2025-06-30 Be patient -- God will bring justice 要忍耐—神必施行公义

 (James 雅5:1-17)

How many of us feel angry when we see injustice? 看到不公时，我们多少人会愤怒？When we hear about the wars going on, 当我们听说战争持续，like the conflict between Israel and Iran, 比如以色列和伊朗的冲突，or the suffering in Ukraine, 乌克兰的苦难，people losing their homes, 人们失去家园，families being torn apart, 家庭支离破碎，children growing up in fear. 孩子们在惧怕中长大。It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it? 会不会心痛？As Christians, 作为基督徒，how do we respond? 我们该如何回应？James 雅5:1–17 gives us a perfect answer: 给出了完美的答案：Be patient! 要忍耐！God will bring justice. 神必施行公义。Is patience our natural character? 忍耐是我们的本性吗？No! 不是！When things don’t happen in our timing, 事情不照我们的时间发生，we get hurt or frustrated, 我们会受伤、沮丧，and we lose patience. 然后我们就失去了耐心。Love is patient. 但爱是恒久忍耐，Patience is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. 忍耐是圣灵的果子之一，so God calls us to be patient, 所以神呼召我们要忍耐，trust in His timing, 信靠祂的时间，and stay close to Him, 紧紧跟随祂，so that we can grow in His patient endurance. 好让我们在祂恒久忍耐中成长。Let’s read我们来读 James 雅5:1-11: Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 嗐！你们这些富足人哪，应当哭泣、号啕，因为将有苦难临到你们身上。2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 2你们的财物坏了，衣服也被虫子咬了。3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 3你们的金银都长了锈，那锈要证明你们的不是，又要吃你们的肉，如同火烧。你们在这末世只知积攒钱财。4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 4工人给你们收割庄稼，你们亏欠他们的工钱，这工钱有声音呼叫；并且那收割之人的冤声已经入了万军之主的耳了。5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 5你们在世上享美福，好宴乐，当宰杀的日子竟娇养你们的心。6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. 6你们定了义人的罪，把他杀害，他也不抵挡你们。7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. 7弟兄们哪，你们要忍耐，直到主来。看哪，农夫忍耐等候地里宝贵的出产，直到得了秋雨春雨。8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. 8你们也当忍耐，坚固你们的心，因为主来的日子近了。9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! 9弟兄们，你们不要彼此埋怨，免得受审判。看哪，审判的主站在门前了。10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 弟兄们，你们要把那先前奉主名说话的众先知，当作能受苦、能忍耐的榜样。11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. 那先前忍耐的人，我们称他们是有福的。你们听见过约伯的忍耐，也知道主给他的结局，明显主是满心怜悯，大有慈悲。

1, A Strong Warning to the Rich 给富足之人的严厉警告 (V, 1–6)

