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2017.2.19_The Church that Hears the Words of the Holy Spirit

in 2017 Lord's Day

Senior Overseer Ki-Dong Kim

Outline

[Revelation 2:1-7]

God
is spirit.
He is one in three persons:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19).
The Father set His will as righteousness (Jn 6:38-39),
the Son manifested the Father’s will as the Word (Jn 1:14),
and the Holy Spirit preaches the Word as truth to the church (Re 2:7).
Thus
the church of Jesus must hear the words of the Holy Spirit to live.
To hear the word of truth with one’s ears means
to receive the Holy Spirit into one’s spirit (Ac 10:44).
The Holy Spirit is He who comes out of the Father (Jn 15:26).
Therefore
whoever accepts God’s words (Jn 6:63-68)
is filled with the Holy Spirit;
whoever does not will only hear the words of man
which is not the words of the Holy Spirit.
If one fails to hear the words of the Holy Spirit, he cannot be spiritual (1 Co 12:3)
and he will forsake his first love which began through the Holy Spirit.
A church that has the first love has a lampstand,
and this is called the temple of God (1 Co 3:16-17).
○ The lamps must always be lit to give its light in the temple.
This is the duty of the priest,
and the priest is the holy saints.
○ Do not only pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit
but believe and receive God’s word as truth.
Only the truth can fill you with God’s inspiration.
○ The church will be Spirit-filled
when it hears what the Holy Spirit says to the church.
It is corruption if the church hears the words of the Holy Spirit but disobeys.
※ Our church knows the truth.
We know and believe the Picture of God’s Will.
We are a church that overcomes the world by the words of the Holy Spirit.

Summary

The Church that Hears the Words of the Holy Spirit

The identity of a child obtained through ministry of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

God is spirit. Generally, the spirit is not physical nor tangible, so it cannot be seen by the human eye. That is why people can so easily say that God does not exist. But the Christian has seen God. This is because the Word which was with God from eternity has come to this earth as a man.
Jesus Christ is God. He is called the Son of God, not because he is inferior to God, but because he is equal to God. When you hear the word “God,” many think of the Father. However, the word ‘God’ is a word that refers to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
God the Father has established His righteous and perfect will. The Son of God revealed His will to the world. Through the Son of God, we have come to know and receive God’s will. The Holy Spirit declares the righteousness of God. If we only know the Son of God and have not received the Holy Spirit, we may possess the righteousness of God, but we will not declare it.
No one had ever seen God until Jesus Christ came to the earth. However, the Old Testament indicates that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses had seen God. They certainly saw someone who was perceived as God. It was an angel of God who was sent from heaven. (Ex 3: 2) On the other hand, the God we see today is not an angel. We have seen Jesus Christ, the heir of God, who has received all authority in heaven and on earth from our Heavenly Father.
God has resurrected Jesus Christ and has taken Him up into heaven as His heir, who came to this earth and was slain according to His will. The mission of the angel who kept the heavenly throne in the name of Jehovah was completed at that time. The Son of God taking His place and sitting on the throne ushered in the age of His reign over the heavens and the earth. Christian faith is neither ideological nor subjective. Christians place their trust in God who sent Jesus Christ to this earth to accomplish His will two thousand years ago to die for man’s sin, in order that He might raise him from the dead to the heavens.
Within the same Bible, there is a difference in inspiration between the New Testament and the Old Testament. There is the Law that was delivered through angels in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament there is grace and truth from Jesus Christ (John 1:17). The preaching of grace and truth is done by the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended into heaven He sent the Holy Spirit. That is why the Holy Spirit did not come and dwell in anyone before Jesus Christ was glorified (John 7:37).
Of course, not everyone who wants it can receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will only come to those people who are holy in God’s sight. People’s standards and God’s standards are different. No matter how good a person’s character is, or how deep their knowledge is, in God’s eyes they are still a sinner. God recognizes as holy those who confess they are sinners, clothe themselves with the power of the Blood of Jesus, and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Confess that your righteousness does not come from yourself but from faith in God, and keep that which you have gained
Those who are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit. Those who are born of the Spirit are born in heaven and born of the Spirit. Their status is quite different from that of unbelievers. Unfortunately, many Christians today are forgetting their noble identity. The Holy Spirit has come into us and we have become a temple of God. If we treat our identity lightly, we defile the temple (1 Corinthians 3:17). Jesus did not deny His identity as the Son of God even while He was being crucified. So we must confess our identity in Him and through Him regardless of the circumstances.
It is not by our own righteousness or deeds that we keep our identity as children of God. Paul regarded all his accomplishments, charisma, great learning and things that were beneficial to the body as dung (Philippians 3: 8). No one will treasure rubbish. Likewise, if we have repented, been baptized, and become children of God, we must not apply our own righteousness. There should be no criticizing the church and judging church members based on our own standards.
Judas Iscariot had many great qualities in order to surpass many other people from Galilee and become one of Jesus’ disciples. He was smart enough to earn Jesus’ trust in a short period of time, and had insight into philosophical thought forms. But he fell for his own trick and eventually used it to betray Jesus.
The church at Jerusalem chose seven people who were filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom as deacons. Among the seven was Nicola, a Gentile who had converted to Judaism. He must have been full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom in order to be recommended as a deacon over other Jews. However, he began to criticize and evaluated the church based on his respectability and talents. People who were dissatisfied with the church for different reasons flocked to him and fostered a negative public opinion, which gave the church great difficulties. Revelation 2: 6 says, “You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” It is very important that the Saints have good personality and skills. But it should never be a hindrance for God’s righteousness. It is only because of the fact that we have acknowledged that there is no righteousness in ourselves that we have received grace. We should not lose sight of the things we learned at the beginning.

