九月二十八日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/09/0928.mp3″]
经文: 如此七次。（列王纪上十八：43）
主若应许，必然成功！虽然你可以夜以继日，不停祈求数月，仍然未蒙主应允。其实祂在垂听，只要祂百姓认真祈求的是为了荣耀祂。迦密山上的先知不停地与上帝摔跤，没有一刻向恐惧让步，以为自己是不属耶和华的。仆人连续六次都无以回报，但是每次先知都说：“你再去观看。”“信心”差遣“盼望”从迦密山峭观望，若见不到任何迹象，他会一而再差他前去。“信心”并不因一再失望而受挫，反而决心更热切地向上帝恳求。他谦卑，却不羞耻。他的呻吟变沉、他的叹息转烈，却不放松所紧握的。肉体希望得到快速的应允，有信心的心灵都学习顺服。有信心的心灵发现等待是好的，尤其是等候主。迟延的应允常常的让心灵作自我鉴察，并且导向悔罪和灵命的更新。因此，向我们的败坏作致命的打击，反而会使我们的内心深处得到洁净。最大的危险是人的放弃以致失去祝福。切勿落入那罪中，反要不停儆醒祷告。只要看到一小片云，就能预告倾盆大雨之来临。你也必如此，上帝将赐你美好的礼物，你也必如得胜的王子般享受你所寻求的。以利亚也是像我们一般的人。他从上帝得能力，并非靠自己的功劳。倘若他信心的祈祷能成就如此大事，为何你不能？以不动摇的信心恳求吧，主必按你所求的为你成全。
Evening, September 28
Scripture: “Go again seven times.”(1 Kings 18:43)
Success is certain when the Lord has promised it. Although you may have pleaded month after month without evidence of answer, it is not possible that the Lord should be deaf when his people are earnest in a matter which concerns his glory. The prophet on the top of Carmel continued to wrestle with God, and never for a moment gave way to a fear that he should be non-suited in Jehovah’s courts. Six times the servant returned, but on each occasion no word was spoken but “Go again.” We must not dream of unbelief, but hold to our faith even to seventy times seven. Faith sends expectant hope to look from Carmel’s brow, and if nothing is beheld, she sends again and again. So far from being crushed by repeated disappointment, faith is animated to plead more fervently with her God. She is humbled, but not abashed: her groans are deeper, and her sighings more vehement, but she never relaxes her hold or stays her hand. It would be more agreeable to flesh and blood to have a speedy answer, but believing souls have learned to be submissive, and to find it good to wait for as well as upon the Lord. Delayed answers often set the heart searching itself, and so lead to contrition and spiritual reformation: deadly blows are thus struck at our corruption, and the chambers of imagery are cleansed. The great danger is lest men should faint, and miss the blessing. Reader, do not fall into that sin, but continue in prayer and watching. At last the little cloud was seen, the sure forerunner of torrents of rain, and even so with you, the token for good shall surely be given, and you shall rise as a prevailing prince to enjoy the mercy you have sought. Elijah was a man of like passions with us: his power with God did not lie in his own merits. If his believing prayer availed so much, why not yours? Plead the precious blood with unceasing importunity, and it shall be with you according to your desire.
