Spiritual Thought for the Week
And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my sprit rejoices in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:46-47)
Mary had found favour with God because she glorified the Lord and she rejoiced in God her saviour. Anyone who glorifies and rejoices in the Lord will receive reciprocal favour from God. For the Lord is the source of all blessings and favour. Apart from Him we can not get any blessings. God is searching everywhere to see if there is anyone who gives Him the glory, love, faith, fear, trust and obedience He deserves. When He finds one He blesses him/her with all His favour.
This is the difference between glorifying God and glorifying men. We like glorifying ourselves and the people and things we favour on earth. We want to find favours our way. When God gets in our ways, we ask Him to go away, so that we get what we want without His involvement. How foolish! We will never get real favours if we forget to give glory to God. The favours promised by this world are temporal. But the favour promised by God is eternal. If we trade worldly favour with God’s favour we are like picking up a piece of sand while abandoning the owner of the universe. We win a battle but lose the war.
Mary made the right choice when she said her soul glorifies the Lord. We will never glorify God enough because He deserves the most glory. We will never rejoice enough in the Lord because His joy in us will never end.
本周默想分享
马利亚说："我心尊主为大；我灵以神我的救主为乐。"（路1：46-47）
马利亚之所以成为蒙大恩和最有福的女子，是因为她的心尊主为大，她的灵以神为乐。尊重神的，神必尊重他；以神为乐的，神必使他喜乐。我们一切福乐，都在乎对神如何。因为他是一切福乐的根源，想在神以外求得甚麽，只是妄想。神不住地在那里寻找，察看有甚麽人尊他为大，以他为乐，爱他，敬畏他，信靠他，顺服他，他就把大的福分，恩典赐给他们。
这可能是人与神之间最大的差别，也是我们自己生命中最大的转折点。我们本来是尊自己为大，以世事为乐，凡事要成就我们自己的意思。想在神以外找到安乐，甚至以神为我们的拦阻，损失，这是太愚昧错误了。我们是何等渺小，怎能自尊为大呢？任何人，事，物所能给我们的是何等微小，肤浅，怎能以那些为乐呢？可能得了一些，但转眼就过去成空了。
这就要看人的智慧，正确的选择，有谁像马利亚一样，选择上好的，真实的，永恒的福乐。若是选择渺小的，短暂的，虚幻的世事与世人而丢弃神，就好像拾起一粒沙土而丢弃宇宙万有一样。但选择主的，却比得着宇宙万有还要大得无数倍的福气。
要尊主为大。无论尊他为大到甚麽程度，仍是对的。要以神为乐，无论以他为乐到甚麽地步，都不为多。他配尊为大，他也实在是人的喜乐。
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Last Sunday the second Advent candle of peace was lit. Do we experience that peace as promised by Jesus’ coming? If not, we better ask ourselves why.
Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Jesus’ word is both candid and scrutinizing. Let’s look at the different kinds of Christians who profess they are followers of Jesus. Some run the course diligently. Others turn back only half way through. Some follow with great determination. Others follow superficially, with their eyes looking back every now and then. There is a kind of Christians called the un-determined Christians. They expressed desire to follow the Lord. They accepted the call. They have put their hands on the plough already. But they still can not let go the past. The world’s value is still in their mind. That’s why they can not help to look back repeatedly.
People who look back are people who can not genuinely follow the Lord. What they really want are the things they possessed before they accepted the call. In other words their hearts are still tied down by the things in this life. They still love the world. Thus their vow is untrue. They are not faithful. They are deceiving God, others, and themselves. They are willing to receive what will be promised them in the future. But they are unwilling to let go of what they are possessing here at the moment. They want to enjoy the glory and rewards in heaven like all the saints do. While at the same time they want to indulge in worldly pleasures with their temporal friends. They want to fly to the sky without leaving the ground. Their minds are walking on one path while their bodies are walking on another. They want to get benefits from both paths.
Will they make it? Lord Jesus Christ tells us clearly today. No way! These people are not fit for service in the kingdom of God. Our Lord is not to be taken lightly. Our Lord is not to be deceived. No wonder even though our Lord promises he is coming, we still don’t have peace in our heart.
本周默想分享
上主日平安的将临节烛光已经燃点，您心中的平安有没有燃亮呢？倘若没有，会不会是因为我们的心仍然爱世界，一心一意爱主的平安，还没有来？
"耶稣说，手扶着犁向後看的人，不配进神的国。"（路9：62）
主耶稣说的是何等的真实，又是何等的值得我们警惕。让我们观看在基督徒的行列中有多少不同的表现和情况，有的在努力奔跑灵程，有的却转身後退了。在跟随主的人中，有的紧紧跟随，一心向前，有的表面跟从，却常向後看。这说明有一种人是心怀二意的，虽然有意跟从主，甚至已经蒙召作主工，手扶着犁了，然而他们却怀念过去，有所留恋，没有完全撇下一切所有的，世上事物仍然抓住他们的心，以致他们不能不时常回头看。
回头看的人是无心向前跟随主走道路的。他们真正所要的，仍然是蒙召前所离开的，那也就是说他们的心仍然爱世界，被今生的事所抓住。所以跟从主是假的，是不忠实的。他们在那里欺骗主，欺骗人，也欺骗自己。他们想得着将来的，却不肯舍去现今的。他们希望和其他主的门徒一样，想得到将来的荣耀和赏赐，却也希望和世人一同享受暂时的快乐。要想得着天，却不想离开地。他们的外面和里面在走两条路，想要同时得着两面的好处。
这样行不行呢？主耶稣在这里清楚地说，这样的人不配进神的国。主是不容轻慢的。主是不受欺骗的。怪不得耶稣来了有些人的心仍然没有平安。
Last Sunday the second Advent candle of peace was lit. Do we experience that peace as promised by Jesus’ coming? If not, we better ask ourselves why.
Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Jesus’ word is both candid and scrutinizing. Let’s look at the different kinds of Christians who profess they are followers of Jesus. Some run the course diligently. Others turn back only half way through. Some follow with great determination. Others follow superficially, with their eyes looking back every now and then. There is a kind of Christians called the un-determined Christians. They expressed desire to follow the Lord. They accepted the call. They have put their hands on the plough already. But they still can not let go the past. The world’s value is still in their mind. That’s why they can not help to look back repeatedly.
People who look back are people who can not genuinely follow the Lord. What they really want are the things they possessed before they accepted the call. In other words their hearts are still tied down by the things in this life. They still love the world. Thus their vow is untrue. They are not faithful. They are deceiving God, others, and themselves. They are willing to receive what will be promised them in the future. But they are unwilling to let go of what they are possessing here at the moment. They want to enjoy the glory and rewards in heaven like all the saints do. While at the same time they want to indulge in worldly pleasures with their temporal friends. They want to fly to the sky without leaving the ground. Their minds are walking on one path while their bodies are walking on another. They want to get benefits from both paths.
Will they make it? Lord Jesus Christ tells us clearly today. No way! These people are not fit for service in the kingdom of God. Our Lord is not to be taken lightly. Our Lord is not to be deceived. No wonder even though our Lord promises he is coming, we still don’t have peace in our heart.
本周默想分享
上主日平安的将临节烛光已经燃点，您心中的平安有没有燃亮呢？倘若没有，会不会是因为我们的心仍然爱世界，一心一意爱主的平安，还没有来？
"耶稣说，手扶着犁向後看的人，不配进神的国。"（路9：62）
主耶稣说的是何等的真实，又是何等的值得我们警惕。让我们观看在基督徒的行列中有多少不同的表现和情况，有的在努力奔跑灵程，有的却转身後退了。在跟随主的人中，有的紧紧跟随，一心向前，有的表面跟从，却常向後看。这说明有一种人是心怀二意的，虽然有意跟从主，甚至已经蒙召作主工，手扶着犁了，然而他们却怀念过去，有所留恋，没有完全撇下一切所有的，世上事物仍然抓住他们的心，以致他们不能不时常回头看。
回头看的人是无心向前跟随主走道路的。他们真正所要的，仍然是蒙召前所离开的，那也就是说他们的心仍然爱世界，被今生的事所抓住。所以跟从主是假的，是不忠实的。他们在那里欺骗主，欺骗人，也欺骗自己。他们想得着将来的，却不肯舍去现今的。他们希望和其他主的门徒一样，想得到将来的荣耀和赏赐，却也希望和世人一同享受暂时的快乐。要想得着天，却不想离开地。他们的外面和里面在走两条路，想要同时得着两面的好处。
这样行不行呢？主耶稣在这里清楚地说，这样的人不配进神的国。主是不容轻慢的。主是不受欺骗的。怪不得耶稣来了有些人的心仍然没有平安。
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Last Sunday the second Advent candle of peace was lit. Do we experience that peace as promised by Jesus’ coming? If not, we better ask ourselves why.
Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Jesus’ word is both candid and scrutinizing. Let’s look at the different kinds of Christians who profess they are followers of Jesus. Some run the course diligently. Others turn back only half way through. Some follow with great determination. Others follow superficially, with their eyes looking back every now and then. There is a kind of Christians called the un-determined Christians. They expressed desire to follow the Lord. They accepted the call. They have put their hands on the plough already. But they still can not let go the past. The world’s value is still in their mind. That’s why they can not help to look back repeatedly.
People who look back are people who can not genuinely follow the Lord. What they really want are the things they possessed before they accepted the call. In other words their hearts are still tied down by the things in this life. They still love the world. Thus their vow is untrue. They are not faithful. They are deceiving God, others, and themselves. They are willing to receive what will be promised them in the future. But they are unwilling to let go of what they are possessing here at the moment. They want to enjoy the glory and rewards in heaven like all the saints do. While at the same time they want to indulge in worldly pleasures with their temporal friends. They want to fly to the sky without leaving the ground. Their minds are walking on one path while their bodies are walking on another. They want to get benefits from both paths.
Will they make it? Lord Jesus Christ tells us clearly today. No way! These people are not fit for service in the kingdom of God. Our Lord is not to be taken lightly. Our Lord is not to be deceived. No wonder even though our Lord promises he is coming, we still don’t have peace in our heart.
本周默想分享
上主日平安的将临节烛光已经燃点，您心中的平安有没有燃亮呢？倘若没有，会不会是因为我们的心仍然爱世界，一心一意爱主的平安，还没有来？
"耶稣说，手扶着犁向後看的人，不配进神的国。"（路9：62）
主耶稣说的是何等的真实，又是何等的值得我们警惕。让我们观看在基督徒的行列中有多少不同的表现和情况，有的在努力奔跑灵程，有的却转身後退了。在跟随主的人中，有的紧紧跟随，一心向前，有的表面跟从，却常向後看。这说明有一种人是心怀二意的，虽然有意跟从主，甚至已经蒙召作主工，手扶着犁了，然而他们却怀念过去，有所留恋，没有完全撇下一切所有的，世上事物仍然抓住他们的心，以致他们不能不时常回头看。
回头看的人是无心向前跟随主走道路的。他们真正所要的，仍然是蒙召前所离开的，那也就是说他们的心仍然爱世界，被今生的事所抓住。所以跟从主是假的，是不忠实的。他们在那里欺骗主，欺骗人，也欺骗自己。他们想得着将来的，却不肯舍去现今的。他们希望和其他主的门徒一样，想得到将来的荣耀和赏赐，却也希望和世人一同享受暂时的快乐。要想得着天，却不想离开地。他们的外面和里面在走两条路，想要同时得着两面的好处。
这样行不行呢？主耶稣在这里清楚地说，这样的人不配进神的国。主是不容轻慢的。主是不受欺骗的。怪不得耶稣来了有些人的心仍然没有平安。
Last Sunday the second Advent candle of peace was lit. Do we experience that peace as promised by Jesus’ coming? If not, we better ask ourselves why.
Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Jesus’ word is both candid and scrutinizing. Let’s look at the different kinds of Christians who profess they are followers of Jesus. Some run the course diligently. Others turn back only half way through. Some follow with great determination. Others follow superficially, with their eyes looking back every now and then. There is a kind of Christians called the un-determined Christians. They expressed desire to follow the Lord. They accepted the call. They have put their hands on the plough already. But they still can not let go the past. The world’s value is still in their mind. That’s why they can not help to look back repeatedly.
People who look back are people who can not genuinely follow the Lord. What they really want are the things they possessed before they accepted the call. In other words their hearts are still tied down by the things in this life. They still love the world. Thus their vow is untrue. They are not faithful. They are deceiving God, others, and themselves. They are willing to receive what will be promised them in the future. But they are unwilling to let go of what they are possessing here at the moment. They want to enjoy the glory and rewards in heaven like all the saints do. While at the same time they want to indulge in worldly pleasures with their temporal friends. They want to fly to the sky without leaving the ground. Their minds are walking on one path while their bodies are walking on another. They want to get benefits from both paths.
Will they make it? Lord Jesus Christ tells us clearly today. No way! These people are not fit for service in the kingdom of God. Our Lord is not to be taken lightly. Our Lord is not to be deceived. No wonder even though our Lord promises he is coming, we still don’t have peace in our heart.
本周默想分享
上主日平安的将临节烛光已经燃点，您心中的平安有没有燃亮呢？倘若没有，会不会是因为我们的心仍然爱世界，一心一意爱主的平安，还没有来？
"耶稣说，手扶着犁向後看的人，不配进神的国。"（路9：62）
主耶稣说的是何等的真实，又是何等的值得我们警惕。让我们观看在基督徒的行列中有多少不同的表现和情况，有的在努力奔跑灵程，有的却转身後退了。在跟随主的人中，有的紧紧跟随，一心向前，有的表面跟从，却常向後看。这说明有一种人是心怀二意的，虽然有意跟从主，甚至已经蒙召作主工，手扶着犁了，然而他们却怀念过去，有所留恋，没有完全撇下一切所有的，世上事物仍然抓住他们的心，以致他们不能不时常回头看。
回头看的人是无心向前跟随主走道路的。他们真正所要的，仍然是蒙召前所离开的，那也就是说他们的心仍然爱世界，被今生的事所抓住。所以跟从主是假的，是不忠实的。他们在那里欺骗主，欺骗人，也欺骗自己。他们想得着将来的，却不肯舍去现今的。他们希望和其他主的门徒一样，想得到将来的荣耀和赏赐，却也希望和世人一同享受暂时的快乐。要想得着天，却不想离开地。他们的外面和里面在走两条路，想要同时得着两面的好处。
这样行不行呢？主耶稣在这里清楚地说，这样的人不配进神的国。主是不容轻慢的。主是不受欺骗的。怪不得耶稣来了有些人的心仍然没有平安。
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sermon Date: 2008/12/07
Sermon DATE: 2008/12/7
SCRIPTURE READING: John 16:33
SERMON: How to interpret life in light of God’s word.
讲道题目: 如何在生命中解讀神的話
I. Last week we talked about the Bible being the greatest treasure in our life. Our greatest treasure does not lie on possessions for they will deteriorate. Our greatest treasure does not come from our relationship with love ones, for love ones will depart from us one day. But the Bible will never deteriorate. The Bible is the word of God. It confirms our relationship with God which will go on long after our relationship with love ones ends. The Bible helps us to understand the meaning of our life.
The Bible is our greatest treasure that promises us life abundant. Sometimes people find a treasure chest but can’t open it because they can’t find the key. Sometimes people find the Bible but they can’t find hope and future in their life because they don’t understand the plans of God. In fact God has good plans for us. Unfortunately we don’t read His word careful enough to understand it. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Today let’s talk about the key to that treasure chest. It is the way to read and understand the Bible so that we get the key to abundant life.
II. Everybody in the world wants to have life and have it more abundantly. But what does abundant life means? We Chinese look at abundant life as having health, longevity, wealth, success, filial piety from the children, benevolence to the public, contribution to the society and most importantly refrain from sickness and suffering. If you possess most or all of the above people will say you have achieved abundant life in this world. Nowadays, in order to prove the blessedness of their life people tend to show off their abundance in front of others. They want to compare and even compete with one another to show how abundant their life is. In the past people just wanted to keep up with the Jones (i.e. their neighbour’s family). Now they are not satisfied just to keep up with the Jones. They want to do better than the Jones. There is nothing wrong with being motivated by this driving incentive for proof of abundance in life. But as Christians and children of God, do we just do what others do without a nobler and Godly reason for the purpose of our existence?
We all have experienced attending to our frail sick elderly love ones at their death bed. We prayed for their restoration of health and for prolongation of their life. When they turn for the better, we praised the Lord for listening to our prayers, not knowing that as the psalmist said, no matter how long your life is, “we finish our years with a moan.” (Psalm 90:9) Our hearts go out with the new immigrant parishioners who are struggling to find jobs in this new land. We pray for them and with them to get a good job that will give them good prospect and security to settle down and bring up their family. When they get a job, we thank and praise the Lord. We say the Lord has listened to our prayers. We then continue to pray for more stability and prosperity for their life and work. Unconsciously, we pray for promotion in the job, we pray for increase in salary for the position, we pray for larger houses, we pray for more possessions… until in the end we ask for materialistic things more than any thing else. I am not saying we should not praise the Lord with parishioners who have found a good job, moved into a bigger house, have a raise in salary, or have bought a new car etc. We should thank God for them and with them. What I am saying is this. What about in times of trial and tribulations? What about the time when brothers and sisters have lost their jobs. In this time of economic depression being laid off is not something uncommon. Is it? Do we have the trust, courage, faith and enthusiasm to pray with the parishioners who have lost their job as much as we do with the parishioners who have found a good job?
III. I do not want to give you a hard time. But I have to challenge you to face some issues you are afraid to face. Although it is a taboo, yet it is a reality. How do we pray to God in faith and thanksgiving when life doesn’t seem to be giving us what we ask for? What is your take for God’s word when life seems to be overcome by suffering? I pray the Lord to give us wisdom to solve this problem by the power of His word.
1. Suffering is a reality in the world.—Since Adam sin had entered the world. All creation has to suffer and toil until this day. The result of sin is that our flesh has to perish. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Sin has ruined men’s body, mind and soul. It has ruined the relationship between men and men. It has ruined the environment where men live. This is the reality of our life on earth. Thank God we Christians do not live in a life that ask for refrain from sickness and suffering. We do not ask for longevity and prosperity. We ask for eternal life through our belief in Jesus as the Christ.
2. Suffering moves us to hunger and thirst for eternity.—Looking straight to the reality of suffering, we recognize in the first place that we are living in a meaningless world. If we chase after fame, it is meaningless. If we chase after health and longevity it is meaningless also. It is wise to look at the Bible which says, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) Here the Bible awakens us to put our focus on things that are eternal rather than things that are temporal and meaningless. God has used suffering and meaninglessness to lead us back to His eternity. That’s why the writer of Ecclesiastes said, “I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.” (Ecclesiastes 3:10-12)
3. Suffering enhances our relationship with God in the deepest level.—Our life should be a life of faith. It should be established after the relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our relationship with Christ is founded on our experience in life which involves us with Christ’s great love and faithfulness. Upon this foundation we dedicate ourselves to him and give our best to him. Yes we usually know we have to give thanks for most everything in life. When we see beautiful sunshine, abundant supplies for our daily needs, warmth and love in the family, opportunity to work… we thank the Lord for we have experienced his love for us. Please excuse me for saying it candidly. Such experience of the love of God is only superficial. We are experiencing the Lord’s blessings but not the Lord himself. We are weak human beings. When we see our blessings have changed into something not so promising, we begin to question the Lord. When we see suffering instead of blessing is coming its way, we start to doubt the love of the Lord.
Job has a great awakening word to say in this. He said, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5) Job experienced losing everything men count as the most valuable on earth—wealth, health and family. But because of the love of the Father, Job experienced the presence of God in his most difficult times. In times of his most desperate need God is with him. In times of tribulation the company of God gives us experience of the most genuine part of life. In the midst of trial and tribulations, with the experience of the Lord’s presence, we establish the faith to overcome hardship. As a result we experience the privilege of seeing God with our own eyes. This is the real blessing of staying together in the presence of the Lord.
God uses suffering to build up faith hope and love in Christians. He let them experience His grace more deeply. There we find the love of God. Like the apostle Paul who walked with God in times of trial and tribulations. He said these victorious words, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
IV. This morning you and I are facing a big dilemma. On the one hand we envy the relationship that Job and Paul experienced. But on the other hand, we say to ourselves, “this is too much for me. I don’t think I can pass the test.”Let’s hear once again the promises that come from the Bible—the precious word of God: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (I Corinthians 10:13) “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (II Corinthians 12:9)
Jesus was preparing his disciples for the time when he would not be with them. He knew that things would be very difficult for them, and he was urging them to have faith that he would be with them always.
So much of what the disciples faced after Jesus' crucifixion is reflected in today's world.
Therefore Jesus encouraged them, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
May we all have abundant and victorious life knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world. Amen
Sermon Synopsis
I. The Bible helps us to understand the meaning of our life.
II. What is abundant life? Is it health, longevity, wealth, success…or is it trial and tribulations?
III. What is your take for God’s word when life seems to be overcome by suffering?
1. Suffering is a reality in the world.
2. Suffering moves us to hunger and thirst for eternity.
3. Suffering enhances our relationship with God in the deepest level.
IV. We say, “This is too much for me. I don’t think I can pass the test.” But Jesus said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”
信息大纲
I. 圣经帮助我们明白生命的意义。
II. 甚麽是丰盛的生命？是健康，长寿，财富，成功。。。还是试探和磨炼？
III. 当生命被痛苦所煎熬时你怎样看神的话？
1. 痛苦是世界的现实。
2. 痛苦推动我们饥渴地爱慕永恒。
3. 痛苦把我们带到与神最深层的关系。
IV. 我们说，“这个试炼太难熬了，我顶不住。”但耶稣说，“你们可以放心，我已经胜过世界了。”
SCRIPTURE READING: John 16:33
SERMON: How to interpret life in light of God’s word.
讲道题目: 如何在生命中解讀神的話
I. Last week we talked about the Bible being the greatest treasure in our life. Our greatest treasure does not lie on possessions for they will deteriorate. Our greatest treasure does not come from our relationship with love ones, for love ones will depart from us one day. But the Bible will never deteriorate. The Bible is the word of God. It confirms our relationship with God which will go on long after our relationship with love ones ends. The Bible helps us to understand the meaning of our life.
The Bible is our greatest treasure that promises us life abundant. Sometimes people find a treasure chest but can’t open it because they can’t find the key. Sometimes people find the Bible but they can’t find hope and future in their life because they don’t understand the plans of God. In fact God has good plans for us. Unfortunately we don’t read His word careful enough to understand it. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Today let’s talk about the key to that treasure chest. It is the way to read and understand the Bible so that we get the key to abundant life.
II. Everybody in the world wants to have life and have it more abundantly. But what does abundant life means? We Chinese look at abundant life as having health, longevity, wealth, success, filial piety from the children, benevolence to the public, contribution to the society and most importantly refrain from sickness and suffering. If you possess most or all of the above people will say you have achieved abundant life in this world. Nowadays, in order to prove the blessedness of their life people tend to show off their abundance in front of others. They want to compare and even compete with one another to show how abundant their life is. In the past people just wanted to keep up with the Jones (i.e. their neighbour’s family). Now they are not satisfied just to keep up with the Jones. They want to do better than the Jones. There is nothing wrong with being motivated by this driving incentive for proof of abundance in life. But as Christians and children of God, do we just do what others do without a nobler and Godly reason for the purpose of our existence?
