Welcome back, Friend!

欢迎回来，朋友！

1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:1-4

1耶稣看见这许多的人，就上了山，既已坐下，门徒到他跟前来。2 他就开口教训他们，说：3 “虚心的人有福了，因为天国是他们的。 4 哀恸的人有福了，因为他们必得安慰。 马太福音5:1-4

When Christ preached his Sermon on the Mount, He began by outlining man's basic need. Man needs what only God can give him: life. Without God, man is hopelessly lost and eternally condemned.

当基督传讲祂的登山宝训时，祂首先概括出了人的基本需要。人的需要只有神能提供：就是生命。离开了神，人将会绝望地迷失并永远被定罪。

I am amazed at the published material (sometimes Christian) which caresses the pride of man. 

Titles like "Choosing Your Own Greatness," "You're Nature's Greatest Miracle," "You've Got What It Takes," and "Unlocking Your Potential" are indicative of our man-focused society.

我惊讶于一些出版物（有时是基督徒的），它们对人的骄傲青睐有加。类似 “选择你自己的伟大”，“你是大自然最伟大的奇迹”，“你具备成功所须的一切”还有“发挥你的潜能”等题目表明我们是一个人本的社会。

You've heard it said, "God helps those who help themselves"—but this isn't true. According to Scripture, God helps the helpless! 

Today's subject is helplessness. We'll learn why Scripture says "blessed are the poor in spirit"—or in other words, "happy are the helpless"!

你曾听说过这样的说法，“自助者，天助”－ 但这并不是真理。根据圣经，神帮助那些无助者！

今天的题目就是无助。我们将学习为什么圣经说“虚心（心灵贫穷）的人有福了”或者换句话说“无助的人是有福的”！

First, what does the term "poor in spirit" mean? Here are some definitions:

首先，“虚心”一词的意义是什么？这里给出了一些定义“

·Bankrupt in myself (I am totally without resources)

·完全缺乏自我（我没有任何资源）

·I am nothing without God

·离了神我什么也不是

·All I am, have, and do is worthless apart from God

·离开了神，我的所是和所做，一切都毫无价值

·I understand my total inability before God

·我知道自己在神面前全无能力

The word "poor" means "one who crouches or cowers," and refers to someone who is beggarly.

虚心（心灵贫穷）的“虚（贫穷）”字意为“一个屈尊或萎缩的人”，通常指赤贫的乞丐。

Question 1

问题 1

Have you approached God as a beggar... or do you come with something to give? Have you approached God "poor in spirit"?

你曾像一个乞丐一样靠近神… 还是你来到以为能给出某些东西？你曾经“心灵贫穷”来接近神吗？

It's important to recognize our spiritual bankruptcy as we come to God, for several reasons:

因为这些原因，当我们来到神的面前，很重要的就是认识到我们属灵的匮乏：

·This spiritual poverty is, in reality, the foundation of all graces. God gives grace to the humble, not to the proud. The humble—those who recognize their own impoverished condition—receive grace.

·这种灵性的赤贫实际上就是一切恩典的基础。神施恩给谦卑而不是骄傲的人。谦卑者 – 那些认识到他们穷困处境的人 – 才能领到恩典。

·Emptiness precedes fullness. We cannot receive anything from God until we have empty hands. He who recognizes he has nothing to offer God will receive everything from God.

·只有空乏其身，才能满溢领受。我们不倒空双手就无法从神那里领受任何东西。那些认识到自己没有任何东西献给神的人，将从神那里得到所有。

·Self must be denied in order for Christ to be wanted. If our goal is to honor ourselves, Christ will be far from us. But he who honors God will himself be honored.

·要想得到基督就当舍己。如果我们的目标是为了自己的荣耀，基督将远离我们。但是那些尊荣神的将被尊荣。

·A starving heart will give all to have the Bread of Life. Only the hungry person senses his need of Jesus.

·一颗饥饿的心将不顾一切要得那生命的粮。只有饥饿的人能感觉到对耶稣的需要。

Question 2

问题2

Friend, do you see the benefits of being poor in spirit? From the four points above, list the blessings that come to a spiritually poor person.

朋友，你看到成为虚心之人的益处了吗？从以上四点，列出临到虚心的人的福分。

Friend,in order to overcome life-dominating sins, one must be poor in spirit. Overcoming sexual sin requires the presence and power of God, both of which are only given to the broken, empty, and destitute. 

