Today, Pastor Choi introduces a three-part (that ended up in a four part) series on spiritual warfare.  In his message, he talks about two opposing kingdoms in spiritual realm: the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.  He urges the people of God to wake up from their spiritual sleep and follow their leader Jesus Christ in their spiritual battles.

Today, at Manahawkin UMC, Laity Sunday was observed where everything was led by the members of the congregation.  Guest speaker was Sarah Choi, also member of the church.  She talked about the secret of God’s provision.

Today Pastor Choi concludes his sermon series on the Church of God.  He exhorts the congregation to focus on what God has in mind for MUMC and be faithful to His call as the Church in Philadelphia did: with a little power, keep His Word and not deny His name, hold fast Christ’s Promise on Second Coming, and listen/obey what the Holy Spirit says to the churches.

Pastor Choi talks about the necessity of the Church in today’s sermon.  The Church of Jesus Christ is commissioned to take the message of reconciliation in Christ to the world (Matthew 28:19-20).  No other organizations in the world was chosen by God for that task.  God reveals salvation the divine mystery through the Church.  That’s why people need the Church.

Today Pastor Choi addresses the congregation on the question of why people need Jesus.  For healing, for peace, for happiness, for teaching, and for eternal life.  Yes, they are all legitimate reasons, but the true reason why every soul on earth needs Jesus is because of their broken relationship with God through sin.  Everyone is a sinner and every sinner needs a Savior.  That’s why we need Jesus the Savior and Lord.

Today Pastor Choi examines the question of why on evil.  In the time of violence, evil, and injustice, he exhorts the congregation not to run away from God but to run towards Him in search of hope, courage, strength, and wisdom to overcome evil.

Pastor Choi talks about the importance of watch and pray in the believer’s life.  Explaining the background information of the wedding in Israel at the time of Jesus, he exhorts God’s people to saturate their lives with prayer in earnest anticipation of Christ’s return.

Pastor Choi’s sermon series on Jesus’ Why questions ends today.  Jesus’ question of “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” was directed not to humans but to God the Heavenly Father.  He cried out to God not because His disciples betrayed and abandoned Him.  Nor because of the mockery and insult from the religious leaders and bystanders.  He rather did so, because the sin of entire world entered between Him and His Father and created a total separation between Christ and His loving Father in whose presence nothing unholy or impure is allowed.  That separation made Christ cry out to God, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Through the story of a paralytic man who was healed by Jesus, Pastor Choi highlights the following: Be the friend to bring your loved ones to Jesus in prayer, God searches all hearts and understands every intent of our thoughts, Forgiveness trumps all other blessings, and Accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

Pastor Choi talks about breaking the commandment of God with human teachings and tradition.  In today’s story, he draws three lessons: beware of human tradition that invalidates the Word of God, do not worship in vain, and watch out what truly defiles you.

Today Pastor Choi talks about putting the Lord to the test: what constitutes testing of the Lord.  Not every act of asking for God’s sign is considered ‘putting the Lord to the test.’  The Scripture identifies three elements of testing the Lord: 1) Unbelief of God’s wisdom, power, good will, and His existence  2) Demand of wanton cravings  3) Rebellion against God.

Pastor Choi talks about three approaches people take in terms of salvation and eternal life: human goodness, the Law, and Christ.  He explains how the first two approaches fail to bring us into God’s eternal presence.  He reiterates what God’s Word says about salvation: Christ is the way, the life, and the truth.  No one can come to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).

Today Pastor Choi expounds Jesus’ command on discerning the present time (Kairos).   Kairos is God’s appointed time that demands God’s people to live a holy and godly life, spotless and blameless, for the day of Christ (2 Peter 3:11, 14).

Today Pastor Choi talks about the meaning of “not to judge” others.  They are stop being self-righteous, stop being judgmental, and stop condemning others like God.

Today Pastor Choi talks about Jesus and Peter walking on the water.  Three lessons he points out in the story of Jesus: God’s in it, so is our faith, and fix your eyes on Jesus.

Pastor Choi today talks about the cure for anxiety.  First, he points out four characteristics of worries: useless, evil, stressful, and contagious.  Next, he identifies four ways to handle life’s worries: keep a heavenly perspective, have faith in God, stop worrying, and seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness.

Today Pastor Choi expounds the Scriptures on divine anger.  In the Old Testament, God’s anger was ignited when people of God followed other gods, grumbled against God, and afflicted orphans, widows, and foreigners.  In the New Testament, Jesus also got angry at hypocrisy, commercialism in God’s house, belittling of children, stubborn heart and unbelief.  May God help us never provoke Him to anger.

Pastor Choi talks about anger at God.  Taking the example of Jonah, he explains how to handle our anger with God: Avoid bad theology.  Be humble before God in anger.  Choose to trust in God not own feelings.

Today Pastor Choi talks about Mary of Bethany who poured the very expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet.  Three lessons to learn from Mary: a. Give all you have to Jesus.  b. Jesus remembers your love and acts of service and reward you accordingly.  c. Don’t wait until tomorrow to serve the Lord.

Today Pastor Choi concludes his series on the heart: we are to love the LORD God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our might.  May God approve us like He did King David whose heart was wholly devoted to the LORD.

Today Pastor Choi concludes his sermon series on the prayers that Lord Jesus has actually said.  He focuses on the last word of the last sayings of Jesus: Father, into Your hands, I commit my spirit (Luke 23:46).

Pastor Choi talks about Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane the night before crucifixion.  He prayed on His knees, for God’s will to be done not His, and commanded His disciples to keep watch so as not to fall into temptation.

Today Pastor Choi continues his series on the Lord’s Prayers. He points out that Christ’s prayers were relational, personal, and grateful (full of gratitude).

Today Pastor Choi talks about three characteristics of Jesus’ prayer: intentional, habitual, and alone with God.  The sermon exhorts the congregation to cultivate the habit of spending time alone with God in prayer throughout the year.

Pastor Choi invites the congregation to examine the biblical accounts on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  “Where has the body of Jesus gone?”  Two theories: one by the Christian community that He is risen indeed.  The other theory by the chief priests and the elders that the disciples of Jesus stole away the body of Jesus, that’s why the tomb was empty.

Which theory do you believe?  The sermon urges the congregation to make up their minds.

Today Pastor Choi continues his sermon series on ‘heart’—part 2 of 3: how to take care of your heart.  After a brief recap of the last Sunday’s message, he points out three excellent ways to watch over the heart: 1. Screen out all negative and destructive thoughts.  2. Store up good and godly thoughts beginning with God’s Word—the Word of Life.  3. Stay on whatever is noble and honorable.  By doing so, we will have the life God intends us to have.

How to Take Care of Your Heart

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Watch Over Your Heart

Proverbs 4:23   New American Standard Bible

Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.

Introduction

This morning I will continue my sermon series on heart- part 2 of 3: how to take care of our heart.

Recap of the Last Week’s Sermon

1. Remember that the heart is the innermost seat of emotion, will, thoughts, and appetites.   It is an open bowl where all the thoughts freely come and go.  Three parties have access to your heart: you, God, and the devil.  It is also a battleground where God and the devil vie for your worship, affection, and devotion.
2. Remember that you’re the sole caretaker of your heart.  You are the guardian appointed by God and your heart is a ward under your protection.  Your job is simple yet very important: to keep your heart safe and secure.
3. I am sure every one of us wants to take good care of our hearts.   A healthy and strong heart begins with our desire to provide excellent care to the heart.  Unless we want to take care of our hearts, no one will.  Even God cannot help us on that.  Why?  Because God never overrides our free will.   Without our desire or invitation, God won’t be able to help us much.  The neglected heart becomes confused, unruly, and eventually we suffer the consequences thereof, that is, evil things march out and defile us (Mark 7:21-23).

Contents

Today’s verse expounded:

The first half of today’s verse reads: “Watch over your heart with all diligence.”  The literal translation of the original Hebrew is:  Above all guarding, guard your heart.

Definition of “to guard”: “to protect property, places, or people from attack or danger” (Oxford Dictionary).   We all protect something or some people from attack or danger.  A question: what do you guard?  Life, health, wealth, house, bank accounts, investment portfolios, family, jobs, image, identity, and so forth.  One thing is for sure: none of us guard anything worthless.  We only guard something precious, valuable, and essential.  So, out of all things worthy of our guarding, which one does God command us to guard most?  The heart.   Our heart is the number one priority to protect.  Guard it fiercely.

Why the heart?

The second sentence of today’s text reveals the reason why we must guard our heart above all things.  Once again the English translation reads: For from it (heart) flow the springs of life.   The literal translation of the same sentence is this: For from it come out the sources of life.  All things of life stem from your heart.

Let me elaborate a little more on ‘life’ here.  The life here means more than just daily survival.  It is the life meaningful.  It is the life fulfilling.  It’s the life of contentment.  It’s the life God intends us to enjoy.  In fact, Jesus wants us to have that life—and have it abundantly (John 10:10).  It’s the life that consists of “earthly felicity combined with spiritual blessedness” (The New Brown-Driver-Briggs-Cesenius Hebrew-English Lexicon, p. 313).  To ‘life’ here, the Septuagint (LXX) Bible renders a unique Greek word ‘zoe’ instead of ‘bios.’  In other words, things that matter most in life originate from our heart.  The essential elements of the blessed life come out of our heart.   And, whatever comes out of our heart even determines our final destination.   That’s how crucial our heart is in life.  So, if you want to live a life satisfactory and meaningful, and if you want to live a life with purpose and destination, and if you want to secure your life eternal,  then learn to take good care of your heart.

Once again, understand your identity: You are the watchman.  You are the guardian of your heart.  Your job is to keep your heart pure, innocent, and blameless in the sight of God until Christ comes (Philippians 1:10).  So, based on these understandings, I am going to introduce three ways to take a good care of your heart.  Let’s not forget.  The entire well-being of your heart and the quality of your life are determined by your desire, discipline, and diligence.

Three things we can do for our hearts: Screen out, Store up, and Stay on.

Screen out.  You are on guard duty for life on behalf of your heart: to prevent the enemy infiltration.  E.g.  The army uses the daily password.  Whoever says the correct password may pass, whoever doesn’t, the guard can shoot.  Same goes with our guard duty for the heart.  For any thought trying to enter the heart, ask the password which is always the same: are you in line with God’s will?  If so, enter. If not, stop.  Never allow anything bad to enter your heart: only good things.

God commands us to take captive every thought and bring it to Christ.  Listen: “… we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NASB).  We must learn to screen out thoughts and feelings especially those that are negative and destructive.  Some of us are in the habit of following whatever our heart says.  Follow your heart, they say.  However, beware: the same heart can deceive us.  In Jeremiah 17:9, God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things…”  I would rather let God’s Word guide me not my own feelings.  E.g. 1.  “I cannot forgive my brother.”— Remember the Lord’s Prayer.  E.g. 2.  A young couple wants a divorce due to no more feelings of love to each other.—Marriage is a commitment.  Let no one separate what God has joined (Matthew 19:6).  E.g. 3.  Depressive / Suicidal thoughts.  Check out the source of every destructive thought.  Satan can prompt such a thought in your heart (John 13:2).   Give no opportunity to the devil (Ephesians 4:27).  Bring every thought and feeling under the control of Christ.  Filter it.  Test it against God’s Word.  E.g. Practice the screening on TV and movies you watch.  Pray before you watch.  Place guards on your eye-gate and ear-gate.   Stay disciplined on it.  Payoff will be huge.

Store up.  There are many good things we can store up in our hearts; good memories, good music, good stories, good images, good thoughts, and so forth.  But, first and foremost, begin with God’s Word the Good Book.  Why?  Because it is the Word of life (1 John 1:1).  It gives you peace.  It restores your health (Proverbs 4:22).  It is essential for your eternal life, too.  Do you love God?  Then, you will love and cherish His Word.  It would be an oxymoron if you say, “I love God, yet I never open the Bible.”  It would be equally contradictory if you say, “I care for my soul, yet I never read the Bible.”  Why? Because God’s Word is the food for your soul, and if you don’t feed your soul with God’s Word, your soul will starve to death.  Never believe in the devil’s lie that the Bible is too difficult to understand.  He does everything to keep you from getting into God’s Word for your salvation.  You need God’s Word for your eternal life.  You need God’s Word to protect your heart (Matthew 15:19).  Listen to the Psalmist:  ⁹ How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. ¹¹ Your word I have treasured in my heart that I may not sin against You (Psalm 119:9, 11, NASB).

Stay on good and godly thoughts: ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Philippians 4:8, NASB).  Whatever comes into our hearts, it stays in our hearts and it is extremely hard to remove it.  That’s why we need to make every effort to put godly things in our hearts in the first place as a daily positive reinforcement.  Then, we keep on dwelling on such things all the time.  Chew on them, sit on them, and meditate on them daily.  You will have a blessed life.

Conclusion  

Above all guarding, guard your heart: screen out all bad thoughts.  Next, store up God’s word diligently; fill up your heart with whatever is honorable and noble.  Finally, stay on them daily.  Then, you will enjoy the life abundantly in Christ.   Amen.

Today Pastor Choi talks about the human heart.  Pointing out that the human heart is a battle-ground between God and the devil who vie for our worship, devotion, and affection, Pastor Choi exhorts the people of God to take good care of their hearts by asking for God’s help.

What Is Heart

Following is a summary of the sermon:

What is the Heart? 

Jeremiah 17:9   New American Standard Bible

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?

Introduction

Recently, after 25 years in ministry, I wanted to have a deeper understanding on one subject: the heart.  Not that I wanted to be a cardiologist or a psychologist.  It seems to me that everything in our life (both good and bad) stems from the heart such as kindness, love, greed, and even hate.  Heart matters in every relationship with God and with people.  So, this is how I reasoned myself: the better understanding of the heart, the better understanding of myself and others, and the better relationships with God and with each other.   So I started my study on the heart.

It still has a long way to go before I can even say that I understand the human heart.  This morning, you are about to hear my preliminary study on the subject.  In fact, I am going to do a three-part series in the next three Sundays.  I hope and pray that the series will lead us to a better understanding, better care of our hearts, and better relationships.   Here’s part 1 of 3: what is the heart?

Contents

Definition of the Heart

Let me begin with what I mean by the heart.  There are three definitions of the heart: medical, poetic/artistic, and scriptural.

• Medical: a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation (Oxford Dictionary)
• Poetic/Artistic: the center of the total personality, especially with reference to intuition, feeling, or emotion (Dictionary.com)
• Scriptural: the innermost seat of emotion, mind, will, conscience, and appetites.

This morning I am going to strictly focus on the scriptural sense of heart: the heart as the innermost seat of emotion, thoughts, will, and appetites.  Our western mindset is tuned to the separation of heart and mind (or heart and head) due to the Platonic distinction. Please note here that I make no distinction between heart/emotion and mind/intellect, because the Scriptures don’t make a clear-cut distinction between emotion and intellect.   In fact, the Ancient Hebrews believed that all the characteristics of modern-day “heart and mind” were interconnected and originated from one entity, not two, and they called them “heart.” So, will I.  When I say “the heart,” it covers both the mind and emotions.

Three Kinds of Heart

The Bible talks about three kinds of heart.

• The Heart of God (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 32:41, Ezekiel 28:2)
• The Heart of Man (Jeremiah 7:19)
• The Heart of Beasts (Daniel 5:21)

The Heart of God

I am so thankful that God too has the heart.   God’s heart deserves a full sermon for another time.  This is how much I will tell you, though.  Out of His heart, God created the heavens and the earth (intellect).  Out of His heart, He has chosen us to be His children (will).  Out of His heart, He loves us unconditionally (emotion).  To Him each soul is equally valuable, sinners and saints alike (e.g. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous—Matthew 5:45).  He never gives up on anyone unless they reject Him first.  In fact, His loving kindness, generosity, and mercy endure forever!   They blow us away!  All out of His loving heart!  Isn’t it wonderful that we worship and belong to such a God with a loving heart?

The Heart of Man

When God created Adam and Eve in His image and likeness, He has given them the heart that shared the characteristics of God’s heart; pure and innocent, loving, kind, creative, and no sign or touch of evil at all.  However, when they disobeyed God, sin came in and that changed everything.

In fact, sin corrupted the human heart to the core and forever.  For instance, during Noah’s time, God was deeply grieved with the constant evil thoughts of humans to the point where He regretted that He had created humans.  He wanted a new start.  So, through the Great Flood, He wiped humanity off from the surface of the earth except for Noah’s eight.  However, Noah’s eight still had the old heart—still depraved as before.  Thousands of years later, God described the condition of the human heart to prophet Jeremiah as follows:  the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9).

Almost three millennia passed since prophet Jeremiah; in the 21^st century, our heart still is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick.  Wouldn’t you agree?

The Heart of Beasts

The reference on the heart of beasts is also found in the Bible; only once.  The heart of beasts demonstrates basic instincts of survival: no reason, no ability to create, no conscience, or no reverence of life.  It only knows daily survival among prey and predators.   One man actually experienced and had it for seven years (Daniel 4:32).   E.g.

²¹ He [King Nebuchadnezzar] was also driven away from mankind, and his heart was made like that of beasts, and his dwelling place was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until he recognized that the Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind and that He sets over it whomever He wishes (Daniel 5:21).

Once again, my focus will be on the human heart.

What’s Happening in the Heart?   

• You can forget all the rest of my sermon this morning.  However, please remember this: Your heart is a battle ground between God and the enemy of God (that is, the devil) who vie for your worship, devotion, and affection.   For instance,

–     God sows the Word of God in the heart (Luke 8:11).

–     The devil snatches away the Word sown in the heart (Luke 8:12).

• Remember: Your heart is like an open bowl and both God and the devil have access to it.  In fact, three parties have access to your heart: self, God, and the devil.  All of them can throw in and take out any thoughts out of your heart.   Let’s think about this a little more, beginning with “self.”

What Each Party Can Do to Our Heart

1. Self: we can initiate/retain/remove any thoughts, wishes, and plans in our hearts either good or bad.  Here are some examples of what we can do with our hearts.

–     We can humble ourselves and incline our hearts to God.

–     We can watch over our hearts with all diligence (Proverbs 4:23).

–     We can also neglect the care of our heart and let it be defiled:  See what happens to the heart that is neglected, that is not properly cared after or not protected from the devil.  Listen to Jesus in Mark 7.

–     From within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deed of coveting and wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.  All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man (Mark 7:21-23).

1. The devil: too many a Christian have a very naïve understanding of the devil: some of us think he is not real; others believe that it is just a personification of evil.  Others depict him as the guy holding a pitch-fork with two horns on his head and a tail.  Or, a cute little guy sitting on our shoulder whispering to us.  No, he is much more a cunning creature than those images.  He has only one goal: to steal, kill, and destroy your soul into hell (John 10:10).  In order to achieve his goal, he diligently works, first and foremost, on your heart.  He enslaves your heart through temptation, fear, deception, and confusion.  He snatches anything good and godly away from your heart especially God’s Word sown in your heart (Luke 8:12) [e.g. distractions during sermon].  Then, he fills up your heart with evil/unclean/negative/destructive thoughts that you often take as yours.  E.g. Judas Iscariot (John 13:2).
2. God: He is the expert in the human heart and He is most interested in your heart and mine.  Our hearts are His business.  In fact, He cares about our heart more than any one of us ever would.  How much does He know about our heart?  Everything.   Through and through.  Remember: He is the designer and creator of the heart.  He is the divine heart surgeon.  He can make our sick hearts healthy again.  In fact, the Bible lists 32 things that God can do/does with our heart.  For instance, He searches the heart, weighs, examines, tests, strengthens, revives, renews, changes, and sets the heart free, to name a few.  However, one thing He will never do to our hearts: control.  He leaves the full reign of the heart to us to the point where we can abuse such freedom to even curse the Creator.  Such a freedom is the sure sign of love.

The good news is this: God can help us to remove evil/unclean/destructive/negative thoughts.  He also can fill our hearts with good/godly thoughts.  He can purify and strengthen our hearts as well.  All of these would He do only upon our invitation and requests.  Without our desire to keep our hearts pure and clean, and without our invitation, God wouldn’t do it.   We must ask for His help from the heart.

Conclusion

We all have a job to do: to take good care of our heart.  Where do we start?  Ask God for His help today.  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit will help you.   Next week, we will think about some practical ways to take care of our heart.  Let us pray.

Today Pastor Choi designates 2016 to be the Year of Prayer.  Beginning with the definition of prayer, he covers basic characteristics of prayer. He exhorts the people of God to call unto God throughout the year so that they may undeniably experience the living God who answers their prayers.

    2016-the Year of Prayer   

The following is a summary of the sermon:

2016: the Year of Prayer     

Jeremiah 33:3   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’                       

Introduction

The top ten most googled New Year’s Resolutions in 2015: the top ten most searched “how-to” questions in the U.S. during the week before and the week after New Year’s Day 2015:

1. how to get rid of stress

2. how to make kale chips

3. how much water should I drink to lose weight

4. how to write a resignation letter

5. how to cook lentils

6. how to cook cabbage

7. how to write a letter of recommendation

8. how to cook collard greens

9. how to steam broccoli

10. how to crochet a beanie  (Olivia B. Waxman, Here Are the Most Googled New Year’s Resolutions –http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/here-are-the-most-googled-new-year%e2%80%99s-resolutions/ar-BBo3D9a?ocid=spartanntp)

Well, one thing is for sure: people want to get rid of stress.  Let me tell you the best answer to that quest: prayer.   Let’s think about prayer this morning.

Contents

I don’t exactly remember how my prayer life has started.  Neither can I recall when I first started praying to the Heavenly Father or who taught me to pray.  I never took a course on prayer such as “Prayer 101: Introduction to Prayer,” either.  Yet, sometime in high school, I started praying to God.   

Prayer is the breathing of our soul. 

Let me define what prayer is before I go further.   

Oxford Dictionary defines prayer as follows: a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship.   

Here’s my own definition: prayer is a series of thoughts or words, either spoken or unspoken, directed to God on behalf of others or for self.   

Another definition: prayer is the breathing of our soul to God.    

Whatever definition you follow, one thing is for sure:  prayer is an activity of our soul.  Prayer is to our soul as breathing to our body.  Without it, our soul perishes.  With it, our soul thrives. 

