Message from the Author
作者寄语
I am deeply thankful to a loving Father who always wants to help us find His wisdom that sets us free, including by Him showing us how to use the gift to prophesy in the way that He longs for us to do.
多么的感恩，那爱我们的父，他显给我们使用预言的正确方式，那方式是他渴望我们采用的，正如他总是要帮助我们，遇见他的智慧，那是让我们得着自由的智慧。
These are His words that reassure us how earnestly this is His heart toward us as our Abba Father:
“I hold you by your right hand and I say to you,
‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’”
Isaiah 41:13 NLT
“There is no one like the God of Israel. I ride across the heavens
to help you, across the skies in majestic splendor.”
Deuteronomy 33:26 NLT Personalized
以下阿爸父要对我们说的话，听，他是这样语重心长的鼓舞我们：
“因为我耶和华你的神，必搀扶你的右手，对你说， ‘不要害怕，我必帮助你’。”
《以赛亚书》41章 13节
“没有能比神（以色列的神）的。他为帮助你，乘在天空，显其威荣，驾行穹苍。”
《申命记》33章 26节
Responses
反馈
Michael Liu, Businessman with a Market Place Ministry, Shanghai, China: “I’ve been giving thanks as I have been translating “The Prophetic” into Chinese and thinking to myself what a blessing for those who can read this message. It is not doctrine full of instructions, but a poetry of heart illuminating truth poured out in love. This word has the power of healing! I see the urgency of the Gospel, the goodness of God, and the living example of apostle wisdom in it. All this needs to be shared. I will be giving it to people in China.”
Michael 职场事工企业家 中国上海: “一边翻译，我一边在感恩，心想能读到这信息的人是多么蒙福啊。我喜欢这个信息，因为它充满了诗意，这不是充满指导的理论，而是在爱中倾泻的照亮人心的真理。品尝吧，我的朋友，这道有医治之能。在这篇信息中我看到了福音的紧迫，神的美善和活生生的使徒智慧。这些都急需分享，我会给到那些在中国需要的人。”
George E. Markakis, Greek Apostle, European Apostolic Leader, Pastor of Shalom Center, Athens, Greece: “The intro is spectacular! It certainly captivated my attention! Captivating and positively “emotional” at times. It is a very good article. Very well written. Well done dear Ruth. Glad you decided to share these thoughts on the prophetic. May the Lord use your message to encourage many and bring healing to many more.
George E. Markakis，希腊使徒，欧洲使徒运动领袖，希腊雅典莎隆中心牧师: “此篇短文非常棒！引起了我极大的兴趣。许多地方引人入胜，甚至几度让我产生了正面的“不能自已”。这是一篇很好的文章。写的非常好。太棒了，Ruth。很开心你愿意分享关于预言的思想。愿主使用你的信息鼓励许多的人并给他们带来医治，甚至更多。”
Dr. John Roddam, Apostle and Prophet, formerly the pastor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Ballard, WA U.S.A.: “I have known Barry and Ruth Johnson for over a decade. They are loving and gracious equippers in the Body of Christ who for years have trained believers to operate in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Truly it is easy to endorse what Ruth has written. She is a friend who walks with grace and who teaches from a strong Biblical and experiential grid. I love the way Ruth sees how the prophetic, and the other gifts, need to be expressed in a safe and loving way. There is also a good balance of testimony and the Word in this teaching and it is written in a style that is understandable by young and old alike. It is excellent!”
John Roddam 博士，使徒和先知，前圣路加圣公会牧师，Ballard，华盛顿州： “认识Barry和Ruth已经十载有余。他们非常有爱心，通过培训信徒操练圣灵的恩赐，他们慷慨的装备了很多主内的人。真的非常赞成Ruth所写的。她是我的朋友，她满有恩典，在圣经和实践的基础上教导人。我喜欢Ruth所说的如何让预言以及其他恩赐用一种安全的和有爱心的方式去表达。文章在见证和圣经上分布得当，而且阅读起来老少咸宜。非常好的文章。”
Caleb Howard, International Evangelist, Formerly Senior Pastor, Dry Oak Assembly of God, Belton, South Carolina U.S.A.: “I was tremendously blessed and encouraged from this writing on prophecy. I even gained some wisdom and revelation concerning this subject that I had not received before. Barry and Ruth are a hidden treasure in God’s Kingdom that I believe will be brought to the forefront for such a time as this.”
Caleb Howard，国际布道家，神召会干橡树教会前主任牧师，Belton，南卡罗来纳州： “这篇关于预言的文章极大的祝福和鼓励了我。我甚至领受了从前没有领受过的关于这方面的启示。Barry和Ruth是上帝的国中隐藏的珍宝，我相信在这样的一个时代他们会被带到最前沿，大大的为我们显明。”
Russ and Kim Babcock, Missions Pastors, Pursuit NW Church, Snohomish, WA U.S.A: “We love your heart towards health in the Body of Christ and your desire for the Bride to walk in true freedom. We are also thankful for this honest and sometimes difficult conversation of instruction and correction where prophecy is concerned. Yet with it comes the beauty of what this gift was created for. You have once again communicated very well and with love and grace and truth, always pointing to the Word of God. We love that and we are excited to have you put this in print and allow others to read it so that it can bring clarity to an area that at times is one of learned confusion.”
Russ and Kim Babcock，传道牧师，Pursuit NW 教会, Snohomish, 华盛顿州：“看到你对教会肢体的健康和真正自由的关切，我们无比开心，同时也很感恩，在涉及预言这个问题的时候，给人诚实的指点或纠正很有挑战，但你还是做到了。而这也正是神创造这个恩赐的原因吧。永远指向神的话语，你再一次用爱、恩典和真理成功的进行了沟通。我们热切的期望此文可以出版出来，让更多人读到，让这个越学习越糊涂的领域清晰起来。”
Margie Fry, a highly respected Prophetic Voice in Lighthouse of Hope Ministries, Silverdale, WA: “As I finished the last sentence, I found that I didn’t want this powerful teaching to end. It is full of love and great clarity about the Word of God. It also brings forth the richness of His truth for our daily living and it is explained in such a way that it will help people to move into freedom in the prophetic, and in a safe, encouraging, loving way.”
Margie Fry，希望灯塔事工中颇受尊敬的预言者，Silverdale，华盛顿州： “在读完最后一句之后，我发现我不想让这大能的教导停下来。它充满了爱和对神的话语的澄清，同时也带出了神的真理对我们每日生活的丰盛意义。让我们明白如何在安全的、受鼓舞的和有爱的方式中进入预言的自由。”
Terry Dunnings, Senior Pastor, The Vision Center, Elm City, NC U.S.A.: “This prophetic teaching is truly awesome and inspired by God. So much wisdom and revelation. Wow! I enjoyed the truth of God that resonates from your writing, Ruth. The scripture references, the examples, the stories, they are all so riveting and powerful!”
美国北卡罗莱纳州以林市，异象中心主任牧师 Terry Dunnings： “这篇关于预言的教导超级棒，充满了智慧和启示，是上帝激发的灵感之作。哇！我真的好喜欢你在写作中带给我神的真理的共鸣：圣经的引用、举例、故事都那么引人入胜，那么力量无穷！”
Hughes Protzman, Associate Pastor, Mukilteo Foursquare Church, Mukilteo, WA U.S.A.: “Your teaching is always powerful because it comes from your love of people. Now you have shown us why prophecy has been effective in your life because it was always ministered within a context of love, mercy and grace. Seeing this brings me to repentance because I haven’t always done that. Thank you for once again showing us how to think and function with the mind of Christ and the heart of Father God.”
美国华盛顿州，马科尔蒂奥市，四方教会助理牧师 Hughes Protzman： “你的教导总是那么有力，因为你爱大家。爱、怜悯和恩典是你事工的核心，这是也是为什么你的预言总是那么有果效。读了你的文字，我要忏悔，因为我没有完全做到。再一次感谢你教会我们如何用天父的心肠和耶稣的意念怎样思考怎样做为！”
Doug Martin, Gifted Teacher, Associate Pastor with the Father’s Kind Heart, at our Home Church Sonrise Christian Center, Everett, WA U.S.A.: “The scripture says that Jesus came full of Grace and Truth and as I read this I could see those qualities. You have been truthful about what the prophetic really is and areas which need correction. At the same time you have been very understanding and graceful to everyone, as none of us are perfect at this and we are all learning. Thanks so much for taking the time and effort to shine a light on a subject which is not always well understood, but can be so valuable when used the way God intended it to be used.”
