| Revelation 2:1-7 |
启示录2:1-7 |
| 1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ |
1“你要写信给在以弗所教会的使者，说：‘那右手拿着七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的，这样说： 2 我知道你的行为、你的劳苦、你的忍耐，也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾经试验那些自称是使徒，而其实不是使徒的人，看出他们是假的。 3 你有忍耐，曾为我的名的缘故忍受一切，并不困倦。 4 然而有一件事我要责备你，就是你已经离弃了你起初的爱。 5 所以，你应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并且要悔改，作起初所作的事。你若不悔改，我就要来到你那里，把你的灯台从原处移去。 6 不过你有这一个优点，就是你恨恶尼哥拉党的作为，那也是我所恨恶的。 7 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。得胜的，我必定把 神乐园里生命树的果子赐给他吃。’ |
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| Introduction: 20/20 Sermon Series – February and March |
引言：20/20 讲道系列 – 二月和三月的计划 |
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| We are now four sermons into our 20/20 Vision series. We designed the month of February in such a way that there would be three formative texts on shepherding oversight and then a foundational text on Jesus as the Great Shepherd. Our ambition is to know the people more clearly, speak to them more specifically, and lead them more effectively. But this ambition must be understood as an aspiration because we know our limitations. Dave, Steven, and I cannot know everyone – even when we factor in our team of elders on each campus we cannot know everyone sufficiently on our own. Elders also rely on shepherding structures like small groups and Sunday school classes and other types of relationships. And we know for sure that we cannot know anyone perfectly. We are not going to know you perfectly, or speak to you perfectly, or lead you perfectly, or love you perfectly. Only the Chief Shepherd does that. And undershepherds perpetually love to point the flock to the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. |
我们已经讲过了我们20/20异像系列的4个讲道。我们二月份的讲道计划就是：我们先看3篇关于牧养的塑造性的经文，然后1篇关于伟大牧羊人耶稣的根基性的经文。我们的意愿是去更清晰地了解我们的会众，并更有针对性地对他们讲道。但是这个意愿必须被理解成为一种志向，因为我们知道我们的局限性。戴夫、司提反和我不可能认识所有人 –– 就算我们包括我们在各个堂的长老团队，我们也不可能独自充分地认识所有的会众。就连长老们也得依赖牧养型结构，比如小组、主日学，和其他关系。我们明确地知道我们不会完美地认识所有人。我们不会完美地认识你，完美地对你讲道，完美地引导你，或者完美地爱你：只有大牧长才会。下属的牧人会一直热爱指引羊群去寻找羊的伟大牧长。 |
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| We are now going to build upon the foundation of those four sermons. This month we have five sermons in which we build upon the theme of oversight from another angle. If February focused on the work of the shepherds, then March will focus on the participation of the flock. If February stressed the part that the leaders play, then March will highlight the part that the people play. In other words, we do not want people to think that our 20/20 Vision and Strengthening the Core is all about what the elders do. Perhaps February caused a question to arise within you – I see what Shepherds are supposed to do, but what am I supposed to do? Our 20/20 Vision aims to answer this question in relationship to the doctrine of the church. When you ask, “what am I supposed to do?” that question assumes an understanding of what a church is and how a participant in the church is supposed to function. |
我们现在把讲道建立在之前4次讲道的根基上。这个月的5场信息会在监督这个主题的基础上从另一个角度看待这个话题。要是二月的焦点是牧者的事工，那么三月会聚焦在羊群的参与上。要是二月注重带领者的角色，那么三月就会突出会众的角色。换句话说，我们不希望大家觉得我们的20/20异像和巩固核心计划只是长老们的工作。也许二月份的讲道使得你心中起了一个问题：现在我知道牧者要做什么，可是我应该做什么呢？我们的20/20异像意图用这个问题与教会教义的联系来回答这个问题。所以当你问 “我应该做什么？”的时候，这个问题包含了如何理解教会是什么和会员该怎样行使责任。 |
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| What is a church? A church is a gathered assembly of Jesus. What happens when a church gathers – that is, what does a church do? Christians throughout church history have highlighted three marks of a true church gathering. A true church is a gathered assembly where at least three things happen: (1) the word is rightly preached, (2) the ordinances are rightly administered, (3) discipline is rightly exercised. |
