Dec 26-27, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Farewell to 2020

2020 is a year to which we are all happy to say good-bye.  Need I recount the pain and suffering from the pandemic. The lockdown has affected everyone in the Province since the middle of March. With the number of confirmed cases of positive test of COVID-19 infections at the end of the year still in the hundreds and the death toll is mounting every day, we are all filled with anxiety and for many, despair.

As a Church we have suspended all our worships and other activities held within our Church building and have move all of them online. Our Return-to-Church (RTC) guidelines has followed very closely the orders of our provincial Public Health doctors. After nearly a year of lockdown, we all long for the day when we can all return to worship and fellowship within our Church

When we began the year of 2020, we wanted to use the theme of “Launch out into the Deep” to encourage RCAC to leave our comfort zone and reach out into the community to share the gospel. Little did we know that we will be caught in the sea of Coronavirus So we quickly switched into the theme of “Jesus calms the storms of our lives” to seek to weather the storm. We then learned to “lament” using the “Lamentations of Jeremiah,” and were comforted with the teaching of God’s faithfulness amidst calamities and devastations. Then we went back to the original plan of studying the history of the early Kings of Israel. In the fall we wrapped up the year with the positive messages of Paul to the Philippians and learned to rejoice amid tension and adversities. We sincerely hope that we have been able to find this joy of living in Christ and serving Him. Christmas this year has come and gone before we even notice it, because it will be remembered as a Christmas like no other. But it is my hope and prayer that it has been a most special Christmas where Christ was not crowded out by any man-made trappings, that we finally see Christ clearly as the One born to be our Saviour and Lord.

Welcome 2021

I have never felt so filled with anticipation and hope for the dawn of a new year than this year. Needless to say, we all without exception hope that the new year will bring new life, new joy and new hope. First and foremost, we are all waiting to be vaccinated so we can build immunity against the Coronavirus that has brought so much destruction and devastation to so many people around the world. We hope this will turn things around so that the economy and the livelihood of people around the world can return to some form of “normalcy” with a new vibrancy that will reenergize our communities in enabling us to live with renewed joy and hope for a better future.  Even though it will take months before everyone who wants to be vaccinated will get his or her shot, perhaps way into the summer or even the fall. nevertheless, we are finally seeing the light at the end of the long tunnel.

As a church we look forward to returning to our church building to resume regular worships and other activities within the community, including fellowship gatherings, Sunday school and children ministries. Will that begin in the summer or the fall? We do not know. We need to wait patiently and return cautiously so that we can ensure that we are all safe. May we learn to wait before the Lord with anticipation and with patience at the same time.

In the first quarter of 2021, as scheduled in 2020, we will resume in our examination of the history of Israel and Judah in the book of the Kings. As I prepared the upcoming series, I was struck by the fact that the chosen people of God were constantly in a vicious cycle of enjoying the blessings of God but started to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and sometimes after being warned and judged by the Lord, would return to the Lord and do that which is right in the sight of the Lord. The fact of the matter is their relationship with God was heavily dependent on whether they had a good king or a bad king. After the kingdom was divided into Judah in the south and Israel in the north, there were all bad kings in Israel, and only a handful of good kings in Judah. We shall see highlights of this messy history and trace it all the way to the end of Israel as the result of the Assyrian captivity, and eventually to the end of Israel with the Babylonian captivity. We are going to study in more details the lives of Hezekiah and Josiah (as examples of good kings). I have entitled this series as “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” and we hope that we can learn from both the success and failure of these kings.

However, in 2021, we hope to stay positive. Having looked at all these mostly bad kings of Israel and Judah, for the rest of the year we are going to turn our eyes to Jesus the Messianic King (in two separate quarters, Spring and Fall), and also the Royal Psalms in the summer. The idea and purpose is summarised in the theme of the year which is “Crown Him with Many Crowns.”

The reason for this theme should be obvious. Amidst all the calamities and desperations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic which has exacerbated the ecological-socio-economico-political crises that we are experiencing, I sincerely hope to remind all of us that Jesus Christ is our Saviour, Lord and King. Herein lies our ultimate hope. So, let’s us worship Him and proclaim His majesty to all the earth.

Indeed, we have just celebrated the birth of Christ the King, but His kingdom is not of this earth, it is heavenly and spiritual. Just as we have learned in Philippians, Jesus came to take on the form of a man, a servant, and was obedient to God the Father to the point of death, even the death on the cross. “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phi. 2:8-11)

Have a blessed new year!

