“Not to Us” (Acts 3:11–26)

 

A Quiet Ego

Let me start today’s message with a quiz: Over half of young people today say they want to be this. What is it?

The answer is: an influencer.

According to a 2023 Morning Consult poll, 57% of Gen Zers say they'd become an influencer if given the chance. An influencer is someone who typically builds a large following on social media. They affect the thoughts and decisions of others by sharing content in areas like fashion, fitness, gaming, or lifestyle. We live in a culture that encourages a “loud ego”—making much of ourselves.

Recently, I read an article titled “The Bliss of a Quieter Ego.”[1] It introduced the concept of the “quiet ego,” which is deeply countercultural. A quiet ego doesn’t mean having low self-esteem. It means choosing humility. Choosing self-forgetfulness.

The author suggests cultivating a quiet ego through two simple practices. First, ask: “What do others need that only I can provide?” For instance, only I can be a husband and father to my family—so I focus on doing those jobs well, rather than spending my energy following the news and complaining. Second, affirm: “I might be wrong.” In truth, I am often wrong, about many things. We know only in part. So we must remain open to new perspectives and wisdom.

Self-Forgetfulness

This reminds me of today’s story in Acts 3. Peter and John had just healed a man who couldn’t walk. A crowd gathered, amazed, staring at them as if they had the power. That’s when Peter spoke: “Why do you stare at us as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?” (v. 12)

Peter deflected the attention immediately. He didn’t use the moment to build a brand, start a movement, or sell a book. He used it to point to Jesus: “The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob… has glorified His servant Jesus.” (v. 13) Peter is saying, “Don’t look at me. Look to Jesus.” That’s the quiet ego. That’s what it means to make much of Christ, not much of me.

Peter, A Man of Quiet Ego?

But let’s not forget—Peter wasn’t always like this. In fact, he was the opposite. On the way to Jerusalem, Peter and the other disciples argued: “Who is the greatest?” (Mark 9:34) At the Last Supper, they argued again over who would be the greatest (Luke 22:24). When Jesus predicted their desertion, Peter declared: “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.” (Matthew 26:33) Here he was saying, “I’m different. I’m better.” So what changed Peter? The power of the gospel.

After denying Jesus and hitting rock bottom, Peter encountered the risen Christ. Jesus went ahead of him to Galilee. With love, He asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Peter experienced Christ’s unconditional, forgiving love. He believed—deeply and personally—that Jesus had died for his sins. And that changed everything.

The Message

So now, Peter preaches the very message that saved and transformed him: “You handed [Jesus] over to be killed… You disowned Him… You rejected the Holy and Righteous One… You killed the author of life.” (Acts 3:13–15) Peter uses the second-person plural—you. Likely, some in the crowd weren’t there when Jesus was crucified. Still, Peter insists: we are all accomplices.

Why did Jesus have to die? Peter’s preaching is the answer to this question and echoes Isaiah 53 loud and clear:

 

Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (vv. 4-6, NRSV)

 

A to Z, Not Just ABC

This is the Good News. And we need to hear this message not just once but every single day. As Timothy Keller wrote, the gospel is not just the ABC of the Christian life—it’s the A to Z.

He once illustrated it like this:

“When a great big truck goes over a tiny little bridge, there’s a bridge-quake. When a big man walks onto thin ice, there’s an ice-quake. When Jesus Christ comes into a person’s life, there’s a life-quake. Everything is reordered—your views, convictions, behaviors, and relationships. He may change them; He may not. But at the beginning, you must say, ‘In everything, He must have the supremacy.’”[2]

We need to hear the gospel. To receive Him. To adore Him. To turn to him and reorder our lives around Him. That’s what it means to repent. Peter said: “Repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (v. 20)

The more we stand at the foot of the cross, the more humble we become. Billy Graham, for example, consistently read the Psalms, Proverbs, and a Gospel every day. I was impressed by his humility during a memorable Larry King interview—not through grand statements but through quiet, consistent self-forgetfulness. When praised as the face of evangelism, he gently deflected credit, choosing instead to lift up others and point to Christ. Even when asked about controversies involving other televangelists, he refrained from criticism, choosing grace over judgment. When asked what he’d ask God, he didn’t go for grand theology. He simply said, “I would ask for more of the Holy Spirit and the strength to obey.” His life echoed John the Baptist’s words: “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

The Wondrous Cross

The moment the cross fades from our sight, we’re in danger. In The Pilgrim’s Progress, as Christian and Hopeful neared the Celestial City, they met a man dressed in white. He was the Flatterer. He led them off the true path. He asked Christian and Hopeful to share with him how they could overcome all the hardships. As they proudly told him their tales of heroism, they were caught in a net—entangled by pride. They cried out for help. A shining one appeared with a whip, struck the net, and freed them—but not without pain. This story is a warning. Pride entangles. But grace frees.

Isaac Watts invites us to the foot of the cross in his hymn, “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” As we sing, we behold Christ’s pain and love: “See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down…”

As we look to this Jesus crucified, our ego, our pride, our worldly treasures melt away. And we are called to treasure Christ with our entire being:

“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

May this song be our prayer. So be it.

