The Incarnation: The Wonder of Christ's Glory

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

John 1:1‭-‬18 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

What's the best present that a child could receive for Christmas?

Their dad, in the flesh, present with them. That is what we celebrate at Christmas. In Christ, God came in the flesh and was present with us.

Grace, truth, and glory came. The son of God became flesh so that these things would not be just abstractions. They would be real, substantive, touchable and knowable in Christ.

John refers to Jesus as "the word." Out of all the things Jesus could've been called, John chooses this. Words reveal our character, dreams, personality. Jesus is God's intimate outreaching to us. God's ways are higher than ours. But God stooped down and spoke in human terms. Not only that, but he came down in human form. 

Jesus came to his people and was rejected. God, the father, who holds us up and sustains us... gets slapped in the face. The only reason that sinners can slap God is because he gets close enough for them to do so. Jesus is grace. Not some abstract thing, but He himself is grace.

In Jesus we see the full glory of God

Moses asked to see God's face. God turned him down, because that would've liked Moses. So instead Moses saw the back of God's glory... his face shown from that and long after he came back down from the mountain. Jesus is God's grace manifest. He is what Moses longed to see. We see it in full with eyes of faith.

We are innate glory seekers. But we fall short and play with little glories rather than the incomparable glory of Jesus. But what makes Jesus above all the others? Jesus is a combination of holiness & love, truth & grace, transcendent & immenent. He is a paradoxical meeting of seeming absolutes. God's glory is seen most in the shame and humility of the cross. Jesus is the truth that sets us free. Jesus is the grace who bought us life. 

The incarnation : The wonder of Christ's compassion

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 2:14‭-‬18, 4:14‭-‬16 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Jesus took on flesh to save

He came to save. Through death he came to deliver us from death and slavery to sin. Jesus saves us from the fear of death. Before the industrial revolution, death was immediate and direct. Now we can keep death at arm's length. We have modern medicine and vitamins. We have even outsourced to some extent with funeral homes and hospice care. Not only that, but we distract ourselves with entertainment. Inevitably, death awaits every one of us. The pursuit of legacy and achievements is trying to make our name outlast our lives. The vast majority of us will be forgotten in one or two generations. There is nothing that lasts without God. All our deeds will be forgotten. Death and sickness awaits us all.

But God sent his son. Man sinned and rejected God. Our punishment is deserved. But instead, Jesus came in the form of man to accept the punishment of men. But he was, in substance, God, so that he could take the full wreath of God and survive. So that we have grace for now and for the life to come. We can intellectually agree. But how about the here and now? Often we find life as a believer difficult and tough. 

Jesus took on flesh to fully sympathize with us

Jesus knows us. He had walked in our shoes. The priests of old offered up animal sacrifice. But Jesus came and offered his very life. He knew sickness. He knew the burden of serving others. He knew of slander, shame, betrayal, pain, sickness... He knew of sorrow and to weep over the death of a loved one. He knew what it was to be forsaken. He knew temptation and the pull of revenge, sexual temptation, and immediate gratification. He was sinless, but he knew temptation better than any one of us. Whatever hardship, struggle, or temptation, Jesus fully sympathize with us.

Jesus strengthens us

Jesus comes in compassion and gentleness. We find sympathy in Him. But more than that, He saves and delivers. Jesus saves. He invites us to come to Him. We can find strength and salvation in Jesus.

The incarnation: The wonder of Christ's Obedience

Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.

I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Galatians 3:23‭- 4:‬7 ESV

What is this law that Christ came to obey?

This law is referred to as a guardian. Kind of like a governess or supervisor of the children of the household. In the time of the text, these guardians were often slaves. They kept the minors in check with the household code. This is different from the workplace or the courts. This was in the context of families. The law was not how one entered the household. It was because one is part of the household.

When the minors come of age, the supervisor is no longer over us. But we don't ignore the law, it is that we have become mature that we desire to follow the law. We not longer needed the guardrails. All those rules and things we were compelled to do should, now that we have matured, make sense and have value for us.

Why does His obedience matter?

Is there something significant to this? Jesus living the perfect life is insufficient. How do we know? Because of the cross. The law cannot give us life. Righteousness does not come from the law, it comes from faith. Being obedient to the law will not make God love you. God's love is unconditional. Jesus did not earn the Father's love. He just received God's love. 

God loves, even though we bring nothing to the deal. That is saving faith. Nothing to be earned in our salvation. The cross was necessary and sufficient for us. We are now heirs in the family of God. Christ's daily experience of obedience was the proving ground for the cross. His daily submission to God was pointing to His final submission to death on the cross. 

Small obedience leads to big Obedience. Jesus submitted to his parents. He knew more than his parents, but still obeyed. It's like a parent listening to their five year old. That is the radical humility of Jesus.

Are we practicing the small acts of obedience and submission to God? It begins today. The inverse is also true. Small rebellions will lead to greater sin. Great unfaithfulness comes from little disobedience day by day. We are called to daily die to ourselves and pick up our cross. This is not just some pithy saying. This is how we are changed, day by day.

Those who are in the family of God are concerned with what He is concerned about. Believers grieve when they sin because they know it hurts God. They cry for mercy, not as an employee to their boss, but a child crying to their parent. Repenting over sin is more than just not doing it again. It is seeing the life & goodness of the right way. Guilt should lead you somewhere, not hold you down. Self loathing will not save you. Jesus saves. God loves and no sin can separate us from Him. 

The law cannot bring us life. It cannot be used to please God. It can only reveal our relationship with God. We cannot come to God through the law. Our obedience does not bring us to God; it only reveals what is true about our relationship with God.