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Simon Lee

Dec 26-27, 2020
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：
告別2020年
2020年不堪回首，是我們所有人都希望告別的一年。我毋須再敘述有關病毒大流行所帶來的痛苦與折磨，因自3月中旬以來，封鎖限令已影響及本省所有的人。直至年底，確診的感染病毒呈陽性的數百病例仍在激增，死亡人數每天也在增加，我們都充滿了焦慮，甚至許多人已感到絕望。
作為教會，我們暫停了在教堂建築物內舉行的所有敬拜活動和聚會，並將所有這些活動移師至網上舉行。我們按照的本省公共衛生醫官的命令，非常嚴格地遵循“重返教會指南”（RTC）。在封鎖了將近一年之後，我們極渴望可以回到教堂內進行崇拜和團契的一天。
自2020年開始時，我們盼望以“開到水深之處”為主題，以鼓勵列宣肢體離開我們的安舒區，並伸展至向社區分享福音。可是我們無法預料會被冠狀病毒浪潮所困，所以我們迅速轉至：“耶穌平靜我們生命中的風浪” 的主題，以度過難關。其後，我們學習從“耶利米哀歌”的“哀嘆”中，對神在災難和毀滅當中的信實教導得著安慰。然後我們回到原來的計劃去研讀以色列早期王國的歷史。在秋季，我們以保羅向腓立比人傳達的積極信息去總結這一年的學習系列，並在緊張和逆境中學到喜樂。我們誠摯地盼望所有人也能在基督裡找到生活和事奉的喜樂。今年的聖誕節來了，卻又在我們甚至未加注意中瞬息即逝，因為這是一個最特別的聖誕節。我盼望並禱告，基督沒有被任何人為的陷阱所摒棄，讓我們終能於清楚地看到基督是為我們而降生的救主和生命之主。
迎向2021年
送舊迎新，我對未來一年新的曙光從未感到如此充满期待和希望。毋庸置疑，我們所有人也同樣希望新的一年會帶來新的生活，新的喜悅和新的祈盼。首先最重要的是，我們都在等待著接種疫苗，這樣我們就可以增强針對冠狀病毒的免疫力，這種冠狀病毒已經給世界上許多人帶來了巨大的破壞和損害。我們希望可以扭轉這局面，以能讓全世界的經濟和生計可重新注入活力並能回到某種形式的“常態”，以致能令我們的社區充滿活力，使我們能夠重拾快樂的生活，以迎接更好的未來希望。即使需要幾個月的時間才能使每個想要接種疫苗的人都可以接種疫苗，也許須延至夏季甚至秋季。儘管如此，我們終於在時間的長廊盡頭看到了曙光。
作為教會，我們期待著返回教堂，繼續進行實體敬拜生活以及參與其他的群體活動，包括團契聚會，主日學和兒童事工等。那將會是在夏季還是秋季開始恢復進行？我們實在不曉得。我們需要耐心等待並謹慎地進行重返教會，以確保所有人都安全。願我們能學到，在存著充滿期待的心在主前等候的同時能，存著忍耐。
正如2020年的計劃一樣，在2021年度的第一季，我們將會恢復從列王記中對以色列和猶大歷史的研讀。當我準備未來的研讀系列時，令我震驚的是，神的選民竟然一直處於享受神的祝福並同時落在行神眼中看為惡事之惡性循環之中，但在受到神的警告和審判之後，他們回轉歸主，行主眼中看為善的事。事實上,他們與神的關係，在很大程度上是取決於他們是否有好的君王還是壞的君王。在王國分裂為南部的猶大和北部以色列之後，以色列的君主全都是壞王，而在猶大方面則偶有好王。我們於可看到這混亂歷史的亮光，這可一直追溯至以色列被亞述人俘虜並猶大終被巴比倫俘虜的窮途末路。我們將更深入地地研讀希西家和約西亞的生平（作為好王的例子）。我把這個系列的標題定為“從君王的好歹和醜惡中學習”，我們希望可以從這些國王的成功和失敗中汲取教訓。
無論如何，我們希望在2021年中保持樂觀。在讀完了所有這些以色列和猶大最壞的君王之後，本年度接下來的是分別於春季和秋季，將我們的目光轉向彌賽亞君王耶穌，夏季則研讀君王詩篇(彌賽亞君王詩篇)。本年的主題是：“擁戴基督為王”。
擬定這主題的原因應該很明顯可見。由於冠狀病毒大流行帶來的所有災難和絕望，加劇了我們正在所經歷的生態、社會、經濟、政治危機。我誠懇地提醒各位：耶穌基督是我們的救主，我們的主和君王, 祂是我們終極的盼望。因此，讓我們敬拜祂，並向全地宣揚祂的威榮。
確實，我們剛慶祝君王基督的降生，但祂的國度不屬於這世上，而是屬天和屬靈的。就像我們在腓立比書中所學到的一樣，耶穌成了血肉之軀，取了一個奴僕的形象，並且順服父神至死，而且死十字架上。 “因此，神把祂升為至高，並賜給他超過萬名之上的名，使天上、地上，和地底下的一切，因著耶穌的, 都要屈膝，並且口裡承認耶穌基督為主，使榮耀歸給父神。” （腓2：8-11）
願您新年蒙福！
主僕,
李耀全牧師

Dec 12-13, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

It is the worst of times. It is the best of times. This is inspired by a quote from Charles Dickens’s A Tale of Two Cities that I remember from my secondary school days: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…“  Christmas 2020 is a Christmas that is not “normal,” like no other that we had previously experienced. Also, we have been talking about expecting a “new normal” because of the pandemic. But with Christmas, I think we are in fact going “Back to an ‘Old Normal’,” or at least we will be more able to rethink what the first Christmas was really like. Yes, let’s start with the bad news and then go to the good news, after looking around us.

Right now, with the renewed lockdown a few weeks ago due to the second wave of the COVID pandemic, many people will no longer be able to celebrate Christmas like they used to do in the past. The usual rush in travel to be “home for Christmas” will not be possible for a lot of people as they will have to go into a quarantine of 14 days before they can see their folks they want to visit, and have to do the same when they return to their home. Many vacations will become staycations. The annual Christmas lights seem to be strangely dim and less people on the streets and in the malls; they will not be able to create the usual festive mood. The usual Christmas carols that fill the air will sound hollow. Can we really sing “Joy to the World?” There will not be the usual Christmas services, and there will be no Christmas caroling. The mall will not be filled with people all frantically trying to shop for the best Christmas gifts for their loved ones in the last minute. Many Santa’s will be out of a job!  After the Christmas holidays, there will be probably a lot of shops that will be closed declaring bankruptcy, as too many people will resort to buying online. Everyone (at least most people) will be going around with masks like they did in the many plagues pandemic in past history. Yes, this will not be the “joyous” Christmas that we have always anticipated at this time of the year. We are in the worst of times!

