Today, John Parker, guest speaker, speaks about Jesus the Christ God’s gift for our forgiveness.

Have you heard the news?  Jesus is here !

Sermon Audio

Passage:

Galatians 4:4-7 (NKJV)

⁴ But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Summary:

The Galatians had received the gospel message but quickly fell away and started following after false apostles. These false apostles were teaching that faith in Christ is not enough. First, you had to follow certain Jewish laws such as following the Sabbaths, observing the feasts and seasons, and circumcision. Then, you could accept the forgiveness of Christ.

In this letter to the Galatians, Paul is trying to set the record straight and this passage contains the core of Paul’s gospel doctrine:

1. Jesus is the promised Messiah.  We know this because he was born in the “fullness of time” which the Jews realized referred to Old Testament prophecies about when the Messiah would come. An example is found in Daniel 9:24-25 written by Daniel during the Babylonian captivity 500 years before Jesus was born. In this prophecy, Daniel predicts the command to go and restore Jerusalem (as much as 100 years after the prophecy) and then says that the Messiah will come 483 years after that command. This command was given by Ezra in 458 BC  meaning that the Holy One would be anointed in 29 AD, the year that Christ was crucified defeating sin and death once and for all at His resurrection.
2. Jesus came to redeem man from bondage to the law. Jesus had two natures being fully God and fully human. Jesus was born of a woman and was under the law like all mankind. Jesus felt joy and wept. He was tempted by Satan but prevailed. Being God and living a sinless life, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross has infinite value and can atone for any number of sins and sinners granting to all the gift of eternal life with God. All you have to do is accept His forgiveness and follow Him. When you are redeemed you are filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. And the Holy Spirit will guide you and give you the fruit of the Spirit bringing life more abundant in the here and now.
3. Once redeemed we then have the position of sonship. In other words, believers in Christ have the status of sons and daughters of Almighty God. It is the Spirit of Christ who moves us to cry out Abba (Daddy) to our God. Because of our position as sons and daughters of God, we are then heirs of God through Christ.

If you haven’t accepted Christ as your Savior, there is no need to delay. This is the most important decision a person can make and right now is the best time to make that decision. Accept the forgiveness offered by Christ, turn from sin, and turn to Christ who wants to give you life.

If you have accepted Christ, you know how important this decision is. You know how valuable a gift you have been given. And we need to share life’s most important gift with those who need to make life’s most important decision. Pray, listen to the Spirit, and share the good news with all who need to hear.

At Christmas Eve service, Pastor Choi reminds all God’s people of what Christmas is all about: 1. Christmas is about God who predestined Christ’s birth before the beginning of the universe. 2. Christmas is about us who we are in need of forgiveness and love.  3. Christmas is about Christ the Savior who died for all sinners.  At the end of the message, he invites people to accept God’s greatest gift—Jesus Christ the Savior— into their hearts.

A Christmas Reflection

Following is a summary of his message:

A Christmas Reflection

Tonight I am going to talk about names—more specifically, the meanings behind names.  Let me begin with mine.  I like my name because of its uniqueness.  I have not met one single person yet whose name is exactly the same as mine.  My parents have done a good job.  The meaning of my first name is “laurel tree in the cloud.”  My last name means “high as a mountain.”  My parents gave me that name hoping that I would become somebody in the future.

Anyway, names are important to all of us even in the Bible.  Did you know that God is in the business of giving names with meanings behind them?   E.g. Jesus (God saves), Joshua – Yeshua.  This name was given even before the birth of the baby.  Jesus was born with a mission.  He was to become the Messiah—the Christ (the Anointed).  His name determined His destiny—that He would heal, teach, and serve humanity with God’s love.  His name also determined that He would sacrifice His own life to save the people from their sins.  The same name “Christ” has everything to do with “Christmas.”

So, it is appropriate to think about the name “Jesus–God Saves” as we celebrate Christmas tonight.  In fact, it is far more important than any other topic we can talk about such as decorations, parties, presents, and even peace in the world.  Christmas is about “God Sent Us a Savior.”

