Transcription
Prepare a heart full of reverence before God, for we are about to receive the holy from Him. Let us pray. Father who dwells in the kingdom of heaven, our glorious Father whom we know in our Lord Jesus Christ. We are grateful to You, Father. Today is a new grace to us, so that we may gather together to fellowship and glorify Your name. We, the unworthy, we the sinful, and we who are the first of all sinners, come before You, wanting to receive the holy from You, which is Your living word. Therefore, make us worthy and be pleased with our lives. Sanctify us first, as You have sanctified Your prophets. So that all that is holy from You, we may do, we may receive, and it may become new wisdom, so that we may be called the salt and light of the world for Your glory. Therefore, have mercy on us, O God. For glory is only Yours, and Yours, and Your Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen. Yes, please sit. Shalom. Shalom. This is a bit shaky, isn't it? Okay, it's alright. This morning at ION Sentul, I brought the word of God concerning the invitation of Apostle Paul that everyone must evangelize. He said, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." Evangelism is no longer a matter of calling, but a necessity for every believer. So, if we realize that evangelism is not a calling, but a necessity for everyone called to be Christ's, then here in this place, I will speak about the things that hinder us from evangelizing. If this morning we spoke about how believers, as an expression of their love and affection for Christ, are as exemplified by Apostle Paul when he said, "Woe to me if I do not evangelize." Because evangelism is not about a calling, but evangelism is a necessity for believers. Why was Apostle Paul so enthusiastic? Why did he say that evangelism is a necessity for me? Because he saw something in Christ that was not in anything else, which then made him think that Christ's resurrection and victory were the only and absolute condition throughout this universe for the salvation of every human soul. Paul, who was such a glorious apostle. He was a man who understood many Jewish traditions. He understood the beliefs of the Athenians. He faced the Roman Empire. He understood there were so many gods. There were so many gods of the Egyptians, so many gods of the Chinese. There were so many gods and deities of the Arabs. There are many deities in this world. But Apostle Paul finally realized. It turns out, alas, it turns out that the only one not subject to death is Christ alone. All kings of all kingdoms, the four beasts in the Book of Revelation symbolize the four strongest kingdoms in this universe. Neo-Babylonian, Persian, Greek, and the last, Roman. Rome was the most powerful empire. But all Roman emperors also died. into the ground. All world leaders, prominent Greek philosophers, all succumbed to death. Even Cleopatra died in the ground. But Apostle Paul, from the beginning, was enthusiastic as a persecutor, he realized that the risen Christ proved that indeed He is God and Lord. Because God is alive, but He Himself in His resurrection proved that He is the living one and there is none like Him. Therefore, however, all people, if they want to obtain life, must believe in Christ, the only way. So the word of the living Messiah is true: "I am the way, the truth, and the life." No one can come to the Father except through Me. This is what Paul meditated on, which then made him say, "Because the gospel is the news of the resurrection, the gospel is the news of Christ's victory." Therefore, every human being who must die must hear this gospel. So, the gospel and its proclamation are no longer about a calling, but a necessity for me if I love my God. Because if we claim to love God, then we do His commandments. For the word of the Father, Christ Himself said, "If you love me, you will surely keep my commandments." What is Christ's commandment? In Matthew 28:19 and following, He said, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." So if we claim to love Christ, we must dedicate ourselves to be prepared for evangelism. And Paul said, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." So test yourselves. So if Paul saw that there were so many strong things, there were so many fundamental things that made Apostle Paul want to evangelize everyone so that he was not afraid of death. He did not care about persecution. He did not care about the suffering inflicted upon him because of Christ's commands. Then he himself said, "Even though I experienced all of that, my Christ said, 'I am happy.'" Then what is the importance of human persecution? But such enthusiasm will never be born without knowing who you are before God. So now allow me to tell you who I am. Who are you before God? Philippians 3:17-19. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For as I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with weeping, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. Their god is their belly. Their glory is in their shame. Their minds are on earthly things. Are we not like this? This is what hinders everyone who claims to follow Christ from ultimately realizing the calling as Christ called Paul to be His apostle and a great evangelist. These things, when he glorifies his shame, when he deifies his belly, then when he considers these earthly things to be the most important for himself, these are the things that blind people to the calling as Christ's calling to Paul. As long as we glorify our shame, as long as we deify our bellies, as long as we think about these earthly things, then we will never find, we will never feel aligned with Apostle Paul's words that I am obligated to evangelize. Because evangelism is bearing fruit for the glory of