"Is Life Unfair?"(Job 38:1-11)

Job 38:1-11

Life does not seem fair. We can always find some situation when life is not fair for us or for someone else. Innocent people die horribly all the time. People that we look up to and view as righteous still go through hard times. Those hard times look to be unfair.

Job is one of these people who was the most just person and yet suffered greatly. Job asks God about his unfair situation and God responds with reminding Job that he is not equal to God.

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

Job 38:1‭-‬3 ESV

These days science is growing rapidly, but the more we learn, the more we realize that we know so little. We have learned so much, but the conclusion is that we cannot know everything about God. The gap between God's greatness and man's smallness is vast and this vastness grows as we learn more.

when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Job 38:7 ESV

Everything God made was good and although it may not seem best for you, it is best for all of God's creation.  There is a vast world with many other people. All of God's creation have their place and time, and you and I are just a small part of His wonderful creation. 

“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

Job 38:8‭-‬11 ESV

God loves us more than all of his other creations. We are made in His image on the sixth day.  He cares for us more than  His other creations.

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Matthew 6:26‭-‬27 ESV

We understand from this passage that there is a gap between us and God, God made things perfectly, and God takes care of us. However, we are too limited to understand to God's plans. The remedy for when we life is unfair is to admit that we are small and trust that God loves us and takes cares of us even when things seem dark.

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"Christ's Followers"(John 1:9-14)

 John 1:9-14

Through the passage, we understand that Jesus loved us. He loved all of us, but who were those who received Him and his love?

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:12-13 ESV

There was no reason for Jesus to loved us. Jesus also loved His enemies. He loves even the ones who rejected Him.

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

John 1:9-11 ESV

It was humankind who betrayed God, but Christ still loved us. Despite this betrayal, God never gave up on us. God kept loving us despite the pain our betrayal has inflicted on God.

We should think of those who have harmed us or betrayed us and talk tp them and pray for them. This would be our homework to fulfil Christ's good works he has left for us, but also to understand Christ's love. To truly understand Christ's love for us, we need to love those who have hurt us. This is what God has done for us. This is what Jesus did when he came to Earth.

Because Jesus did not give up on us, we experience His blessings. Others can experience these same blessings because Jesus has not given up on them; however, we, too, can others experience peace, acceptance, forgiveness and love by our persistence to love others.

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

The word became human and we sometimes find it hard to forget that Jesus was fully human. Jesus was God, but he was just like us in that He was physical just like us. Jesus left Heaven to come to Earth to help us. Jesus put Himself in danger and suffered like us to save us.

Much like looking a bright light and then looking elsewhere and seeing the image of light, we should do the same and see the image of Christ wherever we look. This Christmas, let us look for Christ and love those whom we find hardest to love.

Sermon

Worship Songs;

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Joy to the world

What Child Is This

O Holy Night

"One Body"(2 Timothy 1:1-7)

 II Timothy 1:1-7

God tells us to work together and does not call us to be standalone heroes.

In Second Timothy, Paul is giving Timothy some of his last words. Paul knows he does not have much time left, so he wants to let Timothy know what Paul's will is for him.

To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.

2 Timothy 1:2‭-‬3 ESV

As a church, we are supposed to pray and love one another. It is not enough to attend church and do service. We are expected to know each other, care for each other and love each other.

To work as the body of Christ we need to work to together as well as communicate with each other. However, if we do not truly care and love one another, it will be of little use towards the Kingdom of God and the body of Christ.

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,

2 Timothy 1:6 ESV

We all have special abilities and excel at different aspects of our jobs than others may do. It is not enough to do these things to each other in church but also outside of church.

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

Paul wrote this letter when Christians were being persecuted by the Romans and Jews. It was a difficult time and many Christians were fearful and suffered during these times. As Christians, we are not exempt from hardships. We need help and God will help us. We also need to remember that we have to help one another. In the Bible, we read about how the heroes of the Bible received help from and from other fellow followers of God. 

