缅怀郭守忠长老

李春海

来13：7 从前引导你们、传神之道给你们的人，你们要想念他们，效法他们的信心，留心看他们为人的结局。

         我们教会（美国小石城以马内利华语浸信会）最近在学习《使徒行传》。《使徒行传》中的使徒们在传道过程中有神迹伴随，大有能力，同时也受尽许多逼迫。古教会特土良说：“殉道者的血成了福音的种子”。《使徒行传》结尾时讲到保罗在罗马自由传道，并没有人禁止。这个开放性的结尾说明，使徒彼得和保罗之后历代圣徒要不断续写《使徒行传》，他们要前赴后继地沿着耶稣十字架舍己的道路奔走天路，直到主再来。这让我联想到郭守忠长老。他是我老家中国黑龙江鹤岗市基督教会的奠基人。他曾引导我们、传神之道给我们，他的信心值得我们效法，他为人的结局值得我们留心（来13：7）。

          我1995年刚信主时，82岁高龄的郭守忠长老到鹤岗市新华教会讲道，并为许多弟兄姐妹和我受洗（当时是点水礼。我于2008年9月来美后，领受浸礼加入美南浸信会教会。浸信会认为，浸礼不是得救的凭据，而是顺服基督加入教会的标志。我愿通过浸礼在众人面前为主作顺服主的见证。但这并不否认我之前已经因信基督得救的事实）。郭长老作他得救的见证时说：“我从前是个大罪人，我无恶不作，在旧社会吸鸦片，道德败坏。感谢主耶稣啊，他救了我，让我认识到自己是罪人，认罪悔改，得到永生。他又拣选我作传道人。”一次圣餐礼讲道后，有一位姐姐带着她被哑巴鬼所附的妹妹来到台前请郭长老祷告。老人家谦卑跪地，为她祷告赶鬼。祷告完后，那人马上开口讲话。大家感到惊讶，高呼哈利路亚，将荣耀归于上帝。可惜的是，那位姐妹没有善始善终。她之后再也没来教会。我再次遇见她时，她疯疯癫癫地在大街上跑。前新华教会的负责人钱丽华长老讲到：“郭长老让人印象最深的就是从不收别人的礼物。我记得自己有一次受魔鬼的攻击，非常难受，整个人几乎失控。那时，同工们把我带到小屋。郭长老用方言为我祷告。祷告完后，我马上就好了，这个病从此再也没有犯过。关于说方言，我不知道别人的方言是否出于神，但我敢肯定的是，郭长老的方言一定出于神。”

         感谢主，在搜集材料时，上帝预备可以联络上郭长老的儿子丁献文长老，他慷慨提供了许多宝贵的历史照片。根据丁长老所提供的史料记载，郭守忠出生于1913年10月4日黑龙江佳木斯至铜胡同，童年家贫只读了六年书，15岁开始学徒学汉语，18岁在佳木斯兴德镇粮店里工作。1936年信主。1937年得主旨意在百般困难条件下去山东华县华北浸会神学院，此神学院后迁至山东黄县。从这里可以看到，郭长老有受到历史上著名的山东大复兴（1927-1937）的影响。1940年六月于神学院毕业，在山东做了半年传道工作。1940年10月回到佳木斯做传道工作。1940年12月将家搬到鹤岗，在鹤岗开始传道工作。1945年在鹤岗新街基北头建立鹤岗教会，正式成立时有80人聚会，郭长老吃住在教会作传道布道工作。1946年12月25日，圣诞节有120人聚会。1946年末，工农区吴志忠带领30名群众闯进教堂，打击反动传道人，把教会的桌椅板凳、风琴、教会圣经全都抢走了。教会搬到郭守忠家去聚会，有30多人。1966年文化大革命教会关闭。1970年中国落实宗教政策，教会重新得到复兴的时候，鹤岗市受洗的基督徒有2000多人。1971年12月25日在兴山公助街八委七组30栋11户郭守忠家聚会点圣诞节留影时，照片中有32人。1992年11月5日郭守忠被按立为长老。2001年8月24日荣归天家，享年89岁。我们教会（来自鹤岗的）詹慧鳞姐妹见证说：“我对郭长老了解不太多，因为那时候我还没信主。我妈妈信主了。八十年代和九十年代时，郭长老在鹤岗影响了一代基督徒。多少人因着他信了主。那时候，郭长老所带领的教会实在是太复兴了，楼上楼下坐满了人。”

        丁长老口述说：“我父亲1936年信主。当时他跪在教堂里祷告说：‘耶和华啊，你是真神，请医治我爷爷的瘫痪病。我爷爷病卧在床两年了。如果你让我爷爷下地行走，我就信你是活神，并且我终身奉献给神为神作传道”。三天后，他爷爷真的下地行走了。

    1937年，神让他上神学。他向神祷告说：‘我要上神学，我就把我的家交给神，求神供养’。我父亲上神学从教会报名，家里人不知道。他偷着就从教会直接去了山东黄县神学院。但是我父亲走以后，我三叔被提升为火磨的经理，供养我们全家。因此，我们比父亲在家时过的日子还好。

    在神学院期间，吃的干粮有的都发霉了。别的同学不吃的干粮他吃。但是吃的时候像蛋糕那样香。我父亲从神学院毕业回来在鹤岗市传道。他站在街道上传福音，挨家挨户传道。那时候传道非常艰苦，吃了上顿没下顿。生活那样的艰苦，但是灵里却欢喜快乐啊。

    他多次受打击迫害。一共有三次。1958年，为了信主的缘故，他在劳改所三年。我去看望他时他告诉我说这是上帝安排他在这里吃得饱。那时在家里正好挨饿。他住在牛棚里。牛吃的玉米，半夜的时候，他起来煮点儿玉米吃。所以，没有饿着。在灵里面，他这三年与主灵交祷告。他的灵命非常丰盛。经过三年的熬炼造就，让他亲眼看见这是一位又真又活的活神。

    我父亲为主传道56年，没有接受教会的工资，没有花过教会一分钱。任何弟兄姊妹送礼他都不接受。他自己白天讲道，晚上写讲章。写讲章常写到半夜。我在父亲身上看到了神的恩典、神的荣耀。有多少弟兄姊妹有疾病，他医病赶鬼，行许多异能，讲道大有恩赐。我父亲去世时震动了整个鹤岗市。有8000人去送葬，大客车40量，小客车50量。殡仪馆的人感叹说：‘这是什么人，比鹤岗市长去世时参加的人还多’。我父亲的一生是荣耀神的一生，也是蒙神赐福的一生！”

        沈玉兰长老见证说：“我1980年开始去教会。我那时工作忙，不怎么去聚会。郭长老侍奉的工作做得实在是太到位了。他带查经都是以经解经，他不讲人的事情，只高举耶稣基督，怎么效法主，读经、祷告、赞美。讲道时他常常穿插一首小灵歌。他带领查经会，从《创世记》到《启示录》每节都查过。”

         沈姨接着说：“他受逼迫很多。当执事不和睦时，他总是劝弟兄姐妹说我们信主的要在基督里仰望主，仰望三一真神。那时候受洗的人数有名额限制，他就劝勉弟兄姐妹要祷告让主来做事。要仰望主，仰望十字架，跟随主。主何等谦卑，当主被打得遍体鳞伤在十字架上时还说‘父啊，赦免他们’。我们也要饶恕人。

        郭长老作监很多年，受到红卫兵批斗。当一个一个人轮着接受审讯时，他见到一个异象，一个老虎嘴上贴着封条。到审讯郭长老时，红卫兵就说：‘我们吃饭去吧，吃完饭后再审’。结果，吃完饭后就没有再审了。后来，郭长老在监狱什么活都干过，比如养鸡什么的。

        在监狱时，郭师母去看望郭长老，给他唱歌鼓励他：‘主啊，如今我等什么呢？我的指望在乎你。求你救我脱离一切的过犯，不要使我受愚顽人的羞辱。因我所遭遇的是出于你，我就默然不语’（诗39：7-9）。唱完后，两人都潸然泪下。

        从监狱里放出来时，公安局的人问他：‘你还传道吗’？他回答说：‘我说的不算，神说的算。我怎么能违背神不传道呢？’其他的传道人口上说：‘我不传了’但心里说：‘我怎能不传呢？’。在这件事上郭长老心口一致，绝不以口犯罪。他们每周到公安局去一次，接受审问。公安局的人问他：‘你传道了吗？’他回答说：‘信徒只是聚在一起唱唱歌。’”    

        我问说：“你从郭长老身上学到最宝贵的功课是什么？”

        沈姨回答说：“第一，他对自己特别严谨。他讲道时，每次都是先把讲章大纲发给信徒。他念了圣经章节之后，全程闭着眼睛讲道。他把讲章背在心里，从头到尾讲出来。第二，他特别有愛心。远路来聚会的弟兄姐妹，他和师母都不让走，留大家吃饭，吃土豆、吃倭瓜。留大家住。”

         我姑姥家的大姨陈洪霞见证说：“他讲道时留下的讲章还在黑龙江老家，那些讲章都是用手写的。郭长老的音容笑貌历历在目，我耳闻目睹。我1983年信主后就去兴北区沟子北郭长老家聚会。大家在炕上聚会。他家住着破草房，炕上炕下，屋里屋外都挤满了人。我那时21岁，一到他家就上炕，一上炕就睡觉。两位老人非常温和谦卑，师母一点儿不张扬。他讲道时说：‘文革期间，那时国家反对宗教，他被抓起来拷问。他就是信，打死了也是信’。后来教会搬到向阳堂。90年代我大弟弟被人举报，下岗了。我们请他祷告。他用方言祷告完之后说：‘没事儿，一定能回去工作’。他当时年纪大了，众位执事服侍他。每次请他祷告买东西送给郭长老，他就是不要。其他人找他祷告送给他礼物，他也把礼物变成钱，放到奉献箱里。执事和我们说：“你们不要买东西了，这些感恩的东西长老都用自己的工资去还给对方。这一点对我影响最大。我在工作单位上当段长时，有人给我送礼物感恩我，我也将礼物变成钱还给他们。我始终如一，凡事人给我东西我都变成钱，感恩还回去。在难也要作十分之一奉献。再难也不亏欠别人。

        他带领查经学习，我那时都不懂，朦朦胧胧。他对我影响最大，对咱家的影响也最大。后来的教会领袖们如果能像郭长老那样在财物上清洁，他们就不会跌倒了。很可惜，现在郭长老之前所在的教会已经四分五裂了。

        1994年我下岗了。我找他祷告。他祷告完之后说：‘三年以后一定回去工作’。我想自己下岗了，有当官的人把我工作顶替了，我怎么能回去呢？神真的奇妙，三年之后真的回去了，我又当了保管员。这真的不是迷信。长老祷告出来的话都应验了。感谢主，我所有认识的人对郭长老的评价没有说三道四的。他从来不收任何人的礼物。这一点非常宝贵。”

         我姐姐李春艳见证说：“实际上，我们家听到福音就是从我姑姥家那里得来的。姑姥是郭长老教会最早的信徒。我姑姥之前拜偶像，常受魔鬼捆绑，信主之后一祷告读经鬼就跑了，她得到了医治。我和咱爸去姑姥家串门时，姑姥家的大姨陈洪霞把福音传给咱爸。她说，这位上帝是老天爷，刮风下雨他都管，什么事都能向他祷告。爸爸从姑姥家拿回来的福音单张里有十条诫命和主祷文。爸爸把它们藏在家里的镜子后面。

        后来我年纪小，从新华教会派去到向阳堂培训时，郭长老和师母每次都在门口守望接待。他们和每个人握手，给人倒水，特别温暖地把人引到教会来。哪个贫穷的、软弱的，他们都照顾得无微不至，特别让人心里暖暖的。他们那种谦卑的、真正从内心发出来实实在在的愛真的令人感动和钦佩。他们的儿女子孙在各地工作，都作十分之一奉献。郭长老太愛主了。他信主信得太投入了。什么时候人们来求他祷告，他都非常谦卑地为他们祈祷。他年老时，即使是自己不舒服，当别人求他代祷他都艰难地起来为人代祷。”

        郭长老的故事不胜枚举。由于篇幅所限，我到此止笔。特别感谢上帝，也感谢丁献文、钱丽华、沈玉兰、李春艳、陈洪霞、詹慧鳞、赵桂芹、张忠霞等弟兄姐妹所提供的见证。愿借此文抛砖引玉，可以唤起更多人去深入探索郭长老的服侍，并反思我们今日的信仰光景。从郭长老的故事中我们至少可以学习几点：

1. 他有丰盛的属灵生命，他的恩赐与谦卑结合。他有着宽广的心胸，海纳百川有容乃大，为基督所大用。

         2.他为主经受住文革时作监的考验。 “我们的信心既被试验，就比被火试验仍然能坏的金子更显宝贵，可以在主耶稣基督显现的时候，得着称赞、荣耀、尊贵“（彼前1：7）。郭守忠的名副其实，他至死忠心，坚守主道，直到生命的最后一刻。

         3.牧者情怀。他用生命服侍了他那个时代的人就睡去了。他的服侍中充满了谦卑、愛心和关怀，真正将基督的愛彰显出来。

4. 上帝喜欢与我们玩捉迷藏游戏。通过写郭长老的见证我惊讶地发现，郭长老年轻时读的神学院居然是美南浸信会（Southern Baptist Church）在中国主办的。我十六年前来美国后加入美南浸信会。在信主30多年后2024年2月27日我惊奇地发现，追根溯源，郭长老所受的神学训练居然和我现在所参加的教会同属一源。如果美南浸信会国际宣教部（International Mission Board）得知他们所培养出的神学生郭守忠后来的故事，他在鹤岗市带领和影响了包括我在内的成千上万人信主，我们的心将会是何等地欢喜！郭长老的故事值得在中国教会历史上留下一笔。主的话又在耳畔回荡： “我听见从天上有声音说：‘你要写下：从今以后，在主里面而死的人有福了！’圣灵说：‘是的，他们息了自己的劳苦，做工的果效也随着他们’（启14：13）。

In Memory of Elder Guo Shouzhong

Chunhai Li

Hebrews 13:7 (KJV): Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

Our church (Little Rock Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church in Little Rock, USA) has recently been studying the Book of Acts. In Acts, the apostles were accompanied by miracles and great power in their preaching, but they also faced much persecution. Tertullian, an early church father, said, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The ending of Acts mentions Paul freely preaching in Rome without hindrance. This open-ended conclusion suggests that after Peter and Paul, successive generations of saints will continue to write Acts, following the path of self-sacrifice along the way of the cross of Jesus, running the heavenly road until the Lord comes again. This reminds me of Elder Guo Shouzhong. He was the founder of the Christian Church in my hometown, Hegang, Heilongjiang Province, China. He once guided us and preached the word of God to us. His faith is worthy of emulation, and we should consider his glorious life (Hebrews 13:7).

