“Strangely Warmed” (Luke 4:16-21)

Tears of Joy

“FIRE. God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of philosophers and scholars. Certitude, heartfelt joy, peace. God of Jesus Christ. God of Jesus Christ. "My God and your God." . . . Joy, Joy, Joy, tears of joy. . . Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ. May I never be separated from him!”

This is part of Blaise Pascal’s journal written on November 23, 1654. After years of wandering, Pascal experienced the living God, the God of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since then, he was never the same. He always carried this note in his coat until he died.

 

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The Spirit brings life. When God created Adam, he breathed into him the breath of life. And Adam became a living being (Gen 2:7). Another powerful image of the Holy Spirit as life-giver is the vision of the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. One day God took hold of Ezekiel and brought him out to the middle of a valley that was full of dry bones. There God asked him, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then God commanded him to prophesy to these bones. And he did. As he was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. But there was no breath* in them yet (*In Hebrew and Greek the words for “wind,” “breath,” and “spirit” are the same.). God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy for the second time. So Ezekiel prophesied to the breath, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live!” As he was prophesying, the breath entered into them. They came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army. The Holy Spirit brings new life to his people.

 

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

The Spirit brings power. As Jesus was about to begin his ministry, he read his mission statement from the book of Isaiah 61, saying,

           “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

                     because he has anointed me

                     to bring good news to the poor.

           He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives

                     and recovery of sight to the blind,

                     to set free those who are oppressed,

                     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

 

Then he said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” From that day, Jesus never stopped preaching, teaching, and healing (cf. Matt 4:23). Later when Peter preached the good news to Cornelius, he summarized Jesus’ ministry in this way:

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 NLT) With the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus proclaimed the good news, healed the sick, opened the eyes of the blind, set free those oppressed, and cast out unclean spirits.

After Jesus was raised from the dead, he promised to his disciples, “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) This promise is fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. We see this throughout the book of Acts. It’s the Acts of the Holy Spirit. People’s lives are changed. The church is strengthened by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Wesely at Aldersgate

The story of the Acts of the Holy Spirit continues throughout the church history. One great example is John Wesley’s life. He did everything he could do – rigorous spiritual disciplines and good works. He even volunteered to go to Georgia as a missionary to the settlers and the Indians. After an unsuccessful two-year mission, Wesley wrote, “I went to America, to convert the Indians; but oh! who shall convert me? who, what is He that will deliver me from this evil heart of mischief? I have a fair summer religion.” (January 24, 1738)

One evening Wesley attended a Moravian meeting. In his journal Wesley said: “I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. 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, and saved me from the law of sin and death.” (May 24, 1738) That night the Holy Spirit came to Wesley’s heart. He was renewed and empowered. It is estimated Wesley preached over 40,000 sermons, traveled over 250,000 miles on horseback, and wrote or edited around 400 publications for his lifetime.

 

Acts 29

The Holy Spirit still brings life and gives power to his people. About 13 years ago I visited Korea to attend my grandmother’s funeral. While I was there, my grandfather gave me his handwritten journal. As a Methodist pastor, he was appointed to several different churches throughout his life. Wherever he was sent, those churches were strengthened and revived. In his journal my grandfather recorded the surprising work of God in detail at his last church where he served for 27 years. He wrote, “For 27 years there, 13 people were set free from unclean spirits in the name of Jesus and became faithful Christians and church leaders, 4 paralyzed people were healed, 7 people (5 children and 2 adults) were raised from the dead, and many who were suffering from various cancers and terminal diseases were healed in Jesus’ name.” I personally saw some of these miracles with my own eyes while attending his church. Surely the power of the Holy Spirit was with him and his ministry.

His cultural and historical ministry context might be different from ours today, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still and always at work around us. Just as God brought dry bones to life, so God is able to bring us and the church to new life through his Holy Spirit today.

Today we will have a time of prayer for healing, anointing with oil. James 5:14-16 says, “Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up, and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

Our God is able. The Holy Spirit brings life to the slain. The Holy Spirit brings healing to the sick. The Holy Spirit brings reconciliation with God, with other people, and with oneself. The Holy Spirit gives power to the faint. Here faith and repentance are the key. Let us come to the Lord with a trusting heart and contrite spirit. Now we will take a moment to offer a prayer of confession in silence. After that, you are invited to come forward to the communion rail, and Joyce and I will pray for your healing or prayer needs with anointing. 

