Title: The Blessing of Meeting / John 1:6~18
Contents
Written by: Pastor Taesik Shim
Title: Blessing of Meeting / John 1:6-18
ex) A blind calf lived in a village. However, a duck who lived in Gunnut Village moved to this village to avoid wild animals. The calf and the duck soon became friends. The duck became the friendly guide of the blind calf.
When it was time to eat, the duck squeaked and guided the calf. The calf followed the duck to the grass. The duck stayed with the calf until he finished his meal, and when the meal was over led him back to the water.
If other animals even bothered the blind calf, the duck flapped its wings and screamed to drive them away. The two of them helped each other and lived happily ever after.
This isn't a fictional story, it's actually what happened on the American TV show "The Wonderful World".
I thought that only people have friendship and love exists. But we also learn what true friendship and love are from animals that God created together with man.
So in the Garden of Eden, it seems that they kept and governed and got along together. You will learn the friendship and love you give regardless of profit or loss through calves and ducks. May our meeting always be true friendship and love in Christ Jesus.
Matthew 25:40 says, “As you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Life is made up of encounters and encounters. Life begins with meeting. And in life, you will encounter more and more encounters. Who you meet on your life's journey is very important.
Sometimes you meet people you really shouldn't meet, and you see people who are unhappy. On the other hand, there are people who enjoy meeting each other well.
So, especially at the opening ceremony of the saints who are starting their own businesses, I pray that they will help me find a helper.
A woman meets a man once and suffers for the rest of her life. Also, a man may be suffering from a bone fracture when he meets the wrong woman.
So, in the end, after doing a revival and pioneering ministry in the city, I quit and moved to a church with only a few grandparents in the countryside.
So today, we want to share grace by looking at what kind of meeting we should have.
1. There must be a meeting with me.
The Apostle Paul had so much to boast about physically.
Philippians 3:4-6 “But I also have confidence in the flesh, especially if anyone thinks that anyone else has confidence in the flesh. I was circumcised on the eighth day, of the house of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews. As for the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, persecuting the church; as to the righteousness of the law, blameless."
Perhaps, if it had not been for the call of Jesus on the road to Damascus, he might have lived his life in triumph according to his confession. But when he heard the Lord's call, "Saul, Saul," he met him.
Therefore, he confessed and testified, "It is by the grace of God that I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). This is rebirth.
If we leave the church without receiving the Holy Spirit, it is just going to church. If you do not meet yourself through the Spirit of God, you will only raise your own righteousness.
Romans 10:1-2 "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God is for Israel, that they may be saved. I testify that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge."
It means that we do not know the righteousness of God and we only promote our own righteousness. Dissatisfaction arises as to why I don't recognize my hard work, dedication, and donations. My face and my honor take precedence, and God's will comes second.
Even if you are not born again, you can work hard even if you are not born again. But it is not believing in God. It's just going to church.
You can truly dedicate yourself to God only when you meet God for even a moment, discover that you are a sinner, and realize what kind of relationship the death of Jesus Christ has with you.
The apostle Paul met himself before God. After the experience of being reborn, he experiences unspeakable suffering.
☞.2 Corinthians 11:23-27 “Are they the servants of Christ? I speak frantically, but I am even more so. I overworked, I spent more time in prison, I was beaten countless times, and I almost died. Five times I was beaten with a rod less than a penny; Perils, perils in the wilderness, perils at sea, perils among false brethren, and toil and toil, many times sleepless, hunger, thirsty, many times starved, cold and naked.”
After meeting him, Paul, who was second to none in knowledge, family, or circumstances, endures all the hardships. He met Jesus, who bore the cross for him, who should be destroyed forever.
If a person does not meet with himself, there is no blessed meeting. I pray in the name of the Lord that all of you who have won today have the blessing of meeting with you.
Romans 7:24-25 “O wretched man I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I will give thanks to God through our Lord Jesus Christ. serve you"
2. There must be a meeting between me and my neighbors.
We live in relationships with our neighbors. Therefore, it is important and important to get to know people well. We are lucky to have good parents, good teachers, and good friends. The people must meet their leaders well. Our reality has nothing to do with meeting the wrong leader. Our life continues with encounters.
Therefore, we must pray. "Lord, please give me the blessing of meeting." The saints must meet the pastor well, and it is a blessing to meet the faithful and obedient pastor in the Lord.
Jacob and Esau's meeting began as a fight from the time they were womb. Even after they came out into the world, the fight continued because of the birthright, and the two had to part as enemies in order to win the blessing of the firstborn.
After 20 years, Jacob returned to his hometown with a thought that he must have forgotten it now, but Esau led his army to meet him. Jacob wrestles with God all night at the Jabbok River Naru with a fearful and frustrated heart. Meeting with God could change the relationship between Jacob and Esau, which was like enemies, into a harmonious relationship.
The meeting between David and King Saul may have been unfortunate. However, it was God's blessing to meet Jonathan, the son of King Saul, who was the enemy.
On the way to Jericho, a robber meets a man who is despised and saves his life. It was a blessing to meet the Samaritan in the midst of danger.
These encounters in our lives do not go according to my will. It is done under the guidance of God without my knowledge.
Whether I know it or not, God wants us to have a good meeting. That is the blessing. Hallelujah!
Please pray for the blessing of meeting before God. Not only that, I hope that other people will be able to thank God for meeting me.
All together - thank you for meeting you.
3. There must be an encounter with God.
Without an encounter with God, our faith is nothing more than a legal, moral, and habitual religious life. Let us ask ourselves whether we have had a personal encounter with God.
Hebrews 11:38 says, “The world is not worthy of such a man.”
Today's text is John's introduction to Jesus. To meet Jesus is to meet God. John then sends his disciples to Jesus.
I pray in the name of the Lord that all of you will have the blessing of being born again by meeting Jesus. When our spirit meets God, everything goes well.
3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in good health, as your soul prospers.