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Have you ever thought you were prepared for a big moment in life only to find yourself faltering?
你是否原以为已经预备好迎接人生中的一个重要时刻 ，事到临头却发现自己犹疑不定？
Lighting the Advent Candles
点燃降临节蜡烛
In the Christian Church, the four weeks leading up to Christmas is a special time called “advent”. When I was a child, we had a traditional advent wreath in our home. There were four candles in a circle and a fifth candle in the middle. On each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, my brother and I would take turns lighting one candle. On the first Sunday, there was just one candle to light. But on the second Sunday we got to light the first and then the second. As we drew closer to Christmas more candles were lit until Christmas day, when all five candles were lit. The day of our great anticipation had finally come. Christmas had come. Jesus Christ had come.
在基督信仰中，圣诞节来临之前的4周非常特别，称之为“降临节”。小时候，我们家里有一个传统的降临节花环。花环上有四根蜡烛围成一个环，中间是第五根蜡烛。在圣诞节到来的前四周，我和弟弟每周轮流点燃一根蜡烛。第一周，只需要点燃一根蜡烛，第二周则需要点燃第一和第二根。随着临近圣诞节，我们点燃更多根蜡烛，直到圣诞节那天，5根蜡烛都要被点燃。期盼已久的日子终于到来。圣诞节到了。耶稣基督来到世上。
Prepared for Christmas
为圣诞节做预备
Advent means “to come.” During the advent season we look forward to the coming of Christmas, the coming of the birth of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh who is with us. As a child, lighting the candles prepared us for the final celebration of Christmas day. There was no chance that we would miss that holiday, we had eagerly looked forward to it, preparing our home, and our hearts.
Advent的意思是“来到”。在降临节我们期待圣诞节的到来，期待主耶稣的降生。祂道成肉身，与我们同在。小时候，点燃降临节蜡烛帮助我们预备好庆祝圣诞节。我们热切期盼圣诞节，将家里装扮一新，也预备好自己的心，所以根本不可能错过它。
The first verse of the resounding Christmas Carol, “Joy to the World” calls us to prepare for the great joy of the coming of Christ:
广为传唱的圣诞颂歌“普世欢腾”的第一句就呼吁我们为基督将要到来的大喜乐做好准备：
Joy to the world, the Lord has come,
Let earth receive her king!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
普世欢腾！救主下降，
大地接她君王；
惟愿众心预备地方，
诸天万物歌唱，
Has your heart prepared Him room this Christmas season?
在这个圣殿季节，你的心为祂预备地方了吗？
Messengers sent to prepare each heart
差派使者预备人心
All of the major characters in the Christmas story had an opportunity to prepare. Their life had led up to the moment of the arrival of the Messiah. And then before they each beheld Jesus, one by one they were clearly told that the Savior would be born. Angels, dreams and the Holy Spirit Himself announced the Messiah. Each person was prepared in a different way for their particular role in the birth of Christ.
圣诞故事中的所有主要角色都有机会做预备。他们的生命被引导一步步来到弥赛亚降生的那一刻。在他们亲眼目睹耶稣之前，每一个人都被清晰告知救主就要降生了。天使、异梦和圣灵亲自宣告了弥赛亚的来临。在基督的降生中，每一个人都为自己独特的角色以不同的方式预备自己。
1. Zechariah was prepared as a priest who would father John the Baptist who would in turn prepare the way for the Messiah. Zechariah was prepared for the coming Messiah through his life of service and prayer.
2. Mary was a servant of God who had prepared to immediately submit her life to God’s call.
3. Joseph was a righteous man who was prepared in obedience to do just as the Lord directed him to do even though it meant personal sacrifice.
4. The shepherds spent night after night on alert watching for anything that could harm their sheep. When they were alerted by angels, they knew what to do.
5. Of all of those present for the birth of Christ, Simeon had the longest preparation as he awaited in faith God’s promise that he would not die before his own eyes beheld the Messiah.
1. 撒加利亚是祭司，是施洗约翰的父亲，他预备好了。约翰将来要为弥赛亚预备好道路。撒加利亚通过自己的服侍和祷告为弥赛亚的降临做好预备。
2. 玛丽亚是神的使女，她即刻将自己的生命降服于神的呼召，从而预备好自己。
3. 约瑟是位义人，他也预备好了。他顺服神的指引，即便那意味着要牺牲自己。
4. 牧羊人夜夜警醒，以防自己的羊群遭害。所以天使提醒他们时，他们知道该怎样预备。
5. 基督降生时在场的所有人中，西面预备的时间最为长久，他凭信等候神应许的实现，就是在离世前，他要亲眼见到弥赛亚。
Years of preparation plus a direct communication from God led each person to their chosen destiny in God’s story of redemption.
