"我上鍊I Am in Chains" 3/10/2019


[W.O.T.S.]
3/7/2019


Unit 1: 腓立比書 Philippians，Session 2

Title: "我上鍊I Am in Chains" 3/10/2019

經文Scriptures：腓立比書 Philippians 1:12-26

Worldwide Outreach Teaching School 賴美滿 校長

https://www.WorldwideOTS.org

 

前言PREFACE: 這週信息是保羅的寫信有關生與死，和他深深相信耶穌將會回來。  我們要鼓勵人既使在困境中有機會就傳福音。

This week’s lesson about Paul’s writings life and death and his deeply-held belief that Christ would soon return. We are to challenge people to see that even in difficult circumstances; we have the opportunity to advance the gospel.

 

上週Last Week：我們看到跟隨耶穌的生命是謙恭、感恩、非自大或自跨。

               We saw that the life of the follower of Jesus is marked by humble thanksgiving,   not arrogant boasting.

這週This Week：我們將看到邀請的方式能成為有機會在神的王國。We will see

             the ways our challenges can become opportunities in the kingdom of God.

 

1.      被軟禁House Arrest: 經文 Scriptures reading: 腓立比書 Philippians 1:12--14,

弟兄們、我願意你們知道、我所遭遇的事、更是叫福音興旺．以致我受的捆鎖、在御營全軍、和其餘的人中、已經顯明是為基督的緣故。並且那在主裡的弟兄、多半因我受的捆鎖、就篤信不疑、越發放膽傳　神的道、無所懼怕。

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

 

解經Commentary from N.I.V.p.2546 & 靈修版536頁:被關在牢裏，常會使人意志消沉，但保羅卻看它為一個傳福音的機會。他知道目前之環境並不重要，重要的事情是在此時此地做些何事，保羅能轉逆境成順境，向守衛皇宮之羅馬御營全軍傳福音，又鼓勵其他害怕被受害之信徒。我們也許不在坐牢，但是經濟困難，家庭糾紛，教會衝突，失業等困難，仍會使我們傷心---我們如何面對這些困境，顯示我們所信是什麼? 請效法，在惡劣之情況中尋找機會表明您之信仰，這樣您之信心然增強。Being imprisoned would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw it as one more opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ. Paul realized that his current circumstances weren’t as important as what he did with them. Turning a bad situation into a good one, he reached out to the Roman soldiers who made up the palace guard and encouraged those Christians who were afraid of persecution. We may not be in prison, but we still have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged – times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, church conflict, or the loss of our jobs. How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe. Please see Paul, look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations. Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.

 

2.      基督講道Christ Is Preached: 經文 Scriptures reading: 腓立比書 Philippians 1:15-18,  有的傳基督、是出於嫉妒分爭．也有的是出於好意．這一等、是出於愛心、知道我是為辯明福音設立的．那一等傳基督、是出於結黨、並不誠實、意思要加增我捆鎖的苦楚。這有何妨呢．或是假意、或是真心、無論怎樣、基督究竟被傳開了．為此我就歡喜、並且還要歡喜。

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.

 

解經Commentary from N.I.V.p.2547 & 靈修版536頁: 保羅有一顆無私之心。也知道有人傳福音是為了名譽，因保羅坐牢而抬起自己。但不管這些傳福音之人態度是如何，保羅為福音傳開而高興。有些基督徒之事奉動機，保羅不同意，也不蒙神悅納。Paul had an amazingly selfless attitude. He knew that some were preaching to build their own reputations, taking advantage of Paul’s imprisonment to try to make a name for themselves. Regardless of the motives of these preachers, Paul rejoiced that the gospel was being preached. Some Christians serve for the wrong reasons. Paul wouldn’t condone, nor does God excuse, their motives, but we should be glad if God uses their message, regardless of their motives.

