“Our Church Speaks” (Eph 4:11-16) - Belong VI -

 

Who Are the Saints?

Many of us find inspiration in The Upper Room devotional, and I want to share a story from October 10 that particularly touched me. In this story, the author and his wife took a summer hike through New Mexico. The landscape was brown, dry, and desert-like. But as they walked, they noticed a few green trees standing out against the dry land. They found out these were juniper trees. They have a special root system that goes as deep as 25 feet and spreads up to 100 feet wide to find water. These roots allow them to survive even in drought.

This reminds me of the beautiful truths written in Psalm 92:

 

The righteous flourish like the palm tree

and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

They are planted in the house of the Lord;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

In old age they still produce fruit;

they are always green and full of sap,

showing that the Lord is upright. (vv. 12-15a)

 

Today, we remember our saints. Who are the saints? Saints are the ones who believed in us, invested in us, and helped us grow in faith. Who are the saints? Saints are the ones who took us under their wings and guided us. They taught us, prayed for us, and lived out God’s love in such a way that shaped us.

When I think about the saints in my own life, I see the faces of several people who have deeply impacted me. My grandfather stands out as a hero of faith. Through his life and his actions, I learned how precious Christ is. Through his preaching, I came to faith when I was 12 years old. My mother is another hero. When I was in high school, I went through a season of spiritual drought. I felt like my prayers were just words hitting the wall. The Bible felt like a book of fairy tales to me. I shared these struggles with my mother, and she listened carefully, then shared her own faith story—how she grew up in a pastor’s family and encountered the living God. Her story and her steady, persistent prayers helped sustain me through that time. 

I also remember my 8th-grade Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Won. At that time, I wasn’t very interested in Christianity. But I could tell she was praying for me and each one of her students. Her godly life made a lasting impression on me, even when I didn’t realize it.

 

Called to Equip the Saints

I am sure you have those heroes of faith. Each of these saints in our lives acts like stepping stones along our journey of faith. God has sent us saints – apostles (spiritual leaders), prophets (those correcting us), evangelists (those preaching the gospel to us), pastors (those shepherding us), and teachers – to help us grow. Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is because I am standing on the shoulders of giants.” In the same way, we are standing on the shoulders of saints today.

Now, we are called to do the same for others. We are called to equip other believers – potential saints, the next generation. Perhaps they may be skeptics or seekers. They may be new believers. They may be our own family members or neighbors. Whoever they are, God calls us to equip them for one purpose: to build up the body of Christ, strengthen the church and God’s kingdom. Some of us in this room may feel unprepared, thinking, “I don’t know what to do.” But every of us can do three things for others right now: we can love them, serve them, and pray for them. We never know how these simple actions might change their lives.

Have you heard of the name Edward Kimball? Probably not. But his story shows how even a “nobody” in the world’s eyes can make an incredible impact when they care about others and God’s kingdom. Edward Kimball was a Sunday school teacher in Chicago in 1855. One day, he visited a teenage student from his class at the shoe store where the teen worked, and there he shared the gospel with him. Kimball then helped nurture the young man’s faith through his Sunday school class. That young man’s name was D.L. Moody.

1.      Moody shared Christ with a man named F. B. Meyer.

2.      F. B. Meyer’s preaching led to the conversion of J. Wilbur Chapman.

3.      Chapman’s preaching led to the conversion of Billy Sunday.

4.      Mordecai Ham was converted at a Billy Sunday meeting.

5.      Billy Graham was converted at a Ham meeting.

6.      Graham preached the gospel face-to-face to more people than anyone else in history.[1]

 

This whole chain of faith began with one Sunday School teacher who simply cared enough to do his part and share the gospel according to his gifts.

 

Small Things Like These

Mr. Holland’s Opus is a movie about a dedicated music teacher who dreams of becoming a famous composer. He does not have those gifts and, instead, makes an impact he does not fully appreciate in the lives of a generation of students in his high school music program. Mr. Holland never writes the musical opus that will make him famous but pours himself into the young people before him: a redheaded girl with pigtails who struggles to play the clarinet, a football player who cannot keep rhythm but needs a band credit to keep his game eligibility, a street kid who is mad at the world but who discovers the beauty of his own soul in music.

As the movie concludes, Mr. Holland is fighting budget cuts for the survival of the high school’s music program. He loses. And he retires. The last day of school he cleans out his desk and, with shoulders slumped down, walks the school hall for the last time. He feels defeated, as if this life’s work was wasted. But as Mr. Holland walks, he hears noise in the auditorium. He goes in to see what is happening and faces a packed auditorium of students and alumni thundering an ovation and chanting his name. The little girl with pigtails is now the governor of the state, and she addresses Mr. Holland from the podium. “Mr. Holland, we know that you never became the famous composer you dreamed of being. But don’t you see it today? Your great composition is what you did with us, your students. Mr. Holland, look around you. We are your great opus. We are the music of your life.”[2]

One of my Korean clergy friends recently visited some of her Sunday School teachers to express her deep gratitude while visiting Korea. It was a way of honoring those saints who poured into her life. Today, you may feel like you don’t have much to offer. You may feel like you are planting in dry soil. But let us remember God’s promise and be encouraged. “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Cor 15:58) Let us remember the words of missionary C. T. Studd and be encouraged, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” Amen.