We need to put our faith in God.

We need to rest in God's provision for us. We need to let God love us. Stop earning and striving. We cannot argue our case because we are guilty. We cannot make God love us. We are not a slave in the house of God; we are heirs. There is nothing we can do to make salvation happen. God is good and loving. We can only take it by faith and come to Him.

The incarnation: the wonder of Christ's humility

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5‭-‬11 ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

The wonder of Christ's humility

Jesus became one of us. This should impress us. But we live in a first world country, we live comfortable lives. But we need to consider the life of an Israelites under the rule of the Romans. It was not a pleasant life. 

Jesus' life is summarized in 3 parts. First Jesus was in the form of God. He was a separate person, but he was in the nature of God. He was in perfect communion with the Holy Trinity. Then, He became nothing. God is so far above us and so different from us in so many ways. But he became restrained by human limits. It is unfathomable to us. It is the greatest downgrade in lifestyle and everything else. He was born into obscurity, a blue collar family, no good looks to recommend him. Not only that, but he would die in the most painful and shameful way. We might be able to humble ourselves in some extent, but Jesus humbled himself beyond what we could by ourselves bare. He knew the awkwardness of teenage years. He knew betrayal, loneliness, frustration, ... All these things He experienced. He knew the pain of family infighting, lack of money, and all the human troubles large and small. Finally, he was exalted to the right hand of God, the Father. He came back to life after defeating the grave and death. He went from the humble King to the risen King. At his name, every knee would bow. 

Walking in Christ's humility

Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit and he wrote this passage for a reason. He was asking the church to be of one mind. There had been pride, quarreling, and infighting amount members of the church. Salvation does not mean all conflict will disappear. If our hearts are not filled with the love of Christ, we will seek to fill it with other things. Respect, pleasure, power, praise of men, a sense of control... If you are full, then other things will not have the same pull or temptation.

By Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.- Hebrews 11:1‭-‬40 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

What will motivate & sustain us in our convictions? Faith

What do we mean by Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

God, who we cannot see, is real. And spiritual realities, also invisible and some, yet to come, are true and will come to pass. We are sure and convicted. This is not a passive thing, but an active dynamic thing. A genuine faith leads people to act. It is more than just verbally affirming some doctrine. Faith is more than mental assent. It will convict us and we still step out into action. 

What can be achieved by Faith

There is a list of amazing things done by faith. An ark built in a desert. A barren woman, past childbirth age, gave birth. A man gives up all social statue, power, and riches in order to free a people from slavery. The Christian can be optimistic because they know God and what he can do. It is more than worldly optimism. And it is better than cynicism and unfettered pessimism.

How do we endure by Faith

God doesn't guarantee comfort, riches, or an easy life. Believers will suffer. Hardship and difficulties will come, sometimes because of ministry and sometimes because our faith in Christ. What can keep us ministering? What can help us persevere? 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, - Hebrews 12:1 ESV

God's Heart... My Part

May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him! - Psalms 67:1‭-‬7 ESV

Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a lifelong friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.- Acts 13:1‭-‬3 ESV

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.- Philippians 4:10‭-‬15 ESV

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.- 1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬7 ESV

Chris Brown (WEC International)

We are happy and joyful about God blessing us. But we need to keep going after verse 1, the blessing is so that God would be known. If we love God, we want to love things that He loves. God loves us. But His love is not restricted to one people, one nation. God loves people from every tribe, every nation, every tongue. 

If the nations are on God's heart, then how are we doing? 4.24 billion people don't know a single Christian. This is the current state of things. Knowing God's heart, what is our part in this?

Go, be sent. - Acts 13:1-3

We can be sent to share the gospel. Some may be called to go for the rest of their lives. But others may only be there for a short time, 3-4 months. They can use their skills for that time to further the mission.

Share the trouble of those sent - Philippians 4:10-15

Paul received financial support, but that is not his primary point. Paul was touched by the church sharing the burden of trouble. He appreciated their concern. So it should be with us. Love our missionaries and share their burdens.

Pray for the world and salvation - 1 Timothy 2:1-7

We should read the news and pray through it. Consider the crises and unrest happening around the world as an opportunity for the gospel. Consider if God is calling you to go.

Go, be sent

Visit short term

Willingness to go long term

Concern for those sent

Comfort and emotional support

Give financial help

Pray

Read the news prayerfully

Pray for those who have been sent by your church

The Church's Great Global Commission

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."- Matthew 28:16‭-‬20 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

The greatest claim

A couple of days has made such a difference for these disciples. They saw their leader, Jesus, treated like the worst of criminals. Humiliated and put to death in the most painful way. Their hopes and dreams dashed. And suddenly, the greatest reversal, Resurrection! The risen King was before them, in the flesh. He has total authority over all things, even over sin and brokenness. None of these things will stop or trouble Jesus. This is why we can have any hope to complete what Jesus commands.

The greatest cause

What does it mean to make disciples? Go baptize, teach men to obey all that God calls us to. It includes making unbelievers into believers. They are baptized to testify to their conversion. But it doesn't end there. They must be discipled to full maturity. What does this mean? This is not a singular task. It is lifelong. Full maturity requires more than one individual teaching a new believers. It requires a community, the church. Full obedience to discipleship also means making more disciples.. And making more churches. And so on. So the most important question for us is this, what part are we playing in this?

The greatest comfort

Jesus is with believers. Even more so for those who are sent. Unreached people are unreached for a reason, it is difficult. There are obstacles and dangers. We can do this because we are not doing this alone, but Jesus, the risen & reigning King is by your side.

