Title: Lent Dawn Prayer (10) Forgiveness...
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Lent Dawn Prayer (10) Lent for forgiveness (Genesis 50:15-21) 2002.3.13.
The text is the last chapter of Genesis and mentions the reconciliation of Joseph and his brothers. First, Joseph's brothers did evil (evil) to Joseph. They hated Joseph, bruised him, and tried to kill him by throwing him into a pit. Joseph, who was sold, suffered a lot of hardship. While resisting temptation, he was falsely accused and imprisoned. But he overcame all difficulties and ended up becoming the prime minister of Egypt. And I met old brothers. Joseph could get revenge if he wanted to. Thinking about what happened to him in the past, he could get revenge in a refreshing way. And the brothers were also afraid of Joseph's revenge. In verse 15, they were afraid, <Maybe Joseph hates us and will repay us for all the evil we have done to him>. But look at verses 20 and 21 of the text.
“You intended to harm me, but God turned it into good, so that as it is today, the lives of all people are saved. Do not be afraid, I will feed you and your children,” and comforted them with earnest words.
Joseph knew through his life that God is a God who turns evil into good. Our God is a God who turns evil into good. He is a God who forgives without revenge. Today, on the dawn of Lent, we remember Jesus Christ crucified. He was the Son of God, and he suffered evil from the ignorant. They were ridiculed and despised, beaten and killed. Christ crucified, but he prayed:
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Lent is a time to learn and put into practice the love of Jesus Christ, who turns evil into good and forgives evil. The season of Lent is the season of forgiveness and reconciliation, even if you are an enemy, even if you have committed all sorts of evil deeds against me that cannot be forgiven. <You have heard it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy,’ but I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become sons of your Father who is in heaven. :43-45> I pray that this Lent will be a season of forgiveness and reconciliation by learning and putting into practice the love of Jesus Christ, who transforms evil into good.
An unforgivable life! Are we not living such a life now? We are living today without even enjoying the grace of forgiveness that God has promised. If we come before God and confess with our lips, no matter how deep our sins may be, it is clearly thrown before us that He will forgive us, but we are not enjoying that grace.
But look! How is Joseph's life as we see it today? The appearance of Joseph seen through today's text is the last appearance of his life. But everyone! What is that last look? Saints! That is nothing but forgiveness! That's it. Look at verse 15 of the text! When his father Jacob died, what did his brothers do? I am very afraid. They fear that Joseph might retaliate. So what are they doing? They are defending themselves by selling their father's name and making up words that his father never said. Isn't that what verses 16-17 are about?
That's right. Saints! Now Joseph's brothers are trembling with fear over what they had done wrong in the past. But what is Joseph doing with his brothers today? I forgive all the mistakes of the past days. Where there is forgiveness! It is definitely heaven. That's right. A place full of forgiveness! There is no doubt that it is heaven. It's a really nice world to live in. Who among us does not make a mistake? One of the greatest traits we humans have is our mistakes! That's it.
So forgive me! It's an integral part of the world we live in. anger ! It doesn't have to be in us. condemnation! It doesn't even have to be in us. But forgive me! It must be in us. So who can forgive? Who can truly be a person of forgiveness? Today's sermon clearly gives us the answer to that question. Through these words of today, I earnestly hope that forgiveness will be filled in us. Would you like to see verse 19 first? What is Joseph saying to his brothers, who are trembling in fear? Don't be afraid! Shall I replace God?
Saints! What do you mean? Isn't this saying that condemnation is God's exclusive possession? That's right.
condemnation! It is something only God can do. A sinful person cannot condemn anyone. That's why the prosecution in this country needs to be clean. But what about it? Is there not one among us without sin? There is not. None of us can live a sinless life. So condemned! It cannot be ours.
Moreover, we have been given a very special message. Saints! What do you mean? Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from that and the law of death!” That is why no one in the world can condemn us now. Neither are we in a position to condemn anyone.
