Perseverance from suffering

28th November, 2006 (Tuesday)


For the recent half month, Pastor Li start to take vegetarian food only, even excluding fish. River water fish has been his favourite but he has ceased taking it for a long while. I feel a bit uneasy after reading the news about poisoned fish today. His main diet includes brown rice, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, sweet potato, tomato, potato, nuts and etc. Going back to the nature is a big change for him, which he has to put up with. Everyday, he is eating similar food in a disciplinary manner. He prays for not vomiting before taking in the food. He chews twenty to thirty times for each mouthful of food. We also need to clean the food from pesticide beforehand. He is suffering from swollen abdomen, swollen feet and vomiting, which are similar to the symptoms of pregnancy. Now, he is tasting the suffering of pregnant woman. God moulds our character with suffering as the Bible says,

3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5)


Mrs Li

A small cloud in the sky

26th November, 2006 (Sunday)


41And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink… 43 "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "G0 back." 44 The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'" 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on ... 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab ...
(1 Kings 18:41 - 46)

On Mount Carmel, prophet Elijah not only told the Israelis to return to the Lord, he also eliminated all the prophets of Baal. He then told Ahab to eat and drink because it was going to rain soon. Actually, it was a declaration with faith. He knew about God’s will before thing did happen that it was going to rain! It was an encouragement to me. It is a prayer with faith that God will answer.

When Elijah reached the top of Mount Carmel, he bent down on the ground to pray earnestly. He also told his servant to look towards the sea. The servant returned and said there was nothing. Elijah told him to go for seven times. The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ Prophet Elijah knew that God had answered his prayer. He told his servant to inform Ahab, ‘hitch up the chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’ Suddenly, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on. Hallelujah!

Recently, I returned to the hospital for follow up treatment. The SGOT index is rising which is not a good thing. However, the cancer index of my liver is dropping for the first time since I was admitted to the hospital. It has only dropped for a small figure (6%). On that day, God guided me to read these scriptures. The dropping index was a small figure, same as the cloud as small as a man’s hand to Elijah. I believe God has listened to our prayers. ‘The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.’ (James 5:16) I would keep moving ahead with faith.

When I am ill, the treatment is giving me a lot of hard time. Not only I suffer from pain, I vomit a lot which affects my appetite. It affects my emotion that I would feel helpless and down. I am grateful that whenever I come to God to pray, lift these uncomfortable feelings and emotions to Him, He would give me strength to overcome the pain. I am very much appreciated my wife for her love and caring during my illness. I am deeply touched. Our family always gather together to pray. It makes things easier during my suffering. This blood test report is telling me that I am looking at a small cloud but God has started working on me. God’s will is, ‘Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.’
(3 John 1:2)

Pastor Li

Proclaim His work

24th November, 2006 (Friday)

Pastor Li describes that the battle is tense. While his tumour index drops slightly, the liver infection index is rising, which affects his liver. Currently, he gets tired easily and he has the urge of vomiting after drinking some water. His appetite is not good, wondering if it is caused by the anti-toxic food. The doctor recommended drugs for anti cancer cells and withering blood vessels of cancer cells. We are now praying for God’s guidance. Please also pray for Pastor Li.

We proclaim :
1. "I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done." (Psalm 118:17)

2. " who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. "(Psalm 103:3-5)

Mrs. Li

Unfailing faith

23rd November, 2006 (Thursday)

Yesterday, Pastor Li had a blood test in the hospital but the report was not ready when we were leaving. In the evening, we prayed together as a family and we had a strong faith about God’s healing. We prayed that God would heal his windpipe and voice, so that he could pray. (His speaking was affected by the swollen abdomen this week.) We also prayed that God would heal his ascites.

Afterwards, I read a book ‘How to be healed from cancer’ (如何從癌症得醫治). I always wanted to read it but did not have the time before. I was encouraged after reading the book. The author is a diligent person who is keen on serving God. It was the final phase of liver cancer when she first knew about her illness. It was estimated that she had only three weeks left. However, she was determined to be healed by God. After returning home from the hospital, she faced the battle with faith. Everyday, she declared God’s healing with scriptures (40 paragraphs in total). Of course, there was prayer support from her family, brothers and sisters. As time goes by, she did not receive any treatment nor chemotherapy. After a few years, she had a body check and no cancer cell was found left in her body. She is still alive after 24 years long!

