Signs and symbols used in the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Bride

 Eagle anointing .

Menorah, seven candlestick . What Is A Menorah and Where Is It used? A menorah, Hebrew for “lamp,” generally refers to two specific candelabras: the seven-branched golden menorah lit daily in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, or the eight-flame lamp lit each night of Chanukah. 

Ram's horn  .

... various other symbols which is connected to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  I would not have a cross in this place because cross is not symbol of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.   Cross is a curse and it is a symbol of Babylonian religion. Not anything else. The Lord Jesus Christ conquered death. Curse is over. He is no longer hanging on the cross.  He risen the living Saviour and the Redee8 So brothers and sisters, I'm eternally thankful to God for God's grace. And I know in the days ahead there will be some important things would be happen as far as the bride of the Lord Jesus Christ is concerned. 

THE UNFATHOMABLE GRACE OF GOD 上帝深不可测的恩典

40 John Sung Revival Sermons

IX. THE UNFATHOMABLE GRACE OF GOD

(11 King Chapter 7)

Samaria, Capital City of Israel was surrounded by the armies of the Syrians. The people were in grave anxiety, for many had nothing to eat. So much so they were obliged “to eat pigeon dung."

Vs. 1. But Elisha said, “By this time tomorrow two gallons of flour or four gallons of barley grain will be sold in the markets of Samaria for a dollar. . . " Beloved brothers and sisters, the grace of God is beyond our imagination. Many of God's people are waiting for His saving grace to come quickly, not knowing that it has already come. Now is the accepted time!

Vs. 2. Here we have a high officer, assistant to the King, who said to Elisha, “Impossible! A dollar to buy two gallons of flour? Unless the door of heaven would open up!" Elisha said, “Whether you believe or not, this thing shall come to pass.” O the unfathomable grace of God! The grace of God is beyond our wish and imagination. The grace of God is still with us. Before I came here, I never could have dreamed of such a crowd tonight.

When I went to Huchow, I hoped to see only 200 born again. So, I asked for this number in prayer. On the first day, however, out of 400 who came to the meeting, 300 were saved! On the second day, over 1,000 came and we had to meet outside on the grounds. Almost 1,000 were saved, including a pastor's son. This pastor's son said to me, “Mr. Sung, I never knew God's grace until now. Beloved brothers and sisters, whether you believe or not, the grace of God must come to you. How great and wonderful is His grace!

Vs. 3. Praise the Lord! Here are four lepers who refuse to die, sitting up. They want to get out of death. Pitiful, there are so many who would prefer death, never desiring a way out. There are many more struggling in their daily sorrows. These also have never thought of getting out!

Vs. 4. Wonder of wonders, these four lepers thought of a way out. They said, “If we sit here we are sure to starve to death. If we go into the city, we will also die. Why not get out of here and surrender to the Syrian Army?" Now, I'm not in favour of their surrendering. I am in favour of their determination to find a way out.

A sister in Shanghai wrote me of her mother's plight. Only over 30 , she has succoured ten children. But every one of her children has died, except herself. She says, “My mother is a devout Buddhist. Buddha said to her that her ancestors in hell had need of money. So they had taken her children to hell to sell them for money. Now her only way out was to worship the devils with money. When my mother asked how much money she needed to pay up, the answer was $200. She really spent that $200, but when she went to inquire of Buddha again, Buddha replied “Your ancestors are still penniless.” So on the 8th day of the ninth moon, they will also take your only surviving daughter to hell and sell her. My mother was scared to death. She went to the Church and asked the pastor to pray for her. This brought us peace and nothing happened to me, her daughter. After this, she got hold of a hammer and had her Buddha idol smashed to pieces.

Beloved brothers and sisters, Satan had utterly oppressed this woman. Could she do anything else but struggle her way out? How jubilant! Today how many are under the throes of the Devil's grip? There's the tobacco devil, the gambling devil, the alcohol devil. Why won't you seek a way out?

Vs. 5, 6. The four lepers found their way to the Syrian camp. But when they got there they saw not even a shadow of the Syrian troops. “Ha, Ha!" they chuckled, “Such a lot to eat! How lucky we are, and there is none to fight against us . . . " Beloved brothers and sisters, wonderful is the work of the Holy Spirit. If a person is willing to be led by the Holy Spirit to seek a way out, he will find the way ahead marvellous, and more marvellous yet. Once, after a sermon, a new convert said to me, “Mr. Sung, I was in great trouble when I decided one day to come to your meetings. At first I found your preaching entirely tasteless, but I decided to sit through the sermons. As I concentrated on the sermon, my heart began to beat and throb. When you said, “Any one who is a sinner, let him raise his hand." At first I had no courage, but afterwards I raised my hand, I went forward, and as I went, all the sins I had previously committed flooded before my eyes. I felt miserable. But the moment I put my trust in Jesus, a ton-load of sin fell from me. I received such a joy as I had never known." Beloved brothers and sisters, if a man wants to be saved, he fill find salvation wonderful, yet more wonderful.

Vs. 7, 8. The four lepers were thrilled by the wealth they now possessed. For, the Syrians being overwhelmed by a sound of horses and chariots they had heard the night before had fled to the last man. God's grace is given to us freely without any charge. Without arms, without lifting a finger to fight, the lepers had plenty to eat, more to spare, and a whole lot they couldn't carry away. O, the inexhaustible grace of God.

One night I had a dream. I saw a man who had lost a lot of money. I began to pick the money up, and I picked and picked every one of the coins. When I awoke, I couldn't find a cent. Such is the nature of dreaming. But God's grace is not such vanity, not such a dream. God's grace is real. It defies our counting. God's grace did not merely satisfy the leper's hungry stomachs. This would not be enough.

Vs. 9. Most precious is this verse. The four men, having eaten, thought of the hungry plight of their countrymen. They agreed, “Let us tell the good news at once! If we do not make the report when dawn comes, the King would surely punish us." Beloved brothers and sisters, how many of you are having your talent buried. You have never told forth the good news i.e. the Gospel! Paul says, “Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel." Now the people of Amoy have nothing to eat, while you are being fully fed. Mongolia, Kweichow, Yunnan are teeming with countless starving souls. They have never tasted the grace of God. Beloved brothers and sisters, “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel."

Let us see what these four have reported. They have preached the gospel. They have given a vigorous testimony, for woe would come on them if they preached not the good news. Beloved brothers and sisters, let us remember: it is a greatest sin not to preach the Gospel.

Vs. 10, 11. They are now on their way. They tell it to the gate-keeper. The gate-keeper believed because he saw them all well-fed. People believed them because they were well-fed.

Once there was a man selling hair-restorer. He bragged about his hair-restorer as he hawked: “If you buy my hair-restorer and rub it on your bald head, it will make your hair grow." A little child came and pulled off the hat he was wearing, “You just said, ‘If you rub the hair-restorer on your head, hair would grow’. But, look, you are a bald yourself. Why don't you do what you say?” What a big joke! A bald-head selling hair-restorer! This is like a man never born again preaching a sermon on “salvation through the new birth.” Laughable! Why is the Church so slowmoving today? Because in it are many bald heads trying to sell hair-restorer. Who would buy it? These four lepers are fed and round-bellied. They are convincing to the gatekeeper. May you also say, “We have been to the revival meetings. We have eaten a lot.” Before you were gambling fiends. Now you can praise the Lord and convince others.

Vs. 12. The gate-keeper said, “Let me go and tell the king." Now the king, when he got up in the middle of the night, was prejudiced. He said, “Perhaps the Syrians have gone away in disguise. If we go after them, may we not fall into their ambush?" In such a case, can God open the door of grace?

Vs. 13. 14. Someone told the king, “Don't be prejudiced. Let us send five men to find out.” When those five returned, they said with one voice, “The enemy has retreated! The ground is strewn all over with goods." When I was preaching in Shanghai, the Church in Hangchow sent four delegates to hear me, because they were not sure of inviting me. When these four were favourably impressed, they invited me. When I got to Hangchow, a super-pastor there was fiercely opposed to me. He had a son, a habitual gambler, who never read his Bible. Wonder of wonders! While others remained unsaved, he got saved, he repented. He was changed. He organised many Gospel teams. He told his father, “You are against revival meetings, but I have been converted. I won't gamble now. I love to read the Bible.” Beloved brothers and sisters, when men resist you, don't be discouraged. If God be for us, all problems will be solved.

Once when I went to Swatow, I got no invitation to preach the first day. I was invited by only one place. After the first meeting, over 200 were born again. The second meeting saw over 1,000 in attendance. After this, every church invited me to preach. Brothers and sisters, if you preach the truth, you needn't worry even when you are being resisted.

