Called to the ministry section_11《天命与你》第11讲
主讲：林慈信牧师_校对：刘加立弟兄_英文：Cherry姐妹_中文：赵姐妹
我们上一次讲到，耶稣基督升天赐下圣灵。Last time we saw that Jesus ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit，就像耶和华做一位战胜的元帅，带着被掳掠的人来，把战胜品分给他的子民，just like Psalm 68，the Lord is a triumphant military leader and brought back his captives and gave gifts to his people.
Let us continue to study Eph. 4. 我们继续来看，作者怎么讨论《以弗所书》第四章。That is，the calling of an individual in the church of Christ is determined by the gifts Christ has given him，by the “measure” of the Spirit he has received.换言之，基督教会里的每一个基督徒的呼召，都是由基督所赐给他的恩赐所决定的，就是他所领受的圣灵的多少，或者是量度the “measure” of the Spirit 。
The equivalence of “calling” and “grace given” appears especially in the way Paul speaks of his own apostle-ship.当保罗讨论到他身为使徒的身份的时候，特别把呼召和上帝所赐的恩等同了。(Rom. 15:15，16我们来看罗15:15-16节，) But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder，because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God，so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable，sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 但有些地方，我写得稍为大胆一点，是要提醒你们；我因着上帝赐给我的恩典，为外族人作了基督耶稣的仆役，作了上帝福音的祭司，使所献上的外族人得蒙悦纳，靠着圣灵成为圣洁。 (罗马书15:15-16 新译本) Again and again he describes his office and authority with this phrase 保罗多次用这个短句，就是所领受之恩，来描述他的身份、他的职位，和他的权柄。(Rom. 12:3罗12:3； I Cor. 3:10； 15:10林前3:10；15:10； Gal. 2:9加2:9； Eph. 3:2，7弗3:2，7，)我们就不读了。
We will not read these verses. Calling ，grace given. 呼召所领受之恩。
Paul knew that he was unworthy to be an apostle，having persecuted the church； 保罗知道他自己不配做使徒，他曾逼迫过教会；yet his reply to his critics was 但是他这样回答那些批评他的人 (I Cor. 15:10林前15:10) “But by the grace of God I am what I am，and his grace toward me was not in vain. 然而靠着上帝的恩典，我得以有了今天，而且他赐给我的恩典并没有落空。On the contrary，I worked harder than any of them，though it was not I，but the grace of God that is with me. 我比众使徒格外劳苦，其实不是我，而是上帝的恩典与我同在。
James，Peter，and John in the church at Jerusalem recognized Paul’s apostleship to the Gentiles when they perceived the grace that was given to him (Gal. 2:9，加2:9).耶路撒冷教会的雅各、彼得、约翰，看到上帝所赐给保罗恩典的之后，就承认保罗向外邦人传福音使徒的职分了。The presence of the gifts for this work attested Christ’s calling to the work，因为有这些的恩赐，为了这些工作的恩赐有了，就见证基督呼召不同的人担任不同的工作，for the one Spirit “wrought for Peter unto the apostleship of the circumcision” and for Paul the apostleship to the Gentiles. 同一位圣灵，“给彼得向受割礼的人担任使徒的职分”，而给保罗向外邦人担任使徒的职分。
All Christian calling is by the inward gift of God’s grace as well as by the outward summons of his revealed will. 所有基督徒的呼召都是凭着上帝恩赐的内在恩典，也凭上帝外在的启示，外在的话语的旨意。Here we see “inward call and outward call”. (这里我们看到内在的呼召，外在的呼召。He (6:35) on this later in the book.这本书下文会更详细的发挥.) Paul，called to be an apostle by the grace given him，writes to the Corinthians，called to be saints，and thanks God “for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus” (I Cor. 1:4). 保罗是因为所赐的恩典蒙召做使徒的，他写信给哥林多的教会（林前1:4）保罗说，哥林多信徒是蒙召做圣徒的，保罗因为上帝在基督耶稣里赐给他们的恩典而感恩（林前1:4）
（Notice the calling to apostleship and calling to be saint请注意保罗蒙召做使徒，有这个做使徒的呼召，哥林多的基督徒，蒙召做圣徒，他们有做圣徒的呼召。）
God’s sanctifying grace brings us to the realization of our calling: 因为上帝赐下成圣的恩典，我们就能够实现我们的呼召的：”Faithful is he that calleth you，who will also do it” (I Thess. 5:24，帖前5:24). “那位召你们的是信实的，他必成就这事”（I Cor. 1:9，林前1:9）”God is faithful，through whom ye were called into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” 上帝是信实的，藉着他，你们被召，进入基督里，与祂相交，或者与祂有份（林前1:9）
