1. Hello, listening friends.
亲爱的朋友，你好，
2. Thank you for tuning in.
谢谢你收听我们的节目。
3. We are in the midst of a series of messages entitled, “Looking Up…” when life knocks you down;
今天我们开始《举目仰望》系列信息的第三讲，在你生命遭遇挫折的时候，你要举目仰望；
4. and it is based on the life of the Apostle Paul;
这信息来自使徒保罗的生命见证；
5. and I want to begin by telling you this:
首先我要告诉你：
6. if popularity and acceptance are your life goals, I want you to stay tuned,
如果你生活的目标就是被接纳和获得声望的话，我希望你不要离开，继续听下去，
7. because I’m going to deal with this subject today.
因为今天我就是要讲这方面的信息。
8. Have you ever thought about how some people can be held on a pedestal one day,
你有没有想过，有些人今天被捧上台，
9. and, then, they get dropped the next day?
明天就被赶下来了？
10. That’s why it is dangerous to seek after popularity and acceptance by people.
所以说，去追求人们的接纳和拥戴是很危险的。
11. Boys and girls who want to be popular in school often find themselves disappointed and discouraged.
孩子们在学校里争取成为风头健的学生，最终会很失望，很气馁。
12. Parents who uphold popularity as a goal for their children will be disappointed and pay a heavy price.
如果父母鼓动孩子以成名作为他们追求的目标的话，也会失望，还要付上高昂的代价。
13. When leaders seek popularity as the goal of their life,
当领袖们以追求名望为一生的目标，
14. they will end up compromising and becoming ineffective in serving God.
他们最终会妥协，并且在侍奉上失去果效。
15. Seeking after popularity can be demoralizing.
追求名望会让你士气受挫，
16. Seeking after acceptance can be devastating,
拼命想获得认同，将会把你拖垮，
17. because people by nature are fickle;
因为人性是善变的，
18. because people by nature are undependable.
因为人性是靠不住的。
19. People are unstable and, therefore, you cannot build your life’s goal on popularity.
人的性情不稳定，因此，你不能将你生活的目标建立在追求声望上面。
20. A famous man once said the following words,
一个名人曾经说过下面这段话：
21. that “…fame is a vapor
“名气就好像一片烟雾，
22. and those who cheer you today will curse you tomorrow.”
今天捧你的人，明天会咒骂你。”
23. King Saul is someone who sought after popularity,
扫罗王是一个追求名望的人，
24. and was devastated again and again;
他遭到了一次又一次的挫败；
25. and this is how it happens:
事情是这样发生的：
26. it, first, begins with pride.
一开始，只是骄傲，
27. When pride takes hold of us, it will not easily let go.
当骄傲占据了我们之后，要它离开就不那么简单了。
28. Be careful of pride,
所以要留心骄傲，
29. for it is the one sin that is condemned by the Lord Jesus Christ.
因为主耶稣基督亲口谴责这种罪。
30. When pride took hold of King Saul’s life,
当骄傲控制了扫罗王，
31. he began to believe that he accomplished his achievements by himself.
他开始认定，江山是他自己一手打下来的。
32. He forgot to give God the glory.
他忘记了应该归荣耀给神。
33. He had forgotten to give God all the credit;
他也忘记了，其实一切都是神的功劳。
34. and, when pride takes over,
同时，当骄傲完全掌控了他，
35. the next step was blaming everyone around him for his disobedience to the Lord,
接着下一步，他开始把自己违背神的过错，归罪于周围所有的人，
36. instead of blaming himself.
而不是责备自己。
37. The same is true with us.
其实，我们也是如此。
38. We often begin to blame other people for our troubles;
我们经常因自己的麻烦而怪罪别人；
39. then, the next step is acting, or, role-playing;
下一步，就开始装腔作势；
40. and that’s precisely what King Saul began to do.
这也正是扫罗王所做的，
41. He began to pretend to be repentant.
他假装认罪悔改。
42. When we pretend to repent,
当我们假惺惺地悔改时，
43. there may be an outward change; but, on the inside, there is no change.
表面可能有些变化，内心还是依然故我。
44. If you are a person who has compromised your integrity, let me tell you about three steps for rebuilding your integrity.
