撰文／奥克兰教会 沈喜乐（James Shen）｜圣灵月刊356期-2007.05｜主题／真与假
一.进入真教会
小弟出生在一般的基督徒家庭中，虽然谈不上虔诚，但对于有关相信耶稣、敬拜真神的信仰生活却很热心。因此，平时就养成喜欢上教堂聚会的习惯。
1996年11月，我和太太黄宁芳以技术移民的身分从中国广州市移民到新西兰的奥克兰市居住，这是我们第一次出国，也是神引导我们进入真教会的开始。
有一天，刚好是星期六早上，太太看到中文报纸上有真耶稣教会的聚会广告，就问我说：“今天这个真耶稣教会有崇拜聚会，我们要不要去参加？”
我觉得奇怪，心里想：怎么星期六也有崇拜聚会？但仍对她说：“可以去，只要是信耶稣的教会，我们都可以去聚会。”那一天早上，我们夫妻就一边看地图，一边开车，去参加真耶稣教会的聚会。
以前在国内居住时，虽然从小就信耶稣，也常听牧师讲道，却很少读《圣经》，也不明白有关得救的道理，更不知道真耶稣教会是唯一得救的教会。所以，不知道星期六是神所赐福的安息日。
第一次参加真教会的聚会，刚好是林从道长老讲“主必快来”的主题，我对领受该道理的感觉真好！因为刚移民到新西兰的失落感和生活不适的苦楚，让我真盼望主耶稣快点来。
聚会结束后，信徒们的爱心和热情，更让太太深受感动！但那时，我们对真教会的道理还没有了解，也不知道真教会和其他教会有所分别，依旧计划在星期日去其他教会参加聚会崇拜。
从小父母就常叮嘱：“敬拜神要专心，聚会要热心。”但是那个星期日早上起床后，不知道什么原因，我开始发烧、头痛、呕吐，虽然服用退烧药，却不见效果；而且向神祈祷，也没有马上好转，以致我们不能出门。
第二个星期日，我们同样计划想参加其他教会的聚会，却同样遭遇头痛、发烧、呕吐的病痛。后来才明白这是神的保守，借着生病拦阻我们，让我们专心留在真教会慕道，因为只有在真教会，才能领受得救的福音。
之后，我们就常常参加聚会，只要有聚会，都不放过听道理的机会。在慕道期间，感谢神的恩典，开导我们的心能够明白真理，让我们留心听梁得仁传道讲道的录音带。
那时候，移民生活的愁烦，因为有神的道理滋润而得到欣慰，填补了内心的不足，生活中带来许多快乐和满足，我的心也开始对信仰火热起来，爱慕真理的心得到激励，天天读《圣经》，常常祷告，感觉人生最有福气、最有价值的事，就是认识真教会的福音。
1997年5月灵恩会，我们受洗归入真教会，做天父的儿女，并写了许多信给大陆的亲戚朋友，告诉他们真耶稣教会是唯一得救的教会，并将我们在真教会所听到的见证、所领受的真理都详细地告诉他们，巴不得他们也尽快跟我们一样，领受这宝贵的救恩。
感谢神的怜悯，经过几年的时间，蒙神的眷顾和引导，亲戚中已有17位受洗归入真教会，与我们同得这福音的好处。
二.主赐真平安
小弟的母亲在奥克兰教会受洗以后，心中充满喜乐，对神满心感谢！因她想不到在晚年，还能够有机会蒙神带领进入真神亲自设立的属灵真教会，领受真正能得救的福音。
虽然她没有受过很高的教育，但神开导她的心，让她完全了解真教会是创建在使徒和先知的根基上（），不但有圣灵同在，也传扬合乎《圣经》的真理，并有神迹奇事彰显神的能力，证明真教会是属神的教会。
因此，她深深地相信，真教会是唯一得救的教会，虽然她从小信耶稣，也经常听牧师讲道，却从来没有听过这么宝贵的真理；所以，自从她进入真教会以后，心中就一直满有主的平安和喜乐。而且只要有聚会，不论刮风下雨都不放弃敬拜神、听道理的机会。
有一天，她生病了，每吃完东西就会呕吐，连续几天都是这样。在奥克兰医院检查，发现是罹患食道癌，而且癌细胞已经扩散并转移到其他器官。
当时，她的食道下端被癌细胞塞满，什么食物也吞不下去，只能喝水和清汤。医生要帮她做放射治疗，但她考虑如果接受治疗，可能会影响回大陆传福音的计划，所以就放弃了。
她一直有一个心愿：就是要急着回故乡，把真教会的福音传给自己的亲戚。因此，住院八天期间，除了作全身检查和输血以外，并没有做任何治疗就办理出院，回家休息等待机位回广东。那时候，教会的长执和弟兄姊妹，经常到家中探访关心、帮她祷告。
感谢神的怜悯，感谢弟兄姊妹的代祷，她肉体上的癌症虽然没有马上得到神的医治，但神赐给她力量，让她心中平静安稳，一点都不害怕，也没有悲伤愁容，还是对神充满感恩！脸上常常带着笑容说：“感谢神！”
她深信神既然拣选她进入真教会，也必继续带领她一生走在主的道路上。神给她很大的眷顾和恩典，让她在癌疾当中，只要有聚会，还是继续参加，感谢神的心并没有因为病情恶化而减少。
因为不能吞咽固体食物，只能喝液体的东西，加上癌细胞的折磨，她的身体虽然一天比一天消瘦，但她倚靠神的心却更加坚定，更常常说感谢神的话。
那时候，我问她说：“妈妈，妳病得这么严重，为什么还能够有笑容，还能够如此刚强？”
她笑笑回答：“感谢神，我哪里刚强？我也很软弱，是神安慰我，恩待我，加给我力量，使我在患难中不必惧怕，让我在癌疾中没有一点疼痛，既不必吃止痛药，也不需要打止痛针，这就是神奇妙的作为，让我亲自体验到在世界有苦难，但在主里有平安（），因此我一点都不惧怕不忧伤。”