Work for the good of the city

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

1 Thessalonians 4:9‭-‬12 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

One of the ways we can be a blessing is through our work. Work takes up to a third of our lives. Our faith should connect to our work. What we hear on Sunday needs to connect to what we do on Monday through Friday.

Purpose of work

Paul was writing to a very young church. It was being persecuted. He commends them in their brotherly love. They were not a wealthy congregation, but they were  generous. Paul asked them to live quiet lives, mind they're own affairs, work with their hands, and continue showing brotherly love. Why? That's such a strange phrasing. Some of the congregation believed that Jesus' return was imminent. So much so that they stopped working and started depending on others to meet their daily needs. How does that apply to our current life and times?

We see work individually. They are a way to provide for us and our families. But in the grand scheme of things, our work provides for others. God uses our jobs to provide everyone their daily bread. He uses the farmer, the mill worker, & the baker. All kinds of work are sacred and have dignity and worth.

We tend to raise up those who are white collar and look down on those who are blue collar. But in the eyes of God, both are sacred. Both doctors and surgeons as well as the janitor who keeps the hospitals sterile are doing important work. Jesus showed by example in this as well. He was a carpenter as well as a public intellectual figure. He elevated both manual and mental work. 

Power of work

There was a system called patronage at work at the church. People would raise up and hype up powerful and influential figures. It wasn't paid, but it gave them a chance to influence people of power. But Paul told them to live quiet lives instead. Paul was telling them to lift up ordinary faithfulness. Don't get caught up on the big and spectacular to miss out on the everyday diligence. We are called to approach our work no matter how menial as a place for excellence.

Power for work

Paul urges them the live quietly. He tells them to be ambitious to live quiet lives. Have them right ambition. We are called to work, at the beginning, before sin entered into the world. We are to work to bless those around us.

Our measure of worth is not based on our performance at work. To do so is exhausting and soul crushing. But maybe we do not struggle with that. Many work is just something to be beared with so we can do what we want on our weekends. That too is soul crushing. We were not made to just stuff ourselves with pleasure. It makes our lives feel meaningless. We can only find true freedom in Jesus. 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."- Matthew 11:28‭-‬30 ESV

It us only in working under Jesus' lordship that we can be free from being crushed by performance anxiety and the emptiness of living for pleasure.

A healing presence in a hurting city

"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord .

Jeremiah 29:4‭-‬9 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Present in

There were multiple prophets in the time of Jeremiah. Hannaniah was saying that it would be a short stay in exile. But Jeremiah was saying that they should prepare to be there for seventy years. Plant gardens and continue to be married and give away children in marriage. This was a multi-generational stay in Babylon. 

This is a specific prophet speaking a message for a specific place and time, yet we can still look at it for us to apply in our lives. There is something that we face now that no one in the old or new testament had to face. There is a lack of rootedness to our lives in the States. More than 1 out of 4 Americans have moved in the past five years. Americans have moved 11 times in their lives. The people of these times were largely agricultural.. They were born, married, made friends, and likely died on the same place. 

Rootedness enables the gospel to move not only in your life but through your life. "A rooted life in a place", an article on the gospel coalition website speaks on the danger of the unrooted life. There is power in sticking to a place and devoting time and energy to bettering that place. That can allow us to be a heading presence.

Present with

Jeremiah never said what the Israelites wanted to hear. The Babylonians were the ones who tore open pregnant women and dashed babies against the city walls. Jeremiah said that they were to work and pray for the good of THESE people. God had not given up on Israel. God wanted them to engage this city even though the Israelites were hated and despised by them. This is called engaged alienation. Jesus calls all Christians to this as well. Do good to those who hate and persecute you. We are still called to it today in this day and age. We are not to assimilate, but not disengage either. The way that we can thrive is not to disengage in self protection or assimilate to the culture, but to engage even while alienated.

Present for

We are to aim for Shalom. Universal thriving and flourishing... All is as it should be. Right not in our eyes, but in the eyes of God. To work for Shalom means to bring wholeness. Spiritual flourishing. Relational flourishing. Physical flourishing. We are not to expect perfection in our work towards shalom in our city, but progress. This earthly city should reflect, through our prayers and work, some aspects of our heavenly home. We will find our thriving in seeking the good of this city.

Hospitality to the lonely city

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. - Romans 12:10‭, ‬12‭-‬13 ESV

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: - 1 Peter 4:8‭-‬10 ESV

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. - Hebrews 13:1‭-‬2 ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

Hospitality is the friendly reception, acceptance, and welcoming of guests and strangers through kindness

It's using your home and other resources in a daily way that seeks to make strangers into neighbors, and neighbors into the family of God

The need for hospitality

There is loneliness in our city. Just because there is so many people does not address our need for relationship. Loneliness is one of the greatest problems of the current generation.

Loneliness is a result of sin. Between Adam and Eve there was perfect relationship. But that was broken and people now hide from one another. We are created in his image and He is constantly in relationship within the Trinity. So we were created to be in relationship.

The power of hospitality

The Gospel shows us that we are welcomed by God first. Jesus came into this broken world and exposed himself to all the pain and brokenness. He was lonely, so he would know our pains. He felt the loss of the presence of God in a way that we will never know.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"- Matthew 27:46 ESV

The cure for our loneliness is the intimate and close relationship with God. We need one another, but that is to point us to our need for relationship with God.

Practical steps

+ Pray for a hospitable heart and for opportunities to share it
+ Plan ways ahead of time to show hospitality
+ Look at every resource you have something to share
+ Don't always do it alone but work as a team
+ Pay attention to spiritual needs (not just fun and entertainment)
+ Press on and don't give up

Peace to a Divided City

Rev. Travis Drake

Seeing the division

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.- Proverbs 29:8 ESV

Scoffers are a bit difficult to define. Scoffers are a type of fool. Fools are headed to death. The wise are on the path to life.

