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 Sermon > Sunday Evening Service |
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Title |
Faith - Men & Women's Missions and Prayer Devotee's Devotional |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Hebrews 11: 3 |
Date |
2017-05-14 |
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Passage
[Hebrews 11: 3]
"By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible."
[Introduction]
Let us give all thanks and glory to God the Father who has blessed us to have this 2017 Men & Women's Missions and Prayer Devotees' devotional service. I also give thanks to all the devotees who have prepared for this service with all your heart and mind.
Dear devotees and other members, do you believe in God? Today's reading passage Hebrews 11:3 says, "By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible." As in the verse, we believe in God who created all things and in His only Son Jesus Christ. If we truly believe, we can receive answers in the name of Jesus Christ even for impossible things.
But even though we all say we believe, the size of each one's faith is different from person to person. As in 1 John 2:12-14, there is faith of little children, and there is faith of young men. There is also mature faith of fathers.
For new-believers, it is not easy to obey the word of God that they are learning. It's not easy for them to pray just for one hour. In tests and hardships, they complain and become disheartened. But as their faith increases and they realize God's love with their heart, it becomes increasingly easier to practice the truth. Through fasting and prayer they struggle against and cast away sins by receiving the power of God. They overcome persecutions with joy and thanksgiving.
As their faith keeps on growing, they get closer to the faith of a father with which they can understand the deep heart and will of God. Many of you have cultivated spirit and are going toward whole spirit. There are many more of you who are following them to reach the rock and spirit. Even if you are new-believers who have weak faith, as long as you ride on this flow of whole spirit, you can cultivate faith at the levels of the rock and spirit.
God the Father has given a message titled, 'Faith' to you devotees today. I urge you to check your faith once again and march on with more strength. In so doing, may you cultivate the mature measure of faith of the Christ and partake in the glory that shines like the sun. I pray this in the name of the Lord!
[Main]
Dear devotees,
The kind of faith that God the Father wants of you, first of all, is unchanging faith.
Faith is 'truthfulness'. Spiritual faith is like pure gold. It is never changing. If you have fleshly faith, it will change any time.
What kind of faith do you have? You confess you believe in the almighty God, but if you face troubles, don't you rely on men rather than relying on God? You make up your mind to go into spirit and to change yourself, but it doesn't work out as you wished. Then, haven't you just gone back to the previous state? You ardently prayed for a desire of your heart, but when the answer is not given in the way you wanted, have you not complained that God is not giving it to you and haven't you let all your prayers count for nothing?
In some cases, you say you believe the word of God, but you interpret it the way you see fit for your personal gain. God's word says, "Do not be a guarantor; do not borrow or lend money among the church members; do not talk about worldly things in the church." So, you can just obey them. But because you do not completely trust His words, you interpret them in a way that is favorable to you with your greed or fleshly thoughts. "He is trustworthy, so I can act as a financial guarantor for him. It's just a small amount, so it's OK to borrow money. This information is good, so I can talk about this business just a little bit."
Because you change God's words just as Eve changed God's word "You will surely die," into "You will die," your trust with God is broken, and you might face tests and trials.
Also, if you have changing of mind, your faithfulness and fervor also cool down. In the past, even though others didn't recognize you, you did many kinds of hard work in the church such as dining hall, traffic, and cleaning duties. You took delight in giving to God and help the needy even if you had to cut down your living expenses. But you have second thoughts from a certain point in time. "Nobody knows me because I only do the things behind the scenes, but they do the duties that are easily seen, and they are recognized by people much more than me." "I work harder than them, but their faith grows much faster than mine." "I diligently gave to God a lot of offerings, but how come I don't receive blessings?" You have many kinds of thoughts. Now, your faith is shaken thinking, "Does God remember me? Am I no longer loved by God?"
I hope your faith in God's promises, your faith in and obedience to the word of God, and your fervor in service for God's kingdom will not change. Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." I ask you to unchangingly practice the truth with your trust in the faithful God so that you will reap the fruits of blessings.
Dear devotees, and other members,
The kind of faith that God wants of you, secondly, is the faith to believe in the invisible spiritual realm.
To the unbelievers, this visible, physical world is everything. They try to take and enjoy even just one more thing in this world. They do many evil things to get power. They desire to get bigger houses, fancy food, luxurious cars, and designer clothes and handbags.
When others take overseas vacations, they envy them. They don't worry about what to eat or which clothes to wear only when they are very poor. They continually seek and desire physical things; they want to have better food, take better things, and get more things than now.
They take health foods because they want to live a long life with good health. For this reason the unbelievers mostly talk about which health food is best, which restaurant is good, what the current trends are and what business they can invest in to make more money.
If they hear there is a heaven and a hell, they say they can't accept it and they will find out when they die. They say they can't believe in the invisible God and that Jesus Christ died and rose again.
