​A House of Prayer for All Peoples
(ISAIAH 56:1-8)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
1 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
for soon my salvation will come,
    and my righteousness be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this,
    and the son of man who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it,
    and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

1. [v.1-2] *Biblical principle – A PRAYING HOUSE IS A RIGHTEOUS HOUSE – prayerfully doing what is right. We cannot pray because we do not do what is right before God’s eyes. The LORD has given His invitation to everyone who thirsts, to come and drink of His waters, to come and eat without price, to seek Him while He may be found in His Word that never returns empty (chapter 55). Now, His exiled people need to respond in holiness and righteousness. His people are called to do what is just and right before His eyes – to come into right relationship with Him. In so doing, they will be blessed. The main way the LORD desires for them to do this is to keep His sabbath (“day of rest”) holy, not profaning it. By keeping the day of rest, a righteous relationship with the LORD is restored. For Christians, this “day of rest” is Sunday – the third day on which Jesus rose from the dead. Keeping this day holy and set apart from any other day of the week is a critical pattern that God created for us – after the pattern of His finished creation as He too rested on the seventh day – to cultivate rest and a right relationship with Him.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – If what we pray has not moved us to what we do before God, have we really prayed? What right thing before His eyes do you need to do today?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – How important is the “day of rest” (sabbath) – resurrection Sunday, the LORD’s Day – to cultivating your right relationship before God? How important is it to cultivating a life of prayer? We live in a day and age when “Sunday” is just part of the “weekend” to be casually used as break, an off-day, an extra work-day, a self-pampering day, a fun-day, etc. How must followers of Christ prayerfully live counter-culturally to keep resurrection Sunday holy and set apart for our vital rest and righteousness before the LORD? What does it mean to keep this day holy?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – How is the one “who keeps the Sabbath” and the one who “keeps his hand from doing any evil” related to each other? How is sin and evil at our doorstep when we do not take seriously the Sabbath-rest day, being restored to Jesus in Word and prayer within His worshipping community of the church?
   4. *FOCUS QUESTION #4 – The Bible defines prayer as the declaration of God’s judgments, words, and thoughts upon an evaluation and contemplation of one’s self before God (biblical Hebrew term “tefillah” means to execute judgment, to keep accountable). In the New Testament, prayer is defined similarly as the direction of making an unceasing vow towards God’s judgments, words, and thoughts (biblical Greek “proseuche” means towards (pros) a vow (euche). Prayer means to awaken new desires for God, to change our misaligned thoughts towards God’s thoughts, and to move us toward an unceasing vow – both the one we make to the LORD and the LORD’s unbreakable covenant promise to us in His Word. How do these definitions redefine what prayer is to you? How can you pray more widely and deeply with this incredible gift of communication God has given us through prayer?

 
3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say,
    “The Lord will surely separate me from his people”;
and let not the eunuch say,
    “Behold, I am a dry tree.”
4 For thus says the Lord:
“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose the things that please me
    and hold fast my covenant,
5 I will give in my house and within my walls
    a monument and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
    that shall not be cut off.

1. [v.3-5] *Biblical principle – A PRAYING HOUSE IS A COVENANTED HOUSE – prayerfully inseparable from the LORD and His covenant family. Prayer never betrays the assurance that we surely belong to the LORD and to one another with an everlasting name. When the LORD calls “everyone” who is thirsty to His fountain of living waters, He means “everyone”! Up to that time, it could easily have been misunderstood that the LORD God was only the God of the ancient Israelites, but this was never His heart from the beginning. The LORD longed to graft all nations into the Israelite covenant community, creating our blessed community today called “the church.” Foreigners do not have to doubt their union to Jesus and His people. Eunuchs (who remained single all their lives serving the king’s interests) are not hopelessly forgotten, but they have a name better than sons and daughters. When we pray and live righteously before the LORD, His righteousness strings together all kinds of diverse people into a covenanted house. We are part of each other and everyone is needed for our sanctification into the likeness and image of Christ.  
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Is Hosanna Church a body of Christ where someone can say, “The LORD will surely separate me from His people”? Are there ways we are betraying the assurance for the one who has “joined himself to the LORD” that he/she truly belongs to Jesus and His people? How are we in constant battle to break cliques, to forgive each other, to include each other, to love one another as Jesus did – even to death on a cross? How can we spur one another on to belong to Jesus and to His church? How can we cheer and encourage one another to great covenant – covenant partnership with the Lord’s church here at Hosanna and covenant with one another? Without covenant, will we ever experience true Christ-centered community and becoming His family for each other?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – “Eunuchs” are also mentioned here as those who sense they are insignificant, lifeless, and do not belong to the LORD and His people. Eunuchs were disallowed to participate in the temple (LEVITICUS 21), remaining single their entire life in order to serve the king’s interests. They would have no children, yet the LORD promises within the walls of His house “a monument and a name better than sons and daughters.” This is true of the Ethiopian eunuch ministered to by deacon Philip (ACTS 8) – his faith is long remembered in the scriptures to this day. For this AGAPE young adult family, many of us are single and may stay single for a long time, like eunuchs, or may not have progeny of our own. How is this perfectly okay, not to be despised, and even precious before the LORD? For others, the LORD is surely calling you to covenant with an available godly man or godly woman, to increase His image upon the earth. Are you pursuing and obeying that covenant call from God with the grand purpose to increase His everlasting name upon each other? Whether foreigners or eunuchs, young adult singles or married, how can we live in greater covenant – unbreakable promise and commitment – before the LORD and with each other?

 
6 “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
    to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
    and to be his servants,
everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,
    and holds fast my covenant--
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain,
    and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
    for all peoples.”
8 The Lord God,
    who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,
“I will gather yet others to him
    besides those already gathered.”

1. [v.6-8] *Biblical principle – A PRAYING HOUSE IS AN OPEN HOUSE – prayerfully gathering others to Him besides those already gathered. Prayer cannot divide, but it must gather all peoples into His house to love His name. With righteousness and covenant, God’s house can be an open house for all to enter, to join themselves to Him, to minister to Him, to love His name, to be His servants, and to keep the sabbath day of rest in His house with one another. The LORD will bring all who thirst for this to His holy mountain – His house of prayer – to accept their sacrifices and offerings in worship on his altar. The LORD will accept our prayers, for we will be His house of prayer for all peoples. God’s heart is concerned for the outcasts – those still yet to be gathered. As we pray, our hearts too should be moved for those yet to be gathered into this blessed covenant and righteous community – His beloved church.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – The late theologian William Temple once said, “The Church is the only society that exists for the benefit of those who are not its members.” Both individually and corporately as Hosanna, are you an open door and open house to those yet to be gathered? Is there a mission to AGAPE life group – a clear direction of why you do what you do in gathering, breaking bread, being devoted to His Word, fellowship, and prayer? Is the end aim to bring still others yet to be gathered – whom God desires to gather into Hosanna – cultivating, preparing that house for them? Yes, the church and our life groups need to be concerned about member care, but do our hearts beat with the LORD for non-member care, those who have yet to believe, yet to trust in Jesus as their Savior and King, yet to partner fully with His church, whose names are still unknown?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – The vision of Hosanna Church is to be a mosaic of vibrant, diversifying, multicultural, and multiplying transformed lives in Jesus Christ who bridge diversity among families, generations, cultures, languages, and backgrounds into the mosaic of one transformed gospel community unified to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus Christ (MATTHEW 28:18-20). We do this by three strategic initiatives to: (1) gather north Dallas into a mosaic of life-giving covenant community; (2) grow God’s family in a transformative personal relationship with Jesus Christ through a reconciled relationship to one another; (3) go into all the world as His ambassadors, unified for the mission to be disciplemakers of all nations and equipped by the empowerment of His holy Spirit. The first strategic initiative is to gather. Without gathering, there is no growing, and consequently there can’t be any going. It doesn’t work backwards either – you can’t be going anywhere, until there is organic growing, that is first rooted in faithful gathering. How can our gathering not be like how Costco gathers people to its stores for the benefit of its members? How can we gather for the benefit of non-members, and train more to step into membership for the benefit of ministering to non-members? How is prayer central to this gathering?
   3. *PRAY THESE SCRIPTURES:
      1. Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. (JEREMIAH 33:3)
      2. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (JAMES 5:16)
      3. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (JOHN 15:7)
      4. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. (MATTHEW 18:18-20)

 
The central truth of this word was –
Will we make God’s house a den of robbers or a house of prayer? You are His praying house! Don’t just say your prayers – act on them! One central way is to honor the day of rest (sabbath) every resurrection Sunday to belong to your local church – an eternal family He created to assure us that by Christ Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice, we are forgiven! We belong to Him and each other with a name better than sons and daughters! Share this! Step into deeper prayerfully acts of righteousness and covenant so that His house may be an open house for those yet to be gathered in! May God gather all whom He desires!

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 
Apply & Be Doers of the Word
 
(1) First, if we’re going to be a praying house, we need to keep the sabbath day holy – keep the day of rest – the resurrection Sunday Lord’s day – holy. There’s a reason why this cycle of weekday and weekend is in place. Build your days and family around this holy day. Keep it holy by doing what is right before His eyes. You need Jesus and you need Him through others who need Jesus too. Commit to your local church and get involved the life of the church.
 
(2) Learn to pray. Learn to declare the thoughts and words of God. You can’t pray to God more than what you don’t know about God. We pray so little because we know so little. Remember praying is a self-evaluating action to align to God’s thoughts and Word, to move us to an unceasing vow towards what it says. Declare what you learn not only to yourself, but to one another. See how the truth of God’s judgments, thoughts, and words work itself out through life.
 
(3) Pray for those who do not believe. Through praying, God moves circumstances and people around us to help those who still have yet to be gathered to hear and trust in Christ Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Pray for the nations and those Christians who are persecuted – this keeps our hearts and focus on His mission to bring all peoples into His house.
 
