It has been an eventful day. Two of our precious members were married in church today and many of us saw it live streamed or were at the service to watch this blessed union. Several members were also serving and performing lovingly to help make the wedding ceremony memorable and meaningful Christmas day is approaching fast as well as the new year. Unfortunately, the Novel Corona Virus has its own plans and will disrupt our church services again.
Starting from tomorrow, December 24 until Monday, January 4 all Daejeon Onnuri in church services will be cancelled. Therefore, we will not have our OEM service this Sunday or next at 2:00 pm. Tomorrow, links to OEM service will be posted on this page. I will also try to get you the link for the Association of International Ministry (AIM) Christmas service which will be live on YouTube at 10:00 am Christmas Day.
During the Christmas season, we give gifts to each other, but we often do not intentionally give gifts to Jesus, whose birthday is on Christmas. There is the story of the Wiseman and their gifts to Jesus to honor his birth and kingship.
And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11 ESV
When the wise man came and saw Jesus, they humbled themselves to worship Him. Part of their worship were valuable gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We also know that the Wiseman traveled a great distance to find the Lord. Sometimes, we find it hard to come to worship God. We come to church, yet our focus is elsewhere. We want to worship God, but our gifts have little value. The Wiseman had the hindrance of travel, but they still came and made worthy sacrifices.
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
Matthew 2:1 ESV
The Wiseman also had faith that they could travel away from their countries and their comfortable lives to look for the savior. There was no guarantee that they would find the savior or that the savior was out there to be found. This was not an easy task. We, too, like the Wiseman need to put God first. Is God included in your workplace, family, and love life? We will need to make sacrifices and be different from the people who are not followers of Christ. The Wiseman overcame the hindrance of doubt by their faith.
The Wiseman had also to overcome the hindrance of enemies of Christ. Some people worship God but not in truth and in spirit. King Herod's true intentions are revealed later.
And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”
Matthew 2:8 ESV
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Matthew 2:13 ESV
The Wiseman found Jesus because of a bright star. As Christians, we need to illuminate Christ like the Bethlehem Star, so those who are seeking can find Jesus.
saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:2 ESV
God will bless us, but we need to put God first. We need to put God first in all things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 ESV
As Christians, we are soldiers for God, and we must fight for Jesus cause and endure suffering.
Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV
if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;
2 Timothy 2:12 ESV
The Wiseman gave good gifts to Jesus. At the times, these were the best gifts to give to Jesus because these gifts were to prepare Him for His ministry and His resurrection. Today, the best present you can give the Lord is yourself. The best time to give yourself is now. In fact, God appeals us to give our lives fully. God needs us alive to serve him and a dead sacrifice will not work. A dead body is useless to God.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Romans 12:1 ESV
Often, we take advantage of God and His gentle mercy. We give ourselves more time before we get ourselves aligned with God's plans. Although we would never openly say we will not follow God, we do this with our decisions and actions.
We need to understand that the only way to Heaven is through Jesus. We also need to tell others that Jesus and his free gift is for them also.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 ESV
Let us be more intentional and thoughtful in our service and worship to God. God has blessed us and protected us during 2020, how can we give back to God.
For most Christians, they have fond memories of giving and receiving gifts at Christmas. Many people think of Christmas as a season of gifts even if Jesus is left out. Nevertheless, this is a reciprocal event of joy for the giver and the receiver. For this mutual benefit, there must be a relationship between the giver and receiver. The benefactor must give gift within their resources and the beneficiary must have a willingness to receive the gift. The whole gift giving event can be ruined when the receiver refuses the gift. As Christians, we need to reflect on the gift that God has given to us.
The scripture tells us that Gabriel came to Mary while she was in Galilee.
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luke 1:30-32 ESV
Mary accepted the message but was still curious how this would happen. Gabriel had this answer.
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be called holy— the Son of God.
Luke 1:35 ESV
Mary accepted Gabriel's proclamation and believed what was going to happen through the power of God. Mary was blessed by her willingness to trust the Lord as stated by Elizabeth.
And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Luke 1:45 ESV
Blessed in this context means that a person who lives a complete life of physical health, material prosperity and spiritual relationship with God. Mary is blessed because the Lord living in her womb converted her life into a full life.