教会是什么？一个教会是耶稣会众的聚集。一个教会聚会时会发生什么呢？或者，一个教会做什么呢？教会历史上的许多基督徒强调过一个真正教会聚会的3个记号。一个真正的教会在聚会当中会至少发生3件事：（1）正确传讲真道，（2）正确施行圣礼，（3）正确执行纪律。 |
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| Introduction for Today’s Sermon: First Mark of a True Church and Lessons from the Messages to the Seven Churches |
今日讲道引言：真正教会的第一个记号和写给七个教会的书信中的教导 |
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| Today we will look at the first mark: preaching. Next week we will examine the mark of discipline truly exercised. The weeks that follow will examine the link between discipline and discipleship, life in the body of Christ, and the ordinances of Christ: the Lord’s Supper and Baptism. |
今天,我们会一起看一下第一个记号:讲道。下周我们会研究真正执行纪律的记号。下周后接下来的几周我们会查考教导和门徒训练之间的联系，在基督肢体里的生命，和基督的圣礼：圣餐和洗礼。 |
| Today we are focusing on the word faithfully preached. What is preaching? I wrote a book on that question that said the ministry of the word (of which preaching is a part) is stewarding and heralding the word in such a way that people encounter God through his word. I am not going to preach that whole book and all the texts that form the case for that definition. |
今天我们关注的是忠诚地传讲真道。讲道是什么？我以这个问题为主题写了一本书,真道的事工(讲道是其中一部分)是作真道的管家和传令官，为的是会众能在神的话语中真正遇见神。我暂时不会细讲那整本书或者所有用来形成这个定义的经文。 |
| I want to look in general at Jesus’ words to the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 and make some observations and then I will drill down even deeper at his message to one of the churches in particular. |
我想要大致看一下耶稣在启示录2-3章中对七个教会说的话，并做一些观察。然后，我会更深地钻研祂对其中一个教会的信息。 |
| In the letters to the seven churches, we get a picture of what preaching is supposed to do. The aim of preaching is to bring the voice of Christ to his church. Here is the picture we see in the Lord’s message to his seven churches: The Risen Christ knows his churches intimately, speaks to them specifically, calls them to respond immediately, warns them severely, and promises them extravagantly. |
在给七个教会的书信中，我们能看到讲道应该做什么。讲道的目的就是把基督的言语带到祂的教会里来。在主给祂的七个教会的信息中我们能看到：复活的基督亲密地了解祂的教会，明确地与他们对话，叫他们立即回应，严正地警告他们，并慷慨地给他们应许。 |
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| The pulpit has a central place in the church because it is the place set apart to hear the Lord of the church speak to his church. Local undershepherds want to steward that message and deliver that message as a faithful ambassador and herald. The point for our 20/20 vision is also clear as we look at the specific differences of the letters to the seven churches. Christ had a distinct word for each church. Each assembly in these different locations faced different trials, temptations, and situations. Each church is commended, accused, admonished, and warned in different ways that are specific to each church. Campus specific preaching seeks to come from a person who is an undershepherd and walks among the church and walks with Christ so that he can deliver Christ’s word to the church. |
讲台在教会里有中心的位置，因为那是被分别出来专门倾听教会的主对祂的教会讲话的地方。地方教会的牧者想要作这信息的管家并以忠诚大使和传令官的身份传递这个信息。要是我们能看到给七个教会书信中具体的区别，我们也会发现我们20/20异像的目的很明确。对于每个教会，耶稣都有独特的信息。这些聚会坐落在不同的地方，面对不同的试炼、诱惑、和情形。针对每个教会都有各不相同的称赞、批评、劝诫和警告。针对各个分堂的讲道应当由一个分堂的牧者担当。他在教会中生活，也和耶稣同行，这样他才能把基督的话语传送给教会。 |
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| I do not want to miss what these letters to the seven churches stress in the conclusion: listen to what the Spirit says to the churches (2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). Who is speaking? I thought these were the words of Christ to his churches? Yes, they are the words of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The words of Christ and the work of the Spirit go together. Jesus tells us in John’s Gospel that the Spirit will take what is mine and glorify it (John 16). |
我不想忽略这些书信在结尾强调的几点。听听圣灵对这些教会说的 （2:7，11，17，29；3:6，13，22）。是谁在说话？这难道不是基督对祂的教会说的话吗？是的，它们是基督通过圣灵的大能传送的信息。基督的话语和圣灵的工作并列同存。耶稣在约翰福音里告诉我们圣灵 “荣耀我，因为他要把从我那里所领受的告诉你们” （约翰福音 16） |
