第十八天：10月20日(四)

今天，神再次提醒我何谓“新事”：

“看哪！我要做一件新事，如今要发现，你们岂不知道吗？我必在旷野开道路，在沙漠开江河。”
～以赛亚书43：19～

这些年来，我们常在祷告会或聚会时信心满满宣告神会赐福我们超过所求所想，然后情绪高昂喊“阿们！”，很开心满足的回家去。
可是，日复一日、年复一年，一切如常。。。
结果很多人困惑埋心中，有一些依然所谓的“单纯”或“盲目”相信，有一些就干脆信心软弱，不再相信。。。

可是，我每次有感动带领人这样子宣告和祷告时，我的确是很确定会发生，而且知道那感动是来自神，不是搞气氛或煽动情绪！所以，我也很期待看到那些应许成就在大家身上，尤其是那些很需要在生活和经济上突破的人。。。

有时候，我也会问神，你所讲的超过所求所想的事到底是什么啊？几时会来到？

所以，神今天就提醒我几年前听过一位牧师讲的道，他讲了一句话让我印象深刻，我也在教会分享过，即：
“一直反复做同样一件事情，却期待看到不同的效果，是疯狂的！”

很多人期待经济大突破，可是还是一贯做同样的工作、职位或者什么的，当然那不会有改变啊！那也不是什么“新事”！
当然我们也不能说，因此每个人应当换工作或事业，或换个生意做等等，因为只有少数的人能这样做，而且也不完全实际！
那该怎么办呢？

这就是神的启示：
我相信心态得神喜悦的，时候一到，神若不是带领他们到新的领域或机会，就是留在原位有其它不会骚扰到他们份内工作的，从外面来的祝福来到。
就以我自己为例，突然在某处可能我的专辑莫名其妙被注意，而开始触摸到更多人，出版数量增加；或教会收到自己教会以外意想不到的奉献等等。。。

所以，我们灵里一定要敏锐，要会洞察神的机会来到。。。

Day 18 : Oct 20th (Thur)

Today, God reminded me again what a “new thing” means:

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”
~ Isaiah 43:19~

All these years, we often declared with much faith, in the prayer meetings or other meetings that God would bless us beyond what we asked for or imagined, then with highly charged emotion shouted “Amen!”, and went home with much gladness and satisfaction.
But then, day after day, year after year, everything remains the same…
As a result, many people keep their perplexity in their hearts, some continue to believe “innocently” or “blindly”, what is worse, some are stumbled and become weak in their faith and no longer believe…

But, each time when I felt led to lead people with such declaration and prayer, I was very certain it would happen, and knew that prompting was from God, I was not trying to stir up the atmosphere or people’s emotions! So, I was also very expectant to see those promises accomplished on everyone, especially those who desperately needed a breakthrough in their living or finances…

Sometimes I would ask God, what are the things that You referred to that are “beyond what we can asked for or imagined”? When will they arrive?

Therefore, today God reminded me on something I heard from a pastor a few years’ back, he said something that left a deep impression in my heart, I had shared this in church before as well, that is:
“It is insanity to keep repeating the same thing and expecting a different result!”

Many people expect a breakthrough in their finances but they are still doing exactly the same job, in the same position etc, then of course nothing will change!And that is also NOT a “new thing”!
But of course we cannot say everyone must therefore change to a new job or career, start a new business etc because only the minority are able to do that, and it is not entirely practical to do so too!
Then how?

This is God’s revelation:
I believe people with God-pleasing attitudes, when the time comes, either God will lead them into a new territory or opportunity, or they will remain at the same place and without affecting their responsibility and commitment to their job, extra blessings come to them from outside!
To use myself as an example, perhaps suddenly somewhere my albums are being noticed and begin to touch more lives, so publication increases; or our church receives donations and offerings suddenly from outside unexpected sources etc…

Therefore, we must be sensitive in our spirit to discern the coming of God’s opportunities…

第十七天：10月19日(三)