God, but it torments your flesh. Evangelism will hurt you. But Christ said, "Blessed are you." Once again, blessed are you. People will find it difficult to understand "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." People will find it difficult to understand Paul's words if they are still living in deifying earthly things, deifying their bellies, thinking about earthly things. Then they will say, "Why should I evangelize? Will I lose this? If I preach Jesus, they will leave me. If I obey Christ, my business will be ruined. Whatever I do, I will lose." If we care about such things, setting aside Christ as not the primary thing in our lives, then why do you and I call ourselves Christians? What does it mean to be a Christian? Aren't many people too confident in calling themselves Christians, but they still consider their glory to be this world. My thoughts are this world. My god is my belly. So for the sake of the belly, people sell Christ. So for the sake of the throne, people abandon Christ. So for the sake of these earthly things, people betray Christ. The true teaching about why we are Christians is set aside. But the true teaching, the calling as Christ has called all His disciples to participate in His feast and love, is not preached. Visible betrayal is ordinary betrayal. But betrayal from within by a deviant Christian ideology is more dangerous. So it is not surprising that Apostle John said, "The Antichrist comes from within." If we deify our bellies, if we consider this world our glory, then you and I are enemies of the cross of Christ. Because we will not be able to openly see what Christ has done. We will not be able to understand how He calls us to suffer with Him in His suffering if we are still closed off by such things. That is why Apostle Paul exemplifies and teaches us in this matter. He himself was full of glorious things in the world's view. But when he met Christ, he said, "I consider all of that rubbish." Because his life is no longer himself, his life is Christ. Because if his life is Christ, then he no longer rejoices because of what? Earthly things that overshadow him, but he rejoices because he knows his Christ is alive. The victory, the greatness, the majesty, and the glory of Christ should be the foundation of all actions of Christians who claim to have lived and become new people in baptism. But if we do not think that way, have we united with Him? Even more so, young people, even if you stand here, even if you play music there, even if you sing here, even if you welcome guests there, if you do it not with the motivation of your love for Christ, but you see something else that only pleases your flesh, it is useless. Is not the one whom God rejects the one who calls himself Lord? Pay attention, young people. Your youth now, God allows it not to glorify yourselves in the pursuit of what is meant for your flesh. Because I too am a sinner. You are sinners. As Paul confessed, so I confess, I am the first and the greatest sinner. But are we aware of that, which leads us to ask for God's mercy, so that He may grant us new wisdom, so that we understand what is in accordance with Christ's mind, what is contrary to Christ's mind, so that we become enemies of the cross of Christ. Young people, you are called not to live in your youth, enjoying your time. Because many younger than you have died. And when they died, there was no glory on their faces. All will pass away. But now imagine, think about it, when we die, what will you answer when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ? When God asks, when Elijah dies, I die, then I stand before Christ. Oh Elijah Myen, what have you done for me in the grace I have given you? What will I answer? Oh, you young person, I have given you many privileges, given you the facilities of life, born into a good family, born with things like this. So now, when you die, what have you done for me? When your Christ asks that, what will you answer? Test yourselves. Thus, I test myself. So if we know, we don't know what we will answer, then from now on, Paul's words are true. Evangelism is a necessity for me. This world is not my glory. I am not crowned with things that the world considers great. Because Christ Himself did not come with all the glory of this world. Because He Himself said, "My kingdom is not of this world." Following Christ will never be by becoming the same as the world. Many young people think that by becoming the same as the world, following the world's lifestyle, then I can be pleasing before Christ. No. Because the enemy of Christ is the world. Are you aware that recently there have been so many phenomena of people leaving Jesus? Apostatizing, selling Jesus. For what? For money, for wealth, for thrones, for women, and for many things that satisfy the desires of the flesh. But Paul said, "Their end is destruction." People selling Jesus, people leaving Jesus for wealth, for thrones, for the world, and so on, are things that destroy them. They try to pursue all of that to live longer. Actually, their goal is happiness, so they have a lot of money. How do I get a lot of money? I leave Jesus so that I am free to accumulate money, with which, when I am sick, I can go to the most expensive hospital to treat me, give me supplements so that I live longer. He forgets that no matter what, he will die. So, if your life's goal is to obtain life, isn't there really no reason for you to reject Christ? Because He alone is the one who has lived. So if people sell Jesus to fight for their lives, you are being deceived by the devil. Because what you believe outside of Christ, aren't they all dead? What can the dead do for you? So if young people think, "It's okay if I sell Jesus, the important thing is that I do good. The