The Goodnews - September, 2016 by Good News Mission

SEPT

2016

DELIVERING THE GOSPEL & THE TESTIMONIES OF GRACE

Salvation Testimony

God Revealed His Truth to Me

Special Article

2016 New York World Camp Closing Ceremony

GOOD NEWS MAGAZINE

Contents

Monthly Sermon People Who Receive God's Blessings

Salvation Testimony God Revealed His Truth to Me

Special Article: New York The Promised Land Where the Gospel Will Triumph - Hopeful U.S.A.

Memoirs of a Missionary A Person Who Received Two Talents Following a Person who Received Five Talents

About the Cover

This year's New York World Camp included a volunteer day program where participants were dispatched to local communities to promote and aid with clean environment initiatives and social well being. We saw the impact of how helping others brought happiness and satisfaction to the students.

New York Times People Who Built the Tower of Babel

Gospel Lesson Life that is Only Solved When We Meet God

Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth This Brother is Not an Elder

Church Directory

Sermon of the Month

People Who Receive God's Blessings Pastor Ock Soo Park | Good News Gangnam Church

“Now Boaz said to her at mealtime, “Come here, and eat of the bread, and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed parched grain to her; and she ate and was satisfied, and kept some back.” (Ruth 2:14) So that No One Can Deny that God Was Helping and Protecting Me In the Book of Ruth chapter 2, after Ruth entered Bethlehem, there is the story of how Ruth, due to her hunger, went to glean after the reapers. At that time, Ruth was able to see how God continually helped her. In 1965, I enlisted in the army. One day as I was receiving training and there was an announcement, “ROC311, Ock Soo Park, come to the training headquarters.” When I went to the training headquarters, a training officer saw me and said, “Private Park, what kind of work did you do before coming to the army?” I answered right away, “I was a church preacher!” He said, “Indeed you were.” Then he said, “I too served God diligently before I came to the army, but after coming to the army, I drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes and I became corrupt. I saw yesterday how Private Park gathered the trainees and had worship service, and I thought about my image and it pained my heart. Is there anything I can help you with Private Park?” “Training officer, we don’t have a classroom to have a worship service; it would be great if you would let us borrow a classroom.” He allowed us to borrow a classroom and so we were able to move our worship service from the mountain top to the classroom. Afterward, when the training was over and we had to be dispatched to other bases, the training officer allowed me to work at the examiner’s office at the same base and I was able to preach the Gospel there until I was discharged. One day on the base, I was with my classmates and the three of us were walking, then a brigadier general came our way. After we saluted him, the general said that we saluted him well and then gave us a 4 nights 5 days, vacation. Afterwards as I was leading a worship service, the general came to the class and saw us having worship service and he said that he wanted to build a chapel together with me. When I was preaching the Gospel in 4

No longer living by my ambitions or by the desires of the flesh, but to live experiencing the providence of God is the life of Bethlehem. Geochang, Jangpal-ri or when I lived in the army or after being discharged when I was in Gimcheon and Daegu, God always established special things that I didn’t think of. He worked to the point that no one could deny that He was helping me in everything that I did and that He was protecting me. “When you read the Book of Ruth in the Bible, besides Ruth going to Bethlehem, Ruth wasn’t outstandingly good and she had absolutely not done any work. Throughout the whole process, we can clearly see the providence of God was with Ruth.” The Land of Moab Compared to Bethlehem In the Book of Ruth chapter 2, Ruth receives many blessings, and I wanted to know what Ruth did to receive so many blessings. That’s why when you read the Bible closely, there is no narrative showing that Ruth did some good work or that she prayed. Ruth, because she was in difficulty and hardship, went to glean after the reapers and she happened to enter a field belonging to Boaz. There, as Boaz began to love Ruth, he commanded his servants to drop many grains for Ruth to glean, to allow her to drink of the water that was drawn, to let her eat bread during mealtime… Whatever Ruth did, we can see that God helped and protected her. And after some time passed, Ruth and Boaz married and at the end of the Book of Ruth, Ruth gives birth to a son. “Salmon begot Boaz, and Boaz begot Obed; Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David.” (Ruth 4:21-22) In the Book of Ruth chapter 1, Naomi’s family departs Bethlehem to go to Moab where Elimelech dies and Mahlon dies and Chilion dies, but after returning to Bethlehem, oppositely, Obed is born and Jesse is born, and King David is born. When they were in Moab, curse and death continuously came upon them, but after returning to Bethlehem, blessings came upon them. The Life in Bethlehem is a Life Experiencing the Providence of God “Bethlehem” means “House of Bread.” The bread signifies the bread of life that God provides. To come to Bethlehem means that you were once in the realm of Satan but now you have entered into the realm of Jesus. We were in iniquity living after the ambitions of the flesh and our thoughts, but after receiving salvation, we departed from the thoughts that ruled our hearts to have the heart of Jesus rule over our hearts. No longer living by my ambitions or by the desires of the flesh, but to live experiencing the providence of God is the life of Bethlehem. There is nothing that says Ruth did any good work or that she was sincere after returning to Bethlehem. She was only hungry and so she went to glean for grain and she 5

Sermon of the Month

happened to come upon Boaz’s field, at the same time Boaz came to oversee the harvest and he saw Ruth and knew that Ruth was a virtuous woman and he kept her in his heart; he told her to drink of the water and to eat of the food and to have her dip her bread in the vinegar; he gave her parched grain to eat and later, Ruth takes a sack full of grain happily returning to her home. When we read the Book of Ruth in the Bible, besides Ruth going to Bethlehem, there is absolutely nothing that says she was good or that she did any work. She gleaned after entering Bethlehem, was loved and married, begot a son, and from her descendants, King David was born… During this entire process, we can clearly see that the great and amazing providence of God was together with Ruth. “It is because we cannot receive his blessing by our efforts, Jesus was crucified on the cross, so that no matter what situation we may be in, we cannot help but to receive God’s blessing.” God Who Blessed Ruth, God Who Blessed Jacob Although there is nothing Ruth did to receive her blessings, but just as God worked amazingly and bestowed upon her precious grace and blessings, after we have entered Jesus Christ, it is not that we have to be good and sincere and do well. It is because we are already people who belong to Jesus Christ, Jesus fulfills all the work for us. In the Book of Ruth, we can know of this fact very precisely. The story of Isaac’s two sons, Esau and Jacob, in the Book of Genesis is the same story. Esau diligently tried, but he couldn’t receive his blessings and Jacob received God’s blessings. Jacob, in order to avoid his brother, was on his way to Padanaram and at Bethel he met with God. In Padanaram, he met Rachel and begot sons and a daughter, and when he was tending to the herd and receiving its young as his wage, the sheep that was assigned to him continually produced more offspring that gave him great possessions. Although Jacob didn’t try, God helped and blessed Jacob in all that he did so that he may live a blessed life. Jesus Made It So that We Can Only Receive the Blessings of God Before salvation, we tried to believe in God through the law. But the Israelites who received the law all disobeyed the law; when we look in the Book of Jeremiah chapter 31 and the Book of Hebrews chapter 8, it states that God establishes a new covenant. The new covenant is not a covenant where I must do something to receive blessings. With the Law I must do well to receive blessings and since all people disobeyed the law, they cannot help but to be cursed, but the new covenant we are blessed according to the work Jesus did. Likewise, for us to receive the blessings of God, it is all fulfilled by the grace of God. But many people do not know this truth and they think that they can receive blessings if they are more diligent, faithful and try harder. Although we may do some good work and work earnestly, it cannot be compared with the work that Jesus has done for us. Matter 6