在这段禁食时间，其实都有安排不同的同工或领袖带领每天的祷告会；可是从第一天开始，几乎每一次我都有感动自己带领。。。
感谢主，每一次带得很轻松、很享受，上帝也不断引领启示；神一定给我们知道当天要祷告的事项，和当天要我们学习的真理和属灵功课。事实是，每一天上帝所启示的不止我“禁食日记”里写的那么少或短，只是时间有限，所以我只将部份或重点记载在这里与大家分享。

今天中午神也说了很多话，但我要分享的是晚上的：

Day 17 : Oct 19th (Wed)

Therefore, God said: Do not think that just because outwardly you seem very good at praising, worshipping and praying, very sacrificial in fasting and serving… the prayer you offer up may not be incense! And if it is a foul smell, God will not even come close…

第十六天：10月18日(二)

这几天心里很兴奋，神让我看到禁食的原因和效果，而且进而施恩给我能够成就我意想不到的事情！
短短的几天，上帝给我属天智慧和感动去很实际，又长远的帮助到一些真正有需要的人，尤其是忠心在神面前服事但家里又困苦的人。

早上心里充满这份喜悦和感动，准备去上班，在门口穿鞋子时，突然听见一声：牧师，早安！
看上去，原来是我们住宅区的园丁，一位马来同胞，他专门负责清理垃圾啦、修理园子啦，这一类杂工；工作虽辛苦，他却是很友善，常常都会跟我打招呼。
今天他像往常在清理垃圾，刚好碰到我在门口。

他突然指向我停车处一个摆放了一个多月的坏了的汽车电池，他说：这个你还要吗？

我心里马上有点生气，生气把电池放在那边的一位青年人陈彬，迟迟不拿走或丢掉！我已经警告过他，说我不喜欢丑化我的家，所以不要放垃圾在我门口！

陈彬寄住在我家，一个多月前汽车电池坏了，换了新的就把这坏的放在门口。
两个星期前我已跟他说：我警告你，你如果再不处理掉这电池，下一次我不是提醒你，我是会用咆哮大喊的！（因为我觉得放一个烂电池在家门口实在很破坏美感。）

我当然也问他干嘛不要就马上丢掉，他说他要拿回家给他爸爸拿去卖掉什么的，我还说：卖掉？这东西能值多少钱？天啊！
他就赶忙道歉说他会马上处理掉。。。他的“马上”竟然是两个礼拜后电池还在！你说我气不气？

所以，当这马来园丁指向这烂电池的时候，我的无名火已经慢慢升起了。。。
我心里想一定是我被人投诉了，因为我们住宅区很注重美感、秩序、保安等等。
我心里想待会陈彬回家时他就有好看！

可是园丁接下来却说：若不要了，可以给我吗？
我：啊？这是我家那个小孩的，我得问他一下。。。但你要来做什么？
园丁：我可以把它重新充电，然后用来点亮家里某些灯泡。
我：你家里没电源吗？你住在什么地方？

他就告诉我他住在某个村庄，那边的电源供应不理想，时常没电。

我：可是这个是坏了的。
园丁：不久前隔壁家给我一个更烂的，都足以供应我三个月的电源。。。

我听了心里很难过，原来他家境那么贫穷，马上说：你拿去吧！
园丁：但你还没问那小孩，他生气怎么办？
我：我没骂他已经很客气了，他还敢生气？

但我心生发怜悯问说：你要不要一台新的？
他很讶异回答：哇，如果是新的就能照亮整个屋子了！但不用了，这一个已经够好了！
我：真的吗？我不介意帮你。
园丁：真的，真的！不用了。。。谢谢你，牧师！
我：那好吧，下一次你家里或生活有什么需要就告诉我吧，我尽量帮助你。

园丁很感恩和开心的拿着坏了的电池走了。。。
我看着他的背影，心里想：神啊，怎么这几天一直有意和无意中帮到一些很有需要的人？怎么接二连三都有这个机会和智慧？
神说：你去看看以赛亚58章吧。
我顿时明白了。。。以赛亚58章讲的就是什么是真正的禁食和其效果！