We all have experienced attending to our frail sick elderly love ones at their death bed. We prayed for their restoration of health and for prolongation of their life. When they turn for the better, we praised the Lord for listening to our prayers, not knowing that as the psalmist said, no matter how long your life is, “we finish our years with a moan.” (Psalm 90:9) Our hearts go out with the new immigrant parishioners who are struggling to find jobs in this new land. We pray for them and with them to get a good job that will give them good prospect and security to settle down and bring up their family. When they get a job, we thank and praise the Lord. We say the Lord has listened to our prayers. We then continue to pray for more stability and prosperity for their life and work. Unconsciously, we pray for promotion in the job, we pray for increase in salary for the position, we pray for larger houses, we pray for more possessions… until in the end we ask for materialistic things more than any thing else. I am not saying we should not praise the Lord with parishioners who have found a good job, moved into a bigger house, have a raise in salary, or have bought a new car etc. We should thank God for them and with them. What I am saying is this. What about in times of trial and tribulations? What about the time when brothers and sisters have lost their jobs. In this time of economic depression being laid off is not something uncommon. Is it? Do we have the trust, courage, faith and enthusiasm to pray with the parishioners who have lost their job as much as we do with the parishioners who have found a good job?
III. I do not want to give you a hard time. But I have to challenge you to face some issues you are afraid to face. Although it is a taboo, yet it is a reality. How do we pray to God in faith and thanksgiving when life doesn’t seem to be giving us what we ask for? What is your take for God’s word when life seems to be overcome by suffering? I pray the Lord to give us wisdom to solve this problem by the power of His word.
1. Suffering is a reality in the world.—Since Adam sin had entered the world. All creation has to suffer and toil until this day. The result of sin is that our flesh has to perish. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12) Sin has ruined men’s body, mind and soul. It has ruined the relationship between men and men. It has ruined the environment where men live. This is the reality of our life on earth. Thank God we Christians do not live in a life that ask for refrain from sickness and suffering. We do not ask for longevity and prosperity. We ask for eternal life through our belief in Jesus as the Christ.
2. Suffering moves us to hunger and thirst for eternity.—Looking straight to the reality of suffering, we recognize in the first place that we are living in a meaningless world. If we chase after fame, it is meaningless. If we chase after health and longevity it is meaningless also. It is wise to look at the Bible which says, “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 1:2) Here the Bible awakens us to put our focus on things that are eternal rather than things that are temporal and meaningless. God has used suffering and meaninglessness to lead us back to His eternity. That’s why the writer of Ecclesiastes said, “I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men. I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.” (Ecclesiastes 3:10-12)
3. Suffering enhances our relationship with God in the deepest level.—Our life should be a life of faith. It should be established after the relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Our relationship with Christ is founded on our experience in life which involves us with Christ’s great love and faithfulness. Upon this foundation we dedicate ourselves to him and give our best to him. Yes we usually know we have to give thanks for most everything in life. When we see beautiful sunshine, abundant supplies for our daily needs, warmth and love in the family, opportunity to work… we thank the Lord for we have experienced his love for us. Please excuse me for saying it candidly. Such experience of the love of God is only superficial. We are experiencing the Lord’s blessings but not the Lord himself. We are weak human beings. When we see our blessings have changed into something not so promising, we begin to question the Lord. When we see suffering instead of blessing is coming its way, we start to doubt the love of the Lord.
Job has a great awakening word to say in this. He said, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” (Job 42:5) Job experienced losing everything men count as the most valuable on earth—wealth, health and family. But because of the love of the Father, Job experienced the presence of God in his most difficult times. In times of his most desperate need God is with him. In times of tribulation the company of God gives us experience of the most genuine part of life. In the midst of trial and tribulations, with the experience of the Lord’s presence, we establish the faith to overcome hardship. As a result we experience the privilege of seeing God with our own eyes. This is the real blessing of staying together in the presence of the Lord.
God uses suffering to build up faith hope and love in Christians. He let them experience His grace more deeply. There we find the love of God. Like the apostle Paul who walked with God in times of trial and tribulations. He said these victorious words, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)
IV. This morning you and I are facing a big dilemma. On the one hand we envy the relationship that Job and Paul experienced. But on the other hand, we say to ourselves, “this is too much for me. I don’t think I can pass the test.”Let’s hear once again the promises that come from the Bible—the precious word of God: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (I Corinthians 10:13) “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (II Corinthians 12:9)
Jesus was preparing his disciples for the time when he would not be with them. He knew that things would be very difficult for them, and he was urging them to have faith that he would be with them always.
So much of what the disciples faced after Jesus' crucifixion is reflected in today's world.
Therefore Jesus encouraged them, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
May we all have abundant and victorious life knowing that our Lord Jesus Christ has overcome the world. Amen
Sermon Synopsis
I. The Bible helps us to understand the meaning of our life.
II. What is abundant life? Is it health, longevity, wealth, success…or is it trial and tribulations?
III. What is your take for God’s word when life seems to be overcome by suffering?
1. Suffering is a reality in the world.
2. Suffering moves us to hunger and thirst for eternity.
3. Suffering enhances our relationship with God in the deepest level.
IV. We say, “This is too much for me. I don’t think I can pass the test.” But Jesus said, “Take heart! I have overcome the world.”
信息大纲
I. 圣经帮助我们明白生命的意义。
II. 甚麽是丰盛的生命？是健康，长寿，财富，成功。。。还是试探和磨炼？
III. 当生命被痛苦所煎熬时你怎样看神的话？
1. 痛苦是世界的现实。
2. 痛苦推动我们饥渴地爱慕永恒。
3. 痛苦把我们带到与神最深层的关系。
IV. 我们说，“这个试炼太难熬了，我顶不住。”但耶稣说，“你们可以放心，我已经胜过世界了。”
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2008/12/7
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Last Sunday we lit the first candle of Advent which represents hope. I wish this light brings hope to your life when you are challenged by darkness and difficulties.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
When a believer encounter difficulty, it is very easy for him to doubt God’s love. May be God is giving him a hard time deliberately. God does not sympathise his hardship. God does not care his misfortune. To others God is more lenient. But to him God is harsh. In disappointment he wants to blame God. This is a big misunderstanding. Contrary to what he thinks, it is because God loves that He allows hardship to come to His children. It is because of His good will that He let tribulations to happen to His love ones. Hardship and tribulation are angels from God sent to bring grace and gifts to us. But they don’t appear to be pleasant looking. And we are scared away by them.
God has a lot of grace and blessings to bestow upon us His people. But often they come in a disguised costume. A life without trial and tribulations may not be a life with grace and rewards. Such life only leads to superficial and artificial hope. This hope promises us a world with no sins or sufferings. It causes us to think that life is not a battle ground, or a pilgrimage to the promise land. We think the earthly home is the eternal home, and that human relationships are permanent relationships. We think our ideals can be achieved and that our desires can be actualized. A person who lives such an uneventful life will never learn to see things beyond the horizon. He will not look up to the sky. He will not feel he needs God. He will grow old and die inside his self made little circle. He wastes all his life in countless meaningless days.
But God has a higher goal for us. He has a more prosperous plan in store for us. In order to make it work, He has to first of all, break down our unrealistic plans. He has to wake us up from our self deceiving dreams. He has to let us meet with apparently unfortunate happenings. In the long run He will let us discover the spiritual blessings and peace that come along in the end. He will not give us instantaneous results right a way. But He will give us the fruits of good hope and the happiness in the future. Just like Joseph who was sold to slavery in the beginning, but in the end he became the prime minister of Egypt. Similarly after tribulations a believer will find himself coming out a more mature, Godly, spiritual and instrumental person. He will be pleasing to God and useful to men. Eventually, in the heavenly kingdom, he will receive unfathomable glory and rewards.
本周默想分享
上主日当将临节代表希望的蜡烛被燃点起来的时候，您漆黑的心情有没有也被燃亮呢？它有没有把您拉近神的意念，叫您生活更有指望？
"耶和华说，我知道我向你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们後来有指望。"（耶29：11）
一个受苦遭难的信徒，容易怀疑到神的爱。可能想到神故意降灾祸给他，不体贴他的困苦，不顾念他的艰难，似乎对别人还好，对自己却不留情。同时容易灰心抱怨，这实在是对神的误会，不明白父的心。正是由於他的爱，才允许苦难临到他的儿女身上，正是由於他的美意，才叫他们遭到意外的事。苦难和风波都是神的使者所带来的恩赐和礼物，可是外表看来是不受欢迎的，起初倒是觉得可怕的。
神有许多恩典和福分要赐给属他的人，但常是化装来的。毫无苦难与风浪，并不一定是恩典与赏赐，只会给人轻浮和幻觉。似乎还以为这世界并不是罪恶苦海，人生也不是战场，征途，地上的家是永久的居所，亲人是不变的关系，自己的理想是真实的，欲望是可以达到的。平安无事的人是不会想得很远的，不会仰望天，不觉需要神。他可能就这样老死在自己的小圈子里，消逝在虚度的岁月中。
但是神有更高的目的，更大的祝福，要赐给一个人。就只有打乱他的迷梦，破灭他的幻想，叫他遭遇到似乎是不幸的灾祸。其实是要赐给他真正属灵的平安，不是得到目前的利益，乃是叫他後来有指望。正如约瑟的被卖为奴，後来却成为宰相。信徒受苦之後，生命变作圣洁，成熟，敬虔，属灵，讨神的喜悦，有益於人，将来在国度和永世里，必得到无比的荣耀和赏赐。
Last Sunday we lit the first candle of Advent which represents hope. I wish this light brings hope to your life when you are challenged by darkness and difficulties.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
When a believer encounter difficulty, it is very easy for him to doubt God’s love. May be God is giving him a hard time deliberately. God does not sympathise his hardship. God does not care his misfortune. To others God is more lenient. But to him God is harsh. In disappointment he wants to blame God. This is a big misunderstanding. Contrary to what he thinks, it is because God loves that He allows hardship to come to His children. It is because of His good will that He let tribulations to happen to His love ones. Hardship and tribulation are angels from God sent to bring grace and gifts to us. But they don’t appear to be pleasant looking. And we are scared away by them.
God has a lot of grace and blessings to bestow upon us His people. But often they come in a disguised costume. A life without trial and tribulations may not be a life with grace and rewards. Such life only leads to superficial and artificial hope. This hope promises us a world with no sins or sufferings. It causes us to think that life is not a battle ground, or a pilgrimage to the promise land. We think the earthly home is the eternal home, and that human relationships are permanent relationships. We think our ideals can be achieved and that our desires can be actualized. A person who lives such an uneventful life will never learn to see things beyond the horizon. He will not look up to the sky. He will not feel he needs God. He will grow old and die inside his self made little circle. He wastes all his life in countless meaningless days.
But God has a higher goal for us. He has a more prosperous plan in store for us. In order to make it work, He has to first of all, break down our unrealistic plans. He has to wake us up from our self deceiving dreams. He has to let us meet with apparently unfortunate happenings. In the long run He will let us discover the spiritual blessings and peace that come along in the end. He will not give us instantaneous results right a way. But He will give us the fruits of good hope and the happiness in the future. Just like Joseph who was sold to slavery in the beginning, but in the end he became the prime minister of Egypt. Similarly after tribulations a believer will find himself coming out a more mature, Godly, spiritual and instrumental person. He will be pleasing to God and useful to men. Eventually, in the heavenly kingdom, he will receive unfathomable glory and rewards.
本周默想分享
上主日当将临节代表希望的蜡烛被燃点起来的时候，您漆黑的心情有没有也被燃亮呢？它有没有把您拉近神的意念，叫您生活更有指望？
"耶和华说，我知道我向你们所怀的意念，是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们後来有指望。"（耶29：11）
一个受苦遭难的信徒，容易怀疑到神的爱。可能想到神故意降灾祸给他，不体贴他的困苦，不顾念他的艰难，似乎对别人还好，对自己却不留情。同时容易灰心抱怨，这实在是对神的误会，不明白父的心。正是由於他的爱，才允许苦难临到他的儿女身上，正是由於他的美意，才叫他们遭到意外的事。苦难和风波都是神的使者所带来的恩赐和礼物，可是外表看来是不受欢迎的，起初倒是觉得可怕的。
神有许多恩典和福分要赐给属他的人，但常是化装来的。毫无苦难与风浪，并不一定是恩典与赏赐，只会给人轻浮和幻觉。似乎还以为这世界并不是罪恶苦海，人生也不是战场，征途，地上的家是永久的居所，亲人是不变的关系，自己的理想是真实的，欲望是可以达到的。平安无事的人是不会想得很远的，不会仰望天，不觉需要神。他可能就这样老死在自己的小圈子里，消逝在虚度的岁月中。
但是神有更高的目的，更大的祝福，要赐给一个人。就只有打乱他的迷梦，破灭他的幻想，叫他遭遇到似乎是不幸的灾祸。其实是要赐给他真正属灵的平安，不是得到目前的利益，乃是叫他後来有指望。正如约瑟的被卖为奴，後来却成为宰相。信徒受苦之後，生命变作圣洁，成熟，敬虔，属灵，讨神的喜悦，有益於人，将来在国度和永世里，必得到无比的荣耀和赏赐。
Friday, November 28, 2008
Sermon Date: 2008/11/30
Sermon DATE: 2008/11/30
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 119:97-105
SERMON: The most precious treasure.
We have entered into the season of Advent which is a period of four weeks of anticipation. During this period we hope for the best and prepare for the worst in the midst of darkness and desperation, knowing that the dawn of brightness and deliverance is at hand. Winter Solstice, the darkest and shortest day of the year as well as the longest and deepest night for the northern hemisphere inhabitants, is pressing on us in the next four weeks before it will leave us for the brighter happier days. US president elect Barack Obama spoke to his hopeful Americans last week. The people are anticipating for a quick recovery from the current financial stressful situation. Barack Obama said, “This situation will become worse before it will become better.” And he is right. If you look only to the dark side of the world, you will not have patience to wait for the bright days to return. If you read the news everyday only to focus on how much your possessions have depreciated in the dismay economy you may not anticipate that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. You will not be there when the happy days return.
We all have possessions in this world. Our possessions help us to sustain our life while we live here on earth. When our possessions suffer substantial depreciation with the bad economy what resource do we draw from to remain tranquil? The Bible is the answer and the wisdom. The Bible teaches us not to put too much emphasis on our possessions. The value of our houses, our RRSP, our investments, fluctuates abruptly with the stock market. But not the words that comes from the mouth of God. Earthly possessions are not reliable. But the word of God is. Although possessions provide us with security and necessities for our earthly life, the Bible on the other hand provides us with treasures that keep us wise and happy for our eternal life. The Bible teaches us at least three wisdom about our possessions:
1. Do not crave for money—“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grieves.”(I Timothy 6:9-10) Craving for money can either ruin us or destroy us. Gently speaking it can ruin us by piercing us with many grieves. Seriously speaking it can cause us to wander from the faith.
2. Trust that the Lord will provide—“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”(Matthew 6:25-27) We should not rely on treasure that fluctuates. We came to this earth naked, so we will leave this earth in the same way. When we have food to eat, clothes to wear, we ought to be content.
3. Store up treasures in heaven—“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”(Matthew 6:19-20)
As Christians and children of God, we receive gift and grace from God. We have the assurance of God’s promise of abundant life through our love, faith, and hope towards Him. However as saved Christians we have to continue our journey to sainthood. We have to ask for more blessings and strive for more abundance in the life eternal. And the way to do it, is to value the most precious treasure given to us from God—which is the Bible.
Everyone of us is seeker for the higher goal in life.—It is for this reason we migrate to north America. We study here, we work here, and we make the treasure hunt here.
1. In Matthew 13:44 Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Here Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is a hidden treasure. It takes a man’s determination to sell all he has to trade for it. This treasure is most valuable because the kingdom of God is the place where God’s will is done. It is the place where human beings’ ultimate blessing and hope rests. It is the place where God is to be with us. He is to be our God, we are to be his people. Jesus says the kingdom of God is in our heart. If we let the will of God be done in our heart, and let the life of our Lord Jesus Christ shine through from there, then we will find the kingdom of God there. It is worth laying down all that we have in search of this treasure. Let us pray and ask for God’s help. Through repentance and enlightenment from the Holy Spirit we receive new life and become a new being in Christ Jesus. We will seek holiness, righteousness, and love. We will bear fruits of kindness humbleness and joy. I pray the Lord to plant this seed of the kingdom in our heart. So that we will extend our root deep down into the soil, and make flower to bloom and fruit to produce above the ground.
2. Psalm 119:97-104 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”
a. This part describes vividly the psalmist’s attitude to the word of God. He loves God’s law. He meditates on it all day long. He treasures it in his heart. He keeps it. He obeys it. He practises it. He lives it out without infringing any part of it. As a result he becomes wiser than his enemy. He understands and observes it more readily than his elders. Thus he walks on the right path naturally. He loves what is true and hates what is false. He won’t go astray or fall out of track from the statute even when he is not conscious. Confucius not until the age of 70 said, “I am happy that after all these years of living and learning, I can now walk freely within the track, without much difficulty. 七十而從心所欲不逾舉。How lucky are the Christians who can achieve what Confucius achieved at the age of 70 by taking the word of God seriously and by believing the truth as promised in the Bible.
b. But we haven’t reached the most valuable part yet if we do not continue to read on. Let’s look at the next line. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”(Psalm 119:105) We are living in a world overcome by darkness. We need a lamp to our feet. We need a light for our path so that we know and see which way we are going. We need the light of life to show the direction. Lacking faith sometimes, we can not see that light, not to mention finding the right direction. How do we find that light? I pray that brothers and sisters will pray with me. Together we treasure the word of God like the psalmist did. Together we learn to obey the Bible which gives us directions. Together we take the lamp to our feet and light for our path to discern right from wrong on our path way through this dark world.
Recently, one of our brothers shared with me how the word of God helped him to walk on the right path. Like what most people do, this brother puts his savings in stocks and bonds. When the stock market melt down he suffered considerable loss just like everybody else. Two months ago Dow Jones index reached 9,000 points. One of the world famous investors gave advice to the public and said this is the best time for stock exchange investors. When stock market re-bounces, it is opportunity for investors to make money. The former Hong Kong minister of finance Mr. Liang Jin Song 梁錦松 also said this was the golden time for people who would like to take advantage of the bottom speculation. On hearing the news, this brother’s heart was moved. He wanted to gain back what he had lost in the last transaction. He said to himself, “If I can get back what I lost, I will give more to the Lord in thanksgiving. Wouldn’t it be nice to both God and me?” Thank God on the next morning while he was doing his morning devotion he read I Timothy 6:9-10. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grieves.” The word of God gave this brother great enlightenment. He controlled himself within the bounds of righteous living. He retained himself in pious and Godly life. He did not fall into the trap of greed. The word of God is not an empty saying. It is a practical guiding light for our life.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you know what your most valuable possession in life is? It is not your money. It is not your worry about money in this world wide financial difficult times. It is the Bible which is the living word of God.
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 119:97-105
SERMON: The most precious treasure.
We have entered into the season of Advent which is a period of four weeks of anticipation. During this period we hope for the best and prepare for the worst in the midst of darkness and desperation, knowing that the dawn of brightness and deliverance is at hand. Winter Solstice, the darkest and shortest day of the year as well as the longest and deepest night for the northern hemisphere inhabitants, is pressing on us in the next four weeks before it will leave us for the brighter happier days. US president elect Barack Obama spoke to his hopeful Americans last week. The people are anticipating for a quick recovery from the current financial stressful situation. Barack Obama said, “This situation will become worse before it will become better.” And he is right. If you look only to the dark side of the world, you will not have patience to wait for the bright days to return. If you read the news everyday only to focus on how much your possessions have depreciated in the dismay economy you may not anticipate that there will be light at the end of the tunnel. You will not be there when the happy days return.
We all have possessions in this world. Our possessions help us to sustain our life while we live here on earth. When our possessions suffer substantial depreciation with the bad economy what resource do we draw from to remain tranquil? The Bible is the answer and the wisdom. The Bible teaches us not to put too much emphasis on our possessions. The value of our houses, our RRSP, our investments, fluctuates abruptly with the stock market. But not the words that comes from the mouth of God. Earthly possessions are not reliable. But the word of God is. Although possessions provide us with security and necessities for our earthly life, the Bible on the other hand provides us with treasures that keep us wise and happy for our eternal life. The Bible teaches us at least three wisdom about our possessions:
1. Do not crave for money—“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grieves.”(I Timothy 6:9-10) Craving for money can either ruin us or destroy us. Gently speaking it can ruin us by piercing us with many grieves. Seriously speaking it can cause us to wander from the faith.
2. Trust that the Lord will provide—“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”(Matthew 6:25-27) We should not rely on treasure that fluctuates. We came to this earth naked, so we will leave this earth in the same way. When we have food to eat, clothes to wear, we ought to be content.
3. Store up treasures in heaven—“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”(Matthew 6:19-20)
As Christians and children of God, we receive gift and grace from God. We have the assurance of God’s promise of abundant life through our love, faith, and hope towards Him. However as saved Christians we have to continue our journey to sainthood. We have to ask for more blessings and strive for more abundance in the life eternal. And the way to do it, is to value the most precious treasure given to us from God—which is the Bible.
Everyone of us is seeker for the higher goal in life.—It is for this reason we migrate to north America. We study here, we work here, and we make the treasure hunt here.
1. In Matthew 13:44 Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Here Jesus tells us the kingdom of heaven is a hidden treasure. It takes a man’s determination to sell all he has to trade for it. This treasure is most valuable because the kingdom of God is the place where God’s will is done. It is the place where human beings’ ultimate blessing and hope rests. It is the place where God is to be with us. He is to be our God, we are to be his people. Jesus says the kingdom of God is in our heart. If we let the will of God be done in our heart, and let the life of our Lord Jesus Christ shine through from there, then we will find the kingdom of God there. It is worth laying down all that we have in search of this treasure. Let us pray and ask for God’s help. Through repentance and enlightenment from the Holy Spirit we receive new life and become a new being in Christ Jesus. We will seek holiness, righteousness, and love. We will bear fruits of kindness humbleness and joy. I pray the Lord to plant this seed of the kingdom in our heart. So that we will extend our root deep down into the soil, and make flower to bloom and fruit to produce above the ground.
2. Psalm 119:97-104 “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.”
a. This part describes vividly the psalmist’s attitude to the word of God. He loves God’s law. He meditates on it all day long. He treasures it in his heart. He keeps it. He obeys it. He practises it. He lives it out without infringing any part of it. As a result he becomes wiser than his enemy. He understands and observes it more readily than his elders. Thus he walks on the right path naturally. He loves what is true and hates what is false. He won’t go astray or fall out of track from the statute even when he is not conscious. Confucius not until the age of 70 said, “I am happy that after all these years of living and learning, I can now walk freely within the track, without much difficulty. 七十而從心所欲不逾舉。How lucky are the Christians who can achieve what Confucius achieved at the age of 70 by taking the word of God seriously and by believing the truth as promised in the Bible.
b. But we haven’t reached the most valuable part yet if we do not continue to read on. Let’s look at the next line. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”(Psalm 119:105) We are living in a world overcome by darkness. We need a lamp to our feet. We need a light for our path so that we know and see which way we are going. We need the light of life to show the direction. Lacking faith sometimes, we can not see that light, not to mention finding the right direction. How do we find that light? I pray that brothers and sisters will pray with me. Together we treasure the word of God like the psalmist did. Together we learn to obey the Bible which gives us directions. Together we take the lamp to our feet and light for our path to discern right from wrong on our path way through this dark world.