  

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[1] Kenneth Boa and Jenny Abel, Recalibrate Your Life (pp. 200-201). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

[2] Bryan Chapell, Ephesians (Reformed Expository Commentary) (pp. 195-196). P&R Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“With All the Saints” (Eph 3:14-21) - Belong V -

 

Enough

Watchman Nee, a church leader in China during the first half of the 20th century, faced serious illness his whole life. He pleaded with God daily for healing from a chronic stomach disorder and heart disease. One night, he had a dream. In the dream he was crossing a river by boat. But suddenly, a massive rock appeared in his way. He prayed, “Lord, please take away this rock!” But he heard the voice gently respond, “My beloved son, do you want me to take away that rock? Or do you want me to make the waters rise so you may pass over it?” He answered, “Lord, please help me pass over that rock.”

Watchman Nee’s illness was not cured, and each day, he had to lean fully on God’s strength. Through this, he discovered that God’s grace was always enough for him to live fully and abundantly.

 

The Power of the Gospel

Life is hard.

Franciscan priest Richard Rohr shares five core truths about life that resonate deeply with Scripture. He says:

 

1.     Life is hard.

2.     You are not that important.

3.     Your life is not about you.

4.     You are not in control.

5.     You are going to die.

 

All these truths rooted in the Bible, especially in the wisdom books. Solomon, in Ecclesiastes, declares, "Meaningless! Meaningless!" Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless." (1:2) He goes on, “For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune… All his days his work is pain and grief; even at night his mind does not rest. This too is meaningless.” (2:21, 23) James echoes this, saying, “Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14)

God often does not remove all our sufferings, pains, or struggles in this life; but instead, God redeems our life from them (cf. Ps 103:4):

·       Life is hard, but it’s worth living.

·       I am not that important, but I’m precious in God’s eyes.

·       My life is not about me, but it’s all about Christ.

·       I am not in control, but I am free.

·       I am going to die, but I will live.

 

God accomplished this redemption by sending Christ to die for us, so that we might truly live a rich and satisfying life. Paul understood this, and in today’s passage, he bows his knees and prays for the Ephesian Christians and for us. He prays that God may strengthen us in our inner being by the Spirit, so that we will be rooted and grounded in Christ’s love (Eph 3:16-17). In other words, Paul wants us to know that salvation is not just about forgiveness of sin, but it’s about growing in strength, being deeply grounded and maturing until we fully know Christ and become more like him.

 

With All the Saints

So here’s the question: “How do we grow in the knowledge of Christ and become more like him?” Paul gives us the answer in the next verse. He continues to pray, saying, “I pray that you may be able to understand, with all the saints, how wide and long and high and deep is Christ’s love” (v. 18).

Each of us can know something of Christ’s love. But our individual understanding and experience are one-dimensional. Only “with all the saints” do we begin to grasp the full dimensions of Christ’s love. It takes the whole family of God – “the church” – to fully experience and understand the whole love of God. Together, with all the saints, men and women, young and old, with all different backgrounds and experiences, we come to know Christ’s love more completely.[1]

How do we discover the fullness of Christ’s love? Through the church, with all the saints! How do we grow and become more like Christ? Through the church, with all the saints! Rick Warrens puts it well this way:

The local church is the classroom for learning how to get along in God’s family. It is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love… Only in regular contact with ordinary, imperfect believers can we learn real fellowship and experience the New Testament truth of being connected and dependent on each other.[2]

Yes, church life can be messy. But the local church is God’s design for us to grow and experience the full dimensions of Christ’s love. For me personally, I can say I’ve come to know Christ’s love intimately through our church. I still vividly remember the day my family and I moved into the parsonage. It was on June 25, 2014. Over these past ten years, we have welcomed new members, baptized babies and new believers. We sent off those who were moving or leaving the church. We also buried quite a few beloved church members. So many times, we have worshiped together, shared meals together, met in small groups together, served in mission together. Through all of this, I believe we have become stronger, more resilient, and more loving like Christ – as a church.

 

Our God Is Able

Let me share a picture of God’s healing that speaks to us today. Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing pottery with gold. When a pot is broken, the pieces are carefully glued back together, and each crack is filled with gold. Rather than hiding the damage, this art makes the object even more beautiful than it was before, as each gold-filled line tells a story of restoration.

Imagine a broken pot, shattered and seemingly beyond repair. In the hands of a kintsugi artist, though, every single piece is seen with care, and each crack is carefully filled with gold. What once looked like a useless, broken vessel becomes a beautiful masterpiece, telling a story of resilience and transformation.

