Transcription
My peace I give you. And with that title, I hope you receive much grace from today's message. Thank you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled nor let it be fearful.
This passage serves as a Lord's final heartbreaking testament to his disciples spoken three days before the cross. Romans 8:6 states, "The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the spirit is life and peace." This is a statement made by the apostle Paul when he was filled with the Holy Spirit. There is no peace in the mind of the flesh. The mind of the spirit is life and peace. The thoughts of the spirit mean that although we are humans with flesh, when we are not under the control of the holy spirit, the thoughts of the flesh creep in. When you live with the thoughts of the Holy Spirit, possessing a great faith that pleases God because that is the thought of the spirit. It doesn't mean you are only spiritually at peace. But rather because you think of the spirit first and all your physical life as well, God says you thought of me first. All right. I will bless you both spiritually and physically in whatever you do. Thus, even your physical life becomes abundant. And even if you do business, you do not lose money but make a profit. So your mind is at peace. You must not think of the flesh first. Isn't it the thought of the spirit to pray for help so that your lack of faith can become faithful? Just as you love your parents and just as you love your husband, wife, children, you must think of God first and the physical parents second. However, because people think of their physical parents without thinking of God, nothing works out for them. And God says, "Aren't you God then? Then do it your own way."
Therefore, when you have thoughts of the spirit, God says, "Oh, it doesn't work by your own strength, does it? You are a creature. You are limited by time and space. So, that is why you are asking me." And so, that is why it says in Proverbs 16:3 that God makes everything prosperous in Psalm 55:22. It tells us to cast our heavy burdens and not committing them to him means are you God? Fine. Try doing it your own way. And because people carry a heavy burden weighing thousands of pounds in their hearts throughout their daily lives, things don't get resolved. Our Christianity is a religion of peace. Jesus said to entrust all worries and anxieties to him. If I give what I have to a third party, I no longer have it. You must entrust your worries. You must entrust your worries. And even after believing for 40 or 50 years and you're like a pastor, elder, deacon is deacon and you still haven't been able to entrust them. Think about it for a moment. Our Christianity is a religion of peace. Therefore, if a Christian lacks peace, they are clearly living their lives of faith incorrectly. and have absolutely no faith. In trusting worries is faith because you cannot commit them. Anxiety exists and when there is anxiety, fear arises and you think how am I supposed to live? Because you have not tasted and experienced the perfect love of Jesus. Anxiety exists. That's why you have anxiety. Therefore, perfect love drives out anxiety, drives out fear, and drives out worry. This is in the Bible. The word of God. The word of God. Saints gathered in this place. Are you at peace? Are you really at peace? Do not lie before God and answer for yourselves. God, I am at peace. He is the one who knows our innermost heart. What do you mean you're at peace? You have no faith. You don't even commit anything to me. And aren't you the one controlling everything yourself? God is not a God who is mocked by man. Are you at peace? If you're not at peace, what's the reason? We must find the cause. for us Christians in any case whether going out or coming in it's in Psalm 121 verse8 isn't it just like the word from Deuteromy 286 from whether you go out or in you receive blessings so you're blessed when going out and blessed when coming in and a person who's blessed when they go out and come in and a person's this person is truly at peace.
And when we talk about a wicked person, you must not only think of it as someone committing crimes like stealing, scamming, and committing all kinds of crimes, not giving all your sincerity during worship, not giving all your heart, and not focusing on the living word of God is committing sin. And such a person is a wicked person because it's just formulaic. That's a wicked person. So long ago, the prophet Isaiah was not referring to people commit murder, robbery or fraud. But what is it when you come to church and fail to give all your heart, all your sincerity, and all your strength? What is that? It's committing sin. Whether sin is big or small, a sinner is a wicked person. And so that is why the prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 57 that there is no peace for the wicked. It's a problem. It's a problem. What is the reason that there's no peace or tranquility in the heart? Because you are committing a sin. So that's why you don't have peace. When you look at Isaiah chapter 48:22 and Isaiah 57:21 when you look there it says there is no peace for the wicked in Jeremiah 23:19 says behold the storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath. So even a whirling tempest, it swirls down on the head of the wicked. And when a storm blows, everything gets blown away. The whole roof blows away. When I say during a sermon that the roof blows away means the head of your entire life gets blown away. And because the head is blown away, one becomes an absolute fool. Nothing ever works out. Jeremiah 30 verse 23, behold the storm of the Lord has gone forth in wrath, a gale swept tempest. It will burst on the head of the wicked. And a moment ago in Jeremiah 23:19, it also said it will strike the head of the wicked like a storm and whirling tempest. It's the exact same wording. And then in Jeremiah 25:31, says, "As for the wicked, he has given them to the sword, declares the Lord." He says he will give the wicked to the sword. There's no way things will work out. Even if you go there, you're on the run. Even if you go there, over there, you're on the run. There's nothing to eat. Even if you do business, there's no profit. And when you search the scriptures, a person who is committing sin or living in sin is never at peace in their heart. It's never at peace.