美国华盛顿州，艾佛雷特市，优秀教师、助理牧师、Doug Martin弟兄在我们的母教会Sonrise基督徒中心，心怀天父的慈爱： “经上说耶稣满有恩典和能力，这正是我读本文的时候看到的品质。关于预言的定义您实事求是并努力带人离开误区。同时您也对我们众人都有所包容，因为人无完人，我们都在学习成长。预言这个话题大家有太多迷惑，您的教导如迷惑中的光束，将我们照亮，让我们明白这恩赐需要用上帝喜悦的方式来使用才有价值，再次感谢您付出的时间和努力！”
Dr. Patricia Duke, His Heart Ministries International, a powerful Speaking, Teaching, Prophetic and Apostolic Ministry, Tampa, FL U.S.A.: “As I read, ‘The Prophetic What It’s All About,’ I sensed a genuine gentleness of heart and the love of Jesus throughout. The message is an encouragement. It is also a caution for those who move in the prophetic, as well as for those who are receiving a prophetic word. It is an excellent teaching for those who want to know more about the prophetic. I am both humbled and honored to be among the ones you chose to share this with.”
耶稣之心国际事工的 Patricia Duke 博士，耶稣之心国际事工来自美国福罗里达州坦帕市，在演说、教导、预言和使徒事工上很得力量： “当我读到 ‘预言到底是怎么回事’ ，我就整个儿感受到了耶稣的爱，耶稣的纯真的温柔心肠。 这篇道是一个巨大的鼓励。同时对那些发预言的以及接受预言的人们的一个警告。对想更多了解预言的人来说这是一篇很好的学习资料。能够成为分享此文中的一员我实在是荣幸之至。”
Dan and Cindy Duff, Pastors of Calvary Family Church, Collinsville, IL: “We love the Word and balanced approach you have taken, Ruth, in this teaching on ‘The Prophetic.’ We both can really feel your love for the church and all of God’s people. This is a very good and clear writing on the prophetic. I believe we need the prophetic and prophets in our churches today, as much as we ever have. But as pastors we also have experienced wrong, and even false prophecy from those in the Body of Christ who allow their perspective or their flesh to get involved. We know this can be very damaging and dangerous. As a result, prophecy concerns, and even scares a lot of people in the church. We strongly believe that the church needs to return to the Word because God is not the God of fear or confusion. Again, this is a great, balanced writing. Keep blessing the body of Christ!”
Dan与Cindy Duff，美国伊利诺伊州，科林斯维尔市，各各他家庭教会牧师：“路德，我们喜爱《预言》一文带给我们的神的话语和平衡兼顾的智慧。我们两个人都强烈的感受到你对教会和所有神之子民的爱。本文关于预言的论述洗炼通达。我们相信今日教会和以往一样需要先知和预言。但做为牧师我们也经常经历到一些预言者将属肉体的和自己的思想的东西混淆进来，他们来自教会，但却是伪先知。这样一来，预言就会让教会望而却步。我们非常相信教会需要回到神的话语，因为神不是让人恐惧的神，不是让人混乱的神。最后我要再说一次，这是一篇非常优秀而又平衡兼顾的信息。愿永远的祝福归于耶稣基督的身体！”
The Prophetic
What’s It All About
预言
到底是怎么一回事
A liberating message for anyone who is searching for understanding about what healthy, Scripture-based prophesying looks like and for those who want to be set free from what is holding them back from the Father using them in this profoundly important way.
预言是神运用的极其重要的方式。你想理解什么是健康的基于圣经的预言吗？你想摆脱那些正阻挡在你面前不让你使用预言的障碍吗？这篇信息就为现在的你预备的。
The insights come from what I have learned from my decades in ministry and from equipping others to understand how to walk in the fullness of God’s purpose for them. I am passionate about sharing them because of how vital it is for God’s children to walk in freedom in their prophetic gifting.
帮助他人理解如何行走在上帝旨意的丰盛之中，是我数十年事工生涯的重要工作，我将我学到的提炼出来，分享给大家，对此我充满激情，因为上帝的儿女在预言的恩赐上毫无羁绊那是至关重要的。
I also feel strongly about this message because I’ve seen so much confusion in people about what that “going free” looks like, and because way too many Christians have been hurt by those who have prophesied to them in an unsafe, not Word-based way. As a result, they are “scared” of someone ministering to them prophetically. Often they become “shut down” in giving themselves a chance to be used in this way themselves, even if they have a strong anointing in prophecy. My earnest hope and prayer is that this writing will significantly help all those who are longing to learn how to fully “rise up on wings as an eagle” in God using them to speak His words of life to others.
因为我见过了太多人在“自由啦”的理解上的混乱，因为我观察到那种不安全的，非圣经为基础的的预言对被预言的基督徒造成的巨大伤害，所以我很强烈的感觉到要分享这个信息。被“吓到”的人听说要说预言，就会躲起来，很多时候即使他们自己有很强的这方面的恩膏，也会向使用这些恩赐的机会“关闭”自己。我殷切的期望并祷告神，让我所写的东西能够帮助那些渴望学习如何对他人使用神的话语的朋友们，“如鹰展翅上腾”。
***
“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Revelation 19:10 YLT
因为预言中的灵意，乃是为耶稣作见证。
《启示录》19章10节
Paul did everything he could to help the early believers grasp how to be that witness of Jesus. First, he strongly encouraged them to have a longing to both pursue love and to prophesy:
“Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 NLT
保罗用尽一切办法帮助早期的信徒掌握为耶稣基督作见证的方法。首先他强烈的鼓励他们即渴望爱又渴望预言：
你们要追求爱，也要切慕属灵的恩赐，其中更要羡慕的，是说预言。《哥林多前书》14章 1节
At the same time, he made it clear that this gift was all about helping others experience how much they are loved by the Father, which is what means the most to His Son, Jesus:
“Those who prophesy are speaking to people to give them strength, encouragement, and comfort.” 1 Corinthians 14:3 NCV
同时，他申明这个恩赐是帮助他人经历天父是多么的爱他们的，这爱对于他儿子耶稣来说是至关重要的：
但说预言的，是对人说，要造就，安慰，劝勉人。《哥林多前书》14章3节
In the light of these two verses, Paul was telling the early Christians:
“Want earnestly to speak words to others that will give
them encouragement, strength, and comfort.”