The nature of blessings found in the package of Mary's gift is the first image of what Christmas brings. It is a new life of being well in totality as God had always intended us to live. This is the first gift that everyone receives when they accept their Christmas gift. This a life that restores your relationship with the Father and takes away the barriers that keep you from the Father.
We need to accept this larger Christmas gift and allow it to incarnate in our lives. Just like Mary this is beyond our understanding, but we need to accept and believe. We can understand later after we accept, believe and experience God's gift.
There is also a vulnerability for love found in this Christmas gift. This is another gift from God. God chooses to come to world through a woman of lowly stature. In that time and society, women were looked down on. When Mary was first described, her genealogy is left out. We do not know who her mother or father were. Elizabeth however is described in more detail.
In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth... But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
Luke 1:5, 7 ESV
We can assume that Mary had nothing noteworthy to mention about her heritage. We know she was betrothed to Joseph and she came from Galilee. Isaiah 53 has more to add to the importance of Galilee.
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Isaiah 53:1-3 ESV
God had empty himself and become someone who was not admirable in worldly terms so we could receive salvation and have an intimate relationship with God. We could not have an intimate relationship unless one in the relationship makes himself or herself vulnerable. God made Himself vulnerable, so we could have a genuine and close relationship with God.
The gift of Christmas also gives us a gift of hope and peace of mind while going through suffering. Jesus is a God who suffered and understood suffering. His humbled state endured suffering. We often focus on our suffering and our language becomes a language of complaints. We need to change our language to one of thanksgiving. When suffering, we can focus on God and His presence with us during our suffering. Jesus knew lack and grief
And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
Matthew 8:20 ESV
Jesus wept.
John 11:35 ESV
One gift we often refuse is the gift to accept all people. God made himself known to a world of darkness. We need to get out of our prejudices and our comfort zones. This means that we need to love the unlovable. God reached out for us when we were unworthy, so we must also reach out for those whom we feel are unworthy.
In this Christmas season as we remember the great gift that God has given us, let us also remember to accept it fully so that we can live a blessed life knowing God is with us at all times and understands suffering. And we also need to remember to be generous with our forgiveness and compassion to everyone since our gift was given to us when we did not deserve it.
A simple definition of Christmas is that it is Christ's mass which celebrates the coming of Jesus to earth. However, I the book of John, the author gives a more fundamental definition of what Christmas is. John tells us that Jesus is a tabernacle among us. The word became flesh and dwelt with us.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14 ESV
In Exodus, we read of another time when God came to dwell among the Israelites. God gave specific instructions to build a place for God to be with the Children of Israel.
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34 ESV
The reason that God decided to dwell among the Israelites was not because of their obedience. In Exodus chapters 32 and 33, we read how the Israelites made a golden calf to worship while Moses stayed on top of Mt. Sinai with God. God was angry that His people had violated the statues which He had given them. In fact, God was so angry, he had planned to destroy His people, but then He chooses to dwell among His people and spare them. The children of Israel felt guilty and realized that they could not survive without God. When God does come, He stays with them throughout all their journeys to the promised land.
For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.
Exodus 40:38 ESV
We celebrate Christmas because we understand that God has come to dwell with us to save us from our sins. God emptied himself to become a nobody, so we could be saved.
For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
John 1:16-18 ESV
God knew that His people wanted to see a physical God. This is the reason the Israelites insisted on the golden calf, which was something they could see, touch and, unfortunately, put their trust in. They grew impatient with an unseen god who spoke only to Moses, who was not always with them.
When the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”
Exodus 32:1 ESV
God understood that He needed to come to His people in a manner that the Children of Israel could understand. The tabernacle could be understood by the Children of Israel. God was able to give them a sense of direction, but the Israelites still had to follow God.
Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up.
Exodus 40:36-37 ESV
This guidance gave security to the Children of Israel. They did not have to worry if they followed the cloud. They were going through a hostile wilderness that was real. We, too, need to put our trust in God despite what our circumstances tell us.
Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.
Isaiah 3:10 ESV
Jesus came to bring us a life full of glory to the Lord. Jesus came to be our personal God.
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
John 1:11-12 ESV
If we can internalize that knowledge, we could have the peace that Jesus offers us. Jesus presence also allows us to acknowledge that we are undeserving, yet Jesus still loves us and wants us saved.
John invites us to reflect on the great miracle of Jesus giving us the right to be children of God although we do not deserve this gift. We should be intentionally with our reflection of what God has done for us. Not only does God dwell with us to give a sense of direction and safety, but God has also pitched His tent with us forever. All that God desires is that we be grateful for this precious gift.