God has strengthened our faith with this book. A phone call was received from the hospital today. His SGOT was very high (670) while the AFP was lower comparing to last time he was admitted to the hospital. (The test was done in a private laboratory last time and the index unit may be different. It may be inaccurate to say that the index is lower by half.) He was requested to take a blood test in the hospital tomorrow.

As the author says in the book, we have faith in our heart but our mind may be affected easily. Doubts are from our mind. They are from the Satan, so don’t let it proclaim our sin. We are grateful that his windpipe and voice is getting better today.

Prayer request :
Pray that God will heal Pastor Li’s liver infection and maintain his liver function
Pray that God will keep his faith of getting healed
Pray that God will wither his tumour

Mrs. Li

Experiencing the real victory (2)

(Continued)

‘Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go, worship the LORD. Even your women and children may go with you; only leave your flocks and herds behind."
But Moses said, "You must allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. Our livestock too must go with us; not a hoof is to be left behind. We have to use some of them in worshiping the LORD our God, and until we get there we will not know what we are to use to worship the LORD." ’ (Exodus10:24-26)

2. To serve God with all our heart and mind
Israel is a nation which has experienced numerous sufferings. The Lord let them suffer in Egypt for 400 years, which is not a short period of time. However, when the time had come, the Lord did things to save His people. He sent Moses to perform miracles before Pharaoh and swept the place with ten plagues before Pharaoh allowed the Israelites to go to serve their Lord, Jehovah. In the beginning, he still asked them to leave their livestock in Egypt, but Moses rejected straight away. When Moses insisted that the entire house of Israel, including all their property and resources, had to serve Jehovah, God further did a miracle for them. They could pass through the Red Sea successfully. This has enlightened me tremendously. We have to serve our God all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength. Our family and property are things that God has entrusted to us for management. All have to be returned to Him someday.

Egypt stands for the world while Pharaoh stands for the King of the world. If we are not vigilant, do not always come before God and renew our strength in His presence, then we cannot overcome the king of the world. It always tempts us within in order to rule over God’s people. The king of the world does not let us serve God together with our whole family with all our heart and all our mind. We will be made aberrant from God through the weaknesses in our life, namely “the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does”. We will have already served ourselves and the world before we know it.

Sufferings make us return to God. In the treatment days of my cancer, I have understood God’s will. Therefore, I examined myself thoroughly before God and drove away all the things that ruled over my life. I let Jesus Christ be King of my heart. I have also determined to offer everything that I have all over again to God. I pray fervently to God that my whole family can serve Him and our lives will not be bound by the king of the world. I believe that we will have victory, like Moses and God will have peace for us. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Romans 16:20)

Pastor Li

Experiencing the real victory (1)

Monday, 20 November 2006

“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5)

Today (Sunday) I listened to the CD of Pastor Jiang Xiu Qin: The strategy for the warfare in the last days. She mentioned the target of warfare in it, which gave me some insights. So, I’d like to share them with you.
Satan always attacks us through sufferings. However, God allows suffering to fall upon us because He wants us to experience the real victory, participate in His divine nature as we dwell in His abundance and be more like Him.

1. Having His divine nature
Job was described in the book of Job as a reputed righteous man in the contemporary society. He occupied a high position, had great power and was respected by the contemporary society and the people. What’s more, he performed charity widely so that those in poverty and hardship could receive assistance. Therefore, in everyone’s eyes, he was a first-class righteous and blameless man. However, God allowed Satan to attack him so that he experienced such great suffering, namely losing his family members, wealth and had painful sores spread over his body causing him great pain.

His three friends comforted him but later it turned out to be a debate. Job could not restrain to repeat his own good deeds, so we can notice that self righteousness had become a broken place in his life, that gave Satan a chance to attack. The Lord allowed suffering to come because He wanted Job to be more like Him; not to rely on his own ability, good deeds and wealth etc. However, when God revealed to him, he immediately said that he despised himself and repented in dust and ashes. He began to notice his own problem and then he humbled himself and repented to God before he faced God again.

