Title The Lord Who Changes / 2004.2.15
Poetry is the Lord
Luke 19:1-10, Psalm 42:1
Christianity is a religion of change. Christian faith is a faith that is renewed daily by throwing off the old things both personally and in the church. This is referred to in the Bible as 'born again'. The Lord said, Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Then, how can we live a changed life in faith? In today's text, the words of a changed life are coming out.
In Jericho lived a man who was short and famous for his stubbornness. The man's name was Zacchaeus. This Zacchaeus was a tax collector who led several tax collectors at the customs office. Therefore, although his stature was small, his authority was high. He was not good looking, but he was a rich man with a lot of money. Zacchaeus was such a high-ranking and wealthy man, but he always had an empty heart. Because the true life of a human being cannot be bought with money.
Because Zacchaeus had a hole in his heart that could not be filled. The big hole in his chest couldn't be filled with anything. It is not covered by money. It is not filled with honor either. It is not filled with power.
What is this? This is spiritual hunger. This spiritual thirst is not quenched by worldly things. Only when man stands before God can the problem of human existence be resolved. So Psalm 42:1 says, “As a deer longs for streams of water, so my soul thirsts for you.” Those who live in this world without God have this spiritual thirst. This thirst cannot be quenched no matter how much money you have, no matter how powerful you are, and no matter how respected and popular you are, it cannot be quenched. This spiritual thirst inevitably produces emptiness in life.
What ultimately comes to those who live without God is the emptiness of life. Zacchaeus had everything that ordinary people wanted and wanted, but life was futile. He had everything, but life was futile. Life without God is truly meaningless.
Some people interpret the word “future” mathematically. It was said that emptiness is equal to 0 when multiplied. So, even if I made 100 million won or 10 billion won, it became zero when I ran into emptiness. 100 million x 0 = 0 / 10 billion x 0 = 0 / world honor x 0 = 0. World power x 0 = 0.
Zacchaeus ran into a wall of emptiness in life and everything returned to Zero. So I struggle. Just as a deer needs to find a stream now, Zacchaeus was looking for living water. But there really was no one in this world who could give him an answer.
This Zacchaeus problem is actually our problem. But most of us forget about these issues. It is not easy to solve, so I try to forget it. I get drunk on the sweet taste of the world and forget it. Then, when he suddenly returns to his original place, he feels that life is impermanent and that life is meaningless.
In 'The Little Prince' of 'Juppupperi', the following words appear in the conversation between the fox and the little prince. "People buy everything they need in the Supermarket. But the friends aren't in the Supermarket, so people don't have friends anymore."
It means that the joy of being a friend or life is not obtained through money or status. A spiritual person must be filled with spiritual things to overflow with joy and grace in life.
Although Zacchaeus was not lacking physically, Zacchaeus decided to meet Jesus in order to solve his life full of emptiness. Zacchaeus longed to meet Jesus. So I came to meet Jesus. He gave up face to meet Jesus. I lost my honor. The passion to meet Jesus caused Zacchaeus to lose all his face.
Gentlemen, this passion of Zacchaeus is important. When we come to meet Jesus, we must not be bound by worldly things. Don't be conscious of the person next to you. You shouldn't lose face. You must have the passion to meet Jesus no matter how difficult it is. This passion led Zacchaeus to meet Jesus. This passion drives us to seek the Lord.
A thirsty deer looking for a stream is risking his life to find it. The water you drink at that time is not just water, but you are drinking life. That must have been Zacchaeus' earnestness.
Zacchaeus's efforts are finally paying off. When Jesus saw Zacchaeus, he said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly. I must stay at your house today.” This was unexpected. That's right. When we go all out to meet Jesus, Jesus comes to us and calls us.
Whether people say that he is a sinner or not, Zacchaeus is filled with gratitude and joy, and he takes Jesus into his home.
This case does not end here. The real thing is now starting to happen. After receiving Jesus and taking him to his home, Zacchaeus stood up before Jesus again at the dinner table. He said, overflowing with emotion.
"Jesus, look. I am a man of great wealth. I am a man who lacks nothing. I have nothing to do. But Lord, I have always been thirsty. I have always been alone. I have always missed people. My heart is always in my heart. I've always had nightmares of standing alone in an empty field, but now I've found the answer. Today I feel my heart fill up. Now I have a spring of water that will never be thirsty. Meeting the Lord and my life is changed. Now I know how to live. I will give half of my possessions to give to my poor neighbors. And if I have been a publican and have taken away from others, I will repay you fourfold."
Jesus looked at Zacchaeus with his face wide open and said,
“Today salvation has come to this house.
Look at this man, is not this man the son of Abraham!" 19:9
He takes Jesus into his home and experiences a change in his life. All the problems that plagued him in his conversation with Jesus were resolved. His life goals have changed. In the past, people who were moving towards power and towards material things have now changed their direction. In the old days, the person who made money as the goal of his life and did many evils has now changed and has become a person who gives grace to God's people. So he gives money, which was his idol. If I extorted anything, I promised to pay it back four times. He promises to use his wealth for the poor and sinners. It is a promise to serve, to be charitable and to be committed. I will do it with joy too.
Faith without change and renewal is like a dead body and rots. Faith like a spring of water that springs up every day is a living faith. How can you have this belief? What am I going to do? What kind of effort should I make?
Nothing Zacchaeus was trying to change. There is only one thing, I went to the Lord to meet the Lord. When I met the Lord, the Lord changed my heart. When I try to do something, I get a taste of failure. All we can do--it is only humbly approaching the Lord in faith.
“Lord, I have come. Come.
Lord, I pray. Please make it new."
When we come to the Lord with sincere faith, God pours out the Spirit of change. The Lord makes new.
makes you pray. makes you believe lets you do it Thank you. makes you serve. allows you to convey.
The revival meeting starts tomorrow. Revival is not always an event. It is a time of grace that God has specifically granted to renew our faith.
First, I hope that you will participate diligently with Zacchaeus' passion.
"Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" Romans 10:17
Don't say you don't have faith, but listen carefully. To listen intently, we must gather together.
Second, please earnestly yearn for Zacchaeus, who climbed the mulberry tree.
It is to add grace to those who open their hearts and wait eagerly. If your heart is closed, no matter how much you are in the pouring rain of grace like a waterfall, you cannot contain a single word. Open the lid of the face and flip it over. Pull out the bars of doubt. Then the Lord will speak.
“I must stay at your house today.”
The grace of the Lord dwells in the longing heart.
Third, I hope that you will receive the true joy of life by being transformed like the born-again Zacchaeus.
It's not for the revival or the church. This is for the sake of a happy life for all of you. When you are renewed by grace once more, you will be filled with joy.
We must change our doubts and stand with confidence.
Sick souls and bodies must be healed.
We must be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that we can be filled with joy in life.
So change must happen. Change your heart, change your home, change your life, change your life.
I sincerely wish that this revival meeting will be a revival meeting rich in grace and blessings.
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