Misc

欣逢北雪梨華人宣道會35週年堂慶，在此懇求天父賜福北宣成為上帝真理的教會，繼續發光照亮這個社區，成為眾人的祝福。
感謝神！北宣走過了35年，雖有高山低谷，但無論成功，失敗，喜樂或痛苦，卻是35年神恩數不盡，教會同心，彼此相愛，同心事主，廣傳福音。

主僕
李智峰

感恩是人們很熟識的名詞, 但卻是鮮有被實踐的品德. 兩字下部都是心字, 發自人內心的感受. 心上面是因字, 神便是萬福起因. 聖經教導門徒: 素祭及平安祭有順服感恩之意. 西3:17; 弗5:20; 帖前 5:8. “無論作甚應, 或說話, 或行事, 都要奉主耶穌的名, 藉著衪感謝父神.”

“北宣” 是衪忠心的老僕人趙士昌牧師師母實踐神給宣信博士 “有教會必有差傳” (英文名C&MA就清楚) 的異象開始的. 趙士昌牧師不單是正宗的宣信傳人, 更有迦勒忠心跟隨神的心志. 不抱怨, 不嫉妒, 奮戰不懈. 在金齡期的趙牧師, 為了回應馬其頓的呼聲, 順從聖靈的感動, 他們離開加拿大的安舒區, 利用安息年到陌生的雪梨, 清楚要在北邊成立教會, 並期望能在上午聚會, 因此先定名為北雪梨華人宣道會, 並用此名借用North Ryde的安息日教堂開始上午的聚會. 最初是由兩對夫婦及一位學生開始, 神不斷加添我們的聚會人數, 並同心合意去建立教會. 趙牧師師母在雪梨逗留約一年及留下一萬元澳幣就回溫哥華復職. (我曾暫住他家, 難忘我們一同禱告, 彼此關懷的溫馨回憶.)

感謝神安排我踏入全職事奉時, 得到趙牧師的悉心教導, 不要將世俗帶入教會, 神留下的人衪自然會留下 “賞賜的是耶和華, 收取的也是耶和華, 耶和華的名是應當稱頌的” 伯1:21. 神要求僕人的是忠心, 神得榮耀僕人就得榮耀.

我從恩師趙牧師學到的是: 僕人要忠心, 肯定神, 榮耀神:
肯定神貫通新舊約: 申6:4-5 “以色列啊, 你要聽! 耶和華我們的神是獨一的主. 你要盡心盡性盡力愛耶和華你的神” 這是猶太人的信經. (Shema). 神帶領選民出埃及後立的生命之約. 同樣可12:29-32. 是神心意的總綱, 信徒的人生目標, 喜樂平安的保證. “認識你獨一的真神, 並且認識你所差來的耶穌基督, 這就是永生.” 約17:3 從認識神中同時認識自己. 這是盡心愛主. (理性上追求認識神) 是肯是神的第一步.
當盡心(理性上)認同三一神後, 人內心會產生, 挑戰專愛自己及世界的價值觀. (提后3:1-7) 聖靈就會幫助人心意更新, 察驗神純全可喜悅的旨意.(羅12:1-2) 羅7:18 “..立志為善由得我, 只是行出來由不得我” 成長的爭扎是真實的. 方法是 7:25 “…靠著我們的主耶穌基督就脫離了” (這是盡性愛神, 生命由信到信靠神) 這是第二步.
經歷林后1:10衪曾救我, 現在救我, 將來也救我, 及羅7:18及7:2後, 就會背起十架, 委身在神的崗位上忠心, 以神為樂. (這是盡力愛神, 在頭腦及經歷上認識神, 成榮耀主的門徒.) 這是愛主第三步.