But John 20:29 latter part says, "Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed." But as spoken, you certainly believe without seeing! You can't see God with physical eyes, but just by looking at the things of the nature, you can believe in the existence of the Creator. Above all, you believers in this church have witnessed the power of God, and you can certainly believe in the almighty God. You can believe all the 66 books of the Bible, and you believe there are the Great Judgment and heaven and hell as given in the Bible.
For this reason you do not have any desire for this momentary earth but you put your hope in heaven. Also, Mark 10:29-30 says, "Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life."
The patriarchs of faith wanted to follow God's will even if it meant suffering and trials rather than enjoying the momentary pleasure of sin on this earth. If you really believe the invisible spiritual realm and eternal heavenly kingdom, your life on this earth will certainly change. You will not seek wealth and fame of this earth but try to store up in heaven. You will invest your time and effort in spiritual things rather than physical. You will care for God's kingdom more than you care for your family and children. You take delight in giving for the souls and for God's kingdom by saving your own time and money.
After the apostle Paul dedicated his life for the Lord, what was he left with? In physical sense, he was a convict sentenced to death who was just waiting for his execution in the cold underground prison, without a scrap of thick clothing to cover him. But in spiritual sense, he had the honor of being an apostle of the Lord with the great power of God, and with countless souls who were saved through him. He had the crown of righteousness and the glory of New Jerusalem, and the Lord was waiting to embrace him with His arms wide open.
Then, what are you left with through the life in faith you have been leading so far? What will you get when you stand before the Lord and the Judgment of God? I ask of you in the name of the Lord to look to the spiritual realm and store up things in heaven with faith.
Dear devotees and other members,
The kind of faith that God the Father wants of you, thirdly, is to believe in God the Father who changes you to make you perfect.
It is also to believe that the power of the shepherd will change you. Do you believe that you will go into spirit and whole spirit? I certainly do. I've been asking for greater power from the opening of this church until this day, and I've been able to endure this past 7 years because of this faith. It is to see the day when you will come forth as true children of God.
And is there anybody who says or even thinks something like: "Can I really do it? My heart-field and inner heart are not good, and it's not gonna work no matter how much I try. I am way behind those who are going ahead. I am so embarrassed before God that I don't even have strength to pray." Is there anyone who feels this way?
The God you and I believe in has nothing that is impossible for Him. He parted the Red Sea; sent down fire from heaven; and made a dead stick bud, bloom, and even produce a fruit. He can make dry bones become a mighty army, and He can even make descendants of Abraham from rocks. If you truly believe in this God, you shouldn't have the word 'disheartened' in your vocabulary. Also, if you trust your shepherd, and if you believe that he has filled up the 99% of the justice for you, you shouldn't have any doubt.
Of course, it is not something easy to come forth as spirit in today's world. In times past when people had relatively good conscience, there were few men of spirit and whole spirit. But today, which is very close to the end, it is difficult even to barely keep their faith and be saved.
But God has given this church the holiness gospel and such great and amazing power! During this past Special Daniel Prayer meeting, most of you experienced your sinful natures being burned with the fire of the Holy Spirit if you showed a little bit of longing. If you just fill up the remaining1%, the Father will surely cause you to be changed.
Also, I said that I will take you to New Jerusalem, even if it is by putting a hook on your nose. So, if you trust your shepherd, how can there be any room for getting disheartened or giving up? You should be thankful for just being able to realize your shortcomings. You should encourage yourself once again thinking, "I am so thankful that the Father is leading me to New Jerusalem although I lack so much! How thankful that the shepherd did 99% and is telling me to do only 1%!" 2 Corinthians 11:30 says, "If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness." As Paul confessed, you shouldn't talk about your weakness, but the weaker you are, the more you should boast of the mighty God and the Lord and the shepherd.
[Conclusion]
Dear devotees and other members,
We had the spirit festivity this past May 3rd. 3 years ago, I started this spirit festivity because I cherish those who come into spirit so much, and I wanted to comfort them and reward them for their hard efforts. And through this, I wanted more believers to long for spirit and have more hope of New Jerusalem by tasting some spiritual space through the decoration of the prayer house.
And this was the heart of God the Father, too. And I believe you felt this heart of the Father even more dearly in this past spirit festivity. He cherishes His children who have changed into spirit and He wants to be with them. Furthermore, He wants to bless those children who are not in spirit yet to be changed and be there next time. You deeply felt this love and desire of the Father during that day.
The Father wants you to trust in His love so that you will be able to eat at the Father's table in the heavenly banquet that will take place in the future. Even from now, God the Father will keep on giving you grace without ceasing. You can just trust Him.
As in today's message, try to cast away changing mind and store up in heaven and not on this earth. Do not consider your weakness and shortcomings, but you can just rely on the Father, the Lord, and the shepherd and obey God's word. In so doing, as said in John 11:40 latter part, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?" may you partake in the glory of God, I pray this in the name of the Lord! |
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