Three points:

1. Christmas is about God.  Without God, there would be no Christmas.   Celebrating Christmas without thinking and thanking God is meaningless, because Christmas is about the birth of Christ and it is God who planned the birth of Christ meticulously and flawlessly.   God predestined Christ’s birth before the creation of the universe.  He initiated it.  He planned it.  He designed it.  He executed it at the right time, at the right place, with the right people.  Christmas is about God.
2. Christmas is about Us.  There would be no Christmas without us.  Celebrating Christmas without thinking about who we are and about our spiritual needs of forgiveness is meaningless, because without us God would have no one to love, to forgive, and to save.   In fact, God knows everything about us.  He knows that we goof up all the time in our relationships with Him and with others.  In other words, we sin all the time.  There are always consequences for the sins that we commit.  The Bible says it is death (spiritual, physical, and eternal).  At the same time, God loves us so much that He wants to rescue us from the consequences of our sins.  That’s why He prepared the Savior who would pay the wages of our sins on our behalf so that we would go free and so that we would be in the presence of God forever.   That leads us to the next point.
3. Christmas is about the Savior.   There would be no Christmas without the Savior Jesus.   Celebrating Christmas without taking Jesus as Savior is meaningless and disastrous, because you ignore and bypass the greatest gift of all that comes from God exclusively for you.  That Gift of God is Jesus, the Savior for all sinners.   Not just for a few good ones.  Not just for Jews or Gentiles.  He is the Savior for all.  For you and for me and for everyone in history!

Tonight God gives His Son to you, because He loves you.  Even if you were the only one person to save, God would still send His Son Jesus to save you!   So, tonight, accept Jesus the Messiah into your heart.  Ask for forgiveness of your sins and you will receive it through Jesus the Savior.   Christmas is about “God Sent Us a Savior.”

The Sinner’s prayer: Jesus, I take you as my Savior and Lord tonight.  Forgive me my sins and cleanse me through your precious blood.  Thank you, Jesus, for loving me and saving me from my sins and making me God’s child.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.

Amen.

Today, in place of the sermon, the Manahawkin United Methodist Choir presents a cantata: “The Advent of Hope, the Birth of Peace” by Robert Lau and Stephen Andrews.  As you listen to the songs and readings, may God bless you richly to bring you close to Jesus the Christ.

cantata 2014 

On Tuesday, December 16, the Manahawkin Congregation offered a service for God’s people who are having a difficult time this Christmas season due to various reasons such as the loss of their loved ones, strained relationships, financial difficulties, and loneliness.  As you listen to the Word of God and songs recorded, may God keep your heart and mind in Christ’s peace, comfort, and strength.                                                                                                                                                                                          

A Quiet Christmas Service

Today Pastor Choi talks about God’s greatest gift and the best news to humanity: Jesus the Savior of the world.  Through the story of the shepherds and the angels, he points out the following: 1) Salvation is for all.  2) Sharing of the good news is up to us. 3) Peace on earth is only possible in Christ the Prince of Peace.

The Shepherds and the Angels

Following is a summary of the sermon:

The Shepherds and the Angels                    Luke 2:8-20 (KJV)
⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

¹⁵ And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

¹⁶ And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

¹⁸ And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Listen to Handel’s Messiah songs #14-17 (for 3:50 minutes) before the message.

Salvation for All

• Salvation is the greatest and the best news ever in human history.  Why?  Because, it is God’s gift for all that matters for eternity!  No exception.  Absolutely free, too!   Everyone is invited to take it.  No money, no status, no education is required.  Only faith is necessary to take it!  That’s why it is the greatest news for all.  Here in the story, its greatness was modestly put this way: Good news of great joy (v. 10—good tidings of great joy).  What was the angel referring to?  The birth of our savior—Christ the Lord—is good news and great joy to everyone (v. 10).  Think of it for a while.   This birth of the savior for all was a culmination of God’s mysterious salvation plan for humanity: the forgiveness of sins through Jesus the Son of God by His death on the cross.  This salvation plan was conceived by God alone, laid out by God alone, revealed by God alone, and executed by God alone.  It was done in God’s time (kairos) and in God’s way.  It was exclusively done for God’s glory and solely prepared for our spiritual necessity.  Roy Lessin (founder of Christian greeting card company Day Spring) puts our need of salvation well in his poem, “God sent us a Saviour.”    Here it reads:

–       If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator.  If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist.     If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.       If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer.  But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Saviour.

