Your Sins have Hidden His Face from You: Why God’s Face Appears Hidden from our Face (ISAIAH 59:1-13) Pause & Reflect 1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
3 For your hands are defiled with blood and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies; your tongue mutters wickedness. 4 No one enters suit justly; no one goes to law honestly; they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies, they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. 5 They hatch adders' eggs; they weave the spider's web; he who eats their eggs dies, and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched. 6 Their webs will not serve as clothing; men will not cover themselves with what they make. Their works are works of iniquity, and deeds of violence are in their hands. 7 Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways. 8 The way of peace they do not know, and there is no justice in their paths; they have made their roads crooked; no one who treads on them knows peace.
9 Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. 10 We grope for the wall like the blind; we grope like those who have no eyes; we stumble at noon as in the twilight, among those in full vigor we are like dead men. 11 We all growl like bears; we moan and moan like doves; we hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us. 12 For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities: 13 transgressing, and denying the Lord, and turning back from following our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.
The central truth of this word was – Because the Father God turned His face away from His eternal and beloved Son, He now forever has His face turned towards you. Nothing can separate you from His face turned towards you. His face is never hidden from among us. But because of our sins, we make His face hidden by distorting His powerful sovereignty and omniscience. We make His face hidden by the depravity in our face – from head to toe infected with the nature of sinful desires contrary to holiness. We make His face hidden by the intentional denial of His presence within us. Let us not hide His face with our sins, but hide our face before His glory. Fall facedown, so that you can walk courageously faceup with His face before you! – *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this? Apply & Be Doers of the Word (1) In silence and confusion, do not question His knowledge and sovereignty. He has heard. He is still in control. He answers in His way. He remains in power for all time. Be at peace in His changeless character. Let God be God! Do not distort His character. Before Him, we are utterly facedown. Without Him, we can do nothing. Apart from Him, we are nothing. There will be times coming in your life where there’s a period of silence and confusion. Let God be God. Let sin be sin. See His face is never hidden before you! (2) Fall facedown daily. Repent daily by opening the Scriptures daily. Reading and meditating on the Word is the continuous action of mental repentance. Let His thoughts become your thoughts. Humility is the prerequisite to opening the Scriptures. You cannot approach the Bible with the attitude – “okay what’s in it for me today, what applies for me right now.” *Do not conform the text to apply to you. Rather, apply yourself wholly to what the text says. Let the Word be the Word. Do not add to it. Do not take away from it. From head to toe, the Word of God redefines who you are. You are totally fallen, totally lost, totally depraved in your face to see the light of His glorious face in Jesus Christ. You are approaching holy words, holy ground, and holy presence. Do not keep your sandals on, but like Moses, know that something must always be removed and taken off in ourselves before the LORD. Do not come to LORD’s Day resurrection Sunday worship like any other day of the week. Be ready to be transformed in your mind, body, and soul, from head to toe, and be washed with the grace of Christ. (3) Examine your motives. Be intentional to follow Jesus. Practice confessing and testifying His ways. Be intentional in honoring the Lord. Let it be your motive to honor the Lord, to look away from evil, to seek the holiness and righteousness in Christ alone. Do not live like He’s an imaginary friend. Live like He’s the Lord of your life – because He is! Do not come late to a worshipful gathering when you make to class or to work on-time every day. Serve one another. Build up His Kingdom. 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) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (HEBREWS 10:24-25) 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) - Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe) - Park’s (Hanna, Jim-Bob – Samuel, Sophie) - Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana) - Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella) - Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie) - Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma) - Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan) - Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie) - Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James) - Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen) - Krief’s (Miki, Mr. Krief – Noa, Mya) - Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris) - Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella) - Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah)
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Prepare the Way for Revival (ISAIAH 57:14-21) Pause & Reflect 14 And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way.” 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. 17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
The central truth of this word was – God has already prepared the way for revival! We had no part in contributing to it. He built the highway to Himself! He removed every obstruction so that His heavenly presence could dwell with the lowly heart. He satisfied His own anger by the sacrifice of His own eternal Son. He gifted us with the power to walk according to His way with the peace that Christ Jesus purchased on our behalf. He warned us there is no other way to be at peace in a revived heart before Him. This must humble us, bring our spirit low to make our heart contrite. Let us come down from our high place of pride and restlessness to His repentance and peace! Be revived! – *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this? Apply & Be Doers of the Word (1) Let go of your obstruction. It’s in the way of His revival. We can’t experience revival when we’re holding to our obstruction while the vacuum of His peace sweeps our lives. Be humbled by how far God came to you from His eternal habitation. In Christ, you are revived, so release it! Fear Him over everything! (2) Let us stop guilt-tripping ourselves and others of their sins. In Jesus, the anger of God is removed! We fall under His mercy – not anger. Godly guilt leads to repentance. Sinful guilt leads to condemnation. Although we see the sin in each other, let us be moved to heal one another through forgiveness, correction, training through the Word of God with the empowering help of His Spirit. (3) Do not play around with the path of the wicked. There is no peace there. Stay on His path to revival. Close all other doors, get off every other path, that you strive to attain shalom. It will always be lacking if you stay that course. It will be the ruin of you and others around you. Let’s not be tossed like sea waters, but let the One who can silence the winds and the waves and the seas draw us into Himself, into His ark, into His boat, where can breathe, be revived, and sail through this temporal life into His eternity. 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) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (HEBREWS 10:24-25) 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) - Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe) - Park’s (Hanna, Jim-Bob – Samuel, Sophie) - Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana) - Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella) - Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie) - Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma) - Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan) - Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie) - Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James) - Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen) - Krief’s (Miki, Mr. Krief – Noa, Mya) - Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris) - Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella) - Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah) His Watchmen are Blind (ISAIAH 56:9-12) Pause & Reflect 9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour-- all you beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. 11 The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.
