• 간절한 기도의 능력 (The Power of

  설교날짜: 10/01/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 12:1-12

  간절한 기도의 능력 (The Power of Earnest Prayer) 

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• 간절한 기도의 능력 (The Power of

  설교날짜: 10/01/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 12:1-12

  간절한 기도의 능력 (The Power of Earnest Prayer) 

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간절한 기도의 능력 (The Power of Earnest Prayer)

설교날짜: 10/01/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 사도행전 12:1-12

• 첫번째로 그리스도인이라 불리운 제자들 (Th

  설교날짜: 9/24/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 11:19-30

  The Disciples 

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• 첫번째로 그리스도인이라 불리운 제자들 (Th

  설교날짜: 9/24/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 11:19-30

  The Disciples 

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첫번째로 그리스도인이라 불리운 제자들 (The Disciples First Called Christians)

설교날짜: 9/24/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 사도행전 11:19-30

• 성령을 구하는 기도 (Prayer to Re

  설교날짜: 9/17/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 1:4-26

  Sunday Worship Service Sermon (9-17-2023)

  Pray to Receive the Holy Spirit

  (Acts 1:4-26)

  1.

  Praying to receive the Holy Spirit or to be filled with the Holy Spirit is not something to pray every now and then. This is a prayer that must be asked of God first and foremost, and a prayer that must be asked of God every day.

   

  2.

   

  Today's text is the last command on earth given by the resurrected Jesus to about 500 people, including 11 disciples, gathered on the Mount of Olives before his ascension to heaven.  Let me read verses 4-5. “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John was baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”  So, the first thing they were to do was to pray to receive the Holy Spirit that the Father promised.

   

  Here, 'do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for what the Father has promised, which you have heard from me' means that you must first of all pray to receive the Holy Spirit that the Father has promised. In other words, Jesus tells us that there is something we must do first after being saved. That is, ‘we pray to receive the Holy Spirit, and we pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Why should we do that? Because only then can we live as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Who ordered us to do this? Yes, Jesus commanded us to do so. This is not what Peter said. This is the command Jesus gave to his 11 disciples and the 500 people gathered there as he ascended to heaven. Are you and I obeying this command of Jesus? We pray for our own wishes and desires. We pray earnestly every day for our needs and for God’s help. However, we can see that Jesus' earnest command, “Pray 'first' to receive the Holy Spirit promised by the Father”, is far from our prayers. Of course, it is perfectly fine for us to ask God for our wishes and needs, and for His help. However, whenever we pray, the first thing we should ask God for is to receive the Holy Spirit and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In a life of faith, following the commands Jesus gave us should always come first (rather than ours).

  Jesus commanded his disciples and about 500 people: ‘Above all else, pray first to receive the Holy Spirit that the Father has promised.’ Then, someone among them asked Jesus: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Verse 6). (=Lord, our concern now is for Israel to be restored. When does it happen?)

   

  What were they really asking? They were asking Jesus about when what they hoped for would come true. In short, they have no interest in what Jesus has said to them so far. It means that they are only interested in having their own wishes come true.

   

  Church members are still like this today. We are not particularly interested in what Jesus tells us to ‘ask for first.’ We are not really interested in what Jesus tells us to do. We always put ourselves (our will, our wishes, our plans) before the words of Jesus. However, those who live by this faith, ‘You are the Christ, the living God,’ always put Jesus first. At that time, Jesus said to them: "it is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (verses 7-8). After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Verses 9-11).

   

  If Jesus' disciples at that time had not followed Jesus' command and prayed for the Holy Spirit and had not received the power of the Holy Spirit, they would not have lived as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The gospel would never have been spread as widely in this land as it is now.

  However, out of the 500 people who received this command from Jesus, 120 went up to the upper room where they were staying. And with one heart they prayed earnestly for the Father to send the promised Holy Spirit (Verse 14). By the way, if you look at today's text, while they were praying earnestly to receive the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit revealed something through Peter to the people gathered there. This was to appoint a disciple to replace Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. This was something they had never thought of before they prayed to receive the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit helped them understand God's will while they were praying to receive the Holy Spirit. In addition, the Holy Spirit, through Peter, revealed to us who to raise as disciples and how (in what way) to select disciples.

   

  First of all, the Holy Spirit taught them that it was necessary to choose one of the men who had been with the disciples the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among them, beginning from the first day Jesus began his public ministry to the day he ascended to heaven. These are the ones qualified to be Jesus' disciples (Verse 21-22). And the Holy Spirit taught them, 'The person must be the one to testify of the resurrection of Jesus along with the 11 disciples'(Verse 22).

   

  I wonder:  Why did the Holy Spirit make them realize this while they were earnestly praying to receive the Holy Spirit? Through this, 120 people realized how to live as disciples of Jesus. They realized what it means to ‘live as a church established by the Lord.’ Before sending the Holy Spirit to them, God prepared their hearts to fully obey the work of the Holy Spirit in them as disciples of Jesus through a time of earnest prayer asking to receive the Holy Spirit. And when they received the power of the Holy Spirit and decided to live as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, and prayed to receive the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit came to them. Before God pours out the Holy Spirit on us, He sees if we want to live like this. Before God pours out the Holy Spirit on us, He prepares us to live like this. And when we seek the Holy Spirit with this prepared heart, the Father sends us the promised Holy Spirit.

   

  3.

  The early Jerusalem church members prayed earnestly to receive the Holy Spirit as promised by the Father, and they all received the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they were always able to overcome, with the help of the Holy Spirit, even during numerous hardships. And they lived as witnesses of Jesus Christ until the end.

   

  We are studying the Book of Acts, and we are learning that the early Jerusalem church suffered a lot of tribulation and persecution. But the church in Jerusalem enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened because they were living in the fear of the Lord, and they were encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they increased in numbers. That was because they received the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31). Also, even though they were scattered in all directions due to persecution, they were able to spread the word that Jesus was the Christ wherever they went, and they lived a life that brought countless people back to the Lord because they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

   

  We are fragile beings like clay pots. Therefore, if we do not receive the power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot keep our faith on our own until the last day because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). In these difficult times that hinder our faith, the church established by the Lord cannot stand strong without the power of the Holy Spirit. We are like earthen vessels, but we have the precious Holy Spirit in us and, therefore, we are not crushed even when we are pressed on every side, we are not discouraged when we are oppressed, we are not abandoned when we are persecuted, and we are not destroyed even when we are thrown down (2 Corinthians 4:7-10). That is why Jesus commanded us to first seek to receive the Holy Spirit (before leaving Jerusalem) and to pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So, when Peter and John heard that people in Samaria had come to believe in Jesus, they visited them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Only by being empowered by the Holy Spirit can we receive the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit and keep our faith until the day of Christ. Only by receiving the power of the Holy Spirit can we live as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. If we receive the power of the Holy Spirit, we can save the souls of 860,000 people in our community. It is a good thing to pray to God for our wishes, our needs, and for His help. However, even if we pray for this, we must pray first to receive the Holy Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us. When we pray to receive the Holy Spirit, God will give us a heart to obey the Holy Spirit and a heart to live as witnesses of Jesus Christ. And when we pray to receive the Holy Spirit with this heart, the Father will send us the Holy Spirit that He promised. Amen.