But maybe this is in fact a good thing. I like to think of our Christmas this year with COVID as an opportunity to really “go back” to what it was like in the first Christmas, before all the church traditions and commercialization made it into a “holiday season” that leaves “Christ” out of “Christ-mas.” Maybe when all these trappings of Christmas are removed, we will be able to rediscover and truly celebrate the real “reason” for the “season.”  Let us therefore go back to rediscovering what it was like in the first Christmas when Christ was born in Bethlehem:

 1.  The first Christmas was a time of political unrest and social tension in society

First of all, the Jewish people in Israel were governed by the Romans who were conducting a census at the time that forced the people to leave their home to go back to their birthplace (Lk 2:1-7). As a result, people were travelling here and there, not because they were happy to do so, but reluctantly because they had to. In fact, that was what happened to Joseph and Mary who had to travel from Galilee to Bethlehem, even though Mary was ready to give birth to Jesus at any time, they had no option but to take the journey. Maybe because they waited till it was too late and so many people were also travelling, “there was no place for them in the inn!” (Lk. 2:7)

Another picture of the hideous time can be seen from the story of the visit of the Wise Men from the east, sometime after the birth of Christ, recorded for us in the account by Matthew (Mt. 2:1-18). Herod the “puppet” king was so fearful of what might happen to his rule, that he plotted to follow the info of the wise men when they find “he who has been born king of the Jews” so as to do harm to Jesus with the pretense of “that I too may come and worship him.” (2:8b)   The story ended tragically with genocide, the slaughter of all male children under two years old in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary with the baby Jesus became refugees to Egypt!

So we can see the first Christmas was totally devoid of any festive mood, it was instead filled with fear and anxiety, the people lived amidst the brutal and tyrannical rule of a very insecure “puppet” king that served the Roman Empire. Today we find ourselves similarly in our war-torn, poverty-stricken, politically-racially-divided and morally-decadent world. The COVID 19 has only made the situation worse by adding a viral infection pandemic that has also resulted in a global economic crisis. So though the causes of our distress are somewhat different, we are nevertheless definitely in a similar time of unrest, even despair. Every year we have come to expect as “normal” a festive and peaceful Christmas holiday, but the truth is that was not the case in the first Christmas and has never been the case down through the ages. We are indeed in the worst of times. That is the bad news. But we also have good news.

 2.  The first Christmas was a time of great anticipation and hope being realized

The best way to describe the “good news” is found in the declaration of praise by the angels as they announced the birth of Christ: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will among men!” (Lk. 2:14)  This was declared, amidst the turmoil and tension of the time, to the shepherds, simple folks who were keeping watch over their flock by night. The angels said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:1­0-11)

The first thing to remember is that the birth of Christ is first and foremost to bring glory to God. This happens when the divine plan of God’s redemption that was in fact began at the fall of man after the creation, was to be fulfilled in the incarnation of the Son of God. This will bring “peace and goodwill” but it is rooted in Christ the Saviour and Lord, as His kingdom is not of this earth. Christ’s birth would therefore “bring good news of a great joy that will be for all the people.” This is demonstrated after the shepherd had visited Jesus in the manger, they returned “glorifying and praising God for all they have heard and seen, as it had been told them.” (Lk. 2:20) This was also similarly shown in the reaction of Mary (in the Magnificat) and in the words of Zachariah, the father of John the Baptist. The divine encounters with Jesus the Christ (messiah) or the news of his birth, first of all lead to the utterance of praise to God. Indeed we need to put “Christ” back into “Christ-mas” and bring glory to God.

The “good news” is qualified by “a great joy” which refers singularly and directly to the joy of the birth of Christ who is both the Saviour and Lord, the Saviour who delivers us from the bondage of sin, and the Lord (and master) who is sovereign over our lives whatever happens around us and to us.  It is “for all people,” starting with the lowly shepherds on their night watch, and includes us all in the second line of blessing that was first promised and given to Abraham and his descendants. Dr. Luke emphasized in his well-researched “gospel” document of the life of Jesus that Jesus came for all those who know they are lost, even those who do not (e.g. The three parables of the lost in Luke 15.) Therein lies the “good news.” The celebration of joy is “before the angel of God over one sinner who repents.” (Lk. 15:7, 10, cf. 32)

Yes, we have bad news as we are in the worst of times. But we also have good news, and we are indeed in the best of times. May this Christmas that is not normal be the Christmas we really go back to the old old story of the birth of Jesus Christ the Saviour and Lord at the crossroad of history (from BC to AD) and crown Him with many Crowns in the New Year.

Your servant in Christ

Pastor Simon

Dec 12-13, 2020
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹，

這是最糟糕的時代，這也是最美好的時代。我借用我中學時期所讀的查爾斯·狄更斯（Charles Dickens）的《雙城記》的第一句：「這是最好的時代，這是最壞的時代，這是智慧的時代，這是愚昧…」。2020年的聖誕不是「常態」的聖誕，有別於我們從前所經歷的。由於新冠疫症大流行，我們一直掛在口邊說我們需要接受活在「新常態」中。但對聖誕來說，我認為我們實際上是必須“返回「舊常態」”。我的意思是盼望我們將能夠重新思想第一個聖誕的真實情景。讓我們先從壞消息開始，環顧我們周圍，然後再回到好消息。

