Monday, April 10, 2017

Let's fly together by the Spirit Now, Eze 37:1-10

Let's Fly TOGETHER by the Spirit now!
Ezekiel 37:1-10
Message for CMC South 2018 Coworkers Meeting


By Pastor Brian
Fort Bend Community Church
2017.04.07



Introduction

1. Let us make a paper airplane and fly.


You see all the smiling faces of all of us.



2. Let's us fly high! Fly strong! Go far! Let's fly.



Let's Fly


1. Let's fly! But we don't want to fly. Flying is too risky. Too unpredictable. We are good at CMC. We have been successful. We break attendance record every year. We expand CMC to the West, to Europe, and the South. CMC is everywhere! We are good. There is no need to fly.

We know our stuff and the formula for success. There is no need to take unnecessary risk.

We have good people. David, the visionary and the torch bearer, from the Chow's family.
We have Cathy, the super manager who is so good in everything. She is so dedicated, working for CMC every Christmas and every New Year holiday.

We are good. Flying is too risky, too hard, and too unpredictable.

Let's fly! No! We don't want to! We are comfortable.

2. The text for us today is from Ezekiel 37. Verse 1-2 says:


The LORD shows the prophet a vision of the dry bones in the valley. Scattered, lifeless, disjointed and dry!


The year was around 572 B.C. Israel was launched and became a great nation about 900 years ago. They were slaves. They had nothing. They were rookies. They did not know much and didn't know how. Their leader was a 80-year old shepherd with a staff, who had zero executive experience!

But they had God. God was with them and led them in the front and in the midst of them. Now this great nation of Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Solomon and Elijah was crumbling into pieces. A nation no more. The people was in exile. Like those dry bones in the valley, scattered, lifeless, disjointed, and dry. A picture of stagnation and decline.

It is hard to see CMC in the vision. We are good, not bad! We are vibrant, not dry! We are successful, not defeated.

But the LORD asks, "Can you fly?"

3. Verse 3, "Can these bones live?" The prophet answered, "O Lord God, no way!" It s easy to see past greatness or successes and long for what was. We either do not believe that we can fly again or we do not want to fly again. We are rookies no more. We have history. We know what we can do and what we can't do. Flying. No way!


4. Verse 4-10. Here comes the greatest revival of all time.

First here comes the Word of the Lord. And the bones came together. Sinews were on them. Flesh grew. And skin covered them.


Second, the breath of God breathed on them. And they came to live and became a great army.


The word of "breath" is ruach in Hebrew. It means the spirit, the wind. God sent His Spirit and He gave life. The Spirit of God was with them. They came alive.


The Spirit of God is in every revival and in every Christian movements. Gordon Fee, the respected New Testament scholar and theologian, wrote a book on the Holy Spirit after he studied every single passages on the Holy Spirit in Paul's writings. He titled his book, "God's Empowering Presence". That sums up who the Holy Spirit is and what the Holy Spirit does. He is God's empowering presence with us. He empowers us to live the Christian life and to be disciples of Christ. He gives life to the dry bones. He breathed life into Adam and Adam became a living soul. He transformed the group of helpless, powerless, defeated disciples into the world changers. He made rookies all stars. He flies us.

5. That was how CMC was first started. Under the vision from Rev. Moses Chow, Rev David Chow and Rev. Su of AFC took great risk and signed the contract for 300 participants by faith at the first CMC 30 years ago. They had no experience, no money. They were young. But the Spirit was there. He is God's empowering presence. He made us fly.

In the 18th century, the Spirit empowered the Great Awakening, a revival in Europe and in the States. These were the God's appointed leaders.

Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon, "Sinners in the hands of an angry God" in 1741. People were trembling and fell to the floor. He was just reading his sermon. The Spirit was there in their midst doing the heavy lifting.

John Wesley ordained over 7,000 lay preachers. Most of them were farmers and workers. But the Spirit empowered them and through them came the great Methodist movement.


In the 19th century, here were the four major missionary sending agencies in London.


And together they sent hundreds and thousands to the mission field in the greatest missionary outreach in history. Most of, if not all of, these missionaries were commoners, not clergy, but they were sent by the Spirit. The missionary century was born.

15 years ago, I visited Botswana, the bush people. I had the privilege of visiting a missionary couple from Europe. They were lay people, not seminary trained, not clergy. They were called to Botswana to reach the Bush People. They fed them with food, served them with love, in a small trailer. The Spirit empowered His people to serve.

Our good coworker, Ka-Tong wrote the book, "The Life and Ministry of John Sung." After 10 years of studies, Ka-Tong concludes that the secret of John Sung is his dedication to God and his ceaseless confession, and his dependence on God. His spiritual power was legendary. The Spirit was with Him.


