔·巴特说：
“双手合十祈祷是反对世界混乱的起义的开始。”/卡尔巴特
理查德·福斯特（Richard Foster）以类似的方式在他的畅销书《纪律庆典》中写道：“我们正在同神一起做工来决定未来！如果我们正确地祷告，某些事情会在历史上发生。我们要通过祷告来改变世界。”/理查德·福斯特
当我们祈祷时，我们不只是口头在说话。我们请求创造这个世界的那个人做一些事情来重建和改变历史进程。如果我们祷告，历史会朝一个方向发展；如果我们不这样做，它很可能会变成另一种方式。这似乎太狂野太美妙了，不可能是真的。摆在你面前的情况似乎是不可能的。记住——上帝能做的超出你或我所能请求或想象的。如果我们仍然需要鼓励来祷告，路加给了我们另一个理由。
4. Prayer guides towards mission
Brad mentioned last week how Peter received a vision to preach the gospel to Cornelius – a non-Jewish man. Do you know what Peter was doing at that time? He was in his regular time of prayer when a vision came unexpectedly.
“Peter went up on the roof to pray.” / Acts 10:9
He wasn’t thinking about mission to non-Jews. But, it’s right there in prayer that he has a vision that finishes with, “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to
go with them, for I have sent them.”/ Acts 10:19
Sure enough – there is a knock on the door and Peter knows that this is God’s work. His ears were attune to the voice of God. God was able to speak and direct him in a way He was not expecting.
4. 祷告引导使命
布拉德上周提到彼得如何获得异象，向非犹太人哥尼流传福音。你知道彼得当时在做什么吗？当一个异象意外出现时，他正处于正常的祷告时间。
“彼 得 约 在 午 正 ， 上 房 顶 去 祷 告 。” / 使徒行传 10:9
他没有考虑向非犹太人传教。但是，就在祷告中，彼 得 还 思 想 那 异 象 的 时 候 ， 圣 灵 向他 说 ： 有 三 个 人 来 找 你 。起 来 ， 下 去 ， 和 他 们 同 往 ， 不 要 疑 惑 ， 因 为 是 我差 他 们 来 的 。”/使徒行传 10:19
果然——敲门声响起，彼得知道这是上帝的所做的工。他的耳朵能听到上帝的声音。上帝能够以一种出乎他意料的方式说话和指导他。
A similar thing happens at the beginning of Acts 13. The leaders of the diverse church in Antioch are worshipping and fasting – and the Spirit leads them to appoint Barnabas and Saul for the first missionary journey.
Prayer guides us towards mission. This is the emblem of the Moravian Church in Europe. The Moravian community purchased 32 houses together where people could simply gather to pray.
From 1727, this community began a round-the-clock prayer watch that continued nonstop for over 100 years. Initially, it began with 24 women, and 24 men. Each agreed to take a turn to pray for one hour every two days – with the guys taking the night shifts. 60 years into that prayer rolling 24-7 prayer commitment, the community had sent 300 men and women out as missionaries like rockets all over the world.
类似的事情发生在使徒行传 13 章的开头。安提阿多元化教会的领袖们正在敬拜和禁食——圣灵带领他们任命巴拿巴和扫罗进行第一次宣教之旅。
祷告引导我们走向使命。
这是欧洲摩拉维亚教会的标志。摩拉维亚社区一起购买了 32 座房屋，以便人们可以简单地聚集在一起祷告。
从 1727 年开始，这个社区开始了 100 多年不间断的祷告守望。最初，它从 24 名女性和 24 名男性开始。每个人都同意每两天轮流祷告一小时——这些人上夜班。 60 年来，24 小时 7 天的祷告承诺一直进行着，社区已经像火箭一样向世界各地派遣了 300 名男女传教士。
Prayer guides towards mission. And perhaps you might think this prayer initiative was set up by elderly… because we often contract prayer to the elderly. But, the average age of the group was 30. The leader was 27. This community believed that prayer changes things. There is one final reason I’d like to add.
祷告引导使命。也许您可能会认为这个祷告的倡议是由老年人发起的……因为我们经常将祷告与老年人联系起来。但是，该社区的平均年龄是 30 岁。领导者是 27 岁。这个社区相信祷告会改变事情。我想补充最后一个原因。
# 5 Prayer transforms our characters
When we actually realise we have ready access to the words and presence of our Creator – and when we actually set aside time each day to read His Word and to pray – it changes us. In fact, the primary triggers for life transformation is a regular practice of Word and Prayer. Over an eight year period, the Center for Bible Engagement researched the lives of more than 100,000 people from around the world. Their conclusion was that those who had a specific time to pray and engage the Bible four or more days a week was the single most powerful predictor of spiritual growth.
# 5 祷告改变我们的性格
当我们真正意识到我们已经获得了随时倾听造物主的话语和经历他的同在的通道，—当我们每天真正抽出时间阅读他的话语和祷告时——它改变了我们。事实上，生活转变的主要触发因素是经常读经和祷告。在八年的时间里，圣经参与中心研究了来自世界各地的 100,000 多人的生活。他们的结论是，那些每周有四天或更多天有特定时间祷告和阅读圣经的人是灵性成长最有力的预测指标。
In their research, they show that this regular time of Prayer and Word leads to fewer struggles:
The odds of struggling with issues such as feeling bitter, thinking destructively about self or others, having difficulty forgiving others, and feeling discouraged – all these decreases.
Also drinking to excess, viewing pornography, lashing out in anger, gossiping, and lying significantly decrease.