Advent means to come from Latin. Christians observe the season of Advent as they prepare for the coming of Jesus and Christmas. This tradition goes back to the early church history.
God chose the people of Israel to be His people, so they could witness to the world God's glory. God gave His laws and expected them to be obedient to Him and His laws.
The Israelites were to follow God and give glory to God wherever they went. The Israelites did not keep up with God's expectations and failed to show God's glory.
God called His people to return. God used His prophet Isaiah to call back his children, the Israelites, to repent. Those who repented and returned to God experienced God's blessings. However, many did not return and continued to sin.
Today Christians already experience the redemption of God, but we continue to wait for the final redemption of Christ's return. We need to prepare our hearts for the return of the Lord.
Advent is a call to return to a new healthy beginning with our Father. Isaiah 1 starts off with God lamenting how the Israelites have abandoned God and His laws. The Israelites gave up their identity.
Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the Lord has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s crib, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, children who deal corruptly! They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel, they are utterly estranged. Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
Isaiah 1:2-5 ESV
For us to return to God, we must remember who we are. If our desire is getting right again with God, we need to acknowledge who we are in God's kingdom. We cannot return to God’s kingdom if we do not know that we are away from His kingdom. From Isaiah we read that even the farm animals knew their place whereas the Israelites did not know their place or who they were.
In Isaiah 1, we understand this was a time when the people of Israel were wealthy and creating relationships with other nations for support and security. They turned away from God for complete reliance and tried to find other idols for control. Much like the Israelites, we find idols to give us support, comfort, and security.
The question of origin needs to be on our minds constantly if we are going to be compelled to follow Christ is all aspects of our life. We need to ask why we are in our situations as Christians. Moreover, we are governed by the word of God. God's word should shape every action we do. Every time we choose to rebel against God, we hurt the heart of God directly. This hurt against God hurts us, the sinners, more.
What exactly does it mean to rebel against God? This is not someone who falls into sin, but those people who continue in sin and do not try to change their ways.
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1 John 3:6, 16 ESV
In 1 John, the author tells us that if we, Christians, do fall into sin, we must repent, and Jesus will forgive us.
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
1 John 2:1 ESV
We also need to acknowledge our sinful ways and repent. The Lord will convict us, but we need to be self-aware of our erroneous ways. There will come times when God will reveal to us how we are not following God's ways. However, we try to find excuses for our erroneous ways, or we try to justify the way we live. The result is that we do not return to God. Slowly the Israelites’ trust and the dependence in God started to deteriorate until it became a big problem. From there, the Israelites started to really suffer.
Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil. Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners. And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.
Isaiah 1:5-9 ESV
God convicts us because He loves us and never gives up on us. We need to allow God to heal us even if it hurts.
We are only going to return to God if we repent and truly worship Him. The children of Israel continued with rituals and sacrifices, but their hearts were not with God. The Israelites were hypocrites in that they went through the ceremonies and said the words but kept on sinning and living lives that did not please God. Today, many Christians are also hypocrites like the Israelites.
When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
Isaiah 1:15-17 ESV
We do need to return to God, but it is not enough to say that we are sorry. We need to repent of our ways and stop our evil practices.
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8 ESV
“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.
Isaiah 1:18-19 ESV
During Advent, let us remember who we are in Christ, acknowledge our sins and shortcomings, so that we may be able to truly repent in our desire to return to God and live the life that pleases Him.
The Favour Found in Your Striving to Live in Unity
John 17:9-23
Whenever God calls people, He calls them out of their normal life to serve them. Whenever God calls them to follow Him, He gives them a new identity and a new lifestyle or culture that matches their new identity. For example, we have from the bible that Abram becomes Abraham, and Jacob becomes Israel.
Jesus gives a new identity which is a culture of unity. In John 17: 9-23, we read in Jesus prays that God will keep them and help them to live in unity. As Christians, how are we supporting this community of unity?
Why does Jesus emphasize the unity of oneness with His followers. It is because of the essence of the Godhead is unity. A follower of Christ will pursue after harmony with everyone. Failure to agree with one another is not the culture of Christ. When Christians fails to forgive someone or to reconcile with others, that Christian needs to question whether the Lord has complete control over our lives.
