Nov 28-29, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters in RCAC,

In the past, every time I concluded a ministry, be it at a church where I have served or at the seminaries where I have taught in Hong Kong, I have always struggled to know what to say in my farewell speech (臨別贈言). Should I speak my mind or should I just say some nice things. It is not that I ever left with grudges or bitterness, but since I knew every time that it would be the last time I have the mic, I was always tempted to at least leave “some words of wisdom.” As far as I can remember, I was able to resist, mainly because I realize that was not the purpose of the occasion. I usually end up with thanking everyone for supporting me and working with me so harmoniously. This is why I marvel at Paul for his true wisdom in his final words, or his further final words to the Christians at Philippi, which was consistently again and again “Rejoice in the Lord always!” which is a theme he had repeated about 11 times in 4 short chapters of his letter.

Paul in countering those who took pride in “proper religion,” had just briefly shared his “resume,” only to dismiss it by saying his credentials have absolutely no value to him anymore, saying, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (3:8) He further added any righteousness he may have comes from God that depends on faith – ‘that I may know him and the power of his resurrection.” (3:10) That is why he himself “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (3:14) For in the end, his ultimate joy was in seeing the Christians serving in unity as we have seen in his words to the Philippians: “complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. “ (2:2) Thus he urges the Christians to stand firm in the Lord for they are to him “my joy and crown.”(4:1)

This theme to “rejoice in the Lord always… and again rejoice” (4:4) is carried through to Paul’s “final” exhortations, not to the Church in general, but also to different individuals personally and publicly in the open letter to the Church, including Euodia, Syntyche and Clement, “true companion (yokefellow)” and other coworkers. For Paul, these are all coworkers who had struggled and laboured side by side with him.
This joy should be practised by the Christians together, with “forbearance” (gentleness) knowing that the day of the coming of the Lord is near. For the same reason, they should not worry about anything, for why worry when you can pray (with thanksgiving). By some doing, “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (4:7)

Furthermore, Christians should let their minds be filled with godly and spiritual things, as they practise applying the apostolic teaching of Paul to their daily lives. The amazing message was that in so doing, they will experience the constant presence of the God of Peace (9) and not just have the peace of God (7) when we need it! What a blessing! What a joy!

This joy was felt by Paul (“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly”, 4:10) in very tangible and practical ways when the Philippians revived and extended their concern for the material needs of Paul. Paul did not speak out of need, as he said, “You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”(4: 10-11) What a beautiful picture, for in his perfect contentment in God and His provision, he was able to have the Philippians “share” in his ministry and his needs. (4:14-16) He stated that it was “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.” (4:17ff). By sharing and supporting Paul and his ministry, they were adding “capital increase” (dividend) to their own “spiritual account!” What a profitable investment! Paul describes such “sharing” (support) as “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.” (4:18) In addition, all the needs of the Christians will be rewarded by God, as he says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (4:19)

As I have shared in an earlier sermon in this series, “There is joy in serving Jesus,” as in a hymn written by Oswald J, Smith (November 8, 1889 – January 25, 1986) in 1931. According to his biography, Oswald Smith was “a Canadian pastor, author, and missions advocate. He founded The Peoples Church in Toronto in 1928… Smith was ordained as a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Canada in 1918. However, he resigned from the Presbyterian Church, set up his own church in Toronto, which merged with a small Christian and Missionary Alliance congregation in 1921. In 1928, he started another independent church in Toronto, the Peoples Church.” He was a godly man mightily used by God, and served faithfully for nearly 80 years.

There is another hymn that Smith wrote, which was used at his ordination in 1918, named “Deeper and Deeper” (first line “Into the heart of Jesus”). Related to our theme here is verse 4:

Into the joy of Jesus
Deeper and deeper I go,
Rising, with soul enraptured,
Far from the world below;
Joy in the place of sorrow,
Peace in the midst of pain,
Jesus will give, Jesus will give –
He will uphold and sustain.

As a Canadian pastor and mission advocate, who also studied in Winnipeg and had served with the Alliance Church briefly in the early days, Smith has become an inspiration to me. A man of prayer and as a pastor with fire in his heart for mission, he is an excellent model for me to follow. Every time I visit Tyndale University (formerly, Toronto Bible College) in Toronto, I love to look at his memorabilia left there. The joy that he talks about is something I have deeply craved for in my 40 years of full time ministry, and continue to crave for in my present and future ministry.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice.