Let us also keep up the tradition of helping our brothers and sister in Christ when they are in need. And let us do this with genuine love.

"The God of Justice"(Job 31:1-28)

 Job 31:1-28

 The fact that God is with us all the time is comforting, but it can also be a little stressful. Although God has forgiven us of all our sins because of Jesus' sacrifice, we are still in a battle. We should always be ready to fight against sin.

 God watches us to protect us from evil desire and sinful ways. God draws a clear line between good and evil, and God wants us to be on the good path.

 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps? “If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)

Job 31:4-6 ESV

There are three things that God wants us to avoid.

 

1. Sinful desire

 We have to be honest that we are weak and sinful instincts are still in us. We also must remember that we have the Holy Spirit to help us overcome our sinful desires. With the Holy Spirit. We can fight our sinful instincts and not put our sins into action.

 

“If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit; (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!) if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands, then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out. “If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door, then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.

Job 31:5-10 ESV

  

2. Lack of love

 Job confesses that he would be guilty if he did not show love to others. This love is directed towards everyone. The servants, widows, and fatherless were those who would be in need or could not protect themselves, and Job made efforts to care for them. It easy to become caught up in our own lives and ignore our neighbors, yet God wants us to love our neighbors. In fact, Christians are to participate in the ministry of God by loving others. We need to love those people who have been brought into our lives.

 “If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me, what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him? Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?

Job 31:13-15 ESV

 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother’s womb I guided the widow), if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,

Job 31:17-19 ESV

 

3. Idols

 Idols distract us from God and truly serving God. We need to be faithful to God in any circumstance. If we love God because things are good, what happens when things go wrong.  Idols can become our focus, and God is forgotten in good times when our idols seem to save us. Of course, Idols cannot truly save us and eventually disappoint us or destroy us whereas God can truly save.

 “If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence, if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much, if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor, and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand, this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.

Job 31:24-28 ESV

 God is loving, but He is also just. On our sanctification journey, God is watching us to protect us since He loves us dearly, but we must make efforts to fight sin and be ready to serve God.

Farewell Bhandari Family, Thanksgiving Service

 

Worship songs;

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Thank You For The Cross The Mighty Cross

How Great Thou Art

Give Thanks

278 Thank You for the cross the Mighty Cross

 Thank You for the cross the mighty cross 

CCLI Song # 242056 Mark Altrogge

우리 죄 위해 죽으신 주, 만왕의 왕 내 주께서 

Hymn 21 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty(Lobe den Herren)

CCLI Song # 43073 Catherine Winkworth | Joachim Neander

Words: Public Domain; Music: Public Domain

  

Praise To The Lord The Almighty (Lobe den Herren)

Verse 1

Praise to the Lord the Almighty

The King of creation

O my soul praise Him

For He is thy health and salvation

All ye who hear now to His temple draw near

Praise Him in glad adoration

Verse 2

Praise to the Lord Who over all things

So wondrously reigneth

Shelters thee under His wings

Yea so gently sustaineth

Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been

Granted in what He ordaineth

Verse 3

Praise to the Lord Who doth prosper

Thy work and defend thee

Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do

If with His love He befriend thee

Verse 4

Praise to the Lord Who

When tempests their warfare are waging

Who when the elements madly around thee are raging

Biddeth them cease turneth their fury to peace

Whirlwinds and waters assuaging

Verse 5

Praise to the Lord Who

When darkness of sin is abounding

Who when the godless do triumph

All virtue confounding

Sheddeth His light chaseth the horrors of night

Saints with His mercy surrounding

Verse 6

Praise to the Lord

O let all that is in me adore Him

All that hath life and breath

Come now with praises before Him

Let the amen sound from His people again

Gladly for all we adore Him

"Whom Shall I Trust?"(Psalm 115)

 Psalm 115

John Calvin identified the "Awareness of God" when he noticed that all people need something to rely on. People need to rely on something especially when they are facing struggles. 

For Christians, we rely on God to help us during difficult times, but we need to ask why we can trust in God only and not other sources. Psalm 115 gives some insight into this.