Now when you look at Genesis 3:es 3-7, How hard must Adam's heart have been thumping? Because he sinned, he realized he was naked. Didn't he realize he was completely stark naked without a single threat on him? And that's why fear crept in. and they sewed fig leaves together and covered their lower bodies and they covered themselves. But when the sun rose, they dried right up and crumbled away. So the shame of the man and woman returned. And so that's why they hid among the trees, did they not? And God asked Adam, "Adam, where are you?" He was asking about his location. "God, I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." He said, "And why did you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that I told you not to eat from?" And the woman, Adam said, the woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree and I ate. And when he asked the woman, she said, "The serpent which God created deceive me and I ate." It's all excuses. So pitiful. Adam, where are you? That voice of God which used to be so close, merciful, benevolent and loving. That voice of God is now so full of pity. They used to live together with God, but because of sin, they were separated from him. So, how pathetic they must have looked in God's eyes since they disobeyed and sinned. How are they going to survive? God was worried. Adam, where are you? Inside those words, God's heart is embedded and so pitiful to Adam. It didn't sound so close and affectionate. Instead, it sounded like the terrifying thunder of a harsh rebuke. So truly pitiful. The question, Adam, where are you? It's not a question asking for location during a game of hideand-seek between people who love each other. And rather it means what kind of condition and state are you in right now? What did you do to yourself? It's what kind of state are you in? It's very pitiful. It's a voice of rebuke. I heard the sound of God and I was afraid so I hid myself. He said, and that's in Genesis 3:10. So, right at the moment, God was about to give a name after creating Adam. Didn't the devil steal it away? The meaning of Adam means man or human. It means man or human. And when you give birth to sons and daughters, do you give birth to dogs, cattle or birds? You give birth to humans. And once born, shouldn't you give a name to that child? And God gave birth to Adam. And right at the moment he was about to give a name, the devil stole it away. That is why he couldn't give a name. He was not able to receive a name. In Isaiah chapter 60, 62,65 and Revelation chapter 2, it says he will give a name, a new name to the one who overcomes, doesn't it? He said he will call them by another name. What is the point of believing in Jesus for decades? When you have a baby, it's a human, right? In Hebrew, it's Adam. Its meaning is man or human, right? And if it's a human, shouldn't you give it a name? He he or she a name. And right at that moment, God was about to give a name to Adam who is a man. It was stolen away. And that is why he said, "I will give a new name. You will be called by another name." And God's question is, "Oh man, where are you?" Adam means man. Where are you? Because Adam and Eve did what a human being must not do. The human was not in the place where human ought to be. And so that is why God said, "Oh man, where are you?" Even when parents tell their children to do something, they don't listen. And then the parents say, "Hey, you rascal, are you even a human child? Are you even human?" Don't they say that? Adam, where are you? It means, oh man, where are you? It means that a human is not in the place where human ought to be in the visible world, he is a human, but in God's eyes, he's not there. If God had regarded Adam as a human, why would those words, "Where are you," even come out? Listen carefully to what I'm saying and take it to heart. From a physical perspective, he's clearly there. But from God's perspective, the human is gone. He's lost. God intended to give him a new name. But before he could receive the new name, he was already lost. Just like when I give birth to a child and pick out a name in advance, but the child dies before I can even give he or she that name. him or her that name. So, Adam, where are you? Doesn't this mean he's not there? This question is not about geographical location. Adam, where are you? This question is not about the geographical location during the game of hideand-seek between people who love each other and it's about the kind of state and condition that he was in that he lost his humanity. God created man but he lost man. Where are you? God's heart is aching so much it feels like it will burst because Adam and Eve did what a human being must not do. God saw that the human was not in the place where a