Do not steal

And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall not steal.

Exodus 20:1‭-‬2‭, ‬15 ESV

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Ephesians 4:28 ESV

https://bible.com/bible/59/eph.4.28.ESV

Rev. Dan Whang

The ways we steal

We steal outright by robbery, hijack, burglary, extortion, etc. We steal passively by withholding wages, not paying back loaned money, not upholding our vows. It can be withholding time, money, even affection.

The way we change

Faith, walking by it, is the easy to change. This is not just willpower. There is temptation to a thief to return to their old lifestyle. We need to consider how content we are in God and what He has given us. God delivers the nation of Israel from Egypt. Egypt, which demanded labor and paid no wages. God gave to this nation. This nation was called to be a blessing to the nations in return for God's blessing. Israel was to be a witness to this selfless generous God. We need to find contentment in God's provision. God gave us his only son. Jesus became poor so that we could become rich. 

The way we give

We are called to faithful stewardship. We are called to use our time for honest work. We are to use our money more faithfully. We are called to follow Jesus, die to ourselves, and bring glory to God.

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:9‭-‬14 ESV 

Rev. Ryan Egli

This book was written something like a hundred generations ago. We might be able to picture our parents works with no internet. Or grandparents. But we are considering something with from halfway across the world, in a different language 

What is the purpose of life?

This question is what the author, the Preacher, has been struggling with for the entire book. He starts with the vanity of vanities of life. We live, we die, and everything moves on. We are a vapor compared to the vastness of the world. The slow heat death of the world is coming. But that is the view of a world without God. 

But if there is a God, then everything has meaning. God is bringing about restoration of the world to it's original perfection. He is bringing His people home.

Gaining wisdom is painful

Ranchers and shepherds don't use goads today. They use electric cattle prods. But in those days, the goad was use to guide sheep where they need to go. It was sharp and could even be used as a weapon and even to kill.

We like wisdom that empower us. Rarely do we want wisdom that frustrates and thwarts our desires. So often wisdom can cause discomfort. This is what the one true teacher will bring.

Gaining wisdom leads to a life well lived

What is required is not more books to study. What is needed is deeper obedience to God. Wisdom isn't a unicorn to be chased or some hidden wisdom to be found. Scripture has wisdom that is meant to be lived out. 

Wisdom is ultimately about loving and fearing God

Often fearing God is noted as the beginning of wisdom. But here fearing God is noted as the end of wisdom. Fear here is a posture of reverence, worship, and submission. Fearing God is to be the aim and goal of our lives. We are worshippers. We will worship, but what will we worship? We are to fear and obey God. We want our freedom to do whatever we want. But the scripture says no, we are to obey everything God commands. And what does this consist of? The word of God calls us to love God with all our heart, all our mind, and all our strength & to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Why? There is a coming judgement. God will bring all of us to judgement. We have all fallen short. So then what will happen on judgement day? Will our sins be covered by Jesus? There is hope, but only in Jesus.

God's grace

The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, "You are the Son of God." And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. - Mark 3:6‭-‬19 ESV

Rev. Dwight Yoo

Greater plan

The religious leaders saw Jesus as a threat. So how did He respond? Jesus withdrew. For outsiders looking in, it looks like Jesus is ducking from the leaders. Jesus wasn't withdrawing out of fear, but a matter of timing. It wasn't yet time. Jesus heals this man and then moved to silence him. Why? 

So today and now, we want Jesus to confront this virus and end it right now. We know Jesus is powerful and He can stop it. But Jesus has a bigger plan. 

What can God be up to?

Here's some possibilities:

God could be growing us in appreciating community.

God could be driving us to greater reliance on Him

God could be removing us from the church buildings so we would do God's work out in the neighborhood

Greater need

People are reacting in different ways to this. The young and carefree could be ignoring the public health recommendations. They aren't going to get sick and die, but rather they are endangering others. The fearful are hoarding supplies to the detriment of those who truly need them. 

The crowds around Jesus knew that He could heal. The demons knew the power of Jesus. But Jesus had a different healing in mind. He was here to meet our spiritual sickness. He was here to meet our eternal need for salvation.

So, here's some more spiritual speculation on this global pandemic:

Maybe God is using this time to plough the ground for spiritual planting. During this time, when the fittest among us are revealed as frail and fully human. Celebrities are falling sick. Government authorities seen almost powerless in the face of this virus. When the stock market is in free fall and our retirement accounts along with them. Perhaps in this dark time, God's work and the hope that we have in Jesus shines the brightest. May God advance His Kingdom. May we pray for it.

Greater grace

We have a greater grace in Jesus. May this drive us to meet our neighbors in their need rather than self preservation. Now that sports and other leisure activities have ground to a halt, perhaps we can use this time & energy to devote to helping those in need around us... and in so doing, spread the gospel in word and deed. Our names are written in the book of Life, we should be the best citizens of this city because it would reflect our eternal citizenship in heaven.

Application

Support children needs

Support local small businesses

Support the elderly & vulnerable

Sermon: Chainbreaker

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"  And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion, for we are many." And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, "Send us to the pigs; let us enter them." So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea. The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."  And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. - Mark 5:1‭-‬20 ESV

Pastor Craig Garriott

The parable of the sower starts with a reference to birds that eat the seeds. These seeds are the WORD of God. The birds are Satan and demonic forces. They are an active opposing force.

Reality of evil spirits

Jesus was tempted in the desert by Satan. Jesus healed the demon possessed. Wherever Jesus went, it was like he brought demons came out of the woodwork.

