应许遥不可及时——亚伯拉罕的信心之旅（十三）
When Promises Seem Far Away——
Abraham’s Journey of Faith Message No.13亚伯拉罕信心之旅第十三讲：『IMPOSSIBLE不可能』——PORTRAITS OF DOUBTING GOD’S PROMISE当人怀疑上帝的应许的时候
经文：《创世记》Genesis 17：15-21；18：1-19
主讲：林慈信牧师_校对：刘加立弟兄
[4] 第四方面Sarah was barren她不能生育；that was a reproach shame to her这个是她的羞辱:
And what did Sarah do撒莱做了什么事呢？（《Genesis》）Chapter 16（《创世记》）第十六章：No faith没有信心。So she gave her maid Hagar as concubine to Abraham所以她把自己的仆人夏甲给亚伯拉罕为妾。
The the consequence was disaster后果是天下大乱，全家大乱。
But God showed grace然而上帝施行恩典，including grace and mercy on Hagar包括怜悯夏甲。And in this passage，mercy on Ishmael这段经文怜悯以实马利。
Let’s see how the New Testament speaks us Sarah我们来看新约圣经是怎么讲论撒拉的：《Hebrews》11:11《希伯来书》第十一章第11节：By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive， even when she was past the age， since she considered him faithful who had promised因着信，连撒拉自己，虽然过了生育的岁数，还能怀孕，因她以为那应许她的是可信的。What tremendous grace这个是莫大的恩典呐！God comes her，reckons her as a woman of faith上帝算她为一个有信心的妇人
Brothers and sisters， the same amazing Grace comes to us 弟兄姐妹，同样的恩典临到我们的：I《John》3:1：See what kind of love the Father has given to us， that we should be called children of God; and so we are你看父赐给我们是何等的爱，使我们得称为上帝的儿女。我们也真是祂的儿女——《约翰一书》3:1。Now God is changing Sarai’s name in this passage to Sarah现在，上帝要赐撒莱一个新的名字，她被称为撒拉——A new beginning——a new identity一个新的开始——一个新的身份！More Grace更多的恩典。
All right，we saw this great picture of Sarah’s lives刚才我们看到一个很扼要的撒拉一生。Now the fourth of this morning，let’s look at Sarah’s faith or lack of faith今天第四方面来看莎拉的信心或者是她的怀疑:
[IV](SARAH’S DOUBT)——SHE LIVES BY SIGHT，NOT VERY MUCH BY FAITH(撒拉的怀疑）——她是凭眼见的，差不多是没有凭信心的：
Let’s look at（《Genesis》）Chapter 18我们来看（《创世记》）第十八章：
[1]First God appeared and spoke第一件事情上帝来显现、说话：
（《Genesis》）Chapter18：1：And the Lord appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre（《创世记》第十八章第1节）耶和华在幔利橡树那里向亚伯拉罕显现。In the subsequent context，the Bible specifies the intent why God visited Abraham at this time在下文，《圣经》说明上帝这次来见亚伯拉罕的目的：（《Genesis》Chapter18）verses 17-19（《创世记》第十八章）第17-19节：The Lord said“Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do， seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation，and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him耶和华说：我所要做的事岂可瞒着亚伯拉罕呢？亚伯拉罕必要成为强大的国；地上的万国都必因他得福。（verse）19：For I have chosen him——中文翻译：我眷顾他或者我拣选了他，that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice我拣选他，为要叫他吩咐他的众子和他的眷属遵守我的道，秉公行义。
So God appeared first of all所以第一件事是上帝显现；he spoke祂说话：
[a]He revealed his plan to Abraham祂向亚伯拉罕显示祂的计划，including particular the plan for Sodom and Gomorrah特别是对所多玛、蛾摩拉的计划：Abraham is God’s friend亚伯拉罕是上帝的朋友——《James》2:23《雅各书》2:23：He was called a friend of God他得称为上帝的朋友。So God revealed his plan to Abraham所以上帝向亚伯拉罕显示祂的计划的。
Brothers and sisiters，you and I are also Jesus’friends弟兄姐妹，我们都是耶稣的朋友。God reveals his heart、his purpose to us上帝向祂的朋友们显露祂的心意、祂的计划——《John》 15:15《约翰福音》15:15：Jesus said：No longer do I call you servants，for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends， for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you耶稣说：以后我不再称你们为仆人，因仆人不知道主人所作的事。我乃称你们为朋友，因我从父所听见的，已经都告诉你们了。
[b]And God will issue a command to Abraham——his household and his descendants：