Do the deeds you did at first
The Ephesian Church, one of the seven churches in Asia Minor, was so highly regarded in many respects that Paul stayed there for three years and taught his disciples. The Ephesian Church received praise from God in many ways but was rebuked because they had forsaken their first love (Revelation 2: 1-4).
What is your first love? Many are they who repent and are baptized and they say, “I will love the Lord, who has been gracious to a sinner such as I am for the rest of my life, and I will continuously devote myself to the church that shared the gospel with me and disciplined me.” And so they confess. However, as time passes, they begin to complain about their faith and criticize the church. This is the first sign that their love is growing cold.
The bride and groom promise each other a lifelong love. However, after a few years, those promises are often broken and become a cause for shame. When a couple begins to complain about one another without fully understanding each other, it can escalate and ultimately become overt dissatisfaction, and when this type of behavior is repeated, trust is broken and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the family together. The same kind of things happens in the church. Those who are ordained as deacons often commit themselves to the Church in sincerity and with tears. However, there are some who very quickly begin to lack any care about the work of the church, and some even attack the church.
The more people in the church lose their first love, the more difficulty the church will face. Just as the professions of love that married couples give should not change, confessions of faith before God should never change either. Revelation 2: 5 says, ” ‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.” If you took a wrong turn, you must retrace your steps, find out where you went wrong, and start again from the beginning. That is repentance. Repentance is not simply a word of mouth. True repentance is painful, but once you succeed in repentance, you can be led by the Holy Spirit.

Let us hear the word of the Holy Spirit
We must be the church that listens to the word of the Holy Spirit. The word of the Holy Spirit is not a new word. The Holy Spirit does not speak on his own but tells us what Jesus has said. It is a spiritual word. Jesus also said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. ” (John 6:63, NASB). No matter how well someone speaks with charisma and impressive knowledge, it is not the word of the Holy Spirit if it merely asserts the righteousness of the flesh and does not provide man with spiritual benefits.
Revelation 2: 7 says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” When you hear the word of God preached, the word comes to your ears. But do not treat it as just another of the many sounds that come to your ears. He who judges or criticizes the word of God as the voice of a mere man cannot triumph in spiritual life, and he cannot eat the fruit of the tree of life since he is not victorious.
When Adam and Eve sinned, God expelled them from the Garden of Eden so that they could not eat the fruit of the tree of life. God wants to give the tree of life to those who firmly hold onto their first love. Our hope is not on this earth. Do you not want to eat the fruit of the tree of life that God will give to those who are victorious? Do you not want to experience how the tree of life will change you? Therefore, when we repent and are baptized, we must firmly hold onto the love we had when we repented and were baptized with a true confession before God to the end. When Jesus returns we will be resurrected and go to heaven where we will have glory with Jesus. Therefore, we must acknowledge the righteousness of God, no longer our own righteousness, which has already been counted as rubbish. You must remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first.

