倾听的力量

The Power of Listening   倾听的力量

The Only Thing Needed   唯一不可少的

Luke 路加福音 10:39-42: She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’  她有一个妹子名叫马利亚，在耶稣脚前坐着听他的道。 马大伺候的事多，心里忙乱，就进前来说，主阿，我的妹子留下我一个人伺候，你不在意吗？请吩咐她来帮助我。 耶稣回答说，马大，马大，你为许多的事，思虑烦扰。 但是不可少的只有一件。马利亚已经选择那上好的福分，是不能夺去的。

This passage is a good starting point for a discussion of listening.这段经文是讨论倾听的好开始。

Mary had the correct priorities. 玛利亚有对的优先级。

She knew that listening to Jesus was far more important than housework, at that time.

她认识到倾听耶稣的话在那个时候比做家务重要的多。

Mary knew that there was nothing more important than sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to him, and learning from him. 玛利亚知道没有什么比端坐在耶稣脚前聆、听他的话、从他学习更重要的。

This is a valuable lesson for us, as well. 这于我们也是有益的功课。

The modern world feels rushed, and people are immensely busy.现代世界感到匆忙，人们忙得不可开交。

This makes it difficult to both listen to God and to have meaningful interactions with others, to get below surface pleasantries, so as to understand hearts in detail.  这使得在倾听神的时候，还与别人产生有益互动是困难的，难以透过表面的欢笑，以具体理解人的心。

How do Christians get back to a state in which they can simply sit at Jesus’ feet, and listen to him, and learn from him? 基督徒们要如何回到简单地坐在耶稣脚前、聆听他、从他学习的状态呢？Additionally, how do Christians regain the passion to listen well to people? 另外，基督徒们如何重新获得对人仔细聆听的热情呢？

 

The Power of Listening  倾听的力量

James 雅各书 1:19: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  我亲爱的弟兄们，这是你们所知道的。但你们各人要快快地听，慢慢地说，慢慢地动怒。

 

Why Are Christians Called to Listen?

为什么基督徒们蒙召去倾听？

Listening Because God First Listens听是因为神先听我们

#1: God listens to us.  神是倾听我们的神。

Blind Bartemeus was a beggar whom no one considered, nor cared about (Mark 马可福音 10:46).  瞎子巴底买是个没有人放在眼里的乞丐。

Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do?” (Mark 马可福音 10:51).耶稣问他：“要我为你做什么？”

Jesus listened when no one else would.没有人听他言语的时候，有主在听。

Additionally, Jesus was willing to attend banquets with tax collectors, and other undesirables (Matthew 马太福音11:19).另外，耶稣愿意和税吏和别的不受人欢迎的人们一起吃饭。

He knew how to spend time with people, and to listen well to them.  他知道怎么花时间与他们相处，很好地聆听他们。

Thus, God can listen to his people in a transcendent way. 因此，神可以以超然的方式倾听祂的百姓.

However, he still came to earth as a man, to listen to people in his flesh. 但祂还是道成肉身，以肉身倾听人们。

 

Listening as a Display of Humility倾听是谦卑的表现

#2: Listening keeps one humble倾听使人谦卑。

Listening is learning.  倾听是学习。

People are living books.  人是活的书。

God uses others to teach us.神使用他人教导我们。

 

Listening to Gain Wisdom倾听获得智慧

#3: Those who answer before listening are subject to folly and shame.  未曾听完先回答的人，是愚昧和羞辱的。

Proverbs 箴言 18:13: To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.  未曾听完先回答的，便是他的愚昧和羞辱。

“Speech is silver; silence is golden.” (French proverb)  言语是银；沉默是金。（法国谚语）

 

Are You Desperate for Others to Listen to You? 

你急切地要别人听你吗？

The key to being listened to is to say something worth listening to.被倾听的关键是要说出值得被倾听的话。

If you speak words of wisdom, the right people will listen, and the wrong one’s will turn away.  如果你说出智慧的言语，对的人将会倾听，错误的人将会转身离去。

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are attracted to words which bring life.  那些饥渴慕义的人被生命之道吸引。

Those who love the world are attracted to words which protect and advance their self-love.那些爱世界的人被保护自爱、促进自爱的信息吸引。

Additionally, words of complaint, gossip, or anger usually turn all people away in time.  另外，抱怨的话语、谗言或者怒气常常叫人到了一定时候叫别人远离他。

 

Listening as a Form of Respect倾听是一种尊重

#4: Listening is a form of respect.倾听是一种尊重。

Since all people are made in the image of God, the Christian honors that image by listening.  因为人都是按着神的形象造的，基督徒通过倾听荣耀神的形象。