          In 1995, Elder Guo Shouzhong, who was 82 years old at the time, came to the Xinhua Church in Hegang City to preach and baptized many brothers, sisters, and me after I become a believer. (At that time, it was sprinkling baptism. In September 2008, after coming to the United States, I received baptism in immersion and joined the Southern Baptist Church. Baptists believe that baptism is not a prerequisite for salvation but a sign of obedience to Christ and joining the church. I am willing to testify to the Lord’s obedience through baptism before others. This does not deny the fact that I was already saved by faith in Christ) When Elder Guo testified to his salvation, he said, “I used to be a great sinner, I did all kinds of evil, I smoked opium in the old society, my morals were corrupt. Thank the Lord Jesus, He saved me, let me realize that I am a sinner, repent of my sins, and obtain eternal life. He also chose me as a preacher.” After one Lord’s Supper, an older sister brought her younger sister who was possessed by a mute evil spirit to the front to ask Elder Guo for prayer. The elder humbly knelt down and prayed for her, driving out the demon. After the prayer, the younger sister immediately began to speak. Everyone was amazed and shouted ‘Hallelujah,’ giving glory to God. Unfortunately, that sister did not end well. She never came to church again. When I met her again, she was running around on the street in a crazy manner. Elder Qian Lihua, the former leader of Xinhua Church, said, “The most impressive thing about Elder Guo is that he never accepts gifts from others. I remember one time I was under attack by the devil, feeling very uncomfortable, almost losing control. At that time, my coworkers took me to a small house. Elder Guo prayed in tongues for me. After the prayer, I immediately recovered, and I have never had that illness again. As for speaking in tongues, I don’t know if others’ tongues are from God, but I am sure that Elder Guo’s tongues must be from God.”

        Thank God, during the process of gathering materials, He arranged for me to contact Elder Ding Xianwen, the son of Elder Guo. He generously provided many valuable historical photos. According to the historical records provided by Elder Ding, Guo Shouzhong was born on October 4, 1913, in Tonghutong, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang Province. He grew up in poverty and only received six years of formal education. At the age of 15, he began apprenticing and learning Mandarin, and at 18, he worked in a grain store in Xingde Town, Jiamusi. He became a Christian in 1936 and in 1937, following God’s will, he went to the North China Baptist Theological Seminary in Huangsien, Shandong Province, under extremely difficult conditions. From this, we can see that Elder Guo was influenced by the famous Shandong Revival (1927-1937) in history. He graduated from the seminary in June 1940 and served as a preacher in Shandong for half a year. In October 1940, he returned to Jiamusi to continue his preaching work. In December 1940, he moved his family to Hegang and began preaching there. In 1945, he established the Hegang Church at the northern end of Xijie, Hegang. When it was officially established, there were 80 people gathering, and Elder Guo lived and worked in the church. On December 25, 1946, Christmas, there were 120 people gathering. At the end of 1946, Wu Zhizhong, from Gongnong District, led 30 people to break into the church, attack reactionary preachers, and take away all the church’s furniture, organ, and Bible. The church moved to Elder Guo’s home for meetings, with more than 30 people attending. During the Cultural Revolution in 1966, the church was closed. In 1970, when China began implementing religious policies again, there were over 2,000 baptized Christians in Hegang.

          On December 25, 1971, during a Christmas gathering at Guo’s home, located at 30 Building, 11 Households, Committee 7, Group 8, Xingshan Gongzhu Street, there were 32 people in the photograph. On November 5, 1992, Guo was ordained as an elder. He peacefully passed away on August 24, 2001, at the age of 89. Sister Zhan Huilin from our church in Hegang testified, “I don’t know much about Elder Guo because I wasn’t a believer at that time. My mother was a believer. In the 1980s and 1990s, Elder Guo influenced a generation of Christians in Hegang. So many people came to faith because of him. At that time, the church led by Elder Guo was truly revitalized, with people filling every floor.”

         Elder Ding recounted, “My father became a Christian in 1936. At that time, he knelt in the church and prayed, saying, ‘Lord Jehovah, you are the true God, please heal my grandfather’s paralysis. My grandfather has been bedridden for two years. If you allow my grandfather to walk again, I will believe that you are the living God, and I will dedicate my life to serving You as a preacher.’ Three days later, his grandfather indeed began to walk again.

        In 1937, God led him to attend seminary. He prayed to God, saying, ‘I want to go to seminary, so I will entrust my family to God and ask for His provision.’ My father signed up for seminary through the church without his family knowing. After he left, my third uncle, who was promoted to be a manager at a fire mill, provided for our entire family. So, we had a better life than when my father was at home.

        During his time at the seminary, some of Chinese bread they received were moldy. While other students refused to eat them, he did. When he ate them, they tasted as delicious as cake. After graduating from seminary, he returned to Hegang to preach. He preached the gospel on the streets and went door-to-door. Preaching was very difficult at that time, and there were times when he went without food. Life was hard, but his spirit was joyful and happy.

        He faced persecution and hardships multiple times, a total of three times. In 1958, because of his faith, he spent three years in a labor camp. When I visited him, he told me that it was God’s arrangement for him to eat well there. At that time, we were starving at home. He lived in a cowshed. He cooked some corn in the middle of the night that the cows ate so he never got hungry. Spiritually, he prayed and communed with the Lord during those three years. His spiritual life was very rich. Through the refining of those three years, he personally witnessed that God is truly alive.

        My father preached for the Lord for 56 years, without accepting any salary from the church or spending any of the church’s money. He never accepted gifts from any brothers or sisters. He preached during the day and wrote sermons at night, often writing until midnight. I saw God’s grace and glory in my father. He healed the sick, cast out demons, performed many miracles, and had a great gift of preaching. The whole city of Hegang was shocked when my father died. 8,000 people went to the funeral, in 40 buses and in 50 minibuses. The person at the funeral home sighed and said: ‘Who is this person? More people attended his funeral than attended the mayor’s funeral. My father’s life was a life that glorified God and was blessed by God!”

        Elder Shen Yulan testified, “I started attending church in 1980. At that time, I was busy with work and didn’t attend gatherings much. Elder Guo’s ministry was truly outstanding. When he led Bible studies, he always focused on interpreting scriptures through scriptures. He didn’t talk about personal matters but exalted Jesus Christ, teaching how to imitate the Lord through reading the Bible, praying, and praising. During his sermons, he often inserted a hymn. He led Bible studies, covering every chapter from Genesis to Revelation.”

         Continuing, Sister Shen said, “He faced a lot of persecution. When there were disagreements among the deacons, he always encouraged brothers and sisters to look to the Lord. At that time, there were restrictions on the number of people who could be baptized. He encouraged brothers and sisters to pray and let the Lord work. We should look to the Lord, look to the cross, and follow the Lord. The Lord was so humble; even when He was beaten and bruised on the cross, He said, ‘Father, forgive them.’ We should also forgive others.

        Elder Guo served as an elder for many years and was criticized by the Red Guards. During the interrogations, when it was Elder Guo’s turn, he had a vision of a tiger with a seal on its mouth. When the Red Guards interrogated him, they said, ‘Let’s go eat first, and then we’ll continue the interrogation.’ After they finished eating, there was no further interrogation. Later, Elder Guo did various jobs in prison, such as raising chickens.

        While in prison, Elder Guo’s wife visited him and sang to encourage him: ‘And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of the fool’ (Psalm 39:7-9). After singing, both of them shed tears.

         When he was released from prison, the police asked him, ‘Will you continue preaching?’ He replied, ‘What I say doesn’t matter; what God says does. How could I disobey God and not preach?’ Other preachers would say, ‘I won’t preach anymore,’ but in their hearts, they would think, ‘How can I not preach?’ Elder Guo was consistent in his heart and speech, never sinning with his mouth. They went to the police station once a week for reporting. The police asked him, ‘Have you been preaching?’ He answered, ‘Believers just gather together to sing songs.’”

         I asked, “What is the most valuable lesson you learned from Elder Guo?”

         Sister Shen replied, “First, he was very meticulous about himself. When he preached, he would always distribute the outline of his sermon to the believers beforehand. After reading the Bible verses, he would close his eyes throughout the sermon. He memorized the entire sermon and delivered it from beginning to end. Second, he was exceptionally loving. Brothers and sisters who came from afar for gatherings, he and his wife would not let them leave, but instead, they would invite everyone to eat, serving potatoes and China northern pumpkins. They would also offer accommodations to everyone.”

         My Aunt Chen Hongxia said, “The sermon notes left by him are still in our home, all handwritten by him. The image of Elder Guo’s appearance and his smile is vivid in my mind; I have heard and seen it all. After I became a believer in 1983, I started attending gatherings at Elder Guo’s home in Gouzi North, Xingbei District. We gathered on the heated brick bed. His house was a dilapidated grass hut, packed with people both on and under the bed, inside and outside the house. At that time, I was 21 years old. As soon as I arrived at his house, I climbed onto the bed and fell asleep. Both elders were very gentle and humble, and his wife was very modest. He once said during his sermon, ‘During the Cultural Revolution, when the country opposed religion, he was arrested and interrogated. But he remained faithful. Even if he were beaten to death, he would still believe.’ Later, the church moved to Xiangyang Church. In the 1990s, my younger brother was reported and laid off. We asked Elder Guo to pray. After he prayed in tongues, he said, ‘It’s okay, he will definitely get his job back.’ At that time, Elder Guo was old, and the deacons served him. Every time we asked him to pray, buy something, or give him a gift, he refused. If others asked him to pray or gave him gifts, he would turn the gifts into money and put them in the offering box. The deacons told us, ‘Don’t buy anything anymore; Elder Guo uses his own salary to repay everyone for these thank-you gifts.’ This had the greatest impact on me. When I was a section chief at work and someone gave me gifts in gratitude, I also turned the gifts into money and returned them. I have always been consistent; whenever someone gives me something, I turn it into money and return it in gratitude. Even in difficult times, I still tithe. I never owe anyone.

        He led Bible studies, and at that time, I didn’t understand much. His influence on me was the greatest, and he had the greatest influence on our family. If the church leaders that followed him could be as morally clean as Elder Guo in financial matters, they wouldn’t have fallen. It’s a pity that the church where Elder Guo used to serve has now split into factions.

        In 1994, I was laid off. I asked him to pray for me. After he prayed, he said, ‘You will definitely return to work in three years.’ I thought to myself, ‘I’ve been laid off, and someone in authority has taken over my job. How can I return?’ But God is truly miraculous; three years later, I did return to work as a custodian. This is not superstition. The words spoken by the elder in prayer have come true. Thank the Lord, everyone I know has nothing but praise for Elder Guo. He never accepts gifts from anyone. This is extremely precious.”

        My biological sister, Li Chunyan, testified, “In fact, our family heard the gospel from my aunt’s family. My aunt Chen Hongxia was one of the earliest believers in Elder Guo’s church. Before she believed in the Lord, she worshipped idols and was often bound by demons. After she prayed and read the Bible, the demons fled, and she was healed. When my father and I visited my aunt’s house, my aunt’s elder sister, Chen Hongxia, shared the gospel with my father. She said, ‘This God is the Almighty; he controls everything, even the wind and rain. You can pray to him about anything.’ Inside the gospel pamphlet that my father brought back from my aunt’s house were the Ten Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer. My father hid them behind the mirror at home.

         Later, when I was young, I was sent from Xinhua Church to Xiangyang Church for training. Elder Guo and his wife were always at the door welcoming and receiving everyone. They shook hands with each person, served hot water, and warmly invited people into the church. They cared for the poor and the weak meticulously, which made people feel very warm. Their humility and genuine love, which came from the depths of their hearts, were truly touching and admirable. Their children and grandchildren, working in various places, all tithed. Elder Guo loved the Lord too much. He was deeply committed to his faith. Whenever people came to him for prayer, he humbly prayed for them. Even in his old age, when he was not feeling well, he would still get out of bed to pray for others when they asked for his intercession.”

        The stories of Elder Guo are countless. Due to space constraints, I will end my writing here. I am especially grateful to God and to the brothers and sisters including Ding Xianwen, Qian Lihua, Shen Yulan, Li Chunyan, Chen Hongxia, Zhao Guiqin, Zhan Huilin, and Zhang Zhongxia for providing their testimonies. May this article serve as a catalyst to inspire more people to delve deeper into Elder Guo’s ministry and to reflect on the state of our faith today. From Elder Guo’s story, we can learn several things:

1. He had a rich spiritual life, combining his gifts with humility. He had a broad mind, embracing everyone, and was greatly used by Christ.
2. He endured the test of being imprisoned during the Cultural Revolution. “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7). Elder Guo’s Chinese name Shouzhong means “staying faithfulness.” He remained faithful until the end, steadfast in the way of the Lord, until his last breath.
3. Pastoral care. He served the people of his time with his life and then peacefully passed away. His service was full of humility, love, and care, truly manifesting the love of Christ.
4. God enjoys playing hide and seek with us. Through writing about Elder Guo’s testimony, I was amazed to discover that the seminary he attended in his youth in China was sponsored by the Southern Baptist Church. I joined the Southern Baptist Church in the United States more than sixteen years ago. After more than thirty years of being a Christian, on February 27, 2024, I was astonished to find that, tracing back to the source, the theological training Elder Guo received is actually from the same source as the church I am currently serving. If the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention were to learn about the story of Elder Guo, their former seminary student who later led and influenced thousands of people, including myself, to believe in the Lord in Hegang City, our hearts would rejoice greatly! Elder Guo’s story deserves to be recorded in the history of the Chinese church. The words of the Lord echo in my ears again: “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them’” (Revelation 14:13).

1- 华北浸会神学院是中国20世纪一所基督教神学院，由美南浸信会华北区联合会（山东与东北）主办。其前身为美南浸信会传教士海雅西、浦其维创办的卜氏神道学校，初设于登州，后迁至黄县小栾家疃。1931年，由于山东复兴的影响，卜氏神道学校改组为华北浸会神学院，以适应培养传道人的需要。院长柯理培。学生由10人左右增加到一百多人。1941年太平洋战争爆发后，柯理培等传教士被关进日军集中营，神学院停办。1946年，因受国共内战战事影响，华北浸会神学院无法恢复。院长柯理培等人赴上海，任中华浸会神学院校长。参https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/%E5%8D%8E%E5%8C%97%E6%B5%B8%E4%BC%9A%E7%A5%9E%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2。

2-The North China Baptist Theological Seminary was a Christian theological institution in China in the 20th century, sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention of North China (Shandong and Northeast). Its predecessor was the Bu Shi School of Divinity, founded by Southern Baptist missionaries Hays and Pugh, initially located in Dengzhou and later moved to Xiaoluanshantuan, Huangxian. In 1931, influenced by the Shandong Revival, the Bu Shi School of Divinity was reorganized into the North China Baptist Theological Seminary to meet the need for training missionaries. It was led by Dean Charles L. Culpepper Sr. The number of students increased from around 10 to over 100. After the outbreak of the Pacific War in 1941, Dean Charles L. Culpepper Sr. and other missionaries were imprisoned in Japanese internment camps, and the seminary ceased operations. In 1946, due to the impact of the civil war between the Kuomintang and the Communists, the North China Baptist Theological Seminary could not be restored. Dean Charles L. Culpepper Sr.  and others went to Shanghai and he became the president of the China Baptist Theological Seminary. See https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hans/%E5%8D%8E%E5%8C%97%E6%B5%B8%E4%BC%9A%E7%A5%9E%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2 for more information.