In the 20th century, the three greatest church growth movements were 1) the Cell Group Church; 2) the Charismatic Movement; and 3) The church planting movements. The Holy Spirit is in each and every one of them. That is the only way to fly.


Let's fly by the Holy Spirit. That is no other way! We need the empowering presence of the Spirit at CMC. It is He who calls us, sends us, empowers us, and transforms us.


We need to pray more for His empowering presence. We need to preach more on the Spirit at CMC. I have been to 5 CMCs and I think we do need more emphasis on the Holy Spirit. More! More! More!


Let's Fly TOGETHER by the Spirit

1. The bones were scattered across the valley, disjointed, lifeless, and dead. But God spoke to them and they came together. Bone to its bone.

Head bone, jaw bone, shoulder bones, arm bones, hand bones, rib bones, hip bones, leg bones, foot bones... They all came together. It is the work of God that brings us together.

2. Together let's fly by the Spirit of God.

The Mission statement for CMC is to inspire, equip and mobilize Christ followers to become reproducing Kingdom-builders.


That is why we are here. And the vision for CMC south is unleashing 500 Christ followers for God's global glory to be reproducing Kingdom-builders.


It is this picture that motivates us toward a common purpose. And together we deliver superior performance. Together we make  distinctive impact. And together we achieve lasting endurance. The key word is TOGETHER.


3. Together, from scattered to joined. We will become an exceedingly great army for His Kingdom. Verse 10 "exceedingly great" is double adjectives. The first one means "great in number." The second one means "great in strength." Therefore it is both a huge army and a strong army. An army with so many people and together it is strong. No one alone can be a great army. The Spirit produces an army that is joined and together.


At CMC South, this is one of our key values. CMC South is a church-based, discipleship driven, family-friendly, intergenerational mission convention with a strong follow-up ministry.


It means churches work together. English works with the Chinese. Chinese works with the English. Together as a family, we minister to both adults, youth and children. It is the only family mission convention we know of. It is hard. Working together is not easy. But together we must. The task is too big for one person, too difficult for one church, too challenging for one city or one state.

The Spirit gives us gifts. And together we fly by the Spirit and become an exceedingly great army.


Let's fly together by the Spirit.



Let's Fly TOGETHER by the Spirit Now

The opportunity is now. Ezekiel 37 is a vision for the future. But the future starts now. 2015 is a good start. Let's continue now for 2018. The opportunity is now.






Conclusion

Let's fly together by the Spirit now!


















你牧養我的羊《小組長主日》,約 21:15-19

你牧養我的羊
約翰福音廿一章十五至十九節
《小組長主日》



林永健牧師
福遍中國教會
2017.04.02
國語堂
英語堂



引言

1. 今天是我們「重新出發」(Launch 2.0)的大日子,今天所有的國語部小組在崇拜後舉行,今天我們所有的區長、組長與組員都準備好「重新出發」!


請小組長、區長、區牧與你們的配偶站起來!(謮坐下)
請所有的組員站起來!(請坐下)
還未參加小組的人,我們邀請你們今天開始參加小組,你可以和教牧同工聯繫,我們會介紹你去一個小組的,歡迎參加小組,讓我們重新出發,追求認識神,除去面具,打開生命,用愛心彼此服事,造就門徒,廣傳福音。

2. 今天我們要讀一段經文,在我們重新出發的時候,我們要問自己一個問題,請打開約翰福音廿一章,十五節至十七節,這是約翰福音結束最後的一段故事,是耶穌復活之後,在加利利海邊,向門徒顯現,這是耶穌第三次復活後向門徒顯現。


耶穌在門徒面前三次問彼得,「你愛我嗎?」(Do you love me?)這是一個人不常問的問題,我相信我們當中很多人一生都沒有問過這問題,或者沒有回答過這個問題,這是一個很嚴肅的問題、很沉重的問題,並不容易回答,耶穌問彼得「你愛我嗎?」不是為了耶穌的好奇心,而是為了彼得的好處,同樣在我們重新出發的時候,耶穌也要同樣地問我們,「你愛我嗎?」祂要問每一位區牧、區長、組長與配偶,「你愛我嗎?」也要問每一位組員,「你愛我嗎?」


3, 這問題觸動彼得的心,從他的回答中,「主啊!是的!你知道我愛你。」(Yes. Lord. You know that I love you.)這並不像彼得的答覆,他曾經說:雖然眾人都離開你,我,彼得、必跟隨你到底!他自然的回答必定是誇下海口,「是的!主我愛你!」我們可以從彼得的回答中,感覺到彼得的的傷痛,不久之前,他曾在眾人面前三次不認主,現在耶穌也在眾人面前問彼得:「你愛我嗎?」


