Tuesday, 22nd September 2026
Rev Xi An Poon
主題經文：
「只要你們行事為人與基督的福音相稱，叫我或來見你們，或不在你們那裡，可以聽見你們的景況，知道你們同有一個心志，站立得穩，為所信的福音齊心努力。」
——腓立比書 1:27
引言
過去十日敬畏直到贖罪日，我們一直在做一件事情，就是回到神面前，重新省察自己的生命。
我們從八福一路看見，神不是只要我們改變外面的行為，而是要我們的心真正回轉。
但是當贖罪日過去之後，我們不能永遠停留在回頭看。
真正的悔改，不只是看見自己過去哪裡走錯，而是當我們重新回到神面前之後，再一次知道接下來要怎樣走。
所以今天開始讀《腓立比書》，我覺得很有意思。
腓立比是一個羅馬殖民城。
雖然它位於馬其頓，但是當地的人非常看重自己羅馬人的身份。
對他們來說，「我是羅馬人」代表一種身份、一種保障，也代表自己屬於哪裡。
其實今天我們生活在紐西蘭，也有相似的情況。
我們有些人從香港來，有些人從台灣、中國、馬來西亞或其他地方來。
我們會珍惜自己原來的文化，也會珍惜現在在紐西蘭的身份。
但是保羅要腓立比教會思想的，是一個更深的問題：
究竟甚麼身份真正決定我們怎樣生活？
而且保羅跟腓立比教會的關係，不是一個老師跟學生之間知識上的關係。
他們是一群曾經一起為福音付過代價的人。
當年保羅第一次去到腓立比，呂底亞信主，被鬼附的使女得釋放；保羅和西拉卻因此被打、被關進監牢。
他們曾經一起經歷神的工作，也一起經歷福音的代價。
所以腓立比教會從一開始就知道：
福音不是一套知識，而是一條要用生命走的路。
但是多年之後，環境改變了。
現在保羅又被監禁。
以前帶著他們走的人不在身邊了。
那麼，接下來怎麼辦？
其實這也可能是今天神要問我們的。
我們過去經歷過神。
過去曾經很熱心。
過去曾經為神擺上。
但是今天呢？
經過悔改、經過省察之後，我們是不是只停在「過去」？
還是願意再一次重新起步？
所以在這裡我們可以看到，第一，重新起步，要先回到我們起初為甚麼出發。
一、回到起初為甚麼出發
保羅在第一章第五節說：
「因為從頭一天直到如今，你們是同心合意地興旺福音。」
我很喜歡這裡一句：
「從頭一天直到如今。」
保羅沒有忘記腓立比教會的第一天。
他記得他們怎樣開始。
也記得他們曾經一起經歷甚麼。
但是保羅不是叫他們只是懷念過去。
他真正看重的是：
從頭一天，直到如今。
意思就是：
你們當初為福音開始，今天仍然有沒有繼續？
這也是我們今天重新起步很重要的第一步。
重新起步不是把過去全部否定。
相反，是回去問自己：
我當初為甚麼開始？
我當初為甚麼信主？
我當初為甚麼願意服事？
我當初為甚麼願意付代價？
很多時候，走久了之後，我們會忘記自己最初為甚麼出發。
服事慢慢變成責任。
信仰慢慢變成習慣。
聚會變成生活安排的一部分。
甚至有一天，我們仍然在做很多事情，但是裡面已經忘記：
我是為福音而活。
所以重新起步，不是先問：
我要做甚麼新的事情？
而是先回到起初：
福音還是不是我生命真正的方向？
保羅跟腓立比教會之間最寶貴的，不只是曾經一起經歷很多事情，而是直到如今，他們仍然「同心合意地興旺福音」。
過去的經歷可以成為感恩。
但是今天的委身，才決定我們接下來怎樣走。
所以重新起步的第一步，就是：
回到起初，重新記得我為甚麼出發。
可是當我們決定重新走的時候，往往會發現，現在的環境已經不像以前。
人變了。
事情變了。
有些條件沒有了。
甚至有些門關起來了。
那我們是不是要等環境恢復到以前，才可以重新開始？
所以在這裡我們可以看到，第二，重新起步，不要讓現在的環境決定我們的方向。
二、不要讓現在的環境決定方向
保羅在第一章十二節說：
「弟兄們，我願意你們知道，我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺。」
如果站在人的角度看，保羅現在的環境並不好。
他被監禁。
自由受到限制。
他不能像以前一樣到不同地方傳福音。
如果腓立比教會只看環境，很容易會覺得：
事情是不是停下來了？
福音是不是受到限制了？
但是保羅卻說：
「我所遭遇的事更是叫福音興旺。」
這句話很重要。
保羅沒有否認環境困難。
他沒有說監禁不是監禁。
但是他沒有讓環境決定他怎樣理解神的工作。
人看見的是：
保羅被捆綁。
保羅看見的是：
福音仍然向前。
甚至因著他的捆鎖，更多人知道他是為基督的緣故受苦，其他弟兄也更加放膽傳神的道。
所以我們會發現：
神的工作不一定要按照我們熟悉的方法繼續。
以前神用一個方式。
今天祂可能用另一個方式。