Semuon’s Letter

Training a great leader requires much time effort and investment. Since 1964 I have done my best to find leaders with the intent to educate and equip them. Even though I was not fully educated, I helped my juniors attend school, and I kept doing it even though my wife and I lived in a small rented room. However, it has come back to hurt me and even now I am disappointed with the present situation that I cannot see leaders that I had hoped for.

There is considerable investment in establishing a theological seminary. But few are grateful for it, maybe none at all, even though I have wanted to see a faithful worker such as a prophet for God, not just a man who just wants to make ends meet. This is a great disappointment. There is no sense of ownership and most of the students seem to graduate with a slave’s spirit and mean – can they really be considered leaders?

As it is written, ‘The kingdom of God can be likened to a sower sowing seeds in the field,’ if a seed is sown in the field, it should sprout and take root. However, there do not seem to be many such people. There is no one who says, by grace I have been educated and I will repay for the grace I have received with grace.’ Instead, many of them are like useless, dried, and fallen leaves. There is no pity for lost souls who are without hope and no brave warrior enduring the fierce winds and frost of winter and looking forward to spring.

A Scholarship is not to be wasted nor is it given out of an abundance of wealth, but rather it is an investment for the future, but no one seems to understand it. This year, many students are graduating, but are there be any ‘fools’ like Semuon among them? I am profoundly disappointed.

Our church has established Christian Leader Center in the hope of raising many international leaders. It was and is my hope that hundreds of couples who would become leaders would come and receive intensive training. Anyone who wants to study in our seminary should lay themselves humbly, before the Lord.

If you want to be a true leader, it is up to you to make yourself a leader while you have the chance. No one else trained me as a leader. I have been qualified by the cooperation between God and me. If I had not been diligent to do my best with all my power and life, God would not have held my hand and the Semuon that you see today would not exist. I cannot help but say that I have made it from nothing. Nevertheless my flesh is broken, but I am grateful to God. I strongly desire to see true leaders, who will lay down their lives, and for this inspiration to not end.

2017 Audio

2017 Video

Credits

2017.2.12_The Church Purchased By God

in 2017 Lord's Day

Senior Overseer Ki-Dong Kim

Outline

[Acts 20:26-35]

God
is the righteous Master.
By His word
He created heaven, earth and mankind (Jn 1:2-4),
and purchased mankind with His own blood.
He gathered them and called them, Church,
and the Holy Spirit chose and appointed
an overseer to shepherd the church
which God purchased with His own blood (Ac 20:28).
Hence
through prayer alone (Act 6:4)
the overseer must commune with God always
and receive the inspiration of the Word
to provide it to the church.
The church of God is the testimony revealed to the world
of the divine image of Jesus Christ
who is the image of God’s being (Jn 15:26).
Therefore,
a true church of God should, under the overseer’s leadership,
fulfill the will of God and the will of Christ
and be moved by the Holy Spirit.
The church is not a religious body bound by ceremonial rituals,
rather, the church has to obey the working of the Holy Spirit every time.
○ The church ought to trust and respect the overseer.
The overseer is not a god but a man.
Thus he has flesh just like us.
○ The overseer cannot give his own flesh and blood to be eaten.
He is appointed with a holy office to serve only with God’s inspiration
as a mediator between Jesus Christ and the saints.
○ If anyone disregards the overseer,
he disregards the Lord Jesus
who appointed the overseer.
※ The overseer does not cause trouble to the church
but sacrifices and dedicates himself.

Summary

The Church purchased by God

Acts 20:26~35

Those who have been baptized with the Holy Spirit and have become His children

God is righteous. God is invisible to human eyes. No one in the world has ever seen God. He has established righteousness for us to know Him.

The Israelites, the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, received the law from God. The law was a standard of righteousness for them. They tried to keep the law, but it couldn’t make them righteous. It could make their bodies righteous and prosperous while they were living in this world, but it couldn’t save their souls.

In the fullness of time, God made Jesus Christ righteousness. From then on, whoever believes in Him is saved forever. John 1:17 says, “The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”, and Galatians 3:19 says, “What was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions”. In the past, the Israelites were acknowledged by God by keeping the law, but we have become righteous by believing in Jesus Christ.

Jesus preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”, while John the Baptist had preached that the kingdom of heaven has come. Although the words were similar, the meaning was very different. It is the same with baptism. John baptized people with water only. The baptism of John was for repentance and could not make anyone righteous. However, the baptism with the Holy Spirit, which we received after listening to the words of Jesus Christ, has made us righteous.