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| Preaching should be done in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in the performance of human oratory. |
所以讲道应该建立在圣灵大能的基础上 ，而不是建立在人的演讲术上。 |
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| Turning to the First Message: What We Need to Hear |
转向第一条信息：我们需要听什么 |
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| But I do not want to preach about preaching from a safe distance – a way that makes the message of Christ abstract and impersonal. I want to preach Jesus’ words to the first church because I think it so fits where we are and what we need to hear. |
但是我不想站在一个 “安全” 的距离讲讲道这个主题 –– 就是以抽象，脱离实际的方式讲基督的信息。我想要宣讲耶稣对第一个教会讲的话，因为我觉得这段经文很适合我们的现状，也是我们需要听的信息。 |
| To the Church in Ephesus |
给以弗所教会的信 |
| 1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. |
1“你要写信给在以弗所教会的使者，说：‘那右手拿着七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的，这样说： |
| 2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ |
2 “‘我知道你的行为、你的劳苦、你的忍耐，也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾经试验那些自称是使徒，而其实不是使徒的人，看出他们是假的。3你有忍耐，曾为我的名的缘故忍受一切，并不困倦。4然而有一件事我要责备你，就是你已经离弃了你起初的爱。5所以，你应当回想你是从哪里坠落的，并且要悔改，作起初所作的事。你若不悔改，我就要来到你那里，把你的灯台从原处移去。6不过你有这一个优点，就是你恨恶尼哥拉党的作为，那也是我所恨恶的。7圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。得胜的，我必定把 神乐园里生命树的果子赐给他吃。’” |
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| Outline |
大纲 |
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| 1. Introduction (v. 1) |
1. 引子 （第1节） |
| A. Holds the Seven Stars |
A. 拿着七星 |
| B. Walks Among the Seven Lampstands |
B.在七个金灯台中间行走 |
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| 2. Commendation (v. 2-3) |
2. 称赞 （第2-3节） |
| A. Your Deeds (v. 2) |
A. 你的作为 (第2节) |
| B. Your Doctrine (v. 2, v. 6) |
B. 你的教义 (第2和第6节) |
| C. Your Endurance (v. 2-3) |
C. 你的忍耐 (第2-3节) |
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| 3. Accusation (v. 4) |
3. 批评（第4节） |
| A. Lost your First Love |
A. 离弃了你起初的爱 |
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| 4. Admonition (v. 5) |
4. 告诫 （第5节） |
| A. Remember |
A. 回想 |
| B. Repent |
B. 悔改 |
| C. Return |
C. 回转 |
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| 5. Conclusion (vs. 5-7) |
5. 结尾（5-7节） |
| A. Warning: Remove Lampstand |
A. 警告：移去灯台 |
| B. Promise: Eat from the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God |
B. 应许：在神的乐园里吃生命树上的果子 |
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| Sermon Body |
讲道主体 |
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| 1. Introduction (v. 1) |
1. 引子（1节） |
| “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” |
“你要写信给在以弗所教会的使者，说：‘那右手拿着七星，在七个金灯台中间行走的，这样说： |
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| I do not have time to go into much detail here in terms of the debate about the phrase “the angel of the church.” The word “angel” means messenger and so the debate is whether this refers to a human messenger of the church (i.e., the pastor of the church) or a heavenly messenger (angelic beings). I agree with the majority of commentators who say that this is a reference to an actual angelic being – a heavenly representatives of earthly congregations. There are 67 references to angels in Revelation and all of them outside of chapters 2-3 refer to angelic beings. Also angels are identified with Christians as their heavenly counterparts elsewhere in Revelation (8:3-4; 19:10; 22:9). |
因为时间关系，我不会过度解析 “教会的使者” 这段话引发的争论。“使者” 一词的有信使的意思，所以争论的是这个词指的是一个教会的人类信使（比如教会牧师）还是一个天上来的信使（比如天使）。我同意大部分注释家的说法：这指的是一位真的天使–地上会众在天上的代表。启示录一共提到 “使者” 67次，在第2-3章以外提到 “使者” 的时候都是指天使。启示录也提到过天使就是相当于天上的基督徒 （8:3-4; 19:10; 22:9）。 |
| I am not spending much space here in the sermon focusing on the angel because the focus is meant to be on Christ here. John highlights two characteristics of Christ: (1) he holds the seven stars, and (2) he walks among the seven lampstands. |
