蒙恩見證-935期

奇異恩典Amazing Grace──奧克蘭教會余祖傑弟兄

(文/奧克蘭教會余祖傑弟兄(Tsu-Chieh Yu),摘自真耶穌教會 [聖靈月刊] 2007年7月號)|發佈日期:2021/04/01

經朋友介紹,到了醫生家見白板上寫著:「聖靈、洗禮、洗腳禮、聖餐禮、安息日」,心中甚為好奇,醫生引用多處經文說明,使心中的疑惑得以解開,逐漸明白《聖經》上得救的道理,藉此契機進入真神的教會!原來,真神的教會需具備:一、傳講合乎《聖經》真理的道。二、要有聖靈同在。三、要有神蹟奇事作見證。...... (WEJ 摘要)

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哈利路亞,奉主耶穌聖名作見證:

人的腳步為耶和華所定;人豈能明白自己的路呢?」(箴二十24)


 
前言

光陰似箭,距1999年移民紐西蘭已八年了。回顧來時路,最感欣慰的是全家能到真神的教會──真耶穌教會,成為永生神家中的一分子。在台灣我們並無信仰,只是逢年過節祭拜祖先。內人娘家則是傳統民間信仰,佛道不分,所以不認識真神耶穌。

2000年10月,應朋友邀請至奧克蘭北岸市一間華人教會參加星期日的聚會活動。每週四也到牧師家讀經,但心裡仍有許多疑惑。然而《聖經》中有許多道理,使我瞭解過去生命中犯了許多過錯,虧欠神的榮耀;加上從子女身上看到自己的不足,知道宇宙中一定有位主宰人命運的神。


 
明白得救的道理

2001年,內人的侄兒到紐西蘭求學,住宿我家。他因運動傷害,經朋友介紹到沈醫師(喜樂弟兄)住處接受針灸治療。一日,見其家中白板上寫著:「聖靈、洗禮、洗腳禮、聖餐禮、安息日」,心中甚為好奇,於是向喜樂弟兄請教。他引用多處經文向我說明,使我心中的疑惑得以解開。

之後,只要有空,我就讀《聖經》。感謝神,關於《聖經》上得救的道理逐漸明白,於是將這部分道理與牧師查證,但牧師的解釋和《聖經》不符合,使我心中更加感到疑惑。為尋求明白真道,8月份開始到真耶穌教會慕道。


 
進入真神的教會

第一次參加安息日聚會就被信徒的禱告聲嚇到,很不習慣,但希奇主領的張朝欽傳道都是引用《聖經》章節來證道。聚會後接受信徒們熱心的接待及道理分享,並向傳道討教《聖經》疑難。次週安息日,全家一起到真教會聚會,接著參加9月份的靈恩佈道會,對於罪、神及救贖的道理有了更深的瞭解。

真教會的福音小冊上有一經文:「有一條路,人以為正,至終成為死亡之路。」(箴十四12)。這句經文不斷地震撼著我的心,難道我以前從那些牧師所聽到的道理有問題?為何教會是基督的身體(弗一23),身體只有一個,一主、一信、一洗、一神(弗四4-6),難道只有真耶穌教會是得救的教會?那其他的教會呢?福音小冊中提到,神的教會需具備:

1.傳講合乎《聖經》真理的道。
2.要有聖靈同在。
3.要有神蹟奇事作見證。


但其他的教會也信耶穌、講《聖經》,也有神蹟奇事和神的恩典。當時因沒有聖靈帶領,對於教會與得救的關係百思不解。

內人和我一樣,雖知道真教會道理講得很清楚,但未能體驗是否有神的存在,因此無法相信。她告訴我,當我第一次從真教會回來向她解釋得救的道理時,她眼前一片茫然,耳中嗡嗡做響,直到我說完,閤上《聖經》,她眼睛方明亮,清醒過來。心彷彿被蒙蔽了,眼看卻看不見,耳聽卻聽不明白。