Jesus said to His disciples before the Ascension, “John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit”. (Acts 1:5) There is the difference between water baptism and the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Paul’s ministry verified it.

This happened when Paul went to Ephesus. There he found that the disciples had received John’s baptism. They admitted that they were sinners, but they had never been absolved from their sin and born again. Paul introduced Jesus to them, and he baptized them and placed his hands on them. Then the Holy Spirit came on them.

The baptism in the name of Jesus is the same as the one with the Holy Spirit. When we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit, God acknowledges that we are righteous. Our status after the baptism with the Holy Spirit is different from it was in the past. We are the children of God who can inherit the riches of heaven. This wonderful change of status that we have experienced is not abstract.

Because we have been baptized with the Holy Spirit He came on us. Those who have received the Holy Spirit can reveal the identity of demons and cast them out from a person’s body (Mt 12:28).

Those baptized with the Holy Spirit should treasure up the precious status given to them and be honored by it.

The overseer ordained for the church purchased with His blood

The fact that the Holy Spirit has come on us shows that God loves us. Parents love their children. It’s not necessarily because the children are smart or gentle. Even if they have defects in their character or bodies, parents still love them. Parents’ love encompasses not only their merits but also their faults.

A fault found in someone makes even his close acquaintances keep their distance.

However, his parents are different. They love their children faults in spite of their faults. Such a love fosters the children’s healthy growth and development.

God’s love toward mankind is the same. The fact that God purchased mankind with His blood proves it. The life is in the blood. (Leviticus 17:11) God’s life is in God’s blood.

The blood of God is so precious that it cannot be purchased, not even for the heavenly host and angels, and everything in the universe. God bought us with such precious blood. He bought not only our good attributes but also our faults and sin. That’s why we can freely reveal everything about ourselves to God without fear.

After the cease-fire of the Korean War, the United States and North Korea conducted a prisoner exchange. The United States exchanged one thousand North Korean soldiers for every one American Soldier in order to save their own people who had been taken captive in the North. It means the United States considered their people so valuable.

God bought the human race with His blood. That’s because He considered them so valuable.

Today we can acknowledge our sin and expose our faults because He paid such a high price to purchase us. God called the people He bought with His blood and made them the church.

It is not necessary to say how precious the church is in His eyes. He appointed overseers to care for the churches. Acts 20:28 says, “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood”.

The overseer is not a duty that anyone can do just by volunteering nor can anyone take the office from another by force.

Only the Holy Spirit can appoint the overseer. He has the proper reason to designate the overseer.

Acts 20:29~30 says, “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them”.

It is a matter of course that all kinds of problems arise in the process of establishing and growing a church. Especially when a person turns up and provokes the people with doubts and complaints latent in their minds. By cunning words he stirs up people to follow him causing great difficulty for the church.

The overseer must rely on the Word to build up the congregation. Acts 20:31~32 says, “So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified”. And when the words are delivered through the overseer, members must accept them as the words of God and obey them with humility.

Those who hold up the overseer’s arms

Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. At that time, he needed a fellow worker. Even though there were many people in Israel, God appointed his brother Aaron, whom Moses trusted most, and anointed him.

It was God that appointed Aaron. However, some of them ignored his authority and went so far as to turn against him. They did so because they thought of him only as Moses’ brother.

1 Chronicles 16:22 says, “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm”.

When you see His anointed ones, you must be especially careful.

This is what happened when David was bringing the Ark of the Lord, which had been captured by the Philistines, into the City of David. He was so delighted to bring back the Ark of the Lord that he, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might.

Michal, the wife of David, despised her husband while watching the scene from a window.

And when she came out to meet him, she said mockingly, “How the king of Israel honored himself today, uncovering himself today before the eyes of his subjects’ female servants as one of the vulgar fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!”.

Hearing it, David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel–I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” After that, Michal had no children to the day of her death. (2 Samuel 6:16~23)

If you respect the Holy Spirit and love the church, you will love the overseer whom the Holy Spirit has appointed. When you love the overseer, it doesn’t mean that you love only his good points. When Jesus bought us with His blood, He bought our sin and faults as well as our souls.

If we really are those who have received such love, we must love the overseer whom God appointed over the church with the same love.

