2/20/11 Actualization towards uniqueness - Action towards from us.
from us. Verse 10, “I have come so that they may have life, and
financial solution (John 10:7~18)
Introduction - thief , robber
1. Work of Satan (John 10:10) - Steal, kill, destroy
1) Genesis 3 Individual
Genesis 6 Family
Genesis 11 Society
2) John 8:44, Ephesians 2:2~3, Ephesians 6:10~20
3) Revelations 12:1~9
* Cause of all problems
* Action - Luke 10:19, Matthew 12:28~29, Mark 3:15
Problems are answer, blessing, renewal
Resolve the problem !!!!!
2. Good shepherd (John 10:10) - Life, Abundantly
1) Good shepherd, Jesus Christ
(1) 1 John 3:8, Acts 4:12
(2) John 14:6
(3) Romans 8:2, John 8:32
2) Good shepherd, evangelist
(1) 1 Peter 2:9
(2) Matthew 10:40~42
(3) Romans 10:13~15
* Action - John 10:16 , Life of the evangelist (3 Todays)
3. The financial answer that the good shepherd receives (John
10:9) - Isaac
Gospel imprinting, Gospel enjoyment
1) 100 times answer (Genesis 26:12)
2) Wellspring (Genesis 26:15)
3) Source of the spring (Genesis 26:19)
4) Rehoboth (Genesis 26:22)
* Action - Life of the evangelist (Specialty)
Conclusion - Good shepherd (John 10:15) vs Hired hand
shepherd (John 10:12)
1. Commission, Calling
2. Life devotion
Life staking devotion
3. Specialty, God's incident, Blessing of uniqueness
What is the unique problem for nonbelievers? Not having God in
your life. For believers, what is unique problem? God is with us
but we can’t recognize it. We forget about it. We must recognize
that God is with us. I hope today is the greatest day that you can
enjoy the filling of the Holy Spirit. Let all cells of the body be
overflowing with the Holy Spirit and may we be healed if we are
sick.
The title of today’s message is “Action toward financial solution”.
Don’t fall and trip because of a problem. Satan gives you
problems and trips you up but we won’t falter because now we can
solve our problems through Christ. Problems are answers because
of Christ, but we must solve the problems. In John 10, two weeks
ago, we talked about parable of the shepherd. The people and
disciples didn’t understand and Jesus speaks about the parable
again. It talks about thieves and robbers. He’s not talking about
physical robbers but spiritual robbers: those who steal your
blessings and grace. There are forces that exist that block grace
have it to the full.” Work of the Satan is to steal, kill and destroy.
Do you know about fortuneteller/psychics? I’ve seen those who
make a lot of money by predicting the future of people, but they or
their clients are never happy. Satan blocks children of God from
being happy. Satan prevents spiritual problems from being healed
within the church. Prevents you from hearing the word and
becoming filled with the Holy Spirit. In last week’s message, I
received grace through the word “Identity”. If you don’t have faith,
you need to at least have common sense. Find your identity.
Receiving the blessing of representative church of America, not
just simply California, but America. You can resent people and
situations because weird things keep arising. For example, I got
sick 4 days before the evangelism camp and I was disappointed. I
fell into dilemma why do bad things keep happening right before
important answers. When the light of evangelism is about to shine,
the forces of darkness always try to overcome it. It’s always been
like this, bad things keep happening. When a person’s mind and
soul get sick, the body will crumble too. So I held onto the word
“Identity” within Christ. Looking at the field and time schedule I
realized something. That even if I was Satan, I would attack me
too. We received important answers in Torrance and Cypress
through the evangelism camp. For all these years that Darakbang
ministry has been going on, we never had a church in the Torrance
area, but we receive the answer of Deacon Shin getting appointed
for a regional church in Torrance. Chris Stumpf has been
appointed for regional church in Cypress as well (He is our second
non-Korean layleader appointed for regional church). We must
keep on doing things that Satan hates. Therefore, we must realize
that it is a rightful thing that Satan will attack. However, it is also
rightful that God will work. I realized also that God always wins.
Who are the church layleaders and elders and assistant pastors.
We have to solve the problems of America. Short term, what is the
problems of the family? Problems of the church? We have to
solve these problems thru Christ. Satan keeps working, but we
have to solve the problem as an individual of God. Satan breaks
union between Adam and Eve, then the family, and eventually
these two connect to create societal problems. In John 8:44, Satan
always lies. Ephesians 2:2, Ephesians 6, Satan will keep working,
therefore we must put on the armor of God. This is the letter Paul
wrote. If you resent people or situations, you will never solve the
problems. Excuses of environment will not solve the problems.
We have the unique Gospel. God will give our church a
representative answer to evangelize America. And Jesus said,
Robbers will come to steal and kill. But, that is okay because the
Good Shepherd Jesus Christ will be there. Believe and make a
resolution that all problems are answers and that all problems are
blessings. I have assurance of faith. With a faith in our heart, we
must solve the problem. What is the most realistic problem in your
life other than financial problems? Solve this problem. Solve
family, financial, environmental problems today. No matter what
methods you use, it will not be solved unless you call upon the
name of Christ. Christ is the solution to all our problems. Solve
your problems today by calling on the name of Christ. Solve it
through prayer and evangelism. Restore your identity and
authority. Take action. Luke 10:19, Matt 12:28-29, Mark 3:15,
God has given us authority thru Christ to destroy the Devil’s work.
