“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.

“Resurrection Life Now” (Acts 2:42-47)

The Risen Christ in Everyday Life

This morning we sang “Easter People, Raise Your Voices” at the top of our lungs. Once again we proclaimed that Christ is risen and lives within us today. The question is, “What does it look like? What is it like to live the resurrection here and now?”

Every time we receive communion we affirm our faith in this way:

 

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.

By the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection

you gave birth to your church,

delivered us from slavery to sin and death,

and made with us a new covenant

by water and the Spirit.

 

The church was born through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The church is a resurrection community. The Early Church Christians lived the resurrection in everyday life. If we read carefully today’s passage about the birth of the church, we find at least three qualities standing out.

 

Day by Day

The first quality is persistence. “Day by day” they worshiped together at the temple. “Day by day” they met in homes for the Lord’s Supper and shared their meals together. “Day by day” the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. The Early Church was a “day-by-day” community.

In the video we watched earlier, the man repeated the same daily routine – feeding the street dog, giving money to a beggar mother and daughter, helping an elderly street vendor, sharing food with his neighbor, and so forth. For a while, perhaps for months, nothing seemed to change. People around him were skeptical, but he did good anyway – day by day. And “day by day” becomes “one day.” One day he saw the daughter of the beggar mother wear a school uniform and come home.

Day by day the Early Church Christians worshiped together, prayed together, shared meals together, helped the poor together. The next day they repeated the same daily routine. For a while, nothing seemed to change. But day by day became one day. The day did come. One day Peter and John were doing their same daily routine. They were on their way into the temple for prayer meeting. There was a man crippled from birth. He was begging at the temple gate. He saw Peter and John about to enter the temple and asked for some money. Peter said to him, “Siver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter grabbed him by the right hand and pulled him up. Immediately his feet and ankles were healed. He walked and jumped and entered the temple for the first time, praising God. He was healed and saved. The Early Church was faithful in the ordinary. They were persistent.

24/7

The Early Church’s second quality is congruence. We find no chasm between the Lord’s Supper and breaking bread at home, no disconnection between their public life and their family life. Pastor Eugene Peterson rightly said, “The Christian life is the lifelong practice of attending to the details of congruence – congruence between ends and means, congruence between what we do and the way we do it, congruence between what is written out in Scripture and our living out what is written, congruence between a ship and its prow, congruence between preaching and living, congruence between the sermon and what is lived in both preacher and congregation, the congruence of the Word made flesh in Jesus with what is lived in our flesh.”

Congruence is not something we can master. It’s a gift. It’s a fruit. The more we stay close to the risen Christ, the more congruent we become. Living the resurrection in everyday life means living a congruent life by staying close to Christ. Missionary Frank Laubach desired to be with Christ 24/7, working and resting with Jesus, eating and sleeping with Jesus. For the first few weeks, nothing seemed to change. But later, he said, “The results of this practice grew rich after six months, and glorious after ten years.” Mr. Laubach exhorts us to bring Jesus to mind at least once each minute. He calls this experiment, “the game with the minutes.” He encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus by practicing spiritual disciplines[1]:

1.         Pray.

2.         Recall God.

3.         Sing or hum a devotional hymn.

4.         Talk or write about God.

5.         Seek to relieve suffering of any kind in a prayerful spirit.

6.         Work with the consciousness of God’s presence.

7.         Whisper to God.

8.         Feel yourself encompassed by God.

9.         Look at a picture or a symbol of Christ.

10.     Read a scripture verse or poem about God.

11.     Give somebody a helpful hand for the Lord’s sake.

12.     Breathe a prayer for the people you meet.

13.     Follow the leading of the Inner Voice.

14.     Plan or work for the Kingdom of God.

15.     Testify to others about God, the church, or this game.

16.     Share suffering or sorrow with another.

17.     Hear God and see Him in flowers, trees, water, hills, sky.

The living Christ walks with me and talks with me. The question is, “Do I actually walk with him and talk with him minute-by-minute?”