---

[1] Arthur C. Brooks, “The Bliss of a Quieter Ego” (May 8, 2025), https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/05/quiet-ego-happiness-virtue/682718/

[2] Tim Keller, “The Lordship of Christ Is 'A Life-Quake,” https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/2016/march/3031416.html

“Lending a Hand” (Acts 3:1-10)

 

Welcomed and Loved

My father was the son of a tenant farmer in Korea. Both of his parents died young – his mother passed away when he was in elementary school, and his father died while he was in high school. His family was poor and uneducated. As a middle child – the third of five children, he was often neglected. His biological family did not  care much for him.

But by the grace of God, he was welcomed and loved by the Methodist church in town. When he was in middle school, a new pastor was appointed there. The pastor basically adopted my dad, empowering him and investing in him. He became my dad’s mentor, his role model and later, his father-in-law.

 

At the Beautiful Gate

If we were to describe the crippled beggar in today’s passage with one word, it might be “hopeless” or “powerless.” The Scripture tells us he was lame from birth (v. 2) – literally, “from his mother’s womb.” He was carried to the temple every day, so he could beg from those going in. He was over forty years old (v. 22). He survived one day at a time.

The gate where this man was placed was called the Beautiful Gate.  Jewish historian Josephus said it “greatly excelled those that were only covered over with silver and gold.”[1] The gate was about 75 feet tall with huge double doors. Pilgrims came and went, impressed by the grandeur of the temple and its gates. But at the foot of this magnificent entrance sat a man begging. For him, life was not beautiful. It was just another day.

That afternoon, Peter and John were going up to the temple to pray. The crippled man asked them for what he thought he needed most – money. But moved by compassion and the Holy Spirit, Peter saw his real need – healing and salvation. So he said, “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk.” And he took him by the hand and helped him up.

Then something amazing happened. This man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk. Walking, jumping, and praising God. And most importantly, for the first time, he entered the temple. Over 40 years, this man always sat outside the temple, but today, he entered the temple as a new creation.

I believe many of us are here today because someone once took us by the hand and helped us up. We are who we are today because someone believed in us, invested in us, led us to faith.

 

My “Someone”

For me, one of those people is my father. Because he didn’t receive much love growing up, he struggled to express love. He was always sparing with his praise and encouragement. When I was young, it was hard to be close to him. But looking back, now I see that he did his best.

What I am most grateful for is his “faithfulness.” He was faithful to our family. Whenever I needed him, he was always there. He was also faithful to his church as a pastor. There was a time when things got really hard. And I said to him, “Dad, let’s move on.” But he answered, “Son, we can’t just abandon the flock. This is when they need us most. If we move, it will be when things are better.” He stayed the course. He served that church for 30 years and retired while the church was still growing. Today, under a new pastor, it continues to grow.

From my father, I learned to “abide” where I am planted. And more than anything, I’m thankful to my parents for passing on a spiritual inheritance – a living faith. They didn’t just teach the Bible; they lived it. For that, I am eternally grateful.

 

Our Story

Some of us had wonderful fathers. Some had absent or even hurtful ones. But whether or not we had the best earthly dad, we all have a best and perfect Father. Abba Father. And along the way, our Heavenly Father often sends people in our lives—father-figures, mentors, spiritual guides—to help lead us home.

One man who lived this journey was Saint Augustine. He was born in North Africa in the 4th century. His father, Patricius, was a Roman official. He worked hard to support Augustine’s education and success. But Patricius was not a believer for most of his life. He wasn’t concerned with Augustine’s soul—only his success. He once boasted to others about his son's cleverness with words, not about his character. In his book Confessions, Augustine later wrote: "My father had no concern as to how I grew in Your sight, so long as I was clever with words." (Book 2)

Though he achieved much, Augustine was restless inside, searching, empty. He chased knowledge, pleasure, and praise—but nothing satisfied his soul. Then, in his early 30s, after years of spiritual struggle, he opened the Scriptures and met the living Christ. He cried out to God in repentance. He was baptized. His life was changed. He confessed, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” (Confessions, Book 1) Augustine had found his true Father, Abba Father.

Even before his conversion, God was already sending father-figures into Augustine’s life. One of them was Ambrose, the Bishop of Milan – a wise and godly man. Augustine didn’t just listen to Ambrose’s sermons –he watched his life. He wrote: "I began to love him... as a man who was kind to me." (Confessions, Book 5) Ambrose saw something in Augustine. He welcomed him, answered questions, prayed for him, and walked patiently with him. Over time, Augustine became the man we remember today.

 

Lending A hand

We don’t get to choose our earthly fathers. Some of us were blessed; others wounded. But here is the good news: We all have a Heavenly Father, whose love never fails. And this Father is still at work— sending people into our lives. A mentor. A teacher. A pastor. A friend. Someone who reflects the Father’s love to us.

So today, on this Father’s Day, let us give thanks to God for the fathers who tried—even if imperfect. Let us run to Abba Father, who loves us unconditionally. And let us be spiritual fathers and mothers to others—especially to the next generation.

In today’s scripture, “the power was Christ’s, but the hand was Peter’s.”[2] May we be that hand – reaching out to those who are searching.

