牧者心聲
堂慶述事，念記神恩
譚廣海牧師
2022 年 10 月 22 日 / 23 日
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在堂慶月中，我們以歡欣喜樂的心稱頌神的聖名，感謝祂的恩領。藉著堂慶崇拜的啟應經文、燃點的蠋光、與感恩求恩的禱告，教會為弟兄姊妹提供了「思念神恩、立志許願」的機會。同時，在堂慶主日的下午，我們以「70‧家的邀約」為題，舉行了堂慶感恩會，我們在當中看到神使用許多平凡人，這些人按著神所賜的恩奉獻自己，在不同崗位中同心建立北宣家，我們眾人聽到這些見證後，都更一致的向神呈獻感恩。
我們是否知道，北宣不同年代的的弟兄姊妹都是滿載神的恩福？我想，我們整個群體在堂慶的日子數算主恩，實在是一項很有意義的信仰操練。憶述北宣家在過往歲月的事蹟，並不是每位弟兄姊妹常有的行動，然而，我們確也當效法昔日以色列民族各支派的做法，透過「立石為記」，讓百姓曉得神直到如今仍然幫助他們，也讓後來的世代知道耶和華的大能與作為，叫他們永遠敬畏耶和華（參書四 1-24；撒上七 12）。
以賽亞先知亦勉勵我們，要念記神在上古的作為，因為這是神與祂子民同在的證據，也是每一位屬神子民跟隨神的動力來源。誠然，世上沒有別的神，可以和我們所信的神相比，我們自出母胎，祂便懷抱著我們，到我們年老髮白時也不改變；祂為末後日子所籌算的事，也必全然成就（賽四十六 3-5、9-10）。因此，我們倘能念記神在過去到現在給北宣家的恩典，就必會認定祂是施恩的賜福者。只要我們不是自吹自擂、自以為是，就必可在教會的生活上看到神施恩的軌跡。
神在過去 70 年的施恩作為，都是有跡可尋的。本週主日下午，我們將有一次難得的機會，一起透過「相片及影像」認識北宣的屬靈傳統。相信大家都常聽聞過「謙卑者才能蒙恩；和睦同心彼此尊重；施比受更為有福；一切以神為中心；以真理教導為本；信心認獻；愛教會」等說話，其實這些都是源自聖經教導的實踐行動，至今已成為北宣所看重的「信仰價值、成長藍圖及事奉路向」，也是我們不斷蒙神賜福的原因。願我們都能懷著「聆聽與細察」的心，認識這些屬靈傳統的存在因由，並發掘當中的珍貴意義，從而幫助自己成為念記神恩、向別人述說主恩、將榮耀歸給神的人。
Throughout the anniversary month, we praise God's Holy Name and give thanks to Him for His gracious guidance with joyful hearts. With the responsive Scripture reading, candle-lighting as well as thanksgiving and grace-seeking prayers of the anniversary worship service, the church has provided brothers and sisters with opportunities to "remember God's grace, commit and pray." Meanwhile, in the afternoon of the Anniversary Sunday, a thanksgiving meeting on the theme "A Date with the Family of 70" was held. During the meeting, we could see that God has used a lot of ordinary people who offered themselves according to the grace given by God to build up the NPAC family in different roles. After listening to their testimonies, we are all the more united in offering our thanks to God.
Are we aware that brothers and sisters of different generations of NPAC have all received rich blessings from God? I think it is indeed a very meaningful training of faith for us to count God's blessings as one corporate body during the anniversary. Not every brother or sister has the habit of recounting the happenings at NPAC, but I really think we should follow the example of ancient Israeli tribes to "set up stones of remembrance." This lets people know that God has always been helping them. It also lets future generations know the LORD's might and works so that they might always fear Him (Joshua 4:1-24; 1 Samuel 7:12).
The prophet Isaiah, too, has exhorted us to remember the former things, those of long ago because they are proof that God abides with His people and also their source of motivation to follow Him. It is true that there is no other god on earth who can compare with the God we believe in. Our God has upheld and carried us since our birth and He will not change even to our old age and gray hairs. His purpose for the end will stand and He will do all He pleases (Isaiah 46:3-5, 9-10). Therefore, if we can remember His past and present blessings for the NPAC family, we will believe unswervingly that He is the source of grace, the One who blesses. And as long as we do not claim merit for ourselves or be arrogant, we will definitely see His hand of grace in our church life.
The traces of God's works of grace in the past 70 years are everywhere. This Sunday afternoon, we will have a rare opportunity to learn about NPAC's spiritual legacy through photos and videos. I believe you have often heard sayings like "Only the meek will receive grace", "In harmony and unity respect one another", "It is more blessed to give than to receive", "Be God-centered in all that we do", "Be established in the truth", "Faith offering pledge" and "Love our church." They are all actions to be put into practice based on the teachings in the Bible, which have now become the “faith values, blueprint for growth, and ministry direction” of NPAC to which we attach much importance. It is also the reason why we continue to be blessed by God's grace. May we all try to "listen and carefully observe" why and how this spiritual legacy came about. May we discover the precious meaning in there so we can be ones who would remember God's grace, testify His grace before others and give God glory.
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