当有机位要回广东时，她已经连续25天只喝液体的食物维持生命，因癌细胞在食道上长得太满，塞住喷门，慢慢地连喝液体都会呕吐出来，所以，身体显得更加虚弱。
乘坐飞机时，我们为她申请了轮椅服务。在飞机上，她喝不下任何饮料，一喝就吐。空姐给了她一根小冰棍，让她舔着解渴。下飞机时，亲戚朋友们看到她，都说她不像是患癌症末期的人，因她依然有说有笑，又听她亲口见证神的奇妙恩典，就很高兴，并归荣耀给神。
很奇妙的是，当回到家后，她就开始可以吃东西了，不论吃硬的食物，还是吞软的东西，都不会呕吐。因此，体力渐渐恢复，不但可以唱诗、祷告、见证真教会的福音，还可以做家务，到公园散步。
当地的真教会弟兄姊妹到家里探访，都因她能够在主里有满足和喜乐就归荣耀给神，因为深知这是神奇妙的作为，也是神所赐的真平安！就这样，她平安、快乐、满足地生活了三个多月。
有一天，居住海边的黄姊妹，在祷告中看到异象，看到一位身穿洁白细麻衣的人站在一个很美的地方，而且有声音说：“这是天父的儿女，这是得救的信徒。”这样的异象和声音重复两次。
这位姊妹祷告之后，心里一直在猜疑，到底这异象是什么意思，为什么会有这样的异象？第二天早上，她和几位弟兄姊妹一起去探访我的母亲并帮助祷告，当她一进到我家，就认出在异象中穿洁白细麻衣的人，就是我的母亲。
于是对大家诉说昨天在祷告中所看到的异象和心里的猜疑，依她信仰的体验和在祷告中对异象的领悟，很可能是主耶稣要将母亲的灵魂接去。这异象乃是要坚定我们亲戚朋友对真教会的信心，使我们的亲人得安慰，让我们知道真教会的信徒，在主里离世是很有福气的。
很奇妙，在那次祷告中，母亲得到圣灵。自从她在真教会信主半年多以来，一直都没有领受圣灵，但她每次在祷告中都很迫切、很专心，因为她相信神的应许，深信神一定会赐她圣灵。
感谢神！在她得圣灵之后的那两天中，她除了跟亲人说几句话之外，几乎都不断地在祷告。第三天的傍晚，家人大大小小聚集到她的房间，看到她依然在祷告，就都跪下来一同祷告。
那次祷告结束之后，她就告诉家人，在这两天的祷告中，一直看到穿白衣的天使在她身边来来回回，所以她心里很满足，有说不出的喜乐，也没有觉得身体有什么不舒服，只觉得有点疲惫，要休息一下，并请家人唱赞美诗89首〈主恩更多〉给她听。很奇妙，当家人还在唱这首诗的时候，就看到她的脸上带着笑容安然地离世。
感谢神的恩典，母亲能够在主里安息，也让家人得到安慰；虽然我们舍不得，但想到她能够归入真教会、领受救恩，就深深感谢神。有些亲人从她身上看到神的奇妙作为，从她的口中得知真理的宝贵，就因此开始慕道，并且蒙神的拣选和引导，归入真教会领受真正的救恩。
（待续）
1.Entering Into True Jesus Church
I was born into a conventional Christian family. With regards to matters of God-worshipping, we were fervent believers and accepted Jesus with faith, except for godliness, which remained to be worked on.
So, the habit of church-going had always been our customary practice and delight. In November, 1996, my wife Anna and I went overseas for the first time on migration to Auckland, New Zealand, under the skills migration category. This was also the beginning of Gods guidance for us to enter into True Jesus Church.
It was, coincidentally, on the morning of a certain Saturday when my wife asked me: "Shall we go and attend the service of True Jesus Church which is to be held today?" upon reading an advertisement in the Chinese newspaper about the church services of True Jesus Church.
At this, I was quite amazed and wondered: how on earth could there be any gathering for service on Saturday? However, I said to her: "Why not? As long as it is a church believing in Jesus, we can go."