先前教會的朋友們都說:教會都一樣,凡奉主名成立的教會都是得救的教會,不分教派、教義,都是信主耶穌。去會堂只要近就好,在哪兒都一樣,何必跑那麼遠到中區去?我內心開始起爭戰,想起主耶穌的應許「你們祈求,就給你們;尋找,就尋見;叩門,就給你們開門。」(太七7)。於是向神禱告,求神帶領我們一家人到屬於祂、有祂真正同在的教會;並且求神阻擋我們,不要到不屬於祂的教會。感謝神,祂垂聽了我的禱告。


 
神使內人見異象

在10月份中秋節前兩天早上,以前教會的牧師夫婦忽然來訪,抵達後,另一對牧師夫婦也來電要來送中秋禮餅。兩對牧師夫婦不約而同來到,我便趁機將在真教會領受的有關神觀、洗禮、洗腳禮、聖餐禮、聖靈及安息日的道理,引用《聖經》與牧師們分享,並委婉指出其說法與《聖經》不符合之處。他們聽了覺得很奇異,但無法接受。他們離開前建議一起禱告求神帶領,但我要求跪著禱告,於是六人手拉手,圍著茶几跪下來,輪流做悟性禱告。

我們五人都引用經文禱告,但只聽見內人奉主耶穌聖名禱告,口中不斷重複唸「哈利路亞,讚美主耶穌」。因她未曾讀《聖經》,也不知如何禱告,以往都是牧師帶領禱告,內人只會說「阿們」;今天突然要輪流禱告,她心中正作難時,突然想到真耶穌教會的禱告方式,於是閉上眼,口唸「哈利路亞,讚美主耶穌」。

剛唸不久,內人就見異象,只見一位身穿潔白發亮衣服的人,面貌因發光無法看清楚。祂站在會堂的講台上,兩對牧師夫婦俯伏跪在講台前方。起初內人不知祂是誰,可是隨即明白祂就是主耶穌、是真神。她又恐怕自己是做白日夢,就睜開眼一看,一切人及景物都清楚,也聽見牧師夫婦們的禱告內容;再閉上眼仍清楚看見同樣的景象。不久,主耶穌從講台走下來,到空無一人的座位上查看,隨後又走回講台。

此時輪到內人禱告,突然靈裡有股力量催促她對牧師們說:「我看見了主耶穌,主耶穌要我告訴你們,這個講台是祂的,你們要傳講主耶穌的話、祂的道。」說完後,內人心中十分震驚,流淚不已,因體驗到真神的存在,知道主耶穌是真神。


 
成為神國子民

感謝神,因著祂的憐憫,讓內人看見異象,明白神的旨意;更讓我們知道真耶穌教會傳講的是合乎《聖經》的真理,是有神同在的教會,更是得救的教會。我們更知道神是無所不知、無所不在,所以要謹慎我們的心思意念,存敬畏神的心,謹守神的誡命。從此,我們全家只到真耶穌教會聚會。感謝主鴻恩,2002年4月全家接受活水的洗禮,蒙神寶血洗淨我們的罪,歸入主的名下,成為神的子民。


 
傳福音引領親友

到真教會後,明白得救道理的可貴,常存感恩的心與朋友分享,並引領他們到真教會慕道,為同得這福音的好處。同時也向台灣的母親和岳母傳福音,但因老人家長年吃齋唸佛,無法接受信仰的改變;為此我們時常為未信主的家人禱告,求神憐憫。我相信慈愛又信實的神,既然引領我們一家在紐西蘭歸入主的名下,也必因祂的慈愛,拯救我們在台灣的家人。

因為這應許是給我們和我們的兒女,並一切在遠方的人(徒二39),因此決定回台灣向家人傳福音。2003年4月19日教會獻堂禮後,次日即搭機返台。感謝神,母親和大妹願意一同參加台南東昇教會舉開的靈恩佈道會,其中雖有阻擋,但感謝神的帶領及保守,這期間我每天帶領他們讀經禱告、參加聚會。家母有著單純的信心,雖還沒有體驗到神,但仍願意嘗試到神面前,把原本每天的燒香誦經改為向神禱告。