   

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• 성령을 구하는 기도 (Prayer to Re

  설교날짜: 9/17/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 1:4-26

  Sunday Worship Service Sermon (9-17-2023)

  Pray to Receive the Holy Spirit

  (Acts 1:4-26)

  1.

  Praying to receive the Holy Spirit or to be filled with the Holy Spirit is not something to pray every now and then. This is a prayer that must be asked of God first and foremost, and a prayer that must be asked of God every day.

   

  2.

   

  Today's text is the last command on earth given by the resurrected Jesus to about 500 people, including 11 disciples, gathered on the Mount of Olives before his ascension to heaven.  Let me read verses 4-5. “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John was baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”  So, the first thing they were to do was to pray to receive the Holy Spirit that the Father promised.

   

  Here, 'do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for what the Father has promised, which you have heard from me' means that you must first of all pray to receive the Holy Spirit that the Father has promised. In other words, Jesus tells us that there is something we must do first after being saved. That is, ‘we pray to receive the Holy Spirit, and we pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Why should we do that? Because only then can we live as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Who ordered us to do this? Yes, Jesus commanded us to do so. This is not what Peter said. This is the command Jesus gave to his 11 disciples and the 500 people gathered there as he ascended to heaven. Are you and I obeying this command of Jesus? We pray for our own wishes and desires. We pray earnestly every day for our needs and for God’s help. However, we can see that Jesus' earnest command, “Pray 'first' to receive the Holy Spirit promised by the Father”, is far from our prayers. Of course, it is perfectly fine for us to ask God for our wishes and needs, and for His help. However, whenever we pray, the first thing we should ask God for is to receive the Holy Spirit and to be filled with the Holy Spirit. In a life of faith, following the commands Jesus gave us should always come first (rather than ours).

  Jesus commanded his disciples and about 500 people: ‘Above all else, pray first to receive the Holy Spirit that the Father has promised.’ Then, someone among them asked Jesus: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Verse 6). (=Lord, our concern now is for Israel to be restored. When does it happen?)

   

  What were they really asking? They were asking Jesus about when what they hoped for would come true. In short, they have no interest in what Jesus has said to them so far. It means that they are only interested in having their own wishes come true.

   

  Church members are still like this today. We are not particularly interested in what Jesus tells us to ‘ask for first.’ We are not really interested in what Jesus tells us to do. We always put ourselves (our will, our wishes, our plans) before the words of Jesus. However, those who live by this faith, ‘You are the Christ, the living God,’ always put Jesus first. At that time, Jesus said to them: "it is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (verses 7-8). After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Verses 9-11).

   

  If Jesus' disciples at that time had not followed Jesus' command and prayed for the Holy Spirit and had not received the power of the Holy Spirit, they would not have lived as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. The gospel would never have been spread as widely in this land as it is now.

  However, out of the 500 people who received this command from Jesus, 120 went up to the upper room where they were staying. And with one heart they prayed earnestly for the Father to send the promised Holy Spirit (Verse 14). By the way, if you look at today's text, while they were praying earnestly to receive the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit revealed something through Peter to the people gathered there. This was to appoint a disciple to replace Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and committed suicide. This was something they had never thought of before they prayed to receive the Holy Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit helped them understand God's will while they were praying to receive the Holy Spirit. In addition, the Holy Spirit, through Peter, revealed to us who to raise as disciples and how (in what way) to select disciples.

   

  First of all, the Holy Spirit taught them that it was necessary to choose one of the men who had been with the disciples the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among them, beginning from the first day Jesus began his public ministry to the day he ascended to heaven. These are the ones qualified to be Jesus' disciples (Verse 21-22). And the Holy Spirit taught them, 'The person must be the one to testify of the resurrection of Jesus along with the 11 disciples'(Verse 22).

   

  I wonder:  Why did the Holy Spirit make them realize this while they were earnestly praying to receive the Holy Spirit? Through this, 120 people realized how to live as disciples of Jesus. They realized what it means to ‘live as a church established by the Lord.’ Before sending the Holy Spirit to them, God prepared their hearts to fully obey the work of the Holy Spirit in them as disciples of Jesus through a time of earnest prayer asking to receive the Holy Spirit. And when they received the power of the Holy Spirit and decided to live as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, and prayed to receive the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit came to them. Before God pours out the Holy Spirit on us, He sees if we want to live like this. Before God pours out the Holy Spirit on us, He prepares us to live like this. And when we seek the Holy Spirit with this prepared heart, the Father sends us the promised Holy Spirit.

   

  3.

  The early Jerusalem church members prayed earnestly to receive the Holy Spirit as promised by the Father, and they all received the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they were always able to overcome, with the help of the Holy Spirit, even during numerous hardships. And they lived as witnesses of Jesus Christ until the end.

   

  We are studying the Book of Acts, and we are learning that the early Jerusalem church suffered a lot of tribulation and persecution. But the church in Jerusalem enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened because they were living in the fear of the Lord, and they were encouraged by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, they increased in numbers. That was because they received the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31). Also, even though they were scattered in all directions due to persecution, they were able to spread the word that Jesus was the Christ wherever they went, and they lived a life that brought countless people back to the Lord because they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

   

  We are fragile beings like clay pots. Therefore, if we do not receive the power of the Holy Spirit, we cannot keep our faith on our own until the last day because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). In these difficult times that hinder our faith, the church established by the Lord cannot stand strong without the power of the Holy Spirit. We are like earthen vessels, but we have the precious Holy Spirit in us and, therefore, we are not crushed even when we are pressed on every side, we are not discouraged when we are oppressed, we are not abandoned when we are persecuted, and we are not destroyed even when we are thrown down (2 Corinthians 4:7-10). That is why Jesus commanded us to first seek to receive the Holy Spirit (before leaving Jerusalem) and to pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So, when Peter and John heard that people in Samaria had come to believe in Jesus, they visited them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Only by being empowered by the Holy Spirit can we receive the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit and keep our faith until the day of Christ. Only by receiving the power of the Holy Spirit can we live as witnesses of Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. If we receive the power of the Holy Spirit, we can save the souls of 860,000 people in our community. It is a good thing to pray to God for our wishes, our needs, and for His help. However, even if we pray for this, we must pray first to receive the Holy Spirit. Pray for the Holy Spirit to fill us. When we pray to receive the Holy Spirit, God will give us a heart to obey the Holy Spirit and a heart to live as witnesses of Jesus Christ. And when we pray to receive the Holy Spirit with this heart, the Father will send us the Holy Spirit that He promised. Amen.