不用說由於第二波新冠疫症大流行，限聚令重新啟動及延長，許多人將不能夠像過往一般慶祝聖誕。以往許多人都會從外地趕回家過聖誕，但現在他們必須自我隔離14天才能與家人朋友見面，並且當他們回到自己的地方又必須同樣隔離14天。假期(vacation)實質成為本地渡假(staycation)。一年一度的聖誕燈飾似乎黯然失色，街上和商場裡人流稀少，無法營造以往的節日氣氛，原本充斥著歡樂氣氛的聖誕歌聲都變得冷清孤寂。我們真的能夠高唱「普世歡騰」麼？我們不會有以往的實體聖誕崇拜，也不會有報佳音。更不會見到商場裡人頭湧湧爭取在最後一刻瘋狂地搶購禮物送給摯愛的家人和朋友。許多聖誕老人將會失業！聖誕假期過後，可能會有很多商店關門倒閉，因為實在太多人轉向在網上購物。每個人（至少大多數人）都會像歷代的疫症大流行時期一樣配戴口罩。這確實不是我們每年在這個時候一直期待的「歡樂」聖誕。我們正處於最糟糕的時代！

但這也許實際上是一件好事。我嘗試將今年我們的聖誕與新冠疫症一起反思，回顧真正「返回」第一個聖誕及其當時的景象，現今所有的教堂傳統和商業化使聖誕成為一個「節日假期」，將「基督」(Christ) 摒棄出「聖誕」(Christmas)。也許拆毀這些聖誕外表的裝飾，我們才能夠重新察驗並真正慶祝這「節日」(season)的真確「原因」(reason)。因此，讓我們返回和重新體驗基督在伯利恆城降生的第一個聖誕的情景：

1. 第一個聖誕是一個政治動盪和社會局勢緊張的時代

首先，當時以色列的猶太人是處於羅馬政府的統治下，羅馬政府要進行戶口登記，迫使他們要返回自己的出生地（路2:1-7）。他們雖不願意但也不得不照樣遵行，他們就各歸各城去了。這也是約瑟和馬利亞要從加利利往伯利恆的經歷，儘管當時馬利亞的產期已到而耶穌會隨時出生，他們仍迫不得已也要踏上旅途。他們到達伯利恆的時候已不早，兼且有許多人同時在旅途路上，故此「客店裡沒有地方！」(路2:7）。結果耶穌便降生在馬糟裡。

使徒馬太（太2:1-18）為我們記錄了另一段可怕的事件，基督降生後不久，有三位博士從東方前來尋找耶穌的故事。「傀儡王」希律非常害怕自己的政權會發生什麼變化，他密謀關心三博士的消息，聲稱他們尋找到「那生下來作猶太人的王」時，就「好叫我也去拜他。」（2:8b）其實是要謀害耶穌。故事以滅絕慘劇結束，伯利恆所有兩歲以下的男童慘被屠殺。約瑟和馬利亞與小耶穌被迫逃亡到埃及暫住！

因此，我們可以看到第一個聖誕不但完全沒有任何節日歡樂的氣氛，而且是充滿了恐懼和焦慮，當時羅馬帝國由一個非常沒有自信的「傀儡」王執政，人民生活在他的殘酷和暴虐的統治中。今天，我們同樣生活在戰亂，貧困、政治動盪、種族分離和道德墮落的世界；新冠肺炎疫症使情況變本加厲，病毒感染大流行導致全球陷入經濟危機。雖然第一聖誕與今日造成困擾的原因有所不同，但我們絕對是處於同樣的不安，甚至絕望的時代。每年我們都期待著一個「常態」的節日和平安的聖誕假期，但事實上第一個聖誕並非如此，至今也一直陷於不同的動盪中。我們確實處於最壞的時代。那是壞消息。但我們也有好消息。

2. 第一個聖誕是充滿期待和盼望的時代

描述「好消息」最好的方式是天使宣佈基督降生時的頌讚宣言：「在至高之處，榮耀歸與神！在地上，平安歸與他所喜悅的人！」（路2:14）。正當政治動盪和緊張的時代，天使向那些在夜間看守羊群的牧羊人宣告說：「不要怕！看哪！我報給你們大喜的信息，是關於萬民的：今天在大衛的城裡，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。」（路2:10-11）。

我們要切切緊記基督的降生是要榮耀上帝，這是首要的事實。上帝救贖的神聖計劃實際上是在創造之初人類墮落時已展開，由上帝之兒子耶穌基督完成。這「平安與仁愛」是源於救主基督上帝，因為祂的國度不在這個世界。因此，基督的降生是如此宣佈「我報給你們大喜的信息，是關於萬民的。」，牧羊人在馬槽裡拜訪耶穌之後，就證實了這一點，「牧人因為聽見的和看見的，正像天使對他們所說的一樣，就回去了，把榮耀讚美歸與神。」（路2:20）。馬利亞的回應（尊主頌）和施洗約翰之父親撒迦利亞的說話也證明了這一點。與耶穌基督（彌賽亞）神聖的相遇或宣告祂降生的消息，首要的是讚美神。確實，我們需要將「基督」(Christ)放回「聖誕」(Christ-mas)裡面，並將榮耀歸給上帝。

「好消息」被表彰為「極大的喜樂」，直接指向基督的降生帶來之喜樂，基督既是救主又是上帝，救贖我們脫離罪惡的捆綁，上帝（和主宰）擁有我們生命一切的主權。這是給「萬民」的，從夜間看守羊群卑微的牧羊人開始，並將我們所有人都包括在祝福的行列裡，這是最初應許給亞伯拉罕和他的後裔的。路加醫生在他的「福音書」記載有關耶穌生平裡強調指出，耶穌來是要尋找那些失喪的人，甚至那此不曉得的（例如，路加福音15章三個迷失的比喻）。這是「好消息」。歡喜快樂的慶祝是「因為一個罪人悔改，神的使者也必這樣為他歡喜。」（路15:7,10,參32）。