Recently, one of our brothers shared with me how the word of God helped him to walk on the right path. Like what most people do, this brother puts his savings in stocks and bonds. When the stock market melt down he suffered considerable loss just like everybody else. Two months ago Dow Jones index reached 9,000 points. One of the world famous investors gave advice to the public and said this is the best time for stock exchange investors. When stock market re-bounces, it is opportunity for investors to make money. The former Hong Kong minister of finance Mr. Liang Jin Song 梁錦松 also said this was the golden time for people who would like to take advantage of the bottom speculation. On hearing the news, this brother’s heart was moved. He wanted to gain back what he had lost in the last transaction. He said to himself, “If I can get back what I lost, I will give more to the Lord in thanksgiving. Wouldn’t it be nice to both God and me?” Thank God on the next morning while he was doing his morning devotion he read I Timothy 6:9-10. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grieves.” The word of God gave this brother great enlightenment. He controlled himself within the bounds of righteous living. He retained himself in pious and Godly life. He did not fall into the trap of greed. The word of God is not an empty saying. It is a practical guiding light for our life.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Do you know what your most valuable possession in life is? It is not your money. It is not your worry about money in this world wide financial difficult times. It is the Bible which is the living word of God.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2008/11/30
Spiritual Thought for the Week
The past Sunday was the last Sunday in the church calendar year. It was called Christ the king Sunday. It helps us to reflect on what we have learned from attending worship week after week throughout the whole year. Have we grasped the blessing as promised us in the Bible-- to reign with Him?
“If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (II Timothy 2:12)
Men from ancient times had tried hard and wanted to be kings. They press on to their quest. They fight against a lot of hardship. They strive with all their might. Eventually many failed bitterly. A few got what they wanted by paying a high price. Some would even pay what ever the cost through unjust means. The glory of being a king is the envy of everybody though not everybody is entitled to that privilege. Even if one manages to be king, how long can his glory last?
In the Bible, we realize that all believers have the promise and possibility to be kings. All the redeemed have the right and reign as kings. (Revelation 5:10, 20:6). There are some requirements and qualifications though which apply to those who actually reign and assume power. Like the loyalty and faithfulness of the servant as in Luke 19:17; or the ability to drink Christ’s cup and receive Christ’s baptism as in Mark 10:37,38; or the ones who were the only victors as in Revelation 2:20, 3:21.
Paul in today’s passage says, if we endure, we will also reign with Him. Endure means we persevere in all trials and tribulations. We carry out God’s will until the very end. This is not easy. But this is the condition we must meet. We have to trust God and get help from Him. Otherwise we can never endure to the end.
Since beginning of Christian tradition, many believers can endure pain, hardship, danger, persecution. They wouldn’t say one word of complain. They did not feel self pity. They wouldn’t run from trial. They welcome the cross. They would rather be put in jail, be mocked or beaten to bleed than to betray their Lord. Just like what is described in Hebrews. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskin and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. (Hebrew 11:36-40) These are the people who will reign with Christ the king.
本周默想分享
上主日是教会年历最後一个主日称为基督为王主日，提醒我们在教会里崇拜生活又过了一年，我们在灵命长进上有甚麽体会？我们有没有把握圣经的应许，与基督一同作王呢？
"我们若能忍耐，也必和他一同作王。"（提後2：12）
古时人想作王，不知要费多少心血，经历多少艰辛，作多少努力。而且不容易成功，常是极大的危险，还多是不义的企图和妄想。然而作王的荣耀，却是人人都羡慕，但不是每个人可得的，而且世上的王能作多久呢？
在圣经中我们都看到，对於每个信徒来说，都有作王的应许和可能，一切被救赎的人都有作王的的权利（启5：10，20：6）。不过实际作王，掌权，却还有一定的条件和资格的。就如主有关神国的比喻，根据仆人的忠心和工作，而决定他们掌权的範围（路19：17）。坐在主的左右边的，必须能喝主所喝的杯，受主所受的洗（可10：37，38）。在启示录的七封信中，也讲到唯有得胜的，才能与主同坐宝座和得权柄治服列国（启2：20，3：21）。
这里保罗说，我们若能忍耐，也必和他一同作王。忍耐是指我们在一切苦难中有心忍受，遵行神的旨意到底，这并不容易。然而是作王所必须的条件，要靠主追求，才能达到此目的。
自古以来，多少圣徒宁愿忍受极多的痛苦，艰难，危险，磨练，而始终不发怨言，不会自怜，不愿逃避，而是欢迎十字架，宁受监禁之苦，甚至受羞辱，被践踏到全身流血为止。正像希伯来书上所说的，他们忍受戏弄，鞭打，捆锁，监禁等各种的磨炼。披着绵羊，山羊的皮各处奔跑，受穷乏，患难，苦害，在旷野，山岭，山洞，地穴，漂流无定，本是世界不配有的人（来11：36-40）。这些人就是将来要与主一同作王的人。
The past Sunday was the last Sunday in the church calendar year. It was called Christ the king Sunday. It helps us to reflect on what we have learned from attending worship week after week throughout the whole year. Have we grasped the blessing as promised us in the Bible-- to reign with Him?
“If we endure, we will also reign with Him” (II Timothy 2:12)
Men from ancient times had tried hard and wanted to be kings. They press on to their quest. They fight against a lot of hardship. They strive with all their might. Eventually many failed bitterly. A few got what they wanted by paying a high price. Some would even pay what ever the cost through unjust means. The glory of being a king is the envy of everybody though not everybody is entitled to that privilege. Even if one manages to be king, how long can his glory last?
In the Bible, we realize that all believers have the promise and possibility to be kings. All the redeemed have the right and reign as kings. (Revelation 5:10, 20:6). There are some requirements and qualifications though which apply to those who actually reign and assume power. Like the loyalty and faithfulness of the servant as in Luke 19:17; or the ability to drink Christ’s cup and receive Christ’s baptism as in Mark 10:37,38; or the ones who were the only victors as in Revelation 2:20, 3:21.
Paul in today’s passage says, if we endure, we will also reign with Him. Endure means we persevere in all trials and tribulations. We carry out God’s will until the very end. This is not easy. But this is the condition we must meet. We have to trust God and get help from Him. Otherwise we can never endure to the end.
Since beginning of Christian tradition, many believers can endure pain, hardship, danger, persecution. They wouldn’t say one word of complain. They did not feel self pity. They wouldn’t run from trial. They welcome the cross. They would rather be put in jail, be mocked or beaten to bleed than to betray their Lord. Just like what is described in Hebrews. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskin and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was not worthy of them. (Hebrew 11:36-40) These are the people who will reign with Christ the king.
本周默想分享
上主日是教会年历最後一个主日称为基督为王主日，提醒我们在教会里崇拜生活又过了一年，我们在灵命长进上有甚麽体会？我们有没有把握圣经的应许，与基督一同作王呢？
"我们若能忍耐，也必和他一同作王。"（提後2：12）
古时人想作王，不知要费多少心血，经历多少艰辛，作多少努力。而且不容易成功，常是极大的危险，还多是不义的企图和妄想。然而作王的荣耀，却是人人都羡慕，但不是每个人可得的，而且世上的王能作多久呢？
在圣经中我们都看到，对於每个信徒来说，都有作王的应许和可能，一切被救赎的人都有作王的的权利（启5：10，20：6）。不过实际作王，掌权，却还有一定的条件和资格的。就如主有关神国的比喻，根据仆人的忠心和工作，而决定他们掌权的範围（路19：17）。坐在主的左右边的，必须能喝主所喝的杯，受主所受的洗（可10：37，38）。在启示录的七封信中，也讲到唯有得胜的，才能与主同坐宝座和得权柄治服列国（启2：20，3：21）。
这里保罗说，我们若能忍耐，也必和他一同作王。忍耐是指我们在一切苦难中有心忍受，遵行神的旨意到底，这并不容易。然而是作王所必须的条件，要靠主追求，才能达到此目的。
自古以来，多少圣徒宁愿忍受极多的痛苦，艰难，危险，磨练，而始终不发怨言，不会自怜，不愿逃避，而是欢迎十字架，宁受监禁之苦，甚至受羞辱，被践踏到全身流血为止。正像希伯来书上所说的，他们忍受戏弄，鞭打，捆锁，监禁等各种的磨炼。披着绵羊，山羊的皮各处奔跑，受穷乏，患难，苦害，在旷野，山岭，山洞，地穴，漂流无定，本是世界不配有的人（来11：36-40）。这些人就是将来要与主一同作王的人。
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Sermon DATE: 2008/11/23
Sermon DATE: 2008/11/23
SCRIPTURE READING: Colossians 2:6-10
SERMON: How to be rooted in Him
讲道题目: 怎樣在祂里面生根
1．When the Taliban leader challenged the US president elect Barack Obama by saying he has betrayed his African roots which traced back from the Muslim tradition, he was ignorant about what Christ can do to Barack Obama, a born again Christian. Our church’s theme for this year is, “Rooted and built up in Him”. What does that mean? It means as born again Christians we have to die and be buried with Christ. Paul said, “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) Jesus also said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24) Christ died, he was buried, but on the third day He rose. Similarly if we die with him, buried and rooted in Him, we are born again when he rises.
2．When a Catholic monk entered into the Benedictine order, he went through a ritual which signified his passage of dying and being born again with Christ. On that occasion he prostrated himself before the altar of the chapel in the very spot where his coffin will be set when he dies. Covered in a funeral pall, the death bell that tolls at the earthly parting of a brother sounded the solemn gongs of death. Then there was silence—the silence of death. The silence of the gathered community was broken by the singing of the Colossian word: “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). After that powerful word, there was more silence as the monk reflected on his solemn vow. Then the community broke into song with the words of Psalm 118, which is always a part of the Easter liturgy in the Benedictine community: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Ps. 118:17). After this resurrection proclamation, the deacon shouted the word from Ephesians: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Eph. 5:14). Then the bells of the Abbey rang loudly and joyfully, the monk rose, the funeral pall fell off, and the robe of the Benedictine order was placed on him. He received the kiss of peace and was welcomed into the community to live a life “hid in Christ.” This great liturgy of death and resurrection is a symbolic re-enactment of the Christian experience. Paul gave powerful witness to this experience when he said: I have been crucified with Christ; I am now alive in him.
3．To be a Christian is to change, to become new. It is not simply a matter of choosing a new life style; it has to do with being a new person. The new person does not emerge full-blown. Conversion, passing from life to death, may be the miracle of a moment, but the making of a saint—presenting oneself perfect in Christ—is the task of a lifetime. The dynamic process of saint-making is to work out in fact what is already true in principle. In position, in our relation to God in Jesus Christ, we are new persons. Now our condition, the actual life that we live, must be brought into harmony with our new position.
Two things happened in the fall, and in our own fall: 1. we became estranged from God; 2. His image within us was broken, distorted, defaced.
Two things happen in our salvation: 1. we are reconciled to God; our estrangement is dissolved by the justifying grace of God in the cross of Jesus. Our status is changed; we become friends of God, accepted by Him as though we were without sin. 2. There is the recreation of the image of God in the life of the believer.
Nothing less than a new creature “perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:280, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24), renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10) is the aim.
Paul uses a striking word to describe our new life in Christ—that word used in the liturgy of the Benedictine monk’s commitment. “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (3:3). A number of sentences in Colossians 2 and 3 combine to add to the powerful impact of this image. You have “died” with Christ and have been “buried” with Him in baptism (2:12). You were also “raised” with Him through faith in the working of God (2:12). God “has made” you alive together with Him” (2:13); you have been raised with Christ” (3:1).
A dramatic reality has been accomplished here. It is a settled fact that we are dead with Christ. There is no question we are risen with Him. We have died to all Christ died to; we are raised to all He was raised to. We now have to live out in practice what has already happened in fact.
The Christian is a new person united with Christ. The two overwhelming events through which Jesus passed into the power of an endless life were death and resurrection. Those who are united with Him must reproduce in their personal spiritual histories these two events. To be in and with Christ is to be identified with Him in death and resurrection. That is what it means to live a life “hidden with Christ in God”.
4．But what does that mean in our empirical life situation? It means this. Sometimes in our life there are such things called doubt, fear, despair and resignation. They are very real things. But they are the things Jesus died to for us. The opposite of these are the things Christ was raised to for us.
Melissa Fung a CBC journalist was kidnapped in Afghanistan for 28 days before she got finally released. After the event, everybody say she is intelligent, positive and tranquil. In the interview afterwards when asked how she could make it through the ordeal, she answered, “I know I am not going to die. I said to myself, dying is not an option here. Help is on the way.” Doesn’t Melissa have fear, doubt, despair and resignations as we all do when tribulation comes? Yes. But Melissa said she prayed with the Rosary to Mary and Jesus all the time. The fact is that Christ has destroyed the power of sin—together with its link to fear, doubt, despair and resignation… Now, sharing in the death of Christ, she reckon herself dead to sin, and is empowered to become what she potentially is. Let me say that again. Sharing in the death of Christ, we reckon ourselves dead to sin, and are empowered to become what we potentially are.
5．Rev. Maxie Dunnam in one of his e-sermon dynamic preaching testimonies tells about how one of his parishioners witnessed the power of Christ in the following letter:
“Dear Maxie: I am writing you this to let you know I heard your sermon on Christmas. God has done a great miracle for me everyday. This past fall I attempted suicide. I thought life was not worth living and that I had no purpose for being alive. But since then I have had people come forward and tell me how I have shown them to go on when things get tough. They have told me I have courage that many people don’t have. And these people knew nothing about my attempted suicide. And God has given me friends that each day watches out for me. I still don’t know why I am here but I know that God has a plan and a purpose for me or else He would have let me die this past fall. He would also not have sent friends to me that told me they love me and that I make a difference in their lives. So I thank God for working a miracle in my life by saving it and for giving me the miracle of friends. So God does exist and He does come through when you need Him the most. I had rather not leave my name, but I am a Christian that is fighting for life with the help of God. The past is dead, the future is alive—and I praise God!”
To live a life hidden with Christ in God means we are united in Christ’s death.
How to be rooted and built up in Him? We do that by living a life hidden with Christ in God.
Amen
SCRIPTURE READING: Colossians 2:6-10
SERMON: How to be rooted in Him
讲道题目: 怎樣在祂里面生根
1．When the Taliban leader challenged the US president elect Barack Obama by saying he has betrayed his African roots which traced back from the Muslim tradition, he was ignorant about what Christ can do to Barack Obama, a born again Christian. Our church’s theme for this year is, “Rooted and built up in Him”. What does that mean? It means as born again Christians we have to die and be buried with Christ. Paul said, “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3) Jesus also said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24) Christ died, he was buried, but on the third day He rose. Similarly if we die with him, buried and rooted in Him, we are born again when he rises.
2．When a Catholic monk entered into the Benedictine order, he went through a ritual which signified his passage of dying and being born again with Christ. On that occasion he prostrated himself before the altar of the chapel in the very spot where his coffin will be set when he dies. Covered in a funeral pall, the death bell that tolls at the earthly parting of a brother sounded the solemn gongs of death. Then there was silence—the silence of death. The silence of the gathered community was broken by the singing of the Colossian word: “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). After that powerful word, there was more silence as the monk reflected on his solemn vow. Then the community broke into song with the words of Psalm 118, which is always a part of the Easter liturgy in the Benedictine community: “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (Ps. 118:17). After this resurrection proclamation, the deacon shouted the word from Ephesians: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Eph. 5:14). Then the bells of the Abbey rang loudly and joyfully, the monk rose, the funeral pall fell off, and the robe of the Benedictine order was placed on him. He received the kiss of peace and was welcomed into the community to live a life “hid in Christ.” This great liturgy of death and resurrection is a symbolic re-enactment of the Christian experience. Paul gave powerful witness to this experience when he said: I have been crucified with Christ; I am now alive in him.
3．To be a Christian is to change, to become new. It is not simply a matter of choosing a new life style; it has to do with being a new person. The new person does not emerge full-blown. Conversion, passing from life to death, may be the miracle of a moment, but the making of a saint—presenting oneself perfect in Christ—is the task of a lifetime. The dynamic process of saint-making is to work out in fact what is already true in principle. In position, in our relation to God in Jesus Christ, we are new persons. Now our condition, the actual life that we live, must be brought into harmony with our new position.
Two things happened in the fall, and in our own fall: 1. we became estranged from God; 2. His image within us was broken, distorted, defaced.
Two things happen in our salvation: 1. we are reconciled to God; our estrangement is dissolved by the justifying grace of God in the cross of Jesus. Our status is changed; we become friends of God, accepted by Him as though we were without sin. 2. There is the recreation of the image of God in the life of the believer.
Nothing less than a new creature “perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:280, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:24), renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Col. 3:10) is the aim.
Paul uses a striking word to describe our new life in Christ—that word used in the liturgy of the Benedictine monk’s commitment. “For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (3:3). A number of sentences in Colossians 2 and 3 combine to add to the powerful impact of this image. You have “died” with Christ and have been “buried” with Him in baptism (2:12). You were also “raised” with Him through faith in the working of God (2:12). God “has made” you alive together with Him” (2:13); you have been raised with Christ” (3:1).
A dramatic reality has been accomplished here. It is a settled fact that we are dead with Christ. There is no question we are risen with Him. We have died to all Christ died to; we are raised to all He was raised to. We now have to live out in practice what has already happened in fact.
The Christian is a new person united with Christ. The two overwhelming events through which Jesus passed into the power of an endless life were death and resurrection. Those who are united with Him must reproduce in their personal spiritual histories these two events. To be in and with Christ is to be identified with Him in death and resurrection. That is what it means to live a life “hidden with Christ in God”.
4．But what does that mean in our empirical life situation? It means this. Sometimes in our life there are such things called doubt, fear, despair and resignation. They are very real things. But they are the things Jesus died to for us. The opposite of these are the things Christ was raised to for us.
Melissa Fung a CBC journalist was kidnapped in Afghanistan for 28 days before she got finally released. After the event, everybody say she is intelligent, positive and tranquil. In the interview afterwards when asked how she could make it through the ordeal, she answered, “I know I am not going to die. I said to myself, dying is not an option here. Help is on the way.” Doesn’t Melissa have fear, doubt, despair and resignations as we all do when tribulation comes? Yes. But Melissa said she prayed with the Rosary to Mary and Jesus all the time. The fact is that Christ has destroyed the power of sin—together with its link to fear, doubt, despair and resignation… Now, sharing in the death of Christ, she reckon herself dead to sin, and is empowered to become what she potentially is. Let me say that again. Sharing in the death of Christ, we reckon ourselves dead to sin, and are empowered to become what we potentially are.
5．Rev. Maxie Dunnam in one of his e-sermon dynamic preaching testimonies tells about how one of his parishioners witnessed the power of Christ in the following letter:
“Dear Maxie: I am writing you this to let you know I heard your sermon on Christmas. God has done a great miracle for me everyday. This past fall I attempted suicide. I thought life was not worth living and that I had no purpose for being alive. But since then I have had people come forward and tell me how I have shown them to go on when things get tough. They have told me I have courage that many people don’t have. And these people knew nothing about my attempted suicide. And God has given me friends that each day watches out for me. I still don’t know why I am here but I know that God has a plan and a purpose for me or else He would have let me die this past fall. He would also not have sent friends to me that told me they love me and that I make a difference in their lives. So I thank God for working a miracle in my life by saving it and for giving me the miracle of friends. So God does exist and He does come through when you need Him the most. I had rather not leave my name, but I am a Christian that is fighting for life with the help of God. The past is dead, the future is alive—and I praise God!”
To live a life hidden with Christ in God means we are united in Christ’s death.
How to be rooted and built up in Him? We do that by living a life hidden with Christ in God.
Amen
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2008/11/23
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Last week in the pulpit I talked about the gift of giving. This week let us explore this gift deeper in light of Abraham’s story.
“I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because your have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.”(Genesis 22:16-17)
When God tested Abraham by asking him to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice, He was giving out a test as well as a great revelation. He foretold He would give his only begotten son to sacrifice for our sake and at the same time He expected us to do the same for Him. He did not want blemished or second best offering. He wanted only the best and the dearest ones from our hearts. He wanted to know if we would be willing to give up our most dearly beloved persons or things to Him. God did not just pick anyone to test. He let only those who loved Him, respected Him and belonged to Him to take the test. When God had favour on a certain person, He chose him to take the test so that he had a chance to show his love and affection to God.
The offering of Abraham’s only son is an example to show that human beings can give to God. And they should give to an extant like Abraham. Some believers think themselves as doing God a great favour by giving or sacrificing some little things that they have. In fact this is not giving God the honour due Him. God deserves our total love, our total surrender, our total giving. No matter how much we give, it is still not enough compared to what God gives us. Some believers give little to God but expect God to give them much in return. No matter how much God gives them in return they say God is not giving them enough. They say God owe them much. This is not only foolish but also ungrateful.
When Abraham gave, he never expected God to give him much in return. Nevertheless eventually he got rewards more than hundreds of thousands of times pay off. By willingness to give up one son, he got descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Therefore, let us not be afraid to give God too much, too expensive, too dear a sacrifice. God will never under pay us. Let us give of our time, energy, will, mind and everything dear in our life. As long as it makes God happy we will give it to God. Do you have anything so precious or anyone so dear that you can not let go and offer them to God? You need to give them up now! You need to do it today.
本周默想分享
上週講道我提到甘心奉獻本身就是一種恩賜。本週讓我們再從亞伯拉罕甘心奉獻的事蹟，得到蒙福的亮光。
“耶和華說，你既行這事，不留下你的兒子。就是你獨生的兒子，我便指著自己起誓說，論福，我必賜大福給你，論子孫，我必叫你的子孫多起來。”（創22：16，17）
當神試驗亞伯拉罕，叫他獻上獨生子以撒的時候，是一次極大的試驗，也是一次極大的啟示。這不但預表神將他自己的獨生子為我們捨了，也說明神對信他的人所發出同樣的的要求和期望。他不喜歡不好的，或次好的，乃是喜歡唯一的，上好的，我們最心愛的。他要看人究竟肯不肯，捨不捨得。神這要求不是對隨便一個人的要求，乃是對屬神，敬神，愛神之人才有的要求。神看重那個人，就給他這種試驗和機會好讓他能表現他對神的心意。
亞伯拉罕獻獨生子的事，說明人是可以，而且應當對神奉獻。人要敬愛，順服神到如此地步。有的信徒認為奉獻一點錢，為神做一點事，放棄某些利益，已經是了不起，足夠有餘了。這實在是不尊重神，以為神就值得他們那一點的奉獻，那一點的愛戴。神是值得我們完全的奉獻，完全的愛。獻多少，獻甚麼，都不會太過，而是不夠不足的。可是有些信徒奉獻很少，卻想從神那裏得很多。神給他們幾多都不滿足，好像是神欠了他們的，這不但是太愚昧，也是太忘恩了。
亞伯拉罕在奉獻的時候，雖沒有指望得到神的賞賜和報答，然而結果卻得到千萬倍的賞賜和報答。捨去一個兒子，得到如天上的星星，海邊的沙那樣無數的子孫。所以讓我們不要怕奉獻給神太多，太寶貴，太心愛了。神絕不會虧待愛他的人。讓我們把光陰，精力，意志，理性，以及我們所有寶貴的東西，只要是神所喜歡的都完完全全地獻給他吧。你現在有甚麼東西或心愛的人不肯獻給神嗎？應當立刻擺上，並且在今天行動。
Last week in the pulpit I talked about the gift of giving. This week let us explore this gift deeper in light of Abraham’s story.
“I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because your have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.”(Genesis 22:16-17)
When God tested Abraham by asking him to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice, He was giving out a test as well as a great revelation. He foretold He would give his only begotten son to sacrifice for our sake and at the same time He expected us to do the same for Him. He did not want blemished or second best offering. He wanted only the best and the dearest ones from our hearts. He wanted to know if we would be willing to give up our most dearly beloved persons or things to Him. God did not just pick anyone to test. He let only those who loved Him, respected Him and belonged to Him to take the test. When God had favour on a certain person, He chose him to take the test so that he had a chance to show his love and affection to God.