This is exactly what God does with our lives and with us as a church. We have faced pain and loss – whether from the pandemic, the challenges from decisions made at the general conference, or the loss of beloved members. These experiences can make us feel fractured, as if parts of us have broken. But our God doesn’t see our cracks as shameful; he sees them as places where his grace can shine. Our God is able. He takes our brokenness, our struggles, and our traumas and fills them with his love, making us stronger, more united, and deeply beautiful. Together, in our gold-filled scars, we see how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Christ’s love truly is. You need the church, and the church needs you.

So in one spirit and with a grateful heart, let us join the Apostle Paul in his doxology to God: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!” (vv. 20-21, NLT) Amen.

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[1] John Stott, The Message of Ephesians (The Bible Speaks Today Series) (pp. 137-138). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

[2] Scott Sauls, Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides (p. 48). Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

“One People” (Eph 2:11-22) - Belong IV -

Whose Side Are You on?

Nicky Gumbel, the founder of the Alpha Course, once shared a story about how challenging it can be to maintain the unity of the church. There was a man who was standing in the middle of the Golden Gate Bridge, admiring the view. And he heard another tourist say quietly, “What an awesome God!” Intrigued, he turned to the tourist and asked, “Oh, are you a Christian?” The tourist said, “Yes, I am a Christian.” He said, “So am I,” and they shook hands. Then, he asked, “Are you a liberal or a fundamental Christian?” The tourist said, “I'm a fundamental Christian.” He said, “So am I,” and they smiled and nodded at each other. Then he asked, “Are you a covenant or dispensational fundamental Christian?” The tourist said, “I'm a dispensational fundamental Christian.” He said, “So am I,” and they patted each other on the back, agreeing to exchange Christmas cards every year. Then he asked, “Are you an early Acts, mid Acts, or late Acts dispensational fundamental Christian?” The tourist said, “I'm a late Acts dispensational fundamental Christian.” To which the man shouted, “You heretic!” and he pushed him off the bridge.[1]

 

Through the Cross

When we look around, peace seems impossible to find. We hear almost daily of wars, conflicts, and divisions among different tribes, classes, nations, and races. But this isn’t new. Even in Jesus’ time, these problems existed. Jews and Gentiles did not associate with one another. They were hostile toward each other. But something incredible happened. By his sacrificial death, Jesus created peace. Ephesians 2:14 tells us, “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us” (NLT).  

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom. At that moment, a double reconciliation took place. First, reconciliation with God. No longer was access to God reserved for the high priest once a year; now anyone who repents and believes can enter God’s presence at any time. Second, Jews and Gentiles were reconciled to each other. Together, they could approach the Father. Through his death on the cross, Jesus created one new humanity (v. 15). In himself, he created the new society – the church.

The Apostle Paul describes how the church was born and how it grows this way: “You [Gentiles] are members of God’s family. Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” (vv. 19-22, NLT) The church is God’s idea. The church is God’s new society, made up of all who confess Jesus as the cornerstone. Through the church, we get a glimpse of God’s reign – here and now. The church is the sign of God’s kingdom.

 

Christ the Cornerstone

Peace is not something we create on our own. It was created by the blood of Christ. Our role is to keep that unity. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3).

In the early church there were mainly two groups of people in terms of language and culture. The majority of the church believers were Hebrew-speaking Jews, and there were some Greek-speaking believers as a minority group. Satan tried to distort this "diversity" into "division." For some reason, the Greek-speaking widows were neglected in the daily distribution of food. So the Greek-speaking disciples started to complain against the majority group, that is, the Hebrew-speaking disciples. Satan put a barrier between the believers. That division made the apostles “distracted” from their ministry. Now the peace and unity of the church were at stake. So how did the early church overcome this crisis and keep the unity of the Spirit?

The apostles designated and empowered others. They said, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task.” (Acts 6:3) So the church chose seven people. We can find a very interesting fact here. All seven were Greek names. In other words, all of them came from the minority group. The majority of the early church believers did not choose their own people. They did not insist on their own way, but instead, they chose the right persons for this issue. They chose the seven people from the minority group to take care of their neglected widows. In this way, the early church could overcome division and maintain the unity of the Spirit.

 

The Politics of God’s Kingdom

St. Augustine once said, “In essentials, unity, in non-essentials, liberty, in all things, charity.” There are some essentials we cannot comprise such as Trinitarian faith and the lordship of Jesus Christ. They are the foundations of our Christian faith. But when it comes to non-essentials, such as politics, we Christians have liberty. Both political sides have their strengths and their weaknesses. Republican candidates often emphasize issues like abortion, marriage and family, and religious freedom, while Democratic candidates may focus on racial justice, economic fairness, and the environmental protection.  