今天我們重新出發的時候,耶穌也要在眾人面前問我們每一個人同樣的問題:「你愛我嗎?」

4. 請注意耶穌的問題:「你愛我嗎?」

祂不是問:「你敬畏我嗎?」
祂不是問:「你景仰我嗎?」
祂不是問:「你相信我嗎?」
祂不是問:「你聽我的話嗎?」
祂不是問:「你愛我的羊嗎?」
祂不是問:「你愛教會嗎?」
祂不是問:「你為我做了什麼嗎?」

耶穌問:「你愛我嗎?」

我相信「信心」是我們得救的基礎,而「愛心」卻是得救的結果。加拉太書的主題信息,在基督裡因信稱義,得神兒子的名分,領愛聖靈,是根,信主之後,在聖靈裡,基督徒的生命用愛心彼此服事是果,二者是不可以分割的。

若救恩是一份禮物,當我們將它打開的時候,流出的是愛!
若救恩是一個餅,當我們吃下去的時候,是愛的味道!
若救恩是一個飲水器,我們喝下去的,是愛的甜水!

這裡的愛,不是指耶穌的愛,而是我們的心,是否愛耶穌的愛!

耶穌問我們:「你愛我嗎?」在我們在聖靈裡用愛心彼此服事之前,在我們準備重新出發,進入小組屬靈的生活,放下面具,打開生命,生命影響生命的牧養生活之前,我們必需問我們自己,「我愛耶穌嗎?」

5. 愛比做的事重要!是嗎?

做飯給你吃的人不一定是因為愛,做的飯若沒有愛,這頓飯只是值幾個小時的工價而已,愛比事工貴重得多了,出自愛心的事奉是高貴的,是無價的,而且是長久的,真心的!

愛心餐你有沒有吃過?味道如何?昨天我很晚才回到家,快七點三十分了,晚上還需要幾個小時把今天的講章寫好,回到家中,師母為我做了晚飯、煮了湯、炒了菜,愛心餐,無價的!比餐館餐貴重得多了。

教會的午餐是愛心餐,是用愛心的服事,比三塊錢的價錢貴重得多了!

但這裡的愛比師母的愛更深一層!

師母愛「我」,為「我」做飯!耶穌卻說:「你若愛「我」,牧養我的「羊」!」因為你愛我,你牧養他們(我的羊),不是牧養我!

我愛師母,我餵她心愛的狗!因為我愛師母,我溜她的狗!因為我愛師母,我洗她的狗!雖然我不是愛狗的人,猶其是牠不聽話,咬人,有味道的時候,我並不想去照顧牠,但因為我愛師母,我愛護她的狗!

6. 同樣,耶穌問我們:「你愛我嗎?」然後祂說:「你若愛我,牧養我的羊!」小組牧養的服事並不容易,若組員長進、合作、真誠,愛他們、服事他們並不困難,但若是他們很難帶,不聽話,意見佷強,甚至咬人的時候,真的是不容易去愛他們!

例子一:我小時候,在家中兄弟姊妹玩的一個「趕羊」遊戲,說明牧養是多麽困難的事。
例子二:最近一位姊妹投訴她的小組長的故事,說明牧養是多麽困難的事。

在我們小組重新出發的時候,我們要問自已,不是「我愛我的組員有多少!」而是「我愛耶穌有多少!」

7. 可能你會說,我並是那麼愛耶穌的人,我愛我的家人更多,我愛我自己更多,我愛我的工作更多,我愛我的財產更多!

耶穌問彼得:「你愛我比這些更深麽?」(Do you love me more than these?)耶穌問:你愛我比愛你的家人、自己、工作、財產更多嗎?

其實愛耶穌並不難!你若認識耶穌,你必愛祂!你認識耶穌愈深,你愛耶穌比一切會愈多,
耶穌是那無價的珍珠,愈看愈愛,愈看愈認識祂的寶貴與價值,愈愛,愈要變賣一切去得到祂。

魯益師的一段話深深的打動我的心:


世上美好的事物,如書籍、音樂、(親情、物質享受、工作等)只是將來更美的榮耀之影兒,它們只是一朵我們從來未見過的花之香味,只是一首我們從未聽過的樂章之迴響,只是一個我們從來未去過的地方傳來的消息,如果我們將這世上美好的事物當偶像,成為我們一生追求的目的,結果會讓我們完全失望!