of fact, because we cannot receive blessings by our efforts, Jesus was crucified so that no matter what circumstance we may be in, Jesus made it so that we can only receive the blessings of God. That is why when we accept the truth that our sins have been forgiven by the blood of the cross, the providence of God helps us, protects and leads us afterwards. We have to believe in this truth. Just as Jacob was a Man Blessed by God, We Are Too Jacob did not try hard to have many sons. Jacob loved Rachel and God also gave Leah as his wife. Afterward, he had Rachel’s maidservant and Leah’s maidservant as concubines and he received the blessing of having twelve sons through his four wives. Whether Jacob tended to the herd or whatever he did, God helped him. No matter how his uncle Lamech interfered, if the speckled and spotted sheep was given to Jacob as his wage, then among the offspring of the sheep, the strong ones were speckled and spotted. Jacob was a person who was blessed by God. When we received the forgiveness of sin and become born again, not only in heaven but also on earth, we became people who cannot help but to receive blessings. God blessed us so that we cannot help but to receive blessings. In the past during the time of law, we thought we had to do well in order to be blessed, but after entering into the time of grace, even if we don’t do well we are blessed, and even though we are weak, because of the works of Jesus, we receive blessings by grace. Jacob received his blessing at Padanaram and had many descendants giving glory to God, and among his sons, Joseph became governor of Egypt, and he lived within great happiness. God loves us and he feels regrettable that he is unable to bless us. God does not bless us by seeing us do well, although we may be lacking, we must remember the great truth that he wants to bless us through the grace of Jesus. We are lacking and weak, but the cross of Jesus perfected us so that we will not lack at all to receive His blessings. That is why we must not look at our own works and be bound by our lacking, but we must boldly go in front of the throne of grace to live a life experiencing the blessings of God.

Pastor Ock Soo Park

Pastor Park is currently the senior pastor of the Good News Gangnam Church. He is the founder of the Mahanaim Cyber Theology School and International Youth Fellowship. Annually he is the guest speaker for Bible Crusades domestically and internationally and serves as a guest lecturer to university students. He is the author of several titles such as: The Secret of Forgiveness of Sin and Being Born Again, Repentance and Faith, Navigating the Heart. These books have been translated in 17 different languages, and in addition he is the author of 40 other books on spiritual life.

Salvation Testimony

God Revealed His Truth to Me Elisabeth Bradley | Good News NY Church

grew up on the mission field with my family in Mexico and Kenya. I've spent my whole life in church, serving on stage as a worship leader. However, my view of God was always limited because I felt like a sinner even though I believed I was saved. I loved God, but felt separated from Him often through my daily sins. Because of this, I lived consciously trying not to sin, and making my praises to God flamboyant so that He would take notice of my heart for Him. I worked very hard to please God by trying to show Him I was devoted to Him. Through my daily devotional life, I could feel this void within my heart that seemed like it could never be filled. I thought that I had God in my heart, but a sense of sorrow and despair always filled me. I did not know that place was lacking God. 8

"He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 16:15-17) I came to the 2016 Los Angeles IYF World Camp with the purpose of singing the National Anthem for the opening ceremony at the City Hall Grand Park, but I had no idea what God prepared for me there. The opening ceremony was the first time I heard the Gracias Choir perform live, and it was through their music that God was able to begin working on my heart. Coming to LA World Camp, my heart was closed because my intentions were only to perform and not to receive or learn from the week ahead of me. However being around the people of IYF and Good News Church at the Ontario Convention Center caused me to see the difference of their heart and mine. I recognized a type of godliness in their hearts and compared their heart to mine, seeing that I was lacking what they were carrying. I didn't understand that it was God in their hearts, because I thought I already had God in my heart. As the Bible sermons began being taught daily, the phrase, "Letting God's heart flow through yours" was constant. I became frustrated and confused because I didn't understand how to make that happen; and I thought myself already to be saved. A couple weeks before the World Camp I became overwhelmed and burdened down by despair due to frustrations 9

Salvation Testimony

"I didn't understand that and hopelessness in my daily life. As I was taught during it was God in their hearts, the camp about the heart because I thought I already being opened, my emotions were very intense and had God in my heart." overwhelming, causing me

to cry throughout the services each day. I really needed relief in hope. My group teacher began speaking to me about the sin within my heart, but I disagreed with her and could not understand her biblical explanations. I felt like my group teacher was questioning my salvation. Still, my heart was closed. But the Word I heard during the messages was preached so clearly, as I had never heard before. I listened intently, fascinated by the way the Word was extremely explained in depth. Each sermon was focused on the same three stories in the Bible; the woman with the issue of blood, the adulterous woman, and the prodigal son. I began to connect the stories and see that they were of the same message; forgiveness of sins and salvation. That the story of the prodigal son was not just a nice story in the Bible but one of the son returning to his father's house having no sin in his father's eyes. The woman with the issue of blood had so much faith in Jesus that she was made whole. The adulterous woman was able to stand before Jesus because she believed on him. Believing on Jesus and His payment for our sins, meant that I could stand before God blameless each day and righteous.

"For by one offering, He hath perfected them which are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14)

My teacher asked me to have fellowship with a pastor during my time at World Camp, and I half-heartedly agreed. The pastor was talking to me about salvation but I wanted to receive answers to different questions. He began to teach me about Cornelius and how I was very much like him, living a life giving alms to God but lacking one thing; salvation. Right away I took the Word and saw the truth in his teaching. I was so focused on works for my righteousness, and living a life pleasing to God but I did not have Him in my heart, I did not even truly know Him. I was separated because of my sin. After a second fellowship, the Word which I had received came alive in my heart and gave me great faith. I went to my hotel room that day and prayed earnestly to God, professing that I believed He died and covered all of sins, and asked Him to fill my heart and let His heart flow through mine. Immediately I felt God take the place of that void that I had for so long within me. Suddenly joy filled my heart, and I no longer carried hopelessness within me. I had faith to believe in God and His great purchase that he made for our redemption. I understand now that I can walk blameless each day before God, and because of that knowing I am free and have joy in my life with God. I think about my salvation now, and how by His grace that God revealed truth unto me: it is truly God who did it, and not flesh and blood. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill." (Matthew 5:17)

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York The Promised Land Where the Gospel Will Triumph - Hopeful U.S.A. 2016 New York World Camp Closing Ceremony 13

The 2016 New York World Camp was short but impactful. The

festivities of the camp closed with Gracias Choir's Good Will Concert at the Pennysaver Amphitheater. Those who attended the concert were the World Camp attendees, the participants of WCLW, and the neighboring community who were invited through the Dear Neighbor letters. Everyone sat together and had a wonderful time. Right as the sun began to set on August 25th, one by one people took a seat at the Pennysaver Amphitheater. Right before the concert began, everyone was tense because it started to drizzle. However, that soon cleared up. The temperature, humidity and everything was perfect. The breeze from the mountains; the beautiful music; the stars that lit the dark night; the poignant message-- everything came together to move everyone's heart. All the World Camp participants were touched as they listened to the last performance of the evening. Everyone was overcome as if in a nostalgic dream. Pastor Park gave his message right before the last performance of the night. "There was a young girl with a bad kidney. Feeling bad for this young girl, a young wife donated her kidney to this ailing person. Afterwards, the young girl was able to live a new life.

NY WORLD CAMP CLOSING CEREMONY

Just as this young girl was able to get a kidney transplant through the woman donating her own, Jesus gave up His life for us so that our sins would be cleanses as white as snow. He has now given us His heart so that we can live with His heart." After the message ended, Gracias Choir ended the night with a spectacular performance. The audience sang along to the music at times, and even shed a tear as they were completely overcome with the music. They did not want the night to end. Soprano Jin Young Park ended with a performance of "God Bless America." Even before she could finish the song, everyone stood up from their seats and applauded with one heart as they congratulated the successful end of the 2016 New York World Camp. During the World Camp, God worked to bring salvation not only to the students, but to the pastors attending the World Leaders Christian Workshop. These are the testimonies of the participants of the World Camp and the WCLW.

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1) The Gracias Choir performance that was breathtaking. 2) The Good Will Concert began with cultural performances. 3) People began to gather one by one as the concert time drew near. Not only did the World Camp participants attend, but people in the neighboring community attended as well. 4) All the seats of the amphitheater was filled to capacity. 5) The amphitheater was lit up like a beautiful picture.