We learn to pray by doing it, not by studying about it.  

If someone asks you what breathing is, you may explain that it is ‘the process of taking air into and expelling it from the lungs’ (Oxford Dictionary).  But, anyone can breathe in and out with no understanding on the lungs; where they are located in our body and what they do, right?  In fact, we naturally breathe in and out; we never stop breathing until we die.  Same thing goes with our prayer.  When we first confess that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord, our spirit becomes alive and our soul begins to breathe, that is, pray.  From that day on, our new born soul is to pray to God without ceasing. 

You don’t need a sermon or training to start praying.  You just pray like a new born baby breathes from the moment of birth without training.  You learn as you go. 

Prayer works. 

Some of us are skeptical about prayer when it comes down to actual praying.  However, don’t say that prayer doesn’t work until you try it.  E.g. When I first started praying, I was not 100% sure about the effectiveness of prayer.  In fact, I wondered about the practicality of prayer: whether it works or not; and if so, how exactly God answers prayers.  So, one year in college, I decided to experiment on prayer.  I started a prayer journal where I recorded all my prayer requests: the date I started praying, the contents of prayer, the date it was answered, and how it was answered.  I kept journaling for the next six months.  At the end of the sixth month, I found 96 entries in the journal.  To my great surprise, I found every single one of them answered in one of the following ways: YES (majority). NO (some).  WAIT (a few).  That’s how I discovered that prayer is real, not just a psychological hypnosis to comfort myself (note: prayer is not eastern style of meditation, either).  

Fasting is a prayer that works ‘fast.’ 

Some of you heard about fasting.  What is fasting?  It is more than skipping meals.  Fasting is an intense prayer.  It is a prayer that works ‘fast.’  There came the time when I did some serious prayers with fasting, especially during my major crises in life.  Pouring my soul in anguish, I would cry out onto the Lord to deliver me from my troubles.  The Almighty God surely listened and answered my humble pleas in the ways beyond my imagination.  Praise God!  If you haven’t tried fasting, try it.  It works really well and fast. 

God speaks to us in the ways that we understand. 

I must point out that prayer is a two way communication: we speak to God and God speaks to us.  Most of us consider prayer, however, as one way street: we are good at telling God our shopping list but poor at listening to God.   

So, how do we listen to God?   God uses many different ways to speak to us: to some, through visions and dreams.  To others, through audible voices of angels.  To more others, through the open doors and closed doors.   And, through the Scripture passages, too.  No matter which way God communicates with us, let us not forget: He speaks to us in the ways that we can clearly understand (this one requires some training.  I will talk about this later; how to discern His voice).   

One of the ways that God speaks to me in prayer is reasoning: through questions He leads me to come to my own conclusion.  Whenever He does that, I find Him very gentle and kind, patiently listening to my worries and frustrations.  Then, He leads me through reasoning to His assurance that eventually takes away my worries.    

The result of Prayer: peace and assurance 

After prayer, we come out of God’s Throne Room with the assurance that He is in control, faithful, and alive in our lives.  He is not the God who stays aloof from our daily challenges and struggles.  Rather, He is deeply involved in our daily affairs.  No wonder our God is Immanuel (‘with-us-God’).  E.g. Philippians 4:6-7:  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.   

Conclusion 

As your pastor, I designate this year “the year of prayer.”  Let’s call it: the year of P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens).  

This year I urge all of us to get on our knees to fulfill God’s will for us.  

This year let us refuse to sit in the darkness or despair.

This year let us not stop praying until we see God’s promises fulfilled.

This year let us not stop praying until we undeniably experience the Living God. 

This year let us press on and cry unto the Lord to see how He answers us. 

This year let us claim the abundant life that Christ has promised to us.  

This year let us offer our thanks to God for all the answers to our prayers.  

This year let us praise His name among us. 

This year let us declare to everyone that God is alive. 

This year let us walk with God in prayer who leads us in victory.     

Let us pray.

Today Pastor Choi takes a moment to reflect on the goal of 2015 for Manahawkin Congregation: the Year of Knowing Jesus.  Out of many lessons he learned through the year, he shares the following three: first, love the Lord with a pure heart.  Next, do everything for the glory of God and His pleasure (I Corinthians 10:31).  Thirdly, brighten the corner where you are.

     Reflections on 2015

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Reflections on 2015

Today we have the cantata, so my message will be brief.

First of all, as pastor of this congregation, I would like to thank God for His faithfulness.  He has blessed us to finish this year strong, therefore, let us praise our Heavenly Father who sustained us both physically and spiritually.  I also thank all of you for loving the Lord and being faithful to His ministry through your presence, gifts, and talents.

I’d like to take a moment to reflect on our goal of 2015—“the year of knowing Jesus.”  I hope and pray that all of us have made progress in our faith and practice.

Personally, this year was one of the most productive years in terms of growing spiritually.  I have discovered Jesus in new and refreshing ways that, in turn, energized my walk with the Lord.

I’ve made over 30 discoveries throughout the year in knowing Jesus and they can be squeezed down to the following three:

First, love the Lord with a pure heart.  The Lord taught me to check on my motive why I wanted to know Jesus on a deeper level in the first place: it is never for selfish gains such as ‘doing great wonders and miracles’ or ‘making our church ten times bigger than it is now.’  Rather, He wants me to know, enjoy, and love Him with a pure motive for the sake of relationship not for the benefits thereof.  E.g. In any healthy and thriving relationship, no one looks for what’s in it for them first; rather, they love each other first, and enjoy the benefits thereafter.

Next, do everything for God’s glory and His pleasure (1 Corinthians 10:31).  Often times, I find myself keeping God’s commands for fear factors such as ‘to avoid the consequences of sins’ or ‘not to fall into temptations.’  The Lord wants me to change that attitude: keep His word, not because I’m afraid if I don’t, but because I love Him.  E.g. English sentence: I don’t have to, but I love to.  From now on, I will keep His Word not because I have to, but because I love Jesus (John 14:23).  Jesus also reminds me of this: whenever I keep His Word, it pleases Him.  E.g. Eric Liddell “God made me fast.  And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”  Let us do everything, from reading the Bible to prayer, from worship to our words, for His pleasure.  When He is pleased, it makes us pleased in turn.

Thirdly, brighten the corner where you are.  I realize more and more that the Lord doesn’t expect me to save the entire world (it is the job for Jesus).  Rather, He expects me to brighten the corner where I am and to blossom where I am planted.   E.g. A young man in 1930s wanted to liberate Korea from Japanese occupation by joining the armed resistance.  His mentor’s advice was to stay home instead and brighten the corner where he was.  What matters most in the sight of the Lord is: not how many great achievements we make but how much we love people around us with Christ-like love.  “Fervently love one another from the heart” (1 Peter 1:22, NASB).

2015 is almost over.  However, knowing Jesus doesn’t stop on December 31.  It is an ongoing process for us.  Let us keep growing in His love, knowledge, insight so that we may test and know what matters most and stay pure and blameless until Christ comes (Philippians 1:9-11).    Amen.

Today Pastor Choi talks about true joy and where we can find it: in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Sharing stories of three believers in Christ who found true joy in the Lord, he exhorts the believers to do the same by fixing their eyes on Jesus the true source of joy and light in the world.

    Rejoice

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Rejoice 

Philippians 4:4   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Introduction

Have you been in the mall lately shopping?  Have you ever closely observed people’s faces?   Were they all happy, beaming, or joyous?  Or, rather, empty, tired, and even grumpy?  I’ve seen more weary faces than merry ones in this season of joy.

During this season of Christmas, we hear and speak a lot about joy: Christmas joy, joy to the world, and so forth.  One question arises in my mind: where’s the joy in this season of joy?  What has gone wrong in our celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ?  Although joy should’ve been the central theme of the season, some of us find burden in our hearts instead.  Some folks even suffer from ‘holiday blues.’  Sure, we can find fault with commercialism for the loss of our joy.  Yes, we can also blame our kids for their unreasonable requests of very expensive toys.  Yet, seriously, what happened to our joy?   How can we find true joy and where should we look for it?  That’s the topic this morning.

Contents

Where can we find joy?  Would you believe if I said that you can find joy in the midst of cancer treatments?  Would you say amen if I said that you can find joy even in a prison cell?  Would you agree if I said that you can find joy even in your disabilities?

I am going to tell you stories of three individuals who found their joys in the midst of hardships.  After their stories, I will briefly speak about the common thread that binds them together.

First, please come and meet a sister in Christ.  I will leave her unnamed.  I will simply say she was one of my parishioners some years ago in Michigan.  She was very ill at that time, because she had cancer and had been through a series of chemotherapy.  As a result, she lost all her hair and no physical strength was left in her body.  Believe me: none of us wants to be in such a state.  One day I met with her to pray for her healing and strength.  Humanly speaking, she had nothing to be joyful about.  However, that day, on her face I saw something priceless and heavenly: a smile.  In fact, I haven’t seen such a beautiful smile on anyone’s face in my life.  It left such an indelible impression on my mind that I wondered where this kind of smile / joy came from.  You simply cannot buy such a smile with money for sure.  Her smile definitely didn’t come from her circumstances, either.  Yet, I witnessed it.

Next, come and meet a brother in Christ who found a similar joy in a place where we would least expect to find it: in prison.  His name is Paul a.k.a. the Apostle.  In today’s passage, he says to us, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say rejoice!”

Now, please consider the circumstances in which he wrote his letter.  He wasn’t vacationing in Hawaii basking in the sun.  Rather, he was sitting in a dark and damp dungeon in Rome.  He was a prisoner for Christ.  Mind you that he was not enjoying benefits of modern prison such as TV, internet, library, three square meals, medical benefits, exercise room, and so forth.  As far as his sentence was concerned, he had no hope of release.  Why?  Because he was on death row.  He was waiting for his last day on earth.  Yet, writing this letter with his own hands to the believers in Philippi, he commanded them twice to rejoice in the Lord.  How can a person on death row encourage the people outside to rejoice always?

Have you ever visited with a man who was terminally ill?   You go there to comfort him.  Yet, instead of comforting, you come out being comforted by him.  The same thing was true with Paul and the Philippian believers.  Humanly speaking, Paul was the one who needed to be comforted big time by the believers outside, because he was in prison with no hope of clemency, waiting to be executed.  The saints in Philippi, on the other hand, were the ones who were free and able to do whatever they wanted to do.  Furthermore, they had lots of blessings to be grateful for such as family, food, clothing, and shelter.  As far as material possessions, Paul had nothing to share with others.  Yet, the one with nothing actually did comfort those with much.   ‘Rejoice and again I say rejoice,’ the same prisoner urges us this morning.

Here’s the third story to ponder.  Feel free to guess who this lady is.  She was born in 1820 and died in 1915.  She became blind when she was six weeks old through an improper medical treatment.  She was married to a blind musician and had a child who died in early infancy.  She was rather petite in appearance; less than five feet tall and weighed less than one hundred pounds.  To some, she was physically unattractive —“a long face, prominent front teeth with a gap between them; thick, wavy hair parted in the middle and pulled backward in curls that hung to the shoulders”; she also wore the dark rectangular glasses obscuring her sightless eyes.  “Yet, when she spoke, it is said that there was an unusual charisma about her, as her face lit up with an expression that gave her great charm and attractiveness” (Kenneth W. Osbeck, 101 More Hymn Stories, pp. 239-240).

You need more hints?  She wrote lots of poems for the Lord, and, in fact, we know well a number of hymns she wrote: “Blessed Assurance,” “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” “Rescue the Perishing,” and etc.  Got the idea now?  Yes, her name was Fanny J. Crosby.

By the way, folks, do you know that she had a true conversion experience at a Methodist revival meeting, and said about her conversion experience as follows? “The Lord planted a star in my life and no cloud had ever obscured its light” (Ibid., p. 240).

Now, speaking about the light, Jesus says He is the light of the world (John 8:12).  As long as He is in you, no cloud in your life will ever obscure His light, and you will walk in the light.  Jesus is also the source of our joy and delight.  Can you imagine a person like Fanny J. Crosby, who was blind, did one of the most wonderful ministries in history?  What did she do?  She led numerous souls to Christ through her songs.  Although she could’ve pitied herself for her handicap through her entire life, she was never imprisoned by self-pity.  Rather, she stayed very active for the Kingdom of God for years.  Who made all the difference in her life?  Wasn’t it Jesus Christ the Light and the Joy of the world?  She lived for 95 years on earth and now is with the Lord.  What do you think she would say to us, if she became alive at this moment among us?  Wouldn’t she say the same thing she did through many words of hymns she wrote?  That is, the best blessing anyone can have is Jesus Christ–Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.

True joy is found in the Lord:

I promised at the beginning that I would briefly share with you one thing that is in common among these three individuals.  They were all Christians.  They all had the same faith in Jesus.  Their circumstances were different, yet they all found the same joy in the Lord—the source of true joy in our lives.  Let me say it one more time: True joy is only found in the Lord.  It doesn’t come from anything material.  That is, you still may have emptiness even when you are surrounded with a plethora of things.   However, you can have true joy without spending a dime, too, as long as you are in the Lord.  True joy also transcends circumstances.  That’s why I would call it true joy.  It doesn’t depend on circumstances.  Prosperities don’t guarantee it.   It doesn’t disappear in adversities, either.   It is unshakable.  It is immovable, because it comes from eternal God.  Circumstances may change, but God never does.  Therefore, let us learn to refuse to fall into your mood swings that go with the circumstances.   Rather let us tell God that we will put our 100% trust in Him no matter what.   E.g. Fanny J. Crosby story again.   “At the age of eight years she wrote her first poem:

Oh what a happy soul am I!
Although I cannot see,
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy
That other people don’t;
To weep and sigh because I’m blind
I cannot nor I won’t.” (http://www.truthfulwords.org/biography/crosbytw.html)

Conclusion

Do you remember what happened on the first Christmas Eve in the region of Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-12)?  That night the heavenly angels appeared before the shepherds out in the field and proclaimed the good news of a great joy for all the people in the world.  Since then, Jesus Christ has been the true joy to many.  He may be the greatest joy for the world, but He can’t be yours, unless you too have Him in your heart as your Savior and Lord.

Do you miss joy in your life?  Does your soul cry for help?  Have Jesus Christ right now in your heart.   Have Him as your personal Savior and Lord today.  Ask Him to come into your heart and be the King in your life.  Then, your heart will be filled with heavenly joy.  You can have this joy all the time as long as Christ reigns in you.  Fix your eyes on Jesus, because He is the only one who can give you true joy.  Ask Him, and He will give it to you.    Shall we pray?

“Say after me, if you would like to have true joy in your life.  Lord Jesus, I repent my sins.  Forgive my sins through your precious blood.  Please come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior.  Be my true joy for the rest of my life.  In Christ’s name, I pray.  Amen.”

Today Pastor Choi talks about Christ’s second coming in three aspects: A. Why He comes again?  B. How will He come again? C. When is it going to be?  In conclusion, he reminds and exhorts the congregation that they must be on the alert in prayer while they await their Savior.

      Watch

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Watch!

Mark 13:32-37    New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³² But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.

³³ “Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come. ³⁴ It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. ³⁵ Therefore, be on the alert—for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— ³⁶ in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. ³⁷ What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’”

Introduction

According to the Church calendar, today is the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent consists of four Sundays before Christmas Day.  During this Advent season, we remember the spirit of Christmas from awaiting the promised Messiah to witnessing His actual coming as our Savior and Lord.

In the past, God communicated with His people through many means such as nature and people, dreams and visions, signs and wonders.  Today He mostly communicates with His people through the Bible (because the Bible is freely available—the best-selling book in history).  However, when the Scripture was not available, for instance, in the Old Testament times, the primary way of communication was prophets.  For hundreds of years God has spoken to His people through prophets (Hebrews 1:1).  Through the prophets He promised to Israel that He would send them the Messiah who would restore God’s reign on earth.  That promise had been fulfilled 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem.  God sent His Son to humanity.  In fact, that’s what Christmas is all about.  Jesus Christ was born with a mission: to save His people from their sins.  Let me assure you again the very reason for Jesus’ first coming: (as His name says the Lord saves) He came to save humanity from sin and to give them eternal life.

Now, our Lord Jesus Christ lived on earth for 33 years.  Especially, the last three years of His earthly life, He did many miracles, healed the sick, preached the good news, and taught the Word of God.  At the cross He completed the work of salvation: His body was broken so that we may be healed.  His blood was shed so that the wages of our sins may be paid.   The best part is this:  He arose from the dead in order to show us that death is not final.  We do have hope of eternal life.

After His physical resurrection, for the next forty days, the risen Christ repeatedly appeared to His disciples and performed many more miracles.  Eventually, He ascended into Heaven to be seated at the right hand of God.  As He was ascending to Heaven, He promised His disciples saying, “I will come again.”

Since His ascension, 2,000 years have passed.  We Christians still await the fulfillment of His promise.   We are still waiting for His second coming.  In the New Testament Jesus in His own words had already told us about His coming (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21).  So, it would be foolish of us if we fail to take heed to what He said about His own second coming.  That’s our topic this morning.

Contents

One day Christ’s disciples asked Him about His second coming (Mark 13:4).  Today’s passage is part of His answer to them.  If Jesus were here today in our midst, and if we asked Him the same question (that is, when He is coming to us and what signs we should look for), I doubt that He will change His original answer.  He would give us the same answer and say to us, “I already have given you.  Read My Book—-Mark 13.”   Based on that chapter, I am going to explain to you three parts of His promise of coming:  A. Why He comes again?  B. How will He come again? C. When is it going to be?

A. Why will He come again?  (Hebrews 9:28)

One thing I know about His second coming is this: He will come to judge the world.  It is going to be different from the first time.  When He came first time, it was for salvation for all.  But this time it’s going to be for judgment.  The Bible says He will come to judge the ungodly.  Listen to 2 Peter 3:7:  But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 

Christ will come again for the judgment of the world, not for its redemption.  It is not going to be pretty for those who refuse to obey God.  It is going to be miserable for those who are ungodly.   We don’t have to be afraid of His coming, though, because it is going to be our salvation and deliverance (Luke 21:28).  It is going to be our glorious day to meet the Lord in the air.  Listen again to Hebrews 9:28: so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.  Folks, His coming is great news for us!  Rejoice!   Let’s share this great news with others so that they too can be included in salvation not in judgment, Amen?

B. How will He come again?  (Acts 1:11, Matthew 24:26-27, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

In what manner He will come, first, Jesus said that He will come in the same way as He was taken to Heaven (Acts 1:11).  In other words, as the disciples of Jesus witnessed with their own eyes Him taken up into Heaven, we too will be able to see Him come down with our own eyes.  Furthermore, when He comes, everyone on earth, with no exception, will be able to see Him simultaneously.  It won’t be like: we Americans see Him, but folks in Australia won’t.  Rather, everyone in the world, from America to China, from Antarctica to Greenland, even people in North Korea will be able to see Him at the same time.  How do I know?  The Word of God says so.  Listen to Matthew 24:26-27: So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. ²⁷ For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

Next, He will come in clouds with great power and glory (Mark 13:26).  He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven (Mark 13:27).  He will come in the clouds with the trumpet sound.  No one will miss His coming.  It’s going to be loud and clear to all ears.  Listen to 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17: For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.  [play Handel’s Messiah: The trumpet shall sound].

C. When will He come again? (Mark 13:32)

We must know that His coming is the appointed time (Kairos) (v. 33).  It is firmly written in God’s schedule book.  He has every intention to keep it.  Therefore, Christ’s second coming is not a matter of “if” it happens, but “when” it happens.

As far as the exact time of His coming is concerned, no matter how curious you are, don’t waste your time in speculating, because no one knows the day or hour, neither the angels in Heaven, nor Jesus; only the Father knows (Mark 13:32).  In the past 2-3 years, many God’s servants say that we are getting close to His coming.  Don’t blindly believe what they say.  Rather, check yourself with what’s going on in today’s world.  Collect all the news yourself and compare them to the words Jesus has spoken in Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21.   Here are some of the signs of the end times that I checked myself in recent months: wars, rumors of wars, nation against nation, earthquakes, famine, darkening of the Moon, persecution against Christians, and false prophets.  Consider also other signs in our society.  Paul the Apostle prophesied about them well in 2 Timothy 3:1-5: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. ² For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³ unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, ⁴ treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power.

In terms of what we must do while we await His coming, the Lord Jesus commands us not to panic (Mark 13:7), or be deceived (Mark 13:5, 21), nor worry (Mark 13:11).  The first and foremost of Christ’s command for us is to be on the alert [γρηγορειτε]—four times in today’s text (v. 33, 34, 35, 37).  ‘Watch’ in KJV.  By the way, how did the disciples of Jesus understand the word ‘watch’?  Here’s how they understood:  watch means to ‘remain awake’—Oxford Dictionary— ‘for a period of time.’  It is also used in the context of ‘pray.’  So, ‘to be on the alert’ means ‘to watch and pray.’  And, ‘to watch and pray’ means ‘to stay spiritually awake and keep on praying.’

Why do we need to stay awake and pray?  Because, we don’t know the day or the hour of His coming.  He will come like a thief at night (1 Thessalonians 5:2).  Since we don’t know the time of His coming, we relax our attitude and our expectation of His coming.  Consequently, our hearts will get dull to the signs of the times so that we live out our lives as business as usual.  Our hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life.  Another translation (the Message Bible) puts this way—Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. We must watch lest we live a life of dissipation, our hearts be drunk with the worldly pleasures and wrapped with the worldly cares.  And to those souls, the Lord warns, the day will come upon suddenly like a trap (Luke 21:34—NASB).

Don’t think that His warning is just for some pastors.  It is for every believer in Christ.  Jesus says in v. 37: What I say to you I say to all, ‘Be on the alert!’   Listen again.  But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36).

Conclusion

Be on the alert.  We can do it, until He comes, Amen?

Next Sunday, we are going to listen again to the Word of God: this time what kind of life we should conduct while we await His coming.

Let us pray.

Today Pastor Choi talks about God’s will in Christ for all God’s children: be thankful in all circumstances.  He shares with the congregation three keys to thankfulness; thankfulness is a choice, thankfulness is a trust, thankfulness is an attitude of worship.

