读经：创十八~二十，代下二十7，赛四一8，雅二23
Scripture Reading: Gen. 18—20; 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23
Scripture Reading: Gen. 18—20; 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23
壹
亚伯拉罕在神面前荣耀的代求，乃是两个朋友之间属人、亲密的交谈，是照着所揭示之神的心愿与神密谈─罗四12，代下二十7，赛四一8，雅二23，歌一1~4，启二17，创十八，提前二1，8：
The glorious intercession that Abraham made before God was a human, intimate conversation between two friends, an intimate talk according to the unveiling of God's heart's desire—Rom. 4:12; 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23; S. S. 1:1-4; Rev. 2:17; Gen. 18; 1 Tim. 2:1, 8:
The glorious intercession that Abraham made before God was a human, intimate conversation between two friends, an intimate talk according to the unveiling of God's heart's desire—Rom. 4:12; 2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James 2:23; S. S. 1:1-4; Rev. 2:17; Gen. 18; 1 Tim. 2:1, 8:
一
神以平常人的形态向亚伯拉罕显现，并在人的水平上与他交谈─创十三18，十八1~2，13~15。
God appeared to Abraham in the form of a mortal man and communed with him on a human level—Gen. 13:18; 18:1-2, 13-15.
God appeared to Abraham in the form of a mortal man and communed with him on a human level—Gen. 13:18; 18:1-2, 13-15.
二
当亚伯拉罕享受与神甜美的交通时，他从神领受了关于以撒出生和所多玛毁灭的启示─9~22节：
As Abraham was enjoying sweet fellowship with God, he received a revelation from Him regarding the birth of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom—vv. 9-22:
As Abraham was enjoying sweet fellowship with God, he received a revelation from Him regarding the birth of Isaac and the destruction of Sodom—vv. 9-22:
１
这表明神的目的是要将基督作到我们里面，借着我们生出基督，并毁灭在我们家庭生活、职业生活、以及基督徒和召会生活里的“所多玛”─加一15~16，二20，四19，林前五8。
This shows that God's intention is to work Christ into us, to bring Christ forth through us, and to destroy the "Sodom" in our home life, in our work life, and in our Christian and church life—Gal. 1:15-16; 2:20; 4:19; 1 Cor. 5:8.
This shows that God's intention is to work Christ into us, to bring Christ forth through us, and to destroy the "Sodom" in our home life, in our work life, and in our Christian and church life—Gal. 1:15-16; 2:20; 4:19; 1 Cor. 5:8.
２
在我们与神亲密的交通里，我们领受了启示，看见就基督而言，一切不可能都成为可能─创十八14，路十八27。
In our intimate fellowship with God, we receive the revelation that all the impossibilities become possibilities with Christ—Gen. 18:14; Luke 18:27.
In our intimate fellowship with God, we receive the revelation that all the impossibilities become possibilities with Christ—Gen. 18:14; Luke 18:27.
三
神向亚伯拉罕启示祂要毁灭所多玛的心意，因为祂在寻找代求的人─创十八17~22，参来七25，赛五九16，结二二30。
God revealed to Abraham His intention to destroy Sodom because He was seeking an intercessor—Gen. 18:17-22; cf. Heb. 7:25; Isa. 59:16; Ezek. 22:30.
God revealed to Abraham His intention to destroy Sodom because He was seeking an intercessor—Gen. 18:17-22; cf. Heb. 7:25; Isa. 59:16; Ezek. 22:30.
四
创世记十八章陈明代求基本原则的清楚启示：
Genesis 18 presents a clear revelation of the basic principles of intercession:
Genesis 18 presents a clear revelation of the basic principles of intercession:
１
正确的代求不是由人发起的，乃是由神的启示发起的，因此，代求发表神的愿望，并完成神的旨意─17节，20~21，十九27~29，诗二七4，8，来四16，七25，雅五17。
The proper intercession is not initiated by man but by God's revelation; thus, it expresses God's desire and carries out God's will—vv. 17, 20-21; 19:27-29; Psa. 27:4, 8; Heb. 4:16; 7:25; James 5:17.
The proper intercession is not initiated by man but by God's revelation; thus, it expresses God's desire and carries out God's will—vv. 17, 20-21; 19:27-29; Psa. 27:4, 8; Heb. 4:16; 7:25; James 5:17.
２
表面上，亚伯拉罕是为所多玛代求；实际上，他是以暗示为罗得代求，（创十四12，十八23，十九1，27~29，）这表明我们应当为漂流到世界中的神的子民代求。
Apparently, Abraham was interceding for Sodom; actually, he was interceding for Lot by implication (Gen. 14:12; 18:23; 19:1, 27-29), showing that we should intercede for God's people who have drifted into the world.
Apparently, Abraham was interceding for Sodom; actually, he was interceding for Lot by implication (Gen. 14:12; 18:23; 19:1, 27-29), showing that we should intercede for God's people who have drifted into the world.
