1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好！
2. We are delighted that you tuned in back to this broadcast.
我们很高兴你再度收听这个节目。
3. In our last broadcast we discussed the sign that Eliezer planted.
上一次我们讲到以利以谢所祈求的征兆，
4. Eliezer wanted to be able to recognize the woman that God had chosen to be Isaac’s bride.
以利以谢希望能知道那一位才是神为以撒所挑选的妻子，
5. He was sent on a commission to find a wife for his master’s son Isaac.
他被差遣为主人的儿子以撒寻找适当的人选为妻，
6. Eliezer prayed that he would recognize the right woman for Isaac.
以利以谢祈求神让他知道那一位才是以撒理想的妻子，
7. It was a very simple sign.
他要求的征兆很简单，
8. It was between him and the Lord.
只有他跟神知道。
9. And sure enough as soon as he reaches his destination.
就在他一到达目的地时，
10. Rebekah shows up and offers not only to give him a drink but she watered his ten camels too.
利百加就出现了，她不单让以利以谢喝水，还给他的十头骆驼喝水。
11. Some people might try to call this luck.
有人以为这只是运气罢了，
12. Others might try to say it was sheer coincidence.
有些人以为只不过是巧合而已，
13. But there is no such thing as luck or coincidence to the men and women of God.
但对神的儿女来说，并没有幸运和巧合这两回事。
14. The Bible said that every hair on our head is numbered.
圣经说，就是我们头髲的数目，神都数过了。
15. But that’s not all.
不单如此，
16. Most people stop there.
很多人只停在这儿，
17. But it says not one of your hairs will fall down without God’s permission.
圣经还说，没有神的允许，我们的头髲一根也不会掉下来，
18. God gave permission for that hair to come out.
有了神的准许，那根头髲才会掉下来。
19. So Rebekah shows up
于是利百加出现了，
20. And in the fulfillment of the sign the Eliezer placed before God, she turned out to be the one.
她的出现正符合以利以谢向神求的征兆，这就表示利百加就是那位人选。
21. Some people have estimated that she drew at least 120 gallons of water from the well.
有人估计利百加最少要打一百二十加仑的水才够用，
22. She drew them one pot at a time.
她每一次才可以打一桶水，
23. What patience!
多么有耐心。
24. What does this say to single man?
这对未婚的男性有些什么启发？
25. Look for a woman who has the beauty of holiness not the beauty of cosmetics.
找对象时应该重视属灵的美德，而不是外表的美丽。
26. Don’t marry an unbeliever and fool yourself into thinking that after you marry her she will convert to Christ.
不要跟未信主的人结婚，以为婚后他就会信主，这是自欺欺人的想法。
27. That’s foolishness.
这是愚昧的。
28. If Abraham had believed that he would have sent Eliezer across the street, not across the desert.
如果亚伯拉罕也这样想的话，他只要叫以利以谢到对街去替以撒找个媳妇便成，何必长途跋涉越过沙漠去找呢？
29. But Abraham did not want Isaac to marry an ungodly Canaanite.
但亚伯拉罕不要以撒和不信神的迦南人结婚，
30. And that is why he sent Eliezer back to his homeland.
因此他才差遣以利以谢回到他的故乡去。
31. What does this say to single woman?
这对未婚的女子有些什么启发？
32. It says, don’t just marry anyone who shows up,
不要太轻率，随便就和一个男士结婚，
33. But marry a man who is magnanimous.
要嫁给一个慷慨的男士。
34. Isaac did not only send gifts with Eliezer to his future wife
以撒不单请以利以谢带礼物给未来的妻子，
35. But he also sent gifts to his future mother-in-law.
他还送礼物给未来的岳母，
36. So when Rebekah was asked one of the great questions of the Bible
所以当利百加被问起一个在圣经里很重要的问题时，
37. Will you go with this man?
你和这人同去么？
38. Her mother was standing behind her saying, yes, yes, yes
她母亲在她背后支持她，说，去吧！去吧！
39. Here is some first century advice for the 21st century women.
这个古老的忠告，对于二十一世纪的妇女仍然适用，
40. Make sure that he can provide for you.
要弄清楚他有能力供应你生活所需，
41. Young woman takes your time be particular.
特别是年轻的女子，要耐心等候，
42. Wait for God to bring you a godly man of his own choosing.
等候神按祂的心意，为你预备信主的弟兄。
43. Just because you are of eligible age and not married it’s not a national crisis.
如果只是因为已到适婚年龄仍未结婚，这算不得什么国家危机。
44. But what does this say to parents.
对为人父母的，有什么启发？
45. Parents, I want you to see the example of Abraham.
为人父母的，你们要以亚伯拉罕为榜样。
46. There is a message for all of us parents here.
这是给所有父母的一个信息，
47. You better pray that God will send an angel to find a spouse for your child.
你应该祈求神差派天使，为你的儿女寻找婚配的对象。
48. Let’s look at Genesis 24:40.
请一同看创世记24:40，
49. Abraham said to Eliezer,