    The Old Man and the Horse

The following is a summary of the sermon:

The Old Man and the Horse [subtitle: three keys to thankfulness]

1 Thessalonians 5:18   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Introduction

Let me begin with a Chinese folk tale.  It is called “The Horse of an Old Man in a Remote Village.”

Once upon a time there was an old man in a village in the northern Chinese border.  He lived with his only son.  He also owned a horse and one morning his horse was gone.  The village people came to see if he was all right.  They comforted him saying, “We are sorry that your horse is gone.  It is a misfortune!”

The old man responded with little emotions saying, “Don’t be sorry for me.  Who knows if this may turn into a blessing?’

Several months later, the horse came back.  Not only had he returned, he also had brought a beautiful mare with him.  Once again, the village people gathered around and said to the old man, “We are glad that your horse is back with another horse.  Congratulations!  What we thought a misfortune was a blessing!”

The old man replied as-a-matter-of-factly saying, “How do I know if this is a blessing or not?  It may turn into a curse.”

Sure enough.  His word came true a few days later.  While the old man’s son tried to break the new horse, he fell from the horse and broke his legs.  Once again the villagers comforted the old man saying, “We are sorry about what happened to your son.  This new horse is a bad news!”

The old man spoke plainly. “Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse?”

A year passed and China was engaged in a war against a neighboring country.  All the able men of the village went to the war and many of them died.  Only the son of the old man was spared because of his injury.

The morale of the story is this: Do not jump to conclusions too quickly.  No one is wise enough to know how things will turn out in the end.  Only God knows.

Contents

Thanksgiving is just four days away.  As we gather with our families and friends, let us not forget giving thanks to God for all the blessings.  

A pop quiz for you: If you squeeze the entire population of the world down to 10 people, how many of them would actually remember to say “thank you” to you when you do something nice for them?  The answer: only one (10%) [Both statistics and the Bible confirm it].  This is true when things are good.  For bad things, very rarely people give thanks to you and to God [actually we tend to blame God for bad things, don’t we?].  But, God commands us to be thankful in all circumstances; both good and bad.  That’s our topic this morning.

Before I dig deeper, let me read today’s text one more time to you: this time my own translation of the original Greek: in all circumstances and all the time be thankful; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  Some of us already think that it is impossible to be thankful in all circumstances.  You’re right.  In fact, with our own power, we can’t be thankful especially in adversities.  I am here to remind you, though, that God never asks us to do something impossible.  For the things that He asks us to be thankful, He also equips and enables us to do it.  Being thankful in all circumstances is not only possible but also doable [but only in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:13)].  I am going to share with you three keys to thankfulness in all circumstances. 

First, thankfulness is a choice.  It is not a feeling.  We don’t thank God only when we feel like it.  We don’t thank God only for good things, either.  In fact, even the people who don’t know God can be grateful for the blessings.   We, God’s children, are different.  We choose to be thankful no matter what (why?  Because it is God’s will).  In the midst of all life’s situations, we choose not to go with our emotions but with our will.  Don’t misunderstand here: when God commands us to be thankful, He doesn’t mean that we should be happy because bad things happened to us.  No, He rather expects us to stay thankful to Him despite bad things and despite our bad feelings.   

There are two words in English we interchangeably use to express our gratitude: ‘grateful’ and ‘thankful.’  Let me point out here that it was rather intentional when the Bible translators chose the word ‘thankful’ over ‘grateful’ in today’s text.  In the Bible, ‘grateful’ is used for only good circumstances, while ‘thankful’ covers a greater territory and is used in both good and bad circumstances.  For instance, we are grateful for a promotion at work.  We are not grateful, however, when we are laid off.  Let’s say we lost our jobs.  We may not be happy; we may be far from grateful for the situation.  However, God still wants us to be thankful.  Remember: we are commanded to be thankful not just grateful.   We choose to stay thankful.  We choose to obey God’s will even when we don’t understand why bad things happen to us.  Thankfulness is a choice.

Next, thankfulness is a trust.  Without God, you can’t be thankful in all circumstances.  Without trust in God, you can’t be thankful at all, either.  Thankfulness begins with the understanding of who God is.  God is all-powerful.  He is everywhere.  He knows everything.  He is the author of time: He sees everything simultaneously; the beginning, the end, and everything in between.   He is the only One who sees the entire picture of our lives.  He knows when we were born.  He sees when we are going to die.  He sees everything in between.  He sees the whole picture of our lives.  That’s why we can trust in Him.  That’s why we can rely on His wisdom.   Remember the story of the old man and the horse?   We humans pretend that we know all about our lives, yet the truth is that we don’t.  We only see a piece here and a piece there.  Without looking at the big picture, we make quick judgments on our situations (either good or bad) and we are bound to make mistakes.  None of us knows how our life will turn out in the end.  But, God does.  Do you believe in God’s faithfulness and goodness?  Then, trust in Him and put everything in His hands.  Defer your judgments to God.  He is the fairest of all.  Trust in His good will that He will cause all things to work together for our good (Romans 8:28).  Thankfulness is a trust.

Lastly, thankfulness is an attitude; the attitude of worship.    

You may wonder: what does worship have anything to do with being thankful to God?  How can worship help me to be thankful to God in all circumstances, especially in bad ones?  

By the way, the worship I am talking about is more than Sunday morning worship services.  Worship can take place, if we choose to, anytime and anywhere; we can worship God when we drive.  We can worship God when we rake the leaves or even in the shower.

This is how it works: worship shifts our attention from us to God.  In worship, we fix our eyes on God and His greatness, not on our problems.  In worship, we remember who God is.  We adore and praise His Holy name and invoke His help for our situations.  In worship we remember who we are; we are God’s children and we call out to our Heavenly Father who cares about every need of ours.  In worship, we encounter the God who is faithful to His children.  In worship we remember God’s goodness and hold unto His promises, not unto our fears or anxieties.

Let me put it a different way.  In worship, we don’t focus on the bad things happening to us.  We focus on God, His greatness, His faithfulness, and His goodness.  Worship helps us to look up to God and trust in Him who makes all things beautiful for those who love Him.  Worship reminds us to trust in God’s ultimate good will for us.  You see, we can be thankful to God only when we trust in Him who turns all the bad things into our good in due time. 

Stay in constant spirit of worship of the Lord wherever you are and whenever it may be, and you will be able to be thankful.   Thankfulness is an attitude of worship.

Conclusion

A well-loved hymn: It Is Well with My Soul—the words were written by Horatio Gates Spafford in 1873.  Mr. Spafford was married and lived in Chicago with his family.  He was “professor of medical jurisprudence of Lind University and he bought a great deal of real estate on the lake front.  Then tragedy struck repeatedly.  First, the Chicago fire of 1871 wiped out his real estate holdings.  Then, in 1873, he planned a family vacation in Europe.  Spafford sent his family ahead aboard the ship Ville du Havre.  Out on the high seas, the Ville du Havre collided with the Lochearn and sunk.  Mrs. Spafford was saved but their four daughters perished.  Spafford took the next boat to meet his wife in Cardiff, Wales, where the survivors had been taken and while sailing past the spot where his daughters perished, wrote It is Well With My Soul.  Their son also died an untimely death in 1880” (Charles Johnson, One hundred & One famous hymns, p. 144).   He lost his five children in 7 years.  [Hymnal #377] Verse 1: When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul. It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.  I have no doubt that only his determination to trust in the Lord in the attitude of worship carried him through his life’s tragedies.  

Anyone can be grateful for good things.  Very few people in their own might can be thankful in adversities.  However, God’s people are called to be thankful in all circumstances.   In Christ and with God’s help, we can and will be thankful all the time in all circumstances.  Thankfulness is a choice, it is a trust, and it is an attitude of worship.

Amen.

Today Pastor Choi urges the congregation not to be a fool in the sight of God.   He points out a three-fold error the rich fool made: fixing eyes on the life on earth only, setting his heart on the increase of wealth, and neglecting the welfare of others.  He exhorts the believers to be rich toward God by living with an eternal life perspective, setting their heart on true riches of God, and giving to the poor.

    Don’t Be a Fool

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Don’t Be a Fool.

Luke 12:13-21   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Covetousness Denounced

¹³ Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” ¹⁶ And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. ¹⁷ And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ ¹⁸ Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ¹⁹ And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”’ ²⁰ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ ²¹ So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Introduction

Some years ago, I was much into children’s literature all over the world: from Europe to Africa, from India to Korea.  After reading scores of them, I began to notice certain common themes such as ‘don’t be greedy,’ ‘be honest,’ ‘honor your parents’ and so forth.  One of the themes across the board was this: don’t be a simpleton.  Don’t be a fool.   I guess it is a universal lesson for humanity for centuries.  Even the Bible talks about it.  That’s our topic today: don’t be a fool.

Contents

Let me begin with a question for you.

Are You a Fool?

• It all depends.  Some of us would deny that we’ve ever been a fool.  Others may say that sometimes we are but most of the times we are OK.
• One thing is for sure: none of us wants to be a fool, either before people or in the sight of God.
• Definition of “fool”: person without much sense; stupid or rash person (Oxford Dictionary)
• Biblical Definition: person who says there’s no God.  Psalm 14:1: “Fools say in their hearts, ‘There is no God.’”  E.g. April 1—Fool’s Day.
• By the way, we all know that the belief in God alone doesn’t automatically make one wise.  We can confess our faith in Jesus until our face is blue, but we can still be a fool.  How?  Here’s how: if we believe in Him with lips only not in action.  The lip-service people in Christ are fools.   You don’t have to take my word for it.   Listen to Jesus (Matthew 7:24-27):  ²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
• Jesus, in today’s text, gives us another example of a fool.  We’d better pay attention to this story; because it’s one thing if people call us a fool, but it’s quite another if God calls us “You Fool!” (Luke 12:20).  We sure don’t want to be called by God a fool, right?
• Let’s check it out: the parable of the rich man.  It is a simple story yet its message is powerful: don’t be a fool to God.Meet the Investment Guru
• I must say that the rich man in today’s story was quite smart in the worldly sense back then.  He must’ve been the envy of the town-folks.  I doubt they would ever call him a fool.  In today’s standards, no one would call him a fool, either.  Far from it.  On the contrary, people would seek after his wisdom as a businessman; he would make a conference speaker on investment.
• Here’s why I believe so.  This man did so well in his business (in this case farming).  One year his land produced unusually good crops that would take care of him for the rest of his life (excellent hedge fund manager would he be at Wall Street today and we would invest with him any time, wouldn’t we?).  He did so well that he needed a bigger storage space.  So, he ended up tearing down old barns and building them bigger, setting up a sufficient retirement funds, and he was ready to enjoy many years of relaxation and fun (the joys of eating and drinking).
• The trouble I have with the story is this: why did God call him a fool in the end?  Not just a fool, but “You FOOL!” (with an exclamation point).   Why did God call him that way?  The answer is found in verse 21: (he was a fool because) he stored up treasure for himself but was not rich toward God.  May I say that his life was always about “ME” and never about “GOD”?   His life was full of ME and none of GOD.  I am not the only one who believes so.  Fred Craddock (preacher and commentator) asserts that the man lived totally for himself, talked to himself, planned for himself, and congratulated for himself [Interpretation, Luke, p. 163].  That was the problem: a fool’s life is totally immersed with self and no room for God.  To a fool, everything is about himself and nothing for God.   Fools not only say that there is no God, but indeed they have no room for God in their lives.THE Rich Fool’s three-fold Error
• Here’s my humble analysis on the life of the rich fool.
• He fixed his eyes on life on earth only.  He was well prepared for “many years” of his life on earth. Yet, he wasn’t interested or prepared for the life eternal that never ends.  Remember: this life on earth is four scores if we are strong; soon it is gone and we fly away (Psalm 90:10).  There are things that we have no control over.  Death is one of them.  The eternal life starts afterwards and lasts forever.  The wise ones live everyday with eternal life in mind and prepare themselves accordingly.  Fools don’t.  They may gain the whole world yet lose their life (Luke 9:25).   E.g. Movie–You can’t take it with you.
• Next, the rich man set his heart on the increase of wealth.  A lot of us do, too.   Did you know that there’s a warning from God’s Word on such attitude?  Psalm 62:10 says “though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.”  Why?  Because, the riches in the world can and will fool us with its deceitfulness (Mark 4:19).  They rot; thieves get into them, too.  They are fleeting and uncertain for sure (1 Timothy 6:17).  E.g. Retiree from Lucent Technology lost his over-a-million-dollar assets overnight.  Trusting in material possessions is like trusting in a paper umbrella in the storm.  Listen to what Christ says in today’s text: “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15).
• The rich fool was only interested in his own welfarethat he ended up neglecting the needs of others.  The Other’s Welfare (T.O.W.)=100-mine.  A trade-off.   When mine is 100, then zero for others.Rich toward God (Be Wise)
• Let’s think about being rich toward God this time.  If we take Jesus’ warning seriously, we all would desire to be rich toward God.  How do we do this?  By doing the following three things:
• Live your life with eternal life in perspective.   Prepare for the future—eternal life—not just with lips but in action.
• Set your heart, not on riches, but on God and His kingdom.  Seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness first (Matthew 6:33).  Seek after true riches of God: glory, kindness, tolerance, patience, wisdom, knowledge, and grace (Romans 9:23, 2:4, 11:33, Ephesians 1:7).  These are heavenly currencies.
• Increase the welfare of others by decreasing of your own.  How do we do it?  Only one way: give to the poor (Luke 12:33).  The more we give, the richer we will be toward God.  Giving and richness toward God is proportionate.  Remember the welfare equation? [The Other’s Welfare (T.O.W.) = 100-mine].  By giving to the poor, we prepare purses in heaven that do not wear out; by doing so, we keep our “unfailing” treasures in heaven where no thief comes near or moth can destroy.John Wesley’s Way of Living
• Let me introduce a man who was rich toward God; his heavenly account is pretty solid.  His name is John Wesley.  He took Jesus’ word very seriously and methodically practiced it throughout his life.  To him giving was living (and vice versa).  He wasn’t a poor man.  In fact, he was a wealthy man according to the worldly standards.  He said, “Make all you can, save all you can, and give all you can.” “When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.”  E.g. His expenses for 60+ years remained the same.  He pre-arranged to hire six beggars to be his pall-bearers at his death.  That way, he spent his last £ 6, paying them £ 1 for each).
• Chart: John Wesley’s Way of Living
  

  Year	Income (Annual)	Expenses	To the Poor
  1	47.40 (Pounds)	44.24 (93%)	3.16 (7%)
  2	94.80	44.23 (47%)	50.56 (53%)
  3	142.40	44.24 (31%)	97.96 (69%)
  4	189.60	44.24 (23%)	148.36 (77%)
  Later	2,212.00	47.40 (2%)	2,164.40 (98%)

•  Source: Wesley’s Giving (http://new-wineskins.org/blog/2010/03/john-wesleys-spending-habits/) 

Conclusion

• I hope and pray that none of us would ever hear from God “You Fool!” in terms of our own wealth management.
• Rather, I pray that every one of us would hear from God saying, “Well done, my faithful servant! You are rich toward Me.”
• Go and do like John Wesley did.
• Let’s pray.

Today Pastor Choi encourages God’s people to pray for the persecuted believers in Christ in the world.  He also urges the congregation to take up their own cross and follow Christ. He points out that Christ Himself suffered on behalf of humanity.  We too as followers of Christ must deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him for the eternal good for all.

    Church and Suffering

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Church and Suffering

Colossians 1:24  New American Standard Bible (NASB)

²⁴ Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.

Introduction

Bulletin insert: “I Commit to Pray”— use it to lift up our sisters and brothers in Christ in prayer. [Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body—Hebrews 13:3].

Our topic this morning is Church and suffering.

Suffering is a very unpopular topic to talk about in today’s society; whenever you talk about it, it is almost certain that you will make someone mad, either at you or at God.  In my 25 years of ministry, I preached over 1,000 times.  Yet, only once or twice I spoke about pain and suffering, because people generally don’t appreciate it.  Furthermore, the topic itself is too broad to cover with one sermon; you have to deal with evil in the world (to begin with) and with so many sufferings that don’t make any sense such as school shootings, plane crashes, children’s cancer, and so forth.

This morning, I am going to wise up myself and limit my focus on the Christian suffering; suffering in the context of Church, the body of Christ; the believers’ suffering due to their faith.  Questions or comments on other types of suffering must wait for another time.  Lord willing, I will deal with them later.  So, pray with me now: Lord, open up our hearts and ears to listen to Your truth about Church and suffering.  Amen.

Contents

MY OWN TRANSLATION OF GREEK TEXT

Let me read to you today’s text one more time—this time my own translation with my own commentaries.  Remember: Paul was in prison when he wrote this letter— in a Roman dungeon—not because of his wrongdoing but because of his witness for Christ.

Now I rejoice [keep rejoicing—not liking it, but whenever suffering comes, I take it in stride and with an attitude of welcoming it] in my sufferings [multiple occasions] on your behalf [my sufferings have a purpose in it—they are for you the Church], and I fill [keep filling] up in my flesh [my own share of physical pain] the lacking things of Christ’s afflictions [‘lacking’ means, afflictions will continue to happen to God’s people until God says enough—Revelation 6:11. ‘afflictions’ means unpleasant experiences] on behalf of His body [once again my sufferings are not meaningless—they are for His body], which is the church.

DEFINITION OF SUFFERING

Secular understanding: Oxford dictionary defines as [u] pain of body or mind; [plural] feelings of pain, unhappiness, or etc.  General attitude: avoid it at all costs.

Biblical understanding: in the entire Bible there are 150 entries under ‘suffer,’ ‘suffered,’ ‘suffering,’ or ‘sufferings.’   Only once, it talks about suffering as a consequence of our sins [murder, for example].  It is not God’s will for us to suffer for wrongdoings.  However, there are times and occasions that God wills and considers it worth suffering; for instance, sufferings for Jesus and His Kingdom.  In the New Testament, the believer’s suffering is described exclusively in the context of Christ, Christians, and Church.  E.g. suffering on account of faith in Christ, suffer according to God’s will, suffer while doing what is good / right in the sight of God.  Proper attitude should be like Paul’s: rejoice and take it in stride.

CHRIST THE SUFFERING SERVANT

The Christian understanding of suffering begins with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Did you know Christ Himself was not exempt from suffering even though He was equal to God and sinless?  Why did He suffer, then?  Not because He had done anything wrong, but because God willed His suffering.  It was God’s perfect will for Christ to suffer and die for us.  He suffered vicariously for humanity.  In Isaiah 53, we see Christ the Messiah, the suffering servant.  He was without sin yet suffered on behalf of the sinners.  God sent Him to the Cross to pay the wages of our sin.   On the cross, He had to endure excruciating pain for hours.  Let’s not forget: He didn’t deserve to be punished like that.  Rather, He suffered on our account and on our behalf so that we may go free.  Such suffering, God wills and approves.  Listen more.

SUFFERING WITH A PURPOSE

I already told you that God appointed His only begotten Son to suffer and die on the Cross: not that He didn’t love His son, not that He wasn’t pleased with Him, nor that the Messiah deserved such a punishment.  But that it was God’s will and His plan that were laid out even before the creation of the world.  Here’s the truth.  Christ’s suffering was with a divine purpose.  It was not meaningless or senseless.  Christ the Righteous died for the unrighteous.  It makes no sense in human eyes where the penalty should go to the perpetrator, not to the innocent, yet it sure makes perfect sense to God.  Some of us still grapple with it.  You may call it God’s mystery.  You may even reject the cross and accept only good things of the gospel such as peace, joy, love, and eternal life, yet one thing you cannot deny is that Christ suffered.  The same God expects us to be like Jesus including suffering (2 Corinthians 1:5, 4:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:3).

TWO-FOLD MEANING OF CROSS: suffering and eternal good

“Deny yourself, take up your own cross daily, and follow Me,” commands the suffering Christ (Luke 9:23).  He means what He says.  He is never ambiguous about it.  Neither should we.  Remember: cross means suffering.  Think of the cross in the time of Jesus.  It was a means of public execution.  Everyone understood the meaning of it —public disgrace and hours of excruciating pain that led to death.  As Christ took up His own cross, He commands us to take up the cross of our own—be ready to die for Him and for the sake of others.  We too, as He suffered, have our own share of suffering in our heaven-bound journey.  However, our suffering is not senseless or meaningless.  It too has a purpose.  What’s the purpose?  Eternal good for ourselves and for others.  Imagine a relationship where no one wants to sacrifice themselves on behalf of others.  Imagine a family where no one wants to take the garbage out, cook, do the dishes, or clean the toilet.  Every troubled relationship or nation has one thing in common: no one wants to take up their cross and they blame everybody else for the problems.  Somebody has to take up the cross for the sake of others.

Let’s face it.  When we became a believer in Christ, very few of us signed up for the cross; rather, we signed up for blessings such as eternal life, health, wealth, wisdom, love, joy, peace, and self-control.   Now, we must realize that those ‘good’ things are not the ultimate goal of a Christian (they are benefits, not the goal).  Our ultimate goal is Christ Himself; do whatever He commands, go wherever He leads, and live out His will.  All other ‘good’ things are the byproducts of the cross: they come afterwards not before.  Jesus says, the cross is good for you; take up your own cross and follow Me; in the end, it will benefit all; you, others, and the Church.  Let me tell you one more time: the cross is eternally good for all.  The cross and crown go together. However, the cross comes before the crown.   You can’t have the crown without the cross.

APOSTLES AND THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE NEXT TWO MILLENIA

I already told you that Paul wrote today’s text in prison taking part in Christ’s suffering.  Later, he was executed.   So were all the other apostles; they fully participated in Christ’s suffering by enduring public disgrace, shame, and death: all of them filled up their bodies with suffering on behalf of the Church.

For the next two thousand years, countless believers followed Christ’s steps and filled up His body the Church with their own sufferings, too.  Like Pastor Suta today.  Like an Indian sister in Christ who was attacked with acid that ruined her face.

We call those believers who died on behalf of Christ “martyrs.”—meaning “witnesses” with their own death.  For them, it was worth it all—for the sake of Christ and His Church!