针对这两节经文，保罗告诉早期教会的基督徒：
“切慕对他人预言（说话）就是要鼓励、造就和安慰。”
Even the prophets during the birth of the church lived this way of love:
“Paul encouraged the believers in all the towns he passed through.” Acts 20:2 NLT
“Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke extensively to the Christians, encouraging and strengthening their faith.” Acts 15:32 NLT
即使在教会诞生时期的先知也是用这样爱的方式生活：
保罗走遍了那一带地方，用许多话劝勉门徒 《使徒行转》20:2
犹大和西拉也是先知，就用许多话劝勉弟兄，坚固他们。《使徒行转》15:32
The genuine love of Jesus that exploded in the Book of Acts was also at the foundation of the 1906 Azusa Street Revival. This is a quote by an eyewitness historian of that move of God:
“The message was the love of God. It was as if the first love of the early Church had returned. We knew the moment we had grieved the Spirit by an unkind thought or word. The presence of the Lord was so real.” Frank Bartleman
耶稣真纯的爱也是1906年阿苏撒街复兴的基石。以下引文就是来自那场神的运动的历史见证人：
“那信息就是神的爱。就好像早期教会起初的爱又回来了。我们知道我们的不良的思想和言语曾经让圣灵伤心。神的同在是如此真实。” Frank Bartleman
***
I find it remarkable that we never outgrow the need to receive prophetic encouragement. We never become so “mature” or so spiritually “strong” that we can fully live for Jesus without words of the Father’s love being spoken to us. That’s why it is not spiritual weakness to want encouragement. It is not a lack of dependence on God or a failure to trust Him. Rather the Father created us this way. Consequently, the more we give our lives to serving Him, the greater our need to experience His encouragement. For example, we see in the prophet Isaiah the intense discouragement that can affect any man or woman of God when being encouraged is not happening:
The Lord told him: “You are my servant and you will bring Me glory.” Isaiah replied: “But my work all seems so useless. I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet, I leave it all in the Lord’s hand. I will trust God for my reward.” Isaiah 49:3-4 NLT
我发现很明显的是无论我们得到多少预言的鼓励都不会嫌多。 我们从来也无法“成熟”或“强大”到没有父神对我们说话而还能够全然为耶稣而活。这是为什么不是说属灵软弱才需要鼓励；不是说缺乏对神的依靠或无法信靠他才需要鼓励。恰恰相反我们这样是神这样创造了我们。结论就是，我们越是舍命服侍他，我们越是需要经历他的鼓励。例如，我们看到先知以赛亚在鼓励缺席，挫败超越任何属神的男女的所能承受的时候：
主对他说你是我的仆人以色列，我必因你得荣耀。我却说，我劳碌是徒然，我尽力是虚无虚空，然而我当得的理必在耶和华那里，我的赏赐必在我神那里。《以赛亚书》49章 3-4节
Then this is how David wrote about his longing for someone to encourage him:
“You see all that my enemies are doing. Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.” Psalm 69:19-20 NLT
下面是大卫写他自己如何渴望有人可以鼓励他：
你知道我受的辱骂，欺凌，羞辱。我的敌人都在你面前。辱骂伤破了我的心。我又满了忧愁。我指望有人体恤，却没有一个。我指望有人安慰，却找不着一个。《诗篇》69篇 19-20节
Even Jesus didn’t want to be cared about only by His Father. As a man, He also needed to be emotionally supported by those He was in close friendship relationship with during His years on earth. This is an illuminating account in which He is very honest about feeling this way:
Then Jesus went with His followers to a place called Gethsemane. He said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and He began to be very sad and troubled. He said to them, “My heart is full of sorrow, to the point of death. Stay here and watch with Me.” After walking a little farther away from them, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, do not give Me this cup of suffering. But do what You want, not what I want.” When Jesus went back to His followers and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “You men could not stay awake with Me for one hour?” Matthew 26:36-40 NCV
就连耶稣也是不仅仅是需要天父的关照。做为一个人，他在地上的岁月，也同样需要从他人的友谊来获得情感上的支持。耶稣对此毫不隐讳，下面这个充满启发的故事就记录了他这样的情感：
耶稣同门徒来到一个地方，名叫客西马尼，就对他们 说，你们坐在这里，等我到那边去祷告。于是带着彼得，和西庇太的两个儿子同去，就忧愁起来，极其难过。便对他们说，我心里甚是忧伤，几乎要死。你们在这里等候，和我一同儆醒。他就稍往前走，俯伏在地祷告说，我父阿，倘若可行，求你叫这杯离开我。然而不要照我的意思，只要照你的意思。来到门徒那里，见他们睡着了，就对彼得说，怎么样，你们不能同我儆醒片时吗？《马太福音》26章 36-40
Paul was also vulnerably honest about having this same fundamental need:
“God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.” 2 Corinthians 7:6 NLT
“I’m eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.” Romans 1:12 NLT
保罗在脆弱受伤中坦言他也有同样基本的需要：
但那安慰丧气之人的神，借着提多来安慰了我们。《哥林多后书》7章 6节
这样我在你们中间，因你与我彼此的信心，就可以同得安慰。《罗马书》1章12节
What’s sad is that multitudes of sincere, good-hearted believers are stuck in the same Valley of Dry Bones that Ezekiel wrote about because they have no one encouraging them. A tragic loss of hope is crushing them. When their discouragement deepens, a terrible, dark despair overtakes them. The longer they live with this heartache, the more heartbreakingly painful their loneliness and emptiness become.
令人伤心的是无数的诚实和好心的信徒因为无人鼓励都陷于以西结描述的枯骨的山谷之中。希望失去的悲惨，将他们压碎，灰心加剧，可怕的暗黑的绝望吞噬他们。如此心伤的生活持续越久，他们的孤独与空虚就越发变得锥心疼痛。
Yet when people encounter sincere, healthy, Word-based words that comfort them with the Father’s kind love, those who are grappling with darkness can be renewed in their courage to not give up. This can make it possible for them to find their way back to “fighting the good fight,” rather than being “shipwrecked in their faith.” 1 Timothy 1:18-19 NASB To help people find their way to this revival of hope is why the Spirit of the Lord came upon Ezekiel to declare to all generations:
“O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, you will know that I am the LORD. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done what I said.” Ezekiel 37:12-14 NLT
但那些在黑暗里抓狂的人们，遇见父神慈爱的话语，他们就被更新，充满勇气，不再放弃，这些话语是诚恳的健康的和基于圣经的。这让他们可能找到“打那美好仗”的归途，而不是在“他们的真道上犹如船坏一般”。 《提摩太前书》1:18-19 为了帮助人们走上复兴希望之路，主的灵降在以西结的身上向世世代代的人们宣告：
“所以你要发预言对他们说，主耶和华如此说，我的民哪，我必开你们的坟墓，使你们从坟墓中出来，领你们进入以色列地。我的民哪，我开你们的坟墓，使你们从坟墓中出来，你们就知道我是耶和华。我必将我的灵放在你们里面，你们就要活了。我将你们安置在本地，你们就知道我耶和华如此说，也如此成就了。这是耶和华说的。” 《以西结书》27章 12-14节
Countless times my husband, Barry, and I have witnessed the amazing impact when someone experiences prophetic words of encouragement. We saw this take place recently in China. One night we met with a missionary in Shanghai. The moment that kind words from the Father began to be prophesied to him, his countenance completely changed and he began to weep.
我丈夫Barry和我已经无数次的见证了预言鼓励对一个正在经历它的人的神奇影响。 我们最近在中国也看到了这样的图景。有一个晚上我们在上海遇到一个传道人。当从父神那里来的恩赐话语预言给他的时候，他的面容彻底的改变，他开始啜泣。
“Never in my life have I been encouraged this much,” he told us. “I am so grateful. I will always hold close to my heart what God used you to say to me this night.”
“我有生以来从来没有被这样鼓舞，” 他告诉我们。 “我如此感恩，我会永远把神通过你们之口对我说的话放在心头。”
I often marvel how even a few simple, humble, even childlike sounding words that the Father prompts us to tell someone can, in a heartbeat, become a “lamp shining in a dark place” for them, making it possible for a “new day and the hope of the Morning Star to arise once again in their heart.” 2 Peter 1:19-22 NASB
我经常惊叹父神触动我们告诉某人的，那简单、谦卑甚至听起来如孩童一般话语，顷刻之间，对那人就如“灯照在暗处”，“天发亮晨星在他们心里出现”。《彼得后书》1章 19-22
No wonder the Word tells us:
“Gentle words can bring life and health. A person’s words can be life-giving water, as refreshing as a bubbling brook.” Proverbs 15:4, 18:4 NLT
难怪圣经告诉我们：
温良的舌，是生命树。人口中的言语，如同深水。智慧的泉源，好像涌流的河水。箴言 15章4节 18章4节
However, to be quite practical, I have observed and experienced that when the Father uses us in this way, it’s by us speaking natural sounding words, rather than ones that are super-spiritual, grand, fancy, or in a voice or volume that is not how we ordinarily talk. Often it’s also just a few words He wants us to say. Consequently, as we grow and mature in our gifting, we are less apt to go “on and on” because we’ve gone past the point when God is still nudging us to speak.
然而，在实践上，我的观察和经验是当父神使用我们，他一般是说自然语言，而不会是超自然的，宏大的，奇异的非正常的声音或音量。很多时候，他只是让我们说几句话。就这样随着我们的成长和恩赐的成熟，因为我们已经过了神必须推动我们去说的那个点之后，我们的预言就不会那么“滔滔不绝”。
***
Since the core purpose of the prophetic is to help others to experience the love of the Father, it is deeply troubling when the words of some who have this gift are harsh.