There are at least four ways in which God blesses the poor in spirit:

朋友，为了胜过辖制生命的罪，一个人必须成为虚心的人。胜过性罪行要有神的同在和能力，而这两样只赐予那些被破碎、倒空和成为穷乏的人。神祝福虚心的人至少通过四条途径：

1.God is near to the poor in spirit: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit"(Psalm 34:18).

1.神靠近虚心的人：“耶和华靠近伤心的人，拯救灵性痛悔的人。”（诗篇34:18）

2.God will not despise the poor in spirit: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17).

2.神不轻看虚心的人：“神所要的祭，就是忧伤的灵。　神啊，忧伤痛悔的心，你必不轻看。”（诗篇51:7）

3.God dwells with the poor in spirit: "For this is what the high and lofty One says- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite" (Isaiah 57:15).

3.神与虚心的人同住。“因为那至高至上、永远长存（原文作“住在永远”）、名为圣者的如此说：“我住在至高至圣的所在，也与心灵痛悔、谦卑的人同居；要使谦卑人的灵苏醒，也使痛悔人的心苏醒。” （以赛亚书57:15）

4.God esteems the poor in spirit: "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word"(Isaiah 66:2).

4.神看顾那些虚心的人：“但我所看顾的，就是虚心痛悔、因我话而战兢的人（“虚心”原文作“贫穷”）”（以赛亚书66:2）

In your own words, list the blessings received by the poor in spirit. As you are writing, ask God for poverty of spirit, that He might bless you in these ways.

用你自己的话，列出虚心的人要收到的祝福。当你在写的时候，向神祈求灵性的缺乏，祂将在这些方面祝福你。

Question 3

问题3

First blessing to the poor in spirit:

给虚心的人的第一个祝福是：

Question 4

问题4

Second blessing to the poor in spirit:

给虚心的人的第二个祝福是：

Question 5

问题5

Third blessing to the poor in spirit:

给虚心的人的第三个祝福是：

Question 6

问题6

Fourth blessing to the poor in spirit:

给虚心的人的第四个祝福是：

Please read the following quote:

请阅读以下的文摘：

A castle that has been long besieged and is ready to be taken will deliver up on any terms to save their lives. 

He whose heart has been a garrison for the devil and has held out long in opposition against Christ, when once God has brought him to poverty of spirit and he sees himself damned without Christ, let God propound what articles He may, he will readily subscribe to them. "Lord, what will you have me to do?" Thomas Watson

一个被长期围困将被攻破的城堡会以任何条件，来救他们的生命。

那个长期被魔鬼把持的心并长久抵挡基督的人，一旦神给他带来灵里的赤贫，而且他看到自己没有基督而受的咒诅，让神来指出祂将会做什么，他就会很容易地表示赞同。“主啊，你要对我做些什么？”  托马斯·沃森（Thomas Watson）

Question 7

问题7

Share your thoughts about the above quote:

请分享你对以上文摘的感想：

Watson associated the attitude of "Lord, what will you have me to do?" with the poor in spirit. We've noticed that Way of Purity course members who display humility and a desire to learn always become free from sexual sin. 

On the other hand, those who think they have something to give and contribute, who come to the course teaching and instructing, usually fall often. It is the poor in spirit who are blessed with freedom from habitual sin.

沃森把“主啊，你要对我做些什么？”与虚心的人联系了起来。我们注意到了洁净之道中那些表现出谦卑和学习愿望的学员们，总是能从性罪行中被释放。

另一方面，那些人们他们可以给出或是贡献些什么的人，来到课程里为了教训和指导的，通常会经常跌倒。那些虚心的人得到了从习惯性的罪中被释放的祝福。

Please read the following passage. Which of the praying men received the blessing from God?

请阅读以下的经文。哪一个祷告者得到了神的祝福？

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 

10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. 

12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.Luke 18:9-14

耶稣向那些仗着自己是义人，藐视别人的，设一个比喻，

10 说：“有两个人上殿里去祷告：一个是法利赛人，一个是税吏。

11 法利赛人站着，自言自语地祷告说：‘神啊，我感谢你，我不像别人勒索、不义、奸淫，也不像这个税吏。

12 我一个礼拜禁食两次，凡我所得的，都捐上十分之一。’

13 那税吏远远地站着，连举目望天也不敢，只捶着胸说：‘神啊，开恩可怜我这个罪人！’

14 我告诉你们：这人回家去比那人倒算为义了。因为，凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高。” 路加福音18:9-14

Question 8

问题 8

The tax collector was the one who was poor in spirit. What did he do and say that show us he was spiritually impoverished?