 

Living in Community

The third quality we find from the Early Church is life-together community. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, the last words to his disciples were, “Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them” (Matt 28:19-20). So the first thing the disciples did when people responded to the Word was to baptize them. “So those who welcomed [Peter’s] message were baptized…” (Acts 2:41a).

What happens when we are baptized? Baptism requires two actions from our part – repent and follow. Repent is the no and follow is the yes. When we are baptized, we are asked:

Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, reject the evil powers of this world, and repent of your sin?

I do.

 

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.

When we are baptized, we are set free from our former master called “sin” and are adopted into God’s family, that is the Church. Living the resurrection means living in Christ’s community. The church is a community. The church is united. The church is together. In the Early Church there was no such a spiritual elite or professional. They learned together, had fellowship together, served together. They were one people, life-together community.

 

The Best Is Yet to Come

So it is possible and available to live the resurrection life here and now. But even greater thing is yet to come.

Some of you may have heard a story about an old missionary couple who had been working in Africa for years, and they were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were old now and afraid. They discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions. When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other officials were there, and everyone made much over him, but no one noticed this missionary couple. They slipped off the ship and found a cheap flat on the East side. That night, the missionary’s spirit broke. He poured out his heart to the Lord. He said, “Lord, I can’t take this. You are not treating us fairly. The President received this tremendous homecoming, but no one met us as we returned home.” But when he finished it, God simply said, “My son, you’re not home yet!”[2]

Are you weary and tired? Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit proclaimed by the Apostle Paul, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Gal 6:9, NIV) Brothers and sisters in Christ, be encouraged. Let us be faithful and persistent. Let us stay close to Christ 24/7. Let us remember our baptism and always live in community. And remember the best is yet to come.

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[1] Frank Laubach, Letters by a Modern Mystic (p. 114). Purposeful Design Publications. Kindle Edition.

[2] Ray Stedman, Talking To My Father (Barbour & Co. 1997).

“Eclipse of God” (Jonah 1:17-2:10)

Eclipse Journey  

It’s Eclipse Eve. We are all expecting tomorrow to witness one of the greatest sights in the universe – a total solar eclipse. The other day I read an article saying that this eclipse experience can draw us closer to God and to each other. Indeed, the Bible says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Ps 19:1, NIV). We are drawn to God the Creator when we see the wonders of nature. We are also drawn to one another as we share this memorable experience together as a community. We will remember April 8, 2024, and say, “I too was there.”

Somehow eclipse also reminds us of our own spiritual journey – from darkness to light, from death to life. We’re all in different places in our lives. Let us pause, ponder, and ask ourselves, “Where am I?” Let me ask you, “Where are you on your journey?” Perhaps some of us are in a place where we feel distant from God.

 

Dark Night of the Soul

If so, you are not the only one who feels that way. In fact, it’s a part of the journey. Our spiritual ancestors in the Bible and in the church have gone through this same journey, what’s called, the “dark night of the soul.”

What is the dark night of the soul? The dark night of the soul is when we are going through a dark season of life. Whether we are struggling with our faith, lost a loved one, or are going through a health issue, all these things can lead to a dark night of the soul. Sometimes it comes upon us so suddenly without any particular reason.

When we are in the dark season, we feel like we are going backward emotionally and spiritually. Our spiritual disciplines that were once life-giving (ex. Prayer, Bible reading) are now dull, boring, wearisome, and dry. We feel like we’re not bearing fruit. We feel like God has abandoned us. We feel like God isn’t real. We feel like this will last forever. But deep in our hearts desire for God runs deep. We hunger for God and his presence.