important thing is that I am pleasing to my family." But are you pleasing before God? No one is pleasing. I am not pleasing before God at all. You are not pleasing before God either. So we ask for God's mercy. But do not intentionally make yourself displeasing to God by being His enemy, by becoming an enemy of the cross of Christ, by apostatizing from Him. So if someone leaves Christ for other things in this world, it is truly unfortunate, truly pitiable. And we all must pray for them. If any of your family has left Jesus, pray for them. Do not judge. Even though you know they will perish, pray for them. Because in the end, they will face God's judgment. So now, brothers and sisters, think about what you consider your glory. You are so obsessed with new things, obsessed with beautiful women, obsessed with handsome men, obsessed with a lot of money. But have you ever been obsessed with the glory of Christ? Have you ever been obsessed with His victory? Where your treasure is, there your heart will be. If Christ is your treasure and wealth, then your heart should go to Him. But if it's other things, test yourselves. Are you and I worthy to call ourselves Christians? Let alone call ourselves Christians, even further. Are we worthy to claim to be saved with vain thoughts? The Spirit of God renews the mind. The Spirit of God renews our minds when we are in Christ, no longer following empty philosophy, but following the thoughts of Christ. So when we say, "I have been to church, I have given offerings, I have sat with the pastor, I have eaten with the servants of God, but if your thoughts have not allowed yourselves to be called by Christ to be part of His kingdom for evangelism and the glory of His name, why are we so confident in calling ourselves Christians?" TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and all young people are so enthusiastic about movements and trending demands. On TikTok, velocity is trending now. Everyone is trying to play it, right? Ask yourself, what is your motivation for doing that? Oh, so if it's with this Elien, then I can't do anything. Not like that. Think about it, if you are so enthusiastic about creating content, you are so enthusiastic, so joyful because of those fragmented movements. You are so joyful because of that, reflect. Have you ever been with similar enthusiasm for your Christ? Have you ever rejoiced because you saw how amazing Jesus Christ is? So much so that you love Him more. You become more radical in your love for Him. Then Paul's words, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel," will become true for you. But it will be difficult for those who still consider their belly their god. The world is their glory. It will be difficult for people like that to understand. So when we understand that the world is not our glory, our bellies are for food. So don't debate whether to eat pork or not, don't make it an issue, because Christ is the food that gives you life. So have we ever allowed and pleased Him to enter our bellies to renew our souls and spirits? Soon it will be Easter, and I am invited to fill Easter here. Later I will talk about what Christ did. But before that happens, reflect, before He was crucified, before He fulfilled all the demands of the scriptures and the prophecies of the prophets. Isn't He too great? Isn't He too majestic? Isn't He too holy to be crucified for you? Am I, this unworthy person, worthy to receive Him in His holiness? where the disaster was not inflicted upon me, but upon Himself. So, if humans were aware of inner matters, they would be grateful remembering what Christ Jesus did, they would be grateful remembering what their God did for them, not for His own sake. Then that gratitude will make you brave to accept that woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. Once again, woe to me if I do not preach the gospel. Oh young people, you go to nice places. You look for good products so that I glow, my clothes are nice, all that. You don't need nice clothes here. You wear nice clothes, nice shoes, everything, but your heart is far from Him, it's useless. Yes, useless. Isn't the appearance of the Pharisees so pious? Isn't the appearance of Peter so dirty because he was a fisherman? But who was favored between the two? Don't focus on glorifying worldly things, but focus on what? Go home from here, go into your room, pray to God. Say, Lord, what will I answer before Your judgment seat when I die? Always remember our death so that we don't play around in every step. If we understand how quickly people will leave us after our death, how quickly people will forget you after your death, you will not want to do anything other than what your God likes. Because after you die, you will only deal with Him. So now, who is man really? Who am I, Elijah Myen, that I should be seen by God? I plot evil every day, while He is busy plotting good. He does glorious things, and I only repay with sin. Have we ever confessed such a thing before God? If not, why do we call ourselves Christians? I became a Christian because I wanted to be rich by following Him. I became a Christian so that I would have what I don't have. So that I would receive the comfort of my flesh. Then you do not understand what it means to be a Christian. To be a Christian is to be burned in the fire by the faith and grace of Christ so that everything is pure to enter His feast of love in eternity. Faith is what we use as a shield. Faith is what we use as a relay. Where every day we carry that faith as our strength. Against our lusts. Against our flesh. Against thoughts that are displeasing before Christ. If that happens, then we ourselves will say, "I don't care about my life because it is no longer me, but I am Christ." So if we all must dedicate