Author: knoxchurchreddeer

Psalm 104:24-35, Acts 2:1-21 and 1 Corinthians 12:3-13

 

Early last week, I attended a conference with leaders from various denominations at a church in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The main themes were the church, land, and community; in reality, responses regarding the decline in the number of believers and the practical use of space. This conference provided practical assistance in preparing for the future financially, focusing on examples from large, historic local churches. The warning that one-third of churches could disappear within the next five years, compared to ten years ago, sent chills down my spine. Of course, I have been interested in the construction of the church and the development of the region where the church is located in the past. So, I remember that when I drove, I mainly focused on the church buildings. This habit persisted even after coming to Canada, and I recall finding A-shaped church buildings in Canada interesting whenever I saw them. In fact, we can sense the seriousness of the problem even when looking at the weak churches within our presbytery. However, I learned that there are many difficulties with last-minute preparation, and that I need to prepare step by step over a period of five years. Of course, our church’s situation is relatively better, and I believe it will improve if we prepare just a little more from now.

Today is Pentecost Sunday. This is a time to commemorate the Risen Jesus’ ascension to heaven and the sending of the Holy Spirit to this earth. The selection of new disciples to replace Judas and their growth into leaders of the 1st-century church have several implications for us. In today’s reading, the disciples gathered in one place on Pentecost. And there the Holy Spirit came upon each person, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in different languages. This part is a record that was previously unimaginable. Conversely, when humans rebelled against God out of pride, as in the Tower of Babel incident, God confused their language to hinder their communication. However, at Pentecost, God enabled the disciples to speak to the people who had come to Jerusalem from their regions in their own languages through the Holy Spirit. We can confirm the God who scatters and the God who gathers. These principles of God’s work also apply to our church today. There are various groups within our church. Internally, there are the Sunday School, Card Making, Board, and Sessions, while externally, there is the Mission Committee. And we are forming relationships, both large and small, with various groups within the church, receiving help and simultaneously giving help. The driving force to outreach to the local community and the world, through the grace and spiritual growth received within the church, is made possible through the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we must welcome God, who always comes to us by our side and speaks to us in a language that is easy to understand. How can we meet God, who opens our mouths and ears? It is the very thing we all know well. It is the Bible and prayer. It was written in a language we understand. It helps us meditate more easily on God’s will and plan. The Creator opens our eyes and ears. In this way, we must recognize that God is always with us.

Next, it is the principle of walking with the Holy Spirit and being fully used. With what mindset did the disciples gather on Pentecost? Now, they are the people who must carry out the work Jesus commanded on this earth. They likely gathered with a bit of fear and a heavy sense of responsibility. They would have asked themselves. “What are my talents or resources? Jesus is the Son of God, but I am not.” God filled these disciples with the Holy Spirit. Finally, when many Jews came to Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit prompted the disciples to use their own language. When they seek God’s work with pure faith, God gives the disciples various abilities and gifts. So, they did the work 100% in accordance with God’s will.

The people who came to Jerusalem are faithful leaders from each region. They will not live in Jerusalem forever, but will return to their original homes and hometowns after Pentecost. The work of the filling of the Holy Spirit that they witnessed creates the effect of sowing seeds before the disciples go there and preach the gospel. This applies equally to today’s era.

When I confess with faith that I cannot do it myself, God uses us in His work at the Lord’s time. Let me share a shameful example. In fact, Koreans have been taught for a very long time that they are a homogeneous nation. The logic is that our country is composed of a single ethnic group. Of course, these things have weakened now. This concept became an effective weapon when Japan or China invaded. However, this is scientifically impossible. Because, given the composition of human DNA, it cannot be limited to a single race or ethnicity. Fifteen years ago, while writing my master’s thesis, I researched racial discrimination and coexistence in various countries. I have confirmed that the people of any country comprise five or more ethnic groups, regions, and races. Although I am Asian, my mother’s hair colour was mostly brown. This indicates that I carry Eurasian genes, and my small eyes provide evidence that my ancestors migrated from the north to the south.