一日早上,我正在禱告時,出乎意料,岡山教會的簡明瑞傳道突然來探訪家母。傳道說,事先並未安排,只是聖靈感動,臨時決定來訪。他邀請我們參加5月中旬在楠梓教會的靈恩佈道會。

佈道會期間,某一晚,幫家母翻《聖經》的姊妹,好幾次一翻就翻到簡傳道證道時所引用的章節,心中稱奇;當晚家母即得到聖靈。感謝神的憐憫,神是鑒察人心的,原先家母體驗不到我所傳的這位真神,如今神賞賜聖靈作憑據。此後,家母認識獨一真神,有意除偶像,但因信心不足,害怕邪靈干擾。心想,等受洗後,成為神的兒女,再除偶像;而我也不敢催促她,只求主帶領。


 
親人奇妙的體驗

8月中旬,某個星期五晚上聚會後,家母告訴傳道,想在9月中旬除偶像;當晚家母不知為何,半夜覺得又熱又癢。一早起來,發現頸部以下全身泛紫紅,十分可怕;但身體及精神並無不適。家人帶她到榮總醫院作檢查,醫生也十分希奇,不知病因,不敢隨便醫治,僅作抽血檢驗。

簡傳道得知後告知這是屬靈爭戰,便詢問家母,是否願意當天安息日聚會後除偶像。感謝神的大能,打敗魔鬼的作為。除偶像三、四天後,母親身上的紫紅全部消失不見了。醫院的檢驗報告也一切正常,連醫生都覺得驚奇。這更讓我們堅信真教會是得救的教會。10月份家母及大妹在岡山教會接受大水洗,成為神的兒女。感謝神的帶領及弟兄姊妹的代禱,讓我在傳福音給家人期間,體驗神的同在。

這期間,7月份曾去北部三峽,嘗試將福音傳給岳母。但她認為已皈依佛祖,不能改變信仰。為此,內人十分著急,禁食流淚禱告求神憐憫。在禱告中,神安慰她的心,明白神有神的時候,只要不斷禱告祈求,相信神必帶領,使岳母認識真神,成為神的兒女,得享永生。


 
蒙神豐盛的恩典

蒙神慈愛的帶領,我們全家因信得以進入現在所站的恩典中,並歡歡喜喜盼望神的榮耀(羅五2)。如今,我們深知憑信心就如同眼見,並在主的恩典及真理上日日長進,每每數算神的恩典,心中充滿感謝。求主繼續加添信心、力量及愛心,讓我們能夠努力靈修,作聖工、傳福音,報答主恩。願一切榮耀頌讚都歸主耶穌基督的名,阿們。



Hallelujah, in the name of Lord Jesus I testify.

A mans steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand his own way? (Pr 20:24)

Time flies, it has been eight years since we immigrated to New Zealand in 1999. Looking back, what gratifies me most is that my family was able to come to the true church of God, True Jesus Church, and to have become members of the household of the everlasting God. Back in Taiwan, I had no religious beliefs except for the annual ancestral worship. My wifes family believed in some Chinese folk beliefs, therefore we did not know Jesus. In October 2000, I was invited by a friend to attend Sunday services at a Chinese church in North Shore. I also went to the pastors house for Bible-reading every Thursday, but I was still filled with doubts. Nevertheless, from the teachings of the Bible, I realised how I fell short of Gods glory with my past wrongdoings. Also, as I had seen my inadequacy from my children, I was certain that there is a God in the universe who controls the lives of men.

In 2001, our nephew came to New Zealand to study and he lived with us. He had a sports injury and was referred by a friend to Dr Shen (Brother James Shen) to undergo acupuncture. One day, on the whiteboard of Brother James house I saw, "Holy Spirit, Baptism, Foot-Washing Sacrament, Holy Communion and Sabbath." I was curious so I sought his help. He explained them to me using many Bible verses, and cleared up some questions I had in my mind. Since then, I have been reading the Bible whenever I got the time. Thank God, I gradually understood the Truth regarding salvation that is recorded in the Bible. However, when I checked with my pastor, his explanation was somewhat different to the Bible so I felt confused. To understand the Truth, I started truth-seeking at True Jesus Church in August.