宣教原则

——读罗兰·艾伦著作的心得体会

Roland Allen. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s Or Ours. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. 

           Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989.  

  罗兰·艾伦 (Roland Allen) 于 1895 年至 1903 年间担任英国圣公会在中国的宣教士。此后几年，他负责英国教区。在接下来的 40 年里，他一直致力于宣教原则的写作。罗兰·艾伦凭借自己作为宣教士的丰富经验，于1912年写下了《宣教方法：圣保罗或我们的宣教方法》一书。该书在20世纪60年代被重新发现。艾伦根据《新约》以及威廉·拉姆齐教授和阿道夫·冯·哈纳克教授的著作进行历史重建，以保罗的宣教策略为例，对当时英国圣公会宣教策略中存在的问题提出了一些反思。他提出的所有问题对于反思今天的宣教工作、教会植堂、教会建立，以及如何传福音等都很有价值。

        本书的主要论点是倡导宣教工作和植堂界的本土策略（即根据福音传扬的当地文化，因地制宜；在不改变福音本质的前提下，注重按着当地的文化习俗将福音表达出来）。艾伦挑战说我们应该像保罗那样相信圣灵。 保罗对圣灵有着深刻的信仰和信任，圣灵住在他的归信者和教会中。我们的问题是“我们更容易相信圣灵在我们身上并通过我们所做的工作，比我们相信圣灵在我们的归信者身上和通过我们的归信者所做的工作更容易：我们不能将我们的归信者信托于圣灵”（vii）。换句话说，我们并没有像保罗在提摩太后书2:2 所说的那样，把福音更好地传递下去，做有效的门徒培训。因此，宣教士必须学会如何从工作中退休。有几个优点体现在他的书中。

1. 保罗完全依靠圣灵

        艾伦提到，保罗不太可能起草宣教策略计划，他是在圣灵的引导下自发地做出决定。 尽管保罗建立教会的每个城市都是罗马行政、希腊文明和教育、犹太影响和全球商业的省级中心 (13)，但保罗并没有仅仅根据这些理由选择他要传道的地方，他是受圣灵的引导……它们是战略中心，因为保罗的传道而使它们如此（16）。 在第三章中，当艾伦讨论保罗讲道的对象时，他认为“圣保罗的大多数归信者是下层商业和工人阶级、劳工、自由民和奴隶；但他本人并没有刻意针对任何阶级”（24）。保罗所传福音的人大多是普通人，但也有一些人在社会上有显赫地位，例如：帕弗的总督、一位通达人（徒13: 7）， “虔诚的希腊人，以及帖撒罗尼迦的一些尊贵的妇女”（徒 17: 4）。保罗完全依靠圣灵带领他到达某些地方和他能接触到的人。 这教导宣教士和植堂者应该寻求圣灵的具体指导，以选择他们可以接触到的地点、时间和目标群体。在我们传福音的时候，我们不能按着自己的意思锁定要给某个人或某个群体传福音，而是要完全依靠圣灵的引导和带领，圣灵会将他所预备的人带到我们面前。

2. 保罗传讲纯正的福音，并教导道德责任

         保罗宣讲的福音包含耶稣的救恩和人的悔改。关于福音应该传到什么程度的问题，艾伦认为保罗知道如何继续前进。保罗不会坚持教导那些拒绝相信的人。艾伦对保罗的评论：“福音的教导不仅仅是理智的教导：它是一个道德过程，涉及道德回应”（75）。因此，我们必须询问听众对福音的道德回应。这有助于我们保持福音的平衡：免费的礼物和基督徒的属灵责任。同时，基督徒在归信后也应该过敬虔的基督徒生活。

3. 财务独立

        对于宣教或植堂教会的财政支持问题，艾伦主张教会应该自给自足。 他深刻地指出，本质上金钱的使用或运作方式传达和教导了一个观念，即完全依靠神还是依靠人。 我们不该把信徒当作儿女、孙子，而是当作主里的弟兄姊妹。 我们不应该剥夺他们的经济责任和相应的祝福。我认为艾伦并不是反对财政支持，而是反对对外部或西方财政支持产生的依赖感。教会的财务自给自足非常重要。中国布道家宋尚节（1901-1943）在他的事工中不断挑战中国教会应该独立于西方的财政支持。只有这样，圣灵才能在教会中有更大的作工空间，带来更大的复兴。

4. 成熟教会的标志

        在第三部分中，艾伦谈到了培训归信者。 他提到了四件事作为一个相对成熟教会的标志：传统或基本信条、洗礼和圣餐圣事、教会规则和圣经（107）。他的用词是典型的圣公会习惯，但他表达的原则是对的，即成熟教会应该具有：(1) 纯正的信仰教导和纯正的教义。 (2) 有几位忠实的带领者作为领袖。 (3) 管理教会的简单组织。 (4) 一些可以满足基本需求的财物。

5. 教会的合一

        此外，艾伦强调教会的合一至关重要。 在第 11 章中，艾伦阐述了保罗如何成功地维持合一，他在此澄清说“合一并不在于外表上遵守最早会友的做法，而是在于融入身体”（131）。 保罗没有建立一个管理所有教会的中央行政机构，也没有建立正统教义的试金石。 他认为合一是理所当然的；它是犹太人和希腊人之间的桥梁，发起教会之间的慈善行为，并鼓励教会之间不断进行沟通（134-135）。

        艾伦的书并不是完美无缺的，比如艾伦批评宣教士的服侍不应从外在（比如建教堂、建医院等）、而应从内在（比如保罗到一个地方直接去讲道）着手。这一点很宝贵，但是他并没有指出当代宣教士到底应从哪个角度着手福音事工。由于篇幅所限，关于本书的缺点不一一赘述。总之，我们的教会至少可以从这本书中学习两点：

        第一， 在宣教或传福音工作的整个过程中，从开始到结束，包括寻找失丧者、传道、教导、训练、财物和合一，都要更加信靠主。在寻找教堂过程中，我们要在每一个细节上完全相信上帝，而不是我们自己的计划或财务。

       第二，找到主使用我们的独特方式，就像圣灵的力量使用保罗来完成他工作的独特方式一样。 关于圣灵的“能力”（徒1: 9），艾伦在1921年就曾高度评价过。下面的话对我们仍然很有启发：

        “即使我们不再拥有保罗的力量，我们仍然拥有启迪保罗的圣灵。我们有足够的能力拥有启迪保罗的圣灵。 我们有足够的力量让圣灵发光。我们有足够的力量聚集听众；我们有足够的力量来证明神的灵与我们同在；我们有足够的力量向慕道友保证基督信仰比所有异教都优越；只要我们运用我们的力量来彰显圣灵，我们就有足够的力量以行动来说明我们信仰的特征、它的救恩和它的愛。有一天我们也许会恢复充满神迹的早期信仰”（48）。

2/25/24 Pastor’ s Word

Missionary Principles:

Digest on Roland Allen’s Book

Roland Allen was an Anglican missionary in China from 1895 to 1903. For a few years afterward he was in charge of English parish. For the next 40 years he was writing on missionary principles. With his own rich experience as a missionary, Roland Allen wrote his book Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s Or Ours in 1912. It was rediscovered in the 1960s. By historical reconstruction based on the New Testament and the works of Professor William M. Ramsay and Professor Adolf von Harnack, Allen takes Paul’s missionary strategy as an example, and put forward some reflections on the problems existing in the Anglican missionary strategy at that time. All the questions he raises are valuable for reflection on today’s mission work, church planting, building up church, and how to share the gospel.

         The main thesis of the book is to advocate the self-indigenous strategy in missional work and church planting circles. Allen challenges that we should trust the Holy Spirit in the way Paul trusted. Paul had a profound belief and trusted in the Holy Spirit, indwelling his converts and the churches. Our problem is that “We can more easily believe in His work in us and through us, than we can believe in His work in and through our converts: we cannot trust our converts to Him” (vii). In another word, we do not do a great job of passing on the gospel, doing an effective discipleship training like Paul did in 2 Timothy 2: 2. Therefore, missionary must learn how to retire from his work. Several strong points are illustrated in his books. 

• Paul depended on the Holy Spirit completely

         Allen mentions that it is unlikely that Paul drafted the missionary strategic plan, but rather his decisions were made spontaneously under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Although each of the cities in which Paul established churches was a provincial center of Roman administration, Greek civilization and education, Jewish influence, and global commerce (13), Paul did not select where he would preach simply on the grounds like these, he was led of the Spirit…they were strategic centers because he made them such (16). In Chapter 3, when Allen discusses the group to which Paul preached, he argues that “The majority of St. Paul’s converts were the lower business and working classes, laborers, freemen and slaves; but he himself did not deliberately target any class” (24). Most of the people who heard the Gospel Paul preached were ordinary people, but there were also some who held distinguished position in society, such as: the proconsul, an intelligent man in Paphos (Acts 13: 7), and “a large number of God-fearing Greeks, and a few prominent women” in Thessalonica (Acts 17: 4). Paul depended solely on the Holy Spirit’s leading to certain places and the people he could reach. This teaches that missionaries and Church planters should seek the Holy Spirit’s specific guidance of choosing location, timing, and target group they could reach. When we preach the gospel, we cannot focus on preaching the gospel to a certain person or group according to our own desire, but we must completely rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will bring the right people he prepared to us.

• Paul preached the pure gospel along with teaching ethical responsibilities  

        Paul preached a clear gospel of Jesus’s salvation and human’s repentance. Regarding the question of how far the Gospel should be preached, Allen considers Paul knew how to move on. Paul refused to persist in teaching those who refused to believe. Allen’s comment on Paul: “The teaching of the Gospel is not a mere intellectual instruction: it is a moral process and involves a moral response” (75). Therefore, we must ask for the moral response of our audience to the gospel. This helps us to keep the balance of the gospel: the free gift and Christian’s spiritual responsibility. Meanwhile, Christians are also supposed to live a godly life after they were converted.    

• Finance Independence 

        Regarding the issue of financial support for those missional or planted churches, Allen advocates the church should be self-supporting. He profoundly points out that in essence, the way money is used or operated conveys and teaches a concept, that is, whether to rely entirely on God or people. We should not treat believers as children or grandchildren, but as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We should not deprive them of their financial responsibilities and corresponding blessings. I believe Allen is not against financial support, but against creating a certain sense of dependency on outside or western finance support. The financial self-sustaining of the church is very important. Chinese evangelist John Sung (1901-1943) constantly challenged that Chinese churches should be independent from western finance support in his ministry. Only in this way can the Holy Spirit have more room to work in the churches and bring about a greater revival.

• The Signs of a Mature Church 

        In Part III, Allen addresses the training of converts. He mentions four things as the signs of an established church: A tradition or elementary creed, the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Communion, Orders, and the Holy Scripture (107). His choice of words is typically Anglican, but the principle he expresses is correct, namely that a mature church should have: 1. Pure faith teaching and sound doctrine. 2. A few faithful leaders as leadership. 3. A simple organization to run the church. 4. Some money that can cover the basic needs. 

• The Unity of the Church 

        Also, Allen emphasizes the unity of the church is crucial. In Part VI, Allen addresses how Paul succeeded in maintaining unity by clarifying that here “unity did not consist in outward conformity to the practices of the earliest member, but in incorporation into the body” (131). Paul did not establish a central administrative authority over all churches, or a litmus test for orthodoxy. He taught unity by taking it for granted, serving as a bridge between Jew and Greek, initiating acts of charity between churches, and encouraging constant movement of communication between the churches (134-135).   

         Allen’s book is not perfect. For example, Allen critiques that the service of missionaries should not start from the outside (such as building churches, hospitals, etc.), but should start from the inside (such as Paul going to a place to preach directly). This is valuable, but he does not point out how the modern missionaries should start their work in a new place. Due to space limitations, I will not go into details about the shortcomings of this book. In summary, our church can learn at least two things from the book: 

        Firstly, trust the Lord more in the whole process of missional or evangelical work, from the beginning to the end, including seeking the lost, preaching, teaching, training, financing, and unity. In searching the church building, we need to trust God completely in every details instead of our own plan or finance.  

       Secondly. find the unique way the Lord will use us as Paul used the unique way of doing His work by the power of the Holy Spirit. The “power” from the Holy Spirt (Acts 1:9) is highly noted by Allen in 1921. The words in the following are still very inspiring to us: 

        “If we no longer possess his power we still possess the Spirit which inspired him. We have powers enough possess the Spirit which inspired him. We have powers enough whereby to let the Spirit shine forth. We have powers sufficient to gather hearers; we have powers sufficient to demonstrate the Divine Presence of the Spirit of God with us; we have powers sufficient to assure inquirers of the superiority of Christianity to all heathen religions; we have powers sufficient to illustrate in act the character of our religion, its salvation and its love, if only we will use our powers to reveal the Spirit. One day we shall perhaps recover the early faith in miracles”(48). 

