2022.02.05/06
From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev. Simon Lee

 Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

The latest Omicron variant of COVID has taken a toll on many of us. First, it is really hitting home. My own family (of 17) has been impacted by COVID in the past months in many ways, including one being tested positive for COVID and must be quarantined. But the more devastating thing was that some members were developing COVID-like (flu-like?) symptoms but could not even be tested, told to stay home, and assumed they had COVID, therefore living in the fear of spreading the virus to our contacts, including other family members. I personally have had to cancel some important appointments because of “possible contact with people with COVID symptoms.”

Ministry-wise, in our Church with 5 different congregations, I and all our staff all struggle to find the best way for everybody to “keep safe.” My prayer has been, “Lord, I need desperately the wisdom of Solomon! I need the Spirit to give me discernment as to how I can persevere and how we can all persevere when we live in uncertainty and the threat of the virus, now for over 2 long years.”

The Spirit reminded me again of how Paul persevered, though under different circumstances, and I like to share what I have just re-discovered in 2 Corinthians 4. I am applying this first to all in ministry and then all in physical trials (next article). Paul uses the phrase “do not lose heart” twice in 2 Corinthians 4, once in 4:1 and again in 4:16. Let us look at each occurrence in context.

Do not be discouraged (1): Remember we are doing the Spirit’s ministry (4:1-6)

“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” (4:1)

What an honour it is to serve God in such a glorious ministry (as described in Ch. 3). Therefore, we do not lose heart or quit easily. This ministry is in fact a gift that we receive from God Himself, in His mercy, even though we are so unworthy.  First Paul declared he was not a quitter. In applying this to our present challenge, all of us, including all pastors and lay-leaders, must remember the privilege of being called the children of God, Christ’s ambassadors and His “bondservants.” We are therefore to be a witness to the world that is under the cloud of COVID, that amidst the challenges we are also facing, we are not discouraged, because of God’s mercy to us.

Paul in exhorting Timothy says these words: “I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, ¹³ though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, ¹⁴ and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus…” (I Tim. 1:12-17) Paul’s encouragement here has guided me through many trials in over 40 years of ministry and I am being reminded of this truth even right now. To be honest, there were many times I have become discouraged and almost at the point of wanting to quit, because I said to myself, this is not what I bargained for when I committed myself to living for and serving Christ. Then I hear Paul encouraging me by saying, “But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost (chief of all sinners), Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (I Tim 1:16) I am running out of patience, may His patience come through me!

Our ministry is “the Spirit’s ministry” seems so obvious and those of us who are committed to serving God all think almost automatically that we are doing just that – “the Spirit’s ministry.” I need constantly to remind myself so that I am not deceiving myself while I am really doing MY ministry instead. Paul elaborates by pointing to how we can all fall into the same trap by: “shameful hidden deeds,” ‘behaving with deceptiveness,” or “distorting (knowingly or unknowingly) the word of God.” (4:2a) The source of discouragement for Paul was the false prophets in the Corinthian church. Paul was facing very sharp accusations for his apostleship by being accused of using the gospel deceitfully to serve himself. Then Paul declared he was not a deceiver. Paul both strongly denied the accusations against him and stated he boldly proclaims only the truth of God.

While Paul was addressing a different audience and dealing with different challenges than ours today, nevertheless all these failures refer to doing ministry in MY ways, instead of the Spirit’s way.  The difficulty I see in applying this to myself is distinguishing the Spirit’s way and MY ways, it is indeed easier said than done. I find in myself and in pastors whom I have helped over the years, that the longer we are in ministry and the more set we are in our ways, we often lack the humility to recognize that we may and can be wrong. Paul reminds us of the way out of that is by focusing on God’s truth (not our truth): “by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God.” (4:2b)

The litmus test of whether our ministry is God-centred or self-centred is found in Paul’s statement of his ministry. Paul further restated that by these words: “For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.” (4:5) Finally Paul declared that he was not a self-promoter. What strikes me about this statement is two-fold: 1. Proclaiming Christ as Lord; 2. Serving the Christians in the Church of Christ as “slaves for Jesus’ sake.”

The question I must ask myself is whether I am truly proclaiming Christ and his truth and whether I am truly submitted to Him as Lord. It has been said, “If Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.” I often ask myself the question in all my decisions and actions, am I truly submissive to God. In so many instances in my life, I have found that challenging. To be honest, I am still learning this true lesson of humility and surrender to God. I am amazed to rediscover that found here is one secret of not being discouraged, that is, to use the cliché “Let go and let God.” We all feel the need to be in control, but if Christ is really Lord, HE is in control. Again, I find that to be hard, to give up “the locus of control,” especially when we so desperately need certainty amidst the uncertainty that we are in.