 

*Photo: "My grandfather's journal"

“Generation to Generation” (2 Timothy 1:1-7)

My Mother
As we get older, the image of our mother changes accordingly. When we are 4 years old, we think, “My mommy can do anything and knows everything!” When we turn 12 years old, we come to the realization, “My mother doesn’t really know quite everything.” When we turn 18 years old, we say, “She is old-fashioned. She’s way out of date!” When we turn 25, we begin to think, “Well, she might know a little bit about it.” When we turn 40, we say, “Before we decide, let’s get mom’s opinion.” When we turn 50, we say, “Wonder what mom would have thought about it.” When we turn 70 years old, we say, “Wish I could talk it over with mom once more!”

For me personally, I learned the most important things in life from my mother. In fact, she is the one who shaped my spiritual formation. It was my mother who showed me and taught me how to put God first in everyday life. I learned from my mother I can honor God by keeping the Sabbath holy. Sunday was always a day of praying (worship) and playing (family time). I learned from my mother I can honor God by giving the tithe and offerings (ex. special seasons, special occasions, etc.). So when I got my first job, I couldn’t wait to give my first fruit offering. I also learned from my mother I can honor God by being honest. One day I told a lie to my parents. I forgot exactly what it was, but it was a big lie. My father was upset and was about to give me the cane on the calves. So I hid behind my mother. And I thought, ‘Now I am safe.’ Do you know what happened next? My mother got the cane instead of me. She volunteered, and my father gave her the cane. I was shocked. That day I learned that telling a lie is terribly wrong.

Timothy’s Mother and Grandmother
In today’s scripture Paul mentions Timothy’s mother and grandmother. He recognizes the faithfulness of these two women, Eunice and Lois, who raised Timothy with such a godly faith. In verse 5, Paul says, “I am reminded of your (Timothy’s) sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you.” Timothy’s mother, Eunice, got married to a Greek man (Acts 16:1), but she raised her son with Christian discipline and instruction. Later, Timothy joined Paul in his missionary journeys (Rom 16:21) and eventually became the pastor of the church at Ephesus (1 Tim 1:3). Paul now honors these two women of faith. We often hear personal testimonies that include statements such as “My mom (or grandma) took me to church, taught me Bible stories, and prayed for me every day.” Moms and grandmas, be encouraged. All your hard work and tears for your children (grandchildren) are not in vain.

The Motherly Love of God
Some of us are fortunate to have godly mothers like Timothy. But some of us are not. But the good news is all of us have the same God, who loves us with the perfect motherly love.

Israel’s Exodus story is a perfect example. God delivered his children out of Egypt with a powerful hand and outstretched arm. God departed the Red Sea and made a way into the desert. God protected them and guided them with the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. God fed them with Manna and quails. Not only that but also God gave them the Ten Commandments as the way of life, so that they might live an abundant life and glorify their God. We too honor God by worshiping him and using his name properly. We honor God by keeping the Sabbath holy. We honor God by respecting our parents. We honor God by being faithful to our spouse. We honor God by protecting our neighbor’s lives, respecting their property, and telling them the truth in love.

The Way of Life
In his book These are the generations, Eric Foley, Co-Founder of Voice of the Martyrs Korea, shares with us the story of three generations of the Bae family who have faithfully kept their faith in North Korea for more than half a century in the midst of brutal oppression and persecution. The first generation, grandparents, did have profound knowledge about the Bible. But, for the second and third generations, everything they heard and knew was the Ten Commandments because of severe persecution. All the Bibles were burnt down. And they were under observation 24/7. But, they have kept their faith. The Ten Commandments taught them who God is and who they are. The Ten Commandments taught the Bae family their need for a Savior and led them to Christ. So now they keep the Ten Commandments to honor God with all their hearts. Every Sunday, they would gather secretly and memorize the Ten Commandments, and repent according to them. No church exists in North Korea. There is no place or pastor they can offer their tithe to. But the family has always been tithing by using it to help others. They pay for medication for the poor, buy rice and grocery for the hungry. What they learned from the Ten Commandments became their way of life. “Love God and love others” is the way.

Back to Basics
When we become a church member, one of the questions we answer is as follows:

As a member of this congregation, will you faithfully participate in its ministries by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?