The offering of Abraham’s only son is an example to show that human beings can give to God. And they should give to an extant like Abraham. Some believers think themselves as doing God a great favour by giving or sacrificing some little things that they have. In fact this is not giving God the honour due Him. God deserves our total love, our total surrender, our total giving. No matter how much we give, it is still not enough compared to what God gives us. Some believers give little to God but expect God to give them much in return. No matter how much God gives them in return they say God is not giving them enough. They say God owe them much. This is not only foolish but also ungrateful.
When Abraham gave, he never expected God to give him much in return. Nevertheless eventually he got rewards more than hundreds of thousands of times pay off. By willingness to give up one son, he got descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Therefore, let us not be afraid to give God too much, too expensive, too dear a sacrifice. God will never under pay us. Let us give of our time, energy, will, mind and everything dear in our life. As long as it makes God happy we will give it to God. Do you have anything so precious or anyone so dear that you can not let go and offer them to God? You need to give them up now! You need to do it today.
本周默想分享
上週講道我提到甘心奉獻本身就是一種恩賜。本週讓我們再從亞伯拉罕甘心奉獻的事蹟，得到蒙福的亮光。
“耶和華說，你既行這事，不留下你的兒子。就是你獨生的兒子，我便指著自己起誓說，論福，我必賜大福給你，論子孫，我必叫你的子孫多起來。”（創22：16，17）
當神試驗亞伯拉罕，叫他獻上獨生子以撒的時候，是一次極大的試驗，也是一次極大的啟示。這不但預表神將他自己的獨生子為我們捨了，也說明神對信他的人所發出同樣的的要求和期望。他不喜歡不好的，或次好的，乃是喜歡唯一的，上好的，我們最心愛的。他要看人究竟肯不肯，捨不捨得。神這要求不是對隨便一個人的要求，乃是對屬神，敬神，愛神之人才有的要求。神看重那個人，就給他這種試驗和機會好讓他能表現他對神的心意。
亞伯拉罕獻獨生子的事，說明人是可以，而且應當對神奉獻。人要敬愛，順服神到如此地步。有的信徒認為奉獻一點錢，為神做一點事，放棄某些利益，已經是了不起，足夠有餘了。這實在是不尊重神，以為神就值得他們那一點的奉獻，那一點的愛戴。神是值得我們完全的奉獻，完全的愛。獻多少，獻甚麼，都不會太過，而是不夠不足的。可是有些信徒奉獻很少，卻想從神那裏得很多。神給他們幾多都不滿足，好像是神欠了他們的，這不但是太愚昧，也是太忘恩了。
亞伯拉罕在奉獻的時候，雖沒有指望得到神的賞賜和報答，然而結果卻得到千萬倍的賞賜和報答。捨去一個兒子，得到如天上的星星，海邊的沙那樣無數的子孫。所以讓我們不要怕奉獻給神太多，太寶貴，太心愛了。神絕不會虧待愛他的人。讓我們把光陰，精力，意志，理性，以及我們所有寶貴的東西，只要是神所喜歡的都完完全全地獻給他吧。你現在有甚麼東西或心愛的人不肯獻給神嗎？應當立刻擺上，並且在今天行動。
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2008/11/16
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
In this world we have many relationships with people, things and events. Some are so close to us that we can not let go. They occupy our thought, our life, and our time. However, they are no big deals. They can be changed and lost any moment and can cause us stress, trouble and misery. They create so much pain that we ought to let go of them without any regret.
Only Jesus’ relationship with us is reliable. His relationship with us is like that of a good shepherd and his sheep. It will never change. This relationship is deeper and closer than any kind of worldly relationships. In fact all other relationships come into being because of Jesus. All the principles, arrangement and placement of relationship lie under the deployment of Jesus. If Jesus wants it change and perish, it would be gone and have no trace of existence.
Therefore our main duty and concern in life is to have good relationship with Jesus. If we do that well, other things will fall into place. If we do not make it right with Jesus, everything else will have problem. Yes, only Jesus is my good shepherd. He knows me and I know him. He is the only God in the whole world that matters to me.
How I wish I can be released from all the earthly relationships; the fight between humans; and the trivial happening of events. For all these things will come to pass. All the unresolved problems will be over. Only our relationship with Christ remains the same in this life and in the life to come. There is nothing that can separate our relationship with the Lord. There is nothing that can separate us from his love. For this love is in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:38-39). We have to take this relationship seriously. Let's treasure it; maintain it; and grow in it deeply.
本周默想分享
耶稣说：我是好牧人。我认识我的羊，我的羊也认识我。
在世界上与我们有关系的人，事，物很多，有的似乎很密切，放不下，离不开，缺不了，不住地占据着我们的思想，生活，时间。然而那一切并不是真的有甚麽了不起的关系，不可分解的关系，其实是没有真正常存的意义。因为都可以随时发生变化失去的，以致那些关系成为重担，麻烦，痛苦，所以就是那些关系改变了，解散了，也不足可惜。
只有耶稣与我们的关系，好像好牧人与羊的关系，才是真正永远不改变的，这种关系比世上任何的关系更深，比任何的事物更近。实在说来，其他一切的关系，也是由耶稣而来。是由耶稣所规定，安排，赐给的，都是附属在与耶稣的关系里，甚麽时候耶稣要是改变，消逝，就变得无影无踪，毫不存在了。
所以唯一的责任和目标，是保持和耶稣有正当美好的关系，其他问题就解决了，和耶稣的关系不对，别的也会出问题。啊！真的，只有耶稣是我的好牧人，他认识我，我认识他，他是那唯一与我有关系的神。 但愿能割断一切属地的关系，人间的纠缠，世事的烦琐。不必为任何人，事的关系操劳，烦恼，因为早晚都要完全解除，脱离，只有和主的的关系是确定不变的，今生不变，永远不变。也没有任何事物能使我们与主的关系改变，正如谁也不能使我们与他的爱隔绝一样，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的（罗8：38，39）。我们要极其珍重，保守，加深与主的关系。
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
In this world we have many relationships with people, things and events. Some are so close to us that we can not let go. They occupy our thought, our life, and our time. However, they are no big deals. They can be changed and lost any moment and can cause us stress, trouble and misery. They create so much pain that we ought to let go of them without any regret.
Only Jesus’ relationship with us is reliable. His relationship with us is like that of a good shepherd and his sheep. It will never change. This relationship is deeper and closer than any kind of worldly relationships. In fact all other relationships come into being because of Jesus. All the principles, arrangement and placement of relationship lie under the deployment of Jesus. If Jesus wants it change and perish, it would be gone and have no trace of existence.
Therefore our main duty and concern in life is to have good relationship with Jesus. If we do that well, other things will fall into place. If we do not make it right with Jesus, everything else will have problem. Yes, only Jesus is my good shepherd. He knows me and I know him. He is the only God in the whole world that matters to me.
How I wish I can be released from all the earthly relationships; the fight between humans; and the trivial happening of events. For all these things will come to pass. All the unresolved problems will be over. Only our relationship with Christ remains the same in this life and in the life to come. There is nothing that can separate our relationship with the Lord. There is nothing that can separate us from his love. For this love is in our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:38-39). We have to take this relationship seriously. Let's treasure it; maintain it; and grow in it deeply.
本周默想分享
耶稣说：我是好牧人。我认识我的羊，我的羊也认识我。
在世界上与我们有关系的人，事，物很多，有的似乎很密切，放不下，离不开，缺不了，不住地占据着我们的思想，生活，时间。然而那一切并不是真的有甚麽了不起的关系，不可分解的关系，其实是没有真正常存的意义。因为都可以随时发生变化失去的，以致那些关系成为重担，麻烦，痛苦，所以就是那些关系改变了，解散了，也不足可惜。
只有耶稣与我们的关系，好像好牧人与羊的关系，才是真正永远不改变的，这种关系比世上任何的关系更深，比任何的事物更近。实在说来，其他一切的关系，也是由耶稣而来。是由耶稣所规定，安排，赐给的，都是附属在与耶稣的关系里，甚麽时候耶稣要是改变，消逝，就变得无影无踪，毫不存在了。
所以唯一的责任和目标，是保持和耶稣有正当美好的关系，其他问题就解决了，和耶稣的关系不对，别的也会出问题。啊！真的，只有耶稣是我的好牧人，他认识我，我认识他，他是那唯一与我有关系的神。 但愿能割断一切属地的关系，人间的纠缠，世事的烦琐。不必为任何人，事的关系操劳，烦恼，因为早晚都要完全解除，脱离，只有和主的的关系是确定不变的，今生不变，永远不变。也没有任何事物能使我们与主的关系改变，正如谁也不能使我们与他的爱隔绝一样，这爱是在我们的主基督耶稣里的（罗8：38，39）。我们要极其珍重，保守，加深与主的关系。
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2008/11/9
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Last week a parishioner wrote me an email which he circulated to others. He asked if I supported the “liberal theological stand” or not. He wanted just a yes or no answer. When I tried to explain my position, he said, “No, Rev. Chan you have still not answered my question. Just say yes or no!” Having no other resort but this opportunity I am now using this column to answer to his question in a serious and honest way. I do not belong to the liberals, but the liberals belong to me. Just like I do not belong to the evangelicals, but the evangelicals belong to me. As a United Church minister I know the United Church does not belong to the liberals but the liberals belong to it. Just as the United Church does not belong to the evangelicals, but the evangelicals belong to it.
As Christians, we do not say we have to be loyal to any sects or to declare faithfulness to any persons. We only need to be loyal to our Lord and remain faithful to him. Colossians 1:10 said, “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.” Christians have a fundamental principle in life. It is to live a life worthy of the Lord, and please him in every way. Because we belong to the Lord, we are beneficiary of his great salvation and grace. We no longer belong to ourselves. We no longer belong to any other persons. We do not owe anybody anything. We do not have to please anyone other than the Lord. Often times we get misunderstood by others. But even then we can bear the injustice because we know we are doing it for the Lord. To live a life worthy of the Lord should be our number one concern. It is also our duty and our call.
Therefore no matter what work we are doing, the first thing we have to ask is thus. Is this worthy of the Lord? Is this worthy of His name? Can this bring glory to the Lord? Do we live a life that pleases the Lord? Have we made Him happy? Do not ask I ought to do this, I ought to do that! Can I do this? Can I do that? Especially do not ask, “How would people think if I do this?” What we need to ask first of all is to ask the Lord who loves us. What does He think? Does He think this is right?
We do know what He thinks because we have the Bible that teaches us, and we have the Holy Spirit that anoints us. If it makes the Holy Spirit worry, it is the thing we can not do. Though it seems not a big deal—like following the mob and doing foolish things that hamper unity. Or it may be things that people say it won’t hurt to do. But when we know it doesn’t please the Lord, we should not do it. If we do not live a life that is worthy of the Lord, and pleasing in His sight, how can we stand in front of Him when we have to meet Him face to face one day? Not to mention we lose communication with Him here and now. What a great pity it is to live in disconnection with the Lord. Our heart will have no peace or joy. And we will have to be disciplined by Him sooner or later. Live a life that is worthy of the Lord. We are not living under whatever doctrines, traditions, rites and rules we find in the church. We are not declaring whatever theological stands, preaching, ideology, school of thoughts we find in the seminary. We are serving a true and living Lord. What matter most is to live a life worthy of Him and please Him in every way.
本週默想分享
上週有一位教友用公開的電郵信件問我一個問題，要我明確的表態。 他說，“陳牧師你支不支持自由派神學的立場？”他堅持地說他只想知我說，‘是’或‘不是’，我說其他解釋的話，他都說我沒有回答他的問題。我沒有辦法，只有用這個地方嚴肅和謹慎地回答他。我不屬於自由派，但自由派是屬於我的。正如我不屬於福音派，但是福音派是屬於我的一樣。作為聯合教會的牧師，我知道聯合教會不屬於自由派，也不屬於福音派，但自由派是屬於它的，正如福音派也是屬於它的一樣。作為基督徒，我們不能說我要效忠於甚麼派別，要對得起甚麼人。我們只需要效忠於主，對得起主。歌羅西書1章10節說，“好叫你們行事為人對得起主，凡事蒙他喜悅。”基督徒有一個基本行事為人的原則，就是要對得起主，凡事蒙祂喜悅。因為我們是屬主的人，蒙了主極大的恩典和拯救，我們不再是屬自己的人，也不是屬乎別人，不欠任何人的債，也不要討任何人的喜悅，除非是為了主的緣故，受了委屈，也無所謂。怎樣做才能對得起主，是我們第一要考慮的事，也是我們唯一的責任和本分。
所以我們做任何事，要問一問是不是對得起主，與主的名相稱嗎？能夠使主得榮耀嗎？我們行事為人是叫主喜悅嗎？讓主心滿意足嗎？不管我們自己覺得應不應該，可不可以，也不管別人以為如何，首先的是要問愛我們的主。祂的意思如何？祂看為是對的嗎？
我們是可以知道的，因為不但有聖經明文的教訓，我們裏面也有恩膏的教訓。若叫聖靈擔憂，那就不能做，即或不是甚麼罪，如盲從附和，人云亦云的去搞分裂。或者人以為你沒有錯，但我們知道主不喜悅，就不應當做。我們若行事為人對不起神，不討祂的喜悅，將來怎能見他呢？就是現在失去和主的交通，也是極為可惜。心中必沒有平安喜樂，而且還要受主的管教。行事為人要對得起主。我們不是守甚麼教條，傳說，禮儀，規矩，也不是對待甚麼道理，講論，組織，制度，乃是一位又真又活的主，對得起祂，討祂喜悅。
Last week a parishioner wrote me an email which he circulated to others. He asked if I supported the “liberal theological stand” or not. He wanted just a yes or no answer. When I tried to explain my position, he said, “No, Rev. Chan you have still not answered my question. Just say yes or no!” Having no other resort but this opportunity I am now using this column to answer to his question in a serious and honest way. I do not belong to the liberals, but the liberals belong to me. Just like I do not belong to the evangelicals, but the evangelicals belong to me. As a United Church minister I know the United Church does not belong to the liberals but the liberals belong to it. Just as the United Church does not belong to the evangelicals, but the evangelicals belong to it.
As Christians, we do not say we have to be loyal to any sects or to declare faithfulness to any persons. We only need to be loyal to our Lord and remain faithful to him. Colossians 1:10 said, “And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.” Christians have a fundamental principle in life. It is to live a life worthy of the Lord, and please him in every way. Because we belong to the Lord, we are beneficiary of his great salvation and grace. We no longer belong to ourselves. We no longer belong to any other persons. We do not owe anybody anything. We do not have to please anyone other than the Lord. Often times we get misunderstood by others. But even then we can bear the injustice because we know we are doing it for the Lord. To live a life worthy of the Lord should be our number one concern. It is also our duty and our call.
Therefore no matter what work we are doing, the first thing we have to ask is thus. Is this worthy of the Lord? Is this worthy of His name? Can this bring glory to the Lord? Do we live a life that pleases the Lord? Have we made Him happy? Do not ask I ought to do this, I ought to do that! Can I do this? Can I do that? Especially do not ask, “How would people think if I do this?” What we need to ask first of all is to ask the Lord who loves us. What does He think? Does He think this is right?
We do know what He thinks because we have the Bible that teaches us, and we have the Holy Spirit that anoints us. If it makes the Holy Spirit worry, it is the thing we can not do. Though it seems not a big deal—like following the mob and doing foolish things that hamper unity. Or it may be things that people say it won’t hurt to do. But when we know it doesn’t please the Lord, we should not do it. If we do not live a life that is worthy of the Lord, and pleasing in His sight, how can we stand in front of Him when we have to meet Him face to face one day? Not to mention we lose communication with Him here and now. What a great pity it is to live in disconnection with the Lord. Our heart will have no peace or joy. And we will have to be disciplined by Him sooner or later. Live a life that is worthy of the Lord. We are not living under whatever doctrines, traditions, rites and rules we find in the church. We are not declaring whatever theological stands, preaching, ideology, school of thoughts we find in the seminary. We are serving a true and living Lord. What matter most is to live a life worthy of Him and please Him in every way.
本週默想分享
上週有一位教友用公開的電郵信件問我一個問題，要我明確的表態。 他說，“陳牧師你支不支持自由派神學的立場？”他堅持地說他只想知我說，‘是’或‘不是’，我說其他解釋的話，他都說我沒有回答他的問題。我沒有辦法，只有用這個地方嚴肅和謹慎地回答他。我不屬於自由派，但自由派是屬於我的。正如我不屬於福音派，但是福音派是屬於我的一樣。作為聯合教會的牧師，我知道聯合教會不屬於自由派，也不屬於福音派，但自由派是屬於它的，正如福音派也是屬於它的一樣。作為基督徒，我們不能說我要效忠於甚麼派別，要對得起甚麼人。我們只需要效忠於主，對得起主。歌羅西書1章10節說，“好叫你們行事為人對得起主，凡事蒙他喜悅。”基督徒有一個基本行事為人的原則，就是要對得起主，凡事蒙祂喜悅。因為我們是屬主的人，蒙了主極大的恩典和拯救，我們不再是屬自己的人，也不是屬乎別人，不欠任何人的債，也不要討任何人的喜悅，除非是為了主的緣故，受了委屈，也無所謂。怎樣做才能對得起主，是我們第一要考慮的事，也是我們唯一的責任和本分。
所以我們做任何事，要問一問是不是對得起主，與主的名相稱嗎？能夠使主得榮耀嗎？我們行事為人是叫主喜悅嗎？讓主心滿意足嗎？不管我們自己覺得應不應該，可不可以，也不管別人以為如何，首先的是要問愛我們的主。祂的意思如何？祂看為是對的嗎？
我們是可以知道的，因為不但有聖經明文的教訓，我們裏面也有恩膏的教訓。若叫聖靈擔憂，那就不能做，即或不是甚麼罪，如盲從附和，人云亦云的去搞分裂。或者人以為你沒有錯，但我們知道主不喜悅，就不應當做。我們若行事為人對不起神，不討祂的喜悅，將來怎能見他呢？就是現在失去和主的交通，也是極為可惜。心中必沒有平安喜樂，而且還要受主的管教。行事為人要對得起主。我們不是守甚麼教條，傳說，禮儀，規矩，也不是對待甚麼道理，講論，組織，制度，乃是一位又真又活的主，對得起祂，討祂喜悅。
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Spiritual Thought for the Week 2008/11/2
Spiritual Thought for the Week
As I was approaching the end of my medical leave, I had a preparatory meeting with the brothers and sisters in the church council. They asked me a question, “Rev. Chan, we don’t know why you got sick, and you left us just like that. Now you are back and we don’t know what we can do for you!” I said, “You do not need to do anything for me. You only need to listen to God and do the job for Him.” For the Lord had given us a job, while he found no one to do it he was appalled. It was recorded in Ezekiel 22:30 thus: “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”
The issue is not because God does not have a mission for us. The issue is because God can not find us willing to do the job. Many of us like to build high towers and walls. But few of us like to do the job of filling the gaps and repairing the walls. Many people want to speak on a high platform. But few are willing to intercede for others and bow down before the Lord. Yet, these are the people God has been looking for. He wants to find people who intercede for the land so that God will not destroy it.
To finish a big project like building a new city is not something anyone can do. But to repair the wall and fill the gap is a job you and I can do. To speak eloquently in front of a congregation may be something only great preachers can do. But to pray for others before the Lord is something you and I can do. In fact this is one of the most significant, accomplishable and effective jobs we are supposed to do. You can not say you don’t find any such job in our church! Can you? Look at the life and work in our church; the life and work of our brothers and sisters at home, in schools and in the offices; have we bore good Christian witness to others… has God’s name been glorified in our deeds…these are some of the things we can pray for one another before the Lord.
God is searching for people like these to do the job. Who is willing to do this job? This job costs time and commitment. But the pay off is great. It involves the everlasting value of eternity. So if you want to work and find out there is not much work opportunity out there. Come here, there is a lot of work opportunities. If you see no prospect in the job you do. Come here. There is great prospect that promises you bright future. Come and share your joy with the Lord. You can come and have intercessory prayer for the church, for our ministry, for brothers and sisters; for believers and non believers. With your petition and supplications you see how God will bestow his grace upon us, works on his mighty act and accomplishes his good will for us.
Do we have a gap to fill and a wall to repair in this church? Oh yes, we do. Not only that we have one, we have many that need our attention. If we have gaps to fill and not fill them. They will grow bigger and bigger as days go by. This will create weak points and unprotected spots for Satan to launch attacks on. We put up considerable amount of time to care for our families and love ones. But who care for the house of God? Who care for the work of the kingdom? God is perplexed when he see his people have no one who cares, no one who do intercession for others. And the consequence is detrimental. “So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own head all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 22:31
The Lord is looking for someone who will watch and pray for others. Are you willing to do this job?
本週默想分享
在我病癒之後，第一次與堂會弟兄姊妹開會的時候，他們問我，“陳牧師，我們不知道你為甚麼突然因病告假，你現在回來了，我們也不知道我們能做甚麼來幫助你。”我說，“你們不需要做甚麼來幫助我，你們只須要聽神的話，願意做神要你們做的工作就成了。”神已經在聖經上說過嚴厲的話：“我要尋找一人重修牆垣，在我面前為這國站在破口防堵。。。，卻找不著一個。”（結22：30）
神不是沒有使命和工作，乃是找不到一人肯作，願意作。許多人願意建築高大的城樓，卻不願意修堵破口。許多人願意在人面前居高談論，卻不願意在神面前俯伏代求。然而這正是神所要尋找的人，要作的工。
我們要作大的工，造一個新的城，可能是辦不到。但修理墻垣，堵住破口卻有可能作成。我們在人面前講，可能機會不多，但到神前代禱卻常可實行。其實這是更重要，更有把握和效果的工作。難道神今天沒有墻垣修補嗎？沒有破口可堵嗎？神的家是什麼情況，神的兒女們是什麼光景，神的見證在那裏表明，神的榮耀在那裏顯出。。。你們都應該比我更清楚你們要為教會代求的事。
神現在就是尋找這樣的人，有誰願意作這樣的工作呢？是要付出代價的，然而卻是有永恒價值的。所以當我們有心為主工作，而沒有機會的時候，這裏有極多的機會。沒有出路的時候，這是更好的出路。到神那裏去吧！與神同樂，為我們的教會，為許多信徒來獻上代禱，祈求，讓神賜下恩典，顯出大能，成就祂的旨意。今天我們的教會破口不但有，而且很多，若不堵住，會越來越大。撒但就有更多藉口攻擊我們，欺騙我們。我們都顧念自己的家，想自己的事。有誰以神家的事為念，為神的國勞苦呢？神見無人拯救，無人代求，甚為詫異。“所以我將惱恨倒在他們身上，用烈怒的火滅了他們，照他們所行的，報應在他們頭上。這是耶和華說的。”（結22：31）
神要尋找守望代求的人，你肯去嗎？
As I was approaching the end of my medical leave, I had a preparatory meeting with the brothers and sisters in the church council. They asked me a question, “Rev. Chan, we don’t know why you got sick, and you left us just like that. Now you are back and we don’t know what we can do for you!” I said, “You do not need to do anything for me. You only need to listen to God and do the job for Him.” For the Lord had given us a job, while he found no one to do it he was appalled. It was recorded in Ezekiel 22:30 thus: “I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.”
The issue is not because God does not have a mission for us. The issue is because God can not find us willing to do the job. Many of us like to build high towers and walls. But few of us like to do the job of filling the gaps and repairing the walls. Many people want to speak on a high platform. But few are willing to intercede for others and bow down before the Lord. Yet, these are the people God has been looking for. He wants to find people who intercede for the land so that God will not destroy it.
To finish a big project like building a new city is not something anyone can do. But to repair the wall and fill the gap is a job you and I can do. To speak eloquently in front of a congregation may be something only great preachers can do. But to pray for others before the Lord is something you and I can do. In fact this is one of the most significant, accomplishable and effective jobs we are supposed to do. You can not say you don’t find any such job in our church! Can you? Look at the life and work in our church; the life and work of our brothers and sisters at home, in schools and in the offices; have we bore good Christian witness to others… has God’s name been glorified in our deeds…these are some of the things we can pray for one another before the Lord.