We must love even his faults and shortcomings.

The support and love of the congregation play a vital role for the overseer to overcome all kinds of difficulties and effectively lead the church. After Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, he underwent all kinds of hardships as a leader while they were passing through the desert.

When the Israelites arrived at Rephidim, the Amalekites attacked them. Moses left the battle to Joshua and went up the mountain with Aaron and Hur. He went to the top of the mountain and held up his two hands. Then the Israelites prevailed against the Amalekites.

But when he lowered his hands, then the Amalekites prevailed against the Israelites.

Moses had to keep his arms up. When Moses’ hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur made him sit on a stone and held his arms up on both sides. Because of them, Moses’ arms remained steady till sunset. and the Israelites was able to defeat the Amalekites. Like Aaron and Hur, we must hold up the overseer’s arms rather than be one of the men who drags down his arms. We must not speak a word of criticism or ridicule about him.

It happened that Noah drank some wine and became drunk, and he lay uncovered inside his tent.

Ham, one of his sons, found him drunk first. He saw his father’s nakedness and laughed at him, and he told his brothers about it. But, after hearing it, Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s nakedness.

When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what happened, he blessed Shem and Japheth and cursed Ham and his son Canaan. We must be men after God’s own heart. There are also men’s faults in the church that God bought with His blood. The overseer is not a man without faults. But God entrusted His work to the overseer.

Who are you, that you should forcibly point out the faults God has forgiven and nullified what Jesus’ blood did? Avoid bringing any charge against those whom God has chosen. (Romans 8:33~34) It is the Holy Spirit that has appointed the overseer for the church. Put a gag in your mouth and hold up the overseer’s arms.

We must love the overseer who speaks for God, so he can always be courageous. Love his helpers.

And love the souls that God has left the overseer to take care of. Then, our own faults will also be hidden before God who bought even our faults.

Semuon’s Letter

Since I planted Sungrak church, I have often prayed for the constructing of church buildings and for church growth. I prayed an average of three hours a day, and even as much as ten hours sometimes. There was a conviction that a number of faithful servants would emerge from among many church members if the church grew. I became motivated to prepare a place for those many church members to gather. I labored for it with my all energy. At that time, in spite of having only a small number of members, all of them supported my vision, and all members prayed when they gathered and evangelized with a great passion when they scattered; like wildfire.

In the meantime, I have seen many churches that have moved or disappeared without their own building and many pastors who ministered just to make ends meet. They thought that all they had to do was gather a few dozen people in their church, so they would try to take some faithful saints who had been working diligently in other churches and plant their own churches.

A branch stretches out and bears fruit, and that fruit is moved further away, sprouting where it lands. Since I was only focused on the ‘Berea Movement’ in my ministry, I tried my best to fill my church with spirit-filled believers who could perform miraculous signs and wonders, and I trained them. There are many passionate and spirit-filled believers, but only when the Holy Spirit works in them and inspires them will they manifest signs and wonders.

Being ‘Spirit-filled’ does not just mean praying a lot. The Holy Spirit will only abide in you when you listen to God’s word. That is why He is referred to as the Spirit of Truth. Not only must you listen to God’s word with your ears, but you must also receive it. God’s word must abide in you and command you, for His commandment is life. We often use the term ‘the word of life’, but in order for it to give us life we must obey it. We must believe the word is the commandment of God directed to us. So then, as it is written, the Holy Spirit is given only to those who obey in each church.

Many people report feeling blessed after listening to God’s word, but they only listened with their ears. They do not regard God’s word as His commandment that must be obeyed.

I, the senior overseer, greatly desire that each of you become true and faithful ministers with me, and that we all enter the kingdom of the Lord together. I beseech you, that none of you would be swayed but rather that you be deeply rooted in Jesus Christ, the rock of faith, and not follow your own emotions or do your own will. Please, do not let others consider you an easy target. Do not let others tempt you. Be a true Sungrak member your whole life. I desperately urge you not to associate with those who have tried to alienate you from the church.