We say, “I will.” This covenant is not just for a new church member, but for every single member of the church – for you and me for all the days of our lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are going through a challenging time as a church. How can we face the giant? There is no magic wand or easy answer. Think about David! Saul gave his armor and sword, but it was no use. David couldn’t walk with these. Instead, he took his staff in his hand and carefully chose five smooth stones from the stream for his sling to fight against the giant. So how can we face the giant? I believe we can overcome our giant with what we are, what we have, and what we have learned from our mothers. We can defeat our giants with “five spiritual smooth stones”:

1. To keep the Sabbath holy by worshiping regularly.
2. To continue to grow in faith by participating in small groups and church fellowship gatherings.
3. To serve God with our hands, by volunteering to serve the congregation, community, and world.
4. To give in proportion to our income for God’s kingdom work. (Tithing and beyond it.)
5. To share our faith in Jesus Christ with others, through word and deed.

This is my prayer and pastoral vision for Christ’s Church: to build a community of deeply committed Christians. Mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers in Christ, it’s time to go back to basics and put it into practice. God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-discipline (v. 7). On this Mother’s Day, may we remember our mothers, who nurtured us and cared for us. May we honor and give thanks to our motherly God. God will be with us and keep watch over us from this time on and forever. Thanks be to God!

“Arise” (Joshua 1:1-9)

Trials

In his book Nearing Home, written when he was 92, Billy Graham starts by saying, “I never thought I would live to be this old.” He lost his beloved wife, Ruth, when he was 88. They were best friends and companions for almost 64 years. After his wife passed away, he struggled. He says, “I still feel as if a part of me has been ripped out, and I miss her far more than I ever could have imagined.” Like anybody else, Billy Graham struggled with health issues (ex. Parkinson’s disease), as well as his grief. In particular, he struggled with finding the purpose of life in his last years. He said he was forced to deal with the following questions: “What is God’s purpose for these years, and how can we align our lives with it?” “How can we not only learn to cope with the fears and struggles and growing limitations we face but also actually grow stronger inwardly in the midst of these difficulties?” “How can we face the future with hope instead of despair?”

Then throughout the book, Billy Graham answers these questions. He says, “The best way to meet the challenges of old age is to prepare for them now, before they arrive.”[1] Wherever we are on our journey, now is the right time. Whatever challenges we face, today is the day of salvation.  

In today’s scripture Joshua is in trouble. His leader, his mentor, his spiritual father, Moses is dead. All the eyes of the Israelites are on Joshua. War is imminent. But Joshua doesn’t know how to lead these people and navigate next steps. But God revives this despairing Joshua by giving him three instructions.

 

Arise

First, God says to him, “Arise.” “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise” (v. 2a). In Isaiah 60:1 God says to Israel, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.” At that time Israel was going through the darkest valley. They were exiled to Babylon, living without hope, without knowing how long. The circumstances were not favorable, not encouraging at all. But God said to these despairing people, “Arise and shine! Awaken from spiritual darkness and let your light shine before all nations!” What’s the reason? “Because your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you” (v. 2b). Probably the Israelites didn’t feel like it. But God said to them, “Now is the time. Arise and shine!” Probably Joshua didn’t feel like it. But God said to him, “Arise.”

E. Stanley Jones was a Methodist missionary in India for some 50 years. When he was in his 80’s, he had a stroke. The doctors were able to help him in a Boston, Massachusetts hospital but not enough to make him walk. He asked his family to let him go back to India. There in India he said to his fellow Christians, “Now each morning I want you to come into my room before daylight and say to me, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, rise up and walk.’” They did as he asked. Then one day E. Stanley Jones felt a stirring in his body. He took his first step. Then other steps. Near the end of his life E. Stanley Jones wrote a book called, “The Divine Yes.” Until the end, he did rise and shine. Wherever he went, he always preached on the theme, “Jesus is Lord.” What a way to live, what a way to die. 

 

Cross

God’s second instruction is “cross.” God says to Joshua, “Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.” (v. 2) This is God’s promise, God’s vision for his people.