God is searching for people like these to do the job. Who is willing to do this job? This job costs time and commitment. But the pay off is great. It involves the everlasting value of eternity. So if you want to work and find out there is not much work opportunity out there. Come here, there is a lot of work opportunities. If you see no prospect in the job you do. Come here. There is great prospect that promises you bright future. Come and share your joy with the Lord. You can come and have intercessory prayer for the church, for our ministry, for brothers and sisters; for believers and non believers. With your petition and supplications you see how God will bestow his grace upon us, works on his mighty act and accomplishes his good will for us.
Do we have a gap to fill and a wall to repair in this church? Oh yes, we do. Not only that we have one, we have many that need our attention. If we have gaps to fill and not fill them. They will grow bigger and bigger as days go by. This will create weak points and unprotected spots for Satan to launch attacks on. We put up considerable amount of time to care for our families and love ones. But who care for the house of God? Who care for the work of the kingdom? God is perplexed when he see his people have no one who cares, no one who do intercession for others. And the consequence is detrimental. “So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own head all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord.” Ezekiel 22:31
The Lord is looking for someone who will watch and pray for others. Are you willing to do this job?
本週默想分享
在我病癒之後，第一次與堂會弟兄姊妹開會的時候，他們問我，“陳牧師，我們不知道你為甚麼突然因病告假，你現在回來了，我們也不知道我們能做甚麼來幫助你。”我說，“你們不需要做甚麼來幫助我，你們只須要聽神的話，願意做神要你們做的工作就成了。”神已經在聖經上說過嚴厲的話：“我要尋找一人重修牆垣，在我面前為這國站在破口防堵。。。，卻找不著一個。”（結22：30）
神不是沒有使命和工作，乃是找不到一人肯作，願意作。許多人願意建築高大的城樓，卻不願意修堵破口。許多人願意在人面前居高談論，卻不願意在神面前俯伏代求。然而這正是神所要尋找的人，要作的工。
我們要作大的工，造一個新的城，可能是辦不到。但修理墻垣，堵住破口卻有可能作成。我們在人面前講，可能機會不多，但到神前代禱卻常可實行。其實這是更重要，更有把握和效果的工作。難道神今天沒有墻垣修補嗎？沒有破口可堵嗎？神的家是什麼情況，神的兒女們是什麼光景，神的見證在那裏表明，神的榮耀在那裏顯出。。。你們都應該比我更清楚你們要為教會代求的事。
神現在就是尋找這樣的人，有誰願意作這樣的工作呢？是要付出代價的，然而卻是有永恒價值的。所以當我們有心為主工作，而沒有機會的時候，這裏有極多的機會。沒有出路的時候，這是更好的出路。到神那裏去吧！與神同樂，為我們的教會，為許多信徒來獻上代禱，祈求，讓神賜下恩典，顯出大能，成就祂的旨意。今天我們的教會破口不但有，而且很多，若不堵住，會越來越大。撒但就有更多藉口攻擊我們，欺騙我們。我們都顧念自己的家，想自己的事。有誰以神家的事為念，為神的國勞苦呢？神見無人拯救，無人代求，甚為詫異。“所以我將惱恨倒在他們身上，用烈怒的火滅了他們，照他們所行的，報應在他們頭上。這是耶和華說的。”（結22：31）
神要尋找守望代求的人，你肯去嗎？
Sermon 2008/10/26
Sermon 2008/10/26
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 96:1-6
SERMON: Eight things I love about this church
講道題目: 我愛這禮拜堂的八個原因
On this church anniversary Sunday, it is most appropriate to ask ourselves why I love this church.. For me there are eight things I love about this church.
1. God’s strength is found in our sanctuary—When ever I enter the sanctuary I feel the strength of God working in my spirit. Strength is power in action.. Strength which is found in our sanctuary is the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes us understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit makes us understand who Jesus Christ is. The Holy Spirit makes us understand the meaning of the Holy Sacrament celebrated here. The Holy Spirit works in the heart of each individual member, and making each believer a living stone. He unites and builds up these living stones until the whole grow into a holy temple of the Lord.
2. God’s beauty is enjoyed in our sanctuary—When ever I come to our church I can sense beauty in the sanctuary also. Like King David said in Psalm 96:6, “Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. There is beauty in the sanctuary as well as strength. What is this beauty? Beauty is the abstract term to denote any resemblance of grace. It is used in the Bible to signify holiness. It is constantly associated with that word as the human expression of divine perfection. For holiness is but another name for wholeness, and signifies that to which nothing can be added, but which blends in itself all moral perfection in its utmost harmony and completeness. Holiness is God’s beauty, and when we pray with the writer of the 90th Psalm, “Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,” we pray that God may be present with us in his holiness, and impart to us the blessings which result from that holiness. So when we say, “Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary,” we mean by the term “beauty” to declare that God’s holiness—the perfection and glory of the divine Being—is to be seen and enjoyed in his sanctuary.
3. The Bible is the center of our belief.--I find a Bible placed at the center of our sanctuary. It reminds us that our church is built from a belief that God speaks to us. We come here to hear God speaks. This is a house where one comes to listen to God. This is a fundamental doctrine of our faith—that God speaks to us. Our church testifies to that.
4. We have an organ, hymn books, a choir and a place to pray here—That means our church testifies to the complimentary fact that not only does God speak to us, but also we can speak to God. This is a place where we can come, and out of our joy and prosperity praise God, or out of our sorrow and adversity call upon him for comfort and strength. Here we can confess our sins to our Father or can ask him for the wisdom that is not of this world. This church is an eloquent testimony to the fact that we can speak to God and that God will hear and answer.
5. We have a pulpit –We testify to the fact that there is a Gospel in this world. Our pulpit means, not a study about truth, but a message from the truth, which is something to be proclaimed, a gospel. Our church testifies to the reality of this gospel. It might be summed up thus: God the Eternal Father; we his children; we are meant for God; God loving us and saving us when he departs from the Father; Christ the means of this salvation, bring grace and life from God freely to all mankind; the life, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the revelation of the eternal heart of God and the goal of mankind; the immortality of the soul; the coming of the kingdom of God whose law is love and service; the final brotherhood of mankind. These are the things I treasure in my pulpit.
6. We have a communion table—While Catholic churches have an elaborate altar, our church has a table. But whatever it is, it is a sign of the presence of Christ. When we gather about this table we expect to meet Christ face to face. Christ is there. This communion is always a testimony to the present Christ. We are a testimony to the world of the living Christ. Our Christ is not a dead prophet who wonderfully taught and beautifully lived and heroically died in Palestine; but he is the triumphant, living Christ, the eternal companion of our way to Emmaus, the One who is alive forevermore.
7. We have a Sunday School—We meet on Sunday mornings to study the truth. We have children and adults who meet to study the Word of God. This means our church is dedicated to the truth.
8. We are an assembly of God’s people—We the people are the real church, the organized body of believers—not the building, but the souls within the building. The little flock which has built the church building has dedicated ourselves to the service of the world. Our church exists to serve the world from the strength and beauty in our sanctuary. Our church stands for service. Our church will begin with the neighbourhood. We will try to reproduce ourselves throughout the whole community. We will touch every interest of the community—physical, as well as spiritual. We will address ourselves to poverty, intemperance, vice, corruption of all sorts. Our boys and girls, our men and women are all our brothers and sisters (even the foreigners) and we will welcome them and care for them all. With God’s help we will make it.
These are the reasons why I love this church. And these are also the reasons why I know this church loves me. During the time of my infirmity the devil tried hard to talk me into not loving this church. But I rebuked the devil by telling him I love this church and this church loves me. No one can separate me from the love of God revealed in this church. Praise the Lord I won my battle over the devil. I hope you all can win the same battle too when the devil tempts you not to love this church.
Amen
A Synopsis of the message
On this church anniversary Sunday, it is most appropriate to ask ourselves why I love this church.. For me there are eight things I love about this church.
1. God’s strength is found in our sanctuary
2. God’s beauty is enjoyed in our sanctuary
3. The Bible is the center of our belief
4. We have an organ, hymn books, a choir and a place to pray
5. We have a pulpit
6. We have a communion table
7. We have a Sunday School
8. We are an assembly of God’s people
These are the reasons why I love this church. And these are also the reasons why I know this church loves me. During the time of my infirmity the devil tried hard to talk me into not loving this church. But I rebuked the devil by telling him I love this church and this church loves me. No one can separate me from the love of God revealed in this church. Praise the Lord I won my battle over the devil. I hope you all can win the same battle too when the devil tempts you not to love this church.
信息大綱
在堂慶主日的今天，我們要問“是甚麼東西使我愛這禮拜堂？”
1. 在這裏我找到神的力量
2. 在這裏我找到神的榮美
3. 聖經是我們信仰的中心
4. 我們可以唱詩祈禱神
5. 我們可以聽到神的道
6. 我們可以守聖餐
7. 我們可以參加主日學
8. 我們知道自己是被神的愛所呼召出來的子民
正是這些原因，使我愛這禮拜堂，也使這禮拜堂愛我。魔鬼常常用謊言欺騙我，說：“你不配愛這禮拜堂，這禮拜堂也不會愛你。” 但我對牠說：“我愛這禮拜堂，這禮拜堂也愛我。你不能把我和禮拜堂的愛分開。”各位親愛的弟兄姊妹，倘若您遇到魔鬼給你這樣的試探，請您能夠像我一樣，有相同的決心和信心，把魔鬼趕走。
SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 96:1-6
SERMON: Eight things I love about this church
講道題目: 我愛這禮拜堂的八個原因
On this church anniversary Sunday, it is most appropriate to ask ourselves why I love this church.. For me there are eight things I love about this church.
1. God’s strength is found in our sanctuary—When ever I enter the sanctuary I feel the strength of God working in my spirit. Strength is power in action.. Strength which is found in our sanctuary is the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes us understand the Bible. The Holy Spirit makes us understand who Jesus Christ is. The Holy Spirit makes us understand the meaning of the Holy Sacrament celebrated here. The Holy Spirit works in the heart of each individual member, and making each believer a living stone. He unites and builds up these living stones until the whole grow into a holy temple of the Lord.
2. God’s beauty is enjoyed in our sanctuary—When ever I come to our church I can sense beauty in the sanctuary also. Like King David said in Psalm 96:6, “Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. There is beauty in the sanctuary as well as strength. What is this beauty? Beauty is the abstract term to denote any resemblance of grace. It is used in the Bible to signify holiness. It is constantly associated with that word as the human expression of divine perfection. For holiness is but another name for wholeness, and signifies that to which nothing can be added, but which blends in itself all moral perfection in its utmost harmony and completeness. Holiness is God’s beauty, and when we pray with the writer of the 90th Psalm, “Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us,” we pray that God may be present with us in his holiness, and impart to us the blessings which result from that holiness. So when we say, “Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary,” we mean by the term “beauty” to declare that God’s holiness—the perfection and glory of the divine Being—is to be seen and enjoyed in his sanctuary.
3. The Bible is the center of our belief.--I find a Bible placed at the center of our sanctuary. It reminds us that our church is built from a belief that God speaks to us. We come here to hear God speaks. This is a house where one comes to listen to God. This is a fundamental doctrine of our faith—that God speaks to us. Our church testifies to that.
4. We have an organ, hymn books, a choir and a place to pray here—That means our church testifies to the complimentary fact that not only does God speak to us, but also we can speak to God. This is a place where we can come, and out of our joy and prosperity praise God, or out of our sorrow and adversity call upon him for comfort and strength. Here we can confess our sins to our Father or can ask him for the wisdom that is not of this world. This church is an eloquent testimony to the fact that we can speak to God and that God will hear and answer.
5. We have a pulpit –We testify to the fact that there is a Gospel in this world. Our pulpit means, not a study about truth, but a message from the truth, which is something to be proclaimed, a gospel. Our church testifies to the reality of this gospel. It might be summed up thus: God the Eternal Father; we his children; we are meant for God; God loving us and saving us when he departs from the Father; Christ the means of this salvation, bring grace and life from God freely to all mankind; the life, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the revelation of the eternal heart of God and the goal of mankind; the immortality of the soul; the coming of the kingdom of God whose law is love and service; the final brotherhood of mankind. These are the things I treasure in my pulpit.
6. We have a communion table—While Catholic churches have an elaborate altar, our church has a table. But whatever it is, it is a sign of the presence of Christ. When we gather about this table we expect to meet Christ face to face. Christ is there. This communion is always a testimony to the present Christ. We are a testimony to the world of the living Christ. Our Christ is not a dead prophet who wonderfully taught and beautifully lived and heroically died in Palestine; but he is the triumphant, living Christ, the eternal companion of our way to Emmaus, the One who is alive forevermore.
7. We have a Sunday School—We meet on Sunday mornings to study the truth. We have children and adults who meet to study the Word of God. This means our church is dedicated to the truth.
8. We are an assembly of God’s people—We the people are the real church, the organized body of believers—not the building, but the souls within the building. The little flock which has built the church building has dedicated ourselves to the service of the world. Our church exists to serve the world from the strength and beauty in our sanctuary. Our church stands for service. Our church will begin with the neighbourhood. We will try to reproduce ourselves throughout the whole community. We will touch every interest of the community—physical, as well as spiritual. We will address ourselves to poverty, intemperance, vice, corruption of all sorts. Our boys and girls, our men and women are all our brothers and sisters (even the foreigners) and we will welcome them and care for them all. With God’s help we will make it.
These are the reasons why I love this church. And these are also the reasons why I know this church loves me. During the time of my infirmity the devil tried hard to talk me into not loving this church. But I rebuked the devil by telling him I love this church and this church loves me. No one can separate me from the love of God revealed in this church. Praise the Lord I won my battle over the devil. I hope you all can win the same battle too when the devil tempts you not to love this church.
Amen
A Synopsis of the message
On this church anniversary Sunday, it is most appropriate to ask ourselves why I love this church.. For me there are eight things I love about this church.
1. God’s strength is found in our sanctuary
2. God’s beauty is enjoyed in our sanctuary
3. The Bible is the center of our belief
4. We have an organ, hymn books, a choir and a place to pray
5. We have a pulpit
6. We have a communion table
7. We have a Sunday School
8. We are an assembly of God’s people
These are the reasons why I love this church. And these are also the reasons why I know this church loves me. During the time of my infirmity the devil tried hard to talk me into not loving this church. But I rebuked the devil by telling him I love this church and this church loves me. No one can separate me from the love of God revealed in this church. Praise the Lord I won my battle over the devil. I hope you all can win the same battle too when the devil tempts you not to love this church.
信息大綱
在堂慶主日的今天，我們要問“是甚麼東西使我愛這禮拜堂？”
1. 在這裏我找到神的力量
2. 在這裏我找到神的榮美
3. 聖經是我們信仰的中心
4. 我們可以唱詩祈禱神
5. 我們可以聽到神的道
6. 我們可以守聖餐
7. 我們可以參加主日學
8. 我們知道自己是被神的愛所呼召出來的子民
正是這些原因，使我愛這禮拜堂，也使這禮拜堂愛我。魔鬼常常用謊言欺騙我，說：“你不配愛這禮拜堂，這禮拜堂也不會愛你。” 但我對牠說：“我愛這禮拜堂，這禮拜堂也愛我。你不能把我和禮拜堂的愛分開。”各位親愛的弟兄姊妹，倘若您遇到魔鬼給你這樣的試探，請您能夠像我一樣，有相同的決心和信心，把魔鬼趕走。
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Spiritual Thought for the 2008/10/19
Spiritual Thought for the Week
Four months ago I fell ill and had to rest at home. People asked me, “What have you been doing at home for so long?” I told them, “I have been praying in my home everyday.” I prayed for all of you; I prayed for the church; I prayed for myself. In the prayers God told me you guys were praying for me also. The church had been praying for me too. I heard God telling me through the Bible as recorded in Acts 12:5 that “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
God often puts his children and servants in difficult situations. The situations become so miserable that we find there is no way to go except the way to prayer. There is no one to turn to except to turn to our Father God. There is no strength we can rely on but the strength of our Creator.
Therefore no matter how unbearable the hardship; no matter how unfair life treats us; no matter how unjust the world has been to us, if we care enough to come before the Lord on our knees, problems will turn to solutions; impossibilities will turn to possibilities again. Solutions and possibilities often come by way of either one of the two following scenarios: 1. When we pray ourselves as in the case of Paul and Silas praying in the prison cell as recorded in Acts 16:25-26, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” 2. When others pray for us through intercession on our behalf. Like Peter’s miraculo0us escape from prison as recorded in Acts 12:5-6. “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared” to lead him out of prison… And the rest was history. Prayers are never said in vain when they are said in earnest trust and belief. The church during Peter’s imprisonment was praying earnestly for Peter. Prayers have to be said earnestly. Otherwise you won’t see the obvious result. For if you pray earnestly, it means you are not only desperately in need of help, but you are also in sheer reliance that God will deliver you. You know His power and His might will prevail in the end.
Hardship to a believer is like good medicine to his soul. It pushes him to come before God. There is no help at hand except the help of prayer. There is no one to call upon except to call upon God. It is then time to bring us closest to God. We will then see the priceless value of prayer. When we are alone with God, and free from the entanglement of the world and human relationships, we find life’s new possibility, and we see God never so real revealing himself to us. So no matter what problems you have. It may be large or small. No matter what situations you face. It may be hard or easy. Please bring them before the Lord. As long as you pray earnestly, God will never ignore your plea. God will exercise His power of mighty act. He works miracles for you. Since the beginning of history, God has listened to thousands of millions of people in their prayers. Especially when the church prays earnestly together, the earth will shake, the prison doors will fling open, God’s servant will be set free, the gate of the Gospel will be spread wide open.
I have gained my strength back. I am well now. I have been set free. Thanks be to God. Let us go together again and fight the good fight for God.
本週默想分享
四個月前我病了，須在家休息。許多人在問，我這四個月在做甚麼？我每天都在切切的禱告。我為您們禱告；我為教會禱告；我為自己禱告。在禱告中神告訴我，原來你們也在為我禱告；教會也在為我禱告。我聽見神藉著使徒行傳12：5告訴我“教會都為他切切的禱告神”
神有時讓祂的兒女和僕人陷到患難中，環境那樣惡劣，遭遇非常不幸，自己無能為力，似乎只有任憑惡人逼害，或者眾叛親離，再也無路可走了。然而卻有一條通天道路，就是禱告。還有一種無窮的力量，就是神自己。
所以，不管境遇如何艱難，緊逼，危險，只要到神的面前來切切禱告，困難就能得到解決。這種解決有時是藉著自己的禱告，如使徒行傳16：25-26 所記載的，約在半夜，保羅和西拉禱告唱詩讚美神，眾囚犯也側耳而聽。忽然地大震動，甚至監牢的地基都搖動了，監門立刻全開，眾囚犯的鎖鏈也都鬆開了。。。有時卻是藉著教會和別人的代禱，如彼得在使徒行傳12：5-19天使救彼得出監的事件一樣。無論如何，禱告是不會落空的。當時教會是切切的為彼得禱告。禱告不懇切，效果就不明顯。切切禱告，不但表明需要的急逼，也表明信心的把握，知道禱告必定能成就。
信徒遇見難處，是他屬靈的益處，催逼他到神面前來。因為沒有別的依靠和辦法，就只有禱告。只剩下神，這樣就把我們帶到和神更親近，將禱告看為更寶貴。而脫離世界和人的各種阻攔，又一次得著生命的轉機，更認識神自己。無論遇見甚麼事，環境多麼難，只要禱告，切切禱告，神不會不聽，祂要顯出祂的大能，行出神蹟來。自古以來，神聽了千萬人的禱告，特別是教會的懇切禱告。地會搖動，監獄的門開啟，神的僕人得釋放，福音之門大開。
我的病好了，我得釋放了，讓我們繼續為福音打美好的勝仗。
Four months ago I fell ill and had to rest at home. People asked me, “What have you been doing at home for so long?” I told them, “I have been praying in my home everyday.” I prayed for all of you; I prayed for the church; I prayed for myself. In the prayers God told me you guys were praying for me also. The church had been praying for me too. I heard God telling me through the Bible as recorded in Acts 12:5 that “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
God often puts his children and servants in difficult situations. The situations become so miserable that we find there is no way to go except the way to prayer. There is no one to turn to except to turn to our Father God. There is no strength we can rely on but the strength of our Creator.
Therefore no matter how unbearable the hardship; no matter how unfair life treats us; no matter how unjust the world has been to us, if we care enough to come before the Lord on our knees, problems will turn to solutions; impossibilities will turn to possibilities again. Solutions and possibilities often come by way of either one of the two following scenarios: 1. When we pray ourselves as in the case of Paul and Silas praying in the prison cell as recorded in Acts 16:25-26, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” 2. When others pray for us through intercession on our behalf. Like Peter’s miraculo0us escape from prison as recorded in Acts 12:5-6. “So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared” to lead him out of prison… And the rest was history. Prayers are never said in vain when they are said in earnest trust and belief. The church during Peter’s imprisonment was praying earnestly for Peter. Prayers have to be said earnestly. Otherwise you won’t see the obvious result. For if you pray earnestly, it means you are not only desperately in need of help, but you are also in sheer reliance that God will deliver you. You know His power and His might will prevail in the end.
Hardship to a believer is like good medicine to his soul. It pushes him to come before God. There is no help at hand except the help of prayer. There is no one to call upon except to call upon God. It is then time to bring us closest to God. We will then see the priceless value of prayer. When we are alone with God, and free from the entanglement of the world and human relationships, we find life’s new possibility, and we see God never so real revealing himself to us. So no matter what problems you have. It may be large or small. No matter what situations you face. It may be hard or easy. Please bring them before the Lord. As long as you pray earnestly, God will never ignore your plea. God will exercise His power of mighty act. He works miracles for you. Since the beginning of history, God has listened to thousands of millions of people in their prayers. Especially when the church prays earnestly together, the earth will shake, the prison doors will fling open, God’s servant will be set free, the gate of the Gospel will be spread wide open.
I have gained my strength back. I am well now. I have been set free. Thanks be to God. Let us go together again and fight the good fight for God.
本週默想分享
四個月前我病了，須在家休息。許多人在問，我這四個月在做甚麼？我每天都在切切的禱告。我為您們禱告；我為教會禱告；我為自己禱告。在禱告中神告訴我，原來你們也在為我禱告；教會也在為我禱告。我聽見神藉著使徒行傳12：5告訴我“教會都為他切切的禱告神”
神有時讓祂的兒女和僕人陷到患難中，環境那樣惡劣，遭遇非常不幸，自己無能為力，似乎只有任憑惡人逼害，或者眾叛親離，再也無路可走了。然而卻有一條通天道路，就是禱告。還有一種無窮的力量，就是神自己。
所以，不管境遇如何艱難，緊逼，危險，只要到神的面前來切切禱告，困難就能得到解決。這種解決有時是藉著自己的禱告，如使徒行傳16：25-26 所記載的，約在半夜，保羅和西拉禱告唱詩讚美神，眾囚犯也側耳而聽。忽然地大震動，甚至監牢的地基都搖動了，監門立刻全開，眾囚犯的鎖鏈也都鬆開了。。。有時卻是藉著教會和別人的代禱，如彼得在使徒行傳12：5-19天使救彼得出監的事件一樣。無論如何，禱告是不會落空的。當時教會是切切的為彼得禱告。禱告不懇切，效果就不明顯。切切禱告，不但表明需要的急逼，也表明信心的把握，知道禱告必定能成就。
信徒遇見難處，是他屬靈的益處，催逼他到神面前來。因為沒有別的依靠和辦法，就只有禱告。只剩下神，這樣就把我們帶到和神更親近，將禱告看為更寶貴。而脫離世界和人的各種阻攔，又一次得著生命的轉機，更認識神自己。無論遇見甚麼事，環境多麼難，只要禱告，切切禱告，神不會不聽，祂要顯出祂的大能，行出神蹟來。自古以來，神聽了千萬人的禱告，特別是教會的懇切禱告。地會搖動，監獄的門開啟，神的僕人得釋放，福音之門大開。
我的病好了，我得釋放了，讓我們繼續為福音打美好的勝仗。
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Rev Chan is on medical leave as of June 12, 2008
Dear friends,
Since I am on medical leave, I will not be writing in this column weekly as I did before. But I will still write on an irregular basis. Hope to talk to you again soon.