Each person, as an image-bearer of God, has meaning and purpose.每个人按着神的形象被造，是有意义、有目的的。

By listening, one affirms that meaning. 借着倾听，那意义得到证实。

Each church member should be listened to (not that everyone should teach).每个教会成员都应该被倾听（不是每个人都应该教导）。

Often those who are the quietest are the wisest, and those who are the loudest are foolish. 通常那些最安静的是最有智慧的，那些最吵闹的是愚昧的。

 

Listening as Love  倾听是爱

#5: Listening shows love to others  倾听展现出对他人真实的爱。

In a culture in which people rarely listen, actually listening to others shows real love for them. 在缺乏倾听的文化中真正地倾听他人，能展现出对他人真实的爱。

 

Listening to Help Others用倾听帮助别人

#6: Allowing others to speak helps them to organize their thoughts.让别人说话有助于让他们组织思想。

Listening helps others to develop.倾听帮助别人发展。

 

Listening in Order to Counsel为了辅导而倾听

#7: Listening allows one to see what resides in another’s heart. 倾听让人看到别人的内心所存。When one listens with the right ears, he begins to understand the contours of the heart.  当一个人用对的耳朵去倾听，就开始明白人的内心是什么样子。

Certain words become “flags” helping one to discern either idols of the heart, or a heart ruled by faith.有的词语像是“旗帜”一样，帮助人辨析人的心是受到偶像的辖制还是信心的掌管。

 

Listening to Know How to Serve倾听以知道如何服侍

#8: Listening helps one to determine how to bring grace to others. 倾听帮助人判断怎么样把恩典带给别人。

A wise man knows how to answer well.  智慧人知道如何给出好的回答。

Isaiah 以赛亚书 50:4: The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. 主耶和华赐我受教者的舌头，使我知道怎样用言语扶助疲乏的人。主每早晨提醒，提醒我的耳朵，使我能听，像受教者一样。

 

Listening to Know How to Pray倾听以知道如何祷告

#9: Listening causes one to pray for others  倾听让人为别人代祷。

Additionally, praying for others will cause you to listen well to them. 另外，为别人祷告会让你很好地倾听他们。

 

Listening to God  聆听神

#10: When one first listens to God, he learns to listen to others. 先聆听神的声音，就是学习倾听别人。

We want the order of this statement to be correct.  这句话中的顺序要对。

The Christian’s ability to listen to others with the right ears is firstly a reflection of his ability to listen to God.基督徒用对的耳朵对人聆听的能力，反映了他对神的聆听能力如何。

God gives his people ears to hear, so that they are not distracted by the constant prattle of the media. 神赐给祂的百姓倾听的耳朵，让他们不会因媒体嘈杂的闲扯而分心。

The Christian who knows God’s Word well has trained his ears to know what to listen for in others.  知道神话语的基督徒很好地训练了他的耳朵，以知道听别人的时候要听什么。

Such a person gains a skill to “decode” language, so as to gain insights into the heart. 这样的人获得一种对语言的“解密”，对人的心获得洞见。

Additionally, the one who diligently studies God’s Word, finds his efforts synchronized with the Holy Spirit’s work in lives.  另外，那些辛勤学习神的道的人发现他的努力与圣灵在人生命里的工作同步。

Such a person finds himself at the right place, at the right time, speaking a timely word.这样的人发现自己在对的地方、对的时间，用及时的话语说话。

Stated from the opposite direction, the Christian who listens well to others, reinforces his ability to listen well to God. 反过来，认真倾听别人的基督徒加强了他聆听神的能力。

Listening is a Christian’s lifestyle, the habit of his heart. 倾听是信徒的生活方式，是内心的习惯。

But, the Christian’s way of listening is directed, wise, alert, and filled with purpose.  但是基督徒倾听的方式是受到指引的，是有智慧而儆醒的，也是抱着目的的。

By knowing God’s Word well, the Christian knows what to listen for. 通过好好认识神的话语，基督徒就知道听什么。

 

Listening for the Lord  为了神而倾听

A pastor once said that he would not act unless the Lord “hit him on the head with a sledgehammer.” 曾有一位牧者说过， 除非神“用大锤砸他的头”，否则他不会采取行动。

He also described that he was looking for “fireworks” from God, that without some kind of “explosive” communication, he would not act.  他还说他在寻找神的“烟火”，没有任何“轰轰烈烈”的交流，他不会采取行动。