The author of Psalm 115 talks about how idols do not give any true hope. The idols of the Old Testament were statues or objects that people made.

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.

Psalm 115:4 ESV

The things we create are not evil, but when we start to worship or put our trust in these creations, we turn them into idols. We like the physical things. We want to see and touch it. Money, food or other assets are sought after because we need them and it is easy to put our trust in them.

They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.

Psalm 115:5‭-‬8 ESV

Our idols, those things we put our trust in, become personifications. The reality is that although there is some temporary relief, they are not like God. God does speak, listen and is with us.

A kindergarten may take care of children, but it is not the same as a parent. A parent has their children forever and they sacrifice for them. A kindergarten teacher is only with the children for a short time and they are being paid for it. Similar to God and idols, God is always our God and we are his children.

The Lord has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron; he will bless those who fear the Lord, both the small and the great. May the Lord give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 115:12‭-‬15 ESV

God knows us and does not forget us or our problems. We know where our help comes from and it is only God who can truly help us. We need to trust God because He is the only one who can help us.

The heavens are the Lord’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man. The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 115:16‭-‬18 ESV

We cannot be passive Christians. We have to actively follow God and actively trust God. It is not enough just to wait for God while doing nothing. We actively wait for God through prayer, reading the Bible, coming to church, following God's commandments, being still, and pressing on.

Yes, we trust in God, and for good reasons, but we must be actively practicing trust in God and not other idols. 

Christ's Follower

 Luke 5:1-11

In today's passage, when Peter realised who Jesus truly was, he asked Jesus to leave because Peter felt inadequate.

 

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Luke 5:8 ESV

 

This is very typical. Many people encounter God and realise how sinful they are and want to flee from God. We feel guilty when we start to know who we truly are after encountering God. Yet, it is not good to be stuck in our feelings of guilt. We need to follow Christ.

 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

John 15:16 ESV

 

Jesus chose Peter's boat. There is no explanation why Jesus chose this boat other than he chose the boat. We may feel inadequate that Jesus has chosen us to do tasks and then make excuses about why we cannot be used by Jesus. However, Jesus knew who we are with all our faults. He still chose us despite our short comings.

 

We need to accept that Jesus chose us because he loves us. We are not chosen because of our greatness, but our weakness.

 

Jesus does something unusual. He gets into a boat uninvited and asks Peter to put out the boat.

 

and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Luke 5:2-3 ESV

 

Peter doubts Jesus, but he still obeys Jesus.

 

And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

Luke 5:5 ESV

 

Peter's obedience allows something to happen which Peter could never imagine. Peter not only caught fish, but he also caught so many fish that he could not contain it in one boat. His fellow fisherman had to bring another boat to hold all the fish. The same is when we obey God's word. The mercy and blessings will be so abundant that your family, friends, and neighbors will also be touched by God.

 

And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

Luke 5:6-7 ESV

 

Becoming a Christian means to allow the love of God to fill you so that you are transformed. God transforms you so that your mission will be successful. That transformation from God requires humility. Simon with sincere humility confesses his sin to Jesus. More than anything this is what we need to do when we encounter Jesus to allow a transformation in us to create a  right relationship with Jesus.

 

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

Luke 5:8 ESV

To be followers of Christ like Peter, we need to encounter Christ and see our faults, but not become so overwhelmed that we flee from the truth or become paralyzed by our flaws. We need to admit to Jesus that we are sinners and have a willingness to obey even when our senses, experience and community might tell us to go a different path. Then we can follow Jesus and God will produce an abundance of blessings that we never imagined.

Do You Have Faith? (Act 9:20, 20:24, 2:44-47)

 

2021 Autumn Picnic

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God The Creator (Psalm 8:1-9)

 

God Is with Us(Joshua 1:5-9)

Joshua 1:5-9

 In the first chapter of Joshua, we read that God is telling Joshua to be strong and courageous. God is commanding Joshua to be this way because God is with him. It is not that Joshua cannot experience God unless he is strong and courageous, but rather, Joshua should be strong and courageous because God is already with us.