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6) Everyone was breathless as they listened to the music. 7) Pastor Park giving his message with a bright smile. 8) The Good Will Concert ended with Gracias Choir's performance. 9) Soprano Jin Young Park singing "God Bless America."

"The Gracias Choir's performance was spectacular. We didn't know what to expect when we got here but we were completely speechless during the whole performance. It was amazing. I am overjoyed. The whole program was wonderful. I feel like I'm totally blessed. The music was beautiful, especially the cello. I enjoyed every minute of it. I was taken aback by the pastor's message as well. He spoke about the heart of Jesus which was great. I will come again next year if you do it again. I'll bring more people next Janice and Chris time. Thank you so much."

Special Article_New York

"I was invited by a relative to this camp. I just decided to come on a whim. I didn't know what to expect. But then I had fellowship with my group teacher and it was great. I think it's very important that IYF believes the importance of salvation. Jesus washed all our sins through His death. That is why there is no need to repent for our sins ever again. All our sins have been forgiven and we no longer need to have a guilty conscience. I have become righteous. Even if I were to sin tomorrow, those sins have already been forgiven. Forever! I can enter into heaven because Jesus saved me." Marina Yepremenkova (center), Class Truth 1

NY WORLD CAMP CLOSING CEREMONY

"I'm from China and I've been living in the states for 9 years. I have assurance of my salvation because Jesus died for our sins. He shed his blood for us, to clean all our sins. That is why I am righteous. I attended church in the past but it was difficult to believe in God. It wasn't easy for me to let go of my own beliefs and believe that a higher being created the whole universe. It is God's grace that I was able to believe in Him. Now I believe in God. We are not perfect. We always sin. But Jesus already washed away all of our sins. That is why I have no sins." Shuo Wang (left)

Special Article_New York

"I was invited to IYF through my boyfriend's parents. I really liked the camp. I was confused at first when I heard the sermon, but the more I listened to it, the more I began to understand. I received salvation this time. Jesus poured His grace on us and died for us. He washed away our sins and I'm truly happy. I can still rejoice even in the afterlife because I can go to heaven. I look forward to attending the Winter Camp in Dallas." Georgina

NY WORLD CAMP CLOSING CEREMONY

The pastors who will lead the future of America

"I received salvation last time I participated in Good News Mission's program, but after receiving salvation I didn't know what I had to do. But you helped me and taught me what the gift of salvation was. God gave me many Korean brothers through your mission. He also gave me Hispanic brothers, as well as brothers from Ghana, Kenya and all over. I am truly overjoyed. Everything is a gift from God with the purpose of spreading the gospel. I am ready to enjoy everything." Pastor Hamnan Cross, WCLW particpant

Special Article_New York

The wonderful WCLW

"The salvation God gave me is a very precious gift from God. I realized the Word through the servants this time. I was able to learn about the Bible through the Korean brothers and sisters. I learned that everything can be done through the Word of God. God allowed me to open my heart completely toward this mission. Especially in regards to salvation and being born again. I never heard about this before. The servant of God is here. I received a new life through the salvation of my sins. I will spread the Word of Jesus who cleansed our sins 2,00 years ago. Jesus already fulfilled the perfect atonement 2,00 years ago. We can be assured of our salvation regardless what kind of person I am because it is through the grace of the Lord. Jesus cleansed our sins once and for all. I will pray for you all always." Pastor Carlos Coronel, WCLW participant

"The first few years inviting pastors to the WCLW was difficult. There were no responses from the pastors we invited, and I was doubtful whether they would listen to us and follow us. That's how I spent the last few years. Whenever Pastor Park came, he spoke about establishing 500 churches and that we will win America with the gospel. I just thought that was Pastor Park speaking. The situation and my thoughts were bigger. I couldn't go forward because I thought it was impossible, even though God had already prepared everything for a long time. But God began to open the door recently. Pastors began to open up to us and wanted to meet with Pastor Park. Many pastors connected to us in a short period of time. These pastors wanted to learn about the Bible in much detail and wanted to meet with Pastor Park. That is why we had the WCLW during the World Camp this year. They all decided their hearts when they came here. They just didn't come here to kill time, but they all came with the purpose to hear the Word and meet with Pastor Park. Because they all purposed their hearts, even though the schedule was very tight this year not one person complained. They all focused on the Word during sermons and were reacting to the Word. I believe this is the great grace of God. I don't know how God will lead us once we've established 500 churches and have overturned America with the gospel. I am just thankful that God has allowed us these pastors to guide us through fulfilling this promise." Pastor Daeil Noh of Good News Detroit Church

NY WORLD CAMP CLOSING CEREMONY

The WCLW participants group photo

3 1) The students who are happy while listening to the Word. 2) Pastor Park connecting with the students during the mind lecture program 3) Pastor Park meets Korean War Veterans. We thank them for fighting during the Korean War.

The New York World Camp is special. Many people from all over the world attend the Korean World Camp, especially Ministers of Youths from different countries. They receive salvation and return to their countries to work fervently for the gospel. During the New York World Camp, many students and pastors receive salvation, especially through the WCLW program. The pastors who attended this time had decided their hearts to listen to the Word. They listened very intently to hear and learn about the gospel. We do not know how God will work to establish 500 churches in America. But we know for sure that the New York World Camp paved the way for the works to begin. We are awaiting how amazingly God will work through the many students and pastors who received salvation through the New York World Camp this year.

A Person Who Received Two Talents Following a Person Who Received Five Talents Let me just follow what the churches in Korea do

Pastor Dae In Kim | Myanmar Missionary

Although the person who received two talents did not have faith, he was able to receive grace to earn two more talents when he followed the person who received five. Deacon Won Jin Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sickness, the Easter Cantata, the World Camp in Europeâ&#x20AC;Ś. I did not have wisdom to deal with those things. However, as I received wisdom from the church in Korea, God powerfully worked in my ministry and the mission. I would like to testify about it. Missionary Dae In Kim was saved on February of 1989. While working as an elementary school teacher and serving the Gospel, he joined the missionary school by the calling from God. After gaining faith by discovering the will of God who called him by grace and regardless of his lacking image, he was dispatched to Seoul Dobong Church and currently is ministering in Myanmar as a missionary. Throughout 12 issues, we will see God who powerfully worked in his life and ministry.

Deacon Won Jin Park, the Lazarus of Myanmar Who Overcame Tongue Cancer

It had been 2 years since I have been living in Myanmar. One day, my wife bought fish cakes from the marketplace. They were very tasty Korean fish cakes. As I was eating them, I thought, “Ah! There must be Korean people in Myanmar. How come I didn’t pray for Korean people until now?” I started to pray to God. “God, please let the Koreans in Myanmar receive salvation and serve the Gospel.” About a month after I prayed, Jae Hyo Seo who was a shortterm missionary told me about a lady who he had met while he was witnessing door to door. The lady’s name was ‘Momoking.’ She told Jae Hyo that her husband was Korean and she wanted to give him Pastor Park’s book, The Secret of Forgiveness of Sin and Being Born Again. I visited her house with Brother Seo. When I got there, I was shocked because the fish cake that I enjoyed a month ago was being made at her house. Momoking’s husband, Won Jin Park, was the owner of a fish cake factory. When I handed him the book, The Secret of Forgiveness of Sin and Being Born Again, he was happy and told me that he saw the advertising poster of the book. He wanted to read it but he could not buy one because he was too busy. Mr. Park read the book in one sitting and received salvation soon after. He served the Gospel at our church and was ordained as a deacon. I was thankful whenever I saw Korean people being connected and receiving salvation through Deacon Park. On September of 2012, Deacon Won Jin Park had pain on the inner part of his tongue and went to Korea to receive treatment. The test result showed that he had tongue cancer. The doctor told him that it was a result of smoking cigarettes for a long time. Deacon Park called me in self-condemnation. “Pastor, the hospital told me that they have to amputate my tongue. What should I do?” “Deacon, if our lives are determined by our works, we are people who had to die long ago. In Genesis 27, Rebecca told Jacob to put his curse upon her. Likewise, Jesus already received all curses that we are supposed to receive. God gave you the sickness because there are works that He wants to do through you. In Hebrews 12:10, it says, “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.” He chastises us for our profits. He also wants us to be partakers of His holiness. Do you

