To revive the Fire.

Ezra 5:1-5 (NIV)

¹ Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them. ² Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.

³ At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" ⁴ They also asked, "What are the names of the men constructing this building?" ^{[a] 5} But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.

一、中心內容：Message

內容：Content
1>哈該和易多的兒子撒迦利亞這兩個先知，得著上帝的啟示，並奉以色列上帝的名，向住在猶大和耶路撒冷的猶太人，傳講聖殿重建 的信息。Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo received God’s revelation, preached to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel.（v1）
2>撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯，和約薩達的兒子耶書亞，聽到兩位先知的信息之後，就開始重建在耶路撒冷的聖殿。Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem after hearing the prophecy.（v2）
3>聖殿重建的阻力再度出現。Resistance from the governor and the associates.（v3-4）
4>由於上帝的眷顧，阻擋的力量暫時緩和下來。God was watching over the people and the resistance was lessen.（v5）

主題：Theme
1>重新點燃復興的火。To revive the Fire.
2>恢復聖殿重建工程。The rebuilding of the temple.

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

1>呼召人成為器皿的上帝。God who calls people （v1）
2>將話語啟示人的上帝。God who reveals to the people through words（v1）
3>名字帶著權柄的上帝。God of power（v1）
4>眷顧祂子民的上帝。God who watches over His People（v5）

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？What is God teaching me (command, promise, model, rebuke, warning)?

序言 Introduction：
由於敵對勢力的干擾已經湊效，導致整個聖殿重建工程，不得不停頓下來。Because of the interference of the enemy, the work to rebuild the house of God was held back. 根據聖經的描述，工程停頓的時間，是從波斯王亞達薛西，直到大流士王第二年才又復工，停工 期間長達了十幾年之久。According to the Bible’s description, the work project was held for a period of about 10 years, from the King of Persia to the second year of King Darius. 像這樣長時間的停工，不僅以色列百姓感到失望，連領袖們也感到灰心。For such long period of intermission, the Israelites started to feel disappointed. Even the leaders were discouraged.
然而，先知以賽亞曾經說過：年輕人也會疲乏；強壯的青年也會困倦。但是上帝賜力量給疲乏的人；賜力氣給困倦的人。尤其，倚靠上主的 人，充沛的精力源源不絕。他們會像老鷹一樣張開翅膀；他們奔跑不疲乏；他們行走不困倦。The prophet Isaiah once said: [God] gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31)（以 賽亞書40:29-31）
當建殿工作看似遙不可及，當聖殿繼續任其荒廢，當以色列百姓感到失望，甚至連領袖們也感到灰心之際，上帝劃破了沈寂，又再度採取行 動。重新點燃火把，再度挑旺人心。When the construction work appeared to be inaccessible and the Israelites seemed to be disappointed and discouraged, God gave them the motivation and strength to pass into action.

1>興起先知
那時，有兩個先知─哈該和易多的兒子撒迦利亞─奉以色列上帝的名向住在猶大和耶路撒冷的猶太人傳講信息。Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them（v1）
上帝做事的方式，自古以來都未曾改變過，就是當祂想要成就某個計劃時，首先尋找合祂心意的人，將祂的心意啟示給他，然後讓他去傳遞， 並且幫助他完成。God does not change His way of settle things. When God has a plan, He would choose the worthy one, reveal His plan to the person, ask him to transmit the message and achieve the plan.
此處也是一樣，就是先將復工重建的心意，向兩個先知----哈該和易多的兒子撒迦利亞啟示，讓他們來傳遞上帝的心意。It’s the same case here, God revealed his plan of rebuilding the temple to the two prophets. 因此，第一步，就是先興起兩位先知，再由這兩位先知，奉以色列上帝的名，向住在猶大和耶路 撒冷的猶太人傳講這信息。Therefore, the first step was to state His plan to the prophets, and through them, preach the message to those who lived in Judah and Jerusalem.
反省：我是否明白上帝做事的方式？是否相信上帝興起某些人成為祂的器皿？如果聖靈感動我、上帝興起我的話，我會如何回應？是順服呢？ 還是逃避？甚至回絕？Reflection: Do I understand God’s way? If I ever hear the Holy Spirit’s calling, and God’s revelation, how would I react? Would I be willing to obey? Or would I reject and escape?