In the 40 days of praying and waiting, the Lord let me see some broken places in my life. I recall that the first day after I received chemotherapy happened to be a Sunday. God gave me a message in Chapter 6 of Joshua, namely the way to get prepared for entering Canaan was to consecrate oneself, humble and obedient. In the past, others saw me as strong and courageous, but I do have a lot of fears and weaknesses deep inside when facing such great blow. However, when I was willing to return to the Lord and offered my prayers, worship and praise to Him, the power of God fell upon me. Death does scare people, but by the power of the resurrection God, our bodies which are doomed to die can live again through the Holy Spirit within us. Hallelujah! Therefore, I have to hang in there with faith; who stands firm to the end will be saved! I don’t know when the suffering will come to an end, but I have to enter into his rest and let Him dwell and reign within me. God also let me learn not to focus on the circumstances alone but to trust in the Lord with all my heart, not to lean on my own understanding and He will make our paths straight. (To be continued)

Pastor Li

A great cloud of testimonies

Saturday, 18 November 2006

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

In these 40 days, there was a drastic change in our daily lives; at the beginning we were at a loss and then trying gradually to get used to this way of life. We had every thought in our routine lives fighting for this spiritual battle. I had to keep pace with his physical situation every day, like “Da Chang Jin”, I studied and prepared the appropriate food for him. Almost every day, I had to phone some people whom I had to contact. On Saturday mornings, we usually went to see the Chinese herbalist and in the afternoon, some friends came to visit us, thus our lives were fully packed like this. When can the burden entangling us be lessened......Oh Lord? When will you come to heal him? When can I get the time to read the books I like to read?

Thank God, on every morning, there is some time and space for me to pray out loud so that I can meet my Lord and ask Him to grant me joy. As a result, God’s joy has filled me so that I have the power to cope with the works every day. Besides, I have a good health too. Recently, we have known some brothers and sisters who had cancer initially, but they were healed by God alone without receiving any medication, undergoing any operation or chemotherapy. They are like a great cloud of witnesses to us. To God be the glory!

Prayer items:
1. Thank God, he is in a much better fettle this couple of days and his body has a reaction of discharging toxins. Pray that the Lord will reduce his SGOT.
2. Pray that the Almighty God will demonstrate His healing power on him.
Mrs. Li

Blessed from God’s works for the good

Thursday 16 November 2006

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

When Pastor Li was hospitalized and came to know that he had liver cancer, my home phone never ceased ringing. I had to repeat his situation many times, which was a bit unbearable for me indeed. Our children began to evade from receiving phone calls and even went out more often. Our daily lives were also hectic. So I started to think if there were ways to save our time. Though we had no knowledge on blog production at all, thank God, during the first week when I was extremely confused, He let me think of using a blog to spread our news. Then all parties, including co-workers who care about him, brothers and sisters at church and our relatives can understand his most updated situation simultaneously. Besides, this can also save us much time for making replies.

God’s ways are higher than our ways. To us, a blog has a second function. When we heard from the doctor that nothing further could be done and we could try a new medication still at clinical stage during the next follow-up treatment……, on one hand, we were struggling deep inside while on the other hand, we were asking for God’s guidance in our prayers. Is he really going to be a guinea pig? At this moment, some brothers and sisters in Lord, whom we didn’t know or were not very familiar with took the initiative to contact us through the blog, saying that they were moved to introduce some natural ways of healing to us. This is a third road apart from Chinese and Western medicine. What I got from the Lord was that at his present situation, Pastor Li can also adopt dietotherapy and increase his immunity, which have been bestowed to us long ago when He created us.

The blog serves a third function, namely a bridge when it is inconvenient for Pastor Li to go around. He still has to write his life sermon to encourage and comfort those brothers and sisters who are in suffering as he is through words. At the same time, he himself is also strengthened and blessed. Among them, some brothers and sisters were healed by God and we praised God for them while some are still in agony and pain and we encourage one another with the words of God. Some of them suffered from cancer before but now they can take care of other patients. We thank the Lord for them.

Prayer items:
1. His SGOT has risen to 500, (SGPT:74), so he is rather tired. Pray that God will reprimand the evil one and reduce his SGOT so that his liver can function properly.

2. Thank God! The AFP index figure has dropped to over half of the figure recorded initially, but the figure is still very large. Pray that God will continue to heal him and make the cancer cells perish.
Mrs. Li

You are always in my heart

Tuesday, 14 November 2006


Life experience in 40 days

When I returned home and prayed after receiving the chemotherapy on the first day, God gave me a challenge; that is, He wanted me to wait for Him in prayers for 40 days. He promised to give me a breakthrough in my life and today happens to be the 40th day. Last evening, two sisters in Lord came to visit me and pray for me in my place. One of them came with a song, saying that this was the song God gave me. To my surprise, this song reverberated in my dream in the midnight. It was amazing! This can also reflect what my heart had been thinking while waiting for God within these 40 days.