The Lazarus of Myanmar, Deacon Won Jin Park and his wife, Momoking

remember what I said when we first met? I told you to preach the Gospel together with me in Myanmar. God told us to save the dam sitting upon eggs. If you want to preach the Gospel, you need your tongue. Would God be pleased if your tongue was to be amputated? Meet my friend, Pastor In Soo Heo. Listen to his sermons and receive strength.” Deacon Park met Pastor In Soo Heo and heard his sermon and testimony of being healed from leukemia. Deacon Park gained faith and came back to Myanmar in December, healthy. On December of 2013, Deacon Won Jin Park’s tongue cancer reoccurred. The test result from Korea showed that he had terminal tongue cancer. He was unable to eat anything and was surviving through IVs and intake of food through a nasal tube. The doctor said there was no hope and deacon was discharged from the hospital in July of 2014. Pastor In Soo Heo preached the Word to the deacon who was living like a dead person in despair. The deacon received hope from Pastor Heo’s testimony of being healed from his reoccurrence of cancer and started to eat porridge. Then, he met Pastor Ock Soo Park and received laying on hands prayer and heard the Word. As he was listening, he started to have this heart, “Ah! That’s right. All I have to do is just believe that God has made me perfect once again. Like electricity flows through electrical wires, if my heart is connected to God’s heart, the

power of God will flow into me. This cancer is nothing.” Deacon Park was still sick when he came back to Myanmar, his body started to recover. He also started to preach the Gospel. Korean people who heard the testimony of the deacon were overwhelmed. These days, he speaks clearly. He eats well, he’s gained lots of weight, and looks healthy. He quit taking painkillers that he had to take numerous times a day. The pain has disappeared. Deacon Park is completely healed from his sickness and goes on witnessing trips testifying, “Won Jin Park is dead and Jesus is alive!” Halleluiah! God gave Lazarus in Myanmar! He gave Deacon Won Jin Park who gained a new life and is serving the Gospel in church with thankfulness. Happy and Joyful Missiology Lecture

On October of 2014, the vice president of The Mahanaim Cyber College in Korea contacted me. He wanted me to be in charge of a missiology course. It was burdensome since I had never before taught that topic. “Could I really give lectures on missiology? I don’t know anything about missiology. If I just try to make it up, it would cause a bigger problem….” I sent a text message to the vice president because I felt like I would be ashamed once my lacking spirituality might be revealed to everyone. “Vice president, there are many other good missionaries. Please give them a chance and save me.” However, this was his reply, “This work is for you to live.” I felt this would not save me, but rather kill me. Thus, I called Pastor Ock Soo Park this time. Pastor Park heard what I was saying and said. “Ha, that is something really joyful and interesting. You just have to talk joyfully about how God worked in Myanmar. There is nothing you have to do.” As I was listening to what Pastor Park said, giving missiology lectures was indeed something joyful and fun. My thought to

On August, I received an achievement award from The Mahanaim Cyber College

do well was the problem. My missiology course name became ‘happy and joyful missiology.’ In the midst of all the works, from the beginning of Myanmar ministry until now, there is not one thing I could explain without God in the picture. As I was thinking about the things that had happened, I realized that missiology lectures were already prepared. On November of 2014, I went to Korea and finished recording all of my lectures. As I looked back, I realized that doing these lectures truly blessed and saved my spirit. On August of 2015 I received an achievement award from The Mahanaim Cyber College. Works that I did through the will of the church seemed burdensome in the beginning, but later, they turned into blessings and returned to me as a great award. Ah! I was Tight on Expressing My Thankful Heart Until Now!

After finishing recording missiology lectures, I watched the Gracias Choir’s Christmas Cantata at The Sejong Center in the beginning of December. I was so happy because it was my first time watching the cantata in Korean. Myanmar has a subtropical climate, so I wore short sleeves even in December. It was wonderful to feel the atmosphere of snow-filled Christmas. I felt happiness filled my whole body. I invited my cousin to the cantata. She opened her heart completely while watching the cantata and received salvation after listening to the sermon. ‘Ah! The Gracias Choir’s Christmas Cantata is also the work of the Gospel!’ It was amazing and wonderful to see the Gospel being preached to people who would never hear the Gospel if it were not through the Christmas Cantata. The reason why flowers have different colors, shapes, and strong fragrances is not to show off their beauty, but to invite bees and butterflies. The bees and butterflies smell the fragrances of the different flowers and come to them for honey. However, the flowers conceive new lives and bear fruits through them. The Christmas Cantata was a beautiful fragrance that led each person to life and to Jesus Christ. At the site of the Christmas Cantata, they were recruiting supporters for the Gracias Choir. At first, I thought I had nothing to do with it since I lived abroad. However, as I continued to watch the cantata more and more, I fell into the performances and the heart wanting to express thankfulness sprung up from my heart. One woman who appeared in Luke 7 did not stop herself from

I saw the Christmas Cantata in Korea for the first time in the winter of 2014

kissing the foot of Jesus. One day, while I was reading the Bible, I wanted to think about what this woman could have said to Jesus, so I imagined it. “Lord! You came to save a sinner like me! Thank you. Thank you so much.” Jesus happily accepted the heart of the woman - washing his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair, and anointing them with the ointment. “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” (Luke 7:41-42) I was a person who owed not fifty but five hundred pence. Actually, I was a person who was pardoned ten thousand talents. I forgot about the grace and thankfulness I owe God without realizing it. When the king pardoned a person who owed ten thousand talents, if he told the person to pardon other people’s debts like the king did to him, he would not urge debts of one hundred pence. However, that is not the world of grace. That is the world of the law. God does not treat us through the rule of the law, but by the rule of grace. Faith flows from heart to heart. ‘Do it like this? Do it like that!’ If a person moves according to the order, that person is bound to works and to the world of the law. When the king pardoned ten thousand talents, there was plenty of the king’s grace in it.

In 2 Kings 5, Elisha did not tell Gehazi not to ask for anything from Naaman. If he told Gehazi not to be greedy for profits, Ghazi would not ask for a talent of silver and two changes of garments. “Went not mine heart with thee?” This shows that Elisha already gave the rule of grace to Gehazi. Yet, Gehazi was under the world of works, so he could not receive the heart of Elisha. Gehazi eventually received a curse. A characteristic of people who are bound to works is that they love money. In Luke 16:14, it says that Pharisees love money. “Ah! I was Ah! I was tight on expressing my thankful heart until now!” I felt shameful before God and the church. I wanted to be a long-term supporter of the Gracias Choir, so I picked up the sign-up sheet. The maximum amount of money of sponsorship was nothing compared to the grace that the Myanmar church has received through the choir. I was thankful that we could participate in this work. A month after I came back to Myanmar, something amazing happened. My brother who lived in Gimcheon sent me a text message asking for my bank account number because he wanted to support the mission. He received salvation a long time ago and took care of me so much. When I review my bank statement, I see that I have been receiving money from my brother since we started to support the choir. That amount of money is four times more than what we are paying for the choir’s sponsorship. Easter Cantata in Myanmar with 2,000 Audience Members

The grace we receive through the Gracias Choir has continued. April 5th was Easter. When I searched online, other churches in Korea were renting big places to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Until now, we had service in a small chapel. I thought, ‘No, let me receive the heart of the church this time. We are a church with two talents. If we triedx following the church that received five talents, we would make two more talents. Let us let people know about the birth of Christ like other churches!’ I started to look for a place to hold the Easter Cantata. At that time, Missionary Hun Deok Lee from Moscow, Russia, came to Myanmar after finishing a student camp in Thailand as a guest speaker. Missionary Lee preached the Gospel powerfully during the Easter Sunday service. He also visited the Taungoo church in the countryside and had fellowship with brothers and sisters there.