There must have been dissension and conflict within the group of believers and even in the leadership. This is most likely the reason Jesus prays so fervently that God will help keep them in His word.
And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.
John 17:11 ESV
We have to be submissive to the word or command of the Lord. We need to go back to chapter 15 to have a better understanding of what "keep in your name," means.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:10, 12 ESV
There are moments that keeping the culture of unity is difficult Forgiving, loving and reconciliation can be difficult. Jesus understood this and offers to help us to do this. We might not be able to love each other, but in Jesus, He can do this for us. Jesus also tells us his commandments that we might have joy.
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
John 17:13 ESV
The culture of unity starts with the people closest around us. We glorify the Father by forgiving others and allowing others to humiliate us. It is not easy, but God can give us the strength to overcome.
Jesus also wants us to have effective prayers, but this cannot happen unless we abide in Jesus. That is to follow Jesus' command to love one another. Our prayers might not be answered if we are not in unity.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
John 14:12-14 ESV
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7 ESV
The world will hate us because it is against Jesus. The world represents the powers of darkness. This world does not want you to gain salvation of through the word. Many Christians will fail in their walk with Christ. We need to reach out and help them who have fallen. Instead many of us make fun or hurt them further.
But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:13-14 ESV
The call to keep unity with one another allows us to stay in unity with God. This healthy relationship with God is necessary. God has forgiven us, so we too need to forgive others. We have a responsibility to forgive or the relationship with the Father will be tainted.
that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
John 17:21-23 ESV
Let's strive towards unity with one another as the Godhead is unified in love, so that we may experience the joy of Christ and effective prayers.
Jesus speaks to His disciples on the eve before his death. Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to leave them. The disciples are worried what will happen to them. Jesus needs to assure the disciples that there is help coming to allow them to overcome. Whenever there were problems, Jesus defended them and solved the problems with wisdom and miracles.
The truth is that the disciples had also realized that Jesus was more than what they thought He was. The disciples now had to believe in someone that they did not really or completely understand. Although this was the same Jesus they first met, Jesus was not exactly who they thought he was.
As modern day Christians, we go through experiences that we do not see Jesus or His influence in the situation. Sometimes are knowledge of God does not give us satisfactory answers and we become discouraged.
Jesus assures the disciples that He is going to send the Holy Spirit to help the disciples.
Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
John 16:7 ESV
During the hard times when Jesus seems to be physically absent, but we need to understand that Jesus is in Heaven and with the Father. This is the place of unlimited power. Jesus was there in the beginning and returns to the Father.
But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’
John 16:5 ESV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
John 1:1-3 ESV
Even when things are bad, Jesus is in control. God has glorified Jesus and given Jesus all authority. We should rejoice that Jesus is in control and allows all things to happen.
He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:14-15 ESV
The helper is here to help us when things are bad. Yes, Jesus allows our situations to become difficult or painful; however, Jesus will send the Holy Spirit to help the disciples to overcome. The Holy Spirit will give us counsel so that we may know what to do and how we may glorify God.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
John 16:13 ESV
God will give us strength to get over difficult times.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31 ESV
The Lord Jesus does expect us to accept His grace and be obedient. We still have to accept the guidance from the Holy Spirit. If we do not follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves in pain resisting the spirit. The guidance is to give us security. Moreover God will be glorified when we obediently listen to the Holy Spirit.
He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:14 ESV
If Jesus is sovereign in our lives, we need to ask ourselves what is it that Jesus is doing in our lives is. Whenever Jesus seems absent, it is a call to acknowledge Jesus' sovereign power. We need to let Jesus be in control and take comfort in the direction He leads us, so that we may glorify God in our obedience.
Hebrews is an epistle. We do not know who wrote the epistle, but we do know it was written for Jewish Christians between 50 and 100 AD. Some of the audience had actually seen and heard Jesus while he was on earth while others had only heard of Jesus in sermons. At this time, Christians were being persecuted by Roman empire and many Christians may have been questioning their choices to remain faithful because of the suffering from persecution. Therefore the letter was written for encouragement
The main themes of Hebrews is Jesus' supremacy and warnings against apostacy. Christians who were questioning their faith may have been looking for comfort or salvation in something other than Jesus. In Hebrews 3:12 there is a strong warning to check our hearts.
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.
