Nehemiah Part 1: God’s Man (Chinese/English)

Nehemiah
尼希米记God’s Man
神的人

The Salvation Army was founded by a Methodist Preacher by the name of William Booth.  Its mission was to share the message of repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ alone.  Booth sent many people all over England burdened to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He sent two women Kate and Mary Jackson to Leeds to oversee a mission there.  They laboured in Leeds for a couple of years and nothing happened.  These young ladies toiled every day giving all they had without any return.  Then one day they wrote to William Booth, “Would you kindly move us to another station?  We’re so tired and disheartened.  We’ve tried everything that we’ve been taught to do.  Please move us to another location”
救世军是由卫理公会传教士威廉·布斯 (William Booth) 创立的。它的使命是通过耶稣基督分享悔改和救赎的信息。布斯派遣许多人到英格兰各地去传扬耶稣基督的福音。他派了两名女性凯特和玛丽杰克逊到利兹去监督那里的一项任务。他们在利兹工作了几年，什么也没得着。二位年轻的女士们每天辛勤地付出着自己的一切，却没有任何回报。直到有一天他们忍不住写信给威廉布斯，“你能帮我们换到另一个站点吗？我们感到非常疲倦和沮丧。我们已经尝试了教导我们要做的所有办法，但没有回报。请将我们转移到另一个地方吧”

Booth sent a telegram back with two words written: “Try tears!”
布斯回了一封电报，上面写着两个词：“试试眼泪！”

Those two sisters began to pray and travail for souls and they finally experienced real revival.  Kate and Mary did just as General Booth said, and God moved mightily.  The Leeds Salvation Army church soon became the largest outside of London.
两姐妹开始辛苦地为灵魂祷告，她们终于经历了真正的复兴。凯特和玛丽按照布斯将军所说的去做，上帝大行其道。利兹救世军教堂很快成为伦敦以外最大的教堂。

William Booth was a man like Nehemiah who knew the power of prayer.  He also knows the power of tears; he had unlocked the missing link in today’s church.  We preach, we share, we have events, but something is missing, he knew the truth of Psalm 126:
威廉布斯就是一个像尼希米一样的人，他知道祈祷的力量。他也知道眼泪的力量；他解锁了当今教会缺失的一环。我们宣讲，我们分享，我们搞活动，但缺少一样东西，就是他所知道的诗篇 126 的真理：

5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
5 流泪撒种的人
将欢呼收割！

6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.
6 哭泣出去的，
带着播种的种子，
将欢呼着回家，
带着他的禾捆。

We sow, and we do not reap.  I wonder why?  All through the Bible, we have people who wept and cried openly, for whatever reason: Jeremiah, David, Paul, Peter, and Jesus Himself.
我们播种，但没有收获。你会疑惑这是为什么？打开圣经，在整本圣经中，我们都能看到出于各种原因在众人流泪哭泣的人：耶利米、大卫、保罗、彼得和耶稣自己。

I want to focus on the man Nehemiah.  He was an amazing man!  He was a man of power, a man of prayer; I love Nehemiah.  If you are building a work for God, this is a “how to book”, but it starts with tears and it starts with power.
让我专注于尼希米这个人。他是一个了不起的人！他是一个有能力的人，一个祈祷的人；我爱尼希米。如果你正在为上帝建造做工， 尼希米书就是一本指南。它始于泪水，始于力量。

Nehemiah was a unique man.  Let me say some things about him.  It says he was the kings’ cupbearer, but he was much more than that; he was one of the kings’ inner circle, a trusted friend.  Look at chapter 2.  He had the ear of the king, and the king notices his manner and wanted to know how long he would be away.
尼希米是一个很特别的人。让我来说说：他不但是国王的酒政，但重要的是：他是国王的核心圈子之一，他是国王信赖的朋友。看第 2 章。他听取了国王的意见，国王注意到他的举止，想知道他要离开多久。

Let’s see Nehemiah’s reaction was to the news coming from Jerusalem:
让我们看看尼希米对来自耶路撒冷的消息的反应：