The choir of Myanmar Yangon church is performing the Easter Cantata

At first, I was looking for a venue with 700 seats for the Easter Cantata. However, all venues were already booked and only a performance hall at MCC (Myanmar Convention Center), which could host 2,000 people, was available. I felt like God was speaking to me, “Do it in a big place where you have never done it before by faith.” The choir, which consisted of brothers and sisters from the Myanmar church, practiced the Easter Cantata and made a 2 minute long promotional video. I gave the video to the brothers and sisters and told them, “Everyone, in the Bible, there is a verse like this, ‘And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth’ (Genesis 1:28). It is the will of God to multiply. If multiplying were difficult and painful, who would want to get married? Because it is a happy and joyful thing, people get married and have children. Don’t try to bring people to the Easter Cantata. Put this video on your phone and just show it to other people you meet.” Sister ‘Ramipo’ was a sister who did not talk much. However, on Sunday morning, she gave her testimony powerfully during the service.

With 16 Myanmar brothers and sisters who accompanied to the World Camp in Europe

While introducing the Easter Cantata promotional video, she preached the Gospel to around 100 people and sold 70 tickets. Not only Sister Ramipo, but many other brothers and sisters came out and talked about their chance to preach the Gospel while promoting the cantata. They said they could not help but to preach the Gospel when they explained about the resurrection of Jesus. While they were preaching the Word, all of the 2,000 tickets we had got sold out. At first, brothers and sister said to me. “Pastor, even if we told people that this is free, people will not come. If we told people that they have to pay for it, who would come? These days, the average daily labor income is 5 dollars. Do you think they would buy a ticket with all the money that they made for a day? Moreover, 2,000 tickets?” However, these brothers’ and sisters’ hearts were changed and they gave testimonies about how God worked. We did not have time to advertise the cantata on the radio, TV, or on flyers. Actually, we did not have to advertise it. When I saw 2,000 people filling the seats, my heart was nervous and excited. Among them, 1,500 people were newcomers to our church event. In the past, when we had free events, people who are drunk or uninterested also came, causing disorder and creating a bad atmosphere. However, since people paid for the performance, the atmosphere of the event was so good. People focused and listened to the Word carefully. Participants showed their appreciation for the cantata and some gave us donations.

Unexpected fruits of the Gospel from Europe On April of 2015, there was the World Camp in Germany. Around 200 pastors from Bulgaria came to the camp and I was invited as a guest speaker for the Gospel class and nurturing class. At that time, the president of the World Camp in Germany, Pastor Sae Jae Oh said to me, “It would be good if the Myanmar church could support Bulgarian pastors’ camp participation fees.” I wanted to say to him, “Pastor, probably, Bulgarian pastors are better off than the Myanmar pastors.” However, I thought, “Ah! No. God already knows about this as well.” Thus, I replied to him, “Yes!” Thankfully, after the cantata, we received a lot of donations and were able to support the World Camp in Europe. All Turkish pastors from Bulgaria came to the camp and received salvation after listening to the Word. As I saw the pastors rejoicing, I was overwhelmed and realized how powerful the Gospel we have is. There was one more thing to be thankful for. A total of 16 Myanmar brothers and sisters came along to the World Camp in Germany. Later, we found out that relatives and friends of the brothers and sisters were living in Frankfurt, Germany. We invited them to the camp. Approximately 12 people came to the camp and received salvation. It was unexpected but it made us rejoice. Since there are not many job opportunities in Myanmar, many people go abroad to look for their jobs. I was happy and thankful that these hopeless Myanmar people are gaining new lives as they meet our mission.

New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

People Who Built the Tower of Babel Pastor Ock Soo Park | Good News Gangnam Church

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. (Genesis 10:6~10)

People Who Plan Life Without God

The People Who Built the Tower of Babel and Abraham As I read the Bible, I saw that there were people whom God blessed and there were people whom God crumbled down. Genesis chapter 11 speaks about people building the Tower of Babel. At the time, they arrived at the plains of Shinar and said, “This vast plain is great. Let us build a great tower here that will reach the heavens. Let us make a name for ourselves. Let us not be scattered but live here together,” and made plans to do so. However, God scattered them. They were building while God was scattering. How then could it be built? It was impossible. But in Genesis chapter 12, God says to Abraham, “I will 37

New York Times

I used to simply read the Bible without any thought. I read it once, twice, three times. . . . When people first experience the end of spring, they think, “Why is the weather becoming warmer?” And when autumn passes, they think, “I guess it’s becoming cold again.” But as they experience the seasons over and over again, they naturally see that summer comes after spring, fall comes after summer, and winter comes after fall. When we first read the Bible, it is difficult to sense it, but as we continue to read it, we see the world illustrated in the Bible. In the Bible are the people whom God establishes and the people whom God crumbles down. If you were going through hardship because of a disease, would that disease still be a problem if Jesus healed it? When Jesus met the blind man, the blindness was not a problem whatsoever when Jesus healed it. Even though you may not have a good job now, or you have nothing to do, or you are going through hardships due to a low income, it is not difficult at all for God to open up a good path for you if He wants to provide you with a good job. It was not difficult at all for God to make David, a shepherd, into a king. It was not difficult at all for God to make Joseph into a governor. If God wants to exalt you, if He wants to sanctify you, it is not a problem at all.

But how do most people today live? They set up plans to do well on their own without God. On their own, they study, search for jobs, make money, meet good spouses, and try to raise their children successfully without God. But one day, things they have never dreamt of happen. Car accidents, which were not in their plans, occur; people go bankrupt; people become divorced; children go astray; people get cancer, etc. Who plans to be in car accidents or to get cancer? When getting married, who plans to divorce or plans that their children will go astray? People do not know what will happen and simply set good plans and work hard believing that things will go according to their plan.

New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

multiply thee. I will make you a father of many nations. You will be a blessing. I will bless them that bless you and curse them that curse you.” Although Abraham had no plans whatsoever set up for himself, he became a father of as many children as the sands of the seashore and stars in the sky. Although Abraham did not have such a plan, God bestowed grace and blessings upon him. Although I Am Small, God Is Great Before reading the Scriptures, we consider ourselves to be extremely great and mighty while considering God to be small and insignificant. However, the more Scriptures we read and the more of God we come to know, the more pitiful and smaller we become while God becomes greater and greater. Through this, we change into people who flow into the faith of believing in God, rather than in our own ability and effort. As a pastor, I often think this as I minister: “How could I be most effective as a minister?” I know the answer to this: “I should not do anything, but make it comfortable for God to work in our church.” I once met the husband of a sister who was attending our church. He, too, started to come to our church, and I spoke to him about spiritual life. He was distant from spiritual life and he was very adamant about his perceptions and ideologies. I thought in my heart, “Would I be able to turn his heart around to Jesus within ten

years? What could I possibly say to him to lead him into the faith to believe in God?” After speaking with him, I felt in my heart, “Although this man does not live a spiritual life, he is ten to a hundred times smarter and greater than me. I am no match for him. He is full of knowledge and very clear about his philosophy.” Afterwards, whenever I had time, I would think of him. I thought to myself, “With what words can I introduce God to him? What can I say to show the vanity of man? What can I say to have him believe in God more than in himself?” However, I gained no confidence. Whenever I would think of him once in a while, I felt burdened and I could not do anything at all. Once, his wife called me on the phone: “Pastor, are you busy?” “No, I’m not busy today.” “Can you speak with my husband today? He wants to speak with you, Pastor.” “Really? Come on over!” The three of us sat down. I had nothing to say. So I opened the Bible and began to read a verse to him. But I was so surprised to see that he was not the same man I had met twenty days earlier. His heart was completely open. “Wow!” He looked like the same man, but his heart was not the same in any way. “God loves this man! God is pleased with this man receiving salvation!” I thought. That day I thanked God as I saw him receive the forgiveness of sins 38

However, the more Scriptures we read and the more of God we come to know, the more pitiful and smaller we become while God becomes greater and greater. and return home with joy. “God, thank you so much. Since I do not know how to witness and lead people well, you did everything. God, you already finished everything so that I only needed to speak a few words.”