我不会把太多的时间集中在这个使者身上，因为我们的焦点应该是耶稣。约翰强调基督的两个特征：（1）拿着七星，和（2）在七个金灯台中间行走。 |
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| A. Holds the Seven Stars |
A. 拿着七星 |
| ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand |
“‘那右手拿着七星， |
| B. Walks Among the Seven Lampstands |
B. 在七个金灯台中间行走 |
| who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” |
“‘在七个金灯台中间行走的， |
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| Each of the messages to the seven churches begins with a description or a self-disclosure of Jesus. It establishes the identity of the One who speaks. The risen Christ has both sovereign power and intimate knowledge. The Lampstands are the churches and the stars are the angels that represent them. The picture we have here is that Jesus sovereignly holds the angels and walks among the seven lampstands. This once again is proof of Jesus’ promise of God with us – the God who is present with his people and knows them intimately so he can speak specifically. That is why the very next words are: “I know your works.” The God who dwells with us knows us. We saw this last week: The Good Shepherd knows the Sheep like the Son knows the Father – perfectly, fully, totally, infallibly. Jesus never needed man’s testimony about man because he knew what was in man (John 2:44). |
给七个教会的每封信开头都有一段关于耶稣的描述或者自我陈述，好确认这位讲话者的身份。复活的基督既有至高主权又熟识他们。灯台是教会，而星星是那代表教会的使者。我们这里能看到的是耶稣主权地带着使者们在七个金灯台中间行走。这再一次证实了耶稣应许神与我们同在–神与百姓同在，熟识他们，为要针对他们的情况说话。这就是为什么紧接着的文字就是 “我知道你的行为。” 那与我们同在的神了解我们。我们上周已经看见过：好牧人了解他的羊，就像圣子完美地，彻底地，完全地，无误地认识圣父。耶稣从来不需要世人来见证人是什么样的，因为祂知道人心里所存的（约翰福音2:44）。 |
| 2. Commendation (v. 2-3) |
2. 表扬 （第2-3节） |
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| A. Your Deeds (v. 2) |
A. 你的行为 (第2节) |
| 2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil |
2 “‘我知道你的行为、你的劳苦、 |
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| B. Your Doctrine (v. 2) |
B. 你的教义 (第2和第6节) |
| and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false… |
“‘也知道你不能容忍恶人。你也曾经试验那些自称是使徒，而其实不是使徒的人，看出他们是假的。’” |
| 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate |
6“‘不过你有这一个优点，就是你恨恶尼哥拉党的作为，那也是我所恨恶的。’” |
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| C. Your Endurance (v. 2-3) |
C. 你的忍耐 (第2-3节) |
| and your patient endurance…3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. |
2 “‘你的忍耐。。。3你有忍耐，曾为我的名的缘故忍受一切，并不困倦。’” |
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| Let’s summarize the picture. Jesus commends the church for being active and doctrinally sound and for running the race with endurance and patience. It seems like a strong commendation, but it turns out that appearances can be deceiving because when he moves to accusation it is devastating. |
我们来总结一下：耶稣表扬以弗所教会有活力，教义纯正，忍耐坚持奔跑。这虽然看上去是一个很热烈的称赞，但是很快我们就会发现不要被表面迷惑了，因为祂批评他们这种表现具有破坏性。 |
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| 3. Accusation (v. 4) |
3. 批评（第4节） |
| A. Lost your First Love |
A. 离弃了你起初的爱 |
| 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. |
4然而有一件事我要责备你，就是你已经离弃了你起初的爱。 |
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| Appearances can be deceiving. It looks like the church is active and pure and doctrinally sound and running the race with endurance, but they are losing their love for Christ. In fact, Jesus says it more definitively. You have lost the love you had for me at the beginning. |
外表是会骗人的。看上去好像以弗所教会有活力、纯洁、教义纯正，并在灵命的奔跑上体现出忍耐，但是他们正在失去对基督的爱。其实，耶稣更加肯定地说：“你们已经失去了你们起初对我的爱。” |
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| Here is another way you could say it. The highest divorce rate in the country right now is among empty nesters. Why? You would think that they made it through the difficult years of raising their children and seeing them leave the house. But is the point. Something else became the focus. They lost sight of being spouses and just became parents. Once the kids were gone, they woke up and realized that they didn’t really have a relationship. There was nothing there anymore. |