V.1,James says: 雅各书第1节说， “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that’s coming.” 嗐！你们这些富足人哪，应当哭泣、号啕，因为将有苦难临到你们身上。 Now, James isn’t saying this out of jealousy or a bitter spirit. 雅各说这些话不是出于嫉妒或苦毒，He’s not having a go at people just for being wealthy. 不是因为人富有说这话，He’s speaking to those who have used their wealth and power in unjust ways, 他是在责备那些滥用财富和权势的人，those who’ve stored up more than they need, 那些积存超过所需、ignored the needs of others, 漠视他人需要，or even exploited workers to build their wealth. 甚至压榨工人来积累自己财富的人。Now, let’s be clear, 我们当明白，money itself isn’t evil. 钱本身不是恶，It’s the love of money, 贪财才是。when we see money as our security, 当我们视钱为安全感、identity, 为身份认同，or source of power, 它带来权力，and the selfish use of money that leads to evil. 当自私地用钱，就引向罪恶。I remember when I first became a Christian, 我记得我刚成为基督徒时，God healed me from depression straight away. 神立刻医治了我的抑郁症。Then He said something unexpected: 接着，祂说了一句让我意想不到的话：“Give your money to the poor.” “把你的钱给穷人。”So we went on a journey of selling our possessions, 接着，我们就开始了变卖家产的旅程，just as He had instructed us. 是照着祂的引导。Not because we were trying to be good, 我们不是想做好人，but because we wanted to repent and trust God. 而是愿意悔改，去信靠神。Coz He promises, 因神应许说：“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” “你们要先求他的国和他的义，这些东西都要加给你们了。 ”(Matt 太6:33). Money can’t save our souls. 金钱救不了我们的灵魂。But the joy of the Lord gives us strength, 但主的喜乐是我们力量、peace, 平安，and a sense of deep satisfaction the world can’t offer. 和真正的满足，是这世界无法给予的。In v.3, James says: 在第3节，雅各说：“Your gold and silver are corroded. Your fine clothes are moth-eaten.” “他们的金银长了锈，衣服也被虫子咬了。”He’s saying, 他是在说：everything you’re trusting in from this world is already fading. 你所倚靠的世间财富正在朽坏，It won’t last. 终必归于无有。So don’t hold on to it like it will. 既然如此，不要紧抓不放，好像它们能存到永远。v.4 The wages you held back from the workers, they’re crying out to God. 4节，工人给你们收割庄稼，你们亏欠他们的工钱，这工钱有声音呼叫；He’s saying, God hears. 他是在说：神都听见了。Just like He heard the cries of the Israelites in Egypt when they were enslaved and oppressed, 正如祂当年听到以色列人在埃及为奴的哀声，He also hears the cries of injustice today. 祂也听到当今不公的呼求。Coz God is a just God. 因神是公义的神He hasn’t changed. 祂永不改变。He still sees. 祂的眼仍在察看。He still hears. 祂的耳仍在垂听，And He will bring justice in His perfect time. 必在祂的时间里施行公义。So this is a strong warning, 所以，这是个严厉的警告，not just for the rich back then, 不只是对那时代的富人，but for us too. 也是对我们今天每一个人说的。What are we holding on to? 我们正紧紧抓住什么？What are we trusting in? 我们真正信靠的是什么？And are we using what we’ve been given to bless others, 我们是用神所赐的一切去祝福别人，or just to serve ourselves? 还是只满足自己？

2, A Call to Patience 呼召忍耐 (V, 7–8)

v.7, James turns to the rest of us, 雅各在第7节转向我们众人，when we face hardship or see injustice, 当我们遭遇艰难或不公时，what’s God’s heart for us? 神的心意如何？Should we speak up? 我们该发声吗？Yes. 当然！Pray? 要祷告吗？absolutely! 绝对！But what if nothing changes? 但若情况毫无改变呢？James says, 雅各说：“Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord comes.” “你们也当忍耐，坚固你们的心，因为主来的日子近了。”In other words: 换句话说：Don’t give up. 不要放弃，Don’t lose heart. 不要灰心，Keep knocking. 继续叩门。Jesus told the story of a persistent widow 耶稣讲到一位坚持不懈的寡妇，whose constant pleas finally swayed an uncaring judge. 因她不停地求，最终改变了那位冷漠的官。Then he said: 于是耶稣说：“how much more will God, who is just and loving, respond to those who cry out to Him day and night? “神的选民昼夜呼吁他，他纵然为他们忍了多时，岂不终久给他们伸冤吗？” (Luke 路18:7)” James then gives us the image of a farmer to encourage us. 雅各接着用农夫的比喻勉励我们，Like a farmer, 我们就像农夫，we plant and wait, 播种之后耐心等待，knowing we can’t control the rain, 我们知道人无法掌控雨水，and without water, the seed can’t grow. 而没有水种子就长不了。In the same way, 同样，we need the Holy Spirit, 我们需要圣灵， the rain from heaven, 属灵的雨，to change and empower us to fulfil our tasks. 来改变和赐我们能力完成使命。We’ve been praying for revival for many years. 我们很多年在为复兴祷告，At the beginning of this year今年年头, we started a monthly combined Worship & Prayer Meeting with SABC for revival. 我们与SABC开始了每月为复兴祷告的联合敬拜会。God is moving! 神在动工。After years of declining church attendance, 教会经历了衰退，research now points to a “quiet revival” in England, 调查报告显示英格兰发生了“静悄悄的复兴”，especially among 18–24 year-olds, 尤其在18-24岁的人群，with attendance jumping from 4 to 16 percent in 2024.  教会出席率从4%跃升到2024年的16%。Churchgoers also report higher life satisfaction and stronger community connection. 报告显示参加教会的人对生活有更高的满意感和更紧密的群体联结。In Australia, 在澳洲，those aged 55 and over have led the way, 则是55岁或以上人群最突出，with attendance rising 11 percentage points between 2016 and 2021.  教会出席率从2016年到2021年上升了11%。What about NZ? 新西兰会如何？We’ve got to keep knocking, 我们也当持续叩门，until the gates of heaven open! 直到天窗打开！God will hear us and pour out His Spirit on His Church. 神必垂听，必用祂的灵浇灌教会。God has truly been adding to our numbers. 神给我们加了。人So v,8 says it again: 所以第8节再次强调：“Be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” “你们也当忍耐，坚固你们的心，因为主来的日子近了。” Yes, 是的，our hope is that our King will return and reign, 我们的盼望在于主耶稣会再来掌权，and on that day, 在那日，all creation will be restored and made new. 万物都要更新。So don’t let hardship shake you. 所以别让患难动摇你，Keep going, 继续前进，bring it on! 加油！He is near! 祂已近了！

