1.4.10

Pray often to God

The Prayer of Faith

13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

一、中心內容:Core Message

內容:content

1>無論悲傷或歡樂,都應該禱告。In joy and pain, you should prayv13-14

2>信心的禱告,不僅病得醫治,罪也得赦免。 Prayers offered in faith will make the sick well; if he has sinned, he will be forgiven.v15-16a

3>以先知以利亞的禱告為例,證明義人的禱告大有功效。 Using Prophet Elijah’s prayer as an example to prove that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effectivev16b-18

4>應將迷失離開真理的弟兄姊妹挽回。If any of you should wander from the truth, someone should bring him backv19-20

主題:Theme

1>不住的禱告。Pray often to God

2>彼此認罪,互相代求。Confess and pray to each other

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰?Who is God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?

1>垂聽禱告的上帝。God listens to our prayersv13-18

2>名字帶著權柄的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ’s name is the power of authorityv14

3>能醫病的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ heals v15

4>能赦罪的耶穌基督。Jesus Christ forgives our sinsv15

5>掌管大自然的上帝。God controls naturev17-18

三、給我的教訓(命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告)是什麼?What does this passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?

1>或苦或樂,向神傾訴
Those who suffer in trouble or rejoice in happiness should pray to God.

你們當中有遭遇痛苦的嗎?他應該禱告;有喜樂的嗎?他應該歌頌。v13

雅各在前文曾經提到「彼此埋怨」或「指天、指地的起誓」是不適當的,因 為那樣是向人提出申訴。因此,雅各緊接著提出正確的態度,就是應該直接向上帝傾訴。遭受痛苦的,應該向上帝禱告;歡喜快樂的,同樣要 向上帝歌頌、讚美。總而言之,或苦或樂,都應該帶到上帝面前。

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. (v13)

James mentioned in previous chapters that "Do not slander one another" or "Do not swear-not by heaven or by the earth or by anything else” is inappropriate. James continued by proposing the right attitude: they should pray directly to God. In suffering, you should pray to God. In happiness, you should sing songs of praise. Overall, both suffering and happiness should be brought to God.

反省:當我或痛苦、或喜樂時,都先向人投訴?或先向上帝傾訴?

Reflection: When I suffer or rejoice, do I talk to people first or do I pray to God first?

2>彼此代禱,互相扶持 Pray for each other, support and help each other

有害病的嗎?他應該請教會的長老替他禱告,奉主的名替他抹油。(v14

在教會生活當中,弟兄姊妹彼此之間,並非單獨的個體,而是一個共同體, 尤其是充滿愛的共同體。所以,應該彼此代禱、互相扶持。特別罹患病痛、遭受苦難的肢體,更該如此。雅各特別提到,教會中的長老,要隨 時預備好,扶持軟弱的肢體,為有需要的肢體代禱。

Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. (v14)

In church life, brothers and sisters are not a group of individuals; it is a community of faith, a community filled with love. So, we should pray for each other, help and support each other, especially, the ones who suffer physical pain. James reminded the church elders; the elders should always be ready to support the weak in Christ, and pray over the one who is in need.

反省:在教會生活中,我是否發揮「利害與共、休戚相關」這種「共同體」 的精神?

Reflection: In church life, during good and bad times, do I elaborate the spiritual faith in this community?

3>信心禱告,雙重功效 Prayer with faith doubles the results

這禱告若是出於信心,就能夠治好病人;主會恢復他的健康,病人所犯的罪 會得到赦免。(v15

雅各接著談到有關「禱告」的問題,他強調:禱告要憑著信心,因為信心的 禱告,功效是非常大的。也就是可以獲得「病得醫治」以及「罪得赦免」等雙重功效。

雖然「醫治」與「赦罪」的權柄都在乎上帝,但是很多時候,上帝卻等候我 們獻上信心的禱告之後,才施行「醫治」與「赦罪」權柄。因此,禱告是上帝醫治過程的一部份。

The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (v.15)

James then talked about the "prayer", he stressed that the prayer of faith offers great results. It doubles the results such as making a sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. The power of healing and forgiveness is in God’s hand. More often, God is waiting for our prayer of faith. Then He implements the power of healing and forgiveness. Prayer is part of God's healing process.

反省:我是否相信禱告的功效,在我禱告的背後,是否擁有對上帝堅定的信 心?

