Title Modeling of Faith/Hebrews 12:1-3
Contents In the old days, people made and wore clothes rather than buying them. I bought cotton and dyed it to make clothes. My mother was very good at sewing. So you made the clothes really well. In particular, to make clothes, a sample is made out of stiff paper, and the fabric is cut out as it is to make clothes. These days, this is called modeling. in pure Korean
You could call it a "pattern".
An athlete's ability is determined by the coach he or she trains under. So, what gym he is from or what professional team he belongs to determines his career path. In music, the gesture of playing the piano and the quality of the sound are also determined depending on which teacher you take lessons from. In particular, in the case of vocal music, the teacher's voice almost resembles that of the teacher.
A man named Longinus describes the secret of his success as a literary man.
"How would Homer express this? What would Homer think of my expression?"
"If Demosthenes were here, how would you react to this?"
All of this in a nutshell is that the level of a person can vary depending on what kind of modeling we choose. An easy way for us to live a life of faith well is to choose a model of faith well. It is a matter of choosing the model of faith well.
1. Let's imitate the victors of faith
In fact, there are surprisingly many people who can be imitated by our side. There are a lot of people who are good models if we want to imitate someone with humility. If you look at today's
It reminds us that “we have a cloud of witnesses.” That's right. Don't fall for the self-defeating person who thinks of yourself as the standard, and you need an attitude that imitates the great people around you. I would like to define two things in this respect. ① People who can imitate can make progress. ②Happy are those who have something to imitate.
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that you will be close to people of good faith, actively socialize with them, and imitate them. The buzzword these days is to choose a mentor for my life. Anyone with a mentor is safe. And happy. Mentors provide life information and teach life wisdom and skills. It also acts as a coach and becomes a reflection board in your life. Above all else, my mentor
“You have become imitators of us and of the Lord, but now yourselves have become examples of those who believe” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7).
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that we can have more friends of faith than ever before. Statistically, it is said that members who have 6 or 7 friends in the church never leave the church. The new millennium needs friends of faith more than ever. Because the success or failure of life depends on the relationship. No longer relying on technology. This is the age of relationships. How well you develop good human relationships determines the course of your life and your happiness. I hope that you will be able to make many friends of faith through men's and women's missions, at Sarangbang, and through various types of Bible study groups and discipleship groups. Because only a friend of faith can become a companion in the fear of God (Psalm 119:63).
I would like to introduce a moving story of how precious a friend of faith is. Two friends who grew up together in a rural church are enlisted in the military. After training, fortunately, I was assigned to the same unit. Then one day, we went to the 6.25 battlefield together and fought a fierce battle. However, a friend was hit by an enemy bullet and was unable to escape. The soldier pleaded for someone to come and help, but no one could run into the enemy camp. At that moment, a dear friend ran in while being baptized by the enemy's shells, but the friend was already dead, and he himself was hit by enemy bullets and limped again and returned to life. At this time, the platoon commander, who lost both combat power at once, shouted in anger at the soldier who had returned from injury.
“Your friend is already dead, and you are injured and crippled, what does that mean?”
The soldier told the platoon commander these moving words.
"Squadron commander, do you know my friend's last words? As I ran through the fire to save my friend, he said these heartwarming words to me. Jae-tak, I knew you were coming!"
And close your eyes!
Dear brothers and sisters, I hope that we too will follow the example of the victors of faith and make a new leap in faith. In today's text, the victors of faith show two unique points. 1) Living simply
It is to “put away every heavy thing and the sin that easily entangles us.”
This is a term used by athletes.
Athletes wear as comfortable as possible when competing. Lightweight clothing that fits snugly to the body.
To avoid any disturbance.
I hope that today too, we can boldly throw away all the obstacles in our life of faith.
2) It is a faith that moves forward.
The word race here is the Greek word hupomone, which means a forward-facing posture, not a backward posture.
When you ask 100m runners what they think about running, they all give the same answer.
“I just look ahead and run.”