   

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성령을 구하는 기도 (Prayer to Receive the Holy Spirit)

설교날짜: 9/17/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 사도행전 1:4-26

• 내가 누구이기에 하나님을 능히 막겠느냐? (

  설교날짜: 9/10/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 11:1-18

  Sunday Worship Service’s Sermon (9-10-2023)

  Who Was I to Think that I Could Stand in God’s Way?

  (Acts 11:1-18)

  1.     

  The Bible shows us people who, even though they insisted on their own thoughts and opinions, changed when they listened to the words of Jesus, put down their thoughts, stubbornness, and ways of thinking and followed and obeyed the words of Jesus. A typical example of this is Ananias. After Saul repented, Jesus called Ananias in Damascus in a vision. Then He told him, “Ananias, go to the house of Judas and ask for a man named Saul” (Acts 9:11). Saul is the one who hurt Ananias greatly and gave him great suffering. He was the one who persecuted the church so that all the church members in Jerusalem would be scattered in all directions. He was the one who took part in the stoning of Stephen, a fellow believer. The death of Stephen brought great sorrow to the church in Jerusalem. Saul was the one who inflicted these wounds and pain on the Jerusalem church members, including Ananias. But Jesus came to Ananias in a vision and told him to go to Saul. Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name" (Acts 9:13). – In a word, it means that I do not want to go to Saul. It means that I do not want to go because I am afraid of Saul. But the Lord told Ananias one more time to go. “Go! this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). At that time, Ananias put down his thoughts and stubbornness, went to Saul and called him “Brother Saul,” and he prayed for him wholeheartedly. This is the life of faith.

  2.     

  The believers throughout Juda and the apostles in today's text are among those people.

  The apostles and brothers in Judea heard that Peter, who was in Joppa, went to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile in Caesarea, and fellowshipped with them, shared food with them, and preached the word of God to them. Then the believers and the apostles accused Peter of having done this. At that time, Jews were well aware that it was against their law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. Nevertheless, because Peter entered the house of Cornelius, a Gentile in Caesarea, fellowshipped with them, ate food with them, and preached the word of God to them, the believers throughout Judea and the apostles, who regarded it as illegal, criticized Peter. If this conflict had not been dealt with wisely, the church community may have faced a great crisis that could have led to great division and conflict due to this matter.

   

  Then Peter explained in detail to the apostles and the believers throughout Judea, who criticized him, what he had done, how he had entered the house of the Gentile Cornelius.

   

  “Brothers, one day in Joppa, while I was praying, God showed me a vision. But in fact, I could not fully understand the vision. After I was praying and when I was thinking about this vision, the Holy Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with the people from Cornelius' house and to go to his house.' So, I obeyed the Spirit and went to his house (Acts 11:12). And when I went into Cornelius' house, I said to Cornelius and the Gentiles there: You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So, when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection” (Acts 10 :28-29).

   

  Peter well knew that it was against the law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. However, when God revealed His way to Peter, which was different from the standards of life and faith he had lived so far, he put down his thoughts, the standards of his life, and the standards of faith that he had considered right. Then, following God’s instructions, he entered Cornelius' house. This is the life of faith. This is the life of those who confess that the Lord is the Christ and the living God. This is the result of right prayer. This is truly the result of worship. There are people who pray to God, but instead of obeying God's will, they insist on fulfilling their own thoughts, assertions, and wills. Even after worshiping God and listening to His Word, there are people who still live as they lived before. But Peter was different. When he prayed, he laid down all his thoughts and ways of life that were different from God's and he obeyed the word God gave him. Ananias did the same. He had fearful and troubling thoughts about Saul, but when Jesus came to him in a vision and told him to go to Saul, he put down all his fearful and troubling thoughts and went to Saul and called him “Brother Saul.” This is the life of faith.

   

  Peter went on to explain how he visited in the house of the Gentile Cornelius: “In this way, I obeyed God’s command to go to Cornelius’ house. Then Cornelius told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' (Verses 13-14). That is why this encounter took place. This meeting happened in this way. This encounter was neither planned by me nor by Cornelius. This meeting is an encounter made by God. It is an encounter led by the Holy Spirit.”

   

  Peter went on to explain to them what God had done through this encounter that day: “On that day, I met the Cornelius family and began to tell them the words the Lord had given them: Jesus is our Savior, and anyone who believes in Jesus as the Savior will be forgiven of their sins and saved. As I began to speak (Verse 15), God gave them the same Holy Spirit that He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Who was I to think that I could stand in God's way? (Verse 17)”

   

  At that time, the believers throughout Judea and apostles, who had been criticizing Peter's actions and conduct, had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Verse 18).  As a result, the Jewish believers and apostles came to know that God wants to save the Gentiles. And they all put down their own thoughts and will and became people who followed God's way and obeyed.

  3.     

  Even after hearing the word of the Lord, to continue living in one's own way is to reject God. It is to dare to block what God is doing. We shouldn't live like this anymore. 'The Lord is the Christ and the living God,' - Those who live by this faith, like Peter, like Ananias and Cornelius always obey Jesus Christ who we confess as our Christ and the living God.  Those who believe and confess that the Lord is the Christ and the living God never reject God and what God is doing.

   

  Even if it wasn’t the standard of our life and faith, if we have learned God’s ways by reading and learning the Lord’s word, we must correct our lives so that we obey God’s word like these people did. That is true worship, that is the right prayer, and that is the right life of faith.

   

  Like Peter, when confronted with the word of God given to us, 'Who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?' I hope that you and I will live by obeying the word of God with this heart.

   

  (Closing prayer) Dear God, we don't want your will and work to be limited or hindered because of us. On the contrary, we want to be used as a faithful instrument to make God's will come true by always obeying God's Word. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

   
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• 내가 누구이기에 하나님을 능히 막겠느냐? (

  설교날짜: 9/10/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 11:1-18

  Sunday Worship Service’s Sermon (9-10-2023)

  Who Was I to Think that I Could Stand in God’s Way?

  (Acts 11:1-18)

  1.     

  The Bible shows us people who, even though they insisted on their own thoughts and opinions, changed when they listened to the words of Jesus, put down their thoughts, stubbornness, and ways of thinking and followed and obeyed the words of Jesus. A typical example of this is Ananias. After Saul repented, Jesus called Ananias in Damascus in a vision. Then He told him, “Ananias, go to the house of Judas and ask for a man named Saul” (Acts 9:11). Saul is the one who hurt Ananias greatly and gave him great suffering. He was the one who persecuted the church so that all the church members in Jerusalem would be scattered in all directions. He was the one who took part in the stoning of Stephen, a fellow believer. The death of Stephen brought great sorrow to the church in Jerusalem. Saul was the one who inflicted these wounds and pain on the Jerusalem church members, including Ananias. But Jesus came to Ananias in a vision and told him to go to Saul. Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name" (Acts 9:13). – In a word, it means that I do not want to go to Saul. It means that I do not want to go because I am afraid of Saul. But the Lord told Ananias one more time to go. “Go! this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15). At that time, Ananias put down his thoughts and stubbornness, went to Saul and called him “Brother Saul,” and he prayed for him wholeheartedly. This is the life of faith.

