A moment of favor from the Lord is better than a lifetime of labour - Ps Simeon Lim/从主而来的一刻恩宠胜于一生的辛劳 – 林西缅牧师

I still remember that day in September 2010 when Pastor Paul and Pastor Esther prayed for me at CKRM, Petaling Jaya. It was on a typical Monday morning breakfast fellowship which Paul and I shared ever since he moved up from Malacca.

We were just sharing when Pastor Esther joined us and began to share how the Lord has called her into this ministry. It was the first time that I have heard her testimony. It was quite a surprise to me for Pastor Esther, the little that I know about her, seldom shares her testimony.

Doubtless, Pastor Paul has been sharing his ‘story’ with me and this time round, Pastor Esther’s ‘story’ was meant to be the ‘final push’. I came to a point where I was able to believe and to completely surrender to the Holy Spirit. Soon I was on the floor praising the Lord with Pastor Esther singing alongside me.

Recalling the whole episode, it was Pastor’s Esther’s compassion and Pastor Paul’s childlike faith that truly impressed upon me. Also, it was for me a time of severe trial as I tried to serve the church with my own strength. I wanted to crucify self but always ended up in failure and frustration. I kept telling myself “Enough is enough of self” but never succeed. It was in my desperation that the Holy Spirit came and filled me.

Till now I am still amazed at the anointing of Pastor Paul. A laying of his hands would cause me to rise up in worship and the presence of the Lord is so real and powerful. Each impartation would find me on the floor.

I begun to read books that I did not know of nor can I find them in my previous churches and seminary. I suppose I have been ‘converted’. Praise the Lord forevermore! Where was the Holy Spirit all those years?

I have come to know more about our God in the last two years than my 24 years in the Lord and I thank God for leading me to CKRM and the fellowship with Ps Paul Ang and Ps Esther. Honestly, I can't find any controversy in CKRM and I am wondering what and why people are saying what they are saying about CKRM.

As Jack Deere aptly says “We can actually serve in the church without the Holy Spirit”. Hundreds of years of traditions and human methods could easily do the things of God without the Holy Spirit while the Word of God becomes some lifeless principles, ethic and values we abide by.

Many have loved Galatians 2:20 and 6:14 as something noble to pursue and yet lacking the ability (or anointing) to live and walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:25). May the communion of the Holy Spirit, the love of God and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all! Amen! (2 Cor 13:14).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pastor's Footnote:
Ps Simeon Lim (then known as Tony Lim) was introduced to me by the late State Assemblyman of Selangor, Bro Edward Lee in 2004. He holds a Master Degree of Divinity (MBS). Strongly grounded on the word on God and like the Bereans (Acts 17:11), he would examine the Scriptures to see that what I have said is true, whether or not it is biblical.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
从主而来的一刻恩宠胜于一生的辛劳 – 林西缅牧师

我仍记得在2010年九月当时保罗牧师和以斯帖牧师在CKRM八打灵再也为我祷告的那一天。那日是打从保罗牧师从马六甲到八打灵再也后, 和我在一个典型的星期一早晨共进早餐交流的时刻。

正当我们在分享时以斯帖牧师加入并开始分享上帝如何呼召她踏入这事工服事的行列。那是我第一次听到她的见证。我感到非常惊讶,因据我所知以斯帖牧师罕有与人分享她的见证。

毫无疑问,从保罗牧师之前不间断地与我分享他的‘故事’,而这一回以斯帖牧师的‘故事’,对我来说实属‘终极推动力’。使我来到一个能够相信和完全降服于圣灵的地步。我立即被圣灵击倒在地上赞美主,以斯帖牧师则伴随在旁唱诗敬拜。

回想起整个事故,确实是以斯帖牧师的爱心和保罗牧师孩子般的信心令我折服。在同时也因着我尝试用自己的力量来服侍教会而面临严峻考验的时刻。我尝试想钉死‘老我’却常常以失败和烦躁收场。我不断地告诉自己受够了,不能再被‘老我’控制,但却不得要领也从未成功。圣灵乃是在我极度需要时降临并充满我。

至今我仍对于保罗牧师的恩膏感到惊讶。他的一个按手导致我在敬拜赞美中被兴起来,并且主的同在是如此的真实和满有能力。在每一次的传递中必见我在地上被圣灵充满。

我开始阅读我从未知晓或在前教会和会议中不可寻获的书籍。我猜想我已被‘转化更新’。赞美主至到永远!这些年来圣灵在哪儿呢?

