Title: You Will Be My God
Contents
Zechariah 4:6 Only my god.
As we live in this world, we often encounter our own limitations, our human limitations. And when I think that I have no choice but to continue to be unhappy when I run into such a limit, I unknowingly let out a sigh and feel discouraged. Furthermore, they lament their plight and blame their fate. Or, they try to escape from reality in various bad ways, including alcohol. Some people are extremely suicidal.
Another crisis has come to the Korean economy these days. In the past, many people committed suicide when many people lost their jobs during the IMF crisis and became financially bankrupt. Because we have reached an economic limit that we cannot overcome as a human being. In recent years, another number of people commit suicide for financial reasons. A few days ago, it was reported that talented male vocal group Lee Seo-hyun committed suicide. Failure to invest in stocks is the main cause of suicide.
If the economy becomes more difficult in the future, there will be a situation in which human limitations cannot overcome the crisis. And the misfortunes that arise from failing to overcome those limitations are foretold. It's not just an economic crisis. A few days ago, it is said that a girl caught while cheating committed suicide without overcoming the shame. There is a human limit that each person can endure, because this girl has also gone beyond the mental limit that she can endure.
As Christians, we, too, face difficulties in our lives at times when we hit our limits. The so cold and sobering reality is no exception for us Christians. How should we Christians overcome these great crises and problems facing human limitations? Today's Bible says: “It is not by might, not by might, but by my spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).
Before Jesus was born, in 586, the nation of Israel was destroyed by Babylon. And at that time, many Israelites were taken captive and taken to Babylon. And then Babylon was also destroyed by the Persians. Cyrus, then king of Persia, showed mercy to the Israelites who had previously been taken into captivity. He gave the decree to the Israelites that they could return to Jerusalem and build the temple. At this time, a man named Zerubbabel, a descendant of David from the tribe of Judah, led 50,000 Israelites and returned to Jerusalem, their homeland.
And they worked together to build the foundation to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. But their temple construction soon ran into obstacles. Several political forces, including the same Israelite Samaritans, who became a mixed race, strongly hindered the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. As a result, construction of the temple was halted for 15 years. Then the people's faith began to waver. They thought that the temple construction was so difficult because God was not with him.
Furthermore, their unbelief brought their selfishness to live only for themselves. Their innocence and passion to build the temple of God have now disappeared. Selfishness was prevalent, claiming that only one would live in Jerusalem. Even the tithe that should be paid to God's temple was given priority, so he could not give it at all. As a result, the Levites and priests, who had to live with the tithes that the people gave, serve in God's temple and lead the faith of the people of Israel, had no choice but to leave.
As a result, the Israeli community that was created centered on God eventually became like a worldly community. Their faith disappeared and they lived a life of hard work, but later it turned out to be a cursed life of pouring water into the bottom of the poison. Under these circumstances, the construction of the temple could no longer be accomplished by human efforts. At this time, a vision came to the prophet Zechariah. In a vision, an angel appears and says: “It is not by force, not by might, says the LORD of hosts, but by my spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).
Angels still testify to us today. “There are things in this world that cannot be achieved by human strength and ability. But even those things that are humanly impossible become the gods of God.” If you believe, please Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, what makes us Christians different from the people of this world is that we are not people who depend on ourselves and others, but people who depend on God. Therefore, they are people who do impossible things that people cannot do with the power of God.
One day, Jesus and his disciples were having a conversation. Jesus tells his disciples. “Children, how difficult it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.” Then the disciples were astonished and asked. “No, Lord, then who can be saved?” Then Jesus said: With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Ladies and gentlemen, the Bible often speaks about our human limitations and God's power. Humans seem strong, but in reality they are weak. On the other hand, God seems to be an incompetent God who does not do anything because it is invisible to our eyes, but in reality there is nothing impossible for God. In particular, Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the vine and you are the branches; if he is in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Sometimes unbelievers say this to us believers. “Ah, people who believe in God are really weak people. To say that the world does not believe in himself, so he is relying on an invisible God… … … I believe in myself.” Guys, in a way, this statement is correct. We Christians are people who believe in God, not people who believe in me. This is because I have properly realized the incompetence of the human being called ‘I’.