  2.     

  The believers throughout Juda and the apostles in today's text are among those people.

  The apostles and brothers in Judea heard that Peter, who was in Joppa, went to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile in Caesarea, and fellowshipped with them, shared food with them, and preached the word of God to them. Then the believers and the apostles accused Peter of having done this. At that time, Jews were well aware that it was against their law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. Nevertheless, because Peter entered the house of Cornelius, a Gentile in Caesarea, fellowshipped with them, ate food with them, and preached the word of God to them, the believers throughout Judea and the apostles, who regarded it as illegal, criticized Peter. If this conflict had not been dealt with wisely, the church community may have faced a great crisis that could have led to great division and conflict due to this matter.

   

  Then Peter explained in detail to the apostles and the believers throughout Judea, who criticized him, what he had done, how he had entered the house of the Gentile Cornelius.

   

  “Brothers, one day in Joppa, while I was praying, God showed me a vision. But in fact, I could not fully understand the vision. After I was praying and when I was thinking about this vision, the Holy Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with the people from Cornelius' house and to go to his house.' So, I obeyed the Spirit and went to his house (Acts 11:12). And when I went into Cornelius' house, I said to Cornelius and the Gentiles there: You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So, when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection” (Acts 10 :28-29).

   

  Peter well knew that it was against the law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. However, when God revealed His way to Peter, which was different from the standards of life and faith he had lived so far, he put down his thoughts, the standards of his life, and the standards of faith that he had considered right. Then, following God’s instructions, he entered Cornelius' house. This is the life of faith. This is the life of those who confess that the Lord is the Christ and the living God. This is the result of right prayer. This is truly the result of worship. There are people who pray to God, but instead of obeying God's will, they insist on fulfilling their own thoughts, assertions, and wills. Even after worshiping God and listening to His Word, there are people who still live as they lived before. But Peter was different. When he prayed, he laid down all his thoughts and ways of life that were different from God's and he obeyed the word God gave him. Ananias did the same. He had fearful and troubling thoughts about Saul, but when Jesus came to him in a vision and told him to go to Saul, he put down all his fearful and troubling thoughts and went to Saul and called him “Brother Saul.” This is the life of faith.

   

  Peter went on to explain how he visited in the house of the Gentile Cornelius: “In this way, I obeyed God’s command to go to Cornelius’ house. Then Cornelius told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' (Verses 13-14). That is why this encounter took place. This meeting happened in this way. This encounter was neither planned by me nor by Cornelius. This meeting is an encounter made by God. It is an encounter led by the Holy Spirit.”

   

  Peter went on to explain to them what God had done through this encounter that day: “On that day, I met the Cornelius family and began to tell them the words the Lord had given them: Jesus is our Savior, and anyone who believes in Jesus as the Savior will be forgiven of their sins and saved. As I began to speak (Verse 15), God gave them the same Holy Spirit that He gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Who was I to think that I could stand in God's way? (Verse 17)”

   

  At that time, the believers throughout Judea and apostles, who had been criticizing Peter's actions and conduct, had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Verse 18).  As a result, the Jewish believers and apostles came to know that God wants to save the Gentiles. And they all put down their own thoughts and will and became people who followed God's way and obeyed.

  3.     

  Even after hearing the word of the Lord, to continue living in one's own way is to reject God. It is to dare to block what God is doing. We shouldn't live like this anymore. 'The Lord is the Christ and the living God,' - Those who live by this faith, like Peter, like Ananias and Cornelius always obey Jesus Christ who we confess as our Christ and the living God.  Those who believe and confess that the Lord is the Christ and the living God never reject God and what God is doing.

   

  Even if it wasn’t the standard of our life and faith, if we have learned God’s ways by reading and learning the Lord’s word, we must correct our lives so that we obey God’s word like these people did. That is true worship, that is the right prayer, and that is the right life of faith.

   

  Like Peter, when confronted with the word of God given to us, 'Who was I to think that I could stand in God's way?' I hope that you and I will live by obeying the word of God with this heart.

   

  (Closing prayer) Dear God, we don't want your will and work to be limited or hindered because of us. On the contrary, we want to be used as a faithful instrument to make God's will come true by always obeying God's Word. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen

   
  • 
  • 

내가 누구이기에 하나님을 능히 막겠느냐? (Who was I to Think That Could Stand in God's Way?)

설교날짜: 9/10/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 사도행전 11:1-18

• 때 늦은 후회 (The Belated Reg

  설교날짜: 8/27/2023 - 9/03/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 누가복음 16:19-31

  때 늦은 후회 (The Belated Regret) 

  • 
  • 

• 때 늦은 후회 (The Belated Reg

  설교날짜: 8/27/2023 - 9/03/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 누가복음 16:19-31

  때 늦은 후회 (The Belated Regret) 

  • 
  • 

때 늦은 후회 (The Belated Regret)

설교날짜: 8/27/2023 - 9/03/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 누가복음 16:19-31

• 생명을 살리는 순종 (Obedience th

  설교날짜: 8/20/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 10:34-48

  생명을 살리는 순종 (Obedience that Saves Lives) 

  • 
  • 

• 생명을 살리는 순종 (Obedience th

  설교날짜: 8/20/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 10:34-48

  생명을 살리는 순종 (Obedience that Saves Lives) 

  • 
  • 

생명을 살리는 순종 (Obedience that Saves Lives)

설교날짜: 8/20/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 사도행전 10:34-48

• 우리에게 일어난 기적 (The Miracle

  설교날짜: 8/13/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 9:32-43

  Sunday Worship Service’s Sermon (8-13-2023)

   

  The Miracle that Happened to Us

  (Acts 9:32-43)

  1.     

  When you read today's text, what words remain in your memory? What are the words that interest you? Also, what new realizations have you made? Could you see who Jesus is?

  2.      

  What I remember most is that Peter went to visit the Lord's people who lived in Lydda, Sharon and Joppa preaching that Jesus is the Christ, and as a result, many people living in Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa turned to the Lord and believed in the Lord. Many things happen in our life journey, but the fact that we turned to the Lord and made Jesus our Savior is a precious thing that cannot be compared to anything else. This is a blessing of blessings. This is the best thing you and I have chosen and decided to do while living on this earth. It is what God is most pleased with. At that moment, we became a new being in Christ and a new life began.