What’s actually happening in this dark season is “progression” instead of “regression.” God is freeing us from all attachments and idols while we are going through this painful dark night of the soul. Psychiatrist and theologian Gerald May rightly said in this way:

Each of us has countless attachments. We are attached to our daily routines, our environments, our relationships, and of course our possessions… In a spiritual sense, the objects of our attachments and addictions become idols. We give them our time, energy, and attention whether we want to or not, even – and often especially – when we are struggling to rid ourselves of them. We want to be free, compassionate, and happy, but in the face of our attachments we are clinging, grasping, and fearfully self-absorbed. This is the root of our trouble.^[1]

Through the dark night of the soul God is stripping us of our attachments to set us free and to give us a humble desire for God, saying, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). The dark night is a time of refining.

 

Jonah

One of many examples who have gone through the dark night is Jonah. He was God’s prophet – a man of faith. He enjoyed a close relationship with God, listening and talking to God. Life was good. But one day God gave Jonah a mission that made no sense to him – preaching the message of repentance to his enemy, the people of Nineveh. So Jonah ran away from God’s presence. We know the rest of the story. He ended up being in the belly of the big fish. Depth. Darkness. Death. Silence. Solitude. That’s where Jonah is now. He is right in the middle of the dark night. 

What should we do during a dark night? How can we cope with it? We can learn at least two things from Jonah’s example.

 

Flying by the Instruments

Jonah prays to God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice” (v. 2). Even though Jonah is now in the place of death, he has learned to trust God because of God’s past dealings with him. Through his personal experiences, he knew God is faithful, he knew God is merciful, he knew God is just. So in the darkest valley he is patiently waiting, praying, trusting.

Aircraft pilots must learn to fly by the instruments. What does it mean by that? When a pilot flies into a dark cloud or at night, it becomes dangerous for them to trust their physical perceptions. They might feel like they’re flying straight, when they are actually descending toward the ground. So they must learn to trust what the plane’s instruments are telling them, not what their feelings are telling them.

There are times when we just can’t see; reality is hidden. We feel uncertain of direction. We feel like it’s a waste of time, no clear timeline. We feel like God is absent. But feelings and emotions are not always an accurate barometer of reality. The reality is God is never absent. God is always near, even when we don’t feel a thing. “If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there” (Psalm 139:8). So in the dark night we need to patiently wait, pray, and walk by faith – faith in God’s character – not by sight. We need to fly by the instruments. That’s the first thing we can learn from Jonah.

 

Gratitude

The second is gratitude. Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish written in chapter 2 is often called a prayer of thanksgiving. It’s still dark, still depressing, still uncertain. He’s still in the belly of the fish. But Jonah concludes his prayer with thanksgiving in this way: “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord!” (v. 9)

This past week was particularly challenging for the Hans. Holy Week, Easter, then Eclipse Weekend was coming. In between, starting with Hannah, Esther, Grace, Abe, and I got sick. In one particular morning it was challenging to even get out of bed – no strength, no desire, no motivation. I felt overwhelmed. Then I decided to practice gratitude for the little things. If I get out of bed, it’s a win. If I get down the stairs and have breakfast, it’s a win. If one of the sick children feels better, it’s a win. If I pray for my father’s surgery, it’s a win. In the dark night, we can slow down, savor the little things, and practice gratitude, instead of trying to skip or rush through it.

 

Take My Hand, Lord!

Thomas was born into a pastor’s family. He had a gift for music. In his late teens he became famous. Then he compromised in his lifestyle and turned away from God. He was weary and restless. One of his relatives urged him to return to God. At the age of twenty-one, he did. He encountered God personally. Since then, he used his gift for God-honoring music. He worked with some of the greatest singers in the history of gospel music. Thomas was enjoying God’s blessing to the full: happy marriage, growing ministry, first child on the way. Life was good.