Returning to the scripture, the Korean people treated foreigners coming from outside according to their skin colour in the past. They were very kind to white people, but treated people from less fortunate countries differently. There were many times when workers from Southeast Asia or the Middle East did not receive fair treatment or protection, even though they performed difficult and dangerous work in my place. However, the church protected the Muslim workers who came seeking help, and the Gospel was encountered. The church opened a human rights protection center for workers and collected their overdue wages on their behalf. It opened the way for treatment for workers whose health insurance benefits had expired. Foreign workers who have a favourable impression of the church return home with the tools of the Gospel and wealth after their visas expire. Of course, it is not a large number. However, in a land that is very dangerous for missionaries to visit, far more missionaries from the Middle East began to appear than just one. Of course, it is not easy. I ask the Holy Spirit, relying on the words of verse 21. “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” May we become instruments of God, and may everyone we meet receive God. May we all become one in the Holy Spirit and proclaim the Lord’s gospel and peace to this land. Amen.

Psalm 21:1–7, John 17:1–11 and Ephesians: 1:15–23

 

Some Christians like the expression that they received an answer from God through prayer. In that case, can I receive an answer from God every time I pray? In fact, all prayers are answered. It may be answered according to my will, according to God’s will, or neither. If so, would one be happy if one’s prayers were always answered? Conversely, would life be unhappy just because things don’t go my way? There are times in our lives when we face results that do not go according to our prayers, but for which we are even more grateful. I am very happy these days because the prayers from 20 years ago and 10 years ago have not been answered. At that time, my prayer did not include ministry in Canada. But I am very thankful to God right now.

Here, through Jesus’ prayer, we can see the various aspects of prayer and answer. In John 17, through Jesus’ prayer, we witness prayer in a situation that goes beyond my hopes and plans. Right now, Jesus is in a situation where things are not going according to his will and plans, on the path of the cross. What thoughts did Jesus have at that time before ascending to heaven? He must have had various complex thoughts and worries. However, Jesus faithfully carried out God’s work. We can understand this well through verses 4 and 6. “⁴ I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. ⁶ “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word.”  Jesus prays to God. I have completed the things my father told me to do. I have glorified the Father’s name on this earth, and I have revealed You. Those who believe in God have been left on this earth. I proclaimed God to them and taught the gospel.

However, the mysterious thing is the fact that Jesus’ prayer changes. As we now know, the situation Jesus faced was challenging. With the omnipotence received from God, Jesus has performed countless miracles to this day. However, from now on, Jesus must do the exact opposite and lay down all his divine power. He can strike the evil forces threatening Him with lightning and blow them away with a windstorm. However, he is well aware that this deviates from God’s will and plan. He has the ability, but he is in a situation where he must not use it. In a very difficult situation, Jesus still prays to God. In verse 5, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Jesus, who must be placed in the most dishonourable situation through death on the cross, asks God: “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory.” However, the prayer directed toward Jesus himself changes direction to a prayer for his disciples. These are verses 9 and 11. “⁹ I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. ¹¹ I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you.” Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. I want to cry every time I read this prayer. This is because Jesus’ prayer very clearly reveals His heart toward His disciples. Jesus said, “I pray for them. I can no longer be with them in the world. But God, please protect them and make them one, just as we are.” In this prayer, you can read Jesus’ love, concern, and various complex emotions. Perhaps Jesus predicted that after the crucifixion and resurrection, Christians and the church would be persecuted, scattered, and sometimes repeatedly divided through conflict. However, the key point is that Jesus’ prayer shifted toward conforming to God’s will and prioritizing others over oneself. Through this, we learn the lesson of discerning God’s will before our own plans.

The same is true of Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. Intercessory prayer for others has power. This is because it is what God has commanded and requested. At that time, the believers received valuable teachings from the Apostle Paul for three years. However, immigrants from various regions of Türkiye had weak roots in faith. They were easily deceived by heretics. People who were knowledgeable and faithful lacked the heart to embrace beginners. So they were busy condemning one another, and the church lost its love and passion for God. It was at this time that the Apostle Paul wrote a letter while praying in prison.

Through this prayer, we can see that the Apostle Paul introduces Jesus to the believers and teaches about the church community. Paul prays that the believers will receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation and know the hope of God who calls them. He also proclaims to Christians who have just come to know Jesus that He is truly the Son of God. He continued to pray that the eyes of their hearts would be opened and that they would understand and know this so that they could accept it with faith. So he explains that Jesus is the head of the church God established for the people of this earth, and that the church is His body. Through Paul’s prayer, we come to know that Jesus is everything in our lives. This is because He gave us everything, and when we know Him, we can enjoy fullness.

Beloved, I would like to recommend this one thing through the prayers of Jesus and Paul. I hope that we become people who look beyond our circumstances and environment to God’s will and plan, whether or not our prayers are fulfilled. I pray that this week will be a time when we earnestly pray for our families and neighbours around us, just as Jesus and Paul did. Amen.