Vs. 16, 17. O, the open door of God's grace! All went! There was no need to invite, or to coerce. They rushed for all their worth. All were dying of hunger, and all fought for the food. If what you preach is the Gospel, people will come and hear. If what we preach is truth, we needn't worry if men oppose us. When I was preaching in Canton, detectives and policemen were sent to arrest me. When they were on the point of doing so, a band of students protested. This truly was God's help.

On another occasion when I went to another Church, there was a notice put up, “Meetings Prohibited.” But this could not stop a multitude coming. Who can resist when the Holy Spirit is working? God said, “A dollar will buy two gallons of flour.” True? Yes? Unfathomable is God's grace.

Vs. 18. Was God's Word fulfilled? Most certainly Whoever disbelieving is a stumbling block. But such is trampled to death! If we preach it good, Satan is surely defeated. Now you're born again. You're blessed. If you preach not the Gospel, woe will come!

God called me on February 10, 1926. The Lord wanted me to preach. Many a time I didn't want to, for preaching is a difficult job. If I became a teacher, no one would bother me. When I started to preach, I found many adversaries. If you preach you must carry the cross. Your whole life must be hung on it. Thousands upon thousands are still in Satan's grip. “Woe is unto me, if I preach not the Gospel."

Beloved, we are well-fed. Woe is unto us, if we preach not the Gospel."

 

THEME SONG

How marvellous His love.

How marvellous His love.

For me He died on Calv'ry's tree.

How marvellous His love.

How bountiful His grace.

How bountiful His grace.

From deepest sin He ransomed me

How bountiful His grace.

约翰·宋的40篇复兴布道

第九章：神深不可测的恩典

（列王纪上7章）

以色列的首都撒玛利亚被亚兰军队包围。百姓忧心忡忡，因为许多人食不果腹，甚至被迫“吃鸽粪”。

第1节：以利沙说：“明天这个时候，撒玛利亚的市集上，两加仑面或四加仑大麦，就要卖一美元了……”亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，神的恩典远超我们所能想象。许多神的子民都在盼望祂的救恩快快临到，却不知道祂的救恩早已临到。现在正是蒙悦纳的时候！

第2节：这里有一位王的侍臣，一位高级官员，他对以利沙说：“不可能！一美元买两加仑面？除非天门敞开！” 以利沙说：“无论你们信不信，这事必成就。” 哦，神的恩典何等浩大！神的恩典远超我们的愿望和想象。神的恩典与我们同在。来这里之前，我做梦也想不到今晚会有这么多人。

我去虎州的时候，只希望看到两百人重生。所以，我为此祷告。然而，第一天来参加聚会的四百人中，竟然有三百人得救了！第二天，来了一千多人，我们不得不把聚会移到外面的空地上。将近一千人得救了，其中还有一位牧师的儿子。 这位牧师的儿子对我说：“宋先生，我以前从未体会过神的恩典。亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，无论你们信不信，神的恩典都必临到你们。祂的恩典何等伟大奇妙！

第3节：赞美主！这里有四个麻风病人，他们不愿死去，坐着。他们想要摆脱死亡。可怜的人中，有许多人宁愿一死了之，从未想过要寻求出路。还有许多人在每日的苦难中挣扎，他们也从未想过要离开！

第4节：奇妙的是，这四个麻风病人想到了出路。他们说：“如果我们坐在这里，肯定会饿死。如果我们进城去，也必死无疑。 “为什么不离开这里，向叙利亚军队投降呢？”我并不赞成他们投降，我赞成他们想方设法逃出生天。

一位住在上海的姐妹给我写信讲述了她母亲的困境。她才三十出头，却养育了十个孩子。但除了她自己，其他孩子都去世了。她说：“我母亲是一位虔诚的佛教徒。佛陀告诉她，她在地狱里的祖先需要钱，所以把她的孩子们带到地狱去卖掉换钱。现在她唯一的出路就是用钱去祭拜魔鬼。我母亲问她需要多少钱，佛陀回答说200美元。她真的花了那200美元，但当她再次去问佛陀时，佛陀回答说：“你的祖先仍然一无所有。所以，在九月初八，他们也会把你唯一幸存的女儿带到地狱去卖掉。我母亲吓坏了，她去了教堂，请牧师为她祈祷。” 这给我们带来了平安，我，她的女儿，也安然无恙。之后，她拿起一把锤子，把她的佛像砸得粉碎。

亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，撒旦完全压制了这个女人。她除了挣扎求生还能做什么呢？多么令人欣喜！如今有多少人正被魔鬼掌控？有烟草的魔鬼，有赌博的魔鬼，有酒精的魔鬼。你们为何不寻求出路呢？

第5、6节。四个麻风病人找到了去叙利亚营地的路。但到了那里，他们连叙利亚军队的影子都没看到。“哈哈！”他们笑着说，“这么多吃的！我们真是太幸运了，没有人跟我们作战……”亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，圣灵的工作真是奇妙。 如果一个人愿意被圣灵引导去寻求出路，他就会发现前方的道路奇妙无比，而且远比这更奇妙。有一次，一位新信徒在听完讲道后对我说：“宋先生，我当时处境艰难，直到有一天我决定来参加您的聚会。起初，我觉得您的讲道完全索然无味，但我还是决定听完。当我全神贯注地听讲时，我的心开始怦怦直跳。当您说‘凡有罪的，都请举手’时，我起初没有勇气，但后来我举起了手，走到了前面。走着走着，我以前所犯的一切罪都涌上心头，让我感到无比痛苦。但当我信靠耶稣的那一刻，我身上的罪仿佛被卸下了千斤重担。我得到了前所未有的喜乐。”亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，如果一个人想要得救，他就会发现救恩奇妙无比，而且远比这更奇妙。

第7、8节。四个麻风病人因他们现在拥有的财富而欣喜若狂。因为，叙利亚人被前夜听到的马匹和战车的轰鸣声吓得魂飞魄散，四散奔逃。神的恩典白白赐予我们，无需任何代价。麻风病人没有武器，没有动一根手指头去战斗，却吃得饱饱的，甚至还有富余，以及许多他们带不走的东西。哦，神取之不尽的恩典！

一天晚上我做了一个梦。我梦见一个人丢了很多钱。我开始捡钱，我把每一枚硬币都捡了起来。当我醒来时，我却一分钱也没找到。梦就是这样。但神的恩典并非如此虚妄，并非如此虚梦。神的恩典是真实的。它无法被我们计算。神的恩典不仅仅满足了麻风病人饥饿的胃。这远远不够。

第7、8节 9. 这节经文最为宝贵。这四个人吃饱饭后，想到同胞们饥饿的境况。他们一致同意：“我们立刻去传扬福音吧！若天亮时我们不去报告，王必惩罚我们。”亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，你们当中有多少人的才华被埋没了呢？你们从未传扬过福音！保罗说：“我若不传福音，就有祸了。”如今厦门人食不果腹，你们却吃得饱足。蒙古、贵州、云南等地却挤满了无数饥饿的灵魂。他们从未尝过神的恩典。亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，“我若不传福音，就有祸了。”

让我们看看这四个人报告了什么。他们传扬了福音。他们作了有力的见证，因为若不传扬福音，他们必遭祸患。 亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，让我们记住：不传福音是最大的罪。

第10、11节。他们现在正走着，把福音告诉了守门人。守门人相信了，因为他看见他们都吃饱了。人们也相信了他们，因为他们吃饱了。

从前有一个人卖生发剂。他一边兜售一边吹嘘自己的生发剂：“如果你买了我的生发剂，把它涂在你的秃头上，你的头发就会长出来。”一个小孩走过来，一把扯下他的帽子，说：“你刚才说，‘如果你把生发剂涂在头上，头发就会长出来’。可是，你看，你自己就是个秃头。你为什么不照你说的做呢？”真是个天大的笑话！一个秃头居然卖生发剂！这就像一个从未重生的人讲道，宣扬“重生得救”一样。可笑至极！ 教会如今为何如此迟缓？因为教会里充斥着许多秃顶的人，他们试图推销生发剂。谁会买呢？这四个麻风病人却吃得饱饱的，挺着圆滚滚的肚子，他们说服了守门人。你也应该这样说：“我们参加过复兴聚会，吃了很多东西。”你以前是赌徒，现在却可以赞美主，也能说服别人。

第12节 守门人说：“让我去告诉王。”王半夜起来，心存疑虑，说：“亚兰人或许已经乔装打扮离开了。如果我们去追赶他们，会不会落入他们的埋伏？”在这种情况下，神还能打开恩典之门吗？

第13-14节 有人对王说：“不要疑惑。我们派五个人去打探一下吧。” 那五个人回来后，异口同声地说：“敌人撤退了！地上到处都是货物。” 我在上海讲道时，杭州教会派了四个代表来听我讲道，因为他们不确定是否要邀请我。这四个人听后印象很好，就邀请了我。我到了杭州，那里的一位超级牧师强烈反对我。他有个儿子，是个赌徒，从不读圣经。真是奇妙！别人都还没得救，他却得救了，悔改了，彻底改变了。他组织了很多福音团队。他告诉他父亲：“你反对复兴聚会，但我已经信主了。我现在不赌博了。我喜欢读圣经。” 亲爱的弟兄姊妹们，当有人反对你们时，不要灰心丧气。如果神帮助我们，所有的问题都会迎刃而解。