 

Holy Spirit Moment & Group Prayer
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:2-5)
 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many... The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14, 21-27)
 
- Jeong’s (Jake, Amanda)
- Lee’s (Sam, Heidi)
- Aiden Song
- Deborah Ko
- Kristen Lee
- Patrick Liu
- Brian Pak
- Samuel Park
- Trey Reynolds
- Tyler Lee
- Edward Jeon
- Johann Lee
- Eugene Hong
- JR Reynolds
- Brian Joo
- James Han
- Winnie Kim
- Philip Oh
- Hana Lee
- Rachel Ko (preschool assistant)
- Hanna Kang
- Soo Nam (Dallas Police)
- Eunice Kim (UT Austin)
- Jedidiah Lim (Louisiana)
- Jeff Park (California)
- Doug Kang
- Stacy Hong
- David An
- Daniel An
- Alice Jeon
- Ashley Min (UTD)
- Mike Choi (drummer, Jeff’s cousin)
- Eric Lee (UTD)
- Lisa Jeon
- Brian Yoon
- Jennifer Chung (UTA)
- June Kim (TWU)
- Hannah Kim (UT Austin)
- Hogan Lee (TCU)
- Steven Kwon (A&M)
- Benny Son (UT Austin)
- Esther Ko (UT Austin)
- Daniel Lee (UT Austin)
- Aaron Lee (Houston, postgraduate optometry)
- Alex Koh (Houston, postgraduate dentistry)
- Matthew Ahn (UT Austin)
- Yura Ahn (UT Austin)
- Katie Han (New York)
- Emily Han (Austin)
- Jung’s (Jae, Mary) – Boston, MA
- Hanbit Kang (Austin)

Come to the Waters, Everyone who Thirsts
(ISAIAH 55:1-5)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
1 “Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.

1. [v.1-2] *Biblical principle – COME TO THE WATERS – all who thirst and are without money: We do not thirst because we are already filled. How can we thirst for His waters without price when we are already quenched by the pricey beverages in the world? Through the sufferings of the LORD’s servant (Jesus Christ) in carrying all our sins to death on a cross, there is now peace that God invites us into – a covenant of peace with Him and one another (chapter 54). This covenant is for us and for all our children (54:13) – that establishes us in His righteousness and His protection (54:14-17). But this peace cannot be unleashed until His people desire to have it, like a thirsty person seeking the waters to quench their parched throat. God invites His people to come because He first came in His holy servant, His eternal Son Jesus. He invites us. He longs to quench us with the waters of His Spirit that washes all sins away. He desires to give it all without price to us, but at great price to His Son. He wonders why we spend ourselves on other bread and beverages that do not satisfy. He pleads with us to listen diligently, to come and eat His bread that brings nourishment, delight and abundance. Come thirsty, not full! Come take, not purchase! Come for food that endures to eternal life, not for food that perishes with earthly life! (JOHN 6:27).
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – God first came to us (through Jesus Christ), so now He calls us to come to Him. What is the prerequisite to come to the LORD?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – “Seek first the kingdom God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” says Jesus (MATTHEW 6:33). It is vital that we seek and thirst after the primary things, and in doing so also have added to us all the secondary things we worry for in this life. What do you thirst and hunger after primarily – sacrificing even your health, livelihood, and future to obtain? Are you thirsting for those secondary things that only can be earned with a price? Or are you thirsting for what is freely given without price? How can the world never buy nor touch the gifts of God’s peace guarding you, God’s joy in the holy Spirit overflowing you, God’s fruit of His presence with you in Christ Jesus, and the assured hope of God’s face to be seen by you upon entering His Kingdom?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – Hear the LORD asking you directly (verse 2), “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?”
   4. *FOCUS QUESTION #4 – We can’t thirst for living bread because we are already filled with earthly snacks. What are we snacking on? What is the junk food that is taking away a thirstful desire for spiritual food? What are the beverages with price that keep us away from drinking God’s living waters without price?

 
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
    hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
    a leader and commander for the peoples.

1. [v.3-4] *Biblical principle – COME TO ME – all who incline their ear to hear me: The water is Jesus (the living water), and we come to drink of Him by hearing His everlasting covenant of love made with His blood, giving life to the soul to lead His people. The only water to drink that is free and that will never leave us thirsty again is the river of living water flowing forth from Jesus Christ. Everyone who drinks plain water will be thirsty again, “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (JOHN 4:13-14). The LORD invites us to come to the waters – to Jesus Himself. Come by inclining your ear to hear. “To hear” carries the meaning to submit, to obey, to become one with, a part of – so by hearing Jesus, we are becoming one with Him in His thoughts, words, and life. What we hear when we listen with the purpose to obey is His everlasting covenant – the unbreakable new promise that the LORD is making to draw us to Himself as His people – not by the blood of bulls, goats, lambs, sheep, etc. but by the blood of His only eternal Son. This gospel of grace revives the dead soul in our sins back to life with His Son and raises godly commanders/leaders for His people, like King David during his days. Come to Jesus. Hear Him. Obey Him. Move to lead like Him.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Jesus is like water that never leaves us thirsty again. When we drink it, we become a “spring of water welling up to eternal life” (JOHN 4:14). We drink by hearing and obeying what is heard. What ways does the ear need to bend – be inclined – to hear? How has hearing the LORD with an inclined ear brought life to your soul?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – The LORD is heard through His Word (the scriptures). The Word is validated and proven true through our personal experiences and visible through natural creation. But it all begins from the root of His Word. How is the hearing of the Word informing your experience with God? How is the hearing of the Word validating what you see around you in creation?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – Hearing the LORD is not a maze or puzzle or riddle to decipher. God speaks plainly. Have you heard of His everlasting covenant with you, His steadfast love for you as it was thousands of years ago with David? Has your hearing of the LORD made you a testimony for God’s people, a leader and a commander for His body to teach others His ways? How is your hearing linked to your growing in Christ?

 
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
    and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has glorified you.

1. [v.5] *Biblical principle – THEY WILL COME TO YOU – because I have glorified you: If we are coming to Jesus, the nations will also be drawn to come running to us as they hear Jesus calling them through us. This living water welling up to eternal life is not for ours only, nor for one ethnic group only, nor for one geographic region only. How selfish would that be? The rivers of living water without price and for all who thirst for our Lord Jesus are for all the nations. That is how the LORD planned it from the very beginning through His covenant with Abraham – to make His children as numerous as the stars in the sky as His blessing to the whole world (GENESIS 12:1-3; GENESIS 15:5-6; GENESIS 22:16-18; GENESIS 26:2-5). In the shed blood of His promised savior and servant Jesus Christ, the promise of these children born of heaven by the water and the blood was fulfilled. As we call the nations to drink of the waters of the new covenant in Christ, God will continue to glorify His Son in us as the head of His church – His light emanating into the darkness of the world. So, are we ready for the stampede? Will we be ready for the nations to run to Jesus through our calling of the gospel, into our covenant family as His church?
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – “Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” (ROMANS 8:30). God’s glory would not depart Israel, for His mission to extend the light of His gospel through His holy suffering servant Jesus would have no end. So also, God’s glory cannot depart you. In saving you, He has glorified you. He brings you into the spotlight of His greatness and glory so that those still unknown to us can come running into His arms. He invites us as inheritors of this glory, to reign with Jesus together as fellow heirs (ROMANS 8:17) over His kingdom as glorified, imperishable, holy servants. How has God glorified you with His gifts, His time, His life, His calling, His resources?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – Church, do we believe the nations will run to us when seeing the glory of Jesus within us? Do you believe Jesus will call someone to Himself through you? How has he done so already?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – The late theologian Francis Schaeffer once said, “The central problem of our age is not liberalism or modernism, nor the old Roman Catholicism or the new Roman Catholicism, nor the threat of communism, nor even the threat of rationalism and the monolithic consensus which surrounds us [nor, I would add today, postmodernism or materialistic consumerism or visceral sensualism or whatever]. All these are dangerous but not the primary threat. The real problem is this: the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, individually or corporately, tending to do the Lord’s work in the power of the flesh rather than of the Spirit. The central problem is always in the midst of the people of God, not in the circumstances surrounding them.” (No Little People, page 66). Perhaps we do not see the reality of the harvest of people around us and the nations that will come rushing and running to us because the problem is with us. “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 PETER 4:17). How are we the problem? How are we not prepared for this work of God? How is the problem within us greater than the unbelieving world around us?

 
The central truth of this word was –
God does not force you. He invites you. He pleads with you in steadfast love – Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters and drink without price. Stop laboring for the bread that perishes and does not satisfy. Labor for the bread that endures to eternal life. Come to Jesus, your living water, whose cup will never leave you thirsty again. Come by inclining your ear to listen diligently to His new covenant made in His blood. Fulfill your hearing by obeying, maturing to lead and call forth for His people from every nation to come to Christ. Get ready for the nations to run into this blessed new covenant family – His church – because of His glory.

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 
Apply & Be Doers of the Word
(1) Remove your pricey beverages. They take your thirst away. They cheapen the free gift of His waters. These may be literal beverages you turn to, or what first gets attention to start your day, or what makes your wallet open, or what satisfies momentarily yet sought after repeatedly, again and again. Acknowledge it. Discern it – how it is substituting my thirst? How is it stealing my thirst? Trash it. Practice fasting from it. Grow your hunger and thirst again.
 
(2) Do what God says. If we’ve heard Jesus enough, we need to come to Him now. Move your body. Take the next step. Grow from infancy into adulthood. Learn to be a leader and commander of His Word. Take responsibility for His body – the church – as King David did for Israel. We haven’t matured until we’re able to teach others to follow our example.
 
(3) Prepare the way for the nations to come to Jesus through you. Expect God to call someone to Himself through you.
 