In the same way, the research shows that a person who engages in a practice of Word and Prayer at least four times a week had a more active faith:
There was a notable difference in the way they share their faith with others, less likely to feel spiritually stagnant, and more likely to be generous.
在他们的研究中，研究表明，这种经常性的祷告和读经时间会减少挣扎：
• 在诸如感到苦涩、对自己或他人的破坏性思考、难以原谅他人和感到沮丧等问题上挣扎的几率——所有这些都降低了。
• 酗酒、看色情、大发雷霆、八卦和撒谎也显着减少。
同样，研究表明，每周至少进行四次读经和祷告的人有更积极的信仰：
他们与他人分享信仰的方式存在显着差异，不太可能感到精神停滞，而且更可能慷慨大方。
An hour together on a Sunday is good but you need a daily practice of Word and Prayer to help you grow and respond to the bombardment of alternative messages that are seeking to shape you into something different than being a follower of Jesus. That’s research. We see the reality of that in in the history of Aotearoa, with mission among Maori.
As the Word was translated into Te Reo Maori and Maori were able to read and hear it in their own language, it spread like wildfire. Maori became missionaries throughout Aotearoa. There was a hunger to hear from God.
One Maori chief in the 1830s said “We have often had things come which we thought god; cask of rum, barrels of gun powder, and boxes of muskets. What is now come is to teach us not to drink rum, not to set fire to powder, not to use muskets, but to do us good for ever and ever. Our hearts are sick for the word of God: we desire it more than axes, hatchets or blankets.”/ A Maori Chief, 1830s.
星期天在一起一个小时很好，但你需要每天进行读经和祷告，以帮助你成长并回应那些试图将你塑造成不同于耶稣追随者的其他信息的轰炸。我们在 Aotearoa 新西兰的历史中也看到了这一点，在毛利人中的宣教使命上。
当圣经被翻译成 毛利语 时，毛利人能够用他们自己的语言阅读和听到它，它像野火一样传播开来。毛利人成为整个新西兰的传教士。这片土地渴望听到上帝的声音。1830 年代的一位毛利酋长说：“我们经常遇到一些我们认为是上帝的事情；一桶朗姆酒，一桶桶火药和一盒盒火枪。现在要教我们不要喝朗姆酒，不要放火烧火药，不要使用火枪，而是要永远对我们有益。我们的内心对上帝的话语上瘾：我们渴望它胜过斧头或毯子。”/一位毛利酋长，1830 年代。
They experienced transformation.
So much so that in the 1870s, an elderly Hawkes Bay chief, reflecting on the changes that had occurred in his community over his lifetime, concluded that “it was only after the word of God was preached that the evil of the deeds of life of olden times was seen, that is these were condemned, murdering, family quarrels, seduction, and cannibalism… but the gospel being preached caused the evils of Maori to cease.”
If you have a regular practice of Prayer and Word – you find your life in sync with your Creator. This transforms our character.
他们经历了转变。
以至于在 1870 年代，一位年迈的霍克斯湾酋长回顾了他一生中社区所发生的变化，得出结论说：“只有在上帝的话语被宣讲之后，旧时代生活中的恶魔行为被看到了，那就是这些被定罪、谋杀、家庭争吵、诱惑和自相残杀……但传扬的福音使毛利人的罪恶停止了。”
如果你经常祷告和读经——你会发现你的生活与你的造物主同步。这改变了我们的性格。
CONCLUSION
So, Luke shows us that …
Prayer is a regular habit – a simple conversation.
Prayer is a catalyst for spiritual power
Prayer changes what's happening around us.
Prayer guides towards mission.
Prayer transforms our character.
What is a simple next step for you today?
Perhaps it’s setting aside a time each day to open the Word and to Pray?
What I’ve found most helpful is to get up before others. I begin each day by simply thanking God for three things from the day before and then going through what’s on my mind/heart/calendar.
I’m using our Acts Devotion to me orient my day before Jesus.
That time resets aligns my emotions and thoughts in sync with my creator. Because I want to see what He sees and to hear what He hears. Or the next step for you might be to develop the habit of pausing to asking Jesus throughout your day:
‘Jesus, what should we do about this situation? What’s the best way to respond?’ Allow prayer to become a natural part of your day as you discover the joy of conversing with your creator wherever you are and whatever you’re doing.
So, let’s allow this seismic shift to be true of us at Gracecity:
PRAYER: You have ready access to the words and presence of your Creator in order to grow and spread the news.
结论
所以，路加向我们展示了……
• 祷告是一种常规的习惯——简单的对话。
• 祷告是灵性力量的催化剂
• 祷告改变我们周围发生的事情。
• 祷告引导宣教。
• 祷告改变我们的性格。
今天对您来说简单的下一步是什么？
也许是每天抽出时间来打开圣经和祷告？
我发现最有帮助的是在别人之前起床。我每天的晨祷从因为前一天的三件事感谢上帝开始，然后回顾我的想法/内心/日历上的事情。
我正在使用我们的 Acts Devotion“行为奉献”来指导我在耶稣之前的一天。时间重置使我的情绪和想法与我的创造者同步。因为我想看到他看到的，听到他听到的。或者你的下一步可能是养成不断暂停一下问耶稣的习惯：
‘天啊，这种情况我们该怎么办？最好的回应方式是什么？让祷告成为你一天中很自然的一部分，因为无论你身在何处，无论你在做什么，你都会发现与你的创造者交谈的快乐。
因此，让我们在 Gracecity 恩典之城 让这种巨大的转变成为现实：
祷告：你可以随时聆听造物主的话语和感受他的同在，以发展和传播福音