He was interested in the work vs. 2
他对这项工作感兴趣 （第2节）

He could have kept doing his job for the king…  after all Jerusalem wasn’t his problem.  But his heart was still in his homeland.  I suppose it’s a bit like me.  Although I am far away from the UK, my heart and my prayers are still there for my beloved homeland.  It’s like Paul in Romans 9:1-4.  He’s the apostle to the gentiles, but his heart still yearns for his own people.  How interested are you in God’s work?  Not just in your own church, but do you know what’s going on around the world and how God is working?
他本可以继续为国王工作……毕竟耶路撒冷不是他的事。但他的心还在家乡。我想这有点像我的情况。虽然我远离英国，但我的心和我的祈祷仍然在我心爱的祖国。就像罗马书 9:1-4 中的保罗一样。他是外邦人的使徒，但他的心仍然渴望自己的人民。你对上帝的工作有多感兴趣？不只是在你自己的教会里，你知道世界各地正在发生什么以及上帝是如何工作的吗？

He made an immediate response vs. 4
他立即做出回应（第4 节）

It says as soon as he heard these words; these words obviously struck a chord deep within him.  So often when we hear something, we put our response off.  Nehemiah didn’t just hear these words, but he acted immediately.  In a race, the athlete’s reaction time to the starter’s gun is all important.  Let me ask you Christian: What’s your reaction time like?  When something comes to your attention or needs to get done, how long does it take you to get involved?
他一听到这些话就立即回应；这些话显然触动了他的内心深处。很多时候，当我们听到一件事情时，我们会迟迟不回应。但尼希米听到了这些话就立即采取了行动。在比赛中，运动员对发令枪的反应时间非常重要。让我问你基督徒：你的反应时间是多少？当某件事引起您的注意或需要您去完成时，您需要多长时间才能参与？

He had incredible passion for prayer vs. 4 c/f Ezra 9

他对祷告有着难以置信的热情 （第4 节）

Both Ezra and Nehemiah were people who knew their God and were able to pray fervently and effectively  See also Daniel 11:32. We go to prayer meetings and we have private prayer, but do we pray like these guys did?  You and me think we pray, but we don’t really pray?  Do we weep, do we mourn for days on end?  No wonder Nehemiah had not only the king’s favour, but also more importantly God’s… and now you can understand why.
以斯拉和尼希米都是认识上帝的人，并且都能够热切有效地祈祷。见但以理书 11:32。我们去祷告会，我们有私下祷告，但我们像这些人那样祷告吗？你我认为自己在祈祷，但这是真正的祈祷吗？我们是否哭泣，我们是否连续数日哀悼？难怪尼希米不仅得到了国王的青睐，更重要的是得到了上帝的青睐……现在你可以理解为什么了。

He interceded for Israel vs. 5-6
他为以色列说情 （第5-6 节）

To stand in the gap means to intercede like Moses did in Exodus 17 when Joshua fought Amalek, the children of Israel at Jerusalem who were either unable or unwilling to pray for themselves, so Nehemiah took on that responsibility.  He took it on and prayed passionately and fervently.  How is your intercession for your fellow believers?  Who are you standing in the gap for?
站在破口中意味着像摩西在出埃及记 17 中那样代求，当时约书亚在耶路撒冷与亚玛力人作战，亚玛力人是无力或无能为自己祈祷的以色列人，但是尼希米承担了这一责任。他接过祈祷的使命，热情而热切地祈祷。你如何为你的信徒同工代求？你站在谁的破口里？

He implicated himself in Israel’s sin vs. 6-7
他将自己计入以色列的罪中 （第6-7节）

He didn’t absolve himself from the sin of the people of Israel.  He didn’t say, “Well I’ve been here, so you can’t blame me!”  He blames himself for being part of the problem!  Judah had rebelled and he had rebelled also.  He didn’t put himself on a pedestal, but he admitted his sin.
他没有撇清自己作为以色列人的罪。他没有说，“好吧，我一直不在那里，所以你怪不到我！”他责备自己是问题的一部分！犹大反叛了，所以他也反叛了。他没有把自己摆在安全区，而是承认了自己的罪。