那税吏是虚心的人。他做了什么，又说了什么，让我们看到他的灵里是贫穷的？

Question 9

问题 9

What blessing did the tax collector receive?

那个税吏收到了什么祝福？

There are additional rewards and blessings given to the poor in spirit:

还有一些额外的奖赏是给那些虚心的人的：

1.God thinks on and delivers the poor in spirit: "Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay" (Psalm 40:17)

1.神顾念并搭救那些虚心的人：“但我是困苦穷乏的，主仍顾念我。你是帮助我的，搭救我的。神啊，求你不要耽延！”（诗篇40:17）

2.God hears and does not despise the poor in spirit: "The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people" (Psalm 69:33)

2.神垂听且不藐视虚心的人：“因为耶和华听了穷乏人，不藐视被囚的人。” (诗篇69:33)

3.God spares and saves the poor in spirit: "He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death" (Psalm 72:13).

3.神怜恤并拯救虚心的人：“他要怜恤贫寒和穷乏的人，拯救穷苦人的性命。”（诗篇72:13）

4.God gives success to the poor in spirit: "But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks"(Psalm 107:41)

4.神使虚心的人成功：“他却将穷乏人安置在高处，脱离苦难，使他的家属多如羊群。”（诗篇107:41）

From the above verses, list the four ways God blesses the poor in spirit, and add any personal comments you may have.

从以上的经文，列出神祝福虚心之人的四种途径，如果你有个人的评论请一并加上。

Question 10

问题10

First blessing to the poor in spirit:

对虚心的人的第一个祝福：

Question 11

问题11

Second blessing to the poor in spirit:

对虚心的人的第二个祝福：

Question 12

问题12

Third blessing to the poor in spirit:

对虚心的人的第三个祝福：

Question 13

问题13

Fourth blessing to the poor in spirit:

对虚心的人的第四个祝福：

Question 14

问题14

Psalm 107:41 states, "But He lifts the needy out of their affliction..." How does this verse promise that the poor in spirit will be rescued from pornography, self-gratification, and sexual immorality?

诗篇107:41宣称，“他却将穷乏人安置在高处…”这节经文如何应许那些虚心的人将被从色情、自我放纵和淫秽中拯救出来？

Friend, throughout this course I have shared with you that it was not until I became poor in spirit that I received the blessing of God in being lifted out of my affliction. I was teaching and preaching on a regular basis, even while involved in habitual sin.

朋友，在整个课程中，我和你们分享了，直到我虚心，我才得到了神的祝福，从苦难中被安置在了高处。尽管陷于习惯性的罪中，我还是定期地教导和传道。

But when I finally talked with my pastor about my problem, I went as a beggar. I went as a dying man who needed life. I was willing to do anything to be free. 

I listened to his advice because I trusted him, and I determined to follow his instructions. 

Much of what I had to do and say was embarrassing—but I was willing to do anything, and that is the key to overcoming sexual sin. Are you willing to do anything to be free, and do you listen and obey instructions?

但是当我最终向我的牧师谈起我的问题时，我是作为一个乞丐去的。我是作为一个需要生命的垂死之人去的。我愿意做任何事来获得释放。

我听从他的建议因为我信任他，并且我决定要遵循他的指导。很多我要说和做的事都是令人尴尬的——但是我愿意做任何事，而且这是胜过性罪行的关键。你愿意做任何事来得到释放，还有你听从和遵循指导吗？

Finally, note the evidences and applications of the poor in spirit.

最后，注意虚心的人的特征和应用。

Poverty of spirit brings about a:

灵里的贫乏引起：

·Weaning from self - Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21

·摆脱自我 -- 加拉太书2:20; 腓立比书1:21

·Delighting in God's glory - 2 Corinthians 3:18

·以荣耀神为乐 -- 哥林多后书3:18

·Seeking God's fingerprints - Romans 8:17,18,28

·寻求神的认可 -- 罗马书8:17,18,28

·Seeing the best in others and the worst in yourself -Matthew 7:3

·看到别人的长处和自己的短处 -- 马太福音7:3

·Praying like a beggar and praising like a son - Luke 18:9-14

·向乞丐一样祷告，像儿子一样赞美 -- 路加福音18:9-14

·Serving like a slave - James 1:1,2 Peter 1:1

·像仆人一样服侍。-- 雅各书1:1, 彼得后书1:1                                 

Question 15

问题 15

Do you see any or all of the above evidences of spiritual poverty in your life? If so, which ones?

