The Burden of Darkness 黑暗的重担 Isaiah 50:10-11 以賽亞書 50:10-11

I. Christians will surely face darkness in their lives. 基督徒一定會經歷人生的黑暗 I. Christians will surely face darkness in their lives. 基督徒一定會經歷人生的黑暗. (賽 Isa 50:10-11; 詩 Ps 23:4; 林後 12:7-10; 提後 3:12; 雅各 1:1-12; 彼前 1 Pet 1:3-7; 罗 Rom 5:3-5; 腓 Phil 4:11-13) 雅 James 1:2 (NIV84) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 我的弟兄們，(每当)你們落在百般試煉中，都要以為大喜樂‧

以賽亞書 50:10-11 10你們中間誰是敬畏耶和華聽從他僕人之話的‧這人行在暗中，沒有亮光，當倚靠耶和華的名，仗賴自己的神‧11凡你們點火用火把圍繞自己的‧可以行在你們的火焰裡，並你們所點的火把中‧這是我手所定的‧你們必躺在悲慘之中‧ 10 Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. 11 But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.

Darkness (黑暗) Darkness (黑暗) (賽 Isa 50:10-11) Valley of the shadow of death (死蔭的幽谷) (詩 Ps 23:4) Trials/Testing (試煉) (雅 James 1:2) Persecution (逼迫) (提前 1 Tim 3:12) Poverty (貧困) (腓 Phil 4:11-13) Suffering (苦難) (林後 2 Cor 12:7-12; 彼前 1 Pet 1:3-7; 罗 Rom 5:3-5) Calamity (災禍) (約伯 Job) A thorn in my flesh (身上一根刺) (林後 2 Cor 12:7) Hardship (急難 ) (林後 2 Cor 12:10) Difficulties (困苦) (林後 2 Cor 12:10) Weary and burdened (勞苦担重担) (太 Matt 11:28)

Whenever: It’s a Sure Thing 每当: 是肯定会有的 Do not ask if, but ask when. 不要問会不会; 要問什么時候. Do not ask why, but ask how. 不要問為什么; 要問該做什么.

II. Different responses to our darkness bring about different experiences and results. 我們對黑暗不同的回應会帶來 不同的經驗与結果. (賽 Isa 50:10-11; 45:3; 太 Matt 11:28-30; 林後 2 Cor 12:7-10; 罗 Rom 5:3-5; 腓 Phil 4:11-13) Rely on God: (依靠神) (賽Isa 50:10b; 45:3; 太Matt 11:28-30; 詩Ps 23; 彼前1Pet 5:7) Wait on God (等候神) Faith (信心) Hope (盼望) Rest/Treasures of darkness (安息/暗中的宝物) Rely on self: (依靠自己) (賽Isa 50:11; 耶Jer 2:13) Get out in a hurry (速速逃出) Faithless (沒有信心) Hopeless (沒有盼望) Restless/Torment (不得安息/痛苦/折磨)

III. Come to Christ and cast our burden of darkness on Him III. Come to Christ and cast our burden of darkness on Him. 到主這裡來將我們黑暗的重担卸給衪. (太 Matt 11:28-30; 彼前 1 Pet 5:7; 詩 Ps 23:1-6; 賽 Isa 50:10-11; 45:3; 腓 Phil 4:6-7; 林後 2 Cor 12:7-10; 罗 Rom 5:3-5; 腓 Phil 4:11-13) 太 Matthew 11:28 (NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 凡勞苦擔重擔的人，可以到我這裡來，我就使你們得安息‧

“Be still and know that I am God.” 你們要休息，要知道我是神. 詩篇 Psalm 46:10a “Be still and know that I am God.” 你們要休息，要知道我是神.

詩 Psalm 37:7a 你當默然倚靠耶和華， 耐性等候祂‧ Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. (NLT) 你當默然倚靠耶和華， 耐性等候祂‧

IV. God’s promises in our time of darkness 神在我們面對黑暗時的應許 (雅 James 1:5; 羅 Rom 5:3; 腓 Phil 4:13; 林後 2 Cor 12:9; 腓 Phil 4:6-7; 約 John 14:27; 16:33; 腓 Phil 4:4, 10; 羅 Rom 15:13; 林後 2 Cor 7:4; 8:2; 羅 Rom 5:5; 15:13; 8:35-39; 約 John 14:18-20; 賽 Isa 43:1-3; 林前 1 Cor 10:13) Wisdom (雅 1:5) (智慧) Perseverance (羅 5:3) (耐力) Strength (腓 4:13) (力量) Grace (林後 12:9) (恩典) Peace (腓 4:6-7; 約14:27; 16:33) (平安) Joy (腓 4:4,10; 羅 15:13; 林後 7:4; 8:2) (喜樂) Hope (羅 5:5; 15:13) (盼望) Love (羅 5:5; 8:35-39) (愛) Security (約 14:18-20) (安全) Protection (賽 43:1-3; 約 14:18) (保護) Deliverance (林前 10:13) 拯救 (出路, 忍受得住) Rest (Matt 11:28-30) (安息)

