2025-06-08 Who's in Control? 谁掌权？ James 雅4:13-17

How many of us love making plans? 有多少人喜欢定计划？Most of us do. 大多数人都喜欢。We plan holidays, 我们会规划假期、careers, 职业、weddings, 婚礼、retirement. 退休。Before knowing Jesus, 在认识耶稣以前，we secured millions in insurance coverage我们买了几百万的各种保险 trying to secure a good life. 想确保未来有美好生活。But when I was close to death with depression, 但当我得抑郁症几乎要死时，none of those plans gave me hope. 没有一个计划叫我有盼望。Who is really in control? 谁真正掌管一切？One illness, 来一场疾病、accident, 一个意外、or global crisis, 一次全球危机，and our plans vanish. 我们的计划就归为无有。Is that true? 是不是这样？Today, as we continue in James, 今天，我们继续来看《雅各书》，we’ll ask: 我们会问：who is in control, 是谁掌管一切，and how do we live under God’s blessing? 如何活在神的祝福下？Let’s read 我们来读James 雅4:13-17, "Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ 嗐！你们有话说：“今天、明天我们要往某城里去，在那里住一年，作买卖得利。”Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 14其实明天如何，你们还不知道。你们的生命是什么呢？你们原来是一片云雾，出现少时就不见了。Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ 15你们只当说：“主若愿意，我们就可以活着，也可以作这事，或作那事。”As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 16现今你们竟以张狂夸口，凡这样夸口都是恶的。If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." 17人若知道行善，却不去行，这就是他的罪了。

1, The Problem: Presuming on Tomorrow. (v.13-14) 问题：对明天的期望 (13-14节)

James says, 雅各说，“Today or tomorrow we’ll go to this or that city, spend a year there, do business and make money.” “今天、明天我们要往某城里去，在那里住一年，作买卖得利。”But then he adds, 但他接着补充说，“You don’t even know what will happen tomorrow.” “其实明天如何，你们还不知道。”He’s not saying planning is wrong. 他没有说做计划不好, The Bible encourages wise planning. 圣经鼓励人有智慧地计划， “May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” 将你心所愿的赐给你，成就你的一切筹算。 (Psalm 诗20:4), and “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” 你所作的，要交托耶和华，你所谋的，就必成立。 (Proverbs 箴16:3). So planning is good. 是的，计划本身是好的，The issue is our attitude. 问题在于我们的态度。When we say, 当我们说：“I know what’s best, “我知道什么好，I’ll just do it,” 我就去做”，that’s presumption and pride. 这是推定，是骄傲。James reminds us that life is like a mist, 雅各提醒我们，生命像是一片云雾，here for a moment, then gone. 出现少时就不见了。Jesus said the same in 耶稣也说，Matthew太 6:34: “Don’t worry about tomorrow.” 不要为明天忧虑。 It’s about humility. 关键在于谦卑—Knowing who we are and who God is. 认清自己是谁、神是谁。 We’re not in control of tomorrow, 我们无法掌控明天，so we need to place our plans in God’s hands, 因此必须将计划交托在神手中，because He alone is in charge of tomorrow. 唯有祂掌管明天。