Paul is also declaring that because Christ is His Lord, therefore he was slaves (to Christ’s Church) for Jesus’ sake.” True submission to the Lordship of Christ is demonstrated in being a true servant who serves at the will of the master, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and therefore the people of God. We yield to God’s way that is shown to us and not insist on our way. We all know this to be true, but what does it mean when there are differences of views among brothers and sisters. It is hard, and we all need to come humbly before God and ask for His guidance. Ultimately, it reflects whether we are truly yielding to the Lordship of Christ, as in this hymn:

Make me a servant
Humble and meek
Lord let me lift up
Those who are weak
And may the prayer
Of my heart always be
Make me a servant
Make me a servant
Make me a servant today.

Your servant in Christ
Pastor Simon Lee

2022.02.05/06
作者: 李耀全牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄弟姊妹：

冠狀病毒疫情的Omicron 新變種病毒實在是對我們許多人造成了極嚴重的影響。首先，其影響力真的“很埋身”。在過去的幾個月裡，我自己的一家，在很多方面也受到了疫情的影響。在教會事工方面，我和教牧團隊也在致力於探討最佳方式，以能夠確保五個不同會眾的每個人都可“保持安全”進行實體敬拜。

聖靈提醒引領我去再次思想，保羅如何能夠在各種不同的情況下，堅持不懈。我很想在此分享我剛剛從哥林多後書4 章中重新被啟迪的亮光。我先將這領會應用於所有承擔事奉和面對實體考驗的人之上，然後應用在身體軟弱的人上。保羅在林後4 章中兩次使用“不要灰心”這個用辭(句語)，其中一次是在4:1，另一次是在4:16。讓我們從經文的上下文去細察其中的含義。

今期先分享4:1。“所以，我們既然蒙了憐憫，得著這職分，就不沮喪。”(4:1)
正如在第3 章所描述，能夠在如此榮耀的職份上事奉神，實在是何等的榮幸，何等的蒙恩。因此，我們不要灰心或輕易放棄。實際上即使我們是如此的不配，我們仍然能在神的憐憫中，領受從衪而來，可以事奉衪的恩賜/恩典。我們要在冠狀病毒疫情的陰霾下，在面對的挑戰中不氣餒，我們要向世界作神的見證。

保羅在這裡的勸勉成為我在40 多年以來經歷了許多考驗的事奉中的指引。即使到現在，這真理也在提醒著我。老實說，我曾多次灰心氣餒，幾乎想要放棄，因為我對自己說，這不是我委身於服侍基督為主而活時所預計到的。然後我聽到保羅鼓勵我說：“我竟然蒙了憐憫，好讓基督耶穌在我這個罪魁身上，顯明他完全的忍耐，給後來信他得永生的人作榜樣。(提前 1:16)我已自感堅持能力耗盡了，願祂的堅持力量臨到我！

我們的事工是以神為中心還是以自我為中心可作為試金石，明顯可見於保羅對他屬靈職事的陳述中。保羅在以下進一步重申了此重點：“我們並不是傳揚自己，而是傳揚耶穌基督是主，並且為了耶穌的緣故成了你們的僕人。”(4:5)保羅宣稱他不是一個自我吹捧的人。這句話讓我札心的有兩方面：1.宣揚基督為主；2.以“為耶穌的緣故作奴僕”服侍教會的信徒。我必須先問的是:我是否真的在宣揚基督和祂的真理、我是否真的全然順服祂為主？戴德生曾說：“若基督不是所有事情的主，祂就根本不是主。”老實說，我仍在學習謙卑和順服神的真正功課。我驚訝地再次發現，原來不致氣餒的一個秘訣就是引用這老常談的話:“放手，交給神”(Let go, and let God)。

我願作僕人，柔和謙卑，主，我願扶助孤單軟弱。
我心靈時刻不住的禱告：我願作僕人，我願作僕人，
我今天願作僕人。《世紀頌讚 #397我願作僕人》 [全文請參看網上版]

主僕,
李耀全牧師

2022.01.22/23
From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

This year’s theme is “Christ (the Messiah) the King” and this quarter we are focusing on Christ is our saviour. But what is His message and how is He our saviour?