是的，我們有壞消息，因為我們處於最糟糕的時代。但是，我們也有好消息，而且我們確實處於最好的時代。讓我們真正返回那古舊的故事，救主耶穌基督降生的歷史交叉點（從公元前到公元後），使這個聖誕成為不一樣的聖誕，並在新的一年擁戴祂為王。

主僕

李耀全牧師

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

Nov 14-15, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon LeeDear brothers and sisters in RCAC,

Alex Trebek, host of ‘Jeopardy!,’ since 1984, passed away peacefully on November 8, 2020 from pancreatic cancer, surrounded by friends and family. He was 80 years old. Some of you may know that the Canadian-born host revealed publicly he was suffering from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer on March 6, 2019. This is what he said, “Now, just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer,” he said. “Now normally, the prognosis for this is not very encouraging, but I’m going to fight this, and I’m going to keep working.  And with the love and support of my family and friends and with the help of your prayers, also, I plan to beat the low survival rate statistics for this disease.”

These were not actually his final words, but certainly can be regarded as the beginning of his final words to millions of his fans. As one, who since the mid-70 have followed his career off and on till now with fascination, beginning with Reach For the Top, his departure signals for me the end of a generation of enduring promoters of wholesome, entertaining and educational TV, at least for my generation.

At least two things strike me, first, that there are so many people who are suffering from pancreatic cancer, and two, how he vowed to fight on, “with the love and support of my family and friends and with the help of your (the fans’) prayers.”  The fact that so many are battling this disease of course reminds me that I have recently lost two very good friends and colleagues, one who was a friend and missionary from Calgary, and another who was my classmate at Regent and a fellow worker in theological education.  Also the other fact is that like Alex, they left fighting, with the staunch support and prayers of their family and friends around them.  May we remember to support those who are right now also fighting the same or other terminal illnesses.

For Paul, his frequent use of “finally” carries with them always a sense of finality and grave importance, even though they may not be the ultimate “final” words. But the theme is the same as it is always in his heart. Paul says, “Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.”(3:1) From the letter to the Philippians, we know that Paul was in prison in Rome and was aware that he could depart any time from this world. Yet in such a critical time, Paul was always joyful, and kept urging the Christians in Philippi to “rejoice,” and he repeated that about 11 times in this letter! In fact, he stated that the one thing that could make his joy incomplete would be if the Christians were not united in Christ. (2:1, 2) He then used Christ’s humble servanthood as our model par excellence – “(Christ) though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant.” (2:6) There is joy in serving Jesus with humility like Him and be in unity with one another.

Paul then seems to have departed from the theme of joy to urge the Christians to “work out” (live out, katergauzesthe) your own salvation with fear and trembling.  Surely he is not preaching “salvation by work”!  Paul however is quick to clarify and point out “for it is God who works (bringing forth, energon) in you, both to will and to work (effort, energein) his good pleasure. It is God who brings about both our intention and ability to do that which pleases Him. When they do that and shine, then Paul says he can then say he has not run in vain, and he can rejoice with them again and again (2:16-18). This is also my prayer.

When Paul urged the Christians in Philippi to “rejoice,” his heart was actually heavy with burden, for he knew the Philippians were troubled by heretics (Judaizers) that taught they had to follow certain formalities and ways of doing things  (following strictly the Old Testament laws such as circumcision) in order to be saved. Also, as we have seen earlier, there were also people who served with impure motives, not out of love but out of selfish ambitions, seeking to bring pain and not joy. Paul explains in unmistakable terms that the antidote for him to such conflicts was his total dedication to live and serve “because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ my Lord,” so he can count all other things as “rubbish.” Apart from knowing Christ, Paul also talks about “knowing the power of his resurrection” which gives him not only a sense of purpose, but also the source of strength to stay joyful in adversities.

Now eight months since we officially are in the pandemic, we are seeing in BC another surge in the number of positive cases of people getting the Coronavirus, numbering around 600 every day. These are hard times for a lot of businesses and people who have lost their jobs, and also for people who are further shut-in because of the lockdown and restrictions in social gatherings. I know it has been hard for all who are in RCAC. But can we find joy in our Christian community because we follow the model of Christ as lived out by Paul, in loving and serving one another in unity.  May Paul’s “final words” remind all of us to “Rejoice in the Lord.”

Your Servant in Christ,

Rev. Dr. Simon Lee

Nov 14-15, 2020
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣弟兄姐姊妹：

自1984年起一直主持“ Jeopardy！” 電視遊戲比賽節目的亞歷克斯•特雷貝克（Alex Trebek）在2020年11月8日在家人朋友的陪同下因胰腺癌離世，享年80歲。你們中間可能有些人知道這位加拿大出生的主持人在2019年3月6日曾公開透露自己患有第四期胰臟癌。他說：「現在，像在美國每年的50,000人一樣，本週我被診斷出患有第四期胰臟癌。一般情況下，這類形的病情預期並不樂觀，但我預備去與癌搏鬥，和將繼續努力工作。並且，在我家人和朋友的愛與支持下以及您們的祈禱幫助下，我計劃要擊敗這種疾病的低存活率統計數據。」

實際上這些並不是他最後的話，但可以肯定地將其視為對數以萬計粉絲的最後的話之開始。從70年代中至今，由《 Reach For the Top》遊戲開始，我就一直帶著好奇的心跟追隨著他的節目之發展，故此他的離開對我來說標誌著一代富娛樂和教育性電視節目的代言人之謝幕。