既然预言的核心目的是帮助他人感受父神的爱，那么当某些有此恩赐的人言语非常严厉的时候情况就可能非常不妙。
This absence of love is a betrayal of these truths that Jesus came and died to teach us:
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 NASB
“I command you to love each other in the same way that I have loved you.” John 15:12 NASB
Jesus was asked: “What is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied: “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. A second is equally important. Love your neighbor as yourself. (NLT) On these, the two commands, all the law and the prophets do hang (YLT).” Matthew 22:36-40
爱的缺失是对耶稣基督来为我们受死所要教导我们的真理的背叛：
你们若有彼此相爱的心，众人因此就认出你们是我的门徒了。《约翰福音》13章 35节
你们要彼此相爱，像我爱你们一样，这就是我的命令。《约翰福音》15章12节
有人问耶稣：“摩西的律法，哪一条是最大的命令呢？” 耶稣回答说：你要尽心，尽性，尽意，爱主你的神。这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。这两条诫命，是律法和先知一切道理的总纲。《马太福音》22章 36-40节
Then Paul bluntly, boldly explained how strongly God feels about unkind, unloving prophesying:
“If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy and if I knew all the mysteries of the future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others, what good would it be? If I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it. But if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NLT
保罗则直白大胆的解释了神对没有爱心和仁慈的预言的强烈反对：
我若能说万人的方言，并天使的话语却没有爱，我就成了鸣的锣，响的钹一般。我若有先知讲道之能，也明白各样的奥秘，各样的知识。而且有全备的信，叫我能够移山，却没有爱，我就算不得什么。我若将所有的周济穷人，又舍己身叫人焚烧，却没有爱，仍然与我无益。《哥林多前书》13章 1-3节
This is how the Father describes what this love looks like that He is emphatically telling us needs to closely guide all that we say or do prophetically:
“Love is kind.”
1 Corinthians 13:4
天父就是这样描述这份爱。在涉及预言的时候，无论是说还是做，父神都向我们强调，教我们从始至终去坚守：
“爱是恒久忍耐，又有恩慈。”
《哥林多前书》13章 4节
Likewise, the presence of God can only be upon us if whatever we say or do is expressed with this kindness that is essential to His love. It is also what can help someone to “feel” safe to receive from us prophetically. Not always though. But, at least we are expressing the heart of God when the kindness of His love guides us and that is what matters the most to Him.
没有恩慈就没有爱，只有我们在恩慈中说什么做什么的时候，神的同在才会临到我们。这恩慈也会让我们帮助的人可以“平安”得领受我们的预言。虽然不总是如此，但至少在我们表达上帝的心意的时候，让他的爱的恩慈来引导那是对父神最重要的事情。
What’s troubling is that even Christians who are sincerely trying to be encouraging by prophesying can damage this love, and cause what they say to feel unsafe to people, if they don’t understand this area of foundational, Word-based wisdom:
如果一个基督徒他不懂得圣经在这方面的基本教导，就算他很诚恳的用预言去帮助别人，也会让人感到不安全，以至让爱心受损:
Paul never told the early Christians that the purpose of prophecy was correction and rebuke. For example, he never urged all Christians to “desire earnestly” to be able to tell people…
How they need to change
How they need to grow
What they are doing wrong
What they need to do to “fix” their problems
What decisions to make
How they should handle situations in their personal life
保罗从来没有告诉早期教会的基督徒预言的目的是纠正和指责。比如，他从来没有推动所有的基督徒“竭力”教导…
他们要如何改变
他们要如何成长
他们做错了什么
做什么来“修正”他们的错误
要做什么决定
他们应该如何处理他们个人生活中的情况
Yet the Word does tell us: “Do not ignore it when the Lord disciplines you and don’t be discouraged when He corrects you. For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12 NLT
但圣经告诉我们：“我儿，你不可轻看耶和华的管教，也不可厌烦他的责备。因为耶和华所爱的，他必责备。正如父亲责备所喜爱的儿子。” 《箴言》3章 11-12节
Often this happens when the Holy Spirit sovereignly works in our heart to show us what we are doing wrong and what the Father wants us to do differently. Then, the people who have the authority to speak into our life in personally invasive, correcting ways are those in spiritual leadership in the Body of Christ whose authority we have placed ourselves under, and those we ask to share their honesty with us. The other exception is: “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17 NLT This verse is talking about a personal relationship with someone, such as a spouse or close friend, whom we have decided to trust and whose honesty we want and welcome.
当圣灵在我们的心中掌权，并向我们显明我们哪里错了，父怎样让我们回转，我们就会理解上面经文的教诲。接下来，那些在我们生命中有权柄的人，也就是我们甘愿接受他们权柄的人，他们的真诚分享才可以进入我们的私人领地纠正我们。另外一个例外是亲密关系：“铁磨铁，磨出刃来。朋友相感，也是如此。”《箴言》27章 17节 这节经文说的亲密关系包括夫妻或好友等等，我们相信他们，他们的诚实是我们期望和欢迎的。他们也是可以说我们的人。
It’s just as vital to remember that even if someone has a strong anointing on his Gift of Prophecy, or even if they are a powerful Prophet, it does not mean that they have learned to use their gift with maturity, wisdom, or with the love of Jesus. The Corinthian church was heavily into prophesying. Yet Paul wrote to them:
“When I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to mature Christians. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. You are acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord. And it sounds as if more harm than good is done when you meet together. Do you want me to praise you? Well, I certainly do not!” 1 Corinthians 3:1, 11:17, 22 NLT
非常关键的就是要记住即使一个人在预言的恩赐上有很强的恩膏，抑或他们是很强大的先知，但那不意味着他们已经学会了如何成熟、有智慧的带着耶稣的爱去使用它们的恩赐。哥林多教会预言很强大，但保罗写信说：
弟兄们，我从前对你们说话，不能把你们当作属灵的，只得把你们当作属肉体，在基督里为婴孩的。我现今吩咐你们的话，不是称赞你们。因为你们聚会不是受益，乃是招损。我向你们可怎么说呢？可因此称赞你们吗？我不称赞。《哥林多前书》3章1节 11章17节 22节
For example, the Holy Spirit would not prompt His children, including the Prophets, to force on anyone a prophetic message, if they are not comfortable. To do this is not being led by the Lord. It is not love. Rather, it is unkind. It is pushy. It is putting pressure on someone that causes most people to “shut down” on receiving from that person.
例如，圣灵绝不会让他的孩子，包括先知在内，在他人不舒服的情况下去把预言信息强加给任何人。这不是被主引导。这不是爱。反而是没有善意。是强迫。这样只会让大部分人感到压力进而对传道的人彻底“关门”。
Likewise, those who are harsh, or who publicly embarrass or scold someone and are calling it prophecy or Word of Knowledge can do terrible harm. This is actually why many in the Body of Christ don’t feel safe with someone ministering to them prophetically, especially corporately. They are uneasy about taking the risk of being publicly told how they need to change or grow or what they are doing wrong, all in the name of prophecy, and not by someone who has the authority to correct them when it is necessary, such as the leadership over a church, group or ministry.
同样，那些言辞严厉，公开让人难堪或斥责他人的人，虽然自称在预言或教导，但制造的伤害甚大。这实际上是为什么许多耶稣的肢体在某些人进行预言事工，尤其是当众的时候，会感觉特别的不安全。若不是一个教会、小组或事工的带领，那些有权柄去对他们的生命说话的时候，人们就会对以预言的名义公开的纠错感到很不舒服，从而对预言本身望而却步。
Then there are the “lone ranger” prophets who do much harm. They are not accountable to other leaders in the Body of Christ. Yet, “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” 1 Corinthians 14:32 KJV
那些预言的“独行侠”伤害甚多，他们没有对耶稣肢体内的其他领袖负责。虽然“先知的灵，原是顺服先知的。” 《哥林多前书》14章 32节
Often they are self-appointed “prophets,” which is contrary to the Word that says: “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” 1 Corinthians 14:32 KJV
一般来说他们是自命的“先知”，与圣经不符的，因为圣经上记着：“先知的灵，原是顺服先知的。” 《哥林多前书》14章 32节
This means that those in spiritual leadership in the Body of Christ need to bear witness to someone having the Office of an Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Evangelist, Teacher. None of these are a “title” or office a person gives to himself. In fact, a humble respect and honoring toward those in authority over us is the character of someone who is being led by the Holy Spirit in his gifting and calling.
那些在耶稣肢体里面的属灵领袖，需要为那些有师徒、先知、牧师、传道人和教师职位的人做见证。但这些不是自己给自己的“抬头”或职位。事实上，对在我们之上有这些权柄的人的真正恭敬与荣耀是，接受他们的品格，即被圣灵引导的恩赐和呼召中的品格。
What can greatly help us to be discerning about all this is realizing that there are these sources for what anyone may do or say prophetically:
在别人说预言或有与启示相关的的事工的时候，如果我们想正确的辨别，明白预言的几个来源对我们是大有帮助的：
THE HOLY SPIRIT: When what someone is “seeing” is truly from God, their words will always produce the fruit of peace, joy, a comforting awareness of His presence, an increase in realizing His love and caring for them, and an increase in drawing closer to Him.