There is a purpose for the command上帝要给亚伯拉罕——他的一家和他的后裔一个命令；而这个命令有它的目的：要他们秉公行义God’s command is that they do the righteousness and justice。His purpose is to bring to Abraham what he has promised him目的是要成就上帝所应许亚伯拉罕的事情（《创世记》18:19）
[2]Let’s look at Abraham’s response to these three visitors现在我们来看亚伯拉罕对这三个客人来到的回应——（《Genesis》）Chapter 18:1-8《创世记》18:1-8：
You see Abraham’s hospitality我们看到亚伯拉罕尽了地主之谊款待客人：his humility他的谦卑、his generosity他的慷慨、his servanthood他作仆人、侍应生的态度。Maybe because Abraham was so hospitable to these guests可能就是因为亚伯拉罕这次这么的款待他的客人，the New Testament tells us this about hispitality所以新约《圣经》这样来教导我们：《Hebrews》13:2《希伯来书》第十三章第2节：Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers不要忘记用爱心接待客旅，for thereby some have entertained angels unawares因为曾有接待客旅的，不知不觉就接待了天使。
As I speak in April 2022现在是2022年4月，I cannot help but think of those who received the Ukrainian refugees in Poland and many other European nations我不能忘记那些在欧洲、波兰跟其他国家接待乌克兰难民的家庭。The Lord Jesus teaches us in《Matthew》25:40主耶稣也在《马太福音》第二十五章40节这样说：Truly， I say to you， as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers，[a]you did it to me我实在告诉你们，这些事你们既作在我这弟兄中一个最小的身上，就是作在我身上了。
[3]Now let’s take a look at God’s word that he spoke to Abraham现在我们来看上帝对亚伯拉罕所讲的话：
（《Genesis》18）verse 9-10（《创世记》第十八章）第9-10节，第10节verse 10：I will surely return to you about this time next year， and Sarah your wife shall have a son到明年这时候，我必要回到你这里；你的妻子撒拉必生一个儿子。And Sarah heared撒拉也听到了。Please note请注意：
[a]God specified the time that he is appointed for the birth of the son上帝指定了这个儿子出生的时间。
[b]Know what did God promise is the son by Sarah——Abraham’s wife，not a concubine第二我们看上帝应许的是一个儿子，是由撒拉亚伯拉罕的妻子生的，不是妾生的。
[c]God will visit again one year from this point上帝还要一年之后会再回来的：“Visit”这个字有双重的意义The word has two meanings(of“visit”)：one is “coming of God第一是“上帝来”、“临在”；and secondly the word“visit”means“to remember”、“to have compassion”第二这个“visit”这字是指“纪念”、“眷顾”的意思了。
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[4]Now at this moment we see Sarah’s doubt现在我们来看撒拉的怀疑了：
（《Genesis》18）verse 11-12（《创世记》第十八章）第11节跟第12节：亚伯拉罕和撒拉年纪老迈，撒拉的月经已断绝了Abraham and Sarah were both old， advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. So She laughed to herself，saying“After I am worn out， and my lord is old， shall I have pleasure?”撒拉就心里暗笑说：“我既已衰败，我主也老迈，岂能有这喜事呢？”
[a]Sarah doubted because she looked at herself撒拉怀疑，因为她看的是自己：
[b]Sarah doubted because she looked at Abrahams撒拉怀疑，因为她看的是她的先生亚伯拉罕：She doubted她怀疑了。
[5]What did God say上帝说的是什么呢：
At this point， the Bible specifically says that it is God Jehovah who is speaking这里，《圣经》就说明这是耶和华在讲话！（《Genesis》18：13-15（《创世记》第十八章第13-15节）：The Lord said上帝说，three things三件事情：First rebuke第一责备：Why did Sarah laugh为什么撒拉笑呢？Interestingly God’s rebuke came upon Abraham很有意思的是，上帝的责备是由亚伯拉罕来承担的
[1]God’s rebuke came upon Abraham上帝责备；由亚伯拉罕承担:
[2]Secondly God gave a truth第二上帝赐下一个真理：There is nothing too difficult for God没有任何事对上帝是太难的；there is nothing too“wonderful” for God对上帝来说，没有任何事是太过奇妙的：
[3]Thirdly第三God simply repeats his promise上帝就再一次的重复祂的应许：[i]the time什么时候？[ii]through whom后嗣由谁来生？[iii]the heir is a son后嗣是一个儿子。God’s plan simply does not change上帝的计划不改变的；and the way that he will realize his plan does not change上帝用什么方法来实现他的计划也不改变。