以前保羅可以自由傳道。
現在保羅在監牢裡。
方法不同了。
環境不同了。
但是使命沒有改變。
這對我們今天很重要。
有時候我們說要重新起步，心裡其實有一個條件：
等環境好一點。
等人多一點。
等我的身體好一點。
等家庭沒有這麼多事情。
等教會恢復到以前。
但是如果一直等，我們可能永遠不會重新開始。
保羅讓我們看見：
重新起步，不是等所有事情回到理想狀態，而是在現在這個環境裡重新看見神。
也許環境已經不一樣。
但是神仍然在工作。
也許我們做不到以前可以做的事。
但不代表我們今天甚麼都不能做。
真正重要的不是：
「我的環境有沒有變好？」
而是：
「在現在的環境裡，我還願不願意讓福音向前？」
保羅甚至說：
「因我活著就是基督，我死了就有益處。」
當一個人可以這樣說，他的生命就不再被環境控制。
活著，他為基督。
死亡，他仍然屬基督。
所以重新起步，不是重新控制環境。
而是重新把生命的方向交回給神。
但是到了這裡，還有最後一個問題。
我們可以重新找到方向，也可以重新看待環境。
可是如果以前帶領我們的人不在了呢？
如果沒有以前那些人陪著我們呢？
如果有一天，我們必須自己站立呢？
所以在這裡我們可以看到，第三，重新起步，就是再次站穩，自己繼續走。
三、再次站穩，自己繼續走
到了第一章二十七節，保羅說：
「只要你們行事為人與基督的福音相稱，叫我或來見你們，或不在你們那裡，可以聽見你們的景況，知道你們同有一個心志，站立得穩，為所信的福音齊心努力。」
我覺得這裡最重要的一句是：
「我或來見你們，或不在你們那裡。」
以前保羅在。
現在保羅不一定在。
但是保羅要腓立比教會明白：
你們的信仰不能建立在「保羅在不在」。
你們不能因為有人帶著才走。
也不能因為有人在旁邊才站得穩。
有一天，信仰一定要成熟到一個地步：
即使沒有人在旁邊，我仍然知道自己為甚麼站立。
保羅說：
「行事為人與基督的福音相稱。」
這句話對腓立比人特別有意思。
因為他們住在羅馬殖民城，非常清楚甚麼叫做以「公民」的身份生活。
他們很看重自己是羅馬人。
但是保羅提醒他們：
你們生命真正的標準，不只是你們羅馬公民的身份。
你們要活得與基督的福音相稱。
也就是說：
你們真正最深的身份，是屬基督的人。
所以即使我不在，
你們仍然知道怎樣走。
即使環境不同，
你們仍然知道怎樣站。
即使沒有以前的人陪著，
你們仍然知道自己屬於誰。
這才是真正的重新起步。
不是回到以前。
不是把所有東西恢復原狀。
而是經過神的修剪、提醒和更新之後，
重新站穩，再向前走。
有時候我們以為重新開始，就是重新找到以前的感覺。
但是聖經讓我們看到：
真正的重新開始，是生命比以前更成熟。
以前可能有人帶著我走。
現在我要學習自己站穩。
以前可能環境幫助我。
現在我要在環境不容易的時候仍然選擇神。
以前可能只是因為一群人在一起而有力量。
現在我要知道：
即使人不在，我仍然屬基督。
這就是重新起步。
總結
經過十日敬畏和贖罪日，我們已經回頭看過自己的生命。
但是神今天沒有讓我們停在回頭看。
祂開始帶我們往前。
《腓立比書》第一章讓我們看見，重新起步不是忘記過去，而是從過去重新找回最重要的東西。
第一，回到起初為甚麼出發。
「從頭一天直到如今。」
重新記得：
我不是只是做一個基督徒。
我是為福音而活。
第二，不要讓現在的環境決定方向。
保羅被捆綁，但是福音沒有被捆綁。
環境可以改變，但是神仍然工作。
第三，再次站穩，自己繼續走。
「我或來見你們，或不在你們那裡。」
有一天，我們不能只是靠別人帶領。
我們要知道自己真正屬於誰。
所以今天的「重新起步」，不是叫我們回到從前。
而是經過神的光照、悔改和更新之後，
用一個更成熟的生命，再一次向前走。
也許有些事情已經不像以前。
也許有些人已經不在。
也許環境已經改變。
但是今天神仍然可以對我們說：
重新起步。
不是因為所有問題都已經解決，
而是因為我們重新知道：
我們為甚麼出發，
我們為誰而活，
我們真正屬於誰。
所以今天，不要停在過去。
也不要等到環境完全改變。
在神面前重新站穩，
從今天，再一次向前走。
Key Verse:
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
— Philippians 1:27, NKJV
Introduction
During the Ten Days of Awe leading to the Day of Atonement, God has been bringing us back to examine our own lives.