At the beginning of His ministry in Galilee after His temptation, Jesus was back in Nazareth teaching in the synagogue. The passage He was given to preach on was a messianic passage, Isaiah 61:1-2. Luke’s gospel reads, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, ¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)   Christ went on and declared “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” and alluded to Himself, thus claiming He was the Messiah, to the shock of His listeners. (Luke 4:21)   He was the one who was “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The reference here is to the “Year of Jubilee” described in Lev 25:7. For the Jewish people, every seventh year was a “sabbatical year” for the nation, when the land was allowed to rest and be replenished.  Then every fiftieth year (after seven sabbaticals), a year was set apart as the “Year of Jubilee” in helping to balance the economic system: for example, slaves were set free, property was reverted back to the original owners, and all debts were canceled… and the people celebrated. In effect, Jesus’ words plainly stated that the offer of the Jubilee year of the Lord (the gospel of the kingdom) was being offered to them the listeners through Him. (21) Jesus applied all of this to His own ministry, not in socio-political-economic terms, but in a physical and spiritual sense. He was bringing salvation to sinners, healing to the broken-hearted and marginal people, healing for the sick, and deliverance for those bound by demons. Yes, this is the good news from Christ our Saviour.

This week in our staff devotion, one of our pastors brought our attention to the original Isaiah passage (Is 61:1-7). What Jesus preached as recorded in the Lukan passage was the first two verse of Isaiah 61, focusing on His ministry in the First Advent, and not the judgement of God, in the Second Advent, that is found in the rest of the verses. What strikes me is the reference of the people celebrating their freedom in the Year of Jubilee as “the priests of the Lord” and “ministers of our Lord.” (Is 61:6a). There will also be “double blessings” (like the firstborn has double blessing) and with “everlasting joy” instead of “double shame” (Is 61:7).

As Christians (“little Christ), the followers of Christ (the Messiah), as we have put our faith in Christ our Saviour, we are therefore living in a spiritual “Year of Jubilee” (Wiersbe).  We are to proclaim the good news like Christ did in His first advent. That means, hope for the poor, freedom to the enslaved, healing for the sick, and liberty for the oppressed, both physically and spiritually. We proclaim Christ as our saviour, sanctifier, healer and coming King. As we believe in the priesthood of all believers, let us all remember the honour we have to be the “ministers of our Lord” and let’s bring double blessings and joy to those around us, those in the fear and anxiety of the Covid pandemic, especially those who live under the cloud of the fast-spreading Omicron virus. Yes, let’s be proclaimers of the good news.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

2022.01.22/23
作者:李耀全牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄弟姊妹：

今年的主題是“君王基督(彌賽亞)”，我們在本季集中於：基督是我們的救主。思想有關衪的信息及衪如何成為我們的救主？

耶穌受試探後在加利利開始傳道時，回到拿撒勒的會堂裡作教導。路加福音記載，衪所宣講的經文是以賽亞書61:1-2的彌賽亞經文：“主的靈在我身上，因為他膏我去傳福音給貧窮的人，差遣我去宣告被擄的得釋放，瞎眼的得看見，受壓制的得自由，又宣告主悅納人的禧年。”(路4:18-19) 基督繼續指出：“今天這經應驗在你們耳中了”，並暗指自己，聲稱自己是彌賽亞，令聽眾震驚。(路4:21) 衪就是那“宣告主恩年”的人。

這裡指的是利25:7 中描述的“禧年”。對猶太人而言，每七年是國家的“安息年”，土地被允許休息和補充。每隔五十年(七個安息年之後)，將一年作為“禧年”，以幫助平衡經濟體系：例如，奴隸被釋放，財產歸還給原來的擁有者，以及所有債務被取消了…以致人們歡慶。實際上，耶穌的話清楚地表明，主的禧年(天國的福音)是藉著衪帶來給聽聞的人。(21) 耶穌將這一切都應用於衪本身的職事上，不是在社會、政治、或經濟方面，而是在身體和靈性上。衪為罪人帶來救恩，為傷心和邊緣人士帶來醫治，為病患著帶來醫治，為被惡魔捆綁的人帶來拯救。誠然，這是來自我們救主基督的好消息。

在本週教牧同工的靈修中，我們其中一位牧者將我們的注意力帶到以賽亞書的原來的經文中(賽61:1-7)。以賽亞書61 章的前兩節的重點在於耶穌第一次來臨的職事，而不是在第二次降臨時神的審判(可見於經文其後的記載中)。令我感受良多的是，經文提到在慶祝禧年自由時作“主的祭司”和“我們主的傳道者”(賽61:6a) 。也提及“雙倍的祝福”（就如長子得到雙倍的祝福）和“永遠的喜樂”而不是“雙倍的恥辱”。(賽61:7)