So on that very morning, with the help of a map, we set out in our car and managed to find our way to True Jesus Church to attend the service there.
My faith in Jesus started from young when I was in China. During that time I heard many sermons from the pastors, but seldom read the Bible.
For this reason, I was totally ignorant of the Word of salvation or the only church to salvation - True Jesus Church. Hence, Saturday, the blessed Sabbath of God was yet to be discovered.
When I attended the first service of True Jesus Church, I was deeply impressed with the word delivered by Elder Lin on the topic "The Lords Impending Coming".
It was not without reason, because we were in the midst of all the inconveniences and had a sense of loss in our struggle to adapt to a new environment. In fact, I was longing for the speedy coming of our Lord Jesus.
On the other hand, my wife was touched by the love and warmth that the believers shown her after the service.
We would go attend the Sunday service of another denomination the following day after the Sabbath as this was the exhortation from my parents from early days: To attend services regularly and to worship God wholeheartedly.
By then, I was still in the dark concerning the Truth of True Jesus Church and her distinctions among other denominations.
It came to pass when I woke up early on that Sunday morning, I started to have a fever, headache and vomiting, all beyond my understanding.
The symptoms did not go away with medicine; neither did it get any better with prayer. That was what stopped me from leaving my house that day. The same thing happened to me the following week when we planned to carry out our schedule again.
Only later did we come to understand that God had kept us from going to other denominations for services through inflicting sickness on me. God had preserved me so that I might seek the Truth undisturbed in True Jesus Church -
the only church where the gospel of salvation is. Henceforth, we became regular church-goers in True Jesus Church, and held fast to every opportunity to hear the sermon.