基督的美比世上一切我們認識的更美,基督全然美麗,超過我們所能了解,基督的愛長濶高深,無法測量,當我們愈認識基督,我們必愈愛耶穌!這是歷代歷世的聖徒共同的見証,他們如雲彩環繞著我們,見証基督的美與他們愛耶穌的心。

例子:2010年12 月,葛培理接受訪問,他一生為主走遍世界各地傳主的福音,訪問他的人問,若他可以從來一次,他會如何活?葛培理說:我會多讀(經)、多花時間禱告,減少出外,講少一點的道,若我可以重來,我會多默想,多禱告,多告訴主我多麽愛祂,仰慕祂!


8. 彼得認識耶穌,三年多生活在一起,親眼看見基督的榮美,經歷基督的大能,他愛耶穌,甘願為主犧牲一切,但他也知道自己的軟弱不足,犯罪跌倒,當彼得回答耶穌的問題:「你愛我嗎?」,他不像以前一樣,靠自己的血氣,他只能說:「是的,主,你知道我愛你!」依靠耶穌。


你愛耶穌嗎?讓雖然軟弱的我們起來回應耶穌,不是靠自己的努力,而是發自心底的呼求,主啊,是的,我愛你!

9. 耶穌差遣彼得,「你若愛我,你牧養我的羊!」同樣三次差彼得去牧養耶穌的所愛--祂的羊!


「餵養」、「牧養」、「餵養」是相同的意思,指牧養的工作,包括餵養(feeding)、引導(guiding)、醫治(healing);包括言教身傳,以身作則,生命影響生命,為他們禱告,醫治他們的傷。

這不單只是傳道人的工作,也是每一位信徒的使命,你若愛耶穌,你牧養祂的羊!


10. 可能有人認為「牧養我的羊」只是耶穌給彼得的使命,不是給所有的門徒,我沒有牧養的恩賜,我不會關心人,我的恩賜的做事,按恩賜事奉是聖經的教導!我沒有牧養的恩賜。

若我們再仔細看一下經文,這是約翰福音最後一段的故事,耶穌給彼得最後的一個吩咐,與路加福音第五章開始的情景一樣,同是在加利利海邊,耶穌行了打魚的神蹟,他們都打了很多魚,路加福音第五章,耶穌吩咐彼得,要得人,約翰福音廿一章,耶穌吩咐彼得,牧養我的羊,兩段經文,是在彼得的開始與福音書的結尾,結論都是要彼得來跟隨耶穌!包括了得人(路加福音五章)與牧養人(約翰福音),從打魚的漁夫到牧養的牧人,這豈不就是大使命嗎?得人與造就人,這大使命是給我們每一個跟隨耶穌的人!

11. 讓我們回應耶穌的吩咐,「你若愛我,你牧養我的羊!」你愛耶穌嗎?讓我們完全獻上自己為主所用,不是牧者才獻上,主喜悅我們每個都獻上。



結論


你愛我嗎?你牧養我的羊!





真理焦點:愛基督與愛人是分不開的,我們若愛耶穌,就必需學習愛人,小組的牧養是以愛耶穌為基礎的。

討論問題

1. 為什麼耶穌問彼得「你愛我嗎?」然後才將牧養的使命交託給他?愛耶穌與牧養有何關係?
2. 小組牧養你認為最大的困難是什麼?請舉例說明之。
3. 請討論小組的異象、小組的公約與組員的守則,達成共識,重新出發。





寫這篇講章的過程與一些的考量:
林永健



1. 這講章寫了兩次,改了又改,主要是經文的材料很豐富,要決定講章的焦點,把不重的去掉,所以改了又改,把焦點放在:若你愛耶穌,你牧養我的羊!

2. 原來的計劃是用哥林多後書四章「寶貝在瓦器裡」的經文,週一在運動游泳池裡的時候,聖靈感動,把約翰福音廿一音「你愛我嗎?」的經文放在我心中,於是決定把差不多寫好哥林多後書的講章放棄,重新再寫約翰福音的講章,改回應的詩歌,週四交上大綱,感謝神的帶領,換經文是對的。

3. 講章只有一個焦點:「你愛耶穌嗎?」你若愛耶穌,你牧養耶穌的羊!想想聽眾生命的情況,他們對這焦點有什麼問題?1)對組長、區長有什麽意義?2)對組員有什麼的意義?

會眾可能有的問題:
1)我不是那麽愛耶穌,怎麼辦?
2)牧養不是我的負担,怎麼辦?「你牧養我的羊」是耶穌給彼得的吩咐,不一定是給我的!
3)「牧養」包括什麼?
4)我自己也有很多的需要,我如何能牧養別人?我很軟弱,也常犯錯,我能牧養嗎?

講章是環繞會眾的問題來設計的,一個焦點,一個應用!對會眾的生命說話。