 

Holy Spirit Moment & Group Prayer
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:2-5)
 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many... The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14, 21-27)
 
- Jeong’s (Jake, Amanda)
- Lee’s (Sam, Heidi)
- Aiden Song
- Deborah Ko
- Kristen Lee
- Patrick Liu
- Brian Pak
- Samuel Park
- Trey Reynolds
- Tyler Lee
- Edward Jeon
- Johann Lee
- Eugene Hong
- JR Reynolds
- Brian Joo
- James Han
- Winnie Kim
- Philip Oh
- Hana Lee
- Rachel Ko (preschool assistant)
- Hanna Kang
- Soo Nam (Dallas Police)
- Eunice Kim (UT Austin)
- Jedidiah Lim (Louisiana)
- Jeff Park (California)
- Doug Kang
- Stacy Hong
- David An
- Daniel An
- Alice Jeon
- Ashley Min (UTD)
- Mike Choi (drummer, Jeff’s cousin)
- Eric Lee (UTD)
- Lisa Jeon
- Brian Yoon
- Jennifer Chung (UTA)
- June Kim (TWU)
- Hannah Kim (UT Austin)
- Hogan Lee (TCU)
- Steven Kwon (A&M)
- Benny Son (UT Austin)
- Esther Ko (UT Austin)
- Daniel Lee (UT Austin)
- Aaron Lee (Houston, postgraduate optometry)
- Alex Koh (Houston, postgraduate dentistry)
- Matthew Ahn (UT Austin)
- Yura Ahn (UT Austin)
- Katie Han (New York)
- Emily Han (Austin)
- Jung's (Jae, Mary) - Boston, MA
- Hanbit Kang (Austin)

​We Grieve, but not without Hope
(1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

1. [v.13-14] *Biblical principle – DO NOT BE UNINFORMED – grieving without hope for those asleep: Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, those who have died in Christ do not ever taste death. Rather, they fall asleep until it is time to awake when God the Father brings Jesus again with those who have fallen asleep in His Son. Although the Thessalonian Christian already knew this information, they were acting like they were never informed about it in their excessive and hopeless grief. They desired to put Jesus into their own timetable. Eventually, they became discouraged when He did not return in their lifespan. All the while, the corrupt idea began to spread – that Jesus may not have risen, or that He was late to appear, and the dead are not asleep, but lost forever.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – How influential and harmful is misinformation?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – At the heart of the resurrection and the gospel (good news) is the right information. Yet even the first witness to the resurrection – Mary Magdalene – presumed the body of Jesus was stolen (see JOHN 20:2). Likewise, the Corinthian Christians became weary as death kept prevailing, one dying person after another, thinking Christ had not been resurrected at all. Yet the apostle Paul writes to Corinth of what is of first importance – “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve… to more than five hundred brothers at one time… to James… to all the apostles… also to me” (1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-8). How are you staying informed with the right news? How are you reminding yourself of what information is trustworthy and what is untrustworthy?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – The first scene Jesus left for us in His resurrection is an empty tomb with His graveclothes and facecloth neatly folded, and the stone entrance rolled away. Everything speaks of His absence – He is not there, but has risen. How are you looking for the living among the dead? How is your life still like a tomb with a stone entrance intact? How can you turn away from the tomb, let Jesus roll away the stone entrance, to see He is standing right before you?
   4. *FOCUS QUESTION #4 – Although Jesus has risen and conquered our death, we still grieve when exposed to death, especially those loved ones passed into glory ahead of us. But how can we grieve as those with hope instead of without hope? How can we carry sorrows with the hope of His joy? How can we go through difficult times with the trust He brings times of refreshing? Are our past loved ones dead or asleep, according to Scripture? Are they gone or more alive today than they ever were on earth? Will they never return or will God bring them with Jesus’ return?

 
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

1. [v.15-16] *Biblical principle – BE INFORMED BY THE WORD FROM THE LORD – those asleep will rise first when Jesus returns: Being informed correctly comes only by way of the word from the Lord through holy Scripture. Those who have passed into glory ahead of us in Christ are not forgotten and gone, for they will rise first when Jesus returns at the descent of the Lord Jesus from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. Those asleep in Chrit are first in line to be resurrected. There will be an order to how Jesus will raise the dead. So too, we who are alive until the coming of the Lord should not think otherwise about those who are asleep. Whether awake or asleep, we are together with the Lord. He “died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:10).
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (PSALM 116:15). The LORD cares deeply about those who fall asleep in Him and pass into glory. They will be resurrected first before the living. They will stand-up again – not in ghostlike fashion but in an imperishable immortal bodily fashion. All the saints will be, but those asleep and who have gone ahead are first in order. What can we learn from this priority that the LORD puts on those who have gone ahead of us into glory? What have you learned from those who have left a legacy for Christ through their passing life? How does this teach you to live life now for Jesus with fuller passion, urgency and obedience instead of later?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command – the archangel’s voice and the trumpet’s sound. At times, the return of Jesus Christ appears trivial and aloof, so far away and removed. Yet this unknown time and unknown hour comes like a thief in the night. He is risen, and He is returning. Can your heart say – come, Lord Jesus, come? Or does your heart say – later, Lord Jesus, later… stay away, Lord Jesus, stay away… next time, Lord Jesus, next time? How do you need to be realigned to say – come, Lord Jesus, come?

 
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1. [v.17-18] *Biblical principle – ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS – those alive will be caught up together with those awakened from sleep to meet the Lord in the air: Eventually, we will all be together – both the living and those awakened from their sleep – to meet the Lord in the air. Those asleep will rise first. Those live will then join them to be caught up together  in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, so we will always be with the Lord. For those of us alive and yet to pass into glory, this ought to be incredibly encouraging. We will meet our past loved ones in Christ. We also will meet the Lord Himself in the air, to always be with Him. God will suspend the natural law of gravity and take us to the realm of His clouds and air – to have that great union with the saints of ages past and with the Lord Jesus Himself.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Tell each other about a time that you went to a reunion (family, high school, college, church, old friends get-together). What made it a blessing? What made it sorrowful? One day, we will all pass into glory, but we will be reunited together. How can we make our reunion with one another in the clouds, together in the air as we meet the Lord Jesus Himself, a thrilling and joyful hope instead of a meeting to avoid? How must we live with each other now as the church in light of the reunion to come with our Lord?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – We long to be reunited with our passed loved ones in Christ. The pain is real and deep. Yet is our longing to be with the Lord Jesus just as strong? Have you seen the risen Lord Jesus in the eyes, face, and life of your passed loved ones in Christ? How is their lives a reflection of Christ’s life with you?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – Christian music artist Chris Rice wrote the song Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus), where he describes the course of our life, until we fly to Jesus and meet Him in the air. Listen to this song along with the lyrics, and sense all that the Lord Jesus desires to be throughout your days.

Weak and wounded sinner, Lost and left to die
Oh, raise your head for Love is passing by
Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live
 
Now your burden's lifted, And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain
So, sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live
 
And like a newborn baby, Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall
So, fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live
 
Sometimes the way is lonely, And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain
Then cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live
 
Oh and when the love spills over, And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside
Then dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live
 
With your final heartbeat, Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side
And fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live
 
The central truth of this word was –
You are informed today!
(1) We grieve, but not without hope
(2) Jesus is alive, and so are those asleep in Him
(3) The Lord Jesus is coming again to bring those asleep and those awake to meet Him together in the air
(4) Encourage one another with these words

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 
Apply & Be Doers of the Word
 
(1) Jesus says, “Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (JOHN 11:26). We will not taste death, but keep on living with the Lord at all times. Make plans for that. Talk about that with your family and friends. Just like you will plan for retirement, or write out a will to whom your possessions will be inherited, or not hesitate to discuss with your doctor about your aging health condition, or down-size your cluttered items to make life simplier, or even consider end-of-earthly life issues, plan out and talk about eternal life with Jesus to your family and friends. Even in eternity, it may be a long time before we realize that we’ve fallen asleep and passed into glory! The pleasure of being with our risen LORD will be so great that even the thought of our earthly lives may not pass our minds very often. So before eternity arrives, make sure you have a plan in how you are preparing for that coming eternal life with Jesus and His people. A plan involves how you spend the time, possessions, investments, church etc. all things (however small or great) that God entrusted to you. A plan involves how to live now in light of the eternal future with Jesus.
 
(2) Don’t make too much of your grief! Grieve, but not without hope. Keep your tears momentary. Keep sorrow at a distance. Bring what grieves you daily to Jesus on prayerful knees. Write-out what is grieving you on a notepad, and prayerfully speak against each one in the power of Jesus’ name. Renew your mind away from grief and onto the gladness in Jesus. Release it to Jesus. Do not carry its weight any longer. Do not seek excessive attention for others and their sorrow for you. Seek only the attention of your heavenly Father, who sees you and lifts you up in due time.
 
(3) Take out all misinformation and fake news that infiltrates your day through leisure, devices, screens, and shows. Start each day informed correctly and rightly with Scripture. Narrow what enters the attention of your mind and focused energy. Narrow it on information from the foundation of His Word. Yet do not let it remain solely information. Make use of it as wisdom from God. Speak against the misinformation and news of the world with the good news and informed word from the Lord. Look at the world around you through the lens of holy Scripture, the lens of Christ. Discern what is on His heart and what is not.
 
(4) This weekend, encourage four different people with an encouragement from Jesus’ resurrection. Greet them with, “He lives!” instead of a “Hello!” and “He has risen!” instead of a “Goodbye!” Don’t just give fake complements, but speak God’s promises over their lives (ex. “God has promised you…. His eternal life, His joy… in His only Son”) and see the ways it transforms your hope in Christ.
 
 

Holy Spirit Moment & Group Prayer
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:2-5)
 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many... The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14, 21-27)
 
- Jeong’s (Jake, Amanda)
- Lee’s (Sam, Heidi)
- Aiden Song
​- Deborah Ko
- Kristen Lee
- Patrick Liu
- Brian Pak
- Samuel Park
- Trey Reynolds
- Tyler Lee
- Edward Jeon
- Jeff Park
- Eunice Kim (UT Austin)
- Jedidiah Lim (Louisiana)
- Philip Oh
- Soo Nam (Dallas Police)
- Hana Lee
- Rachel Ko (preschool assistant)
- Hanna Kang
- Johann Lee
- Eugene Hong
- JR Reynolds
- Brian Joo
- Doug Kang
- James Han
- Winnie Kim
- Stacy Hong
- David An
- Daniel An
- Alice Jeon
- Ashley Min (UTD)
- Mike Choi (drummer, Jeff’s cousin)
- Eric Lee (UTD)
- Lisa Jeon
- Brian Yoon
- Jennifer Chung (UTA)
- June Kim (TWU)
- Hannah Kim (UT Austin)
- Hogan Lee (TCU)
- Steven Kwon (A&M)
- Benny Son (UT Austin)
- Esther Ko (UT Austin)
- Daniel Lee (UT Austin)
- Aaron Lee (Houston, postgraduate optometry)
- Alex Koh (Houston, postgraduate dentistry)
- Matthew Ahn (UT Austin)
- Yura Ahn (UT Austin)
- Katie Han (New York)
- Emily Han (Austin)
- Jae Jung (Boston, MA)
- Hanbit Kang (Austin)

Silent, yet still Sovereign
(ISAIAH 53:7-9)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.