忠心榮耀神: 趙牧師吩咐 “神要留的人自然會留下, 神要你忠心. 神得榮耀, 僕人得榮耀.” 在自我及物質為本的俗世中, 猶如先知說出神的話. 以下幾點是我學到的功課:
教會多以大使命為主要目標, 因人的重生是彰顯神創造人時, 原有的榮耀. 試從救贖經文看: “在至高之處榮耀歸與神, 在地上平安歸與他所喜悅的人.” “世人都犯了罪虧缺了神的榮耀.” 及 “受造之物仍然指望脫離敗壞的轄制, 得享神兒女自由的榮耀.” 羅3:23; 8:21. 指出福音是神榮耀的彰顯. 那大使命是門徒首要使神榮耀彰顯的方法, 目的是因罪而死的權勢被基督得勝吞滅, 神永恆的榮耀重現. 大使命是方法去達到彰顯神榮耀的目的. 教會的本質不是在自我中心的俗世中, 有神榮耀同在的恩典盼望嗎?

神屬性的榮耀及創造萬物, 救贖等是我們不能參與的榮耀, 但感恩順服神, 作鹽作光, 傳福音, 見証主等都是聖靈引導的工作, 藉我們彰顯神屬性的榮耀. “凡以感謝獻上為祭的, 便是榮耀我” 詩50:23.

幾點以榮耀神作準則的好處: 個人, 教會及宣教會避免世俗的 “自我” 作中心所引來的問題. 如因背景或個人領受程度不同而自立教會, 腓1:18 “這又何妨呢? 或是假意, 或是真心, 無論怎樣, 基督總被傳開了.” 保羅為此喜樂, 因四散去建立教會是歷史的真理, 是神的心意.
人不敢批評教會, 肢体及家人, 因這是神所安排的, 誰能敵擋神呢? 太5:21-22 “凡向弟兄動怒的, 難免受審判..” 摩西因擊打磐石不能進迦南原因 “因為你們(摩西, 亞倫)不信我, 不在以色列人眼前尊我為聖, …(神主權的榮耀)” 民20:12.
信徒尋求榮耀神就常反思, 取代自我中心的價值觀. 這渴慕神的意志及情緒, 就被聖靈建立成神形象的自我, 明白是蒙恩的罪人, 僕人, 管家. 器皿. (試看約13-17章到徒2章, 門徒的心志訓練, 樓房的禱告到聖靈降臨的裝備, 門徒的改變, 到神加添教會人數. 全是神的作為, 恩典. )
以神作中心的人定與神有親密的關係, 是救主又是朋友, 能看透萬事, 明白神在環境中隨己意而行的旨意, 因此神可叫人作士師殺敵, 亦可叫人作但以理服待敵人. 救彼得不救施洗約翰. 若是從主領受, 外人不好評論. 教會有問題如耶路撤冷會議, 或肢体間出問題, 他們能明白以神的話化解問題. (太5章)
歷史中出現過, 凡事先問神 “這件事會如何辦” (What would Jesus do?) 的團契群体, 影響多人與神同行, 享受神.

在成長中, “北宣” 感謝李非吾牧師師母, 梁家麟院長及蘇穎智牧師的團契小組等教導栽培, 固定健康教會成長的根基. 衷心感謝各不記名肢体的付出, 願神一一記念. 若我對教會肢体有不盡之處, 敬請主內饒恕, 更期望神用寶血遮蓋我的虧欠. 回望過去在北宣的多年事奉, 全是恩典, 全蒙憐憫.

最后以三件事作結: 1. 一位老牧者回答如何作真信徒: “愛慕神的話語, 一切在聖經裏.” 2. 效法神僕人趙士昌牧師肯定神, 順服神, 享受以榮耀神為樂的人生. 3. 默想宣信博士經歷的詩歌, 主自己 (Himself) 主會向你說話. 共勉.

Happy 35th birthday North Side! I am deeply thankful as I remember God’s faithfulness to this church over the decades. I am thankful that North Side is a people filled with God’s love. It couldn’t have been easy to have a ratty kid, know-it-all young man like me around. I stand as a testimony to the patience and love of my Sunday School teachers, my youth leaders labouring to impress upon me Christ and his gospel, and my peers who spurred one another on to love and good works. I love the church dearly for bringing God’s grace to so many.

I am thankful that North Side has not only been a place to receive but also to give. The opportunities and support in serving together are still so precious to me. Across ages and languages, so many took an interest in ministering to me and with me. Why else would a middle aged auntie, overseas student and an ABC hang out? If not for Jesus and his mission! I am thankful and humbled that I am but one of a whole generation of people which North Side has sown into and nurtured, and that God has grown. 

