敬拜君王 Worship the King Our God

敬拜君王
Worship the King Our God

來敬拜上主－榮耀大君王，
主愛何奇妙，應感謝、頌揚；
祂是我們盾牌，是千古保障，
榮光是祂宮殿，歌聲永嘹亮。

Let’s worship the Lord—our Glorious Great King,
God’s amazing love, worthy of our praise,
He is our strength our shield, our lasting refuge,
Glory is His temple, filled with sound of praise.

神權能、慈愛，我眾當頌讚，
光輝是主袍，穹蒼是主幔！
雷電顯主烈怒作戰車馳騁，
狂風、暴雨、漆黑，隨祂足跡行。

Sovereign love of God, worthy of our praise,
Great light is His robe, sky is His curtain!
His wrath is like thunder, gallops like chariot.
Wind and storm and darkness follow His footsteps.

來敬拜君王，我主，同歌頌主恩，
述說祂的憐憫、慈愛，
來敬拜君王，我神。

Let’s worship the King, our Lord, sing praise to His grace,
Let’s proclaim His great mercy,
Let’s worship the King, our God.

唇舌難描述主愛顧豐厚，
如光輝照射，似空氣滲透，
像泉源從高山向平原傾注，
甘霖、雨露下滴，常滋潤地土。

Lips and tongues cannot describe His great love
Like light shining forth, like air immersing,
Like stream flowing from mountain into valley,
Like rain pouring down and moistening the land.

來敬拜君王，我主，同歌頌主恩，
述說祂的憐憫、慈愛，
來敬拜君王，我神。

Let’s worship the King, our Lord, sing praise to His grace,
Let’s proclaim His great mercy,
Let’s worship the King, our God.

來敬拜君王，我主，同歌頌主恩，
述說祂的憐憫、慈愛，
來敬拜、頌讚！

Let’s worship the King, our Lord, sing praise to His grace,
Let’s proclaim His great mercy,
Let’s worship and praise!

來敬拜君王，我主，同歌頌主恩，
述說祂的憐憫、恩惠，
來敬拜君王，我神。
來敬拜、頌讚，齊來崇拜！

Let’s worship the King, our Lord, sing praise to His grace,
Let’s proclaim His great mercy,
Let’s worship the King, our God.
Let’s worship and praise! The King, our Lord!

My Pilgrimage 2007—2012

My Pilgrimage 2007—2012 (我的天路历程 2007—2012)

Double-Edged Sword: Looking Back from the End of 2012

It had been quite some times for not writing about my ownselve or my life. Recently I just post some hymns (which are really wonderful), and some "emo-emo" stuffs. It comes to the end of 2012, and I think it is good to look back what God has done in me for the past 6 years in Russia. 

First Year 2007/2008 - 1 John 4:10 NIV

This is love: not that we loved God,  

but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

This is a verse written on my personal Bible by a brother in Christ, who gave this Bible to me. Little do I know at that time that this Bible will become my personal Bible which I will use for daily Bible reading. Even though I think of switching to using ESV or KJV, especially those bilingual English-Chinese Bible, but I didn't do it, simply because I memorised many verses according to the location of that verse, eg. left lower corner of that page. However the more important implication is that this very verse that he quoted, contains the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. God loves us, and sent his Son as the perfect atoning sacrifice of our sins, that we may live and love God. But at that time I haven't come to Christ yet, even after reading this verse. Maybe this is the spiritual blindness that was describe in Matthew 13:14 and 2 Corinthians 4:4.

Second Year 2008/2009 - Hebrews 13:5 ESV

For he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

This verse is basically the transition of my life, the split second where I repented and trust my life in the Lord Jesus Christ. For the first time in my life, the Word of God is so living and active, speaking directly to me, like a double-edged sword that penetrated to my soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). For the details of this account, please read this post and this post. It is on this small little hill, with this verse written on this little bookmark, I met the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.

Third Year 2009/2010 - Mark 9:24 ESV

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 

"I believe, help my unbelief!"

This is an account of a chinese brother in Christ, who is now studying in St. Petersburg. That time he has some doubts in his mind after coming to our Koinonia fellowship for few weeks. During his conversation with our pastor, Frank (and I was there as a translator), Frank quoted this verse to him. After that I read this account in the Gospel according to Mark. While I was still reading it, tears flow out like river (figuratively, not literally) from my eyes. For the first time a verse makes my tears flow like river. This simple verse answered a question that many people asked: What we should do when we lost faith? The answer is so simple: I believe, help my unbelief. I remember the conversion of this brother made me wrote this to my pastor:

I feel so glad and overwhelmed with so much joy. I saw his heart where change by God, from an unbeliever he start to seek for God, in his heart God gave a desire to seek Him. His life changed, not only he himself feel it, but people around him also can see God works in him. And the most interesting is that I see him just like seeing a mirror. Last time I also used to doubt like he did, trying to believe but feel like don't have enough faith to believe and trust God, afraid to be away from the fellowship. It is just so wonderful to see how God touches people lifes in different ways.