2>感動領袖
撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯和約薩達的兒子耶書亞聽到他們的信息，就開始重建在耶路撒冷的聖殿，兩個先知幫助他們。Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.（v2）
先知所宣講的信息，不一定有人願意聽信。Not everyone was willing to listen to the messages of the prophets. 也因為多數先知所宣講的信息，普遍都不被聽信，所以先知往往是孤單的。然而，此處我們發現情境大不相同。Not all people hear and believe in what the many prophets say, so the prophets are often alone.
因為，當先知哈該與撒迦利亞，奉以色列上帝的名，向住在猶大和耶路撒冷的猶太人傳講信息之後，撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯，和約薩達的兒子 耶書亞等，這兩位百姓中的領袖，竟然信以為真，同時心中深受激勵，並恢復耶路撒冷聖殿重建工程。When Haggai the prophet and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak were deeply touched, they believed and set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem through the prophets’s guidance.
此處也顯示：上帝除了興起先知傳遞信息之外，同時也感動領袖接受這信息，尤其信以為真，並將所領受這信息，付諸實際行動。It also indicates that not only God transmitted the message to the prophets, but also helped the leaders to accept the message and put it into practice.
反省：每次當我聽完講道，或查考聖經之後，是否有任何感動？又：是否採取行動？Reflection: Every time after I listen to a sermon, or study the Bible, how much am I affected by it? Did it motivate me? How could I apply what I learned into practice?

3>阻擋再起
幾乎在同時，河西省省長達乃、示他‧波斯乃，以及同僚們趕到耶路撒冷，責問他們說：「誰下令准你們建造和裝修這殿呢？」他 們又要了所有幫助建殿的人的名單。At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" ⁴ They also asked, "What are the names of the men constructing this building?" （v3-4）
撒旦的工作不僅從未停止，甚至無孔不入。當看到撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯，和約薩達的兒子耶書亞，這兩位百姓中的領袖，起來復工、重建聖 殿之後，敵對勢力再度緊張的動了起來。Satan’s works never cease and spread throughout everywhere. When Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak were set to work to build the temple, the force by the enemy rose again.
因為聖經明明記載：幾乎在同時，河西省省長達乃、示他‧波斯乃，以及同僚們趕到耶路撒冷，責問他們說：「誰下令准你們建造和裝修這殿 呢？」他們又要了所有幫助建殿的人的名單。他們為此而深感緊張，而且積極、主動，詢問緣由、收集資訊，似乎有追究到底的樣子。The Bible said: “Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?" They also asked, "What are the names of the men constructing this building?" They asked a lot of questions to investigate.
反省：在事奉過程中，我是否經常遇到攻擊、阻擋的經驗？如果是的話，通常都如何自處？Reflection: In my church services, have I ever encountered attacks or obstructions? If so, how do you deal and resolve them?

4>上帝眷顧
但是上帝看顧猶太人的父老領袖；波斯的官長們決定等到他們向大流士皇帝呈上奏書、得到回諭後才採取行動。But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.（v5）
雖然建殿工作再次面對阻擋，但是只要上帝施恩，只要上帝出手，必能逢凶化吉、化險為夷。因為聖經告訴我們：但是上帝看顧猶太人的父老 領袖；波斯的官長們決定等到他們向大流士皇帝呈上奏書、得到回諭後才採取行動。Although the temple construction work faced obstacle, through God’s mercy and help, danger could become safety. Bible tells us: “But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.”
換句話說，此次的阻擋，並沒有立即產生明顯的阻力。因此，讓猶太人有繼續建造之機會。In other words, the obstruction was not obvious, so the Jews still had the chance to construct.
反省：在我個人生涯歷程當中，是否擁有「上帝特別眷顧，或上帝出手幫助」的經歷？Reflection: In my own personal life experience, have I ever experienced anything similar to this?

四、我的禱告 / 實際應用Prayer / Life application