1. [v.7] *Biblical principle – SILENT MOUTH – closed to man yet opened to His Father: What our Father God says to us with our mouths closed is far more important than what we need to say to the face of man with our mouths opened. From unjust trials to the horrors of crucifixion, Jesus closed His mouth from defending Himself against His accusers and instead submitted Himself to His Father’s will. Like a submissive lamb led to the slaughter, like a vulnerable sheep before the shearer, Jesus shows us the power of a silent mouth controlled by God’s tongue. Pilate asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed (MARK 15:4-5). Although the chief priests and crowds urged Pilate to convict Jesus, Pilate concluded, “I find no guilt in this man” (LUKE 23:4). Although knowing it was out of envy that they wanted Jesus crucified, Pilate was persuaded to give them what they desired in order to prevent a riot, compromising justice and saving his political image. The silent mouth of Jesus teaches us to submit to God over compromise with man. Godly silence is not a spiritual discipline in passivity or apathy, but rather of hearing and obeying the LORD.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – As Jesus hung on the cross dying while the soldiers gambled for His clothing, He said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (LUKE 23:34). As He continued to suffer on the cross in excruciating pain, Jesus cried out at the ninth hour, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (MATTHEW 27:46). As He breathed His last, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (LUKE 23:46). Instead of lashing out at His oppressors, Jesus opened His mouth to His Father with words of grace, longing for His presence, and submission to His will. In what ways do we need to open our mouth to Father God before speaking to others? How is grace, longing for His presence, and submission to His will being cultivated when our mouths are opened to Father God?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – Jesus was not defiant, as if He was being forced to His death. He didn’t kick and scream His way to the cross with loathsome cries of regret. Instead, He silently and voluntarily went to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. “I lay down my life for the sheep… For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (JOHN 10:15-18). In what ways do we need to close our mouths before the silent mouth of Jesus, quietly going about doing the will of God? How is stillness and quietness before God’s word cultivating a gentle spirit to hear and obey Him sacrificially and joyfully?

 
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?

1. [v.8] *Biblical principle – SILENT LIFE – cut off from the living yet raised up from the dead for His people: A short life of obscurity and quietness abiding in Jesus is far more significant than a well-known accomplished life cut off from Jesus. By wicked oppressors and partial justice, Jesus would be taken away from this life at the height of His life in His thirties. He did not leave a spouse nor generation/progeny behind, for Jesus remained single for His entire life. Besides details about His birth and one event when He was twelve years old as Mary and Joseph unknowingly left Him behind in Jerusalem (LUKE 2:41-51), there is only one verse that describes Jesus’ quiet years of growth from twelve into His thirties, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (LUKE 2:52). No one would have considered then, or now, that God in the flesh who had come to dwell with His people would be cut off from the living so soon and with such suffering. Until the time arrived for His short three-year public ministry, Jesus most likely lived a quiet life, learning the carpentry work from Joseph (MARK 6:3). Over all those years, Jesus lived in obscurity, until it was time to suffer for the transgressions of His people. Live quietly! Be obscure! Abide in Him!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Instead of a celebrity life in Hollywood, Jesus chose the obscure life in Nazareth. His life didn’t gain attention until it stirred up opposition from unbelief in His gospel. Then, as quickly as His life appeared some 2000 years ago, quickly it was cut off in His early thirties. Yet this obscure and quiet life was the most significant life ever lived. In what ways is Jesus teaching us to live in His quietness and obscurity? What is He calling us to cut off from “the land of the living” that is hindering us from abiding in His life, death, and new resurrected life?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – We all desire to be accomplished and fulfill the calling that God has for our lives. How does Jesus define an accomplished life? How does Jesus view significance in this life? Is this the way our lives are becoming accomplished and significant?

 
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth.

1. [v.9] *Biblical principle – SILENCED GRAVE – dwelled among the guilty yet declared innocent by the rich: The grave is powerless to speak of death any longer because Jesus was laid in the grave of sinners, raising the wicked to righteousness and the rich to be poor in spirit. For three days, the grave of Jesus dwelled with the wicked. There was no funeral nor royal procession. Just like any sinner who dies today, Jesus took upon Himself the fullness of our death. He didn’t skip the grave and go straight to being raised to resurrected life. Rather, His redemption was a three-day account. His grave among the wicked proves that He made a way for the wicked through death as the only sinless God-man could do – a way back to a right relationship with Father God. His burial was prepared by two rich men who followed Jesus in secret – Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Now, through their extravagant sacrifice, the burial of Jesus was honored with spices, linen, and a new tomb. Like the two rich men, alongside all sinful men and women, our eyes have been opened to the power of a silenced grave on Saturday, where Jesus laid in the tomb. He is with us even in the grave! He will raise us from it!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – From the point of our birth, we are dying. Every passing birthday is a reminder that we are one more year closer to the grave. Some live in ignorance of this, only looking to what is optimistic, in denial and without preparing for what is to come. Others live hopelessly, wasting away their lives because it will all inevitably end at the grave no matter what good could be made of it. Either case, the grave speaks to everyone. What is it saying to you? For those in Christ, how is the grave silenced? Instead of the grave speaking, who can we hear speaking, who was laid in our grave? What is He saying?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – Two rich men (Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea) had their lives changed from secret followers to public disciples of Jesus, as they extravagantly sacrificed their wealth to purchase the spices to prepare Jesus’ body for burial, alongside give Him a tomb to lay in, while most crucified bodies were usually left for the wild animals to consume. In the death of Jesus and with His body before them, their eyes were opened to the Scriptures about the prophetic words fulfilled, including this verse nine! They were the rich men in His death, preparing His burial in the grave. Is fulfilled prophecy transforming you? Is the fact that God foretold exactly the manner of His Son’s death hundreds of years before it happened a blessed assurance of faith? Like these two men, is now the grave silenced of condemnation and death, and the Word spoken righteousness and life?

 
The central truth of this word was –
In the silence, remember He’s still sovereign! Be still, and know that He is God (PSALM 46:10). Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him (PSALM 37:7). Learn from the silent mouth of Jesus, who did not speak back at His accusers, but submitted Himself to death like a lamb led to the slaughter, even death on a cross! Learn from the silent life of Jesus, who spent His days quietly preparing for His ministry in the obscurity of Nazareth, all to have His short life cut off from the living for the sins of His people. Learn from the silenced grave of Jesus, where His body lay among all who die, so that they might never die but pass through death into life with Him. Aspire the silence and quietness of Jesus in your spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight (1 PETER 3:4). In the silence, no one can take anything from you, for Jesus has already given His life all for you (JOHN 10:18). In the silence, all does not need to make sense, for life is not measured by our length or accomplishments – all those are to be cut off one day – but by Jesus whom we abide in forever. In the silence, know the grave is just a temporary station before the train of resurrection sweeps us into immortality with Jesus! Be still and know Him!

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 

Holy Spirit Moment & Group Prayer
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:2-5)
 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many... The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14, 21-27)
 
- Jeong’s (Jake, Amanda)
- Lee’s (Sam, Heidi)
- Deborah Ko
- Kristen Lee
- Patrick Liu
- Brian Pak
- Samuel Park
- Trey Reynolds
- Tyler Lee
- Edward Jeon
- Jeff Park
- Eunice Kim (UT Austin)
- Jedidiah Lim (Louisiana)
- Philip Oh
- Soo Nam (Dallas Police)
- Hana Lee
- Rachel Ko (preschool assistant)
- Hanna Kang
- Johann Lee
- Eugene Hong
- JR Reynolds
- Brian Joo
- Doug Kang
- James Han
- Winnie Kim
- Stacy Hong
- David An
- Daniel An
- Alice Jeon
- Ashley Min (UTD)
- Mike Choi (drummer, Jeff’s cousin)
- Eric Lee (UTD)
- Lisa Jeon
- Brian Yoon
- Jennifer Chung (UTA)
- June Kim (TWU)
- Hannah Kim (UT Austin)
- Hogan Lee (TCU)
- Steven Kwon (A&M)
- Benny Son (UT Austin)
- Esther Ko (UT Austin)
- Daniel Lee (UT Austin)
- Aaron Lee (Houston, postgraduate optometry)
- Matthew Ahn (UT Austin)
- Yura Ahn (UT Austin)
- Katie Han (New York)
- Emily Han (Austin)
- Jae Jung (Boston, MA)
- Hanbit Kang (Austin)

With His Wounds We are Healed
(ISAIAH 53:4-6)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.