我们可以从另外一个角度来看。美国离婚率最高的人群就是空巢老人们。为什么？你可能会觉得他们已经度过了养孩子这艰难的几年并把孩子们送出了家门。可这就是问题所在。另外一样东西（孩子）变成了他们生活的焦点，以致他们忘掉自己夫妇的身份，变成了彻底的父母。孩子们离开，他们猛然从梦中醒来，才发现在这过程中他们更本就没有保持关系–––什么都没有剩。 |
| Are you not afraid of the same thing, Christian? Could it be that in the beginning it was all so clearly about love for Jesus as the all-consuming focus and then slowly the focus began to shift elsewhere? It is a subtle shift and a slow fade. They focused on how active they were – their toil, their works, the things they were doing. The focus became testing false doctrine, hating the works of false teachers. They told themselves: we are so doctrinally sound and pure and right. Maybe the focus was on just enduring patiently and just bearing up and grinding it out. |
基督徒们，你们不会怕同样的事发生吗？会不会在最开始的时候你对耶稣的爱是如此清楚，成为你全神贯注的焦点，然后慢慢地，你的焦点转移别处了？这焦点在不知不觉中转移，热情也慢慢消退。他们关注的是他们有多么活跃——他们的劳苦、他们的行为、他们所做的一切。关注的焦点变成检验错误教导、恨恶假老师。他们告诉他们自己：我们的教义多么健全、纯正而且正确。也许焦点只是在于如何忍耐、忍受、费力地完成。 |
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| Then Jesus comes and wants to clarify the relationship. In all your deeds and your doctrine and your endurance, you lost me. I am no longer the focus. You traded the primary for the secondary. You are running on the relational fumes of what you once had. The light of our relationship is slowly dying out and you don’t even see it because you have lost sight of me. |
然后耶稣来了，要澄清这关系。在你的所有行为、教义和忍耐中，你失去了我。我不再是你的焦点。你把主次颠倒了。我们曾经的关系已经没油了你还在跑。我们的关系渐渐暗淡，而你却看不到，因为你都已经忘记我了。 |
|
| All that he commended was good in and of itself. Hating error is good. Patient endurance is good. Working hard is good, but it is not the main thing. |
祂所表扬的就其本身而言是好的。恨恶谬误当然是好的。劳苦忍耐当然也是好的。努力工作是好的，但那不是最主要的。 |
| Hating error is not the same as loving Christ. Being active is not the same as adoring Christ. Enduring hardship is not the same as enjoying Christ. What are they to do with this devastating diagnosis? Jesus now turns to admonish them with three points. |
恨恶谬误不等于爱基督。保持活力不等于喜爱基督。忍耐困苦也不等于享受基督。它们与这毁灭性的诊断结果有什么关系？耶稣现在转而告诫他们三点。 |
|
| 4. Admonition (v. 5) |
4.告诫（第5节） |
|
| A. Remember |
A. 回想 |
| 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; |
所以，你应当回想你是从哪里坠落的， |
|
| B. Repent |
B. 悔改 |
| repent, |
并且要悔改， |
|
| C. Return |
C.回转 |
| and do the works you did at first. |
作起初所作的事。 |
|
| 1. Remember |
1.回想 |
| If they are going to return to the love they had at first, then they will need to go back and remember it. Go back with the express purpose of bringing the past into the present. See what it was like. Feel what is what like. Put yourself in that place again. |
如果他们要回到起初的爱，他们就需要回头回想它。回想的直接目的就是把过去带回到当下。看看它是什么样。感觉它是什么样。把自己放回去感受一下。 |
| 2. Repent |
2.悔改 |
| Once they have remembered where they were, now they have to compare and contrast that with where they are now. Once that contrast is clear they will see how far off they are and will need to repent of it. Repentance is a response to seeing how far off course we are. It is the idea of a plumb line – we have been eye-balling something and then we put up a plumb line to it and we see how far off we are. Or we go some distance and then check the map and see that we took the wrong road. I remember once we were hiking and we were going on a trail to reach a summit. The trail was not well marked and we ended up missing where we were supposed to turn. What was supposed to be a two mile hike ended up being an eight mile hike. It was painful to realize how far off we were and then the sinking realization of how far we had to go in order to go back to the original trail. |
一旦他们回想了过去，现在他们就不得不对比和对照过去与现在。一旦对比明显，他们就会看出他们偏离得有多远，于是就需要悔改。悔改是看到我们偏离正路时的反应。这就是铅锤线的作用——我们先目测，然后放上铅锤线，就会知道我们目测差得有多远。或者像我们跑出一段路，然后对照地图就看到我们走错了路。我记得有一次我们去爬山，打算走一条山路上山顶。山路路标没有标清楚，结果我们就没找到目的地。最痛苦的是在于我们意识到我们偏离得有多远，又要走多远才能回到原路上。 |