数年的预备和神直接的晓瑜指引他们每一个人迎接自己在神救赎故事中被拣选的命运。
During this Christmas advent season, as we look forward to the celebration of the coming of God in the flesh as Christ and then beyond to the second coming of Christ, we must ask ourselves: are we prepared?
在此降临节的时节，在我们期盼庆祝神藉着基督道成肉身来到世间，在期盼基督的第二次来临时，我们一定要问自己：我们预备好了吗？
Zechariah prepared yet not quite ready to go
撒加利亚尚未完全预备好
The first person in the Christmas story to receive the direct message from God that the Messiah would soon appear was Zechariah. He had prepared his whole life for this moment, but when it finally came, he fumbled in unbelief.
圣诞故事中，直接从神接到信息，说弥赛亚即将降临的第一个人是撒加利亚。他毕生为此预备，但当这一时刻终于到来时，他却心怀不信。
Zechariah is appropriately the first in the biblical Christmas narrative to be alerted to the upcoming birth of the Savior. For it was to be his very own long-awaited son who would make the grand announcement to the world: “Prepare the way for the Lord.”
在圣经里关于圣诞的记载中，撒加利亚首先被提醒救世主就要降生，他是合适的人选。因为正是他等候多年才得到的儿子要向世人做出伟大的宣告：“预备主的道路”。
About fifteen months before the birth of Jesus Christ, Zechariah was attending to his priestly duties in the temple. Both Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were from priestly families. Sons born to them would also be considered as priests. But this elderly couple had no children.
耶稣基督降世前大约15个月左右，撒加利亚在圣殿中履行祭司的职分。他和妻子伊利沙伯都出身祭司家庭。他们的儿子也将会是祭司。但是这对年迈的夫妇却膝下无子无女。
Zechariah and Elizabeth were both upright in God’s sight, obediently following God’s commandments, living a blameless life. Zechariah was a man of prayer demonstrated in his fervent prayers for his wife to bear a child. He had a life-time commitment of service in God’s presence.
撒加利亚和伊利沙伯在神眼中都是义人，他们顺从神的命令，生活无可指摘。撒加利亚为妻子怀胎生子热切祷告，由此可知他是勤于祷告的人。他承诺终生要在神的面前服侍。
On this particular day, he had been randomly chosen by lot to be the one and only priest to enter the Most Holy place to burn incense before the Lord. This happened every day before the morning sacrifice and after the evening sacrifice. A priest would not know when his day would come to enter the Most Holy place for this sacred moment. He must be prepared to serve on the day his name was called. This was Zechariah’s day.
在这特定的一天，他被抽签抽中，要独自进入至圣所，在神面前烧香。每天早晚祭祀后都要烧香。祭司们不知道自己哪一天能进入至圣所，经历这神圣时刻。他必须 预备好在自己名字被抽到的那一天服侍神。这一天撒加利亚被抽中了。
Was Zechariah prepared for what would happen to him as he stood alone in the Most Holy place to burn incense before God?
在他独自一人站在至圣所，在神面前烧香时，他为将要发生的事情做好准备了吗？
“Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
Luke 1:11-20 NIV
有主的使者站在香坛的右边向他显现。撒迦利亚看见，就惊慌害怕。天使对他说：“撒迦利亚，不要害怕，因为你的祈祷已经被听见了。你的妻子伊利沙白要给你生一个儿子，你要给他起名叫约翰。你必欢喜快乐，有许多人因他出世也必喜乐。他在主面前将要为大，淡酒浓酒都不喝，从母腹里就被圣灵充满了。他要使许多以色列人回转，归于主他们的神。他必有以利亚的心志能力，行在主的前面，叫为父的心转向儿女，叫悖逆的人转从义人的智慧，又为主预备合用的百姓。”撒迦利亚对天使说：“我凭着什么可知道这事呢？我已经老了，我的妻子也年纪老迈了。天使回答说：“我是站在神面前的加百列，奉差而来对你说话，将这好信息报给你。到了时候，这话必然应验。只因你不信，你必哑巴不能说话，直到这事成就的日子。”
路加福音1：11-20
Zechariah had been serving his entire lifetime before God. He knew the duties of a priest. He followed God’s commandments. He prayed for his family. But in that sacred moment, fear and unbelief hindered him. Was he ill-prepared for the very thing he had been waiting for? Whether he was prepared or not, he faltered. And God gave him nine more months to prepare in silence for the main event of Zechariah’s life: the birth of his son John who would prepare the way for the Messiah.
撒加利亚毕生在神面前服侍。他明了祭司的责任，顺服神的命令。他为自己的家庭祷告。但在此神圣的时刻，他为惧怕和不信拦阻。他一直为此事等候，却还没预备好吗？无论预备好与否，他确实软弱了。他的儿子将要为弥赛亚预备道路，为了他儿子的出生—-他生命中最重要的事， 神让他在静默无言中再准备9个月。
What are you being prepared for?