至少有兩件事令我感慨，首先，有那麼多患胰臟癌的病人，其二，他誓言要與癌搏鬥，即透過「我家人和朋友的愛與支持下以及您們（粉絲）的禱告的幫助下。」。許多人都正在與這種疾病搏鬥令我想起，我最近失去了兩位摯友和同事，一位是在卡加里的朋友和宣教士，另一位是我在維真學院的同學和神學教育的同工。另外一個事實是，像亞歷克斯和其他人，他們與疾病搏鬥，最終在家人和朋友的支持和禱告下離開。讓我們記念及支持現正與同樣疾病或其他絕症搏鬥的人。

對保羅而言，他經常使用「最後」一詞而總是帶有一種終結和嚴厲的意義，即使可能不是終結的「最後」一詞。但其主題始終與他內心深處相同。保羅說：「最後，我的弟兄們，你們要靠著主喜樂。」（腓3:1），我們知道保羅當時是在羅馬的監獄中，他知道自己可能會隨時離開這個世界。然而，在這樣的關鍵時刻，保羅總是充滿喜樂，並一直敦促腓立比教會的信徒要「喜樂」，他在這一封信中重複了大約11次！他曾說過，有一件事可能會使他的喜樂不完全，就是如果信徒他們在主內不合一。（腓2:1,2）然後，他以基督謙卑的奴僕的形象作為我們學習的典範–「（基督）他本來有神的形象，卻不堅持自己與神平等的地位，反而倒空自己，取了奴僕的形象，成為人的樣式。」（腓2:6, 7）。學傚耶穌一樣謙卑地服侍及彼此合一，這是喜樂。

保羅然後好像由喜樂的主題轉移敦促基督徒要恐懼戰兢地「作成」（做成[活出]，workout, katergauzesthe）自己的救恩。相信他肯定不是在說「靠行為得救」吧！故此保羅馬上澄清並指出：「神為了成全（成就，work, energein）自己的美意，在你們裡面使你們可以立志和行事（運行，work, energon）。」是上帝賦予我們志向及能力作討神喜悅的事。當他們這樣做並在這世代發光時，保羅說他可以說他沒有空跑也沒有徒勞，並且可以與他們一同喜樂。（2:16-18）。這也正是我的祈禱。

當保羅敦促腓立比教會的信徒要「喜樂」時，他內心實在是背負著沉重的負擔，因為他知道腓立比教會受到異端的困擾（猶太教徒），因猶太教徒教導他們必須嚴謹(按他們的見解)遵循某些規範和做事方式（如守舊約律法行割禮）才能得救。再者，正如我們之前所看到的，有些人的事奉動機不正，不是出於愛，乃是出於自私的野心，試圖帶來痛苦而不是喜樂。保羅清清楚楚地解釋說，對他而言，他克服這些張力乃靠全心全意服事主和為主而活，「因為我以認識我主基督耶穌為至寶」，因此他把萬事都拋棄了，看作「廢物」。除了認識基督，保羅還談論「認識祂復活的大能」，這不僅給了他目標，還給了他在逆境中常存喜樂的力量之來源。

自從我們正式進入大流行到現在已經八個月了，看到卑斯省感染冠狀病毒的確診病例激增，每天大約有600宗。 對於許多商業和失去工作的人，及由於限聚令和社交聚會的限制而進一步陷入困境的人們來說，這都是非常艱難的時期。對於列宣家我們的所有人來說，這都非常的時期。但是，若因為我們學俲保羅活出基督的樣式，彼此相愛和服事，我們就能在基督徒的群體裡找到喜樂。願保羅的「最後的話」提醒我們所有人要「靠主喜樂」。

主僕

李耀全牧師

Oct 31 – Nov 01, 2020
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon LeeDear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

There is very little reason to be happy in this period of pandemic. In BC every day we are told that more than two hundred people are tested positive for COVID-19, much worse that the first three months of the pandemic when things seemed to be very much more under control. Everyone is hoping that the pandemic will be over soon so that all of us can live happily. But we will have to wait patiently.

I wonder what would make you happy in life. For me, having a good meal with family and friends, playing different sports, doing things I like and travelling all would make me happy. But if I ask, what would make you or me joyful? Perhaps your first question would be what’s the difference? Well, happiness is based on something that “happens” that brings delight and pleasure, but joy is something that, even though one may or may not feel “happy,” is something that is meaningful and satisfying or rewarding. Yes, joy is more than happiness. If so, what makes me joyful would be spending quality time with my family of 16, and ultimately my joy would be intimately tied to fulfilling the meaning and goals of my life, which is to serve God and make Christ known. What about you?

In 2002, psychologist Dr. Martin Seligman wrote in his book Authentic Happiness that true happiness is derived from three major sets of experiences in life: the pleasant life (happy life), the engaged life (immersed in things you enjoy) and the meaningful life (purposeful and rewarding life). Since that book, scholars have added a fourth set, the balanced life. I echo and have taught all these understandings in positive psychology. But to go further, I would add, like Rick Warren, what makes a person truly happy and joyful, is the “Purpose Driven Life” (2002, 2012), as seen in the “Purpose Driven Church.” (1995)

As we are delving into the book of Philippians, we are learning more how Paul finds joy in his life. It is illustrated in the partnership in the gospel (1:5) he has with the Christians in Philippi.  The joy he had transcends 1. His physical predicament (being in prison), 2. His psychological pressure (dealing with church conflicts) and 3. His spiritual dilemma (choosing between life and death).  He saw that there was more good than bad from his imprisonment as a result of his service for Christ. This could be seen in terms of opportunity to witness to the guards, and also in terms of the strengthening of the faith of the Christians in Philippi. He could look beyond the ugly politics of the church as long as the gospel of Christ was being preached. He thanked the Church for praying for his “deliverance” (from prison) but was torn choosing between life and death (1:23), as he said, “For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain.” (1:21) What is the secret of Paul’s steadfast joy and superb spirituality? I wish I could be more like him.