各位親愛的弟兄姊妹，
因為我现在正放病假，這個專欄我不會像以前每周向各位分享信息了，但在不定期的形式，我還會在這裏跟您們通信的，請密切留意下次我的消息。
Wilson Chan 陳偉甡啟
Since I am on medical leave, I will not be writing in this column weekly as I did before. But I will still write on an irregular basis. Hope to talk to you again soon.
各位親愛的弟兄姊妹，
因為我现在正放病假，這個專欄我不會像以前每周向各位分享信息了，但在不定期的形式，我還會在這裏跟您們通信的，請密切留意下次我的消息。
Wilson Chan 陳偉甡啟
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Message From The Pastor for June 15
Message from the Pastor for Father's Day Sunday
Today is Father’s Day. We fathers need to remind our children to love not only their earthly fathers but also their Heavenly Father. They have to please not only their earthly fathers but also their Heavenly Father.
“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”(I Corinthians 7:29-31)
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”(II Peter 3:10)
“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”(I John 2:17)
Men thought the world is for ever. Life is real. Things in the world are reliable. While the end time is approaching, only spiritual men can discern what is eternal, real and reliable. “The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”(I Corinthians 2:15-16)
If we really believe in God, we will not be bogged down by the things of this world. Let us concentrate on matters that are holy, pure, Godly and pleasing in the sight of the Lord. For only these are things that will make our heavenly Father happy.
牧者信息分享
今天是父親節。我們在地上做父親的，要常常提醒兒女們，不要單愛地上的父親，更重要的，是愛天上的父。不要單討地上父親的喜悅，更要緊的，是討天父的喜悅。
“用世物的，要像不用世物；因為這世界的樣子將要過去了。”（林前7：31）願神開我們的眼睛，看見世界的樣子將要過去了，時候減少了，有一天，地和其上的物，都要燒盡了，天必大有響聲廢去，有形質的都要被烈火銷化了（彼後3：10）。現在這末世的時候，可以說，那有妻子的要像沒有妻子，哀哭的要像不哀哭，快樂的要像不快樂，置買的，要像無有所得；用事物的要像不用世物的，因為全世界要過去了。（約壹2：17）人將站在何地呢？一切都要被火燒盡，還能剩下甚麼呢？在大災難的時候，人還盼望甚麼呢？
人本來以為世界是永恒的，人生是真實的，世物是可靠的。但在天地都要改變的前夕，徵兆已經顯露的時候，萬物都會有異樣的感覺，可是人不都能感覺到那要來的極大變化，只有屬靈的人，能看透萬事（林前2：15）。真相信神話語的人，才能參考聖經的預言，有所察覺。有許多的預兆正在應驗，外界的情形和人心的光景都會有現象。
如果相信神的話，有屬靈的眼光，看到世界的樣子，將要過去，時候不多了。那麼就要無所掛慮，牽連，無可愛慕留戀。神既然決定除去舊造換成新造，為甚麼要和舊的世界一同過去呢？一切事物都要成為被提的障礙和累贅。還是追求聖潔，敬虔，殷勤，使自己沒有指摘，安然見主。其它都可有可無，甚至越少越好，可以專心為主，討主的喜悅。
Today is Father’s Day. We fathers need to remind our children to love not only their earthly fathers but also their Heavenly Father. They have to please not only their earthly fathers but also their Heavenly Father.
“What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.”(I Corinthians 7:29-31)
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.”(II Peter 3:10)
“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”(I John 2:17)
Men thought the world is for ever. Life is real. Things in the world are reliable. While the end time is approaching, only spiritual men can discern what is eternal, real and reliable. “The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”(I Corinthians 2:15-16)
If we really believe in God, we will not be bogged down by the things of this world. Let us concentrate on matters that are holy, pure, Godly and pleasing in the sight of the Lord. For only these are things that will make our heavenly Father happy.
牧者信息分享
今天是父親節。我們在地上做父親的，要常常提醒兒女們，不要單愛地上的父親，更重要的，是愛天上的父。不要單討地上父親的喜悅，更要緊的，是討天父的喜悅。
“用世物的，要像不用世物；因為這世界的樣子將要過去了。”（林前7：31）願神開我們的眼睛，看見世界的樣子將要過去了，時候減少了，有一天，地和其上的物，都要燒盡了，天必大有響聲廢去，有形質的都要被烈火銷化了（彼後3：10）。現在這末世的時候，可以說，那有妻子的要像沒有妻子，哀哭的要像不哀哭，快樂的要像不快樂，置買的，要像無有所得；用事物的要像不用世物的，因為全世界要過去了。（約壹2：17）人將站在何地呢？一切都要被火燒盡，還能剩下甚麼呢？在大災難的時候，人還盼望甚麼呢？
人本來以為世界是永恒的，人生是真實的，世物是可靠的。但在天地都要改變的前夕，徵兆已經顯露的時候，萬物都會有異樣的感覺，可是人不都能感覺到那要來的極大變化，只有屬靈的人，能看透萬事（林前2：15）。真相信神話語的人，才能參考聖經的預言，有所察覺。有許多的預兆正在應驗，外界的情形和人心的光景都會有現象。
如果相信神的話，有屬靈的眼光，看到世界的樣子，將要過去，時候不多了。那麼就要無所掛慮，牽連，無可愛慕留戀。神既然決定除去舊造換成新造，為甚麼要和舊的世界一同過去呢？一切事物都要成為被提的障礙和累贅。還是追求聖潔，敬虔，殷勤，使自己沒有指摘，安然見主。其它都可有可無，甚至越少越好，可以專心為主，討主的喜悅。
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Message From The Pastor for June 8
Message from the Pastor for Third Sunday after Trinity
“And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
Because Peter denied his Lord three times, only he needed to turn back. Right? No, not right! We also need to turn back too! Have we denied our Lord in words and in deeds? Have we denied our Lord in ways that make people unable to see who we are as Jesus’ disciples? Even though a person never denies his Lord verbally and always admits he is a Christian, yet his behaviour which is contradictory to Jesus’ teaching will cause people to stumble and fall just as bad.
Because of the Lord’s abundant grace and love, Peter turned back. He went out and cried. He realized his unworthiness and recognized his weakness. He could not face his Lord. He knew he was utterly wrong. And the Lord forgave him and accepted him. This became the biggest turning point in his life. He turned back. Once he denied his Lord. He ran away from Him and betrayed Him. Now he turned back to the Lord. He followed Him and walked with Him again. It was only after he turned back that he could lead others to turn back and he strengthened them. There are many brothers and sisters out there who need to turn back. They have drifted away from the Lord and fell into the snare of the devil. Who will go out to rescue them? You and I are the ones to do the work. But you and I have to turn back first before we can go and strengthen others.
There are some brothers and sisters who after they fall become so discouraged they doubt if the Lord would take them back any more. They can not get back on their feet again. They feel so ashamed they do not want to turn back. This is a big misunderstanding to the Lord. The Lord never forsakes us. He loves us still. He wants to lift us up. He wants to make good use of us again and start from the beginning once more. Therefore whenever we feel weak we should turn back and be strengthened. The Lord is waiting for you and me!
牧者信息分享
“你回頭以後，要堅固你的弟兄。”（路22：32）
彼得因為三次不認主，是需要回頭的。但我們就不需要回頭嗎？我們有沒有在人的面前不認主，或者在口頭上或者在行動上，我們有沒有否認主，叫人看不出我們是耶穌的門徒，即或有人外表是沒有否認主，別人也知道他是基督徒，然而在行為上卻不能見證是一個屬基督的人。因為他的行事為人不對，與耶穌的教訓不合，就不能叫別人認識基督反而叫人跌倒。
因為主豐盛的恩典和不變的大愛，彼得回頭了，他出去痛哭了，他深深感到自己的虧欠，軟弱和失敗，對不起主，他大錯特錯了。然而主沒有丟棄他，仍然收納他，這是他一生最大的轉機。他回頭了，從一個否認主，遠離主，背叛主的地位上回頭了，他轉向神，再親近主，跟隨主，重新走在主的路上。
他回頭了以後，能夠堅固弟兄，能帶領別人回頭。也只有當他自己回頭以後，才能帶領別人回頭，才能堅固弟兄。需要回頭的人很多，許多軟弱的弟兄否認主，遠離主，落到撒但的網羅中。有誰去拯救挽回他們？只有你，和我，自己先回頭才行，你，和我，自己回頭了，才能去堅固別的弟兄。
可是我們有些人，跌倒以後，灰心了，覺得被主丟棄了，再也爬不起來了，甚至慚愧不肯回頭，這是誤會了主。祂並沒有丟棄我們，忘記我們，仍然愛我們，要扶起我們，並要重新使用我們。所以甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就要立刻回頭，主在等候你，和我呢！
“And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)
Because Peter denied his Lord three times, only he needed to turn back. Right? No, not right! We also need to turn back too! Have we denied our Lord in words and in deeds? Have we denied our Lord in ways that make people unable to see who we are as Jesus’ disciples? Even though a person never denies his Lord verbally and always admits he is a Christian, yet his behaviour which is contradictory to Jesus’ teaching will cause people to stumble and fall just as bad.
Because of the Lord’s abundant grace and love, Peter turned back. He went out and cried. He realized his unworthiness and recognized his weakness. He could not face his Lord. He knew he was utterly wrong. And the Lord forgave him and accepted him. This became the biggest turning point in his life. He turned back. Once he denied his Lord. He ran away from Him and betrayed Him. Now he turned back to the Lord. He followed Him and walked with Him again. It was only after he turned back that he could lead others to turn back and he strengthened them. There are many brothers and sisters out there who need to turn back. They have drifted away from the Lord and fell into the snare of the devil. Who will go out to rescue them? You and I are the ones to do the work. But you and I have to turn back first before we can go and strengthen others.
There are some brothers and sisters who after they fall become so discouraged they doubt if the Lord would take them back any more. They can not get back on their feet again. They feel so ashamed they do not want to turn back. This is a big misunderstanding to the Lord. The Lord never forsakes us. He loves us still. He wants to lift us up. He wants to make good use of us again and start from the beginning once more. Therefore whenever we feel weak we should turn back and be strengthened. The Lord is waiting for you and me!
牧者信息分享
“你回頭以後，要堅固你的弟兄。”（路22：32）
彼得因為三次不認主，是需要回頭的。但我們就不需要回頭嗎？我們有沒有在人的面前不認主，或者在口頭上或者在行動上，我們有沒有否認主，叫人看不出我們是耶穌的門徒，即或有人外表是沒有否認主，別人也知道他是基督徒，然而在行為上卻不能見證是一個屬基督的人。因為他的行事為人不對，與耶穌的教訓不合，就不能叫別人認識基督反而叫人跌倒。
因為主豐盛的恩典和不變的大愛，彼得回頭了，他出去痛哭了，他深深感到自己的虧欠，軟弱和失敗，對不起主，他大錯特錯了。然而主沒有丟棄他，仍然收納他，這是他一生最大的轉機。他回頭了，從一個否認主，遠離主，背叛主的地位上回頭了，他轉向神，再親近主，跟隨主，重新走在主的路上。
他回頭了以後，能夠堅固弟兄，能帶領別人回頭。也只有當他自己回頭以後，才能帶領別人回頭，才能堅固弟兄。需要回頭的人很多，許多軟弱的弟兄否認主，遠離主，落到撒但的網羅中。有誰去拯救挽回他們？只有你，和我，自己先回頭才行，你，和我，自己回頭了，才能去堅固別的弟兄。
可是我們有些人，跌倒以後，灰心了，覺得被主丟棄了，再也爬不起來了，甚至慚愧不肯回頭，這是誤會了主。祂並沒有丟棄我們，忘記我們，仍然愛我們，要扶起我們，並要重新使用我們。所以甚麼時候軟弱，甚麼時候就要立刻回頭，主在等候你，和我呢！
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Message From The Pastor for June 1
Message from the Pastor for Second Sunday after Trinity
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:35
While we live amongst people, inevitably we encounter people that wrong us, persecute and hurt us. Sometimes we wrong them first. Other times both have wronged each other. But even when others are completely wrong, according to the Lord’s teaching we should still forgive. Do not remember other’s wrong. Do not bear grudges or try to revenge. The reason is very clear. It is because the number of times we wrong God, and sin against God, exceeds the number of times others wrong us and do injustice to us. Just like the parable in Matthew 18:23-35. Comparing the ten thousand talents with a hundred denarii is the difference of one million times. The Lord has forgiven us thousands of wrongs, cancelled us thousands of debts. We should do like wise to others. God forgives us not just seven times, or seventy times seven, but countless of times. As such we should not count the number of times we forgive others.
If we do not forgive others God will not forgive us. The consequence is like what is said in the parable. His master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. Since the ten thousand talents can never be re-paid we have to forgive all those who owe us so that our Father in heaven will forgive us. This way our prayers will be heard. Often times our prayers are not heard. It is because when we do not forgive others, God also do not forgive us and do not listen to our prayers. On the one hand we bear grudges; remember other’s wrongs and refuse to forgive. But on the other hand we ask God to forgive our wrongs, cancel our debts, have mercy and listen to our prayers. Something obviously absurd and contradictory is going on here. Proverb 19:11 says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offence.”
牧者信息分享
“你們各人若不從心裏饒恕你的弟兄，我天父也要這樣待你們了。”馬太18：35.
我們活在世上人們中間，難免有人得罪我們，對不起我們，甚至逼迫，傷害我們。雖然有時是我們先得罪人，對不起人，又或者互相都有錯。但就算完全是對方的錯，按主的教訓，也應該饒恕人。不可記住人的惡，懷恨人，甚至報復人。這原因很清楚，因為我們得罪神，對不起神，遠超過人得罪我們，對不起我們。正如馬太福音18：23-35 的比喻說，一千萬銀子和十兩銀子相比，是差一百萬倍，神既饒恕了我們一千罪過，赦免了我們一千虧損，我們也當照樣饒恕人。神饒恕我們不止七次，或七十個七次，而是無數次。所以我們也不當計較饒恕人的次數。
如果我們不饒恕人，神也不饒恕我們的過犯。那結果就像這比喻所說的，要被交給掌刑的，等還清所欠的債，那一千萬銀子是無法歸還的。所以要饒恕一切得罪我們的人，好叫天父也饒恕我們。這樣我們的禱告才蒙垂聽。許多禱告不蒙主應允，是因為不饒恕人。因此神也不肯饒恕我們，不肯聽我們的禱告了。我們一方面恨人，紀念人的惡，不肯饒恕人。另一方面卻到神面前求赦免，饒恕，求神施恩，應允所求，顯然是有矛盾的，不相配的。箴言19：11說“人有見識，就不輕易發怒，寬恕人的過失，便是自己的榮耀。”
“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:35
While we live amongst people, inevitably we encounter people that wrong us, persecute and hurt us. Sometimes we wrong them first. Other times both have wronged each other. But even when others are completely wrong, according to the Lord’s teaching we should still forgive. Do not remember other’s wrong. Do not bear grudges or try to revenge. The reason is very clear. It is because the number of times we wrong God, and sin against God, exceeds the number of times others wrong us and do injustice to us. Just like the parable in Matthew 18:23-35. Comparing the ten thousand talents with a hundred denarii is the difference of one million times. The Lord has forgiven us thousands of wrongs, cancelled us thousands of debts. We should do like wise to others. God forgives us not just seven times, or seventy times seven, but countless of times. As such we should not count the number of times we forgive others.
If we do not forgive others God will not forgive us. The consequence is like what is said in the parable. His master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. Since the ten thousand talents can never be re-paid we have to forgive all those who owe us so that our Father in heaven will forgive us. This way our prayers will be heard. Often times our prayers are not heard. It is because when we do not forgive others, God also do not forgive us and do not listen to our prayers. On the one hand we bear grudges; remember other’s wrongs and refuse to forgive. But on the other hand we ask God to forgive our wrongs, cancel our debts, have mercy and listen to our prayers. Something obviously absurd and contradictory is going on here. Proverb 19:11 says, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offence.”
牧者信息分享
“你們各人若不從心裏饒恕你的弟兄，我天父也要這樣待你們了。”馬太18：35.
我們活在世上人們中間，難免有人得罪我們，對不起我們，甚至逼迫，傷害我們。雖然有時是我們先得罪人，對不起人，又或者互相都有錯。但就算完全是對方的錯，按主的教訓，也應該饒恕人。不可記住人的惡，懷恨人，甚至報復人。這原因很清楚，因為我們得罪神，對不起神，遠超過人得罪我們，對不起我們。正如馬太福音18：23-35 的比喻說，一千萬銀子和十兩銀子相比，是差一百萬倍，神既饒恕了我們一千罪過，赦免了我們一千虧損，我們也當照樣饒恕人。神饒恕我們不止七次，或七十個七次，而是無數次。所以我們也不當計較饒恕人的次數。
如果我們不饒恕人，神也不饒恕我們的過犯。那結果就像這比喻所說的，要被交給掌刑的，等還清所欠的債，那一千萬銀子是無法歸還的。所以要饒恕一切得罪我們的人，好叫天父也饒恕我們。這樣我們的禱告才蒙垂聽。許多禱告不蒙主應允，是因為不饒恕人。因此神也不肯饒恕我們，不肯聽我們的禱告了。我們一方面恨人，紀念人的惡，不肯饒恕人。另一方面卻到神面前求赦免，饒恕，求神施恩，應允所求，顯然是有矛盾的，不相配的。箴言19：11說“人有見識，就不輕易發怒，寬恕人的過失，便是自己的榮耀。”
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Message From The Pastor for May 25
Message from the Pastor for First Sunday after Trinity
Once a sweet young thing going out of church said to me, “Doctor, you make me feel like a worm.” Well, who knows, perhaps she needed to feel like a worm! My sermons often make me feel like a worm, too. Partly because I know my life does not measure up to them. But if I could practice everything I preach, it would not be worth the preaching. It is not the church’s job to make sinful men and women feel cocksure and self-satisfied in the presence of the eternal God. The minister seeks to love people, to respect them as individuals, but not to pamper their prejudices or coddle them or tell them they are right when they deny God’s truth. His business is to see people as they really are, and to put them in vital touch with God in Christ.—William H. Hudnut, Jr.
牧者信息分享
一次一個小家伙在聚集後對我說，“博士，你令我覺得自己像條蟲那麼沒用。”或者她真的需要有這個感覺才成呢！我的講道有時也令我自己覺得像條蟲一樣。部分原因是因為我知道我的生活還達不到講道要求的標準。但如果我能完全做得到它要求的標準，那麼講道就是多餘的了。教會的責任不是去令有罪的人在永生的神面前自豪和自義。牧師是要愛人，尊重人，但不是去奉承人，嬌縱人，或當人否定了神的真理時仍說他是對的。他的職責是看見人的本相，把人帶到基督的面前得到神的接觸。--作者William H. Hudnut, Jr.是一位堂會牧師。
Once a sweet young thing going out of church said to me, “Doctor, you make me feel like a worm.” Well, who knows, perhaps she needed to feel like a worm! My sermons often make me feel like a worm, too. Partly because I know my life does not measure up to them. But if I could practice everything I preach, it would not be worth the preaching. It is not the church’s job to make sinful men and women feel cocksure and self-satisfied in the presence of the eternal God. The minister seeks to love people, to respect them as individuals, but not to pamper their prejudices or coddle them or tell them they are right when they deny God’s truth. His business is to see people as they really are, and to put them in vital touch with God in Christ.—William H. Hudnut, Jr.
牧者信息分享
一次一個小家伙在聚集後對我說，“博士，你令我覺得自己像條蟲那麼沒用。”或者她真的需要有這個感覺才成呢！我的講道有時也令我自己覺得像條蟲一樣。部分原因是因為我知道我的生活還達不到講道要求的標準。但如果我能完全做得到它要求的標準，那麼講道就是多餘的了。教會的責任不是去令有罪的人在永生的神面前自豪和自義。牧師是要愛人，尊重人，但不是去奉承人，嬌縱人，或當人否定了神的真理時仍說他是對的。他的職責是看見人的本相，把人帶到基督的面前得到神的接觸。--作者William H. Hudnut, Jr.是一位堂會牧師。
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Message From The Pastor for May 18
Message from the Pastor for Trinity Sunday
Today is Trinity Sunday. It reminds us the God we believe in is a triune God. In fact every Sunday at the end of worship we hear the threefold blessing from our triune God:
1. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The first Christians realized that the world needed saving, changing, and being made right with God. They began with God going out to meet men in love, in redemption, God trying to establish reconciliation and personal relationship. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal breaking into time, the Supernatural intersecting history, Heaven coming down to earth, God living, suffering, dying, and triumphing over sin and evil.
2. “The love of God.” If you have experienced god’s active, living love getting hold of you, then you are certain of the love of God. If you had never heard of Jesus Christ and his grace, would you have thought for certain that God is a God of love? The grace of Christ guarantees the love of God beyond all shadow of doubt.
3. “The fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is discovered best in fellowship. Just as God is a relationship of love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a kind of triangular personal relationship—so we not only discover God’s love in our own hearts by the Holy Spirit but we are united by that same Holy Spirit to other people who call Christ Lord. Christianity is a shared fellowship of believers, all of whom are certain that they know God’s love in Jesus.
牧者信息分享
今天是三一主日，提醒我們所信的是三位一體的上帝。其實每次崇拜結束時我們都接受著三一真神的祝福：
（一）“我主耶穌基督的恩惠”初期基督徒都知道這世界需要拯救，改變和與神和好。 他們一開始就記得是神首先出去和人建立復合的關系。是主耶穌基督的恩典把永恒的，超自然的，屬神的天堂，帶進這個痛苦的，死亡的，有罪的世界。
（二）“上帝的慈愛”倘若沒有耶穌的恩典，我們可能永遠也不知道神是愛。凡經歷過神的愛而認定神是愛的人，一定是因為透過耶穌的恩典，使他確實的相信這位又真又活的神是這麼的慈愛。
（三）“聖靈的團契”聖靈是在團契中被感受到的—聖父，聖子，聖靈，就是一個團契。凡在自己心裏相信耶穌的人，靠著聖靈的聯合，在別的有同樣信仰耶穌為主的人心裏也結成團契。基督徒的團契就是一群信耶穌的人，他們確實知道神在基督裏將愛表現出來。
Today is Trinity Sunday. It reminds us the God we believe in is a triune God. In fact every Sunday at the end of worship we hear the threefold blessing from our triune God:
1. “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The first Christians realized that the world needed saving, changing, and being made right with God. They began with God going out to meet men in love, in redemption, God trying to establish reconciliation and personal relationship. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Eternal breaking into time, the Supernatural intersecting history, Heaven coming down to earth, God living, suffering, dying, and triumphing over sin and evil.
2. “The love of God.” If you have experienced god’s active, living love getting hold of you, then you are certain of the love of God. If you had never heard of Jesus Christ and his grace, would you have thought for certain that God is a God of love? The grace of Christ guarantees the love of God beyond all shadow of doubt.