He invoked God’s promises vs. 8-9
他援引上帝的应许 （第8-9节）

Remember back to Joshua 24, Deuteronomy 6 and 28, God said to the children of Israel, “You had a choice.  You can choose to serve Me or not, but here is what will happen if you don’t serve Me.”  Nehemiah reminds God of His promise.  Look at the promise at the end of verse 9; although the people were outcasts and scattered, God had promised to bring them back.  Remember if God promises something, He will always bring it to pass…  amen
回到约书亚记 24 章、申命记 6 章和 28 章，上帝对以色列人说：“你们有一个选择。你们可以选择服侍或不服侍我，但如果你们应该知道不服侍我，将会发生什么。”尼希米提醒神他的应许。看看第 9 节末尾的应许；虽然他们是被遗弃的人们。

He had an intimacy in prayer vs. 5-11
他在祷告中与主很亲密（第5-11节）

Nehemiah was a man of prayer and therefore a man of power.  We get a glimpse into his prayer life here in this prayer.  It is so intimate, so full of power; you ask how should we pray for God’s work?  His prayer is the blueprint.  Do we pray like this？?
尼希米是一个祷告的人，因而也是有能力的人。在这个祷告中，我们可以窥见他的祷告生活。它是如此亲密，如此充满力量；你问我们应该如何为神的工作祷告？他的祈祷就是工程的蓝图。我们也这样祈祷吗？

He was instant in prayer ch1:4 and ch2:4
他随时祷告（第1章4节和第2章4节）

Paul says in 1 Thess 5:18 to pray without stopping.  That doesn’t mean you pray 24/7, but that your first reaction to any given situation is like Nehemiah’s.  In Chapter 2:4, he was asked by the king, “What is your request?”  He could have said what he wanted, but before he spoke, he prayed.  If we prayed before we speak, how different the outcome would be.
保罗在帖前 5:18 中说要不停地祷告。这并不意味着您要全天候 24/7 祈祷，而是您对任何特定情况的第一反应就像尼希米一样。在第 2 章 4 节中，王问他：“你有什么要求？”他本可以说他想说的话，但在他说话之前，他祈祷了。如果我们在说话之前祈祷，结果会有多么不同。

He had a godly influence on those around him
他对周围的人有敬虔的影响

Nehemiah was a trusted adviser to the king.  The king wanted to know in chapter 2 how long Nehemiah would be away for.  Why was he concerned about this?  Because he knew that Nehemiah gave good advice.  He was truly the salt and light in the court of the king.  Let me ask you… if you left your place of work or school for a period, how much would you be missed?  Look at verse 6 of chapter 2; it pleased the king to send me, what a testimony of Nehemiah’s character.
尼希米是国王值得信赖的顾问。第 2 章中提到国王想知道尼希米会离开多久。为什么他会担心这个？因为他知道尼希米总是会对他提出很好的建议。他是真正的王宫中的盐和光。让我问你……如果你离开你的工作或学校一段时间，你会想念多少？看第 2 章第 6 节；国王很高兴派我来，这是尼希米品格的见证。

He had integrity
他有诚信

The king gave things into the hand of Nehemiah because he knew that he could be trusted.  He knew that he wasn’t going to run off and build another city somewhere else, Nehemiah was a man who could be trusted.  Can You?  The king granted him what he asked, for the good hand of the Lord was upon him, the hand of the Lord doesn’t bless those who can’t be trusted.
国王把东西交给尼希米，因为他知道自己可以信任。他知道他不会逃跑并在别处建造另一座城市，尼希米是一个值得信赖的人。你能吗？国王应允了他所求的，因为主的善手加在他身上，主的手不会祝福那些不能信任的人。

He inspected the damage and dealt with the main issue ch 2:11-16
他检查破损并处理了主要问题（第2章11-16节）