Wherever martyrdom takes place, one thing always happens to the body of Christ; revival and growth.  The opposite is true, too.  History tells us that when there was no persecution or suffering, the Church became corrupt, compromising, stagnant, and even declined.  E.g. one American Christian sect dissuades its followers from meditating on the Cross because it reminds them too much of suffering and pain.  They even removed the crosses from their church decorations.  Is it a coincidence that the Church in America is dying when it avoids the cross by all means?  I don’t like a recent increase of persecutions in America against believers, but in a grand scheme, perhaps God has a different plan to purify His Church through suffering.

When persecution arose against the body of Christ, and when the believers underwent torture, imprisonment, and death, the Church of God stayed pure, strong, and even grew in number.  Today, all around the world, persecutions abound and the Holy Spirit is at work.  The Church is growing leaps and bounds in the midst of suffering.

REALITY CHECK IN AMERICA

Understand the culture we are living in: Get rid of pain/suffering by all means.  E.g. pain killer business—multi-billion dollar business every year.  I understand why non-believers push suffering away from them.  What about the Church?  We too avoid suffering at all costs, do we not?   But, how can we help the people in the world without knowing and experiencing the suffering first hand?  How would we understand the meaning of apathy, sympathy, empathy, and compassion when we have not tasted of suffering at all?

Don’t get me wrong.   I am not advocating needless pain or suffering for the sake of suffering and pain.  Neither am I looking for it for the sake of having it.  Like many others, I myself prefer no suffering and a painless life.  Yet, when it comes down to legitimacy and necessity of pain and suffering in the believer’s life and the life of the Church, if that’s what God has in mind, I am willing to take it.  In fact, God’s Word confirms it.  That’s why I urge you all to be willing to take your own share of suffering for the sake of Christ.  I am thankful that ours will not be as drastic as Christ’s or Paul’s.  Most of us are grateful that God doesn’t consider our faith as strong as Paul’s.   However, all of us have our own crosses to bear.  As long as we take it, let’s take it in stride.

Conclusion

Millions of believers in the world today go through all kinds of persecution because of their faith in Christ.  They rejoice as they fill up their own lives with Christ’s afflictions such as mockery, physical pain, financial loss, and even death.  Let us remember them in our prayers.  Support them financially if you can.  May the Holy Spirit convict us; strengthen our hearts to follow Christ all the way like our brothers and sisters in the world do.

May God awaken our souls and grant us the desire to follow Him with our own crosses.

Let us pray.

Today Pastor Choi talks about life worthy of God’s calling: God the Creator and the Sustainer of all creations has chosen us to be His adopted children before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).  His choice was intentional and He called each of us by name.  The same God calls us to live a life worthy of His calling.  Pastor Choi exhorts God’s people to make God proud through a lifestyle that is worthy of His name.

    Life Worthy of God’s Calling

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Life Worthy of God’s Calling

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 (New American Standard Bible)

¹¹ To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, ¹² so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Ephesians 4:1-3 (New American Standard Bible)

4 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, ³ being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Introduction

It’s hard to believe that we are already in November.  Two more months to go, and another new year!  In January this year, I designated 2015 to be the year of knowing Jesus.  I encouraged every one of you to get to know Him personally.  I myself was blessed to know Jesus in a newer and deeper level than before.  I pray and hope that all of you made progress in knowing Jesus personally.  Let’s continue knowing Him every day.

Whatever and however we get to know Jesus, one thing we want to make sure is this: to know Him right.   Here’s why: after many years of serving Him in many capacities and doing many things in His name (prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles), there’s a chance that we still could get Him wrong.  E.g. Matthew 7:21-23 “I never knew you.”  We may think that we have known Him well, yet He could say to us in the end of our heaven-bound journey, “I never knew you! Depart from Me.”   Now, none of us wants it to happen to us, right?

Therefore, let us come before Him with humility and a prayer that He would illumine us with the true and correct knowledge that it would bring forth in us the lifestyle of which He would be proud and say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  Enter into the joy of your master!” (Matthew 25:21).

Contents

Please look at the sermon title: life worthy of God’s calling.  I am going to highlight three things here.  First, God who has called us—we are going to ponder on the greatness of God.  Next, we are going to think about the object of God’s call: us. Thirdly, the life worthy of God.

The Greatness of God:  The life worthy of God’s calling cannot begin without the right understanding of how great our God is.  Most of us have a general and shallow understanding of God.  Some believers even call Him “a man upstairs.”  We all know that God exists and He is greater than we are.  But, that’s just about it.  We seldom take time to think or meditate on the greatness of God.

I don’t have enough time to give you a sermon on God’s greatness, so I am going to give you a brief summary of who God is.  First, God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).  He created all the things visible and invisible; every living creature that has breath in it.  By the way, folks, He doesn’t share the credit of creation with anyone else, not even with evolution.  Check yourself.  Numerous times in the Scripture, God claims that it is He alone who willed every single creature, designed them, and created them all (Isaiah 45:8, Revelation 4:11).

God is not only the Creator, but also is the Sustainer.  He gives life and health to all the creatures.  He provides their needs every day, too; food, shelter, and clothing.  He takes care of them all.  E.g. One day, Jesus was talking about worries.  He says when you are worried, lift up your head and look at the birds of the air.  They don’t sow, reap, nor gather into barns, yet the Heavenly Father feeds them.  Look at the lilies in the field, He continues.  They do not toil or spin, yet even Solomon in all his glory did not clothe himself like one of these (Matthew 6:26-29).  If God cares about the creatures like that, Jesus concludes, how much more He will take care of your needs?  (Matthew 6:30).

Thirdly, God is the One to be worshipped.  He is the only One worthy of our worship and devotion.  Here’s why.   He has created us; He sustains us; He provides every need of ours.  We owe Him everything we have and enjoy.  Therefore, He deserves our total devotion to Him, and we render it in worship.  Look at the first commandment of the Ten Commandments: you shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:3).  You shall worship Me alone (Exodus 34:14).  We worship God alone, because no one else deserves our worship but God.

Speaking of worship, some people say that they don’t go to church because they don’t get anything from the sermon.  Even though you get nothing out of the sermon, it doesn’t exempt you from worshipping the Lord with fellow believers.  E.g. A history book describes Pilgrims as folks who loved to travel by sea.  Seriously?  They came to America for the freedom of worship.  I am afraid that some textbook writers in future may describe Christians as folks who love to get together once a week to have fellowship; as the folks who love to sing songs; as the folks who love to give offerings.  No, all these are on the surface.  The center of worship is God.  He is the main focus and object of worship.  That’s why even when we get nothing out of sermon, we still worship the Lord.

Let me tell you about the true nature of worship: worship is an encounter with God where we acknowledge who God is in our life (Creator); and we acknowledge who we are before God (Creature).  E.g. Heavenly worship in Revelation 4 & 5.  Every creature, including the 24 elders and four living creatures, along with angels and multitudes of God’s saints, worships God in His throne prostrating before Him (Revelation 5:12-14).  They all declare, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power” (Revelation 4:11).  What about Jesus?  In the same Heavenly worship, they too worship Him declaring, “The Lamb of God who is worthy of power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).  “He is Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14).  “At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth” (Philippians 2:10).  That’s how majestic our God is.  That’s how great our Christ is.  That’s the Christ we follow and serve.  That’s the God who has called us to be a part of His kingdom.

We are called by God:  Have you ever played “bingo?”  As you play, have you not always desired to be called the winner?  How exciting it is to be chosen!  How much more exciting it is to be chosen and called by God to be in His family!  The sad reality is this: some believers have no idea of this blessing to be called by God.

God has called us from darkness to light; from bondage of sin and death to freedom; from fear to love; from condemnation to forgiveness; and from death to life.  Furthermore, in Christ, He has adopted us into His family and made us His own sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5).  If God is the King, what would it make us to be?  Princes and princesses, right?  Hello, how many of us feel that way let alone realizing this great blessing?

It gets better.  God’s choice is intentional.  God hasn’t chosen us on the spur of moment.  Rather, He carefully thought it through and executed the adoption.  Listen to God’s Word:  He has chosen us to be His children even before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).  Mind boggling, isn’t it?  Yes, long before we were even conceived in mother’s womb, He has chosen us to be His children.  God knows this.  Jesus knows this.  The Holy Spirit knows it, too.  God’s Word confirms it.  Angels know this.  Even the devil and his followers know this.  Yet, do you?  God has not chosen you by number, either.  He knows you by name.  He called out your name and invited you to join the family.  It can’t get any better than that, can it?  Such a God expects us His children to lead a life worthy of His calling.  That leads us to the final part.

Life worthy of God’s calling:  E.g. The story goes that a young boy was brought before Alexander the Great for stealing a horse. Alexander saw how young he was and heard his story and decided he would go easy on him. Getting ready to release him, Alexander asked the young boy, “What is your name?” He replied, “Alexander, sir.” Alexander the Great was furious and asked him again, “What is your name?” The boy, this time with fear in his voice said, “Alexander, sir.” In anger, Alexander the Great threw the boy to the ground pointed at him and said, “Boy, change your conduct, or change your name.”  

Source: http:pastorericsblog.blogspot.com/

Think of the life worthy of God’s name.  We carry the name of Christ.  We are Christians.  Are you proud of the name you carry?  Is Christ proud of you carrying that name?

Let’s not forget: You and I represent God and Christ.  We are His children.  We belong to God.  We belong to Christ.  We are a Christian.  By the way, let’s not be ashamed of being a Christian.  We are living in a society where the mockery and persecution of Christianity is ever increasing.  Let’s not be ashamed of Christ whom we follow.  In fact, if we are ashamed of Him before people, Christ will be ashamed of us in front of the angels (Mark 8:38).  Let’s be proud of the name we carry.  We are a Christian!

Now, God considered us worthy of calling, and the same God calls us to live a life worthy of His calling.   In terms of what entails of the life worthy of Christ’s name, such as humility, gentleness, patience, and love, you can find them in today’s texts.  Do your homework.

Conclusion

Now, I am going to close my sermon with a story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17).

One day two armies gathered for battle: Philistines and Israel.   “The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side while Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. ⁴ Then a champion came out from the armies of the Philistines named Goliath whose height was [about 10 foot tall]. ⁵ …a bronze helmet on his head,…clothed with scale-armor which weighed [125 pounds] of bronze. ⁶ He also had bronzegreaves on his legs and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders. ⁷ The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and the head of his spear weighed [15 pounds] of iron; his shield-carrier also walked before him. ⁸ He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out to draw up in battle array? Am I not the Philistine and you servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will become your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall become our servants and serve us.” ¹⁰ Again the Philistine said, “…; give me a man that we may fight together.”

⁶ The Philistine came forward morning and evening for forty days and took his stand.  ²⁴ When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were greatly afraid.

One day David delivered a care package for his three brothers who were in the army of Israel. “²³ As he was talking with them, behold, …Goliath, was coming up from the army of the Philistines, and he spoke these same words; and David heard them and said, “For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?”

 ⁴⁰ He took his stick in his hand and chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the shepherd’s bag which he had, even in his pouch, and his sling was in his hand; and he approached the Philistine.

⁴² When [Goliath] looked and saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance.⁴³ [He] said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And [He] cursed David by his gods.⁴⁴ …said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the sky and the beasts of the field.” ⁴⁵ Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.⁴⁶ This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,⁴⁷ and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.” 

The rest is history.  I want to be that David, the man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).  I want to live a life that is worthy of God’s name and His calling.  I want my God to be proud of my words and actions like He was with David’s.  I pray that all of us live the life worthy of God’s calling.

Amen.

Today Pastor Choi talks about three types of spirituality: natural, carnal, and spiritual.  A ‘natural’ person doesn’t know Christ or have the Holy Spirit.  Her mind is blinded by the devil that she cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.  A ‘carnal’ person believes in Jesus as Savior and Lord and has the Holy Spirit in her.  However, she remains spiritual baby; she cannot handle the truth well.  She still walks according to own desires.  She demonstrates little fruits of the Holy Spirit.  A ‘spiritual’ believer is mature in faith and practice.  Her faith is grounded in God’s Word the truth, not in human words of wisdom.  Her first and foremost interest in life is to please God and doing God’s will.  Pastor Choi exhorts the congregation to keep growing mature in Christ by getting into the Word of God, pray daily, and walking in the Holy Spirit.

    Three Types of People

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Three Types of People                     1 Corinthians 2:13-3:4

1 Corinthians 2:13-3:4    New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Sectarianism Is Carnal

3 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ² I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; ³ for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? ⁴ For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Introduction

Background info on today’s text: Paul the missionary started the church in Corinth.  He didn’t stay there long and moved on to the next place.  A man named Apollos followed him.  He was a great Bible teacher.  A few years later, there was a division among the believers; a half of the congregation remembered Paul and still followed him as their leader, yet the other half followed Apollos.  So, in his letter to them, Paul lamented over the division four times saying, “You are carnal” (1 Corinthians 3: 1, 3, & 4).   He says; you are immature; you are still babies in Christ because of the division, envy, and strife among you.  You act like people who don’t know Christ at all.  Don’t follow me.  Don’t follow Apollos, either.  Follow Christ only.   

Once I met a lady who claimed that she was spiritual but not religious.  Nowadays, many people consider themselves spiritual but not religious meaning that they believe in God but not necessarily go to church or are associated with any “organized religion.”  I guess anyone can call themselves anyway they want.  However, we the believers in Christ must have the clear and right understanding of what the Bible says about those terms.  One thing is for sure: this lady’s claim ‘being spiritual’ is definitely NOT what the Word of God calls spiritual.  Being spiritual in the Bible never means just having faith in God (even the demons believe that there is one God—James 2:19).  Rather, it is reserved for those who are mature in Christ in their walk with God.

That’s what we are going to think about this morning: three types of people in terms of spirituality.   In today’s text we see three words that are related to spirituality (in the order of maturity): Natural, Carnal, and Spiritual.  God’s Word makes a clear distinction among them.  Let me explain to you one by one.

Contents

Natural (ψυχικος, 1 Corinthians 2:14) [literal translation: soulish]

How does the Bible define a person who is ‘natural’?  A person is natural when she doesn’t believe in Jesus as her Savior and Lord.  The natural person doesn’t have the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14), either.  Therefore, she cannot say that Jesus is the Lord.  This definition includes, but not limited to, atheists, agnostics, all the followers in other religions than Christianity (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Shamanism, Shintoism, etc.).   Anyone who doesn’t confess Jesus as the Lord and Savior is natural.

The natural person is outside Jesus and cannot know or distinguish spiritual things of God.  These spiritual things of God are hidden from their eyes and rather appear to them foolishness.  E.g. Cross: foolishness to the Greek and a scandal to the Jews (1 Corinthians 1:23).

The wisdom of a natural person is not from above, but rather earthly, sensual, and demonic (James 3:15).

The natural people walk in the futility of mind, darkened in their understanding.  They are excluded from the life of God, not because God wants them that way, but because of the ignorance in them and because of the hardness of their heart; having become callous, they give themselves to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness (Ephesians 4:17-19).

They are perishing in God’s eyes, because the god of this world [that is, the devil] has blinded their minds that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).  The Gospel is veiled to them.  When they hear the word of the kingdom, they don’t understand it, because the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in their hearts (Matthew 13:19).

Don’t be arrogant that you are not natural.  In fact, before we knew Christ, we were all natural in God’s eyes.  We didn’t know Christ.  We didn’t have the Holy Spirit.  Our spirits were dead in sin.  We lived according to our fleshly desires.  We served and worshipped those who by nature are not gods (Galatians 4:8).  E.g. Bob Dylan’s song: “Gotta serve somebody.” — Either the devil or the Lord.   Thank God, because He has called us to be in His kingdom and we are no longer natural.

Carnal (σαρκικοι—1 Corinthians 3:1, 3, 4) [literal translation: following the flesh]

Who is carnal?   A person who believes in Jesus as Savior and Lord; she has the Holy Spirit in her yet still lives according to the worldly pattern.

The carnal believers were born into God’s family, yet not growing and still remain babies in faith and practice.  Like babies can digest only milk not solid foods (1 Corinthians 3:1, Hebrews 5:11-14), they cannot digest the truth well.  E.g. Jesus says “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother (Matthew 18:15).  A carnal believer doesn’t handle well the admonition of truth from other believers.

The carnal believers base their faith on humans not on Christ; therefore, they tend to create factions.  Remember today’s text where some believers followed Paul while others followed Apollos?  The carnal Christians are not grounded in the Word of God that they are “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14).  They are also led by various impulses, weighed down with sins, and constantly learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:6).

They still walk according to own desires like the days when they didn’t know Christ (1 Corinthians 3:3).  Their minds are still set on the things of the flesh that leads to death (because it is hostile to God and unable to be subject to God’s law) [Romans 8:5-6].

In their lives, little or no fruits of the Holy Spirit are demonstrated such as peace, joy, love, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  E.g. Sure signs of carnality are frequent rage, lack of self-control, addicted to gambling, games, pornography, and the love of money.   A vast majority of believers today belong to this category.  We don’t have to be that way, though; in fact, we should never be content with this state.  We ought to grow in maturity.  That leads us to the next point.

Spiritual (πνευματικοι—1 Corinthians 2:15, 3:1) [literal translation: following the Spirit]

A believer is spiritual when she believes in Jesus Christ as her Savior and Lord; she has the Spirit of God; and she is mature (1 Corinthians 2:5 & 13) in faith and practice.  She can digest solid food (meat) [Hebrews 5:14].  Her faith is grounded in God’s Word the truth, not in human words of wisdom.  She doesn’t follow Paul or Apollos.  She follows Christ alone.  She is trained to distinguish what is good from what is evil (Hebrews 5:14).  She accepts words of admonition from other believers with gratitude and humility.  Her first and foremost interest in life is to please God and doing God’s will.  E.g. Jesus’ food was doing God’s will (John 14:34).

She walks according to the Holy Spirit.  She sets her mind on the things of the Spirit and the things above (Colossians 3:2).  Her life demonstrates signs of love, peace, and righteousness (Romans 8:7).   She stands fully assured in every will of God (Colossians 4:12).

She also demonstrates spiritual wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:6).  E.g. John 8 (Jesus’ wisdom; ‘whoever sinless, first stone the adulterous woman’).  King Solomon (when he was fully devoted to the LORD) ordered to cut the baby in two to find the true mother (1 Kings 3:16-28).

Going on Perfection

Let me remind you one more time: we all once were natural not knowing God and outside the salvation.  We too were “foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (Titus 3:3).  We too lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.

However, by God’s grace, we were called to be the children of God in Christ and to be the coheirs of Heaven with Christ.  We were born into God’s family.  We were born anew in Christ.  He saved us from our sins.  Our spirits became alive in Christ.

Yet, many of us still remain spiritual babies.  We are still carnal believers.  In our daily lives, we still live like before we knew Christ.  There’s not much of difference in lifestyles between us and the people in the world.  For instance, many of us still struggle with our natural passions and desires.  Many of us are still under the bondage of sin and lusts, greed, passion, and money.  It is time for us to move upward and onward, free from such bondages of old self.   If we are not happy with where we are now spiritually, neither is God.

In fact, God wants us to grow in Christ like any parent expects her child to grow over time.  He has a plan to turn us from carnal Christians into mature ones in Christ.  His expectation for us is the highest one we can ever imagine; be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).  Here, perfect means not without sin or shortcomings.  Rather, it means to be mature in Christ to the point where we demonstrate in our words and deeds every aspect of Christ’s character such as love and truth.

Until we become mature in the fullness of Christ, God will keep working on our inner beings (Ephesians 4:11-13).  We can count on His faithfulness, wisdom, and patience.  He will take time working on us.  He will never give up on us nor give up on His part “until Christ is formed in us” (Galatians 4:19).

Tools for Perfection

To accomplish His purpose in us, and to sanctify us, God uses certain tools and venues.  For instance, He often uses our life circumstances and people to shape us.  But, we don’t have to wait until we get into those situations.  We can be proactive and prepare ourselves with the tools that God has already made available to us; the Scripture and prayer.

The Bible helps us to know who God is, and to understand who we are.  It also reminds us of the relationship between Him and us.  It sufficiently equips us for life’s journey; it reproves us, edifies us, comforts us, and grants wisdom and courage for our daily lives.

Prayer is for daily conversation with God.  Don’t neglect to use this great tool which was proven useful and beneficial by all the prophets of God, Jesus, and His disciples for the past thousands of years.

Finally, don’t forget the Holy Spirit our residential help from God 24/7; He teaches us, guides us, counsels us, and reminds us of Jesus’ teachings.   All we have to do is: Ask for His help every day.

When we do all these things I have mentioned, we will grow mature in Christ every day and surely become ‘spiritual.’

Amen.

Today Pastor Choi talks about what Jesus did in the Temple: He chased out the merchants, He healed the blind and the lame, and He welcomed children.  So should we in today’s church make prayer as our priority in worship, experience God’s healing among us, and welcome children as Jesus did.

   House of God

Following is a summary of the sermon:

House of God

Matthew 21:12-17   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Cleansing the Temple

¹² And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. ¹³ And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.”

¹⁴ And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant ¹⁶ and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus *said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” ¹⁷ And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Introduction

Background: Begin with an explanation of the Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem in the 1^st century at the time of Jesus.  The temple was standing on the Temple Mount facing east.  You climb up the stairs and finally arrive at the Temple area (160 by 250 yards—six football fields).  It consists of two parts: outer court and inner courts.  The Court of the Gentiles is the outer court.  As you continue walking westward, you enter the inner courts beginning with the Court of Women and the Court of the Israelites next (men only).  Then, as you get closer to the Temple, you see the Altar on the left and Slaughter House on the right.  Behind them, there is the Priest’s Court and the Temple.  Inside the Temple there are Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies.