3. “The fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is discovered best in fellowship. Just as God is a relationship of love—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a kind of triangular personal relationship—so we not only discover God’s love in our own hearts by the Holy Spirit but we are united by that same Holy Spirit to other people who call Christ Lord. Christianity is a shared fellowship of believers, all of whom are certain that they know God’s love in Jesus.
牧者信息分享
今天是三一主日，提醒我們所信的是三位一體的上帝。其實每次崇拜結束時我們都接受著三一真神的祝福：
（一）“我主耶穌基督的恩惠”初期基督徒都知道這世界需要拯救，改變和與神和好。 他們一開始就記得是神首先出去和人建立復合的關系。是主耶穌基督的恩典把永恒的，超自然的，屬神的天堂，帶進這個痛苦的，死亡的，有罪的世界。
（二）“上帝的慈愛”倘若沒有耶穌的恩典，我們可能永遠也不知道神是愛。凡經歷過神的愛而認定神是愛的人，一定是因為透過耶穌的恩典，使他確實的相信這位又真又活的神是這麼的慈愛。
（三）“聖靈的團契”聖靈是在團契中被感受到的—聖父，聖子，聖靈，就是一個團契。凡在自己心裏相信耶穌的人，靠著聖靈的聯合，在別的有同樣信仰耶穌為主的人心裏也結成團契。基督徒的團契就是一群信耶穌的人，他們確實知道神在基督裏將愛表現出來。
Friday, May 9, 2008
Message From The Pastor for May 11
Message from the Pastor Pentecost Sunday and Mother's Day
Today is Mother’s Day. We salute to all mothers. Do you know who makes a mother great besides her children? The answer is her husband. On the occasion of his retirement from the Riverside Church, Harry Emerson Fosdick said he had been puzzled all his life by the fact that, on the whole, women have not accomplished as much in a public way as has been accomplished by men. Why is this true? Obviously the brains of women are as good and perhaps better than the brains of men. Yet the sober truth is that there have been relatively few women in the list of composers, artists, scientists, and statesmen. “At last,” said Dr. Fosdick, “I know the answer. No woman ever had a wife!” On this Mother’s Day let us fathers and husbands salute to our wives.
牧者信息分享
今天是母親節。我們向母親致敬！你可知道除了她的兒女之外誰令母親這麼偉大嗎？答案是她的丈夫。Harry Emerson Fosdick牧師在他從Riverside Church退休時於感恩宴會上說，他一生感困惑的是為甚麼女人在公職上通常都比男人遜色呢？女人的腦袋與男人有過之無不及，為甚麼在傑出的作家，藝術家，科學家，和政治家名人榜上還是男多於女的呢？“最後，”他說，“我終於明白了。因為女人少了一位太太。”在母親節的今天讓我們做父親的和做丈夫的向我們的太太致敬！
Today is Mother’s Day. We salute to all mothers. Do you know who makes a mother great besides her children? The answer is her husband. On the occasion of his retirement from the Riverside Church, Harry Emerson Fosdick said he had been puzzled all his life by the fact that, on the whole, women have not accomplished as much in a public way as has been accomplished by men. Why is this true? Obviously the brains of women are as good and perhaps better than the brains of men. Yet the sober truth is that there have been relatively few women in the list of composers, artists, scientists, and statesmen. “At last,” said Dr. Fosdick, “I know the answer. No woman ever had a wife!” On this Mother’s Day let us fathers and husbands salute to our wives.
牧者信息分享
今天是母親節。我們向母親致敬！你可知道除了她的兒女之外誰令母親這麼偉大嗎？答案是她的丈夫。Harry Emerson Fosdick牧師在他從Riverside Church退休時於感恩宴會上說，他一生感困惑的是為甚麼女人在公職上通常都比男人遜色呢？女人的腦袋與男人有過之無不及，為甚麼在傑出的作家，藝術家，科學家，和政治家名人榜上還是男多於女的呢？“最後，”他說，“我終於明白了。因為女人少了一位太太。”在母親節的今天讓我們做父親的和做丈夫的向我們的太太致敬！
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Message From The Pastor for May 4
Message from the Pastor Seventh Sunday of Easter
What is Easter? Easter is God telling us He is living and is present with us. When a man is desperate he cries to God. But sometimes God seems so far away He does not hear. Theologian Paul Tillich said, “It is the spirit of God that removes God from our sight.” But if we cry to Him in faith, He will return and take the empty space within us which is His space. On the first Easter day the disciples were scared and afraid. They locked themselves up in the upper room. But Jesus appeared and pronounced peace to be with them. He broke bread and shared Holy Communion with them. Their eyes were opened and their hearts were filled with joy. This is only one part of the story. The other part consists of all those other times in between when God seems to have evaporated from our lives. We find ourselves insecure and sometimes afraid. We sense the uneasiness like that of a child who suddenly has lost her mother in the crowded super-market. We are tempted to panic. Jesus understands. He finds it necessary to explain, “A little while and ye shall not see me, and again, a little while and ye shall see me.” No parent, including God can pamper his child if the youngster is to develop. God is never far away from us. Our loving parents who have left us at home alone for the first time have not abandoned us. He still loves us and cares for us, and underneath are his everlasting arms. What is Easter? Easter is the promise that God will never leave us and his promise has been fulfilled.
牧者信息分享
復活節是做甚麼的？復活節是告訴我們上帝活著並且離我們不遠。古語有云：人窮則呼天，痛則呼父母。但有時候，上帝好像離我們很遠聽不見我們的呼聲。神學家保羅田立克說：神的靈令我們見不到祂。若我們肯在靈裏呼求祂，祂會回來填補我們的空虛。復活節證實了耶穌沒有拋棄門徒。他們躲在樓房瑟縮懼怕，復活主來到他們中間，賜他們平安並與他們擘餅分享聖餐。但在此之前和之後，覺得上帝離開我們的感受還是常有的。好像小孩在超級市場失去了媽媽一樣。這個時候我們就要知道，我們並不孤單。耶穌了解，所以祂說：等不多時，你們就不得見我；再等不多時，你們還要見我。神暫時離開我們是要叫我們學習獨立。沒有父母終日抱著孩子可以叫他成長的。第一次父母離家留下孩子時，孩子要知道父母保護的手還是一直在托著他們。有時候上帝暫時離開我們，不愉快的事發生，我們就以為是不是自己做錯事，或者是上帝對我們不好，形成自咎，自責或自憐。這都是不必要的。我們應該用喜樂和信心來渡過這些日子。復活節是甚麼？復活節就是上帝答應我們，祂必不離開我們的事實，已經得到證明了。
What is Easter? Easter is God telling us He is living and is present with us. When a man is desperate he cries to God. But sometimes God seems so far away He does not hear. Theologian Paul Tillich said, “It is the spirit of God that removes God from our sight.” But if we cry to Him in faith, He will return and take the empty space within us which is His space. On the first Easter day the disciples were scared and afraid. They locked themselves up in the upper room. But Jesus appeared and pronounced peace to be with them. He broke bread and shared Holy Communion with them. Their eyes were opened and their hearts were filled with joy. This is only one part of the story. The other part consists of all those other times in between when God seems to have evaporated from our lives. We find ourselves insecure and sometimes afraid. We sense the uneasiness like that of a child who suddenly has lost her mother in the crowded super-market. We are tempted to panic. Jesus understands. He finds it necessary to explain, “A little while and ye shall not see me, and again, a little while and ye shall see me.” No parent, including God can pamper his child if the youngster is to develop. God is never far away from us. Our loving parents who have left us at home alone for the first time have not abandoned us. He still loves us and cares for us, and underneath are his everlasting arms. What is Easter? Easter is the promise that God will never leave us and his promise has been fulfilled.
牧者信息分享
復活節是做甚麼的？復活節是告訴我們上帝活著並且離我們不遠。古語有云：人窮則呼天，痛則呼父母。但有時候，上帝好像離我們很遠聽不見我們的呼聲。神學家保羅田立克說：神的靈令我們見不到祂。若我們肯在靈裏呼求祂，祂會回來填補我們的空虛。復活節證實了耶穌沒有拋棄門徒。他們躲在樓房瑟縮懼怕，復活主來到他們中間，賜他們平安並與他們擘餅分享聖餐。但在此之前和之後，覺得上帝離開我們的感受還是常有的。好像小孩在超級市場失去了媽媽一樣。這個時候我們就要知道，我們並不孤單。耶穌了解，所以祂說：等不多時，你們就不得見我；再等不多時，你們還要見我。神暫時離開我們是要叫我們學習獨立。沒有父母終日抱著孩子可以叫他成長的。第一次父母離家留下孩子時，孩子要知道父母保護的手還是一直在托著他們。有時候上帝暫時離開我們，不愉快的事發生，我們就以為是不是自己做錯事，或者是上帝對我們不好，形成自咎，自責或自憐。這都是不必要的。我們應該用喜樂和信心來渡過這些日子。復活節是甚麼？復活節就是上帝答應我們，祂必不離開我們的事實，已經得到證明了。
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Message From The Pastor for April 27
Message from the Pastor for sixth Sunday of Easter
One day a man was walking along a dangerous path on a hill where both sides sank abruptly into a deep valley. Suddenly a big serpent appeared and chased after him. He ran for his life only to find in front of him a fierce tiger was trying to catch him. In dilemma he found a long thick rattan that led down into the valley below. He grasped it hoping to escape to the bottom of the valley. Unfortunately when he looked down he discovered a crocodile was waiting for him with jaws wide open. As he was sweating and pondering whether to advance or retreat, he heard sound of biting. There were two rats, one white another black biting into the rattan he was holding. It could break any moment now. He screamed at the top of his lungs, “God help me!” A voice came back from afar, “Son I am here!” In horror he returned to his senses. It was just a nightmare. This is a famous religious fable. It’s meaning is worth our deep thought. The serpent behind represents men’s sins in the past. The tiger in front represents men’s difficult situations in the present. The crocodile in the valley represents men’s judgement in the future. White rat represents day and black rat represents night. Both are eating us up giving us anxiety day and night. Life gives men a lot of hardship. In desperation we cry to God. Men know we can not face life all by ourselves. Therefore we need God. We need a saviour. We need Jesus.
牧者信息分享
一天，有個人在一條僻靜的山路走，愈走愈覺險要，兩旁竟是千丈的深谷，突然後面出現一條大毒蛇向他追來，他拼命向前走，逃走中又遇見前面一隻兇惡的老虎，張牙舞爪正追著他，當進退兩難時，看到路邊有條很粗很長的樹藤垂向谷底，他趕快抓緊樹藤向下溜，希望跳進谷底逃生。怎料，他向下一望，令他毛骨悚然，因為下面有條鱷魚正張大口等著他，他全身呆在半空發抖，向上不得，向下也不得，抱住樹藤不知要捱多久，正在沉思之時，忽然傳來咀嚼之聲，原來是黑老鼠和白老鼠各自咬著他死抱著的樹藤，看來樹藤快要咬掉了，他大聲呼喊：“上帝啊，救命！”遠處傳來上帝聲音：“孩子，我在這裏。”在惶恐中，他醒來了，原來是一場噩夢！
這是個著名的宗教寓言故事，頗值得我們深思：後面的蛇代表人過去的罪惡；前面的兇惡老虎代表人生的困難；谷底下的鱷魚代表將來的審判；白老鼠代表白天，黑老鼠代表夜晚，天天催逼著人，令人不安。人生確實有不少的困苦，人在絕望中，自然會呼求神，人自知靠自己不能面對生命的一切，因此需要上帝，需要救主，需要耶穌。
One day a man was walking along a dangerous path on a hill where both sides sank abruptly into a deep valley. Suddenly a big serpent appeared and chased after him. He ran for his life only to find in front of him a fierce tiger was trying to catch him. In dilemma he found a long thick rattan that led down into the valley below. He grasped it hoping to escape to the bottom of the valley. Unfortunately when he looked down he discovered a crocodile was waiting for him with jaws wide open. As he was sweating and pondering whether to advance or retreat, he heard sound of biting. There were two rats, one white another black biting into the rattan he was holding. It could break any moment now. He screamed at the top of his lungs, “God help me!” A voice came back from afar, “Son I am here!” In horror he returned to his senses. It was just a nightmare. This is a famous religious fable. It’s meaning is worth our deep thought. The serpent behind represents men’s sins in the past. The tiger in front represents men’s difficult situations in the present. The crocodile in the valley represents men’s judgement in the future. White rat represents day and black rat represents night. Both are eating us up giving us anxiety day and night. Life gives men a lot of hardship. In desperation we cry to God. Men know we can not face life all by ourselves. Therefore we need God. We need a saviour. We need Jesus.
牧者信息分享
一天，有個人在一條僻靜的山路走，愈走愈覺險要，兩旁竟是千丈的深谷，突然後面出現一條大毒蛇向他追來，他拼命向前走，逃走中又遇見前面一隻兇惡的老虎，張牙舞爪正追著他，當進退兩難時，看到路邊有條很粗很長的樹藤垂向谷底，他趕快抓緊樹藤向下溜，希望跳進谷底逃生。怎料，他向下一望，令他毛骨悚然，因為下面有條鱷魚正張大口等著他，他全身呆在半空發抖，向上不得，向下也不得，抱住樹藤不知要捱多久，正在沉思之時，忽然傳來咀嚼之聲，原來是黑老鼠和白老鼠各自咬著他死抱著的樹藤，看來樹藤快要咬掉了，他大聲呼喊：“上帝啊，救命！”遠處傳來上帝聲音：“孩子，我在這裏。”在惶恐中，他醒來了，原來是一場噩夢！
這是個著名的宗教寓言故事，頗值得我們深思：後面的蛇代表人過去的罪惡；前面的兇惡老虎代表人生的困難；谷底下的鱷魚代表將來的審判；白老鼠代表白天，黑老鼠代表夜晚，天天催逼著人，令人不安。人生確實有不少的困苦，人在絕望中，自然會呼求神，人自知靠自己不能面對生命的一切，因此需要上帝，需要救主，需要耶穌。
Message From The Pastor for April 27
Message From The Pastor for fifth Sunday of Easter
What Is Easter?
Easter is many things.
1. It is a sleeping sentinel waking to find that the corpse he has been guarding has disappeared.
2. It is Mary Magdalene, bewildered, standing with her arms full of spices, but with no body to anoint.
3. It is a young man in white uttering the greatest words of hope ever spoken to men: “He is risen!”
4. It is a breathless sprint to the cemetery by John and Peter.
5. It is a conversation that burns during an afternoon walk on a road leading to Emmaus.
6. It is a prayer meeting in the Upper Room, suddenly broken up by the entrance of the Saviour.
7. It is a thousand church bells in a thousand cities.
8. It is a day vibrant with faith, song, and worship around the world.
9. It is a new light in the eyes of a discouraged pastor as he sees a full church before him.
10. It is ribbons and sweetmeats in the simplicity of a Christian orphanage in China.
11. It is the glorious emergence of a butter-fly from a cocoon.
12. And, of course, Easter is Christ bringing us eternal life.
牧者信息分享
甚麼是復活節？復活節是很多東西。它是
一． 一個睡著了的哨兵一覺醒來，發覺他所看守的屍體不見了。
二． 抹大拉的馬利亞疑惑地站著手拿著香料卻沒有身體可以膏抹。
三． 一個年青人身穿白衣說出了人類歷史上最有希望的一句話：“祂已經復活了！”
四． 彼得和約翰一口氣的疾跑到墳地去。
五． 那個下午在以馬忤斯的路上令人心裏火熱與主同行的對話。
六． 那個晚上在樓房上門都關了，門徒聚在一處。耶穌來站在當中對他們說：“願你們平安！”
七． 在千萬的城市有千萬教堂的鐘聲響起。
八． 一個喚起全世界興起活潑信仰，歌頌和崇拜的日子。
九． 氣餒的牧師眼前一亮，因看見禮拜堂坐滿了人。
十． 在中國一間基督徒辦的孤兒院裏佈置絲帶吃甜肉簡單而隆重的慶祝。
十一． 一隻蝴蝶光榮的從蝶蛹蛻變出來。
十二． 當然它是基督帶來永恒生命。
What Is Easter?
Easter is many things.
1. It is a sleeping sentinel waking to find that the corpse he has been guarding has disappeared.
2. It is Mary Magdalene, bewildered, standing with her arms full of spices, but with no body to anoint.
3. It is a young man in white uttering the greatest words of hope ever spoken to men: “He is risen!”
4. It is a breathless sprint to the cemetery by John and Peter.
5. It is a conversation that burns during an afternoon walk on a road leading to Emmaus.
6. It is a prayer meeting in the Upper Room, suddenly broken up by the entrance of the Saviour.
7. It is a thousand church bells in a thousand cities.
8. It is a day vibrant with faith, song, and worship around the world.
9. It is a new light in the eyes of a discouraged pastor as he sees a full church before him.
10. It is ribbons and sweetmeats in the simplicity of a Christian orphanage in China.
11. It is the glorious emergence of a butter-fly from a cocoon.
12. And, of course, Easter is Christ bringing us eternal life.
牧者信息分享
甚麼是復活節？復活節是很多東西。它是
一． 一個睡著了的哨兵一覺醒來，發覺他所看守的屍體不見了。
二． 抹大拉的馬利亞疑惑地站著手拿著香料卻沒有身體可以膏抹。
三． 一個年青人身穿白衣說出了人類歷史上最有希望的一句話：“祂已經復活了！”
四． 彼得和約翰一口氣的疾跑到墳地去。
五． 那個下午在以馬忤斯的路上令人心裏火熱與主同行的對話。
六． 那個晚上在樓房上門都關了，門徒聚在一處。耶穌來站在當中對他們說：“願你們平安！”
七． 在千萬的城市有千萬教堂的鐘聲響起。
八． 一個喚起全世界興起活潑信仰，歌頌和崇拜的日子。
九． 氣餒的牧師眼前一亮，因看見禮拜堂坐滿了人。
十． 在中國一間基督徒辦的孤兒院裏佈置絲帶吃甜肉簡單而隆重的慶祝。
十一． 一隻蝴蝶光榮的從蝶蛹蛻變出來。
十二． 當然它是基督帶來永恒生命。
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for April 13
Pulpit Message Introduction for fourth Sunday of Easter
What is Easter? Easter is many things. It is the time of singing birds and blooming of flowers. It is the promise of dawn—the watching for sunrise. It is the light heart of a little girl dressed in pink spring clothe or a little boy munching chocolate candy. Easter causes all creation to burst forth in the singing of a grand antiphonal, “Up from the grave he arose!” It provides the basis for the sermon regarding the fact and the significance of the resurrection of Christ from the grave.
Easter always brings with it the renewal of hope to gladden the heart of mankind. It is the wellspring of zeal on the part of the church. It motivates the conversion of the sinner. It maintains the faithfulness of the saint.
The eternal vindication of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the saviour of the world, the lord of life, the judge of all creation—this is Easter. Easter changes things. He lives! And because he lives we too shall live. Easter changes everything. It changes your past. It changes your present. It changes your future. Your future in eternity has just begun.
講壇信息介紹
甚麼是復活節？復活節是很多東西。它是鳥兒歌唱和花朵開放。它是黎明的應許—旭日初昇。它是快樂的女孩子穿了粉紅色的春天衣裳，或是一個小男孩嘴嚼著巧克力糖。復活節喚起了宇宙萬物加入唱和，輪流呼應偉大的復活頌歌，“祂從墳墓裏復活了！”它提供了復活講章的基本材料，那就是耶穌從死裏復活的事實和意義。
復活節常常能帶給人類新生的希望和心裏的喜樂。它是活水泉源，它使教會大發熱心見證主。它促使罪人悔改，堅固聖者強壯信心。
它是鐵證—證明耶穌基督是上帝的兒子，是世人的救主，是生命之主，也是宇宙的審判者。因他活著我們也要活著。因他活著，改變了一切，我們的過去，現在和將來都改變了，永恒的將來現在才剛開始呢！
What is Easter? Easter is many things. It is the time of singing birds and blooming of flowers. It is the promise of dawn—the watching for sunrise. It is the light heart of a little girl dressed in pink spring clothe or a little boy munching chocolate candy. Easter causes all creation to burst forth in the singing of a grand antiphonal, “Up from the grave he arose!” It provides the basis for the sermon regarding the fact and the significance of the resurrection of Christ from the grave.
Easter always brings with it the renewal of hope to gladden the heart of mankind. It is the wellspring of zeal on the part of the church. It motivates the conversion of the sinner. It maintains the faithfulness of the saint.
The eternal vindication of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the saviour of the world, the lord of life, the judge of all creation—this is Easter. Easter changes things. He lives! And because he lives we too shall live. Easter changes everything. It changes your past. It changes your present. It changes your future. Your future in eternity has just begun.
講壇信息介紹
甚麼是復活節？復活節是很多東西。它是鳥兒歌唱和花朵開放。它是黎明的應許—旭日初昇。它是快樂的女孩子穿了粉紅色的春天衣裳，或是一個小男孩嘴嚼著巧克力糖。復活節喚起了宇宙萬物加入唱和，輪流呼應偉大的復活頌歌，“祂從墳墓裏復活了！”它提供了復活講章的基本材料，那就是耶穌從死裏復活的事實和意義。
復活節常常能帶給人類新生的希望和心裏的喜樂。它是活水泉源，它使教會大發熱心見證主。它促使罪人悔改，堅固聖者強壯信心。
它是鐵證—證明耶穌基督是上帝的兒子，是世人的救主，是生命之主，也是宇宙的審判者。因他活著我們也要活著。因他活著，改變了一切，我們的過去，現在和將來都改變了，永恒的將來現在才剛開始呢！
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for April 6
Pulpit Message Introduction for third Sunday of Easter
Last Sunday after service, a member asked me if there are more roads a Christian needs to walk in addition to the four I preached. I replied yes! The story has not finished. Let’s continue it today. In the beginning of the journey on the road to Emmaus, the two followers were sad, discouraged and slow in believing. The risen Lord came and walked with them. He encouraged them, explained the Bible to them, and reminded them about the prophesise of himself. Then their hearts were rekindled with fire. Their despair was changed to hope again. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scripture to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
After his suffering, Jesus showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised which you have heard me speak about.”
So the fifth road is the road back to Jerusalem where the disciples wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit to carry out the Great Commission.
講壇信息介紹
上個主日我講完了基督徒要走的四條路後。有教友問我基督徒要走的路就只有這四條嗎？我說不，我的故事還沒有講完。
今天讓我接續上次第四條路再講下去吧。當門徒走在以馬忤斯路上的初時，他們是悲傷失望，臉帶愁容，眼睛迷糊，信心遲鈍的。復活的主耶穌看見他們，就親近他們，與他們同行，在靈裏開導他們，鼓勵他們，並開他們的心竅，講解聖經給他們明白。於是他們火熱了。他們不再憂愁，不再灰心，乃是剛強起來。他們立時起身，回耶路撒冷去，把路上所遇見的見證出來。耶穌受害之後，用許多的憑據將自己活活的顯給使徒看，四十天之久向他們顯現，講說神國的事。耶穌和他們聚集的時候，囑咐他們說：“不要離開耶路撒冷，要等候父所應許的聖靈。”門徒走返回耶路撒冷的路。與主同行四十天，等候聖靈降臨，好叫他們能完成基督的大使命。
Last Sunday after service, a member asked me if there are more roads a Christian needs to walk in addition to the four I preached. I replied yes! The story has not finished. Let’s continue it today. In the beginning of the journey on the road to Emmaus, the two followers were sad, discouraged and slow in believing. The risen Lord came and walked with them. He encouraged them, explained the Bible to them, and reminded them about the prophesise of himself. Then their hearts were rekindled with fire. Their despair was changed to hope again. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scripture to us?”
They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
After his suffering, Jesus showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised which you have heard me speak about.”