Hebrews 3:12 ESV
There is an evil that rejects God through unbelief. This is a willful unbelief that keeps us from salvation. In fact, it is our unbelief that will lead us to walk away and reject God.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 ESV
We are all called to encourage each other and keep each other in check. Just like pastors or shepherds, as a congregation, we have a responsibility to care for our fellow believers, too. We also need to do this today, right now.
But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 3:13 ESV
We also need to be aware of sin and how dangerous it is. Christians must understand that the devil wants us to fall away from God in sin. Jesus even tells us that just because we call Him Lord, it does not mean He will recognize us.
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:23 ESV
This passage is directed towards believers. It is quoted from Psalm 95 vs 7-8. Although the Israelites believed that God existed, they doubted that God was trustworthy. As Christians, we know God exists, but do we truly trust God?
For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Hebrews 3:14-15 ESV
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,
Psalm 95:7-8 ESV
We are reminded not to make the mistake of not trusting God. We are to put our faith in God. What will happen if we do not put our faith in God.
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.
Hebrews 3:16-19 ESV
The result would be that we would not enter Heaven and rest in God.
The epistle's message still carries truth from the ages. Let us encourage one another and examine our hearts so that we may increase our faith in God in all aspects of our lives.
There are two truths which apply to all Christians. The first truth of a Christian is that life flows through us through Jesus Christ, and we have hope that we will go to Heaven where Jesus is waiting for us. The second truth of a Christian is that we need to abide in Jesus who is the vine in order that we can produce fruit. As branches, we will also be pruned to produce more fruit. It is not by our ability to become branches, but it is Jesus. We are, in fact, the product of what Jesus has given us.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:1 ESV
It is also not enough to be a branch in the vine. We do have a responsibility to accept what Jesus has given us and abide in Jesus.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
John 15:4 ESV
Every one of us has access to the resources of Jesus. We just need to take and utilize these resources or we will be malnourished. Of course, it is not enough just to be nourished passively by Jesus, we also need to be active and purposeful in accepting the strength from Jesus as we abide in him.
The question everyone then asks is, “How do we abide in Jesus?” The first way we can abide in Jesus is through the act of obedience. This is the way that will bring joy in our lives. Also, we have the responsibility to obey Jesus. When we say that we follow or abide in Christ, it means we accept what Jesus has commanded.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:10-11 ESV
The act of abiding in Jesus requires endurance and sacrifice. Jesus would not have told the disciples to abide in Him unless things were going to be difficult. Jesus knows there would be threats against the disciples to dissuade them from following Jesus.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
John 15:4 ESV
As Christians we will experience situations that will affect our faith. There will be moments when the promises of God do not seem to have manifested in the ways we thought they would. Yet, we need to press on against sin and take on our role to be followers of Christ.
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Hebrews 12:4 ESV
This also means we need to embrace Jesus' pruning. Pruning involves two types of branching cutting. Those branches which do not bear fruit are cut off from the vine and thrown away. The farmers using large machetes have no love loss for cutting off those worthless branches from their life source. The branches that are bearing fruit are pruned by trimming back carefully the branches with pruning shears, so that life will continue in the most productive way.
There are many things in our lives that distract us from serving God completely. Some of those things may be needed in our lives for a short, but are then removed do we can grow. Other things in our lives may be separating us from God, so God needs to remove them. In our Christian journey, we need to take on our responsibility of accepting Jesus words and commands. We need to accept our pruning so we may grow to produce good, pleasing fruit for God.
The Reason Why Our Pruning Might Take the Hard Way
John 15:1-11
One of the three main fruits in the Galilee were grapes. Growing grapes requires much work to grow them successfully. Although many farmers successfully have plentiful grape harvests, it is not easy and requires constant care, such as pruning. Pruning was necessary and often arduous.
In John 15, Jesus illustrates through vine farming three features which Christians possess.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
John 15:1 ESV
The first point is that we are the product of Jesus' existence. We get our life as branches from the vine. God, our father, is the vine dresser, and Jesus is the vine. Jesus manages our lives when we are part of the vine. Our lives are in Jesus and God's hands. We need to acknowledge that our existence is Jesus' responsibility. Also, we need to accept that Jesus gives us our lives and purpose.