Throughout this week, I got answers through Elijah. This was
when Israel worshipping many idols. Elijah fought and won. Like
after David defeated Goliath, problems came to Elijah, King Ahab
and Queen Jezebel ordered to kill Elijah. He goes up to the
mountain to run away and asks God to kill him and that he cannot
go on. What is the problem? God restores Elijah’s strength and
provides everything. God then gave Elijah a message: “change the
king”. Go and anoint Jehu as the new king. Elijah realized this
and did what God said. Within few years, there was a new king.
So what is the problem? Solve the problem through Christ. You
are child of God. God is with you. Just evangelize the town, you
will be blessed; our church is going to evangelize America. First
make a resolution that problems are answers. Then, you can solve
the problem through the name of Christ. Use the key God has
given us. After I received grace, I realized the true problem. The
problem was really spiritual. We are in an age where churches are
becoming bankrupt, where people look down on Jesus and where
kids quit going to church when they grow up. I saw that Christ is
lacking in this age, and I saw this problem. Therefore hardships
and other problems, solve it through the name of Christ. Talking
about a problem will not resolve it. Only someone with the
power/authority to resolve it can solve the problem. That someone
is you within Christ. Through Him, we can solve our problems.
Solve your personal, family, environmental problems. The
solution to this problem came through Christ. Verse 10, “The
reason I have come is so that they may have life and have it to the
full.” 1 John 3:8, The reason the Son of God appeared was to
destroy the devil’s work.
For non-believers it is to receive life, for believers, it is to receive
and enjoy life abundantly. The good shepherd came so that we can
live life abundantly. In Roman 8:2, Christ set us free from sin and
death. Jesus Christ is the solution to all problems. As a sheep if
you meet this shepherd, you will be protected. When sheep needs
food/water, are in danger of other animals, cold at night, all they
need is the good shepherd. We are the sheep with the Good
Shepherd, Jesus Christ. Through Christ, all our problems are
solved. The evangelist is also a good shepherd. We are all good
shepherd. We are good shepherd to our fields and church
departments. Christ is the solution to our problems. Nothing is a
problem. Who solves the problems of the field? As an individual
before God, I am His sheep but in this church I am a shepherd as a
pastor. So how about elders and church layleaders? They are
shepherds too. In regional churches, we are all shepherds. We are
sheep before God but in the field, we are all shepherds. What
answer do we have? Christ is solution to problems and evangelist
are solution to problems of the field. What is the solution to the
problems in our family? We as evangelists can solve this problem
through Christ. 1 Peter 2:9, forces of darkness around us, we can
break it because we are a royal priesthood. Matt 10:40-42, when
people meet us, they meet Christ through us. Thru the name of
Jesus that we share, they meet God, and so they become free from
their problems. The forces of darkness crumble as they meet
Christ through us. To whoever calls on the name of the Lord will
receive salvation. We need to change the paradigm. Pastors aren’t
the only evangelists. You are evangelists too, and non-believers
find Christ and receive blessings through you. There are so many
people out there who if you just speak a little of the Gospel, they
will accept. Elder Stephen and Asst. Pastor Isidro went to Home
Depot recently and in 1 hour over 20 people accepted. If you’re
too busy to evangelize, then you misunderstand evangelism. There
are golden fishing grounds in your life. You’re busy and working,
but the work place will become a golden fishing ground within
Christ. Verse 17, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.
I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice and
become one with the flock.” Restore the life of the evangelist.
First action, solve the problems. Second, Share with others. God
is still using us to evangelize. Today’s word, prayer and
evangelism. Hope you enjoy these blessings. No matter how
small it is, actualize and live a life of the evangelist. Share the
gospel to non-believer. An evangelist prays for people he/she
wants to evangelize. When you meet the good shepherd, all
problems are solved. If you lose the shepherd, all problems take
place. But remember we are good shepherds to non-believers, and
we can solve problems of family, church, and field. Third,
financial blessings will be given unto us as good shepherds. We
will find pasture through Christ. Think about Isaac. He got 100
fold blessings from one harvest. It didn’t matter where he went
because wherever Isaac dug, wells sprung out. Wherever he dug,
water sprang. Although people fought and took these wells away
from him, Isaac kept getting blessings from God and people later
apologized and gave him back the wellsprings. The place became
known as Rehoboth. Isaac was a source of blessing. Identity of
LA is remnant and multi-ethnics, so we have to receive this answer
and become the source of blessing ourselves. I believe this is even
more true from God’s viewpoint, sometimes, as a pastor, I meet
and talk to people who I realize is so very precious before God and
for the sake of the Gospel. I feel that God has no choice, but the
answer and bless that person. He/she may be lacking, but God
protects them. Who are you before God? Are you someone who
God sees as precious and have no choice but to bless? You need to
be the source of blessings of God. Not receiving answer because
you did something good, but because of your existence alone is
precious before God. My daughter now says, “Daddy watch, I’m
eating” and boasts about being able to feed herself. Her eating
benefits primarily herself, but I am ecstatic and so happy for her.
Like this, God will be so happy that we pray, evangelize, tithe, etc.
Hold onto the title of the message. We will receive financial
answers that we as good shepherds will receive. Hired hands will
run away from danger to the sheep. Good shepherd never runs
away and stakes his life. He/She has a commission from God;
because he/she has life to the full, life full of devotion. He/she
loves giving worship. He/She enjoys giving worship. And
because her/his grace is overflowing, he/she can do life devoting
worship. Throughout the week, I hope that you receive the
answers and blessings of the Good shepherd. Let’s solve all the
problems through Christ.
Christ Covenant Church of California
2804 Beverly Blvd (2nd Floor)
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 507-2748 Korean | (213) 926-7607 English | (213) 905-0902 Spanish