This is a misguided approach to listening to God.  这是具有误导性的“听神”。

Consider 1 Kings 19:11, 12.思想列王纪上 19:11, 12。

1 Kings 列王纪上 19:11, 12: The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  耶和华说，你出来站在山上，在我面前。那时耶和华从那里经过，在他面前有烈风大作，崩山碎石，耶和华却不在风中。风后地震，耶和华却不在其中。地震后有火，耶和华也不在火中。火后有微小的声音。

While at certain times in the past, God communicated through a loud booming voice (such as on Mount Sinai in Exodus 19), or through various miracles (such as through Elijah), God does not communicate that way today.  虽然神曾经用大声而又轰动的声音说话 (如出埃及记 19章神在西奈山发声），或是通过各样的神迹 (比如借着以利亚）表明心意，但神今天不会那样交流。God has gifted believers with his finalized Word, and has invested his Holy Spirit into every believing heart.神赐给了信徒已经写完的话语，也把圣灵赐给每一颗相信的心灵。

Thus, God communicates by means of his Word, illuminating the reader by the Holy Spirit.因此，神借着他的话语说话，由圣灵光照读者。

Those who seek grandiose communications from God, or even those who expect him to speak in an audible voice, largely cannot hear the Holy Spirit within themselves.那些找寻神轰轰烈烈的声音的人，就算那些只是追求听神听得见的声音的人，基本上听不见他们里面圣灵的声音。

It may even be that such a person deceives himself into thinking that he is a Christian, when he is not.这样的人可能不信主，但他自欺欺人地觉得他是个基督徒。

In other words, the Holy Spirit may not live inside of him.也就是说圣灵也许没有住在他里面。That is why he seeks a voice from God that appeals to his flesh.所以他就追求神听得见的声音，因为那是体贴肉体的。

The Christian never asks God to communicate in dramatic ways.基督徒从来不求神用轰轰烈烈的方式交通。

He seeks God, day-by-day, in the silence of his heart, through the preaching and teaching of his Word, and through the, often, subtle leading of the Holy Spirit.  他日复一日地追求神，内心安宁，神的道传讲给他、教训他，总是借着圣灵微妙的带领。

That leading may be quiet and gentle, as a way to train the Christian to be still and silent, so that he learns to wait upon God.那种带领可能是安静温柔的，操练基督徒沉静，让他学会等候神。The Christian daily trains his heart to listen for the Holy Spirit’s prompting. 基督徒每天训练自己的心聆听圣灵的催逼。

The world does not necessarily value listeners.世界不一定看重倾听者。

It values the ambitious, the outspoken, and the influencers.它看重雄心勃勃、直言不讳和有影响力的人。

The unsung heroes are often those are the quiet listeners.那些默默倾听的人往往才是无名英雄。

 

Listening Because of Union with Christ倾听是因为与基督联合

#11: Listening shows the Christian’s union with Christ  倾听显出我们与基督联合。

Jesus listened well to people.  耶稣认真倾听他人。

Those who know, and love, Jesus are great listeners.  那些认识耶稣并且爱祂的人是很好的倾听者。

They show something of Christ’s character.  他们表现出基督的属性。

Thus, the ability to listen to others is an outgrowth of first listening to God.  因此，倾听别人的能力是先听主音的延申。

Those who have trained themselves to listen to God’s small still voice are trained to listen to those who are part of God’s kingdom.那些操练自己聆听神细微之言的人，也操练了自己倾听神国中人的声音。

Thus, the Christian, as he sharpens his listening skills to God, sharpens his listening skills in general.因此，基督徒聆听神愈发娴熟，倾听别人就整体上越是擅长。

He knows what the listen for, and what to block out.他知道要听什么，要屏蔽什么样的声音。

He has attuned his ears to what is noble, right, and good, and turns away from that which offends God.他调节好了耳朵，倾听高洁、正义和良善，得罪神的声音他就闭耳不听。

 

Listening Because of Union with Christ

倾听是因为与基督联合

Jesus knew how to ask the right questions, to go after the concerns of the heart. 耶稣知道如何问对的问题来查看人内心所关心的。

One who is trained in listening is also skilled in asking the right questions, questions which reveal the heart’s motives.   一个被训练过倾听的人也将是一个擅于提出正确问题的人，这些问题揭示一个人内心的动机。

Notice that most Bible stories are very short (especially those in the New Testament).请注意，大多数圣经故事很简短（特别是在新约里的那些故事）。

This means that the stories offer few details, and often little character development.这意味着那些故事很精炼，人物没什么展开。

However, this is part of God’s plan, that his people would learn to gain much through little.然而，这是神计划的一部分，让他的百姓从精炼的语句中学到很多。

Put another way, the Christian’s spiritual ears are being trained to listen for particular details.换句话说，基督徒属灵的耳朵得到训练，倾听特定的细节。