To understand Jesus as the vine and our dependence on Him, it is necessary to understand plants. Tress are a good example to illustrate what Jesus is talking about. Tress have roots which give the tree stability. Weak roots will not hold the tree well or bring much water and minerals whereas strong roots hold the tree in the ground well and can bring in much needed water and minerals. In winter, trees lose their leaves and sometimes branches are cut off or cut back. In spring, new branches grow as well as new leaves and eventually fruit. It is important to note that the trunk and roots remain but do not need branches to be a tree. Branches need the tree or the vine to live. As Christians, we depend on Jesus to be Christians. Christians come out from the life of Jesus Christ.
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
John 15:4 ESV
The second point is that Christians grow as they receive from Jesus. Branches that grow from the trunk will produce leaves as well as fruit, seeds or nuts. When branches are cut off, those branches die. Sometimes branches produce too many leaves which causes the branches to sag down. They then might touch the ground which then can destroy the fruit. Another result which could happen when branches touch the ground is that the branches might grow their own roots. These roots tend to be weak, and the branch might break off from the trunk. The result is the branch dies since the roots are too weak to sustain it. Much like Christians we tend to start to find independence from Christ. The independent growth does not sustain the branch for long and death follows. We can only grow through our dependence and interaction with Christ.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
John 15:5-6 ESV
Jesus has called us to bear fruit. Branches that are not producing fruit are cut off and thrown away. However, the branches that produce fruit are pruned so that they can grow more fruit. Pruning is difficult and painful, yet it is done on those branches that are valuable and useful.
Jesus may prune us by putting different people in our life to push our character. When we are being pruned, we need to ask what is it that Jesus wants us to change in our lives so that we can bear fruit. Moreover, how can we bear more pleasing fruit.
You have value and purpose, but this has to be developed. It may be difficult as parts of our lives are cut back, yet in order to produce real fruit that is pleasing to God, we need to abide in Jesus and let God have his way in our lives.
Do not be afraid is a very common expression found in the Bible. Jesus might not say exactly do not be afraid, but he says something similar and offers us peace.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27 ESV
There are many times our peace may be disturbed or lost, but Jesus offers us His peace. This peace is not the same as the world gives.
Peace from the world is dependent on circumstances. If things are good, we can have peace. When you surroundings are difficult, that peace can be easily lost. However, the peace Jesus offers is not influenced by external situations.
The peace that Jesus gives to His disciples has a different nature than that of the world. This peace actually depends on the recognition of the sovereign God who is in complete control. When we have an understanding and trust that God is in control allowing all things to happen or not, we can have peace. Jesus returning to God in heaven fulfills His sovereign lordship.
You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. John 14:28 ESV
Now that Jesus has gone to take his rightful place in heaven, He is in control of all things. Jesus permits both good things and bad things to happen to us. Even when we fail we need to train ourselves to acknowledge that Jesus is in control.
Jesus tells us that He is control and not to worry. Also, He would be with us forever and send a helper.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. John 14:26 ESV
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18 ESV
Jesus makes a promise to remain with us whether we have failed or succeeded. It is not only our situations which do not influence the peace of the Lord, but also our own actions and attitudes.
The disciples did not behave in a way that showed they fully trusted Jesus. Peter denies Jesus three times. Other disciples went back to their old profession of fishing after Jesus died. Yet, Jesus never gave up on His disciples. In fact, Jesus even seeks out Thomas to prove to Thomas that He has indeed risen. Jesus loved his disciples that much and wanted them to have a right understanding of who Jesus is and why they did not have to fear.
All of our difficult times will come to an end, but how do we obtain this peace during our difficult times?
Acknowledge that Jesus is in control and ask Jesus what you need to do. God cares about the means to success and not the end result. Jesus will give us instructions on how to respond; we just need to ask and acknowledge his authority.
It has been awhile, but it looks like we are back in business as it were. There are four items which need to be announced today.
1. Daejeon Onnuri English Ministry will resume it's English worship service at 2:00pm on Sundays next week. Anyone who attends the English worship service must have their temperature checked and follow social distancing rules as well as wear a mask. This also means that we will not have food or fellowship after the service. There is still no children's service.
Since we have not had service in awhile and we would like to ensure that DOEM is ready to once again conduct services in a pandemic world, only the worship team and leadership will meet on October 18 for the worship service. All other members will be allowed to join on October 25, 2020.
2. Online small groups will resume on October 20. We will have small groups meeting from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on Tuesday and Wednesdays. More information will come when Zoom links and study guide questions are ready to be shared.