Scoffers are proud and arrogant. They will not listen to others or God. They are unteachable. They are wise in their own eyes. So how does this type of person set the city on fire? First, a city on fire is a desperate situation; it is a crisis.

The way they do this is by deceiving us. The prime example is the devil. He uses lies and decit to tempt us to greed and selfishness. That is what burns the city to the ground. When we allow greed and selfishness to reign, we turn in to ourselves. This makes us see others as our enemy.

But the chief enemy is not the person we are fighting with. It is the devil. We allowed his lie to take root. We must remember that we are not fighting truly with others but rather the devil.

Scoffers are not the only fool. There is also the slanderer. They are looking to stir up conflict. They use half truth and innuendo. They just want to see the world to burn now.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.- Proverbs 10:12 ESV

Finally, there is hated. It is digging up past wounds. It wants to shame and tear down the offender. It brings about strife.

The book does not pretend that everything is happy and cheery. We will offend one another. The question is how we will respond.

Making peace

How do we make peace? Remove the source of division. Remove the fuel for the fire. Drive out the scoffer. Why? Because the scoffer is unteachable and will not change. This seems harsh. Remember the chief scoffer is the devil. We are called to drive him out. But we can't fight him ourselves. Why? We actually like the self glorification. We like holding grudges. The fight is not just external but also internal.

But we don't need to lose hope. God will drive him out. He will show us that he does save. How? Through the cross. Our past, present, and future sins is covered by the blood of Christ. He destroys the accusations of the devil.

How then does the city find peace? Through Christ. Jesus sends us into the city. We, the foolish, are sent to the city. And because Christ is in us, the city has peace. How does this work? We are the worse of fools. We are the scoffer and the slanderer. But in Christ, that slanderer and scoffer also died on the cross. The old you who scoffed and slandered is dead. So in Him, you will be peace.

Living out that peace

Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath. - Proverbs 29:8 ESV

We are to let go offenses as far as it depends on us. Both scoffers and wise are in the city, but the wise stand in the gap and turn away wrath. How? They bring the injustice to Christ. They leave the wrath to God. They bring those who don't know God to Jesus to increase peace.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. -Proverbs 10:12 ESV

Love cherishes the offender as a friend to be won. It doesn't lift them up as an enemy. How? Because we look at them, the same way God looked at us. We were enemies with God, He covered our sins and He reconciled with us.

We cover over offenses. Love acknowledges the offense and covers it over. It is not that we ignore sin. We must wisely confront some sin and cover/overlook minor ones. This takes the Holy Spirit. This reflects our God.

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense. - Proverbs 19:11 ESV

How do we practically apply this?

Accept the peace of Christ

Acknowledge the enemy is not just out there but also inside. Accept that God is enough for us. Accept the Jesus is King.

Examine the peace of yourself and the city

If you have the peace of Christ, are you living like that? Do your friends know you that way? Do your kids? Do your neighbors and coworkers know?

When you see division, do you try to turn away wrath? Or do you ignore it? Or does it get you worked up? Where can you bring more peace?

Commit to living out peace

As a Christian, this is a full time ministry. We cannot opt out. The people of God are peace because God has made us at peace. We are to see offenses as opportunities to overlook them.  This is the best clothes of those who are saved, of those who have tasted God's grace, His overlooking of our many sins.

God's Heart for the City

But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." And the Lord said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"- Jonah 4:9‭-‬11 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Called To Reorder

We see how God shows mercy to Nineveh because of their repentance. Jonah was throwing a fit because of this. God grows a plant to shade Jonah. And Jonah is happy. Then God sends a worm to kill the plant. Jonah is hot and on top of it, God sends a scorching wind. Jonah is so upset now that he wants to die. Jonah is so worked up over this. God confronts him on this.

God talks about how Jonah is so worked up over this plant that grew up and died in one day that Jonah did not nurture or help to grow. God says he's worked up over this city of 120,000 people. A city of souls created in God's image with eternal consequence. God is confronting Jonah's priorities. How can Jonah be so worked up over these plants and care not for these people? And if not even the people, how about the cattle? Yes, some holy sarcasm.

So the book ends on this question. A question that confronts Jonah. But not only him, but also us, the readers. Are our emotions not also so misdirected? Do we not get all worked up over  such mundane things? How much consideration and care do we take with people, with souls? Should we not care enormously about their eternal destination?

Called To Respond

Jonah was angry because he wanted God to be like Jonah. Jonah wanted his enemies dead. He wanted God to agree with him. But we know that is not how it should be. We should become more like God! Jonah had pity on the plant. But God he had pity on Nineveh. Some translations use the word compassion or grieving. God had compassion on these people. God was weeping over these people. This warring and aggressive nation was not good, but God did not respond with just anger. God was grieved. This is what Jonah was struggling with... the complexity of God's response to sinners.

God says that these people do not know their right from their left. This is not a question of their intelligence. This is pointing out a lack of or disordered moral compass. They are ignorant of their lack of morality. God is not excusing their sin. But God has compassion. They are not foolish, but they are ignorant.

We see this complexity in Jesus. He hates sin, but he has compassion on the sinner. Jonah left the city seething. Jesus left the city to cover over the sins of those in the city.

Christians are called to love those who disagree with them. Not only that, but also love those who hate them, because that is what it means to follow Jesus. Jesus never considered sinners ignorant fools, but rather he had compassion. We are called to humility knowing our sinfulness, but also bold pursuit of souls to call them to the heavenly kingdom.