“我所拣选的禁食不是要松开凶恶的绳，解下轭上的索，使被欺压的得自由，折断一切的轭吗﹖
不是要把你的饼分给饥饿的人，将飘流的穷人接到你家中，见赤身的给他衣服遮体，顾恤自己的骨肉而不掩藏吗﹖
这样，你的光就必发现如早晨的光，你所得的医治要速速发明。你的公义必在你前面行；耶和华的荣光必作你的后盾。
那时你求告，耶和华必应允；你呼求，他必说：我在这里。你若从你中间除掉重轭和指摘人的指头，并发恶言的事，
你心若向饥饿的人发怜悯，使困苦的人得满足，你的光就必在黑暗中发现；你的幽暗必变如正午。
耶和华也必时常引导你，在干旱之地使你心满意足，骨头强壮。你必像浇灌的园子，又像水流不绝的泉源。”
～ 以赛亚书58:6-11 ～

Day 16 : Oct 18th (Tue)

Been feeling very excited past few days for God has been showing me the reasons for fasting and the results. At the same time, He grants me grace to accomplish things I did not expect!
Within just a few days, God gave me wisdom from above and prompting to help some truly needy people in a very practical and lasting way, especially those who serve God faithfully and are financially challenged at home.

My heart was filled with this joy and conviction this morning as I was preparing to go to work. While putting on my shoes, I heard “Good morning, Pastor!”
I looked up, it was our gardender, a Malay man. He is in charge of clearing the rubbish, repairing and maintaining the garden etc. His work is rather tough but he is a friendly man, always greets me when he sees me.
Today, as usual he was clearing the rubbish and saw me outside the door.

Suddenly he pointed at an old car battery left outside my door for more than a month already, and asked: Do you still want this?

Immediately my heart was a little angry, I felt angry at Jonas, the young man who left it there and kept delaying to take or throw it away! I had warned him, I said I do not like to uglify my house, so do not leave rubbish outside my door! Jonas is lodging at my place, a month ago his car battery broke down, he changed it and left the old one there outside my door.
Two weeks ago I told him: I’m warning you, if you don’t get rid of this battery, the next time I will not be reminding you, I’ll be screaming and shouting at you! (Because I feel a spoilt battery placed outside my door is really unsightly.)

And of course I asked him as to hy he did not throw it away immediately. He said he wanted to bring it home to give to his dad to sell or something. I even said: To sell? How much can that thing fetch? My goodness!
He apologized very quickly an said he would get rid of it immediately… and his “immediately” turned out to be – after two weeks the battery was still there! Now you know why I was angry!

So when this Malay gardener pointed at this old battery, unknown fire started rising inside…
I thought someone must have complained as my residential area is very concerned about beauty, proper order, security etc.
And I thought in my heart: You are in big trouble, Jonas Tan!

But the gardener continued: If you do not want it anymore, can I have it?
Me: Huh? But this belongs to that boy in my house, I have to ask him… but what do you want it for?
Gardener: I can recharge it and it can light up some bulbs in my house.
Me: Don’t you have electricity supply at home? Where do you live?

Then he told me he lives in a village and the electricity supply is not good and very often fails.
I said: but this is a spoilt battery.
Gardener: The other house gave me an even worse one not long ago and it supplied some three months of power supply to me…

I felt rather sad to think that he is actually so poor, so I said immediately: Just take this!
Gardener: But you haven’t asked the boy, will he be angry?
Me: He wouldn’t dare to, I should be the one scolding him!

My heart was filled with compassion, I said: Do you want a new one?
He was very surprised and replied: Wow! A new one can lit up the whole house! But no thanks, this is sufficient!
Me: You sure? I don’t mind helping you.
Gardener: It’s true, yes, this is good enough… thank you, Pastor!
Me: Oh ok, but in future if you or your family need anything or encounter any difficulty in living, do tell me, I’ll try my best to help.

The gardener was full of gratitude and left happily with that spoilt battery…
Watching him walking away, I thought in my heart: God, how come these few days I seem to be consciously or unconsciously helping quite a few needy people? How come the opportunities and wisdom keep coming to me?
God said: Go read Isaiah 58.
Immediately I understood… Isaiah 58 talks about what a true fast is and the results of such a fast…

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.”
~ Isaiah 58: 6-11 ~