我们真的可以凡事祈求?
腓立比书四章1至9节
1我所亲爱、所想念的弟兄们,你们就是我的喜乐,我的冠冕。我亲爱的弟兄,你们应当靠主站立得稳。
2我劝友阿爹和循都基,要在主里同心。
3我也求你这真实同负一轭的,帮助这两个女人,因为他们在福音上曾与我一同劳苦;还有革利免,并其余和我一同做工的,他们的名字都在生命册上。
4你们要靠主常常喜乐。我再说,你们要喜乐。
5当叫众人知道你们谦让的心。主已经近了。
6应当一无罣虑,只要凡事借着祷告、祈求,和感谢,将你们所要的告诉神。
7神所赐出人意外的平安必在基督耶稣里保守你们的心怀意念。
8弟兄们,我还有未尽的话:凡是真实的、可敬的、公义的、清洁的、可爱的、有美名的,若有甚么德行,若有甚么称赞,这些事你们都要思念。
9你们在我身上所学习的,所领受的,所听见的,所看见的,这些事你们都要去行,赐平安的神就必与你们同在。
信息分享
首先,是「凡事不要忧虑」。你曾否试过遇上一个大难题,以致它霸占了你的思想,使你除了它之外,甚么也想不到?你曾否试过彻夜难眠,思潮起伏,想的尽是同一个问题,却苦无出路?如果你试过的话,你就知道甚么是「忧虑」了。然而,基督徒是否应该凡事忧虑呢?
那么,当我们为到某些事情感到挂虑的时候,我们该怎么办呢?保罗教导我们,应该借着祷告,将一切交在神的手里。可是,难道连生活上的小事,也该向神祷告吗?保罗确实教导我们说:「要凡事祷告」。
你曾否听过小孩子祈祷?你是否觉得他们的祷告是多么简单,却又是多么动人?小孩子相信神不单关心他们今天发生的大小事情,就是连明天的一切也都同样关心。基督曾经怎样说?「要像小孩子…」。我们祷告的时候,为何不可以学像小孩子呢?我们是向我们的天父祷告啊!发生在我们身上的大小事情,天父都一样关心。既然如此,为何不可以凡事祈求呢?今天让我们试试看吧!
我们要学习透过祷告,把我们的祈求和难题全交在神的手中。许多时候,我们把需要告诉了神,但转过来,立即又为到那些需要担忧。这是不对的。反之,我们祷告的时候,必须做两件事:首先,要为到祂在过往所做的一切感谢祂;其次,要为到祂将来做的一切信靠祂。只有这样,我们的内心才会得着「平安」(7节)。
牢记:
每当遇到困难,总要紧记腓立比书四章6节。
CAN WE REALLY PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING?
Philippians 4: 1 - 9
1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.
3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Message
First of all 'be anxious about nothing'. Have you ever had some big problems on your mind and you just can't think of anything else? Have you ever just awake at night and gone over and over the same questions and never come up with the right answer? If so, you know what being anxious really means. Is it right for a Christian to be like that?
What do we do if we become anxious about something? Paul says we should pray and leave it with the Lord. But can we pray about every little problem that comes up in our lives? Paul says we can 'Pray about everything'.
Have you ever listened to a child's prayers? Do you remember how beautifully simple they are? They believe that God is interested in everything that has happened to them that day and in everything they may want for tomorrow. What did Christ say? 'Except you become as little children …' Why can't we be more childlike in our praying? We are talking to our Father, our heavenly Father, and he is interested in everything that concerns us. Why not talk to him about everything then? Try it today.
As we pray we need to leave our requests and our problems in God's hands. Too often we tell him what we need, then worry again about our needs. But when we pray we must do two things - firstly, thank him for what he has done and secondly, trust him for what he is going to do. That will bring peace to out hearts (v. 7).
REMEMBER:
'Philippians four verse six, if ever you feel in a fix
Remember dear friend, this message I send'