There is a preacher named Philip in Acts chapter 8. Philip met the eunuch from Ethiopia and it was so easy for him to witness. The Ethiopian eunuch was an officer in charge of the wealth of the queen of Ethiopia. He had much money, authority, a high position, and lacked nothing, but he came all the way to Jerusalem because he was yearning for something and was leaving emptyhanded. It takes one month to ride a chariot from Ethiopia to Jerusalem and another month to return. He came all the way to Jerusalem because he was searching for something, but he was so frustrated at heart because he had gained nothing. Then, in the shaky chariot, he had opened a scroll of the Bible and was reading Isaiah chapter 53. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have

New York Times

Who Is He?

turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. The eunuch had a question in his heart as he read these verses. “Who is ‘he’ that Isaiah is talking about? Who is ‘he’ that he bore our sins? Who is ‘he’ that bore all my grief and sorrow? Who is ‘he’ that was wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities? Who is ‘he’ that was chastised and striped instead of me? Who is ‘he’ upon whom the Lord laid all our sins?” As the eunuch read the scriptures, he was very curious as to who “he” was. “Since Isaiah wrote these scriptures, is he talking about himself, Isaiah? Or is he talking about someone else?” There was no way for his frustration to be relieved in his heart. Right then, Philip ran to him. The Bible says that Philip ran. It must mean that Philip was running alongside the moving chariot when he asked the eunuch a question: “Understandest thou what thou readest?” Normally, when a high ranking person is reading and someone asks such a question, the man would simply think, “Who does this guy think he is?” and say, “Let’s go faster. Let’s keep him from following us.” But since the eunuch was so frustrated, he answered, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” and asked Philip to board the

New York Times: Notes on Genesis I

chariot. As soon as Philip boarded the chariot, the eunuch asked what he had long been curious about. “I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? Of himself, or of some other man?” It was so convenient for Philip to preach. His heart was already prepared, was it not? “He whom the scriptures speak of is Jesus. Have you not heard recently of how Jesus of Nazareth was crucified in Jerusalem?” “Ah, him! I heard about how he had no sins yet was crucified.” “He is the one Isaiah had prophesied of hundreds of years ago. He is our Lord.” The eunuch so easily received salvation. While going on their way, he saw water and asked Philip, “Since there is some water here, may I be baptized?” “If you believe, then you may.” “I believe that Jesus is the son of God and that He is the Lord who died for our sins.” The two men got off the chariot and Philip baptized the eunuch. Brick for Stone It is so easy to witness like Philip. I pray from time to time. At times, in my prayer, the Lord leads me amidst the prayer. It is difficult when I try to do it, but when the Lord does it, the prayer is so easy and peaceful. When I prepare a sermon it is so difficult, tiring, and I do not know what to do. But it is so easy and peaceful when the Lord

prepares it. Even in washing sins away, it is impossible for me to wash sins away, but it is easy and peaceful if the Lord does it. God knows that we are filthy, dirty, and evil human beings and does not leave the responsibility to us. He wants to completely take over all of our problems and solve them. When did we ever ask God to send Christ for our sins? When did we ask for Jesus to be crucified? We did none of them. God, Himself, prepared and accomplished everything for us. Faith is trusting that God. But people continue to establish and pursue plans that have come not from God, but from their own thoughts. Bricks for stones. In 1 Peter chapter 2, it says that Jesus had become the chief cornerstone and that we should come to Jesus, the living stone, and build a spiritual house like the living stone. The temple of God is built with living stones while Satan builds with bricks. What are bricks? They are made of pressed dirt with certain measurements. Dirt represents man. It is establishing something through the effort, labor, and method of man. Many people claim to believe in God, but they themselves stand in God’s position and they try to make themselves clean; they try to make themselves holy; and they try to wash their own sins away. They try to become good, to become faithful, and to live their spiritual lives well. It is because they do not know themselves at all. God knew man from the beginning. In many places in the Bible, 40

In many places in the Bible, God said that there is no good in man. He said that there is no righteousness in man.

receive the goodness of Jesus in order for us to become good. We must accept the righteousness of Jesus. We must accept God for us to become good. People foolishly think that if they try to become good and honest, they will become good. That is what building with bricks instead of stones is. People try to educate and give measurements to man, who is a pile of dirt, to make man into something and accomplish something. It seems that something will be achieved then, but the more man is exalted through such means, the more opportunities to receive God become lost. Hence, God crumbles this down. If God Establishes In the Bible, there are those whom God establishes and those whom God crumbles down. There are those whom God exalts and those whom God wipes out. David was established by God while Saul was one who was crumbled down by God. Haman was someone God crumbled down in the book of Esther, and Mordecai was someone God established. Esau was someone God crumbled down, and Jacob was someone God established. People whom God crumbles down have nothing work out for them 41

New York Times

God said that there is no good in man. He said that there is no righteousness in man. There is no petroleum produced in Korea. Thus, Korea spends tremendous amounts of money to buy petroleum. The petroleum needed to fuel all the cars running in Korea, factories, and heaters to keep warm in the cold winter are all imported. If the price of a barrel of petroleum rises one dollar, it is the equivalent to a $100 million cost increase for Korea. Since this was such a huge expense, the Korean government searched every corner of the country for petroleum. Petroleum was not found on land, so they drilled in the sea. They would send off many drilling ships, and drilled at sight one, sight two, sight seven, sight eight, and so on. They invested much money, but petroleum was not found. Ultimately, they arrived at the conclusion that Korea does not produce petroleum. Therefore, Korea no longer spends its money looking for petroleum. It has stopped all of its effort. Now petroleum must be bought regardless of how expensive it is. Korea has no choice because petroleum cannot be found there. In the same way, there is no good inside us. There is no righteousness inside of us. That is why we must

Rather than the good from God, the righteousness from God, the holiness of God, the truthfulness of God,all that comes forth from your effort, your labor, and your zeal is the Tower of Babel.

regardless of how hard they try. In the beginning, it seems something can be accomplished, but nothing ever works out. On the other hand, things work out for people whom God establishes no matter what the circumstances are for that person. Everyone, then whom does God establish? And whom does God crumble down? Genesis chapter 12 talks about Abraham, who was established by God. His life started from God. God told Abraham, “Leave your home, your father’s house, and go to a land I will direct you to.” Abraham’s life began through the plan, will, and heart of God. But most people go forth with their own thoughts regardless of the will of God, and they try, themselves, to be faithful and loyal to God. Living this way is building the Tower of Babel. Rather than the good from God, the righteousness from God, the holiness of God, the truthfulness of God, all that comes forth from your effort, your labor, and your zeal is the Tower of Babel. God recorded in the Bible that He will crumble all of that down. God crumbles down all things that are of you. God crumbles down that which is not of God, but of man,

the Tower of Babel. Loving folks, are you not building the Tower of Babel right now? “What are you talking about? Me? Build the Tower of Babel?” That is how you may reply, but acting with your own zeal, your own effort, and your own labor becomes the Tower of Babel. That will crumble down. Only the things of God become established. Even in receiving the forgiveness of sin, you must accept that God has forgiven you. Relying on how God has cleansed you is the world of God. But turning away from that and relying on your own effort and zeal is the Tower of Babel. If you come to know this precisely, you can let go of all that you are trying to do for God and you will look only to God. When your heart becomes one with God, from then on, you are people whom God establishes. If God establishes you, it is not difficult at all for you to stand before God. If God cleanses you and makes you holy, it is not difficult at all for you to become holy and clean. I hope that this grace will be upon you.

