1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好。
2. We are always glad that you tune in to this program.
我们很高兴你每一次都能收听我们这个节目。
3. In our last broadcast, I promised you that I would describe the church of Laodicea,
上次节目中，我答应你会讲到老底嘉教会，
4. which we read about in the Book of Revelation.
也就是我们在启示录里看到的这个教会。
5. For those of you who are listening to our broadcast for the first time,
第一次听我们节目的朋友，请注意，
6. we are drawing close to the conclusion of a series of messages about the fruit of the Spirit.
我们正在讨论一个关于圣灵果子的系列专题，现在快接近尾声了。
7. Today, we are discussing the fruit of faithfulness.
今天，我们要讨论忠诚信实的果子。
8. Last time, we started to discuss the example of an unfaithful church,
上次，我们谈到一个不忠诚的教会作为例子。
9. and, fortunately, this church, the church of Laodicea, is a good example of how much modern church has become.
很巧，老底嘉这个教会，是一个很好的例子，许多现代的教会和它很相似。
10. Laodicea is a church that has replaced repentance with psychology.
老底嘉教会，借用心理安慰来取代内心真诚的悔过。
11. The Laodicean church is a church where preachers preach sermons to make people feel good, instead of being good.
老底嘉教会的牧师讲道，只是让信徒感觉良好，却没有教导他们实践良善的生活。
12. Laodicea is a church that was outwardly successful.
老底嘉教会是一个外表看来非常成功的教会。
13. Laodicea is a church that, once, was a powerful voice in society.
曾经有一度，老底嘉教会对社会具有强大的影响力。
14. Laodicea is a church that was most prosperous among all of the Asian cities;
老底嘉是一个在亚洲城市中最繁荣的教会；
15. and, yet, Laodicea is a church that was unfaithful.
然而，老底嘉却是一个不忠诚的教会。
16. The Laodicean church was established by Epaphras.
老底嘉教会是由以巴弗创建的。
17. Let me tell you a thing or two about Laodicea, the town.
我来告诉你一两件有关老底嘉城的事情，
18. Laodicea had a vibrant economy.
老底嘉城.的经济很蓬勃。
19. Their gross national product was off the chart.
它的经济总产值不断提升。
20. They had no inflation.
没有通货膨胀。
21. The stock market was at all times high.
股票市场持续走高。
22. The shining black wool and linen exports broke all records.
华丽的黑羊毛和亚麻布的出口都打破了纪录。
23. Their pharmaceutical industry was booming,
他们的制药工业急速发展，
24. especially an eye-salve factory that was exporting all over the world.
尤其是出口全世界的眼药工厂。
25. That is why God calls them "blind."
这也是为什么神称他们是“瞎眼的”。
26. They were experts on eye salves.
虽然，他们在制造眼药膏方面是专家。
27. They produced it and sent it all over the world,
他们制造眼药，又运送到世界各地去。
28. but they were blind.
但他们却是瞎眼的。
29. They thought they were rich, but they were not.
他们认为自己很富有，但其实不然。
30. Their medical school trained the best doctors in the whole world.
他们的医学院训练了当时世界上最好的医生。
31. In Laodicea was the banking center of the world.
老底嘉是世界的银行业中心。
32. In the midst of such prosperity, the Christians grew unfaithful and spiritually proud.
处于这样的繁荣当中，基督徒却变得不信实，并在属灵的事上骄傲起来。
33. It was making God sick.
使得神很厌恶。
34. He said that they were neither cold nor hot.
祂说他们不冷也不热。
35. He said to them they were lukewarm.
祂说他们如同温水。
36. Have you ever drank a lukewarm water?
你喝过不冷不热的水吗？
37. It makes you nauseous.
令你作呕。
38. You want to vomit,
使你想吐，
39. and that is what God is saying -- “You are making me sick, because you are neither cold nor hot.”
这就是神说的，“你使我想吐，因为你不冷也不热。”
40. In Revelation 3:20, God extends to them an invitation to return back to be faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ.