作為基督徒(意即“小基督”）即基督(彌賽亞)的追隨者，根據聖經學者Wiersbe的詮釋，當我們相信我們的救主基督時，我們因此已活在一個屬靈的“禧年”之中。我們要像基督第一次降臨時那樣宣揚好消息。意即：帶來貧乏人的希望，釋放被奴役的人得自由，病患者得醫治，和帶來受壓迫者在身體和靈性上的自由。我們宣揚基督是我們的救主、成聖者、醫治者和再來的君王。當我們相信「信徒皆祭司」，讓我們緊記我們擁有“傳揚主道者”的榮譽，讓我們為身邊的人帶來雙重的祝福和喜樂，特別是那些在新冠病毒和快速傳播的Omicron變異病毒陰影下感到恐懼和焦慮的人。是的，讓我們成為好消息的宣揚者。

主僕,
李耀全牧師

2022.01.08/09
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Every year at the beginning of the year, we have an installation service for the new elders, deacons and deaconesses who will be serving in the new year. We are enormously thankful to all the people who serve so faithfully year in and year out. This is especially so when we have just gone through 2 years of the Covid pandemic and to see how we carried on the Church ministries using all sort of means and methods. It is so gratifying to witness that as our people serve God faithfully despite all the setbacks we experienced. All of you will receive the commendation from Jesus Himself: Good and faithful servants!

Here in 2022, after a year of roller-coaster ride through the Covid pandemic with our hopes down, up and down again, we are facing the Omicron variant that has spread rapidly through the population with number of cases of infection up to over 4,000 daily. Yet, just as the Lord brought us through the past two years, I am confident that the Lord will again help us through. We shall overcome!

The new team is characterized by new vitality of new board members and coworkers, and the continuation of stability of experienced board members and other faithful team members. We are also grateful for a strong team of pastoral workers and administrative team. Praise the Lord! Leaders, let us together with our members return to Scriptures to seek guidance on how to lead the Church forward.

The Spirit leads me again to the story of Moses and the problem he had in trying to lead about 2-million people through the wilderness, as found in Exodus 18. Moses was totally exhausted, and he tried to deal with all the problems brought to him, both big and small. Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law saw Moses and was very concerned about him, because Moses was sitting from dawn till dusk judging over the people’s affairs. When Moses was asked why he did that, he replied: “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. When they have a dispute, it is brought to me and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.” (15-16) Jethro couldn’t believe what he heard and said: “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you and you cannot handle it alone.” What follows as his advice to Moses what I like to call the 3 “Jethro Leadership Principles” which I would like to share with you here.

#1 – Teach others the Words

Moses had to learn to teach others the laws of God so that they know how to live by them. Teaching (and preaching) is the most important thing a leader can do in his or her ministries. Before dealing with the “how’s”, a leader must show those he leads the “what’s” and the “why’s.” Unfortunately, in our pragmatic society, both the leaders and those who are led value more the “how’s” over the important truth that is the reason and basis of what we do and want to achieve.

Paul in encouraging Timothy in his ministry to be above all diligent in God’s word, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:14-16) We should all lead based on His Word.

#2 – Delegate others to serve

Moses was instructed to “select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials … have them serve as judges for the people at all times.” (21-22) The character of the leaders we elect and appoint is critical to doing the task well, they include the qualities of God-fearing, trustworthiness and integrity. A problem we face today in the leadership of the church around the world is that these qualities are being replaced by self-confidence, self-trust and worldliness, a version of the power and politics of the secular world.

Again, Paul teaches Timothy in 2Tim. 2:1,2, “You then, my child, …what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Train the trainers, teach the teachers. I hope we can do this at RCAC.

#3 – Take on the most difficult cases

Moses should concentrate on the most difficult tasks which are his major responsibilities and leave the rests to others whom he had appointed. A good example is found in Numbers 36 where the issue of land inheritance for women came up. Moses had to exert his leadership in resolving the issue. Senior leaders must be empowered to deal with the major issues and not be handcuffed in exercising his authority. There must be trust given to the senior leader, and of course, the senior leader must also earn the trust of those he leads by personal example. Paul instructs Timothy with this words: “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1Tim 4: 12) We hope that all our leaders, in our own areas of responsibility, will lead by example.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