3. Saturday Bible Study will resume on October 24. We are looking into the possibility of meeting in the Daejeon Onnuri building. If it is not possible, we will resume online. Regardless, SBS will be held on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm.
4. We encourage you to attend the House of Prayer meeting being held over Zoom from Mondays to Fridays. You access the meeting through the OEM channel on Kakaotalk.
More information will follow in the days to come.
Have a restful Sabbath in the Lord. All the glory to God.
The Daejeon Onnuri
English Ministry will suspend its in-church worship service on Sundays at 2:00
pm. Starting on August 23, we will worship with the Onnuri English Ministry
online. We will continue to worship online until further notice. Please see
below for the times and link.
This decision was
influenced by recent events concerning COVID-19 in South Korea. Although this
is disappointing news, God will be glorified and all the more through our
humble obedience.
I encourage everyone
to pray for one another and to stay in touch by texts, emails, phone calls and
video conferencing.
Verse 1 God of creation There at the start Before the beginning of time
With no point of reference You spoke to the dark And fleshed out the wonder of light
Chorus 1
And as You speak
A hundred billion galaxies are born In the vapour of Your breath the planets form If the stars were made to worship so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You've made Every burning star A signal fire of grace If creation sings Your praises so will I
(So will I)
Verse 2
God of Your promise You don't speak in vain No syllable empty or void
For once You have spoken All nature and science Follow the sound of Your voice
Chorus 2
And as You speak
A hundred billion creatures catch Your breath
Evolving in pursuit of what You said If it all reveals Your nature so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You say Every painted sky A canvas of Your grace If creation still obeys You so will I
So will I
Bridge If the stars were made to worship so will I If the mountains bow in reverence so will I If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I For if everything exists to lift You high so will I
And if the wind goes where You send it so will I If the rocks cry out in silence so will I If the sum of all our praises still falls shy Then we'll sing again a hundred billion times
Verse 3
God of salvation You chased down my heart Through all of my failure and pride
On a hill You created The light of the world Abandoned in darkness to die
Chorus 3
And as You speak
A hundred billion failures disappear Where You lost Your life so I could find it here If You left the grave behind You so will I
I can see Your heart in everything You've done Every part designed in a work of art called love If You gladly chose surrender so will I
I can see Your heart eight billion different ways Every precious one A child You died to save If You gave Your life to love them so will I
Tag
Like You would again a hundred billion times But what measure could amount to Your desire You're the One who never leaves the one behind
Jesus leaves behind some strong words for His disciples on his night with them.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27 ESV
The disciples had to understand the peace that Jesus gave them, who gave them this peace and that the one who gave them this peace was greater than the enemies against them.
Just before Jesus had declared that He was going to make a place for his disciples and also take care of them. This declaration demonstrates his care. Jesus also explained that the Holy Spirit would be with his followers and this is how Jesus would take care of them. Since the Holy Spirit is also Jesus, Jesus would be in them.
Jesus understood that there are times we would question our faith because of circumstances and trials. However, Jesus' presence in us gives us hope as He prepares us for Heaven. That saving and changing power needs continuous obedience to allow Jesus' spirit to work in us.
Those who continuously obey Jesus obtain a peace that surpasses this reality. Many Christian martyrs were able to and are able to endure terrible conditions and even torture because of the peace of the Lord on them.
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
John 14:23 ESV
We are accepted before the father because Jesus presence is in us. Jesus presence is in us because we believe in Jesus and keep His words. The Spirit will teach us everything that we need to learn and will guide us. The spirit of God within us will continue to guide us and bring us back to God. He expects us to respond back in obedience.
The peace for every believer is assured.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
John 14:24, 28 ESV
Because Jesus has gone to the father, our peace is secured. Jesus is telling the disciples that He is going back to the place of authority. This authority was talked about in the first chapter of John.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John 1:1, 3-4 ESV
Jesus was going back to His place as God. In that the place of authority, Jesus returns back to His glory as creator and all powerful ruler. Jesus regained all authority again when he returned to heaven.
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
John 14:30-31 ESV
Jesus needs to explain that he had to allow the enemy crucify him so he could express his love.
The world gives peace on your works and circumstances. The peace which Jesus gives us is beyond this. Anything which happens to us Jesus is with us. Even in death we can have this peace.
Although Jesus has given us His peace, we still need to apply our faith in good times and bad times if we are to experience His peace.
