Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the church in China has been closed until last Saturday for more than four months, namely 19 Sundays. Recently, some regions have issued notices that religious places can be opened in an orderly manner based on effective anti-pandemic work.
Ningbo Holy Church was reopened on June 2 and held its first Sunday service on June 7.
Faced with challenges in life or difficulties that people could not accept, they might ask some questions: Does God still care for me? Is He with me? Does He still exist? This pandemic has had a great impact on work, school, and family. Then how do Christians view what they have experienced in the current environment?
Pastor Liu shared from Psalm 126 that Israel returned to the promised land by the grace of God after being in captivity. "Our experience was different from Children of Israel, but we see God’s grace through it, and His sovereignty in the universe." The pastor shared the following three points:
1. Return After Captivity
Israeli rebelled against God and worshipped idols, so they were taken captive and then brought back to their hometown through the permission and grace of God. This was God's mercy; it had nothing to do with their strength. We are grateful that the pandemic in China has been effectively controlled, but the more important thing is to know God’s hand oversaw all this.
" When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.” After experiencing so much grief, they returned again to their homeland. How unimaginable. Did we think we were dreaming on the first Sunday that we were together? Or can we understand a little bit of the feeling of Israel when they returned?
"Then it was said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.” The door of the church opened today. Did our hearts also open? Peter denied Jesus three times. But God sought Peter and strengthened his faith. Similarly, God also has done great things for us today. Not only did the church open the door, but God has done great things in each of our lives.
2. Reap the Seed that Was Sown
For the Hebrew people who were taken into captivity, many thought they would never be able to return. We also thought that there was no solution to the pandemic and the church would not be able to resume worship. But Israel returned, the pandemic is under control, and the church has resumed its normal worship. "It’s grace that has brought us to this place, but it is easy for us to forget. When we are working, we may complain about having too much work to do. God is full of grace, and he has helped us to find His grace in any situation. It is grace that we could both sow and reap."
3. Reap What Was Sowed Through His Grace
God himself was a peasant who sowed seeds. He allowed Israel to be exiled among the Gentiles with tears and pain, hoping that they would learn their lesson. Have we learned the lessons that God wanted us to learn in the pandemic? "God painfully sowed the see so we would be able to benefit. What benefits did God want us to have? God wanted us to share in His holiness."
" Reap what has been sowed. Our life today was the result of the last few days or years ago." Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. We were put into darkness to learn to obey. Looking back on the pandemic, we have experienced a moment of shadow and darkness. Have we learned our lessons? Can we go out and share His grace after the pandemic?
"During the pandemic, many sisters continued to study the Bible and pray. They asked for God’s blessing to maintain a family altar and the marriage relationship. These were God’s grace. The environment was the same, but because of God we had peace."
In the end, the pastor exhorted us, "May we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit when we encounter unprecedented circumstances and sow the seeds of love."
- Translated by Elaina Wu
宁波圣教堂复堂礼拜：“耶和华为我们行了大事” “这是耶和华所定的日子，我们要在其中高兴欢喜”。受疫情影响教堂暂停对外开放至今（6月7号）已有四个月有余，19个主日，136天。近期部分地区发布了在做好有效防疫工作的基础上可以有序开放宗教场所的通知。 据了解，宁波基督教圣教堂于6月2日重新开放，6月7日迎来疫情下复堂的首次礼拜。 在人生灰暗遇到挑战或是我们不能接受的艰难时，我们可能都会问一些问题，上帝还看顾我吗，他是与我同在的吗，他还存在吗？这次的疫情对我们来说无论是在工作还是学业和家庭上都有很大的影响，在这样的环境中我们如何看待我们所经历的？ 刘牧师藉着诗篇126篇以色列百姓被掳后因上帝的恩典回到祂所应许之地来分享我们今天所经历的环境。“也许我们的经历与以色列百姓所经历的不同，但是我们要借此看到上帝赐给我们的恩典，祂在宇宙中的掌权”刘牧师说。牧者从以下三点进行分享： 1、被掳的带回来 以色列百姓因为悖逆神和拜偶像的罪，神允许他们被掳，但因着神的恩典将他们带回到他们的家乡。这是出于神的怜悯，不是出于百姓自己的力量。我们当然要感谢，我们国家的疫情可以得到有效控制，但我们更应该知道，在这一切发生的背后有神的手在掌管。 “当以色列百姓从被掳之地可以再次回到家乡时，他们像做梦一样，满口喜笑，因为经历了太多的的悲痛还能回到自己的家乡，这是不敢想象的事。今天我们有没有以为自己是在做梦呢，或是因着这一点可以稍许理解以色列百姓回归时的心情呢？” 诗篇126篇记载“外邦人说耶和华为他们行了大事。”今天礼拜堂的门开了，我们的心门有没有打开呢？彼得也曾三次否认主。但是神主动的寻找了彼得，坚固了他的心。同样今天神也为我们行了大事，不仅是教堂开门，神在我们每一个人的生命中都行了大事。 2、使撒种的收割 以色列百姓在被掳之地，在人看来是不能回来的，也许今天我们看疫情也是没有出路的，教堂也是没有办法恢复礼拜的，但百姓出来了，疫情得到控制了，教堂恢复了礼拜。 “能工作本身就是恩典，但人很容易忘记，当工作时我们又会抱怨工作太多。但神是满有恩典的，祂训练我们在任何环境中看到祂要给我们成就的恩典。今天能撒种收割的就是恩典。” 3、种什么收什么是神的恩典 神自己就是撒种的农夫，祂对以色列百姓是含着泪忍着痛允许他们被掳到外邦人中，希望他们学会要学习的功课。我们在疫情中有没有学会神要我们学习的功课呢？ “神暂时忍痛撒出去，是要叫我们得着益处，神要我们得怎样的益处呢，神要我们在祂的圣洁上有份，”牧者说。 “种的是什么收的就是什么，我们今天的经历就是几天或几年之前播种的结果。“顺从肉体私欲撒中的必要收情欲的败坏，顺从圣灵生的就收永生。神把我们放在黑暗里是要我们学会听话。回顾疫情时期可以说我们经历了阴影黑暗的时刻，而在此我们是否学会了功课，疫情之后可以走出去分享恩典呢？ “在疫情中很多姐妹仍然继续坚持读经祷告灵修，持守家庭祭坛的恩典，婚姻关系得到修复，这都是神的恩典，可能环境还在，但因着神我们有平安。” 最后牧者劝勉“愿我们在遇到前所未有的环境时可以顺从圣灵来的带领去播撒仁爱的种子。”
Affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the church in China has been closed until last Saturday for more than four months, namely 19 Sundays. Recently, some regions have issued notices that religious places can be opened in an orderly manner based on effective anti-pandemic work.
Ningbo Holy Church was reopened on June 2 and held its first Sunday service on June 7.
Faced with challenges in life or difficulties that people could not accept, they might ask some questions: Does God still care for me? Is He with me? Does He still exist? This pandemic has had a great impact on work, school, and family. Then how do Christians view what they have experienced in the current environment?
Pastor Liu shared from Psalm 126 that Israel returned to the promised land by the grace of God after being in captivity. "Our experience was different from Children of Israel, but we see God’s grace through it, and His sovereignty in the universe." The pastor shared the following three points:
1. Return After Captivity
Israeli rebelled against God and worshipped idols, so they were taken captive and then brought back to their hometown through the permission and grace of God. This was God's mercy; it had nothing to do with their strength. We are grateful that the pandemic in China has been effectively controlled, but the more important thing is to know God’s hand oversaw all this.
" When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.” After experiencing so much grief, they returned again to their homeland. How unimaginable. Did we think we were dreaming on the first Sunday that we were together? Or can we understand a little bit of the feeling of Israel when they returned?
"Then it was said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.” The door of the church opened today. Did our hearts also open? Peter denied Jesus three times. But God sought Peter and strengthened his faith. Similarly, God also has done great things for us today. Not only did the church open the door, but God has done great things in each of our lives.
2. Reap the Seed that Was Sown
For the Hebrew people who were taken into captivity, many thought they would never be able to return. We also thought that there was no solution to the pandemic and the church would not be able to resume worship. But Israel returned, the pandemic is under control, and the church has resumed its normal worship. "It’s grace that has brought us to this place, but it is easy for us to forget. When we are working, we may complain about having too much work to do. God is full of grace, and he has helped us to find His grace in any situation. It is grace that we could both sow and reap."
3. Reap What Was Sowed Through His Grace
God himself was a peasant who sowed seeds. He allowed Israel to be exiled among the Gentiles with tears and pain, hoping that they would learn their lesson. Have we learned the lessons that God wanted us to learn in the pandemic? "God painfully sowed the see so we would be able to benefit. What benefits did God want us to have? God wanted us to share in His holiness."
" Reap what has been sowed. Our life today was the result of the last few days or years ago." Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. We were put into darkness to learn to obey. Looking back on the pandemic, we have experienced a moment of shadow and darkness. Have we learned our lessons? Can we go out and share His grace after the pandemic?
"During the pandemic, many sisters continued to study the Bible and pray. They asked for God’s blessing to maintain a family altar and the marriage relationship. These were God’s grace. The environment was the same, but because of God we had peace."
In the end, the pastor exhorted us, "May we follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit when we encounter unprecedented circumstances and sow the seeds of love."
- Translated by Elaina Wu
Ningbo Holy Church: 'Yahweh Has Done Great Things for Us'