As we walked through the Beatitudes, we saw again and again that God is not only interested in changing our outward behaviour. He wants our hearts to truly return to Him.
But after the Day of Atonement, we cannot remain only looking back.
True repentance is not simply recognizing where we went wrong in the past. It is also returning to God and then asking:
How should I walk from here?
So today, as we begin the book of Philippians, I find the timing very meaningful.
Philippi was a Roman colony.
Although it was located in Macedonia, the people there highly valued their Roman identity.
To them, saying, “I am a Roman citizen,” was not just a small matter.
It represented identity, privilege, security, and belonging.
In many ways, this is similar to our life in New Zealand today.
Some of us came from Hong Kong. Some came from Taiwan, China, Malaysia, or other places.
We may value the culture we came from, while at the same time valuing our identity in New Zealand.
But Paul was inviting the Philippian church to think about something deeper:
Which identity truly determines the way we live?
Paul’s relationship with the Philippian church was also not simply the relationship between a teacher and his students.
They had gone through life and death together for the sake of the gospel.
When Paul first came to Philippi, Lydia believed in the Lord. A slave girl was delivered. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison.
They experienced the work of God together, and they also experienced the cost of the gospel together.
From the very beginning, the church in Philippi understood this:
The gospel is not only something we know. It is a path we live.
But many years later, circumstances had changed.
Paul was imprisoned again.
The man who had once been with them was no longer beside them.
So what would happen now?
Would they continue?
That may also be the question God is asking us today.
We have experienced God in the past.
We may once have been very passionate.
We may have sacrificed much for Him.
But what about today?
After repentance and reflection, will we simply remain looking back?
Or are we willing to start again?
So here we can see the first thing:
To start again, we must return to the reason we began.
- Return to the Reason We Began
Paul says in Philippians 1:5:
“for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.”
I especially notice these words:
“from the first day until now.”
Paul had not forgotten the first day.
He remembered how the church began.
He remembered what they had experienced together.
But Paul was not asking them merely to remember the past.
What mattered was this:
From the first day until now.
In other words:
You began for the gospel.
But are you still continuing today?
This is also the first important step when we talk about starting again.
Starting again does not mean rejecting everything in the past.
Instead, it means asking:
Why did I begin in the first place?
Why did I first believe?
Why did I first choose to serve?
Why was I once willing to pay a price?
Very often, after walking for many years, we can forget why we started.
Serving slowly becomes a responsibility.
Faith slowly becomes a routine.
Church attendance becomes simply part of our weekly schedule.
And one day, we may still be doing many things, but inside we have forgotten:
I am living for the gospel.
So starting again does not begin with asking:
What new thing should I do?
It begins by returning to the beginning and asking:
Is the gospel still the true direction of my life?
The most precious thing about Paul and the Philippian church was not only that they had experienced many things together.
It was that “from the first day until now,” they were still sharing in the gospel.
Past experiences can become reasons for thanksgiving.
But today’s commitment determines how we move forward.
So the first step in starting again is this:
Return to the beginning, and remember why you started.
But once we decide to move forward again, we often discover that the circumstances are no longer the same.
People have changed.
Situations have changed.
Some opportunities are gone.
Some doors have closed.
So do we need to wait until everything becomes like it was before?
Here we can see the second thing:
To start again, do not let your present circumstances determine your direction.
- Do Not Let Your Circumstances Determine Your Direction
Paul says in Philippians 1:12:
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”
From a human point of view, Paul’s situation was not good.
He was imprisoned.
His freedom was restricted.
He could no longer travel freely as before.
If the Philippian church looked only at the circumstances, they could easily think:
Has everything stopped?
Has the gospel been restricted?
But Paul saw something very different.
He said:
“The things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”
This is very important.