彼前 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 你們要將一切的憂慮卸給神，因為他顧念你們‧

太 Matthew 6:33–34 (NIV) 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 33你們要先求他的國，和他的義‧這些東西都要加給你們了‧34所以不要為明天憂慮‧因為明天自有明天的憂慮‧一天的難處一天當就夠了‧

來 Hebrews 4:15–16 (NIV) 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 15因我們的大祭司，並非不能體恤我們的軟弱‧他也曾凡事受過試探，與我們一樣‧只是他沒有犯罪‧16所以我們只管坦然無懼的，來到施恩的寶座前，為要得憐恤，蒙恩惠作隨時的幫助‧

林前 1 Cor 10:13 (NET) 13 No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it. 你們所遇見的試探，無非是人所能受的‧神是信實的，必不叫你們受試探過於所能受的‧在受試探的時候，總要給你們開一條出路，叫你們能忍受得住‧

申 Deuteronomy 33:25 (NIV) The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days. 你的門閂﹝或作鞋﹞是銅的，鐵的‧你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何‧

腓 Philippians 4:13 (NIV84) I can do everything through him who gives me strength. 我靠著那加給我力量的，凡事都能作‧

林後 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 他對我說，我的恩典夠你用的‧因為我的能力，是在人的軟弱上顯得完全‧所以我更喜歡誇自己的軟弱，好叫基督的能力覆庇我‧

賽 Isaiah 43:1–3 (NIV) 1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 1雅各阿，創造你的耶和華，以色列阿，造成你的那位，現在如此說，你不要害怕，因為我救贖了你‧我曾提你的名召你，你是屬我的‧2你從水中經過，我必與你同在‧你逿過江河，水必不漫過你‧你從火中行過，必不被燒，火焰也不著在你身上‧3因為我是耶和華你的神，是以色列的聖者你的救主‧

V. He will give us the treasures of darkness. 神要將黑暗中的寶物給我們 V. He will give us the treasures of darkness. 神要將黑暗中的寶物給我們. (約伯 Job 42:5-6; 太 Matt 5:8; 賽 Isa 45:3; 彼前 1 Pet 1:6-7; 羅 Rom 8:28-29; 5:3-5; 約 John 15:1-8; 林後 2 Cor 12:7-10; 太 Matt 5:3-12; 腓 Phil 4:11-13; 雅 James 1:4, 2-12; 希 Heb 5:11-6:8; 羅 Rom 8:17) 賽 Isaiah 45:3 (NASB95) I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden wealth of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. 我要將暗中的寶物，和隱密的財寶賜給你，使你知道提名召你的，就是我耶和華以色列的神‧

(Our own fire is light pollution.) Stars shine brightest in darkest night. 漆黑夜的星星最明亮. (God’s truths can be seen clearest when we are in the darkness.) Light pollution is one major reason you don’t see stars, meteor shower, or galaxies. (Our own fire is light pollution.)

The treasures of darkness 黑暗中的寶物 先後眼光 (Priority & Perspective) (太 Matt 6:33-34) 增進智慧 (Growth in wisdom) (箴 Prov 9:10; 16:16) 信心操練 (Faith tested) (彼前 1 Pet 1:6-7) 品格建造 (Character building) (羅 Rom 8:28-29; 5:3-5; 雅 James 1:1-12) 密切關係 (Abiding relationship) (約 John 15:1-8; 林後 2 Cor 12:7-10) 生命丰盛 (Abundant life) (太 Matt 5:3-12; 雅 James 1:12; 腓 Phil 4:11-13) 靈命成熟 (Spiritual maturity) (雅 James 1:4, 2-12; 希 Heb 5:11-6:8) 國度後嗣 (Heirs and Coheirs) (羅 Rom 8:17) 失去世界, 得到基督 (Lost the world; gained Christ) (腓 Phil 3:8; 伯 Job 42:5) 更多經歷神 (林後 2 Cor 12:9; 腓 Phil 4:13) 發掘更多隱藏的寶貝使我們能更多經歷神.

If your sun has set, it will rise again. 如果你日已落, 它必要再升起來. 詩篇 30:5 “因為祂的怒氣不過是轉眼之間, 祂的恩典乃是一生之久. 一宿雖然有哭泣, 早晨便必歡呼.”

The Greatest Reward of Darkness: Losing the World, Gaining Christ The Greatest Reward of Darkness: Losing the World, Gaining Christ. (腓 Phil 3:7-11) 黑暗的最大收獲: 失去世界,得到基督.

約伯 Job 42:5-6 (NIV) 5 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” 5我從前風聞有你, 現在親眼看見你‧ 6因此我厭惡自己, 在塵土和爐灰中懊悔‧

Dutch master Rembrandt and Apostle Paul 荷蘭大師任佈蘭与 使徒保罗 Christ, the Suffering Servant 基督,受苦的僕人

Rembrandt 1661 Self-Portrait as Apostle Paul

The Apostle Bartholomew, 1661

The Apostle Paul, c. 1657

Hendrickje Stoffels (as the Sorrowing Virgin?), 1660

VI. Personal response 個人回應