Called To Remember

We are called both individually and corporately to serve the city of Philadelphia. But we need to remember that we are first and foremost citizens of heaven. The kingdom of God is for the glory of God rather than man. It stands in stark contrast to the cities of men.

We are not serving for our fame or glory. God had already bestowed more glory than we can possibly gather in our lifetime in Jesus. We are not here for our comfort, our personal goals and dreams. We have more than we could ever need in Jesus. We are to remember our true home, heaven... and in doing so, we will better serve and contribute to wherever God has called us to.

Something better than anger

But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord , is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. Therefore now, O Lord , please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." And the Lord said, "Do you do well to be angry?" Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. Now the Lord God appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live." But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." And the Lord said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"- Jonah 4:1‭-‬11 ESV

Rev. Travis Drake

Something better than anger

Opening argument (v1-4)

Jonah's complaint was that he was exceedingly displeased. He saw this as a great evil. He was very angry in his prayer to God. He was very unhappy about the repentance of Nineveh. A world in which God even forgives Israel's enemies is not one that Jonah wants to live in. This is why Jonah wants to die. Jonah does not want to serve a God that forgives more than just Israel.

In this culture, justice was crucial. One must pay for their crimes. Jonah felt that they deserved judgement and punishment. This was revolutionary in that time and age. Jonah felt angry about how these evil people repented in one moment and God forgave.

God asked Jonah if it was good for him to be angry. Jonah wanted to see the city burned to the ground. He wanted retribution. He wanted payback. Justice is restitution and restoration. Retribution simply desires destruction. But for true justice to be served a debt must be absorbed. Jonah didn't want God, he wanted something from God. God wanted good for Jonah. God wanted more than retribution for Jonah; He wanted justice.

Dramatic intermission  (v5-8)

Jonah runs away again, but he doesn't go as far this time. He goes just outside the city. The entire city of Nineveh has just repented and the only person who knows what is going on is outside the city. It is the same issue as before. Jonah is the same prophet who will not go. He is still struggling with the same issue as before the storm and the fish.

Why doesn't God just move on? Pick another prophet? Fulfill the death wish of this prophet? Because God sees progress. Jonah prays about his anger. Jonah doesn't run as far as before. God wants good for Jonah. God shelters Jonah from the sun with a plant. This is vitally important in a desert. But Jonah needs more than shade. So God sends a worm to attack the plant. Then the sun and hot wind attack Jonah.

Jonah is waiting to see if God will attack the city. But instead God sends a worm to attack the plant. God sends the sun and the hot wind to attack him. This is ironic. Then God uses words.

Closing argument

God asks why he is so angry over this plant. God asks if it is good for Jonah. Jonah replies to God in anger. He says he is so angry that he wishes for death. And it would be anger that killed him. Anger is what controls him. Jonah is experiencing tunnel vision from anger and the desire for retribution. Jonah is not free, he is a slave. Jonah needs to forgive them.

God finally closes the scene. He says, You, you pity this plant that grew in one day and perished in the next. But I, I care for this city. God is contrasting himself with Jonah. God cares for this city of 120,000. But where is God? God is outside talking to this one prophet. Why? Because the city has repented, but the prophet has not. Jonah is blinded by his anger. The people in the city don't know their left from their right. But Jonah is even more blind in his anger about Nineveh. He is the lost sheep and God is calling him back. Jonah doesn't know the way home even if he was shown it.

More than being told and shown the way, we need a rescuer. God has to save us, even from ourselves. God places difficult people and difficult circumstance in our lives for our good.

Application
Don't be trapped by your anger. (forgive, cancel the debt)
Don't be discouraged by your incremental progress

Do ask yourself, is your anger good for you?
Do remember that God was willing to go after one little sheep.

Turning

Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you." So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord . Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days' journey in breadth. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's journey. And he called out, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish." When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.- Jonah 3:1‭-‬10 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Jonah turns (v1-3)

Jonah had just been through a life threatening storm. He had nearly died of drowning and spent time in the belly of a big 🐟. He probably still smells of fish guts. God calls Jonah again. Not only did God save Jonah, but God gave him a second chance at his calling as a prophet. God could've rightly sent his call to another person. Jonah knew how foolish it was to run from God. Jonah now knew that God would have his way. But Jonah reacts differently. Jonah goes to the city of Nineveh.

The city turns (v4-9)

Jonah goes into a three-day city. Bible schools debate what that means. Is it three days walk across? Does it take three days to see the whole city? Jonah gets there and one day in, likely at the outskirts of the city, Jonah gives God's message. It means Jonah was no longer rebelling or dilly-dallying. He was doing what God asked. Immediately, the entire city from the king down to the animals repent. They all turn from their sin from the highest to the lowest of the cattle. The bloodthirsty enemies of Israel repent from a five word sermon.

This was meant as a foil to the nation of Israel. But these evil pagan Assyrians, they met the first prophet of God, of Yaweh. They had no biblical basis or knowledge. But Israel has the word of God and prophet after prophet. And their repentance, turning to God and away from evil things is so so shallow. And not only the nation of Israel, but does this not convict us? We have the entire Bible, the full revelation of the gospel, the understanding of the fullness of God's promise. Our repentance is so partial, so shallow. We likely need to repent of our repentance.

Repentance is a lifestyle, not an event. The life of the Christian is one of continual turning from sin and to God. Our status as a child of God is secured by the life and death of Jesus. But if we will not repent and turn from our sins, it was affect our relationship with God. God will not cut us off, but our experience of God is impacted. Our joy in God and our intimacy with God.