Paul did not deny that his circumstances were difficult.
He did not pretend that prison was not prison.
But he refused to allow his circumstances to define how he understood the work of God.
People saw:
Paul was bound.
But Paul saw:
The gospel was still moving forward.
Even through his imprisonment, more people came to know that he was suffering for Christ, and other believers became more courageous in preaching the Word.
So we discover something important:
God’s work does not always continue in the same way we are familiar with.
God may have used one method before.
Today He may use another.
Before, Paul could travel freely.
Now he was in prison.
The method changed.
The circumstances changed.
But the mission had not changed.
This is very important for us.
Sometimes when we say we want to start again, deep inside we are waiting for certain conditions:
When things get better.
When there are more people.
When my health improves.
When my family has fewer problems.
When the church becomes like it was before.
But if we keep waiting, we may never begin again.
Paul shows us:
Starting again does not mean waiting until everything becomes ideal. It means seeing God again in the situation we are in right now.
Maybe things are no longer the same.
But God is still working.
Maybe we cannot do what we once could.
But that does not mean we can do nothing today.
The real question is not:
“Have my circumstances improved?”
The real question is:
“In my present circumstances, am I still willing to let the gospel move forward?”
Paul even says:
“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
When a person can say this, life is no longer controlled by circumstances.
If he lives, he lives for Christ.
If he dies, he still belongs to Christ.
So starting again is not about regaining control of our circumstances.
It is about once again surrendering the direction of our lives to God.
But there is still one more question.
We may rediscover our direction.
We may learn to see our circumstances differently.
But what if the people who once led us are no longer there?
What if the people who once walked with us are no longer beside us?
What if one day we need to stand on our own?
So here we can see the third thing:
To start again means to stand firm again and keep walking.
- Stand Firm Again and Keep Walking
In Philippians 1:27, Paul says:
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
I think one of the most important phrases here is:
“whether I come and see you or am absent.”
Before, Paul was there.
Now, Paul might not be there.
But Paul wanted the Philippian church to understand:
Their faith could not depend on whether Paul was present.
They could not walk only when someone was leading them.
They could not stand firm only when someone was beside them.
There comes a point when faith must mature enough to say:
Even when no one is beside me, I still know why I stand.
Paul says:
“Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
This phrase would have been especially meaningful to the Philippians.
Because they lived in a Roman colony, they understood very well what it meant to live as citizens.
They were proud of being Romans.
But Paul was reminding them:
Your deepest standard of life is not simply your Roman citizenship.
You are to live in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ.
In other words:
Your deepest identity is that you belong to Christ.
So even if I am not there,
you still know how to walk.
Even if the circumstances are different,
you still know how to stand.
Even if the people who once walked with you are no longer beside you,
you still know whom you belong to.
This is what it truly means to start again.
It does not mean going back to the past.
It does not mean restoring everything exactly as it was.
It means that after God has corrected us, reminded us, and renewed us,
we stand firm again and move forward.
Sometimes we think that starting again means recovering the feelings we once had.
But Scripture shows us something deeper.
True new beginnings mean becoming more mature than before.
Before, someone may have needed to lead me.
Now I need to learn to stand.
Before, my circumstances may have supported me.
Now I need to choose God even when circumstances are difficult.
Before, I may have gained strength because many people were walking together.
Now I need to know:
Even if people are not there, I still belong to Christ.
This is what it means to start again.
Conclusion
Through the Ten Days of Awe and the Day of Atonement, God has already brought us back to examine our lives.
But today, God does not want us to remain looking backward.
He is beginning to lead us forward.
Philippians chapter 1 shows us that starting again does not mean forgetting the past.
It means rediscovering what mattered most from the beginning.
First, return to the reason you began.
“From the first day until now.”
Remember again:
I am not simply trying to be a Christian.
I am living for the gospel.
Second, do not let your present circumstances determine your direction.
Paul was bound, but the gospel was not bound.
Circumstances may change, but God is still working.
Third, stand firm again and keep walking.
“Whether I come and see you or am absent.”
There comes a time when we cannot depend only on someone else to lead us.
We need to know for ourselves whom we belong to.
So today, “starting again” does not mean going back to the way things used to be.
It means that after God has brought conviction, repentance, and renewal,
we move forward again with a more mature life.
Maybe some things are no longer the same.
Maybe some people are no longer there.
Maybe the circumstances have changed.
But today, God can still say to us:
Start again.
Not because every problem has been solved,
but because we know again:
why we began,
who we live for,
and whom we truly belong to.
So today, do not remain in the past.
And do not wait until everything changes.
Stand firm again before God,
and from today, move forward again.
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