ORLANDO CHINESE CHURCH MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
APRIL, 2002
A New Creation
John 11 recorded that the Lord raised Lazarus from the dead, something only God can achieve and be glorified. Jesus also asked that Lazarus be loosed so he could walk, not just alive but be useful. It taught the Jews a lesson of letting go the bondage of tradition, the self-righteousness based on law.
In Romans 7 Paul showed how helpless we are, but in Galatians 5:1 he said that Christ has set us free. To contrast the bondage under the law, he showed us the freedom in the Spirit. "Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (Gal. 5:16, 18) Walking in the Spirit results in the fruit of the Spirit (5:22). Therefore, we should not return to the bondage of tradition by generating another set of new rules to crush our faith. We thank God that we were dead in sin and trespasses, but by the grace of God we were born again in Christ to receive a new life of His resurrection. Because all the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily in Christ, this life brings us full supply and abundance and growth.
The only limitation to growth would be the formation of new bondage due to our old self, prejudice and tradition. "Now having been delivered from the law, we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter" (Romans 7:6). May the Lord keep us to be a new creation in Christ Jesus!
God Is Our Comfort
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Peace of God be with you. What was done for Brother Ng's family is what we should do. Your fellowship of love is greatly appreciated. Thanks be unto our God!
This sudden affliction is truly a test of faith, from which we learned much. We trust that God in His good will has His plan. Knowing that He is loving and merciful, we offer our thanksgiving and praises to Him. He is surely the God of all comfort. As it is said in 2 Corin. 1:4-6, "In all our tribulation He comforts us, that we may be able to comfort those in any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." As we suffer, it is to suffer with Christ. He is our refuge, our strength and our help in times of need.
In recent months, many things happened to people around me. First, my good friend Lucy passed away. Then another friend was seriously ill. A young nephew in his 20s acquired bone cancer. Now our brother Ng is gone. I could not help but asking God, "why so much sickness, pain and death?"
Praise God, He gave me Psalm 27 to protect me from the attack of the enemy. He made me to look up to Him, to see His smiling face and to seek Him. May we dwell in His house forever and inquire of Him. May He strength and confirm us in all things. As I experienced those events, I became further aware of my weakness. It reached a point that I was afraid of seeing Teresa, for I did not know how to comfort her. Thanks be to God, for He used His Word through the minister and others to support and comfort her. The minister said that on the day of her departing Omaha Teresa prayed, "O God, I worship you." Consequently, my heart was greatly comforted.
Teresa has a long and difficult journey ahead of her. But we trust in the leading of our Lord and the support of the brothers and sisters among you. She will not be lonely. I am especially concerned about her son Abraham. May the riches of God's love fill him so he has no fear. May the added grace of our God be with both of them.
Our greetings to all the brothers. May the fellowship and prayers in the Lord confirm us all. (Suyin)
The Love of The Lord Revives
Recently a few things made me grumble a lot. I prayed to the Lord, asking if it was from the devil that I might be strong to resist it. I sought the Lord if it was a test that I might have peace and joy. It appeared that He did not hear me, for I continued to be disturbed. Like a horse fretting on his bits, my anger caused me to pity myself and withdraw from others, lest I should sting them in our contacts. All I could think of was those that angered me, and my fretting continued. Even the unjust matters of years past came back, leading to more anger and complaint. Isn't the Lord who hears our prayers? Did I ask in vain? As the anger filled my heart, I could not read the Bible, nor listen to His words. I simply gave up and let myself drift away with anger. My mood was as gray as the cloud. It seems that I have come to an end. I drifted among people with no life. My feelings of vanity just led me to float around in self-pity and sorrow.
My garden had lost its vigor. Most of my plants withered, and many branches were torn off. They looked like a group of kids without a caring mother. My daughter threw me an adult-like comment, "One can understand the heart of the gardener from her garden." So I managed to get back to the garden. Surprisingly, a grape tomato branch, which I stuck in the dirt casually, became alive and had borne strings of fruit on the ground. The one squash plant, the one I thought had no chance, had a small fruit dangling on its vine. Joy suddenly returned. The sign of life always appears in despair. So quietly but steadily life grows. The Lord is so merciful: When I closed off my heart and my ears, He used the vigor of the plants to tell me that His love continued to nurture inside of me, however silently. In due time this love led me out of darkness and back to His joy. The sky is as blue and bright ever, and I can again run and jump in the meadow as usual. Thank you, my heavenly Father; what a wonderful Savior you are! (PP)
It's Been One Year
By last Christmas I have been saved for one year. Reflecting upon my growth in the Lord, I would like to share the following. The leading of God was different in time and experience from one person to another. More than a decade ago I had my first contact with the Bible. I learned to recite the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. But too many unanswered questions discouraged me, so I gave up. Even when Mom brought back for me from the States a necklace with a decorative cross, I never wore it. God was trying to guide me to salvation, but I did not know until 1999 when I myself came to the U.S.
When I first walked in this church, my heart was struck with a strange feeling. How different are the people here! Coming from different places, they are all so friendly and kind. There is a peace and joy from within; where is the power? I was deeply drawn to this house of the Lord, among the children of God. The answer I sought for ten years ago is here. Whenever possible, I therefore insisted on coming to the meetings and studying the Word. The truth is like a mirror, reflecting my sins in this corruptible world. "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God," (Rom. 3:23). With the bondage of sin, we live in the circle centered around "self", full of anger, jealousy, pride and hatred. We cannot save ourselves, never to be free. Thank God, while we were yet sinners, He prepared for us the way of salvation: God loves the world and gave His only begotten Son, so whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. "For God sent His Son not to condemn but to save the world" (John 3:16-17). No longer a slave to sin, now I stand in the grace of God!
I was blessed with the privilege of attending the church retreat in November. As we sang "Near the Cross" together, my heart was touched by the Spirit. I knew that the Lord had entered into my heart, and I decided to follow Him. May His Word be the lamp unto my feet and a light upon my path. May the words of my mouth and the thought of my mind please Him all the days of my life. (Lee)