human ought to be. So God was deeply grieved and he was indignant. God had created man with a purpose and a will. But before man could even receive a name, he was snatched away. Imagine you went through dying pains to give birth to a child only to lose them. A thief took the baby robber. Think of the mother but also the entire family. How incredibly, deeply heartbreaking that would be. A psychological state of trying to cover and hide oneself is certainly not at peace. They do hear the word of God, but they're not human. The defeated is a slave to the conqueror, a slave to the devil and Satan. When you commit sin, you become afraid. I mentioned earlier, didn't I? I was afraid. So, I hid. When you sin, you fear. There's When you fear, you're bound to hide. These are truly terrifying words. It is a pain that pierces God's heart. You rascal. I gave birth to you. Changed your wet and dirty wet and dry diapers. Stayed up all night. How much I thought of you and how I raised you. I thought you would become a proper human being. So why are you like this? You're worse than a beast. The whole family prayed so hard for you. So why did you turn out this way? And the mother just balls and clearly when the mother looks at him, he is her son. But in terms of true meaning, he is no longer her son. She lost her son. He has become a beast. When someone says, "Are you even a human child?" It means you're a beast, doesn't it? So God the Father's heart aches, and Adam and Eve, having been rebuked, have no peace. And what does it mean that Adam and Eve have no peace? Means they turned their backs on their mission. They threw their mission away. Adam and Eve received a mission from God. Among all the people existing on this earth, there's not a single person who does not have a mission. Everyone has a mission. If you forget, ignore or turn your back on that entrusted mission. You will never have peace. For some unknown reason, you just feel suffocated. every return, north, south, east, west, everything just feels completely suffocating.
Look at the lesson from the book of Jonah, the Old Testament prophet. He was told to go to Nineveh. He was told to go to Nineveh, a gentile land, and proclaim the word, wasn't he? But he turned his back on that. He fled to Tarsish. And to escape God's sight, he went down into the hold of the ship. And the ship encountered a tempest and it was about to break apart. And they threw all the cargo on the ship into the sea, didn't they? Nothing worked out. And looked, look at how they dragged Jonah out of the hold of the ship to cast lots and ask God. And once they threw the sinful Jonah into the sea, from that moment on, from that moment on, the sea became calm and quiet. Whether for an individual or a family, if there's sin, there is no peace but turmoil. Jonah's mission was to go to Nineveh, proclaim the word and rebuke their sin, but he fled instead of doing that. And he was hiding away to escape the presence of the Lord. So they cast lots and it fell on Jonah. So since he could no longer hide it, he confessed. Didn't he tell the truth and he said, "Throw me in." And when the soldiers grabbed Jonah and threw him over, the ship instantly became quiet. Jonah was the one who sinned, wasn't he? Sin must leave an individual or family for them to have peace and for the business to do well. A person with sin cannot succeed in business. It just won't work. And as you have lived up until today, do you not feel any guilt? The moment you hear this word, repent in your hearts. Then it will be resolved. A mission does not mean you obey if it pleases you and disobey it if it doesn't. It's not that. Whether you live or die, eat or not. Whatever the case may be, God's mission comes first. And if you hold on to your mission, you're at peace because it belongs to God. That mission is God's. And if you hold on to that mission, you're at peace. But when you obey according to that mission, you receive peace, tranquility, and even greater peace. Just like in Philippians 4:es 6-7. A mission is not dictated by your feelings or circumstances. And it's again, it's not dictated by your feelings or circumstances. There's absolutely no peace for those who abandon their mission and run away. Whether you've been entrusted with a district or for a deacon, an eldest, elder, you have a mission. You must first realize that mission. And you will find peace only when you do that work. See what happens when someone entrusted with the mission fails to carry it out. It just won't work out. Those who try to live according to their mission first will have peace in their heart. Second, joy wells up in their hearts and they can live happily and therefore that family is a blessed family. That family is a blessed family.