圣灵：如果有人“看见”的真的是从神来的，那么他们的话语总会产生和平、喜乐、安慰的，这些神的同在的果实，让人感受到神的关爱，并与神更加亲近。
AN EVIL SPIRIT: There are rare situations when someone is clairvoyant. They do “see” things and they can be accurate. However, what they are perceiving is not coming from the Holy Spirit. It is coming from the demonic realm.
邪灵：未卜先知的情形非常的少见。他们真的“看到”东西而且是非常精确的。然而，他们看到不是从圣灵来的，而是从邪灵的世界来的。
THEMSELVES: This happens when someone thinks that God is showing him to speak into someone’s life. But what he wants to say is coming from his own thoughts, feelings, judgments, experiences, or imagination.
自己：但某人认为是神显示给他东西，让他对他人的生命说话。但他要说的却来自他自己的思想、感情、判断以及想象。
Yet the Word tells us: “No prophecy in the Scriptures ever comes from the prophet’s own interpretation. No prophecy ever came from what a person wanted to say, but people led by the Holy Spirit spoke words from God.” 2 Peter 1:20 NCV What someone wants to prophesy or say is Word of Knowledge can also be coming from their pride. As a result, they will do or say things corporately out of their need to look “really prophetic” or “very anointed and powerful” in their gifting. Anyone with this pride issue is often ambitious to be perceived as important. They are motivated by their own pursuit of personal glory and gain.
圣经告诉我们：“因为预言从来没有出于人意的，乃是人被圣灵感动说出神的话来。” 《彼得后书》 1章20节 有人可以说预言或讲道也可能来自这人的骄傲。这样一来，他们的所做所说的无非就是让自己在恩赐上显得“非常的先知”，或“非常有恩膏”，或“非常的强大” 。带着这样骄傲的人往往自视了不起，而他们所追求的无非是个人荣耀或好处。
This is an incredibly unsafe person to allow to speak into our life. If it ever begins to happen to us, we need to be secure in knowing that the Father wants us to be wise and discerning about the words we allow to influence our life or spirit because “life or death are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21 NASB
让这样的人对我们的生命发言是非常不安全的。如果有这样的事情发生，我们要知道天父希望我们要有智慧去辨识可以允许哪些话影响我们的生命，这样我们才能安全。正如《箴言》所言：“生死在舌头的权下。” 18章 21节
But whenever we exercise this caution, we are not judging that person’s heart or motives. This being cautious is never about being unloving by becoming critical of people or fault-finding. Rather when we are being led by the Holy Spirit to be discerning, we are simply deciding if someone’s words, or what he is doing, praying, teaching, or where his leadership is taking a meeting, are from God for us, so that we can know whether or not the Father wants us to spiritually receive from this person.
但每当我们行使这份谨慎的时候，我们并非是在论断这人的良心和动机。这种谨慎永远不应该成为没有爱心，对人苛刻或是吹毛求疵的状态。反而在我们被圣灵引导去辨别的时候，我们无非是看某人的言语、行为、祷告、教导、带领是不是从神来的，这样我们就可以知道是不是父神让我们从这个人去领受。
However, even prophets and prophetic people who do have the blessing of leadership over them can cause terrible damage if they speak into anyone’s life, privately or corporately, without the love that Paul said this mantle and gift are all about. Those who are the most vulnerable to being damaged are the ones who don’t have the confidence to stop someone when they don’t have peace about what is being said to them. Consequently, they can easily be overwhelmed and overpowered by a person prophesying or giving them a Word of Knowledge, but what is being said is harsh, unkind and not from the Father for them.
然而，就算是先知或者说预言的人有神所祝福的领袖的恩赐，如果没有保罗说的配合恩赐该有的爱，他们也会对个人和团体的生命造成伤害。尤其是那些没有和平领受，却又没有自信去阻止别人的人，这种伤害尤其大。结果就是那些不是来自天父的，严厉的，没有爱心的预言或讲道就会让人根本吃不消，直至爆掉。
Paul cared so much about this not happening to people that he cautioned:
“When you talk, do not say harmful things, but say what people need, words that will help others become stronger. Then what you say will do good to those who listen to you.” Ephesians 4:29 NCV
保罗非常的关切，反复的告诫，生怕这样的事情发生：
污秽的言语（有害的言语 NCV），一句不可出口，只要随事说造就人的好话，叫听见的人得益处。《以弗所书》4章 29节
Those “harmful” things can be said by anyone. But the greater the authority someone walks in, the more potential there is for harm to occur whenever there is a lack of love, any lack of Word-based wisdom, or if humble maturity is missing. All this is why, down through the ages, the humble and teachable were the ones that God raised up to be used in the fullness of His purpose for their gifting.
有害的言语谁都可能会说。当缺乏爱，缺乏基于圣经的智慧，抑或不成熟而不够谦卑的时候，越是有权柄的人越是在走入他人生命的时候，可能造成的伤害越大。这是为什么，历代以来，神会使用那些谦卑可被教导的人，高举他们，让他们去使用他们的恩赐去实现上帝的丰盛的旨意。
“For the prophetic mantle is the mantle of humility.”
“先知的恩赐就是恩赐的谦卑。”
Stanley M. Hammond
The Lord even warns us:
“There will be no pride allowed on My Holy Mountain.” Zephaniah 3:11 NLT
“The proud will not be allowed to stand in Your presence.” Psalm 5:5 NLT
主甚至警告我们：
“那时我必从你中间除掉矜夸高傲之辈，你也不再于我的圣山狂傲。” 《西番雅书》3章11节
“狂傲人不能站在你眼前。” 《诗篇》5章5节
This is how an eyewitness of the Azusa Street Revival describes the profound importance of a humble heart:
“Only those who were really humble could God release to do His work. Because He who prepares His work through the ages accomplishes it by using the most humble, broken instruments so that the work may be seen to be of God, and not of man. For a great work of God is never accomplished by the natural strength of man. It is from among the dry bones, the darkness, and the dust of death that God is pleased to select the instruments by means of which He designs to scatter over the earth His light and His glory. Therefore, those He chooses must be strong in character. But, we must keep humble and little in our own eyes. If we get built up by a sense of our own importance, we are gone. History repeats itself in this connection. God has always sought a humble people. He can use no other. The fact is, when a person gets to the place where he really loves obscurity, where he does not care to preach, and where he would rather sit in the back seat than on the platform, then God can lift him up and use him. And, not very much before. This is why there is much need of heart preparation before God can come, much need for consecration and humility.” Frank Bartleman
这是阿苏撒街复兴的目击者描述的谦卑之心的重要：
“只有那些真正谦卑的人神才会把自己的工放给他们去做。因为神为了让人们明白那是神做的而不是人，所以他在悠长的岁月里使用那至卑贱的破碎的器具来完成他的工。因为任何神伟大的工都不是通过人的自然的力量。神在他的设计之中，他按照他自己的心意拣选可用的器皿，在枯骨、在黑暗、在尘土之中，将他的光明和荣耀散布全地。所以他所拣选的人都有坚强的性格。但我们必须在我们自己的眼中保持谦卑和渺小。如果我们让自我膨胀，我们就没有用处。历史在这个节点上不停的重复。神总是寻找谦卑的人。他无法使用其他人。事实上，当一个人在一个地方他真的喜欢默默无闻，他不在乎讲道，而是乐于坐在后排座位上的时候，神就高举他，使用他。而在这之前并非如此之多的使用他。这是为什么在神临到之前，人需要那么多心灵的预备，需要自己谦卑的摆上。” Frank Bartleman
What can help a prophetic person to walk in this humbleness is never forgetting this sobering truth:
“We all know in part. We all prophesy in part.”
1 Corinthians 13:9 NIV
一个我们永远都不要忘记的，让先知在谦卑中行走的发人深省的真理是：
“我们现在所知道的有限，先知所讲的也有限。”
《哥林多前书》13章 9节
What this means is that we all can easily “miss it,” no matter how anointed we are or how long we’ve been a Christian or in ministry. Therefore, if there are words we want to speak to someone that we feel are from God, it does not mean we are always going to be “right on.”
无论我们有何等的恩膏或是做了多久的基督徒或做何等事工，我们所有人还是可能“出错”。所以我们感觉有话语是从神来的，要对某人说，那并不意味着我们总是“精准”。
Sometimes what limits a prophetic person from being led by the Holy Spirit is this mindset:
“Saying or doing this worked the last time I tried it.