 

1. [v.4] *Biblical principle – HEALED FROM THE WEIGHT OF OUR WOUNDS – the load of carrying our own griefs: The pain of a wound eventually makes us grieve. Many times, that grief is even greater than the wound itself. Without Jesus, we end up carrying the griefs of our own wounds that spirals us into greater hopeless grief and sorrow. Yet the hope to God’s people then and now is the same – the Father has sent His exalted Son and our suffering servant to bear in His own body our griefs, to not only suffer with us but suffer in place of us! He carried our sorrows! Surely He has borne our griefs! Yet our self-inflicted wounds in grief do not esteem Jesus as our wound-carrier. In pride, our wounds still outweigh His wounds. His wounds appear to be caused by another.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – When Saul (Paul) met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he was blinded by a sudden light from heaven with the voice of Jesus that called out to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (ACTS 9:4). Saul had never persecuted Jesus. He had only been persecuting followers of Jesus. Yet why did Jesus say hurting His followers was no different than hurting Him too? What connection does Jesus have with our wounds and sufferings? How has the pain of a wound/suffering made you grieve and become sorrowful? Although wounds and sufferings persist in this life, what is the hope of healing offered in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – What happens when we continue carrying the load of our own griefs and sorrows? How can the sufferings of Jesus on the cross become distorted and unrelated to us when we continue to carry the weight of this life on our own? How is the root of our sickness not in our wounds/sufferings themselves, but the griefs and sorrows that grow out of them? How can we say with the late hymnwriter Horatio Spafford after a ship collision that killed all four of his daughters, “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul”?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – Do you scale your sufferings against the sufferings of the Servant-Son Jesus Christ? Do yours outweigh His? What is so heavy, weighing you down so much, with a load that just won’t let up? And what is the hope you have as you hear the Lord Jesus say, “Let me carry them for you”? One Pastor said it this way – remember to HALT when you are (H) hungry for an appetite not given by God, (A) angry at someone Christ died for too, (L) lonely even when the Spirit indwells you, and (T) tired when there’s strength found by rejoicing in the Lord. How do you need to HALT, stop, cease, when those four things appear?

 
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.

 

1. [v.5] *Biblical principle – HEALED FROM BEING THE WOUNDER – with our transgressions and iniquities: Jesus not only heals us from the weight of our wounds, but the cause of His wounds – He was pierced for our sins, and equally pierced by our sins. No one can esteem Jesus without connecting His wounds to their sins. God’s people then could not make a connection between exalted Son of God and suffering servant for sinners. Likewise, anyone today can look at the cross of Christ with no significance, and the horrid sufferings of the crucified Jesus as just tragedy, trivial or historically impersonal. Yet Isaiah reveals the exact reason why Jesus had to be wounded – it was all for our sins. All have crossed God’s line (transgression). All have violated rightful duty with immoral conduct (iniquity). Jesus was not just pierced for us. He was pierced by us. We are the wounders. He not only stood in our place, He took our piercings. He received our penalty and our wounding to set us free!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Carrying the weight of our own lot will eventually pierce and crush us. There is no need to do this ourselves any longer, for Jesus was pierced and crushed for us, and even more – he was pierced by us. When Jesus took upon Himself what was meant to be our load, it brings us peace, healing, and life. Like a mother in labor whose belly needs to be pierced for a cesarean delivery to bring forth life, how have the piercings of Jesus brought forth your new life from the womb of heaven? Have you been born from the womb of heaven, born again of “water and the Spirit” (JOHN 3:5)? How is the life-giving nature of the Spirit treating your wounds? Are you letting Jesus be your wound-carrier?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – In our pursuit of healing, we often view ourselves as the wounded. Yet Jesus flips this viewpoint – He is the wounded while we are the wounders. This is not to say Jesus is in denial or immune to our wounds and sufferings. He desires for us to see from heaven’s perspective. Have you connected the piercings of Jesus with your wounding of Jesus? How is acknowledging our brokenness, transgressions, iniquities foremost the path to healing? Oftentimes, our desire for healing is tainted with a prideful right to deserve a life free of sufferings and wounds. But looking at what happened when Jesus took our place, what do we really deserve?    

 
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

 

1. [v.6] *Biblical principle – HEALED FROM GOING ASTRAY – like lost sheep but with a shepherd who lays our iniquity on Himself: The consequences of carrying our own wounds and staying wounders of Jesus, ourselves, and others is this – everyone turns to his own way. Sheep are prone to wander. It is their nature apart from the shepherd. So also it is our nature apart from the chief good shepherd Jesus. Unless the shepherd pursues, finds, and saves His lost sheep, the sheep are doomed to remain astray, hurt themselves and those around them. Unless Jesus first pursues, finds, and saves us, we are doomed to turn to our own way and stay wounders of Jesus, ourselves, and one another. Yet the good news is that Jesus has come, wounded by us but still pursuing us. When He finds us, He lays us on His shoulders to take us home. All of our iniquity is laid on His shoulders. What is left is only His joy in having found His lost sheep! He joyfully celebrates our return!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – The natural person cannot discern the spiritual things of God. Their desires to be healed from their wounds and sufferings are astray. It is their own way and not the way of Jesus. Instead of letting our sufferings and wounds drive us to Jesus, how have we let them drive us to our own way without Jesus? Like sheep who are prone to go astray, how prone are we to leave the way of Jesus? When has keeping your wounds and griefs from sufferings kept you off the path of Jesus, who calls you to lay them on Him?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – How can Jesus heal you from going your own way? How does He bring you back to His way? Read the following Scriptures –
      1. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. (1 PETER 3:18)
      2. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 JOHN 1:9)
      3. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (JOHN 8:31-32)
      4. Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. (PSALM 86:11-13)
      5. Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (PSALM 25:4-5)
      6. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. (1 PETER 2:21-23)
      7. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 CORINTHIANS 12:9)
      8. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. (PROVERBS 4:20-23).

 
The central truth of this word was –
In order to be healed, we need to know what has made us sick. Jesus healed many who were sick –  the blind, the deaf, the lame, and even the dead. Yet their healing did not last when met with death – Lazarus, who was raised, had to die twice! Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (LUKE 5:31-32). The sick acknowledge their sinfulness. The sick desire their need for the physician. Anyone can desire healing, but not everyone desires the Great Physician. Jesus shows us that desiring Him is the only path to be healed eternally. Our wounds weigh heavy in this life. Yet the scars of Jesus tell us that they will heal one day and speak of His deliverance, love, and glory through us! Our wounds teach us to keep looking at His wounds, for He was pierced for our sins and by our sins. His wounds keep us from going astray from His way. His wounds declare that all wounds were laid upon His Son. His wounds give hope for His day, when all will say, “we are healed.”

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 
 
 
 

Holy Spirit Moment & Group Prayer
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:2-5)
 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many... The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14, 21-27)

- Jeong’s (Jake, Amanda)
- Lee’s (Sam, Heidi)
- Deborah Ko
- Kristen Lee
- Patrick Liu
- Brian Pak
- Samuel Park
- Trey Reynolds
- Tyler Lee
- Edward Jeon
- Jeff Park
- Eunice Kim (UT Austin)
- Jedidiah Lim (Louisiana)
- Philip Oh
- Soo Nam (Dallas Police)
- Hana Lee
- Rachel Ko (preschool assistant)
- Hanna Kang
- Johann Lee
- Eugene Hong
- JR Reynolds
- Brian Joo
- Doug Kang
- James Han
- Winnie Kim
- Stacy Hong
- David An
- Daniel An
- Alice Jeon
- Ashley Min (UTD)
- Mike Choi (drummer, Jeff’s cousin)
- Eric Lee (UTD)
- Lisa Jeon
- Brian Yoon
- Jennifer Chung (UTA)
- June Kim (TWU)
- Hannah Kim (UT Austin)
- Hogan Lee (TCU)
- Steven Kwon (A&M)
- Benny Son (UT Austin)
- Esther Ko (UT Austin)
- Daniel Lee (UT Austin)
- Aaron Lee (Houston, postgraduate optometry)
- Matthew Ahn (UT Austin)
- Yura Ahn (UT Austin)
- Katie Han (New York)
- Emily Han (Austin)
- Jae Jung (Boston, MA)
- Hanbit Kang (Austin)

Behold, My Exalted Servant
(ISAIAH 52:13-15)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
    he shall be high and lifted up,
    and shall be exalted.

1. [v.13] *Biblical principle – EXALTED IN WISDOM – Being God yet still an Obedient Servant: Jesus acted wisely as both exalted Son of God the Father and lowly servant to sinful humanity, obeying the Father’s will completely as His servant yet being high and lifted up as His exalted Son. Servants stay servants. They are never exalted to another status. They are slaves who carry no rights nor identity of their own, and their only purpose is to obey the Master’s command, who owns them. Yet this vulgar term of “servant/slave” is how God the Father describes His only Son. By acts of wisdom, His Servant-Son will be high and lifted up – a promotion and expression of worship only belonging to the LORD God Himself (Isaiah 6:1; 33:10; 57:15). In Jesus, we learn how to act wisely as both beloved sons/daughters of our Father yet obedient slaves to our Master. Controlled, submissive, full of mercy, good fruit, impartial wisdom begins in the two natures of Jesus in unity – exalted LORD yet humble servant to sinners.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul writes about the future glory of God’s children, “and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (ROMANS 8:17). Even creation itself waits with eager longing for this to happen, “groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now” (ROMANS 8:22). This glorification of God’s children into God’s heirs – and co-heirs with Christ – is guaranteed, for “those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified” (ROMANS 8:30). From the beginning of creation – before sin entered the world – we were called not only to be beloved children of God, but glorified stewards with God to wisely rule over His creation as inheritors and co-inheritors of it with Christ, reflecting His image into the world (GENESIS 1:26-30). As Jesus acted wisely in His journey from obedient servant to exalted Son, how are you taking that same journey from suffering to glory today? For you, is there a costly suffering in following after Jesus? For you, is there wise stewardship in ruling over all He has entrusted to you (His gifts, His time, His resources, His family [parents, siblings, spouse, children], His church, His life[body, health, nurture] etc)? Although there is suffering before glory, is your heart thrilled with joy for this journey in which the present sufferings are not worth comparing, for “the glory that is to be revealed to us” (ROMANS 8:18)?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – Jesus held two natures in perfect union – the lowly servant of the Father to sinful mankind and the divine Son of the Father as savior of mankind. With His actions of wisdom, Jesus did not compromise both His natures of sinless humanity and exalted divinity. How can we learn godly wisdom from Jesus that is controlled, submissive, full of mercy, humble, fruitful, and impartial? How can we practically act in His wisdom today?