• Let’s not forget that this salvation through Jesus is for all people, not just for a few chosen ones.  Not just for the Jews.  Not just for the Gentiles.  But for all.   Salvation is God’s free gift for all.  Everyone needs it.  Everyone needs to take it.   However, they won’t be able to take it until they hear about it first, and they won’t hear about it unless someone tells them.  That’s why God wants you and me to be the instrument of passing of the great news on to the person next to us.  That leads us to the next point.

Sharing of Good News

• The way God’s great news was shared/spread in human history was like this: God→ angels→ shepherds→ the family of Jesus→ and beyond.   Or, Jesus→ apostles→ Early Church→ missionaries→ and beyond.  I would call this process of sharing the gospel–the sharing chain of the gospel.  This chain, like a prayer chain, has been going on for the past 2000 years all over the world.  Very likely, someone in our lives passed the great news onto us that we became a believer in Christ.  The same chain of sharing should not stop with us.  It must go on to the next person.
• Think of today’s story again.  The angels were told by God the great news of Christ’s birth and they passed it onto the shepherds.  The shepherds, then, passed it onto the family of Jesus.  Both the angels and the shepherds heard and passed onto others as exactly as they had been told (v. 20) —it should be the model for our witnessing.  You don’t have to reinvent the story.  Just pass along what you heard.  Sometime in your life, the gospel story was brought to you by someone.  Then, you have met the Lord.   You have seen Him, touched Him, heard Him, and experienced the Lord Jesus.  Then you pass it onto the next person.  That’s how it goes with the gospel sharing.  We tell others in the same way that we were told.
• Reality Check:  many of us, when it comes down to sharing the gospel, stay mum.  We, in fact, have trouble sharing the good news with others, in the name of not wanting to push the religion to others, right?  Some of us are even afraid of sharing of Christ’s great love for all.   We say that we’d rather share our faith quietly through our silent witness of love.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?  Does it work well, though?  When was the last time you brought one soul to Christ through silent witness?  Folks, don’t get me wrong.  Witnessing to the name of Jesus through life examples works; God uses your love to bring people to Christ and I don’t negate its value.  However, that’s not the main way God’s people share the good news with others.  Think of all the examples in the New Testament—how the disciples of Jesus Christ took God’s love to the world.  They were a loud bunch who proclaimed Jesus’ name in the market place not quietly but aloud, they talked to people in public, and they turned the world upside down in the name of Jesus.  Had they chosen to witness Jesus’ name through their silent love, I (in fact, a lot of us) wouldn’t have heard the gospel yet and still living in darkness without knowing Jesus.  In my case, my brother invited me to church in the name of Jesus.  In fact, I am glad that he didn’t choose to witness through his love.  E.g.  Sharing the good news with others is like sharing the victory of your favorite baseball team or football team.  Imagine your favorite team the Phillies won the World Series.  Imagine the Eagles won the Super Bowl.  If you were a Phillies fan (or Eagles), you wouldn’t silently share your great joy for your team, would you?  You would call around everyone you know and even throw a party to celebrate your joy with others, right?   Why don’t we do the same with the great news of salvation that matters to all for eternity?
• In today’s story, I see the same excitement and joy, if not more,  among the angels and the shepherds on the night of Christ’s birth.  They both were so excited that they didn’t keep the news to themselves.  Instead, they right away passed the good news of salvation onto others with great joy and enthusiasm (both glorified and praised the Lord for what He has done –v. 13, 20).
• The chain of good news is still expanding and growing today.  You are one of the links of the salvation chain.   Don’t be the last link.   When my brother passed the good news to me, the good news didn’t stop there.   I too passed it onto others and still do with a great conviction that Christ is the best present I can ever give to anyone.  On the Day of Judgment, together we will stand before God with those who received the good news from us.  On that day, they will say to God, “Thanks for bringing me the great news through so and so (put your name here).”  God will say to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servants.  Enter into my rest!”