“你作你的部分、我会作我的部分”

“You Do Your Part; and I Will Do Mine” 

        准备讲章是牧师侍奉中最重要的一部分。上帝不仅呼召牧师去传讲信息，更呼召他去准备信息。牧师回应上帝的呼召不仅是站在讲台上宣讲上帝话语的那个时刻，也包括他整个准备信息的过程。我之前讲道不太写讲章，只是准备一份简单的大纲。在读西南浸会神学院（Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary）的博士班课程时，教授特别强调每个讲道人都应该准备详细的讲章，传道人不能照本宣科，但一定要把讲章写出来。按着教授的教导，我开始学习写讲章。起初写一页，然后是两页，后来就越写越多。有时要写4-5页。在准备诗篇68篇时，由于经文比较长，所以写了8页。在那天晚上睡觉时，我心里隐约有些不安，感觉准备的内容太多会不会给翻译的同工造成太大的压力。在2月2日清晨，主在我心里感动一句话： “你作你的部分，我会作我的部分” (You Do Your Part; and I Will Do Mine) 。主的意思是说，你尽上力量作你的部分，主会负责作主的部分。所以，不要担心，我们只要尽上本分作好我们能作的部分，将其它的部分交给主就好了。主应许我们说，主必作成他自己的工。

          “由水变酒”是耶稣所行的头一件神迹（约2: 1-11）。神迹原文是神奇的标记或记号（miraculous sign），它标志着神的作为。既说是神迹就是因为只有神能行，人不能行也不能复制。神迹是为了证明主和他永恒的目标。由水变酒的神迹中有一个重要的步骤，就是要“把缸倒满水”。当婚宴上出现问题——酒用尽了时，耶稣的母亲马利亚将问题带到耶稣面前，告诉耶稣说：“他们没有酒了”。耶稣似乎并没有马上回应马利亚的诉求，而只是告诉她说：“我的时候还没有到”。接着，马利亚吩咐宴席上的服侍人员说：“他告诉你们作什么，你们就作什么。”主没有吩咐他们作他们不能作的事情，主只是吩咐他们说：“把缸倒满水”。按着犹太人洁净的礼仪，他们有六口石缸，每口可盛两三桶水。圣经中“六”是指人的数字。“两三桶水”大概是75-115升(公斤)。据此，六口石缸可以盛460-690升（公斤）水。听起来这个数量还是蛮大的。“倒满水”说明在作预备的工作时不能偷工减料，不能一瓶不响、半瓶晃荡，而是要踏踏实实地将自己能作的部分作到位。这些服侍人员非常顺服，他们没有任何质疑或抱怨。主怎么说他们就怎么作，他们原原本本地照着耶稣的话去作。“他们就倒满了，直到缸口”。

         “你作你的部分，我会作我的部分”。主的意思是说，你负责把缸倒满水，我负责变化。由水变酒这部分的工作我们不能作，必须要让主来作。我们在往缸里倒水的过程中千万不要灰心。主要借着这个过程来造就磨练我们的属灵品格，包括耐心和信心等。如果我们暂时还没有看到变化，那说明我们的水还没倒够。当我们把缸倒满水，直到缸口时，神的时候就到了。那时，我们必然看到上帝的作为，我们必看到“瞎子的眼必睁开，笼子的耳必开通。瘸子必跳跃像鹿，哑巴的舌头必能歌唱，在旷野必有水发出，在沙漠必有河涌流”（赛35: 5-6），因为神要借着这一切彰显他的大能。

       注意， “由水变酒”这个神迹中，耶稣没有大声喧哗，没有作什么重要的仪式，而是润物细无声地做成了上帝的工作。当六口石缸注满水之后，耶稣云淡风轻地又说： “现在可以舀出来，送给管宴席的。他们就送去了”（2: 8）。我们不知道水具体是在什么时候变成酒的，也许是缸倒满之后、也许是仆人正在往出舀时。这并不重要。重要的是，我们知道水的确变成了酒。我们知道这是主作成的事，而不是人作成的事。有时，我们作主的工作不需要大声喧哗，不需要太多人为的手段，而需要圣灵的工作。当人过分用自己的小聪明去计划或谋算时，往往会弄巧成拙、适得其反。很多时候，当人谦卑顺服，愿意遵行主的旨意，尽上人所能尽的本分时，圣灵便会悄无声息地作着变化的工作。

        “你作你的部分，我会作我的部分”。自从今年教会开始晨祷会以来，我们正在更多地经历上帝变水为酒的神迹。在晨祷会上，之前从未做过分享的几位弟兄姐妹开始分享主的话语。有一位弟兄见证到，我们在这里为在他国内朋友的女儿祷告，他的朋友全家居然感受到了祷告的力量。有一位姐妹分享到自己曾经软弱自卑与父亲的关系不是那么好，觉得父亲偏心弟弟，然而就在她思想这件事时，主就感动她父亲的心主动联系她，和她道歉，使她心里得到释放，经历上帝所赐的医治和平安。另一位姐妹分享到主如何帮助她，在主里从心灵深处饶恕她之前多年对父亲的埋怨和苦毒。祈祷正在带给教会更多的祝福，使教会同工更加火热合一地服侍主，使许多老会友的心转回教会，使慕道友信靠耶稣，使每次崇拜时有更多人回应讲台信息从而接受耶稣基督作救主。我们在祈祷上尽本分，主在持续不断地作变水为酒的神迹。我们将一切荣耀归于主！

        讲章犹如人生。有个神学生问一位老牧师： “要花多长时间写一篇讲章”？老牧师的回答是： “用一生写一篇讲章”。从某种意义上讲，我们每个人不同的服侍都是在写讲章。我们负责写、负责服侍，主负责变化、负责使用我们的服侍去改变和祝福更多人的生命。就像由水变酒的神迹一样，愿主赐福我们每个人的人生能从无味变得有滋有味，从软弱疲乏变得被圣灵充满，从干枯无力到大有能力。以基督之名祝福，阿门！

“You Do Your Part; and I Will Do Mine”

Preparing sermons is one of the most important parts in a pastor’s ministry. God not only calls pastors to deliver messages but also to prepare them. A pastor’s response to God’s call encompasses not only the moment of standing at the pulpit to proclaim God’s word but also the entire process of preparing the message. Previously, I did not focus much on sermon preparation; I only prepared a simple outline. While taking courses in the doctoral program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the professors emphasized the importance of preparing detailed sermons. Preachers cannot rely solely on extemporaneous speaking; they must write out their sermons. Following their guidance, I began to learn how to write sermons. Initially, it was just one page, then two, and eventually, more pages. Sometimes, I had to write 4-5 pages. When preparing Psalm 68, because the passage was long, I ended up writing 8 pages. That night, I felt a bit uneasy, wondering if the amount of preparation would put too much pressure on the translator who would help to translate the message into English for our English speakers during our worship. On the morning of February 2nd, the Lord impressed upon my heart a sentence: “You do your part, and I will do mine.” The Lord meant to say, do your best, and He will take care of the rest. So, let’s not worry; as long as we do our part to the best of our ability, we can leave the rest to the Lord. He promises that He will accomplish His own work.

“The Changing of Water into Wine” is the first miracle performed by Jesus (John 2:1-11). The term “miracle” in the original text refers to a miraculous sign or symbol, indicating the action of God. It signifies something extraordinary that only God can accomplish, beyond human capability or replication. Miracles serve to demonstrate the Lord and His eternal purposes. In the miracle of changing water into wine, an important step is to “fill the jars with water.” When a problem arises at the wedding feast—running out of wine—Jesus’ mother, Mary, brings the issue to Jesus, informing Him, “They have no more wine.” Jesus doesn’t immediately respond to Mary’s plea but simply tells her, “My hour has not yet come.” Then, Mary instructs the servants at the feast, saying, “Do whatever he tells you.” The Lord doesn’t command them to do something beyond their capacity; He instructs them to “fill the jars with water.” According to Jewish purification customs, there were six stone jars, each capable of holding two to three measures of water. In biblical terms, “six” symbolizes man who is imperfect and weak. Two to three measures of water” is roughly 75-115 liters. Therefore, the six stone jars could contain 460-690 liters of water. This quantity seems quite substantial. The command to “fill the jars with water” indicates that in preparing, one should not cut corners or do things halfway. Rather, it requires earnest effort to fulfill one’s part. These servants show remarkable obedience; they don’t question or complain. They simply do as the Lord instructs, filling the jars to the brim.

“You do your part, and I will do mine.” The Lord’s meaning is clear: you are responsible for filling the jars with water, and I am responsible for the transformation. The task of changing water into wine is something we cannot accomplish; it must be done by the Lord. During the process of pouring water into the jars, we must not lose heart. The Lord uses this process to build and refine our spiritual character, including qualities like patience and faith. If we haven’t seen the transformation yet, it means we haven’t poured enough water. When we fill the jars to the brim, God’s timing arrives. At that moment, we will surely witness the work of God. We will see “the eyes of the blind being opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will flow in the desert” (Isaiah 35:5-6), for God will display His power through all these things.

Please note that in the miracle of “Turning Water into Wine,” Jesus did not make a loud noise or perform any significant ceremony; instead, He quietly accomplished God’s work. After the six stone jars were filled with water, Jesus calmly said, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast” (John 2:8). We do not know exactly when the water turned into wine, perhaps it was after the jars were filled, or maybe while the servants were scooping it out. This is not important. What matters is that we know the water did indeed turn into wine. We know this was the work of the Lord, not of man. Sometimes, the work of the Lord does not require loud noise or elaborate means, but rather the work of the Holy Spirit. When people excessively rely on their own cleverness to plan or scheme, they often end up complicating matters or achieving the opposite of what they intended. Many times, when people humbly obey and are willing to do God’s will to the best of their abilities, the Holy Spirit quietly works to bring about change.

“You do your part and I will do mine.” Since our Chinese church started the morning prayer meeting at 5am this year of January 2, we are experiencing more of the miracle of God changing water into wine. At the morning prayer meeting, several brothers and sisters who had never shared before began to share the Lord’s word. A brother testified that when we prayed for the daughter of a friend in China, the friend’s family really felt the power of prayer. A sister shared that she was once weak and had low self-esteem, and her relationship with her father was not that good. She felt that his father was partial to his younger brother. However, when she was thinking about this matter, the Lord moved her father’s heart and took the initiative to contact her and apologize to her. She was very thankful for God’s healing and peace. Another sister shared how the Lord helped her to forgive from the depths of her heart for the years of resentment and bitterness she had felt toward her father. Prayer is bringing more blessings to the church, causing church co-workers to serve the Lord more passionately and unitedly, causing many old members to turn their hearts back to the church, making seekers trust in Jesus, and making more people respond to the pulpit every time of worship and accept Jesus Christ as Savior. As we perform our duty in prayer, the Lord will continue to perform miracles of changing water into wine. We give all glory to the Lord!

A sermon is like life itself. A seminary student once asked a senior pastor, “How long does it take to write a sermon?” The pastor’s answer was, “It takes a lifetime to write a sermon.” In a sense, each of us is writing a sermon through our different forms of service. We are responsible for the writing, for the serving, while the Lord is responsible for the transformation, for using our service to change and bless the lives of others. Just like the miracle of changing water into wine, may the Lord bless each of our lives, transforming them from bland to flavorful, from weakness to strength filled with the Holy Spirit, from dryness and powerlessness to great strength. In the name of Christ, Amen!”

“荣神益人”

——华人基督徒如何过春节？

          1951年美国神学家莱因霍尔德·尼布尔 (Reinhold Niebuhur) 在《基督与文化》（Christ and Culture）一书中提到两者之间的五种类型。第一，基督反对文化(Christ Against Culture): 文化受了罪的玷污，基督徒应该避免、拒绝、并排斥文化。第二，基督属于文化(Christ of Culture): 文化是好的，与基督徒信仰没有任何冲突。第三，基督高过文化(Christ above Culture)：文化是好的，但要基督信仰对其做出最美的诠释。第四，基督与文化之间的张力 (Christ and Culture in Paradox): 基督徒与所处文化之间的互动始终存在一种紧张关系。第五，基督更新文化(Christ the Transformer of Culture): 基督徒努力寻求将文化的价值观和目的转化为服侍和荣耀上帝。由于篇幅所限，以上几点我不详细展开。多数福音派的基督徒赞同第五点，即根据耶稣的教导我们是 “世上的光，世上的盐” （太5: 13-16），我们在世界但不属世界（约17: 15-17），我们要以出世的心过入世的生活，不效法这个世界，只要新意更新而变化（罗12: 1-2）。

         春节是华人第一大节日，是中国文化中很重要的一部分。在美国的华人基督徒面临三种文化：中国文化、西方文化及基督徒文化。华人基督徒如何平衡三者之间的关系，对于荣神益人至关重要。参照尼布尔所提出的第五种模式“基督更新文化”，按照保罗所说“所以，你们或吃或喝，无论做什么，都要为荣耀神而行“（林前10：31）的原则，对于华人基督徒过春节，我和大家分享以下几点：

• 敬拜独一真神Worship the Only One True God

        当尊上帝为大，绝不可祭拜偶像。《圣经》十条诫命（出20: 1-5; 申5:7-9）中的第一条和第二条明确规定，基督徒要敬拜独一真神，拜偶像是得罪神的。过年要杜绝各种形式接神，摆贡，贴财神画、门神画，或在微信里迎财神、抽签算卦等。我们不要提说或宣扬别神的名号（诗16：4），更不要转发和传播。我们不要称呼人是“大神”，也不要称呼某明星是“男神”“或“女神“。在中文表达中，基督徒称呼我们的神时不说神是“万能的”（universal power），而说神是“全能的”(almighty)。在和合本圣经翻译中，每逢提到神是都是说他是全能者、而不是万能者。基督徒可以张贴”福“字和有福音话语的对联，以及代表中国传统文化色彩的服饰。         

• 敬祖但不祭祖Honor but not Worship Ancestors 

         基督徒可以敬祖但不祭祖(We honor but not worship ancestors)。我们对祖先应予以“尊敬和记念”，却不应该“敬拜或祭祀”。基督徒可以在传统节日时扫墓，藉此缅怀长辈留下的美好榜样，感激他们在世时所有的付出和辛劳。我们不磕头、不烧纸、不摆供品，但可以谦恭地扫墓，献鲜花，唱赞美诗。扫墓时，我们不为也不向死人祷告。我们是向上帝祷告，为活人求喜乐平安。这既荣耀主名，又向世人作见证。基督徒孝顺父母的重点不应放在丧礼的仪式上，而应放在长辈活着时多与他们分享福音、多体贴照顾、多分担家务，多以实际行动表达感恩之情。

• “从前属动物、如今属基督了” “I once belonged to animal, but now I belong to Christ”

        所谓生肖，既为华人之“十二属相：子鼠、丑牛、寅虎、卯兔、辰龙、巳蛇、午马、未羊、申猴、酉鸡、戌狗、亥猪”；它以十二种动物对应十二年或一天的十二个时辰。对基督徒来说，生肖只是标志，没有实在意义。

        今年是龙年。基督徒对龙这个标志持有不同看法。有人以启示录12: 9认为“那龙就是古蛇，名叫魔鬼，也叫撒旦”。另有人认为，圣经的启示录中所描述的龙和中国文化中描述的龙是两回事，龙不过是吉祥如意的象征。对这两种观点我们无须陷入争辩。在龙年时，基督徒如果想到要生龙活虎地为主传福音、作见证，我相信上帝也是喜悦的。阿妮塔（Anita）姐妹在华协舞台上为主做了美好的见证，正如她所说的：“今年是龙年，但我们宣告今年要成为基督之年。愿基督得着所有华人！”

        从谈论属相可以开启传福音的对话。有时中国人讨论年龄时会问你是属什么的？从前我们会回答说：“我属羊、我属马、我属蛇”，等等。今天你就可以说：“从前我属羊/属马/或其它属相，如今我属基督了”。正如保罗所说：“只是我先前以为与我有益的，我现在因基督都当做有损的。 不但如此，我也将万事当做有损的，因我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝” （腓3：7-8）。

• 吃喝要有节制Eat and Drink in Moderation

         新年时中国人会做很多菜，家人在一起享受团圆的日子。基督徒最好不要吸烟。吸烟有害健康。我们的身体是圣灵的殿，人不可伤害他人的身体，也不可伤害自己的身体（包括健康）。如果有吸烟的习惯，我们需靠圣灵的大能战胜烟瘾，为主做得胜的见证。比如：我的奶奶和我的美国妈妈都曾经历过戒烟的见证，她们曾抽过几十年的烟，但却借着主的大能戒掉了烟瘾。同时，基督徒“不可醉酒”（弗5：18）。贪杯醉酒者难免会有失态。我们当竭力过分别为圣的生活，凡是容易使我们跌倒的事最好一概不作。分别为圣的生活，不是以不犯罪为标准，而是以合神心意为追求的最高目标。

• 抓住机会传福音Seize Every Opportunity to Share the Gospel 

         传福音是基督徒的使命，无论得时不得时总要传福音（提后4: 2）。当给亲人打电话问候节日快乐时，可以与他们分享福音。当参加庆祝活动遇到人时，可以与他们分享福音，邀请他们来教会参加活动。如果有人反对，我们也无需勉强，而应竭力与人保持良好的关系。

        愿主赐福我们在新的一年里，力上加力，恩上加恩，荣上加荣，乐上加乐！主恩充溢，福杯满溢。愿平安如江河滚滚，愿福泽如洋海涛涛！阿门！

“Honoring God and Benefiting Others:”
How does a Chinese Christian celebrate the Spring Festival?