12 “Come,” they say, “let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure.”
The central truth of this word was – We are not the blind leading the blind! Jesus has opened the blinded eyes, deaf ears, mute mouth of His flock. He has called us to the post of His watchmen to sound the alarm of His Word – both to warn His people of danger approaching and to bless His people of victory already-achieved in Christ Jesus’ finished work of the cross and through the resurrection. Take this responsibility seriously! Do not forsake His flock, neglect His flock, nor starve His flock! Instead, grow in covenant with His flock. Nourish them, and as Jesus instructed, “Feed my sheep” (JOHN 21:15-17). – *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this? Apply & Be Doers of the Word (1) The JOY that only Jesus can bring: (J)esus first. (O)thers second. (Y)ourself last. Take this joy seriously. Take this responsibility as watchmen over His flock seriously. Live with His joy. (2) Sound the alarm! Do not stay silent about what Scripture warns against. The most loving thing we can do is to keep warning one another – not as enemies but as comrades in Christ – of His commands with all gentleness, compassion, and conviction. (3) Feed His sheep! By feeding them, Jesus is feeding 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) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (HEBREWS 10:24-25) 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) - Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe) - Park’s (Hanna, Jim-Bob – Samuel, Sophie) - Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana) - Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella) - Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie) - Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma) - Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan) - Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie) - Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James) - Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen) - Krief’s (Miki, Mr. Krief – Noa, Mya) - Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris) - Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella) - Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah) 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.
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.
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.
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) - Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe) - Park’s (Hanna, Jim-Bob – Samuel, Sophie) - Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana) - Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella) - Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie) - Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma) - Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan) - Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie) - Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James) - Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella) - Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris) - Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen) - Krief’s (Miki, Mr. Krief – Noa, Mya) - Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah) 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.
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.
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.
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) - Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe) - Park’s (Hanna, Jim-Bob – Samuel, Sophie) - Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana) - Yang’s (Beomjoo, Haemin – Doyoun) - Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella) - Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie) - Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma) - Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan) - Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie) - Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James) - Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella) - Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris) - Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen) - Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah) 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.
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--
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.
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? Group Prayer Requests 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) 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) - Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe) - Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana) - Yang’s (Beomjoo, Haemin – Doyoun) - Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella) - Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie) - Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma) - Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan) - Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie) - Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James) - Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella) - Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris) - Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen) - Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah) 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.
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.
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.
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) - Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe) - Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana) - Yang’s (Beomjoo, Haemin – Doyoun) - Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella) - Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie) - Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma) - Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan) - Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie) - Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James) - Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella) - Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris) - Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen) - Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah) 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.
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.
6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”
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? Empowering Stewardship As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 PETER 4:10-11) Summary: As God’s Word is faithfully administered and delivered to His people, His Spirit will only continue to beckon more people to join Him in fellowship at Hosanna. Unfortunately, growth and pain go hand-in-hand, and as He continues to grow His flock, so do the needs. Currently, the Elder Board has considered hiring support staff to attend to these operational needs, but first would like to determine a clearer criterion by opening these needs to the current covenant partners to discern the best path forward. The needs are the following:
Prayer:
Prayer Requests 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.
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.
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.’”
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) I Have Set My Face like a Flint 1.[v.7] The Immovable Face of Jesus: “But the Lord God helps me… therefore I have set my face like a flint” 2.[v.8-9] The Imperishable Face of Jesus: A.[v.8] Perishing adversaries: “Who will contend with me? … Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me.” B.[v.9] Perishing prosecutors: “Who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment” 3.[v.10-11] The Illuminating Face of Jesus: “Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord… Walk by the light of your fire… you shall lie down in torment” I Have Set My Face like a Flint (ISAIAH 50:7-11) Pause & Reflect 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame.
8 He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9 Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.
10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.
The central truth of this word was – Into the new year 2024, where will your face be set? Jesus set His face resolutely to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51), to bear your sins in His body at the cross, for the joy of bringing you to God. Like an immovable flint rock, nothing can turn the face of Jesus away from you. Like a flint rock that cannot perish, the face of Jesus did not grow old, wrinkly, and defeated. Instead, He conquered His perishable enemies and remained unblemished as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Like flint rock that shines and ignites real fire, Jesus’ face speaks the light of God’s words that carries us through the darkness. Won’t you turn your face to His face more and more this new year? Fear Him. Walk courageously into your present darkness, for Your Rock like a flint sees you, goes before you, and is the light to carry you through. – *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. 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) |
Monthly 1st & 3rd Saturday, 4:00pm @ various locations
June 2024
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