ourselves to the glory and proclamation of the gospel, then shouldn't we not worry about our livelihood? Because Paul advised Timothy, a soldier pleasing to God is a soldier who does not worry about his livelihood so that he may be useful to his commander. So this is a question for the servants there, including myself. I point one to you, three hands point to me. This means the question is for everyone, what is your motivation for serving God? If we are called to evangelize, if Apostle Paul says, "Woe to me if I do not evangelize, because it is a necessity for me." Then shouldn't the words coming from Apostle Paul be our motivation, the same as Paul's motivation? What was Paul's motivation when he said that? Simply that my life is no longer me. My life is Christ. Because he knew that if my life was me, I would only be swallowed by the earth. But if my life is Christ, my Christ has conquered death. He rose as the only person to rise in the history of this universe. Meaning, only He is not defeated by death. So I, who am mortal, must hang on, entrust my life to Him who has lived, so that I may obtain life just as He who has lived. Isn't that your obsession, young people? Shouldn't I be obsessed with that? How amazing that person is. How great your God is. How sincere His love is. Have we ever been amazed by Christ for these things, or are we only amazed by His blessings? We are only amazed by what is visible, but we are not amazed by what is unseen, done mysteriously in His kingdom. He said, "In my Father's house are many rooms." We don't see that. But shouldn't that amaze us? How generous Christ is. He has prepared the best for me. While I am nothing. What is difficult for God to destroy us all? He created other humans, Father, Mother. But He did not want to. Because even though we are unworthy, we are sinful, He is faithful to His promise so that we may be restored to be members of His kingdom. Then, what is the reason not to admire Him? More than anything. This is the source of admiration, just as all the disciples were amazed by Christ's work of salvation. When Peter preached in Rome, while he was being crucified upside down, he still evangelized. While his body was being torn apart, he still preached the gospel. Paul, when he also died as a martyr, while he was persecuted, he also preached Christ. When Bartholomew, thus the Church Fathers Irenaeus, Polycarp, and also John, and so on, when they preached Christ, even when they were persecuted, they still took the time to show, to express their pride in Christ by proclaiming the glorious gospel. But we now are not being persecuted. We are living comfortably, we are living well. But our mouths refuse to preach the gospel. Should we not be ashamed of those apostles? They preached the gospel while being persecuted. But we just sit in our cars, in our houses, but our mouths and my mouth refuse to preach the gospel. Should we not be ashamed? Then we confidently claim what the apostles claimed. I will be saved. I love God. As Paul said, "I love Christ." But we do not do what they did. Are we having difficulty understanding that? Surely it is difficult. Because why? Because for some people, this world is still their glory, their belly is still their god. And this world is their crown. As long as that is not let go, do not expect to have an understanding of why the gospel and good news must be preached. Therefore, brothers and sisters, as Paul, our glorious apostle, has advised, through this letter of Apostle Paul, I also advise myself and you to be faithful in Christ. Not just faithful. Evangelize in government, you who are artists, you who are selebgrams, you who are TikTokers, whatever you do in your life. Christianity is not about "Oh my God, Jesus loves you." That is not Christianity. You will die. But Christ came to be the good news of joy that He is alive. You must believe in Him so that you may obtain life. That is what we must preach. Will people hate me? Not will. They will surely hate you. Because they are part of the kingdom that opposes God. Everyone who is not born of God will oppose the proclamation of God. So it's not surprising that many Christian evangelists are chased, want to be killed, want to be mutilated, insulted. Do we not realize how many Coptic Christians in the Middle East have been killed by armies that hate God? But for me, they are very happy because God allowed them to die in such a state. My prayer to God is that I also want to be like that. I say this not with the intention of "look at me," no. But what? The aspiration of a soul that contemplates how great Christ is, is to meet Him soon. Just as the apostles died for Christ, so God, allow me to die in Your proclamation. If you are not ready, it's okay. Not everyone is called to that, and God does not necessarily allow it. But at least have the right understanding, have the true love for Christ, so that when persecution comes upon you, you do not apostatize and leave Him. If you still deify your belly, if you still consider the world, your car, your house to be your crown. When that persecution comes, you are afraid of losing your possessions. Oh, no, Father, I will deny Jesus then. I am afraid of losing all of this. Then your end will be destruction. But if you think that Christ is my victory, then cut off my body. When Irenaeus was to be eaten by lions, eat me. It's okay. Persecute me. Because you are accelerating God's promise to be revealed in my life. Everyone who understands the depth of Christ's work will never be afraid to die for Christ. That is why in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul said, "Where is your sting, O death?" Everyone is afraid of death. Go to expensive hospitals, all are afraid of death. Oh, the devil, no need to be afraid