Men is weak， woman is weak人是软弱的，妇女也是软弱的。God simply moves forward上帝继续前进；and he’s very gracious上帝非常的大有恩典和怜悯。
Fifthly this morning今天第五部分let us look at faith recovered我们来看重拾的信心——重新捡起信心：
[V]FAITH RECOVERED重拾信心：
[1]Abraham and Sarah responded in action亚伯拉罕和撒拉以行动来回应的：
This is an act of faith这个是信心的行动。Early I said God’s promises is very concrete前面我说过上帝的应许是非常具体的；now Abraham and Sarah’s faith is very concrete现在亚伯拉罕跟撒拉的行动也是非常的具体的。
《Romans》4:18-22《罗马书》四章18-22节；now we see that New Testament tells us that they acted in faith现在我们看《新约圣经》告诉我们：他们是凭信心采取行动的。In hope he believed against hope——《罗马书》四章18节： 他（亚伯拉罕）在无可指望的时候，因信仍有指望——that he should become the father of many nations指望得以做多国的父。As he had been told“So shall your offspring be.”正如先前上帝所说：你的后裔将要如此……。（verse）19（第）19节：He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body which was as good as dead 他将近一百岁的时候，虽然想到自己的身体如同已死了since he was about a hundred years old，or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb也想到撒拉的生育已经断绝，他的信心还是不软弱。No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God并且仰望上帝的应许，总没有因不信心里起疑惑；but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God反倒因信心里得坚固，将荣耀归给上帝，fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised且满心相信上帝所应许的，上帝必能做成。That is why his faith was“counted to him as righteousness”所以这就“算为他的义”。
- Secondly第二The Bible says that Sarah also acted in faith《圣经》说撒拉也是用上了她的信心的：
《Hebrews》11:11《希伯来书》第十一章11节：By faith Sarah herself received the power to conceive， even when she was past age因着信，连撒拉自己，虽然过了生育的岁数，还能怀孕，since she considered him faithful who had promised因她认为那应许她的是可信的。《James》 2:17 tells us that faith without works is dead《雅各书》第二章17节告诉我们：信心没有行为是死的。Brothers and sisiters弟兄姐妹，here two believers’faith and action is concrete enough， right这里信徒的信心跟行为够具体了吧！Within this three months period在这个三个月的时间。
[3]God visited or remembered or had compassion on Sarah上帝临到撒拉（或者纪念她、或者眷顾她或者施怜悯给她）：
And so in(《Genesis》)Chapter 21 we read（1-2）(《创世记》)第二十一章（1-2节)我们读到：The Lord visited Sarah as he had said耶和华按着先前的话眷顾撒拉——and so Isaac was born所以以撒就出生了。
[4]But don’t forget不要忘记: Meanwhile during these few months在这几个月里面，Abraham and Sarah committed another great disaster， even she was pregnant在这几个月里面，就是撒拉怀孕的时候，亚伯拉罕和撒拉再有一次地闯大祸；and God delivered them上帝大大地搭救他们：
Once again， in the face of another gentile king， Sarah posed as Abraham’s sister再来一次，当他们面对另外一个外邦君王的时候，撒拉又装扮是亚伯拉罕的妹妹。What did God do上帝又作了什么呢？He made the king Abimelech be aware that Sarah was Abraham’s wife祂让这个王亚比米勒觉悟到这个女人是亚伯拉罕的妻子来着。What’s more还有， God closed the wombs of all women in Abimilech’s household上帝使亚比米勒全家的妇女都不能生育！What should have been Sarah’s punishment and shame fell on these gentile women撒拉所应受的羞耻跟惩罚惩罚竟然临到外帮人的妇女！
（《Genesis》）Chapter 20 verse 18(《创世记》)二十章第18节：For the Lord had closed all the wombs of the house of Abimelech because of Sarah， Abraham’s wife因耶和华为亚伯拉罕的妻子撒拉的缘故，（已经）使亚比米勒家中的妇人不能生育。——Again and again、and again and again，amazing grace一次、再次、再次、再次，奇异恩典！Also amazing weak faith with no excuse也是奇异的软弱的信心，这个是没有借口的！
[VI]THE SIXTH TODAY LET’S DRAW SOME CONCLUSIONS最后第六部分让我们来做个结论：LET’S RE-VISITED FAITH我们再来看信心；AND RE-VISITED OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 再来看我们的主耶稣基督：