Fourth Year 2010/2011 - Hebrews 3:15 NIV

"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts 

as you did in the rebellion."

A verse that broke up a friendship. I remember during that time I was ministering to a female friend. I have been sharing the gospel with her for quite some times, sharing the Christmas account, quoting verse from Genesis to Revelation. She didn't reject the gospel, but she didn't accept the gospel also. The worst is that I developed a romantic feeling to this person.

There comes a time when we were quarreling over some issues. Long story short, she accusing some of the brothers in my church. I try directing the topic about someone's sins, to her own sins. At the end I quoted this verse on my instant messenger status. I want her to listen to His voice, don't harden her own heart, and take that step of faith. Yet instead of focusing the initial half of the verse, she only focus the latter half of the verse: as you did in the rebellion. She is annoyed, she is offended, for the fact that I was saying she is in rebellion (after all, the cross is offensive, the message of the gospel itself is offensive). 

She never accept the gospel, simply because she don't see the need of a Saviour, since she don't admit herself as a sinner. I realised that after ministering to her for such a long time, I never present the most important part of the gospel: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The Word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Not only it penetrates her hardened heart and offended her, it also penetrates my heart and show me the reality about her and myself. Though she apologised the next day, but our relationship is never the same anymore.

Fifth Year 2011/2012 - Philippians 3:8 NIV

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared 

to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, 

for whose sake I have lost all things. 

I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

After that incidence, I started to curtail away our relationship, since it becomes a stumbling block to my faith. Eventually I cut off my connection with her totally. I 'deleted' her from my friends list in instant messenger, since 'blocking' her doesn't stop me from thinking about her. However from time to time I feel a sad that I lost not only a friendship, but also a chance to have a romantic relationship. 

Yet this particular verse reminds me that it is better to give up the things that will make you give up your faith, like what a sister in Christ says. Jim Elliott said it well: He is no fool who give up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot loose. For the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ, I choose to give up many things, including something which many people trying to pursue in this world, so that I may gain more of Christ. I may done in a wrong way, but I know it is something that I need to do, for the sake of Christ.

Sixth Year 2012/2013 - Proverb 27:17 NIV (and also Hebrews 3:15)

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

As time passes, many seniors in Koinonia fellowship had graduated. This is the problem with student ministry, they come, and they go. The problem is many graduated, but not much come. Eventually there is no more fellowship (or small group) in the hostel. A healthy christian life should consist of a triad: (1) prayer, (2) reading Scriptures, and (3) fellowship with brothers and sisters. We should continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13). However I have been concentrating on working out my own salvation with fear and trembling. We should work out our salvation with fear and trembling. This thing strikes me even more when I read back a sharing that I wrote few years ago, and the foundation to which I wrote this sharing is this verse: As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverb 27:17).

I realised that I need to have this kind of close fellowship again, and I saw the opportunity. Initially I though I'll wait a few weeks and see, but again Hebrews 3:15 penetrates into my soul. The Holy Spirit is telling, "Not tomorrow, but today!" Eventually I contacted my pastor to find a way to set up this fellowship. 

Hebrews 3:15 strikes me a lot when I was reading a book entitled Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. He quoted this verse in the chapter "Whenever. What about now?" This verse calling me not only to take an immediate response to set up this fellowship, but it also calling me to take immediate action to put to death the misdeeds of the body, so that [I] will live (Romans 8:13). There are many sins that I struggled (or should I say, cherished) in my life. But by His power and grace, through a sermon, I managed to put them to death. Read this post for more details.

This is basically my pilgrimage from 2007—2012. 

Have you step on your pilgrimage?

____________________

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow,

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

When the Perfect Comes

Source: Desiring God

So at year’s end, especially if what we feel at its passing is another disappointment, we must remind each other that the partial, this age that is all that we’ve ever known, is passing away and the perfect is coming.

To all you road-weary travelers who have found that the way that leads to life (Matthew 7:14) is harder than you ever imagined, the perfect day of rest is coming (Matthew 11:28).