Focus on the court of the Gentiles: this is where money changers and animal sellers set up their tables and chairs.  It was also the place where the Jews (both men and women) and the Gentiles were allowed.  So were the blind, the lame, and children.  In the porticoes, teachers of the Law would engage in theological discussions.  There were a row of posts that separated the Gentiles’ Court from the inner courts.  Made of stone, each post was about 5 foot-high and 2.5 foot-wide. “Along this balustrade at regular intervals were placed slabs with inscriptions in Greek and Latin forbidding Gentiles, on pain of death, to go further” (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 772).   In fact, Jews didn’t mind slaying Gentiles who broke the boundaries (and the Roman authorities allowed them to kill even the Roman citizens), because they believed that the presence of uncircumcised Gentile in God’s sanctuary would profane God’s House (Ezekiel 44:7): ‘Thus says the Lord God, “No foreigner uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the sons of Israel, shall enter My sanctuary (Ezekiel 44:9).  Jews took God’s House very seriously.   That was the place Jesus cleansed.

Contents

The House of God is where God’s heart is perpetually on (1 Kings 9:3).  God deeply cares about what’s happening in His house.  So does Jesus.  Three things did Jesus in the temple: He drove out the merchants, healed the sick, and welcomed the children.  Through His cleansing act, He gives us the following three lessons to remember and practice in the House of God.

1. The No.1 priority in God’s House is prayer (v. 13).  All other rituals and activities are secondary.  In today’s text, the temple court was hustling and bustling with lots of activities; priests offer sacrifices on the altar, smoke from burnt offerings and incense arise into heaven, students listen to teachers, worshippers buy sacrificial animals and exchange money, even food (Wikipedia—Second Temple).  I am sure some people prayed, too (Luke 1:10).  However, when the main purpose and focus of God’s House, prayer and worship, is overshadowed by other activities, it is time to clean up the temple.  That’s exactly what Jesus did.  I believe He would do the same thing with today’s church when we lose our focus on prayer in God’s House.I believe it is time to restore prayers in today’s church and in church worship services.  We ought to fill our sanctuary with prayers.  E.g. Yeo-ui-do Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea.  Nowadays, its membership is close to a million, it is the largest congregation in the world and in the history of the Church.  Every time they gather for worship, they always start with prayers.  All the members pray aloud for the pastor and for the ministries of the church.  Here’s the number:  one million prayers are offered in God’s House every Sunday.  It would jam the heavenly prayer lines. The result is astonishing.   Miracles and wonders take place in the name of Jesus.  The presence of the Holy Spirit and God’s power is palpable.  Here’s the thing: the congregation literally fills up the sanctuary with prayers.  We serve the same God.  Therefore, we ought to experience the same thing here in Manahawkin when we turn to the Lord with all our hearts and minds and pray.  He will listen to our prayers as He did to that of Solomon’s (1 Kings 9:3).  He will listen to ours as He does with the Full Gospel Church in Korea.  Wouldn’t you join me transforming our church, the House of God, into a praying church, too?
2. Healing is a part of God’s House (v. 14): both physical and emotional. During His public ministry, Jesus healed the sick anywhere He went; on the streets, in the house, in the wilderness, in the synagogue.   He spent one third of His entire time for healing ministry.  He also healed the blind and the lame in the temple in today’s text.  The tragedy in God’s Church today is that we seldom experience God’s healing of the sick among us.  Even the majority of believers in Christ first look up to doctors and medical technology for healing.   Don’t get me wrong.  I believe in medicine.  I am not denying the importance of medical contributions to our physical healing.  God still uses doctors and medicine for healing.  However, when we only rely on them to the point where we totally deny or do not expect the divine healing among us, it becomes a problem.   As far as I am concerned, God is still the Healer.  He is the God of Healing.  Therefore, both physical and emotional healing should naturally be demonstrated and witnessed in God’s House today including our own congregation.  E.g. Once I was in a Prayer House in Korea.  Hundreds of people were fasting and praying for their own problems: cancer patients, broken hearted people, depression, financial troubles, and so forth.  I was one of them.  One night a lady with liver cancer stood before us.  With tears she begged us to pray for her healing.  We did.  Two days later, I saw her testifying in front of the people that God healed her entirely.  Praise the Lord!  In God’s House, Jesus still heals the people.
3. Children are welcome in God’s House (v. 15).  About a month ago, I spoke about Jesus’ welcoming and blessing of the children.  Let us not forget.  Jesus accepted children with open arms.  So should we.  I believe children shouldn’t be hushed in God’s House.  Even infants and nursing babies are welcome in our Sunday morning services.  Look at verse 16—God opens up the mouth of even infants and nursing babes—and He accepts their praises!  I don’t mean to give any trouble to those parents of infants who want to worship God in peace and quiet without hassles with their infants.Rather, I am talking about our general attitude toward children during worship.  Next time, when you hear a baby crying in the middle of the service, please do not frown at the child or the parent.  In today’s text, however, that’s what the priests did.  They got really upset with the children who said, “Hosanna (Save us Now!) to the son of David” (v. 16).   Think about it.  Why were they particularly angry with the children?  For two possible reasons.  First, they might have gotten upset with the content of the praises the children sang—Hosanna to the son of David.  In other words, they didn’t want the children or anyone to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah.   The other possible reason is that the priests got angry with the way the children praised Jesus.  Look at verse 15.  The children cried out(Greek: krazo).  It literally means to shout out on top of the voice.  A similar example is found in Mark 10:47 where Bartimaeus the blind beggar cried out to Jesus to get His attention (he didn’t want to lose this once in a life time chance to regain his sight).  So, when the children shouted and cried out their words saying, “Hosanna to the son of David!” the priests got indignant with the children.Now, how many of us would react like the priests, frowning at the kids, when we hear them making a joyful noise unto the Lord in our midst?  How long would we insist and impose our own ways of worship and praising God unto them?  Or, how many of us would accept the kids and encourage them to worship and praise God in their ways?  E.g. I know some grown-up children who completely gave up on worshipping the Lord in church on Sunday morning, mainly because their parents were too strict with them when they were growing up.  They, in fact, lost their interest in church all together.  They felt that the Christian religion was shoved down their throats by their parents.  They were often scolded harshly for minor misbehaviors during the worship.  Many of them ended up having no fond memories of growing up in God’s Church.  They never felt that they were welcome at God’s House.I humbly urge all of us especially parents who bring up their children in the Church, which is a necessary and an honorable thing to do.  When you do so, please instill pleasant memories in their hearts and minds by treating them as a person, rather than a robot who sits quiet for an hour without making any noise.   I encourage you to educate your child at home to show respect in the church; however, when you are at church with your child, and when the child makes an innocent noise, I wouldn’t chastise the child.  Try to put yourself in the child’s shoes and try to look at everything from the kid’s perspective (songs, sermon, rituals, sit up quiet and so forth,…).  Let’s treat them as Jesus did.

Conclusion

God doesn’t mind closing the churches.  Europe is a good example.  Many church buildings once filled with worshippers for centuries are closed now and being used as dance halls and storage rooms.  Only the churches that fulfill God’s purpose will thrive and last long.  I humbly remind all of us today to fill our church with fervent prayers, to experience the divine healing in the name of Jesus our Lord, and to welcome children as Jesus did.  Let us pray.

Today Rev. Dr. Regina Hendrickson, guest speaker, speaks about “Cast Your Net!”  Pointing out that 64% of all households in Monmouth and Ocean Counties in NJ have no religious affiliation, she exhorts the congregation to go out and cast their nets right where they are—in the neighborhoods of Manahawkin!

    Cast Your Net

Following is a summary of the sermon.

October 11, 2015                             CAST YOUR NET                             Manahawkin UMC

John 21:1-6

Peace & grace my brothers and sisters in Christ! 

What a joy & privilege it is to be with you again, & I want to thank your pastor for the invitation to preach!

I miss it!  Serving as a District Superintendent keeps me out of the pulpit and I miss the chance to share a Word in the midst of God’s people as we worship our living God together.  

So thanks again Pastor Kyewoon!

When I served the local church, I loved doing preaching series. 

I found they were opportunities to engage in Scripture & relevant themes

    that engaged the prophetic Word over a longer time frame

that was exciting for me as preacher as well as for the congregation. 

It led to creative components within the worship experience,

as well as small group and mission opportunities

 that extended its’ impact beyond any individual Sunday. 

Each year, I created a sermon series based on the theme of Annual Conference—

    this would help us remember the connectional nature of our life together

as United Methodists and how we were called to live out

      the Bishop’s challenge and vision in the local church & communities

in which we live and serve. 

Again, that’s another thing I miss as a superintendent

who no longer serves in the local church,

so I’ve decided to share my reflections on this throughout the fall season

when I preach, in my monthly newsletter message

and it will also be integrated within church conferences.

This morning I’d like us to spend some time on this year’s theme from our Annual Conference Session last May:  “FISH.”  

The key verse came from John 21:6—a resurrection appearance—

where Jesus was giving some words of direction

to his frustrated fishermen disciples he said:

“Throw your net on the other side of the boat and you will find some.”  

I love the provocative image of what it means to cast your net…

as a disciple of Jesus Christ. 

The scope and power of the image,

as well as the beauty and work of such a calling pulls at my heart.

And this morning, I want to lift up 3 key points I think Christ has for us to consider as we begin a new season of “Casting Our Nets” for Christ. 

The First Point is that All Are Called.

Each of us is called to cast our net into the world

to reach others in the name of Christ. 

And how we do that, & where we do that is as varied

as each of us sitting here this morning

or as unique as the 65 churches that make up the Northern Shore. 

Each of us lives, works and plays within a different context—

there are countless ponds, lakes, rivers or oceans to fish. 

We all have God-given gifts, skills and opportunities

to cast our net into a hurting and needy world. 

But we have the power of the Holy Spirit that enables us to cast our nets wide,

over and over again; to keep fishing for those who need

the love, hope and joy that comes in and through Jesus Christ. 

All of us are called to lean out over the edge of whatever boat

     that is holding us safe and secure (the church, home, job or school)—

           and WORK the calling that God has given us to FISH…

for men and women, young and old, rich and poor,

neighbor and co-worker, family and strangers.  Cast your Net! 

The Second Point for us to consider today is to “Know What You Need.”

I have always had a special joy with fishing,

because my grandfather was a fisherman. 

One of the greatest memories I have of my Poppa Jack

was watching him work a line off the Ocean Grove fishing pier. 

But it wouldn’t just be off the pier, he also fished off a jetty, along the beach

& occasionally on a “party boat” from the Belmar Marina. 

Every location required different equipment, an assortment of bait

& unique skills;    and boy was he good at it.

My grandfather would take each of us 7 grandkids along with him on occasion,

and we learned many life lessons. 

It was a gift of presence that revealed the love of a grandfather and the power of patience.  I think that was 1 of the greatest lessons he taught me, patience.

My grandfather cast his net in so many ways throughout his life. 

He caught fish that was the meal for his family

He reeled in his grandkids through the sport and fun of surf fishing—

and wound up giving us far more than a fish fry on Saturday night.

He cast his net of love & wisdom,

catching each of us in special ways that changed us forever. 

No one knew my Grandpa shared his fish w/many people around the Grove,

Folk who he knew were experiencing difficult times. 

He’d stop by with fresh flounder and the occasional snapper,

have a chat over a cup of coffee and leave enough fish for a few meals. 

My Poppa Jack was a fisher for Christ in ways I know made a difference

over his 100 years of life. 

Friends, as we cast our net for Christ, we will have countless opportunities…

and contexts in which we can make a difference. 

What fishing equipment do we need to get the job done? 

Where will we cast our net or drop a line? 

For every place we hope to fish,

  every context in which we seek to serve as Disciples—

        different equipment, an assortment of bait & unique skills will be needed.

Who are the ones who can teach us how to fish?

Who can we take out on an adventure,

sharing the gift of presence, love and patience

as we teach them how to be fishers of men & women?

God calls us to cast our net—and part of our job is to acquire the skills,

        equipment and knowledge of how to become awesome fishers for Christ.  

This is why we worship each Sunday, attend Bible studies & Sunday School,

This is why 10 of you did the Appalachian Service Project.

This is why you have youth group, UMM and the UMW. 

Why you have baptism classes and VBS.

This is why we have church conference each fall…

…yes even Church Conferences!!…

to vision for the ministries of our churches, to set goals,

to elect leaders and approve ministries.

This is why the GNJAC has launched coaching, PaCE/cohort Groups, Team Vital and Communities of Hope—

All to FISH for Christ & to cast our nets into a hurting and needy world.

My Grandfather’s last fishing trip was when he was 99,

   along with 3 of us grandkids on a small charted boat in the Shark River Inlet. 

Poppa Jack caught the largest fish of the day,

still schooling us on how to fish, maintain our equipment and…

treasure the small gifts of life—

love of family & patience for the work we are called to do.

Friends, cast your net!  Drop a line!

Keep up with the tools, experience and knowledge you need

to be fishers for Christ.  And invite someone to fish with you! 

The Third and final lesson from Christ as we are casting our nets,

is to ask ourselves,  “Who are We Hoping to Catch?”

We have a wonderful opportunity presented to us as United Methodists—

64% of all households in our district have NO religious affiliation! 

That means for every 10 houses in a 2-3 block radius of this church or where you live—

• Six households have no church to call home.

• Six out of ten of your neighbors

have no place to feel the love, grace, peace and hope of Christ. 

• Six out of ten families are figuring out how to live their liveswithout the support and encouragement of a faith community.
• Six out of ten of your coworkers have no place to grow in ways

    that will transform their lives forever

by being part of something bigger than they can imagine. 

This is why we CAST OUR NETS! 

The mission field is right on the same street that you live

and this neighborhood right here in Manahawkin.  CAST YOUR NET!

Just yesterday at our first Super Saturday Church Conference event,

      we offered a workshop entitled, “Evangelism in Context”—

  unpacking what it means to invite others into a relationship with Christ,

either for the very first time or as an ever-deepening love.

• This happens through:  WITNESS—individually and corporately,

  But it also happens through:

• Creative and inspiring WORSHIP opportunities   &
• Through SERVICE and OUTREACH where we tangibly bring

the love of Christ into the community.

Where is God calling you to fish? 

Who are you planning to catch? 

What will you do when you bring in the haul? 

We have to ask ourselves these questions! 

Have you looked at the demographics of your towns & neighborhoods

               through the conference resource of Mission Insight?

Have you explored what it means to rethink mission

as not only those who live across the oceans,

but to those who live across the street?

As the provocative cover on this morning’s bulletin indicates

and as Jesus taught so powerfully,

there are more fish to catch than we can imagine!

But isn’t it a joy-filled gift to just IMAGINE what we could do

with all those who we “net,” as we work together

growing in the love and grace of God?

 Cast your Net! 

Households right here in Manahawkin and where you live,

need exactly what you have to offer—the light, love and joy of Christ!

Throughout the upcoming year, may we continue to discover the power

and impact of Jesus’ challenge to Cast Our Net—

We are fishers for Christ…

• Called to make disciples
• To use our skills AND learn new ones
• And to throw our nets sometimes on the other side of the boat.

The fish are biting…

               And God is hopeful for the catch!

Amen and Amen!

Today Pastor Choi concludes his series on “How to Know God’s Will.”  There are five ways of knowing God’s will.  1. Circumstances (Open/Closed Doors).  2. Family/Friends/Pastors.  3. Peace in Heart.  4. Dreams/Visions/Signs.  5. Word of God.  He points out that the Word of God trumps all other ways of knowing God’s will.  He ends his message with a personalized declaration of Romans 12:2.

   How to Know God’s Will. Part 3 of 3

Following is a summary of the sermon:

How to know God’s will?   Part 3 of 3                        Romans 12:2

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Introduction

Begin the sermon with a scenario as follows: you received a check in the mail with $10,000 payable to you with a letter saying that a Mr. Generous in Africa who recently made a huge fortune in diamond mine wants to share it with you; just go to the bank, cash it out, and send back 10% to him in appreciation of his generosity and keep the rest to yourself.

What would you do with it?  How would you discern God’s will in here for you?

Recap: Last week, we learned about a prerequisite for knowing God’s will: to get our hearts ready to do His will comes before we expect to know God’s will.  In particular, we talked about three obstacles in the path of knowing God’s will: the unwillingness to come out of comfort zones, the failed acknowledgement of Jesus as the Lord, and the heart that seeks self-glory rather than God’s glory.  When these obstacles are removed, then, we are 80% ready to know God’s will.  The other 20% is how-to’s.

Let’s take a look at today’s verse one more time.  Please turn to your bulletin to follow along as I read it to you, this time, with my commentaries.

And do not be conformed to this world [Stop being conformed to this world; stop bench-marking the world; stop imitating the world; stop being shaped by the worldly principles and stop living after them such as cravings/desires/lusts of the eyes/pride—1 John 2:16], but be transformed [keep being meta-morphow-ed (metamorphosis): constant and daily transformation] by the renewing of your mind [ana-kaino-sis: thorough renewing of your mind], so that [the end result] you may prove [do-ki-ma-zo: test and prove—potter testing clay vessels that he made against the light] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [acknowledge that every will of God is good, acceptable, and perfect for you].  

Apostle Paul warns us here that bench-marking the world and living after its values and principles is dangerous and harmful for believers, because it will surely cloud our minds to discern God’s will (E.g. cataracts in the eye cloud vision).  We ought to wash away the worldly influences from our minds and hearts with God’s Word and prayer.  Paul also reminds us that it is our job to test and prove what God’s will is for us.  No one will do it for us.  We have to do it ourselves.  Of course, God provides the tools to do the job, but still we need to do it.  That’s what today’s sermon is all about: how to know God’s will.

Contents

Two kinds of God’s will: When it comes down to God’s will, there are two kinds: general and specific.

General will of God: is revealed in the written Word of God commonly called the Bible (Ephesians 1:9: He [God] made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him).

“General” means that it applies to all.  E.g. Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 such as You shall have no other gods before Me, You shall not murder, You shall not steal,..).  Also, be holy as God is holy (Leviticus 11:44).  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and be thankful in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

Specific will of God: “Specific” means that it only applies to certain individuals in their unique situations.  E.g. Jesus’ death on the cross, …, Should I marry “John Doe” or “Jane Smith?”  Should I take this new opportunity or not?

We can know God’s general will in the Scriptures.  We also are most interested in knowing God’s specific will for us.  Here’s a thing to remember between the two: the more familiar we are with God’s general will, the easier for us to know God’s specific will.  The more we are trained in God’s Word, the easier to discern God’s specific will for us.  Derek Prince once said, “A Christian who ignores his Bible has no right to hear from God.” In other words, unless we are willing to do God’s general will first, God wouldn’t bother revealing His specific will for us.

So, let’s proceed with that understanding.

How do we tell God’s will in specific situations?

There are five ways.  God approves them all; He uses them all to reveal His will for us.  All of them are attested in the Bible, too.  Each way is practical; each one works and deserves our attention.  We need to practice all five and familiarize ourselves with them so that we may understand God’s specific will for us.

1. Circumstances (2 Corinthians 2:12— Now when I came to Troas for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord): This approach is called, “open door/ closed door.”  In fact, we are most familiar with this approach and often use it.  Open door means God’s leading us to that direction.  Closed door means He is not.  This approach, however, is not always reliable.  In other words, not every open door is God’s will and vice versa.  We can be confused with this approach, because our enemy can entice us with open doors and discourage us with closed doors (he can disguise himself and approach us as an angel of light –2 Corinthians 11:14).  There are times that we need to persist even when the door is closed.  E.g.  A certain believer’s visa application to the U.S. was rejected 24 times, yet he persisted and got it on the next try.  There are also times that we need to reject “the wide open door.”  E.g.  Jesus had an opportunity to avoid the crucifixion (Matthew 26:53—twelve legions of angels), yet he persisted on it, because it was God’s will for Him to die on the cross in humanity’s behalf.
2.  Family/Friends/Pastors (1 Samuel 28:6—When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by prophets.): We use this approach a lot.  God used prophets such as Moses and Samuel to give His will to His people.  God can also use our loved ones (family, friends, church members, pastors) to guide us into the right path.   When you go to them for counseling, though, make sure that they are in sync with God’s will: otherwise they can mislead you.  E.g.  My brother asks me of God’s will for him.
3. Peace in heart (Philippians 4:6-7— Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.): We often say to each other, “Pray about it!”  So, we do pray for God’s directions.  As we pray about certain things, and when we have peace in our hearts, we take it as God’s will.  E.g.  My college entrance exam.
4. Visions/Dreams/Signs (Matthew 2:13—an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt”): Sometimes God uses visions and dreams to guide us into His will.  E.g. Paul’s ministry team was redirected to Macedonia from Asia (Acts 16:9-10).  E.g.2. Joseph, son of Jacob, who was directed by dreams (Genesis 42:9).
5. Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17: ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work):  We seldom use this approach.  We rarely read the Bible to know God’s will, both general and specific. Therefore, this is the least familiar way to us among the five.  Out of the five ways, though, this is the most reliable means.  Even though it takes time to wait on God’s Word, this is the surest/safest way to confirm God’s will.  Even though I get a confirmation or two from the Lord through other means, I would make sure that I get a specific one from God’s Word.

How do we discern God’s specific will using the Bible?  We do so through daily reading, not by random pick of the passage.  E.g.  A poor way of doing it is the ‘finger approach’: put your finger on a verse.  One man just did that and his finger landed on a verse, “He went away and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5).  “Not a very good verse,” he thought, and he did it again.  This time he put his finger on the verse that said, “Go and do the same” (Luke 10:37).  The third time is a charm, right?  The third verse he found said, “What you do, do quickly” (John 13:27) (Leslie and Bernie Flynn, God’s Will: You Can Know It).  E.g. 2. Going into an English speaking congregation, the Lord spoke to me through Moses’ encounter with God (Exodus 4:10-12).

All five ways work.  However, God’s Word outweighs all others. In other words, when any of them are in conflict with God’s Word, God’s Word trumps everything else.  All other means should align and match with God’s Word.  If you don’t have affirmation of God’s Word, wait until you have one.

