卫斯理约翰的祷告观（23）
祷告会 14.09.2011
引言：
大家平安！
上星期我们一起走过卫斯理约翰所分享的禁食祷告的本性The nature of fasting的第二部份的六项。
今晚我们要分享余下来的六项。
7〕 并非因禁食我们就蒙祝福，神会按他的怜悯来赐福于我们，这也是一项途径转移他的怒气并领受在不同的时间与需要的祝福。
卫斯理特别举出两个圣经中的例子。
- 王上21:27-29
- 但9:3, 16-19
…Not that there is any natural or necessary connection between fasting and the blessings God conveys thereby. But he will have mercy as he will have mercy; he will convey whatsoever seemeth him good by whatsoever means he is pleased to appoint. And he hath, in all ages, appointed this to be a means of averting his wrath, and obtaining whatever blessings we, from time to time, stand in need of.
8〕 这并非由神的百姓我们学习人禁食促使神消除他的怒气，我们也由外邦人的经历看到。请参阅约拿书3:4ff。
But it is not only from the people of God that we learn, when his anger moved, to seek Him by fasting and prayer, but even from the heathens.
9〕 这途径不但是转移神的怒气，也是由神那儿领受祝福。
- 士师记20:26ff
- 撒上7:6
- 斯8:21
- 尼1:4-11
It is a means not only of turning away the wrath of God, but also of obtaining whatever blessings we stand in need of.
10〕 同样，当使徒们渴慕由神那里得祝福，他们常在一起禁食与祷告祈求（徒13:1-3）。
保罗与巴拿巴也是如此（徒13:23）。
再看太17:19ff。
In like manner, the apostles always joined with prayer, when they desired the blessings of God on any important undertaking.
11〕 神的百姓在这些年日来都知道应用禁食为其中一项的途径，这概念是由神那儿来的，这也是神的启示与旨意。
约珥书2:12ff
The people of God have been, in all ages directed to use fasting as a means to these ends., but they have been from time to time, taught it of God Himself, by clear and open revelations of His will.
12〕 我当如何常常禁食（in fasting often）？
这并非神强迫我们如此做，他乃是鼓励我们要学习如此的操练，天父在暗中必定察看。
He does not commanding us to do anything instead He encourage to perform of this duty. Thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward them openly.
结论
- 禁食是蒙祝福也是让神的怒气转移。
- 由圣经中不但神自己的百姓如此蒙恩，外邦人也是照样。
- 天父上帝鼓励我们操练禁食祷告，他在暗中察看并报答。
问题讨论
- 分享你曾操练禁食而经历神的祝福。
- 分享圣经中其中一段经文有关禁食带给你极大的帮助。
- 一起立约学习禁食祷告的功课。