Your servant in Christ

Rev. Dr. Simon Lee
Senior Pastor

Nov 28-29, 2020
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

過去，每當我告別一個服事的時候，無論是在教會還是在香港我任教的神學院，我往往都好掙扎究竟我的臨別贈言要說些什麼話。我應該說我心底的話還是隨便說一些動聽的話，這並不是我帶著埋怨或苦毒離開，而是我每次都知道那將是我最後一次站在台前，我總是有衝動要留下一些「智慧之言」。依我所記得，我還是能夠抑制著，主要是我明白那不是該場合的目的。最後我一般會以感謝所有人的支持並與我同心合意一起同工而作道別。這正是為什麼我對保羅讚歎不已，他最後的話又最後的話充滿真智慧，他一直不斷說「靠主常常喜樂！」，在腓立比書簡短的四個章節中重複了大約11次這個主題。

保羅在抵擋那些以「正宗信仰」感到自豪的人時，也分享了他可引以為榮個人的「履歷」，保羅駁斥他們說他個人的資歷對他已絕對不再有價值，他說：「然而以前對我有益的，現在因著基督的緣故，我都當作是有損的。」（3:8）他進一步說，因信基督而得的義，就是基於信心，從神而來的義－「使我認識基督和他復活的大能，並且在他所受的苦上有分，受他所受的死；」（3:10）這就是為什麼他本人「向著目標竭力追求，為要得著神在基督耶穌裡召我往上去得的獎賞。」（3:14）。最後，保羅最終的喜樂是看到信徒團結合一，正如我們看到他對腓立比教會信徒所說的最後的話：「就應當有同樣的思想，同樣的愛心，要心志相同，思想一致，使我充滿喜樂。」（2:2）。因此，保羅敦促信徒要靠主站立得穩，因為他們對他來說是「你們就是我的喜樂、我的冠冕。」（4:1）

保羅「最後的」勸勉 -「要靠著主常常喜樂……要喜樂。」（4:4），他給教會的公開書信不單是泛指給教會，並且給個別每一個人，包括友阿嫡，循都基和革利免，「真誠的同道（同負一軛）」和其餘同工。對保羅來說，他們都是與他在福音的事工上一同勞苦的。基督徒應該一起活出這喜樂，同時要「忍耐」（溫柔），知道主再來的日子近了。同樣，應當毫無掛慮，為甚麼憂慮當知道可以藉著禱告祈求（感恩）；「這樣，神所賜超過人能了解的平安，必在基督耶穌裡，保守你們的心思意念。」（4:7）

此外，基督徒應當在日常生活中實踐使徒保羅的教導，敬虔度日，思念屬靈的事。這樣實行，就經歷 賜平安的神 常與你們同在（9），這是何等奇妙的信息，不僅是在我們需要時獲得上帝的平安（7）！是何等寶貴的祝福！是何等大的喜樂！

當腓立比教會一直都掛念和關心保羅物質上的需要，保羅切實地感受到這喜樂（「我在主裡大大地喜樂」，4:10）。保羅並沒有說他的需要，他說：「其實你們一向都在想念我，只是沒有機會表示。我並不是因為缺乏才這樣說：我已經學會了，無論在甚麼情況之下都可以知足。」（4:10-11）。多麼美麗的圖畫，保羅在主裡及主的供應裡完全知足，又為他能夠讓腓立比教會一同「分擔」他的事工和他的需要而欣喜（4:14-16）。他說：「我並不求禮物，只求你們的果子不斷增加，歸在你們的帳上。」（4:17ff）。腓立比教會分擔和支持保羅及其事工，他們在自己的「屬靈賬戶」大大增值「資本增值」！這是有利的投資！保羅將這種「分擔」（支持）描述為「好像馨香之氣，是神所接納所喜悅的祭物。」（4:18）。此外，神會親自滿足基督徒的需要，正如保羅說：「我的神必照他在基督耶穌裡榮耀的豐富，滿足你們的一切需要。」（4:19）

我在本講道系列較早前的證道裡曾分享奧斯瓦爾德·史密斯（Oswald J･Smith）（1889年11月8日至1986年1月25日）在1931年撰寫的詩歌《事奉耶穌真是快樂》。奧斯瓦爾德·史密斯（Oswald J･ Smith）是一位加拿大牧師，作家和宣教倡導者，他於1928年在多倫多建立了民眾教會(The Peoples Church)。史密斯於1918年被按立為加拿大長老會教會牧師(Presbyterian Church of Canada)。其後，他辭去長老會的職事，在多倫多建立了自己的教會，並於1921年與一小眾的宣道會會眾合併。1928年，他在多倫多建立了另一所獨立會堂，「民眾教會」。他是一個敬虔的人，被神大大使用，他忠心事主接近80年。

史密斯也編寫了另一首詩歌，並在他1918年按立時獻唱，名叫《進到更深處(Deeper and Deeper)》(第一句「進入耶穌心懷中」)。第四節與本主題相連：

進入耶穌大喜樂，不斷深入主愛裡
昇華心靈必躍出，遠離俗世眾煩囂
喜樂引進傷心地，平安充滿流淚谷
耶穌施恩無間斷，加能賜力常喜樂 (李譯)

史密斯作為加拿大牧師和宣教倡導者，還曾在溫尼伯讀書及早期在當地宣道會作短期服事，他成為我事奉的勵勉。他是一位虔誠的祈禱人，並且是一位熱忱於宣教的牧者，是我效法的典範。每次我探訪多倫多天道大學（前身是多倫多聖經學院）的時候，我都喜歡看他留在那裡的記念品。他談論的喜樂是我40年全職事奉中深深渴望著的，而在我現在和將來的事奉中，我仍然渴望得著這種喜樂。

靠主常常喜樂！再喜樂！

主僕
李耀全牧師
主任牧師