2017 Audio

2017 Video

Credits

2017.1.29_The Church Jesus Established

in 2017 Lord's Day

Senior Overseer Ki-Dong Kim

Outline

[Acts 2:1-13]

God is the living Creator.
The reason He sent His Son to the world
was to fulfill God’s will (Jn 6:38-39).
God’s will is about exalting His Son (Ac 2:33)
and giving the right to become God’s children
to man who were with His Son in this world,
that they may become heirs of God (Rm 8:14-17).
For this,
He has made known to us
all the works Jesus accomplished on earth
as well as that which the Holy Spirit will fulfill
which is called the Gospel (Mk 6:10).
He has allowed those who believe and obey the Gospel
to be glorified.
The Church of Jesus Christ
obeys the words of Jesus (Ac 5:32)
and is filled with the Holy Spirit
according to the will of Jesus.
The event in the upper room on the day of Pentecost (Ac 2:1-4)
is a model for the Church of Jesus;
it is the spiritual church that God has revealed.
○ The Church of Jesus does not refer to a building;
rather it is saints filled with the Holy Spirit,
who have received the remission of sins through the blood.
○ The Church of Jesus is not a religion;
its power is the eternal resurrection
which revealed the reality of the Trinity.
○ The Church of Jesus is different from worldly order.
Thus the world cannot understand but only misunderstands.
It is only by faith that it can be accepted.
※ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today,
and so is the Church of Jesus.
Whether it is the early church or the modern church
the Church of Jesus does not change.

Summary

The Church Jesus Established

(Acts 2:1~13)

The Church that accomplishes the will of the Father on earth as it is in heaven

God is the living Creator. The Things he created have filled the heaven and earth from beginning to the present. We do not have any other choice but to admit that God’s word is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).

God created all things for the Son in his own bosom. Hebrews 1:2 says, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the worlds.” God exalted the Son above all things to receive glory.

It is for this purpose that God sent His Son into the world. Had the Son of God not shed His blood on the cross, God would still have been glorified through other creatures, but he would not have received glory from man, who He made in His image according to His likeness. Previously, a man was dead in the sight of God. So God sent His Son to save those who died and gave them to His son, and He was glorified through them.

Some of the things God created are large, and others are so small that they are invisible to man. The important thing is that all of it is created by need. For example, there are many organs and parts in a human body. Some of them are so small that a person might think they are unnecessary. But some of them are vital for survival. In the same way, God is glorified not only through visible things but also through invisible things.

Everything in the world is ultimately used to accomplish the purposes of God for the Son. It is not a coincidence that the Son of God died on the cross, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Right before He died, Jesus said, “It is finished.” He had accomplished the will of the Father. Jesus told His disciples to pray, ‘Let the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in heaven. To this end, He founded the church by going to heaven and sending the Holy Spirit, and now He is nurturing and leading the church by the Holy Spirit. Jesus fulfilled all His work. It is time for the church to do its work by the Holy Spirit.

A Church that does not fear death

Hope is an essential component in the church. Regardless of how zealous or pious a man may be concerning his life of faith, without hope, it is all in vain. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). For Christians, our hope is in the resurrection (that we will be resurrected like Jesus) and eternal life with Him. Many people regard their faith as a disciplining of their will and actions to conform to certain rules and to educate themselves in these set of rules. However, faith is not in living a life that is oppressed but in living a life that obeys the Word. Jesus said, ‘Anyone who does not carry his cross and follows me cannot be my disciple’ (Luke 14:27). It means that whoever wants to follow Jesus should be prepared even to die.

Martyrdom is the great hope of the Christian. When Christians desire martyrdom, the church can not help but revive. The apostle Paul confessed that he died daily (1Cor. 15:31). It is the Christian who denies herself day by day to lay down her life. Love God with all your soul, love neighbor with all your soul. And be loyal to your office with all your soul.

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save his life, will lose it, and if anyone loses his life for my sake, he will find it” (Mt 16:25). It is because of this promise that a Christian does not fear to die. No one can escape death. Since the beginning, only Jesus has defeated death. We are so grateful that, in baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, we have been united with Him in His death and resurrection. That is why we can have hope and faith in the resurrection.

Jesus gave His life and fulfilled the will of God. He did not avoid his death because he had faith and hope in the resurrection. Only those who have hope can have the faith of a martyr. Revelation 20:4~5 says that “The souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast of his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.” Those who have the faith of martyrdom can participate in the first resurrection.

The word of God is not subject to criticism or evaluation. When people hear the bible being preached in the church, many make judgments concerning the preaching according to their own ideas and interests. But that is not a proper attitude toward God’s Word, rather We should bow beneath its authority and be willing to die rather than to disobey God’s word.