Paul tells us in II《Corinthians》1:20保罗在《哥林多后书》第一章20节：For all the promises of God find their Yes in him上帝的应许（不论有多少），在基督都是『是的yes』。That is why it is through him Christ that we utter our Amen to God for his glory所以借着祂也都是实在（『阿们』）的，叫上帝因我们得荣耀。
Paul says that in Christ is the “Yes” and “Amen” of all God’s promises保罗说：在基督里，因为基督的缘故，上帝的应许都是『是的』、都是『阿们』的。God’s promises are all strong and determent上帝的应许都是『是的』、都是祂所坚定的。Christ and all that he is， all that he has done， is what we believe弟兄姐妹，耶稣基督——祂所是的一切、祂所作的一切就是我们所相信的内容。At the same time同时，Christ and the Holy Spirit gives us the power so that we can believe基督和圣灵是我们之所以能相信的能力的来源。
Let’s go back and review the various kinds of unbelief or weak faith现在我们再回来再看一次这信心软弱的种种或者不信的种种：
[1]The non-believer’s faithlessness首先，非信徒的不信：May call God a liar他们称上帝为撒谎的：Friends， God has spoken朋友们，上帝已经发话：we invite you to come to the cross and trust in Jesus Christ as your savior请你来到十字架面前信靠主耶稣做你的救主。
[2]The ignorant believer’s faithlessness第二无知的信徒他们的不信：They trust in things God didn’t promise他们信一些上帝没有应许的事情：Brothers and sisters弟兄姐妹，look at God’s promise来看看上帝的应许；not trusting in things which God did not promise不要信那些上帝没有应许的事。Re-read our Bibles让我们再次回到《圣经》重新读我们的《圣经》，and see just what God has promised来看看上帝究竟向我们应许了什么。Read 《psalms》读《诗篇》、《Romans》chapter 5、chapter 8《罗马书》第五章、第八章；Then let us learn to trust him for those things让我们来学为了这些的事情来信靠上帝。
[3]Partial faith like Abraham第三部分的信心好像亚伯拉罕这样子：Faith？Yes，but also sight信心?是的，也是凭看见；Faith？Yes，but also question信心？是的，但是还有疑问：Brothers and sisters，remember God’s way is not our plan being弟兄姐妹，我们要相信：上帝的方法不是我们想出来的第二号计划。Let us learn from Abraham and Sarah——their failures我们要从亚伯拉罕跟撒拉的失败来学习：give up our principle of living『by sight』我们要放弃那种凭『看见』的生活原则，only look to God’s promises and God’s way单单地看上帝的应许。
[4]If you want those overcritical Christian with negative attitudes第四，假如你是一个唱反调、只是喜欢批评的基督徒， even with negative attitudes to God’s words连上帝的话都要反面地回应：Come， come and learn to know God in a fresh way来，请你再一次来重新的认识你的上帝：Bow down before him， worship him来，来祂的面前来俯伏敬拜，then trust him for his word来学习信靠祂的话。Since Jesus is the『Yes』and『Amen』，let us say『Yes』and『Amen』耶稣就是『是的』、『阿们』，让我们也对上帝说『是的』、『阿们』。
[5]第五If your faith is weak你的信心假如是软弱的话；yes sometimes we just get tired是的，我们有的时候信到累了；Come， come back to the cross来，再来一次回到十字架的面前：God is powerful despite man’s weakness上帝是充满着能力的，虽然人软弱——God manifest his power in our weakness上帝是在我们的软弱里面显得完全的。And God has compassion上帝非常的怜悯我们，he“visits”his people祂来，祂『眷顾』祂的子民的。And we see God，his tremendously merciful上帝也是充满着怜悯的。Paul says we walk by faith，not by sight保罗说：我们是凭着信心，不是凭着看见的。And Paul says his grace is sufficient for you保罗也说：祂的恩典够你用。
Let us pray我们祷告：天父求你加添我们的信心，除去我们软弱的信心Father，we ask you remove our unbelief and strengthen our weak faith，all because of Jesus Christ完全因为耶稣基督。Because in him，all your promises are『Yes』and『Amen』因为在基督里，你一切的应许都是『是的』、都是『阿们』、都是必然实现的、必定成就的。帮助我们向你说『是』、说『阿们』，求你帮助我们Help us，help us that we might say to you『Yes』and『Amen』with the help of Holy Spirit圣灵，求你帮助我们。In Jesus’name we pray奉主耶稣基督的名求，阿们！
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