聖經對「信心」的定義是什麼？
What is the definition of “Faith” according to the Bible?
希伯來書十一：1：「信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。」Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
意思是對所盼望的事有把握，對未曾看見的事能肯定。
The meaning of this verse is that we should have confidence in what we hope for, and we must be sure of what we do not see.
新約使用「信」這字時，有四種涵意：
When it comes to the word “faith,” the New Testament shows us four meanings:
1.信靠－是指認識一個可靠的對象，而信靠他。
It means reliance. Faith means that we know that God is trustworthy, and we rely on God.
2.值得信靠－上帝的信實有值得信靠的價值。
It means that it is worthwhile to rely on. It is worthwhile to rely on the faithfulness of God.
3.信仰的內容。
The content of faith.
4.信仰的根基、信仰的保證。
The root and the guarantee of faith.
也就是說，「信心」是有充足具體的內容，清楚認識所相信的對象，然後與所相信的對象建立彼此信賴的關係，互相分享雙方的真實。
In other words, “Faith” has essential and concrete content. Believers clearly know the object they believe. They build the relationship of mutual reliance, and they share the reality with each other.
今日，我要用以色列人出埃及的歷史經驗與大家一起思考關於「信心的考驗」之信仰問題。
Today I want to use the historical experience of Exodus to reflect on the “the Test of Faith.”
一、過紅海的信心考驗
The Test of Faith in crossing the Red Sea.
摩西領受上帝的呼召，帶領以色列百姓出埃及，遭到法老王的刁難。
Moses received the calling of God and led the people of Israel out of Egypt.
法老因為心裡剛硬，不讓以色列人離開埃及，所以使埃及人遭遇到十大災難。
Since Pharaoh had a hardened heart, he did not allow the people of Israel to leave Egypt, so God punished the Egyptians by sending the ten plagues.
上帝命令摩西宣告災難要臨到時，摩西就要相信上帝的話絕對會實現。When God commanded Moses to proclaim the arrival of plagues, it was necessary that Moses believed in the fulfillment of the word of God.
以色列人出埃及後，法老後悔而帶領軍兵去追殺。
After the people of Israel left Egypt, Pharaoh regretted and pursued the people of Israel with his army.
面對前有紅海，後有埃及軍隊的追殺，以色列人膽戰心驚。
The Israelites faced the Red Sea and the army at both ends, they were scared to death.
對以色列人來說，這是信心極大的考驗。
It was a great test of faith for the Israelites.
以色列人信心不夠，所以心裡驚慌，
They did not have enough faith, so they panicked.
但上帝命令摩西向海水伸出他的柺杖，將海水分開，以色列人就走乾地過海，埃及的軍隊卻死在海裡。
But God commanded Moses to stretch his hand over the sea and divide the waters. Then the Israelites crossed over the sea on dry ground, but the army was drowned as the waters came together again.
二、過約但河的信心考驗
The Test of Faith in crossing the Jordan
出埃及入曠野時，以色列人遇到紅海，上帝命令摩西將海水分兩邊，使百姓走乾地、過紅海，進入曠野。
Before coming into the desert, the Israelites were shut off by the Red Sea. God commanded Moses to divide the waters and people came into the desert by crossing the sea on dry ground.
要離開曠野進入迦南，以色列人再度面臨困難，因為約但河擋在前方。When the Israelites left the desert and were coming into Canaan, they faced difficulties again, for it was hard to cross over the Jordan.
這一次上帝沒有事先使水分開，而要百姓直接走入水裡。
This time God did not divide the waters in advance, He wanted Israelites to walk into the water directly.
上帝命令約書亞叫抬約櫃的祭司走進約但河，在水裡站著，水就會向兩邊分開。
God ordered Joshua to command the priests who bore the ark. They were to dip their feet in the water’s edge and to stand in the water, so that the water would be divided.
約書亞照上帝的吩咐，命令扛約櫃的祭司走入約但河內，果然約但河水向兩邊分開，以色列人就走乾地過約但河。
Joshua obeyed the order of God. He asked the priests who bore the ark to walk into the Jordan.The waters were then divided. The Israelites walked on dry ground and crossed over the Jordan.
過約但河的這群百姓是在曠野出生的新生代，他們從祖先聽過上帝在紅海的作為，卻第一次親自經歷上帝使水分開的作為，上帝的作為對他們進入迦南地及攻破迦南地的城牆有很大的幫助。
The Israelites who crossed over the Jordan were the new generation born in the desert. Before, they heard from their ancestors that God divided the Red Sea.But now, they personally experienced the action of God in dividing the water first time.This action of God helped them in going into Canaan courageously and tearing down the walls of Canaanite cities.
三、進入耶利哥城的信心考驗
The Test of Faith in going into Jericho
以色列民進入迦南後，面對的第一個困難就是耶利哥城的挑戰。
When the Israelites came into Canaan, the first difficulty they faced was the challenge of Jericho.
耶利哥城是迦南的門戶，它的城牆十分堅固，四面有嚴密的防守。
Jericho was the door to Canaan. It had a strong city wall, and it was guarded safely by warriors.