如果你向罪恶妥协，破坏了你的操守，我要告诉你，有三个步骤可以重建你正直的品格。
45. Admit your failure and receive the forgiveness of God.
首先承认你的失败，并接受神的宽恕。
46. Find an honest friend who’s going to keep confidentiality and ask him to hold you accountable.
然后找一个能为你保密，可靠的朋友来督导你，
47. Ask him or her to walk with you in your road to recovery;
让他陪伴你，一同走这段品格重整之路；
48. and, then, the third thing you must do is you begin to reset your goals in life -
最后，你必须重定人生的目标，
49. not for popularities, or financial gain, or power,
不是追求名望、金钱，或权力，
50. but for one thing alone—the glory of Jesus Christ.
而是单单为了一件事，就是荣耀耶稣基督。
51. If you make this the goal of your life,
如果你把这个当作人生目标的话，
52. the world may be falling apart, but you will be standing strong.
即使这个世界崩溃了，你还能站立得稳。
53. Someone said
有人说，
54. that some of the most talented people are terrible leaders,
有些很有才华的人却是很糟糕的领袖，
55. because of their crippling need to be loved by everyone.
因为他们有一个弱点，就是需要得到每一个人的爱戴。
56. The reason I’m warning you about the sin of pride
我提醒你们，要留心骄傲，
57. is because Acts, Chapter 14, gives us an example of two men of God who overcame that insidious temptation.
因为，在使徒行传十四章给了我们一个实例，两个敬畏神的人是怎样胜过恶毒的试探的。
58. Please turn with me to the Book of Acts, Chapter 14.
请跟我一起翻到使徒行传十四章。
59. In the first seven verses, Paul and Barnabas go to Iconium and, there, in that city, Paul preaches the Gospel;
在前面七节中，保罗和巴拿巴进入以哥念，并在那里的会堂中传讲福音；
60. and they get the same, predictable response.
他们得到同样的，预料中的回应。
61. Those who believed the Gospel repented and rejoiced in the Good News,
那些相信的人都悔改，并因得着福音而喜乐，
62. and, then, there were the Jewish leaders who incited the crowd to persecute Paul and Barnabas;
可是，那些犹太领袖却煽动会众攻击保罗和巴拿巴；
63. but beginning at verse 8 of Acts 14,
从十四章的第八节开始，
64. Paul and Barnabas go down from Iconium to Lystra
保罗和巴拿巴从以哥念下到路司得城，
65. and, there, they see this crippled man from birth.
在那里，他们看到一个生来就是瘸腿的人。
66. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul heals the man and the pagan crowd was amazed.
靠着圣灵的能力，使徒保罗医治了他，使外邦人感到惊奇。
67. Now, look at verse 11 of Acts 14.
现在，我们来看十四章的十一节。
68. The people of Lystra said, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men...”
路司得城的民众就说：“有神借着人形，降临在我们中间了。”
69. and, in a typical crowd reaction, they said that Barnabas is Zeus and Paul is Hermes;
这是典型的群体反应，他们就称巴拿巴为宙斯，保罗为希耳米；
70. so, they bring in the priests of Zeus and Hermes.
并且，他们还把宙斯和希耳米庙中的祭司带来了。
71. They bring a bunch of bulls and garlands and were ready to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.
他们牵着牛，拿着花圈，准备向保罗和巴拿巴献祭。
72. They were ready to bow and worship them, thinking that the gods have come among them;
要向他们跪拜，把他们当作下凡的神。
73. but the Bible tells us that, for a few minutes, Paul and Barnabas did not understand what was going on;
但是圣经告诉我们，起初，保罗和巴拿巴没弄明白发生了什么事；
74. and, as soon as Paul and Barnabas discovered what the people were trying to do,
但很快，他们就发现民众想要干什么了，
75. they tore their clothes as a sign of being horrified.
他们撕开衣服，这表示着他们受了惊吓。
76. Why did they call Barnabas and Paul, “Zeus” and “Hermes?”
为什么民众称巴拿巴和保罗为“宙斯”和“希耳米”呢？
77. Why did they want to worship them?
为什么众人想要拜他们呢？
78. I want to tell you why.
让我来告诉你。
79. Because in the city of Lystra,
因为在路司得城，
80. there was a mythology recorded by a poet named, “Ovid,”
有一个叫“奥维得”的诗人，写了一个神话传说，
81. and this is how it goes:
是这么讲的：
82. the gods, Zeus and Hermes, once came to earth into the city of Lystra, disguised as human beings,
宙斯和希耳米神曾来到人间，进入路司得城，装扮成人的样子，
83. and, when they arrived in Lystra, they asked for hospitality and accommodation;
当他们到了城里以后，希望得到人们的款待；
84. then, they knocked on 1,000 doors, but nobody would offer them hospitality;
然而，他们敲了一千户人家的大门，也没有一个人愿意接待他们；
85. but there was a peasant man by the name of “Philemon,” and his wife, Baucis.