This comes from stories which focus on relatively few details.通过那些精炼的故事。

In fact, parables have only one point.   其实，比喻只有一个重点。

It is important to note that being a good listener does not mean blindly following along with the direction of a conversation.重要的是做一个好的倾听者不意味着盲目地附和。

The wise counselor has an objective in each conversation, to steer discussion toward faith in Jesus. 有智慧的辅导者在每一场对话中都有一个目标，把谈话朝着对主耶稣的信靠进行引导。

So, the counselor, while a good listener, is also a guide, directing a discussion’s path. 所以，辅导者虽然是一名好的倾听者，但也是一名向导，引领着谈话的路。

Sometimes just a single well-positioned question is all that is needed to redirect a person in a godly direction. 有时，一个安排良好的问题就是重新引导一个人走在敬虔方向上所需的一切。

 

 

People of the Eye vs. People of the Ear

用眼看的人 vs. 用耳听的人

Genesis 创世记 3:5, 6: ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.  

因为神知道，你们吃的日子眼睛就明亮了，你们便如神能知道善恶。 于是女人见那棵树的果子好作食物，也悦人的眼目，且是可喜爱的，能使人有智慧，就摘下果子来吃了。又给她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。 

Satan convinced Eve to evaluate her world based on what she thought she saw, rather than from listening to what God said.  撒旦说服夏娃用她以为看到的来评估她的世界，而不用从神那里听到的。

Subject to the serpent’s temptation, Eve soon abandoned God’s Word to chase after the lust of the eye. 

受到了蛇的诱惑，夏娃很快丢弃了神的话，去追求眼目的情欲。

Satan enticed her to use her eyes to determine truth and goodness, rather than what God had said. 

撒旦诱使她用眼睛决定真理和美善，而不是神曾说过的话。

The Bible often makes a distinction between those who are people of the eye and those who are people of the ear. 

《圣经》经常区分用眼睛看的人和用耳朵听的人。

People of the eye are cursed because they easily follow after the lust of the eye, trusting the eye. 

用眼睛看的人是被咒诅的，因为他们很容易追随眼目的情欲。

People of the ear are blessed because they soon learn to harken to God’s Word, trusting that word.  用耳朵听的人是蒙福的，因为他们很快就学会倾听神的话语，并相信那些话。

Matthew 马太福音 11:15: ‘Whoever has ears, let him hear.’ 有耳可听的，就应当听。

John 约翰福音 10:5: ‘But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice.’  羊不跟着生人，因为不认得他的声音。必要逃跑。

John 约翰福音 10:27: ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’  我的羊听我的声音，我也认识他们，他们也跟着我。

In Luke 24:13-32, two of Jesus’ disciples (one named “Cleopas”) did not recognize Jesus.  路加福音 24:13-32 节，耶稣的两个门徒（一个叫革流巴）没有认出耶稣。

In 24:25, Jesus admonished them for not believing all that the prophets had spoken. 

24:25 节耶稣责备他们不相信众先知说过的话。

In 24:31, their eyes were opened to recognize Jesus, an opening of their hearts to him. 

24:31 节他们的眼睛就明亮，认出耶稣，内心向耶稣敞开。

‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?’ (Luke 路加福音 24:32)

他们彼此说，在路上，他和我们说话，给我们讲解圣经的时候，我们的心岂不是火热的吗？

“Listen with the ears of God that one might speak the word of God.” (Bonhoffer)   用神的耳倾听，就会说出神的话语。(朋霍费尔)

Additionally, when we listen to the Word of God, we see him with eyes of faith. 当我们聆听神的道，就是用信心之眼看见神。

Psalm 诗篇 39:1-3: I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin;I will put a muzzle on my mouth while in the presence of the wicked.’So I remained utterly silent,   not even saying anything good.But my anguish increased;

 my heart grew hot within me.While I meditated, the fire burned; then I spoke with my tongue:    我曾说: “我要谨慎我的言行，免得我舌头犯罪。恶人在我面前的时候，我要用嚼环勒住我的口。”我默然无声，连好话也不出口，我的愁苦就发动了。我的心在我里面发热。我默想的时候，火就烧起，我便用舌头说话。

 

Review Questions  复习样题

1.From the class notes, “The Power of Listening,” explain six reasons why the Christian is called to listen well to others.根据课件 “倾听的力量” 阐释基督徒为什么要良好地倾听他人的六个原因.

2.From the class notes, “The Power of Listening,” explain the concept of “People of the Eye vs. People of the Ear” 

     根据课件 “倾听的力量” ，阐述“ 用眼看的人 vs. 用耳听的人”。

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