Nehemiah is now in Jerusalem and one of the first things he does is to go and inspect the walls.  Before he can put anything right, he had to see what had to be done.  He was a reformer, who did reform Israel, but he saw the main problem and that was that the wall was broken down.  Look at his words in Chapter 2:17. Sometimes we need to address the main issue and leave the rest till later.
尼希米到了耶路撒冷，他做的第一件事就是去检查城墙。在他能把任何事情做对之前，他必须看看必须做什么。他是一位改革者，确实改革了以色列，但他看到了主要问题，那就是墙被推倒了。看看他在 2:17 中的话。有时我们需要解决主要问题，其余的留到以后。

He inspired others ch 2:18
他激励他人（第2章18节）

In vs. 18, he gives a rallying call to the workers.  These workers are totally demoralized.  They have given up building the wall, but here comes Nehemiah and he just totally inspires them to the point that they say, “Let’s build the wall!”  What an inspiration he was!  Do you inspire others by your actions and your words?
在第 18 节中，他向工人发出了号召。这些工人完全士气低落。他们早已放弃筑墙了，但尼希米来了，重新大大地激励了他们，以至于他们开口说：“让我们筑墙吧！”他是多么的鼓舞人心！你是否通过你的行动和言语来激励他人？

He ignored persecution ch 2:18-20
他无视逼迫 （第2章18-20节）

Sanballat and Tobiah are two of the nastiest characters in the whole Bible.  They were persistent through the whole book of Nehemiah.  Don’t they remind you or anyone?  Yes, the devil.  These tactics they use are the ones he uses; from open ridicule, to discouragement, to seeking to plant corrupt officials within the Jewish people.  His reaction is, and look at the end of verse 20, our God is going to prosper, and you and I use these words carefully, You Can Go Away, You Have No Right To Be Here.
Sanballat 和 Tobiah 是整本圣经中最讨厌的两个人物。他们在整本尼希米记中都坚持不懈地那么做。他们是不是提醒你什么吗？是的，魔鬼。他们使用的这些策略就是魔鬼使用的策略；公开嘲笑，气馁，再到试图在犹太人民中植入腐败官员。 尼希米的反应是什么？看看第 20 节的结尾，我们的上帝会兴旺发达，你们两个，我小心地使用这些词，你们可以走开，你们没有权利在这里。

Maybe next time we suffer ridicule and discouragement, you should tell the devil, to go away; he has no right to be here-Amen.
也许下次我们遭受嘲笑和沮丧时，你应该告诉魔鬼，走开；他没有权利在这里……阿门。

This all happened because one man wept and took prayerful action.  He wept and prayed. We sow in tears, and we reap in joy.
The Lord wants you all to know this… you cannot reap without weeping. Before you can start to do a work for God, you have to weep over the state of man.
这一切的发生是因为一个人哭泣并采取了祈祷的行动。他哭着祈祷。
我们在泪水中播种，在喜悦中收获。
主希望你们都知道这一点……你们不能不哭就收割。
在你开始为神作工之前，你必须为人的光景哭泣。

William Booth was asked what training he would give his officers.  He replied that he would hold them over the flames of hell to smell the torment of the unsaved.
威廉布斯被问到他会给他的军官们什么样的训练。他回答说，他会把他们抱在地狱的火焰上，以闻未得救者的痛苦。

Finally, we have the reason why all this happened.
终于，我们有了这一切发生的原因。

God intervened!
上帝介入了！

At this point of history, he raised up a man like Nehemiah to rebuild the walls and to reform the people of Israel.  The walls of our Churches are as broken down as in Nehemiah’s day.  God is looking for men and women who he can use to rebuild and reform.
在这个历史时刻，他兴起了一个像尼希米这样的人来重建城墙并改革以色列人民。我们教会的墙壁像尼希米时代一样被破坏。上帝正在寻找可以用来重建和改革的男人和女人。

Are you that man or women?
你是那个人吗？

God bless you
上帝祝福你