Through Encouragement of the Scriptures

“Through the Encouragement of the Scriptures” 

10 Years in Communist Shanghai

Written By Helen Willis

Published by: BibleTruthPublishers.com 

59 Industrial Road, Addison, IL 60101, U.S.A. BTP# 4017

“For As Many Things As Have Been Written Before Have Been Written for Our Instruction, That Through Endurance and Through Encouragement of the Scriptures We Might Have Hope” (Romans 15, New Translation

Foreword 

This book is a record of my experiences in Shanghai under the Communists from April 22, 1949, to April 25, 1959. During those years there were many difficulties, but the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, especially through the Scriptures which He brought to my mind. Hence the title of the book. The word translated ‘encourage’ has been thus explained: “It means to call upon a person so as to stimulate him to anything’, hence to exhort, and to comfort, encourage’”. 1 Cor. 4:16 N.T. note. Encouragement was what I received mostly from the Scriptures brought to my mind by the Holy Spirit: this often included comfort, and there was needed exhortation or warning. I hope that all who read these records of the Lord’s faithful care may be encouraged to trust Him more entirely, and may be exhorted to pray for all who are enduring times of testing in China. 

The information here given is largely drawn from my memory. The Book Room records were taken over by the police, and any personal memoranda I destroyed before leaving. My sister had kept many of my letters from which I have collected a good deal. In my Bible I have dates against various verses. I cannot vouch for the truth of all reports that I heard: Many “in distress … and discontented” used to come into the Book Room, especially at noon., when they would find me alone; and they would tell me their troubles, and the sorrows of the Church and of the nation; and we would try to strengthen one another’s hands in God, especially by the “blessed Hope” of our Lord’s return. 

Chapters: 

Gathering up the Threads …  1
Sailing for Shanghai  …  7
Liberation for Shanghai
Departures
The Church in China …   … 31
The Old House Life Under the Communists …   … 88
The Field of Lentiles  … 110
The Questioning  …   … 142
Six Months of Waiting …   … 155
Some Fragments of Spiritual Food … 167
The End …   … 201

Read More

God, the Father revealed in Genesis!

Praise God,  the Father!

God, the Father revealed in Genesis:

1. God, the Father, You created me in your own image (Genesis 1:26, 27)

2. You are El-Eleon — God Most High, who created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 14:19, 22)

3. You are El-Shaddai — Lord God Almighty (Genesis 17:1; 35:11)

4. You are the Judge of all the earth (Genesis 18:25)

5. You are a Promise Keeping God (Genesis 21:1; 26:3; 46:3; 50:24)

6. You are with me wherever I go and whatever I do (Genesis 21:20; 26:24, 28, 29; 39:2, 3, 21, 23; 46:4)

7. You are the One who gives me success (Genesis 21:22; 24:12, 50; 39:3, 23)

8. You are El-Olam — God who exists for ever (Genesis 21:33)

9. You are Jehovah Jireh — the Provider (Genesis 22:14)

10. You are the One who blesses me richly (Genesis 24:35; 26:3, 12; 39:5, 26:24, 25:11; 30:30)

11. You are the One who prospers my journey (Genesis 24:21; 32:10)

12. You are the God of Abraham (Genesis 24:27; 26:24)

13. You are the One who shows steadfast love and faithfulness towards me (Genesis 24:27)

14. You are the One who leads me by the right way (Genesis 24:48)

15. You are the One who grants my prayer (Genesis 25:21)

16. You know my future (Genesis 25:23)

17. You keep me wherever I go (Genesis 28:15; 50:20)

Read More

Blessings in the Name of the LORD!

BLESSINGS IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Name reveals us the personality and the features of a person.  We can get the following blessings by believing and making use of Jesus’ name in our day to day life:

1.       Salvation from Sin

2.      Fellowship with God

3.      Protection and Safety

4.      Victory

5.      Receive Healing and Strength

6.      Power to do Signs  and Wonders

7.      Getting whatever we want

1.  Salvation from Sin:

            “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

2.  Fellowship with God:

            We become children of God by having belief in Jesus’ name and welcoming into our hearts.

            “… as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12).

3.  Protection and Safety:

            “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Pro. 18:10)

            “… may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.” (Ps. 20:1)

4.  Victory in Jesus’ Name:

            “We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God.” (Ps. 20:5)

“Some trust in Chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.  They are brought to their knees and fall, but we raise up and stand firm” (Ps. 20:7, 8).