Gospel Lesson

Life that is Only Solved When We Meet God Pastor Han Kyu Lee Good News East Seoul Church

THE THIRST OF THE SOUL

In most cases, people my age spent their childhood in poverty. Being cold and hungry is tormenting and uncomfortable for anyone. That is why since I was young, I thought, “Although money may not be everything, but if one doesn’t have at least a stable financial situation and some leisure, they cannot be happy.” I held onto this thought and lived on. As time flew by, our country achieved amazing financial progress. All citizens would tighten their belt and work very hard. They took down

The world has become so much better, but people’s souls are more and more empty and dry.

hatched houses, made all the town streets wider and increased income to make a rich town. We are able to eat well, live well, learn a lot, possess a lot, and enjoy a lot of things. Life had become so abundant and comfortable to the extent where you cannot even compare life with the past. If you compare life only a few decades ago, we have become so abundant, we eat so well and we live as well as past kings. We are enjoying so much because of all types of civilization and conveniences. Last year, I visited the vacation home of former president, Seung Man Lee and the vacation home of Il Sung Kim in Hwajinpo, Kangwon Province. It was the vacation home where the man with the most of power in southern North Korea just a few decades ago. There were beds and phones. The beds were even much older than even the beds that are thrown out in the trash by people who live in the apartments across from our church. The phones were so old; it’s incomparable to the phones people use today. We, who use to eat boiled barley, now, eat rice every day. The days where we lived turning on kerosene lamps were just a few decades ago but we now live under bright electric lights. Then shouldn’t we be so overjoyed, satisfied and thankful? However, people are still unsatisfied with life, have no hope and have no peace. We think we would be happy if we went from being cold and hungry to warm and full, but people’s hearts are unable to do so. The world has become so much better, but people’s souls are more and more empty and dry. Why is that? Our civilization has developed rapidly revolving around material goods and our flesh. The things that will fulfill the desires of the flesh are unimaginable. People think that if they

Gospel Lesson

possess more, enjoy more and live abundantly and comfortably then the earth will change into paradise. However, the world is becoming more and more harsh, conceded and unsociable. Looking at the newspaper a few days ago, there was someone who bemoaned the fact that “politics is a mess, society is chaos, and economy is toxic.” The more developed a country is the more individualistic it becomes, more people feel alienated, and suicide rates are high. This isn’t because of hunger and nakedness but is because the soul is sick and devastated. Although there are medical advances and people pursue the health of a century, there isn’t a medicine that removes worries, a surgery that rids sin, or health supplements that give peace and hope. This is what God says. “The days are coming when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” (Amos 8:11) People are deceived. They think they will feel satisfaction and happiness if they are materialistically abundant and fulfill all desires of the flesh. They are deceived by this thought. Why are they deceived? They are deceived because someone is deceiving them. Satan puts in the thought that if one person lives that way, he or she will have satisfaction, and makes them believe this thought. Satan deceives people with that thought to make their flesh be the center of their hearts. People do not only have the flesh, they also have a soul given from God but this soul and flesh require totally different things. Those who are centered on their flesh have lived ignoring the world of the soul. They have lived avoiding the voice of the soul. They have filled the hunger of the soul with materialistic goods and have forced down the desires of the soul internally. The flesh wants food when it is hungry, something to drink when it is thirsty, and sleep when it is tired. It can be satisfied and happy because it can eat to its heart’s content when it is hungry and drink to its heart’s content when it is thirsty. Likewise, our soul has something it needs to eat and drink. Our souls were originally made to be a vessel to hold God’s word and heart and therefore, it is full, happy, thankful, and peaceful when it is full of God. Like how the nutrients from the food we consume makes our body strong and grows, allowing us to make blood and flesh. The nutrients from the Word of God gives us strength and happiness, faith and hope

will make our hearts bright and happy, if our soul receives and is filled with the Word of God.

THE RELIEF OF SORROW OF THE MOTHER AND SON

A few years ago on T.V., there was an elderly woman who left her child in North Korean during the Korean War to seek refuge. The child wasn’t able to return back home once the war ended because Korea became divided into the North and South. Living her life embracing her sorrow and with just the last segment left of her closing life she took the identity of a Chinese tourist, came to the Yalu River that divided China and North Korea, and secretly communicated with her son who lived in a village across from her hometown. Before the Korean War, the grandmother’s whole family lived peacefully in the city of Haesan in North Hamkyung Providence, a united Chinese-Korean land with the Yalu River in the middle. However, once the Korean War broke out she left behind one son as she was forced to flee but it became a life-long separation between the mother and son. The war ended but the nation was divided into two so the grandmother could only hope that the nation would unite again as she bore the guilt and sorrow of leaving a child behind for many years. The Yalu River continued to flow and the grandmother’s hair was a white field as she always cried while accepting the thoughts of, “Will I be able to return to my hometown, before I die? Can I see the son I left behind, before I die?” “This year he’ll be fifty-five years old, I couldn’t even be a proper mother to him…” Then, China and Korea opened the way to freely travel to and fro and the grandmother missed her child and hometown so she went into China and absentmindedly stood in front of the Yula River where she could see Haesan. While idly dwelling there she heard that Chinese countrymen of Korean descent occasionally entered North Korea for business and was able to obtain information about North Korea through them. She was able to share and release her grief to one of the people there and one lady of Korean descent had a fervent

Gospel Lesson

heart to help the grandmother after hearing her story. “I used to live in that town just across the river, my name is so-andso, my son’s name is Honggu Kim and he’s 35 years old. If my son is still alive tell him that his mother will stand here waving a yellow handkerchief in this month, this will be a signal for him from across the river. If you meet him, please give him this letter without anyone knowing. I will not forget this grace even if I die.” The lady of Korean descent entered North Korea again with her business card, fortunately she was able to meet the son who was still alive, and told him all that she heard. How happy must the son have been? “The mother I waited for such a long time, she’s probably changed and aged from the mother that I vaguely remember but she’s still alive. She came all the way over there to see me because she misses me…” How emotionally difficultly must it have been for him who wanted to cry out “Mother, Mother” but couldn’t? The son shared how he was doing and said that he would go at the set date and time. However, since there were armed foreign soldiers preventing anyone from escaping at the Yula River, he couldn’t call for his mother even if he saw her. He asked the lady to relay his message saying that he would go pretending to wash his sweat so that his mother could see him in flesh and return peacefully back to the south, asking her to live healthily for a long time. It finally was the promised day and the mother waited for her son from early in the morning as she looked across the river toward her hometown and the son appeared at the promised time. Like the son had said there were armed foreign soldiers near the shore checking to see if there was anyone trying to cross the Yula River, and the son told the guard something shortly before taking his shirt off, entering the river, and washing himself cleanly. As he poured water onto himself, the son sneaked glances at the yellow handkerchief being waved across the river, and the old mother wiped her tears away as she continued to wave the yellow handkerchief. Like an anchor, the years of piled up sorrow fell down riding her tears. The grandmother signaled, “your mother is fine now, it’s dangerous so go back home,” as she pushed her hand forward, fearing that the soldiers would start a ruckus if they saw that her son recognized his mother. The scene of

the son turning his back after realizing what the hand signals meant as he poured water on himself was shown through the camera.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO IN ORDER TO MEET GOD? As I saw this scene I realized that the mother and son weren’t living in sadness and grief because they didn’t have food to eat or clothes to wear. As if a piece of flesh was separated, the fact that their own flesh and blood couldn’t meet became great pain, sorrow, and sadness. I thought, “If the mother and son had a chance to meet once, the piled up sorrow would be washed away, if they were able to hug and feel the happiness of reuniting, their sorrow would melt away like the spring snow. The separation was their enemy.” Our lives are the same. Life’s sorrow and sadness, life’s unhappiness and pain doesn’t come from anywhere else, but it comes from leaving God. We come from a place where we are disconnected from God because of sin. People think they are unhappy because they are poor, uneducated, and sick but all problems of life come from leaving God. What should we do to be happy? Are the rich happy? Are the graduates of elite colleges happy? Did successful business owners with beautiful wives confess that they are happy? If you look in the book King Solomon of Ecclesiastes in the Bible, King Solomon, a king of The biblical King Solomon Israel, took all the things in the world for his flesh and was known for his wisdom, his wealth and his writenjoyed all the fleshly things he could. He was the king ings. He became ruler in during times of peace, had thousands of wives as he approximately 967 B.C.E. lived in a grand palace. No other kings throughout all and his kingdom extended of history could live like him, and he enjoyed wealth from the Euphrates River and honor as he lived a luxurious life, but from the in the north to Egypt in the south. He built the First center of his heart he concluded, “all is vain.” Because Temple in Jerusalem, but this flesh is not eternal Solomon felt that what he did his downfall came when was vain and futile. he began to serve the gods We must know the origin of why we are unhappy, of his foreign wives. why our hearts are empty, and why our heart has

