2017.08.13_A Friend of Jesus Christ

When we look at the congregation with our physical eyes, we are men and women, old and young, Mr. Kim, Mr. Park, or Mr. Lee. We are flesh, operate in the flesh, and live by the flesh. However, when we see them through spiritual eyes, they are all souls.

Pastoring and ministry means operating in the spirit. How can we lead them if we are working in flesh, since men are subject to futile passions and prone to follow their own emotions and since the flesh eventually returns to the earth without God? Indeed, some pastors strive to lead the congregation by the flesh, which is quite troublesome. The flesh can only be controlled by passion or emotions. Therefore, whoever guides them in the flesh will only be addressing the external appearances. Also, it is very likely that he or she only uses conventional knowledge and earthly wisdom to guide their own flesh as well and they will use faith for their own personal blessing or to get relief from their circumstances and eventually they will fall into mysticism.

I am absolutely certain that the greatest blessing I have experienced in my life is having led my church by the spirit. Therefore, even though I do not have any worldly knowledge or methods, I am only seeking spiritual power with which I can work in the spirit every day. Recently, I am doing that more than ever before. Spiritual power can only come through the Holy Spirit.

In my eyes, I see my church members as God’s flock. God’s flock is comprised not of flesh, but of souls which were bought by the blood of Jesus. These sheep desperately need spiritual power with which to live spiritually throughout the week. Therefore, preachers should strive to fill empty souls, much like a gas station serves to fill empty cars with fuel. When people come to the church, they do not come to get some material blessing, but rather to offer themselves and their resources to God in the worship service. We must always prepare a spiritual gift that can satisfy their souls. It is not about giving them loud, passionate and emotionally charged sermons.

Just as a salmon matures and returns to the waters where it was born, even after leaving the home where it hatched and going far away into the ocean, so too does a soul seek after God. But, if the water is muddy or heavily polluted, it will prevent the salmon from returning home and it will die.

It is a spectacular sight to see hatchling fish, who were born in clean deep water, return to the mountain streams where they were born when they are fully developed. I am convinced that ministry is preparing them spiritually and providing for them until I am able to welcome them back to the place they were born. When they see my physical form they may be disappointed, but I will provide them with spiritual nourishment that only the soul can enjoy. That is why I do not use a cell phone or the internet. Only the words in the Bible are spiritual, my power, my food, and wisdom. I believe that it is my duty to satisfy the souls of my saints.