Dear Yeongam family, This is Joseph's confession today. How can I replace God? I am not able to do that. Such a confession! This ritual of Joseph! If we have this consciousness within us, we too can be willing to forgive someone. With this ritual that no one can condemn, it is our sincere hope that forgiveness will fill us today.
Second, would you like to read verse 20? You intended to harm me, but God turned it into good, so that as it is today, the lives of all peoples are saved! Saints! do you remember It is the saying that all things work together for good. Joseph is showing us once again that these very words are infallible. That's right. Our God makes every situation, no matter how bad, good and good for His children in the end.
Isn't that Joseph's confession today? It was God, not the brothers, who made him sell himself to Egypt by his brothers earlier. God had Joseph first sold to Egypt in order to foresee the distant future so that His people could stay in a safe place.
That's right. Saints! There is no coincidence in us. The word luck is not really suitable for those of us who live by faith. God's Providence! It is only within us. When we have this consciousness in us today! We can forgive anyone. Therefore, saints! Has someone caused me great pain right now? Think of it as a providence of God! Then you will be forgiven.
God's thoughts are contained in God's providence. God's thoughts are much deeper and much higher than our thoughts. Let's look at Isaiah 55:8-9. "My thoughts are not your thoughts, saith the LORD, My ways are not your ways, just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
So God's providence! In that providence, there is a really good plan that we cannot know. Belief in this fact! When that faith is in us, we too can forgive. May the forgiveness that comes from such a belief fill us.
When your mind is open, new information or stimuli can come in, and when new information or stimuli come in, you can't stay still, so you move. And then, little by little, small changes take place. When such small changes begin to gather, a completely new history of change occurs. The history of creation or reform does not happen overnight. It's gradual.
There is a saying that "a butterfly flaps its wings in Beijing and a storm strikes in New York". But the flapping of a butterfly's wing doesn't immediately turn into a New York storm. It is a very small change, but when they come together, a completely new and bizarre event occurs, which does not happen suddenly, but occurs over a long period of time.
When your heart is opened and the Holy Spirit comes upon it, your life begins to change slowly. In the beginning, joy arises, and thanksgiving arises, and changes in the family are made. Not only that, but they also become zealous for the church, and those who used to skip Sundays attend not only diligently but also have a desire to serve. When two people like this come together, the Women's Evangelism Society becomes more active and the choir is enthusiastic. As the choir works hard and sings the song, it brings glory to God and brings joy to the listening congregation, thereby revitalizing the church. As the black cloud that had covered the church lifted, smiles began to appear on the members' faces, and various things that had not been done before began to be accomplished one by one. The stagnant church is beginning to be reformed.
Of course, when the hearts of all members of the church are open and new changes occur there, the changes are much stronger and faster. However, if only 20% of the church members open their hearts and receive the filling of the Holy Spirit, they can change the entire church and make a new history. This is called the 20/80 principle. 80% of any achievement is 20% done. 80% of sales sold come from 20% of merchandise and 20% of customers. According to this principle, 80% of church reform or renewal will happen when 20% of the members of the church have an open mind and receive the filling of the Holy Spirit. In the case of our church, if 20% of the members have an open mind and start to see God's work and dream big, this church will make amazing changes.
Romans 5:6 says that while we were still weak, we were loved by the Lord. Verse 8 says that while we were still sinners, we put on the man of the Lord. Verse 10 says when we were enemies with God! At that time, it was said that we were put on the love of the Lord. Saints! The Lord's love for us is a love that is full of forgiveness. We also need forgiveness now. A love that is deeply infused with forgiveness! That kind of love is what we need.
And now remember! The fact that we are not in a position to condemn anyone now! And the fact that all the circumstances of my life are the providence of God. By remembering these two facts, I bless you that you can now be filled with forgiveness in our homes and in our churches. A place full of forgiveness! That's heaven. There is joy. Laughter blooms there. I pray that the families of our members and this Garden of Faith become such a place.