of death, but don't seek death. You can't. Ah, said Elijah, "Just die. Then when you leave here, in front of the Indonesian students, there will be a car, and you will crash yourself into it." That is wrong. But die, not in foolishness. Die for Christ. Because death is a gain. That is obtained because his life is Christ. That is the pride of believers. That is the victory of believers. That is the wealth of believers. The wealth of Christians. Oh, you who call yourself Christian, it is God's favor in you. So preach the gospel to all the world. Take part in that proclamation through your words, your deeds, your work wherever you are sent. So that when you stand before God's judgment, He asks in His majesty, "Oh you, what have you done for me from the grace I have given you?" So that we can answer Him. What will we answer before the King who will not perish? So think about your day of death always, so that every action we take is no longer about self, but about Christ who bestows life upon you. God will look at your appearance. You are white, you are black, short hair, long hair, you have a lot of money, you have little money, He will not ask that. So those who are treated badly in this world, be happy. Whereas those who are praised in this world, woe to you. Why? The more you desire worldly praise, the further you are from God. Because for the sake of the world, you will surely sacrifice God. Because the enemy of God is the world in its sin. So young people, use your youth to seek God. Use your youth to be fire and embers that burn your generation for the proclamation of the gospel. So that all may be accepted and united in the glory that you will obtain from the faith that has been revealed to you and me. So, out of the demand of love, we must evangelize everyone, evangelize family, evangelize friends, preach the greatness of Christ. Because if Christ is the great one who does all good for us, then that is the pride of those who call themselves Christians. If he confidently says he is Christian, but he is not proud, he does not love Christ, our mouths can confess "I love Christ." But who knows if your heart is far from Him. Perhaps you will say, "I love Christ." But it turns out your heart still deifies your belly. It turns out your heart still glorifies what you have. But all of that will be revealed on the day when God through Christ Jesus will judge all things. Now you have heard this word. So later, on the day of judgment, there will be no excuse for anyone in this place to say, "I have not heard that truth." So do your best for our accountability before Christ's judgment. For it is written, "Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel." Reflect on that. Pray to God. Ask for His mercy so that you and I may be accepted into His kingdom. Glory to God. Let us pray. Father who sits in the kingdom of heaven, thank You for teaching us how we should glorify You. How we should not deify our bellies. How we should not glorify our shame. How we should not love these worldly things. We have been called to the proclamation of Your holy gospel. So woe to us if we do not preach the gospel. And we know we are actually incapable. So may You be pleased to empower us to love You. Empower and strengthen us to do Your commandments. Allow us to live in Your statutes. And love us always so that we may love You every day. Therefore, above all else, we only ask for Your mercy for the forgiveness of our sins. May You be pleased to cleanse and sanctify us so that we may always be pleasing before You. You know we can do nothing of ourselves, but we depend on Your mercy so that we may live every day in Your life. Because every day is a grace for us. Therefore, O Lord, empower us to do what is pleasing before You, so that it may be our pride. We young people come before You, surrendering ourselves to You. Let it be in our youth that You fight against all lusts, all sins, all flesh that fights and snatches us away, namely from the devil who wants us to be his. But because we believe that You have conquered and trampled the devil and death, we surrender ourselves to You. So, just as You did not reject the prodigal son, may You not reject us, the lost ones, who are far from You. Just as You did not reject the prostitute who came and anointed Your feet, so we, who are more sinful than that prostitute, may You not reject us and take away Your garment from us when we come near You. Just as You willingly went to the tax collector and made him Your disciple. So we, who are more sinful than the tax collector, come to us and make us Your disciples. Because that is our happiness. And just as You came to Saul, blinded his eyes, transformed him into Paul, so transform us in our uncleanness and sinfulness into Your holy instruments for the proclamation of Your gospel. So that we may cry out like the thief beside You, "Remember me, O King, when You come into Your kingdom." You became the just balance between the two thieves. One perished into the kingdom of hell because he exalted himself above You. But the other You placed in Your Paradise with You. Because he humbled himself and acknowledged that You are king. So on this same day, we acknowledge that You are our King and Lord. So may You allow us and remember us and our names individually when You come into Your kingdom. Because we are sinners, because we are people who can do nothing, so have mercy on us who ask for forgiveness and also for help from You. Give us strong and steadfast hearts to love You in Your ways. Even if we suffer because of it, so that we may obtain what You have given to Your saints of old. So in all of this, Father, glory is only Yours, and Yours, and Your Holy Spirit, now and forever, and for all eternity. Have mercy on us, these sinners.