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:6-7, 9 NIV

 We read that God commands Joshua three times to be strong and courageous so that Joshua would be victorious.

 

1.       We must fight a spiritual battle. There are sinful desires that we need to fight. In fact, because is in you, evil cannot coexist in you. Because God is in you, you can be successful. In addition, we must fight in the place that God has put us. We experience defeats all the time in this world as parents, workers or any job God has placed us in, but we must endure and continue knowing that God has won the fight.

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:8 NIV

 

2. We need to meditate on God's word constantly. Moses made mistakes and eventually he could not enter the promised land. Yet, Moses is called a great leader by God. Moses also communicated with God. He spoke with God whenever there were problems. Moses had his quiet time with God and so must we do this. It is not enough to just speak to God in our prayers, but we must also listen to God. God speaks to us in many ways. The word of God is the best way to hear God. We need to read through the Bible and meditate on what God is saying.

 

3. We must keep the law. It is not enough to know the law; we must practice the law. Moses followed God's commandments. Although we may be fixed, we still need to follow the law. It is like having your car repaired because of neglect. After getting your repaired car, you neglect it again until it breaks down. After salvation, we still need to follow the laws. The laws will not save us, but we do this because we want to please God.

 When God is with us, it is almost impossible to sin. We want to please God and are aware that God is watching us. It is difficult to sin if we think that God is always with us. Although it may seem daunting to try and keep the laws, we can take heart that Jesus summarized God’s commandments into two commandments.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:37-40 NIV

 Jesus gives us salvation through grace, but we still need to be strong and courageous so that we can do the good works God has given us to do while he transforms us,

"God's Will"(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

 Although we know that to be saved, we need to have faith in Jesus and confess that he is our savior, yet Matthew 7 warns us that just words are not enough.

 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 7:21 NIV

 

We are taught that to enter heaven, we need to do the will of God. Anyone who truly professes and believes that Jesus is their Lord and savior will naturally want to do the will of God and not just talk about it. However, what does it mean to do God's will? First Thessalonians 5 gives some insight into this.

 

pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 NIV

 

To command to rejoice or celebrate in gratitude is also repeated in Philippians 4.

 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4 NIV

 

It can be hard to rejoice when our situation is difficult. When we are in need or suffering, it can be almost impossible to truly rejoice in God. How can we show our gratitude to God with unanswered prayers? Yet, Jesus wants us to rejoice in knowing we are saved because of his grace. This knowledge of being saved is enough to give thanks. We also should remember that the hard times we go through is to make us stronger as mentioned in Romans.

 

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Romans 5:3 NIV

 

Finally, our attitude can make a big difference on our life. Choosing to be joyful no matter the circumstances will surely improve our mood whereas being miserable with the times will make things worse.

 

A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:13 NIV

 

Prayer is also essential to do the will of God. In fact, we need to pray continually. We should take Daniel's approach and set a time and take our prayers seriously. Our prayers can be done in our daily life. We can have a conversation with God as we take a walk. Whenever we talk to God about anything, this is prayer.

 

Conversation goes two ways. When we pray, we need to tell God what is on our hearts, but we also need to listen. God’s message to us will come through QT, meditation, prayer, and worship. It is not enough that we just speak and make requests to God, we need to listen intently and purposefully obey the words of God.

 

Humility is essential to do God’s will. Our humility allows us to see who we really are. We must admit how sinful we are. In church, we can come as we are. We do not need to pretend to be someone we are not. It is our faith in Jesus Christ which will allow us to be saved and transformed. Admitting that we are not perfect, and it is Jesus changing us takes a humble heart, but that same humble will allow Jesus to do His work and allow us to love others as well.

 

We cannot fill the gaps of our unhappiness and need. When we realize who we are and what Jesus has done for us, we are doing the will of God. It is only Jesus who can truly heal us and save us and that is something to be grateful for and rejoiceful.