34. Those Who Desire
O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name. Nehemiah 1:11
Nehemiah believed that there were others praying besides himself. He was not so gloomy, so self-opinionated, so uncharitable as to think that he alone loved the house of the Lord, and prayed for it. He believed that the Lord had many praying servants besides himself. In this he was more hopeful than Elijah (1 Kings 19:10, 18).
Nehemiah valued the prayers of his fellow-servants, and felt supported in his own supplications by the fact that he was one of a crowd of pleaders.
Even those of the feebler sort, who could get no further than desiring to fear God, were prized by this holy man when they lifted up their prayers. The littles of supplication, when multiplied by the number of those who present them, help to turn the scale.
Who are the persons that make up this class: "Who desire to fear thy name"? We will try to find them out.
I. THIS INCLUDES ALL WHO HAVE ANY TRUE RELIGION.
l. True godliness is always a matter of desire.

• Not of custom, fashion, habit, excitement, passion, or chance.
• Nor of unwilling dread, or compulsion, or bribery.
• Nor of boasted full attainment and conceited self-satisfaction.

2. Every part of it is a matter of desire.

• Repentance, faith, love, etc. None of these can be found in a man unless he desires to have them.
• Prayer, praise, service, alms, and all good deeds, are matters of the heart's desire. Oh, to abound in them!
• Progress and maturity of grace are never so far attained as to content us. They are still matters of desire.
• So, too, usefulness among our fellows, the prevalence of truth, the prosperity of the church, and the spread of Christ's kingdom ever remain things of desire.
• The same maybe said of heaven, of resurrection, and of the future glories of Christ's reign on earth.
• Good men are like Daniel, men of desires (Dan. 9:23, margin). Desire is the life-blood of piety, the egg of holiness, the dawn of grace, the promise of perfection.

3. The desire is accepted where there can be no more.
In giving, in working, in self-dedication, the Lord takes the will for the deed where the power to perform is absent. To him the essence of even the most self-sacrificing action is found, not in the suffering involved, but in a desire for God's glory.
4. But without even the desire, man is in a condition of spiritual death, and all that he does is as dead as himself.
II. THIS INCLUDES MANY GRADES OF GRACE.
Not the merely temporary wishers and resolvers, for these are only blossoms, and the bulk of blossoms never turn to fruit; of such we may say with Solomon,"The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing" (Prov. 13:4). But—
1. Those who earnestly and heartily long to be right with God, though afraid to think themselves saved. These are always desiring.
2. Those who do believe, but fear lest there should be presumption in their calling themselves God's people. Their faith shows itself far more in desire than in a sense of having obtained the object of their search.
3. Those who know that they fear God, but desire to fear him more. Some of the best of men are of this order.
4. Those who wish to serve the Lord with greater freedom, constancy, delight, and power. What would they not do if they could but obtain their heart's desire?
5. Those who delight in the ways of God, and long to abide in them all their days. No man perseveres in holiness unless he desires to do so. Tender desires breed watchful walking, and, by God's Spirit, lead to consistent living.

• Now all these people can pray acceptably: indeed, they are always praying, for desires are true prayers.
• We need the prayers of all these people, as well as of advanced saints. The rank and file are the main part of the army. If none but eminent believers prayed, our treasury of supplication would be scantily furnished.
• We should gratefully associate such beginners with us in our cries for prosperity to the cause of God: their struggling petitions will excite us all to pray better, and the exercise will increase their own prayer-power.
• Lastly, LET US PRAY NOW — all of us, great and small. In the Holy Ghost let us pray, and thereby support our ministers, missionaries, and other workers, who, like Nehemiah, lead the way in holy service.