The demon possessed man was naked. He rushed Jesus as he stepped out of the boat. He was likely scarred from self cutting and alienated from everyone around him. He could not be bound and was likely dragging chains.

Reign of Christ over evil spirits

"when he saw Jesus from afar, he (the demon possessed man) ran and fell before him."

Jesus is Lord. The demons don't run and hide. The demons plead that Jesus not torture them. They ask for permission to possess this herd of pigs. Jesus is the son of God. The demons recognize Jesus exactly as who He is. They also know that He holds authority over them.

Responses to Christ's authority over evil spirits

After the demons are driven out of this man, there are two pleading responses.

The people of that town ask Jesus to leave. They are concerned about the loss of the pigs; the disruption of their lives. They value the pigs or their worldly comfort over Jesus.

The demon possessed man begs to go with Jesus. He wants to follow the one who cured and saved him. But Jesus has a different plan. Jesus leaves him there to testify to the power of God in Jesus.

There are schemes to destroy lives. People in positions of power who desire the status quo. They don't want lives changed and people saved. They are real, but Jesus holds final authority over them as well.

Spiritual leadership: outer circle

  circle of leadership

These are qualities that are helpful, but not essential for spiritual leadership.

Restless (Holy discontent)

They always want spiritual growth for their people. They want to see the kingdom of God grow both numerically and qualitatively, spiritual maturity within the church and growing church membership/attendance.

Optimistic

Hopeful in tough situations that God will prevail. That in dark times, they will end.

Intense

The leader will have zeal and passion for God. This is not just talking about personality, but that internally they are driven. They take seriously the things of God's kingdom.

Thick-skinned

Leaders are always criticized. No matter what you do, there will always be push back. There is the temptation to people please rather than do what God desires. You must do what you feel is best based on God's leading. This is different from thick skulled. You must consider criticism to see if there is any truth in it.

Tactful

If we are moving people toward Christ, we cannot be offensive and discouraging those we wish to follow Christ.

A Hard Thinker

The leader gets many suggestions. They need to consider these with discernment. They are not gullible or trendy. They are careful to not get pulled into all these different things. They weigh things in light of scripture. Is this biblical?

Self-controlled

We use God's power to take mastery over our appetites and desires. We intentionally examine our use of time as to how it affects our ministry. Is there anything wasting my time? Dulling our affections for God? Efficient?

Perseverant

We live in a time of instant gratification. Perseverance is needed for spiritual fruit. Vision without perseverance results in fairy tales.

Restful

Leaders must work hard without becoming workaholics. They are not reliant upon their own strength. They rest knowing that the Lord will compete the work. They work hard and fight the good fight, but they are not anxious or stressed. They are good stewards of their body.  They take vacation to avoid burnout.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of holiness: all things for your good

Romans 8:28-30



Romans 8:28-30 ESV<br/>
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And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and UH those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.<br/>
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Rev. Charles Han<br/>
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What is promised<br/>
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God is sovereign over all things.
He works all things for good.
He is in control of the worst things in our lives and those things that come out of us.<br/>
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It means that God can make great things from bad things in our lives.
It also means that if we change things from our lives, we make it less than what God desires. We make things worse.<br/>
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When God brings suffering, He will use it. It will become useful, as much as it is hard to see while we are in the midst of it.<br/>
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For what people<br/>
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For His children. Those who love Him. Not just those who love maturely, perfectly, or even well. But those whose hearts are turned to Him.<br/>
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For their everlasting holiness. To be conformed to the image of His son. The purpose of these things is not just getting things the way we want. It is not for our comfort. It is so we become more like Jesus. We become more like Him in serving, forgiveness, love, etc.<br/>
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<b>For what purpose</b><br/>
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Even in sin failures, God can grow us. He can use failings in other areas to grow us spiritually in another. He even allows sin so that we would cling and continue to walk with Him.<br/>
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<b>Application</b><br/>
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Hope: God is fulfilling His good purpose through our worst trials and failures.<br/>
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Persevere: This wonderful assurance of glorification is meant to empower you to pursue holiness, not become passive about it.<br/>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOOFAaUGfRE">Laura Story - "Blessings"</a>

Come Be a Nobody for Christ

John 3:30

There was an Asian Holocaust....30 Million. Medical experiments. Comfort women. All by the japanese... A racist ideology. The japanese people still don't understand... Even now the chinese and koreans still hate the japanese. So why am I there? Because Jesus said love your enemies. But I love the japanese people. I would give up my life for these people to know Christ. But there is a dark history. Only one percent of the population know Christ. They are lost. They are sexually lost. There are millions in the sex trade. 75% of sex tourists in thailand are japanese. They are relationally lost. One million are hideki, people who completely disengage from the world. They sleep all day and come out at night to buy ramen, porn, and go back into their places. So I'm asking you to become nobodies for Christ. I'm hoping the best and the brightest will come out into the missions field. To do what God has made you to do in a place where people don't know christ. You will become a nobody to reach people. I have a challenge. Give a tithe to missions. (along with your tithe to church). But really give sacrificially. Don't give from your disposable income. Give the best to God. Not the change you found in between the sofa cushions. Give your best.Give scandalously to the glory of God. Stop trying to win the rat race. Instead make all this money to give to God. You are the richest people in the world. True worship of God begins at the point of sacrifice. How will you measure your life? There is only one measure that matters. What God thinks of us... Did Jesus die so we could be comfortable, to be rich, to raise kids who can grow up to make money? No... He died so we would no longer live for ourselves.

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