 
14 As many were astonished at you--
    his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
    and his form beyond that of the children of mankind--

1. [v.14] *Biblical principle – EXALTED IN APPEARANCE – Forever Marred as the Suffering Servant: One day every infirmity in our body will be perfectly restored to imperishable immortality (1 CORINTHIANS 15:53), but the body of Jesus will forever be marred with the scars of His great suffering to show that by His wounds, we have been healed (1 PETER 2:24). There was nothing in the appearance of Jesus that made Him attractive. “He had no form or majesty that we should look at Him, and no beauty that we should desire Him” (ISAIAH 53:2). So much more undesirable will be the way His sufferings disfigured and marred His body beyond human semblance. It was not only His hands and side that were pierced, but His entire body during the beatings/scourging (LUKE 22:63-64; JOHN 19:1-3). Our scars will heal, but His scars forever remain to tell how much He loved us.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – When Jesus brings the new heavens and new earth, we get new immortal bodies, perfectly restored without defect, pain, or tears. But why does Jesus’ body remain defective, scared, and marred forever – although it wasn’t that way before being sent to the earth? In this life, we will eventually pick up wounds that turn into scars. How can our scars become a beautiful, wonderful, and exalted appearance of Jesus’ scared face, legs, arm, back, chest, hands, feet, and thorn-pricked head?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – Both testaments of Scripture declare, “with his wounds we are healed” (ISAIAH 53:5), and “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed” (1 PETER 2:24). How is focusing on our wounds or wounding one another not the path to healing? What is the only path to wholeness in healing? How can we look off our wounds and onto His wounds?

 
15 so shall he sprinkle many nations.
    Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand.

1. [v.15] *Biblical principle – EXALTED IN VICTORY – King of kings shutting mouths of all kings: Even as a lowly suffering servant, forever marred in appearance, Jesus Christ is exalted to the highest place of victory above all earthly kings, rulers, and authorities, where every knee will bow and mouth will confess that He is LORD. Many nations are cleansed/sprinkled by Jesus’ faithful servanthood in being the Lamb of God taking away the sins of the world. Some nations may still resist His cleansing work, but the kings of all nations will one day shut their mouths in awe of seeing and understanding Jesus as King of all kings. Whether believer or unbeliever, at the name of the Servant-King Jesus, every knee – including the devil – must bow and every tongue must confess in heaven and on earth and under the earth, that Jesus Christ is Lord (PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11).
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – For God, the way up comes by first taking the way down. When the divine Son obeyed completely His eternal Father’s will to be His servant to sinners, the Father exalted His Son to such an eternally high place that no knee could ever remain unbowed, nor tongue ever remain silent that Jesus Christ is LORD (PHILIPPIANS 2:9-11). Usually, a reaction of shock comes by utter silence or scream out of fear, or sheer excitement and joy out of thankfulness. Which reaction is yours today when you behold Jesus daily in Word and prayer? Which reaction will be yours on that great and awesome day when He renews all things, bringing the new heavens, the new earth, and gifts us new bodies to reign with Christ forever?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – In what ways do we need to close our mouths? In what ways do we need to confess with our mouth? What kind of mind and mouth did Jesus have? Read the following Scriptures –
      1. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 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 2:1-11)
      2. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 PETER 1:13)
      3. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (PHILIPPIANS 4:8)
      4. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (COLOSSIANS 3:2)
      5. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. (ROMANS 8:5-6)
      6. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ. (2 CORINTHIANS 10:5)

 
The central truth of this word was –
Are you beholding this Servant and exalting in His wisdom, appearance, and victory over all of life? Jesus is not your slave to serve your selfish purposes. He is King and LORD, serving God the Father’s purpose to cleanse you and draw near to you. So Jesus drew near by wearing the full vulnerability of frail humanity, wearing the fullness of our sin and shame in our place before the wrath of God the Father against all ungodliness throughout the ages. By His actions of wisdom to draw near to our lowly place, the Father exalted Him to the highest place. Now the scars of Jesus forever retained in His body will forever speak of how our suffering Savior loved us to the end. So behold, the LORD’s Servant! Let Him be high and lifted up! Let His wisdom indwell you! Let His scars heal you! Let His cleansing flow touch you! Let His Word cause you to see, to understand what has been spoken of our Servant-King!

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 
 
 


Holy Spirit Moment & Group Prayer
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:2-5)
 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many... The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14, 21-27)
 
- Jeong’s (Jake, Amanda)
- Lee’s (Sam, Heidi)
- Deborah Ko
- Kristen Lee
- Patrick Liu
- Brian Pak
- Samuel Park
- Trey Reynolds
- Tyler Lee
- Edward Jeon
- Jeff Park
- Eunice Kim (UT Austin)
- Jedidiah Lim (Louisiana)
- Philip Oh
- Soo Nam (Dallas Police)
- Hana Lee
- Rachel Ko (preschool assistant)
- Hanna Kang
- Johann Lee
- Eugene Hong
- JR Reynolds
- Brian Joo
- Doug Kang
- James Han
- Winnie Kim
- Stacy Hong
- David An
- Daniel An
- Alice Jeon
- Ashley Min (UTD)
- Mike Choi (drummer, Jeff’s cousin)
- Eric Lee (UTD)
- Lisa Jeon
- Brian Yoon
- Jennifer Chung (UTA)
- June Kim (TWU)
- Hannah Kim (UT Austin)
- Hogan Lee (TCU)
- Steven Kwon (A&M)
- Benny Son (UT Austin)
- Esther Ko (UT Austin)
- Daniel Lee (UT Austin)
- Aaron Lee (Houston, postgraduate optometry)
- Matthew Ahn (UT Austin)
- Yura Ahn (UT Austin)
- Katie Han (New York)
- Emily Han (Austin)
- Jae Jung (Boston, MA)
- Hanbit Kang (Austin)

How Beautiful are the Feet that bring Good News
(ISAIAH 52:7-12)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion.

​

1. [v.7-8] *Biblical principle – Beautiful Feet carrying Beautiful News – The beautiful news of God’s reign and coming peace – ultimately through Jesus Christ – makes even the feet of those who carry it beautiful. As was then and likewise today, the most difficult part of the body to keep clean were feet. Even Jesus said, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet” (John 13:10). So feet became synonymous to the dirtiest part of the body. Yet even this dirtiest part is made the most beautiful part when carrying the beautiful news of the gospel. God had just promised His name would be known to His people in their oppression and His presence would be assured for them (verse 6). Now the portrait of a messenger running across the mountains and bringing this news to His people is in view. The news is that God reigns, and all things will fall in their proper relation to His reign. There will be peace and joy. Ultimately, this is Jesus Christ. From head to toe, you are beautiful because You carry Him. So be sent! Preach so others may hear (Romans 10:14-15)!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – After Jesus miraculously raised Lazarus from the dead, his sisters Mary and Martha hosted a dinner for Him. During the meal, Mary rose, took a pound of expensive ointment, and “anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume” (JOHN 12:3). At the feet of Jesus, what are your feet bringing to Him with a thankful heart? At the feet of Jesus, what is your fragrance that fills His house? Is it a pleasing aroma or an unpleasant odor? Why are even the feet of Jesus the place to encounter His powerful love and our whole-hearted surrender?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – The beautiful news that turns even our smelly foot into an aromatic fragrance is the “good news of happiness… ’Your God reigns.’” How is God’s ordered reign in us through His only Son as our Savior and LORD a happy thing? How does this reign of God in Christ define what “happiness” is? Why must this happiness touch every part of us – from head to toe – from emotions of the heart to emotionless decisions of the mind?

 
9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

1. [v.9-10] *Biblical principle – Active Feet exposing His Holy Arm – The LORD’s holy arm is connected to our swift feet. He uncovers His holy arm of strength – ultimately Jesus Christ –   through the active feet of His joyful people. Both the feet of the watchmen and messengers are moving, waiting with readiness, and rejoicing at the news of God’s reign and coming peace. As they break forth into singing and gladness, they declare the promises of God – that He has truly comforted His people, and that He has exposed His holy arm for all to see their salvation. When the beautiful news of God’s reign, comfort, and strength are exposed into our hearts, it will begin to move our feet to joy. Through our active feet, His beautiful message spreads. Through our active feet, every eye sees the salvation, strength, and Savior from God – Jesus Christ. Our feet can either expose or conceal the holiness of God’s strong arm at work. Let us prepare our feet for action and move as the LORD directs us!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Active feet move around. Where are your feet in motion? Where are they in standstill? In what ways can your feet be swift for your mouth to break forth into singing that the Lord has comforted and redeemed His people?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – Active feet get noticed. All eyes will see the salvation of God that is brought to them by the swift feet of His messengers. What are you getting noticed for? Is the holy arm of the Lord’s work being noticed? Or is the work of your own arm getting the attention?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – Active feet create paths on inactive ground. Jerusalem was a wasteland of a ground to return to after 70 years in exile. Many decided to stay in the idolatrous land of Babylon. Yet the faithful remnant returned to the promised land in Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls and ruined temple. Are your feet creating God’s paths for ruined ground? Or is your desire to only walk on the red-carpet runways of life? How is God calling you to go into wasted places, situations, and hardships to be the activity of His holy arm at work?

 
11 Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord. 12 For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

1. [v.11-12] *Biblical principle – Clean Feet departing Unclean Things – Jesus’ cleansing flow must touch the dirtiest part of our lives – even the feet – transforming us from head to toe, so that we might depart to walk with the LORD who goes before us and guards behind us. As God’s people received the beautiful news of God’s return to reign in them with His peace, they were commanded to depart from the impurity and uncleanliness around them. In that time, this was the departure from exile in the foreign idol-worshipping land of Babylon. The LORD says their departure will not be in haste or as in flight, but carefully guided by Him. This exit from exile is the portrait of Jesus’ cleansing flow through the cross and resurrection. He has cleansed our feet to depart with our feet. We are called to depart unclean things, to purify ourselves with His blood. Our feet now become His feet that do not move in haste or flight, but in step with His leading. He guards from behind and goes on ahead!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – It is time to go. The exile is over. Get up on your feet! Depart from this idolatrous land! Can you hear the voice of the LORD? How are you staying behind? How are you hurrying in haste? How are you timidly in flight? Are you mindlessly stepping in dirty puddles again, or have your feet learned to skip, hop, jump, and depart?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – What are we to depart from? Where are we to go to? Read the following Scriptures –
      1. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (JAMES 4:7-10)
      2. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. (2 TIMOTHY 2:22)
      3. Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (1 CORINTHIANS 6:18)
      4. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 PETER 5:6-11)
      5. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm… and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. (EPHESIANS 6:12-13, 15)
      6. The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. (PROVERBS 18:10)

 
The central truth of this word was –
If you have listened up, wakened up, sobered up, drunken up the filling of His Spirit, dressed up with His holy garments – now it’s time to move your beautiful feet! The beautiful news of God’s reign in Jesus Christ bringing final peace, deliverance, and joy is carried on your feet and indwelling your heart! His news transforms the dirtiest of feet into the most beautiful of them. He has readied your feet to be swift and active, exposing the holy arm of the LORD’s work. He has cleansed your feet to depart from unclean things, walking in step with His Word and Spirit. What’s on your feet? Put on the shoes of the gospel’s peace, making you ready to move with your Lord. Receive the commission of Jesus – be sent out, for how will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe whom they have never heard? How are they to hear without someone preaching? How are they to preach unless they are sent? So go with your beautiful feet! Preach His beautiful news!