Spices
This description of God's servants — "who desire to fear thy name"- reminds us how largely their religion in this world consists of "desire." They have real piety, but are dissatisfied with their attainments, and aspire to better things. Their desire is, however, to be carefully distinguished from that of many who substitute occasional good wishes for actual piety. The real Christian's desire impels him to the diligent use of all those means by which a higher life is reached. He "exercises himself unto godliness"; and what he attains he employs in spiritual and moral living. But the word used rather dignifies "delight," expressing the pleasure which God's servants feel in their religion. — Pulpit Commentary
That which we desire when we have it not we delight in when we obtain it. At least, this is the case in matters which are really worth desiring. Those who never pine for grace will never prize grace.
When Napoleon returned from Elba, a man at work in a garden recognized the emperor, and at once followed him. Napoleon welcomed him cheerfully, saying, "Here we have our first recruit." When even one person begins to pray for us, however feeble his prayers, we ought to welcome him. He who prays for me enriches me.
The gospel ministry is so dependent upon the power of prayer that it should be a pastor's main object to educate the praying faculty among his people. There should be numerous prayer meetings, and these of a varied order, that women, youths, children, and illiterate persons may unite in the holy exercise. Every little helps. Grains of sand and drops of rain combine for the greatest of purposes, and achieve them. There may be more real prayer in a little gathering of obscure desirers than in the great assembly where everything is done with ability rather than with agony of desire.
Never let your pastor lose his prayer book. It should be written in the hearts of his people. If you cannot preach, or give largely, or become a church officer, you can, at least, pray without ceasing.
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

34. 那些有渴慕的人

一、這包括所有真正有信仰的人

1. 真正的敬虔永遠是一種渴慕。
不是出於傳統、流行、習慣、情緒、激情或偶然；
也不是出於不情願的恐懼、勉強或收買；
更不是出於自誇的完全，或自滿的自義。
2. 信仰的每一部分都是渴慕的結果。
悔改、信心、愛心——若人不渴慕，這些就不可能存在。
禱告、讚美、事奉、施捨，以及一切善行，都是出於內心的渴望。噢，願我們在這些事上更加豐盛！
屬靈生命的長進與成熟，從未達到令人滿足的地步，仍舊是我們渴慕的對象。
對他人的造就、真理的興旺、教會的昌盛、基督國度的擴展，也都是不斷的渴慕。
同樣，天堂、復活，以及基督將來在地上榮耀的國度，亦然。
好人如同但以理，是「大蒙眷愛（渴慕）」的人（但 9:23，旁註）。
渴慕是敬虔的生命血液，是聖潔的胚胎，是恩典的晨曦，是完全的應許。
3. 當人無力做到更多時，神悅納那渴慕的心。
在奉獻、服事、獻身上，若缺乏實行的能力，主就以「願意的心」代替實際的行動。對神而言，即使是最犧牲的行為，其精髓不在於所受的痛苦，而在於榮耀神的渴慕。
4. 但若連渴慕都沒有，人就在屬靈上是死的，所行的一切也與他一樣死。

二、這包括不同程度的恩典

不是指那些一時起意、隨口立志的人——他們只是花開不結果；正如所羅門所說：「懶惰人的心願，將他殺害。」（箴 21:25）
而是指以下幾類人：
1. 那些誠心渴望與神和好，卻不敢自認得救的人。
他們總是在渴慕中。
2. 那些已經信了，卻害怕稱自己為神子民會落入自以為是的人。
他們的信心更多表現在渴慕，而不是在「我已得著」的確據上。
3. 那些知道自己敬畏神，卻渴望更深敬畏祂的人。
許多最好的聖徒正屬於這一類。
4. 那些渴望更自由、更恆久、更喜樂、更有能力事奉主的人。
若能得著心中所願，他們願意付出一切。
5. 那些喜愛神的道路，並渴望一生行走其中的人。
若人不渴慕聖潔，就不可能在聖潔中持守。溫柔的渴慕孕育警醒的生活，並在聖靈的引導下，帶來一致的行為。
這一切人都能蒙悅納地禱告；事實上，他們一直在禱告，因為渴慕本身就是真實的禱告。
我們需要這些人的禱告，正如需要成熟聖徒的禱告一樣。軍隊的主力是普通士兵；若只有屬靈偉人禱告，我們的禱告庫存必定貧乏。
我們當感恩地邀請這些初學者與我們一同為神的事工呼求；他們掙扎的祈禱會激勵我們禱告得更好，而這樣的操練也會增強他們自己的禱告能力。