Let me close with the words of Teresa of Avila:

Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

---

[1] Stott, John. The Message of Acts (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition. Location 1515 of 8328

[2] Ibid., Location 1524 of 8328. 

“Thick or Thin” (Acts 2:42–47)

Baptism

Last year, Hodgdon and Houlton Sunday Schools held a combined Outdoor Fun Day at Jack and Cynthia’s camp. As you can see in the pictures, not just the children, but also teachers and volunteers all had a wonderful time. One of the highlights was a Renewal of the Baptismal Covenant. For those who were willing, Pastor Joyce immersed them in the water to help them remember their baptism and recommit themselves to Christ.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t remember my baptism liturgy—I was baptized as an infant. If you’re like me, the church offers confirmation. Or maybe you were baptized as an adult, but now feel a deep desire to rededicate your life to Christ. In that case, the church offers reaffirmation—not re-baptism. Whether it’s baptism (infant or adult), confirmation, or reaffirmation, we use the same liturgy. One of the most important questions is this: 

Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Savior,
put your whole trust in his grace,
and promise to serve him as your Lord,
in union with the Church which Christ has opened
to people of all ages, nations, and races?

I do.

 This question contains two vows:

• One is about our relationship with Christ—“Do you trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior?”
• The other is about our relationship with the Church—“Do you promise to be loyal to Christ in union with the Church?”

That’s why, unless it’s an emergency (e.g. baptizing a dying person in the ER), baptism is always done in front of the congregation, whether in a sanctuary or by a lake. Because baptism is not only a personal commitment to Christ—it’s also a covenant with the Church. In baptism, we are adopted into God’s family, the Church.

 

Church

The Church is God’s idea. Today’s passage describes how the Church was born. On the day of Pentecost, as God promised, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in His people. About 120 disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and began praising God in many different languages. Crowds gathered. Peter stood up and preached the good news of Jesus Christ. The people responded. They repented of their sins and were baptized. That day, 3,000 people were added to their number.

If you just read today’s passage, the early Church sounds like a kind of Utopia. That’s why we often say, “Let’s go back to the early Church.” But in reality, the early Church was as messy as our churches today. For example, in the Corinthian church:

• There were divisions and strife (1 Cor 1:11; 3:3).
• There was sexual immorality (ch. 5).
• Members were suing one another (ch. 6).
• They divorced without biblical grounds (ch. 7).
• They abused their Christian liberty and caused others to stumble (ch. 8).
• They questioned Paul’s apostleship and gave him a hard time (ch. 9).

And the list goes on.

 

Church Is Family

But still—the Church is God’s idea. The Church is God’s household. God is our Father, and we are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Think about family: we don’t get to choose our family. We don’t choose who our parents, siblings, or uncles will be. Family is given to us by God. In the same way, we don’t choose our church family. We don’t pick and choose who our fellow believers will be. Instead, we are given to one another by our heavenly Father.

Justin McRoberts once said, “Being a Christian can sometimes feel like being in a family with a thousand drunk uncles.” But like it or not, those uncles are still family. We don’t throw in the towel on our family. As members of God’s family, we are called to stick together through thick and thin.

There’s a big difference between a church and a club. A club consists of “like-minded” people—those who share a common interest, background, or personality. Club members tend to be natural friends. But those who are different often feel excluded.

The Church is different. By God’s design, it’s made up of natural enemies—people we don’t naturally enjoy. D.A. Carson once said: “Ideally… the church itself is not made up of natural friends. It is made up of natural enemies… Christians come together… because… they have all been loved by Jesus himself… They are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.”

Among Jesus’ twelve disciples were a tax collector (who worked for the Roman government) and a zealot (who fought against it!). The Church was and is meant to be diverse. If we are united just because we’re natural friends, we’re not yet the Church. But if we are united because we are a family—washed by the blood of Christ—then we are truly the Church.

 

Thick or Thin

This past week, I had the privilege of listening to Helen Woods’ life story. Don and Helen were just three weeks shy of their 65th anniversary when Don passed. I asked her, “What’s the key to your strong marriage?”

Helen said: “I remember thinking, You made this decision as an adult. You don’t just walk away when it gets hard. And it did get hard. We had our differences. He was dominant. But I had made a vow—before God and before my father, who married us. For better or for worse. And I meant it.”

 In 1961, Helen moved to Houlton and joined the Methodist Church. She saw people come and go, pastors come and go. She’s witnessed so many ups and downs—conflicts, problems, and messy situations. But she chose to stay—because the Church is family.

I believe the Church is God’s classroom—where we learn how to get along, how to grow in grace and in love.

 

Church Is Gourd

John Newton was once a slave trader. But by God’s mercy and grace, he came to faith and later wrote the hymn Amazing Grace. God’s grace was always enough—but his journey wasn’t easy. He struggled with his sinful nature all his life.

One story that deeply inspired Newton was the story of Jonah—how God saved and sanctified both Jonah and the Ninevites. God sent the storm, the fish, and the gourd. Newton saw himself in that story.

Here’s Newton’s poem, reflecting his prayer and growth[1]:

 

I asked the Lord, that I might grow

In faith, and love, and every grace;

Might more of his salvation know;

And seek more earnestly his face . . .