Who has promised not to desert me throughout my life
Who walked with me on every stretch of narrow road
Who even led me to lie on the still green grass
His grace is even more plenty than the sand on the beach
Who has promised to look after me day by day
Showing love and care day and night and has even counted my hair
Who has also driven away my inner fear and cowardice with love
Why would I fear of the potential whirlpool on the journey
As you are my Lord my refuge
My shield and my song
You are my fortress My timely help
Come in faith let’s sing songs of praise
You are always in my heart
Only in You is there an eternal river
I will not trust in any others apart from You
Who am I for you Lord to show such great mercy and love upon

I hope that you like this song as well. May it encourage you in your life! The reflections on these 40 days are still being arranged and I hope that I can further share with all of you after I have sorted them out today.

Pastor Li Kin-wah

Resist the devil’s attack

Sunday 12th November 2006

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1Peter 5:7-10)

For those suffering, they not only have to deal with the pain and suffering, they also have to war against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. These evil spiritual forces will devour those who are not standing firm in the faith when they undergo suffering; so Satan is the real enemy and suffering is spiritual warfare.
Those undergoing suffering have to face the following challenges:

1. Worry
When we suffer, a scheme that Satan often uses is to cause us to worry. In the more than forty days of cancer therapy, it is not that I did not worry, sometimes I feel so overwhelmed, but I choose to stand on the Words of God and resist “Worry”. The Bible says, ‘Each day has enough trouble of its own.’

2. Fear
Everyone suffering has this feeling. But if you allow fear to wrap itself around your emotions and to dominate your thoughts, you will easily be devoured by the enemy. Therefore everyday I proclaim the Words of God, “God is my refuge and my fortress; He has become my salvation…” That means I’m saying, “Since we are heirs of God, no one can snatch from God's hand His promises for us.”

3. Doubt
Apart from the above two points, the enemy also endeavours to attack our faith. “Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” (1Peter5:9)
Sometimes, we wonder if our sins had so angered God that He is allowing suffering to come into our lives; sometimes we doubt the faithfulness of God. But if we stand firm in the faith, then no matter what happens, we still have the peace and joy in our heart. Therefore we must firmly believe in the loving-kindness and the faithfulness
of our God and not sin against God in words or speech.

4. Self-pity
For those who are so seriously sick that they had to stay home by themselves, yet cannot get much done at home, they may feel a deep sense of worthlessness. This sense of worthlessness and meaninglessness has to be resisted. “After you have suffered a little while, (God) will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”

Whenever I cannot fall asleep or wake up in the middle of the night, it is so easy to be affected by negative thoughts and 1Peter 5:7-10 really helps to strengthen my faith. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Rev Li Kin Wah

Fellowship in the Body of Christ

Saturday, 11th November 2006.

Because of his serious illness, Rev Li has not been to Sunday church service for over a month. He always wants to go but I discourage him from doing so because of the greater risk of infection amongst crowds. One of the sisters reminded him about partaking of Holy Communion. Before, when he used to have Holy Communion in the Church, he would focus on serving others. However, now, he remembers the body and blood of Jesus Christ alone in the confined four walls of our apartment. He gives thanks, blesses the elements, meditates, prays and experiences an even more intimate time with the Lord.

Since his illness, apart from fellowshipping with the Lord, he spends more time with brothers and sisters in the Lord. Before, for whatever reasons, Rev Li was always ever so busy: ministries that continuously demanded his attention, non-stop meetings, unending telephone calls...... Now, brothers and sisters in Christ would visit him just to bring him greetings and blessings. He is happy to have the opportunity to sit with them amicably. Although conversation is often focused around his illness or our family, he deeply appreciates the fellowship of body of Christ.

Apart from fellowshipping with brothers and sisters in the Lord, he also spends more time with family and friends. The love and care expressed is beyond words. Praise the Lord! Even though he is in the midst of tribulations, we can see the abundance of the love and grace of God upon him! Formerly, Rev Li was always busy for God, now he is resting in His grace.