Let’s revisit our scenario of receiving the $10,000 check in the mail (by the way, a similar thing happened to me before; only the invitation came by email).   E.g.  You receive a check in the mail with $10,000 payable to you with a letter saying that a man in Africa made a fortune in diamond mine and he wants to share it with you; just go to the bank, cash it out, and send 10% to the sender and keep the rest to yourself.  You might say, “Praise God!”  But, wait!  Before you drive to the bank, let’s go down the checklist here.  Check #1: is this an open door?  Sure, it is.   You may even think God blesses you with this check.  Check #2:  Speak to your spouse about it.  What would s/he say?  Check #3: do you have God’s peace in you by doing that?  Well, you kind of have a suspicion, but you still justify that you can use the money for good.   Check #4: No dreams/ visions/ signs here, but you might remember the Chinese fortune cookie message the other day saying, “Something good is on your way.”  Check #5:  What does the Bible say?  You might not have one in mind, but here’s one for you: Test every spirit (Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world—1 John 4:1).  After this, you realize that this is a scam and you throw it into the trash can.   

Conclusion

God wants us to know/ do His will every day and glorify Him.  He is eager and ready to reveal His will to us.  To know God’s will is not only possible but is also our duty.  Let’s say to God that we will follow God’s will, whatever it takes, and then we will clearly know His will for us (Colossians 1:9— we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding).   

Let’s end with a personalized declaration of Romans 12:2.  To the Lord and to the world I declare: I will stop bench-marking this world.  Instead, I will be transformed every day.  I will renew my mind by getting into the Word of God.  I will also renew my heart by prayer, so that I may test and prove what the will of God is for me, good and acceptable and perfect.  In Christ’s name, Amen.

Today Pastor Choi talks about three obstacles to knowing God’s will for us: a. Insisting on staying on comfort zones.  b. Refusing to acknowledge who Jesus is. c. Seeking one’s own glory, not God’s.   He concludes his sermon with John 7:17: if anyone is willing to do His [God’s] will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.   

  How to Know God’s Will. part 2 of 3

Following is a summary of the sermon:

How to know God’s will?      Part 2 of 3         John 7:10-24

John 7:10-24  New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁰ But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.¹¹ So the Jews were seeking Him at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?” ¹² There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.” ¹³ Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

¹⁴ But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.¹⁵ The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” ¹⁶ So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. ¹⁷ If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. ¹⁸ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

¹⁹ “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”²⁰ The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who seeks to kill You?” ²¹ Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. ²² For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man. ²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Introduction

Let me tell you a story of Jesus (John 5:1-18).  One day He was walking in Jerusalem by a pool named Bethesda (house of mercy).  Around the pool, there were a multitude of people who were sick, blind, lame, and withered.  Day in day out, all of them were waiting for one thing: an angel of the LORD to come down at certain seasons and stir up the water; after the stirring up of the water, whoever first stepped in would be healed from whatever disease they had.  You can imagine the competition among those folks: everyone wanted to be that first person!  You can imagine many also solicited help from their families and friends.

Well, one of them was a man who had been sick for 38 years.  That day Jesus met him and asked, “Do you wish to get well?”  “Of course, sir,” the sick man answered, “However, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up.  Even though I try, while I am coming, another always steps down before me” (John 5:7).  Then, Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk.” And, immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and began to walk.  So far so good, right?

However, it didn’t go well for Jesus.  You see, the problem was that this thing happened on the day of Sabbath.  The Jewish authorities saw the man walking home with his pallet and said, “Hey, it is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to carry your pallet.”  But, he answered, “The one who made me well asked me to do so.”  They asked him, “Who is the man who asked you to do so?”  “Jesus,” he answered.  From then on, the Bible says, the Jewish authorities persecuted Jesus and tried to kill Him because He did these things on the Sabbath (John 5:16, 18).  Keep this story in your mind as we proceed: the tension between the Jewish authorities and Jesus on the issue of breaking the Sabbath.

With that in mind, I am going to read to you today’s text one more time with a little bit of [my own commentaries].

¹⁰ But when His brothers had gone up to the feast [the Feast of Booths—five days after Yom Kippur, two weeks after Rosh Hashanah, 9/28/15.  7 day-festival of rejoicing and thanksgiving], then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret.

¹¹ So the Jews [Not ordinary Jews but the Jewish authorities who were dead against Jesus—John 5:16] were seeking Him [On-going search effort with ill intention to arrest and kill Him (v. 19)] at the feast and were saying, “Where is He?”

¹² There was much grumbling among the crowds concerning Him; some were saying, “He is a good man”; others were saying, “No, on the contrary, He leads the people astray.”

¹³ Yet no one was speaking openly of Him for fear of the Jews [Jewish authorities].

¹⁴ But when it was now the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and began to teach.

¹⁵ The Jews [Jewish authorities] then were astonished [Marveled: vexed], saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?”  [Learned (grammata—Scripture, letter, learning); How does He know so much of the Scripture when he was never educated—never been discipled / trained under any rabbi?].

¹⁶ So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. [Hey, you look for credentials?  God is My Rabbi.  My teaching is not mine.  It is from God.]

¹⁷ If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. [Jesus saying, the reason why you don’t recognize Me and My teaching is because you are not interested in doing God’s will.  If you do like I do, you will clearly know that My teaching is from God.]

¹⁸ He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. [Jesus points out here that He is seeking God’s glory not His own and that the heart of doing God’s will is the glory of God.]

¹⁹ “Did not Moses give you the Law, and yet none of you carries out the Law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” [What Jesus actually saying is this: You have no desire to please God.  You are not interested in God’s glory, either.  Your heart is not there.  Therefore, you don’t keep God’s law.  Instead, you try to kill Me who carries out God’s will and keep His Law.]

²⁰ The crowd answered, “You have a demon!  [Terrible way to acknowledge God’s Son] Who seeks to kill You?”

²¹ Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. [Jesus refers to healing of the sick on the day of Sabbath in John 5].

²² For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man.

                        ²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me [Bitter with me— taste of gall, poison: cf. Matthew 27:34] because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath?  [Greek root for “break” also means to destroy.  In order not to destroy the Law of circumcision, you say it’s O.K. to circumcise (that is, a work) even on the Sabbath.  On the Sabbath, I too worked in order to restore this man to full health whose health was destroyed for 38 years.  And, you accuse me of breaking the Law?”]

²⁴ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” [Think and act in God’s perspective, not in your own narrow prejudice].

Contents

Last Sunday, we learned that God wants us to know/understand/do His will.  Whether we live out His will (or not) will determine our eternal destination (Matthew 7:21-23).  I also pointed out that doing God’s will is not an option: it’s a must and a genuine Christian experience for every child of God.  Today, as part 2 of 3, we are going to think about some obstacles that stand in the way of knowing God’s will.  Before we expect to know God’s will, we must clear these obstacles.

We find three obstacles in today’s text in Jesus’ dialogue with the religious leaders: three “No’s” in knowing God’s will.  If you do these three, you will never be able to know God’s will.   If you avoid these three, you will be able to clearly discern His will.

a. Insisting on staying on comfort zones.  The Jewish authorities refused to change the status quo.  Their attitude was “Don’t rock the boat” attitude.  They refused to be changed/ challenged by God and His Word.  That’s why they hated Jesus when He confronted them with truth.  Remember Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath?  He challenged them not to pass judgment on Him by outward appearance but by righteous judgment.  Yet, they refused to do so insisting on their own ways only: Don’t heal people on the Sabbath.  This attitude tells God: Don’t ask me to give up what I love.  Don’t ask me to sacrifice my comfort.  Don’t ask me to carry my cross.  You carry one for me instead.  Don’t ask me to love You more than my own family.  Don’t ask me to give up my TV time for reading your Word and pray.  Don’t ask me to forgive my enemies.  Don’t ask me to give more than one hour on Sunday morning. Don’t ask me….

b. Refusing to acknowledge who Jesus is: There was one individual whom the Jewish authorities respected the most: Moses, right next to God.  To the point where Torah, God’s Law, was commonly called the Law of Moses (v. 23).  They revered Moses with the highest esteem.  Consider this time how they treated Jesus.  They called Him: 1. Misleading the crowd (v. 12)  2. Uneducated (v. 15).   3. Crazy, demon-possessed (v. 20).  Don’t you think their treatment of Jesus clearly reflects their attitude toward Him?  Furthermore, their treatment of Jesus demonstrates their knowledge (in this case, total ignorance) of God’s will.   Attitude determines treatment and treatment determines the knowledge of Jesus.  The knowledge of Jesus determines that of God’s will.  E.g. I was visiting members at a local hospital once.  I overheard a nurse using the name “Jesus” in vain.  It gives away how she regards and treats Jesus.  God would never reveal His will to those who refuse to acknowledge Jesus with respect.  Ask yourself who Jesus is to you.  If He is the Lord and Savior as you confess, treat Him likewise.  Don’t fool yourself saying that He is your Lord yet never obey His Word.  God will not be fooled with our hypocrisy.  He only reveals His will to those who properly acknowledge Jesus.

c. Seeking one’s own glory/desires/greed, not God’s glory. What blinded the religious leaders was that they didn’t seek God’s glory and honor.  With lips, yes, they did: all the time.  Yet, in their hearts, they didn’t.  That’s what Jesus was able to see all the time: seeking one’s own glory not God’s.  I don’t think such attitude has changed a lot even among God’s children today.  There are too many believers who seek their own interests, desires, and wishes in the name of God’s will.  E.g.  A man is hanging for his life on a branch sticking out on a cliff.  “Help!” he cried out.  “Is anyone out there?  Please help!”  No one came.  A few seconds later, he began to pray to God:  “God, please help me!”  Somehow, he felt his prayer was heard.  Sure enough, there came a voice from heaven, saying, “Did you call Me?”  The man said, “Yes, Lord, I did.  Please help me!”  God said, “Do you really want Me to help you?”  “Yes, please and quickly, because I am about to fall!”  God said, “Let go of the branch, then.”  The man couldn’t believe what he just heard.  “Lord, did you really say to let go of the branch?”  God said, “Yes.”  The man said, “No, really, you don’t mean that!”  God replied, “I mean it.  If you let go of the branch, you shall live.”  The man thought for a while and began to shout, “Is anyone else out there?  Please help!”

Conclusion

John 7:17 is the key verse: If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.  Have you noticed that this sentence is conditional?  In other words, when the condition is fulfilled, the following promise will be fulfilled as well.  God says to us, “Make your heart ready to do My will, then I will make My will known to you.”  Do you want to know God’s will?  Learn to put your own desire aside and seek God’s glory and honor first.  E.g. The late Father Archer Torrey: “Willingness to do God’s will is the key to knowing God’s will.  We are 80% ready.”  Learn to put yourself neutral, meaning “Either way, Lord, I will be faithful to You.”   Positive example: Jesus’ own prayer on Gethsemane. “Not as I will, but as You will.”

Be willing to move out of your comfort zone.    Acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus and listen to Him.  Seek God’s glory, not yours.  Then, you are ready to know and do His will for you in your life.

Next week: 5 ways to discern God’s will for you.

Let’s pray.

Pastor Choi talks about knowing God’s will today.  As part 1 of 3 series, he exposes four spiritual lies concerning knowing God’s will among God’s children: 1.You don’t have to know God’s will.  2. You don’t deserve to know God’s will.  3. It is impolite to inquire of God’s will.  4. It is impossible to know God’s will.  He exhorts God’s people to seek God’s will and accomplish God’s work in their daily lives.

   How to Know God’s Will

Following is a summary of the sermon:

How to know God’s will?   Part 1 of 3       Ephesians 1:9

Ephesians 1:9   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him.

Introduction

For the next three Sundays, we are going to learn about God’s will for His children, that is, for you and me.  It is essential for us to know God’s will for our daily lives.  This is my favorite subject to preach.   In fact, in my 25 years of preaching, knowing God’s will was the second most popular sermon topic (#1 was Anger).  This is what we are going to do: today, we are going to consider why it is necessary for us to know God’s will.  Next Sunday, we will lay the foundations of knowing God’s will by removing the obstacles in knowing His will.  Following Sunday, we will talk about five practical applications of how to know God’s will.  I pray that all of us will benefit from this sermon series.

Contents

One of the greatest tragedies in the Christian world today is that many of us believe in lies regarding God’s will for us.  I can identify four lies.

#1.  That we don’t have to know God’s will for us.  That’s a big fat lie that Satan whispers to our ears.  Here’s why we should never believe in his lie.  While God wants us to have an abundant life in Jesus, our enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy us (John 10:10).   While God wants us to walk in the light, the devil wants us to stay in darkness.  While God wants us to live in love, joy, peace, and righteousness, our enemy wants to keep us in discontent, lusts, envy, hate, and un-forgiveness.  Many of us are so unfamiliar with God’s will for us that we end up living our lives like non-believers according to own fleshly desires.  The bottom-line is: God repeatedly says to us, “Know My will and don’t settle for less.”  Say after me, please: I will know God’s will for me.  I will not settle for less.

#2. That we don’t deserve to know God’s will for us.  Don’t forget you are God’s child, not a slave.  God wants every child of His to be fully assured in every will of God (Colossians 4:12).  If you believe that you are not worthy to know His will for you, it is the same as telling yourself that you are a slave who doesn’t deserve to know what your father is doing.  Listen again: you are God’s child; therefore, you have the right to know His will.  You are not a slave or an outsider.  You are a member of God’s family.  Listen to Jesus who already said that you are in the know: No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you (John 15:15).  Say after me once more: I am a child of God.  I have every right to know my Father’s will for me.

#3. That it is impolite to inquire of God’s will from Him (this is equal to keeping Him as an impersonal and indifferent God from our daily struggles).  It is like us asking a child never to ask what her parents expect her to do.  Our Father in Heaven never frowns upon us when we ask about His will for us.  He welcomes our inquiries on His will; that’s a sure sign of a healthy relationship between us and God.  Furthermore, it is God who commands us to ask for God’s will and His wisdom (But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him—James 1:5).  Here’s another promise: This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us—1 John 5:14).  Repeat after me: I will ask for God’s will with confidence every day.

#4.  That it is impossible for us to know God’s will (this is equal to agnosticism).   This lie is so contradictory to the Scripture which says it is possible to know God’s will.  How?  First, God reveals His will to us both generally (applies to all) and specifically (applies to individuals).  Take the Ten Commandments, for instance.  They are God’s will for all people, aren’t they?  He also reveals His will that applies to a specific individual (e.g. ‘Should I take this job or not?).   Next, God reveals His will when we ask.  Listen to what Jesus says: ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).  So, when asked by His children about God’s will, God keeps His promise and let us know His will.  Please repeat after me: it is absolutely possible to know God’s will for me by asking for it.

The point is this: knowing God’s will is not an option.  It is a must for every believer to know God’s will so that we may lead an abundant life in Christ.  Say after me, please: I must know God’s will for me.  Please keep in mind here: living out God’s will is an integral part of genuine Christian experience, not a special and isolated experience for a few believers.  God wants you to be familiar with His will.  Say after me one more time: God wants me to know His will.  Without knowing God’s will, we won’t be able to distinguish from what is pleasing to the Lord and what is not.  We will waste our time and energy, sometimes for years, on things earthly that don’t last or things that don’t matter to God thinking that they do.  The end result will be eternally tragic.   E.g. Matthew 7: 21-23 ²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. ²² Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

Doing God’s will is not an occasional thing.  It is an everyday thing.  It should be daily practice like the way we breathe and eat (John 4:34, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work”).  We pray daily the Lord’s Prayer which says, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  ‘On earth’ also means ‘in our daily lives.’  We are to say to God, “Your will be done in my life today and every day.”

What’s the benefit of knowing God’s will?  Three benefits: First, there is no waste of our time and energy in daily situations.  For instance, Jesus commands us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44).  We would bless them, not curse, when we know His will.  When we know what’s pleasing to the Lord and what’s not, we won’t waste any breath on wrong prayers, either.

Next, the knowledge of God’s will helps us to live our lives to the fullest.  By understanding His will, we will learn to do God’s will.  By doing God’s will, we will accomplish what God wants us in our lives and in our relationships.  E.g. Do not let the Sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26).  This will lower adrenalin and give us a better life.

Thirdly, it shapes our character into a Christ-like image.  The more faithfully we follow God’s will day in and day out, the more our character will become like that of Jesus.

Conclusion

It is God’s will for us to know God’s will.   He expects us to live out His will in our daily lives (“For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother”—Matthew 12:50).  He reveals His will to us (Ephesians 1:9).  He prepares us with everything good to do His will (Hebrews 13:21).  He rewards those who do God’s will with eternal blessings (1 John 2:17).  

Why do we need to know God’s will for us?  So that we may understand His will and not be a fool (Ephesians 5:17).  So that we may live out as God wants us.  So that we may accomplish His work.  So that we may walk close with God.  So that we may faithfully and effectively live out God’s purpose for us here on earth, that is, to advance His Kingdom on earth.  He wants us to know His will (Acts 22:14).  He wants us to understand His will (Ephesians 5:17).  He wants us to do His will (Matthew 7:21).

Closing prayer: Our Father in Heaven, Your will be done in my life today and every day. You expect me to know Your will.   I want to know Your will, too.   I am Your child.  I have every right to know Your will for me.  It is absolutely possible to know Your will, because You reveal it to me.  I must know Your will.  I humbly ask for Your will every day.  I will not settle for less.  In Christ’s name, I pray.  Amen.

Today Pastor Choi expounds on Jesus’ blessing of little children.  In the time of Jesus, children were not treated equally as adults.  Jesus changed that understanding and gave a fresh look on children as follows: 1) The Kingdom of God is theirs.  Be like them.   2) Receive God’s Kingdom with simple heart, with sincerity, and with humility like a child does.  At the end, Jesus fervently blessed the children that they would walk humbly with God throughout their lives.

    Blessing of Children

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Blessing of Children     Mark 10:13-16

Mark 10:13-16   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus Blesses Little Children

¹³ And they were bringing children to Him so that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” ¹⁶ And He took them in His arms and began blessing them, laying His hands on them.

Introduction

Before I do my sermon, I would like to give you background info on the status of children in the time of Jesus.  Back then, children along with women were not counted in number in any gatherings.  E.g.  Jesus’ miracle of feeding 5,000 men with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:21).   Children were often “presented as either examples of unreasonable behavior or objects to be trained” (Jerome Bible Commentary, p. 618).  They were surely less important than adults and often treated as a second class citizen in society.

Contents

Enter that understanding into today’s text.  Here’s what was happening: One day Jesus was engaged in a serious teaching session with folks on divorce (Mark 10:1-12).  Then, a few parents and grandparents brought their children to Jesus with a hope that He would touch them (v. 13).  As soon as the disciples of Jesus saw them approaching their Master, they rebuked (and shooed them away) both adults and children (v. 13).  The disciples believed that their Rabbi shouldn’t be bothered or diverted from teaching by anyone else, let alone by little children!  Well, they immediately found out how wrong their assumption was about their Master.  As soon as Jesus realized what was going on, He got indignant (v. 14).

Now, the word ‘indignant’ is a very strong word.  Not often, Jesus got angry or displeased: I know of only three occasions in the New Testament when He was displeased—eight times He said “woe to you” to the hypocrites (Matthew 23), twice “woe to you” to those unrepentant cities where He demonstrated many miracles (Matthew 11:21), once He overturned tables and chairs in the Temple of God and whipped out the money changers, the sellers and buyers of animals from the Temple court (Matthew 21:12).  This time, Jesus surely got upset with the way the disciples treated the children.  He directly expressed his anger toward the disciples.  Then, He gave them a fresh lesson on how to think about and treat the children.

He said to them, “Permit the children to come to Me; do not hinder them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (v. 14).  My translation of the sentence– ‘the kingdom of God belongs to such as these’– is this: the Kingdom of God is theirs!  Seldom in the New Testament did Jesus give to anyone such an assurance that ‘the Kingdom of God is yours!’  E.g. He did in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Another time to the criminal on the cross (Luke 23:43– And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise”).  Other than that, very few times to very few people.  But here, He clearly says that children will be in God’s Kingdom.  It is theirs!

I am a firm believer that children indeed have a very special place in God’s heart.  I also believe that when children die unexpectedly, they will be brought directly to God’s presence.  E.g. During the medieval times, the Catholic Church taught that baptism is necessary for salvation; infant baptism was crucial among folks, because the infant mortality rate was rather high, so the parents wanted to make sure that their children went to Heaven in case they died young.  My personal belief is that when children die young, below their age of accountability, baptism or no baptism, they go to Heaven.

Anyway, Jesus continues on here in v. 15 with this teaching moment:  Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all (v. 15).  Two places deserve our attention here: First, Truly I say to you—(verily I say unto you—KJV).  My translation would be this: I am telling you the truth!   I am not kidding you!  Take it seriously! 

Then, Jesus goes on saying, “…whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  My translation of the same sentence would be: Unless anyone receives the Kingdom of God like a child, s/he will never, ever enter it.  The Greek grammar of double negation (ου μη ) is not affirmative, but emphasis on the zero possibility of getting into the Kingdom of God.  That’s why we’d better pay attention to it.  Once again, what makes it a zero chance to make into God’s presence?  The way we receive the Kingdom of God.

Let’s think about the meaning of receiving the Kingdom of God for a while.  What does it mean to receive God’s Kingdom?  My study of the Bible and prayers convince me as follows: to receive God’s Kingdom means first, the way we hear about God’s Kingdom, and next, the way we understand it and keep God’s commandments.  In other words, to receive God’s Kingdom means the way we take God’s Kingdom in our thoughts, words, and actions.  To receive God’s Kingdom means to hear and understand what Jesus says about it and put it into practice day in day out.  Only hearing without practice and only intellectual understanding without daily practice wouldn’t cut it.   It must include the put-into-action part!  That’s what it means to receive the Kingdom of God.

So, Jesus says here unless we hear/understand/ put into practice like a child does of what Jesus says about the Kingdom of God, we will not make it.  So, the next question for us is this: how does a child receive God’s Kingdom?  Two things come to my mind.  First, the child takes it with a simple heart and mind.  When the child hears the Gospel, the child takes it with a simple faith.  No complications, no doubts, no reasoning, but just believing.  E.g.  All the high-criticism methods in theological circles in the 19^th and 20^th century killed the simple spirit of faith.  E.g.2. Drought in the South.  A church called for a prayer meeting for rain.  Only one girl came to the meeting with an umbrella.

Next, to be childlike means no hypocrisy.  Remember how much Jesus disliked the hypocrisy of adult religious leaders?  I always try to be sincere in my personal and professional life and I always learn from a child to be so.  E.g. A son asks for $10 from his father—Dad, can I have $10?   Simple and to the point, right?  Imagine the child making the request with big words: “Oh, my benevolent Father, I daily thank you for your loving kindness for me.  Would you kindly consider helping your loving child who is in desperate need of $10?”

