Title: Year of Peace
Contents
Title: Year of Peace
Key Verse: Luke 2:14
If I had to pick the world's top news in 2001, it goes without saying that the 9/11 New York terrorist attack. And after that incident, the biggest news was that the US declared war on terrorism and went to war in Afghanistan.
Then, in the new year of 2002, the United States declared this year as the 'Year of War' and increased its defense budget to an all-time high and is trying to wage war. Moreover, Iran, Iraq and North Korea are called the 'axis of evil', and they are giving strong warnings to these three countries, and vowing to go to war if they don't listen.
Although many countries around the world are showing their opinions in favor and against this, it is a very frightening and worrisome thing for the parties and neighboring countries that are in danger of running out of rice, running out of bread, losing their homes, and their families dying immediately after a war. it can't be
Moreover, the South Korean government, which has implemented a sunshine policy against North Korea, is not hiding its embarrassment and has even fired the foreign minister for not handling the matter properly. has exist.
And if there is a sign of war on the Korean Peninsula or a war breaks out, it is a self-evident fact that you and I will suffer a lot of direct and indirect damage, and accordingly, the immigrant church will also suffer a lot of damage.
Therefore, as before, we pray this way. "Lord, please don't let war ever happen again on the Korean Peninsula!"
Everyone, have you ever had a fight when you were young?
And have you ever been hit by someone's fist? How did you feel at that time? How would you feel if you were punched in the stomach and your breathing seemed to stop immediately, if you were struck in the face and felt dizzy, and your nose bleed and your face was in a mess?
Needless to say, the mood at that time will be miserable, miserable, bitter, sick, painful, sad and angry. And if I saw my parents, brothers, or my children being beaten by others, bleeding, screaming, and painfully dying, I would suffer like crazy, and my anger at those who harmed my own family would be heavenly. will sting
Ladies and gentlemen, wars and fights are never as romantic or exhilarating as those seen in movies or video games. When war breaks out, food is scarce, children cry because they are hungry, gas and water are not supplied properly, so they have to fall in the cold and darkness, when children get sick, they cannot get medicine properly, houses are crumbling, and there is no place to go. There are many unemployed people, orphans who have lost their parents and weeping on the streets are created, happy families are destroyed in an instant, and young people are taken to the battlefield, so their dreams and futures are destroyed without question.
Therefore, war must never happen, even if it is glorified
no more. If you were God, would you declare this year the 'Year of War'? So, after killing so many people, would you cry out abominably, 'Now there is peace'? Or would you like to declare this year as the 'year of peace' and make an effort for peace by saying, "Let's not fight again. Let's not make weapons that kill each other"?
Guys, keep that in mind. Jesus came to this earth as the Prince of Peace, never as the King of War. Jesus did not incite war against the Roman government that ruled and harassed Israel, nor did he ever wage a battle against them.
Rather, he used a method of peace against the Roman government by saying, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's" (Matthew 22:21), and toward Peter who uses the sword, "All who take the sword will perish by the sword" (Matthew 26: 52) said.
In other words, Jesus loved peace, not war.
And when Jesus comes as the Holy Spirit in our hearts, we will hate war, hate fighting, and avoid strife. So even if other people hit me on my right cheek, I would rather turn my left cheek, but I wouldn't grab the other person's hair and shake it or swear at the other person. Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Peace.
Therefore, when a person filled with the Holy Spirit is in the home, the family is peaceful, and when a person filled with the Holy Spirit is in the church, the church is peaceful. Conversely, if there is a person possessed by an evil spirit in the family, the fight will never stop in the family. If there is a person possessed by an evil spirit in the church, the church will never cease to be jealous, contentious, and divided.
And think about it. Towards a family where there is always a fight, we say, "That family is a happy family!" don't say And to the church where strife and contention happen, "That church is a model church indeed!" don't say
Rather, when marital quarrels occur at home, children become emotionally unstable, wander, and become problem children. And if there is a fight in the church, the members get tired and don't want to come to church, so the growth of the church stops and heart.
If this year is a 'year of war' rather than a 'year of peace' for your family, it will be a very boring year for your family. And if this year is a 'year of war' rather than a 'year of peace' for our church, this year 2002 will also be a very boring year for our church.
But everyone, rejoice. This year is the 'Year of Peace'. Therefore, discard the missiles you have. Throw away your guns and knives and take on the tools of construction and take the lead in the new construction. Build homes with peace, build churches with peace. War and contention bring destruction, but peace brings building. Peace brings dreams and hopes. Therefore, never again take up arms to wage war. Rather, "Farewell, weapon!" Shout and proclaim peace.
As you all know, our church is a church that has been damaged by war. A lot of fighters arose, and a lot of saints were lost because of that fight. And he was not very exemplary in this immigrant society. But peace has finally come. Although we suffered a lot from the war, God gave our church peace this year. This year our church is the 'Year of Peace'.
Therefore, let's overcome the damage of war and take the lead in new construction.
Just as you and I worked together to achieve the 'Miracle on the Han River,' let's create the 'Miracle of Calgary'. You and I have a potential that the world does not know. And with that power, we built the best temple in Calgary in two years. And now we will rise again to achieve the ?쏮iracle of Calgary??
Guys, take a look at yourself. And ask yourself this. "Am I really a person of peace or a person of war? Do I really love peace? Or do I love war? Is this year our family and our church a year of war or a year of peace? My hands are still in the midst of destruction that is trying to kill others. Are the weapons raised? Or are the tools of construction leading the ranks of new construction? Are my lips still a tool of war that destroys others, or a tool of peace?"
Ladies and gentlemen, we must not break this hard-earned peace on our own, or lose peace by fighters entering the church again. Furthermore, we should not be discouraged or sit down just looking at the ruins of war. True peace belongs to those who build, never to those who sit and weep.
Just as the 'Miracle on the Han River' and the 'Miracle on the Rhine River' were accomplished in the midst of a devastating war, the 'Miracle of Calgary' was made in the ashes of war. In other words, even though our church was damaged by war, the miracle of revival of our church will now be done in the ashes.
Everyone, take a look around. We are all victims and wounded by war. We are people who have been beaten with both right and left spans without mercy. We are the ones who have tasted the pain of war and shed bitter blood and tears because of it. Therefore, we desperately realized the preciousness of peace.
Now is the time to close each other's wounds, to cover each other's pain, to comfort each other, and to inspire each other's courage. And we have to encourage each other and shout, "Now that peace is here, let's rebuild! Let's be strong! Let's make Calgary's miracle again!"
Guys, who will take the lead in this construction? Who will bear the hard work first, and who will bear the cross first? "I can't. I can't." Do not sit down and say, "Lord, if you give me strength, I can do everything too. I will take the lead in building the kingdom of heaven!" And I bless you and I who are firmly leading the ranks of construction.
Furthermore, this year will be a year of true peace, a year of development, a year of hope, and a year of miracles for me and you, who are leading the ranks of construction. And on that day, let us fully praise God who accomplished the miracle of Calgary through me and you. Hallelujah !