Dear brothers and sisters, I want you and me to take a new leap of faith today. It is a life of faith that boldly organizes all the old lives and moves forward only. I would like to introduce you to a simple poem by R. Browning.
a person who looks forward and moves forward
Those who look forward and move forward without ever looking back have no doubt that the clouds will lift.
Even though the right may be defeated, never dream that evil will triumph.
Even if you fall while trying to get up, you will only get frustrated in order to fight better.
I just fall asleep to wake up again.
2. Let's look to Jesus, the perfecter of faith
In fact, the absolute model of our faith is Jesus. This is verse 2. Only Jesus is “the author and perfecter of faith.” In Greek we use the terms arke and telos. arke means creator, forerunner, initiator, and giver, and telos means perfecter, achiever, achiever. Jesus alone is the one who gives us faith and the one who completes our faith. So, in Revelation 21:6, Jesus' name is called Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the completion. If you have given us a basic faith, it means that you will complete that faith (Philippians 1:6).
Dear brothers and sisters, we have already joined the church and have become believers in Jesus Christ. Then our faith can continue to grow towards the finished stage. Because faith is a gift from God. Some theologians define faith this way: (1) Divinely-given: Faith is a gift from God (2) Divinely-sustained: Faith is sustained by God (3) Divinely-energized: Faith is strengthened by God (4) Divinely-increased: Faith is God let it grow
Therefore, we need the patience of faith to endure the cross like Jesus did today. Today, we modern people need a religious attitude that we imitate with a humble heart, as well as patience and faith that endures silently. In particular, since modern people are so impatient, more persevering faith is needed. Historian Calvin Coolidge puts it this way:
"There are many talented, unsuccessful people in this world. There are many people who have a better education than others, but are not successful. There's only one reason, because I can't be patient."
That's right. No matter how much talent, education, or privilege you enjoy, if you do not persevere, the tower will collapse.
Dear brothers and sisters, our Jesus endured and endured even the cross. Our Jesus is showing us Django's persevering faith. That's right. Two blessings come to those who live by persevering faith.
1) It is a glorious joy.
As a result of being willing to endure even the sufferings of the cross, Jesus obtained the joy of being glorified at the right hand of God (verse 2).
In Philippians 2:5-11, even though Jesus knelt at the foot of the cross and suffered all sorts of contempt, ridicule, and shame, as a result of his patience and perseverance, God exalted him most, and gave him the name that is above every name, to kneel before him, and every tongue praises Jesus as Lord and King.
Dear classmates,
Today, I hope that we too can persevere in the midst of any difficulties and unfavorable conditions, looking forward to the glorious joys beyond the dark clouds.
"A man who can persevere can obtain whatever he desires" (B. Franklin)
2) It is a new strength that never gets tired.
The endurance of our Jesus' longevity never wore out (verse 3).
On the contrary, the more I endured, the more new strength springed up.
In fact, “everything can be rested only after going through difficult times” (Fuller)
Webster, who wrote the English dictionary Webster, completed the dictionary after 36 years of hard work.
At the age of 66, composer Haydn completed the Oratorio Creation as his 800th work.
It is said that the painter Michelangelo made 2,000 sketches in eight years before painting the Last Supper.
The model of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, Mona Lisa, is a woman named Elizabeth, who maintained the same expression for at least four years, so the work was made possible. This is almost impossible. However, it was the perseverance of a woman that made her, together with Leonardo da Vinci, a heroine of a masterpiece forever.
So, when we feel we can't bear it any longer, that is the moment to ponder Jesus. I believe that the more I think about Jesus, the more I will feel refreshed instead of exhausted.
If you look at people, you will be disappointed, but if you think deeply about Jesus, you will find new strength.
“But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength, and they will soar on the wings of eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not get weary” (Isaiah 40:31).
(Prayer invitation) Dear friends, do you also have a model of faith? Do you have a religious mentor? Only a friend of faith can become a companion who fears God. In particular, the victors of faith who are by your side will lead you as a believer who still moves forward. And how often do you contemplate and look to Jesus, the perfecter of your faith? The more you look to Jesus, the more you will feel eternal joy, and the new strength that will never tire will spring up.