2, The Right Response: Humble Dependence (v.15) 正确的回应：谦卑倚靠（15节）

V.15 says, Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’”  你们只当说：“主若愿意，我们就可以活着，也可以作这事，或作那事。”This isn’t about becoming passive or robotic, like, 我们并非要变消极被动，像个机器人，像是说，“Well, God’s in control, “神掌管一切，just tell me what to do.” 那直接说要我做什么吧。”No. It’s about living with daily awareness: 不是的，这是关乎每天有这个意识：“God, You’re the boss. I’m not.” “神，你是老板，我不是。”It’s an attitude of humble dependence. 这是谦卑倚靠的态度，We see this in Jesus Christ. 是我们在耶稣基督身上看到的。On the night He was betrayed, 在被卖的那夜，He didn’t just say, 他不是轻描淡写地说：“Well, if it’s God’s will, “好吧，如果这是神的旨意，I’ll go with it.”那我就接受。” No, He wrestled. 不是的，他极力祷告，He wept. 大声哀哭，He prayed. 恳切祷告。In the Garden, 在客西马尼园，He prayed earnestly, 他恳求神：“Not my will, but Yours be done.”不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。” (Matt太26:39) It seems to say, 这像在说：“I have my own will, “我有自己的意愿、timing, and plan, 时间和计划，but I choose to trust Yours. 但我选择信靠你，Even when I can’t see it. 即使我没有看见。Your ways are higher.” 我信你的道路高过我的道路。”He chose the Cross, 他选择了十字架，the hard road the Father gave him. 选择了父给他的苦路。Through it, He overcame sin and death. 藉着它，他得胜了罪和死亡。What did God do? 神又做了什么？He raised Him from the dead 祂使耶稣从死里复活，and exalted Him as King of kings and Lord of lords. 并使他成为万王之王，万主之主。That’s the kind of trust James is calling us to, 这是雅各呼召我们当有的信，a deep, daily dependence on God, who truly holds tomorrow. 是对神的每天的、深度的倚靠，因祂掌管明天。

3. The Danger: boasting and control (v.16-17) 危险：夸口和掌控（16-17节）

V,16 says when we plan without God, 16节说，若我们制定计划却把神排除在外，it’s arrogant. 这就是狂傲。James calls it boasting, 雅各称之为夸口，evil, 邪恶，even sin, 甚至是罪，because it’s pride. 因它是骄傲，It’s like saying, 就像是说：“I’m the boss of my life. “我的生命我做主，I control my future.” 我能掌管未来。”But the truth is, 但事实是，we’re not in control. 我们不能掌管一切。25 years ago, 25年前，I went through manic depression. 我得了狂躁症。I tried everything to save myself, 我尝试各种方法自救，but nothing worked.但无济于事。Then, 后来，in one simple prayer, 就一个简短的祷告，God healed me. 神就立刻医治了我。In that moment, 在那一刻，I learnt: 我真正明白过来：He is the Lord of life, I’m not. 祂才是生命的主，我不是。V,17 says, “Anyone who knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”  人若知道行善，却不去行，这就是他的罪了。 When we make our plans and leave God out, 当我们制定计划而将神排除在外时，James says we sin. 雅各说这就是罪。If we don’t repent, 若不悔改，we leave the door open for the enemy to bring confusion and chaos, 就给仇敌开了门，制造迷惑和混乱，which doesn’t just affect ourselves 不仅影响我们自己，but the next generation too. 还影响下一代。We see this clearly in the story of Israel. 这一点在以色列的历史中清晰可见。Because this’s not just about pride. 因这不仅仅是骄傲的问题，It’s about who’s truly in control. 更是关乎谁真正掌权。From the beginning, control has been at the centre of human struggles. 从起初，人类在控制权上挣扎。In the Garden of Eden, 在伊甸园里，Adam and Eve weren’t satisfied with God being in charge. 亚当和夏娃不满足于让神掌权。The serpent whispered, 蛇对他们说：“You can be like God.” "你们可以如神一样……"In other words: 换句话就是：“You can be in control.” "你们可以自己掌权"。When they did, 他们这样做了，they lost everything: 却失去了一切：God’s presence, 失去神的同在，peace, 平安，joy, 喜乐，power, 权柄，and eternal life. 和永生，

Since then, 从此，sin, 罪、sickness, 疾病、separation, and death have followed us. 疏离和死亡就紧随着人类。The temptation of control is still everywhere, 控制权的诱惑仍无处不在：in our marriages, 在婚姻中，parenting, 在养育子女中，politics, 在政治中，even churches. 甚至在教会中。Why do governments accuse each other? 为什么政府互相指责？Fighting for control! 争夺控制权！Who gets the power? 谁来掌权？Why do husbands and wives argue? 夫妻为什么争吵？Who is the boss? 谁做主？Why do parents and kids clash?  父母与孩子为什么起冲突？Who gets the last word? 谁说了算？ Even in church life, 甚至在教会中，we see political games. 我们也能看到权力游戏。Why? 为什么？Fear of losing control! 因害怕失去权力！