In 1951, American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr mentioned five types of relationships between Christ and culture in his book Christ and Culture. Firstly, “Christ Against Culture”: Culture is tainted by sin, and Christians should avoid, reject, and resist culture. Secondly, “Christ of Culture”: Culture is good, and there is no conflict with Christian faith. Thirdly, “Christ above Culture”: Culture is good, but Christian faith should offer the most beautiful interpretation for culture. Fourthly, “Christ and Culture in Paradox”: There is always a tense between Christ and the culture they inhabit. Lastly, “Christ the Transformer of Culture”: Christians strive to transform the values and purposes of culture into service and glorification of God. Due to limited writing space, I will not elaborate on the above points. Most evangelical Christians agree with the fifth point, as according to Jesus’ teaching, we are “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13-16). We are in the world but not of the world (John 17:15-17), and we should live in the world with a spiritual mindset, not conforming to the world, but being transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:1-2).
The Spring Festival is the most significant festival for Chinese people and an essential part of Chinese culture. Chinese Christians in the United States face three cultures: Chinese culture, Western culture, and Christian culture. Balancing the relationships between these three cultures is crucial for honoring God and benefiting others. Referring to the fifth model proposed by Niebuhr, “Christ the Transformer of Culture,” and following Paul’s principle in 1 Corinthians 10:31, which states, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” I would like to share the following points for Chinese Christians celebrating the Spring Festival.

1. Worship the Only One True God
It is important to honor God above all and refrain from idol worship. The first and second commandments in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-5; Deuteronomy 5:7-9) clearly state that Christians should worship the one true God, and idol worship is an offense to God. During the New Year celebrations, we should avoid all forms of idol worship, such as offering sacrifices, displaying images of wealth gods or door gods, or participating in fortune-telling or divination on WeChat. We should not mention or promote the names of other gods (Psalm 16:4), nor should we forward or spread such content. We should not refer to people as “gods” or label certain celebrities as “goddesses” or “gods.” In Chinese expression, when Christians refer to our God, we do not say “万能的” (universal power) but say “全能的” (almighty). In the Chinese translation of the Bible, whenever God is mentioned, it is said that He is almighty, not just universal. Christians can display “Blessing” “福” characters and couplets with gospel messages, as well as wear clothing representing traditional Chinese cultural colors.

2. Honor but not Worship Ancestors
Christian can honor their ancestors but refrain from worshiping them. We should show “respect and remembrance” to our ancestors, but we should not “worship or offer sacrifices” to them. Christians may visit graves during traditional festivals to remember the good examples left by their ancestors and appreciate all the sacrifices and hard work they made during their lifetime. We do not bow, burn paper offerings, or present sacrificial offerings, but we can respectfully visit graves, lay flowers, and sing hymns of praise. During these visits, we do not pray to or for the dead. Instead, we pray to God for joy, peace, and blessings for the living. This not only glorifies the Lord’s name but also serves as a testimony to others. The emphasis for Christian filial piety should not be on funeral rituals but on sharing the gospel with elders while they are alive, showing care and concern, sharing household chores, and expressing gratitude through practical actions.

3. “Formerly I Belonged to Animal, Now I Belong to Christ”
The so-called Chinese zodiac, or “Twelve Zodiac Signs,” includes the following animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. Each animal corresponds to a year or one of the twelve time periods in a day. For Christians, the zodiac is merely a symbol and holds no real significance.
This year is the Year of the Dragon. Christians have different views on the symbolism of the dragon. Some interpret it based on Revelation 12:9, which describes the dragon as “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan.” Others believe that the dragon described in the Book of Revelation and the dragon in Chinese culture are two different things, with the dragon symbolizing good luck and prosperity. We do not need to engage in arguments over these two viewpoints. During the Year of the Dragon, if Christians feel inspired to energetically spread the gospel and bear witness to the Lord, I believe God will also be pleased. Sister Anita gave a wonderful testimony on the Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration of the Little Rock Chinese Association, saying, “This year is the Year of the Dragon, but we declare that this year will be the Year of Christ. May all Chinese people receive the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ!”

4. Eat and Drink in Moderation
During the New Year, Chinese people prepare many dishes and enjoy the day of reunion with family. It’s best for Christians to avoid smoking as it is harmful to health. Our body is temple of the Holy Spirit, and we should not harm others’ bodies or our own (including our health). If there is a habit of smoking, we need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome addiction and bear witness to the Lord’s victory. For example, both my grandmother and my American mom have witnessed quitting smoking. They smoked for decades but were able to quit smoking through the power of the Lord. At the same time, Christians should “not get drunk” (Ephesians 5:18). Those who indulge in excessive drinking are likely to lose control. We should strive to live a sanctified life, avoiding anything that may cause others to stumble. Living a sanctified life is not just about avoiding sin; it is about pursuing the highest goal that pleases God.

5. Seize Every Opportunity to Share the Gospel
Sharing the Gospel is the mission of Christians. Whether it’s in season and out of season; we should always preach the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2). When calling family members or relatives to wish them a happy holiday, we can share the gospel with them. When attending celebratory events, we can share the gospel with them and invite them to church activities. If someone opposes, we should not force it, but strive to maintain good relationships with them.
May the Lord bless us in the new year, adding strength upon strength, grace upon grace, honor upon honor, and joy upon joy! May His grace overflow, and the cup of blessings be full. May peace roll on like a river, and blessings surge like

将你的能力指示下代

——2024年1月26日晨祷分享

魏愛玲師母

诗篇 71:17-18, 耶利米书 6:16, 21:8; 以弗所书 5:15-17

        魏牧师和我最近想起耶利米书中的这些经文。大约两年前，我开始感到困扰，一直在为成长中的孙子们祈祷。我们不会再像他们年轻时那样有时间和他们在一起了。他们成长得很快，有些人正在上大学。我们的世界和文化非常令人不安。祖父母必须有意识地与孙辈保持亲密关系！毕竟，我们年轻时在台湾担任传教士，远离他们很长时间。因此，两年前，当我祈祷并阅读圣经，试图确定如何帮助他们以及如何与他们保持联系时，我首先读到诗篇 71:17 -18 “神啊，自我年幼时你就教训我，直到如今我传扬你奇妙的作为。 神啊，我到年老发白的时候，求你不要离弃我，等我将你的能力指示下代，将你的大能指示后世的人。”

        我读了这些话，我想……这就是我们，主啊，我们已经老了，头发花白了！我们觉得这是对我们子孙的召唤。我们开始每周为每个儿子和家庭禁食祈祷一天！我们已经通过短信向他们发送圣经经文并进行一些分享！当我们和他们在一起的时候，我们总是能找到谈论属灵生命的方式！然而，我们不知道他们上大学时是否有灵修，所以我想确定他们看神的话语。最近这些天，我觉得这是神对你和你们这一代人的呼召，尽管你们还没有老去、白发苍苍！你也想忠心地向下一代宣扬神的良善和他的大能！我们都有尚未相信耶稣的家人，我们希望他们跟随耶稣的道路。我们也有需要耶稣的同事和朋友。我们非常愛他们！当我读到耶利米书第六章中的这些经文时，我想到了我们认识的叛逆的青少年和年轻人以及迷失的人。他们中的许多人仍然像这里所讲的以色列人那样对安息的应许说“不”。许多人都在抗拒和拒绝。我们必须带着祈祷和愛心向上帝祈求如何影响我们所愛的人。 耶利米书 21:8 谈到了当我们受到诱惑而偏离正路时，我们必须做出的两种方式、两种选择。这是一个十字路口！生命之道与毁灭之道，我们称这两条路为世界之路和上帝之路，我的方式还是上帝的方式！

        神过去所启示的仍然是真实的。他没有改变。古老的道路承载着属灵真理和永恒的生命。 这是让我们的灵魂得到安息的道路！对于先知耶利米时代的犹太人来说，古老的道路指的是上帝通过摩西启示的道路。他祝福那些走这条路的人。我们知道我们不再受到律法的约束，但如果我们想讨上帝喜悦，我们仍然需要走古老的道路。我们不能像加拉太人那样为福音添加内容。保罗警告要回归纯正的福音，并警告要提防律法主义，并行善才能蒙神悦纳！我们需要求神给我们古路、正路，仔细看神的话。我们必须以神的话语为指导，而不是情感或欲望。我们想要灵魂的安息，也就是救赎与平安，我们需要聆听神的警告，跟随他的道路，就像魏牧师在晨祷中分享约翰福音14:6时提到的那样，他是道路、他是真理，他是生命。我们必须坚定地忠于我们的主！ 我们只能通过祈祷和神的话语以及基督里的兄弟姐妹的鼓励来做到这一点，因为我们互相监督负责。

        让我们快速看一下以弗所书5：15-17。我们已经与我们的孙子和儿子讨论了圣经中的这些话。 “要小心你的行为、生活方式，不是不明智、而是明智地，充分利用每一个机会，因为时代是邪恶的！不要犯傻，要明白主的旨意是什么”。我们都知道与家人分享是最困难的，因为他们了解我们，可以看到我们所有的弱点和过失，所以我们必须依靠圣灵带领我们找到最好的机会和时间，然后带着极大的愛和我们勇敢地提醒他们，我们分享神的话语这一真理。不要害怕这样做，因为我们必须这样做。经常祈祷并做好准备，这样我们就能随时做好准备，上帝也会帮助他们做好准备。你已经知道我正在谈论的所有这些事情了。在这四个星期的晨祷中，我们一直在为所有的孩子和家庭成员、我们所有的教会家庭成员祈祷，我们也在祈祷与我们的主有更紧密、更深的关系，所以魏牧师和我只是想鼓励你们，当你走这条古老的道路时，要坚强，坚持信心，主就会帮助我们。我们对这个清晨祈祷时间感到非常鼓舞。在我们这个时代，它充满了神的力量与平安。它使我们作为一个教会家庭更加紧密地联系在一起。我们希望其他人尽快加入！这是一种牺牲，但这是值得的。让我们都忠诚地尽我们所能，直到进入天堂！记得一位传教士弟兄提醒我的：“……时间很短，工作很伟大，责任很重大，而永恒已经临近了！” 

Declared Thy Strength Unto The Next Generation: 

Early Prayer Sharing on Jan 26, 2024

Elinda West

Psalm 71: 17-18, Jeremiah 6: 16, 21:8; Ephesians 5:  15-17

        Rev. Ron and I have been reminded recently of these verses in Jeremiah.  About 2 years ago I became troubled and have been praying for the growing grandchildren. We would not have the time with them anymore as when they were young. They are growing up quickly and some are going off to college.  Our world and the culture are very troubling. Grandparents have to be intentional about staying close to the grandchildren!  After all we spent a lot of time in their younger years far away from them while we served in Taiwan as missionaries. So, two years ago when I was praying and reading the scripture to try and determine how to help them and how to stay connected to them, I first read Psalm 71:17-18 “O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Yea, even when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have declared thy strength unto the next generation, thy might to every one that is to come”(ERV). 

       I read those words and I thought …that’s us Lord, we are old and gray! We felt it was a call to us for our children and grandchildren. We started a day of fasting and prayer one day each week for each son and family! We were already sending bible verses to them by text with a little sharing! When we were together with them, we always found a way to talk about spiritual life! However, we didn’t know if they were having devotions when they went to college, so I wanted to be sure they were seeing God’s Word. During these recent days I feel it is God’s call to YOU and your generation also, even though you are not old and gray yet! You also want to be faithful to declare God’s goodness and His power to the next generation! We all have family members and who have not yet believed in Jesus, and we want them to follow the path of Jesus. We also have colleagues and friends who need Jesus. We love them all so much! When I came upon these verses in Jeremiah 6, I thought about the rebellious teenagers and young people and the lost people we know. Many of them are still saying “No,” like the Israelites said.  Many are rebelling and rejecting. We must, with prayer and with love ask God for ways to influence these that we love.  Jeremiah 21:8 talks about the two ways, the two choices we all have to make when we are tempted to get off the good path.  It’s a crossroad! The way of LIFE and the way of destruction.  We call these two ways: The world’s path, and God’s path; My way or God’s Way!

         What God revealed in the past remains true. He does not change. The ancient path holds spiritual truth and everlasting life. It is the path that leads to rest for our soul! For the Jews in the OT days of Jeremiah the prophet, the ancient paths referred to God’s way He revealed through Moses. He blesses those who follow this path.  We know we no longer are bound to the law but there are still ancient paths we are to walk if we want to please God. We cannot add to the gospel like the Galatians were doing. Paul warned about returning to the pure gospel and warned against legalism and doing good works to be acceptable to God! We need to ask God for the ancient path, the right path, looking closely to God’s word.  We must be directed by God’s word not emotions or desires.  We want rest for our soul which is salvation and peace, and we need to listen to God’s warning, follow His path like Rev. Ron referred to in Early Morning prayer as he shared John 14:6. HE is the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE.   We must stay strongly committed to faithfulness to our Lord! We can only do that through prayer and God’s Word and encouragement from brothers and sisters in Christ as we hold each other accountable.

          Let’s look quickly at Ephesians 5: 15-17! We’ve talked with our grandchildren and our sons about these words in scripture. “Be careful how you act, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil! Do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s Will is. “We all know it is most difficult when sharing with family members because they know us and can see all our weakness and faults, so we have to depend on the Holy Spirit to lead us to the best opportunity and the time and then with great LOVE and boldness we remind them and we share the truth which is God’s Word. Don’t be afraid to do that because we MUST.  Always pray much and be prepared so we will be ready at all times and God will help THEM to be ready too.  You already know all these things I am talking about.  In these 4 weeks of Early Morning Prayer, we have been praying for all the children and family members, all our church family members and we are praying for closer deeper relationship with our Lord, so Rev. Ron and I just want to encourage you to be strong as you walk this ancient path. Persevere in faith and the Lord will help us.  We are so encouraged with this Early Morning prayer time. It has been filled with God’s strength and peace for our days. It has brought us closer together as a church family.  We hope others will join soon.  It is a sacrifice, but it is worth it.  Let us all be found faithful to do all we can until we go to heaven!  Remember as a missionary brother reminded me “…Time is short, the work is great, the responsibility is serious, and eternity is near!” 