启示录三章20节，神要他们回转，忠于耶稣基督。
41. He said to them, in verse 20 of Chapter 3 --
祂在三章20节那里对他们说，
42. often this passage is quoted as an evangelistic endeavor that God is saying to the sinner, “I want to come into your life...”
“我要进到你生命中……”，这句话经常被热心传福音的人引用，当作神对罪人说的话。
43. but that is not what He means here.
其实神不是指这个意思。
44. God is talking to the believers, here, in Laodicea.
这里，神是对老底嘉的信徒们说的，
45. He’s talking to Christians;
祂是对基督徒说的；
46. but these are the words that were spoken to the Christians in Laodicea who ceased to be faithful.
是说给老底嘉教会里那些不再信实的基督徒听的。
47. He is talking to Christians who got so busy with their prosperity that they stopped going to prayer meetings.
祂是跟那些为了自己的钱财而忙碌，停止参加祈祷会的基督徒说的。
48. He is talking to Christians who got so comfortable in their lifestyle that they became sporadic in their worship.
祂是跟那些陶醉于自己舒服的生活，而很少参加崇拜的基督徒说的。
49. He is talking to Christians who became so entangled with God’s blessings that they forgot the Blesser.
祂是跟那些拼命追求神祝福，却忘记了那位全能的祝福者的基督徒们说的。
50. He is talking to Christians who were so preoccupied with their own reputation that they refrained from witnessing to the lost.
祂是跟那些只关注自己的名声，而停止向失丧的人作见证的基督徒们说的。
51. He is talking to Christians who were so caught up in the political process that they marginalized the truth and integrity.
祂是跟那些纠缠于政治，却漠视真理和品德的基督徒们说的。
52. He is talking to Christians who were so busy in church politics that they have left out of their lives and out in the cold the One Who died for the church.
祂是跟那些忙于教会权力斗争，以至于把为教会舍命的主排除在他们生命以外的基督徒说的。
53. The Laodicean church was indifferent to the invitation of Jesus, and, before long, it became a shadow of its former glory.
老底嘉教会对主耶稣的呼吁漠不关心，久而久之，便在教会原有的荣美上蒙上一层阴影。
54. Laodicea is now the modern Turkish city of Ismir.
老底嘉就是今天土耳其的城市伊萨米尔。
55. You can say it cannot happen now.
你说，现在不会发生这种情况了。
56. Let me take you to England, and Scotland, and I’ll show you the big cathedrals and the great edifices that have no more than twelve people on Sunday morning.
让我带你到英格兰和苏格兰，那里你会看到宏伟华丽的大教堂，但星期天早上只有不超过12 个人参加崇拜。
57. Go to Germany, or Holland, or any of these lands of the Reformation, and see what unfaithfulness does to a people and to a church.
到德国，荷兰或者任何一个改革宗的国家，看看不信实怎样影响着一个人和一个教会。
58. Let me tell you, God moves on.
让我告诉你，神一直在前进。
59. He does not strive with us forever.
祂不会永远和我们斗争。
60. I want to tell you two things about faithfulness before I close.
在结束前， 我想告诉你两件关于信实的事情。
61. The first thing I want to tell you about faithfulness is this:
第一件要告诉你的是：
62. faithfulness in little things defines our character.
在小事上忠心信实，就可以看出我们的品格。
63. If I ask husbands and wives, “Are you faithful to each other?..,” most of you would say, “Yes,”
如果我问丈夫或妻子，“你们彼此忠实吗..？”绝大多数的人都会说，“是的。”
64. because you define faithfulness in the terms of sexual fidelity;
因为你们对信实的理解就是指在性方面的彼此忠诚。
65. but faithfulness means more than that.
