Stop Collecting Debts!

Thank God our heavenly Father led us into the topic of “Stop Collecting Debts” during last Sunday’s service. Kingdom parables exemplify what the kingdom of heaven is like. When Jesus comes into the world, He fulfils the kingdom of heaven by bringing it into this world.

The world was in darkness and controlled by the devil. This is how we view the world, where we see two kingdoms: one of the darkness and the other of the light. When the light shines in the darkness, the darkness does not accept it. Everyone has to choose between light and darkness. Those who collect debts remain in the darkness and those who forgive enter the light. To forgive up to seventy multiplied by seven times means endless forgiveness. This is a feature of the kingdom of heaven and also where the power lies. I’m grateful that many brothers and sisters as well as co-workers have got the power of the kingdom of heaven after coming to church and they are able to love and forgive one another.

Actually, “collecting debts” is both pitiful and painstaking. The Holy Spirit often reminds me that God sent me back to Hong Kong and I should not repeat the mistakes I made in Vancouver, when I walked in the flesh. No matter what, I have to continue the way of the Tree of Life, to love and to forgive, believing that man will surely change for the better one day. We have been on this path for nineteen years, which not only is it the kingdom of heaven depicted in the Bible but it has also been realized in our midst. The two hundred co-workers and over one thousand cell leaders in our church are following this teaching to forgive and love.

I’m very grateful to C-Mo. I know it’s not easy to not be a debt collector but she always reminds me not to remember the wrongdoings of others, just follow God and become a forgiving man. I thank God for His help for I was abandoned by my father as a child. I reconnected with him only when I was twenty years old and hence began the pathway of forgiveness. I emphathized with him for leaving us back then and it became easier for me to forgive him. As such, I am able to establish a Tree of Life church today. Every year, our co-workers have the opportunity to resolve conflicts instead of avoiding them. If we fear conflicts, the garbage will remain, the root of bitterness will grow, the walls will become higher and higher, resulting in the church becoming divided. Thank God for helping us see that a relationship that overcomes conflicts can then be deeper and go further.

Time flies and next week will be our church’s nineteenth anniversary. We will publish a new book, the Chinese version of “The Angel Inside”. It will be a must-read for all cell leaders, brothers and sisters, and pastors. I bought it twenty years ago and left it on the bookshelf. When we flew to Europe last year, C-Mo took it with her. Then a series of miracles followed and that was described in details in the Foreword and Afterword of the book. The book teaches us how to become the masterpiece of God and how the Holy Spirit works in us through cell leaders’ discipleship and the elder generation teaching the next generation. This book is worthy to be read over and again and thinking deeply about it. It also includes discussion questions designed by our curator staff which help us reflect on our lives. I have been thinking of writing this kind of book long ago to help brothers and sisters disciple and be discipled. Surprisingly, God uses this book that has been untouched for twenty years to speak to us, which is truly amazing.

Dear brothers and sisters, our heavenly Father is seeing us, especially during the pandemic. Our church in Hong Kong and all branch churches are very peaceful. Though all physical congregation have ceased for twelve weeks but thank God we still have online cell group gatherings and everyone continues to give offerings faithfully. Approaching the nineteenth anniversary, we should continue to follow God humbly and stop collecting debts. No matter what our circumstances may be, we shall choose love and trust and let the Tree of Life grow stronger, blessing more people.•[2020.05.03]