我们自己的计划,神给我们的计划,和不要忧虑!
一. 神另有计划给我们!
1. 三十五年前我计划在德州的Abilene定居.我很喜欢当时的地方!
我们买了一块建屋地.预备要建屋定居!买了地不到几天,教会的
长老就对我说,你的工作要结束.你要自己另找工作!所以我们搬到
南卡州,住了不到一年.就来到纽约.
2. 我的朋友们和我的预算是在Manhattan的中国城传福音建立基督的
教会.
3. 神对我们另有计划!结果我们定居在法拉盛.
(这名字是我们开始叫的!)因为那时候,只有这个地方,我们可以去!
4. 今天,三十四年后,我们清楚知道,为什么神给我们的计划是这样!
今天我们这里,主的教会和在中国的事工,在其他人来说,是不可能的事!
在纽约这样的地方,这样的时间,要依照圣经的教训传福音,叫人信耶稣,是不可能的事!
曾有,在纽约传道许多年的老牧师,亲口对我说的!在中国有这样么多人,愿意,而且可以听,你讲解圣经真理?
这是人人都知道,是不可能的事!
5. 事实是这样!在这里我们有各位帮助作主的工!
6. 这一次能访问中国各地,所需的所有费用,那里来?
这是自然的问题!我能够告诉你,完全与腓立比书4:15节所说的一样!
除了你们,腓立比基督教会的人以外,没有任何其他教会帮助!
只有我们这里教会的人,出钱支付这次的访问!
二. 我发现神给使徒保罗的生命计划有相似之处!
1. 使徒行传第九章说,使徒保罗,原本拿着文书,要到大马士革,迫害信主的人!
谁知道,主耶稣将他变成一位最诚心传福音的人!
2. 当使徒保罗和福音队到米西亚,他们进入比西尼亚,但主耶稣的灵,不许可他们去.
结果,他们就去了特罗亚.当夜在特罗亚,保罗见异象,有马其吨人,来要求他到那里去传福音给他们听.
3. 他们去了,到腓立比,就是当地的第一个主要城市.
结果他们就在腓立比建立了基督的教会!
三. 为什么神给我们的计划总是更好的? (腓立比书4:15-19)
1. 你们腓立比人,在我初次传福音,离开马其吨的时候,在这支持传福音
所需的金钱方面,没有一个其他教会帮助.
只有你们!(腓立比书4:15)
这一次的中国访问,就是这样.
除了我们这里教会的人,没有其他任何教会帮助!只有这个教会里的人!
2. 甚至我在帖撒逻尼嘉的时候,你们也一次又一次的,供给我的需用!
不是我要求什么礼物.所求的就是你们的果子渐渐增多.
归在你们的账上.但我样样都有.并且有余.我已经充足.
因我从以巴弗提接受了你们的赠送.当作极美的香气.
为神所收纳,所喜悦的祭物.
我的神必照他荣耀的丰富,在基督耶稣里,使你们一切所需用的都充足.
3. 正如我们所知,神给我们的总是最好的!
在使徒保罗传福音的事工上,金钱的支持是非常紧要的!
腓立比教会在金钱上供给使徒保罗的支持是不能少的!
事实上,若没有金钱,所有中国的访问都是不可能的!
四. 这不是要夸口或是其他!
这正是使徒保罗在希伯来书12:1-3节所说的!
我们既有这么多的见证人.如同云彩,四面围着我们.
就当放下各样的重担,脱去容易缠累我们罪,存心忍耐,奔那摆在我们前头的路程.
仰望为我们信心,创始成终的耶稣.
他因那摆在前面的喜乐,就倾看羞辱,忍受了十字架的苦难.
便坐在神宝座的右边.那忍受罪人这样顶撞的,你们要思想,免得疲倦灰心!
愿神赐福保守各位从今时直到永远! 九月二十日零七年
Our Plan, God’s plan, and not worry about it.
A. God has other plan for me!
1. 35 year ago I planned to make Abilene Tex., as our 2nd home town.
We bought a building lot for $1000.00 and plan to build a house and stay in Abilene, Tex.
Soon after we bought that building lot. My job in Abilene was to be no more! So we moved to South Carolina for less than a year! Then we came to N.Y.C.
2. My friends and I were planning to build a church of Christ among the Chinese immigrants in Chinatown, in Manhattan.
3. God has other plan for us. We ended up settled in Flushing! Because this was the only place we could go at the time!
4. Today, 34 years later, we know why! God had a plan for His work here and in China! This is an impossible work for others!
5. In reality, this is the place where we have you to help do the Lord’s work with us!
6. This trip to China, no other church has fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only!(4:15)
B. I found similarities with God’s plan for Apostle Paul! 1. Acts chapter 9 tells us Paul was planning to persecute the believers in Damascus.
Instead, the Lord turned him into one of the most dedicated preacher of the gospel!
2. When Paul and his mission team came to the border of Mysia, they enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
So they ended up went to Troas. During the night in Troas Paul got the instruction in a vision to go to Macedonia! 3. They went to Philippi, a city of Macedonia, the first of the district.
As a result they established the church of Christ in Philippi.
C. Why God’s plan is always better? (Phil.4:15-19)
1. You, Philippians that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. (Phil.4:15)
As long as money is concern, literally, no other church help to support this trip, but you only! God made it happened this way!
2. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again unto my need. Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increased to your account. But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epathroditus the things from you, and odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well- pleasing to God.
My God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
3. As we know God knows the best! It was crucial to have the church of Christ in Philippi to help support Apostle Paul and his mission team!
In reality, without people who are able and willing to contribute to the Lord’s work here and in China! This cannot be done!
D. This is not to be proud or otherwise!
This is what Paul said in Hebrew 12:1-3!
Therefore, let us also, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and had sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that had endured such gainsaying of sinners against himself, that you wax not weary, fainting in your souls.
May the Lord bless you and keep you! Sept., 21, 2007