Even among Jesus' disciples, we see political diversity. Simon, a Zealot, worked against the government, while Matthew, a tax collector, worked for the government. But both of them were Jesus’ disciples. Jesus himself is nether conservative nor liberal, but he is also both. Sometimes Jesus is more conservative than the far right. He rebukes liberal Sadducees and says, “not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matt 5:18). Sometimes Jesus is also more progressive than the far left. He rebukes conservative Pharisees and upends religious traditions of his time, saying, “You have heard that it was said this… but I say to you that…” Jesus is outside the lines. Pastor Tim Keller once said, “The more we faithfully preach Jesus, the longer it takes people to figure out where we stand on politics.”[2] It is because Jesus is neither conservative nor progressive. John Wesley gave three pieces of advice to voters this way:

1.     To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy.

2.     To speak no evil of the person they voted against.

3.     To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.

If we place Jesus as our cornerstone, it becomes possible to disagree with others while loving them deeply at the same time. “In nonessential liberty, and in all things love.”

 

Journey to the Peaceful Kingdom

Do you think it’s possible Israel to be reconciled with its neighbors? For Republicans and Democrats to get along? For traditionalists and progressives in our denomination to work together? With the world’s politics, these things seem impossible, but with God’s kingdom’s politics, all things are possible. In the church, God’s new society – with Jesus as the head and cornerstone – we can experience peace and unity in all circumstances.

Dr. King had a vision of building a beloved community, famously saying, “I have a dream today.” In fact, his dream was deeply rooted in the Prophet Isaiah’s vision of God’s peaceful kingdom: “The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6). My prayer is that we, the church, may faithfully follow Jesus and make every effort to keep the unity given to us. Then, we will foretaste and live in God’s peaceful kingdom. May God’s name be honored, may God’s kingdom come, and may God’s will be done. Amen.

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[1] Nicky Gumbel, Alpha Course, “Talk 15: What About the Church?”

[2] Scott Sauls, Jesus Outside the Lines: A Way Forward for Those Who Are Tired of Taking Sides (Tyndale House Publishers, 2015), 4.

“Who Is Your Lord?” (Eph 2:1-10) - Belong III -

 

Jesus is Lord

“Jesus is Lord”

In the early church, this was not just a phrase—it was a bold confession of faith. At the time, the Roman Empire demanded that people say, “Caesar is Lord,” pledging loyalty to Rome. But Christians, transformed by the gospel, proclaimed a different Lord: Jesus. This was a radical act because it meant rejecting the authority of Caesar and recognizing Christ’s lordship instead. It was a public declaration that Jesus is most precious.

A powerful example is Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna. He lived during the 2nd century and was a disciple of the Apostle John. When he was 86, Polycarp was arrested during a time of intense Roman persecution. He was brought before the Roman authorities, and they demanded that he renounce Christ and declare “Caesar is Lord.” The authorities promised that if he swore allegiance to Caesar and denied Christ, his life would be spared. But Polycarp refused. Instead, he famously said, “86 years I have served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?” He chose to proclaim “Jesus is Lord”, even if it cost him his life.

 

Salvation Journey

Today’s scripture, Ephesians 2:1-10, is one of the most important passages in the Bible, because It tells us about our salvation journey in a nutshell. Salvation is the transformative journey from “I am Lord” to “Jesus is Lord.”

The Bible says that we were once spiritually dead because of our sins (v. 1). What does that look like? The spiritually dead live as the lords of our own lives. They do what they want, when they want, and build their own little kingdoms (v. 3). At the foundation of their lives is self – “I am Lord.” And you know what? We’ve all been there.

Think about Lazarus. He was dead in his tomb for four days. He wasn’t partly alive; he was completely dead. But when Jesus came to him and called, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man arose and came to life. In the same way, we were all spiritually dead, living for ourselves and doing our own thing. But God, in his great mercy, reached out to us and made us alive in Christ. That’s when the foundation of “self” is exchanged for “Christ.” For the first time, we begin to delight in Christ, we make much of Christ, and we surrender our self-centered lives. We declare with joy, “Jesus is Lord!”

 

Who Is Your Lord?

So, how can we tell if "Jesus is Lord" or "I am Lord"? Throughout the Bible, we see stories of people wrestling with this tension. Let me share two key stories from the Bible.

First, we have the story of the young rich ruler in Mark 10:17-27. He comes to Jesus and asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus tells him to keep the commandments, and the young man proudly says he has kept them all since this youth. But then Jesus points out the one thing that shows who is really lord of his life: his wealth. Jesus tells him to sell everything, give it to the poor, and follow Him.

The rich young ruler couldn’t do it. His wealth and possessions were his lord, not Jesus. Even though he wanted eternal life, his heart was divided. He couldn’t let go of control. “I am Lord” was still reigning in his life. His trust was in his money, not in Jesus, and so he couldn’t fully surrender to Jesus as Lord. It’s a sad story.

The second story is more encouraging. It’s about the Apostle Paul in Acts 9:1-22. Paul’s transformation is a powerful example of moving from "I am Lord" to "Jesus is Lord." Before his conversion, Paul (then Saul) was persecuting Christians, believing he was doing God’s will. He was full of pride, control, and self-righteousness. His life was driven by his own sense of purpose, not by submission to God.