But God calls us to humble ourselves, 但神呼召我们谦卑自己，trust Him, 信靠祂，and let Him lead. 让祂来引领。That’s when peace and joy return, 唯有如此，平安与喜乐才会恢复，and His presence flows. 祂的同在才能涌流。In 1 Kings 18, 列王纪上18章there’s a story about Jezebel and Elijah. 记载了耶洗别和以利亚的故事：Jezebel was the wife of king Ahab, 耶洗别是以色列王亚哈的妻子，who had led Israel into idolatry. 她使全国陷入拜偶像的罪中。Jezebel hated prophets of God, 她恨恶神的先知，who always corrected and led people back to God, 因他们总是纠正百姓，带领人归向神，so she killed many of them. 于是她杀害了许多先知。But Elijah stood against her, 然而，以利亚挺身对抗她，called down fire from heaven, 呼求天上降下火，and the people turned back to God shouting, 百姓便回转归向神，呼叫：“The Lord—He is God!”耶和华是　神！耶和华是　神！”(1 Kings王上18:39). Today, churches around the world are celebrating Pentecost Sunday今天，世界各地的教会正在庆祝五旬节主日 the day in Acts 2 when the promised Holy Spirit came upon the believers like tongues of fire这是记载在使徒行传第二章,神所应许的圣灵如火焰般降临在信徒身上. The early church was formed初代教会由此建立，the weak became strong软弱变刚强, and the disciples were empowered 门徒被圣灵赋予能力to spread the gospel everywhere到处传扬福音, with signs and wonders following them. 并有神迹奇事随着他们Do you want that same fire from heaven to come upon you? 你渴望这从天而来的火临到你吗？Then we’ve got to let go of control and trust in God.那就要放下操控欲，信靠神.

Here, Do you think Jezebel would’ve repented? 你认为耶洗别会悔改吗？No! 不会！Instead, she sent Elijah a message: 她反而差人对以利亚说：“By this time tomorrow, I’ll kill you” “明日这时候，我要杀你！” (1 Kings 王上19:2). She didn’t even lift a finger, 她还没动手，just used words to intimidate him, 仅用言语恐吓，but they worked. 就起作用了。Elijah, the mighty prophet ran for his life. 以利亚这位大能的先知竟逃命去了。This spirit of control still works today, often through fear, 掌控的灵至今仍在藉着惧怕、intimidation, 威吓、insecurity, 不安全感or unhealed wounds. 和未医治的创伤在运行。That’s why Jesus warns in Revelation 2: 因此，耶稣在《启示录》2章警戒说：“Do not tolerate the spirit of Jezebel.” "不要容让耶洗别的灵。"What does “I’ll kill you” sound like today? 如今，"我要杀了你"会以怎样的形式出现？“You’re finished.” "你完了"、 “I’ll isolate you.” "我要孤立你"；On a national level: 在国家层面：“You’ll have no allies. "你会失去所有盟友，No one is with you.” 没人站在你那边"；In a marriage: 在婚姻中：“Just get divorced.” "干脆离婚去" Violence! 这是暴力！“I wanna take back control, "我要夺回控制权，I’ll fill you with fear, 让你惶惶不安，you’ve gotta listen to me.” 你得听我的"；In the workplace: 在职场上：“Are you better than me? "你以为比我强？I’ll shut you down.” 我会打倒你"；In community: 在社群中：“I’ll silence your voice. "我要封杀你的声音，I’ll cause you to give up. 逼你放弃，Run away.” 滚开"。

When we listen, 当我们听信这些威胁时，we back off, 退缩让步，We go silent. 沉默不语，We lose our passion 失去热情，and become passive. 变得消极，We get bitter, 心生苦毒，disappointed, even with God. 甚至对神失望。These are signs we’re under spiritual attack. 这些都是属灵攻击的迹象！The same Jezebel spirit once silenced Elijah is still trying to shut you down, 当年使以利亚逃命的耶洗别之灵也想要打倒你，even cause suicide, 甚至让你想自杀，to pull you away from your God-given calling使你违背神的呼召。