Let us receive the Kingdom of God in simple faith and with sincerity.

Immediately after His teaching, Jesus did one of the best things He did for the children: Blessing.  You know, in my humble opinion, the adults who brought the children to Jesus got more than what they had hoped for.  Originally, all they wanted from Him was a touch (v. 13).  But, in the end, this is what they got: He embraced them, laid His hands on them, and blessed them (v. 16).

Picture yourself: Jesus taking one child at a time, hugging one child at a time, laying His both hands on one child at a time, and blessing one after another!  The Greek tense of the verb ‘to lay hands’ is present: that means ‘repeated action.’  In other words, He kept laying His hands on the children until all were blessed!  One commentator says this way: “He (Jesus) fervently blessed them.  The Saviour (sic) lifted up to His Father, in behalf of the little ones, the fervent desires of His heart, and thus invoked ‘down’ upon them a blessing” (James Morison, A Practical Commentary on the Gospel According to St. Mark, p. 282).

I wonder what kind of blessing or ‘fervent desires of His heart’ Jesus bestowed upon each child?  Do you think it was all about things down here such as health, prosperity, and wealth?  Like, “I bless you my child so that you become Miss America, so that you go to Harvard, so that you become a billionaire?”  Or, did He truly put His heart onto the blessing that eternally matters; the blessing that reflects His fervent desires for each child?  I believe this is what’s inside of Jesus’ blessing: each child to become a true child of God; to know God, to love God with all their hearts and minds, to love their neighbors, and to keep God’s commandments.  I believe He blessed them so that they would walk humbly with God throughout their lives and hear and do what Jesus has commanded them to.

Conclusion

Whenever we have children’s presence with us, let us remember how Jesus treated them:  He welcomed them, He embraced them, He laid His hands on them, and He fervently blessed them.  Let us imitate our Lord and do the same with our children.  Let us also remember what He says about the Kingdom of God and receive God’s Kingdom with a simple and believing heart and keep Jesus’ Word without hypocrisy.

Amen.

Today Pastor Choi concludes his sermon series on the adequacy of God.  Expounding on Paul’s assertion that nothing or no one in the universe can separate God’s elect from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, he assures God’s people that God is resolved to keep them eternally secure in Christ’s love.

     Who Can Separate Us

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Who Can Separate Us?                                                        Romans 8:31-39

Romans 8:31-39 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? ³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Introduction

Personalize today’s text with the congregation (will come back to that later).

Let me read to you again vv. 31-34 paraphrased in my own words.

V.31: What can I say about life that is full of surprises, temptation, challenges, discouragement, and despair?  In moments of struggle, I will remember who’s on my side!  God is!  If God is for me, no one and nothing stands a chance (by the way, my enemy the Devil knows this quite well and sees this all the time.  Sadly, however, it is I who forget and often fail to see this spiritual truth).

V. 32: Do I know how much God loves me?  He gave up His most precious Son and willingly sent Him to the cross to pay the wages of my sin.  That’s how much He loves me.  If that’s the case, I am sure the same God will also give me all things freely with Jesus for my eternal happiness and joy.

V. 33: (Now, I am speaking to the Devil and to those who oppose me).  If you think about bringing a charge against me, God’s elect, think again.  Who do you think you are dealing with?   God !  He is the Supreme Judge of One and He is my Father.  Yes, you heard me right.  My loving Father.

V. 34: You think you can condemn me, God’s elect?  Wake up, because you have zero chance of convicting me.  Why?  Because Christ has already taken care of my punishment at the cross and it is forever effective!  His action covers sins of my past, present, and even sins of my future. Don’t forget the same Christ now at the right hand of God makes intercessions for me 24/7 and the Judge always listens to Him.

Recap: In the past three Sundays, we talked about the adequacy of God.  God is sufficient for all our needs, problems, and challenges.  In the first week, we discovered that God is our Sovereign Protector.  The best way to counter the fear of opposition is to know that our God is greater than any challenges and hardships we face in life.  In the following week, we learned that God is our Sovereign Benefactor.  Not only does God know our needs, but He also provides them all and doesn’t withhold anything good from us.  With such trust in God, we counter the fear of privation.   In the third week, we countered the fear of rejection by God; the Scripture assures us that once God declares that we are chosen and justified, that’s final and eternal.  No one can review His verdict.  He is our Sovereign Judge and Champion.

Today, as the conclusion of the series, I would like to speak about God as our Sovereign Keeper.  He keeps us eternally secure in Christ’s love.  Like Krazy glue that keeps two objects together, Christ’s love brings God and us together and keeps us together forever.  No separation from Christ’s love can ever befall us.  No one or nothing in the world can separate us from God’s love.

Contents

In verses 35 through 39, Paul reveals the eternal truth in the relationship between God and us His elect.  We are eternally secure in God’s love.

Paul repeats twice in v. 35 and v. 39 that nothing (either visible or invisible) and no creature (natural or supernatural) in the entire universe can separate us from the love of Christ and from the love of God in Christ.  ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ?…  ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Separate (v. 35, v. 39): Let’s consider the verb ‘to separate.’  This verb is used in the New Testament in the following contexts: divorce (Matthew 19:6), separation of body and spirit (James 2:26), and departure from one place (Acts 1:4).   Basically, it is to cause things apart and keep them apart.   E.g. In particle physics, scientists probe fundamental structure of universe with an attempt to separate particles through collision at the speed of light (e.g. molecule—atom—proton (+)—neutron—electron (-)— protons and neutrons are made of three quarks each).  Let me tell you: even the most sophisticated instrument in the world cannot separate us from God’s love.  That’s how strongly we are secured in God’s love.

Sheep to be slaughtered (v. 36): In verse 36, Paul remembers what he has been through in his life.  Indeed, he has been through numerous challenges that none of us will ever go through.  In his own words, he was daily delivered over to death (2 Corinthians 4:11).  How did he feel in the midst of his trials?  Dead.  Done.  The last day of my life.  He puts this way in v. 36: Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered” (Psalm 44:22).

Many a time, Paul must have felt dead when things were tough.  Have you ever felt like that before?  I am dead.  I am done for.  I am at the end of my rope.  I have no energy to carry on.  Have you ever felt like just giving up since there’s nothing you can do about the situation?  Like a lamb on the way to be slaughtered?

In all things (v. 37).  Paul is speaking from his own life’s experiences.  In all things, good and bad, easy and tough, he’s been there and done that.  All kinds of situations you and I face.  In all things.

We Overwhelmingly Conquer (v. 37): I don’t think Paul is exaggerating here.  Rather, he is honest.  Through it all, he says: I overcame life.  In all those situations, he declares, that he came out as the victor not as a victim.  He came out strong and as a winner.  All the time.  Without exception.  Pay attention to the verb ‘conquer’ here.  The Greek word (υπερ-νικωμεν) means conquer thoroughly— over and over again.  Win big time!   Every time. 

Through Him who loved us (v. 37):  Paul didn’t forget to give proper credit for his victory to the Right One.  Who makes his victory possible?  Not he but God who loves him (v. 37).   Not through his own might but through God and His mighty power (Ephesians 6:10).  He points out to the same source of his triumph again in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  “What is the key to a triumphant life?” you may ask.  Paul says, “It is the love of God.  Ultimately, God.”  God and His unwavering love for us help us to prevail in all life’s circumstances.

I am convinced (v. 38):  Based on his life experience, Paul boldly declares the truth:  ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Paul is not repeating someone’s abstract theology that God is the source of victorious life.  He speaks from his heart and from his experience.  “Based on my life,” he concludes, “I am fully convinced that we are secure in God’s love.”  The very bottom of God’s adequacy for us is love.   Here’s one believer who is eternally secure in God’s unfailing love.

E.g. Hussein was 9 years old.   He and his family are believers in Christ living in Turkey.  In Turkey, even though it is a secular state, more than 96% people claim to be a Muslim.   Christians are unwelcome in many parts of Turkey, despite government claims and a constitutional guarantee of religious freedom.  Without his parents’ knowing, Hussein publicly proclaimed his faith in Jesus by wearing a cross necklace to school.  When his classmates saw the cross, some of them spat and swore at him.  He was threatened and bullied by his peers.  Some hit Hussein in the head and stomach with their fists, while others threw rocks at him and beat him with sticks.  Tears streamed from Hussein’s eyes, and he screamed in pain as the boys dragged him along the ground by the shirt.  His trouble didn’t stop there.  Every student in the class was required to write and recite the shahada, “There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his prophet.” Hussein would not compromise his faith by reciting the shahada.  Annoyed by his disobedience, the religion teacher, an imam, hit him with a wooden rod about 2 feet long and as big around as a quarter.  Hussein endured repeated beatings for refusing to recite the shahada.  “I don’t like saying it,” he explains.  “It isn’t in my heart; it is just meaningless words to me.” After suffering more than three weeks of beatings by the imam, Hussein began to have severe seizures.   Hussein’s parents transferred him to a different school, where he experiences fewer attacks.  Hussein, now 11, says he would never return to Islam even if forced to endure worse abuse.  “Christ said we would suffer for him,” he says. “It’s okay to suffer for Christ, and we should be happy to suffer for Christ.  The Lord is with me.”  [pp. 6-7, The Voice of the Martyrs, April 2012].

Conclusion

No persecution or beatings can separate Hussein from Christ’s love.  Nothing will separate us from God’s love, either.  We are more than conquerors in Christ.  Go in peace today with such a conviction that God is your Sovereign Keeper.  He is resolved to keep you forever in His love.  Amen.

Invite the congregation to read together in one voice today’s text personalized as below.

Romans 8:31-39 New American Standard Bible (NASB) (personalized)

³¹ What then shall I say to these things? If God is for me, who is against me ?³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for me, how will He not also with Him freely give me all things?³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for me.³⁵ Who will separate me from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written,

“For Your sake I AM being put to death all day long;
I WAS considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ But in all these things I overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved me.³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord.

Today Pastor Choi speaks of God’s justifying grace in Christ.  We God’s elect are saved and justified in Christ’s merit by grace, not by our own.  Pastor Choi also urges the congregation never to believe Satan’s accusations, to remember Jesus the Defender and His constant intercessions on our behalf, and that God is the Judge whose verdict upon us is final and eternal.

   Who Will Accuse Us

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Who Will Accuse Us?                                                Romans 8:33-34

Romans 8:33-34

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?

God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who condemns?

Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

Introduction

Previously, we talked about our fears of opposition and privation.  In the first week, I said that no fears or challenges in life are greater than God our Sovereign Protector.  In moments of panic, let us declare “If God is for me, who is against me?”  In the second week, I talked about God as our Sovereign Benefactor who doesn’t withhold anything good from us.  In moments of worry, let us declare “God provides all my needs.”

Today, as part 3 of the series on the adequacy of God, we are going to think about God as our Sovereign Champion and the decisiveness of God’s justifying verdict upon us.  More specifically, we will counter the fear of rejection by God.   Say after me, “I am God’s elect.  Christ is my Redeemer.  God is my Champion. ”

Contents

Have you ever been in a situation where you did something wrong before God?  Repeatedly?  Do you feel so terrible and hopeless that you believe you don’t deserve God’s favor anymore in terms of salvation?  After serious moral lapses, you feel God has rejected you; or worse, you feel that you deserve to be rejected by God.

E.g. There were days when I fell into the same temptation over and over again.  I felt terrible.  I went to the Lord for the couple of times for forgiveness of my sins.  However, after three or four times, I began to hear Satan’s accusation telling me, “Shame on you.  Don’t even think about going back to God, because He will not take you back this time!”  For a while, I believed him and indeed stopped going to God for forgiveness and remained miserable despising myself.  In those days of struggle, one thing I didn’t stop was reading the Bible.   One day God spoke to me through Peter’s story.  That day His word forever changed me, set me free from Satan’s accusation and doubting God’s forgiveness:  ²¹ Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?” ²² Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven (Matthew 18:21-22, NASB).

If Jesus asks me, I reasoned myself, to forgive my brother who sins against me for 490 times, He would forgive me for the same number of times if not more!   After this, I kept going to God for forgiveness and eventually overcame the temptation and Satan’s accusation no more!   Praise the Lord!

Here is a typical pattern in our daily struggle with sin: sins committed, accusation follows, guilt and shame set in, forgiveness sought and granted, then new beginning.  We sin, Satan accuses, Jesus redeems, God forgives, and we start anew.

In today’s verses, verses 33-34, we see some legal terms used in the days of Paul: bring a charge, condemn, justify, and intercede.   Imagine the Heavenly Court: God the Judge sitting on throne, Satan the Accuser, Jesus Christ as the Defender.  Satan the adversary brings a charge against us presenting before the court all the bad things we have done in life.  We in vain try to defend ourselves by presenting all of our own deeds and achievements.

By the way, all our good deeds are considered in the sight of God filthy rags: For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; (Isaiah 64:6, NASB).  Then, Christ the Defender comes in saying, “Father, I invoke Your mercy on this man/woman.  According to Your will, I paid the wages of his/her sin through my own blood.  I died for this man/woman.  Therefore, forgive him/her, for he/she doesn’t know what he/she is doing.”  God says, “Amen!  The case is closed.”  The gavel falls.   Then, we go free spared from condemnation – the sentence to eternal judgment/separation from God.

The Bible calls this act of God justification—God’s act of accepting us sinners on the merit of Christ’s death (because through His death He paid the wages of our sins once and for all).  The Bible also calls such God’s love justifying grace.  Grace is the free gift of God that cannot be purchased or earned by human merits.  The only thing we can do for such God’s saving grace is to accept it with gratitude.

E.g. William MacDonald wrote as follows: “To seek to earn, merit, or purchase salvation is to insult the Giver.  Imagine yourself invited to a banquet in the White House by the President of the United States.  You are seated at a table that is filled with the choicest foods.  Every effort is made to give you a most enjoyable evening.  At the end of a lovely visit, the president stands at the front door to bid you good-bye.  What do you do?  As you leave, do you press a dime into his hand and say, ‘Thank you very much for your kindness.  I have enjoyed the evening very much.  I realize it has cost you a lot of money, and I want to help you pay for the meal’?  Is that the proper response to his kindness?  On the contrary, it is a rude and insulting gesture.  So it would be with God’s grace.” [William MacDonald, The Grace of God].

Because of God’s grace, and because of what His son Jesus has done at the cross, even though we absolutely deserve to be condemned to eternal punishment, God lets us go free.  We are justified in Christ by grace.

Remember no sin is too grave for God to forgive except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Mark 3:29) — to blaspheme means to speak evil of the Holy Spirit and what He does (2 Peter 2:2, Matthew 12:31).  No matter how gross your sins may be, they cannot endanger your justified status.  Rest assured that no accusation will ever disinherit you.

This time let’s think of our daily life.  The same court scene in the spiritual realm happens right here on earth in our mind and heart: we get into daily sins, both intentional and unintentional.  Then, our enemy Satan starts accusing us based on all the wrongs we have done.  At this very stage, completely forgetting about what Jesus has done, many of us simply accept his accusations and admit that he is right.  So ashamed of our deeds, we are filled with guilt.  We begin to believe in Satan’s lie that we no longer deserve God’s grace and forgiveness.  Stop right there.  At that very moment of guilt and shame, we must remember where Jesus is and what He is doing for us.  He is at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34).  He fiercely defends us with what He has done on the cross.  And, the final verdict is always the same: God the Judge says to us, “What Jesus has done is forever effective.  The wages of your sin have been paid.  You are my child.  Grace is extended.  Forgiveness is granted.  You are free to go.”

The Scripture declares that our justification is final and eternal.  God doesn’t change His mind switching on and off of our eternal destination depending on how good/bad we are.  The election is a done deal.  It is final.  There’s no change.  It is irrevocable: for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29, NASB).  We are sealed with God’s grace for eternal redemption.

Therefore, go in peace today.  Go in an unwavering assurance that God has called you to be His child and He never repents.  His election of you never changes.  So, when you sin against God and against people next time, and when you struggle with guilt and shame afterwards, simply go to God’s throne room in repentance and humility, stand before God, see Jesus standing by you as defender and call for His help.  Then, go in peace and sin no more.

Never ever believe in Satan’s accusation no matter how true they may sound, because he is a liar from the very beginning of creation.  Listen to what Jesus says about him:  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44, NASB).  Rather, remember who intercedes for you 24/7.  You have two allies: Jesus (Romans 8:34) and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27).   They both intercede for you day in day out.  Trust in what Christ has done for you.  He died on the cross for you once and for all.  His death covers your sins in the past, sins in the present, and sins in the future.  Never believe in Satan’s lie that you have lost your salvation in Christ due to your sins.  Never believe in his lie that you don’t deserve God’s grace.  Never fall into his tactic of shaming you into the guilt that keeps you from coming to God.  Never fall into his deception that God has rejected you.

When you have sinned against God and people, come to God in humility, confess your sins, ask for forgiveness in Jesus’ name, thank Him for another chance to make up, and restore your relationship with Him.

Conclusion

Final recap:

1. It is possible for God’s elect to sin.  Understand that your enemy Satan constantly brings charges against you in vain.  Never believe in his lies.
2. Remember your defender Jesus the Messiah and what He did and does.  He died on the cross on your behalf and paid the wages of your sins.  Now, He makes constant intercessions for you.  Cling to His merit not to your own because none of your own merits is sufficient to defend you from the accusations.  Christ is the only one who can defend you permanently, because He is the perfect redeemer without sin.
3. Remember God is the Judge.  He is the Supreme Court of One in heaven and earth.  No one is in a position to get His verdict reviewed.  Once He declares that you are justified, that is final and eternal.

Say after me, “I will not believe in Satan’s lie!  I am God’s elect.  Christ is my Redeemer!  God is my Champion! ”

Let us pray.

Today Pastor Choi continues his series on God’s Adequacy as our sovereign Benefactor.  God provides us all things good with Christ.  All things ‘good’ are defined by God not by us.  All things good never means a plethora of possessions, either.  It rather has everything to do with being with God, knowing God, and enjoying Him.   Finally, Pastor Choi exhorts God’s people to give God all they have—their complete trust and absolute loyalty.

   No Good Thing Is Withheld

Following is a summary of the sermon:

No Good Thing Is Withheld                                    Romans 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32, NASB)

Introduction

Last Sunday, I talked about the adequacy of God as our sovereign Protector.  When it comes down to human fears, God is greater than all of them and all the challenges we face in our lives.  As our protector, He never forgets or overlooks our needs.  He listens to our cries.  Our trust in God surely quells the panic.

Today, we will continue on God’s adequacy as our sovereign Benefactor.  He provides all things we need: spiritual, emotional, and physical.  Today’s Scripture, verse 32, declares that God who didn’t spare His own Son for our salvation never withholds anything good from us both in this life and in the life to come.  Do you believe that with no doubt?  I do.  In fact, I asked myself: Based on my life experience, will I solemnly testify that God indeed withholds nothing good from me?  The answer is a resounding “YES!”

Contents

Let me read to you today’s verse one more time: He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

God did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all: Why did God send His own Son Jesus to the cross to die on our behalf?  Because He loves us.  Why would He give us all things freely?  Because He loves us.  God is love and His love is the foundation of our relationship with God.

Think for a moment.  Don’t you think it easier for God to keep to Himself the most precious possession and give us the rest?  That’s what the noblest parents in the world would do for others: having to choose between their own children and their most cherished possessions, they would give up possessions holding onto their children.  In fact, that’s what we all would do: between our children and anything else we cherish, we would give up everything but keep our children.  Here’s the twist.  God didn’t.  He delivered over His own Son His most precious Child as a ransom for us.  That tells us how much He loves us when we don’t deserve such love and grace.  By the way, the word “deliver” is to hand over.  It is the same word used when Judas Iscariot delivered Jesus over to the Jewish authorities.  God loved us so much that He handed over His own Son to death.   He didn’t spare His own Son so as to spare us from the judgment over our sins and iniquities.  Think about that!  How amazing that is!  If God loves us that much, Paul says, will He also not give us all other things free?

How will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Verse 32 reminds us that God freely gives us all things good with Christ.  Key phrase: with Him.  All things come to us with Jesus in a package deal.  Christ, God’s Gift, is the box.  All things are in it.  You accept the box, open it, and enjoy everything in it.  Same thing with Christ and good things.  Accept Christ and receive all things good in Him, all the blessings that come along with Him and in Him.  Reject Christ, and reject all God’s blessings.  You cannot have Christ without all things good. You cannot have all good things apart from Christ, either.  They are inseparable.  Here’s a good story.  The Painting of the Son.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.  They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael.  They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.  When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war.  He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.  The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.  About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.  A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, ‘Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life.  He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.  He often talked about you, and your love for art.’  The young man held out the package.  ‘I know this isn’t much.  I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.’

The father opened the package.  It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man.  He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.  The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.  He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.  ‘Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me.  It’s a gift.’

The father hung the portrait over his mantle.  Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later.  There was to be a great auction of his paintings.   Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.  On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel.  ‘We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.  Who will bid for this picture?’  There was silence.  Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, ‘We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.’  But the auctioneer persisted.  ‘Will somebody bid for this painting?  Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?’  Another voiced angrily.  ‘We didn’t come to see this painting.  We came to see the Van Gogh’s, the Rembrandt’s.  Get on with the real bids!’  But still the auctioneer continued.  ‘The son!  The son!  Who’ll take the son?’

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room.  It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son.  ‘I’ll give $10 for the painting.’ Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.  ‘We have $10, who will bid $20?’  ‘Give it to him for $10.  Let’s see the masters,’ [someone shouted.]  ‘$10 is the bid, won’t someone bid $20?’  The crowd was becoming angry.  They didn’t want the picture of the son.  They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.  The auctioneer pounded the gavel. ‘Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!’