So it just might work this time.”
有时候下面的思维定势是限制圣灵对一个说预言的人的引导：
“或说或做上次尝试过的。所以这次也应该管用。”
But, if we go that direction in our thinking, we are at much higher risk of being “off” when we prophesy. For the Lord guides and leads us in new and fresh ways any time He wants to use us to be His voice, depending on what He knows as a loving Father is needed at the time.
但是，如果我们的思路往这个方向走，但我们预言的时候，我们可能有风险完全被“关闭”。因为主会在任何他想要的时候用全新的方式引导和带领我们，只有我们慈爱的父神知道什么时候有这个需要。
So our staying open to Him showing us, in the moment, how He wants us to encourage someone does greatly protect us from “missing it.” We also need to understand that to have the Gift of Prophecy only means that someone is more highly skilled to speak words of “encouragement, strength, and comfort.” It does not give someone the authority of a prophet.
所以我们对神保持开放，让他在那一刻，把他如何要我们去鼓励他人的显给我们，保守我们不会“走偏”。 我们也需要明白拥有预言的恩赐意味着在说“造就，安慰，劝勉人”的话上更有技巧，但并非说他有权柄去预言。
***
Prophetically gifted people are also naturally drawn to what is visual. What follows is wisdom about how to keep this interest in visual experiences solidly Word-based.
有预言恩赐的人也会自然的被视觉吸引。接下来就是关于如何将视觉的体验的益处坚强的锁定在圣经的根基之上的智慧。
PICTURES
画面
The Prophet Ezekiel and the Apostle John in the Book of Revelation wrote vivid, even gripping descriptions of pictures.
先知以西结和写《启示录》的使徒约翰都生动形象的描述了动人心魄的画面。
Paul and David also gave us these beautiful images:
“We who have fled to Him for refuge can take new courage for we can hold on to His promise with confidence. This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain of heaven into God’s inner sanctuary.” Hebrews 6:18-19 NLT
“He calms the storm to a whisper and stills the waves. What a blessing is that stillness as He brings us safely into harbor.” Psalm 107:29, 30 NLT
保罗和大卫也给了我们这样美丽的图像：
借这两件不更改的事，神决不能说谎，好叫我们这逃往避难所，持定摆在我们前头指望的人，可以大得勉励。我们有这指望如同灵魂的锚，又坚固又牢靠，且通入幔内。《希伯来书》6章 18-19节
他使狂风止息，波浪就平静。风息浪静，他们便欢喜。他就引他们到所愿去的海口。《诗篇》107篇 29-30节
So pictures being described are definitely in the Word. Seeing them is also a direction that prophetically gifted people naturally tend to go because they are so strongly visual. However, their pictures can easily come from an over-active imagination, rather than from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I have also found that those who often think a great deal in pictures are the most vulnerable to their own mind and thoughts being the source of what they are seeing.
这些描述的画面毫无疑问都是来自圣经。因为有预言恩赐的人在视觉上如此之强，他们看到画面也就是非常自然的取向了。然而，他们的画面可能是来自他们过于活跃的想象，而非来自圣灵的启示。我也发现那些经常用画面去思考的人，因为以所见为源，所以极其容易被自己的意识和思想所攻陷。
Likewise, a prophetic person needs to realize that if they are primarily seeing pictures as their way to connect with the spiritual realm, then they can easily focus more on these images, than on the Word. Yet it is the Word that gives us a solid foundation in our thinking and keeps us “right on” in the operation of our gifting because:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, to be fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
同样，预言者需要明白如果他们联通属灵世界的通道是看画面，那么他们更加容易集中在图像上，而不是神的话语上。但只有神的话语-圣经才会给我们的思想坚实的基础，让我们在恩赐的操练上不偏左右，原因如下：
圣经都是神所默示的，于教训，督责，使人归正，教导人学义，都是有益的。《提摩太后书》3章 16-17节
The Father also has so much more He can draw from when He wants us to speak His words of comfort, encouragement and hope to people when this is our heart and our passion:
“I rejoice in Your word like one who finds a treasure.”
Psalm 119:162 NLT
当天父要我们对人说出他的安慰、鼓励和盼望的话语的时候，他就供应更多，只要这也是我们的心意和热情所在：
“我喜爱你的话，好像人得了许多掳物。”
（我喜爱你的话，好像人得了珍宝。NLT ）诗篇 119:162
This is another area of wisdom that protects a child of God from going a direction that grieves Him:
The Father does not want us using our prophetic gifting on a regular basis to “see” or describe to others graphic images of what the demonic realm is doing.
如果我们走错了方向，神就会伤心，那不是他期望的，他要保护我们，在这方面有特别的智慧需要我们了解：
天父不希望我们经常使用预言的恩赐为他人去“看”或描绘鬼魔世界的图像。
No good will come from this. It stirs up fear. It increases someone’s awareness of evil, rather than increasing their awareness of the presence of God. It causes them to drift further and further away from closeness with the Father. Instead, they become more and more “gifted” in seeing what is happening in the evil realm. We certainly don’t see the prophets in the Bible being keenly, frequently aware of the demonic realm. Nor is there an emphasis on them describing graphic evil in their writings and ministry. For example, Moses was surrounded by intense, relentless, and even at times overwhelming evil. But when he spent personal time with God, it was intimacy with Him that happened, not an encounter with pictures or images of what evil was doing.
那样做不会带来好的意念，那只会激起恐惧。那会让人更多的感知到魔鬼，而不是更多的感知到神。那会让他们离神越来越远。他们会在鬼魔的世界越来越有“恩赐”。很确定的是在圣经中先知并不是一直不断的注视鬼魔的世界，在他们的著作之中也不会有特别多的篇幅去描绘魔鬼的形象。比如，摩西不断的被魔鬼环绕，但当他个人与神独处的时候，不是魔鬼的图景与他遭遇，而是与神建立了亲密的关系，
As a result:
“Inside the Tent of Meeting the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” Exodus 33:11 NLT
圣经上这样描述：
耶和华与摩西面对面说话，好像人与朋友说话一般。 《出埃及记》33章 11节
Then there is the Apostle Stephen. While he was surrounded by an angry, vicious mob that was going to kill him, the evil that was vilely determined to destroy him is not what he focused on. That’s why as he was being falsely accused this is what he looked like:
“Everyone in the council stared at Stephen because his face became as bright as an angel’s.” Acts 6:15 NLT
而后有一个名叫司提反的使徒。在愤怒凶残的暴徒围住他，要杀他的时候，那残忍定意杀害他的魔鬼并非司提反所关切的，这也是为什么在他被诬告时候，他看起来却是这样的：
在公会里坐着的人，都定睛看他，见他的面貌，好像天使的面貌。《使徒行转》6章 15节
The supernatural peace upon his countenance was possible because when his life was about to end, rather than focusing on all that horrific evil, this is what he did:
“Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily upward into heaven and saw the glory of God. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” Acts 7:54-56 NLT
司提反在生命要走到尽头的时候他没有去注意那可怕的鬼魔，这是那超自然的和平可以显在他的面容之上的原因：
但司提反被圣灵充满，定睛望天，看见神的荣耀，又看见耶稣站在神的右边。就说，我看见天开了，人子站在神的右边。《使徒行转》7章 55-56节
This same intimacy with the Father, which we see in His relationship with Moses and Stephen is what He yearns to have with all His children, no matter what evil we are up against, and regardless of what we are prophetically aware of. He wants us intimately aware of His presence and seeking His face, and not the presence and face of evil.
无论我们要与怎样的鬼魔对抗，无论我们灵里正有怎样的经历，天父都希望我们努力追寻摩西和司提反和他所建立的亲密无间的关系。最终他期望我们感知他的同在，追寻与他面对面，而不是与魔鬼同在或与魔鬼见面。
PROPHETIC ACTS
预言性的行为
There are compelling prophetic acts that God instructed His prophets to do, primarily in the Old Testament, such as telling the Israelites to march around the walls of Jericho seven times and when the trumpets sounded, the army shouted and the walls collapsed (Hebrews 11:30, Joshua 6:20).