Then what happens? 然后会发生什么？You start making plans without seeking God. 你开始不寻求神就擅自做计划。You fall into the trap of pride, 你陷入骄傲、self-reliance, 靠自己and control,和掌控的陷阱里，until you suffer from its fruit, then you realise: 直到吃了苦果才醒悟：I need God! 我需要神！James 雅4:17 is clear: 清楚地说：“Anyone who knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. 人若知道行善，却不去行，这就是他的罪了。  That means, 就是说，if we know God wants us to trust Him, 若我们明知道神要我们信靠他，surrender control, 要我们不操控，walk by faith, 凭信而行，but we don’t do it, 我们却不去做，that’s sin too. 那也是罪。It’s not just about doing wrong; 这不仅仅是“做错事”的问题，it’s about refusing to follow the footsteps of Jesus, 而是拒绝效法耶稣的脚踪，who paid it all for our freedom to follow Him fully.他为我们得自由付出全所有，为使我们全然跟随他。

Where does control come from? 掌控欲从哪里来？Often, it’s rooted in fear. 往往植根于惧怕，Fear of being hurt again. 怕再受伤，Fear of rejection or betrayal. 怕被拒绝或遭背叛。Maybe it began in childhood, 可能它始于童年，through trauma, 有过创伤、abandonment, 被遗弃or pain. 或痛苦的经历。Somewhere, you might’ve made an inner vow: 你不知不觉发出内在誓言：“I’ll never let anyone hurt me again.” "我绝不让人再伤害我！"So you took control. 于是你要掌控自己的人生。Then lies crept in: 于是谎言悄悄进入心里：

“I can’t trust anyone. "我谁都不能信，If I let go of control, everything will fall apart.” 放手，一切都会崩溃"，These lies build walls in the heart. 这些谎言在内心筑墙. They damage your relationships他们破坏你的关系, strain your marriage破坏婚姻, and bring more hurt 带给你更多伤害. The only way out is through truth, healing, and surrender. 唯一的出路是：信真理、得医治、和降服于神。

How do we break free? 如何得自由？a, Repent: . 悔改：“God, I’ve taken control instead of trusting You. “神啊，我一直自己在掌控，没有信靠你。Forgive me.”求你赦免我。”b, Forgive: 饶恕：Let go of bitterness. Release those who hurt you. 放下苦毒，饶恕那些伤害过你的人。c, Renounce the lies: 弃绝谎言：“I am not in control, but God is. “我不是掌控者, 神才是。I am not alone, He is with me. 我不孤单, 祂与我同在。He is my defender.” 祂是我的保护者。” d, Practice surrender: 操练降服于神：Let God’s Word fill your heart. 让神的话充满你的心。Control gives the illusion of safety, 掌控只带来虚假的安全感but only surrender brings peace, 唯有降服带来真平安、freedom 自由and hope.和盼望。Today, maybe you’re tired from holding it all together. 也许今天，你已经疲惫不堪，You’ve planned, 拼命计划、worked, 努力工作，and tried to stay in control 努力掌控，but still feel anxious or empty. 却仍感到焦虑空虚。Jesus is calling you back. 耶稣正呼唤你归回，He says, 祂说： “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。(Matt 太11:28) Christ faced fear, 祂也曾面对惧怕，wrestled in the garden, 在客西马尼园祷告争战，and chose the Cross. 选择了十字架。He gave up control so you could be free. 祂放弃了掌控权，为要让你得自由。And now, He invites you to do the same. 如今，祂邀请你同样交托。He loves you, 祂爱你，and He wants to set you free from the yoke that’s been weighing you down. 渴望卸下你肩头的重轭。Would you open your hands today? 今天，你愿意松开手吗？Let Him carry the weight for you? 让祂承担重担?He holds tomorrow, 祂不仅掌管明天，and He holds you too. 也掌管你。

