合一的應許

神的心意是透過人來建立祂的教會。若是這樣，問題便來了，因為有人的地方便會有不和。既然有不和，那怎能同心？曾經有人笑說：「如果在挪亞起方舟時，先成立一個委員會的話，相信他一定起不成方舟，恐怕洪水也就淹沒全人類了。」

奇怪的是，教會歷史讓我們看到，縱然教内有不和，宗派也有分裂，但是神仍然藉着軟弱的人成就看似不可能的事 — 「主將得救的人，天天加給他們。」(徒2:47下) 你或許會認為這只能在初期教會發生。事實上，「天天加給」不單是初期教會的現象，現今也是如此。根據2014年出版的《牛津轉改宗教手冊》(Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion)，扣除流失和改信其他非基督宗教的人數，世界上每日仍有約十萬名新的基督徒 (淨增長)，這些信主的人多數是在非洲、拉丁美洲和亞洲的人。

從哥林多前書12章，我們或許能明白箇中奧秘。雖然建立教會靠乃很多不同的屬靈恩賜，然而賜人恩賜的只有一位聖靈 (12:4)；在基督的身體内，縱然肢體多，仍是一個身子 (12:12)。這「一位聖靈」和「一個身子」的原則是信徒們同心事奉的基礎。請注意，同心合一不是要使人變成一模一樣。相反，各人存在個性和恩賜上的差異是必然的。唯有這樣，我們才可以彼此補足，並在差異中追求和睦相處和彼此同心。

然而，達致合一並不是容易的，我們仍要竭力追求。不過，請記着，信徒合一是神的工作，神也定意要透過不同的人去建立祂的教會。我們可以作的，是常常回歸這真理 — 我們都飲於「一位聖靈」及屬於「一個身子」；同時，我們要時常默念這真理，讓這合一的信息主導我們所想、所説和所作的每一樣事。

The Spirit of God (Day 10 & 11)

This morning (6/4), my heart was powerfully stirred (yes, I chose to use this adverb powerfully because of the nature of the message received) when I read Joel Ch 2. It talks about God's punishment, His commands, people's desired response, God's blessings in return (including the pouring out of His Spirit). It's so powerful that I was moved in tears, breathed more heavily, and didn't want to believe what was impressed on me because it's so radical.

These last few days, again and again I have been reminded about one simple truth - the Holy Spirit and His work in God's people:

- After Jesus' resurrection, He commanded His disciples, "receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22);

- The Spirit of God will be poured on His people (Jo 2:28-29);

- Jesus' followers will be empowered when the Holy Spirit comes on them to enable them to be effective witnesses for Him.

I don't believe these verses have come to me out of co-incidence. Rather I believe God intends to speak to me and His church about this.

This is something I will share this Sunday, so be prepared to listen to what God is saying.

Feeling God's leading in an intimate way (Day 8 & 9)

During this 2nd weekend, I've been feeling great, and have become more and more sensitive to God's leading. Like this morning, as I was praying and reading the Scripture in the very early morning, I have found some treasure - the resurrected Christ commanded the disciples to "receive the Holy Spirit" (Jn 20:22b). On this Easter Day, I suddenly realized that the resurrected Christ has in store for each and every one of His followers that they be filled with the Holy Spirit!

When I was driving to church, that verse together with the idea of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and revival have been in my mind. I felt compelled to share that in today's service (even though it's a special Thanksgiving & Testimony Service). Therefore after many testimonies, I boldly as a pastor, rose and did a bit of "wrap up" and pointed out that a powerful Christian witness & life has its root and rests entirely upon the filling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, whom the risen Christ has promised.

Then I went on (after a few minutes of sharing only) to make an altar to those who would like to live a victorious life and be a more effective Christian witness in their life. At least 12 people responded and we prayed after the service. In particular, I laid hand on each of them, praying specifically as God led me and I asked the Holy Spirit to fill them and to rule their heart and life. These 12 people are made up of some students, housewives, & businessmen etc. This is really an interesting mix (namely, Archer, 表弟, Jane, Terence, Tony, Kevin, David, Kalvin, Tin Lok, Dannie, Stephen, and Malcolm who left earlier). I am so sure it's God's leading and I just learned to be responsive. Glory to God!

A little different flavour (Day 7)

The Lord seems to impress on my heart a different flavour to my "journey". So far, I've
been listening or singing songs with an earnest plea to come cleansed before God. I asked the same thing of the church from God I'm ministering to.

Today, God directed me a little differently. I've found great joy in realising that Jesus is the resurrected Lord. He wasn't just on the cross and died there. He's risen and because of that, we have the hope of rising with Him to be like Him.

"If the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, He'll do the

same thing in you that He did in Jesus, bringing you alive to Himself. When God lives and breathes in you (and He does, as surely as He did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With His Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!" (Rom 8:11 - Msg)

「然而，叫耶穌從死裡復活者的靈若住在你們心裡，那叫基督耶穌從死裡復活的，也必藉著住在你們心裡的聖靈，使你們必死的身體又活過來。」