   

  What pleases God most is that people turn to the Lord and people believe in Jesus as their Savior. Knowing this well, Peter visited people not only in Jerusalem, but also in Lydda, Sharon (40 km, or about 25 miles from Jerusalem), and Joppa (20 km, or about 12 ½ miles, from Lydda). And to them, ‘He preached that Jesus is the Christ’. As a result, they turned to the Lord and many people believed in Jesus. Evangelism may seem foolish to a person's mind (1 Corinthians 1:21). However, because the name of Jesus Christ is the name of the power that gives us salvation, those who hear the name turn to the Lord and believe in Jesus as their savior. I believe that 865,000 people who live in Montgomery County will turn to the Lord when we fervently pray for their salvation and tell them eagerly that Jesus is the Christ, just as when Peter went to Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa to tell the people that Jesus is the Christ, and many of those who lived there turned to Jesus. In this way, living for the things that please God most is the life of the church established by the Lord. This is believing in Jesus. This is the life that lives according to this faith: - ‘You are the Christ and the living God.’  This is the best life and the wisest life. This is the life with the greatest reward in heaven (Daniel 12:3).

   

  In particular, in today's text, many miracles occurred when Peter told the gospel. In Lydda, Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years got up ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’. Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. This miracle shows that Peter, by faith in the name of Jesus Christ, completely healed this man. The name of Jesus Christ is the name that saves us. Jesus performed this miracle to save Aeneas and to show the people in Lydda and Sharon that 'Jesus is the Christ' so that they would believe in Jesus as their savior.

   

  God, who wants all people to be saved, enables people to see and believe that Jesus is the Christ through these miracles. In Joppa, a miracle happened when Tabitha, who became sick and died, was revived by Peter. She was always doing good and helping the poor. She was a person who made robes and other clothing for the poor widows living there. She was a person who imitated Jesus. When Tabitha, who lived like this, became sick and died, the disciples living in Joppa sent two men to Peter who was in Lydda to urge him to please come to Joppa. Peter went with them to Joppa, and he went upstairs to the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. God works as we believe. God said to let it be done as you believed (Mattew 8:13)

   

  Through this miracle, many people in Joppa believed in Jesus as their Savior. Jesus performed this miracle for the Christians living in Joppa to make them believe that 'Jesus is the Christ' and to save the people living in Joppa. And Jesus performed this miracle for us so that we, who read the Bible today, will surely believe that 'Jesus is the Christ' and that we will boldly tell the gospel with this faith that 'Jesus is the Christ'.

   

  We must be very careful when we read the miracles recorded in the Bible. We should not focus only on the miracles recorded in the Bible. Rather, we must pay attention to Jesus who accomplished these miracles. Rather than focusing on the miracles that happened there that day, we should focus on the reality that ‘Jesus is the Christ.’ These miracles were performed in the name of Jesus Christ. The miracles that happened in the name of Jesus Christ are one of Jesus' ways to show us directly that 'Jesus is the Christ.' Jesus healed the paralyzed and raised the dead, not just to reveal the miracles He did for people. They were performed to let everyone know and believe that 'Jesus is the Christ'. The reason why Jesus shows us these miracles then and today is to show people that 'Jesus is the Christ' and to make them believe. In other words, it is to let everyone in the world know and believe that Jesus is the Christ who delivers us from sin, death, and the punishment of hell, and who gives us eternal life.

   

  A greater miracle has happened to us. What is that? Jesus forgave us from all our sins and saved us the moment we believed in Him as our Savior. He made it possible for us to live forever in heaven. The moment we believed in Jesus as our Savior, God transferred us from eternal punishment in hell to heaven, and moved us from eternal death to eternal life. There is no greater miracle than this. There is no greater grace and love than this. Even though we would have no choice but to die forever due to our sin of forsaking God and disobeying God, when we believe in Jesus, who came to the world to save us, was crucified, and was resurrected as our Savior, we immediately receive forgiveness of sins, are saved, and are saved by God. Becoming a child of God and gaining eternal life is a true miracle, and it is by God's amazing grace and love. Let’s give thanks to Jesus for giving us this amazing grace. Please come back to the Lord before it's too late. Live with this faith that 'the Lord is the Christ and the living God'. And, like Peter, live as a person who tells everyone that Jesus is the Savior.

  3.     

  Aeneas was healed of paralysis. Tabitha was brought back to life. But on that day, the wisest people of all were those people who saw these miracles and turned to the Lord. Those who saw these miracles and believed in Jesus.

   

  The wisest people, then and now, are those who have seen and heard what Jesus did (seeing the cross and resurrection of Jesus) and returned to the Lord. The wisest people are those who saw Jesus who saved us through the cross and resurrection and believed in Jesus as their Savior. Wise people saw that Jesus is the Christ through what happened in the name of Jesus Christ rather than only seeing the miracle that happened that day. So, they repented and returned to Jesus. They believed in Jesus as the Christ. They returned to Jesus after seeing a greater miracle and greater grace in which anyone who believed in Jesus would not perish but receive eternal life. They believed in Jesus as their savior and began a life of obedience to Jesus. Like Peter, they went everywhere and started preaching that Jesus is the Christ. Those who have been saved by believing in Jesus cannot endure without telling people the name of Jesus who saved them.

   

  This morning, through our worship and the Word of God, and through the Holy Spirit who is now working among us, I believe that God will truly bring you and me to turn to the Lord and truly believe in Jesus as your Savior. Amen!

   

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  • 

• 우리에게 일어난 기적 (The Miracle

  설교날짜: 8/13/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 9:32-43

  Sunday Worship Service’s Sermon (8-13-2023)

   

  The Miracle that Happened to Us

  (Acts 9:32-43)

  1.     

  When you read today's text, what words remain in your memory? What are the words that interest you? Also, what new realizations have you made? Could you see who Jesus is?

  2.      

  What I remember most is that Peter went to visit the Lord's people who lived in Lydda, Sharon and Joppa preaching that Jesus is the Christ, and as a result, many people living in Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa turned to the Lord and believed in the Lord. Many things happen in our life journey, but the fact that we turned to the Lord and made Jesus our Savior is a precious thing that cannot be compared to anything else. This is a blessing of blessings. This is the best thing you and I have chosen and decided to do while living on this earth. It is what God is most pleased with. At that moment, we became a new being in Christ and a new life began.

   

  What pleases God most is that people turn to the Lord and people believe in Jesus as their Savior. Knowing this well, Peter visited people not only in Jerusalem, but also in Lydda, Sharon (40 km, or about 25 miles from Jerusalem), and Joppa (20 km, or about 12 ½ miles, from Lydda). And to them, ‘He preached that Jesus is the Christ’. As a result, they turned to the Lord and many people believed in Jesus. Evangelism may seem foolish to a person's mind (1 Corinthians 1:21). However, because the name of Jesus Christ is the name of the power that gives us salvation, those who hear the name turn to the Lord and believe in Jesus as their savior. I believe that 865,000 people who live in Montgomery County will turn to the Lord when we fervently pray for their salvation and tell them eagerly that Jesus is the Christ, just as when Peter went to Lydda, Sharon, and Joppa to tell the people that Jesus is the Christ, and many of those who lived there turned to Jesus. In this way, living for the things that please God most is the life of the church established by the Lord. This is believing in Jesus. This is the life that lives according to this faith: - ‘You are the Christ and the living God.’  This is the best life and the wisest life. This is the life with the greatest reward in heaven (Daniel 12:3).

