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 Sermon > Official Service |
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Title |
Father's Providence (2) |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Genesis 1: 3 |
Date |
2017-12-17 |
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[Passage]
[Genesis 1: 3]
"Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light."
[Main]
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Since the opening of the church, God the Father has been showing through Manmin Church who God really is, in His providence to save all peoples of the world. He showed His original nature. In this year as well, He has shown us God the Creator through signs, wonders, and powerful works. I talked to you about it in the Sunday Morning Service.
Secondly, through Manmin, God has shown us that God is love itself.
1 John 4:16 says, "We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." Even the unbelievers are aware that Jesus preached about love on this earth, and Christianity also puts an emphasis on love following His teachings.
However, how many people know what true love is and have true faith? Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." As said, God clearly demonstrated how much He loves the souls.
And yet, many people misunderstand that God is a self-righteous and fearful God. It was the case with Charles Darwin. He was once a believer in the Lord. But his beloved daughter died early. He resented God so much. To prove his claim God doesn't exist, he gave birth to Darwinism.
In this same way, some believers in the Lord misunderstand God's works and leave Him if things do not agree with their thoughts or their interests. Even Mother Teresa is considered a saint for her life-long dedication to the poor, but she made remarks that she couldn't be sure of God's existence or His love. Such cases are the result of knowing God's love only as knowledge but not knowing it in their hearts.
Then how much more could it be so for the unbelievers? Today is such a generation, and God wants to show through Manmin Church that He is love itself. In order to fulfill this plan, God gave deep revelations on God's love written in the Bible.
He taught us about love through the messages on the 'Love Chapter' of Corinthians and 'Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit'. In particular, the book The Message of the Cross lets us realize great love of the Lord who gave His life for sinners. The Genesis Lectures let us feel the deep love of God the Father that He had for us from the beginning. Of course, all words of God contain God's love. We can feel God's love even through the messages on hell. We understand that He wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
Moreover, you learned about God's deep love in many leadership conferences. In the conference this year, you learned that God's deep love is contained in not just His power to drive away disasters but also in His power of punishment. You learned about why God had to send Adam out of the Garden of Eden to this earth that had been cursed as a result of his sin; why God made leather clothing for him; and why God had to punish the whole world with a flood, although He cherishes even a little bird and a blade of grass. You learned how God cared for Sodom and Gomorrah even though they were so corrupt that He couldn't find 10 righteous men among them. And now, many of you understand His love.
Of course, it wasn't made possible just by learning about His Love as knowledge. You understand His love because you personally witnessed and felt His love. Paul confidently said in 1 Corinthians 2:16, "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." Today, if somebody says, "I have the mind of Christ," like Paul did, those who have fleshly thoughts would say that he is arrogant.
But since the opening of the church, and especially for the last 7 years since 2010, I can also confidently say I have been living with the mind of Christ. I don't have to explain about this because you are the witnesses. Just several years ago, some of you were engulfed by fear because you committed sins leading to death, which are unforgivable, but you miraculously repented from heart and became filled with hope of New Jerusalem.
Your hopes in life were dying out due to family problems or incurable diseases, but you stood back up and became healthy through the words of truth and tearful intercessions. You were in deep and dark despair due to family troubles and various failures, but now you are filled with hope of New Jerusalem and love of God the Father.
Without sowing the seed, we can get nothing. Without sowing the seeds of love, such fruits can never be obtained. Producing fruits requires sacrifice like the dying of seeds. And it's not easy to describe the moments of sowing the seeds with tears for you church members and for countless souls that are dying on this earth.
Although nobody understood it, or even if they misunderstood me, I could still maintain self-composure because I had you who would be crown of exultation before the Lord. Also, I can still stand firm because there are numerous churches and souls that were borne as beautiful fruits. 2 Corinthians 2:4 says, "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you."
