Title Don't Pass By (June 29)
Content span id="writeContents">◆ Main text: Genesis 18:1-5
It's so good to see you all on the pulpit after a long time. You gave me a sabbatical year, but I'm not used to it, and it's awkward and rather difficult for me, who has been running for 28 years without a day off. Church came out every day, and I prepared as much as I could for Sunday sermons. Yesterday, I went to the hospital and told the doctor about it, but I was scolded.
“Pastor, then, don’t do Part 2, just preach Part 3. Keep it short, too.”
As the doctor said, I will keep it short.
Our Master Hwang Hee-deok, you should know about Hwanggo’s house. First-time church members get hurt a lot. You've been in that position for 20 years. No, what did you rent for a church seat? Anyone who sits in that seat will be very smashed. Newcomers don't know and sit there and be embarrassed. I think it's a little too much, but there is such a stubbornness of true faith. It is said that I will protect my seat, and that if I sit in this seat, it will be a blessing. It may be a little hurtful to others, but Mr. Kwon Woori's stubbornness is still thought to be the persistence of faith longing for grace, and it is understandable.
While I was in the hospital, the office staff suffered a lot. Our butler Song Sujeong is in my ward, and a young doctor who is an intern came in and looked at my face for a while, then looked at Butler Song Sujeong, and then looked at butler Song and asked.
“What kind of relationship is it?”
The young doctor is weird. I look at my face again. After looking for a while to see how a good-looking person could have seduced such a young woman, I ask the butler again.
“How do you know each other?”
Only then can you say, “You are a pastor.”
No, how good is “Pastor and Saints”? I was possessed by a ghost at a young age, and I know him... It's really important to call this relationship in life.
“What is your relationship with me?”
Today I am going to tell you the story of Abraham, and Abraham is expressing it this way. “You have been blessed.”
Often, when we talk biblically, we use most of the expressions, “I have been favored.” However, in particular, Abraham uses the expression, “Grace has been found.” All our members are blessed. In this case, raising both hands and saying Amen is great... But there are some people who do not raise both hands. If you raise your hands and say Amen, it will be a blessing, right? Raising your hand after talking twice is breaking news.
Our lives change depending on who we meet. Living a short life and meeting good people when I see them is a blessing. Now, do you have any greetings from our church? The minute next to us will hold hands and say hello.
“Why do I look so good when I see you?”
You have to meet good people. The pastor must meet the saints well, and the saints must meet the pastor well. Also, if we meet again, we need to make a connection with a good meeting.
“I have been blessed.”
It is a story often used by church members after the sermon is over.
“Pastor, you have been blessed.”
Many people are blessed. But in particular, Abraham “has found favor.” That's right. I received grace, but I can't see where I got that grace and hid it. It's not like you've received grace and don't know where you put it. If you have received grace, you should wear it and use it in your life. Abraham is said to be the father of faith and the father of blessing. The word that connects them is called obedience. They say that there are people who have faith but cannot be a blessing because they do not obey.
Today Abraham is watching a passerby in front of his house. Three people pass by, and the moment I see three of them, I say, “Oh, it’s them.”
Those who have the eyes of the spirit can see the people of the spirit.
“It’s that person.”
It may have been overlooked, but Abraham did not miss the opportunity.
Gentlemen, those who have faith are those who do not miss opportunities. Many opportunities pass through our lives, and those who know how to seize them are said to have faith. The eyes of faith must be opened.
“Do not pass by…”
He welcomed them into his home. Rather than just passing by, you have to meet and make contact. Our Christianity is not a passing thing. Our Christianity is a religion that achieves miracles through meeting and contact. It is said that he did not let them pass by, but took them to his house and welcomed them.
Thousands of people followed Jesus when he was doing great things. Thousands and tens of thousands of people gathered around Jesus, but not all of them saw a miracle. Among them, a man named Zacchaeus gave up all his face to meet Jesus and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus. How beautiful and good is it?
“Jesus looked at Zacchaeus…”
When I look to Jesus, Jesus is always looking at me.
Zacchaeus and his eyes met.
The person you love must look through your eyes. Everyone, when you meet a good person, you see, see, see, see... I will watch until the end until you say Amen... Look, see, see again... (Amen) Eyes must meet. It is important to know him as precious. People who know how to value the people I meet are blessed people. What does it mean to not covet others? It means to know how to value mine. Everyone, the person I meet is the most precious person. Those close to me are the most precious people.
I listen to their stories. My heart is already open.
I can't say no, so I say, "Yes, yes.
I lost everything that was inside me. I don't have anything. But it seemed that I had lost everything... After the worldly pride, worldly confidence, and all worldly things were gone, God was in me. Even though I lost everything, I was able to have new courage when God was with me. Faith turns from despair to hope, faith from failure to success, and faith transforms any circumstance into blessing.
Everyone, if you go to the country of Israel, there is a sea called the Dead Sea. The sea is a dead sea that is useless to anyone in which no living things can live. There is the same Dead Sea in Jordan next to it. But strangely, the Israelites are extracting unimaginable minerals from the Dead Sea. He also goes to the Dead Sea to cure arthritis and many other ailments. The sea of curses and the sea of death are replaced by the sea of blessing. This is faith. But Jordan is the same Dead Sea, but it is still a dead sea. As long as we have faith, we can change any environment with God's blessing.
How hospitable have you treated the people of God? Abraham gave the best hospitality. Faith is sincerity. It is devotion to God. Love is an action, not a language. Gentlemen, a person who has faith can only become a living faith if actions follow it. Some people seem to have faith, but they are too stingy. Everyone, never be stingy before God. I wish you abundance before God.
What was the blessing that the man of God gave to Abraham, who devoted his heart to God?
“At 100 years old you will see a son.”
Everyone, I hope that you will be able to hear these blessings while living your life of faith. It is not the same life as people in the world, but you must hear this blessing at least once in your life.
“It doesn’t sound like a word.”
Abraham's wife Sarah laughed. But he said, "You laugh, but it will be a blessing." Please, I hope that our members will be a smiling family. I sincerely pray that you will become people of faith who can receive blessings because of the Word of God and smile while looking at the blessings first. We will pray together.
“Thanks and thanks Father God, help us so that we can live like Abraham, just as a person who had faith received blessings through obedience through Abraham. Please help me to open the eyes of faith, to change all things into blessings through faith, and to become families that can laugh at the word of blessing with faith. We thank and pray in the name of Jesus. Amen."