有一次我去汕头，第一天并没有人邀请我讲道。 我只受邀参加了一次聚会。第一次聚会后，两百多人重生得救。第二次聚会，参加人数超过一千。此后，每个教会都邀请我去讲道。弟兄姊妹们，如果你传讲真理，即使遭遇阻力也不必担心。

第16、17节：哦，上帝恩典之门敞开！众人涌来！无需邀请，也无需强迫。他们竭尽全力地奔赴。所有人都饿得奄奄一息，争抢食物。如果你所传讲的是福音，人们就会来听。如果我们所传讲的是真理，即使有人反对我们也不必担心。我在坎顿讲道时，侦探和警察奉命来逮捕我。就在他们即将逮捕我的时候，一群学生站出来抗议。这真是上帝的帮助。

另一次我去另一间教会时，那里贴着一张告示：“禁止聚会”。但这丝毫没有阻止众人前来。当圣灵动工时，谁能抵挡得住呢？神说：“一美元能买两加仑面粉。” 真的吗？是的！神的恩典深不可测。

第18节。神的话语应验了吗？当然应验了！凡不信的，都是绊脚石。但这样的人必被践踏致死！如果我们传讲福音，撒旦必被击败。如今你们已经重生，蒙福了。若你们不传福音，祸患必将临到！

1926年2月10日，神呼召了我。主要我传道。很多时候我都不愿意，因为传道是一项艰巨的工作。如果我成为一名教师，就不会有人来烦我了。当我开始传道时，我发现了许多反对者。如果你要传道，就必须背起自己的十字架。 你的一生都系于此。成千上万的人仍被撒旦掌控。“我若不传福音，就有祸了。”

亲爱的，我们已得饱足。我们若不传福音，就有祸了。

主题曲

祂的爱何等奇妙。

祂的爱何等奇妙。

祂为我死在各各他十字架上。

祂的爱何等奇妙。

祂的恩典何等丰盛。

祂的恩典何等丰盛。

祂将我从最深的罪中救赎出来。

祂的恩典何等丰盛。

Start This Day With a Faithful Heart Before God 以一颗虔诚的心开始新的一天，敬拜神。

 (以一颗虔诚的心开始新的一天，敬拜神。)

(Start This Day With a Faithful Heart Before God)

The charge of our devotion this morning is simple. Start your day with a faithful heart. 

The Bible says in Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." 

So today, let's ponder on how important it is to have a faithful heart as believers and then we'll pray together. 

The topic of the heart 🫀 is one that goes really deep and one that permeates scripture. 

 It just seems that there is something about the heart that is very necessary, very instrumental to our Christian walk with the Father God. 

The verse we have started with today says what many verses of the scripture reiterate. 

We have heard it before. It has been said over and over again without fail. 

 The need for the human heart to love the Lord, its place in the Godman relationship.

 The truth is without the heart, without the involvement of our heart, we have no relationship with God. 

Our beliefs, our confessions, and our Christian walk would be hollow and without true convictions. 

 God desires our hearts. God desires the totality of our hearts. He desires a faithful and true heart. 

 In fact, we have instances in scripture where the blessings of the Lord have come upon a man because of the state of their heart. 

 1st Samuel 16:7 says, "But the Lord said to Samuel, do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature because I have rejected him. 

 For the Lord sees not as man sees. 

Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 

 First Kings 15:5 says, "For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not failed to keep any of the Lord's commands all the days of his life, except in the case of Uriah the Hitittite."  When scripture speaks of David, the Bible says he had a right heart before the Lord, and he was a man after God's own heart. 

 In fact, you will find that this testimony is true of all the kings who ruled well in Israel. 

 The first testimony about them is the state of their heart. They had a right heart towards God. 

 So what does it mean to have that faithful heart that the Lord desires? 

A faithful heart is a clean heart. A heart that loves God. A heart full of devotion towards God. 

A heart determined to do His will. 

A heart that regards God, that trusts in God, a heart that is true.  It is a heart that is dedicated to God, and that is committed to following HIM. 

A heart that is sincere and a heart that is right before HIM.

And this is the type of heart we must have as believers. 

But the truth is that this type of heart doesn't just fall on us as believers. 

 Having a faithful heart starts with a choice. But it's a choice you can't fulfill by yourself. 

You cannot fulfill that choice without a walk with God, without a relationship with HIM. When we get saved, we are cleansed and we are purged of our sins. 

And when God looks on us, we are indeed clean. But it doesn't stop there. 

 There is a need for us as Christ's disciples to maintain the state of our hearts. It doesn't maintain itself. It is not automatic. 

And the funny thing about this is that it can be a slippery slope. Sometimes if we aren't mindful, it's easy to get other things mixed in with God.

And this affects the state of our hearts. 

 When the Bible spoke of the men and women of the Bible who had a right heart, who had a faithful heart, they were noted as people who walked with God. 

 People who made this walking and fellowship a daily and consistent delight. 

 It was not once in a while staying devoted to God, but it was a daily exercise. 

 One of David's prayers recorded in Psalm 19:14 says, "Let the words of my mouth and the   meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." 

This was David's heart's desire. 

And he didn't leave that desire to chance. He made a prayer of it. 

This verse goes directly into what David's heart would look like when God looked upon it. When the meditations of a man's heart are faithful towards God, when his thoughts do not go against God, such a man can have nothing but a faithful heart because he trains his heart to stay that way. 

This same David prayed and asked the Lord to create in him a clean heart. 

The Bible speaks of the apostles as men that honoured the hours of prayer and had a deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit. 🗣️:  Holy Spirit I know you are inside me. 

 The Bible spoke of these men in regard to exercising their hearts to look towards God to forgive men. 

 The Bible hardly ever accords a faithful heart with a man who didn't have a walk with the Lord. 

As believers, first we must determine to have such a heart every day. We should have it as a waking thought. 

 We must desire to be faithful. And above all, we must also determine to be a people that will have daily communion with HIM. 

A daily communion keeps our hearts tender and it helps us to continually have a faithful heart towards God.

 It is also needless to say that once you decide to live with a faithful heart towards God and have a life of consistent fellowship with HIM, your intimacy with God increases and your awareness of HIM will be stronger. 

There is hardly any mention in scripture of God not being happy with people who are faithful towards HIM.  He pours out His blessings on them continually. Such a man was Abraham. He had a faithful heart towards the Lord. And the Bible spoke of the greatness of this man and how God blessed him and how he was called the friend of God.  And all this came about because he walked with the Lord with a faithful heart. 

Friends, it is never too late to start that journey of having a faithful heart towards the Lord. It is never too late to start working on our devotions. 

 I remember the first time l started being aware of the state of my heart towards the Lord. I knew that something had to change, something had to be different. and I made a decision to redevote myself to him. 

 It is a decision you can also make today. 

 A decision we can make right now. In fact, the first thing you need is that choice. 

 And then after the choice, a determination to walk the walk.  Determine to start with a faithful heart from this day forth and see how things change dramatically and drastically. 

 Do it and see what it does to your faith life. And the best part, God helps you through it. 

 If you know this message has touched you this morning, and you know that you have made that choice in your heart, if you know your heart has never been right with the Lord, it's never been 100%. You've always kind of been on and  off, but you want to start now, then I congratulate you. 

 I congratulate you on that choice because there is no better time than right now. Please join us this morning as we pray to reconnect our hearts back to the Lord so that we can together start our day with a faithful heart towards the Lord. 

🙏🏽 : Father God, in the name of Jesus Christ, I say thank you this morning for your Word.  Thank you for another message from the pages of scripture. Thank you for helping me to see this truth this morning. Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ. 

Father God, this morning I ask for grace, mercy, and YOUR help. I know my heart hasn't always been fully with YOU. There have been many times when my attention was divided, my devotion weak, and my heart unsteady before YOU.  I've struggled to stay faithful and devoted. 

 Distractions, worries, desires, and life's cares have pulled me away from consistent fellowship with YOU. 

 I confess this honestly today. 

 I don't want to pretend or act like I've always been intentional in my walk with YOU when I know I haven't. 

Father God, I admit today that I haven't always made YOU the priority YOU deserve. 

I haven't always been mindful of walking faithfully with YOU every day. Sometimes I've loved the idea of devotion more than the discipline it requires. 

 Sometimes I've wanted the strength from fellowship with YOU without being consistent in it. 

 Sometimes I've wanted the fruit of a faithful heart without guarding it carefully. 

But today, Lord, I choose to be intentional. 