But on the road to Damascus, Paul encountered the risen Christ. In that moment, for the first time Paul realized he had been living with himself as lord, trying to control his own life and even the lives of others. Jesus asked him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (Acts 9:4). Blinded and humbled, Paul surrendered to Jesus as Lord. This was the beginning of his completely transformed life.

So, how do we know “Jesus is Lord” or “I am Lord” in our lives? These two stories teach us that when "I am Lord," we hold on to control and trust in our own efforts. But when “Jesus is Lord”, we let go of control, trust Him fully, and follow His lead, even when it’s difficult or costs us something. When “Jesus is Lord,” we can say, like Paul, “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

 

Jesus Is My Lord!

Recently, I heard a story about a college student who answered a telemarketer’s call. This atheist student planned to mock the caller for her friends’ amusement. Using a fake accent, she pretended to be a Christian. But, the man on the other end of the call, instead of engaging in her joke, shared his genuine faith story. He opened up about how Jesus had transformed his life—freeing him from alcoholism, healing his marriage, and filling him with hope. He shared how God’s grace brought him from death to life. He shared how his foundation shifted from “self” to “God.” His joy and peace were so genuine, so contagious. She didn’t know what to say. At the end of the call, the student felt humbled. She realized that she, too, longed for that same joy and peace.

C.S. Lewis once wrote about how God transforms us. He said that when we come to God, we might expect Him to just fix a few things—patch up some leaks, fix the plumbing, maybe stop some drafts. We think we need small improvements to make life better. But then, God starts knocking down walls, tearing up floors, and adding new wings. And we wonder, “What is He doing?”

It’s because God isn’t just making repairs—He’s transforming us into something far greater than we could ever imagine. He’s building us into a palace, a place where He intends to live with us.

This is what Ephesians 2:1-10 is all about. God's grace doesn't just fix a few broken parts of our lives. It radically transforms us from the inside out – from “I am Lord” to “Jesus is Lord”. We were once dead in our sins, living for ourselves. But through God’s grace, we are made into new creations. He is building us into something beautiful, where He can dwell.

So, let me ask you – who is your Lord? Wherever you are on your journey, Jesus is with you. Today you may be walking through unexpected or even painful paths. But Jesus knows what he is doing. He’s shaping you into his masterpiece. Trust him and follow him. Give him full control, and let him turn your life into something beautiful. Let this be our prayer:

Into my heart, into my heart

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus

Come in today, come in to stay

Come into my heart, Lord Jesus!

“Spiritual Eyes” (Ephesians 1:15-23) - Belong II –

 

Spiritual Wisdom

William Wilberforce was an English politician and a key leader in the movement to abolish slavery. His life changed dramatically when he experienced a conversion to Christianity at the age of 26. One of his close friends was William Pitt,  the youngest Prime Minister and a very intelligent and capable man. One Sunday, Pitt and Wilberforce went to church together. That Sunday the pastor preached a powerful sermon on “How to be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Wilberforce was deeply moved and thought that it was the best sermon that he had ever heard. So after the service, he eagerly turned to his friend to talk about it, but Pit spoke first. He said, “Did you understand what the preacher was talking about? I tried hard to follow, but I couldn’t make sense of it.” Wilberforce was shocked. That moment, he realized that only those whose spiritual eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit can truly grasp spiritual truths.

In today’s passage, Paul prays for the Christians in Ephesus, and for us too, that the eyes of our hearts may be enlightened so that we can truly know God and experience three spiritual blessings: hope, inheritance, and power.

 

Hope

First, Paul prays that God may give us spiritual eyes to see hope – the hope we have in Christ (v. 18). This isn’t just a wishful hope, but a strong and confident hope that comes from knowing that the world is the Lord’s and we are his forever. This undying hope comes from the blessed assurance, “I belong to Christ.” “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? … I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Chris Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:35, 38-39).

Think about the story of Elisha and his servant in the city of Dothan. One night, they found themselves surrounded by a large enemy army. The servant was terrified and asked, “Alas, master! What shall we do?” He was lost in despair. Elisha was not afraid. He said, “Don’t be afraid, for there are more with us than there are with them.” Then he prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes that he may see.”  Then the LORD opened the servant's spiritual eyes, and he saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2Kg 6:17).

I remember a story from a pastor friend of mine. After he started a new church in Korea, he became very discouraged because the congregation was so small. People didn’t come to church, and the church didn’t grow. It was so painful for him to watch empty pews every Sunday. But one Sunday morning, as he was praying and worshiping with the few people who were there, God opened his spiritual eyes. Then he saw every pew filled with angels worshiping God alongside them. From that day on, he no longer felt discouraged because he knew God was with him and his church.

 

Inheritance

Next, Paul prays that God may open our eyes to see God’s inheritance – the riches of his glorious inheritance (v. 18). The Bible says that if we are children of God, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17, NIV). This means that no matter what we go through in this life, we have a glorious future waiting for us. Our current struggles can’t compare to the glory that will be revealed in us.  