結語

讓我們現在就禱告——無論大或小。
在聖靈裡禱告，藉此扶持我們的牧者、宣教士，以及所有像尼希米那樣走在前頭、忠心服事的人。

香料（補充省思）

「喜愛敬畏你名」這句話提醒我們，神僕人在今生的信仰，很大一部分是由「渴慕」構成的。他們有真實的敬虔，卻對自己的屬靈程度不滿足，並且追求更美的事。
然而，這渴慕必須與那些僅以偶爾好願望取代真敬虔的人區分開來。真正的基督徒，其渴慕會推動他勤用一切屬靈操練的途徑，來追求更高的生命。——《講壇註釋》
人未得著時所渴慕的，得著之後就成為喜樂；凡真正值得渴慕的事皆如此。從不渴慕恩典的人，也永遠不會珍惜恩典。
當拿破崙自厄爾巴島歸來時，一位正在園中工作的男子認出他，立刻跟隨他。拿破崙歡喜地說：「這是我們的第一個新兵。」同樣地，哪怕只有一個人開始為我們禱告，無論多麼微弱，我們都應當歡迎他；為我禱告的人，使我富足。
福音事工如此依賴禱告的能力，因此牧者首要的目標之一，應當是培養會眾的禱告生命。要有許多不同形式的禱告聚會，使婦女、青年、孩童、文化程度不高的人都能參與。**每一點都很重要。**沙粒與雨滴的集合，能成就極大的事。小小一群默默渴慕的人中，或許有比華麗大會中更多真實的禱告。
永遠不要讓你的牧者失去他的「禱告冊」——那冊子應當寫在會眾的心裡。
若你不能講道、不能多奉獻、不能擔任職分，至少你可以不住地禱告。
——查爾斯・哈登・司布真

35. The Joy of the Lord
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced; so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. — Nehemiah 12:43
The people who had wept before, under a sense of sin, were now called upon to rejoice. Holy mourning prepares the way for spiritual mirth. Clear shining follows rain.
It was well that they kept themselves under such control that they could weep or rejoice as they were bidden.
Their joy was remarkable for its spirituality and universality, and in these and other ways it was an example for us.
I. THERE IS A JOY OF DIVINE ORIGIN. "The joy of the Lord."
1. It rejoices in God himself, his character, his doings, his commands, and all that makes up his glory. It rejoices especially that he himself is ours. "Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord (Phil. 3:1).
2. It possesses a deep sense of reconciliation, acceptance, adoption, and union with Christ Jesus. Joy must necessarily flow from all these founts of blessing (Isa. 12:3).
3. It enjoys assurance of future perseverance, victory, and perfection, by reason of the finished work of Christ, and the immutability and omnipotence of divine grace (Heb. 6: 17-18).
4. It is exalted by the present personal fellowship with God out of which it springs. "We also joy in God" (Rom. 5:11).
5. It is happy in the honor of service (1 Tim. 1:12).
6. It is acquiescent in the divine will, in providence, affliction, disappointment, etc. (Rom. 5: 3).
7. It is full of hope for the future-a well of delight.
II. THAT JOY IS A SOURCE OF STRENGTH. "The joy of the Lord is your strength:'
1. It arises from considerations which strengthen. The same truths which make us glad also make us strong.
2. It is sustained by a life which is strong, even the life of Christ within us, maintained by the Holy Ghost.
3. It fortifies against temptation, or persecution, or affliction, and so it proves a present strength in time of need.
4. It fits for abounding service. He who is joyous of heart himself will seek the good of others.
5. It forbids all fear by giving a sense of ability to face every enemy. It is calm, constant, humble, real, deep-seated strength.
III. THAT STRENGTH WHICH COMES OF HOLY JOY LEADS TO PRACTICAL RESULTS.
1. Praise: "Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God; and all the people answered, Amen, Amen" (verse 6).
2. Sacrifices of joy: "They offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced."
3. Expressions of joy: "God had made them rejoice with great joy."
4. Family happiness: "The wives also and the children rejoiced."
5. This joy ensured the notice of the neighbors, "so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off."
IV.THAT JOY IS WITHIN REACH.
It was God's gift, but it came by:

• Hearing attentively. "The ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law" (verse 3).
• Worshipping devoutly. "They bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord" (verse 6).
• Mourning penitently."All the people wept, when they heard the words of the law" (verse 9).
• Understanding clearly. "Great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them" (verse 12).
• Obeying earnestly. "They made booths, and sat under the booths;" etc. (verse 17).
• Let us seek after joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the atonement; for this is a true, safe, sanctifying joy. It is such an ornament as well becomes the thoroughly devoted believer while on earth, and prepares him to unite in the hallelujahs of heaven.
• There is such a thing as a joyless heart. God help us to have no personal experience of it!
• There are also deadly joys. From these let us flee to the living joys of grace.

Sparkles
It is a bad fireplace where all the heat goes up the chimney: true religion spreads joy over all around. Yet the fire warms first the chimney in which it burns, and grace comforts the heart in which it dwells. Nobody will be warmed by a cold hearth.
Faith is the key of happiness; use it at the gates of the Lord's house, and chambers of bliss shall open to you. If your religion only admits you into vaults and dungeons it must be very incomplete. Christ comes from ivory palaces, and leads his chosen into banqueting houses.
That the Christian religion is favorable to human happiness, is, I believe, the secret conviction even of many who may not openly confess it; hence it is no uncommon thing to hear even the openly wicked say,"I believe that the real Christian is the happiest man in the world." I recollect the remark of a certain skeptic, made to myself, in the hour of affliction: "Oh, sir, you Christians have the advantage of us." — Addresses to Young Men by Rev. Daniel Baker
Mr. Moody says, "I never knew a case where God used a discouraged man or woman to accomplish any great thing for him. Let a minister go into the pulpit in a discouraged state of mind, and it becomes contagious: it will soon reach the pews, and the whole church will be discouraged. So with a Sabbath-school teacher: I never knew a worker of any kind who was full of discouragement, and who met with great success in the Lord's work. It seems as if G6d cannot make large use of such men."
When we are weakened by sadness we do not speak attractively. Our statements lack certainty, and energy. We are apt to quarrel over trifles, to be turned aside by discouragements, and in general to do our work badly. Soldiers march best to music, and sailors work most happily when they can join in a cheery note; and I am sure we do the same.
Joyful Christians set the sinner's mouth a watering for the dainties of true religion. When the prodigal returned, he was shod, and clothed, and adorned, but we do not read that the servants were to put meat into his mouth. Yet they were to feed him, and they did so by themselves feasting: "Let us eat and be merry." This would be the surest way to induce the poor hungry son to make a meal. If saints were happier, sinners would be far more ready to believe.
Charles Hadden Spurgeon

35. 主的喜樂

一、這是一種出於神的喜樂

「主的喜樂。」

• 這喜樂以神自己為樂——以祂的性情、作為、命令，以及一切構成祂榮耀的事為樂；尤其因祂自己屬於我們而歡喜。「弟兄們，我還有話說：你們要靠主喜樂。」（腓 3:1）
• 這喜樂源於對和好、蒙悅納、得兒子的名分、並與基督耶穌聯合的深刻體認；這一切祝福的泉源，必然湧流出喜樂（賽 12:3）。
• 這喜樂因基督已成就的工作，以及神恩典的不改變與全能，而確信將來必能持守、得勝、達到完全（來 6:17–18）。
• 這喜樂因現今與神親密的交通而被高舉，正是從這交通中湧流出來的。「我們也以神為樂。」（羅 5:11）
• 這喜樂以事奉的尊榮為樂（提前 1:12）。
• 這喜樂在神的旨意中得安息，無論是護理、患難、失望或打擊（羅 5:3）。
• 這喜樂充滿對將來的盼望——成為一口喜樂的泉源。