只有一个叫“腓力门”的农夫，和他的妻子“博西斯”，
86. This couple took those gods into their humble cottage and offered them all they needed;
这对夫妇把他们请进了自己简陋的小屋，并供应他们一切需要。
87. and the myth goes on to say
故事继续说，
88. that the gods rewarded Philemon and his wife by turning their humble cottage into the temple of Zeus and Hermes;
为了奖赏他们，于是把“腓力门”和他妻子的小木屋变成了宙斯和希耳米庙；
89. but, then, they destroyed the rest of the population of Lystra in revenge for not receiving accommodation;
同时还毁灭了其他的路司得人，作为不接待他们的惩罚。
90. so, my listening friend, you can imagine what this pagan population of Lystra thought of Paul and Barnabas.
因此，我亲爱的朋友，你可以想象这些路司得城的外邦人，会怎样看待保罗和巴拿巴。
91. You can imagine the reaction when they saw a man healed before their eyes.
当他们看到一个人在他们眼前被医治时，你可以想象那种反应。
92. They said, “We don’t want to repeat the mistake of our ancestors,
他们说：“我们不想重蹈我们祖先的错误，
93. so now we are going to worship them as Zeus and Hermes.”
所以我们要把他们当作宙斯和希耳米来拜。”
94. Now, I want to ask you a question, my friend.
现在，亲爱的朋友，我想问你一个问题。
95. What is the temptation that Paul and Barnabas were facing at that very moment?
在那一刻，保罗和巴拿巴所面临的诱惑是什么？
96. I can tell you what it is.
让我来告诉你。
97. They could have said to themselves,
他们也许会对自己说，
98. “We will accept what they are doing and, then, we can tell them about Jesus.
我们可以先接受他们所作的，然后再跟他们讲耶稣。
99. Here’s an opportunity for us to get some respect and relief from persecution.”
这是一个机会，让我们能从所受的逼迫中得到一些安慰和尊重。
100. Paul could have said, “Let’s play along because we want to be relevant to them.”
保罗也许会说：“因为我们想和他们建立关系，就跟他们周旋一会儿吧。”
101. On the contrary, Paul went on to preach a relevant message.
相反地，保罗继续讲了他们该听的信息。
102. Knowing that these pagans worshipped nature, he talked to them about God, the Creator of nature.
知道这些外邦人崇拜大自然，所以保罗跟他们说，神是大自然的创造者。
103. These people were worshipping myth and unreality and, therefore, the Apostle Paul was telling them about the real God who became a real man.
知道这些人崇拜神话和虚幻的事，于是，使徒保罗告诉他们，这位真神曾经成为真实的人。
104. He told them about the real God who died a real death
他告诉他们，这位真神真的死过，
105. and who was resurrected—real resurrection from the real death,
而后又真的从死里复活了，
106. and that He is coming back to judge every human being.
而且祂还要再回来，审判世上每一个人。
107. That was Paul’s message to the people of Lystra.
这就是保罗对路司得民众所讲的信息。
108. He never tried for personal gain and personal acceptance.
他从没想到个人的利益，和被人认同。
109. He never tried to mislead them.
他也没有存心去误导他们。
110. No. He spelled it out up front.
没有，他就是实话实说。
111. Now, here’s a message to those who worship nature.
下面，这是对那些崇拜大自然的人所讲的信息。
112. Here is a message for those who are into self-worship.
也是对那些陷入自我崇拜的人所讲的信息。
113. Listen to it very carefully.
请留心听。
114. The message comes from the Word of God,
这是从神的话语中而来的信息，
115. that every meal you eat,
你所吃的每一餐饭，
116. that every drop of water you drink,
你所喝的每一滴水，
117. that every breath that you draw,
你所呼吸的空气，
118. that every enjoyment you experience,
每一次快乐的经历，
119. that every moment of good health that you have,
你所拥有的健康，
120. that every dollar or pound in your pocket,
你口袋里的每一块钱，
121. every particle of air that you breathe,
空气中的每一个分子，
122. that they are all a gift from the Creator God.