The first time I came to the Sabbath service, I was shocked by the sound of the prayers because I was not used to it, yet marveled at the way how Preacher Timothy Chang delivered his sermon basing on the Bible. After the service, when the believers exhibited their hospitality and shared some teachings with me, I inquired the preacher of some questions I had towards the Bible. My whole family attended the next Sabbath service and went to the September spiritual evangelical convocation, which helped us to gain a better understanding of sin, God, and His salvation.

In one of the gospel booklets there was a verse, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Pr. 14:12). This verse had a great impact on me, could it be that what my pastor told me was wrong? Why is the church the body of Christ (Eph 1:23), and since there is only one body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God (Eph 4:4-5), could True Jesus Church be the only church of salva
tion? What about other denominations? One of the gospel booklets mentioned that the Church of God must preach the Truth, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and abound in miracles and the manifold power of God. However, because I did not have the Holy Spirit, I was confused, I could not understand the relationship between the church and salvation, though other churches also believe in Jesus, use the same Bible, and havemiracles as well as the grace of God.

Like me, my wife knew that the True Jesus Church preached the Truth from the Bible, but because she could not experience Gods existence, she did not believe. She told me that the first time when I came home from True Jesus Church and tried to explain to her the Word of salvation, her mind went blank, and her ears buzzing, until I had finished and closed the Bible. It was as if her heart was calloused; seeing but not perceive, hearing but not understand.

All my friends from our previous church told us that all denominations are the same for all are believers of Jesus. Any church that is established in the name of the Lord Jesus can be saved regardless of denominations or doctrines. They told us that there is no need for us to go to a church so far away. I did not know what to do but I remembered Jesus promise, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Mt 7:7). Therefore, I prayed to God to guide us to the church that belongs to Him, one that He abides in. I also prayed to God to obstruct us from going to a church that does not belong to Him. Thank God, He harkened to my prayer.

In October, two days before the Moon Festival for Chinese people, the pastor and his wife from our previous church paid us a surprise visit in the morning. After their arrival, another pastor and his wife also called to pay us a visit. Since both couples came without prior arrangement, I took the opportunity to share with them what I had learnt from True Jesus Church in the concept of God, baptism, foot-washing sacrament, the Holy Communion, the Holy Spirit and the Sabbath. I shared my understanding with them through relevant Bible verses, and pointed out euphemistically to them that their views were different to the Bible. They were amazed at my sharing but could not accept it. Just before they were about to leave, they suggested that we pray for Gods guidance, so I requested that we kneel down to pray. The six of us then, hand in hand, knelt around the table and took turns to pray in intelligible words.

Just when we were starting to take turns praying with verses from the Bible, my wife repeatedly said, "Hallelujah, praise Lord Jesus." This was because she had never read the Bible and did not know how to pray. In the past, she only had to say "Amen" after the pastor said the prayers. Not knowing what to do when everyone, including herself, had to take a turn praying, she suddenly remembered the praying method in True Jesus Church, so she closed her eyes and started saying, "Hallelujah, praise Lord Jesus." Not long after she started praying, she had a vision. In the vision, clothed in a robe, a man was seen appearing in brilliant white, especially his face, that she could not see Him clearly. He was standing on the pulpit where the two pastors and their wives lowly knelt just opposite it. Initially my wife did not know who He was but soon realised that He was Jesus. To make sure that she was not having a day dream, my wife opened her eyes and saw that everything was normal; she could also hear what we were saying. When she closed her eyes again, she went back to the vision, where Jesus came down from the pulpit and looked around at the empty seats before going up to the pulpit again. When it was my wifes turn to speak, she felt urged by a spiritual power to say to the pastors, "I have seen Lord Jesus and He wants me to tell you, the pulpit belongs to Him and you should only preach the Word of God." When she had finished, my wife was astonished and could not stop shedding tears because she had experienced Gods presence and knew that Jesus is the true God.