If we see this life only, God is not fair. But if we see this life from eternity, God is just and righteous. Think about Stephen, the first Christian martyr. As he was being stoned to death, he was filled with the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit opened his eyes to see beyond this world - heaven and the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He saw the riches of God’s glorious inheritance. This vision gave him strength to endure such a painful death with peace and courage.

When we sing hymns at the nursing home, one of the favorites among the residents are “Farther Along.” The second verse goes like this:

 

When death has come and taken our loved ones,

It leaves our home so lonely and drear;

Then do we wonder why others prosper,

Living so wicked year after year.

 

Farther along we’ll know all about it,

Farther along we’ll understand why;

Cheer up, don't worry, live in the sunshine,

We’ll understand it all by and by.

 

Power  

Finally, Paul prays that God may give us eyes to see power – the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. Not only does God promise us a future glory and inheritance on the Last Day, but also he gives us power to live a rich and satisfying life now. Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10, NIV).

If we look around our world today, or even just read our local newspapers, we are constantly faced with the same heavy realities – meaninglessness, evil, sickness, and death. The elderly read the obituaries first. Many young people seem to be searching for a sense of purpose, feeling lost. Middle-aged people are busy but bored. We hear rumors of wars. And we feel powerless.

There are two things that humanity just can’t control: evil and death. We are all fallen; we cannot overcome evil. We are all mortal; we cannot avoid death. “Sin problem” and “death problem” we cannot solve. BUT GOD in Christ conquered both – sin and death.[1] By his mighty power, God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand. And here’s the best part: that same divine power – the power that raised Jesus from the dead – is available to every one of us who believes in him. This resurrection power isn’t just for someday in the future; it’s for us today, to live in hope, to overcome, and to live a victorious life. What a gift!

The movie Sight tells the true story of Dr. Ming Wang, a Chinese immigrant who overcame huge challenges to become a world-renowned eye surgeon in the United States. He grew up during China’s Cultural Revolution, facing persecution and poverty, but was able to immigrate to America, where he eventually earned degrees from Harvard and MIT. His groundbreaking work has restored sight to millions of people worldwide. But Dr. Wang struggles with deep guilt and shame from his past. He couldn’t save his girlfriend from a life-threatening situation in China, and he failed to help an Indian girl with her vision. These haunting experiences left him deeply burdened. However, when he visits the Indian girl at a church, God opened his spiritual eyes. There, he realizes that true healing goes beyond physical restoration. God gives him spiritual eyes to see God’s power – the power to overcome guilt and shame, the power to heal and forgive. This revelation gave him new strength and purpose beyond anything the world could offer.

 

For the Church

God wants us to know his hope, inheritance, and power. But these spiritual blessings are not just for individuals, but for the whole church. Ephesians 1:22-23 says, “He has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body the fullness of him who fills all in all.”

This reminds us of Shekinah’s glory in the Old Testament. When the Israelites finished building the tabernacle, the cloud covered the tabernacle, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tabernacle because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. The cloud of God was over the tabernacle during the day and the fire was in it at night. God’s presence was full and visible in the tabernacle. This continued throughout all their journey in the wilderness (Ex 40:34-38). Today, God’s presence is with His church. Zechariah prophesied that people from all nations would come, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” In the same way, God’s glory will draw people to Him through the church.

The church is Christ’s body. In the church Christ speaks and acts. By the church Christ fills everything with his presence (cf. Eph 1:23, Message) May God open the eyes of our hearts, so that we may see his hope, inheritance, and power. May Christ fill our church and each of us with his presence, so that people may see his glory and be drawn to him. Amen.  

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[1] John Stott, The Message of Ephesians (The Bible Speaks Today Series) (p. 58). InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition.

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (Eph 1.3-14) - Belong I -

Ephesians’ Struggles

I want to begin with a story from my family. My three younger girls love their gymnastics class. But one day, out of the blue, Esther said, “I don’t want to go to gymnastics anymore.” Surprised, I asked her, “Why? Is it just for today or from now on?” She said, “From now on.” So I asked, “Why?” Her response? “Because you’ve already spent so much money on our Chicago trip. I don’t want you to spend more money for me.” In the meantime, Hannah went up to her room for a while. Not long after, she came downstairs holding $20 bill from her piggy bank and said, "Here, Dad, you can use this money for the Chicago trip!"

I have no doubt that Esther and Hannah love me and care for me, but they struggled and worried because they didn’t know my plan – how Joyce and I carefully prepared for this trip for a long time in advance. If they knew the plan, they would have been able to relax and enjoy more and worry less.  

Now, the Ephesians were in a similar situation. They were struggling, just my girls, but for different reasons. Ephesus was a major center of pagan worship, particularly of the goddess Artemis. The Christians there were facing a lot of spiritual opposition. They struggled with how to live out their new identity in Christ, especially surrounded by a sinful culture. On top of that, there were tensions between the Jewish and Gentile believers in the church. So, like my girls, they were questioning, "Where is God in all of this? Does He still care about us?"

