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 Sermon > Official Service |
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Title |
2009 Prayer Subject(2) - Outstanding Church |
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Speaker |
Rev. Jaerock Lee |
Bible |
Deuteronomy 28:10 |
Date |
2009-01-02 |
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Scripture
Deuteronomy 28:10
[10] So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
This is the first Friday All Night Service of Year 2009.
I give all the thanks and glory to God the Father who will bless us with His grace and inspiration in this Friday All Night Service, which we give in remembrance of suffering of the Lord.
During this Friday All Night Service, as well as in the upcoming Sunday Morning and Evening Services, I will continue from this year's New Year's Day Service to deliver messages about the 4 prayer subjects for this new year.
In the New Year's Day Service, I delivered a message titled "Blessing," the 1st Prayer Subject.
I will talk about the 2nd prayer subject, "Outstanding Church," and "Sanctuary," and "The Power of God" in Sunday Morning and Sunday Evening Services respectively.
I urge all the brothers and sisters in Christ to make bread out of these 4 messages and keep praying for this year long.
These prayer subjects present visions to the church, and they open the door of blessings to church members.
In Matthew 6:33, the Lord says, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
As said, when you pray while understanding church-wise spiritual flow through prayer subjects, you can also personally receive abundant answers.
I hope you can understand and be assured of God's will and providence toward this church once again during this service.
May God, who makes this church outstanding, always receive glory through you who belong to the church, in the name of the Lord, I pray!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Deuteronomy Chapter 28 is so called the Bible's 'Chapter of Blessing'.
God explains in great detail how we can receive blessing such as the prosperity of family, work and business, health and honor.
Especially Deuteronomy 28:10 says, "So all the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will be afraid of you."
It means that the people of the world cannot interfere with us, but respectfully fear us because we have the evidence that God is with us.
It is the promise of blessing that God will make this church outstanding which receives respect and glory.
When the forefathers of faith overcame various processes of refinement, they were raised up not only among the Israelites but also among the Gentiles.
For example, in his youth Joseph was sold as a slave and underwent all kinds of hardships. But, it was not because he did something wrong.
It was because, in the providence of God, he had to have the competency to fulfill his duties and enjoy great glory in the future.
He was to receive the responsibility that would allow his people, the Israelites, to prosper. To do this, Joseph had to go to Egypt ahead of the others.
Also, there was a series of processes that such a young Hebrew boy could never have even imagined which would prepare him to rise to the position of the Prime Minister of Egypt, the most powerful Empire in the world.
When Joseph silently overcame the refinements and prepared his vessel, God quickly to accomplish the works to raise Joseph to a position of eminence.
Joseph was sold as a slave in a foreign country and became a prisoner. Yet, still he soon he became the man 2nd only to the Pharaoh, respected by all people.
In similar fashion, God will make this church outstanding and raise it high above all nations.
Of course, we don't receive this promise for nothing.
The works that we've been doing before God for these many and long years have met the conditions.
The first condition is that this church has lived by the word of God, and completely obeyed it.
God is almighty, but there are preexisting requirements to be met before He gives blessings to His children.
That is, if we live in the Light and keep God's commandments, God will also protect us and bless us.
If you take a look at the previous verse of tonight's scripture, there is a following condition.
Deuteronomy 28:9 says, "The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, as He swore to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways."
In other words, only when we keep His commandments and walk in His ways, will He establish us as a holy people.
Dear brothers and sisters.
There are many churches today. However, just as written, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" it's hard to find true faith.
God surely says, "Be holy and sanctified," but some people say, "How can a man keep all the commandments?" and they compromise with the world.
And those who are taught by these people are not different from the worldly people even though they go to church.
Moreover, some people dilute and distort the word of God and others will interpret the word of God literally according to their own ideas.
Some people manage their believing lives through fleshly thoughts, even though they profess they believe. They end up blaspheming the work of the Holy Spirit and of God.
But, you are different.
You've learned the will of God precisely, and you have made sincere efforts to submit obediently to the 66 books of the Bible.
In this corrupt world, where else in this world is a church which has countless members gathering every night longing for sanctification and fervently praying for 3 hours?
While you are trying to become humble and serve others and seek others' benefit, the world tries to be lifted up and seeks after its own benefit.
You've fasted and prayed all night to cast off every form of evil, even from your hearts.
Through these efforts, many of you have stood on the rock of faith, and many precious people of the spirit have been born.