To all you who find yourself at the end of this year poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3), humbled, desolate, and in desperate need of what only God can provide, the perfect day of the all-abundant kingdom is coming.

To all you who are mourning the loss of a precious one (Matthew 5:4) and finding it hard to press on under the heavy cloak of sorrow, the perfect day of death’s death (1 Corinthians 15:26) is coming.

To all of you who are growing tired in the relentless struggle to hold back the flood of unrighteousness, both from within and without, and who long deeply for a time when all is made right (Matthew 5:6), the perfect day of your satisfaction is coming.

To all of you who have been injured by the maliciousness of another and have responded with a tear-filled mercy (Matthew 5:7), the perfect day of restoration is coming.

To all of you who whose soft heart (Matthew 5:8) is tormented over the sin-hardened, sin-infected world around you, the perfectly pure day is coming when you will see what your soul most longs for.

To all of you peacemakers who are blessed of God (Matthew 5:9) and yet find this blessed work heartbreaking, misunderstood, and under appreciated, the perfect day of reconciliation is coming.

To all of you who find yourselves in a disorienting darkness that feels unbearable and wonder if God has abandoned you (Psalm 88:14), the perfect day is coming when the Light, in whom there is no darkness (1 John 1:5), will shine upon you (Numbers 6:25).

And to all of you who increasingly love and long for Jesus’ appearing (2 Timothy 4:8), who have an inconsolable homesickness for a country far better than any that exists here (Hebrews 11:16), your perfect home, a home prepared especially for you (John 14:2), is coming.

When the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. The promised “soon” (Revelation 22:20) is getting sooner. Let us keep encouraging one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Let us hold fast to the hope set before us (Hebrews 6:18). And let us press on to know the Lord (Hosea 6:3).

____________________

…when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

1 Corinthians 13:10 ESV

 

For to us a child is born

Note: A Christmas message wrote by Brother Chong Zhuo Ling in 2008.

Dear friends, we are glad to welcome you to celebrate Christmas with us tonight. Apart from the food and warm festive atmosphere, we wish to share with you the true meaning of Christmas. It is not about party, nor is it about Christmas tree, Santa Claus, gift-exchanging… it is all about, and only about, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

The plot of its history started, not 2000 years ago, but further back, further back…right after the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, right after they sinned against God, by disobeying His command not to eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which brought all humanity under the bondage of sin, and made death, as sin’s penalty, inevitable.

It was in the Garden of Eden, God said to the serpent who tempted man: “…I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Man oh man, you could have ended in sin and death forever, hell would have been your habitation and eternal fire your cover. But, be patient, there is still hope…for one would come as the offspring of the woman, who would defeat your enemy-the serpent, and save you out of sin and death.

Day after day, month after month. Generations came and generations passed. There still was no sign of the coming of the offspring. However, it was not completely silent. Isaiah prophesied about him: “The Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Prophet Micah declared the word of the LORD: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2) Hear this oh man, God didn’t forget about the promised deliverer. He shall come…

Still another 700 years of silence. But it shall be silent no more, for prophecies that remained unfulfilled for ages shall come true.

“Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

“Who…who are you?”

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be? Since I am a virgin…”

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God…For nothing is impossible with God.”

“I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

Sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

It was not a peaceful time when angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. The kingdom of Israel was under Roman’s rule. And it was in those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Sing “Silent night”
Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
round yon virgin mother and child
Holy infant so tender and mild
sleep in Heavenly peace
sleep in Heavenly peace

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
radiant beams from Thy Holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth

And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Sing “Hark! The herald angels sing”
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconcile
Joyful, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
‘Christ is born in Bethlehem’
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

This is the history of Christmas. In its heart lies the greatest love one ever needs, the salvation that comes through Jesus Christ, for God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) In this Christmas season, God’s offer of peace to every man is again resounding. Dear friends, you can have this everlasting peace with God and enjoy eternal life with Him if only you would accept His Gift of love.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

梦想

到了二十三岁，

才有自己的梦想。

想学希伯来文，
想学希腊文。

想学神学，

想上神学院。

想当教师，

想当传道人。

但是否太迟有这个梦想呢？

 ____________________

各人蒙召的时候是甚么身分，仍要守住这身分。

哥林多前书 7:20 

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

His dying crimson, like a robe,
Spreads o’er His body on the tree;
Then I am dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

[Added by the compilers of Hymns An­cient and Mo­dern]

To Christ, who won for sinners grace
By bitter grief and anguish sore,
Be praise from all the ransomed race
Forever and forevermore.

- Isaac Watts -