 

I hoped that in some favored hour,

At once he’d answer my request;

And by his love’s constraining power

Subdue my sins—and give me rest.

 

Instead of this, he made me feel

The hidden evils of my heart;

And let the angry powers of hell

Assault my soul in every part.

 

Yea more, with his own hand he seemed

Intent to aggravate my woe;

Crossed all the fair designs I schemed,

Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.

 

“Lord, why is this,” I trembling cried,

“Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?”

“Tis in this way,” the Lord replied,

“I answer prayer for grace and faith.

 

These inward trials I employ,

From self, and pride, to set thee free;

And break they schemes of earthly joy,

That thou may’st find thy all in me.”

 

The Church is the storm, the fish, the gourd—and most of all, the family.

May we stick together through thick and thin.
May we grow together until we are fully restored in Christ,
casting our crowns before Him. Amen.

---

[1] Keller, Timothy. The Prodigal Prophet: Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy (pp. 221-223). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

 

 

“How Revival Comes” (Acts 2:14–41)

 

What Does This Mean?

The Book of Acts is filled with powerful preaching and significant speeches. In fact, there are 19 recorded sermons or speeches: 8 by Peter, 9 by Paul, and one each by Stephen and James. Preaching takes up about 25% of the entire book!

Today’s passage is one of those apostolic sermons—it is Peter’s Spirit-filled response to the crowd’s question: “What does this mean?”

In the Last Days

First, Peter tells us what this moment is not: “These people are not drunk, as you suppose.”

Then, he tells us what it is: “This is the fulfillment of the prophecy from Joel that all devout Jews have longed to see.”

“In the last days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams… And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

This is the dawn of a new era—the age of the Spirit, the beginning of the Church.

The Good News (The Heart of Preaching)

Who is this Lord we are called to believe in and call upon? Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. And Peter boldly proclaims:

Jesus is the Lord upon whom we must call to be saved!

The Good News is not a philosophy, a program, or a lifestyle. The Gospel is the person of Jesus Christ:

• His life and ministry (v.22):

“People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus of Nazareth by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through Him, as you well know.”
(Just think of the Gospel of John—seven signs pointing to who Jesus is.)

• His death (v.23):

“This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.”

• His resurrection (vv.24–32):

“But God raised Him from the dead…”
Peter connects this to David’s prophecy in Psalm 16—the resurrection of the Messiah was foretold!

• His exaltation (vv.33–36):

“Now He is exalted to the right hand of God, and He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, which He has poured out—this is what you now see and hear.”

·       Conclusion (v.36):

“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!”

·       Response (v.41):

“Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.”

Peter’s Story (The Preacher)

That day, revival began. But how did it start?

Yes, it started when people heard the Gospel—but also, because there was a preacher. Revival first started with Peter himself—his transformation.

“When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

E.M. Bounds once said: “Preaching is not the performance of an hour. It is the outflow of a life… It takes 20 years to make a sermon, because it takes 20 years to make the person.”

“A prepared heart/preacher is much better than a prepared sermon.”

Here, Peter was not simply preaching the Gospel—he was preaching his Gospel: the message he fully trusted, personally experienced, and lived out.

• It’s like childbirth—each week a pastor labors through the pain and joy of giving birth to a message of life.
• Consider Pope Francis. Early in life, he was capable and rising fast in Argentina. But in his 50s, he was sent to a rural area to serve the sick. He later said it was a dark valley. Yet through that time, he learned how to be a shepherd. It was a painful but transformative time. That experience shaped his pastoral motto: “The shepherd should smell like the sheep.”

The Holy Spirit

We’ve seen the preaching, and the preacher. But there is one more—most important—component: the Holy Spirit.

Revival is not merely human effort. It is the sovereign work of the Spirit of God.

John Wesley once preached a powerful sermon at Oxford titled Scriptural Christianity. He emphasized that even the disciples, who had seen Jesus face to face, only became effective witnesses after they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Wesley argued that intellectual belief alone was not enough. He said something like this:

“We’ve not physically seen Jesus or walked with Him as the disciples did. Yet, like them, we are called to be His witnesses. How can we do that? Only by being filled with the Holy Spirit.”

There is a difference between the indwelling and the filling of the Holy Spirit.

• When we receive Jesus, the Spirit begins to dwell in us.
• But when we earnestly seek to be filled, guided, and empowered, we begin to live out our faith with authenticity, power, and joy.

Let me share a story I recently heard:

During the Korean military dictatorship, a Christian professor was imprisoned. While in jail, he saw a pastor being regularly beaten and interrogated. His face was gloomy and hopeless. The professor had a smuggled New Testament, which he secretly split in two—giving the Gospels to the pastor, and keeping the Epistles for himself.

From that moment, everything changed. Though the torture did not stop, the professor began hearing that pastor sing and pray through the night. His countenance changed. His joy returned. Though the circumstances were unchanged, his heart was strengthened and transformed—by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Revival

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we need revival. Some of us are grieving or struggling. Some are feeling lost, wandering. As a church, we are in transition. We face many challenges: children’s ministries, leadership needs, and spiritual unity. There are no easy answers.