Your personal calling as a Christian is the outworking of the measure of the gift of God’s grace that has been given to you. 你身为基督徒的呼召，乃是从上帝开恩给你的恩赐的大小所产生的，或者说所决定的。A man ought not to think of himself too highly，人不应该过高的估计自己，but should “think soberly，需要看自己合乎中道，according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith” (Rom. 12:3).正如，或者根据上帝所给个人的信心的大小或者量度（罗12:3）。 As the one Spirit divided into tongues of flame to rest upon the disciples at Pentecost，so now the Lord deals (divides) to each man a measure of faith. 正如一位圣灵在五旬节把火焰的舌头分给个人，降在门徒的头上，同样，今天基督也分给个人一份信心，不同的大小，不同的量度。These gifts must be exercised，所赐的恩赐必须使用，and in their exercise the calling of the Christian is determined. 当恩赐被使用的时候，就决定了一个基督徒的呼召。Paul goes on to describe the gifts that differ (vv. 6-8) 保罗继续（在罗12:6-8）描述这些恩赐 “according to the grace that was given to us” and their corresponding functions . 这些恩赐都是根据个所领受的恩典，然后也根据个人的功能有所不同。The man who has the gift of prophecy is to exercise it according to his measure of faith (or grace)； the gift of cheerfulness finds expression in the work of benevolence. 得到说预言的恩赐的人，必须使用它，都根据他的信心或者恩赐的大小，喜乐的恩赐必须透过慈惠事工表现出来。
The measure of gift also determines the measure of ministry. 恩赐的大小决定了事工的大小。（请注意，please note: the gift determines the call of the gift to the ministry.恩赐决定呼召，恩赐决定事奉或者事工。）Paul would not glory beyond his measure in asserting his apostolic authority，but “according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure，to reach even unto you” II Cor. 10:13). 当保罗坚持他的使徒的权威的时候，他没有过分的夸耀他自己恩典的大小，乃是跟上帝所量给个人的大小，甚至乎临到哥林多教会的他们的（林后10:13）
Your sphere of action，your ministry in the service of Christ，is marked out by the gifts Christ has given you.你行动的范围，你事奉的事工的范围，都是藉着基督所赐给你的恩赐所定出的。The gifts of Christ’s grace are like a majestic stained-glass window in his church. 基督恩典的恩赐，有点像教会的玫瑰玻璃图，Each Christian is set in place like a piece of jeweled glass，so that the radiance of God’s grace may shine through him to add a beam of crimson or emerald or azure to the orchestration of color blazing within. “According as each hath received a gift，ministering it among yourselves，as good stewards of the manifold (many-colored) grace of God” (I Pet.4:10). 每一个基督徒都好像一片玻璃，有他特别设定的位置，好像上帝恩典的荣光透过他照耀出来，增加一点点的亮光，可能是红色、绿色、蓝色，整体是多姿多彩的，照亮教堂的里面(I Pet.4:10彼前4:10）
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【我们就读ESV跟新译本，we will read ESV and the new Chinese Bible translation:
As each has received a gift，use it to serve one another，as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 你们要作上帝各样恩赐的好管家，各人照着所领受的恩赐彼此服事。 】
Paul uses the figure of the body to stress the great diversity of these individual ministries. 保罗用人的身体的比喻，是要强调各别事工的多元性。Seeing is quite different from smelling，视觉和闻到东西的嗅觉不同，and hearing from walking. 听觉也跟走路不同。Clearly the member serves best who does heartily what he is given to do as a good steward of the grace committed to him. 很明显的是最有效服事的肢体是忠心做他所领受的，做上帝托付给他恩典的好管家。（这个是好的肢体。）There are no useless gifts of grace； 恩典和恩赐没有一样是无用的，there is no Christian without a ministry-没有一个基督徒是没有事工的-the capacity to serve Christ and the opportunity to do it. 没有一个基督徒没有服事基督的能力，没有一个基督徒没有机会去这样做。
To be sure，there are groupings of gifts. 当然，有些恩赐是跟别人一起组成的。Some Christians may be described as pastors or teachers，圣经形容某些基督徒是牧师、是教师，some as governors or rulers，是治理的，some as ministers of mercy. 有些是做教会的慈惠事工的仆人。Paul gives several lists of gifts and functions in the church保罗列出教会里不同恩赐的功能的，有不同的列单 (I Cor. 12:8-10，28-30； 林前12:8-10，28-30；Rom. 12:6-8；罗12:6-8； Eph. 4:11，弗4:11；我们就不读这些经文了). There is particular need for grouping functions in the church which require public recognition for their proper exercise.教会特别需要某些恩赐的组合，这些恩赐是需要教会公开去认可的，好叫他们能够正确的被使用。Such functions are sometimes called “offices.” 这些组合的功能有时称为“职分offices”。