攻破坚固的营垒

林后10: 3-5 因为我们虽然在血气中行事，却不凭着血气争战。我们争战的兵器，本不是属血气的，乃是在　神面前有能力，可以攻破坚固的营垒，将各样的计谋，各样拦阻人认识　神的那些自高之事一概攻破了，又将人所有的心意夺回，使他都顺服基督。

        在圣灵的感召和带领之下，教会晨祷会已进行了四周。每次有十多位弟兄姐妹参加，上周六有十九位弟兄姐妹（包括三位小朋友）参加。上周二轮到我带领分享。题目：“攻破坚固的营垒”。经文：林后10：3-5。这段经文非常宝贵，每个细节都很重要。它至少向我们显明以下六方面真理：

• 属灵的争战真实存在

        保罗提醒我们，世界有邪恶势力存在。正义与邪恶、光明与黑暗，撒旦与上帝在争战。基督徒每天的生活都是一场战争。旧约中常讲到上帝吩咐以色列人要靠主战胜他们的仇敌。新约教导基督徒面对的是无形的仇敌和灵界的争战。耶稣在十字架上的死已彻底击毁蛇（魔鬼的象征）的头，但现今它的残余势力仍在垂死挣扎，因为“魔鬼知道自己的时候不多，就气愤愤地下到你们那里去了”（启12：12）。故此，我们要做好准备，随时以信心迎战。

• 基督徒是精兵

          记得一个摩门教徒（摩门教不相信三位一体，并在《新旧约圣经》之外加了一本《摩门经》，正统基督教派通常将摩门教视为异端）嘲笑我说：“你们基督徒没有战斗力啊，信主不像信主样子，既不好好悔改，也没有很好的属灵操守。”话糙理不糙。信异端的人比我们更有传教和信仰的热忱。反观今日基督徒属灵光景，有许多人躺在上帝的恩典上睡大觉，将基督徒的身份视为廉价的恩典，信主不愿付代价，只愿得属世好处和平安，却忘记了每位基督徒都应是基督的门徒，是基督的精兵（提后2：4）。精兵要训练有速，服从命令，有时甚至要冒着生命危险去战场争战。晨祷会可谓基督徒的练兵营，它操练我们在主里学习节制、谦卑、忍耐、顺服、愛心，使我们可以预备好为天国的荣耀而战，像约翰·班扬《天路历程》里描述的天路客基督徒那样雄赳赳气昂昂，不畏艰险、勇往直前，向着天国进军。

• 争战的兵器不是血气、而是神的能力

        我们的兵器是什么？它不是血气的。比如我们在面对孩子顽皮时常会动怒，想用自己肉体的强势或大吼大叫将对方压倒，然而这些就是血气的方式。这些方式不但不能解决问题，反而会雪上加霜，将问题变得更加严重。

          “在神面前有能力“这句话是说“有神的能力”。我们的兵器是神的能力，这能力来自于神的话语、来自于圣灵的充满。当神的话借着圣灵在我们里面工作时，我们就能活出基督的生命，并带着更多的柔和与谦卑来面对每天的人和事。 

• 仇敌的营垒十分顽固，但我们有更牢固的营垒

         “营垒”（strongholds）：原文是复数，指顽固不化、坚固的军事据点。说明仇敌像癌细胞的毒瘤一样顽固，不容易彻底摧毁。今日摧毁后，明日还可能死灰复燃。这营垒可能是网络上瘾，也可能是我们里面某种隐藏的罪，比如不信、骄傲、贪恋或自私等。故此，我们需要不断借着祈祷来抵挡和击垮它。同时，仇敌的“营垒”也提醒我们，基督徒有更坚固的营垒——即上帝的保守和眷顾。上帝为每位基督徒儿女预备了永恒的家，这家“是不能震动的国”（unshakeable kingdom来12：28）。靠着主的力量，我们无坚不摧。只要坚持不懈地祈祷，便能滴水穿石，更多经历主成就的大事！

• 这营垒是什么？

          这营垒是什么？注意，这营垒不是有形的建筑。它是“各样的计谋，各样拦阻人认识神的自高之事”，即各样属世的观点或学说以及拦阻人认识上帝知识的高墙。这营垒并不是金银所铸，而是各样虚假的谎言与学说，以及所有欺骗我们远离上帝、依靠自己的思想。魔鬼是谎言的灵，它从起初就欺骗夏娃。今日它仍然在借着各种理论学说欺骗人，让人怀疑上帝的话语与信实。我们一旦怀疑上帝、迷信自己，便会立刻落入魔鬼的圈套之中，成为它的囊中之物，受它摆布控制。故此，基督徒要谨防世上的小学（西2: 20）。

• 争战的最终目标是什么？

          “将人所有的心意夺回，使它都顺服基督了”。“所有心意”是指每一个意念。顺服基督是争战的最终目标。“夺回”：指被俘虏。马丁·路德在《意志的束缚》一书中指出，本质上人的意志是不自由的。他认为，人的意志如同妓女。它只有两种可能，要么受魔鬼奴役服从魔鬼，要么受上帝奴役、服从上帝。上帝的恩典则体现在三个层面：（1）通过上帝的圣灵的力量使罪人皈依；（2）通过对罪的赦免与基督的结合使罪人称义；（3）在上帝的圣灵的帮助下，成圣是一种不断增强的愛的能力（罗明嘉教授博士 Prof. Dr. Miikka Ruokanen：《Unio cum Christo in Spiritu sancto在圣灵中与基督联合: 马丁·路德《论意志的束缚》中三位一体上帝的恩典》）。这愛的能力则需要圣徒不断借着祈祷，抵挡罪恶，使我们的心灵更好地被圣灵所使用，不断操练成圣，从而达到顺服基督的目的。从而，基督徒借祈祷竭力争战，为了让我们每个意念都降伏在基督的权下，为主所用。

       之前教会一周只有周三晚上一次祷告会，藉着祷告驱散黑暗，带来光明。今年我们每天都有晨更祷告会，在晨光乍现之前便借着祈祷迎接光明。何等蒙福！二十世纪初中国著名布道家宋尚节常说：“奋兴使者没有什么可夸的，所有显而可见的奋兴光景，全仗代祷的人们”。我们晓得，属灵的争战是真实的。基督徒是精兵，我们每天要穿戴上帝所赐全副军装，用上帝所赐的力量，攻破魔鬼坚固的营垒，为上帝国度永恒的荣耀战，使自己顺服基督！使家庭顺服基督！使教会顺服基督！使人心顺服基督！愿主感召更多祈祷的勇士加入祷告大军！以基督之名，阿门！

Demolish Strongholds

2 Cor. 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world
does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the
contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 10:5 We demolish
arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of
God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ

Guided by the calling of the Holy Spirit, the church’s morning prayer meeting has been going on for four weeks. Each time, more than ten brothers and sisters participate, and last Saturday, nineteen brothers and sisters (including three children) attended. Last Tuesday, it was my turn to lead and share. The topic was “Demolish Strongholds,” and the scripture was 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. This passage is very precious, and every detail is important. It reveals at least six aspects of truth to us:

1. Spiritual Warfare is a Reality

Paul reminds us that there are evil forces in the world. There is a constant battle between good and evil, light and darkness, the devil and God. The daily life of a Christian is like a war. In the Old Testament, God instructed the Israelites to rely on the Lord to overcome their enemies. In the New Testament, Christians face invisible enemies and engage in spiritual warfare. The death of Jesus on the cross has completely crushed the head of the serpent (a symbol of the devil), but its residual influence is still struggling, as “the devil knows that his time is short, and he is filled with furious” (Rev 12:12). Therefore, we must be prepared and ready to face the battle with faith at any time.”

2. Christians are Special Forces

I remember a Mormon (Mormons do not believe in the Trinity and have an additional book called the Book of Mormon. Mormonism is considered by mainstream Christianity as heretical) challenged me, saying, “You Christians lack dedicating spirit. You don’t seem like true believers. You neither repent sincerely nor have good spiritual discipline.” His words were rough but had some truth. People adhering to heresies often exhibit more enthusiasm for spreading their faith. Examining the spiritual state of numerous Christians today, it is evident that some find comfort in the grace of God, regarding their Christian identity as something easily attained and undervalued. They are unwilling to pay the cost of following Christ and only seek worldly benefits and peace, forgetting that every Christian should be a disciple of Christ, a good soldier for Christ (2 Tim 2:4). A good soldier needs rigorous training, obedience to commands, and sometimes even risking their lives on the battlefield. The morning prayer meeting can be considered as a Christian training camp, where we practice self-control, humility, patience, obedience, and love in the Lord. This prepares us to fight for the glory of the Kingdom, just like Christian the pilgrim described by John Bunyan in The Pilgrim’s Progress, who was bold, fearless, marching forward, unafraid of difficulties, advancing toward the Kingdom.

3. The Weapons of Warfare Are Not of the Flesh, but of God’s Power

What are our weapons? They are not of the flesh. For example, when facing a mischievous child, we might be tempted to get angry and try to overpower them with our physical strength or by yelling loudly. However, these are ways of the flesh. Not only do these methods fail to solve the problem, but they also make things worse, escalating the issue further.”

The phrase “they have divine power” reminds us that our weapons are the power of God, and this power emanates from God’s Word and is fully present in the Holy Spirit. When God’s Word works within us through the Holy Spirit, we can live out the life of Christ and approach each day with more gentleness and humility.

4. The Enemy’s Strongholds Are Stubborn, But We Have Stronger Fortress

The term “strongholds” is in the plural form, indicating stubborn and solid military base. It illustrates that the enemy’s strongholds are as persistent as malignant tumors, not easily eradicated. Even if destroyed today, they may resurface tomorrow. These strongholds could be an addiction to the internet or some hidden sins within us, such as disbelief, pride, greed, or selfishness. Therefore, we need to continually resist and demolish them through prayer. On the other hand, the enemy’s “strongholds” also remind us that Christians have even stronger stronghold or fortress—the protection and care of God. God has prepared an eternal home for each child of God, the home is “an unshakeable kingdom” (Heb 12:28). With the strength of the Lord, we can overcome any obstacle. Through persistent prayer, we can achieve great things in the Lord!

5. What Is This Stronghold?

What is this stronghold? Note that this stronghold is not a tangible structure. It is “arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God. It refers to various worldly viewpoints, theories, and walls that hinder people from understanding the knowledge of God. This stronghold is not made of gold or silver but consists of various false lies and doctrines, deceiving us to turn away from God and rely on our own thoughts. The devil is the spirit of lies, deceiving Eve from the beginning. Today, it continues to deceive people through various theoretical teachings, causing doubts about God’s word and faithfulness. Once we doubt God and trust ourselves, we naturally fall into the devil’s trap, becoming its prey, subject to its manipulation and control. Therefore, Christians must be cautious of the “basic principles of the world” (Col 2:20).

6. What is the Ultimate Goal of Spiritual Warfare?

“Take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” “Every thought” refers to every idea. The ultimate goal of the warfare is to make every thought obedient to Christ. “Take captive” implies being captured or enslaved. Martin Luther, in his book “The Bondage of the Will,” pointed out that fundamentally, human will is not free. He compared the human will to a whore, having only two possibilities: either enslaved to the devil, obeying the devil, or enslaved to God, obeying God. God’s grace is manifested on three levels: (1) Through the power of the Holy Spirit, sinners repent; (2) Through the forgiveness of sins and union with Christ, sinners are justified; (3) With the help of the Holy Spirit, sanctification is an ever-increasing capacity for love (Professor Dr. Miikka Ruokanen: “Unio cum Christo in Spiritu sancto – The Grace of the Triune God in Martin Luther’s ‘On the Bondage of the Will’’). This capacity for love requires saints to continuously resist evil through prayer, allowing our minds to be better used by the Holy Spirit, continually being sanctified, and thus achieving the purpose of obedience to Christ. Therefore, Christians strive in prayer to bring every thought under the authority of Christ, to be used for the Lord’s purposes.

In the past, the church held a prayer meeting only once a week on Wednesday evenings, to dispel darkness and bring in light through prayer. This year, we have a morning prayer meeting every day, welcoming the light before dawn through prayer. What a blessing! In the early 20th century, the well-known Chinese evangelist John Sung often said, “Revival messengers have nothing to boast about; all visible scenes of revival depend on those who pray on behalf of others.” We understand that spiritual warfare is real. Christians are heavenly soldiers, and every day we must put on the full armor of God, using the divine strength to demolish the devil’s strongholds, fighting for the eternal glory of God’s kingdom, and making ourselves obedient to Christ! Making our families obedient to Christ! Making our churches obedient to Christ! Making our hearts obedient to Christ! May the Lord call more prayer warriors to join the prayer army! In the name of Christ, Amen!

(小石城以马内利华语浸信会Little Rock Immanuel Chinese Baptist Church)

阿妮塔的故事：《像太阳一样升起》的读后感

        去年11月26日清晨主日崇拜时，一位美国非裔姐妹很早走进我们教会。我主动走到她面前和她打招呼，并自我介绍。她也向我介绍说，她叫阿妮塔·周(Anita Joe)。她在一次为中国那么多失丧的灵魂祷告时，上帝呼召和感动她要去作华人福音事工。

        我问她： “您是怎么找到我们教会的？”

        她回答说：”我从网上找到你们教会，看到你们网站上关于牧师教导”圣洁”方面的真理，我就来了。”

         对阿妮塔的到来我们既满心感恩又充满好奇。感恩的是，上帝居然感动这位美国姐妹愿意去作华人福音事工；好奇的是，她到底是谁？她怎样经历耶稣？她的人生目标是什么？三周前阿妮塔送给我她写的书《像太阳一样升起：帮助你从破碎走向完整的自助指南》（Rising like the Sun: A Self-help Guide Taking You From Brokenness to Wholeness）。这本书为我揭开了她的许多秘密。本书至少强调了几个重点：

• 它讲述了深层的破碎及完整的医治

        《像太阳一样升起》对我产生了很大的震撼。阿妮塔的故事可谓跌宕起伏，充满戏剧性，她经历过人生撕心裂肺之痛、又体会到十架之愛的甘甜。她出生在阿肯色州小石城、在亚利桑那州图桑(Tucson, Arizona)长大。她的童年是一场噩梦，她说她在暗无天日——既黑暗又可怕的情形中诞生（第58页）。她父亲是一个鳏夫，带着两个孩子，一个女孩一个男孩。她是六个孩子中的一个，排在八个孩子的中间。她父亲是一名恋童癖者，也是一名恶霸；母亲则经常骂人。他们对儿女极度偏心造成恶果。她后来接受耶稣基督为救主而得到重生得救；在19岁时经历圣灵特别的浇灌；在30岁在参加特别聚会时从被拒绝中释放出来。

         对于受儒家思想影响强调内敛、含蓄和面子的文化环境下长大的华人来说，我们不太容易将自己过去的遭遇以及内心深处的伤疤讲述出来。然而，将自己的故事讲述出来是一种真正的释放。在阿妮塔的书中我看到她坦诚地讲述了她所遭遇的一切，包括父亲对她的性侵，母亲对她的冷漠残酷、对父亲恶行的置若罔闻、甚至将她当成第三者嫉妒她，她的抑郁症，她丈夫的冷暴力和不忠，以及她一段无家可归住在救济站的经历。

