"The Prodigal Father” (Luke 15:20-24)

*The Return of the Prodigal Son (Rembrandt)

The Mystery of Suffering

“What’s the point of suffering?”

Three times the Apostle Paul pleaded with the Lord to take a thorn away from him. But Jesus said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9) Since then, Paul rejoiced in his weaknesses and sufferings. This was the Verse of the Day from the Upper Room last Friday. And the Question of the Day was “What’s the point of suffering?” Some of the church family members shared their thoughts this way:

§  “In suffering I draw nearer to God.” – Jo-Ann Barton

§  “To experience life in an imperfect world as we relate to the presence of the ultimate good GOD.” – Linda Maraya

§  “In my suffering, I'm reminded of Jesus' suffering on the cross, to His death, carrying the weight of OUR sins, that we may LIVE WITH HIM, in eternal rest, forever.” – Liz Taylor

§  “Suffering draws us closer to God and increases our faith in that we trust God and know that He loves us and makes all things work for good.” – Angela Cowperthwaite

In Psalm 119 David says, “Before I suffered, I did wrong, but now I obey the word” (v. 67 NCV). He continues, “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (v. 71, NLT). C. S. Lewis rightly said, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains; it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Indeed, suffering draws us closer to God.

 

Lifegiving Suffering

There is another benefit of Christian suffering. It is to draw others closer to God. Paul says in Romans 5:3-4, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that sufferings produce perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope.” This hope is contagious. This hope draws people closer to God.

In today’s story we see one father’s long suffering for his two sons. We see that this father’s suffering does produce perseverance, then character, then hope. This prodigal father has undying hope to see both of his sons return to his bosom and sit around the same table together. Every morning, when the father starts a day, he prays for his sons, crying tenderly and blessing them. His heart goes out to them. He endures heart-aching pain every single day. The pain is always there. Every night he prays and sleeps in hope.

The rebellious younger son knows his father – how compassionate and merciful his father is. So when he comes to his senses, he says to himself, “How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread… I will go home to my father and ask for his forgiveness.” The resentful elder son also knows his father – how loving and forgiving his father is. Although he is eaten up with jealousy, he acknowledges his father’s prodigal generosity, saying, “You killed the fattened calf for your son who has devoured your property with prostitutes.”

This story is left open-ended. It ends with the invitation. The choice is the son’s. But we know the father’s love compels his sons. The father’s long suffering stirs their hearts.

 

The Fragrance of Christ

Has your heart been stirred and drawn to God by someone else’s suffering – to be more accurate, by his or her response to suffering? Recently, I read Eric Liddell’s biography, For the Glory, written by Duncan Hamilton. Many people remember Eric Liddell as an Olympic champion and missionary to China. But not many know much about his sufferings in his final years. Not only was he imprisoned by the Japanese in an Internment Camp in China, but also he greatly suffered from a brain tumor. He suffered from excruciating headache, perpetual tiredness, memory loss, weight loss, stroke, and depression.

But in the midst of his suffering Liddell is always doing something for others. He chops wood, he cooks in the kitchens, he cleans and sweeps, he teaches science to the children, he counsels the teenagers, he helps the old and the weak. Every Sunday he preaches. Even when he was admitted to the hospital, he was still teaching and discipling. Then he suffered a third stroke and died. His last word was “surrender.” Indeed, he lived a life of surrender, humility, and love. One internee said, “He had a calming and very stable influence. He was always so positive.” Another said, “He was smiling to the end.” Another said, “In his presence I felt it was impossible to speak or do anything less than the best, the purest, the noblest.”

Liddell once said, “We are all missionaries. Wherever we go we either bring people nearer to Christ or we repel them from Christ.” The people close to Liddell clearly saw how he responded to his suffering. They could smell the fragrance of Christ when he suffered. They were inspired and drawn to Christ.

 

Becoming the Father

Oswald Chambers said, “The whole secret of shepherding is that someone else reaches the Savior through your heart as a pathway.” Similarly, the secret of suffering is that someone draws closer to God through our suffering as a pathway.

Like the prodigal father in today’s story, perhaps you may have wayward children, waiting and praying for them. I know one pastor is in transition to a new appointment after serving the same church for 38 years because of what’s happening in the UMC. For me personally, I have deep sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. My heart goes out to those who have left the church and become church homeless. My heart aches. The pains and memories keep coming back. Once we used to share meals together, did a Bible study together, did ministries together. We were family, then they cut ties with the church and me.

Though it’s painful, through this grieving process and suffering, I am learning to become the father. I believe the ultimate goal of our Christian journey is becoming the compassionate father. Once we were all lost – we were either the rebellious younger son or the resentful ender son, or both. We were dependent, demanding children. But we are called to grow and become the father who begets life and raise spiritual children with love and compassion. “Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate,” Jesus said. (Luke 6:36)   

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult [the father], I put childish ways behind me.” (1 Cor 13:11) The compassionate father believes the best about his children. He is full of hope, full of patient endurance. Through our suffering, may we draw closer to God. May we draw our people closer to God. In suffering, may we get better, not bitter. May we be the sweet aroma of Christ. Amen.