Prayer: 祷告：

Yes, thank You, Jesus, 是的，感谢你耶稣，for loving us even when we were still sinners. 在我们还是罪人时你就爱了我们。Thank You for Your precious blood, shed for us on the Cross, 谢谢你在十字架上为我们流出宝血，so we could be forgiven, 使我们罪得赦免，cleansed, 我们得洁净，and brought near to the Father. 回到父面前。We are not our own — 我们不再属于自己——we’ve been bought with a price. 我们已被你重价买赎，We are now children of God. 我们现在是神的儿女，You are our Father and King. 你是我们的父、我们的王。Your Kingdom is everlasting, 你的国度存到永远，and You rule over all. 你凡事都掌权。You are in control of tomorrow. 你掌管明天。Your Word is trustworthy! 你的话语是可信的！

You said, 你说， “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” “凡劳苦担重担的人，可以到我这里来，我就使你们得安息。” So we come. Now, let’s be personal and specific in our prayers. 现在，让我们各人向你祷告。If you’d like, 如果你愿意，you can follow mine: 可以跟着我的祷告：“Lord, Thank You for providing forgiveness through the shedding of Your blood. “主啊，感谢你流宝血使我们罪得赦免。I invite You into the places in my heart 我邀请你进入我的心，that are still controlled by pain, 去到仍被痛苦、rejection, 被拒绝感、fear, 惧怕and lies. 和谎言控制的地方。Bring the grief to the surface. 显明我心里有什么难过”

Jesus, 耶稣，You were traumatised.你也曾受创伤，You were abused, 被恶待，publicly rejected, 被拒绝，shamed, 受羞辱，and humiliated 羞羞惭惭yet You didn’t turn to fear, 但你没有转向惧怕、insecurity, 不安全感or bitterness.或苦毒。You didn’t try to control. 你没有试图掌控。Instead, You surrendered Your life to the Father 相反，你将生命交托给父，and trusted Him completely. 完全信靠祂。You overcame every lie, 你战胜了每一个谎言、sin, 罪恶，and even death. 和死亡。The devil couldn’t touch You at all. 魔鬼无法靠近你。

Lord, forgive me. 主啊，赦免我，I’ve tried to take control 我想掌控一切，because I didn’t want to be hurt again. 因我不想再受伤，But that controlling behaviour has opened doors for the enemy 我却为仇敌开了门，to disturb me — physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, even financially. 让他扰乱我的身体、情感、灵性、关系并财务。Today, I declare: 今天，我宣告：I want to let go of bitterness and unforgiveness. 我要放下苦毒和不饶恕。

If that person is in your family, say: 如果那个人在你的家人中，请说：“Father, I forgive them, “父啊，我饶恕他们，because You forgave me. 因你饶恕了我。Your love for me is unconditional. 你无条件爱我。I release them to Your Cross. 我将他们交托在你的十字架上。I repent for tolerating the spirit of Jezebel. 我为容忍耶洗别的灵而悔改。I renounce all agreements with lies, 我弃绝所有与谎言、presumption, 想当然and control 和掌控的协议whether conscious or unconscious. 无论有意无意的。I take the authority Jesus gave me 我靠着耶稣赐给我的权柄，to break every chain in the demonic realm that has come against me. 打破所有灵界对我不利的捆绑，I surrender my fear, 我将我的惧怕、pride, 骄傲、pain, 痛苦and plans to You. 和计划都交给你。I choose to trust You, 我选择信靠你，Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 耶稣你是万王之王，万主之主。I belong to You...”我属于你……”

 Thank You, Lord Jesus, 主耶稣，for the truth You’ve released today and for Your healing presence with us. 谢谢你今天释放真理，医治我们，与我们同在。Keep teaching us how to trust, 求你继续指教我们如何信靠你，how to walk by faith and not by sight. 如何凭信心行走，而不是凭眼见耳闻。Remind us daily to treasure Your truth in our hearts, 求你每天提醒我们将真理珍藏在心里，and to surrender control to You — 并将主权交给你—knowing You hold tomorrow, 深知你掌管明天，and You hold us too. 也掌管我们。Amen.阿们。