But then the dark night came upon him. One night he got a telegram. It read simply: “Your wife just died.” She had passed away in childbirth. He ran to the hospital, and the following day his newborn son also died. He avoided people and grew angry at God. He said, “I don’t want to serve Him anymore or write gospel songs.” He isolated himself, nursing his anger and sorrow. One day one of his friends took Thomas to a neighborhood music school. That evening as the sun was setting, Thomas sat down at a piano and began to play… and pray. He poured out his heart to God:

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night, Lead me on to the light:

Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

In the dark night Jonah didn’t know how long it would last. But God did – it was for three days. In the belly of the fish Jonah felt like a waste of time, no purpose, no direction. But God had a plan – the fish was directly heading toward Nineveh.

If you are going through the dark night of the soul, be encouraged. It’s a season. It will not last forever. By God’s sheer grace a breakthrough will come. Let our prayer change from, “God, take me out of this,” to, “God, take my hand, take me through.” There is a light, there is a purpose, there are answers.

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[1] John Mark Comer, “Step Sheet,” https://practicingthewayarchives.org/naming-your-stage-of-apprenticeship/step-sheet#:~:text=Slow%20down%20and%20enjoy%20the,actually%20be%20a%20joyful%20season

Vincent van Gogh. The Starry Night. Saint Rémy, June 1889

“I Have Seen the Lord” (John 20:11-18)

Four-Minute Mile 

Have you heard of “4 Minute Mile”? In athletics, the four-minute mile means running a mile in less than four minutes. For years it was believed that the human body was incapable of a 4-minute mile. Since 1864, for almost a century, numerous athletes had tried to run 1 mile in 4 minutes, but no one could make it. So, people believed that human beings can't run 1 mile within 4 minutes. But, in 1945 one physician published a paper showing that the human body is capable of running 1 mile in 4 minutes. A few years later, on May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute barrier. Then several more runners made it. Now, it’s almost routine. Even strong high-schoolers today run 4-minute miles. Our Lord Jesus Christ broke the barrier – the wall that had separated us from God. The Bible says, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1Co 15:20). Jesus Christ our Lord has conquered death, has broken down every wall, and opened the door to eternal life so that we might go in!

The Women at Jesus’ Tomb
In today’s gospel lesson we meet Mary Magdalene and the other women. Those are faithful ones. When Jesus was on the cross, they didn’t abandon him but were standing by the cross of Jesus (John 19:25). After Jesus was placed in a tomb, they patiently waited until the Sabbath was over. Early next morning they came to the tomb with spices while it was still dark, hoping they might anoint him. That was the way of honoring their teacher. That was all they could do. They loved Jesus very much, but now he was gone. They must have felt hopeless and powerless. They didn’t know what to do next. Although they were going to the tomb early in the morning, they didn’t even know what to say to the tomb guards. They didn’t have the strength to roll the tombstone away for themselves. On the way they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away for us?” (Mark 16:4)

They were filled with all kinds of worry and fear. But to their surprise, when they arrived, they looked up and saw that the huge stone had “already” been rolled away! Jesus already did it for them. It was Jesus who conquered death. It was Jesus who rolled the stone away. It was Jesus who first came to see these women. In fact, all the problems and concerns that the women had already had been solved. They didn’t need to roll the stone away. They didn’t need to find and anoint Jesus’ body. Jesus already did everything for them. That is why Jesus was able to say on the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30). “It’s done… complete!” (MSG). Do you have any burden of life – guilt, shame, wound, pain – something in your heart like a large stone that you just cannot roll away for yourself? We have good news! Jesus has already rolled away that stone. For you. For me.

The Resurrection at Cookham
That’s why we are here today to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Some of us in this room may still wonder why resurrection matters. It matters because it tells us that this life is not everything It tells us that there will be a resurrection of all the dead, including you and me. We too will be resurrected. 1 Corinthians 15:23 says, “But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” That means there will be more fruits to follow. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says that when our Lord Jesus Christ returns with the trumpet call, the dead in Christ will rise first and then we will also be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever!” By his suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus did open the gate to eternal life. So now everyone who believes in him has eternal life. In Christ you and I have eternal life!

