08 January 2020 (Wed.) Prayer Journal
A Pearl of Great Value
Matthew 13:45~46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
♬Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #50 All to Jesus I Surrender (Unified Hymn #71)
[Message Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twCE4PSRz3k
Jesus compared Heaven to pearls. Those who possess the pearl are full of joy and happiness. It’s a one-of-a-kind pearl, so it cannot be priced and sold. Likewise, Heaven reveals God’s infinite grace. Although you live in this world, you have received the priceless Gospel of heaven. How can you live beyond what you see?
1. The Gospel Is the Unparalleled Grace of God
When you confess the absolute impossibility, then God will show you the absolute possibility. Because of the blood of the lamb, (Exodus 3:18) the miracles of Exodus took place. By holding onto Immanuel, (Isaiah 7:14) the restoration of the exodus from Babylon occurred. Those works are an absolute impossibility with your own strength. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Israelites who were colonized were scattered and restored. That, too, came about only by the grace of God.
2. The Blessing of Evangelism and Missions Is the Solution to Problems
The Bible records witnesses who, age by age, resolved problems that nobody else could solve. The nation of Israel was destroyed because of idolatry and corruption. As a result, the Israelites became captives of Babylon and later, were colonized by Rome. Despite those horrific conditions, the Remnants in the Bible relayed “only Gospel.” They were convinced that the Gospel was the only answer that would save Israel and the entire world.
Those who have received the Gospel, which is like the pearl of great value, can be thankful. Elder Jethro who was overwhelmed by the unexpected grace of God; the prostitute Rahab; the church officer Obadiah; the widow of Zarephath; and the Shunammite woman healed their eras with their small acts of devotion. Although you are weak, your small act of devotion will surely bear the answers of saving the future.
[Covenantal Prayer] Dear God, I thank You for letting me know the great value of the Gospel. With this precious Gospel, help me to stand as a witness of healing.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship, 2nd Service / August 25, 2019
[Deep Questions] Q: “What Is Important?”
A Fisherman’s Advantage
漁父之利
Korean: eo bu ji li
Chinese: Yú fǔ zhī lì
This is a four-character Chinese idiom that means “a random person reaps the benefit while two people are fighting.” If you only think about the benefits in front of you, then you will often incur greater loss.
During the Warring States period in China, a faithful man named Sodae wanted to warn and advise King Huiwen of the Zhao Dynasty not to attack the Yeon Dynasty which was a neighboring state.
This is the account between Sodae and King Huiwen of Zhao.
“This morning when I was walking across the Salsu River, I saw a large clam with its mouth wide open. Right at that moment, a large stork saw it and put its beak into the mouth of the clam to eat it. However, the clam shut its mouth. A fisherman who saw those two fighting quickly took both of them away. If the Yeon Dynasty and the Zhao Dynasty go to war, it will only be beneficial to the neighboring Qin Dynasty.”
- Source: (Naver Encyclopedia of Knowledge) Forming a Community of Idioms, September 15, 2010, Planning Group MOIM, Shin Dong-min
What are visible is not everything. Those that are unseen are not trivial, instead their worth is incomparable and eternal. Don’t stake your life for something that will easily come and go. Look only toward Him who is eternal.
“...as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
A Pearl of Great Value
Matthew 13:45~46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”
♬Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #50 All to Jesus I Surrender (Unified Hymn #71)
[Message Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twCE4PSRz3k
Jesus compared Heaven to pearls. Those who possess the pearl are full of joy and happiness. It’s a one-of-a-kind pearl, so it cannot be priced and sold. Likewise, Heaven reveals God’s infinite grace. Although you live in this world, you have received the priceless Gospel of heaven. How can you live beyond what you see?
1. The Gospel Is the Unparalleled Grace of God
When you confess the absolute impossibility, then God will show you the absolute possibility. Because of the blood of the lamb, (Exodus 3:18) the miracles of Exodus took place. By holding onto Immanuel, (Isaiah 7:14) the restoration of the exodus from Babylon occurred. Those works are an absolute impossibility with your own strength. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the Israelites who were colonized were scattered and restored. That, too, came about only by the grace of God.
2. The Blessing of Evangelism and Missions Is the Solution to Problems
The Bible records witnesses who, age by age, resolved problems that nobody else could solve. The nation of Israel was destroyed because of idolatry and corruption. As a result, the Israelites became captives of Babylon and later, were colonized by Rome. Despite those horrific conditions, the Remnants in the Bible relayed “only Gospel.” They were convinced that the Gospel was the only answer that would save Israel and the entire world.
Those who have received the Gospel, which is like the pearl of great value, can be thankful. Elder Jethro who was overwhelmed by the unexpected grace of God; the prostitute Rahab; the church officer Obadiah; the widow of Zarephath; and the Shunammite woman healed their eras with their small acts of devotion. Although you are weak, your small act of devotion will surely bear the answers of saving the future.
[Covenantal Prayer] Dear God, I thank You for letting me know the great value of the Gospel. With this precious Gospel, help me to stand as a witness of healing.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship, 2nd Service / August 25, 2019
[Deep Questions] Q: “What Is Important?”
A Fisherman’s Advantage
漁父之利
Korean: eo bu ji li
Chinese: Yú fǔ zhī lì
This is a four-character Chinese idiom that means “a random person reaps the benefit while two people are fighting.” If you only think about the benefits in front of you, then you will often incur greater loss.
During the Warring States period in China, a faithful man named Sodae wanted to warn and advise King Huiwen of the Zhao Dynasty not to attack the Yeon Dynasty which was a neighboring state.
This is the account between Sodae and King Huiwen of Zhao.
“This morning when I was walking across the Salsu River, I saw a large clam with its mouth wide open. Right at that moment, a large stork saw it and put its beak into the mouth of the clam to eat it. However, the clam shut its mouth. A fisherman who saw those two fighting quickly took both of them away. If the Yeon Dynasty and the Zhao Dynasty go to war, it will only be beneficial to the neighboring Qin Dynasty.”
- Source: (Naver Encyclopedia of Knowledge) Forming a Community of Idioms, September 15, 2010, Planning Group MOIM, Shin Dong-min
What are visible is not everything. Those that are unseen are not trivial, instead their worth is incomparable and eternal. Don’t stake your life for something that will easily come and go. Look only toward Him who is eternal.
“...as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18)
07 January, 2020 (Tues.) Prayer Journal