A church filled with the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is not what Jesus had in mind for a particular person or group, but rather, He gave this command to all believers. The eleven disciples who were with him just before Jesus was betrayed were the most loyal among the many disciples who followed Him. However, they all left Jesus when he was captured by the soldiers. They were afraid to die, which is not what Jesus wanted to see from His witnesses. But after Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven, they became completely different. Not just the eleven disciples, but many more of them even gave their lives to testify of Jesus. This is because Jesus went to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to believers.

The disciples tarried in Jerusalem and prayed as they waited for the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had commanded before He ascended. Ten days after the ascension of Jesus, on the day of Pentecost, the disciples gathered together in the upper room, as usual, praying together. Suddenly the sound of a rushing mighty wind filled the room, and divided tongues as of fire came upon each person. All of the disciples gathered there were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues(Acts 2:1~4).

The crowd in Jerusalem was bewildered when they heard this sound from the mouths of His disciples. At that time, Jews who had gathered from all over the world for the feast were surprised to hear the disciples’ speaking in tongues because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Some, however, made fun of them and said they were drunk (Acts 2:5-13).

The church began the moment the Holy Spirit came to the disciples. This scene in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost should be the standard of the Church of Christ. Since the arrival of the Holy Spirit, there have been people in various places who speak tongues in the name of Jesus, and they have cast out demons in the name of Jesus and have laid hands on the sick and healed them. As God said through the prophet Joel, “In the last days I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your children will prophesy; your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.”(Acts 2:17). All kinds of gifts came upon people.

The work of the Holy Spirit in the church should not be resisted. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the gospel Jesus must advance. There must be so much news that people come to the church expectantly and filled with the anticipation that, ‘If I go to that church, I will see and experience the work of God.’

Jesus said, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Mt 12:28). Because the church is the part of the kingdom of God, it must not stop casting out demons by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Mt 5:10~11). It is unreasonable for the church which has received these promises to conform to contemporary culture in order to avoid persecution.

The church cannot experience revival if the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemed because the growth of the church is accomplished only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because the disciples obeyed Jesus’ command to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit, they experienced the work of the Holy Spirit. Today is no different. In order to experience the work of the Holy Spirit, we must obey Jesus’ commands. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same Jesus who spoke to the Church two thousand years ago is still speaking to the church today.

Summarized and translated by Sungrak Mission Center

Semuon’s Letter

When the power and miraculous signs of Jesus Christ were revealed, the Lord sent me. To anywhere. There were the sick, sinners who did not know God, and those who were ignorant and threatened their lives. I delivered the message that Jesus is living today and He worked even on me, who came from country side. I prayed by the Spirit sent from God, and the sick were healed and many were freed from demons. I did my best to testify of the Lord by His power. The reason the churches nearby invited me was because they knew I had that power.

There was not even one week in which I did not manifest spiritual power, and the working of the Holy Spirit was so powerful. If a tree becomes sick, its leaves and branches wither, but as the tree lives, its leaves and branches remain whole and bear fruit. In the same sense, I have lived with the sense of duty that I must be prepared in my body with power and signs of Jesus Christ at all times. Now, although I lack energy and can hardly project my voice, I want to continue my work, writing, and acting by the Holy Spirit.

If miracles and wonders are not manifested through my body, I regard myself as dead. I will not be dead in that way. I strongly thirst for the spiritual powers to be revealed through my body. My prayer must be delivered to the ears of the Lord, and may the Lord always hold my hands. So I pray. I want to ask my saints to pray for me to manifest much greater signs and wonders. From the time of founding of our church, I have been filled with signs and wonders and spiritual gifts, so I want my inspiration to be sustained. Without prayer, there can be no signs and there can be no power.

My hope is to love souls even to the point of death, to follow the Lord, and to maintain the faithfulness as a martyr. Those without this sense of duty regard their ministry as their livelihood only, there is no sacrifice in their body. However, I cannot breathe even for a moment in that way. I was born to live and die only for the Lord. Therefore, in spite of my faults, entrusting all of this to the power of His precious blood, I am filled with the sense of duty and thirst for the power of Jesus Christ in my body.

My soul, do not be silent. Even if my flesh deteriorates, my soul, blossom and bear fruit! I, not as a helpless believer but as a servant of the Lord, will lead my life with spiritual power. My soul, rejoice! ! Let Jesus Christ be revealed.

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