God turns (v10)

The city repents without knowing what God would do. Jonah only preached of righteous judgement. The assyrian had no idea if their repentance would alter the coming judgement. They did not know what would happen. There was no word spoken of grace or love.

But the Christian has the guarantee of Jesus. They know of the mind-blowing grace of God. They know the story of the gospel. But we hear the gospel every Sunday. At some point it can become background noise. That's a dangerous place to be. So how do we avoid this danger? The text here is clear. We must repent. We must confront the sin in our lives and then look at the grace of God we have in Jesus. The gospel is only awesome and awe inspiring when we see how big our sins are... Grace becomes the driver of our lives.

Salvation Belongs to the Lord

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying, "I called out to the Lord , out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.' The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord , and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord !" And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. - Jonah 1:17-2:‬10 ESV

Rev. Charles Han

Is this story a historical fact or is it a myth? Or is it a metaphorical story? Is it a story of Jonah's recovery from sickness at sea at an inn called "The Fish"? Let's take in the details. This story has no embellishment. It is told in a matter of fact manner. Jesus even refers to this story in literal fashion. If you disbelieve this story, then all your faith is questionable. The question here is not how believable this story is. The question is whether we have a purely naturalistic perspective. The Christian worldview is supernatural. How so? The major foundation is based on a supernatural event, the resurrection of Jesus. No naturalistic explanations suffice.

Down in the depths

Jonah went and ran from God when called to go to Nineveh. He said he was in Sheol. Even though the sailors had thrown him in, Jonah attributed his state to God. God had brought Jonah to the depths of despair. This drive Jonah to prayer and to cry out for salvation. This was not severe punishment. This was severe grace. God needed to wake him up. During the height of the storm, Jonah alone did not cry out.. All the pagan sailors were calling upon their gods, but not Jonah, he was asleep. Jonah was in spiritual slumber and stupefaction. God brought him to the depths of the sea to cause Jonah to awaken and turn to God for salvation. For some, God must bring us to the utter depths before we turn to God.

Down in the fish's belly

Jonah's prayer is not a cry for salvation. What was it then? It was a cry of thankfulness. It was a cry of praise and exhortation. Jonah knew the fish was God's salvation. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days. Jonah knew that he deserved punishment for his actions. He knew that he deserved death. But God heard Jonah and saved him. Jonah recognized the grace of God. He recognized that God was granting rescue to a sinner in the throes of rebellion. Jonah knew that he would not be entirely cut off from God. Jonah's troubles are a sign that point to Jesus. Jesus was cast into the depths of Sheol. He was dead for three days and then came back to life, like Jonah was in the tomb of the fish's belly and then spit out to life.

Salvation is free. But humanity refuses to accept it. Why? Vain idols. They can be literal false gods or other things that we hope will save us. Our talents, our dreams... These idols require so much of us, we forget God's everlasting love, security, and life. Nothing else can give this to us. God gives us hope, grace, and life by bringing us into desperation and deliverance. This is the way of following Christ till we see Him again.

Out onto the dry land

God was devoted to Jonah. He could have been left in that fish. God gave the prophet a second chance, a new life. God had not given up on Jonah. Jonah still had more to learn. God was not finished with Jonah. God could've just marked Jonah as unreliable and moved onto a new prophet. Jonah had failed, but God was not done. God had more kingdom work for Jonah. So it is with us, God will use us weak sinners. Take heart, stand up, and get back into the work of the Lord.

He rose and He ran

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me." But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord . He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord . But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up. Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep. So the captain came and said to him, "What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish." And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know on whose account this evil has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. Then they said to him, "Tell us on whose account this evil has come upon us. What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?" And he said to them, "I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord , the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land." Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, "What is this that you have done!" For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord , because he had told them. Then they said to him, "What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?" For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, "Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore they called out to the Lord , "O Lord , let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord , have done as it pleased you." So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.- Jonah 1:1‭-‬16 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Jonah's Rebellion

Jonah's a prophet of God. This book starts much like many other books. God commands his prophet to go to Nineveh. Jonah goes and flees in the opposite direction. He runs away from the presence of the Lord. This is an overt act of rebellion. He isn't simply lost; he is purposefully moving in the opposite direction as God has commanded.

The assyrian people were violent and a threat to Israel. Jonah want interested in holding out salvation to these people. He was called to give a warning to the enemies of the people of Israel. This warning meant that there was a chance they might repent... And God might relent and withhold judgement. For Jonah, it made no sense. Jonah saw no reason for God to be gracious to these enemies. Jonah wanted to do what he felt was right. So he rebelled in overt fashion and went in the other direction.

For some, rebellion is covert. We live virtuous lives and do all the right things, but our heart is far from God. We do good things simply so that God will bless us. It is revealed that we are in rebellion when things don't go our way. When God brings trouble, we grumble and call God callous, unkind, ungracious, stingy. We feel that God owes us something for what we do. God is not Lord over our lives. We want control over our own lives. Our lives look okay from the outside, but our hearts are far from God.

Results of Jonah's Rebellion

Jonah runs... Down to Joppa. Down into the ship.  Down into the inner parts of the ship. When we run from God, it may seem great at first, but over time, it will only become a downward spiral. The first act of rebellion may be refreshing and feels freeing. But over time, it will only hurt us more and more.