Thank the Lord for His grace in guiding us in pursuit of the Truth; in enabling us to understand the Truth and listen attentively to the tapes of the sermons of Preacher Tet-Rheng Liang.
We were very much consoled and nourished by the Truth during such a troubled time of our migrants lives. The Word of God filled up the void within our hearts with abundance and joy.
Enthralled and nestled in a state as this, my heart began to glow with enthusiasm in the belief. Basking in adoration for the Truth, I was motivated to take on the pleasant routine of daily Bible-reading and constant prayer.
To get to know the gospel of True Jesus Church is the most blessed and valuable matter in the whole world.
Thus, in May 1997, during the spiritual convocation, my wife and I were baptised into Christ in True Jesus Church, transforming ourselves into the children of the heavenly Father.
After our baptism, we wrote numerous letters to our friends and relatives back in China, informing them that the True Jesus Church is the only church to salvation. In addition, we also gave them a precise account of the testimonies we heard and the Truth we learnt; hoping that they would also receive the invaluable salvation.
We thank God for His merciful guidance and keeping, that in the course of a few years, 17 of our relatives have been baptised into Christ receiving the goodness of the gospel along with us.
2.The Lord Bestows True Peace
My mother was overwhelmed with gratitude and joy after her baptism in Auckland Church. The reason being that the chance granted to her to enter True Jesus Church at her old age was something out of her imagination. This is a spiritual church established by God Himself where one can receive the sound gospel of salvation.
My mother was not highly educated, but because of Gods enlightenment, she could comprehend that True Jesus Church is a church built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets （）.
This church also has the abidance of the Holy Spirit; proclaims the biblical truth, testifies to the power of God with signs and miracles in witnessing True Jesus Church as the church of God. Since then, my mother had a profound faith in True Jesus Church - the only church with salvation.
Although she believed in Jesus from her youth and has heard numerous sermons from pastors throughout her life, she had never heard such sound doctrines as those in True Jesus Church.
Having full confidence in the Lord, her life was one filled with peace and joy. She would never let go of any opportunity or be absent from attending church services even in times of bad weather.
Rather, she would make use of every opportunity to come to church to listen to the Truth and worship God. One day, my mother had fallen ill. She vomited whatever food she ate and this continued for a few days.
After a check up in Auckland Hospital, the results showed that she had cancer of the esophagus that already spread to other organs; at the same time, the lower part of her esophagus was blocked with cancerous cells that stopped her from swallowing any food except for water and broth. Doctors dictated radiotherapy for her.
As my mother had planned to go back to Mainland China to preach the gospel, she thought her plan would be deterred from realisation.
Her wish was to go back to her homeland in the shortest time possible to preach to all her relatives the gospel of True Jesus Church. That was why she did not go for radiotherapy.
Apart from a thorough body check-up in the hospital and a blood transfusion, she did not receive any other treatment. She was discharged from hospital eight days later and returned home to have a break while waiting for an air ticket to go back to Kwong-Chou.
During this interval, she received many visitations and intercessions from our church elders, deacons and brethren. Though there were no signs of improvement in her condition, we were deeply grateful for Gods loving kindness and intercessions of the brethren.
God had granted my mother strength and awesome courage, so that she had no fears and bore no worries on her face. Instead, words of gratitude would always be heard from her mouth and smiles be seen on her face.
She had full conviction in Gods election - since He had chosen her into True Jesus Church, He would also guide her throughout her life.
Indeed, the unfailing love and grace of God continued to lavish on her. Her practice of church-going went on as usual and her heart of gratitude did not lessen amidst her deterioration.
However, under the devastation of the cancerous cells and the only intake being liquid and no solid food, she grew skinnier and skinnier each day. Notwithstanding that, she remained adamant and held onto her faith and her words of thanks toward God came even more frequently.