Yet even within such groupings the individual characteristics of each servant of Christ remain. 然而虽然有这些的组合，有这种的职分，但是每一个基督徒仆人仍然保留个人的独特性。Samson was one of many judges of Israel. 参孙是以色列众多士师的其中一位。With other judges he was given gifts of leadership for the deliverance of the people of God from their enemies. 和其他士师一样，参孙领受了做领袖的恩赐，要搭救上帝的子民脱离仇敌的手。But his distinctive calling as judge was marked out by the Spirit’s gift of invincible physical strength. 但是参孙的特别之处是上帝赐给他无敌的体力的恩赐。This gift was not arbitrarily or uselessly granted. 这方面的恩赐不是随意赐下不是无用的。Samson was called in a time when disunity，fear，and hopelessness made the divided tribes of Israel ready prey to the power of the Philistine invaders. 参孙蒙召的时期，以色列的众支派受到非利士人的侵略，充满着恐惧、无望、也没有凝聚力。
Samson’s gift demonstrated that God was able to deliver not only by a few warriors (Gideon’s three hundred)，but even by one. 参孙的恩赐说明，上帝不仅仅可以使用一小撮的战士，（譬如说基甸的300人，）甚至可以用一个人。That lesson was of supreme value for the future，for the final Saviour and Judge of Israel must be One. 这个教训是非常有用的，因为以色列至终的救主和士师必然是一个人（就是耶稣基督，in another word，is Jesus Christ)。When Samson，bound by his people and delivered up to the will of his enemies，triumphed at Lehi (Judg. 15)，当参孙被自己的同胞捆绑交给敌人任意处理的时候，他在里海胜过了他们(士15)，his unique calling became apparent. 他独特的呼召就在此显明了。Not even David’s conquest of Goliath pictured more vividly the role of Christ as the Champion and Mighty One. 甚至大卫胜过歌利亚也没有参孙的样子，形象的指出基督要扮演的角色，就是基督是元帅，是大能的那一位。
Sadly，Samson’s history traced the progressive quenching of the gifts of the Spirit rather than a faithful stewardship of them. 很不幸参孙的一生是勾画出人怎么样消灭圣灵的恩赐，而没有做恩赐的忠心的好管家。Only in his death was he restored again as the deliverer and judge of his people. 唯独到了参孙死的时候，他又恢复做士师，搭救他的同胞们。
Good stewardship一个人做好管家 requires a man to “stir up” the gift of God that is in him 必须挑旺上帝在他里面的恩赐(II Tim. 1:6，提后1:6)，as Paul charged Timothy. 这就是保罗吩咐提摩太的。Only in that way will he fulfill his ministry 唯有这样（挑旺恩赐）才能够活出，才能实现他的事工(II Tim. 4:5提后4:5). An unfulfilled ministry is an indebtedness: 一个没有实现没有活出来的事工就让这个人欠债：to God，and to those whom it might serve. 向上帝欠债也是向他服事的对象欠债。Because of the grace given him as Apostle to the Gentiles，Paul regarded himself as a “debtor both to Greeks and to Barbarians，both to the wise and to the foolish” (Rom. 1:14)因为保罗领受了恩典，做外邦人的使徒，所以他看自己是对众人欠债的，不论是西利尼人、化外人、智慧人、愚拙人（罗1:14）。 His preaching of the gospel was out of a necessity laid upon him by that very stewardship of grace 他传讲福音，是因为已经交托给他的一种的必然性necessity，就是要做恩典的好管家(I Cor. 9:16，17，林前9:16-17).
【For if I preach the gospel，that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will，I have a reward，but if not of my own will，I am still entrusted with a stewardship. (1 Corinthians9:16-17 ESV)我传福音原是没有可夸的，因我不能不传。如果不传福音，我就有祸了。 如果我甘心作这事，就有赏赐；即使不甘心，这职责还是托付我了。A debtor 欠债的，not because he borrowed money，不是因为他借了钱所以欠债，but because something was entrusted to him. 因为是有东西托付给了他，therefor he is a debtor. 他是欠债的。林前9:16-17】
Every gift you have received，then，is a calling of the Spirit. 你所领受的每一项的恩赐，都是圣灵的呼召。You dare not ignore your gifts，neglect them，or wrap them in a napkin to be presented unused to Christ on his return 你不可忽略、小看任何一种恩赐，或者把它包在餐巾里，等到基督回来时候献呈给祂(Luke 19:20路19:20). Indeed，you ought not even to be content with the gifts that you have，but covet more.诚然，你不应该以已经所有的恩赐为满足，应该羡慕有更多的恩赐.