Mrs. Li

Learning from Sarah

Friday 10th November 2006

In the past month, Rev Li has heard the Lord said three times that He will heal him. Every time, it happened in the wee hours of the morning, Rev Li, hypnogogic, received these visions from the Lord. The first time he was with the Lord on a boat. The Lord told him, ‘Do not be afraid. Only believe!’ The Lord even gave him a bowl of fish congee. The second time, the promise came through Isaiah 43:19 “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.” Then the Lord told him, ‘I will heal you,’ a third time and even added ‘Nothing is impossible with God!” These were Rev Li’s personal experiences. I can only believe and hold on to God’s promises in faith. Rev Li even said that God told him he will have a new and even bigger ministry. I ask, ‘O Lord, is this for real? Is it still possible?’

Then I remembered the story of Abraham and Sarah. They were both old and beyond childbearing age but the Lord promised to make their descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore! Because Sarah thought she was infertile, she decided to use man’s way - after the flesh, to bring about God’s purpose. Today we are still suffering from her having walked in the flesh.

Since modern medicine has nothing to offer Rev Li: his condition is inoperable, liver transplant is impossible, chemotherapy is ineffective, God will have all the glory.
I would just like to ask, ‘Lord, when are You going to heal him? How are You going to do it? How would I know when the healing is of You and when it is of man?’ May the Lord guide us and enable us to submit to Him.
Mrs Li

Jesus is my true Light

Wednesday 8th November 2006

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
(Matt6:26)
Starting from last week, I have changed my sleeping habits: Early to bed, early to rise. Every night, I go to bed at around nine to ten o’clock and get up six thirty or so for my morning stroll in the garden of the podium. A Chinese herbalist told me that the morning rays of dawn is most beneficial; apart from that, the air by the trees is full of negative ions and so is especially fresh.

I found my stroll in the morning refreshing. Sunrise is such a beautiful time of the day! What a pity that most city folks are too busy to appreciate this wonderful aspect of God's creation. In the little mound behind the podium of my apartment are many tall Acacia trees from Taiwan that reach to the heavens. One of the reasons that these trees grow to such height is that they can be closer to the sun. Through the beauty of the early morning scene, it seems as though the Lord is extending an invitation to me: “He is the true Light, draw near to Him.”

Yesterday, as I was walking, I asked the Lord, “Can you give me proof so I can know that You care for me?” After a little while, I passed by a small Ficus tree and suddenly I heard baby birds chirping; I looked up and discovered a bird's nest. Today, I even noticed birds leaving the nest in search of food. The Lord said to me, “If I care for the birds of the air, how much more you, the son that I love.” I was instantly comforted. Our lives are much more valuable than grass, trees and the birds of the air!! I will endeavour to live a good life, pressing in towards the dreams that the Lord has given me.
Rev Li Kin Wah

The Last Seven Words of Jesus revisited

Tuesday 7th November 2006

Yesterday, I enjoyed reading Jack Hayford's “God did not promise blue skies”. The book is based on the last seven words of Jesus and is also the theme of the book: How to face life's difficulties with courage. I felt greatly encouraged after reading the book. Every one of these last words of Jesus was full of hope, bringing a glimmer of light into the lives of those in tribulations. I will share four of these words with you.

1. Forgive all who has hurt you. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke23:34)
After I realized that I was in late stage liver cancer, I prayed to God, crying out to Him to help me forgive those who had hurt me in the past. Apart from that, I was able to ask, face to face, those whom I had hurt in the past for forgiveness. After I did that, I experienced great relief in my heart. I did not even realize that I had hurt anyone but when the Holy Spirit brought revelation, I immediately obeyed the prompting of the Holy Spirit and did what the Lord would have me to do.

2. Help those who are in the same boat. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:43)

3. Love and care for your family. "Dear woman, here is your son,… Here is your mother." (John19:26-27)
Often, the focus of greetings, comfort and concern would be on the sick. Actually the relatives of the diseased are under a lot of pressure too. Apart from worrying, they had to put up extra time and energy to take care of the daily needs of the sick, my children also had been busy responding to all the affectionate greetings of others etc. Because of this, I now learn how to be more concerned about the feelings of my family members. I was talking to my daughter one time and I discovered that she needed me to give her time to listen to her feelings. Only then did I realize that I was not a very good listener at home. Most of the time I was quick to speak and slow to listen – maybe that's a common problem among pastors! After meditating about it, I can choose to step back from my sickness to care for my family and together face this journey with a joyful heart.