A man sitting on the second row shouted, ‘Now let’s get on with the collection!’  The auctioneer laid down his gavel.  ‘I’m sorry, the auction is over.’ ‘What about the paintings?’ ‘I am sorry.  When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will.  I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time.  Only the painting of the son would be auctioned.  Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.  The man who took the son gets everything!’  (Story : The Painting of The Son http://www.turnbacktogod.com/story-the-painting-of-the-son/#ixzz3icdLpK7H)

All things ‘Good’:  Two points.  First, ask yourself a question: in whose definition are all things ‘good?’  In ours or in God’s?  By the way, in whose definition the Bible calls things good?  Of course, in God’s.  Come to think of it, God’s definition of good things is far better and safer than ours.  His understanding is eternally superior to our understanding of what is good.  What we may think good may not be the case in God’s sight.  What God thinks good for us may appear terrible to us.  E.g. Cross is the worst punishment in human eyes, yet the best gift in God’s eyes.  One day Jesus told “His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. ²² Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” ²³ But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matthew 16: 21-23, NASB).  I would rather rely on God’s interpretation of what is good for me than my own, because He knows best, He is never changing, and He sees the entire picture.  Our human understanding is limited, always changing, and not reliable at all times.

Next, ‘all things good’ never means a plethora of material possessions.  E.g. Jesus—we cannot serve God and money at the same time [Matthew 6:24].  The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil [1 Timothy 6:10].  E.g. Lottery winners.  At first, all of them thought wealth would make them happy after winning multi million dollars.  Opposite are the facts.  Many of the couples get divorced afterwards.  All of them squander their winning dollars.  Relationships go sour.  Money made their lives miserable.  E.g. 2.  A mafia gangster made a million dollars in one day.  In his apartment, he opened his briefcase full of cash.  He flung all these hundred dollar bills in the air laughing.  However, a few seconds later, as the money landed on the floor, he began to sob uncontrollably feeling so empty in his soul.  Here’s excellent advice from Paul to those who want to be rich in the present world: fix your hope not on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).  When it comes down to good things, we’d be far better off listening to God and His definition.

J. I. Packer explains on this phrase ‘all things good’: “The passion for possessions has to be cast out of us in order to let the ‘all things’ in.  For this phrase has to do with knowing and enjoying God, and not with anything else.  The meaning of ‘he will give us all things’ can be put thus; one day we shall see that nothing—literally nothing—which could have increased our eternal happiness has been denied us, and that nothing—literally nothing—that could have reduced that happiness has been left with us (p. 270, Knowing God).” God with us is the ultimate source of our happiness (Hebrews 13:6).

What are things ‘good’ in the Bible?  The best gift of all is salvation in Christ (Hebrews 6:9).  None of us fully understand now or appreciate how great this gift of salvation in Christ is.  May God open our eyes to see how blessed we are and to see His glory (2 Corinthians 4:6).  In fact, many non-believers mock at salvation.  E.g. A friend of mine distributed gospel tracts at a fair: a couple laughed at him saying, “Sure, we will go to Hell!  We will burn in there!” They walked away laughing.  We will find out who’s going to laugh in the end.  Folks, if you have nothing to be thankful for, begin with this one.  Thank God every day for your salvation in Christ.

Now, I discovered in the Bible things that are good as the following three (not limited to, but including):

1.  Basic necessities: food, shelter, and clothing.  And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).  Paul to Timothy: Be content with what you have.  If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content (1 Timothy 6:8).  Be free from the love of money, being content with what you have (Hebrews 13:5).
2. Means to do good works.  E.g. Grace and strength.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Corinthians 9:8).
3. Anything that brings us closer to God.  E.g. the Word of God—the sweetness of God’s Word (Hebrews 6:5).  How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!  (Psalm 119:103).  E.g. 2.  Good heavenly gifts (Hebrews 6:4) and fruit of the Holy Spirit such as peace, joy, love, …self control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Conclusion

Many of us dither over giving our absolute loyalty to God.  Why?  Simply because of our unbelief in God.  Let’s call a spade a spade.

Packer analyzes: “We are not persuaded of the adequacy of God to provide for all the needs….  Therefore, we feel obliged to break the first commandment just a little, by withdrawing a certain amount of our time and energy from serving God in order to serve mammon.  This, at bottom, seems to be what is wrong with us.  We are afraid to go all the way in accepting the authority of God, because of our secret uncertainty as to his adequacy to look after us if we do (Ibid.).”

E.g. A huge crowd was watching the famous tightrope walker, Blondin, cross Niagara Falls one day in 1860.  He crossed it numerous times—a 1,000 foot trip 160 feet above the raging waters.  He not only walked across it; he also pushed a wheelbarrow across it.  One little boy just stared in amazement.  So after completing a crossing the fellow looked at that little boy and he said, “Do you believe I could take a person across in the wheelbarrow without falling?” “Yes, sir, I really do.’  The fellow says, “Well then, get in, son” [Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations].

Do you fear that “God lacks strength or wisdom for fulfilling His declared purpose for you?” (Packer, p. 271).  Then, ponder on the truths that “God created the worlds, rules them, and ordains all that takes place, even the fall of a sparrow” (Ibid.).

Do you fear that God may disappoint you?  Then, please listen to Romans 8:28, “In everything God works for good with those who love Him.” Never think that “you will be the first exception, the first person to find God wavering and failing to keep his word” (ibid.).

Do you doubt God’s constancy?  Remember God never changes: Malachi 3:6, Jesus is the same: Hebrews 13:8.

Give God all you have–your complete trust and absolute loyalty.  Never doubt that He is your sovereign Provider.  Hold back no longer.  Dwell on God’s promises.   He will not withhold anything good from you.

Amen.

Today pastor Choi talks about God’s adequacy.  More specifically, he focuses on the truth that God is our sovereign Protector (Romans 8: 31).  He is bigger than any fears we may have, greater than any challenges we may face, and able to see us through any hardships we may encounter in our daily lives.  He exhorts God’s people to daily claim God’s promise in Romans 8:31: If God is for us, who is against us?

    If God Is for Us

Following is a summary of the sermon:

If God Is for Us

Romans 8:31-39   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?³⁶ Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Introduction

One of my favorite books is by J. I. Packer entitled “Knowing God.”  Based on his book, for the next four Sundays, I am going to do a sermon series on the adequacy of God: God is sufficient for all human needs.

Here’s a brief overview.   Today, part 1 of 4, we will focus on the truth that God is our sovereign Protector (v. 31).  He is bigger than any fears we may have, greater than any challenges we may face, and able to see us through any hardships we may encounter in our daily lives.  Next Sunday, we will discover that God is our sovereign Benefactor who withholds nothing good from us (v. 32).  The following Sunday, we will see God as sovereign Champion and Judge who offers salvation based on grace.  No one can condemn us when God justifies us (vv. 33-34).  Finally, we will see God as our sovereign Keeper who keeps us eternally secure in Christ.  Nothing will separate us from the love of God (v. 39).

I am convinced that at the end of my sermon series all of us will be blessed.  We will grow in faith and be eternally grateful for our God who is sufficient for all our needs; physical, emotional, and spiritual.

Contents

If anyone is qualified to talk about life, I believe Apostle Paul is the one.  He begins today’s text saying, “What then shall we say to these things?”(v. 31).  What are ‘these things’ that he refers to?  He is referring to all the things that he’s been through (moments of temptation and condemnation (Romans 8:2), moments of living in the flesh (Romans 8:9, 12), moments of fear (Romans 8:15), moments of suffering (Romans 8:18), moments of weakness and loss of directions (Romans 8:26), moments of disappointment and doubt (Romans 8:28).  In fact, he himself lived through more hardships and life-threatening situations than anyone I know (even more so than Job).

Here’s the list of what he’s been through: afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger (2 Corinthians 6:4-5).  Listen to him in his own words:  ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; ²⁷ I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure (2 Corinthians 11:24-27).   After living through such harsh environments for years, he says, “What can I tell you about life?”

Let’s think of the environment we are living in today.  If you choose one word to characterize today’s world, what word would it be?   Here is mine: fear.  We are bombarded daily with message of fear, are we not?   E.g. NY Times Headlines (8/5/2015): ISIS or Al Qaeda?  American Officials Split Over Top Terror Threat.

Definition:  Fear is “the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when something bad might happen, or when a particular thing frightens you” [Oxford Dictionary]. 

Fears are real, aren’t they?  Having fears is also a common human experience.  From ancient times, everyone with no exception has experienced fears and all of us currently have at least one or two.  For instance, the fear of death, the fear of losing health, the fear of losing our job, the fear of losing loved ones, the fear of the dark, spiders, snakes, the fear of flying, the fear of being a failure, the fear of loneliness, the fear of depression, the fear of heights, the fear of the terrorist attacks, the fear of bullies, the fear of rejection, the list goes on.

All of us have fears.  The real question is how can we handle them?  How do we counter the forces of fear and circumstances that are massed against us?  In today’s text, Paul points out an eternal truth that we can apply to our daily lives.  With the greatest conviction, he declares that God is the solution to all of our problems including fears.  Numerous times in the Bible, God says to His children, “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”  Therefore, when we are afraid, we must declare as Paul did, “God is with me.  I am not afraid.  If God is for me, who is against me?”

My testimony: twenty some years ago, I was gripped with the fear of the future for my daughter.  God promised that He will be there for my daughter and take care of her, even long after her parents are gone.  Ever since He has kept His promise and He will do so until the Day of the Lord.

Let me read verse 31 one more time to you: If God is for us, who is against us?

What does it mean—God is for us?

It means God is committed to be our Protector.  It means that God is on our side.  It also means that no humans or fears can mess us up because God is with us.  When we are afraid, we can turn to and cry unto Him.  When our enemies see God with us, they will flee away from us; our fears will melt away within us.  God is the perfect answer to human fears.  He is the best solution that works always and forever!  As long as God is our sovereign Protector, no fear can crush us.  Don’t believe in a lie that no one can protect you from fears. God can and He will as long as you trust Him in faith.

Remember this: not everyone in the world can claim this promise that God is for them.  You have to be in relationship with God to be able to say, “God is for me.”  Why?  Because this promise of protection is only (let me repeat only) meant for God’s elect (v. 33), not for all.  God is only committed to those who worship and serve Him as the Lord.  God’s protection comes through His commitment to the covenant between Him and His people made.  The words ‘covenant’ and ‘covenantal relationship’ deserve our attention here.  In fact, the Bible is all about covenant relationship between God and His children.

Covenant Relationship

A little bit of historical information on the suzerainty covenant clause here would help us understand our “covenantal” relationship with God: A typical ancient suzerainty document begins with identifying the two parties in the covenant.  One is the suzerain and the other is the vassal state.  One is the more powerful state and the benefactor and the other is the weaker state and the beneficiary.  It declares that “the suzerain is for the vassal state…..”

In Genesis 17: 1, 7-9, we see the same type of covenant declared by God to Abraham.  “I am God Almighty,…. I will establish my covenant ….between me and you…to be your God and the God of your descendants after you….I will be their God…You must keep my covenant.”

Who is ‘God’ here?

He is God the Almighty.  He is God the Creator who created the universe and everything in it.  He is God the Sustainer.  All-powerful God.  All-knowing God.  All-present God.  He is God who cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13).  He remains faithful even when we are not (2 Timothy 2:13).  He cannot lie and keeps His promises for His children (Titus 1:2).  He is God who predestined us to be His children and to inherit the Kingdom of God for eternity (Ephesians 1:5). He is God who loves the world so that He sent His own Son to the cross on our behalf (John 3:16). He is God who began a good work in us, and will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

Who is ‘us’­­­­ here? 

We are God’s covenant people in Christ.  We are His children redeemed by the blood of Christ.  We are heirs of His kingdom: Gentiles or Jews, women or men, all who have faith in Jesus.

You see, we become children of God through our repentance of sins and believing in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  That is how we become the covenant people of God.  Once established, the covenant between God and us abides for eternity, for God keeps it in being (p. 261, Knowing God, J.I. Packer).  In this covenant, God declares that He would uphold and protect us when people and circumstances are threatening to us.  In this covenant, God promises that He would provide for us as long as our earthly pilgrimage lasts.  To this covenant, God commits Himself that He would not leave us until we become more like Him in our character.  In this same covenant, in turn, we declare our faithfulness and loyalty to God in Heaven.  We promise that we would obey Him and keep His commandments.

What it means to be able to say “God is for me”?

I believe Paul got the idea of “God is for us” from Psalmist who says, “God is for me.”  Listen. Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me (Psalm 56:9).

 To say that God is for me means:

1. God will not forget or overlook our needs.
2. When we cry unto God, He listens and the enemies turn back.
3. It gives us the basis for the trust that quells panic (Ibid., p. 262).

Conclusion 

Remember the story of David and Goliath?   David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied” (1 Samuel 17:45) .

When the Goliath of fears, worries, and doubts assails you, don’t run away.  Instead, walk straight toward him and counter with God’s truth: if God is for me, who is against me?   Claim this powerful promise of God every day.  Nothing can crush you, because for you is God the Sovereign Protector.  Amen.

Today Pastor Choi talks about seeking justice.  Religion without a humble walk with God is nothing.  Worship rituals without repentant hearts are futile.  Prayers without justice go unanswered.  At the end of the sermon, he exhorts the congregation to start living out justice every day including prayers of justice for our nation.

   Seek Justice

Following is a summary of the sermon:

Seek Justice

Isaiah 1:10-20   New American Standard Bible (NASB)

God Has Had Enough

¹⁰ Hear the word of the Lord,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the instruction of our God,
You people of Gomorrah.
¹¹ “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?”
Says the Lord.
“I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle;
And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs or goats.
¹² “When you come to appear before Me,
Who requires of you this trampling of My courts?
¹³ “Bring your worthless offerings no longer,
Incense is an abomination to Me.
New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.
¹⁴ “I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,
They have become a burden to Me;
I am weary of bearing them.
¹⁵ “So when you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Yes, even though you multiply prayers,
I will not listen.
Your hands are covered with blood.

¹⁶ “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.
Cease to do evil,
¹⁷ Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Reprove the ruthless,
Defend the orphan,
Plead for the widow.

“Let Us Reason”

¹⁸ “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.
¹⁹ “If you consent and obey,
You will eat the best of the land;
²⁰ “But if you refuse and rebel,
You will be devoured by the sword.”
Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Introduction

Historical Background

• Let’s time travel back to the land of Palestine 2800 years ago—around the 8^th Century B.C.  Israel back then struggled for its survival like a smoldering wick, sandwiched between two power houses: Assyria in the north and Egypt in the south.  For years, it was subject to Assyria and would pay heavy tributes year after year.  It was often harassed by neighboring kingdoms as well.
• Enter Isaiah the prophet: he was active in his ministry of prophecy during this tumultuous time (740-700 B.C.).  His service stretched over the reign of four kings in the Judean Kingdom: King Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah.
• Over these years, Isaiah painfully witnessed the desolation of his home land from two major invasions by neighboring kingdoms (Syro-Ephramite War, 735-732 B.C./Hezekiah’s Revolt against Assyria 705-701 B.C.).  God describes the scene as this: “Your country is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are stripped by foreigners, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers” (Isaiah 1:7). God’s Message to the Rulers: Morality over Security
• Today’s text was written in that geo-political setting.  It begins with God’s utmost concern for Israel: moral decay.  God calls Israel sinful nation (v. 4) and His people wicked—as wicked as Sodom and Gomorrah: “Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; Give ear to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah” (v. 10).  Why?  Because “Your hands are covered with blood” (v. 15)—which means that they are accountable for murder and violent oppression in their land.  Therefore, God says, “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean” (v. 16)—in other words, repent.
• Two words stand out:  Seek justice (v. 17).  Please notice here: God’s urgent message to the rulers and people of this fragile kingdom is justice.  Why not national security?   Why not more protection?   One may wonder.
• Now, let’s pretend that you are national security adviser to the king back in the 8^th century in Jerusalem.  The king trusts you.  All he wants is independence and lasting peace and security from neighboring kingdoms.   What advice would you give him?
• You might want to say: Let’s strengthen our diplomatic ties.  We need to build up our military power.  Let’s build a mighty army with more chariots and horses.  We need more fortresses and so forth.
• God’s advice for the same challenge was quite different: repent and seek justice.   Why justice?  Because, justice is the foundation of prosperity and security of any nation.  Nation is built upon justice.  Without justice no nation stands.Without Justice No Nation Stands

• Definition of justice: just behavior or treatment.  The quality of being right and fair.  The administration of the law or authority in maintaining this (Oxford Dictionary)
• Let me repeat what I said: without justice no nation stands.
• What is the ruler’s number one job in the land?  Economy?  No.  National security?  No.   Both of them are important.  But, neither of them is the number one job of the ruler.   According to God’s Word, the ruler’s number one job is to administer justice and righteousness (1 Kings 10:9).  Do what is just and right, not just in human standards, but also in God’s sight.  Throughout the Scriptures, God commands the rulers to do justice and walk humbly with Him (Micah 6:8).  Then, what they look for such as ‘economic prosperity and national security’ will be added to the nation (Matthew 6:33).
• Let’s check out what the Scriptures say about God in the business of justice.  The LORD is a God of justice (Isaiah 30:18).  Justice is the foundation of God’s throne (Psalm 89:14).  God loves justice (Psalm 99:4).  Justice is the core of God’s being.  So is it of our being (created by God with attributes of creativity, love, and justice).
• God says to every ruler: Do you want prosperity?  Administer justice first.  Do you want security?  Make sure justice is done.  Do you want stability?  Do justice.  The king gives stability to the land by justice (Proverbs 29:4).  “How do I do justice?” the ruler may ask.  “Have fear of Me, be accountable to Me, walk with Me, and honor Me,” God answers.  In fact, this is excellent advice to the rulers of any nation in the world.  We must pray for our national leaders that they walk in the reverence of God (healthy fear of the Lord).  Why?  Because justice cannot be done without the fear of God.  E.g. One thing in common among corrupt leaders: lack of fear of God.  Stalin.  Hitler. Saddam Hussein.  Kim Jong-Un.God Wants You to Seek Justice

• Let’s turn our attention to ourselves.  Terribly mistaken would we be if we think justice is only for the rulers.  God wants everyone, especially His own children, to do justice in everyday life (v. 10).Worship and Prayers

• In today’s text God makes three references in the context of justice: sacrifices (v. 11) (offerings), assemblies (v. 13) (worship services), and prayers (v. 15).  These acts of piety are important, God says, but they are not good when His people do evil.  Without justice practiced in our lives, they are considered nothing (actually, worse, an abomination) in God’s eyes (v. 13).  Justice completes your personal piety.
• Listen.  Religion without a humble walk with God is nothing.  Worship rituals without repentant hearts are futile.  Prayers without justice go unanswered.
• Do you remember faith without works is dead (James 2:26)?  Faith and works go hand in hand.  So do personal devotion and justice.  They are inseparable.

• E.g.  John Wesley promoted the abolition of slavery in the late 18^th century in England.  Following is his letter to William Wilberforce Member of Parliament who spearheaded the complete abolition in the British Empire:
• To William Wilberforce  [*Athanasius: bishop of Alexandria in the 4 Century, A.D., five times exiled fighting for orthodoxy. He spearheaded Nicene Creed.  Church adopted his opinion on the number of books in New Testament Canon (27 books)].
• BALAM, February 24, 1791. DEAR SIR, — Unless the divine power has raised you up to be as *Athanasius contra mundum, [‘Athanasius against the world.’] I see not how you can go through your glorious enterprise in opposing that execrable villainy, which is the scandal of religion, of England, and of human nature. Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils. But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing.  Go on, in the name of God and in the power of His might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.
• Reading this morning a tract wrote by a poor African, I was particularly struck by that circumstance, that a man who has a black skin, being wronged or outraged by a white man, can have no redress; it being a law in all our Colonies that the oath of a black against a white goes for nothing. What villainy is this!
• That He who has guided you from youth up may continue to strengthen you in this and all things is the prayer of, dear sir,     
• Your affectionate servant.  John Wesley (http://wesley.nnu.edu/john_wesley/letters/1791.htm)
• John Wesley died on 2 March, 1791.  This was the last letter Wesley wrote—Wiki.
• 42 years after this letter, in 1833, Wilberforce heard that “the passage of the Act [Slavery Abolition Act: 1833] through Parliament was assured.”  He died three days later (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wilberforce).Remember justice begins with you and me.  Here are the Action points for this week:Stop

• Doing what is wrong (Isaiah 1:16).
• Oppressing the powerless (Zechariah 7:10).
• Thinking evil of each other (Zechariah 7:10).Start

• Showing mercy and compassion to one another (Zechariah 7:9).
• Learning to do what is good (Isaiah 1:17).
• Encouraging the oppressed (Isaiah 1:18).  E.g. Letters to the persecuted sponsored by the Voice of the Martyrs
• Defending the cause of the orphans (Isaiah 1:18).
• Pleading the case of the widows (Isaiah 1:18).Conclusion
  Our congregation, starting today for a week, hosts homeless families in our area.  I am very thankful for and excited with this great opportunity to defend the cause of the poor.  It is a good start.   Please pray for the success.  May God help us continue doing what is right and just in His sight for the people in our communities.  Let’s pray together “Prayers of Justice.”   Amen.Prayers of Justice (* all found in Scripture below)L: Almighty God, righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.

  C: You love justice.  You bless those who conduct their affairs with justice.

  L: You discipline us only with justice and mercy.

  C: You will judge the world with justice.

  A: Many seek the favor of a ruler, but it is from You, O Lord, that we get justice.

  L: Let justice be a light to all nations.

  C: Let justice roll like a river in America.

  L: Endow our leaders with justice, O God.

  C: Help them not to pervert justice by showing partiality or receiving bribes.

  A: Help them not to be partial to the guilty or deprive the innocent of justice.

  L: Help our Congress never to write oppressive laws.

  C: Let our judges maintain justice in the courts.

  L: Make our judges aware that they are watched by a higher Judge of all.

  C: Grant our President discernment in administering justice.  Let his mouth not betray justice.

  L: You speak to us, “Make sure justice is done.”

  C:  We will “Help the down-and-out; Stand up for the homeless;
  Go to bat for the defenseless” (The Message Bible).

  A: Help us not to deny justice to the poor.  In Christ’s name, we pray.  Amen.

Lay Speaker Louise Jones delivered her sermon on Sunday, July 19, on the topic of faith based on Ephesians 6 16 “Above all taking the shield of Faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.”

     Faith