你为何做预备？
God has a plan for your life and as you are surrendered to Him, He will prepare you for your chosen destiny. If you are not sure how to begin, Zechariah gives you a great starting point for your own personal preparation for your life calling: prayer and service.
神为你的一生制定了计划，若你降服于祂，祂会为着你被拣选的命运预备你。如果不确定要如何开始为自己生命的呼召做预备，撒加利亚的故事提供了一个好的起点：祷告和服侍。
Preparation through prayer
透过祷告预备
Do you have a daily habit to pray? Do you regularly present your requests to God? Or do you just think about and talk about your request? If you are not sure how to start your prayer life, use the four step ACTS method of prayer to get started. ACTS stands for: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.
你有每天祷告的习惯吗？你常常把自己的需求带到神面前吗？还是你只是想想和说说自己的需求而已？如果不知道该如何开始祷告生活，那么使用ACTS的四步祷告法帮你开始。ACTS代表：爱慕，认罪，感恩和祈求。
1. Adoration: Praising the Lord. Sing a worship song or read out loud a chapter from the Psalms to express your praise.
2. Confession: Asking forgiveness for sin. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your mind any known or unknown sin that needs to be brought to Jesus and forgiven.
3. Thanksgiving: Expressing thanks to God. What can you thank God for today?
4. Supplication: Presenting your requests in faith to God.
1. 爱慕：赞美神。唱赞美诗或朗读诗篇中的一篇来发出赞美。
2. 认罪：求神饶恕你的罪。求圣灵让你想起任何意识或没有意识到的过犯，并带到耶稣面前请求赦免。
3. 感恩：向神献上感恩。今天你有什么感谢神的？
4. 祈求：凭信把自己的需求带到神面前。
Preparation through service
透过服侍预备
Do you live a life of service to the Lord? If you attend a weekly fellowship meeting, are you a visitor who pops in and out or do you have a place to serve? What can you do to bless your family, friends, neighbors or coworkers? Consider the 24 hours you have each day. How much time is dedicated to serving God and serving others? Is each hour focused on your own agenda or are you intentionally pursuing a life of service to God and others?
你过的是服侍神的生活吗？如果每周参加聚会，你是断断续续参加聚会的访客吗？还是你有固定的服侍？你能如何祝福自己的家庭、朋友、邻居或者同事？想想每天的24小时，有多少时间用来服侍神和人？时时刻刻都在关注自己的目标吗？还是有意在生活中追求服侍神和人？
If you falter, take time to prepare again
如果你犹疑，花时间重新预备
Zechariah had prepared throughout his lifetime, but when his name was chosen by lot to walk into the Most Holy place and when he met an angel face to face, unfortunately his hidden unbelief was revealed as he blurted out faithless protests. But God did not reject Zechariah. Maybe it was a gift that the angel left Zechariah speechless for nine months. This quiet time was a second chance at preparation before the birth of his son John.
撒加利亚终其一生都在做预备，但是当他的名字被选中，可以走进至圣所；当他面对面遇见天使时，脱口而出的缺乏信心的抗议却显出他隐藏着的不信。但神并未弃绝撒加利亚。让他9个月不能说话也许是天使留给他的一份礼物。儿子约翰的出生前，这段静默无言的时间再次给他机会来预备。
John – the great preparer
约翰—伟大的预备者
John’s destiny was to prepare the world for the Messiah.
约翰命定要预备世人迎接弥赛亚。
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
Matthew 3:1-3 NIV那时，有施洗的约翰出来，在犹太的旷野传道，说：“天国近了，你们应当悔改！”这人就是先知以赛亚所说的，他说：“在旷野有人声喊着说：‘预备主的道，修直他的路！’”
马太福音3：1-3
To prepare is to make everything ready. In ancient days, this word “prepare” harkened to the custom of preparing the way for a king. Before a king went on a journey, workers would go before him to level the roads to ensure that they were passable. In the same way, the prophet Isaiah’s words were pronounced and fulfilled by John the Baptist in the hearts of people.
预备是要凡事都准备好。在古时，“预备”一词指为国王预备道路。在国王开始旅程前，会有人提前平整路面，使其便于通行。同样的，施洗约翰应验了以赛亚的预言且向人心宣告。
Is your heart prepared to receive all that God has for you this Christmas? How can you make level the road of your heart to welcome the King of Glory this Christmas. Now is the time to prepare. Christ is coming again; we are in a season of advent until His glorious return. Are you prepared?
今年的圣诞节，你心中是否预备好迎接神会预备的一切？今年的圣诞节，你该如何平整心中的道路以迎接这荣耀的王？现在就是预备的时候。耶稣将要再来。在他荣耀再临之前，我们都处在降临节的时段。你预备好了吗？
Joy to the world, the Lord has come,
Let earth receive her king!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
普世欢腾！救主下降，
大地接她君王；
惟愿众心预备地方，
诸天万物歌唱，