亚伯拉罕对以利以谢说，
50. The Lord before whom I walk will send his angels with you and prosper your way.
我所侍奉的耶和华，必要差遣祂的使者与你同去，叫你的道路通达。
51. And God did just that
神真是这样作了。
52. In the first message in this series I told you that Isaac is a type of Christ in the Bible.
在这系列的第一次信息里，我告诉你以撒是喻表耶稣基督的，
53. Here I want us to look at Rebekah as a type of church.
这里我们可以把利百加看成教会的喻表。
54. Remember according to Scripture, Jesus is the bridegroom and the church is the bride.
还记得，圣经说，耶稣是新郎而教会就是新妇，
55. Isaac, the bridegroom represents Jesus Christ.
以撒这个新郎代表着耶稣基督。
56. When the question was presented to her, will you go with this man?
当人家问利百加，你和这人同去么？
57. Rebekah replied yes I will go.
利百加回答说，我去。
58. It meant that she was leaving the security of her father’s home
这代表着她会离开舒适安稳的娘家，
59. It means that she might never see the face of her mother again
这代表着她可能永远看不到她的母亲，
60. It meant a dangerous journey across the blazing desert
这代表着她要横过炙热的沙漠，踏上危险的旅途，
61. It meant that there were uncertain days ahead
这代表着不明确的未来，
62. It meant that she would be embracing a different family and a different culture
这代表着她要完全接纳一个不同的家，和不同的文化，
63. But Rebekah said, I will go
但是利百加说，我去。
64. I cannot help but think of all the faithful wives across the years
我不期然想起历世历代以来所有忠贞的妻子，
65. Wives who married godly husbands
那些嫁给敬畏神的丈夫的妻子，
66. Wives who knew all too well of the dangers and all of the suffering that awaits them
这些妻子深深明白摆在她们面前的危险和困苦，
67. Yet they said, I will go
她们仍然说，我去。
68. Now my beloved listening friends, I want to tell you this
亲爱的朋友，让我告诉你，
69. In the same way when each of us heard the voice of God the Holy Spirit
同样的，当我们听到圣灵的声音时，
70. We were enemies of Christ
那时，我们和基督仍是仇敌，
71. We turned our backs to God
我们悖逆神，
72. And when God issued the invitation and said, come
当神向我们发出邀请说，到我这里来，
73. We accepted his gracious invitation
于是，我们接受这恩典的邀请。
74. Some of you today may be hearing God’s invitation for the first time today
你们中间，大概有人今天是第一次听到神的邀请，
75. Some of you may have heard God’s invitation before
有些人以前已经听过了，
76. But for some reason or another and you have refused his invitation of forgiveness of your sins
但为了某些缘故，你拒绝神来赦免你的罪，
77. Or you may have been postponing the acceptance of the invitation
或者你还在耽延，不肯接受神的邀请，
78. Why risk your eternal future?
为什么以你的永生为赌注？
79. Will you come and be part of the bride of Jesus Christ?
你愿意成为耶稣基督的新妇吗？
80. Will you take Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
你愿意接受耶稣基督作为你个人的救主和生命的主吗？
81. Will you trust him?
你愿意相信祂吗？
82. Will you obey him?
你愿意遵守祂的诫命吗？
83. Will you crown him as the Lord of your life?
你愿意祂作你生命的王吗？
84. Will you forsake old relationships?
你愿意放弃过去不正当的人际关系吗？
85. Will you forsake old sins?
你愿意弃绝过往的罪过吗？
86. Will you forsake old habits?
你愿意抛弃顽固的坏习惯吗？
87. Will you submit to his authority and to the authority of his Word?
你愿意顺服神和祂话语的权威吗？
88. Will you be faithful to him as he has been faithful to you?
你愿对祂忠心，好像祂的信实一般吗？
89. Will you honor him with your substance?
你愿意奉献你的财物给祂吗？
90. Will you honor him with your time?
你愿意献上你的时间吗？
91. Will you honor him with your life?
你愿意献上你的生命吗？
92. Will you never put anything or anyone above him?
你是否永远不会把别人和别的事，看得比祂重要吗？
93. Will you never put anything or anyone ahead of him?
你是否永远不会把别人和别的事，看得比祂优先吗？
94. Every faithful believer in Jesus Christ through all generations said
历代每一个忠心的基督徒都会说，
95. Yes, I will go
是的，我愿意。
96. Some of you are listening to this broadcast may not have said, I will go, yet
正在收听这个节目的朋友，可能有些人目前还不肯说，我愿意。
97. The Holy Spirit has been inviting you
圣灵正在呼召你，
98. The Holy Spirit is speaking to you to commit your life to Jesus Christ
圣灵邀请你把生命交给耶稣基督，
99. The Holy Spirit has been beseeching you to receive him as your Savior and Lord and become part of the bride of Christ
圣灵恳请你接受祂作你的救主和生命之主，成为基督的新妇，