We become less and less what God made us to be. Jonah is supposed to be God's ambassador to the pagans. But the captain of the ship rouses the prophet to pray for divine intervention! The pagan calls the prophet. Jonah tells them to throw him overboard. The pagan refuses from a tender heart. But being unable to fight the storm, they relent. And throwing him overboard to find the storm calmed. Many commentators believe that the pagans likely were shocked. They likely would have stopped and offered sacrifices to this fearsome and awesome God. Many believe the sailors likely became believers.

Inner rebellion has outward consequences. Do not be fooled. There is no hidden sin that will not affect your life and slowly but surely destroy your life and the lives of those around you.

God's Response

God knew what Jonah was doing. God hurled a great storm upon the seas. God didn't send a storm to destroy Jonah. He sent one to save Jonah from himself. God can and will send trouble and trials to bring us back to himself. God rouses himself from his throne, not to smite Jonah, but to restore him.

Jesus rose from his dwelling on heaven to come for us. Jesus came to earth to chase after those who run from God. Jesus endured the storm of the crucifixion for us to bring us life and peace. He was smitten with the full wrath of God the Father. This is how we know God loves us and is for us. God is trustworthy.

Moving forward ... Into the city

When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord . Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my Lord say to his servant?" And the commander of the Lord 's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him." So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord ." And he said to the people, "Go forward. March around the city and let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord ." And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them. The armed men were walking before the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard was walking after the ark, while the trumpets blew continually. But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or make your voice heard, neither shall any word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout." So he caused the ark of the Lord to circle the city, going about it once. And they came into the camp and spent the night in the camp. Then Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord . And the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord , while the trumpets blew continually. And the second day they marched around the city once, and returned into the camp. So they did for six days. On the seventh day they rose early, at the dawn of day, and marched around the city in the same manner seven times. It was only on that day that they marched around the city seven times. And at the seventh time, when the priests had blown the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout, for the Lord has given you the city. And the city and all that is within it shall be devoted to the Lord for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
Joshua 5:13‭-6:17 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

We need open eyes

Moses had died and Joshua was near Jericho. He was there to gather intel for the coming battle. Joshua meets an armed man. He asks who's army this man belongs to. The man answers that this man belongs to neither army. Joshua's experience mirrors Moses' experience on the mountain. Joshua now knows that there is an invisible battle happening. Why else would God's army be present, if not for battle?

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.- Ephesians 6:12 ESV

The mantle of power is passed on from Moses to Joshua. The parting of the red Sea mirrors the parting of the Jordan. The mantle of power passes from Jesus to the disciples by the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is the movement of the kingdom. We are not in physical battle, but spiritually battling for souls. We are here to win over people to Christ. Satan will oppose every move. As the church moves to launch this new campus, the session and leaders of our church have found themselves afflicted with physical ills, family crises, etc. It seems like too much of a coincidence for this to all happen just now.

We need open hands

Jericho was shut in. Why? These people had heard of this God who had done great things for the Israelites. The Israelites were not experienced in siege warfare. They did not have the right equipment. So Joshua encounters the commander from God's army. And when Joshua asks what the plan is, he gets the most ridiculous response. Joshua was told to bring trumpets... to a battle. March for six days. And then just march and yell on the seventh day. The walls collapse. How? Many have tried to explain it. But consider that this is simply to show the supernatural aspect. God brought them down. It may be now accurate to say that Joshua accepted the city from God's hand.

So it should go with us. The church growth and success comes from God. We cannot bring people to God. We cannot bring conviction to hearts. The kingdom does not advance because of our work. Lives can only be changed in the hands of God.

I would like to ask the formal members of this church to pray for the month of September for the church. At every meal, please pray for God to bring life change and kingdom advancement.

We need open arms

Does God support genocide? Joshua and the Israelite army went into that city and killed everyone there. When Moses was shown the promised land, he was told that the full wickedness of the Ammorites had not yet come to fruition. God had been patient with these people and then he executed judgement on the people for their sins. God must punish evil and wickedness. But there is also the picture of grace, Rehab, the prostitute, running a brothel was spared. We consider ourselves good, but we must know that we have wickedness within. Pride, greed, wrath, etc. God must punish for those sins as well. God's judgement is coming for everyone. But for the Christian, Jesus has won the battle for us. By faith, the city is open and the kingdom welcomes us in. So now, our commander, Jesus sends us with open arms to welcome others into the kingdom. Rehab is the most unlikely of coverts:a polytheistic worshipper, cannanite prostitute, who ran a brothel... came to saving faith. May we welcome those who make us uncomfortable, who are unlike us, who we see as impossible to come to God... towards the kingdom.

The joy of the city of God

Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants. And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez; and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite. All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men. And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah, and his brothers, men of valor, 928. Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city. Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God, and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and his brothers, heads of fathers' houses, 242; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer, and their brothers, mighty men of valor, 128; their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim. And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni; and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God; and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise, who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun. All the Levites in the holy city were 284. The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were 172. And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance. But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants. The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required. And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's side in all matters concerning the people. And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, and in Jeshua and in Moladah and Beth-pelet, in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages, in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages, in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom. The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin.

These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua. And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. And Bakbukiah and Unni and their brothers stood opposite them in the service. And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua. And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai; of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel. In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers' houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. As for the sons of Levi, their heads of fathers' houses were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch. Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe. And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites; also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate. And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph; and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east. The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader. And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away. On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.
- Nehemiah 11-12 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Populating the city with purpose

The city was populated in the following way. People drew lots so that one of every hundred would be appointed to move to this city. This city was empty and barren. People had already looted anything of worth. This was not a good neighborhood to move to. Drawing lots was considered a reasonable way to decide the will of God. Now we have the full revelation of God so we no longer depend upon the casting of lots.  Those who moved to the mostly empty city of Jerusalem went with the understanding that they were to move there as the will and desire of God. Regardless of personal feelings and preferences, they moved and repopulated the city with God's divine purpose. We can be here in Philadelphia because we have a heart for the city. We believe that God called you here. Or maybe you felt like someone else cast lots and here you are in this city. Either way, we believe God is in control. He has bright you here with a divine purpose. If you don't know, then ask God to bring back the call of God back into your heart. To remind you of what God desires of you in light of your talents, experiences, and strengths...

