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二○二○年五月二日／五月三日                                                                                                Click here for English version

凡事謝恩的人

周曉暉牧師

繼續和大家談談凡事謝恩的人生。

近來重讀了《都是恩典》一書，帶領北宣 30 年（1957－1987）的滕近輝牧師，正是一個凡事謝恩的人。

凡事謝恩的人，必常常禱告。滕牧師一生曾多次蒙主保守免於死亡，高中一年級時患了肋膜炎，病情嚴重，被抬到醫院，因背部難受而要躺臥在地。「這時，神蹟發生了，醫生檢查之後，竟說我已經痊癒。我立刻返回營地，第二天就能打籃球。」原來，那時許多弟兄姊妹懇切為他祈禱。他年紀輕輕，已建立了很好的禱告習慣，19 歲就常參加每週祈禱會。

凡事謝恩的人，不會故作謙虛。滕牧師有許多才幹和恩賜，但卻一直求神幫助他克服自卑感，學習倚靠主勝過一切。可他沒故作謙虛，避談一生作成的事，他盡力承擔責任之後，總會坦然列出其中的成果。他也常為所得的健康而感謝神，因為那使他能負擔繁重的工作。

凡事謝恩的人，知道神掌管萬事。在北宣事奉早年，滕牧師曾患盲腸炎，但醫生誤診為胃病，結果演變成腹膜炎，致使滕牧師要住院三個月。但他卻因此經歷到神奇妙的恩典，因為他康復後，連過去常有的頭痛、傷風、感冒都減少了許多。

凡事謝恩的人，會常為他人感謝神（這也是本月金句帖後二 13 的要點）。這自傳的一個特點，是記下不少他人的事蹟，並為他們由衷感謝神。滕牧師提到 12 歲那年聽過宋尚節博士講道，接續寫下宋博士的生平點滴，篇幅甚至比自己那時期的往事還要長！他在段落結尾寫道：「宋尚節博士為主燒盡一生，進入永遠榮耀之中，領受賞賜。我為他深深地感謝神，永誌不忘。」

他又提到印尼西差會航空宣教使團的機師們，寧願放棄國營航空的高薪，選擇為福音事工服務，因而為他們感謝神。另有一處記下，有一天他清早約六時進入教會，看見一位執事正在清潔教會的窗戶，他馬上悄悄退出會堂，「我一直都沒有告訴她我看見這事，這是她為愛主與教會而做的一件神聖的事，我為她滿心感謝主。」

凡事謝恩的人，持續信靠和仰望。滕牧師最後總結說：「向後看，都是恩典；向前看，也都是恩典。」在高齡之時，他不但回顧往事，也向前望，懷著感恩的心期盼未來。

北宣家前人的生命見證，是我們的屬靈寶藏！




Pastor's Sharing
A Life of Thanksgiving
Rev Arnold Chow

Let us continue our discussion on a life of thanksgiving.

I recently revisited the book "All is Grace." Rev Philip Teng, who led NPAC for 30 years (from 1957-1987), exemplifies the lives of those who give thanks in all circumstances.

Pray continually: Thanks be to God, Rev Teng had been saved from death several times during his lifetime. The first year in senior high, he had pleurisy. He was carried to the hospital and his back hurt so much that he had to lie down on the floor. He wrote: "It was then that a miracle happened. On examination, the doctor told me I had already recovered and that I was good to leave. I returned to the camp immediately. The next day, I could already play basketball." He later learned that many brothers and sisters were praying earnestly for him. At age 19, he had cultivated the good habit of prayer, attending weekly prayer meetings regularly.

Display no false modesty: With many gifts and talents, Rev Teng had nevertheless often prayed for God’s help in overcoming his low self-esteem. He learned to rely on God to overcome all obstacles. Meanwhile, he would not display false modesty by avoiding to talk about the achievements of his life. He would factually mention the fruits of his ministries after taking full responsibility of them. He often gave thanks for his health because it was what enabled him to shoulder huge responsibilities.

Know that God is in charge: In the early days of his ministry at NPAC, Rev Teng once had appendicitis. The doctor mistook it for stomach problem and the illness developed into peritonitis, which put him in hospital for three months. But this made him experience the wondrous grace of God. After he had recovered, he had headaches, cold or flu much less frequently than before.

Thank God often for others (which is also the key message of our monthly Bible verse, 2 Thessalonians 2:13): One special feature of Rev Teng's autobiography is that it carries accounts of many others and his earnest gratitude to God for them. At the age of 12, Rev Teng heard Dr John Sung preach. In the autobiography, Rev Teng included a more lengthy account of Dr Sung's life than his own at that stage! Rev Teng wrote: "Dr Sung burned out for God. He had entered eternal glory to receive his reward. I thank God deeply for him. I will never forget him."

Rev Teng also thanked God for the pilots of the aviation ministry of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Indonesian Mission who gave up the high salaries of state-run airlines to join the work of the gospel. The book also recounted an instance in which Rev Teng entered the church premises one morning at six o'clock to find a deacon cleaning the windows. He immediately went back out of the church quietly. "I never told her I saw her that morning. Hers was a sacred service that she performed out of love for God and the church. I thanked God wholeheartedly for her."

Rely on and look unto God persistently: Rev Teng concluded: "Looking back, it was all grace. Looking ahead, I see the same." At the elderly age at which he wrote the book, he not only looked back into the past, but was also able to look ahead into the future with a thankful heart to what awaits him.

The life testimonies of the early mentors of the NPAC family are a spiritual treasure for us all!