I choose to turn my heart fully back to YOU. I choose to stop living casually in my relationship with YOU. 

Please help me make my heart right before YOU. 

Search me, Lord, and deal with anything that's not in line with your will.

 Remove whatever takes up too much space in my heart. Remove anything that competes with YOUR place in my life. 

 Help me keep a faithful heart. Help me be true, Lord. Help me be sincere in my walk with YOU, not just outward in my devotion.  I also pray this morning for the grace to keep a steady and consistent devotion, to stay close to you. Father, even though Ihave chosen to follow you, I know I can't do it alone. Human strength isn't enough to live a life truly devoted to YOU. Good intentions alone won't keep me faithful. 

 So l ask, Lord, help me stay connected to YOU. Help me stay rooted in your presence and your word. Help me keep you close in my thoughts, desires, decisions, and actions. Strengthen me as I live a life of devotion and consecration. 

Strengthen me as I choose fellowship over distance, surrender over stubbornness and consistency over carelessness. 

Let my being in YOUR presence be my joy from now on. Let prayer stop feeling like a burden. Let seeking YOU become the natural rhythm of my life. Let your presence be the place my heart longs for most. 

Father, I also ask that even though I've made this choice today to live in fellowship with YOU, help me stay faithful every day, not just now or when I feel strong, but every day. Help me keep a steady heart in every season. 

Help me not to drift easily. Help me have a heart that's not just moved by feelings, but grounded in truth and rooted in devotion.  Let my faithfulness to YOU not come and go with my circumstances. 

 Let it be deep, genuine, and sustained by YOUR grace. 

As I start this new day, help me stay grounded in YOU. Help me stay faithful and devoted.

Lead me, Lord. Guide my steps and show me the way. Help me live with a faithful heart, even beyond what I understand. 

Teach me a faithfulness that's not shallow, temporary, or based on convenience. 

Teach me a devotion that stays strong even when life is busy, emotions change, or the day feels heavy. 

 I know there will be times I'm tempted to stray. Times I want one thing, but YOUR SPIRIT leads another way. 

 Lord, help me stay on the right path. 

When l'm weak, strengthen me. When I'm distracted, refocus me. When my spirit feels cold, stir me again. 

When I'm tired, sustain me. Help me be faithful to YOU. 

Heavenly Father, thank you this morning because YOU have done it. 

Thank you for hearing me and answering my prayers. Thank you for making it possible for me to live with a faithful heart starting today. 

Thank you for opening the way to a life of steady fellowship with YOU. 

From this day on, my life has a new direction. 

 I won't walk carelessly before YOU anymore, but with more intention, devotion, and a heart that wants to stay true to YOU. I find it easier now to stay faithful, to walk the walk, and to stay close to YOU because YOUR grace is working in me. 

 Thank you, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

Saint,  I hope you are blessed by this prayer. 

We pray that all the blessings in this prayer be upon you and your family in Jesus' name.

 May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you now and always. 

今天早晨我们灵修的主题很简单：以一颗忠诚的心开始新的一天。

圣经申命记6章5节说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽力爱耶和华你的神。”

所以今天，让我们一起思考作为信徒，拥有一颗忠诚的心是多么重要，然后我们一起祷告。

关于“心”这个主题意义深远，贯穿整本圣经。

似乎“心”在我们与天父的基督徒同行中扮演着至关重要的角色。

我们今天所读的经文，与圣经中许多其他经文反复强调的内容不谋而合。

我们早已听过这些经文，它们被反复提及，从未间断。

人心需要爱主，以及它在人与神的关系中的地位。

 事实是，若没有真心，若没有我们内心的投入，我们就无法与神建立关系。

我们的信仰、我们的告白、我们的基督徒生活都将是空洞的，缺乏真正的信念。

神渴望我们的心。神渴望我们全心全意地投入。祂渴望一颗忠诚而真诚的心。

事实上，圣经中有许多例子，表明神的祝福临到一个人，正是因为他内心的状态。

《撒母耳记上》16:7说：“耶和华对撒母耳说：‘不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，因为我不拣选他。’

因为耶和华不像人看人。

人是看外貌，耶和华是看内心。”

 列王纪上15:5说：“大卫一生行耶和华眼中看为正的事，没有违背过耶和华的诫命，只在赫人乌利亚的事上违背过。”圣经论到大卫时说，他在耶和华面前有一颗正直的心，他是合神心意的人。

事实上，你会发现，所有在以色列治理有方的君王都符合这一描述。

关于他们的第一个见证就是他们的心。他们对神有一颗正直的心。

那么，拥有耶和华所渴望的那颗忠信的心意味着什么呢？

忠信的心是一颗清洁的心。一颗爱神的心。一颗对神充满虔诚的心。

一颗决心遵行神旨意的心。

一颗敬畏神、信靠神、真诚的心。 这是一颗献身于神、并决心跟随祂的心。

一颗真诚的心，一颗在祂面前正直的心。

而这正是我们作为信徒必须拥有的心。

但事实上，这种心并非我们信徒自然而然就能拥有的。

拥有一颗忠诚的心始于一个选择。但这并非你能独自完成的选择。

若不与神同行，若不与祂建立关系，你便无法完成这个选择。当我们得救时，我们就被洁净，罪得赦免。

当神注视我们时，我们的确是洁净的。但这还不是全部。

作为基督的门徒，我们需要持守我们内心的状态。它不会自行维持，也不是自动发生的。

有趣的是，这很容易让我们陷入误区。有时，如果我们不加留意，就很容易将其他事物与上帝混淆。

而这会影响我们内心的状态。

圣经中提到那些拥有正直之心、忠信之心的男男女女时，都称他们为与神同行的人。

他们将与神同行和团契视为每日持续的喜乐。

这并非偶尔才对神保持虔诚，而是每日的操练。

大卫在诗篇19篇14节的祷告中写道：“耶和华我的磐石，我的救赎主啊，愿我口中的言语、心里的默想在你面前蒙悦纳。”

 这是大卫内心深处的渴望。

他没有让这个渴望听天由命，而是为此祷告。

这节经文直接描述了上帝垂顾大卫的心时，他的内心会是什么样子。当一个人心中默想的都是对上帝的忠诚，当他的思想不与上帝相悖时，这样的人必然拥有一颗忠诚的心，因为他训练自己的心保持这种状态。

大卫祷告，求主在他里面创造一颗清洁的心。

圣经将使徒们描述为重视祷告时间、与圣灵有深厚团契的人。🗣️：圣灵，我知道你住在我里面。

圣经谈到这些人，是要操练他们的心仰望上帝，饶恕人。

圣经几乎不会将一颗忠诚的心与一个没有与主同行的人联系起来。

 作为信徒，我们首先必须立志每天都拥有这样一颗心。我们应该让它成为我们每日的念头。

我们必须渴望忠心。最重要的是，我们也必须立志成为与神每日交通的人。

每日的交通使我们的心保持柔软，并帮助我们持续地对神保持忠心。

毋庸置疑，一旦你决定以一颗忠心的心侍奉神，并与祂保持持续的团契生活，你与神的亲密关系就会加深，你对祂的认识也会更加深刻。

圣经中几乎没有提到神不喜悦那些忠于祂的人。祂不断地将祂的祝福倾注在他们身上。亚伯拉罕就是这样一个人。他对主有一颗忠心的心。圣经讲述了这位伟人的伟大，神如何祝福他，以及他如何被称为神的朋友。 这一切的发生，都源于他以一颗忠诚的心与主同行。

朋友们，开始拥有对主忠诚的心永远不会太晚。开始灵修也永远不会太晚。

我记得我第一次意识到自己对主的心境时，我知道必须做出改变，必须有所不同。于是我决定重新献身于他。

这也是你今天可以做出的决定。

一个我们现在就可以做出的决定。事实上，你首先需要的就是做出这个选择。

做出选择之后，就要下定决心去践行。从今天起，立志以一颗忠诚的心开始，看看事情将会发生怎样的巨大改变。

去做吧，看看这会给你的信仰生活带来怎样的改变。最重要的是，上帝会帮助你度过难关。

 如果你知道今天早上这条信息触动了你，如果你知道你已经在心里做出了这个选择，如果你知道你的心从未完全归向主，从未百分之百地归向主。你总是时断时续，但你现在想要重新开始，那么我祝贺你。

我祝贺你做出了这个选择，因为没有比现在更好的时机了。请今天早上加入我们，一起祷告，让我们的心重新与主连接，这样我们就可以一起以一颗忠于主的心开始新的一天。

🙏🏽：天父上帝，奉耶稣基督的名，我今天早上感谢你的话语。感谢你从圣经中赐予我又一条信息。感谢你今天早上帮助我明白这个真理。感谢你，主耶稣基督。

天父上帝，今天早上我祈求你的恩典、怜悯和帮助。我知道我的心并非一直完全归向你。 很多时候，我的注意力分散，我的虔诚软弱，我的心在你面前摇摆不定。我一直努力保持忠诚和奉献。