So how does revival come?

1. Preaching – We must hear the full Gospel of Jesus Christ and believe it.
2. Preacher – We must be shaped by the Gospel and live it.
3. Holy Spirit – We must seek the Spirit and be filled.

Let us cry out to God together: “Come, Holy Spirit. Fill our hearts anew.”

As He promised through the prophet Joel—and confirmed through Peter—God will pour out His Spirit on all people. Our sons and daughters will prophesy. Our seniors will dream dreams. Our youth and Sunday School children will see visions. And all who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. Amen.

“A Real Christian” (Acts 2:1-13)

 

On the Day of Pentecost

[Dramatized Reding – Credit to Paula Lilley]

Whenever you hear the word “wind” blow and make noises like the wind – Whoosh! Whenever you hear the word “fire”, wave your hands! Whenever you hear the word “spirit” raise your hands into the air, and say, “Oh, yes!”

Here is the story: I was there, though I was only a little child.  I was with my mother and father.  Many of Jesus’ friends were all together in Jerusalem.  We were all waiting for something, but we didn’t know what it was that we were waiting for.  Jesus had died, and risen and he appeared to us many times before he ascended into heaven.  He had promised that we’d receive the Spirit to be with us and guide us.

     But how would this happen?  Would it be like a strong wind?  Would it be like a blazing fire?  Nobody knew.

     Well, that day, we were all gathered in a house in Jerusalem.  Suddenly, we heard a noise, like the rush of a violent wind!  It filled a whole house! Then, we saw something that looked like flames resting on each of us—it was like a raging fire!  Everyone was filled with the Spirit!

     But the most amazing thing of all was that everyone started to talk.  We talked in languages we didn’t even know as we experienced the Spirit!

     Somehow, word of our experience of the Spirit spread like wild fire fanned by the wind.  Jerusalem was full of people visiting from other countries.  They heard us, and they were amazed and surprised to hear their own languages spoken.

     “What does this mean?” everyone wanted to know.  Some people laughed, saying that the adults in our group must be drunk!

     That’s when Peter stepped forward.  “We’re not drunk!” he said.  “It’s only nine o’clock in the morning.”  He told all the people the story of Jesus.  His miracles and teachings, right up to his death and the Resurrection. “God raised Jesus from death,”  I heard him say. 

    You should have been there!  Right then and there, about 3,000 people decided to follow Jesus!  They caught the Spirit, like a wind blows a fire!  That’s why we say that the church was born that day-on Pentecost, long ago, when we experienced the joyful gift of the Spirit!

 

Reversal of Babel

So what happened on Pentecost Day? We can say, Pentecost is the reversal of Babel. You might remember the story of Babel from Genesis. God had commanded people to spread out and fill the earth. But they disobeyed. Instead, they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” (Gen 11:4 NLT) Sin had entered and polluted the human heart. “Sin is anything that separates us from God and from one another.” That’s what happened at Babel. That day, the people wanted to be like God. That day, they became separated from God and from each other. Confusion entered. Communication broke down. Hostility grew. The wall of hostility was erected.

 

Jesus and Pentecost

But our God is able! When the time had fully come, God sent His Son Jesus. Jesus broke down the wall of hostility – in his own body on the cross. By his blood, we have been reconciled to God, to each other, and even to ourselves. On the day of Pentecost, as promised, the Holy Spirit came to dwell within His people. The confusion was gone, Relationships was restored, and communication was made new. That day, God united Jews and Gentiles into one people. That day, with one voice, they praised God and loved each other. And the story continues. The Pentecost moment continues.

 

Aldersgate Day

Let me share a story about John Wesley—the founder of the Methodist movement. Though he was already a priest, he struggled deeply with doubt. He wanted to believe, but something inside still felt uncertain.

In 1735, he went on a mission trip to America. He hoped to convert others and strengthen his own faith. But things didn’t go as planned. The mission felt like a failure, and on the way back to England, his ship was caught in a terrible storm. The waves crashed, the wind roared, and many thought they were going to die. Wesley was terrified. But then he saw something surprising—on the deck, a small group of Moravian Christians, including women and children, were calmly singing hymns. No fear. Just peace. After the storm, Wesley asked one of them, “Weren’t you afraid?” The man replied, “Thank God, no.” Wesley said, “But what about your women and children?” And the Moravian answered, “They are not afraid to die.” That moment stayed with Wesley. He realized they had something he didn’t—a deep assurance, a Spirit-filled confidence.

Later, Wesley spoke with a Moravian leader named August Spangenberg. Spangenberg looked him in the eye and asked, “Do you know Jesus Christ?” Wesley answered, “I know He is the Savior of the world.” Then the man asked, “But do you know He has saved you?” Wesley hesitated and said, “I hope He has died to save me.” That “I hope” showed his honest doubt. He wanted to believe, but he still wasn’t sure.

Then another friend and mentor, Peter Böhler, gave him wise counsel. Wesley told him, “I don’t have the faith I preach.” And Böhler said, “Preach faith until you have it. And when you have it, then you will preach faith.” That’s beautiful advice. Keep walking toward the light until the light fills your heart.