Peace on earth

• When it comes down to peace in the world, too often our hearts get disturbed/discouraged with what is happening in the world.  E.g. Ebola to begin with.  Kidnapping and Bombings in Nigeria by Boko-Haram.   Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice.  Another school shooting in Portland, Oregon (12/12/14), and even a 6 year-old boy in Texas whose father carved a pentagram on the back of his son with a utility knife a couple of years ago.   I cry out to the Lord, “What’s going on in our world?”  Not to mention all other troubles going on in the Mideast among nations such as Israel, Gaza, Syria, Iran, Iraq, and ISIS.  The list goes on.
• My heart is literally aching and crying out for peace in the entire world.  Not just for peace in America.  Not just in Africa.  Not just in the Mideast.  Not just in the Korean peninsula.  But, in every corner of the world and in every single home.  Peace on earth.  Peace for all.  I am sure you feel the same way as I do.  We all cry out to God for “Peace among men.”   We all ask in our hearts such questions as, “When, Lord, and how long should we wait for peace for all?”
• Here’s what I believe: Reformation of the system may reduce the police brutality.  A peace treaty among nations will help a little too.  Some believe that we can establish peace on earth without God and without depending on God.  Well, I disagree entirely, because we need God.   The world already tried to achieve peace in the past century through the League of Nations and failed to prevent World War II.  Even with the United Nations, the system is broken and not working well.   Peace, in my humble opinion, never comes from human schemes.  Peace is a heart issue; therefore, it must come from God.  Unless there’s a change of heart among all, there won’t be a lasting peace among us.  Unless there’s a fear of the Lord in everyone’s heart (which deters us from doing what is evil) and unless Christ’s love rules in our hearts that we no longer want to hurt others, there won’t be permanent peace.  That’s why I say to all that only Christ is the answer (by the way, He is the Prince of Peace and He is the one who refused to use a sword even though He was perfectly capable of it).
• We all know that when Christ returns God’s permanent and everlasting peace will prevail in the world.  Until then, we ought to live as peacemakers wherever we are.   Christ has called us to be the peacemakers (Matthew 5:9).  We must bring Christ’s peace wherever we go: beginning in our hearts and in our homes, families, work places, schools, churches, our communities, and beyond.
• This Christmas may the birth of Christ be in your heart and in your family.  This Christmas may the birth of Christ be the greatest joy you’ve ever had.  This Christmas may the Lord help us to be the excited bringers of the good tidings to others—the birth of Jesus the Christ.  This Christmas may the peace of Christ keep your hearts and minds.
• Amen.

Today Pastor Choi talks about Mary the mother of Jesus: how willing she was to work with God who asked her to do something beyond her own strength.  Besides the assurance to Joseph that it was alright to take her as his wife, Mary was not given any other special protections from God.  Yet, she persevered and became a part of God’s eternal salvation work for humanity.  May God help us to be like Mary who willingly said to the Lord’s invitation, “Here I am, Lord.  Let your will be done in my life.”

Here I Am, Lord

Following is a summary of his sermon today:

Here I Am, Lord                Luke 1:26-38

• The Birth of Jesus Foretold

• ²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
• ²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
• ³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
• ³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”
• ³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Introduction

I invite you to join me in listening to the author and what he is trying to tell us in the story.