When things get tough and intense, it’s hard to stay focused and live out our calling. In Psalm 13 David almost lost hope in times of trouble. The enemy’s attacks were intense, and God seemed far away. He cried out to God, “How long will you hide your face from me? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (vv. 1-2) But then at the end, he said, “I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” (v. 6) In the dark valley David remembered how God saved him, how God healed him, how God helped him thus far. And he chose to trust God, rejoice in Him, and sing to the Lord – no matter what.

16 years ago I was at the crossroads between school and denomination. At that time several people asked me, “Why do you want to be ordained in the UMC? It’s a sinking ship. Run away from it.” Somehow God gave me a vision for the UM church renewal from within. Since then, almost 16 years have passed. As I was closely following General Conference last week, I almost lost hope in the UMC. I was tempted to leave. I didn’t have strength to carry on. I didn’t see the way forward. But then God reminded me of that vision he had showed me 16 years ago – church renewal from within. “If not now, when. If not me, who.” So I chose to stay. From now on, by God’s grace I choose to be all in for the church renewal. I choose to be all in for making disciples of Christ. 

Meditate

“Arise,” “Cross the Jordan,” then God says to Joshua, “Meditate on the Word day and night (v. 8). In the ancient Hebrew word, meditation is an active way of internalizing God’s Word – pondering it, savoring it, chewing on it, taking it deep into our hearts, so that God’s Word can shape us and transform us from within. The purpose of meditation is to apply God’s Word to our lives. The Apostle Paul exhorts the Philippian church to mediate in this way: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.” (4:8-9)

Joshua listened very carefully to God’s instruction. He didn’t let the Word be out of mind for a minute. He pondered and meditated on it day and night. He didn’t get off track, but instead, he practiced everything written it. And he lived a fruitful life as God had promised. Before Joshua died at age 110, he gathered his people and said, “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (24:15). Joshua did not shrink in old age but was prosperous to the end.

 

T & P

As I close, let me share the story of D. L. Moody. Many of us tend to think that D.L. Moody would be a spiritual giant from the beginning. No! Actually, Moody was very discouraged and almost lost heart in the early days of his faith journey. He was not living a satisfying life although he tried in many ways: he attended revival tent meetings and prayer meetings, but his heart became too easily cold and dry. He said to himself, “Probably, my heart is like the path. That’s why the seed of the word cannot grow!” But one day he read Romans 10:17. It says, “So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” From that day he made a resolution to meditate on the word of God before starting the day. Not only did he meditate on the word, but also he started to obey what he heard.

Moody's Bible still inspires many Christians. His Bible is filled with underlines and T/P signs. Some people asked, "What does T/P mean?" “T” stands for “Tested,” and “P” stands for “proved.” Every single day Moody did “test” what he heard, and it was “proved” as the truth by putting it into practice.

Are you in despair? “Arise.” Are you lost? “Cross the Jordan. Go, make disciples of Christ.” Are you worried and concerned? “Meditate on the Word and practice it. And you will live.”

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[1]Billy Graham, Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well (p. 8). HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Kindle Edition.

“Stand” (2 Chronicles 20:13-27; Ephesians 6:10-20)

Spiritual Warfare

Today’s scripture is about spiritual warfare. So what kind of spiritual warfare are we engaged in? Sometimes the enemy’s attack is more obvious – physical persecution. We see this happening in different parts of the world today. Sometimes it’s more subtle – distraction and distortion. The enemy tempts Christinas to invest time and energy in secondary issues, or to become fascinated by false teaching. Sometimes it’s simply the classical temptations of money, sex and power.[1] We wrestle daily with some of these whether we like it or not. The Apostle Paul says that our struggle is not against human beings, but against evil spiritual forces. Our enemies are not human but demonic. So we must be prepared for spiritual battle.

Stand

When we think about our spiritual warfare, God does all the work. God provides the armor for us, God protects us, God sustains us, God helps us. God gives us desire and strength to win the battles. But there is one thing that God requires of us. That is to stand. In today’s passage God commends us to stand four times. “Put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil… Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand therefore…” (vv. 11-14) Stand, stand, stand, stand. That’s our part. God provides all the means to overcome, but still we need to stand.

 

Seeking

What does it mean, “to stand”? Jehoshaphat’s story is a great example. King Jehoshaphat was in trouble. He and his people were surrounded by the enemies on every side – the Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites.