I couldnt help asking her: "Mother, what makes you so strong? How could you still smile when you are so sick?"
"Thank God. I am not strong. In fact, I am very vulnerable. It is God who has been gracious to me by comforting and strengthening me, so that I fear no evils in this troubled time.
You see, this is His marvelous works; I take no pain-killers, either orally or by injection yet He allows me to be pain-free in this condition and makes me experience peace in Him against the troubles in this world （）, that is why I am neither sad nor discouraged." she answered me with a smile.
By the time a flight was available to Kwong-Chou, twenty five days had passed. By then, my mother was very weak, only depending on liquid food to sustain her life.
But this was also gradually taken away from her as the cancerous cells in her esophagus multiplied and filled her pharynx, so that she would belch even with the liquid she took.
We applied for wheelchair service when we boarded the plane. She drank no liquid inside the plane because she would belch as soon as she did. So, the air hostess gave her an ice cone for her to lick to keep her throat moist.
On her arrival at the airport, friends and relatives were glad to see her and praised God because they thought she did not look like a terminally-ill cancerous patient. She would talk and laugh and bear testimonies of the amazing grace of God on her. The most wonderful thing happened when she arrived home.
She was able to start eating food again, regardless of whether it was hard or soft, she would not vomit. Gradually she regained her strength; not only could she sing hymns, say her prayers, testify the gospel of True Jesus Church, she could even do house chores and go for a stroll in the park.
Whenever the local church brethren came to visit her, they would glorify God for they witnessed contentment and joy she had in the Lord.
They too were deeply convinced that it was the amazing grace of God that had made whole in her the true peace. My mother had lived contentedly in joy and peace for more than three months.
One day, Sister Huang saw a vision while praying in her house by the seaside. In the vision, someone clothed in white linen was standing in a very beautiful place. Then a voice said: "This is a believer to be saved, the child of the Heavenly Father." This vision and voice occurred twice in her prayer.
After the prayer, perplexed, she kept wondering about the meaning and the reason for the vision. The riddle was solved the next morning when she and some other brethren visited my mother. She recognized my mother as the one in her vision who was dressed in white linen as soon as she stepped inside our house.
Sister Huang began to relate the incidence that happened during her prayer the day before concerning the vision she saw, and the suspicion she held against it. According to her comprehension and her experiences of faith, it could be that the Lord Jesus was about to take my mother away.
The purpose of this vision is to strengthen the faith of our relatives and friends towards True Jesus Church; to console us by making us understand that the blessings in a believer being called back to the Lord are indeed great. Afterwards, we had a prayer together and amazingly, my mother received the Holy Spirit during that very prayer.
Ever since my mother was baptised, she prayed earnestly and wholeheartedly for the Holy Spirit for more than 6 months without success, yet she would not budge. Her faith in the promises of God did not fail her.
Thank God, after she received the Holy Spirit she talked very little to us, but prayed for most of the two days that followed. On the evening of the third day, the household, young and old alike, gathered in her bedroom.
On seeing that she was still praying, we also knelt down to pray together with her. After the prayer, she told us that she had been seeing angels in white walking to and fro around her during her prayers in the last two days. She felt very contented with exceedingly great joy in her heart.
She felt no discomfort physically; except for a little exhaustion for which she thought she would like to have a rest. At the same time, she requested if we could sing her hymn number 89 （His Grace Aboundeth More）.
An amazing thing happened while we were singing the hymn. We saw a smile appeared on her face, and peacefully, she breathed her last.
We missed her very much after she passed away. But we were much consoled and grateful for the Lords mercy granting her the salvation in True Jesus Church and allowing her to rest in the Lord. This incident had an impact on some of our relatives.
They were very much moved and began seeking for the Truth - the profound Truth they had initially heard from her and now seen the wonderful works of God done through her under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In turn they were also chosen, to receive the sound doctrine of True Jesus Church.