In this past summer retreat, it drizzled when I was singing the song, 'Tears'. Even from this you could feel the overflowing love of God toward you. I hope that all the tears that I shed before you would help you feel the love of God the Father more vividly. And I hope you will deliver this love to countless souls dying due to lack of love in this world. In doing so, I hope you will wipe away tears of the Father and the Lord and become consolation and joy.
Brothers and sisters,
God the Father has shown His nature through this church, and for this, thirdly, He has shown God who judges.
God is love itself, but there is an end to human cultivation, and each one will be judged according to his deeds. God loves His children, so He lets us know about the judgment in advance so we can prepare for it.
In this past summer retreat, I especially prayed for those who were suffering from evil spirits. Seeing them being set free from Satan's work and demons, many of you said you could certainly believe that there is a spiritual realm.
The spiritual realm is divided into the area of light that belongs to God and that of darkness that belongs to the devil. Demons are the lowest in the hierarchy of evil spirits. They are controlled by the devil and lead people to hell. I gave detailed explanations about it in the past. And when the identity of these demons was revealed through my prayer, what were your thoughts? You probably felt that demons are really evil and unclean. The enemy devil and Satan control demons, and they also incite men to commit unclean sins.
John 8:44 says, "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies." The devil tempts the people to commit sins through pleasure or monetary gain.
What is the result of being tempted? It will only cause trials and eventually eternal fire in hell. You've witnessed that the enemy devil and Satan torment the souls very much. The evil spirits will eventually be confined in the abyss forever after the Great White Throne Judgment. And those who follow this devil and commit sins will also be eternally punished by fire or brimstone in hell.
So that His children could understand this fact and practice only the truth and goodness belonging in the Lord, God revealed the world of evil spirits. The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God. At this moment, God wants us to be caught up. Also, He wants us to receive the heavenly kingdom and rewards. He does not want the judgment to be punishment at the Final Judgment.
Dear brothers and sisters,
In this year, God let us think about judgment once again through the deliverance in summer retreat. But in fact, God is always leading us to walk in the Light, being on the alert about the Judgment all the time. First of all, in the Bible He wrote about Noah's flood, destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the punishments that befell the peoples or individuals that did evil standing against God.
Also, Revelation 1:7 says, "Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen." In addition to this verse there are many other parts of the Bible that tell us about the Lord's coming again. And God has given us detailed explanations on the book of Genesis and Revelation so that everyone can hear and understand the Bible at the end time.
That is not all. Sometimes He calls to heaven some of the souls who have been among us, so we can see everyone will face judgment with death. Hebrews 9:27 says, "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." And among those who passed earlier, some of them were saved and others were not. Each time, God the Father wants us who are remaining to be spiritually awakened and prepare for the Day of Judgment.
[Conclusion]
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Psalm 14:1 says, "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have committed abominable deeds; There is no one who does good." This world is full of such people. And those who go to church are not exceptions.
2 Peter 3:3-4 warns us, "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." Yes, there are such foolish people. However, just by seeing the birth and death of men, the falling leaves, and the sunrise and sunset, the good and wise will understand that there is an end to human cultivation.
When they realize there is an end, would they live in fear? No, not at all. To the extent that they are wise and good, they will also realize the love of God. They know that God is the Creator of all things, the Judge, and at the same time our Father who loves us. So, they live in peace feeling that love. They feel that the Lord is interceding for us without eating or drinking anything. They feel their shepherd is praying with tears before God. So, they live each day of their lives in thankfulness. Many of you church members now feel the love of God in this way, and for this reason you could feel the presence of God in this past feast of spirit.
Ephesians 5:15-16 says, "Therefore be careful how you walk, making the most of your time, because the days are evil." In the New Year 2018, we Manmin have so many things to do. Like the sailors who try to save even just one more person on a sinking ship, we have to lead all peoples to salvation. Therefore, I pray this in the name of the Lord that all of you will only think of the things above in the New Year and fulfill all the good will and providence of God. |
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