Gospel Lesson

sorrow. And we must solve that problem. Life’s problems do not come from anywhere else Life’s problems do not but come from departing and come from anywhere else being disconnected from God. but come from departing Then what should we do? We must look for God, return to and being disconnected God, and meet with God. If we from God. surely and precisely meet God, all sorrows will be relieved. Our lives will be filled with peace, happiness, and hope. Then how do we meet God? Like how the mother and son couldn’t meet each other even though they wanted to because they were forcefully separated, if we have sin blocking us from God then we cannot meet God. If our connection is blocked from God then it’s painful for God and painful for us. Like how the mother went to China as a tourist to find her son even though her son wasn’t able to go and find his mother, God in the form of man came to find us. Like the mother who wanted to meet her son before she died, God, who left Heaven because He wouldn’t be relieved of his sorrow if he didn’t meet us at least once, came to find us as Jesus. The mother let her existence be known through the business lady and sent a letter first to her son full of her ardent love and longing for him. God also, first sent his ardent love and limitless grace to us through his servants and words of the Bible. And like how the mother set a certain time and location to meet, God is meeting us at His set, promised time. The letter containing God’s heart and promise is the Bible. God meets us through these words. God truly wants to meet us and we must meet God. When we meet God our sorrow and God’s sorrow will be relieved. When we are together with God, God overflows with happiness and we too, become full of happiness. When the sin blocking us from God crumbles and we can freely communicate, our hearts will be deeply moved and forever blessed. God still has great grief and sorrow in His heart because He remembers the pitiful people who left Him, forgot Him, and were taken as slaves of Satan. God is now waiting for us and is calling

for us. However, there is the evil spirit that dislikes and blocks us from meeting God. In the Bible, it calls this evil spirit Satan. How can you turn away from the fervent mother’s love when she came all the way to China to see her son because she wouldn’t be unable to stop her tears and even though there were foreign soldiers preventing their familial reunion? The son was burdened too but he overcame that obstacle and decided in his heart. God promised to be close to us and help us if we try to go closer to God. Wouldn’t it be fitting for us to receive curses and wrath if we turned away from His calling when He earnestly wants to meet us and comes looking for us with unspeakable love and mercy? God loves all of us. To meet God, however, there is the position and place of the heart that one must have. There is the position of the heart where God’s grace and mercy can engage but because people’s hearts are unable to reach that position. There are many people whose souls were never connected with God. To those people their sorrow remains as sorrow and their pain remains as pain. Although they attend church and try their best, they are empty and dark in the core of their heart. I hope that your hearts can lower into the position to receive God’s mercy; I hope that all of you can meet God who is the Master of our souls and that there is a blessed day when you and God become one.

This Brother is Not an Elder Testimony of Pastor Ock Soo Park

When I was ministering in Daegu, our church was in difficulty and we were poor. There was one time where an elder and his wife from a huge church in Daegu listened to the Gospel and received salvation. I would have Bible study at their house every Tuesday night, and they treated me cordially. When I went there, he and his wife would spread a table and get ready to learn about the Bible. They learned about the Word with a sincere heart. After a two hour long Bible study, they would lead me to another room full food that I had never seen before such as strawberries and bananas – foods that were hard to come by during those times. After eating, they would hand me two new 1,000 won bills saying, “Pastor, use this as your taxi fare.” At that time, 2,000 won lasted our family a week of living expenses.

Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

One day, that brother began to attend our church. Not only was he an elder of a huge church, but he also held an important position in the army. After attending two of our services, he stood up after service and said that he had something to say. When I told him to go ahead, he said this in front of the congregation, “Have you ever seen a pastor like ours? How can the honorarium be 6,000 won a month? When I listen to pastor’s sermon, he testifies how he received rice and travel fare through prayer. How can this be? Why does the pastor have to pray for rice or travel fare? The pastor has to pray for us. We must make sure that the pastor doesn’t have to pray for rice or travel fare.” Back then, pastors of huge churches in Daegu received 20,000 won per month, and I too was to receive that amount. Also, back then when refrigerators came out for the first time, most houses didn’t have one, but he bought a Samsung High Cold refrigerator for our home. My children would freeze sugar water and eat it every day. One day, this elder called me saying, “Let’s go out to the city together.” He wanted to go out to look for land to build our chapel. I wanted to build a new chapel, and he was a wealthy man who owned a lot of land in the Padong district. After showing me many areas of land, he asked, “Which one do you think is best?” When I said, “Over here,” he replied, “Then let’s build it here.” He then said to me, “Pastor, in my eyes, you’re incomparable to other pastors. So pastor, use me well. From now on, I’ll build chapels for you, build a parsonage for you, and buy a car for you. My wish is to make you the greatest pastor in this country.” I thought, “Wow, God is really opening a path now!” It was great up to that point, but he slowly began to act as an elder in the church. That made me feel uncomfortable, so one day, I quietly spoke to him, “Brother Lee, I have something to say to you today. Brother Lee, you are not an elder, you know

that right?” He didn’t say anything. “Becoming an elder without even receiving salvation is something to be embarrassed about. Brother Lee, from now on, be a true elder without any lacking based on the Bible. In order to be a true elder, you must throw away the false elder in your heart.” When I opened the Bible to speak to him about this, he said “Pastor Park, thank you. Is it easy to say these things to me? You’ve spoken these difficult words well for me.” With that, I returned home with a content heart. But once I got home, that brother’s wife called me saying, “Pastor, what should I do? My husband is making a fuss, saying, ‘Who does Pastor Park think he is to say things like that!’” From what I saw, he wanted to make me a great pastor so he could become a great elder who would lead me. The problem is, if God establishes you, you become established. However, people try to establish themselves. Although I didn’t know much about the system of ‘elder politics,’ and it had entered our church. I could not accept this in my heart, so I fought with him almost every day. “Brother Lee, why are you being like this? This is what the Bible is saying.” He would then say, “Yes, Pastor, you’ve spoken truly difficult words for my sake. I will accept them as words of love.” Then he would say behind my back, “What does he think he knows? He didn’t even minister that long!” Because I didn’t follow his thoughts, his heart grew further and further away. I decided against the big chapel, a parsonage, opportunities to study overseas, and a car. I even rejected the monthly 20,000 won honorarium. As a person, I need money and food to live, and it would be great to ride a good car, live in 54

Preaching the Gospel to the Ends of the Earth

a good house, and be looked up to by others. However the God inside of me was not happy with that. Because the Lord within me was uncomfortable with such a life, I couldn’t let the person do what he wanted. ” One time, I told the brother, “If I am truly the servant of God, you, brother, cannot win. So don’t try to win over me, and just listen to God’s Words. That’s the way to receive blessings from God.” Eventually, he couldn’t deny himself, and left the church. Out in the world, he passed away after living a life full of pain. His wife told me these words, and I could never forget what she said. “If only he had listened to you, he wouldn’t have died such a death. He couldn’t deny himself and he was being so stubborn…” How comfortable it would be if God just allowed us to go with the flow of the world. If we side with the world, we wouldn’t be persecuted or cursed at. However, we are created by God to be unable to follow such comforts. We are newly created people who can only live when we have the faith to trust in God’s plans. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17). Thankfully, God did not allow man to be established within the church. God does not compromise with man. God does not allow man to be established within the church. This is how He established our church.

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