4. Cry out to God. “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

5. Honestly admit my need. “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28)

6. Final destination in sight. “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
The sick need to set some goals and do what he feels is meaningful. In Taiwan there is a cancer patient who was given three months by doctors. However, she firmly believed in God, and in spite of her own pain, ministered to other patients. She is still alive after twenty-one years. The cancers never left her but she miraculously persevered as a volunteer in the hospital. As a result the Lord was greatly glorified in her life. I also purpose to serve God and care for those in need.

7. Give God your tribulation. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:46)
The way to overcome your trials and tribulations is to put yourself into the hand of God. This is the most secure way. It is also the key to victory.

Pastor Li Kin Wah

A day when life is changed

Sunday Nov5th 2006
1Kings 18

On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah had to face Israel, a people who had turned away from God. God gave him faith and he was able to turn the entire nation of Israel. He challenged the people, “If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” On that day, the people repented and turned back to Jehovah. In a day, the entire nation was changed. How good it would be if Hong Kong could be changed by God in a day! How good it would be if the church could be changed by God in a day! How good it would be if our life could be changed by God in a day!

The work the Lord gave to Elijah was significant historically but in the last days, the mission and power of Elijah will fall on the people of God once again. We wait in anticipation for this life changing power to come to us in a mighty way.

Since diagnosed with liver cancer last month, my life was turned upside down. Everything had to be rearranged. This was also a time of self-examination and reflection. First of all I had to ask myself, spiritually, whether I had followed God or had I used man’s way to do His work? Did I try to please Him or did I try to please men? Do I love my ministry, my family, and my position more than I love God? These and many other pointed questions came to my mind….

As for my daily living, there has been a drastic change in my diet. I cannot eat most of the food that I used to love. Now my diet is mainly fruit and vegetable with unpolished rice and fish. I find it difficult at first! I call it my “Manna meal”. The Israelites had to take such bland food for forty years whilst I only took it for a month or so and I am already complaining. Since this is beneficial for my body, I am learning to accept it and even enjoy the taste of fresh food. I had my first ever freshly squeezed vegetable juice, it tasted awful but compared to the herbal medicine, it is not so bad after all!

The most significant change is in my family life. Through this illness, I realized that I had to apologize to my wife and my children. I confessed and repented for neglecting them and not giving them time while I was busy ministering to others and for not being a good shepherd to them. Is there anything too difficult to say when you are faced with issues of life and death? As a result, the Lord changed our relationship. In His mercy, we are learning to be united, learning to love each other, learning to pray together, learning to mend relationships. This is the exact work of the Elijah that is to come, turning the heart of the fathers to the children and the heart of the children to the fathers. Do you want a breakthrough in your life? We have only one choice, “Serve God; not the idols in your heart.”

Pastor Li

The day of the Banner of Victory

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Today, some pastors came over to see Rev. Li. God used them to encourage us to hold on God’s sovereignty and promises, and declare that Satan had no authority in the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and resist all cancer cells and tumors, and look up to God’s healing moment. Among them, there was a Chinese medicine doctor. He studied the reports of Rev. Li, and examined his tongue. He said Rev. Li’s liver function is still good. He also gave us suggestions to our diets and areas that we needed to improve.

The whole family has to face this spiritual warfare in unity, and with the help of the cheering of the brothers and sisters, satan has no place to hide himself. When I was fixing my eyes at the sunflowers on the window sill, I was thankful to God for many things, and the supports and prayers of the brothers and sisters. God uses His Word to fortify, and assure us, making us await Him patiently. We can declare in faith that the day of the victory of the banner of Jehovah has come.

Mrs. Li

Faith is being certain of what we do not see

Friday, November 03, 2006

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”(Hebrews 11:1)

October 31, I went to the Queen Mary Hospital to receive the intervening therapy by injecting medicine into the thigh. At ten o’clock in the morning, one of my co-workers gave me a ride to the hospital. I really appreciated his care to me. After registration, I waited in my seat. Since the hospital was full of people and thus was very busy, I had to wait for about half of a day before I got admitted. Blood sample and X-ray were taken.

