Hearing God’s Word
James 1:19-27
聽神的話
雅各書1:19-27
As we start a new year, it’s always good to remind ourselves of the importance of God’s Word in our lives. We quickly forget how much we need God and God’s Word on a daily basis, instead trusting in our own wisdom and desires.
The passage we’re looking at today comes from James’ letter to believers everywhere. Some have called it the most practical book of the Bible, others have called it the “proverbs of the New Testament.” Either way, it is an immensely helpful book in our desire to grow in faith and be more like Christ.
當我們開始新的一年,提醒自己, 神的話語在我們生活中的重要性, 是一件好事。我們很快就忘了我們每天是多麼需要上帝, 和神的話語,而不是倚靠自己的智慧和願望。
今天我們所讀的, 是雅各寫給各地信徒的書信。有些人把它稱為聖經中最實用的一本書,其他人把它稱為“新約聖經中的箴言” 。總之,它是一個非常有用的書, 它幫助我們信心成長,並且更像基督。
As James begins this letter on spiritual growth, he first addresses the reality of trails and difficulties. He recognizes that life is not easy for any of us. Straight out of his discussion of trials and difficulties, James writes that because of our problems, God’s Word must become the foundation of our lives. As Christians, we need to understand the importance of God’s Word.
As we study James 1:19-27, we will see that the Apostle James emphasizes the power of God’s Word, the priority of God’s Word, and the pursuit of God’s Word.
當雅各在這封信的開始, 談到靈性的成長,他首先道出試煉與苦難的現實。他認識到生活對我們是不容易的。他馬上討論試驗和困難,雅各寫道:因為我們的問題,神的話語必須成為我們生活的基礎。作為基督徒,我們需要了解的神的話語的重要性。
當我們學習雅各1:19-27 ,我們將看到使徒雅各強調了神話語的能力,神的話語的優先次序,和如何追求神的話語
1) The Power of God’s Word (v. 18)
James reminds us that if we are Christians, then we are Christians because of God’s Word, the gospel, brought to bear in our lives. We’re not Christians because of our parents or our upbringing. We’re not Christians because of our religious leanings or religious experiences. We are products of God’s Spirit working God’s Word of life into our hearts. God’s Word awakened us and redeemed us. God’s Word breathed new life into us and transformed us.
If we’re not careful, it’s easy to forget that the Word brings joy and life. We can improperly trust in other things besides God and His Word. We can wrongly believe that money will bring security or happiness. We can wrongly believe that the right spouse will bring joy. We can wrongly believe that good children will bring us peace and fulfillment. They are all good things, but it is the Word that brings joy and life.
1 )神的話語的力量(第18節)
雅各提醒我們,如果我們是基督徒,那麼我們是基督徒,因為神的話,福音,帶來了負擔在我們的生活。我們不是因為我們的父母或是成長的基督徒。我們不是因為我們的宗教傾向或宗教經驗的基督徒。我們是上帝的靈的工作生活的神的話語在我們心裡的產品。神的話語喚醒我們,救贖我們。神的話語注入新的活力,我們並轉化我們。
如果我們不小心,很容易忘記的話帶來的喜悅和生命。我們可以不恰當信賴,除了上帝和祂的話其他的東西。我們可以錯誤地認為金錢會帶來安全或快樂。我們可以錯誤地認為合適的配偶會帶來喜悅。我們可以錯誤地認為,良好的孩子會為我們帶來和平與滿足。他們都是好東西,但它帶來的喜悅和生活的話語。
We are people of the Word, and we are to become people of the Word. We are to cherish and rely on God’s Word. Unfortunately, our Bibles collect dust on our nightstands. And, when we do read the Bible, we only want to be finished.
As we start another year, we need to remember that what we really need is God’s Word. God’s Word’s powerfully transforms our hearts and makes us more like our Savior.
我們是話語的人,我們要成為神話語的人。我們要珍惜和依靠神的話語。不幸的是,我們的聖經在我們的床頭收集灰塵。而且,當我們閱讀聖經,我們只希望得到成品。
當我們開始又一年,我們必須記住,我們真正需要的是神的話語。神的話語的有力轉變我們的心,讓我們更喜歡我們的救主。
2) The Priority of God’s Word (v. 19-21)
In the section from v. 19-27, James stresses the importance of both hearing and doing the Word. Both are necessary for the Christian life, but his priority is on hearing the Word. It makes sense because we cannot do God’s Word unless we first hear God’s Word. That’s why he exhorts us to be “slow to hear.” All of us hear, but do we really hear?
As many of you know, I’m married and I have three kids. All three of my children are different in many ways, different personalities, different likes, different ways of handling things. They do have one thing in common. When I give them instructions, they listen for the first few seconds, then turn and start running off even before I’m finished. So I have to call them back, and again, they turn to run off because they think they understand what I’ve asked them to do. When I check on them, I find out that they only partly heard me because they weren’t really listening. That’s what we’re like too.