各种干扰、忧虑、欲望和生活的重担使我远离了与你持续的团契。

今天，我坦诚地承认这一点。

我知道我并非一直都用心与你同行，我不想假装或装作自己一直都用心。

天父，我今天承认，我并没有一直把你放在你应得的首位。

我并非一直都谨记要每日忠实地与你同行。有时，我贪恋于虔诚的名义，却忽略了它所需的自律。

有时，我渴望从与你的团契中获得力量，却无法持之以恒。

有时，我渴望拥有忠信之心的果实，却不愿悉心守护。

但今天，主啊，我选择全心全意地与你同行。

我选择将我的心完全归向你。我选择不再漫不经心地与你建立关系。

求你帮助我使我的心在你面前正直。

主啊，求你鉴察我，除去一切不合你旨意的事。

求你除去我心中占据过多空间的一切。除去一切与你在我生命中的地位相冲突的事物。

求你帮助我保持一颗忠信的心。求你帮助我成为真诚的人，主啊。求你帮助我与你同行时，不仅在表面上虔诚，更要真诚地与你同行。 今天早上，我也祈求您赐予我恩典，使我能持守恒常的虔诚，与您保持亲近。天父，虽然我已选择跟随您，但我知道我无法独自做到。人的力量不足以让我真正地奉献给您。单凭美好的愿望也无法使我保持忠诚。

所以，主啊，我祈求您帮助我与您保持联结。帮助我扎根于您的同在和您的话语中。帮助我在我的思想、渴望、决定和行动中都与您亲近。求您赐予我力量，使我能过上虔诚奉献的生活。

求您赐予我力量，使我选择亲近而非疏远，选择顺服而非固执，选择持之以恒而非漫不经心。

愿从今以后，与您同在成为我的喜乐。愿祷告不再是负担。愿寻求您成为我生命中自然的节奏。愿您的同在成为我心最渴望的地方。

 天父，我祈求您，即便我今天选择了与您相交，也求您帮助我每日忠心，不仅在此刻或我感觉强壮的时候，而是每一天。求您帮助我在每个阶段都保持一颗坚定的心。

求您帮助我不要轻易动摇。求您帮助我拥有一颗不被情绪左右，而是扎根于真理、充满虔诚的心。愿我对您的忠诚不会随境遇而起伏。

愿我的忠诚深厚、真挚，并被您的恩典所维系。

在这新的一天开始之际，求您帮助我扎根于您。求您帮助我保持忠诚和虔诚。

主啊，引领我。指引我的脚步，为我指明方向。求您帮助我拥有一颗忠诚的心，即使超越我所能理解的。

求您教导我一种不肤浅、不短暂、不以权宜之计的忠诚。

求您教导我一种即使在生活忙碌、情绪波动或感到沉重时，也能坚守的虔诚。

 我知道我有时会受到诱惑而偏离正道。有时我想要一样东西，但你的灵却指引我走另一条路。

主啊，求你帮助我走在正路上。

当我软弱时，求你加添我力量。当我分心时，求你让我重新集中注意力。当我灵里冰冷时，求你再次激励我。

当我疲惫时，求你扶持我。求你帮助我忠于你。

天父，今天早上我感谢你，因为你成就了这一切。

感谢你垂听我的祷告，回应我的祈祷。感谢你使我从今天起就能拥有一颗忠心的心。

感谢你为我开辟了一条与你亲密相交的道路。

从今天起，我的生命有了新的方向。

我不会再漫不经心地在你面前行走，而是会更加用心、更加虔诚，并且拥有一颗渴望忠于你的心。 我发现现在更容易保持忠诚，言行一致，并与您亲近，因为您的恩典在我身上动工。

感谢天父，奉耶稣的名祷告。阿门。

圣徒，愿这篇祷告祝福您。

我们祈求这篇祷告中的所有祝福都临到您和您的家人，奉耶稣的名祷告。

愿我们主耶稣基督的平安与您同在，直到永远。

🍇VINE STRUCTURE

 VINE STRUCTURE

Roots: anchor the vine, absorb water and nutrients, store carbohydrates, and produce growth-regulating hormones.

Permanent wood: woody parts, older than one year. They provide support, transport water, solutes, and store nutrients and carbohydrates .

Shoots: their major structures are the buds, leaves, tendrils, lateral shoots and inflorescences or grape bunches. 🍇 🍇 🍇 

Grape "Black" (dark blue) and "white" (light green) table grapes: A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus Vitis. Grapes are a non-climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. Deciduous ~ (of a tree or shrub) shedding its leaves annually. To

One-year-old wood: are the prior season's shoots. They support compound buds for the next season's shoots. Can be canes or spurs. 

Concord grapes Concord grapes (Vitis labrusca) ripening on the vine

grape, (genus Vitis), genus of about 60 to 80 species of vining plants in the family Vitaceae, native to the north temperate zone, including varieties that may be eaten as table fruit, dried to produce raisins, or crushed to make grape juice or wine.

ON FAITH 凭信仰

40 John Sung Revival Sermons

VII.     ON  FAITH

(Acts Chapter 3)

Vs. 1. “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.”  If Peter and John, Jesus, disciples, needed to pray, don't you think we all need more to pray?  Prayer increases our faith.  So we need to pray everyday like the disciples.  If a man cannot afford to pray he will not generate faith.

Vs. 2. “And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple." There was a lame man at the Beautiful gate.  Could he walk?  He was born lame.  His five senses, however, were all functioning.  He could eat, see, hear, speak.  His hands could move, but not his legs.  Neither can a man that has no faith walk.  Many Church members can eat but cannot walk, like this lame man.  How pitiful if we are lame to run the heavenly race.  If pastors and evangelists have no faith, they are also like this lame man.  Members without faith are eaters and not walkers.  Merchants who come to Church without faith are also eaters and not walkers, like this lame man.  They are carried about by pastors and evangelists.  And the more they are carried about, the more burdensome they become, as they increase in fatness with their wealth.  Ah! when one becomes an elder one is well-satisfied.  There is no more need of faith.  “O God, help me get rich!"

The Church in China to this day cannot support herself.  She is dead.  How is this?  Because her members are lame, without faith.  Pastors and evangelists carry the members up to the door, but not into the Church.  Ah!  Members, without faith, cannot walk.  Neither have the evangelists strength to carry them in.  Without the new birth and salvation, how pitiful!

Vs. 3. “Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms." What did the lame man see?  They saw the disciples and asked for money.  He looked to man and money, not to Jesus.  Daily he asked for man's alms.  Many Church-members today cringe before the rich and the capitalist.  They trust man and money, but not God.  No faith, no strength.  The Church, not trusting in Jesus becomes a dead church.  So we must trust Jesus, not looking to man or circumstances.  Only by looking to Jesus can a Church stand.  If we believe in Jesus, then we are doing the work of the Lord.  We can triumph over all.  When I went to Honan I saw the Church relying on foreign funds.  When the foreign funds stopped to come, and there was no more money left, the Church and the Hospital “closed shop”.   Serious indeed!  It never works to trust in man and money.

  Vs. 4-6.  “And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us....” Peter said, “Do you want money?  We haven’t got a cent.  But we have Jesus.  In the name of Jesus I tell you to get up and walk."  Ah!  Many have money but not faith.  When we have no money, then we have faith!  Many there are who “look to the Taifu (doctor) when they can, and to Je-su when they can’t." You have seen what happened today (Dr.  Sung's healing session at the Gospel Hall).  Did you believe?  If you believe you can do all things.  To go forward, the Church must go on by faith.  The world cannot be trusted, nor money.  Only Jesus is trustworthy.  May we all have faith.

 Vs. 7-10.  “And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength..." Peter told him to walk and he walked.  He didn't delay a second.  Neither did he beg now.  He witnessed He saved many people.  May everyone here tonight have faith and be healed.  Jesus says, “He that believeth on me shall do greater works.”   When I first prayed for some lepers, my heart was very afraid.  Afterwards I prayed very earnestly, by faith, confessing my sins to God.  Then the lepers were healed.

In the course of my preaching I developed a quick-beating heart.  Someone said to me, “If you don't get cured, you will not only keep on palpitating, but also develop an enlarged heart.  Your life is in danger."  Thus I declined further invitations to preach.  But God said to me, “You fear death, you will surely die.  I felt ashamed.  My faith was small.

I drummed up courage to go to Tungchow to speak.  When eight hundred came, I was no more afraid.  My heart stopped palpitating.  I spoke on courageously.  I sweated profusely.  Wonder of wonders, my sickness got cured.  Who dares to die will not die.  So by faith we can conquer Satan and worry.