I myself as the head of this church, of course, have lived by the word of God with all my life to present a good example for you to witness.
There-in lies the reason why God has manifested such wonderful power through this church.
When God accomplishes His providence and reveals His glory on the earth, through which church will He do it?
Don't you think it should be the church all the servants of God and members of which live by the will of God and obey the word of God?
A church should be able to show the glory of God not only to its members but also to non-believers.
It should show that God is alive and that He is with the church so that it can even make Gentiles fear God.
The early church was like this.
Acts 2:43 says, "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles."
And Acts 2:47 says, "[They were] praising God and having favor with all the people And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."
When the members of the church live by the word of God, God's works can take place greatly in the church, and the world can gain a reverent fear of God through this.
The reason this church is established as an outstanding church is, secondly, that this church has overcome many difficulties through faith.
Since the start of this church, we've confessed by faith to the God-given visions of Grand Sanctuary and World Mission, and marched on.
In reality, however, to accomplish the world mission by obeying the word of God was never an easy job.
The enemy devil and Satan tried to stop the kingdom of God from expanding by any and all means possible.
Just as Apostle Paul confessed that he knew no hope for living and that he thought he was passed a death sentence, we have passed through great difficulties.
Just as Jewish people pursued Apostle Paul to bring accusation against him and kill him, there have been many people who have pursued, accused and interfered with us in both in this country and in overseas countries.
But, in order to accomplish the will of God, you and I have piled up immeasurable tears and mourning in long endurance.
No matter how difficult it was, we've never said it was difficult.
We've never doubted and we've never been disheartened.
Since we suffered unjustly for the name of the Lord, we rather rejoiced.
When things seemed difficult at a moment, we believed that it would be fulfilled since it was the order of God, and we looked for where the will of God lied.
Since we've piled up these works of faith, God is establishing this church as an outstanding church in the world.
From now on, God will reveal His glory greatly through this church.
When we accomplish spreading the gospel of sanctification to the world with and will construct the Canaan Sanctuary so that even those who were against us will come to a realization.
They will become fearful for having stood against the works of God, and some of them will even repent and reach salvation.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
I've told you that you should diligently plant the seed of blessing by the spiritual faith in order to receive blessing in New Year's Day Service.
And, you've been doing just like that.
For more than 26 years, you've planted many seeds, you've grown the seeds by giving joy and thanks in any trials.
God will allow us to yield abundant fruit from the seeds.
Just as He promised long ago, nations and kings will come before us, and the wealth of all nations will come to this church.
Among the kings, some are already known to us and I've harbored them in my heart.
Some others are not known to us, but the gospel of sanctification has been planted in their hearts.
In other words, even though we don't know then, they've already heard about the power of God.
When the time comes, their hearts will be moved and they will come before God.
Such a man of goodness, Naaman, didn't come to the prophet when was well.
When he had something that a man couldn't solve, he came seeking for the grace of God.
Likewise, when the kings have something that cannot be managed by human ability and when they wish God's answer, they will come.
The Holy Spirit will manage the best time for them to come, and connect them with us.
Not only from overseas countries but also from this country, leaders will come to this church, and it will shake the Christian community.
It's because they themselves acknowledge the necessity of this gospel of sanctification and the power of God in order to wake up this world.
To the extent that the word of establishing this church as an outstanding one is accomplished, you will be proud of the name, Manmin.
Of course, even at this moment, when our church workers go to many places where the name Manmin is known, they are greatly loved and recognized.
If known through crusades or broadcasting, when they go there in the name of 'Manmin' or 'Dr. Lee,' even though they are just members of this church or even deacons, they are respected as if they were servants of God.
Even the servants of God who control many branch churches request prayers from our missionaries when they come in contact with the power of God through the handkerchief.
In addition, in some countries, their congressmen and high officials became our members and request for prayers from me when they come across with an important task.
In the future, you will realize that this gospel of sanctification and the power of God have been made known to more places than you may have previously thought.
Just like the word that God has given to us since the start of this church, nations and kings will desire Manmin.
Even when they hear the name of Manmin, they will be reminded of the power of God.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
In order to make this church an outstanding church, God has made the power greater and accomplished the world.
And He has prepared kings for Grand Sanctuary.
Now, this promise of blessing of being an outstanding church; what kind of meaning does it have to you personally?
It is each one of you. You are the ones who actually comprise this church.