|
| 3. Return |
3.回转 |
| But notice what Jesus says about what this return looks like. I love the Bible. It is unlike any other Book. Jesus’ response seems a little surprising or counter intuitive. Jesus does not denigrate works. He does not say: stop being so busy with works and just focus on loving me. After they remember and repent, they return to the original works. The original love should lead to the original works. |
但请注意耶稣说这回转是什么样。我爱圣经。它与别的书完全不同。耶稣的反应好像让我感到有些意外，或违背我的直觉。耶稣并不贬低行为。祂并没有说：不要再忙乎你的工作了，而要单单专注爱我。在他们回想和悔改之后，他们要回头作起初所作的事。起初的爱要带领起初的工作。 |
|
| In other words, works were not the problem – the order is the problem. They have become disordered. Things had subtly shifted for them and now they had things out of order. What is the problem? It looks like they had endurance, but actually they were going to run out of steam. Here is a word picture. Jesus is saying that the lead engine of the train must be love for Christ. We cannot put anything else at the front. I am imagining that coal burning train now and putting coals into the burning furnace that keeps the train going. If that guy quits shoveling coal into that furnace the train is going to keep going for a while, but it is going to die. If a flower is cut, it may be pretty for a while and you can display it for a while and smell it for a while, but a cut flower is a flower that will wilt and die. Jesus is saying that Ephesus was a cut flower and needed to be connected again to the vine in love for Christ. Love for Christ must be the fuel for the lampstand to shine bright. |
换句话说，工作本身不是问题——优先顺序才是问题。它们主次错乱了。事情在不知不觉中变味了，现在他们做事不按主次了。问题在哪里？他们似乎在忍耐，实际上他们已经泄气了。这是个比喻。耶稣是说火车头的发动机应该是对基督的爱。我们不能把别的东西放在前头。我在脑海里想像蒸汽机火车头，它需要不断往炉子里加煤。如果司炉停止加煤，火车还能跑一阵子，但没一会儿就跑不动了。如果一朵花被采下来，它还能漂亮一会儿，你还能把它摆放一会儿，它还散发一会儿香气，但一朵采下来的花很快就会枯萎死去。耶稣是在说以弗所教会就是一朵采下来的花，需要接回爱基督的藤子上去。对基督的爱是灯台燃烧发光所需要的油。 |
|
| Where is your focus? How can you have a relationship with someone without focusing on them? And if Christ is to be your pre-eminent relationship, he must be your pre-eminent focus. We should know him better than we know anything else, love him more than we love anyone else. What has been your focus? If you spent more time looking into the Corona Virus than the Lord Jesus Christ, then that should be a sign of spiritual danger. Our desires and our focus are always in danger of becoming disordered. What is exactly is at stake with this danger? |
你关注的焦点在哪里？你和某人有关系却不关注他们，怎么可能呢？如果基督是你最重要的关系，那祂就必须是你首要的关注焦点。我们应该更好地认识祂胜过其它任何事物，爱祂胜过其他任何人。你的关注焦点曾经是什么？如果你花更多时间去关注冠状病毒，多于关注主耶稣基督，那么这可能就是一个属灵危机的信号。我们的欲望和关注的焦点总是在出偏差的危险中。这危险的要害在哪里？ |
|
| 5. Conclusion (vs. 5-7) |
5.结尾（5-7节） |
| A. Warning: Remove Lampstand (v. 5) |
A.警告：移去金灯台（第5节） |
| If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. |
你若不悔改，我就要来到你那里，把你的灯台从原处移去。 |
|
| When the love runs out, the church dies out. Jesus snuffs it out – he removes it. We are going to talk about church discipline and removing a member from the assembly – Jesus is the one who carries out the discipline here by removing the entire assembly. |
当爱枯竭的时候，教会就会死去。耶稣把它熄灭了——祂把它移走。我们将要讲到教会纪律并从会众中逐出会员——耶稣在这里执行纪律，把整个教会移去。 |
|
| B. Promise: Eat from the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God |
B.应许：吃神乐园中生命树的果子 |
| 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ |
6 不过你有这一个优点，就是你恨恶尼哥拉党的作为，那也是我所恨恶的。 7 圣灵向众教会所说的话，有耳的就应当听。得胜的，我必定把 神乐园里生命树的果子赐给他吃。 |
|
| The promise is the paradise of God and enjoying eternal life by eating of the tree of life. Some people just hear this as “paradise” instead of the “paradise of God.” When you go to someone’s house, does it first enter your mind that you are going there because they have cool stuff there – good food, fun entertainment. Hear this as: you are going where God is – and you will enjoy it there forever. |