3, What hinders patience and how to overcome? 什么会阻碍忍耐？如何得胜？(v.9-11)

V, 9 says, 第9节说，“Don’t grumble against each other.” “弟兄们，你们不要彼此埋怨。” Clearly, 很明显，grumbling and blaming can kill patience. 埋怨和互相指责扼杀忍耐。We see the Israelites in the wilderness, 我们看到以色列人在旷野的经历，God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt, 神已经将他们从埃及为奴之地救出来，but when things got tough, 但当环境艰难时，“there’s no water... “没有水喝there’s no meat…”没有肉吃……” They grumbled. 他们就发怨言。They complained about the food, 他们抱怨食物、the leaders, 抱怨领袖，even God Himself. 甚至抱怨神自己。But that grumbling didn’t help them grow in patience or trust. 那些埋怨并没有帮助他们培养忍耐或信心，Instead, it hardened their hearts. 反而使他们的心刚硬，It made them bitter. 生出苦毒，It opened the door for the enemy 这给仇敌开了门，to build strongholds of anger and unbelief in their lives. 让怒气和不信在他们生命中筑起坚固营垒。And almost all of them missed out on the Promised Land. 最终，他们几乎全都没进入应许之地。What a lesson! 这是多么深刻的教训！Grumbling doesn’t just express frustration. 抱怨不仅仅是发泄沮丧情绪，It blocks faith. 更会阻挡信心，It shifts our eyes off God and onto what’s wrong. 使我们的目光从神身上移开，转而定睛在问题上。

But why did they grumble? 但为什么他们埋怨？Because they didn’t change their old ways of thinking, 因为他们没有改变旧有的思维方式，they were still thinking like orphans. 仍然像孤儿一样思想。When they didn’t get what they wanted, 当他们得不到想要的，they immediately felt hurt, they felt pain, 就立刻感到受伤、痛：“Why is this happening to me? “为什么让我遇到这样的事？He doesn’t care about  me…” 他不爱我……” They accepted the lie of rejection. 他们接受了被拒绝的谎言。When you accept the feelings of being overlooked and rejected, 当你接受被忽视和拒绝感，you’re angry, 你就发怒，and you grumble. 就埋怨。 The lie of rejection kills patience and kindness! 被拒绝的谎言会扼杀忍耐与恩慈！ When we feel the pain of rejection, 当我们感受到被拒绝的痛，we turn to self-protection, 就会转向自我保护，and start pointing fingers at others. 开始责怪他人。But here, 在这里，James points us to Job. 雅各让我们看向约伯。Job lost everything. 约伯失去了一切，His children. 儿女、His wealth. 财富、His health. 健康。He didn’t understand why. 他不明白为什么, He felt the pain deeply, 他深感痛苦，but he didn’t grumble. 但他没有埋怨。He brought his grief and questions to God, 他将自己的伤痛和疑问带到神面前，and he trusted in Him. 他仍信靠神。Jab 13:15, though he slay me, I’ll hope in Him. 就算他杀我，我也信他（直译）He didn’t allow rejection or pain to harden his heart. 他没有让被拒绝的痛使心刚硬。And in the end, what did Job discover? 最终，约伯发现了什么？Job said, “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” 明显主是满心怜悯，大有慈悲。 (v.11) God blessed him with even more wealth, health, and children神赐他更多的财富，健康和儿女.