So far I have either officiated or helped 72 funerals for our saints – 15 funerals for Hodgdon saints and 57 for Houlton) over the past 10 years. Imagine the Day of the Lord! Imagine that your loved ones are raised from the Evergreen Cemetery or Hodgdon Cemetery. How would you feel? In fact, Artist Stanley Spencer had this experience of revelation. He lived in the small English village of Cookham and attended a small Methodist church. There was a small cemetery in his churchyard. He passed through it numerous times, perhaps several times a week. One day as he was passing through this churchyard, Spencer had a sudden awakening experience. He perceived the great resurrection of the dead in his humble churchyard. He wrote his experience in this way: “Quite suddenly I became aware that everything was full of special meaning, and this made everything holy. The instinct of Moses to take his shoes off when he saw the burning bush was very similar to my feelings. I saw many burning bushes in Cookham. I observed the sacred quality in the most unexpected quarters.”[1]

In his painting, The Resurrection at Cookham, we see not only the Son Jesus and the Father in the center, but also his loved ones – his family and friends, and Spencer himself. When we believe in the resurrection of Jesus and all the dead, our local churchyard, this very place becomes a new Garden of Eden. The ground we are standing on becomes “a holy suburb of heaven.” The resurrection of Jesus tells us that on the Day of the Lord we will be resurrected. As Bonhoeffer says, in Jesus Christ all of us will be eternally united with him, and with one another, and with our loved ones.

He Lives!
But there is more! Not only does the resurrection of Jesus give us hope for tomorrow, but also it gives us the power to live our new life today. The Risen Christ promised, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt 28:20). Resurrection is a core Christian belief. The Risen Christ lives in us today!

John Wesley cried out on his deathbed, “The best of all is, God (the Risen Christ) is with us!” Today we are not merely here to honor a good teacher Jesus, who taught the truth and died two thousand years ago. We are here to worship and celebrate a risen King and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives in the world and in us today! There are many evidences of Jesus’ resurrection, but perhaps the most convincing evidence of all is the transformation of the disciples of Jesus. All of them were transformed from cowards to martyrs because of the resurrection. Saul was transformed from a passionate persecutor of the Christian to the world’s greatest missionary for Christ. He was sold out for Christ. How is this possible? Only the resurrection. Saul met the Risen Christ. Not only in Jesus’ time, but still today we know it is true by our own experience. For me personally, there was a time in my college years, I found no meaning or purpose of life. But after I met the Risen Christ, my life changed. Everything became new and meaningful. Even in small things – whether I ate a meal, took a nap, or took a walk, I could find a sense of purpose and feel joy, contentment, and peace! The risen Christ gives us the power to live a new life in him and makes us more like him.

Perhaps one of the most beloved Easter hymns is “He Lives” written by Alfred Ackley. There is a story behind this hymn. In fact, two events gave Pastor Ackley fresh insight to write this hymn. One day he was holding an evangelistic meeting. A young sincere Jewish student asked the question, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?” Ackley answered, ““He Lives! I tell you; He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands.” The young Jewish student eventually accepted the living Christ as his own personal Savior. A few days later, Easter Sunday came. On that Easter Day morning Ackley turned on his radio. He was then shocked to hear a preacher say something like this, “You know, it really doesn’t matter to me if Christ be risen or not. His body could have turned to dust long ago in some Palestinian tomb. But what’s important is that His truth goes marching on!” Ackley was so upset. That Sunday he preached with great fervency on the resurrection of Jesus based on the Scripture: “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” But later that night, he still could not shake the question of that young Jewish student and the words of that preacher. Then, his wife said, “Why don’t you write a song about it?. Then you will have something that will go on telling the story.” That very night Ackley wrote out the words, and then composed the melody: 

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;

I know that He is living, whatever men may say;

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He lives, he lives Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!

 Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

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[1] Terry Glaspey, 75 Master Pieces Every Christian Should Know (Grand Rapids: Michigan, 2015), 214-15.

*The Cookham Resurrection by English artist Stanley Spencer