你是否在生命中看到任何或是全部的灵里贫乏的证据？如果这样，是哪些？

Course member Mike wrote, "Yes, I see this weaning from self happening now. I look at myself while I was enslaved to pornography, and I see one who was thoroughly selfish, and who lived to please myself in all things. 

Since I have been walking in freedom from this habitual sin, I am becoming less and Jesus is becoming more. I praise God for this change that He is working in my heart and in my life. My wife said to me the other day that I am living a life that is non-selfish. Wow, I never thought I would hear that from her."

学员Mike写到，“是的，我看到现在正放弃自我。当我看自己被色情奴役时，看到的是一个完全自私，活着就是为了在所有的事上取悦自己。自从我从这习惯性的罪中被释放，我变少了，耶稣多了起来。

我为这一改变感谢赞美神，祂正在我的心里和我的生命中作工。我的妻子有一天对我说，我现在活在一种毫不利己的生命中。哦，我从未想到她会这样说。”

Question 16

问题 16

Share your thoughts about this lesson. What is going on in your life at present?

请分享你对这一课的感想。现在你的生活怎样？

Scriptures to consider:

思想经文

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. 

2 Do not be quick with your mouth; do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few." Ecclesiastes 5:1,2

1 你到　神的殿要谨慎脚步。因为近前听，胜过愚昧人献祭（或作“胜过献愚昧人的祭”），他们本不知道所作的是恶。2 你在　神面前不可冒失开口，也不可心急发言。因为　神在天上，你在地下，所以你的言语要寡少。 传道书 5:1,2

24 The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 

25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things.Acts 17:24-25

24创造宇宙和其中万物的神，既是天地的主，就不住人手所造的殿，25 也不用人手服侍，好像缺少什么；自己倒将生命、气息、万物，赐给万人。 使徒行传17:24-25

To clarify what the first accountability question means, we have included the following explanation.

为了厘清第一个责任问题的涵义，我们给出以下的解释。

What does "feasting" mean?

"Feasting" is more than just reading the Bible; it is a term to express the nourishing of our souls in Jesus Christ. It means that we are sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing His Word and believing it, for the purpose of implementing the truths into our lives. 

It means we are receiving spiritual nourishment and we are delighting our souls in His grace and truth. 

This may be done in reading our Bibles, hearing God's Word preached, interacting with others in the Scriptures, and studying through this course, etc. This definition is at least a start; further explanation is included in the lessons.

什么是“享用筵宴”？

这里的“享用筵宴”不仅仅是读圣经。              

这是一个表示我们的灵魂在耶稣基督里得到喂养的词。这表示我们坐在耶稣的脚前，听祂的道，笃信之，目的是要把真理行在我们的生活中；这表示我们得到灵里的滋养，在主的恩典和真理中心灵得喜乐。

这可以是读经、听讲道、与他人就经文互动，以及通过这个课程来学习等等。这里只给出一个初步的定义，将来的课程里会有进一步的解释。

Have you been feasting on God's word?

你享用神的话了吗？ 

Yes是   No 否

If so, when was the last time you feasted? And how? In other words, how did you enjoy God? Reading? Prayer? Worship? Fellowship? Witnessing? 

如果是，你最近一次是什么时候？怎样做的？换句话说，你是怎样靠神喜乐的？是读经、祷告、崇拜、团契，还是做见证？ 

These next, tough, accountability questions apply to the entire period since you did your last lesson. 

接下来那些棘手的责任问题，会在整个课程中出现，要根据你上节课以来的情况来回答。 

Were you free from pornography since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你离开色情了吗？ 

Yes是  No否

Were you free from self-gratification since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你戒除自我放纵了吗？ 

Yes是  No 否

Were you free from sexual immorality since you did the last lesson?

上节课以来，你远离了淫乱了吗？ 

Yes是  No否

If you answered "no" to any of the above questions, tell us what led to your fall. If you answered "yes" to the above questions, you may use this area for questions or additional comments. 

如果任何一个问题的答案是“否”，请告诉我们是什么导致你的跌倒。如果对以上问题你回答了“是”，你可以在此提出你的问题或其他的评论。