2 )神的話語的優先權(第19-21 )
從19-27節,雅各既強調聽和做的話的重要性。兩者都是必要的基督徒的生活,但他的首要任務是聽到這個詞。這是有道理的,因為我們不能做神的話,除非我們首先聽到神的話語。這就是為什麼他勸告我們要我們所有的人聽到“慢聽到的。 ” ,但我們真的聽到了嗎?
正如你們許多人都知道,我已經結婚了,我有三個孩子。我的三個孩子都是不同的方法很多,不同的個性,不同的喜好,處理事情的方式不同。他們有一個共同點。當我給他們的指示,他們聽的最初幾秒鐘,然後打開並啟動運行了,我完成了以前。所以,我必須給他們回電話,並再次,他們把地跑了出去,因為他們認為他們明白我問他們做什麼。當我檢查他們,我發現自己原來只是部分聽我的,因為他們並沒有真的在聽。這就是我們喜歡了。
We are quick to hear, not slow to hear. Many times, we think we know what God wants so we tune him out. Well, in a way, that is arrogance. It’s pride to think we know the heart of God and act on what we think we know. It takes deep humility to stop and truly listen. And when we do, we not only hear the voice of God, we also experience the deep love of God.
So, how can we apply this? Well, many of you do a devotional each day. If you don’t, you really should because you will learn to truly love God through it. If you do, here’s a way you can prioritize hearing. Read God’s Word every day. By that, I mean, read God’s Word for your daily devotional, not a daily devotional book. Devotional books are okay, but they are limited. Reading a devotional is like reading a book about someone who is reading the Bible. Read the Bible instead. Read it regularly.
And, read it “slowly.” Take more time to read and think before getting up and doing the next thing. I know one pastor who would read a passage 50 times before starting a sermon on that passage. That may be a little bit too much for most of you, but try to read it three times, then take a few minutes just to think about it before doing anything else. Don’t be in a hurry. Don’t rush into something else. Let God’s Word sit in your ears and rest in your heart. Let it get inside your soul.
我們快快地聽,不慢聽到。很多時候,我們以為我們知道什麼是神要,所以我們調他出去。那麼,在某種程度上,這是狂妄。這是驕傲認為我們知道神的心臟和作用於我們認為我們知道。這需要十分謙卑停止和真誠的聆聽。而當我們這樣做,我們不僅聽到上帝的聲音,我們也經歷神的熱愛。
那麼,怎樣可以申請嗎?好了,每一天你們中許多人做一個虔誠。如果你不這樣做,你真的應該,因為你將學習到真正愛上帝通過它。如果你這樣做,這裡有一個方法你可以優先審理。讀神的話語的每一天。通過這一點,我的意思是,讀神的話語為您每日靈修,不是每日靈修的書。靈修書是好的,但他們是有限的。讀一本靈修就像讀一本關於人誰是閱讀聖經。閱讀聖經,而不是。經常閱讀它。
而且,讀它“慢。 ”把更多的時間起床,做未來的事情之前,閱讀和思考。我認識一個牧師誰該通道開始講道之前,會念一段50次。這可能是一個有點吃不消你們中的大多數,但要盡量讀了三遍,然後花幾分鐘的時間只是想一想才做別的。不要著急。不要急於成別的東西。讓神的話語坐在你的耳朵和休息在您的心臟。它讓你的靈魂裡得到的。
3) The Pursuit of God’s Word (v. 19-21)
In verses 19-21, the Apostle James encourages his readers to pursuit God’s Word, to chase after it. If God’s Word is important to us, then we too should pursuit it. So, how do we pursuit God’s Word?
First, repent. Repent of your idols and your false loves. Repent of your wrong priorities and your wrong desires. Repent of the fact that you don’t love God and God’s Word like you should. None of us do. At its heart, sin is the desire to trust ourselves and direct our own lives. Our sinful nature doesn’t want to bow to God or to God’s Word.
Second, cultivate humility. You cannot and will not grow without humility. Humility is letting God’s Word address your heart. Humility is about realizing that I’m sinful and in need of a Savior.
3 )神的話語來敲門(五19-21 )
在19-21節經文中,使徒雅各鼓勵他的讀者追求神的話語,後追。如果神的話語對我們很重要,那麼我們也應該追求它。那麼,我們如何追求神的話語?
首先,悔改。悔改你的偶像和你虛假的愛的。懺悔你的不對了重點和你的不對了慾望。悔改的事實,你不愛上帝和神的話語像你應該。我們沒有這樣做。在它的心臟,罪是信任自己和指導我們自己的生活的願望。我們罪惡的本性不願屈服於上帝或神的話語。
二,培養謙卑。你不能,也不會成長過程中沒有謙讓。謙卑是讓神的話語解決您的心臟。謙卑是關於認識到,我是有罪的,需要一個救世主。
But, the only way to truly become humble is to meet Jesus in the Word. In the Word of God, you find out that you need a Savior. Then you see Jesus, God who became man, go to the cross for your sins. And when you see that, it humbles you.
但是,要真正成為卑微的唯一途徑就是滿足耶穌的話語。在神的話語,你發現,你需要一位救主。然後就看到耶穌,上帝誰成為人,走上十字架為你的罪。而當你看到,它謙卑你。