Entering Victory

For last week’s Purim service, I am greatly thankful. Throughout the past seventeen years, we would always perform a drama at Purim, of the story of “Esther.” Due to this year’s COVID-19 pandemic, the children’s drama we had been arranging was forced to cancel! Yet, our God had everything in hand – it took us merely one month to finish the Esther picture book in January this year. As a result, the story of turning defeat into victory was reiterated in a brand new way this Purim–through this picture book! I can see the hand of God leading us!

During the Purim services, I led our male MG leaders and co-workers to pray and confess sins. Kneeling down, I strongly sensed the Presence of God. Wonderfully, the Holy Spirit led us into the flow of sin confession, granting everyone a contrite heart so that we were able to confess sins deeply. Since 8th and 9th February when we confessed sins with 33 branches through live broadcast, we have been entering the truth of 2 Chronicles 7:14. I believe that the deeper we confess sins, the greater the grace of God we shall experience, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

After the Purim services, a strong sense of victory filled C-Mo and me! At that time, Daisy C-Mo of our Taipei branch church presented with suspected pneumonia and was tested for COVID-19. However, we believed that God would grant her victory. Her test result came back negative on Wednesday and she recovered quickly, and was discharged soon afterwards! Another of our co-workers, Rita, has also received miraculous healing: all cancer cells in her body disappeared suddenly! God truly turns defeat into victory for us!

Also, the long-awaited good news arrived: Young Ya is ready! It would be ready for inspection on 20th March, and the office on the first floor shall be available for use shortly. The renovation work of Young Ya met with many difficulties, yet it is all done and ready to be used: indeed, it is a wonderful victory! Even though the Young Ya project costs a lot, the continuous offering from our brothers and sisters improves our cash flow condition. We are largely grateful for God’s provision!

In retrospect, the past three years have not been easy for us: From my brain aneurysm, the life-threatening emphysema of Pastor Jason, the eye injury of Pastor Anna, to the anti-extradition bill tearing society and generations apart last year; emotionally I have been under a lot of pressure. But thank God for leading us step by step out of all the hardships.

We are taken aback as we face even greater battles since the beginning of 2020. Currently the COVID-19 pandemic has caused confirmed cases in over 140 countries, affecting all 50 states of America. Many European countries have closed their borders, and Hong Kong is facing both the crisis of “backflow” cases and a downslide of our economy. But I deeply trust in God’s Grace. He had revealed to us through the prophet to do 40-day fasting and prayer, and then led us into the flow of sin confession and repentance. He will surely listen to our cries and turn defeat to victory for us!

Dear brothers and sisters, let’s march on in faith and keep looking to God. He will make us victorious in all areas of our lives.•[2020.03.22]