This church doesn't become an outstanding church not because the power of the shepherd is great. It cannot be done just by a few people of the spirit.
Every one of you who is a part of this church should become outstanding children of God to make this church outstanding.
Since the start, this church has accomplished great record-breaking revivals.
Through both the gospel of sanctification that reveals the deep secret of spiritual realm, and the power of God which cannot be seen in any part of the world, the number of church members has rapidly increased.
This church has become a great church not only in Korea but also in the world with more than 8,000 branch churches.
However, recently, God hasn't allowed this church to repeat the great revival in numbers.
Why is that?
God explains that the reason is because He is choosing our members as if He were already winnowing to separate grain from the chaff.
Well, the process of choosing good grains and separating out the chaff took place during the great trials of 1998 and 1999. There were other several trials before then as well.
Once such trial came to this church and some people turned their backs on God and left.
Some of them had such a great experience, and some others made a confession that they would be faithful until death before the Lord would come.
I was, however, hurt in my heart and sorry that such people didn't keep their faith.
But those who overcame came to have all the more strong faith, and they came to understand even the deep level of the spiritual world.
The general level of faith of our members has risen higher and higher every day.
God says, however, that He is now in the process of choosing internally, not outwardly as before.
It seems calm outwardly, but God is refining each person in the depth of their hearts and change them.
When God opens the door, the numerical revival can be accomplished just any time.
The word of life and the power are getting stronger and stronger.
Moreover, even when the whole world says it's difficult to make living, our members will be protected and receive blessing.
When Canaan Sanctuary is constructed and nations and kings come before this church, just how many more people will come to this church?
However, more urgent thing at this moment is not such great revival; it is God's workers who will take care of such a great surge of people.
In a short period of time until the Lord comes back, in order to make such a great number of people as the grains, we need many servants of God and workers.
Each one of you here should become a strong warrior like a leader of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
That's why God is choosing the current members over and over again.
When you become a strong worker of faith like a rock, the great revival will begin as if water bursting through when a dam breaks.
Now, think about this.
New Jerusalem, which you long for so much, who is it that will enter there?
Is it those who see what is already revealed and come, or those who saw things by faith before the glory of God was revealed and cultivated sincere heart?
It is those of you who cultivated sincere hearts and full assurance of faith through all the refinements including the Canaan Sanctuary and the Grand Sanctuary.
Of course, some of the souls who come to this church after then may rapidly advance to heaven in their goodness.
But they will be rare cases; many of them will dwell in Paradise, the 1st kingdom or the 2nd kingdom of heaven.
It's because the spiritual faith cannot be achieved overnight; neither can the process of sanctification.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Just as I tell you all the time, entering New Jerusalem is not an easy job, but it is never a hard job, either.
To those who obey the word of God, keep faith with all their hearts, and ride on the flow of the spirit, it is such an easy job.
God Himself will lead them and draw them into New Jerusalem.
It is you who have been through such years that will enter there and enjoy the glory as true children of God.
Therefore, when you pray for an outstanding church, please cultivate your heart again and again.
You should believe that you will be a fine worker who is suitable for the outstanding church, believe that God will surely change you into a great worker, and you must pray.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
Since the foundation of this church, Isaiah 60:1-3 has been very familiar to our members.
It says, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."
These days, the world is so spiritually dark and it's getting darker and darker that it's not easy to find the light of hope.
Not only in this country but also in the world, economic situation will be all the more chaotic; people will never have a chance that it is well.
Of course, many people will seriously worry about it and try to find a solution to it.
But, when they think of one solution, the problem they are facing may seem disappear, but soon another problem will occur.
When they think of a solution to the problem, side effects will arise.
This procedure will be repeated; when this vicious circle repeats only in the economy field, restlessness will prevail among people, and political and diplomatic fields will also become rigid.
In this end time when the darkness covers the earth and shades over the peoples, only the glory of God becomes the light of the world.
The darker the world, the more brightly this church will shine over the peoples, just like a lighthouse shows the direction of life in the darkness,
This church will reveal and reveal the glory of God and show to the all the peoples and families and nations that the way of life is right here.
This vision of the outstanding church will be accomplished through your prayers.
I urge you to pray for it with all your heart and mind and soul and accomplish this vision.
I also ask each one of you to change to become a key person to lead this outstanding church.
May God praise you saying "You've done well, my son and my daughter," when you fulfill your given duties and meet with the Lord, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, I pray!
[Amen] |
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