Title: Have You Realized Christ?
Contents
1. Words that begin
There are many teachers who say that they love their students, but it seems that there are not many teachers who really put so much effort into loving their disciples that others know that. There are many politicians who say they love the people, but there are very few politicians who really work hard for the people to the extent that the people recognize their love. There are a lot of professionals who say they love their job, but there aren't that many who really work hard enough that others know.
A lot of people say that they value someone, something, or something the most, but few people work hard enough to realize that.
There are many church members who know and love Jesus as the most precious Lord, but it seems that there are not that many church members who try so hard to make others realize that.
2. Paul's Struggle in Prison
Paul's entire life after meeting the risen Lord has been consistent with loving and cherishing the Lord more than himself. In the heart of that apostle Paul, the concern for all the members of the church never left. He was concerned not only for the churches he founded, but also for the churches established by other workers.
Prayer with earnest concern for others is a sure way to receive God's help from others regardless of time and place. In addition, the letters written for the church members of that time, such as Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon, not only presently but also in the future, do not know how many people will receive God's comfort and encouragement, God's strength and wisdom, God's blessing and eternal life.
Everyone, please believe that there is no such thing as a situation where you cannot pray earnestly or where you cannot make an effort. In fact, a serious problem is giving up on conditions or circumstances as an excuse.
The purpose of the apostle Paul's desire for the church members to know about his struggles in prison was never to satisfy his desire for recognition or ostentation. It is entirely for the church members. It was so that the members of the church, who are under the danger of external persecution and internal heresy, might find comfort and courage in their hearts, unite them firmly in love, so that they could understand Christ, the mystery of God, with a deep enough and broad understanding.
The ultimate purpose for the church members to know that the Apostle Paul is not giving in the slightest while in prison, and working hard for the church members, is to awaken the Savior Jesus Christ, the secret of God's love. How are we? How hard are you trying to understand the Lord deeply and to enlighten the unbelievers?
An old man who suffered from a morbid disease that could not be helped even with modern medicine and was cured by eating a natural diet is emphasizing that he must eat a natural diet, either verbally or in writing, if he has an opportunity, or even creating an opportunity.
Heretics go from door to door to spread their doctrine, whether on the street or on the train.
As the wind of honorary retirement is blowing, more and more gatherings announcing the news of start-ups are increasing, and it is said that many people are looking for shamans and fortune tellers because of the uncertain and uncertain future.
If we are truly saved, we may ask, “How can we act so that people can come to know Christ, the treasure of God’s wisdom? How can we as believers be politicized so that people can come to know Christ, the repository of God's knowledge? How can we, believers, do business, work, and study so that people can come to Christ, where all the treasures are hidden? As believers, how can people believe in Christ, the mystery of God’s salvation?” You will have to live with anxiety. If you do that, God will surely work for you.
Everyone, I hope that you will diligently read the Bible, listen to the sermon, and awaken Christ in your life, with your lips, or through your actions of obedience. And please tell the sick people that if they come to our church and pray for the laying on of hands, they will be healed by the power of Christ. After receiving the prayer for the laying on of hands, it will be good, if not, won't it be possible to receive eternal life through the faith that was developed while receiving prayer?
The Apostle Paul, who lived a life of preaching the gospel by obediently obeying God's word despite all kinds of persecution and tribulation, said, "Always give us victory in Christ, and through us in every place we show the smell of knowing Christ in every place. Poetry thank God” (2 Corinthians 2:14).
3. The faith of the saints becomes the joy of the leader
The intention of the Apostle Paul, saying that he wanted to know his struggle for them to understand Christ, was so that the church members would not be deceived by the plausible reasonings and doctrines of heretics by realizing Christ.
Romans 16:18 says, “Those like this do not serve Christ our Lord, but serve only their own belly, and with clever and flattering words they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
It is said that our country is in crisis these days, but in fact, the biggest crisis is the overflow of idolatry. The world is becoming more dominated by shamans and fortune tellers than ever before. It is heard that unintentional retirees, even young people, are looking for shamans or magicians, as well as a lot of people seeking to become shamans or magicians because of rumors that they make good money. However, the ironic fact is that the hit rate of top Korean shamans and fortune tellers is less than 50%.
The Bible, the book of revelation from the one God, declares that there is no other way of salvation than Christ, who came and took up the cross according to God's promise of salvation. In John 14:6, it is declared, “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.”
4. Conclusion
As believers, we must act so that people may come to know Christ, the treasury of God's wisdom. As believers, we must govern so that people can come to realize Christ, the treasury of God's knowledge. As believers, we must do business, work, and study so that people may come to Christ, in which all the treasures are hidden.
I hope that all of us will strengthen our faith so that people can realize and believe in Christ, the mystery of God's salvation, and strive to live a life of obedience to Christ.
(Poongseong Methodist Church. Book: Complete Commentary on 27 New Testament Books/ Interpretation of Difficult Scriptures I, II/ Salvation Before Jesus Came/Paul’s Understanding of Man/ Prosperity Prayer/ Seasonal Sermonbooks/ Sermonbook 18. -3051)