So when we’re tempted to grumble, 所以，当我们受试探要埋怨时，when we feel hurt, 当我们感到受伤、overlooked, 被忽视，or abandoned, 甚至觉得被离弃时，let’s remember Job. 让我们记住约伯的榜样，And we need to come back to the Cross of Jesus, 当回到耶稣的十字架前，the very centre of our salvation. 这是我们救恩的中心。Jesus, 耶稣，the author and perfecter of our faith, 我们信心创始成终的主，was rejected by people, 也曾被人拒绝、misunderstood, 被冤枉、betrayed, 被出卖、bullied, 被欺压、abandoned, 被弃绝，and crucified. 最终被钉在十字架上。But He didn’t grumble. 但祂没有抱怨，He didn’t fight back. 也没有报复，He entrusted Himself to the Father, the One who judges justly 而是将自己交托给那按公义审判人的父神(1 Peter 彼前2:23)。And the Father raised Him from the dead. 而父神使祂从死里复活，He overcame sin, 祂胜过了罪恶、death, 死亡，and every injustice, 和一切不公，and He is now King of kings and Lord of lords. 如今已成为万王之王、万主之主！This is our ultimate example of perseverance. 这就是忍耐的终极榜样。God will lift us up at the right time! 神必在祂的时候，使我们升高！So today, 所以今天，if you feel misunderstood or forgotten, 若你感到被冤枉、被忘记，if you feel rejected, 或是因拒绝而痛苦，or you’re frustrated and grumbling about something, 甚至因某件事灰心埋怨，He is calling you to come. 祂正在呼唤你，到祂这里来。Bring your pain to Him. 将你的痛苦带到祂面前，He is compassionate and full of mercy. 因为主是满心怜悯，大有慈悲。At the Cross, 十字架上，He poured out healing, forgiveness, and love for you. 祂为你倾倒了医治、饶恕和爱。He knows what it’s like to be rejected. 祂深知被拒绝的滋味，But He has overcome, 但祂得胜了，and now He invites you to overcome with Him. 如今，祂邀请你与祂一同得胜。So come. 所以，来！Lay your burdens at His feet. 将你的重担卸在祂脚前，Let go of the grumbling. 止住怨言，Receive His peace and healing. 领受祂的平安与医治。And ask the Holy Spirit to grow in you the fruit of patience, 求圣灵在你里面结出忍耐的果子。The Lord is near. 为主来的日子近了。Be patient. 务要忍耐，Stand firm. 坚定站立，He is coming soon. 祂必快来！

Prayer 祷告:

Yes, Lord, You’re worthy of it all. 主啊，是的，你配得一切！You’re worthy of our praise, honour, and adoration! 你配得赞美、尊荣和敬拜！ The Creator King came to suffer for sinners. 创造万有的王，竟为罪人受苦，The Just one died for the unjust! 那义者代替不义的人受死！ Thank You, Jesus, 耶稣啊，感谢你，for showing us the perfect example of patient endurance. 为我们树立了忍耐的完美榜样。
In this broken world, 在这破碎的世界，many of us have accepted the lie of rejection, 我们许多人都接受了“被拒绝”的谎言，like, "You're not good enough... They don't accept you." 比如“你不够好...他们不接纳你。” We've all suffered pain from corrupted thinking. 我们都因败坏的思维模式而受苦。We often grow impatient. 我们常常失去耐心。We grumble. 我们抱怨。We lose heart. 我们灰心。We take our eyes off You 我们把目光从你身上移开，and focus on what's wrong, 转而盯着那些错误的事，trying to fix others 想去改变别人，or things outside of us. 或改变外在的环境。

But today, 但今天，we bring our pain, our frustration, and our disappointment to the Cross. 我们把痛，挫折，和灰心都带到十字架前。We look to You, our ultimate example of faith. 我们仰望你，我们信心的终极榜样。You see our suffering. 你看见我们的苦难，You know our hearts. 你知道我们的心，And You are full of compassion and mercy. 你满有怜悯和恩慈。You were publicly shamed. 你曾公开受辱，You suffered injustice at the Cross 你在十字架上承受不公，and were stripped of all honour. 被剥夺一切尊荣。You were rejected and despised. 你被拒绝和藐视，They slapped You and spat on You. 人打你耳光，吐唾沫在你脸上，They beat You, stripped off Your clothes, mocked You, and traumatically abused You. 鞭打你，剥去你的衣服，嘲笑你，残酷地虐待你。You hung naked on the Cross, humiliated. 你赤身挂在十字架上，受尽羞辱。Yet You bore our sin, injustice, rejection, pain, grief, bitterness, hatred, and sickness, 然而你担当我们的罪，不公，拒绝，痛苦，忧伤，苦毒，仇恨，和疾病，so that we might receive peace, healing, and freedom. 为要使我们得平安，得医治得自由。