Look at Peter when Jesus was arrested by the Roman soldiers through the conspiracy of the religious leaders. What did Peter, the very one who should have stood at the forefront, say beforehand before Jesus was arrested? He said, Even if you are imprisoned, I will go with you even to the path of the Lord's death, I will go with you. And he says, I will lay down my life for the sake of the will. Yet when Jesus was scourged and bound with cords because the conspiracy of the religious leaders then he should have stopped it and he should have said, "Hey, listen to me. Are you out of your minds? This person is God. He is the coming Christ, the Messiah." From Genesis chapter 1, the law and the entire scriptures have pointed to him. He is eternal life and yet you are arresting him. Are you out of your minds? Peter was the kind of person who should have done exactly that or who should have said that. But what happened? Because he was afraid he might be captured and killed if he got too close while falling behind. The Bible says he followed from a distance, keeping his distance far away. Jesus knew this. Are you unable to follow me closely, keeping a far distance and following me from afar because you're afraid you might suffer disadvantage on account of me? How heartbreaking Peter who should have stood at the forefront followed from a distance the moment he betrayed Jesus and that's in Matthew chapter 26 verse 58. Saints do not forget this for eternity. When you do not live according to your mission, you are not walking with the Lord. Nor are you living with him. Although you say with your mouth that you live with him in terms of your true purpose, while Jesus walks ahead, you are following him from a distance out of fear because you might suffer disadvantage. And so, could things possibly go well for you and your household? They cannot. Mark 15:54, Luke 22:54. Talks about being at a distance. Mark 15 14:54, Luke 22:54, and John 18:15. It's talking about being at a distance.
When you look at the Bible, Jesus was bound with cords in the courtyard of Caiaphas, the high priest. And it was winter, but he was not wearing undergarments. He was wrapped in something like a thin sheet. He is the king of kings and the very master who created the universe and all things in it. The master of heaven, the master of earth, the master of all creation. Yet that very person was bound to cords in the courtyard of Caiaphas. While the religious leaders had all kinds of fruit set upon their tables, eating, pouring drinks, and drinking away, the Lord had not eaten anything for days. They questioned Jesus, didn't they? Are you the son of God? It is as you say. Are you a king? For this I have come. Jesus answered everything regarding himself. At the very end, the high priest Caiaphas said to Jesus, "I will ask you one last thing. Jesus, are your disciples still believing in you and following you even now?" Jesus who had been speaking with his head held high, he already knew everything about how he was sold out for 30 pieces silver, didn't he? Matthew 26:56 says that all the disciples left him and fled, doesn't it? the high priest asked that question knowing full well it was true. Then while Peter was warming himself by the fire because it was cold, someone said to him, "This man was with the Nazarene sect too. I saw him." "Not me," Peter said. Then a servant girl said it again. A third time someone else said, "I definitely saw you following Jesus." Peter cursed and swore, didn't he? As he was cursing and swearing, Jesus, who was bound with cords in the courtyard of Caiaphas, turned and looked at Peter because Peter kept denying him so vehemently. Jesus looked at Peter and Peter also looked at Jesus. Their eyes met. Right then and there. Cockadoodle do the rooster crowed. Before a rooster crows today, you will deny me three times. Those words were exactly right, weren't they? How staggering. I don't know Jesus. But I saw you. Are you out of your mind? I don't know Jesus. Because he was cornered so badly. The last thing he said before everyone was, "I do not know what you are talking about." Didn't he say that? Then Jesus bound with cords turned around and his eyes met with Peter's. Luke chapter 22 verse 61. We can see that there Luke 22:61. Therefore, in our lives, if we live a life that does not know Jesus, can there be peace? There's no peace. Peter looked out only for his own skin. He couldn't go near. Falling from a distance, he kept reading Jesus's expression. So when he denied Jesus who was standing in the courtyard of Caiaphas three times, Jesus who is God, he knew it all. And given all that, could Peter's heart possibly be at peace? To put another way, how often do we live a life denying Jesus? We walk down the paths he told us not to walk. We walked down them. We walk down the paths of sin, don't we? And knowing in our conscience this is sin, we still walk down them knowingly, don't we? Peter saying he didn't know Jesus and us committing sin even when we know better. It's the exact same sin. There's no peace. So that's why according to tradition every single time the rooster went cockadoodle do at dawn Peter with startle and shed tears to the saints of our pangong church when you read understand believe and strive to live according to the Bible. Please believe without fail that your descendants will all prosper for generations to come. The word of God guarantees it and God has said so himself. Therefore, you must never depart from the words that proceed out of the mouth of God. Keep in mind that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. And when you welcome the word of God, please believe that it will become the very source of the blessing of peace.