 

Holy Spirit Moment
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
- Jeong’s (Jake, Amanda)
- Lee’s (Sam, Heidi)
- Deborah Ko
- Kristen Lee
- Patrick Liu
- Brian Pak
- Samuel Park
- Trey Reynolds
- Tyler Lee
- Edward Jeon
- Jeff Park
- Eunice Kim (UT Austin)
- Jedidiah Lim (Louisiana)
- Philip Oh
- Soo Nam (Dallas Police)
- Hana Lee
- Rachel Ko (preschool assistant)
- Hanna Kang
- Johann Lee
- Eugene Hong
- JR Reynolds
- Brian Joo
- Doug Kang
- James Han
- Winnie Kim
- Stacy Hong
- David An
- Daniel An
- Alice Jeon
- Ashley Min (UTD)
- Mike Choi (drummer, Jeff’s cousin)
- Eric Lee (UTD)
- Lisa Jeon
- Brian Yoon
- Jennifer Chung (UTA)
- June Kim (TWU)
- Hannah Kim (UT Austin)
- Hogan Lee (TCU)
- Steven Kwon (A&M)
- Benny Son (UT Austin)
- Esther Ko (UT Austin)
- Daniel Lee (UT Austin)
- Aaron Lee (Houston, postgraduate optometry)
- Matthew Ahn (UT Austin)
- Yura Ahn (UT Austin)
- Katie Han (New York)
- Emily Han (Austin)
- Jae Jung (Boston, MA)
- Hanbit Kang (Austin)

Put on Your Beautiful Garments
(ISAIAH 52:1-6)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
1 Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city; for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean. 2 Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

1. [v.1-2] *Biblical principle – GARMENTS MADE WITH 100% HOLINESS – God’s holiness is sown into every fiber of His beautiful garments – once only for the Levitical priesthood but now covering all in Christ Jesus as a royal priesthood, a chosen people, a holy nation, a people belonging to God (1 Peter 2:5-10). In a time of hopeless despair in exile, God continued to call on His people to listen up, wake up, sober up, drink up (His sobering judgments), pass up (His wrath to their enemies), and now dress up with His beautiful garments. This is the third time the phrase “awake, awake” appears, beginning from the previous chapter 51 (verse 9; verse 17). Awake, put on your beautiful garments! These are no ordinary garments. When worn, they represent God’s holiness that marked out His priests then, and His people now as a royal priesthood in covenant relationship to Him. When worn, even the bonds of the old covenant sign (circumcision) are broken.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – In Jesus Christ, we have been made forever 100% holy – forgiven of all our sins in the past, all our sins in the present, and even all our sins yet to be done in the future. This holiness is the garment of the gospel to be worn right now. You are a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) with the royal priestly garments (Exodus 28) covering you, never allowing any sin to stain you or drain you below the bar of 100%. You’ll endlessly be recharged to full capacity. Are you wearing this? Do you trust in this, no matter what sins have entangled you that you will always return to 100% holiness/sinlessness/set-apart as cleansed and belonging to the LORD? Like law enforcement in uniform or court justices in robes, has wearing this holy garment changed your identity, who your commanding authority is, and your integrity before the LORD?     
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – What same sin-stained clothes are you putting on that only get dirty and smelly again and again? What clothes – old ways and old self – have you been living in while the new garments of Jesus remain unworn? Jesus has indeed broken the chains, but you must remove/loosen the chains. How are you still living chained when the power to remove them is before you?

 
3 For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” 4 For thus says the Lord God: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. 5 Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the Lord, “and continually all the day my name is despised.

1. [v.3-5] *Biblical principle – GARMENTS SIZED FOR HIS SOVEREIGN WILL – The LORD’s beautiful garments are sized (E-XL) – Eternally Extra-Large – for when worn, we decrease while He continues to increase – His grandeur, bigger, and surpassing sovereign redemption from trial to triumph, from sorrow to gladness, from suffering to glory. God is not a broker with anyone. He gets no advantage by delivering His people into judgment, nor does He demand of His people a price to redeem them out of it. What He permits (even evil to do) does not nullify all that He controls. Who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct Him (1 Corinthians 2:16)? We often cannot understand why God does this or does not do that. Yet, He sovereignly sees us. At just the right time, He redeemed us without price to us, but at the great price of His only Son. By His own free will, all is for our good and for His glory (Romans 8:28).
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – To us, the redeeming work of the gospel is a free gift at no cost. But to God, it came at the most costly sacrifice of His only eternal Son. By wearing these oversized garments of His grace, how have you experienced both the free gift and the costly gift of Jesus?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – God acts according to His own free and mysterious will. He sees everything, and when time comes to pass, all that happens is in accord with His will. When worn, His garments show us to live by His will and say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” When has the LORD brought you to a place to confess this? Why is it far more important to obey His will rather than understand all of it? How can you obey His will today without getting all the questions to His will answered? Instead of “why” how can we live with a “why not” mindset?

 
6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”

1. [v.6] *Biblical principle – GARMENTS STYLED TO MAKE HIS NAME KNOWN – Wear your beautiful garments of God in style, for it reveals the designer who always has the last word at the runway – in that day when all will know Jesus Christ is LORD. Wearing the beautiful garments of God will draw us into the sovereign thoughts of God – thoughts higher than our thoughts, ways higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). As His people journeyed with Him through judgment, discipline, oppression, and deliverance they came to know who their God was personally by His name. They came to know His style. God never panicked, nor was surprised, nor was in a dilemma what to do. The garments taught them the divine style of God’s last word – He would prove His promised word all the time. As we continue to wear these garments, we begin to know His style too. God always proves He is the designer and fulfiller of His Word. Already, He has in Christ. By His garments, we truly know Him and long for the day of His Son’s return!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – When worn, our holy garments are noticed by others who want a peek at the backtag to see who made it. How is the name of Jesus getting noticed through you? How can we go viral with the name of Jesus humbly, wisely, winsomely, and creatively without compromising the integrity of His glorious name?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – What kind of style do we need to put on? Read the following Scriptures –
      1. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (COLOSSIANS 3:12-17)
      2. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (ROMANS 13:14)
      3. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 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. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (EPHESIANS 6:11-17)

 
The central truth of this word was –
Listen up! Wake up! Sober up! Dress up! Wear your beautiful garments, church! As God’s people then were a kingdom of priests – beginning with the tribe of Levi set apart as the priesthood of the nation – these special garments (Exodus 28; Leviticus 8) to display the holiness of God is now ours in Jesus Christ! He calls us all – not just a special tribe – to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to the LORD as His royal, chosen, and holy people, calling His people out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:5-10). We have garments more beautiful than the priests of Israel. We have the Designer’s holy fabric, never staining with time and wear. We have a style that never goes out-of-fashion in the world. We can wear this for all seasons – a garment larger than ourselves or our own will! It’s time to dress up, church!

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 

Holy Spirit Moment
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)

​

 
Awake, Awake, O Arm of the LORD!
(ISAIAH 51:9-16)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
9 Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake, as in days of old, the generations of long ago. Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the dragon? 10 Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep, who made the depths of the sea a way for the redeemed to pass over? 11 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

 

1. [v.9-11] *Biblical principle – “WAKE UP, GOD!” – Calling for His Strong Arm: Calling upon the LORD to awake is purposed to wakeup ourselves from our slumber, recalling His strong arm that leaves us to ask, “Was it not you…?” The LORD does not need to be woken up, for He has never fallen asleep (Psalm 121:4). Rather, we are the ones who are asleep, in slumber, and need to wake up from assuming He has been inactive to hear or help us. God’s people at the time had been hopeless in His deliverance, asleep to His powerful arm that moved to deliver them in the past from the pride of Pharaoh, described as “Proud One” (=Rahab [Isaiah 30:7]) and “dragon” (Ezekiel 29:3). Although his pride chased them to the sea, it was the LORD’s mighty arm that dried up the sea, making a path for the redeemed to pass over. Call upon the LORD to awake, for you yourself to awake, with gladness and joy, to His powerful arm!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – When have we desperately called for God to wake up? Was it God who needed to be woken up, or you who had fallen asleep?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – The LORD desires to pierce our prideful and anxious desperation that labels Him asleep. When God appears asleep in our times of desperation, how should our reactions of “sorrow and sighing” be warnings to awake ourselves? In all circumstances, how can we awake to reactions of “everlasting joy upon our heads…. obtaining gladness and joy” in His presence? Share a time when God awakened you to give thanks, rejoice, and pray no matter what the circumstance you found yourself in (see 1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)?

 
12 “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, 13 and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor? 14 He who is bowed down shall speedily be released; he shall not die and go down to the pit, neither shall his bread be lacking.

