<< 與神相遇的5天 –Patrick 變 Watchman - - 舊人 變 新人>>

I can say that attending the winter conference from Dec 28th 2006 to Jan 3rd 2007 in San Francisco(冬令特會-更美的約-基督教慕主先鋒教會) is a turning point in my spiritual life. In the conference, more than 2000 Christians from all over the world attended this conference because we want to learn more about how to build up our inner life with Jesus to a deeper extent so as to have closer intimacy and experience with God.

Apart from the miracles and special encounters I have witnessed in the conference as well as the fantastic and in-depth sermon about the words of God, the most remarkable experience is of course my personal encounter while waiting upon God during the conference. One significant breakthrough was that on night of Dec 31st when we were praying hard for the Kingdom of God and our personal spiritual growth, God touched my heart and put in me a very strong prompting that ‘ Your old self is already dead, Patrick is no longer your name because you have to forget your past, all your transgressions are no longer remembered, as I have to give you a new name, and you will be called信靠 (我要給你一個新的名字叫信靠), so that in the coming days till the time you see me, you have to信靠我, and not relying on your strength and personal thoughts anymore , and you will become a new man in me. (若有人在基督里,他就是新造的人,舊事已過,都變成新的了。林後5:17)

Although I knew that many other people were touched by God in other ways, my heart leaped so much when knowing so clearly that my name, Patrick which was named by my favourite English teacher in secondary one and has been used for more than 17 years, had to be changed!!! Suddenly God let me recall why Abram was named Abraham, which means the father of nations without end (從 此 以 後 、 你 的 名 不 再 叫 亞 伯 蘭 、 要 叫 亞 伯 拉 罕 、 因 為 我 已 立 你 作 多 國 的 父 。創 世 紀 Genesis17:5), and why Jacob was named Israel….they had a new phase of life when they were a given a new name and they started to live their life full of faith and hope for the promises of God. I was so touched by God and my inner man was strengthened so much (神 能 照 著 運 行 在 我 們 心 里 的 大 力 、 充 充 足 足 的 成 就 一 切 超 過 我 們 所 求 所 想 的 ．以 弗 所 書 Ephesians3:20)…..but I asked God what should be the name that has the meaning of 信靠. Yet, God didn’t answer me immediately…on the night of Dec 31st, actually the morning of Jan 1st, God gave me a very special dream which I found it impossible to put in words, perhaps I might share with you when I saw you personally, but it was clearly an experience of being touched by the Holy Spirit. On the morning of Jan 1st, I asked God for 3 signs again if He really wanted me to have a new name because I lacked faith again. In the morning when I was having devotion, 2 signs were fulfilled and I asked God in the morning session of the conference that I needed one more sign. Suddenly, during the preaching of 江秀琴牧師, she asked us to open the Bible to read a few verses about the testimony of a sister whose prayer got answered by God, and the verses were 以 賽 亞 書 Isaiah 62:1-4, from which her answer was from verse 3. Yet, when I read verse two: …你 必 得 新 名 的 稱 呼、 是 耶 和 華 親 口 所 起 的 。…my heart melted immediately and I confirmed that God wanted to give me a new name. In the following two days, I kept praying to God until I got on the plane which was a 13-hour flight, I learned to wait upon God to let me know my new name…I read the Bible, other devotions and prayed…but I got no concrete answers and weird names like ‘faith’,’faithful,’’faithman’which came to my mind sounded so odd and funny to me….I asked God that I wanted a name with ‘man’ in it but I know that names like‘Desman’and ‘Benjiman’did not have the meaning of信靠…yet, when I prayed to God by the time the plane nearly landed, God prompted me to read以 賽 亞 書 Isaiah 62 again…WOW, when I read verse 6, my mind suddenly exploded while I read the words,…I have put watchmen on your walls…(我 在 你 城 上 設 立 守 望 的)…during the 13-hour flight I was reading a book called “The Inner Life” (內在生活) written by Andrew Murray慕安得烈 in which it talked so much about the main criterion of being a good守望代禱者 is 信靠, but I didn’t realize that because it was a Chinese book but I was seeking an English name. Actually God has already revealed the name ‘Watchmen’ 守望者 and it’s direct meaning to me on the plane but I didn’t realize it. Thanks God that He encourages me to have信靠 when I am one of the fervent watchmen of my church, my fellowship, my family, my students, my colleagues, my friends and other brothers and sisters. 主激勵我要完全地信靠祂並一直緊緊守望祂和我所深愛的教會、團契、家人、學生、同事、朋友及弟兄姐妹 .

From now on, I am longer called Patrick, and whenever you call me “Watchman”, you are encouraging me to be 一個充滿信靠主的守望者, and I will be a watchman of you, who will support you always in my prayers. Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you for your great support ^^ I really hope that I will have time to edit this testimony and others from this special journey of my life and write it in Chinese later ^^

Taste and see that the L8ORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8你 們 要 嘗 嘗 主 恩 的 滋 味 、 便 知 道 他 是 美 善 ． 投 靠 他 的 人 有 福 了 。詩 篇 34:8

現在我繼續操練內在生活 , a life in which I need to come close to Jesus everyday to wait upon Him for all kinds of guidance and see His glory in daily life. (You may learn more about this from the online teaching here: http://www.forerunner.cc/frcc/frmm/teachings.php#1--內在生活的真諦) as the beginning and謙卑、等候神、順服、如何明白神的旨意 are the series that I love and learn most as well)

Well, a final reminder for my buddies: My new name is ‘Watchman’, and not ‘walkman’ ^_^

I'm glad to pray for you anytime and feel free to let me know what I can pray for you and thank God for you every day.