３
代求是按照神心里的意愿与神亲密的交谈，为此我们必须学习逗留在神面前─十八25~32，太六6。
Intercession is an intimate conversation with God according to the inward intention of His heart; for this we must learn to linger in the presence of God—18:25-32; Matt. 6:6.
Intercession is an intimate conversation with God according to the inward intention of His heart; for this we must learn to linger in the presence of God—18:25-32; Matt. 6:6.
４
代求乃是按照神公义的法则；在亚伯拉罕为罗得的代求中，他没有按照神的爱和神的恩向神恳求，乃是按照神义的法则向神挑战─创十八23~25，罗一17。
Intercession is according to God's righteous way; in Abraham's intercession for Lot, he did not beg God according to His love and grace; he challenged God according to His righteous way—Gen. 18:23-25; Rom. 1:17.
Intercession is according to God's righteous way; in Abraham's intercession for Lot, he did not beg God according to His love and grace; he challenged God according to His righteous way—Gen. 18:23-25; Rom. 1:17.
５
亚伯拉罕的代求不是结束于亚伯拉罕的说话，乃是结束于神的说话，这表明真正的代求是神在我们的说话里说话─创十八33，罗八26~27。
Abraham's intercession did not terminate with Abraham's speaking but with God's, showing that genuine intercession is God's speaking in our speaking—Gen. 18:33; Rom. 8:26-27.
Abraham's intercession did not terminate with Abraham's speaking but with God's, showing that genuine intercession is God's speaking in our speaking—Gen. 18:33; Rom. 8:26-27.
贰
我们要维持与神交通的生活，就必须胜过世界放荡生活的麻醉影响─路十七26~32，创十九：
To maintain our living in fellowship with God, we need to overcome the stupefying effect of the world's indulgent living—Luke 17:26-32; Gen. 19:
To maintain our living in fellowship with God, we need to overcome the stupefying effect of the world's indulgent living—Luke 17:26-32; Gen. 19:
一
罗得失败了，因为他与作神见证的亚伯拉罕分开，漂流到邪恶的所多玛城里─十三5~13，十四12，彼后二6~9。
Lot became defeated because he separated himself from Abraham, with whom was God's witness and testimony, and drifted into the wicked city of Sodom— 13:5-13; 14:12; 2 Pet. 2:6-9.
Lot became defeated because he separated himself from Abraham, with whom was God's witness and testimony, and drifted into the wicked city of Sodom— 13:5-13; 14:12; 2 Pet. 2:6-9.
二
迦勒底的吾珥是偶像之地，埃及是有属世丰富和享乐之地，而所多玛是罪恶之城，这三个地方在迦南地周围形成三角边界；神所呼召的人居住在这三角地带之内，必须从这属撒但的三角地带蒙拯救─耶二13，约壹五21，提后三1~5。
Ur of Chaldea as a place of idols, Egypt as a place of worldly riches and pleasures, and Sodom as a city of sin form a triangular boundary around the land of Canaan; God's called ones live within and must be saved from this satanic triangle—Jer. 2:13; 1 John 5:21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
Ur of Chaldea as a place of idols, Egypt as a place of worldly riches and pleasures, and Sodom as a city of sin form a triangular boundary around the land of Canaan; God's called ones live within and must be saved from this satanic triangle—Jer. 2:13; 1 John 5:21; 2 Tim. 3:1-5.
三
邪恶的所多玛人因着弃绝神，神就任凭他们陷入“可耻的情欲”里，这是人背叛神并弃绝良心的最终结果─创十九4~11，罗一21~27，二14~15，提前四2：
In their giving up God, the wicked Sodomites were given up by God to "passions of dishonor"; this is the ultimate issue of man's rebelling against God and rejecting his conscience—Gen. 19:4-11; Rom. 1:21-27; 2:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:2:
In their giving up God, the wicked Sodomites were given up by God to "passions of dishonor"; this is the ultimate issue of man's rebelling against God and rejecting his conscience—Gen. 19:4-11; Rom. 1:21-27; 2:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:2:
１
在神完全的救恩里，我们能被洗净，脱离一切所多玛罪恶的事，被神圣别，并蒙神称义、悦纳─林前六9~11。
In God's complete salvation, we can be washed from all the sinful things of Sodom, sanctified by God, and justified, accepted, by God—1 Cor. 6:9-11.
In God's complete salvation, we can be washed from all the sinful things of Sodom, sanctified by God, and justified, accepted, by God—1 Cor. 6:9-11.
２
我们若荣耀神、感谢神、敬拜神并事奉神，就会得着保护脱离各种的邪恶─罗一21，25。
If we glorify God, thank God, worship God, and serve God, we will be protected from every kind of evil—Rom. 1:21, 25.
If we glorify God, thank God, worship God, and serve God, we will be protected from every kind of evil—Rom. 1:21, 25.