面對堅固城，以色列人若要靠自己的武力，實在不可能攻破。
Facing the strong city wall, the Israelites would not be able to defeat Jericho by their own military strength.
上帝叫約書亞帶領百姓繞耶利哥城，繞七日。
God ordered Joshua to command the Israelites to march around the city seven days.
前六日，一日繞一圈，第七日繞七圈。
They would march around the city once for six days. On the seventh day, however, they would march around the city seven times.
繞的時候，不能出聲，直到第七日最後一圈才大聲呼喊。
They must not utter a word while marching around the city.Also they would shout while marching around the city on the seventh time of the seventh day.
以色列百姓照上帝的命令去做，耶利哥城真的倒塌。
The Israelites did what God ordered them to do, and the walls of Jericho fell down.
從以色列人出埃及進入曠野，又從曠野進入迦南地的歷史，讓我們知道，以色列百姓的信心一直受到考驗。
The history of the Israelites leaving Egypt, crossing the desert, and going into Canaan shows us that the faith of the Israelites was consistently tested.
許多人遇著困難危險就對上帝失去信心，他們埋怨上帝，抱怨他們的領導者，所以除了約書亞、迦勒以外，他們都沒有通過信心的試驗，出埃及那一群二十歲以上的男丁，無一人進入迦南地，全死在曠野。
Many believers lost their faith when they faced hardships and dangers. They blamed God and complained about their leaders. It was the reason why the first generation of Israelites who left Egypt did not pass the test of faith except Joshua and Caleb.They died in the desert and none of them went into Canaan.
我們憑「信心」知道上帝是一位值得信靠的神，
By “Faith” we know that God is reliable.
我們憑「信心」知道聖經是上帝的啟示，
By “Faith” we know by “faith” that the Bible is the revelation of God.
我們憑「信心」相信藉著讀聖經，我們將得著上帝對我們的應許。
By “Faith” we know by “faith” that through reading the Bible, we will receive the promise of God.
因著「信心」我們知道，必須清楚認識我們所信靠的上帝，
On account of “Faith” we learn that we should clearly know our trustworthy
因著「信心」我們知道，自己可以跟所相信的上帝建立真實信賴的關係，彼此分享雙方的真實。
On account of “Faith” we know that we can build true and trusting relationship with God, and share truthfulness with each other.
因著「信心」我們知道，信上帝的人當用心靈與誠實拜祂。
On account of “Faith”, we know that we should worship God in spirit and truth.
信靠上帝並不保證我們不遇到患難和試煉，
When we trust God, it does not guarantee that we will not face trial and suffering.
但因著「信心」我們相信上帝容許的每個試煉都帶有祂同在的應許。
But on account of “faith”, we believe that God allows every trial to be accompanied by God’s promise of being with us.
摩西信靠上帝的權能，就行出許多神蹟，順利將百姓帶出埃及，在曠野經歷四十年。
Moses trusted the power of God, so he performed many miracles and led the Israelites out of Egypt. They stayed in the desert for forty years.
摩西一旦失去信心，不尊主為聖，就死在曠野的邊界，無法進入應許的迦南地。
Once Moses lost his faith and did not glorify God, he died at the border of the desert and could not go into the promised land.
上帝使我們經歷許多「信心」的考驗，無論是大是小，只要相信，照所命令的去做，就必得著應許。
God lets us experience many tests of “Faith.” No matter how big the test is, if we trust God and obey the order of God, we will receive the promise.
以色列人要過約但河，就必須先涉入水裡，上帝對他們的信心要求就是要「走進去」，
When the Israelites were going to cross over the Jordan, God’s requirement of their faith was that they “walk into” the water.
當他們走進去，水就分開。
When they walked into the water the water was divided.
當他們順服上帝，照命令去做，耶利哥城就毀壞。
When they obeyed God and did what God ordered them to do, the wall of Jericho fell down.
我們的生活也有許多紅海，遇到前方有阻礙，上帝事先為我們開路，使我們順利經過。
Our lives are full of Red Seas. When we face obstacles, God will open the way for us and let us cross over smoothly.
但有時我們生活會面臨走進約但河的困境，
But sometimes, we also face circumstances similar to the example of walking into the Jordan.
困境就在眼前，上帝未事先挪開，
A problem is before us and God does not remove it in advance.
這時候我們要做的就是憑信心走進去，一旦走進去，河水就分開。
What we should do is to trust God and walk into the Jordan. Once we walk into the Jordan, the water will be divided.
我們的生活有時會面臨像以色列人面對耶利哥城一樣的困境，
At other times, we face what the Israelites faced before Jericho.
不論人們從任何角度來看，困難、阻礙，如同堅固城牆。
The difficulties and obstacles are as powerful as the city wall.
上帝要我們做的就是安靜的順服祂的帶領、用持續的忍耐，一圈一圈安靜、慢慢地繞，
What God wants us to do is to obey God’s leading quietly,Arching around the city wall slowly and patiently.
到最後，阻礙我們的城牆將不攻自破。
In the end, the city wall in front of us will be broken down.
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