二、這喜樂是力量的泉源

「靠耶和華而得的喜樂是你們的力量。」

• 它源於使人剛強的真理；使我們喜樂的，同時也使我們強壯。
• 它由一種剛強的生命所支撐——就是住在我們裡面的基督之生命，並由聖靈維持。
• 它能抵擋試探、逼迫與患難，在需要的時刻成為即時的力量。
• 它使人能多結果子的服事；心中喜樂的人，必尋求別人的益處。
• 它驅逐一切恐懼，使人有能力面對任何仇敵；這力量是平靜的、恆久的、謙卑的、真實的、根深蒂固的。

三、由聖潔喜樂而來的力量，必然帶來實際的果效

• 讚美：「以斯拉稱頌耶和華至大的神，眾民都舉手應聲說：阿們！阿們！」（8:6）
• 喜樂的祭：「他們獻大祭而歡樂。」
• 喜樂的彰顯：「神使他們大大歡樂。」
• 家庭的喜樂：「連婦女和孩子也都歡樂。」
• 對外的見證：「耶路撒冷的歡聲，遠處都聽得見。」

四、這喜樂是人人可得的

這是神所賜的喜樂，但它藉著以下途徑臨到人：

• 專心聆聽：「眾民的耳朵都側耳而聽律法書。」（8:3）
• 虔誠敬拜：「他們低頭，面伏於地，敬拜耶和華。」（8:6）
• 真誠悔改：「眾民聽見律法的話，都哭了。」（8:9）
• 清楚明白：「他們甚是歡喜，因為明白所教訓他們的話。」（8:12）
• 切實順服：「於是他們搭棚，住在棚裡。」（8:17）

讓我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督——那位使我們得著和好的——來追求在神裡面的喜樂；這是真實的、安全的、成聖的喜樂。這樣的喜樂，是完全奉獻的信徒在世上最合宜的妝飾，也預備他將來與天上的哈利路亞同聲歌唱。
世上確實有無喜樂的心；願神不讓我們親身經歷。
也有致命的喜樂；願我們逃離它們，歸向恩典中那活潑的喜樂。

火花（補充語錄）

若壁爐的熱氣全都跑到煙囪裡，那必是個壞壁爐；真正的信仰會把喜樂散發給周圍的人。不過，火焰首先溫暖的是它所燃燒的地方；同樣，恩典也先安慰居住它的那顆心。冷爐子是暖不了人的。
信心是幸福的鑰匙；用它打開主殿的門，喜樂的房間就向你敞開。若你的信仰只帶你進入地牢與暗室，那它必定十分殘缺。基督來自象牙宮殿，也要帶領祂的選民進入筵宴之所。
即便許多不願公開承認的人，心中也深信基督信仰有益於人的幸福；因此，連公開作惡的人也常說：「我相信真正的基督徒是世上最幸福的人。」我曾在患難時，聽一位懷疑論者對我說：「先生，你們基督徒是佔便宜的。」——丹尼爾・貝克牧師《對青年人的講論》
慕迪先生說：「我從未見過神使用一個沮喪的人，成就任何偉大的事。若牧師帶著灰心上講臺，灰心會傳染到會眾；主日學老師也是如此。充滿沮喪的工人，很難在主的工上有大果效，彷彿神不能大用這樣的人。」
憂愁會削弱我們，使我們說話缺乏吸引力，失去確據與力量；我們容易為小事爭執，也容易被挫折擊倒。士兵行軍需要音樂，水手工作喜歡歌聲；我們也是如此。
喜樂的基督徒，會使罪人對真信仰的佳餚垂涎三尺。浪子回家時，有鞋、有衣、有戒指，卻沒記載僕人直接把食物塞進他口中；然而他們自己歡宴：「我們可以吃喝快樂。」這正是吸引飢餓之人一同享用的最好方式。若聖徒更喜樂，罪人就更容易相信。
——查爾斯・哈登・司布真