This ministry field is temporary

The new Jerusalem is a city built by God. Anything we lose out on by moving to some place whether it be a lower salary, lower status, and any number of creature comforts will be more than compensated by heaven, the home that God has prepared for us. Heaven will make the greatest and most awe inspiring places here look like a dump.

Serving steadily in ordinary ways

We go from joy and celebration to the appointment of men to handle mundane tasks. Collecting offering, organizing storage closets. These are ordinary people taking care of ordinary things. This is how God works in furthering the kingdom. Ordinary people doing inconspicuous tasks. The vast majority of God's work is mundane tasks done diligently and faithfully. This mirrors the mundane circumstances of Jesus: born to a teenaged couple, mundane in appearance, in a backwater no name town, followed by some insignificant fishermen, left to die alone on a cross. On the surface, such an insignificant life... But what kingdom purposes were being accomplished though his life and death!

Devotion & Commitment

"On the seals are the names of Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah, Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah; these are the priests. And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel; and their brothers, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Bani, Beninu. The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pahath-moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, Malluch, Harim, Baanah. "The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their brothers, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his rules and his statutes. We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons. And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. "We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: for the showbread, the regular grain offering, the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the Law. We obligate ourselves to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord ; also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks; and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God."
- Nehemiah 10:1‭-‬39 ESV

Nehemiah is a revival of the people of Israel. A return to an understanding of the word of God. And after this encounter, there is an outpouring of confession followed by repentance and commitment to change. True repentance ends in not just emotion, but must end in devotion. True revival is more than just an emotional outpouring. A genuine work of the Spirit results in commitment and devotion.

Commitment: Total

The people of Israel admit to their failures. They are cut to the heart and they make a firm commitment in writing. The leaders of the people write an actual document and sign their names. Why the formality? The formality demonstrates their level of devotion. It is one thing to say I love you. It is another to vow before family, friends, and make legal documents to attest to love them for better and worse, till death do you part.

Not only this, but this was an oath to God. An oath before God cannot be broken without invoking a curse. They, the leaders, and all the people committed themselves to God and his commandments. Not just some, but all of them. To commit the entirety of their lives to God. That is to make God the Lord of all areas of living. God is either Lord of all or he is just a consultant. In Jesus, he is either Lord of all or not Lord at all. The church is not about being filled with people; it is about people being filled with God.

Commitment: Specific

Devotion must translate to specifics. In any area of your life, you need to commit to specifics plans and details. So areas that the people stumbled over were the ones people made specific commitments regarding. Israel named marriage to commit to God and to avoid worship of other gods in their households. They vowed to not buy on the Sabbath. These are all plans and commitments to devote themselves to God more and more.

So it is with us. We are to put aside all the idols specific to us. These commitments are specific and targeted to what we struggle in. Daily quiet time. Forgiving people who we begrudge. Reassessing our vows to our spouses. Considering how we have been raising our children in God.

The Spirit lives in the details. When the people of God are more present with one another, the presence of God is more present in our city.

Commitment: Perpetual

Jesus died for us and cover us in total. All of our sins are forgiven. Because of this, we commit ourselves and the rest of our lives to him.

Confession leads to revival

Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. On the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, "Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. "You are the Lord , you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. You are the Lord , the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and gave him the name Abraham. You found his heart faithful before you, and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous. "And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard their cry at the Red Sea, and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day. And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. By a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments, and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them. "But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. "And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess. So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in your great goodness. "Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you and cast your law behind their back and killed your prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, and many times you delivered them according to your mercies. And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a gracious and merciful God. "Now, therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly. Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them. Even in their own kingdom, and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and rich land that you set before them, they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works. Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress. "Because of all this we make a firm covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our Levites, and our priests.- Nehemiah 9:1‭-‬38 ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

Revival is not simply people saying they are born again. Revival can only happen when there is personal and national awareness of sin and repentance.

The ARC of confession

Acknowledgement, Repentance, and Celebration. We need to be in the word in order to know what sin is. We believe in the Bible and this is the standard we use to determine sin. Others may choose to fight the opposing political party, to eat a certain way, and even to root for the "right" sports team. But this is all based on feelings, unlike the word which is a standard that has stood forever.

They start by considering what God has done. The Creator of all things, the one who made a covenant with Abraham, the deliverer from Egypt, the one who have have the promised Land.

Then they repented for the sins of their fathers. This is not victim mentality. It is corporate repentance. They are taking responsibility as a people. They spelled out the sins. From killing of prophets, turning from God, and stiff necked rebellion.

Confession is not pleasant. It is like dieting or going to the gym. So why? Why do it? Because it for the end result. Confession brings a clear conscience before God and a renewed relationship with God. This is the end goal of confession. It is not just getting rid of our guilt. Simply getting rid of our guilt is self centered, where is God in it?

Repentance is more than just learning. It is more than conviction. It is turning from our idols and sins. We need to hate our sins. Cut them off entirely from our lives.

Celebration of the victories against sin. We may win some battles and fall into temptation in others. But we need to rejoice that God is working. Rejoice in the small victories because God is changing us.