Would you let go of the injustice and rejection you’ve carried? 你愿意放下心中背负的不公与拒绝感吗？Thoughts like: "Why isn’t my family like others?" "Why do they love him or her more than me?" 那些萦绕心头的念头：“为什么我的家不像别人家？” “为什么他们更爱他/她？” The weight of shame that whispers: "I’m not good enough." "I need to be someone else… do better… to earn acceptance." 那羞耻感说：“我不够好” “我要成为某人…要做得更好...才能被接纳”。Jesus made it possible, at the Cross, for us to be free from injustice, rejection, and shame. 耶稣在十字架上已为我们开辟了道路，使我们得以从不公平感、拒绝感和羞耻中得自由。He says to you: "You are loved. You are accepted. You can be fully healed." 祂对你说：“你被爱着。你被接纳。你能得着完全的医治。”

Would you open your heart and talk to Him? Would you say this prayer with me? 你愿意敞开心向祂倾诉吗？你愿意和我一同这样祷告吗？

"Lord Jesus, 主耶稣，I open my heart to You. 我向你敞开我的心。I confess I've carried the feeling of injustice, 我承认我一直怀着不公平感，"It's unfair... why did it happen to me and my family?" “这不公平...为什么这要临到我和我的家人？” I've carried the lie of rejection and shame throughout my life. 我一生都背负着被拒绝感和羞耻感的谎言。I've grumbled and complained. 我常常抱怨埋怨。I've made inner vows like, 我曾立下内心誓言，"I won't let anyone get close," “我不会让任何人靠近我”， or "If anyone hurts me, I'll get even." 或“若有人伤害我，我必报复”。 Forgive me, Lord. 求你赦免我。These things haven't brought me peace, only pain. 这些没有带给我平安，只有痛苦。They gave the enemy a foothold 它们给仇敌留了地步，to build strongholds of anger, impatience, and lies within me. 在我里面建造怒气、急躁和谎言的坚固营垒。They've broken my relationships, 它们破坏了我的关系，with others and with You. 无论是与人还是与你的关系。

Today, 今天，I release them to the Cross. 我要把它们都交托十字架。I choose to receive Your love and forgiveness into my heart. 我选择让你的爱和饶恕进入我心。Heal me, Lord, 求你医治我，from the injustice and shame I've carried. 医治我背负的不公平感与羞耻感。I let go of the unforgiveness 我要放下不饶恕，I've held toward those who hurt me... 放下对那些伤害我之人的不饶恕……In the authority You've given me, 靠着你赐给我的权柄，in Jesus' name, 奉耶稣的名，I break every agreement 我要破除一切与谎言立的约，I've made with the lies of rejection, shame, hatred, 就是与被拒、羞耻、仇恨的谎言所立的约，bitter expectations, grumbling, 与苦毒的预期、抱怨所立的约，and the vows I made to protect myself through fear and hatred. 以及我因惧怕和仇恨而自保所发的内在誓言。I break every judgement I've made against authority figures 我破除一切对权柄人物的论断，because I blamed them for injustice... 因我曾将不公归咎于他们……I break free from these, 我要从这些捆绑中得自由，and I command every evil power behind them 我命令背后一切的邪恶势力，to leave my life and my family 离开我和我的家人，in Jesus' name. 奉耶稣的名。

Lord, 主啊，You are full of compassion and mercy. 你满有怜悯和恩慈。I yield to Your heart. 我降服于你的旨意。I acknowledge that everyone needs mercy, 我承认人人都需要怜悯，because we all make mistakes. 因为我们都会犯错。I choose to forgive, 我选择饶恕，and I choose to bless. 也选择祝福。They’re all sinners, they need Your salvation……他们都是罪人需要你的救恩……

Thank You, Jesus, 感谢你耶稣，for unfolding Your Word to us this afternoon. 今天下午向我们开启你的话语。Holy Spirit, help us to be patient like the farmer, 圣灵啊，帮助我们像农夫那样忍耐，planting in faith and waiting for the rain. 凭着信心播种，等候雨水。Help us keep knocking, 帮助我们持续叩门，keep praying, 不住祷告，and keep trusting, 恒久信靠，even when we can't see what You're doing. 即使看不见你的作为。Grow in us the fruit of patience 在我们里面培育忍耐的果子，by helping us yield to Your compassion and mercy, 帮助我们降服于你的怜悯与恩慈，especially toward others. 特别是怜悯他人。We believe You are coming again. 我们相信你必再来，We believe injustice will be wiped away. 相信不公将被抹去，And we believe You will reign in justice forever. 相信你必以公义掌权直到永远。Amen. 阿们。