   

  In particular, in today's text, many miracles occurred when Peter told the gospel. In Lydda, Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years got up ‘in the name of Jesus Christ’. Peter said to Aeneas, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. This miracle shows that Peter, by faith in the name of Jesus Christ, completely healed this man. The name of Jesus Christ is the name that saves us. Jesus performed this miracle to save Aeneas and to show the people in Lydda and Sharon that 'Jesus is the Christ' so that they would believe in Jesus as their savior.

   

  God, who wants all people to be saved, enables people to see and believe that Jesus is the Christ through these miracles. In Joppa, a miracle happened when Tabitha, who became sick and died, was revived by Peter. She was always doing good and helping the poor. She was a person who made robes and other clothing for the poor widows living there. She was a person who imitated Jesus. When Tabitha, who lived like this, became sick and died, the disciples living in Joppa sent two men to Peter who was in Lydda to urge him to please come to Joppa. Peter went with them to Joppa, and he went upstairs to the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive. God works as we believe. God said to let it be done as you believed (Mattew 8:13)

   

  Through this miracle, many people in Joppa believed in Jesus as their Savior. Jesus performed this miracle for the Christians living in Joppa to make them believe that 'Jesus is the Christ' and to save the people living in Joppa. And Jesus performed this miracle for us so that we, who read the Bible today, will surely believe that 'Jesus is the Christ' and that we will boldly tell the gospel with this faith that 'Jesus is the Christ'.

   

  We must be very careful when we read the miracles recorded in the Bible. We should not focus only on the miracles recorded in the Bible. Rather, we must pay attention to Jesus who accomplished these miracles. Rather than focusing on the miracles that happened there that day, we should focus on the reality that ‘Jesus is the Christ.’ These miracles were performed in the name of Jesus Christ. The miracles that happened in the name of Jesus Christ are one of Jesus' ways to show us directly that 'Jesus is the Christ.' Jesus healed the paralyzed and raised the dead, not just to reveal the miracles He did for people. They were performed to let everyone know and believe that 'Jesus is the Christ'. The reason why Jesus shows us these miracles then and today is to show people that 'Jesus is the Christ' and to make them believe. In other words, it is to let everyone in the world know and believe that Jesus is the Christ who delivers us from sin, death, and the punishment of hell, and who gives us eternal life.

   

  A greater miracle has happened to us. What is that? Jesus forgave us from all our sins and saved us the moment we believed in Him as our Savior. He made it possible for us to live forever in heaven. The moment we believed in Jesus as our Savior, God transferred us from eternal punishment in hell to heaven, and moved us from eternal death to eternal life. There is no greater miracle than this. There is no greater grace and love than this. Even though we would have no choice but to die forever due to our sin of forsaking God and disobeying God, when we believe in Jesus, who came to the world to save us, was crucified, and was resurrected as our Savior, we immediately receive forgiveness of sins, are saved, and are saved by God. Becoming a child of God and gaining eternal life is a true miracle, and it is by God's amazing grace and love. Let’s give thanks to Jesus for giving us this amazing grace. Please come back to the Lord before it's too late. Live with this faith that 'the Lord is the Christ and the living God'. And, like Peter, live as a person who tells everyone that Jesus is the Savior.

  3.     

  Aeneas was healed of paralysis. Tabitha was brought back to life. But on that day, the wisest people of all were those people who saw these miracles and turned to the Lord. Those who saw these miracles and believed in Jesus.

   

  The wisest people, then and now, are those who have seen and heard what Jesus did (seeing the cross and resurrection of Jesus) and returned to the Lord. The wisest people are those who saw Jesus who saved us through the cross and resurrection and believed in Jesus as their Savior. Wise people saw that Jesus is the Christ through what happened in the name of Jesus Christ rather than only seeing the miracle that happened that day. So, they repented and returned to Jesus. They believed in Jesus as the Christ. They returned to Jesus after seeing a greater miracle and greater grace in which anyone who believed in Jesus would not perish but receive eternal life. They believed in Jesus as their savior and began a life of obedience to Jesus. Like Peter, they went everywhere and started preaching that Jesus is the Christ. Those who have been saved by believing in Jesus cannot endure without telling people the name of Jesus who saved them.

   

  This morning, through our worship and the Word of God, and through the Holy Spirit who is now working among us, I believe that God will truly bring you and me to turn to the Lord and truly believe in Jesus as your Savior. Amen!

   

  • 
  • 

우리에게 일어난 기적 (The Miracle that Happened to Us)

설교날짜: 8/13/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 사도행전 9:32-43

• 우리 모두가 성령받기를 기도하라 (Pray

  설교날짜: 8/06/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 8:14-17

  Sunday Worship Service’ Sermon (8-06-2023)

   

  Pray that We All Might Receive the Holy Spirit

  (Acts 8:14-17, 9:31)

  1.     

  The early Jerusalem church prayed earnestly to receive the Holy Spirit from the first hours of living as a church established by the Lord. They valued every single word Jesus gave them, believed in it, and obeyed it. Those who have received Jesus as my Savior live a life of obedience to Jesus. When we live a life of obedience to Jesus, we are able to live a life where God is with us. When we live a life of obedience to Jesus, we live a better life. In other words, when we live a life of obedience to Jesus, we enjoy the grace and blessings that God promised in the Bible.

  2.     

  Before the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave one very important command to the 500 people gathered on the hill called the Mount of Olives. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

   

  I will summarize these words of Jesus and explain who the Holy Spirit is.

  Waiting to receive the Holy Spirit is the first thing saved disciples should do. To be baptized with the Holy Spirit means that Jesus, the Spirit, enters into us. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism given to us by God the Father. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism that God promised to give to all people (Acts 2:17-18). The Holy Spirit is Jesus, the Spirit, who helps us know who Jesus is, teaches us about everything Jesus has done to save us, and helps us obey the commands that Jesus gave to His saved disciples. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism that God the Father gives to those who wait for the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism that enables saved disciples to live as witnesses of Jesus.

  After Jesus gave this command and ascended to heaven, 120 people went upstairs to the room where they were staying. And they joined together constantly in prayer to receive the Holy Spirit. (Have you ever prayed to receive the Holy Spirit promised by our Heavenly Father?).

   

  On the 10th day after they prayed together to receive the Holy Spirit, all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. In other words, the Holy Spirit enabled them to preach that Jesus is the Christ with the words of the people of each country who were gathered there. To that extent, God wants the name of Jesus Christ to be preached to all nations and all to be saved. Do you now have a better understanding of how important it is to tell people about the name of Jesus Christ?