Reflection: Do I believe in the power of prayer? Behind my prayer, do I have strong faith in God?

4>彼此認罪,互相代求 Confess to each other and pray for each other.

所以,你們要互相認罪,彼此代禱,使你們得醫治。(v16a

有關弟兄姊妹彼此之間的關係,雅各指出:我們不僅要向上帝禱告、向上帝 認罪、求上帝赦免。同時,弟兄姊妹之間,也應該互相認錯、彼此原諒。意思就是說:要是弟兄姊妹之間,有任何嫌隙的話,應該互相認罪、 彼此代求,不應互相批評、埋怨、起誓、定罪。

換句話說:如果得罪了某位弟兄或姊妹,應該當面請求饒恕;要是傷害到教 會,應該公開認錯。這樣的話,便能化解嫌隙、促成合一,並且從被定罪的困境中,轉為蒙赦免的祝福。

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. (v16a)

About the relationship between brothers and sisters, James said: We are not only prayer to God as well as confess to God. At the same time, we should confess to each other, and forgive to each other between brothers and sisters. His point is that: If there is any bad feelings among the brothers and sisters , he should have pleaded guilty to one another, Pray for each other, should not criticize each other, complaining, swear or conviction.

In other words: If you offend a certain brother or sister, it should be personally asked forgiveness; if the harm to the church should be publicly admitted. It will be able to resolve the rift, united as one, and it will become the blessing of forgiveness from the plight of the convicted.

反省:在教會生活中,我是否學會「互相認罪、彼此代求」的功課?

Reflection: Have I learned to confess to each other and pray for each other in the church life?

5>義人禱告,大有功效The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

義人的禱告有很大的功效。以利亞和我們同樣是人;他懇切禱告,求上帝不 下雨,果然有三年半之久沒有下雨。他再禱告,天就下了大雨,大地生產五榖。(16b-18

雅各特別以先知以利亞的禱告為例,來說明義人禱告的功效是其大無比的。 他指出:以利亞跟我們是擁有同樣性情是人。他並非超人或神人,只是在上帝眼中的義人而已,但是他的禱告竟然有那麼大的功效。也 就是說:他懇切向上帝禱告,求不要下雨,雨就三年零六個月不下在地上;他又禱告,向上帝求雨,天就降下雨來,地也生出土產。

跟我們擁有同樣性情的以利亞,禱告能夠那麼有功效,我們的禱告也同樣能 夠那麼有功效。

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

(16b-18)

James used the example of the Prophet Elijah’s prayer to explain how powerful and effective the prayer of a righteous man is. James said: Elijah was a man like you and me. He was not a superman; he was a righteous man in God’s eye. But his prayer is so powerful and effective. He prayed earnestly that it would rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. Since Elijah was a man just like us, our prayer should be powerful and effective as well as his.

反省:我相信禱告的能力嗎?我是否體會禱告的功效?

Reflection: Do I believe the power of prayer? Have I ever experienced the efficacy of prayer?

6>挽回迷失,罪得赦免 Bring them back from wandering, the sins will be forgiven.

我的弟兄姊妹們,你們當中若有迷失而離開了真理的人,有人把他找回來, 你們要知道:那使迷失的罪人回頭的,會把罪人的靈魂從死裏搶救回來,並使許許多多的罪得到寬赦。(v19-20

雅各在這段經文當中,不僅表示上帝看重每一個靈魂,同時也表示教會事工 的優先次序。

就是要挽回「在真道上迷失」的弟兄姊妹。因為那「使迷失的罪人回轉」 的,會將罪人的靈魂從死裏搶救回來,並且使得許多的罪得著寬恕。

顯然,挽回離開真道的弟兄姊妹,是極為重要,而且有意義的事。

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (v19-20)

In the passage in the book of James, it expresses that God is precious to every individual, and the priority of church is to bring brothers and sisters back from wandering, because whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins, therefore, it is very important and meaningful to bring someone back from wandering.

反省:在我的家庭、親友或教會弟兄姊妹當中,是否有迷失的羔羊?我是否 為他們禱告?是否極力挽回他們?

Reflection: Are there any stray lambs among my family, relatives, and brothers and sisters in church? Do I pray for them? Do I strongly try to take them back to God?





Translated into English by Teresa Yang

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