But are we weak people who believe in God without believing in me? It never is. Rather, because we believe in God, we are truly strong people who overcome human limitations and make the impossible possible. People in the world believe in themselves, but when they reach their limits, they lose the foundation of their lives. When the existence of the self that we believed in like that collapses, there is no place to lean on. You will soon be unhappy. You will soon reach a cliff.
However, we Christians are not people who live by our own strength, but people who live by the power of God, so there is a God we can lean on even if we meet human limitations. In the world's words, there is a bibill hill Even if the sky falls, there is a hole that will rise. There is something to avoid. It is in the arms of our God. Have you ever reached your limits, your limits, while living in this foreign land? At this time, you must come to God and rub it. “God, please save me. It is absolutely impossible in my own strength. God help me.”
Looking at the reality presented in today's text, it seems that the rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple is now over. There seems to be no hope at all. It seems very impossible. However, God is saying that He will surely complete the work of rebuilding the temple through His God. And as the prophecy said, the rebuilding of the temple was completed beautifully despite the persistent sabotage of the enemies. It was impossible for man, but it was possible because God did it.
Especially in the world of the last days, there are many things that are humanly impossible to stop. There are times when I can't stop even my own children. There are times when human beings are out of control. The sad reality is that no matter how much Tyler is a loving family, he abandons the truth and goes down the path of unhappiness. When we can't do anything with human power, we need to realize. “It is not by might, not by might, but by my spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).
Last week, there was a female deacon from Korea at our church's Wednesday worship service. From now on, I came to Calgary to send my two children studying in middle and high school, and I came here to explore with a plan to live while working. At that time, the Word of God was given very appropriately. A sermon was heard saying that in this foreign land, we cannot live by human strength, but we can live by God's strength.
After hearing this, butler Lee made this confession before she returned to Korea. "i See. To come and live here, I must live by God's strength, not by human strength. To do that, we must first ask God whether it is God's desire for our family to come here. If God wants, we can live here with God’s power, and if God doesn’t want us to come here according to our own will and our own will, we will not be able to live on our own, so we should not come.” “Yes, that is the correct answer.”
Everyone, if you look at our church website, among those who inquire from Korea, “Can you really live here?” I get a lot of inquiries. At this time, the butler, who is the operator of the website, finds and provides information suitable for that person. But there is always an admonition to follow. That's exactly what this recommendation is. “Pray to God. All you need is God's help. Please take a good look at God’s will.”
Gentlemen, why do we always do this exhortation? This is because no matter how excellent one's abilities are, if God does not help them, they will soon run into human limitations and fall into discouragement and despair. Moreover, there are not many places to turn to for help as in Korea when facing human limitations here in foreign land. Moreover, in this foreign land, it is difficult for a married couple to earn money alone, and the reality is that both couples live while working, so the situation of the person next to you is often difficult.
However, there is a way to live freely in this foreign land. All you have to do is to be with God, who always helps you when you are going through difficult times. It cannot be done by human strength, but if God is with us, we can live. Today, as the global economy is struggling, the question of life or death is attracting many people's attention. But do not forget. “It is not by might, not by might, but by my spirit” (Zechariah 4:6).
Conclusion. We cannot do anything without God. Even here, our happiness can never be guaranteed without God. But because God is with us, we can live abundantly in this foreign land. No matter how difficult it is financially, we can persevere because God is with us. Rather, God's blessings come to us more greatly at this time, so we can directly experience and see God's craftsmanship.
Rather, human limitations can be an opportunity to draw upon God's great power. So pray this earnestly when you face your limits in this foreign land. “God, I can’t do it on my own. I can't do it in my ability. I am lacking. But with God, it is possible. God answers our prayers like this: “It is not by force, not by power, but by my spirit” (Zechariah 4:6) Amen!