   

  After 120 people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this way, Peter and John were the first among them to preach that Jesus was the Christ to the crippled man from birth. And the early Jerusalem church (=The churches established by the Lord) began to preach that 'Jesus is the Christ' to the people living in Jerusalem. They became the first people of obedience who began to live to fulfill the words of Jesus who said; "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

   

  The same words are recorded in today's text. From the first hours that the church in Samaria lived as the church established by the Lord, the apostles first prayed earnestly for them to receive the Holy Spirit. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people in Samaria also received Jesus as their Savior through Philip and were saved, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. The first thing these two did when they went to Samaria was to pray for the Samaria Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:14-16). We also need to learn to pray for those who repent and believe in Jesus so that they may receive the Holy Spirit.

  Being baptized with water is a baptism that shows repentance for living for only oneself and for disobeying God. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is a baptism that enables people to turn away from a life of disobedience and a life of living for only oneself, to living a life of obedience to Jesus and to living as a witness of Jesus. This is the life of a person born again of the Holy Spirit.

   

  Peter, John, and the apostles (=disciples of Jesus) of the church the Lord established did not forget what Jesus prioritized and considered most important. They remembered the words Jesus commanded (Acts 1:8) in the first hour when they began to live as the church he had established, before he ascended into heaven. So, when the church the Lord established in Samaria started, Peter and John ran to them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. This attitude is an important attitude to follow in our life of faith. It is an attitude of respecting and obeying each and every word that Jesus gave us. Peter and John laid hands on Christians in Samaria and prayed earnestly for them to receive the Holy Spirit. As a result, all of the Lord's disciples in Samaria received the Holy Spirit.

   

  Then, why did Jesus want his disciples who were saved to receive the Holy Spirit like this? Why did the disciples, including Peter and John, run to the people in Samaria when they heard that they believed in Jesus and were baptized, and pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit? The answer is in Acts 9:31.

   

  Let’s look at Acts 9:31: “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

  This is because when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, three things happen to us (=to the church the Lord has established).

   

  (1) The Holy Spirit enables the church established by the Lord to enjoy a time of peace and strength. When individuals, families, churches, and nations obey the great commission and the great commandment of Jesus, they can enjoy a time of peace and stand firm even during persecution and suffering. The time to obey the great commission and the great commandment of Jesus is the time when we wear God's peace and we stand stronger. However, there is no peace in the time when you are disobeying the great commission and the great commandment of Jesus. It's time to get weaker.

   

  Acts 9:31 records, “The church the Lord established in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace, was strengthened and it grew in numbers.” The reason why the churches established by the Lord able to enjoyed a time of peace, were strengthened and it grew in numbers of people saved every day is because the churches established by the Lord obeyed the great commission and the great commandment of the Lord. The Holy Spirit who came to the churches the Lord established gave them the power to obey like this. The Holy Spirit comes to those who obey Jesus (Acts 5:32). The Holy Spirit comes to us and gives us power to obey the great commission and the great commandment of the Lord.

   

  (2) The Holy Spirit enables us (= the church established by the Lord) to live with a heart that fears the Lord. The Holy Spirit enables us to know who Jesus is. The Holy Spirit enables us to realize the great things Jesus did for our salvation. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of the amazing grace and love of God who sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, for our salvation. In this way, when we realize the grace and love of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit, then we begin to live in fear of the Lord who saved us as our Christ and as the living God. And we begin to live by preaching Jesus who saved us to all people.

   

  (3) The Holy Spirit enables us (= the church established by the Lord) to live by the help (with power) of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to tell people every day that Jesus is the Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers us to boldly proclaim to all people that Jesus is the Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the power to bring many to the Lord. The Holy Spirit is the one who causes wonders and signs to be done in and through us in the name of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do what Jesus did. The Holy Spirit is the one who heals the sick through us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to destroy all the devil's schemes against us and the church established by the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ, and empowers the church established by Jesus to live by preaching the gospel until the end of the world.

   

  'The Lord is the Christ and the living God' - If you want to live as a 'church established by the Lord' who lives according to this faith, you must receive the Holy Spirit. We all must pray to receive the Holy Spirit. Only then can we, the church established by the Lord, stand firm in peace and strength without being shaken at any moment. And you can obey the command of Jesus with your heart in the fear of the Lord. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can participate in preaching the gospel. Then, the church established by the Lord will see that the number of people saved increases day by day.

  3.     

  Jesus earnestly wanted Saul to receive the Holy Spirit from the first day he repented and live as the church established by the Lord. So, He poured out to Saul the fullness of his Holy Spirit through Ananias. Ananias also prayed earnestly for Saul to receive the Holy Spirit. And when Ananias prayed earnestly for Saul to receive the Holy Spirit, God poured out the fullness of His Holy Spirit on Saul. And Saul immediately preached to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:20). When Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment, and his family and relatives heard the gospel preached by Peter, they received Jesus, and they received salvation, and God poured out the Holy Spirit on them from the first day they lived as the church the Lord established (Acts 10:44).

   

  I hope that all of us can pray every day to 'receive the Holy Spirit' according to Jesus' command, 'Wait for the Holy Spirit'. And I hope that we can pray every day to receive the Holy Spirit, relying on the promise of Jesus who said, 'You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.' Also, I hope that we, like Peter and John, can pray for all our church members and all our children to 'receive the Holy Spirit'. Then, we too will be able to stand firm as the church established by the Lord as in Acts 9:31: “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

   

  “Oh, Our Lord, pour out the Holy Spirit on us all.” Amen!!

   

   

   
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  • 

• 우리 모두가 성령받기를 기도하라 (Pray

  설교날짜: 8/06/2023

  설교자: 김덕신 목사

  설교본문: 사도행전 8:14-17

  Sunday Worship Service’ Sermon (8-06-2023)

   

  Pray that We All Might Receive the Holy Spirit

  (Acts 8:14-17, 9:31)

  1.     

  The early Jerusalem church prayed earnestly to receive the Holy Spirit from the first hours of living as a church established by the Lord. They valued every single word Jesus gave them, believed in it, and obeyed it. Those who have received Jesus as my Savior live a life of obedience to Jesus. When we live a life of obedience to Jesus, we are able to live a life where God is with us. When we live a life of obedience to Jesus, we live a better life. In other words, when we live a life of obedience to Jesus, we enjoy the grace and blessings that God promised in the Bible.

  2.     

  Before the resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven, he gave one very important command to the 500 people gathered on the hill called the Mount of Olives. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5). “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

   

  I will summarize these words of Jesus and explain who the Holy Spirit is.