And then came Aldersgate Day—May 24, 1738. Wesley reluctantly went to a small meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. Someone read from Martin Luther’s commentary on Romans. As Wesley listened, something happened. He later wrote in his journal, “About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation. And an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine.” That was his Pentecost moment. The Holy Spirit came—not with wind or fire, but with peace, love, and blessed assurance.

 

Miracle of Love

The Pentecost story continues. The other day, I had a privilege of visiting Pastor Kwan Lee and listening to his faith story. He shared his Pentecost moment, which happened five years ago, when he suffered a major heart attack. He was rushed to the hospital, and the situation was critical. As he lay on the hospital bed, he overheard two surgeons debating whether to proceed with quadruple bypass surgery. That night, in the quiet hospital room, Pastor Lee prayed like never before. As he cried out to God, he heard a gentle voice ask, "What is a Christian?" Startled, he answered, "I have been a minister all my life. I’ve preached, taught, baptized, and led people to Christ." The voice gently responded, "You taught people about Christianity. But what is a Christian?" He tried again. But the voice repeated the question: "What is a Christian?" Finally, the answer came not from his lips, but from the voice itself: "A Christian is someone who loves like Christ."

That revelation pierced his soul. Pastor Lee was raised in a very conservative tradition and held tightly to theological correctness. But that night, he saw clearly how often he had judged others rather than loved them. “I realized,” he said, “Being loving is more important than being right. Who am I to judge? Christ alone is the Judge. My part is to love like Him.” That was his Pentecost moment. Since then, he has developed a simple but powerful spiritual rhythm. Each morning, he prays, "Lord, help me not to hurt anyone today—not through my words, actions, or silence." And each night before bed, he prays, "Lord, if I’ve wronged anyone, knowingly or unknowingly, please forgive me."

 

A Real Christian

John Wesley was once asked, “What is a Methodist?” He replied, “A Methodist is one who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Spirit.” This echoes Romans 5:5: “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” That’s the definition of a real Christian: someone who has God’s love poured into their heart by the Spirit.

When I do life review interviews, I always ask, “How would you like to be remembered?” If I were asked, my answer would be, “He was a loving person – a loving dad, a loving husband, a loving pastor.” That is my prayer. We may not the largest church in town, but my prayer is that our church become the most loving place in town. May God give us the desire and strength to love Him and love our neighbors with all our hearts. So be it. 

“Preparing the Ground” (Acts 1:15-26)

More Haste, Less Speed
In the early 1920s, architect Frank Lloyd Wright was building the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. As the design neared completion, the hotel directors questioned a key feature— a reflecting pool in its central courtyard. They asked, "Why not eliminate the pool and save 40,000 yen?" But Mr. Wright stood firm. That pool, he said, wasn’t just decoration. It was the building’s last line of defense in case of a major earthquake and the fires that often followed. Despite pressure, Wright refused to compromise. In the end, the pool stayed. And two years later, when the Great Kanto Earthquake devastated Tokyo, that very pool helped save the hotel from being engulfed by fire.[1]

Wright knew something we often forget: when making important decisions, shortcuts can be costly. There are foundational principles that cannot be compromised, no matter how tempting the alternative may seem. Today, we turn to the Book of Acts. We’ll see how the early church made important decisions under pressure. Jesus’ disciples had gone through a lot. Perhaps one of their strongest feelings was “loss” or “grief.” They had lost their Master in the most scandalous way – crucifixion. Temporarily, their sorrow was comforted when the risen Christ appeared to them. But now, he was gone again. Before he ascended to heaven, Jesus gave them an instruction: “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father.” Yet perhaps they felt lost, unsure what to do next. In addition, they had just experienced betrayal and defection by someone who had once been very close to them. Such pain can leave us embittered. Under Peter’s leadership, the early church handled these challenges and crises wisely. Let’s learn from them.

Scripture
As Jesus’ disciples navigate their next steps, discerning God’s will and making decisions, they applied four fundamental principles: scripture, community, prayer, and surrender.

First, they began with the Scripture. They accessed where they were and where they should be headed based on God’s Word (vv. 15-20). Peter interpreted the Psalms (Ps 69:25; 109:8), saying, “Friends, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas…” Peter and the congregation began to see Judas’ betrayal, not as a random human act, but through the lens of God’s sovereignty. Then they realized it was necessary to replace Judas’ place. In the Old Testament, the twelve tribes represented Israel, and in the New Testament, the twelve apostles represent the “new” Israel – the church. After Judas’ betrayal, the circle of the Twelve had been broken. Replacing Judas was essential groundwork to restore that circle and prepare for the new community, born of the Holy Spirit. Peter and the congregation received this guidance from the Scripture: “Let another take his position of overseer.” (Acts 1:20; cf. Psalm 109:8). So they proceeded accordingly.

Community
Second, they discerned God’s will in community. Verse 15 tells us “Together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons.” Bible teacher Howard Marshall suggests that the reason why the number is mentioned here, because under Jewish law, 120 men were required to form a community with its own council.[2] In other words, there were numerous enough to establish a new community. Their decisions would be valid and representative.