November 1, I had been waiting for the whole night in the ward. The therapy was scheduled on the next day. Thus, I had plenty of time to read and pray, and I had time to share some experiences with other patients. Some of the family members of the patient next to me are Christians. Therefore, I had the chance to encourage him to believe in Jesus, and go to church with his daughter. Very soon, the whole ward knew that I am a pastor, and also knew that my tumor was really big. However, they were all surprised by the fact that I was still joyful. People usually think joy comes from healthy and trouble-free life. Actually, when one is in Christ Jesus, he or she can be joyful even in suffering. In the ward, there were quite many people received liver transplants. They need to take anti-resistance medicine in their entire lives. Those who just have their transplantations may have infections, which make their bellies swollen, and they are very painful. Looking at those patients, I really hoped that the churches today had the power of the apostles, i.e. the power of evangelism and healing. One of the patients would have the surgery to cut off the 12cm tumor the next day. It was considered as a good case already. If the surgery was successful, the chance of recovery would be much bigger. I went to his bedside, and prayed for him.

November 2, I had my breakfast. Then I needed to fast for six hours, no water and food. I was waiting for the intervening therapy. This therapy is very effective for tumors which are relatively small in size. Usually speaking, one single injection can kill the cancer cells. It is because the medicine is injected to the liver cancer cells directly. Then, a sponge is put into the opening of the blood vessel to starve the tumor to death. However, those big tumors have grown their own blood vessels connecting to the veins, so that they can receive nutrients. My case was the first trial; it might not be successful. After two hours of treatment, I was awake when I came out, and I didn’t feel very tired. But I was a bit disappointed. The tumor has its connected to the veins. Therefore, the doctor just injected very little medicine. It was because the medicine would go to all parts of the body if the dose was too much. In that case, the damage would be great. After I returned to the ward, the doctor came to tell me that this intervening therapy was no longer suitable for me. We had to try something else. In my heart, I still believe that nothing was too difficult to God. My faith was not defeated this time for I believe that God has the power of resurrection. I still have faith to go on; I shall not give up.

Pastor Li Kin Wah

Angels sent by Father God

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Thank God. Every time when Rev. Li has to go to the hospital, or see the specialist, he has experiences of encountering God. God usually gives him some words of encouragement to fortify him because his case is really serious. Doctors usually present the diagnosis straightly according to their professional judgment. Therefore, every time we feel hopeless after listening to them. Fortunately, our greatest doctor in the heaven treats us with a gracious fatherly heart, and keeps encouraging and comforting us. He also gives His authority and promises……

We consulted several specialists. Each medical appointment was arranged by the brothers and sisters who love him. However, God’s will is higher than ours. Those doctors who can successfully arrange the therapy for him are the ones who have the faith in healing him, and whose personality is very close to Rev. Li. Perhaps this is the way how God brings him hope!

The day before yesterday, Rev. Li went to the Queen Mary Hospital to have shots at his thigh. This is one of the intervention therapies. Medicine was injected to the tumor of the liver through the artery. He is discharged from the hospital today. I have to thank two god-sent angels. One is the nurse who introduced that doctor to us, and the other one is the angel who has experienced the healing of God.
Mrs. Li

Fellowship with God in the Spirit

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

At the dawn of yesterday, while I was sleeping, I heard a voice speaking to me “There is nothing hard for me.” I knew this was the voice of God; I woke up immediately.

I replied, “God, I want to be healed.” Then, I heard the same voice again, “ there is nothing hard for me.” This time I did not let go, I pleaded Him strongly, “Father God, I want to be healed.” Then, I heard the gentle voice speaking to me, “Yes. I will heal you; you are my beloved son; I like you.” My spirit in my heart was stirred up. I rose to pray (it was about 5:30am). The Holy Spirit filled me up, and led me into the depth of prayer, and to have fellowship with God.

God called me to devote myself to the kingdom ministries and poverty services. He gave me the promise through the Scriptures. The first time when He called me to throw myself into the kingdom ministries, He used Jeremiah 1:18 to speak to me “Today, I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land-against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.” The second time He called me to serve the poor; He used Isaiah 41:18 to encourage me. He promised to me that “I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs.”

I poured out my heart before Father God. In God's kingdom, there are still many unfinished businesses. God's answer really encouraged me. He said, “I know your faithfulness. I am going to tell you something that will happen in the future……” We were talking; we were very close to each other.

Brothers and sisters, my life is already turned upside down, “and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Therefore, I have strong hope to live day by day. Even though I have to face the therapy, and also the discomfort brought by the cancer, God's Word is fixed; His will last forever. Praise the Lord.

Pastor Li Kin Wah