Title: God Ebenezer
Contents
< Pulpit sermon >
2011. 12. 18. (Sunday)
day worship
‘God Ebenezer’ (1 Samuel 7:12-14)
When the prophet Samuel was attacked by the Philistines, he urged the Israelites to gather at Mizpah to fast and pray. Then God answered and God defeated the Philistines. To commemorate this, Samuel erected a stone between Mizpah and Shen and called it “Ebenezer.” It was a stone commemorating God's help. As such, we should celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Hamhae Presbytery and give thanks for God's help by holding a commemorative service.
1. God who prevents tribulation
The Israelites who had been attacked by the Philistines were saved by God's help. In 1950, when the Korean War broke out and the Chinese Communist Army entered the war, the refugees hurriedly evacuated through Heungnam Pier. 12,300 members of the church living in the Hamhung area fled to Geoje Island in a transport ship. Then, the ‘Hamnam Presbytery’ started by setting up a tent and having a service in the school auditorium. In this way, we should give thanks while remembering God who protected the saints in the midst of the tribulation of war.
2. God of Restoration
3. The God Who Gives Peace
Then there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. Peace is a gift from God. When Israel earnestly sought God, peace came. What man desires the most is peace. Hamhae Presbytery is a presbytery spread throughout the region, working for harmony between East and West, harmony between progressives and conservatives, and harmony between South and North Korea. And in the future, we will do our best in evangelism and missions to spread the absolute peace that Jesus gives us to the world.
Please give thanks to God for protecting the Hamhae Presbytery for the past 100 years and guiding it until now. And I hope that the God of Ebenezer will guide the next 100 years and fulfill the missionary vision that God wants to achieve through all the churches in Hamhae Presbytery to the ends of the earth.