5.  Receive Healing and Strength:

            “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know.  Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:6)

6.  Power to do Signs and Wonders:

            “And these things will follow those who believe: 

in my name

they will cast out demons,

they will speak with new tongues;

they will take up serpents, and

if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.

They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

7.  We get whatever we want:

            “Yes, ask anything using my name, and I will do it!” (John 14:14).

            Just by praying and asking whatever we want in Jesus’ name, we can get it.  Amen!

Read More

Messages of Pastor David Cho in April 2018!

Sunday Sermon at Yoido Full Gospel Church – Seoul, Korea

Speaker: Senior Pastor Emeritus Rev. Yonggi CHO

On April 15th, 2018 (3rd Sunday)

Video Link and Full Text of  message Titled "The Discipline Which the Lord Gives Us" (Heb. 12:1~13)

On April 22nd, 2018 (4th Sunday)

Video Link and Full Text

of message Titled "For I am With You" (Isa. 41:10)

On April 29th, 2018 (5th Sunday)

Video Link and Full Text

of message Titled "Jesus, the Life Expert" (Isa. 53:1~6)

Read More

The Bitter Water of Marah Became Sweet!

The Bitter Water of Marah Became Sweet (Ex. 15:22~26)

Message given by Pastor Cho on 25-03-18!

(Full Text and Video of the Message!)

The Israelites who came out of Egypt went into the Desert of Shur and walked in the desert for three days. But, they suffered because they could not find water. They discovered water when they came to Marah, but could not drink its water because it was bitter. The people began to grumble against Moses. When Moses threw a piece of wood that God showed him into the water, the water immediately became sweet. 

Today, all people live thirsty and tiring lives in the desert called life. This is because thorns and thistles are filled in life because of Adam’s sin.

1. The bitter water of life caused by sin

1) Because of Adam’s sin, the bitter water of sin is filled in life. (Rom. 3:9~10)

2) People are living a life filled with passions and desires, following the sinful nature. (Gal. 5:19~21)

3) People are living a life that faces sufferings with various diseases of bodies and hearts. (Ps. 38:3~4)

4) People are living a life filled with thorns and thistles because of sin. (Gen. 3:17~19)

5) All people cannot avoid death and suffering that are the results of sin. (Rom. 5:12)

2. The Crucifixion of Jesus and the Fivefold Gospel

1) We gain forgiveness and righteousness through the cross of Jesus. (Rom. 3:23~24)

2) We get to live a clean and holy life through the cross of Jesus. (Titus 2:14)

3) We gain healing and health through the cross of Jesus. (1 Peter 2:24)

4) We receive the blessings of Abraham through the cross of Jesus. (Gal. 3:13~14)

5) We get to gain resurrection and eternal life through the cross of Jesus. (1 Cor. 15:20~22)

3. Jehovah Rapha, the Healing God

1) God is pleased with those who obey His word. (Deut. 11:13~15)

2) We must live by practicing righteousness in God’s eyes. (Prov. 19:17)

3) We must hear God’s commandments and live by following His word. (John 15:10)

4) God promised blessings to those who keep His word. (Deut. 5:12)

Conclusion

God is a healing God. He heals those who suffer from sin and changes absolute despair into absolute hope. Therefore, people who believe in God should not fall in despair or give up no matter what kind of situations they face. If we rely on the cross of Jesus and pray by going before God, God will allow us to live with dreams and hopes by changing the bitter water of life into sweet water.

Read More

Blessings which we receive through Faith!

Blessings of Being a Believer!

As a Believer, we receive the following through our Faith...

1. We know God as our Creator

2. We come closer to God through prayer of faith (Hebrews 11:6)

3. We get salvation from sin and eternal life as Noah and his family got saved from the great flood

4. We worship God in truth and spirit as Abel did

5. We walk in God’s ways as Enoch walked with God and had fellowship with him in his day to day life

6. We obey God and fulfill His will as Abraham obeyed God and fulfilled His will in his life

7. We can foresee what would happen even after our death like Joseph did

8. We see miracles happening in our day to day life like the miracles happened in the wilderness:

· Parting the Red sea

· Pulling down the walls of Jerico

· Receiving Manna (food) from heaven

9. We pronounce blessings on our future generation like Isaac pronounced blessings on Jacob

10. We get strength to worship God even at the time of death like Jacob worshipped God in his death bed

Read More