• First, here’s a brief recap of the story: In this narrative the birth of Jesus the Messiah was foretold.  2000 years ago, God sent His chief-of-staff, Gabriel the angel, to Mary a young lady who was engaged to Joseph.  She and Joseph resided in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee with less than 500 residents at that time (James Strange).  [In 1918, 8000 people.  In 2011, 80,410.  60% Arabs and 40% Christians—wikipedia].   The angel told Mary that by God’s power, not by man, she would conceive a boy child.  Her son Jesus would be called the son of the Most High and He would reign over Israel forever.
• One of the best ways to listen to the author is to put ourselves in the main character’s shoes: that is, in Mary’s shoes.  Had you been Mary, how would you have felt and reacted to this awesome visit from an angel?
• Think of Mary for a while.  She was God’s highly favored one.  She had found favor with God.  The Lord was with her and she was a blessed woman chosen to work with God.  This is what God was going to do for her, the angel said:  she would conceive a child extraordinary without knowing a man.  Her child would be called the son of the Most High.  He would be called holy son of God.  He would forever reign over the house of David and His kingdom would never end.
• That’s so great, isn’t it?  So far so good.Contents
• Then, after the angel left, fears for the future began to set in her heart.  She might have reasoned in her heart as follows: “It’s amazing that God has chosen me to work with Him.  I am truly blessed.  Now, how am I going to break the news to Joseph my fiancé?  I know he is a good man, but will he believe me?  Getting pregnant by God’s power?   What’s going to happen to me if he doesn’t and breaks the engagement?  How am I going to explain to my family and friends?  Who’s going to believe my story about the pregnancy?  I’d better hide from people for the entire nine months of pregnancy.  If not, how will I cover my belly for several months since it will show to every one?  Everyone will eventually find out about my pregnancy.  Oh, how will I endure the cold stares and unfriendly gossip from townsfolk afterwards?  I will be lucky if I am not pelted with stones.  Furthermore, how will my child endure the town gossip?  (Indeed, in later life, Mary and Jesus endured a persistent and malicious rumor that called Jesus “Mary’s son (not Joseph’s)—understood at that time as illegitimate child”).
• As you can see here in Mary’s story, being favored by God doesn’t always mean that everything in life will be rosy.  In fact, being chosen to work with God and for God never means an easy road.  On the contrary, sometimes it means very painful and uncomfortable experiences.  A narrow and rugged road, if you will.  For a long time, too.  In fact, the greater God’s plan for you, the harder the road is that only a few choose to take this road.  Yet, the reward is great!  God’s call is always worth saying yes to.  That was the path that Mary chose to follow.
• Think of Mary again.  God already knew everything Mary would face or what she would go through in the years to come.  Yet, He went ahead with His plan.  A reminder here: no special provisions or protections were promised to Mary except His presence with her: except the fact that He sent the same angel Gabriel to Joseph, Mary’s future husband, to assure him that her pregnancy was from God’s Spirit, not from man.  “This is happening according to God’s salvation plan,” the angel assured Joseph.   “Therefore, take her as your wife (Matthew 1:20-21).”
• That’s all God had done for Mary.  God provided no other special protections for her.  What’s that mean for us?  Sometimes, when God calls us to work with Him, He provides us with one or two promises or assurances about His plan.  The rest, we must endure with patience and trust in the Lord clinging to His faithfulness until its fulfillment.  We ought not to despair.  We should not give up, because the Lord is with us and He will see us through.  His grace and presence are sufficient for us to go on with God’s mission.
• By the way, I love the way Mary responded to God’s call in verse 38: here I am, Lord.  I am the Lord’s servant.  Let your will be done.  God never forces anyone to follow His will against his/her wish.  Anyone can say no to God’s invitation to work with Him.  God only works with those who say a willing yes to His call.   My prayer for all of us is that when we are invited to work with Him we too respond to His call with a willing heart saying, “Here I am, Lord.  Use me according to your will.”
• One more thing:  Note here how God communicates with His people: For Mary: it was an angel.  Not just an ordinary angel but His Chief-of-Staff.  It demonstrates the extreme significance of the case, because it was a water-shed event in human history.  Christ’s birth divided the human history in two periods: B.C. and A.D.
• In the past, God used prophets to convey His messages for His people.
• He still uses prophets, angels, dreams, and visions to communicate with us.  However, the most reliable and secure way that God uses today to reveal Himself to His people is His written Word the Bible.  In the Bible, God meets us and reveals Himself to us.  In the Scripture, God points us to the directions we need to go.  The Bible is the meeting place.  Devotion time is our time with God.  That’s why it is crucial for us to get into the Bible daily.   E.g. every morning God speaks to me in daily devotion reminding me of His will in my life.  The other day’s message to me was “Walk in the light as God is in the light (1 John 1:7).”  This is how He sends His message to His children every day.
• Folks, don’t be naïve and neglect this opportunity to meet with God.  Too many of God’s people never meet with God because they never search God in the Bible.  Yet, somehow they expect God to speak to them.  They never discover God’s will for them.  Therefore, they live out their lives according to their own will, not God’s and often end up living a life with no eternal perspective.Closing  
• The Almighty God has a plan for you.  You are not an accident.  Nothing is a coincidence with God.  You may not plan to be at a certain place at a certain time, but if God has called you to be there, He will arrange it accordingly, and it will happen (E.g. meeting a lady at dentist office).  As God has chosen Mary to be the instrument of His plan of salvation, God also has a purpose for you.  God wants you to be a part of His plan.  The part you alone can fulfill.  This morning He invites you to work with Him.  His plan for you may not be as drastic as Mary’s, yet He still waits for your answer.
• Are you ready to say yes to His call?  Are you willing to take a narrow path for God? Are you willing to suffer on behalf of Jesus the Lord?  If you do, the reward will be great and eternal.  You will never regret it.
• Let us pray.