God Speaks (Jeremiah 33:3, 2024 Senior Sunday)

 

The Voice

“Call to me and I will answer you and show you

great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

– Jeremiah 33:3

It was the inner voice that I heard while the pastor was doing benediction. I was attending Watch Night Service on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1999. I was in the army, working at the Ministry of National Defense in South Korea. Since I heard the voice, I was expectantly waiting for “great and unsearchable things.” And about two months later, God showed me and sent me to East Timor where a civil war broke out as the UN Peacekeeping Forces. As I look back, that was the turning point of my life. There I began to experience God who speaks to me.

Eric Liddle, Olympic gold medalist and missionary, famously said, “I believe God made me for a purpose. (But) he also made me fast! And when I run, I feel his pleasure!” Seniors, and brothers and sisters in Christ, have you found your purpose in life? Do you experience God who speaks?  God is always at work around us. God invites us to join him in his work. God speaks through any and every means possible, but there are three guaranteed channels through which we can listen to God.

The Bible

First, God speaks to us through the Bible. There are two different Greek words used for the word of God – one is logos, and the other is rhema. Logos is the written word, recorded in the Bible. When we read the written word, we can learn about God objectively and know his ways and his salvation. This is a wonderful thing. But there is more! We can know God on a personal level and experience God who personally speaks to us. That is rhema – instant, personal speaking of God.

For example, when I just started a ministry as a student pastor in Boston, I was discouraged. I worked hard, but the young adults ministry was not fruitful. The leaders I trained were caught up in a love triangle, and some of them left the church. One particular Sunday afternoon after the service I was about to throw in the towel. I went into the young adult room, fell to my knees, and wept. Then there was a voice: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, [and no one is going to attack and harm you], because I have many students in this city.” (cf. Acts 18:9-10) After this, there was revival.

Reading the Bible (logos) is like storing up the water in the reservoir. The more we store it up in us by meditating on it and memorizing it, the more God can speak instant words (rhema) to us. 

 

Prayer

Second, God speaks to us through prayer. Prayer is a two-way conversation with God: we talk, and God talks.

I was at the crossroads in my senior year of college. There were three or four paths I wanted to pursue – lawyer, UN staff, professor, and pastor. At that time I sensed God was calling me into ministry. But I was hesitant. That summer I attended a youth camp as one of the teachers. At the end of the evening service there was a communal prayer time. I was praying for each student in my group. I prayed that they might know Christ and discover God’s purpose in their lives. While praying, I heard the inner voice saying, “My son, I want you.”

We often hear people say they can pray at all times. I don’t know about you, but for me, when I neglect my fixed hour of prayer (i.e. early morning prayer time), most of the time I end in praying at no time. I find myself so easily distracted and preoccupied with other things for the rest of the day. If you are like me, I exhort you to set aside time for prayer daily. Start small – five minutes a day every day. Go for short and consistent instead of long and infrequent. And you will be surprised that God is actually talkative.

 

The Church

Third, God speaks to us through the church. Yes, the church can be messy. I’ve seen all kinds of brokenness in the church. There was a time I left church because I was tired of broken people and problems. But about six months later, I came back to church because I realized that the church is God’s idea. I realized that God’s greatest gift is the church. It was God who gave birth to his church through Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. God is really among us when we gather. God blesses us and speaks to us through the church.

I heard about one young man who was really struggling. He had come to faith in Christ, but he just found himself drifting away, drifting in doubts and difficulties and losing his faith. And he went to see a wise older man, who lived in a cottage, and there was a fire, a coal fire. And as they were discussing — this young man told this older man about what was going on in his life — the older man didn’t say anything. But he just went to the fire and he took a red-hot coal, with tongs, out of the fire, and he put it on the hearth. And as the young man talked, he just allowed that coal to go from red-hot to black, dark. And then he got the tongs again and he put the coal back in the fire, and within a few minutes the coal was red-hot again. He didn’t need to say anything. The young man left knowing exactly why his faith had gone dull.[1]

So wherever you go, I strongly encourage you to find a church and be a functioning member of the body. Be a blessing to them and you will be blessed.

 

Wilderness Journey  

In the wilderness a map is no use because the geography of the wilderness constantly changes because of the wind. What we need is a compass that always points north. Life is a wilderness journey. It’s full of unknowns and challenges. We need a spiritual compass that always points to God and faithfully draws us closer to God – the Bible, prayer, and the church.

Seniors, are you ready for your new adventure? Have you got a spiritual compass with you? For your upcoming journey, our church prepared a little gift. Each of you will be given a “compass” as a reminder, a Bible, a prayer shawl (blanket), and a card representing the church. May God bless you and keep you and speak to you always. Amen.

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[1] Alpha Course, “What About the Church?”

“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).