My second child died recently.  After three days God told me to go to the villages to preach.  I got some funds and immediately struck out to Huchow.  God said to me, “I'll open to you a door to preach throughout China.”  When I got to Huchow a foreign missionary asked what I was doing.  I said, “I have come to preach.”  When I gave my testimony, fifty people were moved by the Holy spirit.

God then sent me to Nanking and Peiping.  He also sent me to Manchuria.  Although the climate there is cold I did not shrink.  From there I returned to Shanghai.  When I prepared to go back to Hinghwa, a telegram inviting me to preach came from Nanchang.  At Nanchang I brought 700 - 800 people to Christ.  From Nanchang I moved on to Kiukiang.

Though I am poor the Lord has led my footsteps all over China.  I know the Lord has called me.  I am no more afraid.  I can do all things.  Trusting God, I can triumph over poverty.  All my clothes are the Lord's provision.  So, don't you think it strange: Having God's Word, you eat God's rice.  Trusting God, you need fear nothing.

A rich man wanted to give me a house.  God told me not to take it, so I did not, I'd rather rent one, for I lack nothing.  I can triumph not only over poverty but also over difficulties.  On my trip this time there was a man who held a knife to kill me.  Trusting in God, I wasn't afraid.  When I preached on the Cross of Jesus Christ, this man wept, repented and confessed his sins.

There are three girl students who went to an island to preach.  In three months they won 30 souls to Christ.  They went on their own but God supplied their needs.  How about us?  Should we not do our best to preach the Word?  There's the great Church of Christ.  Beloved brothers and sisters, by faith we can triumph over pain, anxiety, poverty, difficulties.  Young students, if you meet with sickness, worry, difficulties, poverty, you must pray and conquer by faith.  Many of you orphans and widows, be you also built up in the faith.  Trusting Jesus you can triumph over all.  This afternoon you've seen God's glory.  So let us henceforth be established in faith.  Trusting Jesus is trusting God, we are more than conquerors in everything.

THEME SONG

Faith is the victory!

Faith is the victory!

Oh, glorious victory,

That overcomes the world.

约翰·宋的40篇复兴布道

第七章：论信心

（使徒行传3章）

第1节：“申初祷告的时候，彼得、约翰同上圣殿去。” 如果彼得、约翰、耶稣的门徒都需要祷告，难道我们不需要更多地祷告吗？祷告能增强我们的信心。所以我们需要像门徒一样每天祷告。如果一个人没有时间祷告，他就无法产生信心。

第2节：“有一个生来瘸腿的人，被人抬着，天天放在圣殿的美门口，向进殿的人乞讨。” 美门口站着一个瘸腿的人。他能走路吗？他生来瘸腿。然而，他的五官都正常。他能吃、能看、能听、能说。他的手能动，但腿不能动。没有信心的人也无法行走。许多教会成员能吃却不能走，就像这个瘸腿的人一样。如果我们连天国的赛程都跑不动，那该是多么可悲啊！如果牧师和传道人没有信心，他们也像这个瘸腿的人一样。没有信心的信徒只会吃，不会走。没有信心的商人来教会，也只会吃，不会走，就像这个瘸腿的人一样。他们被牧师和传道人抬着走。他们抬得越多，就越成为教会的负担，随着财富的积累，他们也变得越来越胖。啊！一旦成了长老，就心满意足了。不再需要信心了。“哦，上帝，请帮助我致富！”

时至今日，中国的教会仍然无法自立。她已经死了。这是为什么呢？因为她的信徒都是瘸腿的，没有信心。牧师和传道人把信徒抬到门口，却不把他们抬进教会。啊！没有信心的信徒，无法行走。传福音的人也没有力气把他们带进去。没有重生和救恩，多么可怜啊！

第3节：“他看见彼得和约翰将要进圣殿，就求他们施舍。” 那个瘸腿的人看到了什么？他们看到了门徒，却向他要钱。他仰望的是人和金钱，而不是耶稣。他每天都乞讨人的施舍。如今，许多教会成员在富人和资本家面前畏缩不前。他们信赖人和金钱，却不信赖上帝。没有信心，就没有力量。教会若不信靠耶稣，就会变成死气沉沉的教会。所以我们必须信靠耶稣，而不是仰望人或环境。唯有仰望耶稣，教会才能站立得住。如果我们信耶稣，我们就是在做主的工作。我们就能战胜一切。我去河南的时候，看到教会依赖外国的捐款。当外国的捐款停止流入，教会和医院都无力回天时，他们就“关门大吉”了。这真是太严重了！信靠人和金钱永远行不通。 4-6节：“彼得和约翰定睛看着他，说：‘看我们……’”彼得说：“你们想要钱吗？我们一分钱也没有。但我们有耶稣。我奉耶稣的名吩咐你起来行走。”啊！许多人有钱却没有信心。当我们一无所有时，我们才有信心！许多人“能看医生时就看医生，不能看医生时就看耶稣”。你们都看到了今天发生的事（宋医生在福音堂的医治祷告）。你们相信吗？只要相信，凡事都能做。教会要继续前进，就必须凭着信心。世界不可信，金钱也不可信。只有耶稣值得信赖。愿我们都有信心。

7-10节：“于是拉着他的右手，扶他起来；他的脚和踝骨立刻健壮了……”彼得吩咐他行走，他就行走了。他一刻也没有耽搁。他现在也没有乞求。他亲眼见证了自己拯救了许多人。愿今晚在座的各位都拥有信心，并得到医治。耶稣说：“信我的人，还要行更大的事。”当我第一次为麻风病人祷告时，我的心非常害怕。之后，我凭着信心，恳切地祷告，向神认罪。然后，麻风病人就痊愈了。

在讲道的过程中，我的心跳变得很快。有人对我说：“如果你得不到医治，不仅会一直心悸，还会心脏肥大。你的生命有危险。”因此，我婉拒了之后的讲道邀请。但神对我说：“你惧怕死亡，你必定会死。”我感到羞愧，因为我的信心微弱。

我鼓起勇气去东州讲道。当八百人到来时，我不再害怕，心跳也停止了。我勇敢地继续讲道，汗流浃背。奇迹发生了，我的病竟然痊愈了。敢于赴死的人必不死。所以，凭着信心，我们可以战胜撒旦和忧虑。

我的第二个孩子最近去世了。三天后，神指示我去乡村传道。我筹集了一些资金，立即动身前往湖州。神对我说：“我会为你打开一扇门，让你在中国各地传道。”当我到达湖州时，一位外国传教士问我来做什么。我说：“我是来传道的。”当我作见证时，有五十人被圣灵感动。

神差遣我到南京和北平，又差遣我到满洲。虽然那里气候寒冷，但我毫不畏惧。之后我回到上海。正当我准备返回兴化时，南昌发来电报，邀请我去那里传道。在南昌，我带领七八百人归信基督。之后我又去了九江。

虽然我贫穷，但主引领我走遍中国各地。我知道主呼召了我，我不再惧怕。凡事我都能做。信靠神，我就能战胜贫穷。我所有的衣服都是主的供应。所以，你不觉得奇怪吗？拥有神的话语，你就能吃到神的米；信靠神，你就能无所畏惧。

一个富人想送我一套房子。神告诉我不要接受，所以我没有接受，我宁愿租一套，因为我什么都不缺。我不仅能战胜贫穷，也能战胜一切困难。这次旅行中，我遇到一个持刀要杀我的男人。但我信靠上帝，并不害怕。当我传讲耶稣基督的十字架时，那人痛哭流涕，悔改认罪。

有三位女学生去一个岛上传道。三个月内，她们带领30人归信基督。她们是独自前往，但上帝供应了她们的需要。我们呢？我们岂不也应该竭尽全力传扬神的话语吗？基督的教会是伟大的。亲爱的弟兄姐妹们，凭着信心，我们可以战胜痛苦、焦虑、贫穷和各种困难。年轻的学生们，如果你们遇到疾病、忧虑、困难或贫穷，一定要祷告，凭着信心得胜。你们当中许多孤儿寡妇，也当在信心中得到建造。信靠耶稣，你们就能战胜一切。今天下午，你们已经看到了神的荣耀。所以，让我们从此在信心中坚固。信靠耶稣就是信靠上帝，我们在一切事上都是得胜有余的。

主题曲

信仰就是胜利！

信仰就是胜利！

哦，荣耀的胜利，

战胜世界。

Who I Am in Christ

 Who I Am in Christ .

In Christ, I am :- 

¹• I am Loved (But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~ Romans 5:8 )

²• I am Strong ( Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ~ Ephesians 6 :10 )

³• I am Accepted (  For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! ~ Romans 5:17 )

⁴• I am Delivered ( I sought the Lord, and he answered me;  he delivered me from all my fears.~Psalm34:4 )

⁵• I am Approved ( On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:4 )

⁶• I am Chosen ( according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God] ~ 1 Peter 1:2 )

⁷• I am Redeemed ( But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. ~ Isaiah 43:1 ) (But now, this is what the LORD, your Creator says, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you [from captivity]; I have called you by name; you are Mine!)