有很多上帝让他的先知去做的激动人心的先知性的行为，主要在旧约之中，比如告诉以色列人环绕耶利哥城七圈，然后全军呐喊而城破。（《希伯来书》11:30 《约书亚记》6:20）
Although God still does inspire people, at times, to use prophetic acts, they are always for this same purpose as in the Bible: To help His people see more clearly what He is doing among them. However, if these “acts” are pursued or used often, there is the risk of taking something valid in the Word and it becoming man orchestrating it. We can tell if this is what is occurring because God’s presence and His anointing that can touch lives in miraculous, supernatural ways will be missing from the impact of what takes place.
虽然今日神还是用很多预言性行为去激励人们，但目的仍旧一样：帮助人们看清他要在人中间成就的大事。然而不停的去追寻和使用这些“行为”，就有人为操纵和把圣经上的某些话想当然的风险。我们可以去判断，如果正在发生的事情没有神的同在的神迹和恩膏，那我们就能知道那是否是神的预言啦。
MANIFESTATIONS
彰显
Jesus said: “Signs will accompany those who have believed.” He also told us that He “confirms the Word by signs that follow.” Mark 16:17, 20 NASB However, if someone who is gifted prophetically goes the direction of wanting, seeking, or pursuing visible manifestations, it grieves the Father because always what He longs for is that we want most of all to “pursue” personal closeness with Him. Yet people who go to meetings to have these manifestation experiences are robbed of that closeness because of their fascination with the supernatural that they want to see taking place. We also need to be aware of the fact that just because there definitely is something “miraculous” that’s physically happening, it does not mean that it’s always from the Lord. These manifestations can, at times, be counterfeit. Both Jesus and Paul told us about this area of potential demonic deception (Matthew 24:24, 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 NASB).
耶稣说：“信的人必有神迹随着他们。” 他也告诉我们他“用神迹随着，证实所传的道。” 《马可福音》16章17节 20节 然而，如果一个有预言恩赐的人走上了一条要求、寻求甚至追求可见的彰显的道路，就会让天父伤心，因为父所求的是我们以与他亲近为要，而那些聚会去寻求彰显体验的人并没有与他亲近，因为他们所迷恋的是超自然事情的发生。我们同时还要注意的一个事实是即使有“神迹”发生，但并不意味着那总是来自于神。这些彰显可能很多时候都是假冒的。耶稣和保罗都警告我们魔鬼在这方面的假冒。（《马太福音》24:24 《哥林多后书》11章 14-15节）
However, there are times when God does display the power and magnitude of His presence. He even told us:
“The time will come when all the earth will be filled, as the
waters fill the sea, with an awareness of the glory of the Lord.”
Habakkuk 2:14 NLT
然后，神在很多时候真会大大彰显他的同在。他甚至告诉我们：
“认识耶和华荣耀的知识，要充满遍地，好像水充满洋海一般。”
《哈巴谷书》2章 14节
One of the ways this awareness spreads is when the Lord causes His glory to be revealed to His people. However, any time these miraculous demonstrations of His power happened in the Bible, and whenever they occur now, they never draw people away from intimacy with God. They only cause Him to become more compellingly real to those witnessing them. For example, these are a few of the unforgettable manifestations of the Glory of the Lord that my husband, Barry, and I have experienced. But notice that in none of these situations did we seek or ask for them. They just happened and totally unexpectedly.
在神自己要让他的荣耀彰显于人的时候，这种知觉就会蔓延。然而，无论过去在圣经中的超自然能力的彰显，抑或当下任何时候有类似的情况发生，那都会让你和神更加亲密，而不是相反。凡是亲身经历的人都会感到神无比的真实。例如我和我的丈夫Barry就亲身经历了几次难忘的主荣耀的彰显，但注意，这些情形里面，没有一次是我们自己寻求或要求的，他们只是出人意料的发生了。
It was the year of 2002 in Africa. Early one morning I sensed an alarming evil coming against us. I immediately alerted Barry and we began to worship. We knew we were safe in the presence of God and that all evil would be crushed that wanted to bring harm to us, because the Father had reminded us so many times:
“As wax melts in the fire and smoke is blown by the wind,
the wicked perish at the presence of God.”
Psalm 68:2 NIV/YLT
那是2002年在非洲。一大清早我感觉到有一股强烈的邪恶的力量奔我们而来。我立刻会意Barry我们必需警戒，于是我们立刻开始敬拜。我们知道在神的同在之中我们就会安全，而邪恶力量就会被击退，我们就会毫发无损，因为父神多次提醒我们：
“他们被驱逐，如烟被风吹散。恶人见神之面而消灭，如蜡被火熔化。”
诗篇》68篇 2节
After a short time, Barry left the room. He returned moments later with a stunned look on his face.
过了一小会儿，Barry离开房间。几分钟后他带着惊异的表情回来了。
“Ruth,” he said, “there was a strong earthquake while we were worshipping. I felt the earth moving under me and the bed shaking and I just thought maybe the bed was unstable. But when I left you, I found out that the whole building was moving so violently that the family on the top floor decided to come downstairs to make sure they were safe. They told me that the instant you began to play the harp, the entire building began to shake and as soon as you stopped, then the earthquake also stopped.”
“Ruth，”他说，“我们敬拜的时候发生了强烈的地震。我感觉到了地在我下面移动，床在抖，而我以为可能是床不稳。但当我离开你，我发现整个房子都在剧烈的移动以至于楼上的人家决定下楼来看我们是否安全。他们说在你开始弹竖琴的时候，整个楼开始晃动，而你停止的时候，地震也停止了。”
We were overwhelmingly comforted by such a bold manifestation of God’s miraculous visitation. We also found out that this was the only place where there was an earthquake. Years later, when we unexpectedly encountered this family, the mother told us, “we still vividly remember the day of the earthquake as Ruth played the harp.”
神用神迹如此强烈的神奇的造访了我们，让我们彻彻底底的被安慰了。我们还发现地震只发生在这块地方。多年后，但我们意外的遇到那家人，他家的母亲对我们说，“我们还是可以清清楚楚的记得Ruth在弹竖琴的时候地震的那一天。”
Then in 2005 in Africa, several pastors who were living on our compound for a week of Leadership Training told us: “At night we can see tongues of fire on the top of the fence that surrounds your compound.” It filled us with a holy awe to know that God was revealing Himself in such a supernatural way. This is what it reminded me of:
“To the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the Lord
was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.”
Exodus 24:17 NASB
后来在2005年也是在非洲，有一群参加领袖培训课的牧师在我家的大院儿住了一周，他们告诉我们：“晚上我们看到火舌在你们大院儿的围栏上。” 一股神圣的敬畏一下子充满了我们，神用如此超自然的方式向我们显明了他自己。这就让我想起：
“耶和华的荣耀在山顶上，在以色列人眼前，形状如烈火。”
《出埃及记》24章17节
A year later there was a supernatural manifestation of heaven touching earth that took place shortly after we arrived in an upper room in Kampala, Uganda. The moment our voices rose in “new song” worship with the harp we became like a heavenly choir. It seemed like the walls trembled with the sound of our voices as a revival move of God exploded in the room. People fell to their knees. Men unashamedly wept with repentance. Soon a hush fell upon us. All were overcome with awe by the visitation of God. The Lord of Hosts had miraculously come among us. Later Barry and our African team told me this incredible account:
一年后在我们搬到乌干达首都坎帕拉的一个楼上的房间以后，又有一次天地相合的超自然的显现发生。在那一刻我们的声音随着竖琴徐徐扬起，成为一首“新歌”，有如天堂的唱诗班一般。感觉随着我们的声音墙开始抖动有如上帝的复苏的运动在房间里炸开。人们纷纷跪地，男人们也开始毫无掩饰的哭泣忏悔。顷刻后一个嘘声降落在我们身上。所有的人都敬畏万分，被神的造访所折服。万主之主神奇的来到我们的中间了。后来Barry和我们的非洲团队这样描述这个不可思议的故事：
“While we were worshiping, all the cars and people were silent as far as we could see on Kampala Road. No one moved. People were looking up at the room where we were gathered. Many were pointing to the window and asking, ‘What is this? What is happening in that place?’ Then the moment the worship ended, everything went back to the way it always is on Kampala Road.”
“我们在敬拜的时候，坎帕拉马路上可以看到的所有的汽车和人流都沉寂了。所有的人都一动不动。人们举目注视我们聚会的楼上的房间。很多人用手指着楼上的窗户问，这是什么？那里发生了什么事情？但在我们敬拜结束的时候，坎帕拉马路又恢复了原样。”
***
Finally, this is another area of crucial wisdom. Something is imparted whenever anyone is prophetically speaking into our life or he prays a prophetic sounding prayer over us. That’s why the Word tells us:
“Do not lay hands on anyone too hastily.”