So here in today’s passage the Apostle Paul shouts his encouragement to the Ephesians in three ways: the Father’s plan, the Son’s mission, and the Spirit’s work.

 

The Father’s Plan

The first message Paul gives them, and to us today, is that God has a plan. This is the very first message for the Ephesians and for us today. “I am here for you in your struggle, my child.” And this is the Father’s plan: “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us… God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ” (vv. 4-5, NLT).

Yes, our struggles are real. Disease still comes, finances are still tight, relationships still remain difficult, and next steps still remain uncertain. In the midst of all these challenges we may find ourselves worried, confused, discouraged, asking ourselves, “Who am I?” “Where is God?” But these verses are God’s answer: “Do not be afraid. Do not worry. I loved you before the world began. I called you, chose you, and adopted you into my family. You are mine. You are safe and secure, no matter what happens.”

Robert Peterson beautifully articulates what it means to be adopted into God’s family this way[1]:

God didn’t choose to be our foster parent. We don’t get kicked out of the family because of our behavior. We don’t have to worry day to day whether or not we are good enough to be part of the family. In his infinite kindness, God made us a permanent part of his family. . . . Nothing can undo the legal procedure that binds me to Christ. He died to redeem me. He signed the adoption papers, so to speak, with his blood. Nothing can cancel the work he did for me. I am free from the fear of falling away. Hallelujah!

 

The Son’s Mission

Adoption is costly. It can range from $20,000 to $50,000 or more. But God purchased our freedom at the highest price—His Son’s life. Ephesians 1:7 tells us, “He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.” Through Jesus Christ, we are freed.

Sundar Singh was born in 1889 into a rich family in India, and he grew up to hate Christianity as a foreign religion. He even expressed his hostility at the age of fifteen. He publicly burned a Gospel book. But three days later he was converted through a vision of Christ, and in his late teens, he determined to become an itinerary preacher. On one occasion Sundar Singh visited a Hindu college, and a professor accosted him aggressively and asked, “What have you found in Christianity that you don’t have in your old religion?” Sundar Singh replied, “I have Christ.” The professor continued impatiently, “Yes, I know, but what particular principle or doctrine have you found that you did not have before?” Sundar Singh replied, “The particular thing I have found is Christ.”[2]

Christ is everything. In today’s passage (vv. 3-14) Paul repeats the phrase “In Christ (him)” or “through Christ (him, or his blood) 11 times. How do we know God so loves us? Through Jesus Christ. How did God make his adoption plan possible? Through Jesus Christ. We are adopted at the cost of His blood (1 Peter 1:18-19).

 

The Spirit’s Work

But there is more! God doesn’t just give us His plan and leave us to figure it out on our own. He gives us the Holy Spirit to make this truth real in our lives. Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “When you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit… The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised.”

Several years ago my Honda Civic literally stopped in the middle of the road. So I had to purchase another vehicle. When I bought my car, I made a down payment, and even though I hadn’t finished paying for it, the car was mine. In the same way, the Holy Spirit is God’s down payment on what’s to come. Because the Holy Spirit is in us, we believe God’s love has been poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5). Because the Holy Spirit is in us, we believe we are forgiven and adopted, calling God “Abba! Father!” (8:15-16). Because the Holy Spirit is in us, we believe Christ died for us, rose from the dead, and gives purpose to our life today. Our believing is the evidence that the Holy Spirit is in us.

 

It’s a Wonderful Life

This brings me to the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. George Bailey feels overwhelmed by life’s challenges. He reaches a point where he believes the world would be better off without him. But when the angel Clarence shows him a glimpse of what life would be like without him, George's perspective changes. He begins to see the incredible impact he’s had on others. What he thought was an ordinary life was actually extraordinary.

Sometimes, our hardships and struggles cloud our perspective, and we lose sight of the blessings God has given us. And we wonder, “Is there really purpose in all of this?” But in today’s passage, Paul encourages us to lift our eyes and see our lives from God’s perspective. The Father has a plan. He loves us. He is at work in us through His Spirit.

May God the Father open the eyes of our hearts so we can see a glimpse of His glorious plan in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. And when we do, we’ll say with joy:

 

“This is my Father’s world.

O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.”

 

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[1] Chapell, Bryan. Ephesians (Reformed Expository Commentary) (p. 25). P&R Publishing. Kindle Edition.

[2] [1] E. Stanley Jones, The Christ of the Indian Road (Hodder & Stoughton, 1926), 64.

“The Church Is Not Dead” (John 12:20-33)

Introduction

There’s an old story about a Boy Scout leader who wanted to teach his troop how to handle first aid. So, he took the boys into the woods near their neighborhood. He had one of the boys lie down under a tree and pretend to be injured. The leader's plan was to take the rest of the troop over the hill, teach them how to properly bandage a wound, and then rush back to "save" the injured boy.