100. The Holy Spirit has been inviting you to meet him on the clouds one of these days, come Lord Jesus
圣灵邀请你，将来有一天在云端跟主耶稣相遇。
101. Today you can say, I will go
今天你就可以说，我愿意。
102. Today you can make that commitment
今天你可以作这个决定。
103. Why not
何乐而不为呢？
104. Only a fool would turn down this kind of invitation
只有傻瓜才会拒绝这样的邀请，
105. Christ is the kind of husband who loved me so much that he would lavish all of his blessings upon me
基督因为爱我，就会把他所有的福气倾倒给我，正如爱妻子的丈夫一样。
106. This is the kind of husband who gave up everything for me
这样的丈夫，为我放弃一切；
107. This is the kind of husband who sacrificed his life for me
这样的丈夫，为我牺牲生命；
108. This is the kind of husband who cares for every single detail in my life
这样的丈夫，无微不至地关心我的生命；
109. That kind of husband is worthy to receive all of my allegiances
这样的丈夫，值得我全然的忠贞；
110. That kind of husband is worthy to receive all of my loyalties
这样的丈夫，值得我全部的忠诚；
111. That kind of husband is worthy to receive all of my praise and all of my adoration
这样的丈夫，值得我全心全意的赞美和景仰；
112. That’s the kind of husband who is worthy to receive all of me
这样的丈夫，值得我付出一切。
113. Let me tell you a story
让我告诉你一个故事，
114. During a war a young officer in the army before leaving the country with his regiment became engaged to a young lady
有一位年轻的军官，随着部队离开家乡前，和一位年轻的女士订了婚，
115. In one of the battles, the officer was badly wounded and lost a leg
军官在战场上受了重伤，失去一条腿，
116. So he wrote a letter to his future bride telling her how he was disfigured and maimed
于是他写了一封信给未婚妻，告诉她自己残废了。
117. He told her how he had changed since she had last seen him
他说，现在的他，跟未婚妻所认识的他不同了，
118. Thus he told her that he was releasing her from all obligations to marry him and become his wife
所以他要解除婚约。
119. The young lady wrote an answer
那年轻女士回了信，
120. Her letter was no less noble than that which she received from her fiancé
她的信和她未婚夫的信，同样高贵，
121. In the letter she disavowed all thoughts of refusing to carry out the engagement because of what had happened to him in the battle
她在信中拒绝未婚夫因在战争中变成残废而解除婚约的提议。
122. And she concluded the letter by saying the following
她在信的结尾说，
123. I would marry you if there was only enough of your body left to hold your soul
只要你的灵魂还在，我都会嫁给你。
124. Many people today get out of their marriages simply because they disagree with each other
今天很多人单单为了意见不合就闹离婚，
125. At the first sign of trouble they jump ship and leave their spouses
碰到一点困难，马上就要难开自己的配偶。
126. What does this say about our commitment to God?
这跟我们向神委身有什么关联？
127. Our relationship at home reflects our relationship with Jesus Christ
我们和家人的关系反映出我们和耶稣基督的关系，
128. Many people will only worship God when he is good to them
很多人只有在神赐福他们时才敬拜神，
129. No wonder we are in a spiritual crisis
难怪我们陷在属灵的危机中。
130. My listening friends this is very important
亲爱的朋友，这是很重要的，
131. When Jesus said to you and to me, I love you
当耶稣对你和我说，我爱你，
132. He did not say, I love you only when you are good
祂并不是说，你表现得好我才爱你。
133. When Jesus said I love you
当耶稣说，我爱你，
134. He did not say I love you only when you love me back
祂并不是说，你要回应我的爱，我才爱你。
135. When Jesus said I love you
当耶稣说，我爱你，
136. He did not say I love you only when you are spiritual
祂并不是说，你灵性好的时候我才爱你。
137. When Jesus said I love you
当耶稣说，我爱你，
138. He did not say I love you only when you are strong and victorious in life
祂并不是说，你过得胜的生活时我才爱你。
139. No
不，不是这样的。
140. When Jesus said I love you
当耶稣说，我爱你，
141. He loves you all the time and all the way to eternity
祂一直都爱你，持续到永恒。
142. Before I conclude I want to remind you to tune in to the next broadcast when we examine Hannah’s prayer in I Samuel chapter 1 and 2
在结束以前，我想提提大家，记得收听我们下一次的节目，我们要看撒母耳记上第一、第二章所记载有关哈拿的祷告。
143. Now in conclusion my listening friends I do not want you to miss what I am about to tell you
亲爱的朋友，节目快要结束，希望你不要忽略了我所要告诉你的，