Peter then suggested the qualifications for apostleship: “one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us” (vv. 21-22). The key qualification was this: someone who had belonged to the community from the beginning – a “faithful witness”. Then, the two names – Joseph and Matthias – were proposed by the whole community. That’s why we have an Administrative Council in our church. That’s why our Dream Team is so important as we discern together.

Prayer
Third, they prayed. “Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place”” (vv. 24-25).

Luke and Acts are full of references to prayer. In fact, “prayer” is mentioned 31 times in Acts. We see prayer comes before every major decision or crisis in life of Jesus and the early church. Before making any decision, the most important part is to prepare our hearts. Prayer gets our hearts ready and in tune with God. Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing his twelve apostles. So now the disciples followed his example. So they prayed and prayed. Verse 14 says, “All there were constantly devoting themselves to prayer together…” Their prayer was united. Their prayer was persistent.

In 1844, George Müller began praying daily for five friends to come to Christ. He wrote, “I prayed every day without one single intermission, whether sick or in health, on the land or on the sea, and whatever the pressure of my engagements might be.” After 18 months, one was saved. Five years later, another. Six years after that, a third. But the last two showed no change. Still, Müller prayed—every single day—for over 36 years. One came to faith just before Müller died. The fifth? A few years after his death. Müller didn’t live to see all his prayers answered, but he never stopped trusting that God would.[3]

Often great prayer movements start with a few individuals who have a burden to pray. They keep on praying until revival comes. That’s how our “730 prayer” movement began. It’s not a temporary special church program. We will follow the early church’s example. Let us keep on praying until the blessing comes.

Surrender
So how did the early church prepare the ground before making important decisions? Peter began with the Scripture. The whole community participated in the discerning process and proposed the two names. Then, they all prayed – united and persistent.

Finally, they cast lots. And the lot fell on Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles. There was no intrinsic or magical power in casting lots. No! But it was a traditional way of surrendering to God’s will in the Old Testament Judaism. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” Specifically, in this case, the believers had found two equally qualified candidates. But qualifications alone were not enough. Only God knows the hearts of people, so they asked for God’s help. This is the last time in the New Testament we see casting lots to determine God’s will, because now the Holy Spirit has been given to us.

The key is surrendering to God’s will wholeheartedly. In Jeremiah 42, the remnant of Judah came to see Jeremiah and asked for God’s guidance, saying, “Let the Lord your God show us where we should go and what we should do… Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God.” So Jeremiah prayed, and after ten days, the Word came to him: “If you remain in this land, you will live. But if you go to the land of Egypt, there you shall die.” But the people replied to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie!” They had already decided to go to Egypt, even before asking. They simply wanted affirmation. They were not truly willing to listen or surrender to God’s will. So they perished in Egypt.

Jesus once said, “Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own” (John 7:17). In other words, if someone says, “God, show me your will—and I’ll think about whether I want to do it,” God may not reveal His will. That heart is already set on its own way. But to those who come like an empty, clean vessel, God will teach His way.

Hoisting Sails
Revival is the sovereign work of God. We cannot make it happen. A sailor has no control over the wind. But a good sailor knows the wind and how to set the sails when the wind blows. We cannot make wind blow, but we can hoist our sails to catch it.

Let us hoist our sails each day by beginning with the Scripture. Let us never cease to pray – alone and together – until God sends the wind of revival. Let us join the early church in singing wholeheartedly:

I surrender all

I surrender all

All to Thee, my blessed Savior

I surrender all

------------
[1] Edward Tenner, How Tokyo’s Imperial Hotel Survived a 1923 Earthquake (April 1, 2011), https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/04/how-tokyos-imperial-hotel-survived-a-1923-earthquake/73306/
[2] John Scott, The Message of Acts (The Bible Speaks Today Series) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition. Location 826 of 8328.
[3] Ajith Fernando, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary Book 5) (p. 34). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

“Immanuel Love” (Acts 1:1-11)

The Power of Personal Witness
I still remember the day when I concluded God is dead. That was during my senior year of high school. As a pastor’s kid, I always grew up in the church and attended all the church activities. But the older I got, the more skeptical I became. Praying to God felt like talking to a wall. Reading the Bible seemed like reading fairy tales. It became painful to listen to my father’s sermons. There were even times even when I left during the service. I was restless, wandering and searching. I felt like a hypocrite.

Finally, one day I shared my feelings with my mother. She was wise. As a pastor’s kid herself, she understood. After listening to my story, she shared her own faith journey – how she came to believe. She told me about a person who had harmed the church and particularly her family. She was deeply upset and angry. She couldn’t forgive him or what he had done. So she prayed. While praying, she saw a vision – at first, that man’s face appeared, then his face turned into the face of Jesus. Eventually, God gave my mother the strength to love that person. She also received the gift of speaking in tongues that day. After hearing her story, I thought myself, “Okay. I will keep trying, because the person I love and respect most said so.” Eventually, God restored my soul and drew me close to him. And so – here I am today.

To Theophilus
Starting this Sunday, we will explore the Book of Acts. This book is the second volume written by Luke. Both books – Luke and Acts – are dedicated to one particular individual: Theophilus. In other words, these books are Luke’s personal witness.