但信实的意义远远超过这些。
66. Faithfulness in marriage means that you build each other up, and not tear each other down.
婚姻中的信实是指彼此建立，而不是彼此诋毁。
67. Faithfulness in marriage means that you encourage each other, and not criticize each other.
婚姻中的信实，意味着彼此鼓励，而不是彼此批评。
68. Faithfulness in marriage means making decisions that are for the other's highest good.
婚姻中的信实，意味着所作的决定，是为对方最大的好处。
69. Faithfulness is even deeper than that.
信实的含义其实还要更深刻。
70. Faithfulness means making decisions that may be even disserving you, but serving your spouse.
信实什至意味着做出对你自己无益，却有益于你的配偶的决定。
71. I could continue at the list on and on.
我可以继续列举下去。
72. Faithfulness in little things means faithfulness in big things.
在小事上忠心，就意味着大事上也忠心。
73. Faithfulness in little things defines our character.
在小事上忠心，就能显示我们的性格。
74. Listen to what Jesus said in Luke 16:10.
请听耶稣在路加福音16章10节所说的。
（请读路16章10节。）
75. Faithfulness at work means you are faithful, whether the boss is watching you or not.
在工作上忠诚的意思是，无论老板是否看着你工作，你都是诚实的。
76. Faithfulness at work means you are faithful, whether you are appreciated or not.
无论别人是否欣赏你，你都忠心耿耿。
77. Faithfulness at work means you are faithful, whether you are rewarded or not;
或者无论你能否得到奖赏，你都尽忠职守。
78. and, the reason for that is because, first and foremost, you work for God and He is your boss.
这样做最首要和基本的原因在于，你是在为神工作，祂才是你真正的老板。
79. Someone once said,
有人曾说，
80. “By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually be a boss, and, then, work twelve hours a day.”
“每天忠诚地工作八小时，你最终会成为一个老板。之后，每天就要工作十二个小时。”
81. I often say that people who have the most demanding bosses are those who work for themselves.
我经常说，要求最高的老板，就是做自己的老板。
82. Faithfulness in small things defines our character.
在小事上忠心信实，就可以看出我们的性格。
83. Secondly,
第二，
84. don’t let immediate lack of rewards cloud your vision for faithfulness.
千万不要因为没得到眼前的奖赏，就蒙蔽了你对信实的看法。
85. In the 90’s, where people got used to companies making big profits,
在90年代，人们习惯于赚大钱的公司。
86. we have developed short-sightedness and lost vision of the big picture.
我们患上短视症，看不到全面的蓝图。
87. I personally shudder over what will happen to a society that only thinks in terms of the short-picture.
我个人很担心，一个只用短视来思考问题的社会将会变成什么样子。
88. The loss of vision for the future is demoralizing.
失去对未来前景的展望，会让人士气低落。
89. When you lose vision of the big picture, you lose a vision for God;
当你看不到大的蓝图时，你就看不到神。
90. but, in the work of God, you must think of the long vision and the big picture, and keep them in mind.
但在神的事工上，你必须思考长远，看清整个蓝图，并牢牢记在脑子里。
91. Don’t have short-sightedness when it comes to faithfulness.
谈到信实，千万别患上短视病。
92. I read the following hypothetical scene in a book recently.
最近我在一本书中读到以下这个假设的场景。
93. It said, “Imagine that you are traveling back in time to first-century Jerusalem
它说，“想象一下你回到第一世纪的耶路撒冷，
94. in the days of the early church.
回到早期教会的那段日子里，
95. As you walk along a busy street near the Temple,
当你走在一个靠近圣殿的繁忙街道上时，
96. you interview several of the people walking along the street or working in the market.
你访问几个沿路走着，或者在市场上工作的人。
97. You pick the individuals to talk to them at random,
你随意和其中一些人谈话。
98. and you ask each of these typical Israelites a few questions.
你问这些典型的以色列人一些问题。
99. “Who, of your generation, will likely be remembered 2,000 years from now?”
“在你们这一代中，有谁可能在2000年后仍被人记住？”
100. As part of the Roman Empire, they most likely would say, “Nero;”
当时他们属于罗马帝国的领土，因此很可能会回答说“尼禄王。”
101. then, you ask the following question:
然后，你问第二个问题：
102. “But what about those people known as Christians?