应许的是神的乐园，并且吃着生命树的果子享受永生。有些人只听到“乐园”而不是“神的乐园”。当你到某人家里，难道你首先想到的是他们有好东西——好吃的好玩的？听着：你要去的是神所在的地方——你将在那里永远享受祂的同在。 |
|
| Main Point: Contending for Christ must flow from Love for Christ. Putting this in the right order will result in extravagant eternal blessings. Getting these out of order will have devastating consequences for our souls and for our church. |
要点：为基督争战必须是出于对基督的爱。摆正这个次序会带来丰盛的永恒祝福。搞错了这个次序会给我们的灵魂和教会带来毁灭性的后果。 |
|
| That is my question for you today. We are in a situation that is like the church of Ephesus. There is work to be done. There are errors to refute. There is doctrine to clarify and champion. There is a race to run. But above all else there is a Savior to be loved. Do you love Jesus? |
这是我今天要留给你的问题。我们现在处于和以弗所教会相似的处境。有很多事需要做，有谬误需要驳斥，教义需要澄清和拥护。路还没跑完。但在这一切之上，有一位救主我们要爱。你爱耶稣吗？ |
| This is what we do in terms of the work of the church. This is why we preach. This is why we raise our children in the nurture and instruction of the Lord – not just to know the Bible, but to love the Lord. This is why we meet in small groups: not simply to get to know one another, but to stir one another up to love and good deeds – love for the Lord and love for others. The world will know we are his disciples if we love him and have love for one another. |
这是我们在教会工作中要做的。这是我们要讲道的原因。这是为什么我们要用主的教导来教养我们的孩子——而不仅仅是熟读圣经，却不爱主。这是为什么我们要参加小组聚会：不仅仅是要去认识些人，而是要彼此鼓励爱与善行——爱主，爱人。如果我们爱祂并且彼此相爱，世人就能认出我们是祂的门徒。 |
|
| We keep stirring each other up in this way because if the light of love goes out, then the church goes out with it. When the light of love is done, then this church is done. Don’t you want to be this kind of church? What do you want people to say about Bethlehem? We don’t just want to be a place where people say: they know their Bibles, but a place where people say: they love their Bridegroom. |
我们就这样彼此激励，因为如果爱的光明灭没，那教会也随之灭没。当爱的光明没了，那这个教会也没了。你想要这种教会吗？你希望人们怎么评论伯利恒教会？我们不只是想成为人们所说的那样：他们熟读他们的圣经，而是要成为人们所说的：他们爱他们的新郎。 |
|
| • 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thess. 2:9-12) |
9 这不法的人来到，是照着撒但的行动，行各样的异能奇蹟和荒诞的事， 10 并且在那些沉沦的人身上，行各样不义的欺诈，因为他们不领受爱真理的心，使他们得救。 11 因此，神就使错谬的思想运行在他们当中，让他们相信虚谎， 12 叫所有不信真理倒喜爱不义的人，都被定罪。（帖撒罗尼迦后书2:9-12） |
|
| • 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing (2 Tim. 4:8) |
8 从此以后，有公义的冠冕为我存留，就是按公义审判的主在那日要赏给我的；不但赏给我，也赏给所有爱慕他显现的人。（提摩太后书4:8） |
|
| Conclusion: The Lord’s Supper |
结语：圣餐 |
|
| The Lord’s Supper is meant to help us carry out the admonition of the Lord to remember. “Do This in Remembrance of Me.” To remember is not just recalling something – it is to bring the past into the present. The Lord’s Supper is not just an invitation to a meal, but to a relationship. If someone invites you over for a meal, it is not necessarily the meal that is the main thing, but the invitation to friendship or an invitation to spend time together – that is an invitation to commune with Christ. In this way, Communion is like Revelation 3:20. |
圣餐是用来帮助我们实行主的告诫要回想。“以此来记念我。”记念不只是想起什么东西——而是把过去带到当下。圣餐不仅是一个邀请，更是关系。如果有人请你吃饭，吃饭不一定是主要的，而是邀请你作朋友或一起共度时光——这才是邀请与基督交通。因此圣餐就像启示录3:20所说的： |
| 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. |
看哪！ 我站在门外敲门；如果有人听见我的声音就开门的，我要进到他那里去，我要跟他在一起，他也要跟我在一起吃饭。 |
|
| Jesus promises his disciples that they are to eat and drink at his table in the kingdom. A common meal signifies a strong bond of affection and love. So make no mistake – this meal is more than a symbol and more than a memorial. You could have a picture of a kitten. Someone could throw darts at it. What would we say about such a person? We would say that they are a little weird in the head, but we would not convict them of animal cruelty. The kitten is not real. It is a symbol of the kitten. But Jesus is really present. There is a participation with Jesus – a communion with Jesus in this meal. |