        从某种程度上说，阿妮塔的人生可谓千疮百孔。然而她脸上流露出的并不是尚在流血的伤疤，而是绽放出阳光般的喜乐。正如她自己所言：最难战胜的是破碎的痛苦（the pain of brokenness），这痛苦在内心深处留下深深的疤痕。”这种情感伤害的治愈必须是渐进的”(Healing for this kind of emotional damage must be progressive)。她重生得救之后，在主里逐渐学习饶恕的功课。有一天她向主承认不饶恕人的罪，并弃绝心里所有的苦毒。这是她通向自由的第一步。接着，她曾经历到圣灵所赐予的愛，感受到她是被愛的。这医治了她从前被父母拒绝的痛苦。重要的一件事是，她在阿特兰大服侍一间小教会时，在一次姐妹聚会中，圣灵感动她分享自己的故事。她开始很抗拒，但后来顺服了。当她走上讲台时，泪水夺眶而出，她几乎无法唱完开头的歌曲。当她开始讲述自己的故事时，所有人的目光都集中在她身上。当她讲完后，束缚的枷锁被打破，从她开始，许多姐妹获得了自由（第175页）。

• 它体现了阿妮塔对圣经独特的理解

        像阿妮塔所说的，她没有受过正式神学培训，她对圣经的理解不一定是按着正统学院派的模式。然而，她对圣经经文非常熟悉，她对经文的理解有独到的见解、并且与她个人坎坷的经历连在一起。她从诗篇69：8”我的弟兄看我为外路人，我的同胞看我为外邦人”看到大卫曾经是一个被家人轻视、被父亲打发去放羊，甚至被排除在宴席之外（撒上16：11）的孩子。于此类比，阿妮塔的母亲对她很冷漠残酷，不给她圣诞礼物，对她遭受父亲性侵不管不问，甚至在她想去考美容执照时都不肯开车送她去考场。她从诗篇40: 2 “他从祸坑里，从淤泥中，把我拉上来，使我的脚立在磐石上，使我脚步稳当”体会到上帝如何将她从深淤泥里拉上来，使她不再不饶恕她的父母，甚至带着感恩的心面对他们。她从摩西的母亲约基别（出2：2；6：20）身上看到伟大母亲的信心榜样，她不惜冒着生命危险而保全了摩西的生命，从而成就了上帝在摩西身上伟大的计划。

• 它揭示灵界的真实存在

        阿妮塔深刻地认识到灵界魔鬼的真实存在。她从圣经中看到魔鬼是撒谎之人的父。在所经历的乱伦、家庭混乱，被拒绝、和仇恨的背后有一股邪恶势力的存在。她曾有几次在梦中经历污秽的邪恶以不同形式展现出来。她认识到性取向混乱是一种邪恶的攻击，她曾受到性取向混乱的迷惑，但上帝的灵带领她战胜这一切（148）。然而她的弟弟格雷格(Craig)却没有那么幸运了。他像阿妮塔一样小时候缺乏父愛。但他却走上了与阿妮塔不同的一条吸毒、同性恋、监狱、艾滋病的不归之路。格雷格后悔说：”我希望我能像你一样。但是我做了太多错误的选择，以至于走到今天这个地步”。不过，感谢主的是在他得了艾滋病后临死前接受了耶稣，后来他安然睡在主的怀中。主耶稣终将医治他，因为”人间没有天上无法医治的悲伤”(Thomas Moore, 1779-1852, 第206页)。

• 它展现了失败后的勇气

        由于缺乏审慎祈祷的选择，阿妮塔经历了一段失败的婚姻。离婚后，她并没有为了分家产与前夫撕破脸皮告到法庭。相反，她顺服圣灵的感动，选择谦卑地净身出户。不幸的是，离婚六个月后她前夫就惨死家中。后来，她经历一段无家可归的日子。即或如此，她将这段经历视为上帝的呼召，并将其称之为主的管教或考验，使她从中更深体会到上帝的眷顾，以及人性对关愛、尊重及尊严等的深层需要。

         阿妮塔在书中讲到”仙人掌上开的花朵”。她从破碎的家庭、婚姻及人生际遇中走出来，并在各种环境中体会耶稣从十字架上所发出的医治、安慰和亮光。读过她这本的人说：”你看上去不像是经历那么多的人”。我问她现在的生活怎么样？她用一个词来概况，那就是”感恩”（”GRATEFUL”）！她知道这是天父上帝的恩赐，主的圣愛一直在眷顾…… 让我们继续为阿妮塔未来的侍奉方向代祷，求天父继续指引她！

        诗歌”你的愛不离不弃”：”没有一个忧患耶稣不能担当，没有一个痛苦耶稣不能背负”。阿妮塔是一位喜欢4点钟作晨更祷告的姐妹。书名《像太阳一样升起》源自于以赛亚书60：1 ”兴起发光，因为你的光已经来到，耶和华的荣耀发现照耀你。” 思想一下，当黎明前的清晨第一缕阳光破晓之际，一束微光从地平线上冉冉升起，从灰暗到愈发光明，渐渐地眼前灿烂辉煌、无限壮丽。这正是圣灵在我们里面发光的过程。愿在基督里的人都一同从灰尘中兴起发光！阿门！

Anita’s Story: Reflection on “Rising Like the Sun”

On the morning of November 26th last year, during Sunday worship, an African American sister entered our church very early. I approached her, greeted her, and introduced myself. She, in turn, introduced herself as Anita Joe. She shared that during a prayer for the many lost souls in China, God called and moved her to engage in Chinese gospel ministry.

        I asked her, “How did you find our church?”

        She replied, “I found your church online and came after seeing the truth about ‘holiness’ in the pastor’s teachings on your website.”

        Anita’s presence filled us with gratitude and curiosity. We are thankful that God inspired this American sister to participate in Chinese gospel ministry. Meanwhile we are interested in knowing more about her story. Who was she? How did she come to know the Lord? What are her aspirations? Three weeks ago, Anita graciously shared the book she wrote with me, titled “Rising Like the Sun: A Self-help Guide Taking You From Brokenness to Wholeness.” This inspiring book unveiled many aspects of her life. It emphasizes several key points, including:

1. It tells the story of profound brokenness and complete healing

         “Rising Like the Sun” has a profound impression on me. Anita’s story is full of twists and turns, dramatic, as she goes through the heart-wrenching pain of life and experiences the sweetness of love from the cross. She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and grew up in Tucson, Arizona. Her childhood was a nightmare, born into a situation that was both dark and terrifying (P. 58). Her father was a widower with two children, a girl, and a boy. She was one of six children, in the middle of eight. Her father was a pedophile and a bully; her mother was verbally abusive. Their extreme favoritism towards their children had devastating consequences. She later accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and experienced rebirth; at the age of 19, she had a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit; at the age of 30, she was released from rejection during a special meeting.

         For individuals raised in a Chinese cultural milieu strongly shaped by Confucianism, which underscores the virtues of restraint, reservation, and “saving face,” expressing our personal narrative and the profound wounds within is a challenging endeavor. Yet, sharing our own story, especially those secret parts, represents a genuine form of freedom. In Anita’s book, I observe her courageously detailing every facet of her journey, encompassing her father’s sexual abuse, her mother’s harsh and apathetic demeanor, who ignored her father’s evil behavior, and even treated her with envy as if she were the other woman instead of victim, her struggles with depression, her husband’s emotional mistreatment and infidelity, and a period of homelessness spent in a shelter.

        To a certain extent, Anita’s life can be characterized as marked by wounds. However, what is apparent in her countenance is not the still-bleeding pain but the brilliance of sunshine-like joy. As she articulates, the most challenging aspect to conquer is the pain of brokenness, a pain that leaves profound scars in the heart. “Healing for this kind of emotional damage must be progressive,” she asserts. Following her rebirth and salvation, she gradually assimilated the lesson of forgiveness in the Lord. One day, she admitted to the Lord her reluctance to forgive others’ sins and discarded all bitterness from her heart. This marked her initial stride toward freedom. Subsequently, she encountered the love bestowed by the Holy Spirit, sensing that she was truly loved by God. This spiritual healing removed the pain of rejection from her parents. A pivotal moment occurred when she, serving in a small church in Atlanta, was prompted by the Holy Spirit to share her story during a sisters’ conference. Despite initial resistance, she eventually complied. Stepping onto the podium, tears streamed down her face, and she could barely complete the opening song. As she began narrating her story, everyone’s attention focused on her. Upon completion, the shackles of bondage were shattered, and starting from her, many sisters found freedom (P. 175).

1. It illustrates Anita’s Unique Understanding on the Bible 

        As Anita mentioned, she did not have formal theological training, and her understanding of the Bible may not necessarily follow the pattern of orthodoxy theological understanding. Nevertheless, she is deeply familiar with biblical scriptures, offering insightful interpretation that intertwine with her personal tumultuous experiences. From Psalm 69:8, “I have become a stranger to my own brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons,” she draws parallels with David, who was once looked down upon by his family, sent by his father to tend sheep, and even excluded from feasts (1 Samuel 16:11). In a similar comparison, Anita’s mother was cruelly indifferent, not giving her Christmas presents, ignoring her father’s sexual abuse, and even refusing to drive her to the exam venue when she needed to take a beauty license test.

From Psalm 40:2, “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand,” she understands how God pulled her out of deep pit, enabling her to no longer harbor unforgiveness towards her parents and face them with a heart full of gratitude. From the example of Moses’ mother, Jochebed (Exodus 2:2; 6:20), she sees the model of great maternal faith. Jochebed risked her life to preserve Moses’ life, contributing to God’s great plan for Moses.

1. It reveals the real existence of the spiritual realm

Anita deeply recognizes the true existence of demonic forces in the spiritual realm. She sees from the Bible that the devil is the father of lies. Behind the experiences of incest, family chaos, rejection, and hatred, there is the presence of an evil force. She has had several dreams where filthy evil manifested itself in different forms. She acknowledges that sexual orientation confusion is an evil attack behind the scenes, and she herself was deceived by it, but the Spirit of God led her to overcome all of it (P. 148). However, her brother Craig was not as fortunate. Like Anita, he lacked fatherly love in his childhood. Yet, he took a different path, leading him to drug addiction, homosexuality, prison, and eventually AIDS. Craig expressed regret, saying, “I wish I could be like you. But I made too many wrong choices to end up where I am today.” Fortunately, thanks to the Lord, he accepted Jesus before dying from AIDS, and he peacefully slept in the arms of the Lord. Jesus will finally heal him because “Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal” (Thomas Moore, 1779-1852, P. 206).

1. It showcases courage after frustration 

Due to a decision made without thoughtful prayer, Anita traversed through a phase of a tumultuous marriage that eventually ended in divorce. Following the dissolution, instead of engaging in a legal battle over property division with her then-husband, she chose humility, heeding the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and departed without confrontation. Unfortunately, six months post-divorce, her then-husband met a tragic death at home. No one knows the reason of his death. Subsequently, she encountered a period of homelessness. Nevertheless, she regarded this experience as a divine calling, and she believes it was the discipline or chastening of the Lord. This period allowed her to delve deeper into her understanding of God’s providence and the profound human yearning for love, respect, and dignity.

Anita talks about “a flower blooming on a cactus” in the book. She emerged from a broken family, unpleasant marriage, and life’s challenges, experiencing healing, comfort, and light from Jesus on the cross in various situations. People who have read her book say, “You don’t look like someone who has been through so much.” I asked her about her current life, and she summarized it in one word, “GRATEFUL”! She knows it is a gift from Heavenly Father God, and the Lord’s holy love has been watching over her. Let us continue to pray for Anita’s future ministry direction, asking the Heavenly Father to guide her onward!

The song “You Will Never Leave Me or Forsake Me” goes: “There’s no sorrow Jesus cannot bear, there’s no pain Jesus cannot share.” Anita is a sister who enjoys waking up at 4 o’clock for morning prayer. The title of the book “Rising Like the Sun” is derived from Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Imagine, at the break of dawn just before sunrise, a faint light rises from the horizon, gradually brightening from darkness to brilliance, unfolding before your eyes in splendid magnificence. This is precisely the process of the Holy Spirit shining within us. May all those in Christ rise and shine from the dust together! Amen!

“喜乐的守望者”：教会晨祷会更新

 哈2: 1 我要站在守望所，立在望楼上观看，看耶和华对我说什么话，我可用什么话向他诉冤 。

        圣经中常提到“守望者”（watchman）。在古代社会，守望者的任务就是负责在城楼上察看敌人在远方的举动，确保城内人的安全。 当他见到敌人带着刀剑来袭击，他们就要吹号，让城内的人及时反应，保存性命（结33:1-6）。 教会中需要有守望者，就是要有一批人借着祈祷在上帝面前警醒，为国家、教会、家庭及每位弟兄姐妹的灵命成长和复兴祷告。感谢天父在我们中间兴起许多守望者。自从1月2日起，教会早5点钟的晨更早祷会已经进行了两周，每次平均有十多位弟兄姐妹参加。其中包括一位奥克拉荷马的姐妹、一位特克萨卡纳的姐妹和一位西南浸信会神学院的神学生。上周六有16位弟兄姐妹。

          现在的形式基本是这样的：

1. 周一到周五早5: 00；周六早6: 00。每次一个小时。
2. 每天由一位弟兄或姐妹轮流带领。
3. 基本次序：
   • 一首诗歌
   • 一段经文
   • 3-5分钟简短分享
   • 分享代祷事项
   • （超过8个人后）分组祷告
   • 在早5:55返回到主会场，牧师作结束祷告大家同声说 “阿门” 后散会 。

        在过去十天中，我们深切感受到祈祷的力量。“以马内利”主与我们同在这句话变得更加真实。大家一起祈祷后，感觉心中有更多来自主的愛和火热去面对家庭、工作、生活和学习。我在这里分享两个祈祷蒙应允的小例子。小朋友第一天在学校不太听话、表现不太好。弟兄姐妹恳求为他代祷后，爸爸对待小朋友的态度有更多温柔，在愛心中讲真理，结果接下来的两天他在学校表现良好。另一件事是，教会VBS安排有困难，因为现在我们用的Building开始了Day Care每天下午6点放学。周三晨祷会11位守望者为此代祷。上帝垂听祷告。结果我一到教会，Arkansas Baptist Children & Family Ministries秘书Sherry就主动告诉我说：“我们的负责人Derek弟兄支持和鼓励你们教会举行VBS，只要时间从去年的下午5:00开始推迟5:30开始”。感谢主，上帝垂听祷告。

         关于晨祷会魏师母见证说：“赞美神回应了我们的祷告，让我们所有人都更加接近我们的天父，并感到更加平安和喜乐！ 谢谢主🙏❤️”

        詹姐妹说：“晨祷会真是太好了。我从前睡眠不好，现在睡眠可多了，能睡觉都是幸福的。自从参加晨祷后我心情特别好，而且一天都充满喜乐和平安！” 

        张弟兄说：“感恩圣灵的感召，带弟兄姐妹们一个一个的清晨来到主的宝座前支取主给我们的力量。求主继续保守我们下周的晨祷服侍蒙祂喜悦。”

        一位神学生说：“你们的热心服侍、恳切呼求对小弟兄是非常美好的祝福和激励！

谢谢你们！愿主赐下烈火来焚烧我们！炼净我们！使我们成为圣洁荣耀的器皿，一生为主，竭诚奉献，为主而活！愿主大大复兴小石城华人教会！膏抹每一位主的精兵！传扬福音，赢得灵魂！”