Here it is instructive to note and realize that the word in v. 19 for “deliverance” (Gk. soteria) is interesting because it could mean “deliverance” (as in, release from prison) or as in v. 28 means “salvation” (as opposed to destruction of their opponents). By using the same word first in a temporal sense and then in an eternal sense, perhaps Paul was teaching that God is ultimately in control in all circumstances as well as issues of life and death. Therefore he was at peace, whatever the outcome of his imprisonment.

It is natural for all of us when we pray that we pray for what is most important and immediate to us, as for example in praying for our dear ones who are sick that he or she be healed by God. But whether God in his sovereignty “answers” our prayer and “deliver” us, we all who are in Christ are ultimately “saved” to be with Him forever. This is demonstrated admirably by my dear colleague and friend, Rev. Matthew Wong, seven months ago before going into his surgery. He declared that whatever happens, may God be glorified. Let us continue to pray for him that God will answer his prayer and God’s perfect will be done.

Paul then urges the Christians to “conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel” (1:27). Here “conduct yourselves” means literally “live your life as citizens” (Gk. potiteusthe) and here Paul has in mind specifically “citizens of heaven” (3:20).  So just as they in Philippi as Roman citizens should live in manner worthy of that, in the same way, as citizens of heaven they and we too should live according to the ways befitting our citizenship in heaven. In other words, as Christians we should live life consistent to the fact we are saved by grace as a result of the salvation accomplished for us by the death and resurrection of Christ. We are all “gospel-bearers” (bearer of good news) and we should be worthy of that honour!

Therefore Paul urged the Christians to live in unity. If they do so, Paul tells the Christians that would “complete my joy.” (2:2) Paul’s ultimate joy was to be found in seeing the Christians in the Church united and serving the Lord with joy. He had urged them to be “standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, by contending side by side for the faith of the gospel.” (1:27)  The need for unity weighed heavily on the mind of Paul (2:1-4). Why did he keep talking about things like how some were “motivated by selfish ambition or vanity,” and how they “should be concerned not only about your own interest…” (2: 3, 4)?  Maybe his appeal to Euodia and Syntyche “to agree in the Lord,” and to urge the Christians to accept them because they also laboured side by side (struggled together) in the gospel ministry, along with others, would shed some light on Paul’s concerns. (4:2-3) For whatever reason that there was tension in the Church, Paul wanted to see them work side by side, shoulder to shoulder. This need to ensure unity in the Church at RCAC is precisely why I personally have learned to let go and learn to echo Paul’s words: “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” (1:18). That is why Paul asked the Christians in Philippi to emulate Christ in his humility: “You should have the same attitude (mind) toward one another that Christ Jesus had.” (2:5, NET)  Christ’s example of humility par excellence is found in the hymnic and poetic passage in 2:6-11.

Many of us know the hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds” and the lyric is as follows:

Blest be the tie that binds,
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship of kindred minds
Is like to that above.
Before our Father’s throne,
We pour our ardent prayers;
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
Our comforts and our cares.

This hymn was written by Rev. John Fawcett in 1782. He was a pastor at a small and rather poor church in Wainsgate, England and had served faithfully there for many years. To make a long story short, he and his wife had an opportunity to go to pastor a much bigger church in the city where he could serve more people and better provide for the needs of his family. As they were prepared to leave the folks at the Church, the whole Church came out to send them off with teary eyes. The Fawcetts decided to stay when they saw that. This hymn was inspired and written after that. This hymn has inspired me to be faithful to God’s calling. May RCAC also model after Christ.

This prayer of Paul is also my prayer for RCAC:

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort provided by love, any fellowship in the Spirit, any affection or mercy, complete my joy and be of the same mind, by having the same love, being united in spirit, and having one purpose.” (2:1-2) Amen.

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Simon Lee

Oct 31 – Nov 01, 2020
李耀全牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄姊妹：

在這疫情大流行之際，實在難以找到值得令人快樂的理由。我們在卑詩省，每天得悉有超過200人被檢測出COVID-19呈陽性，數目竟然會比疫情大流行的首三個月還大得多，相對當時的情況似乎更能受到控制。所有人在心底裡也希望疫情可盡快結束，以讓我們都能安心地生活，但是我們仍不得不耐心地等待。

想請問有什麼能令您開心地生活？於我而言，與家人和朋友共進晚餐，參加不同的運動，做自己喜歡的事或出外旅行都會令我感到開心。但若我再問，什麼能讓您或我感到喜樂？也許您首先會問，兩者有何區別？好吧，讓我們來分析一下。快樂是基於某種“情節/情況”所引起的開心和愉悅，而喜樂卻是帶著意義的，不論它可能使人感到“快樂” 與否，但卻是有意義的，使人滿足或使人獲益的。是的，喜樂不僅僅是快樂。若是這樣，令我喜樂的是能與16名家庭成員在一起共享天倫之樂，我的喜樂最終能與實現我生命的意義和目標密切相關。我的喜樂就是事奉神並讓基督的名被傳開。那你又如何呢？

心理學家沙力文(Martin Seligman)博士於2002年出版的《真實的快樂》一書中寫道，真正的快樂來自生活的三種主要經歷：愉悅的生活（快樂的生活），投入的生活（沉浸/致力於您喜歡的事物中）和有意義的生活（有目標和有意義的生活）。自本書出版後，學者們再提出第四方面 — 平衡生活。我贊同這看法，亦曾於正向心理學課堂中教授了以上的理解。但是，我想更進一步，連同華里克(Rick Warren)於(2002, 2012) 出版的“標竿人生”一書所說的，指出真正使人快樂和喜樂的，是“有目標導向的人生”，如“標竿教會”一書中所見。(1995)