⁸• I am Holy ( If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ~1John 1:9 ~ If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose])

⁹• I am Saved (If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.~ Romans 10: 9-10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. )(⁹because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.¹⁰For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.)

¹⁰• I am Holy (But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ~ 1 Peter 2:9 ~ But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A CONSECRATED NATION, A [special] PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.)

¹¹• I am Made New ( 1 Corinthians 5:17 )

¹²• I am Equipped ( 2 Timothy 5:17 )

¹³• I am Secure ( John 10:28-29 )

¹⁴• I am Set Free ( John 8:36 )

¹⁵• I am Forgiven ( 1 John 1:9 )

¹⁶• I am Victorious (1 Corinthians 15:57 )

¹⁷• I am Renewed ( Colossians 3:10 )

NOAH AND THE BUILDING OF THE ARK 诺亚和方舟的建造

40 John Sung Revival Sermons

VIII. NOAH AND THE BUILDING OF THE ARK

(Genesis 6-7:1 5)

Ch. 6:1-4. In these verses are described two kinds of people. The first are the sons of God. The second are the people of the world. Believers may be called God's children. They belong to the first kind. Unbelievers are called the people of the world. They belong to the latter kind. Is it good or not that God should be our Father? Someone asked me, “Who is your father?” I said, "God!" I remember while my earthly father was a pastor and I a pastor's son, how proud I was to go in and out with him! Some who didn't know my father asked me, “Who is he?” I said, “He's my father!” Glorious! Now God is our Father. How blessed! We have self-respect.

Here it says that the sons of God had intercourse with the people of the world. For this reason the Spirit of God would not remain always in their hearts. The sons of God inter-married with the people of the world. How awful! The children of the world love gambling, smoking and drinking. We must be separated from them in holiness. If you do not keep separate in holiness from them, you will surely become worldly and carnal.

Vs. 5-8. Because of the increase of wickedness of the people of the world, God repented. For what the worldly people thought about day in and day out was wickedness. God was deeply saddened at the sight of all this. Man should listen to God's Word. Having changed into carnality, he is separated from God. God is very saddened at this. I remember when I was a boy I used to argue with my dad and he thrashed me for this. When he went into the room I peeped to see what he was up to. O! My dad was in tears! When God saw the people of the World sinning, he was also very sorrowful. He would not destroy them from off the earth if He could help it.

Nevertheless, Noah found grace in God's eyes. All had sinned, but only Noah found grace, This was no small matter. The world might disregard me. If God takes notice of me, that is enough. A woman said to me, “My husband and in-laws all disregard me.” She was heart-broken. I said, “Does God regard you?" She said, “He regards me!" I said, “That's enough!" Was not Noah one individual who found grace before God?

Vs. 9-13. Why did God love Noah? For his wealth? Education? No, but for three good points. 1) Noah by faith was a righteous man and born again. 2) Noah was a perfect man. 3) Noah walked with God, i.e., he was obedient to the Holy Spirit. God loved him for these three things. Are you like Noah? Born again, in holiness and obedience.  

Noah had three sons. Shem, Ham, Japheth. Eight in the family. Now, the character “Hsin" i.e. “Believe" includes eight mouths in its composition. All the eight of them had faith. They believed God. This is no small matter. In many families we do not see such oneness of faith. Where the husband believes, the wife does not. Where the mother-in-law believes, the daughter-in-law does not. Where the father believes, the son does not. And where the elder brother believes the younger does not. O the quarrels and heartaches that upset so many families today! But Noah's was a happy family, a peaceful house.

I found our family a delight for we believed God with one heart. My mother used to lead in family worship. My mother at first had no education. She came from a Buddhist home. But my father taught her to read, and she became a zealous believer. Our family worship was most interesting. We prayed and read. the Bible by turns. My dad told us many stories. After worship we continued with a musical session. Each played his own instrument. The family was filled with joy. Now we all have our families. Let us hold family worship. Yes, let us practise family worship. I believe Noah's family had family worship. So God called Noah to prepare the Ark to save himself and his family.

    Vs. 14-22. God told Noah to do this on a mountain. Now, the boat belongs to the sea, but God told Noah to make it on a mountain. The boat Noah made was rectangular: length 300 cubits, width 50 cubits and height 30 cubits. It looked rather like a Bible. And the Ark is a type of the Bible. There are three storeys with a window on top. The Bible is divided into three sections: 1) the Old Testament, 2) the Four Gospels and 3) the Epistles. Revelation is the window on top. The boat has only one door. To enter the Kingdom of Heaven there is also only one narrow door. The whole Ark is made of one type of wood. The whole Bible is written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Ark's length is 300 cubits inasmuch as Jesus' life span on earth was thirty years. Three storeys also stand for Jesus' three years of preaching. The window on top stands for the last year of Jesus' work, and it also typifies the Cross.

The people of the world seek worldly wisdom in marriage. They go into worldly enterprises. But, Noah remains on the mountain to build the big boat. Now it takes united effort to build the boat. Should Noah's family be disunited, the Ark would not be completed. This was Noah's first good point. Secondly, Noah stored up treasure in heaven. He had sold away all his property. To the years put into building the Ark, he would not mind further sacrifice of selling all he had. He was concerned only with the Ark's completion.

I have also told my wife, “Nothing matters as much as preparing the Ark.” To build the Ark is to give onself to fulltime preaching. In preparing the Ark, we should not regard the present, but rather the future. To look at the present we would be discouraged. Perhaps one of Noah's daughters-in-law got discouraged, when she saw others with permed hair, gold ring, gold watch, leading a leisurely and pleasurable life while she herself had to slog in the kitchen. Noah comforted her. Perhaps one of Noah's sons said, “Other sons have returned from abroad with a university education. They come back necktie-in-collar, and they eat with fork and spoon, but I have to slog on like this! Noah comforted his son, “Don't look at the present, but the future!" Perhaps Mrs. Noah said, “I'm old. Still I have to do all the cooking. Other wives go to the park, and how relaxed! Noah also comforted her, “Look to the future and not the present.” Perhaps Noah had to hold a revival meeting at home each day.

When I returned home a few years ago, I remembered how my wife burst into temper, “What, I, a doctor's wife, have got nothing? And to do cooking everyday? Others can relax. My classmates take it easy and I suffer thus? I comforted her, “Look to the future and not just at the present." Not only we are to look to the future, but also hold back every present ridicule. All laughed at Noah's foolishness in building the Ark. Some said he was crazy. But Noah called on all to repent, for The Flood was coming. He was no madman. Though the people assailed Noah, he kept his peace. He carried his cross daily, building the Ark. He laboured everyday on the mountain. He preached 120 years. No one listened. Noah was not discouraged. He plodded on.

Ch. 7:1-5. The Ark being completed, Noah took all his in. Besides himself there were seven others. These seven are a type of the seven churches. There were also seven pairs of animals. Some tall, some short. The birds, and there were seven pairs of them too, represent the victorious Christians. Noah organised a Gospel team and he was its captain. They all entered the Ark. On the 10th day of the 2nd month, the big door of the Ark was shut. On the 17th of the 2nd month the Flood came and covered the earth. The people escaped to the mountain tops. Now they began to call for help. Now there are many who come to Church as “rice" Christians who shall never enter the Ark. The whole world was covered by the Flood, but only Noah's Ark was on top of the waters.

Beloved brothers and sisters! Many there are who weep, but only Noah's tears remain. Noah preached 120 years and no one listened, but his preaching remains. Outside the Ark all perished, but all inside the Ark, men and beasts, remained. I tell you, there are those who labour ceaselessly for nothing. Noah's work remains through our Lord Jesus Christ. Many study hard to make money, become corrupt officials and are finished. But if while you study you prepare yourself to be an instrument for the Lord's use, the Lord will preserve your study. Doctors who make a lot of money and build big mansions for their own glory end up nothing, except those who practise for the Lord. Teachers lead a hard life everyday, but if while they teach they are doing it for the Lord, theirs will remain.

Beloved brothers and sisters! Is it vain to be born again and lead a holy life? Is it vain for us to hold this fortnight's meetings? I believe it is not in vain. Many mothers bring up sons who make a lot of money, but in vain. If it is for the Lord to bring up sons, it will remain. Is it vain that our preaching be ridiculed! To carry the Cross for the Lord remains. To bleed and sweat for the Lord --- is it vain? It remains,

One day the whole world will be burnt up. But to witness for Christ, to preach to bear fruit, remains forever. Only the Cross shall stand firm in this mundane world. Should I have 1,000 sons, I would that they all be preachers. For all is vanity. To preach the Gospel to save souls is not in vain. I hope all of you will preach and witness, even while you're a teacher or merchant. We can witness in any profession. Who'll do this? Noah's building of the Ark was not in vain.