2022.01.08/09
作者:李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

每逢一年之始，我們也會為即將於新的一年內事奉的新任長老及執事舉行就職典禮。我們衷心感謝所有年復一年忠心地事奉的眾肢體。尤其是在我們剛經歷了兩 年的新冠病毒大流行，並看到彼此各展其謀、竭盡全力地推展教會事工時取得可喜的成果。見證了各人儘管經歷到不同的困難挫折，仍忠心地為神擺上，這真是令人欣慰。你們都能得著耶穌自己的稱讚為：良善忠心的僕人！

2022 年，在經歷了一年有如乘坐過山車般的新冠大流行之後，我們的希望再次幻滅，我們現正面臨著 Omicron 變種病毒已在人群中迅速傳播，每天的感染病例高達4,000 多宗。然而，回望主怎樣帶領我們度過已過的兩年，我深信主必定會再次幫助我們度過難關。我們必能靠主克勝！

長議會新團隊的特色是由具備活力的新成員和同工組成，配合經驗豐富的長議會成員和忠心事奉的團隊得以延續穩步向前。我們也感謝同心合力的教牧同工和行政部同工的事奉。讚美主！讓我們一眾領導團隊一起回到聖經去，尋求神話語教導我們如何帶領教會前進。

聖靈再次引領我回到出埃及記 18章摩西的故事中，探討他如何嘗試帶領大約 200 萬人穿越曠野時所遇到的問題。摩西試圖處理所有帶到他那裡的各樣大小問題，以致他完全筋疲力盡。摩西的岳父葉忒羅看到他的情況，極為關切，因為摩西從早到晚都坐著審判百姓的事。當摩西被問到他為什麼這樣做時，他回答說：“因為人民到我這裡來求問神。他們有事件的時候，就到我這裡來，我就在雙方之間施行審判，使他們認識神的條例和律法。” （15-16）葉忒羅不敢相信他所聽到的並說：“你這樣作不好。你必疲乏不堪；不但你自己，連與你在一起的人民也必疲乏不堪，因為這事太重，你不能獨自一人去作。” 接下來是他對摩西的建議，我形容之為 3 項“葉忒羅領導原則”，我想在以下與您分享。

#1 –以神的話語作教導

摩西必須學習以神的律法教導人，讓他們知道如何遵行這些律法。教導(和講道)是領袖在事奉中佔首要的。在 “如何”(how) 處理事情之前，受領導者必須向擔任領導崗位者展示“什麼是領導”(what)和“為什麼領導”(why)。不幸的是，在我們務實的社會中，領導者和被領導者都更看重“實行領導” 過於真理的重要性，這是我們希望達至目標的原因及基礎。

保羅鼓勵提摩太在他的事奉中，首先要勤奮地遵從神的話語，“你應當遵守所學和確信的；你知道是跟誰學的，並且知道自己從小就明白聖經，這聖經能夠使你有智慧，可以因信基督耶穌得著救恩。全部聖經都是神所默示的，在教訓、責備、矯正和公義的訓練各方面，都是有益的，為要使屬神的人裝備好，可以完成各樣的善工。”(提後3:14-17) 我們都應該根據神的話語作領導。

#2 – 分工合作善於委派

摩西被指導“要從人民中間選出有才能的人…就是敬畏神、忠實可信、恨惡不義之財的人，設立他們…去管理人民…讓他們隨時為人民擔任法官。” (21-22) 我們選舉和任命的領袖的品格，對於做好這項任務至關重要，其中包括敬畏神、值得信賴和具備純全正直的品格。我們今天在世界各地的教會領導中面臨的問題就是，這些品格正在被自信、自恃和世俗取向所取代，以謀求世俗的權力和政治手腕作藍本。
再者，保羅在提摩太後書 中教導提摩太: “我兒啊，…應當把你在許多見證人面前從我這裡聽見的，交託給那些又忠心又能夠教導別人的人。”  (提後2:1-2)。 培訓教導人的導師，培育教師。盼望我們列宣家也能如此。

#3 –不畏艱難承擔重任

摩西的主要職責應常專注於最困難的任務之上，其餘的任務則分派給各指定人選去承擔。民數記第 36 章就是一個很好的例子，其中提到了處理婦女的土地繼承問題。摩西必須發揮他的領導作用來解決這個問題。在實行職務時必須賦予在上的領袖以處理重大問題的權力，而不是在行使權力時受到制肘。要信任在上的領袖，在上的領袖也必須要以身作則，贏得下屬的信任。

保羅用這樣的話教導提摩太：“不要因為你年輕，就讓人看不起你，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心和純潔上為信徒樹立榜樣。“(提前4:12) 盼望我們所有的領袖，也能夠在我們自己的職責範圍內，以身作則。

主僕,
李耀全牧師