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 tells us how Jehoshaphat was standing. “Jehoshaphat was afraid; he set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the towns of Judah they came to seek the Lord.” To stand means to seek the Lord and his help with all our hearts and with all our might. 

E. Stanley Jones was a Methodist missionary who spent most of his life serving in India. Jones was sent when he was 23 years old. He faced overwhelming challenges and felt utterly unprepared. He suffered a nervous breakdown. One day Jones attended a prayer meeting and heard the Inner Voice. He shares his experience in this way[2]: 

"I saw that unless I got help from somewhere, I would have to give up my missionary career. While in prayer, a Voice seemed to say, ‘Are you yourself ready for this work to which I have called you?’ ‘No, Lord, I am done for. I have reached the end of my resources.’ The Voice replied, ‘If you will turn that over to me and not worry about it, I will take care of it.’ I quickly answered, ‘Lord, I close the bargain right here.’

A great peace flooded in his heart. To stand means to seek God and give him full control.

 

Praying

To stand also means to pray. Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Israel in the house of the Lord and began to pray, saying, “O Lord, God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven?... O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 5, 12).

That’s how we stand. That’s how we put on the full armor of God in times of trouble. In Pilgrim’s Progress Christian defeats Apollyon the dragon with his sword. But then he enters the valley of the shadow of death. In that valley you hear things like a continual howling and yelling; you see people bound in afflictions and irons, discouraging clouds of confusion hang over the valley; the pathway is so dark, that you can’t see where your next step would land. It was when Christian ‘perceived the mouth of hell … hard by the narrow way, and saw flame and smoke and heard hideous noises, that ‘he was forced to put up his sword, and take another weapon, called All-prayer: so he cried, “O Lord, I beg you, deliver my soul!”[3]

We remember Nehemiah’s story. The enemies were mocking him, threatening him, deceiving him, mispresenting him. Every time he faced challenges, Nehemiah stood firm by using the weapon All-prayer. He took each and every problem to the Lord in prayer. One time the enemies spread vicious rumors and slanders against him, thinking, “He will become discouraged and stop the work.” But Nehemiah stood and prayed, “But now, Lord, strengthen my hands.” (Neh 6:9)

 

Persevering

To stand means to seek the Lord. To stand means to pray. Last but not least, to stand means to persevere. When Jehoshaphat stood and prayed, God answered, saying, “Do not fear or be dismayed at this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God’s… You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf” (2 Ch 20:17). Early the next morning Jehoshaphat and his army went out, marching and singing to the Lord, saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever!” As they began to sing and praise, the Lord ambushed the enemies, and they were defeated. They began attacking each other, and no one had escaped. So how did Israel win the battle? By standing. By persevering. God did all the work, but still Israel had to stand firm, hold their position by faith.

I still remember an inspiring story of the father-and-son team of Dick and Rick Hoyt for an “iron man” competition (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and 26.2 mile run) in 1999. The two have run together in more than eight hundred races. Even more remarkable fact is that the now adult son, Ricky, was born with cerebral palsy. To race, he must be pulled, pushed, or carried by his father with special equipment. Yes in the race the father does all the work. But there is the son’s role. The son still has to endure wind, cold, and an equipment failure with the father. In one competition the father knelt down to his son, contorted and trembling in the cold, as the two were still facing many more miles of race on the defective bike. Said the father to the child belted to the bicycle seat, “Do you still want to keep going, Son?” The son nodded, and they finally finished the course together.[4]

I believe that’s how it is with standing. We have a Father who is right with us, and who is for us. We have a Father who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us. We have a Father who has already provided his full armor to overcome all the challenges of the enemy. Whatever be the challenges, we can win the battles through him who gives us strength. So sisters and brothers in Christ, let us stand firm. Let us keep seeking, keep praying, keep persevering. Through it all, we’re more than conquerors.

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[1] N. T. Wright, Ephesians (N. T. Wright for Everyone Bible Study Guides) . InterVarsity Press. Kindle Edition. Location 867 of 1084.

[2] i The Christ of the Indian Road, 1925; The Abingdon Press, p. 19. ii Ibid, pp. 19-20 iii https://www.asbury.edu/offices/library/archives/biographies/e-stanley-jones

[3] John Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, Aneko Press. Kindle Edition. 69-70.

[4] Bryan Chapell, Ephesians, P&R Publishing. Kindle Edition. 349.