约翰卫斯理祷告观（十）

08.06.2011 祷告会

引言

大家好！

听过约翰卫斯理一般早晚的祷文以及另两篇有关祷文的特征后，今晚，我们要进入另一个环节，那就是他也留下一些为家庭祷告的早晚祷文。

今晚，我特别抽出一小部份在星期二早晚的祷文来与大家分享。

O Most great and mighty Lord, the possessor of heaven and earth, all the angels rejoice in blessing and praising thee, the Father of spirits; for “thou hast created all things, and in wisdom hast thou made them all,” and spread thy tender mercies over all thy works. We desire thankfully to acknowledge thy bounty to us, among the rest of thy creatures, and thy particular grace and favour to us in Jesus Christ, our merciful Redeemer. O gives us a deep sense of that love which gave Him to die for us, that he might be “the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him.”

伟大与能力的主啊！天地都属祢，全地的天使欢欣地歌唱赞美祢。父，祢以灵与智慧创造一切，也将祢的慈爱怜悯遍布在其中。我们向祢感恩，并承认祢所施于我们及一切世上的活物的，特别是由主耶稣所赐的恩与关照。他是我们的救赎主，让我们深深体会他为我们死及将自己赐给我们，这样，我们就明白他是永恒救恩的作者，并且人人也顺服他。

O that we might ever approach thee with delight, and feel it the joy of our hearts to think of thee, to praise thee, to give thee thanks, and to offer ourselves with absolute resignation to thee. O that mercy may always please us, as it pleaseth thee; that we may be strictly just and righteous; may cheerfully pass by injuries, freely deny ourselves whatever is not for thy glory; willingly submit to thy fatherly corrections, and perform the duties of our several relations with singleness.

这样， 我们可以直接以欢欣的心来亲近祢，一旦想到祢，赞美、感谢与喜乐之心涌流于心田，并将自己完全献上于祢。这喜悦不但在于人也在于神，如此，我们才能拥有公平与公义。受伤者有欢笑，不荣耀祢的，让我们在自由中就知道如何拒绝，乐意让父神来改正并执行我们之职责与单亲有关系的生活之需要。

Fulfil, most merciful Lord, all our petitions; and as thou hast graciously protected us this night, so accompany us all this day with thy blessing, that we may please thee in body and soul, and be safe under thy defence, who art ever nigh unto all those that call upon thee.

怜悯人的主，敬请成全我们向祢的恳求。愿今晚祢以和蔼的爱来保护，并以恩典随伴。让我们的肉体及灵魂在祢的保护着都平安，那些向祢呼吁的，祢都必定亲近他们。

We recommend to thee all our friends neighbours, all the poor, the sick, and the afflicted, desiring those mercies for them which we should ask for ourselves, were we in their condition. “O God, whose never-failing providence ordereth all things both in heaven and earth, keep them and us, we beseech thee, from all hurtful things, and give us those things which are profitable for us, according to thine abundant mercy in our lord Jesus;” in words we conclude our supplication unto thee, saying, “Our Father…”

我们将一一地介绍我们全体的朋友、邻居、贫穷的、生病的及痛苦。将祢所赐予我们的怜悯赐予他们，以便能体会他们的经历。神啊！让祢不断绝地供应，继续在天与地上进行，这是我们的恳求，藉着祢丰盛的怜悯，主耶稣叫我们脱离一切伤害的，并赐那些对我们有益处的。我们要以主祷告文来作为结束。

结论

约翰卫斯理引导家庭成员注意三件事：

• 上帝是我们的造物主并照顾我们的神。
• 我们应以赞美、感谢与喜悦之心来回应。
• 我们不但要关照个人的家庭，也应关心他人的家，特别是单亲的。

讨论问题

• 你有否为你个人的家庭代祷？
• 你有否为他人的家庭代祷？
• 你家庭的成员与神的关系如何？