四
罗得愿意牺牲他的两个童贞女儿，以满足所多玛人的情欲，这表明罗得住在罪恶之城所多玛相当长时间，已经失去了道德感和羞耻感─创十九8，11~13，30~38。
Lot's willingness to sacrifice his two virgin daughters to satisfy the Sodomites' lust shows that Lot, having dwelt a considerable time in the sinful city of Sodom, had lost his sense of morality and shame—Gen. 19:8, 11-13, 30-38.
Lot's willingness to sacrifice his two virgin daughters to satisfy the Sodomites' lust shows that Lot, having dwelt a considerable time in the sinful city of Sodom, had lost his sense of morality and shame—Gen. 19:8, 11-13, 30-38.
五
罗得不愿意逃离邪恶、被定罪的城，但主有怜悯，将他从所多玛拉出来，像从火中抽出柴来一样─16节，参亚三2，犹19~23。
Lot had no willingness to escape from the evil and condemned city, but the Lord was merciful, pulling him out of Sodom like wood plucked out of a fire— v. 16; cf. Zech. 3:2; Jude 19-23.
Lot had no willingness to escape from the evil and condemned city, but the Lord was merciful, pulling him out of Sodom like wood plucked out of a fire— v. 16; cf. Zech. 3:2; Jude 19-23.
六
“你们要回想罗得的妻子”，是对爱世界的信徒严肃的警告─路十七31~32，创十九15~17，26，路十四34~35，约壹二27~28。
"Remember Lot's wife" is a solemn warning to the world-loving believers— Luke 17:31-32; Gen. 19:15-17, 26; Luke 14:34-35; 1 John 2:27-28.
"Remember Lot's wife" is a solemn warning to the world-loving believers— Luke 17:31-32; Gen. 19:15-17, 26; Luke 14:34-35; 1 John 2:27-28.
叁
当亚伯拉罕离开与神亲密交通的正确立场时，就失去神的同在，又落在肉体里，重复他先前的失败─创二十，参十二11~13，十三18：
When Abraham left the proper standing of intimate fellowship with God, he lost God's presence, was once again in the flesh, and repeated his previous failure—Gen. 20; cf. 12:11-13; 13:18:
When Abraham left the proper standing of intimate fellowship with God, he lost God's presence, was once again in the flesh, and repeated his previous failure—Gen. 20; cf. 12:11-13; 13:18:
一
无论我们属灵的成就有多高，只要我们还在旧造里，若是没有留在与神的交通中，我们就会在肉体里，行事为人与属世的人一样─二十2，弗四17~19。
No matter how high our spiritual attainment may be, as long as we are still in the old creation, if we do not remain in fellowship with God, we are capable of being in the flesh and of behaving like the worldly people—20:2; Eph. 4:17-19.
No matter how high our spiritual attainment may be, as long as we are still in the old creation, if we do not remain in fellowship with God, we are capable of being in the flesh and of behaving like the worldly people—20:2; Eph. 4:17-19.
二
亚伯拉罕向亚比米勒所撒的谎，是他一开始跟随神的路时就已经计划的；因此，他的失败暴露出他隐藏的软弱，在他跟从主的事上有隐藏的保留，也没有绝对信靠祂─创二十13：
Abraham's lying to Abimelech was planned by him from the time he began to follow the way of God; thus, his failure exposed his hidden weakness of having some hidden reservation in the matter of following the Lord and of not trusting in Him absolutely—Gen. 20:13:
Abraham's lying to Abimelech was planned by him from the time he began to follow the way of God; thus, his failure exposed his hidden weakness of having some hidden reservation in the matter of following the Lord and of not trusting in Him absolutely—Gen. 20:13:
１
亚伯拉罕必须为亚比米勒的需要代求，而不顾他自己的失败，以及撒拉仍然不能生育的事实；我们若忘记自己的需要，为别人的需要祷告，神不仅要答应我们为他们的祷告，也要答应我们为自己的祷告─17节，伯四二7~10。
Abraham had to intercede for Abimelech's need in spite of his own failure and the fact that Sarah was still barren; if we forget our need and pray for the needs of others, God will answer not only our prayer for them but also our prayer for ourselves—v. 17; Job 42:7-10.
Abraham had to intercede for Abimelech's need in spite of his own failure and the fact that Sarah was still barren; if we forget our need and pray for the needs of others, God will answer not only our prayer for them but also our prayer for ourselves—v. 17; Job 42:7-10.
２
我们为别人代求，不在于我们的光景，乃在于我们是谁；不论我们的光景如何，我们蒙神所召的人乃是祂的申言者，祂的新造，是基督身体的肢体─创二十7，林前十四31，林后五17，弗五30。
Our interceding for others does not depend on our condition but on who we are; regardless of our condition, we as God's called ones are His prophets, His new creation, and the members of the Body of Christ—Gen. 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:31; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 5:30.
Our interceding for others does not depend on our condition but on who we are; regardless of our condition, we as God's called ones are His prophets, His new creation, and the members of the Body of Christ—Gen. 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:31; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 5:30.