        参加晨祷会受益最大的是我们自己。我们越祷告越喜乐、越祷告越得释放、越祷告越得医治和自由。操练晨祷不是要改变别人，而是要改变自己。我们每次祷告不是要达成我们的目标，而是达成上帝的目标。我们不是问我们要怎样，而是要问上帝的旨意是什么，上帝要我们怎样。

         我们鼓励更多的弟兄姐妹加入到晨祷会的大军中来！如果你无法每天参加，欢迎你参加周六早六点的晨祷会；不用担心你的祷告词不够优美或动听，上帝喜悦的是心灵诚实的敬拜；不用担心你不会祷告，你参与的心就是讨上帝喜悦的最好祭物；不用担心你无法每天坚持，欢迎你随时参与！古人闻鸡起舞。今人效法大卫的榜样：“我趁天未亮呼求，我仰望了你的言语。我趁夜更未换，将眼睁，为要思想你的话语。求你照你的慈愛，听我的声音。耶和华啊，求你照你的典章将我救活”（诗119：147-9）。晨祷会唤醒自己、唤醒教会，带来复兴！愿上帝继续复兴和使用教会的晨祷会。

诗篇对司布真的意义

• 译者注：我们教会今年1-3月系列讲章的主题是“与神更加亲近：诗篇选讲”。以下特别选译大卫·麦金利(David McKinley, November 2, 2021。加州西科维纳国际神学院实践神学副教授）所写的 “诗篇对司布真的意义”，与弟兄姐妹分享。

对于社会上的许多人来说，诗篇就像安慰食物——略尝诗篇23 篇的味道可以让他们在沮丧时好受一些。或者，另一首诗篇可能会在丧亲之痛时带来一定程度的安慰。然而，这些古老诗歌的目的不仅仅是提供不安的解药。对于司布真来说，诗篇的意义远不止于此。
查尔斯·司布真（Charles Spurgeon）热爱诗篇！他在牧会期间讲过400多篇关于诗篇的讲章。他还花了二十年的时间撰写了一部名为《大卫的宝藏》（The Treasury of David）的七卷本注释。 第一卷出版于他三十一岁时，最后一卷出版于他去世前七年，即五十五岁，他的诗篇著作涵盖了他在伦敦Metropolitan Tabernacle教会的许多牧会岁月。这是一项杰出的成就。他的“巨著”（“magnum opus”）更令人印象深刻，因为他在饱受痛风和其他相关身体疾病的折磨时写下了其中的大部分内容。当我们考虑到他雇用了一个十几人的团队来研究书籍并将其翻译成英文时，他的《大卫宝藏》是非凡的。
在第一卷的序言中，司布真感叹道：“对诗篇的愉快研究给我带来了无限的益处和不断增长的快乐，”他想将这种益处传递给其他人。为什么诗篇对司布真有益，为什么它们对我们的日常生活很重要？ 《宝藏》各卷的序言为我们与上帝同行提供了宝贵的见解。

诗篇在神面前表达了我们的情感
由于诗篇的作者受到上帝的默示，我们可能会认为我们无法认同他们的感受和想法。 然而，司布真向我们保证，情况不应该是这样的。当他读诗篇时，他经历了“哀悼”和“与大卫一同高举”的时刻。提到诗篇第51篇，他评论道：“诗篇非常人性化，它的哭声和抽泣是女性的产物。” 这样的诗篇，其中之一，可以激起我们潜在的情感，使它们深深地融入在我们的心中。然而，我们甚至可能无法向上帝表达这些感受，因为它们是如此强烈。幸运的是，诗篇使我们能够在上帝面前表达各种各样的情感。无论我们的感受如何，“这本书为恩典中的婴儿提供了悔罪的呼喊，为完美的圣徒提供了胜利的诗歌。”因此，诗篇充当了“其他语言无法表达的情感的代言人”。这不正是我们想说的吗？它的祈祷和赞美不正是我们内心所喜悦的吗？没有人需要比诗篇更好的陪伴。”这些“神圣的赞美诗表达了所有形式的神圣感觉。” 正如尤金·彼得森(Eugene Peterson)所说，“诗篇为我们说话。”它们使我们能够表达我们与神对话时的情绪和想法。

诗篇探索了我们的内心生活
当我们出乎意料地表达原始情绪时，我们可能会想知道自己内心到底发生了什么。就像 X 光或 MRI 探测一个人的身体一样，诗篇探讨了我们的欲望、态度、思想和“良心解剖”中发生的事情。司布真与加尔文一致，加尔文写道，诗篇是“解剖学” 。达拉斯·威拉德 (Dallas Willard) 认为，诗篇是“圣经中最伟大的灵魂之书，因为它比其他任何一本都更深入地探讨了生命的深处，以及我们与上帝之间的基本关系”。 我们灵魂的守护者。”这本神圣著作集对我们内心生活的各个领域进行了彻底的检查，并提供了准确的诊断。这不仅仅是对我们内心生活的临床评估，因为我们的医生希望我们在灵性上保持健康。

诗篇提供了我们生活经验的地图
诗篇提供了一张“经验地图”，涵盖了人生的各个阶段，包括年轻人和老年人。这些著作还描述了各种可能的场景，从激烈的冲突到安息的时候。正如司布真所说，诗篇的“经验范围从地狱之口一直延伸到天堂之门。”当我们读大卫和其他人的记录时，我们意识到他们的经历与我们的经历非常相似。我们可能享受与上帝的亲密关系，却又感到被他抛弃了。我们体验到友谊的喜悦和遭受朋友拒绝的痛苦。幸运的是，我们不必独自穿越这个灵性阶段，因为在我们之前走过的人是我们在这个灵性旅程中的同伴。当我们阅读诗篇时，我们“阅读并与一位在与上帝交流的人类朋友交流；这位朋友知晓人对神的心，也知晓神对人的心；这位朋友完全同情我们和我们的悲伤，永远不背叛或抛弃我们。”除了诗篇作者之外，司布真希望他的读者在穿越“诗篇之国”的旅途中将他视为“同伴”。 用今天的话说就是，我们需要走在我们前面并了解地形的灵魂导师，以便他们可以指导我们度过人生的旅程。

诗篇为我们的教会做出贡献
司布真担心他那个时代的教会并没有高度重视诗篇。事实并非如此，因为在过去的几个世纪里，“所有的教会天天都在诵读诗篇”。他肯定了马丁·路德和约翰·加尔文的做法，他们相信诗篇在塑造会众生活中的敬拜和祈祷方面发挥着重要作用。这是可能的，因为被按立的牧师“熟记”整本诗篇。因此，司布真声称“普通会众”通过背诵了解诗篇。公众使用这些神圣诗歌和祈祷文对那些与在耶稣基督里和其他信徒见面的个人产生了深远的影响。

诗篇有助于我们灵性的成熟
无论诗篇是帮助我们表达我们的情感和言语，审视我们的内心生活，描述我们人类经历的领域，还是为我们的教会做出贡献，司布真希望他的阐述能够有助于“启迪信徒”，因为诗篇指导和训练我们的基督徒生活。 研究诗篇时必须承认我们需要圣灵，圣灵使我们能够体验诗篇的真理。 司布真劝告我们：“在这些繁忙的日子里，如果基督徒能够更加熟悉诗篇，这对他们的灵性大有裨益，因为他们可以在其中找到人生战斗的完整军械库，以及为生活需要的完美的供应。” 在这里，我们既有快乐、又有益处，既有安慰、又有指导。对于每一种情况，都有一首适合的、令人振奋的诗篇。”

结语
诗篇无疑丰富了司布真自己的生活。 当他接近完成《大卫宝藏》时，他写道：“诗篇对我来说是一场皇家盛宴，在享用其中的内容时，我似乎吃到了天使的食物。” 尽管写这么多卷书是一项艰巨的任务，但他承认“写这部著作对我自己的心来说是一种恩典；我自己很享受为读者准备的东西。”鉴于他身体上的痛苦、牧师事工所承受的巨大压力以及朋友拒绝他的痛苦，诗篇加强了他对耶稣基督的信心。
虽然诗篇可以缓解暂时的难过，但它们也通过触及我们存在的每个领域来促进我们的灵性成长。诗篇是明智的指南，帮助我们为未来的旅程做好准备，迎接人生的挫折和机遇。最后，这些神圣的诗歌塑造了我们与朝圣者同伴的教会生活，因此我们可以敬拜耶稣基督，直到我们与他面对面。

来吧！让我们于2024年1月2日开始教会的晨祷会！

徒1:14这些人，同着几个妇人，和耶稣的母亲马利亚，并耶稣的弟兄，都同心合意的恒切祷告。

徒17: 25-26约在半夜，保罗和西拉祷告，唱诗赞美神；众囚犯也侧耳而听。忽然地大震动，甚至监牢的地基都摇动了。

         2023年11月8日我在儿童医院作心脏消融术，一天一夜没有睡觉，主一直在不断地教导我许多功课。关于教会我向主祷告说：“主啊，我们教会如何突破现状带来更大的复兴”？主的回应是：“复兴教会的祷告会”。主的灵教导我：祷告会是教会事工的心脏。心脏供应全身血液，祷告会则为教会所有事工提供属灵的力量和泉源。心脏若健康，全身则充满活力；心脏若出了问题，则会出现贫血等各种疾病。如果我们期待更多人归主，教会圣工兴旺，以及教会寻找未来聚会场有突破性进展等，我们一定要求圣灵先复兴教会的祷告会。

         对于开始晨祷会人们可能会问两个问题。

         第一，为什么要有祷告会，我个人私祷不够吗？

         答案：个人私祷是基础，祷告会是建造。祷告会基于个人私祷，又是个人私祷的升华和进深。同时，祷告会反过来又促进和激励个人私祷。祷告会有许多圣经根据：

         1.当主宣告了教会的福音权柄后应许我们说：“我又告诉你们，若是你们中间有两三个人在地上，同心合意的求什么事，我在天上的父，必为你们成全。因为无论在哪里，有两三个人奉我的名聚会，必为你们成全”（太18:19-20）。

2. 教会始于群体同心合意的祷告会（徒1:14；2:42）。

         3.使徒所行第一个公开的神迹是在他们去参加祷告会的路上（徒3:1）。

         4.教会历史上第一个祷告会使信徒被圣灵充满，他们便在逼迫中放胆讲论神的道（4:31）。

         5.教会向外宣教始于禁食祷告会（13:2-3）。故此，教会福音事工复兴的关键取决于祷告会的复兴。

1.  为什么是晨祷会？

       答案：我们要开始晨祷会，但我们周三晚上的祷告会将照常进行。晨更祷告不是唯一的祷告时间，但却是最好的祷告时间。我们要鼓励弟兄姐妹不住地祷告，但我们更要鼓励大家作晨更祷告。相关经文如下：

• 诗63:1神啊，你是我的神，我要切切的寻求你。“切切的”（earnestly）原文是早晨（early）。同时，晨更祷告最能体现出我们寻求主的迫切心情。
• 诗90:14 求你使我们早早饱得你的慈愛，好叫我们一生一世欢呼喜乐。“早早”原文是“早晨”。NIV的翻译是：“Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,” 直译：“求你在清晨以你永不失败的慈愛满足我们。”
• 主耶稣是我们作晨更祷告最好的榜样。可1: 35  次日早晨，天未亮的时候，耶稣起来到旷野地方去，在那里祷告。
• 中国人有一句谚语是：“一年之计在于春，一天之计在于晨，一生之计在于勤”。另一句是：“早起的鸟儿有虫吃”。早晨是人精力最充沛的时刻，经过一夜的休息调整，状态应该达到最佳。当我们将最好的时间当作祭物藉晨祷献给神时，神非常喜悦，他定会赐予我们充足的力量和智慧，使我们一天都满怀信心和盼望，并且在凡事上大大得胜。

          去年1月底教会有几位同工一起去参加“阿肯色门徒韩语教会”( The Disciples Korean Church of Arkansas)的祷告会。他们早晨6点开始，从周一到周六，每次有40-50人参加。南秀牧师介绍说，他们教会有二十年历史。他从10个人开始带领，最初租用场地聚会。后来，上帝大大赐福给他们。他们逐渐买了自己的场地，又多次扩建。现在教会拥有一间宽敞、明亮和干净的主堂，一间很大的青少年活动中心，一间专门的厨房，教会会友200多人，平常主日聚会有130-40人，加上30-40青少年。教会有幼儿园，体育馆，老人活动中心，许多公寓免费提供给留学生住（条件是学生必须参加教会的晨祷会）。他们不花钱聘请清洁工，弟兄姐妹周六祷告会之后进行全体大扫除。教会每个细节都规规矩矩。洗手间弄得一尘不染。每次崇拜时讲台前一定要摆上一束鲜花来尊荣上帝。他们正在筹备盖自己的老人院、墓地等。南秀牧师说，他们教会复兴的关键就是晨祷会。他告诉我说，你们教会要复兴、要带领弟兄姐妹找聚会场所一定要作晨更祷会。韩国教会是我们华人教会属灵的榜样。保罗说：“所以我们中间凡是完全人，总要存这样的心；若在什么事上存别样的心，神也必以此指示我们”（腓3:15）。我们奉基督的名夸口，韩国教会能作到的华人教会也能做到！他们在属灵的追求上走在我们前面， 但我们也走在路上了！

        最后一个问题是：我参加晨祷会是否会耽误我的工作和学习？

        答案：绝对不会。

        首先，你如果计划参加祷告会，你一定要为此作预备的祷告，求圣灵带领引导你，为你预备心志。

        第二，你要以祷告会为坐标计划和调整好你的日程安排表。永远记得主的应许：“你们要先求神的国和神的义，其他东西都要加给你们了”（太6: 33）。 

        第三，当上帝赐予我们智慧时，我们其他的事情就能做得又快又好。我在此分享一个见证：记得我2005年刚从南京神学院毕业后到黑龙江圣经学校教书。第一年教书带领毕业班。由于属灵经验不足，许多问题处理不当，学生思想混乱，神学上互相攻击，彼此不同心。他们毕业时，我身心俱疲，事倍功半，好心做好事适得其反。第二年、第三年我又带领一个新的班级。这次，我从祷告会带领。我倡导带领学生们每天早晨6-7点作一个小时祷告会。结果，那个班的学生灵性追求、学习努力、品格得到建立，大家同心合意，彼此相愛，共同进步。这个见证提醒我，带领教会也一定要从晨祷会开始！

         晨祷会蒙主赐福的见证比比皆是。主仆宋尚节每天坚持晨祷。我家乡忠心的使女信主二十多年凌晨4-5点钟去教会祷告，风雨不误，冬天冒着大雪照样去祷告。每次1-2个小时。去年，她家六个直系亲属都受洗归主。属灵的操练上关键是我们是否行动起来？在跟随主的道路上，我们的教会要做实干家，而不是空谈家。感动不如心动，心动不如行动，求真理的圣灵带领我们现在就行动起来！让我们2024年1月2日早5点Zoom上晨祷会见！愿主成全这工！以基督之名，阿门！