  Waiting to receive the Holy Spirit is the first thing saved disciples should do. To be baptized with the Holy Spirit means that Jesus, the Spirit, enters into us. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism given to us by God the Father. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism that God promised to give to all people (Acts 2:17-18). The Holy Spirit is Jesus, the Spirit, who helps us know who Jesus is, teaches us about everything Jesus has done to save us, and helps us obey the commands that Jesus gave to His saved disciples. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism that God the Father gives to those who wait for the Holy Spirit. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the baptism that enables saved disciples to live as witnesses of Jesus.

  After Jesus gave this command and ascended to heaven, 120 people went upstairs to the room where they were staying. And they joined together constantly in prayer to receive the Holy Spirit. (Have you ever prayed to receive the Holy Spirit promised by our Heavenly Father?).

   

  On the 10th day after they prayed together to receive the Holy Spirit, all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. In other words, the Holy Spirit enabled them to preach that Jesus is the Christ with the words of the people of each country who were gathered there. To that extent, God wants the name of Jesus Christ to be preached to all nations and all to be saved. Do you now have a better understanding of how important it is to tell people about the name of Jesus Christ?

   

  After 120 people received the baptism of the Holy Spirit in this way, Peter and John were the first among them to preach that Jesus was the Christ to the crippled man from birth. And the early Jerusalem church (=The churches established by the Lord) began to preach that 'Jesus is the Christ' to the people living in Jerusalem. They became the first people of obedience who began to live to fulfill the words of Jesus who said; "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

   

  The same words are recorded in today's text. From the first hours that the church in Samaria lived as the church established by the Lord, the apostles first prayed earnestly for them to receive the Holy Spirit. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people in Samaria also received Jesus as their Savior through Philip and were saved, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. The first thing these two did when they went to Samaria was to pray for the Samaria Christians to receive the Holy Spirit. Because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:14-16). We also need to learn to pray for those who repent and believe in Jesus so that they may receive the Holy Spirit.

  Being baptized with water is a baptism that shows repentance for living for only oneself and for disobeying God. Being baptized with the Holy Spirit is a baptism that enables people to turn away from a life of disobedience and a life of living for only oneself, to living a life of obedience to Jesus and to living as a witness of Jesus. This is the life of a person born again of the Holy Spirit.

   

  Peter, John, and the apostles (=disciples of Jesus) of the church the Lord established did not forget what Jesus prioritized and considered most important. They remembered the words Jesus commanded (Acts 1:8) in the first hour when they began to live as the church he had established, before he ascended into heaven. So, when the church the Lord established in Samaria started, Peter and John ran to them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. This attitude is an important attitude to follow in our life of faith. It is an attitude of respecting and obeying each and every word that Jesus gave us. Peter and John laid hands on Christians in Samaria and prayed earnestly for them to receive the Holy Spirit. As a result, all of the Lord's disciples in Samaria received the Holy Spirit.

   

  Then, why did Jesus want his disciples who were saved to receive the Holy Spirit like this? Why did the disciples, including Peter and John, run to the people in Samaria when they heard that they believed in Jesus and were baptized, and pray for them to receive the Holy Spirit? The answer is in Acts 9:31.

   

  Let’s look at Acts 9:31: “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

  This is because when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, three things happen to us (=to the church the Lord has established).

   

  (1) The Holy Spirit enables the church established by the Lord to enjoy a time of peace and strength. When individuals, families, churches, and nations obey the great commission and the great commandment of Jesus, they can enjoy a time of peace and stand firm even during persecution and suffering. The time to obey the great commission and the great commandment of Jesus is the time when we wear God's peace and we stand stronger. However, there is no peace in the time when you are disobeying the great commission and the great commandment of Jesus. It's time to get weaker.

   

  Acts 9:31 records, “The church the Lord established in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace, was strengthened and it grew in numbers.” The reason why the churches established by the Lord able to enjoyed a time of peace, were strengthened and it grew in numbers of people saved every day is because the churches established by the Lord obeyed the great commission and the great commandment of the Lord. The Holy Spirit who came to the churches the Lord established gave them the power to obey like this. The Holy Spirit comes to those who obey Jesus (Acts 5:32). The Holy Spirit comes to us and gives us power to obey the great commission and the great commandment of the Lord.

   

  (2) The Holy Spirit enables us (= the church established by the Lord) to live with a heart that fears the Lord. The Holy Spirit enables us to know who Jesus is. The Holy Spirit enables us to realize the great things Jesus did for our salvation. The Holy Spirit makes us aware of the amazing grace and love of God who sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, for our salvation. In this way, when we realize the grace and love of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit, then we begin to live in fear of the Lord who saved us as our Christ and as the living God. And we begin to live by preaching Jesus who saved us to all people.

   

  (3) The Holy Spirit enables us (= the church established by the Lord) to live by the help (with power) of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to tell people every day that Jesus is the Christ. The Holy Spirit empowers us to boldly proclaim to all people that Jesus is the Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the power to bring many to the Lord. The Holy Spirit is the one who causes wonders and signs to be done in and through us in the name of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to do what Jesus did. The Holy Spirit is the one who heals the sick through us. The Holy Spirit gives us the power to destroy all the devil's schemes against us and the church established by the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ, and empowers the church established by Jesus to live by preaching the gospel until the end of the world.

   

  'The Lord is the Christ and the living God' - If you want to live as a 'church established by the Lord' who lives according to this faith, you must receive the Holy Spirit. We all must pray to receive the Holy Spirit. Only then can we, the church established by the Lord, stand firm in peace and strength without being shaken at any moment. And you can obey the command of Jesus with your heart in the fear of the Lord. And with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can participate in preaching the gospel. Then, the church established by the Lord will see that the number of people saved increases day by day.

  3.     

  Jesus earnestly wanted Saul to receive the Holy Spirit from the first day he repented and live as the church established by the Lord. So, He poured out to Saul the fullness of his Holy Spirit through Ananias. Ananias also prayed earnestly for Saul to receive the Holy Spirit. And when Ananias prayed earnestly for Saul to receive the Holy Spirit, God poured out the fullness of His Holy Spirit on Saul. And Saul immediately preached to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:20). When Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment, and his family and relatives heard the gospel preached by Peter, they received Jesus, and they received salvation, and God poured out the Holy Spirit on them from the first day they lived as the church the Lord established (Acts 10:44).

   

  I hope that all of us can pray every day to 'receive the Holy Spirit' according to Jesus' command, 'Wait for the Holy Spirit'. And I hope that we can pray every day to receive the Holy Spirit, relying on the promise of Jesus who said, 'You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days.' Also, I hope that we, like Peter and John, can pray for all our church members and all our children to 'receive the Holy Spirit'. Then, we too will be able to stand firm as the church established by the Lord as in Acts 9:31: “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.”

   

  “Oh, Our Lord, pour out the Holy Spirit on us all.” Amen!!

   

   

   
  • 
  • 

우리 모두가 성령받기를 기도하라 (Pray for that We All Might Receive the Holy Spirit)

설교날짜: 8/06/2023

설교자: 김덕신 목사

설교본문: 사도행전 8:14-17