 

1. [v.12-14] *Biblical principle – SNOOZING HIS ALARM – Forgetting His Comforting Arm: The LORD’s response for Him to wake up is to assure us that He has never fallen asleep. He has remained our promised comfort and Creator while we have consistently forgotten Him by fearing man and things in creation. Like pressing the snooze button constantly after the alarm has rung, God’s people were consistently forgetful in their spiritual slumber. He had promised to be their rock of comfort (Isaiah 51:1-3), turning their wilderness back into a garden again. Yet it was the trials and oppression along the way that made them waver from the LORD. They continually set their fear on their captors – the Babylonians – and lost hope in being delivered. Some even preferred life in Babylon over hoping in God’s promised return to their homeland. Snoozing numbs the soul to remember. Stop snoozing! Start arising to His alarm!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – God is always awake and at work within us, around us, ahead of us, for our greatest good and His highest glory. Yet at times, we “snooze” His work, delaying it or forgetting it in our lives. When have you “snoozed” God, asking for Him to come back another time or not come back at all? How are you deferring the work of God by fearing things of creation?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – When the time came for the release of God’s people after 70 years in Babylonian captivity, a large portion of the people did not want to be freed. Instead, they wanted to stay in Babylon under their new rulers (the Persians) because they had grown comfortable to life in a foreign land/language, treated fairly well by their newer captors, and had forgotten God’s word to return them back to their home. In addition, the prospect of the long and difficult journey back home to a ruined city with nothing left for them was daunting and unappealing. Many did not want the added task of rebuilding the demolished temple for worship nor the crumbled city walls. What and where is your “Babylon” – your bed that you have refused to wake up and move out to do what the LORD asks of you? What is the “Babylon” that makes you settle for the prosperity of here and now, cancelling out the narrow road to life with Jesus as something too daunting and unappealing because there’s nothing in it for you? Where are the ruined temples of worship and walls of God’s protection we need to stop delaying and starting rebuilding in our lives?

 
15 I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord of hosts is his name.
16 And I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand,
establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”

 

1. [v.15-16] *Biblical principle – [v.15-16] “WAKE UP, CHURCH!” – Covered in His Arm: Like the stirring up of the sea so that its waves roar, the LORD stirs us to wake up from our slumber – not uncovered, but covered – by His promised Word to roar them through our mouth. If we know the LORD has always been awake, and His alarm has gone out to comfort and deliver us, it must move us to arise from our slumber. He stirs us and shakes us to wake up, as He does the sea as it awakes with the roar of its waves. The LORD stirred up His people to move out of captivity in the past. He still does the same today. We arise out of slumber and sleep, fully clothed with His shadow – His image – on us with the words He put in our mouth. Only those awake can roar the words that He has become our God, and we have become His people. Only those He has awakened are stirred up to speak what comes from the power of His arm covering them!
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – What are you “stirred up” by? What does God need to “stir up” to get your attention and wake up to His presence, like He stirs up the sea so that its waves roar?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – In the movie “Inception,” the “totem” was an object that could show you if you were still in the dream world or back in the real world. For us, this is the Word of God. When God’s Word remains closed, what dream world are you living in? When God’s Word stays open, what real world is before you? How can we be God-dreamers instead of daydreamers? Read the following Scriptures:
      1. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man. (LUKE 21:36)
      2. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:6-11)

 
The central truth of this word was –
Will each new morning of 2024 awaken you to more of His strong arm at work in your life? Let us set our alarms aright – not for God to wake up to our needs, but for us to wake up to His ways. Call upon the LORD’s strength which He is working in you and has worked for you, even from the days of His overwhelming power over Pharaoh’s pride in ancient Egypt, to the way He made by drying up the sea for the redeemed to pass over. Stop snoozing the alarm of His Word ringing to get your attention. Snoozing strengthens forgetting. Do not forget Your Creator who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth! He remains as Your promised Comforter and Deliverer from all oppression! His arm destroys the fear of anything in fallen creation. When we bow down to Creator and not creation, the LORD stirs us up to be freed from our slumber with the roar of His Word indwelling us. Awake, O soul, for your LORD God is not asleep!

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 

Holy Spirit Moment
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)

Listen to Me! Look to the Rock! (ISAIAH 51)
1.[v.1-3] Look Back: “Listen to me… Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you”
2.[v.4-6] Look Up:
      A.[v.4-5] to My Righteousness: “Give attention to me… My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out”
    B.[v.6] to the Vanishing Heavens: “Lift up your eyes to the heavens… for the heavens vanish like smoke”
3.[v.7-8] Look Out: “Listen to me, you who know righteousness… fear not the reproach of man”

 
Listen to Me! Look to the Rock!
(ISAIAH 51:1-8)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. 2 Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. 3 For the Lord comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.

1. [v.1-3] *Biblical principle – LISTEN, LOOK BACK: Listening to God in what He has done in the past is the gift of His promised comfort to joyfully live out the present and future. Listening to God is far more critical than speaking to God, for the only right thing to say before Him (and to one another) is rooted first in what is heard from Him. God’s people, who were presently in a period of darkness, had to learn to listen to the LORD again. The call to listen meant to look. Therefore, listening is not passive action, but active obedience. If the people truly heard and listened to the LORD, they were to look back to how God had formed them through an aging Abraham and barren Sarah. He had created them from a hopeless condition. He had multiplied one promised son (Isaac) into a multitude of people. He had turned their wilderness into His garden of Eden again. Comfort was found in Him. All who look back to what He has done will hear it and have it. Joy and thankfulness will be their song!
   1. *RE-CENTER FOCUS QUESTION #1 – How is listening not a passive action but active obedience before God? How did Abraham model this for us in Genesis 22, when God tested and removed the treasure of his heart – his son, his only son, whom he loved, Isaac? That day, God prevented Abraham from offering Isaac’s life as a burnt offering, yet who did Father God not withhold in giving up as a sin offering for you and me? So, how did God listen to the brokenness of our lives entangled in sin?
   2. *RE-CENTER FOCUS QUESTION #2 – Where is God calling you to look back but not turn back? What do you hear from there? Look back to Abraham and Sarah – 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... 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 (Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19). What do you hear? How were their graves turned into gardens of Eden (=God’s delight/pleasure) again?

 
4 “Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. 5 My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

1. [v.4-6] *Biblical principle – LISTEN, LOOK UP: The ears that listen back to what God has done will move the eyes to look up to who God is eternally – our righteousness and salvation that never vanishes. Listening to God causes us to look away from ourselves and look up to His words and ways. When our ears are tuned to hear Him, our eyes will follow to see His righteousness drawing near instead of our own and His salvation going out for us instead of living to save ourselves. Now, His law – His Word – is righteous instead of unfair or unjust. He is the light we wait upon and welcome to shine upon us instead of avoid or repel away in shame. Listening to the LORD lifts up our heads to see His righteousness that cover us and saves us despite our own unrighteous estate. When our eyes are lifted up to Him, only what is eternal matters. In our eyes, there is no more glistening treasure in the vanishing heavens above or earth below, except the righteousness and salvation gifted in Jesus Christ.
   1. *RE-CENTER FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Listening can either lift up/perk up your head or it can put down/hide away your head. Which one is happening before these words of the Lord? Do we wait to look up for His righteousness (=His justice, His faithfulness, His innocence, His judgments) to be revealed or look away for Him to come another day? Are we growing in longing to say, “Come, Lord Jesus, come!” or “Not now… stay away, Lord Jesus, stay away”?
   2. *RE-CENTER FOCUS QUESTION #2 – We can either look up to the vanishing heavens (and earth) or look farther up to our imperishable LORD. How far have you looked up in your listening of His Word? Are you putting a glass ceiling on the endless heavens of God’s voice? Is listening to God like wearing out an old garment? Or have you heard and looked up to see this salvation so forever great and righteousness that never dismays?

 
7 “Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings. 8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool, but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.”

1. [v.7-8] *Biblical principle – LISTEN, LOOK OUT: When God’s righteousness becomes ours in Christ Jesus, we can fearlessly listen and step into His future, even in the face of criticism and discouragement. If our eyes have looked up to behold the LORD, they also must look out to the path He has given in our active obedience before Him. The discouraged people of God were called to press on fearlessly in the face of their captivity, to trust in His deliverance and not let the reproach or revilings of man affect them, for these would vanish one day like an old garment. They were to keep His law in their hearts and press forward fearlessly in the path God had carved out for them. We too can step into this fearless listening and obeying of the LORD in the face of anything that comes our way, fearing God above anything else. The strength of His Word in our hearts is more than able to carry us through this journey!
   1. *RE-CENTER FOCUS QUESTION #1 – There is a cost to listening to God. It will invoke fear. It will bring conviction to our core. It will floor us to something unnatural and uncomfortable. Certainly, there will be consequences to listening and obeying His voice from the outside. Yet by this, we advance in our walk with Jesus. How do you know you are truly listening to Jesus today? How are you listening and obeying the guide of the holy Spirit today? What is the cost you are counting for it?
   2. *RE-CENTER FOCUS QUESTION #2 – The twin towers that cause us to look back instead of look out and press on in the LORD is “reproach” and “revilings.” The fear of disappointment/disapproval of others (reproach) and the discouragement of criticism/insults (revilings) from others is a real struggle both inside and outside the church. How can we guard our hearts from both with His law in our hearts? How can we look forward and press on toward the goal of growing into Christlikeness and extending His salvation to lost souls through our lives on mission with Jesus? Read the following Scriptures:
      1. But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew 13:16-17)
      2. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22)
      3. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15)
      4. Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; (James 1:19)
      5. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)

 
The central truth of this word was –
As the new year 2024 is in full swing, let us hear from the LORD clearly, learning to strengthen our listening of His Word and the guide of His holy Spirit in our lives. To listen to Him is to look at Him. God calls us to turn our ears to listen and our eyes to see our everlasting Rock from which we were cut-out, the quarry from which we were dug-up. We press forward into 2024 by pressing back on our ears so prone to not hear, our eyes so prone to wander, from the unchanging Rock in ever-changing new time. Look back to Abraham, Sarah, and all the flawed men and women of faith that listened to the LORD rather than the counsel of man (Hebrews 11). Look up to His righteousness and salvation for you. Give attention to what cannot vanish but lasts forever – His law in our hearts. Look out to press on, fearlessly listening to His Word, obeying Him above all else. May Jesus say of us, “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear” (Matthew 13:16).

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 

Holy Spirit Moment
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)