144. The reason that many people live in habitual sin
很多人活在恶习中，
145. The reason why so many people live in fear
很多人活在惧怕中，
146. The reason many people live in perpetual anxiety and worry
很多人活在无止境的忧虑当中，
147. Is because deep down they do not believe that God really loves them unconditionally and eternally
原因就是，在他们心灵的深处，他们压根儿不相信神真真正正，无条件的，永恒的爱着他们。
148. They read it in the Scripture they know it in their heads, but they do not know it in their hearts
他们从圣经中知道神的爱，他们在头脑上知道，但是他们的心却不接受。
149. They know that it is true
他们知道这是真的，
150. They know that it is a fact
他们知道这是事实，
151. But it never has penetrated deep down to become part of their inner being
可就是没办法进到他们心灵的深处。
152. Now here is the problem
问题就在，
153. They think that they have to be worthy of the love of God
他们以为他们必须配得上神的爱，
154. And when they conclude that they are unworthy which is true
他们明白自己是不配的，这倒是真的。
155. Then they conclude that God only loves them when they are good
他们以为，只有当他们成为好人时，神才爱他们。
156. Listen to what Jesus said in John 15:9
请听主耶稣在约翰福音15:9说，
157. As the Father loves me, so I love you
我爱你们，正如父爱我一样。
158. Can you imagine the love that God the Father has for God the Son?
你可以想象神如何爱祂的儿子吗？
159. God the Father and God the Son co-existed before eternity
圣父与圣子，自亘古以来就存在着，
160. I do not think that anyone can truly comprehend what it means and how much love God the Father has for God the Son
我想没有人能全然明白那是怎样的爱，圣父到底有多爱圣子？
161. Yet Jesus said I love you that same way
可是，主耶稣说，我就是这样的爱你。
162. In other words, you can never comprehend the depth of the love of God for us
换句话说，你永远没办法了解神对我们的爱有多深，
163. When you begin to understand this, you will live in victory
当你开始明白时，你就可以过得胜的生活，
164. You will not live in habitual sin
你不愿再活在罪恶的习惯中，
165. You will not live in addiction
你不愿耽溺于癖好里，
166. You will not live in chains
你不愿活在捆锁中，
167. You will not live in fear and worry and anxiety
你不会活在恐惧、担忧和焦虑中，
168. Please let this sink deep and deeper into your inner being
让神的爱不断进入你心灵的深处，
169. Wake up in the morning and think about the love of God
早上一起床就想到神的爱，
170. Go to bed at night thinking about the love of God
晚上临睡前也想到神的爱，
171. And I want to tell you that when you do this
让我告诉你，当你这样作的时候，
172. Over time as this truth sinks deep into your heart
久而久之，这真理就会深藏在你心底，
173. You will understand what it is to be totally committed to the Lord
你就会明白，什么是向神完全的委身。
174. But here is the problem
但是有一个困难，
175. We tend to love God more when we want something from him
我们往往在向神有所祈求时，比较爱祂。
176. We love God when we need him
我们总是需要神的时候才爱祂，
177. We love God only when we feel like it
我们按照自己的喜好去爱神。
178. We love God when we are on a spiritual mountaintop, but then when we are going through the valleys, our love for him tends to waver
当我们在属灵的高峰就爱神，当我们在属灵的低谷时，我们对神的爱就摇摆不定了。
179. We love him immediately after a great blessing or after a great answer to prayer
当神大大的赐福给我们，或顺利地应允我们的祷告时，我们立刻就爱祂；
180. But after a time our enthusiasm wanes
但过了一段时候，我们的心就冷淡下来。
181. The question for all of us is this
我们需要好好的思想，
182. Can we say I love you Lord because you loved me first?
我们能否对神说，我爱你，因为你先爱我。
183. I want to pray with you before we conclude
在结束以前，我想跟你作一个祷告。
184. If you’ve never invited Jesus Christ to come in your life, do it today
如果你从来没有邀请主耶稣基督进入你的生命，你今天就这样作；
185. If you have never comprehended the love of God and the depth of the love of God you can comprehend it today
如果你从不理解神的爱，也不明白这爱有多深，你今天就可以领会。
186. Our heavenly Father
天上的父亲，
187. We thank you for your incomprehensible love
我们为你无法测透的大爱感谢你，
188. May we understand a little bit of that love today
今天就让我们多明白一 点你的爱，
189. And that we spend the rest of our lives trying to understand the depth of your love
使我们一生都可以经历你爱的长阔高深，
190. So that we live the rest of our lives in serving you
使我们一生都侍奉你，
191. In Jesus name,
奉耶稣基督的名祷告，
192. Amen.
阿们。