God’s giving and calling are dynamically related.上帝赐恩赐，上帝呼召人，是动态的，彼此联结的 When he gives，he calls； when he calls，he gives. （很重要的原则）上帝赐恩赐的时候，祂就呼召了那个人了，上帝呼召一个人的时候，祂必定赐下恩赐。（我再说一次：let me read again: When he gives，he calls； when he calls，he gives.上帝赐恩赐的时候，祂就呼召了那个人了，上帝呼召一个人的时候，祂必定赐下恩赐。)Timothy was called by prophecy to the work of the ministry and granted further gifts at the time of his ordination提摩太是藉着预言被呼召的，要从事传道事工，当众长老的长老会议，按手在他身上的时候，他又领受了更多的恩赐 (I Tim.4:14； Tim. 1:6；提前4:14；提后1:6).
Your desire to serve God more fully may be the foretaste of richer gifts equipping you for that service.你假如愿意更完备的服事上帝，这种的心愿，可能是一个预尝，上帝可能会给你更丰富的恩赐，为着那个事工来更进一步的装备你的。 It is quite possible to overestimate the gifts you have； 你很有可能高估自己的恩赐的；it is quite impossible to over-supplicate the gifts vou need. 但是你不可能为你所需要的恩赐过分的祈求的。Your heavenly Father will not give a stone for bread or a serpent for fish； he will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him 你在天上的父，若求饼的时候，不会给石头的，求鱼的时候不会给蛇的，对那些求祂的人必定赐下圣灵(Luke 11:13路11:13). Our spiritual poverty can be remedied: 我们在灵性方面是贫乏的，这问题可以解决的: we have not because we ask not 我们没有，因为我们没有求(James 4:2；雅4:2).
At the same time our petitions must seek God’s kingdom and not our glory. 同时我们祈求的必须是求上帝的国，不是求自己的荣耀。Not those gifts that most distinguish us as individuals，but those which most distinguish us as Christians must be our constant desire. 不是求那些让我们个人更加突出，高人一等的恩赐，乃是求那些让我们更加显为基督徒的恩赐，这些是我们应该不断去求的。The Corinthians preferred the more showy gifts，notably the gift of tongues.哥林多人比较喜欢那些轰动的恩赐，特别是说方言的恩赐。 Paul taught them to value the gifts of the Spirit in spiritual terms. 保罗教导他们，要珍贵圣灵的恩赐，属灵的眼光，去看，去求。
Gifts that built the church of Christ were the gifts Paul wanted.那些造就基督教会的恩赐，乃是保罗想要得到的。 Better five words of solid teaching than ten thousand of fruitless exhibition (I Cor.14:19林前14:19）说出五句话扎扎实实的造就别人，强过讲一万句炫耀自己的空话。The greater gifts of teaching are less spectacular，but they build up the church，and they are to be desired earnestly教导方面更大的恩赐，不是很闪烁的，但是却能造就教会，因此必须更加恳切的去羡慕 (I Cor. 12:31； 14:1；林前12：31；14:1). 【I Cor. 12:31； 14:1；林前12：31；14:1哥林多前书12:31 新译本But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. (1 Corinthians12:31 ESV)你们却要热切地追求那些更大的恩赐。现在我要把更高的道路指示你们。林前14:1–Pursue love，你们要追求爱，and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts，especially that you may prophesy. 也要热切地渴慕属灵的恩赐，特别是先知讲道的恩赐。 】
Still more important are the abiding gifts on which all others rest: faith，hope，and love.更重要的乃是那些长存的恩赐。其他的恩赐都建立在他们的基础上，就是信、望、爱。 These are not the gifts in which Christians differ，基督徒在这3种恩赐上，不会有所不同的，but they are those in which they should seek to excell.但是个人都应该在这三方面活得很精彩。Most excellent of all is the gift of love，最卓越的恩赐就是爱，without which any other gift is useless若没有爱，任何的恩赐都是无用的 (I Cor. 13林前13:1-3). Diversities of gifts，for all of their distinctiveness and individual character，cannot lead to pride. 恩赐有所不同，根据恩赐和个人的独特性都会不一样，但是不可以导致骄傲。”
我们下次继续讲恩赐的不同。We will continue next time.
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