 

3.      生或死To Live or Die: 經文 Scriptures reading: 腓立比書 Philippians 1:19-26,

因為我知道這事藉你們的祈禱、和耶穌基督之靈的幫助、終必叫我得救．

照著我所切慕所盼望的、沒有一事叫我羞愧、只要凡事放膽．無論是生、是死、總叫基督在我身上照常顯大。因我活著就是基督、我死了就有益處。

但我在肉身活著、若成就我功夫的果子、我就不知道該挑選甚麼。我正在兩難之間、情願離世與基督同在．因為這是好得無比的．然而我在肉身活著、為你們更是要緊的。我既然這樣深信、就知道仍要住在世間、且與你們眾人同住、使你們在所信的道上、又長進又喜樂．叫你們在基督耶穌裡的歡樂、因我再到你們那裡去、就越發加增。         for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

 

解經Commentary from the Faith Connection: 保羅之真實專注非生或死，期待是上帝之救續計畫。保羅寫， “照著我所切慕所盼望的、沒有一事叫我羞愧、只要凡事放膽．無論是生、是死、總叫基督在我身上照常顯大- (腓立比書1:20)”。  請看保羅的身體和生命都獻給神，我們的生命包跨身體是不是也為要顯明上帝的榮耀給世人而給神用。所以，上鍊、坐牢、迫害，或意外事件，都是道具有助於顯示上帝的榮耀給世人看。

      因此，別專注在您的道具或意外事件，也不專注別人所做之事情。專注於清楚您的工作是為榮耀神國，故必繼續做下去。

Paul’s true focus is not his life or death at all, but rather God’s unfolding plan of salvation. Paul writes, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body.”(Philippians 1:20). Paul sees his physical body and all of his life as the stage on which God’s divine drama will unfold. Our lives (our bodies included) are a stage for God to use and to show the world His glory. Chains, imprisonment, persecution, or circumstances become props (tools) to enhance the show.

So, don’t focus on what props or circumstances you have. Don’t focus on what others are doing. Focus on keeping this stage of your life clear for the King of Glory to put on His show, for the show must go on.

 

4. 結論Conclusion:   

1). 被軟禁House Arrest: 雖是上鍊的保羅，自認不但比較有機會在牢中見證耶穌

      更因保羅的缺席  好可讓別人有機會講道。因他在牢裏，激起一群人開始講道。

     Paul in chains, he sees that his chains not only provide him an opportunity to   witness in prison, but create space for other people to preach. Due to jail, he provokes a number of people to begin preaching.

 

2). 基督講道Christ Is Preached: 保羅之貢獻福音，他的信息在興旺福音 (12) ，使腓立比人在所信的道上、又長進又喜樂．(v. 25). 如何因分享福音產生我們生命之屬靈的長進呢?   

Paul’s advance the Gospel, writing serves for the progress of the gospel” (v. 12) and “for the progress and joy of the Philippians’ faith” (v. 25). How does sharing the gospel produce spiritual growth in our own lives?

 

3). 生與死To Live or Die: 第一章二十一句保羅說 ，“因我活著就是基督、我死了 就有益處。”保羅一生之 全目標是為耶穌勇敢的傳講使人越來越像耶穌。保羅能信心的說死比活好，因死了就沒有世界上的煩事，且可與主耶穌面對面相見。(約一:3); 他選活著是為腓立比人的進步, 保羅寫信向他們說，在基督耶穌裡的歡樂、因我再到你們那裡去、就越發加增 (v.25) 。

        今天的信息從保羅之實例見證了他的生命是傳講耶穌的福音重於個人生命之抱負理想或目標。

Note that verse 21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” For Paul’s whole purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and to become more like him. Thus Paul could confidently say that dying would be even better than living, because in death he would be removed from worldly troubles, and he would see Christ face to face (1 John 3); he chooses to live for the sake of the Philippians’ progress (v. 25), so his commitment to others reflects his confidence in their advancing the gospel of Jesus (v. 26).

Today’s session provides an example from Paul’s life of how the gospel of Jesus was bigger than his own personal goals and ambitions. In Paul’s writing, we gain a glimpse of what it means to live into a vision of the gospel bigger than our personal goals or agendas.