So the fifth road is the road back to Jerusalem where the disciples wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit to carry out the Great Commission.
講壇信息介紹
上個主日我講完了基督徒要走的四條路後。有教友問我基督徒要走的路就只有這四條嗎？我說不，我的故事還沒有講完。
今天讓我接續上次第四條路再講下去吧。當門徒走在以馬忤斯路上的初時，他們是悲傷失望，臉帶愁容，眼睛迷糊，信心遲鈍的。復活的主耶穌看見他們，就親近他們，與他們同行，在靈裏開導他們，鼓勵他們，並開他們的心竅，講解聖經給他們明白。於是他們火熱了。他們不再憂愁，不再灰心，乃是剛強起來。他們立時起身，回耶路撒冷去，把路上所遇見的見證出來。耶穌受害之後，用許多的憑據將自己活活的顯給使徒看，四十天之久向他們顯現，講說神國的事。耶穌和他們聚集的時候，囑咐他們說：“不要離開耶路撒冷，要等候父所應許的聖靈。”門徒走返回耶路撒冷的路。與主同行四十天，等候聖靈降臨，好叫他們能完成基督的大使命。
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 30
Pulpit Message Introduction for second Sunday of Easter
Now on that same day two of the followers were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. They described what happened 3 days ago. How Jesus was crucified and buried. But this morning the tomb was empty. As they approached the village they urged him to stay. So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Walking with Jesus will eventually lead us the way to God. For Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” There are four roads a Christian travels in order to walk with the Lord, to go to the Father and recognize Jesus.
1. the road to Damascus—road to faith.
2. the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho—road to serve and help others.
3. the road to Golgotha—road to suffering and the cross
4. the road to Emmaus—road to eternal fellowship.
講壇信息介紹
正當那日，門徒中有兩個人往一個村子去；這村子名叫以馬忤斯，離耶路撒冷約有二十五里。他們彼此談論所遇見的這一切事。正談論相問的時候，耶穌親自就近他們，和他們同行；只是他們的眼睛迷糊了，不認識他。耶穌對他們說：“你們走路彼此談論的是甚麼事呢？”他們就站住，臉上帶著愁容。他們把耶穌三天前被釘，被埋葬，今天墳墓空了，的事情說一遍。到了村子，他們請耶穌同他們住下。到了坐席的時候，耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，擘開，遞給他們。他們的眼睛明亮了，這才認出他來。跟從耶穌就找到上帝，因耶穌說：我是道路，真理，生命，若不藉著我 沒有人能到父那裏去。作為基督徒我們要學習走擺在我們面前的四條路，才稱得上與主同行，到父那裏，認出他來。
（一） 通往大馬色之路—信仰之路。
（二） 從耶路撒冷下耶利哥之路—服務，助人之路。
（三） 各各他之路—通往痛苦的十字架道路。
（四） 以馬忤斯之路—永恒團契之路。
Now on that same day two of the followers were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. They described what happened 3 days ago. How Jesus was crucified and buried. But this morning the tomb was empty. As they approached the village they urged him to stay. So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Walking with Jesus will eventually lead us the way to God. For Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one goes to the Father except through me.” There are four roads a Christian travels in order to walk with the Lord, to go to the Father and recognize Jesus.
1. the road to Damascus—road to faith.
2. the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho—road to serve and help others.
3. the road to Golgotha—road to suffering and the cross
4. the road to Emmaus—road to eternal fellowship.
講壇信息介紹
正當那日，門徒中有兩個人往一個村子去；這村子名叫以馬忤斯，離耶路撒冷約有二十五里。他們彼此談論所遇見的這一切事。正談論相問的時候，耶穌親自就近他們，和他們同行；只是他們的眼睛迷糊了，不認識他。耶穌對他們說：“你們走路彼此談論的是甚麼事呢？”他們就站住，臉上帶著愁容。他們把耶穌三天前被釘，被埋葬，今天墳墓空了，的事情說一遍。到了村子，他們請耶穌同他們住下。到了坐席的時候，耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，擘開，遞給他們。他們的眼睛明亮了，這才認出他來。跟從耶穌就找到上帝，因耶穌說：我是道路，真理，生命，若不藉著我 沒有人能到父那裏去。作為基督徒我們要學習走擺在我們面前的四條路，才稱得上與主同行，到父那裏，認出他來。
（一） 通往大馬色之路—信仰之路。
（二） 從耶路撒冷下耶利哥之路—服務，助人之路。
（三） 各各他之路—通往痛苦的十字架道路。
（四） 以馬忤斯之路—永恒團契之路。
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 23
Pulpit Message Introduction for Easter Sunday
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
From this passage we know Jesus really died and really came back to life. His death and resurrection are not there for remembrance only once in a year. They are there to be the blue prints for our daily living. We have to die with Christ and live with Christ every day. Death must occur before the bondage of sin can be broken. Resurrection must occur before abundant life in God’s kingdom can be realized. We have been Christians for quite a while now. Have we really been dying and living with Jesus Christ our Lord. I pray the Holy Spirit to help us not to look for the living among the dead any more.
講壇信息介紹
七日的頭一日，黎明的時候，那些婦女帶著所預備的香料來到墳墓前，看見石頭已經從墳墓滾開了，她們就進去，只是不見主耶穌的身體。正在猜疑之間，忽然又兩個人站在旁邊，衣服放光。婦女們驚怕，將臉伏地。那兩個人就對他們說：“為甚麼在死人中找活人呢？他不在這裏，已經復活了。當紀念他還在加利利的時候怎樣告訴你們，說：‘人子必須被交在罪人手裏，釘在十字架上，第三日復活。’”
從這段經文，可以知道耶穌真真正正的死了，又真真正正的復活。祂的受死與復活，並非只叫我們每年紀念一次就算了，乃是要做我們的榜樣，叫我們與他同死同復活。因為必定要死，才可以脫離罪惡的綑綁；必定要復活，才可以享受天堂的永福。我們做了基督徒的人，曾否與耶穌同死同復活呢？聖靈幫助我們不再在死人中找活人啊。
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
From this passage we know Jesus really died and really came back to life. His death and resurrection are not there for remembrance only once in a year. They are there to be the blue prints for our daily living. We have to die with Christ and live with Christ every day. Death must occur before the bondage of sin can be broken. Resurrection must occur before abundant life in God’s kingdom can be realized. We have been Christians for quite a while now. Have we really been dying and living with Jesus Christ our Lord. I pray the Holy Spirit to help us not to look for the living among the dead any more.
講壇信息介紹
七日的頭一日，黎明的時候，那些婦女帶著所預備的香料來到墳墓前，看見石頭已經從墳墓滾開了，她們就進去，只是不見主耶穌的身體。正在猜疑之間，忽然又兩個人站在旁邊，衣服放光。婦女們驚怕，將臉伏地。那兩個人就對他們說：“為甚麼在死人中找活人呢？他不在這裏，已經復活了。當紀念他還在加利利的時候怎樣告訴你們，說：‘人子必須被交在罪人手裏，釘在十字架上，第三日復活。’”
從這段經文，可以知道耶穌真真正正的死了，又真真正正的復活。祂的受死與復活，並非只叫我們每年紀念一次就算了，乃是要做我們的榜樣，叫我們與他同死同復活。因為必定要死，才可以脫離罪惡的綑綁；必定要復活，才可以享受天堂的永福。我們做了基督徒的人，曾否與耶穌同死同復活呢？聖靈幫助我們不再在死人中找活人啊。
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 16
Pulpit Message Introduction for Palm Sunday
I Corinthians 1:22-25, it is written, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” Jews want miracles. They want to see exciting things to happen before their eyes. Greeks want wisdom, they love knowledge. But Paul told us we preach only one fact one message i.e. Christ crucified.
Many people preach about Christ and say they are following Christ. But some want Christ of their own taste only. They do not preach the Christ crucified or the Christ in the Bible. I pray God to help us understand what Christ we preach. In I Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” To Paul nothing is more important than Jesus crucified. On this Palm Sunday let us recall that important event that Paul talked about.
Luke 23:33-46: When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shinning. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. God help us treat this event the most important message in our life.
講壇信息介紹
哥林多前書一章22-25節說：“猶太人是要神蹟，希臘人是求智慧；我們卻是傳釘十字架的基督。在猶太人為絆腳石，在外邦人為愚拙；但在那蒙召的，無論是猶太人，希臘人，基督總為神的能力，神的智慧。因神的愚拙總比人智慧，神的軟弱總比人強壯。”這裏說，猶太人要的是神蹟，他們要看得見，讓人興奮的事物。希臘人追求智慧，研究學問，但使徒保羅說：我們卻傳一件事，不是傳一個道理，而是傳‘那一位釘十字架的基督。’
很多人傳基督，講基督，追求基督，然而很遺憾地，有些人所要的基督，不是釘十字架的基督，也不是聖經裏的基督。我們何等需要主幫助我們知道，我們所追求的是甚麼。哥林多前書十五章3-4節說：“我當日所領受又傳給你們的，第一，就是基督照聖經所說，為我們的罪死了，而且埋葬了，又照聖經所說，第三天復活了。”第一原文是第一要緊的意思。保羅說他所領受，要傳給我們的，最要緊的是甚麼呢？就是照著聖經所記載，基督為我們的罪死了，埋葬了，而且第三天復活了。在保羅的心目中，沒有一件事比主耶穌被釘十字架更緊要。
路加福音二十三章33-46節記載當時的情況：到了一個地方，名叫髑髏地，就在那裏把耶穌釘在十字架上，又釘了兩個犯人：一個在左邊，一個在右邊。當下耶穌說：“父啊，赦免他們！因為他們所做的，他們不曉得。”兵丁就拈鬮分他的衣服。百姓站在那里觀看。官府也嗤笑他，說：“他救了別人；他若是基督，神所揀選的，可以救自己吧！”兵丁也戲弄他，上前拿醋送給他喝，說：“你若是猶太人的王，可以救自己吧！”在耶穌以上有一個牌子寫著：“這是猶太人的王。”那同釘的兩個犯人，有一個譏誚他，說：“你不是基督嗎？可以救自己和我們把！”那一個就應聲責備他，說：“你既是一樣受刑的，還不怕神嗎？我們是應該的，因我們所受的與我們所做的相稱，但這個人沒有做過一件不好的事。”就說：“耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你紀念我！”耶穌對他說：“我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。”那時約有午正，遍地都黑暗了，直到申初，日頭變黑了。殿裏的幔子從當中裂為兩半。耶穌大聲喊著說：“父啊！我將我的靈魂交在你手裏。”說了這話，氣就斷了。但願這個事實成為我們一生中最要緊的信息。
I Corinthians 1:22-25, it is written, “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” Jews want miracles. They want to see exciting things to happen before their eyes. Greeks want wisdom, they love knowledge. But Paul told us we preach only one fact one message i.e. Christ crucified.
Many people preach about Christ and say they are following Christ. But some want Christ of their own taste only. They do not preach the Christ crucified or the Christ in the Bible. I pray God to help us understand what Christ we preach. In I Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” To Paul nothing is more important than Jesus crucified. On this Palm Sunday let us recall that important event that Paul talked about.
Luke 23:33-46: When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one.” The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews save yourself.” There was a written notice above him, which read: This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shinning. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. God help us treat this event the most important message in our life.
講壇信息介紹
哥林多前書一章22-25節說：“猶太人是要神蹟，希臘人是求智慧；我們卻是傳釘十字架的基督。在猶太人為絆腳石，在外邦人為愚拙；但在那蒙召的，無論是猶太人，希臘人，基督總為神的能力，神的智慧。因神的愚拙總比人智慧，神的軟弱總比人強壯。”這裏說，猶太人要的是神蹟，他們要看得見，讓人興奮的事物。希臘人追求智慧，研究學問，但使徒保羅說：我們卻傳一件事，不是傳一個道理，而是傳‘那一位釘十字架的基督。’
很多人傳基督，講基督，追求基督，然而很遺憾地，有些人所要的基督，不是釘十字架的基督，也不是聖經裏的基督。我們何等需要主幫助我們知道，我們所追求的是甚麼。哥林多前書十五章3-4節說：“我當日所領受又傳給你們的，第一，就是基督照聖經所說，為我們的罪死了，而且埋葬了，又照聖經所說，第三天復活了。”第一原文是第一要緊的意思。保羅說他所領受，要傳給我們的，最要緊的是甚麼呢？就是照著聖經所記載，基督為我們的罪死了，埋葬了，而且第三天復活了。在保羅的心目中，沒有一件事比主耶穌被釘十字架更緊要。
路加福音二十三章33-46節記載當時的情況：到了一個地方，名叫髑髏地，就在那裏把耶穌釘在十字架上，又釘了兩個犯人：一個在左邊，一個在右邊。當下耶穌說：“父啊，赦免他們！因為他們所做的，他們不曉得。”兵丁就拈鬮分他的衣服。百姓站在那里觀看。官府也嗤笑他，說：“他救了別人；他若是基督，神所揀選的，可以救自己吧！”兵丁也戲弄他，上前拿醋送給他喝，說：“你若是猶太人的王，可以救自己吧！”在耶穌以上有一個牌子寫著：“這是猶太人的王。”那同釘的兩個犯人，有一個譏誚他，說：“你不是基督嗎？可以救自己和我們把！”那一個就應聲責備他，說：“你既是一樣受刑的，還不怕神嗎？我們是應該的，因我們所受的與我們所做的相稱，但這個人沒有做過一件不好的事。”就說：“耶穌啊，你得國降臨的時候，求你紀念我！”耶穌對他說：“我實在告訴你：今日你要同我在樂園裏了。”那時約有午正，遍地都黑暗了，直到申初，日頭變黑了。殿裏的幔子從當中裂為兩半。耶穌大聲喊著說：“父啊！我將我的靈魂交在你手裏。”說了這話，氣就斷了。但願這個事實成為我們一生中最要緊的信息。
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 9
Pulpit Message Introduction for fifth Sunday in Lent
Lenten period is a period for Jesus followers to practice Christian piety. Our observance of the season of Lent has its roots in the early church. Two early church fathers, Augustine and Tertullian, related that the Lenten fast originated with the Apostles. However, the fast of which they wrote was neither the season nor the fasting that we know. What the fathers were undoubtedly referring to was the desire of the early Christian community to sense anew the deep sorrow and pain they experienced during the period that our Lord lay in the tomb. The time was calculated as forty hours and was suggested, therefore, to be the appropriate span for fasting. There also appears to be some evidence that even prior to the suggested forty-hour fast, Christians fasted on Wednesday and Friday. The first fast was a reminder of our Lord's betrayal, and the second the remembrance of his crucifixion.However, each Sunday was regarded as the Lord's Day, a little Easter, in which both the crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord were observed. In time, however, as people fixed more and more on the need to consider why our Lord was crucified, the stress was placed on the need for contrition and repentance. Soon the Lenten period was extended to a week, then to two weeks. Ultimately, the forty hours were extended to forty days. At one time this was a period of eight weeks of five days of fasting. By the seventh century the time was calculated as six weeks, not counting the Sundays, which were excluded as days of fasting. That is how we still reckon the period for our observance which began 5 weeks ago with Ash Wednesday.
講壇信息介紹
大齋節是跟隨基督的人用來操練敬虔最好的時間。大齋節溯源自初期教會。奧古斯丁和特土良兩位教父都提及大齋節禁食是緣起於使徒。那時使徒和信眾為紀念耶穌被放進墳墓裏的悲傷，實行四十小時的禁食。有證據顯示基督徒在此之前是逢星期三和星期五禁食的。第一個禁食是紀念我們的主被賣；第二個禁食是紀念祂的被釘。
但每一個星期天都是主日，是一個小的復活節，是慶祝主復活的日子。慶祝時禁食可以暫停，漸漸信徒卻又問為甚麼我們的主要被釘呢？原來是因我們的罪過，我們實在需要悔改和自省。於是禁食延長由一週延長至兩週；最後由四十小時延長到四十天。在第七世紀時大齋節確定為期六個星期，減去其中的主日，就是我們現在奉行的主被釘前四十天的大齋節了。
Lenten period is a period for Jesus followers to practice Christian piety. Our observance of the season of Lent has its roots in the early church. Two early church fathers, Augustine and Tertullian, related that the Lenten fast originated with the Apostles. However, the fast of which they wrote was neither the season nor the fasting that we know. What the fathers were undoubtedly referring to was the desire of the early Christian community to sense anew the deep sorrow and pain they experienced during the period that our Lord lay in the tomb. The time was calculated as forty hours and was suggested, therefore, to be the appropriate span for fasting. There also appears to be some evidence that even prior to the suggested forty-hour fast, Christians fasted on Wednesday and Friday. The first fast was a reminder of our Lord's betrayal, and the second the remembrance of his crucifixion.However, each Sunday was regarded as the Lord's Day, a little Easter, in which both the crucifixion and the resurrection of our Lord were observed. In time, however, as people fixed more and more on the need to consider why our Lord was crucified, the stress was placed on the need for contrition and repentance. Soon the Lenten period was extended to a week, then to two weeks. Ultimately, the forty hours were extended to forty days. At one time this was a period of eight weeks of five days of fasting. By the seventh century the time was calculated as six weeks, not counting the Sundays, which were excluded as days of fasting. That is how we still reckon the period for our observance which began 5 weeks ago with Ash Wednesday.
講壇信息介紹
大齋節是跟隨基督的人用來操練敬虔最好的時間。大齋節溯源自初期教會。奧古斯丁和特土良兩位教父都提及大齋節禁食是緣起於使徒。那時使徒和信眾為紀念耶穌被放進墳墓裏的悲傷，實行四十小時的禁食。有證據顯示基督徒在此之前是逢星期三和星期五禁食的。第一個禁食是紀念我們的主被賣；第二個禁食是紀念祂的被釘。
但每一個星期天都是主日，是一個小的復活節，是慶祝主復活的日子。慶祝時禁食可以暫停，漸漸信徒卻又問為甚麼我們的主要被釘呢？原來是因我們的罪過，我們實在需要悔改和自省。於是禁食延長由一週延長至兩週；最後由四十小時延長到四十天。在第七世紀時大齋節確定為期六個星期，減去其中的主日，就是我們現在奉行的主被釘前四十天的大齋節了。
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Pulpit Message Introduction for Mar. 2
Pulpit Message Introduction for fourth Sunday in Lent
Last Sunday we heard Jesus calling us to carry our cross daily and follow him. This call has a lot to do with our spiritual growing. Jesus wants us to carry our own cross. Our own cross demands our acceptance to accusation, condemnation, and abandonment from other people. Carrying our own cross means we willingly give up our right to defend ourselves even when others do such unreasonable things to us. But unfortunately due to our self righteousness, lack of love, mercy and forgiving, we often times force others to carry their cross instead of us carrying the cross ourselves. Carrying our own cross means we crucify our own sinful nature with its passions and desires all together. By the power of the Holy Spirit we put to death our old self. We condemn our old sinful nature. This is a lesson we have to learn everyday and practice for life.
Crucifying ourselves on the cross also involves a total change of our value, outlook, and relationship to the world. Paul said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14) It is therefore of crucial importance that when brothers and sisters set off to preach the gospel, they do not mix up the value of the world with the value of the Kingdom. We should not use prosperity and success in this world to prove God’s faithfulness. God is our Father in heaven. We are His children. We are His inheritance. We are called to be set apart from the world. As such we crucify our own value, our self interests, and our world onto the cross.
Thus the cross gives us four meanings: 1. the cross reminds us of the horror of our sin, 2. the cross reminds us of the heart of God’s love, 3. the cross heals the broken relationship between us and God, and 4. the cross leads us home to God.
講壇信息介紹
上星期我們聽到耶穌對我們說“天天背起自己的十字架來跟從我”。這話與我們的靈命長進有密切的關係。主耶穌首先要求我們背起自己的十字架。十字架是公開的定罪，嚴懲和棄絕的意思。背自己的十字架是要自己肯公開的被人定罪，嚴懲和棄絕。不是叫別人公開的被人定罪，嚴懲和棄絕。可惜的是我們可能因自義，沒有愛心，憐憫的心和包容的心，把別人的罪公開的定了，並且把別人釘在十字架上。
背自己的十字架是把自己和自己的邪情私欲同釘在十字架上。是依靠聖靈治死老我；對付自己個人的罪性。這是我們既是終生也是天天要學習的功課。
把自己釘在十字架上，還包括我們對世界的價值觀，我們所追求的目標，並且與世界之關係的徹底改變。保羅說：因這十字架就我而論，世界已釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已釘在十字架上。（加拉太書6：14）為此傳福音的弟兄姊妹，要分清楚甚麼是世界的福音和甚麼是天國的福音。千萬不要用世界的福去證明神的信實。因為神是天父，我們是天父兒女， 是天國的子民。我們是神從世界上呼召出來的，是捨己，把個人，世界都釘在十字架上的人。
十字架今天給我們四個意義：1.十字架告訴我們罪的可怕。2.十字架告訴我們神的慈愛。3.十字架恢復我們與神的關係。4.十字架帶我們回家。
Last Sunday we heard Jesus calling us to carry our cross daily and follow him. This call has a lot to do with our spiritual growing. Jesus wants us to carry our own cross. Our own cross demands our acceptance to accusation, condemnation, and abandonment from other people. Carrying our own cross means we willingly give up our right to defend ourselves even when others do such unreasonable things to us. But unfortunately due to our self righteousness, lack of love, mercy and forgiving, we often times force others to carry their cross instead of us carrying the cross ourselves. Carrying our own cross means we crucify our own sinful nature with its passions and desires all together. By the power of the Holy Spirit we put to death our old self. We condemn our old sinful nature. This is a lesson we have to learn everyday and practice for life.
Crucifying ourselves on the cross also involves a total change of our value, outlook, and relationship to the world. Paul said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14) It is therefore of crucial importance that when brothers and sisters set off to preach the gospel, they do not mix up the value of the world with the value of the Kingdom. We should not use prosperity and success in this world to prove God’s faithfulness. God is our Father in heaven. We are His children. We are His inheritance. We are called to be set apart from the world. As such we crucify our own value, our self interests, and our world onto the cross.
Thus the cross gives us four meanings: 1. the cross reminds us of the horror of our sin, 2. the cross reminds us of the heart of God’s love, 3. the cross heals the broken relationship between us and God, and 4. the cross leads us home to God.
講壇信息介紹
上星期我們聽到耶穌對我們說“天天背起自己的十字架來跟從我”。這話與我們的靈命長進有密切的關係。主耶穌首先要求我們背起自己的十字架。十字架是公開的定罪，嚴懲和棄絕的意思。背自己的十字架是要自己肯公開的被人定罪，嚴懲和棄絕。不是叫別人公開的被人定罪，嚴懲和棄絕。可惜的是我們可能因自義，沒有愛心，憐憫的心和包容的心，把別人的罪公開的定了，並且把別人釘在十字架上。
背自己的十字架是把自己和自己的邪情私欲同釘在十字架上。是依靠聖靈治死老我；對付自己個人的罪性。這是我們既是終生也是天天要學習的功課。
把自己釘在十字架上，還包括我們對世界的價值觀，我們所追求的目標，並且與世界之關係的徹底改變。保羅說：因這十字架就我而論，世界已釘在十字架上。就世界而論，我已釘在十字架上。（加拉太書6：14）為此傳福音的弟兄姊妹，要分清楚甚麼是世界的福音和甚麼是天國的福音。千萬不要用世界的福去證明神的信實。因為神是天父，我們是天父兒女， 是天國的子民。我們是神從世界上呼召出來的，是捨己，把個人，世界都釘在十字架上的人。
十字架今天給我們四個意義：1.十字架告訴我們罪的可怕。2.十字架告訴我們神的慈愛。3.十字架恢復我們與神的關係。4.十字架帶我們回家。
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