THEME SONG

Never fear! He is near!

Look to no man,

Care not what the world may plan.

Only trust in the Lord,

All the way to Beulah Land.

 

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约翰·宋的40篇复兴布道

第八章：挪亚和方舟的建造

（创世记6-7:1-5）

创世记6:1-4。这些经文描述了两种人。第一种是神的儿子。第二种是世人。信徒可以被称为神的儿女，他们属于第一种。不信的人被称为世人，他们属于第二种。神作我们的父，这好不好呢？有人问我：“你的父亲是谁？”我说：“神！”我记得我的父亲是牧师，我是牧师的儿子，那时我多么自豪能和他一起进出教堂！有些不认识我父亲的人问我：“他是谁？”我说：“他是我的父亲！”多么荣耀！如今神是我们的父。多么蒙福！我们拥有自尊。

 这里说，神的儿女与世人通婚。因此，神的灵无法常住在他们心里。神的儿女与世人通婚。多么可怕！世人喜爱赌博、吸烟和饮酒。我们必须在圣洁中与他们分别出来。如果你不在圣洁中与他们分别出来，你必将变得世俗和肉体。

第5-8节。因为世人的罪恶日益增长，神就后悔了。因为世人终日所想的都是罪恶。神看到这一切，就极其悲伤。人应当听从神的话语。他们既已变为肉体，就与神隔绝了。神为此非常悲伤。我记得小时候，我常常和爸爸争吵，他为此打了我。他进房间的时候，我偷偷地往里看。哦！爸爸竟然哭了！ 当上帝看到世人犯罪时，祂也极其悲伤。祂本可以不将他们从地上除灭。

然而，挪亚却蒙了上帝的恩典。世人都犯了罪，唯有挪亚蒙了恩典。这绝非小事。世人或许会忽视我，但若上帝眷顾我，这就足够了。一位妇人对我说：“我的丈夫和公婆都厌弃我。”她伤心欲绝。我问她：“上帝眷顾你吗？”她说：“祂眷顾我！”我说：“这就足够了！”挪亚岂不是一位蒙上帝恩典的人吗？

第9-13节。上帝为何爱挪亚？是因为他的财富？教育？都不是，而是因为他身上有三点优点：1）挪亚因信称义，重生得救；2）挪亚是一个完全人；3）挪亚与上帝同行，即他顺服圣灵的引导。上帝因这三点爱他。 你像挪亚一样吗？重生，拥有圣洁和顺服。

挪亚有三个儿子：闪、含、雅弗。他们家共有八个孩子。“信”字（希伯来语为“信”）由八个字母组成。他们八口都信，都相信上帝。这意义非凡。在许多家庭中，我们看不到如此合一的信仰。丈夫信，妻子不信；婆婆信，儿媳不信；父亲信，儿子不信；哥哥信，弟弟不信。如今，许多家庭因此充满了争吵和伤痛！但挪亚家却是一个幸福的家庭，一个和平安宁的家。

我发现我们家很喜乐，因为我们同心合意地信上帝。我的母亲过去常常带领全家敬拜。我的母亲起初没有受过教育，她来自一个佛教家庭。但我的父亲教她识字，她也成为了一位虔诚的信徒。 我们家的敬拜非常有趣。我们轮流祷告和读圣经。爸爸给我们讲了很多故事。敬拜结束后，我们继续进行音乐环节。每个人都演奏自己的乐器。全家人都充满了喜乐。现在我们都有了自己的家庭。让我们也举行家庭敬拜吧。是的，让我们实践家庭敬拜。我相信挪亚一家也有家庭敬拜。所以上帝呼召挪亚建造方舟，拯救他自己和他的家人。

（第14-22节）上帝吩咐挪亚在山上建造方舟。船原本是为海而造的，但上帝吩咐挪亚在山上建造。挪亚建造的方舟是长方形的：长300肘，宽50肘，高30肘。它看起来很像一本圣经。方舟也是圣经的预表。它有三层，顶层有一个窗户。圣经分为三个部分：1）旧约，2）四福音书，3）书信。 启示录是方舟顶部的窗户。方舟只有一扇门。进入天国也只有一扇窄门。整个方舟由一种木材制成。整本圣经都是圣灵默示写成的。方舟长300肘，象征耶稣在世的三十年。三层也代表耶稣三年的传道生涯。顶部的窗户象征耶稣事工的最后一年，也预表十字架。

世人追求婚姻中的世俗智慧，投身世俗事业。然而，诺亚却留在山上建造方舟。建造方舟需要全家人齐心协力。如果诺亚一家不团结，方舟就无法建成。这是诺亚的第一个优点。其次，诺亚变卖了所有家产，积攒财宝在天上。为了建造方舟所付出的岁月，他甘愿再变卖所有。他一心只想建造方舟。

我也曾对妻子说：“没有什么比建造方舟更重要。”建造方舟就是全身心投入传道。在建造方舟的过程中，我们不应只关注当下，而应着眼于未来。只顾眼前只会让我们灰心丧气。 也许诺亚的某个儿媳妇看到别人烫着卷发，戴着金戒指、金表，过着悠闲惬意的生活，而自己却要在厨房里辛勤劳作，感到沮丧。诺亚安慰了她。也许诺亚的某个儿子说：“其他儿子都从国外受过大学教育回来了，他们打着领带，用刀叉吃饭，而我却要这样辛苦劳作！”诺亚安慰儿子说：“不要只盯着现在，要着眼未来！”也许诺亚的妻子说：“我年纪大了，还要做饭。其他太太去公园玩，多轻松啊！”诺亚也安慰她说：“要着眼未来，不要只盯着现在。”也许诺亚每天都要在家里举行复兴会。

 几年前我回到家时，我记得妻子当时大发雷霆：“什么？我，一个医生的妻子，就什么都没有吗？还要每天做饭？别人都能轻松自在，我的同学们都过得很惬意，而我却要受这么多苦？”我安慰她说：“要着眼未来，不要只盯着现在。”我们不仅要展望未来，还要克制住当下的嘲讽。所有人都嘲笑诺亚建造方舟的愚蠢行为。有些人说他疯了。但诺亚呼吁所有人悔改，因为洪水即将到来。他并非疯子。尽管人们攻击诺亚，他却保持沉默。他每天背负着自己的十字架，建造方舟。他每天在山上辛勤劳作。他传道一百二十年。无人理会。诺亚没有气馁。他坚持不懈。

第7章1-5节。方舟建成后，诺亚把所有的人都带了进去。除了他自己，还有七个人。这七个人预表了七个教会。 还有七对动物，有的高，有的矮。鸟儿也有七对，象征着得胜的基督徒。诺亚组织了一支福音团队，他自己担任队长。他们都进入了方舟。二月十日，方舟的大门关闭了。二月十七日，洪水来袭，淹没了大地。人们逃到山顶。现在他们开始呼求帮助。如今，许多人来到教会，自称是“稻米基督徒”，却永远无法进入方舟。整个世界都被洪水淹没，只有诺亚方舟漂浮在水面上。

亲爱的弟兄姐妹们！许多人都在哭泣，但只有诺亚的眼泪留存下来。诺亚传道一百二十年，无人听从，但他的教导却流传至今。方舟外的人都死了，但方舟内的人和牲畜都活了下来。我告诉你们，还有…… 那些辛勤劳作却一无所获的人。挪亚的工作藉着我们的主耶稣基督得以延续。许多人努力学习是为了赚钱，最终沦为贪官污吏，人生就此终结。但如果你学习的同时预备自己成为主的工具，主必保守你的学习。那些赚了很多钱、建造豪宅只为炫耀自己荣耀的医生，最终一无所有，唯有那些为主而行医的医生才能如此。教师们每天辛勤劳作，但若他们在教书的同时为主而教，他们的生命必将长存。

亲爱的弟兄姐妹们！重生并过圣洁的生活是徒劳的吗？我们举行这两周的聚会是徒劳的吗？我相信并非徒劳。许多母亲养育出赚了很多钱的儿子，但这又是徒劳的。如果养育儿子是为了主，那么这使命必将长存。我们的讲道被人嘲笑是徒劳的吗？为主背负十字架的使命永存。为主流血流汗——难道是徒劳的吗？ 徒劳？它依然存在，

终有一天，整个世界将被焚毁。但为基督作见证，传讲福音结出果实，却永存。唯有十字架在这世俗世界中屹立不倒。即便我有千子，我愿他们都成为传道人。因为一切都是虚空。传讲福音拯救灵魂绝非徒劳。我希望你们都能传道作见证，即便你们是教师或商人。我们可以在任何职业中作见证。谁愿意这样做？挪亚建造方舟并非徒劳。

主题曲

不要害怕！祂就在身边！

不要仰望任何人，

不要在意世人的计划。

只信靠主，

直到得救之地。