I pray that our Father would continue to empower this church to reach and raise another generation for our Lord and Saviour!

I am so glad to be part of the Church History in NSCAC!

I would claim myself as one of the fruits of the overseas student ministry in NSCAC.

I joined the church in 2003 as an overseas student. We had a lot of kind Uncles, Aunties, big brothers, and sisters to help us understand God’s word. They would also organise activities, cook soup, and care for us. They opened their house for overseas students to have a meal. They would give us a lift home after dinner even if it is very inconvenient. They would even commit their family to serve overseas students. They share things that they can afford. They cooked every Sunday for us to have lunch. All these are very touching. They nurtured the gospel seed and multiplied it. I have witnessed so many overseas students receive Christ because of their humble service. Some of these students migrated to Australia and are serving at church as leaders. Others are bringing the gospel back to Hong Kong or different parts of the world!

Our Lord has used NSCAC to educate us on a lot of things about missions. I was equipped to share the gospel with my colleagues when I was an accountant. I was equipped to do short-term missions in other countries. Since 2009, I have been supported by our Church to share the gospel with students from all other countries at Macquarie University through Power to Change. In these 35 years, NSCAC has pursued to accomplish God’s will. It is undeniable that we are part of the global mission and a training center for missionaries!

Here I would like to thank God for all people who have ever served overseas students! Some of them are already in Heaven like Aunty Anita and Uncle Joe. 🙏May our Lord remember your service! We will continue your humble service and serve more overseas students just as how you have served us! May the love and care that you gave in the past be multiplied and may our Lord be glorified!

Please allow me to share this Bible passage as an encouragement for our heart from Revelation 7:9-10 “After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people, and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’

我很高興成為北雪梨華人宣道會教會歷史的一部分！

我會聲稱自己是北宣海外留學生事工的果子之一。

我於2003年作為其中一名海外留學生加入教會。在海外留學生事工，我們有很多善良的叔叔、阿姨、哥哥、姐姐幫助我們明白神的話。他們也會組織活動，煲湯和照顧我們。他們為海外學生開放了自己的家為吃飯的地方，即使很不方便，飯後都載我們回家。他們甚至會承諾全家為海外留學生服務。他們分享他們買得起的東西。他們每週日都會做午餐給我們吃。這些都非常感動人心。他們培育並繁殖福音的種子。我親眼目睹許多海外留學生因他們的謙卑服侍而接受了基督。其中一些學生移民到澳大利亞並在教會擔任領袖。其他人更將福音帶回香港或世界各地！

我們的主利用北宣家來教育我們很多關於宣教的事情。當我還是一名會計師時，北宣家教我有能力與同事分享福音。我曾受裝備在其他國家短期宣教。由2009年我得到教會的支持，通過學園傳道會，於麥覺理大學與不同國家的學生分享福音。三十五多年來，北宣家一直致力於實現上帝的旨意。無可否認，我們是全球宣教的一部分，也是傳教士培訓中心！

在這裡我要感謝上帝，感謝所有曾經為留學生服務的人們！他們中的一些人已經在天堂了，比如Aunty Anita和Uncle Joe。 🙏願我們的主記念你們的勞苦！我們將繼續你們的謙虛服侍，像你們服侍我們一樣，為更多的海外學子服務！願你們過去所給予的愛和關懷倍增，願我們的主得榮耀！

請允許我分享啟示錄 7 章 9 至 10 節中的這段聖經經文，作為鼓勵

⁹「 此後我觀看，見有許多的人，沒有人能數過來，是從各國、各族、各民、各方來的，站在寶座和羔羊面前，身穿白衣，手拿棕樹枝， ¹⁰ 大聲喊著說：「願救恩歸於坐在寶座上我們的神，也歸於羔羊！」 ¹¹ 眾天使都站在寶座和眾長老並四活物的周圍，在寶座前面伏於地，敬拜神， ¹² 說：「阿們！頌讚、榮耀、智慧、感謝、尊貴、權柄、大力都歸於我們的神，直到永永遠遠！阿們。」」