Thank God for having mercy on us and giving my wife a vision so that we could understand His will. We have understood that True Jesus Church preaches the Truth of the Bible, has the abidance of God, and is the church of salvation. Not only so, we also learnt that God is omniscient and omnipresent, so we must be careful with our minds and thoughts. We should keep a God-fearing heart and observe His commandments. Ever since then, our family only attends True Jesus Church. Thanks to the grace of God, in April 2002, our whole family was baptised into His name. God has washed away our sins with His precious blood so that we may be called His people.

After we have come to the True Church, I became aware of how precious the Word of salvation is. Therefore with a heart of thanksgiving, I shared my knowledge with many friends and invited them to seek the Truth in the True Church so that we could all receive the benefits of the gospel. My wife and I also preached to our mothers in Taiwan, but because they have been Buddhists for years, they could not accept such a change of religion. We have often prayed for our unbelieving relatives so that God would have mercy on them. I believe that since our loving and faithful God had led us into His name in New Zealand, He would also save our relatives in Taiwan out of His love. Because the promise of salvation is for us and our children and for all who are far off (Acts 2:39). Therefore I had decided to go back to Taiwan to preach to our relatives.

The day after the Auckland Church Dedication on the 19th of April 2003, I went back to Taiwan. Thank God, my mother and sister were willing to go to the spiritual evangelical convocation held in Dong-Sheng Church in Tainan. Although there were some obstacles, thanks to the guidance of God, they were able to attend the services, pray and read the Bible with me everyday. My mother has simple faith, even though she had not experienced God, she was willing to come before God and pray to Him everyday instead of her usual Buddhistic worship. One morning when I was praying, the preacher of Gang-Shan Church made a sudden visit to my mother. He said that he had not pre-arranged for this visit, but was moved by the Holy Spirit to come. He invited us to attend the May spiritual evangelical convocation in Nan-Zi Church. In one particular evening during that evangelical convocation, the sister who was helping my mother with the Bible found herself miraculously and instantly turning to the correct verses the preacher was referring to in the first act of her hand during the sermon, and this occurred quite a number of times. It was that night when my mother received the Holy Spirit. Thanks to the mercy of God, who examines the hearts of men, originally my mother could not experience the God I was preaching but now she has the Holy Spirit as the guarantee. After knowing the one true God, my mother intended to rid her idols, but because her faith was not strong enough, she was afraid of harassment from the devil, so she wanted to be baptised and become the child of God first. I did not dare push her so I prayed to God to guide her.

In August, after one Friday evenings service, my mother told the preacher that she wanted to rid the idols in September. That night my mother felt that her whole body was itchy and hot. The next morning she found that her whole body from the neck below, was red-purple, and although it looked frightening, she did not feel unwell either physically or mentally. We took her to a hospital for a check-up and the doctor was astounded; because he had never seen such a case and could not give a diagnosis, he only took a blood test. When the preacher knew of this, he told my mother that this was a spiritual battle and asked her if she would like to rid the idols that day after the Sabbath service. Thanks to the power of God who overcame the devils work, my mothers skin was restored to normal three or four days after the removal of the idols, and the hospital report showed that everything was normal so even the doctor was surprised. This has also strengthened our faith that True Jesus Church is the church of salvation. In October, my mother and sister received baptism in Gang-Shan Church and became the children of God. Thanks to the guidance of God and the intercessions of the brothers and sisters, I have further experienced Gods abidance during this period of preaching to my family.

During this period, I had also preached to my mother-in-law, but she did not believe because she had converted to Buddhism and did not want to give up her religion. For this, my wife was anxious. She fasted and prayed tearfully for God to show mercy, and God comforted her in her prayers. We understand that God has His own time for everything, as long as we continually pray for this matter; He will surely guide my mother-in-law to know the true God and become His child so that she may receive eternal life.

Because of Gods love and guidance, my family has gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God (Rom 5:2). At this moment, although some of the things are not yet accomplished, through faith it is as if we have already seen them accomplished. Not only so, we are thankful that we may grow spiritually in Gods grace and truth, and count the blessings of God everyday. May God continue to add to our faith, strength, and love so that we may spiritually cultivate ourselves, help in divine works, and preach the gospel to repay the grace of God. May all the glory and praise be given to Lord Jesus name, Amen.







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