But the leader got so caught up in his teaching, going over every detail, that he forgot all about the boy waiting under the tree. Time went by, and suddenly it hit him: "Oh no! We’ve left him alone all this time!" The troop quickly rushed back, worried about what they might find. When they arrived, there was no boy. Instead, they found a note stuck in the ground that said, "Have bled to death and gone home!"

 

Greek Seekers

A lot of people have “bled to death” and left our churches for various reasons. Even today, within and without the church, many people are bleeding, struggling, and seeking – seeking truth, freedom, and community.

In today’s scripture, some Greeks came to see Jesus (v. 20). In Jesus’ time Greeks were known as seekers after truth. These Greeks in today’s reading went up to worship at the Passover festival and kept asking to see Jesus. The original Greek text shows their request  (“we would like to see Jesus”) was continuous. They were persistent. They really wanted to see and hear Jesus.

“We want to see Jesus.” But how did these seekers see Jesus? Through his death. How did they understand him as King and Messiah? Through His death. Jesus replied to their request this way, “Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit” (v. 24).

 

The Gospel

Christ’s death is the source of life to the world. Just as, a single seed must be buried and dead to sprout and bear fruit, Christ’s suffering and death were to produce great blessings for all people. The heart of the Gospel is that Christ’s death (not just His life, his miracles, or his teachings) was the key to bringing salvation – “new life with God” – to a world in need. Without Christ’s death there would be no life for the world.

Charles Ross Weed captured this truth beautifully in his poem “Christ and Alexander” in this way[1]:

Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three,

One died in Babylon and one on Calvary.

One gained all for self, and one himself he gave.

One conquered every throne, the other every grave.

When died the Greek, forever fell his throne of swords,

But Jesus died to live forever Lord of lords.

 

Jesus and Alexander died at thirty-three.

The Greek made all men slaves, the Jew made all men free.

One built a throne on blood, the other built on love…

The Greek forever died, the Jew forever lives.

He loses all who gets and wins all things who gives.

 

Our new life comes through Christ’s death. How did the Greek seekers see Jesus? Through Christ’s death. Jesus said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself” (v. 32). Whenever Christ crucified has been preached, souls have been drawn to Christ in every part of the world, just as iron filings are drawn to a magnet.

Follow

How will those around us see Jesus? Only when we die to ourselves and live for Christ. Jesus said, "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also” (v. 26). As the sheep follows its shepherd, we are to follow Him on the way of the cross—a life of sacrifice.

Jesus faced a moment of great inner struggle. He said, “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name” (vv. 27-28). Jesus chose obedience and God’s glory over comfort and safety.

This reminds me of William Wallace's famous battle speech from the movie Braveheart, where he inspires his people to fight for freedom over safety:

“Fight and you may die. Run and you’ll live – at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom?” 

I still remember a former District Superintendent from the Greater Boston area lamenting over the state of many churches he supervised. The majority were small and stuck in survival mode. Their mindset was, “We’ve been there and done that.” They weren’t willing to take risks or make sacrifices. Instead, they were simply trying to keep the doors open for as long as possible.

A church in survival mode is already dead. But a church that dares to take risks, to step out in faith, is a church that will truly live. Jesus said, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25, ESV).

 

The Church Is Not Dead

The other day I had a movie night with my children. We watched the movie All Saints. It is a story about a former salesman-turned-pastor who is sent to close a dying church. But when the pastor meets a group of refugees seeking help, he feels God calling him to keep the church open and turn the church property into a farm to help the community. The congregation steps out in faith, in spite of the challenges ahead. They face setbacks—no rain during planting and a flood at harvest—but they press on, trusting that God is at work.

In that story each one does their part. The Karan refugees have to work at their chicken farm all day, but still they come to help on the church farm after work and on weekends. The pastor and his family sacrifice all they had – their times, talents, treasures –

for the church. Even the bishop resigns to help this church designated as mission church. Through their sacrifice and perseverance, the church comes alive again.

The Bible says, “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. The one who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6). Today we plant small seeds by faith. We may not see many young people among us, but we plant a seed by starting a praise band and holding a monthly music service at the nursing home. We may not see many new faces among us, but we plan a seed by staring small groups.

We don’t get to choose the time, but we can choose what to do with the time given to us. There’s a life-cycle of the church. We don’t know exactly what phase our church is in. Our local church may live or die. But what we know for sure is the Universal Church will never die. The Church will prevail. The Day will come when every knee shall bow before the Lamb that was slain, and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father. That’s the glory of the Church on that day.

The Church is not dead.

When we feel discouraged and think our work is in vain, may the Spirit of the living God revive our souls again. May the Lord lead us into a life of sacrifice, so that people can see Jesus and find life in Him. Amen.

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[1] R. Kent Hughes, John: That You May Believe (Preaching the Word) (p. 303). Crossway. Kindle Edition.