1 Timothy 5:22 NASB
最后，还有一个关键的智慧要点。无论何时有人对我们的生命说了预言或是用听起来很预言的方式为我们祷告，都会有东西分享出来：
“给人行按手的礼，不可急促。”
《提摩太前书》5章 22节
This also means that we should not allow others to hastily lay hands on us. Rather, the Lord soberly instructs us:
“Do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
1 John 4:1 NASB
“Test everything that is said and hold on to what is good.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21 NLT
这也意味着我们不要让别人仓促的按手在我们身上。因为主清楚的教导我们：
“亲爱的弟兄阿，一切的灵，你们不可都信。总要试验那些灵是出于神的不是。”
《约翰一书》4章 1节
“但要凡事察验。善美的要持守。”
《帖撒罗尼迦》5章 21节
In other words, if we are not certain that someone is a safe person for us to receive from spiritually, we should not allow it. Furthermore, as soon as we realize that we feel uneasy or troubled, it is not rude to stop anyone in a loving, kind, but firm way. It is only honoring of this solid wisdom from a caring Father who cautions us to observe the fruit from someone’s life, ministry or gifting before we let them have an impact on us:
“You will know them by their fruits.
A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor
can a bad tree produce good fruit.”
Matthew 7:16, 19 NASB
换句话说，如果我们对从某人领受属灵的东西感觉不安全，我们就不要允许。进一步说，一旦我们意识到不自在或是有困扰，那么就要用有爱心的、善意的但坚决的态度拒绝对方，这样做也不算粗鲁。天父关爱我们，警戒我们要先观察一个人的生命、事工以及恩赐结的是什么样的果子，再决定是否让他们对我们的生命产生影响，这才是荣耀父神的真智慧：
“凭着他们的果子，就可以认出他们来。好树不能结坏果子，坏树不能结好果子。”
《马太福音》7章 16节 18节
In practical terms, this is how to discern fruit:
If the result of what is being said, done, prophesied, taught, or is manifesting in a meeting is the peace of God, and if it draws people into closer intimacy with the Father and His Presence, then it most likely is coming from the Holy Spirit.
But if what is happening causes fear, confusion, uneasiness, a troubled spirit, a lack of peace, a distraction away from an increase in closeness to the Lord and away from seeking His face, then the Word of God is alerting us that it needs to be viewed with serious caution.
在实践中，我们可以这样辨别果子：
如果你遇到一个人，他所说、所行、所教导、所预言或是所显明的结果是神的和平，而且是让你和神亲近进入神的同在的，那么这一切就有非常可能是来自圣灵的。
但如果发生的一切导致了恐惧、困惑、烦乱、灵里的困扰、缺乏和平、叫人远离主不再寻求与主面对面的，那么这样的情况圣经都是警戒我们需要格外的小心的。
In all honesty, any of us can find ourselves, at different times in our life, in a place where we don’t feel spiritually safe and it isn’t healthy or wise for us.
坦率地说，我们所有人都会在我们生命的某地某时发现我们遭受属灵的危险，有些东西不健康或者是不好的。
We may have even made poor choices and mistakes that have caused us to end up there. This can happen because we all “blow it” and we can all “miss it,” no matter how hard we try to stay on the path God wants for us.
我们甚至会做出糟糕的决定导致我们深陷其中。这样的情况会发生是因为无论我们多么竭尽全力走在神让我们走的路上，我们都会说的时候“万无一失”，但做的时候“总有一失”。
Those are difficult moments for anyone.
这对谁来说都是困难的时刻。
Yet the Father is always going to be there for us, to help us and lovingly guide us back to a place of His safety, whenever we need His help, His wisdom, His peace, just like is described in this story:
A young girl traveling on a train for the first time heard that it would have to cross several rivers. She was troubled and fearful as she thought of the water. But each time the train came to a river, a bridge was there to provide a way across. After passing safely over several rivers and streams, the girl settled back in her seat with a sigh of relief. “I’m not worried anymore,” she told her mother. “Somebody has put bridges for us all of the way.”
但天父从来都不离开我们，无论什么时候当我们需要他的帮助、他的智慧与他的和平的时候，他都会慈爱的帮助和引导我们来到他的安全港湾，就像下面的这个故事所描述的：
一个小女孩第一次乘火车旅行，她听说要穿过好几条河流。一想到水，她就开始担心害怕起来。但每次火车经过一条河流，都有一座桥让他们可以通过。这样安全的过了几条河流之后，小女孩就放心的靠在自己的座位上长长的出了一口气：“我再也不担心了。” 她对她妈妈说：“一路上都有人为我们修好桥了。”
When I first read this story, the Father said this to me and it is what He is saying to all His children whenever they are having a really hard time:
“I will always be for you that bridge over troubled waters so that you can find your way to the other side. Every time you end up in a place where you need that miracle to get to a place of safety, I will be there. I will do the same for you, as that young child on the train.”
Abba Father
在我第一次读这个故事的时候，天父就对我说了以下的话，无论什么时候他的孩子遇到艰难的时候，他都要对他说：
“在惊涛骇浪之上我一直为你铺设桥梁，让你可以有路去到对岸。每次你在需要一个奇迹带你去到一个安全的地方的时候，我就与你同在。就像对那个火车上的小孩子一样，我也会这样对你。”
阿爸父
Acknowledgments
鸣谢Michael Liu, Businessman with a Market Place Ministry, Shanghai, China
Michael has translated this teaching about “The Prophetic” into Mandarin. That makes it available to China, and to anyone who speaks the Chinese language in other countries. I am profoundly grateful to this dear man of God for such an invaluable contribution to this message having a broader, international impact. My husband, Barry, and I treasure Michael as our family, our friend, our passionate co-laborer in reaching China for the Gospel.
Michael Liu 职场事工企业家 中国上海：
Michael把《预言》翻译成了中文，这让所有在中国和其他国家的中文读者可以读到它。非常感谢这个属神的人的宝贵贡献，让这篇信息能有更加广泛的国际影响。对我和我的丈夫Barry来说，Michael是我们的家人、朋友和中国福音事工的同工。
George E. Markakis, Greek Apostle, European Apostolic Leader, Pastor of Shalom Center, Athens, Greece
I am deeply grateful for the honest and extensive input from this incredibly caring Father in the Faith. He helped tremendously for this message on prophecy to go to a whole new level of clarity. However, what is most special of all is that through the process of receiving his invaluable insights, Pastor Markakis became a beloved and cherished friend and brother to my husband, Barry and I.
George E. Markakis，希腊使徒，欧洲使徒运动领袖，希腊雅典莎隆中心牧师：
我深深的感激这位在信上爱心盈溢的牧师给出的大量的诚恳的意见。他极大的帮助了我，让这篇关于预言的信息在表述的清晰度上更上层楼。而更加特别的是在Markakis牧师为我们贡献无价的洞见的同时，我的丈夫Barry也和他成了亲爱的和珍贵的弟兄和朋友。
Sources
出处Quotations by Stanley M. Hammond are taken from an edited transcript of a series of lectures given at Elim Tabernacle in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada by Stanley M. Hammond. First Edition September 1997 No copyright information is available.
Quotations by Frank Bartleman are taken from Azusa Street. Copyright © 1980 by Logos International. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (YLT) are taken from the 1898 Young’s Literal Translation by Robert Young published by Baker Book House, Grand Rapids Michigan. No copyright information is available.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Scripture References marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible, © 1960, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NCV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Century Translation. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991, 1995 Used by permission of Word Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are taken from the King James Version. Copyright © 1975 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Chinese scripture quotations are from Chinese Union version (CUV).
中文圣经引用来自和合本
Barry and Ruth Johnson
We would love to hear from you in response to this writing.
我们热切的期望您对本文的反馈。
We can send it to you by email attachment, if you would like to use it
for teaching purposes or to share it more easily with others.为了方便您分享或将此文做为教材，我们可以电邮附件的形式发给您全文。
Ruth can be contacted by “friending” her on Facebook and sending her a “message.”
She can also be reached by using this email:
ruth@lighthouse-of-hope.org您可以在Facebook上“Friending”上找到她，并发送一个“Message”给她。或者您直接电邮她：ruth@lighthouse-of-hope.org
Want to contact the translator of this message,
you can email: michael.liu@hushmail.com。您可以电邮到上面的邮箱联系译者。