“但那些被称为基督徒的人呢？
103. Do you expect that some people would remember them or their leaders?”
你认为人们会记住他们，或者他们的领袖吗？”
104. These first-century Israelites may find it very hard to contain their laughter.
这些第一世纪的以色列人将会忍不住笑起来。
105. In fact, their response might very well be a snide remark, like, “Them?
实际上，他们很可能会嘲笑地说，“他们？”
106. You’ve got to be kidding,” they continue.
他们接着说，“你在开玩笑吧，”
107. “Those Christians are a bunch of nobodies.
“这些基督徒名不见经传。
108. They don’t have any influence...;”
他们没有任何影响力……；”
109. then, they would conclude,
之后，他们下结论说，
110. “These Christians will hardly be remembered next month, let alone 2,000 years from now..."
“恐怕下个月这些基督徒就会被忘记，别说2000年以后了……”
111. then, you probe a little further.
之后，你继续追问。
112. “Do you mean to tell me you have never heard of Peter or Paul? Or what about Mary and Martha?..."
“ 你的意思是说，你从来没听说过彼得和保罗？或者马利亚和马大？……”
113. and the average Israelite man on the streets would interrupt and say to you,
这些普通的以色列人就会打断你，对你说，
114. “These folks are insignificant.
“这些都是无关紧要的小人物。
115. The only thing I know about them is that their leaders keep ending up in jail.
我只知道，他们的领袖最后都被囚禁起来了。
116. Believe me, in 2,000 years, nobody will even remember that they ever existed.”
相信我 ，在2000年后，什至没人会记得他们的存在。”
117. The author of this book concludes, “Here we are, 2,000 years later,
这本书的作者最后说，“现在是2000年后了，
118. and the reality is we name our children Peter, Paul, Mary and Martha,
事实是，我们纷纷给自己的孩子起名叫彼得，保罗，马利亚和马大，
119. and many people name their dogs, Nero.”
而许多人给他们的狗起名叫尼禄。”
120. This is what I mean when I say you have to have the big picture in mind.
这就是我说，你应该在脑子里有全面蓝图的意思。
121. You have to have a long vision.
你应该有个长远的视野。
122. This immediate gratification, that is so engrained in our culture and cursing our generation, has nothing to do with God.
今天这个时代急功近利，这种心态在我们的文化里根深蒂固，咒诅着我们这一代人，与神无关。
123. It has nothing to do with the faithfulness of God.
和神的信实毫不相关。
124. Faithfulness goes on and on, whether you are up or you are down.
不论你处在顺境或逆境，信实永远存在。
125. The ultimate reward of faithfulness is not really your boss.
保持信实，最后得到的奖赏，不是来自你的老板。
126. The ultimate Rewarder of your faithfulness is the Lord God, Himself,
最后奖赏你信实的，是神自己，
127. the God Who sees you when nobody else can,
就是那位洞察万事的神，
128. the God Who hears you when nobody else can,
当别人听不见你时，神都听见了，
129. the God Who watches you when nobody else can.
当别人顾不上你时，神却顾念你。
130. He is the God Who rewards your faithfulness in the open.
祂是位公开奖赏你信实的神。
131. Let me ask you this.
让我问你。
132. It is a question I often pose to myself.
这也是一个我经常问自己的问题。
133. It helps me keep short accounts.
它帮助我检讨自己。
134. Am I faithful with God’s resources?
我是否忠心使用神的资源？
135. Am I faithful with the blessings that God has given me?
我是否忠心使用神所赐的福分？
136. Am I faithful with God’s blessings of money?
我是否忠心使用神所赐的金钱？
137. Am I faithful with God’s blessings of energy?
我是否忠心使用神所赐的精神体力？
138. Am I faithful with God’s blessing of time?
我是否忠心使用神所赐的时间？
139. Am I faithful with God’s blessings of talent?
我是否忠心使用神所赐的才干？
140. Am I faithful when no one else is knowing or watching?
当没有人知道或者看到的时候，我仍忠心信实吗？
141. It is my prayer that you would say, “Yes.”
我祷告，希望你说“是的。”
142. Until we meet again, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
让我们下次节目再见，愿神大大地赐福于你。