Let us conclude. Why is there no peace? Because there's no faith. The reason there's no peace while believing God is that people are believing without faith. They believe without faith with their mouth. They believe. But they do not warmly welcome the word into their hearts and live out that faith in their daily lives. They don't believe. They carry their Bibles and come to church, but they do not read or listen to the Bible. So, how can faith arise? Romans chap 10:1 17 says, "Faith comes by hearing." Faith arises by hearing the word of God. And that's why in Revelation 1:3 it says that the person who hears reads and does or heeds what is written in it is blessed. living a life of faith with actual faith while enjoying true peace. And he fills your kneading bowls to overflow and says, "Hey, the door is too narrow. Widen it." And when you widen the door, the wind of blessing blows in. So the mother and father are healthy. The wife and children are healthy. You yourself are healthy. And your whole life is full of thanksgiving God. Thank you. You say thank you. And your life itself becomes thanksgiving. Praise breaks out. Prayer breaks out and therefore that household cannot doze off. Please believe that they are always awake. Possessing a faith that prepares, makes ready and waits. Please believe that. In Matthew chapter 24:42 says to be on the alert and wait and same in Matthew chapter 25. You must have faith. Faith. Human anxiety arises when there is a lack of faith. When one is unfaithful, dishonest, fails to do their best and cannot focus while listening to the word of God. cannot praise and cannot give thanks. That is when it happens. Therefore, repeat after me. Philippians chapter 4 verses 4-7. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice. Let your gentle spirit be known to all men, the Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. This the Holy Spirit. Jesus says, "Guard us because he worries we might lose the peace in our hearts." And it's done through the work of the Holy Spirit. How wonderful that is. If you believe in God, you are safe. The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. Says, "If you fear man, You'll be caught in a snare. It's in Proverbs chapter 29 verse 25. But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted. How great is that? Apostle Paul speaking to the foolish kinsmen who would not accept Christ. How much did they persecute those who believed in Jesus in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 uh first 1 Corinthians chapter 2:2 after Paul came to believe in is coured in his heart. He says I determined to know nothing except the cross. In Galatians 6:14, he said, "I will boast only in the cross." And the life of Paul, who was determined to know nothing but the cross and determined to boast only in the cross, was always an entry into heaven. And so that is why he says that the righteous judge is waiting for him with the crown of righteousness. And we see this also in 2 Timothy 4 7-8 that he was going to receive his crown. And I pray that the P saints of Pyong Church will also place their trust not in people, power, material wealth, but only in God. And may you receive the blessing of peace that others do not possess, so that in everything you do, it succeeds wonderfully under his grace. and may your descendants for 10,000 generations, fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, grandchildren, all become a garden of peace. And I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will always remain a garden of peace, tranquility, and victory until the day we welcome Jesus into his kingdom. I bless you. Let us pray.
Although Saul, who used to oppose Jesus, rejoiced and was pleased when Steven was brutally stoned to death. This Saul later realized that in terms of its true meaning, he had crucified Jesus and God. And in the end, he thoroughly and completely repented, declaring in 1 Corinthians 2:2, I determined to know nothing except the cross. And in Galatians 6:14, that he would boast only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. May there be a work of victory and overcoming sin in all of our daily lives as members of Pyong Church, boasting only in the cross the eternal salvation and the life of the cross, holding fast to it alone. Grant every single member of Pong Church according to Galatians 6:14 that they may boast only in the cross of Jesus Christ victory and eternal life within each of their households. Father God, comfort all the saints of our Pyong Church and let them proceed by the Holy Spirit. Grant them the understanding of the word. And let us be those who are not lazy but faithful in welcoming and listening to the word of God with absolute focus and forgive our sins of knowing God up until this day yet failing to glorify him or give him thanks. From this moment on, let us become people of your will, lacking nothing in our lives according to the Lord's will. Are there any sick members in any of our families? At this very time, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I command, let all the diseases flee. And Lord, with your hands stained with unseasing blood, lay your hands upon and touch our suffering saints from the crown of their heads to the soles of their feet. Cleanly strike down and eradicate every sickness. Grant us a great work of faith so that until the day we go to that kingdom, may we always be at peace, tranquil, thankful, praising, and receiving the word with intense focus so that entire families live looking upon the resurrected Jesus in joy, gladness, and hope. Though all of life may have been blocked and unsuccessful up until today, grant that we receive the given word and return. And as we live believing that there may be nothing but the smooth path of peace, may every step we take be a blessed one. We offer this prayer of thanksgiving in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.