我們在研讀腓立比書時，領會到更多有關保羅如何在他的生活中能夠喜樂，是因著他與腓立比信徒的福音伙伴關係，在腓1:5中說明了這一點。他所擁有的喜樂超越了：1. 他肉身/現況的困境（入獄）；2. 他心理的壓力（處理教會的衝突）以及3. 他的靈性兩難局面（在生與死之間作取捨）。他看到的是，他因事奉基督而被囚所帶來的是利多於弊 –這 從讓他可以有機會向衛兵作見證的角度可看見，也從可以加強腓立比信徒的信心方面可見。只要能讓基督的福音被傳開，他就可以從超越角度去看教會的醜陋問題。他感謝教會為他的得“拯救”（從監獄中獲釋）而祈禱，但在處於生與死作選擇的兩難之間（1:23），就如他說的那樣：“因為我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。” （1:21）保羅那堅定不移的喜樂和他那高超而有深度的靈性的秘訣是什麼？我希望自己能更像他。

我特別意識到，並要在此指出第19節中的“拯救” 一詞（希臘文soteria）很有趣，因為此詞的含意可指現時的“拯救”（即在監獄中獲得釋放），此字又或是指用於第28節中的含意，即將來的“救贖” ”（在永恆裡終必得著救贖）。相同的一詞有兩方面的含意：在時間意義上，可指現況，也可用於在永恆意義上。相信保羅是在講論–無論是生或死，在任何情況之中，最終也處於神的掌握控制之中。因此，無論監禁的結果如何，他都能處之泰然，心靈平安。

對我們而言，當我們為著彼此所重視和與我們直接有關的事情祈禱時，例如在我們為所親愛的患病肢體祈禱時，我們都是很自然的祈求他們能得著神的醫治。但是，無論神在他的主權中“應允”我們的禱告並於即時施行 “拯救”與否，我們所有在基督裡的人至終都會在永恆方面被“拯救”，與祂永遠在一起。七個多月前，我所親愛的同工及好友王允志牧師對此展現了令人欽佩的見證。在他接受手術前，他宣告，無論什麼事情發生或後果如何，都要榮耀神。讓我們繼續為他祈禱，神會應允他的禱告，神完美的旨意必然會成就。

保羅其後敦促信徒“行事為人應當和基督的福音相配”（1:27）。這裡“操守自己以能相配”的意思是“符合公民身份的生活”（希臘文potiteusthe），在這裡保羅特別意指“天上的公民”的身份（3:20）。因此，正如他們在腓立比地方作為羅馬公民一樣，應該以符合當地公民身份的方式生活，而同樣，身為天上的公民，也應該按照符合我們這天上公民身份的方式生活。換而言之，作為基督徒，我們應當過著與因著基督為我們受死與復活救贖我們，這蒙恩得拯救的天國公民身份一致的方式生活。我們都是“福音的持有人/傳福音的人” （好消息的傳承者），我們的生活應與這榮譽相符！

因此，保羅敦促信徒們要團結合一。因為唯有這樣，才能夠使保羅的心“充滿喜樂” (2:2)。保羅的最大喜樂就是能看到教會中的信徒彼此同心合意，以喜樂的心事奉主。他曾敦促他們要“有同一的心志，站立得穩，為了福音的信仰齊心努力” （1:27）。保羅的心對於信徒間能彼此同心合意甚有負擔 (2:1-4)。他為什麼要不斷提到日些事情關乎–“出於自私的野心或被虛榮心所驅動”，以及它們如何“不要單顧自己的事……” 的情況(2: 3, 4)？也許他在呼籲友阿嫡和循都基兩位姊妹要“在主裡同心”，並敦促教會肢體接納她們，因為她們也在福音事工上與其他人並肩勞苦，一同事奉，這令到保羅對彼此同心更為關注(4:2-3)。無論是出於什麼原因，腓立比教會中也存在著張力，保羅希望看到他們能肩並肩地同心事奉。這也是確保列宣家同心事奉的要素，這正是我本人一直學到放手並學習去回應保羅的話之因：“那有甚麼關係呢？(What then)真心也好，假意也好，無論怎麼樣，基督總被傳開了，為此我就歡喜；並且我還要歡喜。”（1:18）。這就是為什麼保羅要求腓立比的信徒要以謙卑效法基督：“你們應當像基督耶穌一樣彼此對待” (2:5, 新英文譯本) 。基督卓越的謙卑榜樣，在2:6-11中以詩歌體裁表達出謙卑的實意。

一首我們中間許多人也熟識的詩歌： <以愛相連>

福哉愛主聖徒，彼此以愛結連，
和睦相處，同心合意，在地如同在天。
在父寶座面前，同心虔誠祈禱，
同擔憂懼，同得安慰，同一盼望目標。

本詩由約翰·福塞特牧師（Rev. John Fawcett）於1782年所寫，他在英國窮鄉僻壤中的小教會忠心地事奉了多年。長話短說，他與妻子難得有機會到位於大城市的更大堂會中牧會，在那裡他可以牧養更多會眾，並更而滿足家庭的需要。當他們準備離開教堂的人們時，整個教會的會眾都含淚與他們揮別。福塞特牧師於是決定留下來。此後詩歌靈感受到啟發和寫成。這首詩歌也激勵我更忠於神的託付。願列宣家也一同效法基督。

以下保羅的祈禱，也是我對列宣家的禱告：

所以，你們在基督裡若有甚麼勸勉，有甚麼愛心的安慰，有甚麼靈裡的契通，有甚麼慈悲和憐憫，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。”(2:1-2) 阿們。

主僕,

李耀全牧師