Who is Theophilus? Luke begins both his Gospel and Acts with a greeting to him, “Most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1:3). Though we don’t have much information about him, many scholars suggest that Theophilus was a real person – likely a Roman official. To this influential figure, Luke now begins to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Luke’s version of the Gospel can be summed up in three simple statements: God came to our place, God took our place, and God will take us to his place.

Christ Has Come
First, Christ Jesus the Savior has come to our place. “Look! The virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us” (Matthew 1:23). When the time had full come, God’s Christ came to our place to live among us. John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” (MSG)

Recently, I was inspired by the story of Ben Carson. He is known for leading the first successful surgical separation of conjoined twins. But when Dr. Carson was young, he was called the class dummy. Many, including himself, doubted he would ever amount to anything. But his mother, Sonya Carson, believed in him before he believed in himself. Her faith, discipline, and resilience shaped his life more than anything else. Although Ms. Carson was not formally educated, she did her best to encourage Ben, helping his homework, taking him to the public library, and walking alongside him. She gave herself to her son. What she gave him was the present of presence.

That’s what Jesus did for us. Though he was God, Jesus gave up his divine privileges and became human! He was not only born as a human being – He was born in a lowly manger to embrace all humanity. Jesus, God-in-flesh-and-blood, still comes to our place, loving us just as we are. The greatest gift Jesus gives us is the present of presence. Immanuel, God with us!

Christ Has Died
Christ came to our place. But he not only was with us – He also took our place. This is God’ way to fix our broken relationship with him. Sin is when people try to take God’s place and act like they are in charge instead of him. That was what happened in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve wanted to be like God. But salvation is the opposite—when God lovingly took our place by sending Jesus to die for us. We tried to be like God, which we shouldn’t have done. But God chose to become like us and take the punishment we deserved. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (NIV) Jesus became our sin, so we could be his righteousness.

The prophet Isaiah describes Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes our place in this way (53:3-6, MSG):

He was looked down on and passed over,

a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.

One look at him and people turned away.

We looked down on him, thought he was scum.

But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—

our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.

We thought he brought it on himself,

that God was punishing him for his own failures.

But it was our sins that did that to him,

that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!

He took the punishment, and that made us whole.

Through his bruises we get healed.

We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.

We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.

And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,

on him, on him.

Christ Will Come Again
Jesus has died on our place. He was buried. And he was raised from death on the third day. Just as the Scripture says, the risen Christ appeared to his disciples over a period of 40 days, eating with them and talking with them again! Afterwards, Jesus ascended into heaven. The disciples stood there, staring into the empty sky. Then they heard two men in white robes say, “Galileans, why are you standing here, looking toward heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11, CEB)

We live in the last days, because all of God’s promises have been fulfilled – except one. Jesus has come, Jesus has died, Jesus was risen, Jesus has ascended into heaven. Only one promise is left: Jesus will come again. Daniel in his vision saw one like a Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence (7:13). Jesus himself promised, “When I go to prepare a place for you, I will return and take you to be with me so that where I am you will be too.” (John 14:3, CEB) Jesus is coming soon.

God with Us: Here and Now
But in the meantime, we are not alone. Before Jesus was taken into heaven, he said to his disciples, “Don’t leave Jerusalem, but wait for what the Father promised.” Then he continued, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NRSV)

One day we will see Jesus face to face. But until then, Jesus is with us through the Holy Spirit. He gives us power to live boldly and faithfully as his witnesses here and now. He gives us power to face any future uncertainties. When Corrie Ten Boom was a child, she struggled with the idea that her farther would die one day. Corrie burst into tears, “I need you! You can’t die! You can’t!” The father sat down on the edge of her bed and said gently, "Corrie, when you and I go to Amsterdam-when do I give you your ticket?" She sniffed and said, "Why, just before we get on the train." The father said, “Exactly. And our wise Father in heaven knows when we're going to need things, too. Don't run out ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes that some of us will have to die, you will look into your heart and find the strength you need – just in time.”

In her eighties Corrie had a major stroke and became bedridden and mute for about five years. In her final months on earth, Corrie was virtually helpless. She needed assistance just to turn over in her bed. She could barely speak. She had become skin and bone. One day, all of sudden, Corrie surprised her caregiver by saying a word in Dutch (her native language): “Blij” (“Happy,” more literally, “joyful”). Her caregiver, Rosewell, asked, “Are you happy, Aunt Corrie?” “Ja [yes]” she replied. On the morning of Corie’s ninety-first birthday, April 15, 1983, she breathed her last. Today, her grave is marked with her name, her birth and death dates, and three simple words: “Jesus Is Victor.”

Corrie’s life is a shining example of how Jesus is with us, giving us strength to live abundantly and face any future uncertainties. The Apostle Paul describes life with the Spirit here and now this way: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” Then he adds, “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).

Jesus Christ is with us always – He came to our place, he took our place, and he will take us to his place. Let us treasure Christ, honor him, savor him, and make much of him. “If we look at the world, we’ll be distressed. If we look within, we’ll be depressed. If we look to Jesus, we’ll be at rest.” Amen.