它们全是造物主所赏赐的礼物。
123. If you keep enjoying God’s blessings and ignoring Him,
如果你享受神所赐的福分，却忽略神的存在，
124. if you keep on taking from Him and giving credit to others,
你继续从祂那索取，却把荣耀归给别人，
125. one day, you’ll stand in the courts of Heaven before the great Judge on that dreadful Day;
当可怕的末日来临时，你站在天堂的审判台前， 面对这位大法官；
126. and all these blessings that God has given you will serve as witnesses against you;
你从神所领受的一切福分，都会成为指控你的证据；
127. but, if you will turn to Him and acknowledge that His Son Jesus Christ died for you,
但是，如果你向祂回转，承认祂的独生爱子耶稣基督为你而死，
128. if you worship Him alone and commit your life to Him,
你只单单敬拜祂，并愿为祂而活，
129. then, the Day of Judgment will not be a dreadful day for you,
那么，审判之日对你来说就不是恐怖的末日，
130. because, on that day, you will be pronounced guiltless.
因为那一天，你将被宣判为无罪。
131. On that day, you will escape the judgment of God.
那一天，你将被免除神的审判。
132. On that day, you will experience the forgiveness of God.
那一天，你将经历神的宽恕。
133. On that day, you will be with Him in Heaven;
那一天，你将和祂同在天堂里；
134. and this is the message for our generation.
这个信息是对我们这一代人所说的。
135. Acts, Chapter 14, verse 19,
在使徒行传十四章19节，
136. proves to us the fickleness of the crowd.
证明了民众的反复无常。
137. The very people who wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas suddenly began to stone them;
正是那些要向保罗和巴拿巴下拜的人，突然拿起石头要打他们；
138. and that is why, if you know Jesus Christ as your Savior,
这就是为什么，一旦你承认耶稣基督是你的救主后，
139. you do not live by the popularity of others, but by the authority of Jesus Christ.
你不会活在别人的赞扬声中，而是靠耶稣基督的权柄而活。
140. Remember the crowd in Jerusalem
还记得那些耶路撒冷的民众，
141. at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion?
在耶稣受难时的表现吗？
142. One day they said, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord…”
之前他们还说：“和散那！ 奉主名来的，是应当称颂的……”
143. and, then, a few days later, they said, “Crucify him! Crucify him! His blood be on us and our children.”
几天之后，他们却说：“钉他十字架， 钉他十字架，他的血归到我们和我们的子孙身上。”
144. The very people who wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas now wanted to kill them.
正是这些向保罗和巴拿巴下拜的人，现在要杀他们。
145. In fact, at one point, they thought Paul was already dead.
事实上， 有一段时间， 他们以为保罗已经死了。
146. They stone him so hard that everybody left;
他们拚命地用石头打他，直到群众都离开了；
147. but Paul gets up
但保罗竟然又站了起来，
148. and he leaves a trail of blood from Lystra all the way to the city of Derbe;
从路司得来到特庇城，一路血迹斑斑；
149. and, there, the Bible said he preached again.
圣经记载，保罗又继续传道。
150. My listening friend, please listen carefully, as I conclude.
亲爱的朋友，就快要结束了，请留心听我说。
151. The desire for approval can be so strong that some people will do strange things to gain it;
有些人，渴望得到别人的认同，甚至不惜干出一些傻事来，为要得到它；
152. and, spiritually speaking, many of us are guilty of pursuing popularity;
从属灵上讲，我们每一个人，都有追求名望的罪性；
153. but the only approval that you should be striving for
但那唯一值得你去争取认同的，
154. is that of the only One who can say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
是我们独一的神，唯有祂能够对你说：“好！你这又良善又忠心的仆人。”
155. Let me ask you this, as I conclude:
在结束的时候，我要来问你：
156. what is the goal of your life?
你生活的目标是什么？
157. Is the goal of your life the glory of Jesus Christ?
你生活的目标是荣耀主耶稣基督吗？
158. If it is not, will you make that to be the goal of your life today?
如果不是，今天你会把“荣耀主”作为你的人生目标吗？
159. Because any other goal that is not anchored in this one
因为其他任何不以“荣耀主”为基础的目标，
160. will bring misery and grief;
都会带来苦恼和忧伤；
161. but, when your goal is to bring honor to the name of Jesus Christ,
但是，当你以荣耀主耶稣基督的名为目标时，
162. the world may be falling apart all around you, but you will emerge victorious.
你周围的世界可能会崩溃，但最终你会脱颖而出，获得胜利。
163. Until next time, I wish you God’s richest blessing.
愿神大大地赐福给你，下次节目再会。