耶稣应许祂的门徒说他们要在神国里在祂的筵席上一同吃喝。一同吃喝代表着深厚的感情和爱。所以不要搞错了，这圣餐不仅是象征，也不仅是纪念。你可以有一张小猫的图画，别人可以对它扔飞镖。我们会怎么评论这个人？我们可能会说这个头脑有点问题，但不会认定他虐待动物。那小猫不是真的。那只是小猫的象征。但耶稣是真的临在。这是与耶稣有份——在这圣餐中与耶稣交通。 |
|
| • 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? (1 Cor. 10:16). |
我们为福杯祝祷的时候，难道不是共享基督的血吗？（哥林多前书10:16） |
|
| • The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Cor. 10:16) |
我们擘饼的时候，难道不是共享基督的身体吗？（ 哥林多前书10:16） |
|
| I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1 Cor. 10:20-22). |
我却不愿意你们与鬼来往。 21 你们不能喝主的杯又喝鬼的杯，你们不能参加主的筵席又参加鬼的筵席。 22 难道我们要激起主的忿怒吗？ 我们比他更强吗？（哥林多前书10:20-22） |
|
| The Lord’s Supper is a rhythm of remembering, repenting, and returning. We go back so that we can see how far off we are. We can see if our flame of love for Christ is burning bright or flickering and growing cold. We return to how this relationship began – we take our torch to the flame of his love so that our love can be rekindled. |
圣餐的节奏就是回想、悔改和回转。我们回想是为了看到我们偏离得有多远。我们可以看到爱基督的火焰是燃烧正旺，还是摇曳冷淡？我们回到这个关系的起初——我们把我们的火把凑近祂爱的火焰，好让我们的爱重新燃起。 |
|
| Sermon Discussion Questions |
讲道讨论问题 |
| Sermon Text: Revelation 2:1-7 |
讲道经文：启示录2:1-7 |
| Sermon Title: 20/20 Vision and Revelation 2 |
讲道标题：20/20异象和启示录2章 |
|
| Main Point: Contending for Christ must flow from Love for Christ. Putting this in the right order will result in extravagant eternal blessings. Getting these out of order will have devastating consequences for our souls and for our church. |
要点：为基督争讼必须出于对基督的爱。正确对待这个关系将有极丰盛的永恒祝福。处理不好这个关系将给我们的灵魂和教会带来破坏性的后果。 |
|
| Outline |
纲要 |
|
| 1. Introduction (v. 1) |
1.引言（第1节） |
| A. Holds the Seven Stars |
A.手拿七星 |
| B. Walks Among the Seven Lampstands |
B. 行在七个灯台中间 |
|
| 2. Commendation (v. 2-3) |
2.称赞（2-3节） |
| A. Your Deeds (v. 2) |
A.你的行为（第2节） |
| B. Your Doctrine (v. 2, v. 6) |
B.你的教义（第2、6节） |
| C. Your Endurance (v. 2-3) |
C.你的忍耐（第2-3节） |
|
| 3. Accusation (v. 4) |
3.批评（第4节） |
| A. Lost your First Love |
离弃了你起初的爱 |
|
| 4. Admonition (v. 5) |
4.告诫（第5节） |
| A. Remember |
A. 回想 |
| B. Repent |
B. 悔改 |
| C. Return |
C. 回转 |
|
| 5. Conclusion (vs. 5-7) |
5. 结论（5-7节） |
| A. Warning: Remove Lampstand |
A. 警告：移去金灯台 |
| B. Promise: Eat from the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God |
B. 应许：吃神乐园中生命树的果子 |
|
| Discussion Questions |
讨论问题 |
|
| 1. Who is Jesus in verse 1? How does that picture of Jesus relate to the words of Jesus that follow? |
1. 第1节中耶稣是谁？其中对耶稣的描写与后面耶稣的话之间有什么关系？ |
| 2. What does Jesus commend in the Ephesian church? |
2. 耶稣称赞以弗所教会什么？ |
| 3. What is the devastating diagnosis that Jesus has for the Ephesian church? |
3. 关于以弗所教会，耶稣有什么不好的论断？ |
| 4. What is his admonition or solution for them in verse 5? |
4. 第5节中祂给他们的告诫或解决办法是什么？ |
| 5. How does the flow of the passage lead to the main point of the passage (Revelation 2:1-6?) In other words, how do Jesus words in verses 1-5 lead to the blessing and curse of verses 5-7? |
5. 这段经文的逻辑思路如何导向其要点（启示录2:1-6）？换句话说，1-5节中耶稣的话如何导向5-7节中的祝福与咒诅？ |
|
| Application Questions |
应用问题 |
| 1. What did your original love for Christ look like and feel like? Go back and remember. |
1. 你对基督最初的爱看起来像什么样？或感觉像什么？回想一下。 |
| 2. Compare and contrast that original place of love for Christ with your current relationship with Christ. What observations would you make? Are there places where you have taken the wrong turn or put things in the wrong order? What do you need to do to return to the character of those original works that flowed from that original connection with Christ and love for Christ? |
2. 对比对照一下你对基督最初的爱和你现在与基督的关系。你观察到什么？你有什么地方拐错了弯或把什么摆错了次序？你有什么需要回转到起初所作的是源于与基督相联的爱？ |
| 3. What part of this message do you need to share with someone this week? |
3.这篇信息的哪些部分你需要与他人分享？ |
|
| Prayer Focus |
祷告聚焦 |
| Pray for a grace to know Christ better than you know anything else and love him more than you love anyone else. |
祈求恩典让我们更好地认识基督，胜过其它任何事，爱祂，胜过其他任何人。 |
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