在这过去的两年里我逐步认识到更多关乎神过于我在主里的二十四年。我感谢神带领我到CKRM 还有与保罗牧师和以斯帖牧师之间的交流。说实在,我在CKRM 里找不着任何可争论的。我对人们给于CKRM的评语和他们所述关乎CKRM的话题感到疑惑。

就如杰克。迪尔适宜地说“没有圣灵,我们依然可以在教会服事”。上百年的诸多传统和人为的千方百计铸成没有圣灵同在仍可轻易地做与神有关的事。但、神大能的话语却变成了一些我们所遵守;没有生命力的原则、道德伦理和价值观。

不少人都爱加拉太书2:20 和 6:14,视之为某种美好崇高的事物来追求,但却缺乏能力(或恩膏)生活或运行在灵里(加拉太书 5:25)。愿主耶稣基督的恩惠、神的慈爱、圣灵的感动,常与我们众人同在!阿门!(歌林多后书13:14)。

我仍记得在2010年九月当时保罗牧师和以斯帖牧师在CKRM八打灵再也为我祷告的那一天。那日是打从保罗牧师从马六甲到八打灵再也后, 和我在一个典型的星期一早晨共进早餐交流的时刻。

正当我们在分享时以斯帖牧师加入并开始分享上帝如何呼召她踏入这事工服事的行列。那是我第一次听到她的见证。我感到非常惊讶,因据我所知以斯帖牧师罕有与人分享她的见证。

毫无疑问,从保罗牧师之前不间断地与我分享他的‘故事’,而这一回以斯帖牧师的‘故事’,对我来说实属‘终极推动力’。使我来到一个能够相信和完全降服于圣灵的地步。我立即被圣灵击倒在地上赞美主,以斯帖牧师则伴随在旁唱诗敬拜。

回想起整个事故,确实是以斯帖牧师的爱心和保罗牧师孩子般的信心令我折服。在同时也因着我尝试用自己的力量来服侍教会而面临严峻考验的时刻。我尝试想钉死‘老我’却常常以失败和烦躁收场。我不断地告诉自己受够了,不能再被‘老我’控制,但却不得要领也从未成功。圣灵乃是在我极度需要时降临并充满我。

至今我仍对于保罗牧师的恩膏感到惊讶。他的一个按手导致我在敬拜赞美中被兴起来,并且主的同在是如此的真实和满有能力。在每一次的传递中必见我在地上被圣灵充满。

我开始阅读我从未知晓或在前教会和会议中不可寻获的书籍。我猜想我已被‘转化更新’。赞美主至到永远!这些年来圣灵在哪儿呢?

在这过去的两年里我逐步认识到更多关乎神过于我在主里的二十四年。我感谢神带领我到CKRM 还有与保罗牧师和以斯帖牧师之间的交流。说实在,我在CKRM 里找不着任何可争论的。我对人们给于CKRM的评语和他们所述关乎CKRM的话题感到疑惑。

就如杰克。迪尔适宜地说“没有圣灵,我们依然可以在教会服事”。上百年的诸多传统和人为的千方百计铸成没有圣灵同在仍可轻易地做与神有关的事。但、神大能的话语却变成了一些我们所遵守;没有生命力的原则、道德伦理和价值观。

不少人都爱加拉太书2:20 和 6:14,视之为某种美好崇高的事物来追求,但却缺乏能力(或恩膏)生活或运行在灵里(加拉太书 5:25)。愿主耶稣基督的恩惠、神的慈爱、圣灵的感动,常与我们众人同在!阿门!(歌林多后书13:14)。
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
牧师注脚:
西缅牧师(前称林东尼)是经已故雪兰莪州州议员,李爱德华弟兄介绍。他拥有神学硕士学位。在神的话语上根基深厚牢固就犹如庇里亚人(使徒行传17;11),他会查考经节看我所说的是否属实,是不是依据圣经。