Photo & Testimony _ Africa
Doors of the Gospel Opened Wide in Africa
Pastor Ock Soo Park visited Zambia on January 23 and met with Vice President Guy Scott, and the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports. After reading from 2 Corinthians 6:11, he preached the Gospel to them. “All of us sinned, but Jesus forgave our sins. That’s why I became righteous and holy. You also sinned, but your sins were washed.” Next, he went to Uganda and met President Yoweri Museveni. He discussed many things with him and preached the Gospel for about eight minutes. He preached the Gospel for one hour to the First Lady of Burundi and gave a mind lecture at Kenyatta University. This concluded his visit. The doors of the Gospel opened wide in Africa. 4 • The Good News April 2012
President Yoweri Museveni
Testimony • 5
Photo & Testimony _ United States
Out of My Frame
I received a kidney transplant in the summer of 2011. Since then, I have attended the Good News Dallas Church. One night, Pastor Moon said, “Adey, you should go to Little Rock, Arkansas for two weeks and witness for the Bible Seminar.” I was excited to go, but Satan made me fear for my health. While witnessing my stomach began to hurt all of a sudden. I went to a hospital and found a chapel inside. I prayed and fell asleep. When I woke up my stomach didn’t hurt anymore. I was able to witness the rest of the day with a joyful heart. God made me realize how strongly I trust in myself and that I need to receive His grace every day. I am so thankful God pushed me out of my frame and beyond my thoughts. (Adey Deresse) 6 • The Good News April 2012
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Lashanay Simmons (Good News Los Angeles Church, United States)
Lashanay pictured third from the left
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grew up in a community church in my neighborhood. I hated it, especially when we played Bible Jeopardy because I was unable to answer any of the questions. I knew nothing of Jesus, the Bible, heaven or hell and had no intention of learning, yet I still considered myself to be a believer of God 8 • The Good News April 2012
just because I went to church and read the Bible. But I only did that because I was forced to by my mom. I kept hearing things like “you must walk on the path of righteousness” and “the Lamb of God” and I never understood what righteousness was or why God called Jesus a lamb, or who Jesus was except
Salvation Testimony
True Happiness Comes from the Will of God! Although in my eyes, I am evil and unworthy to enter into the kingdom of heaven, God sees me as righteous because of the blood of Jesus Christ. All the time, He was the sole ruler of my steps, leading me to become closer to Him after living a life so disconnected. Ultimately, it was He who led me to receive salvation. Even though I am so lacking, because of the will of God all things are possible.
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that He was the Son of God, whatever that meant. In the end, I truly despised God. In fact, I wanted nothing to do with neither Him nor Satan because I was afraid. I was afraid of being on either of their bad sides and I figured my life was okay as it was. I attended college because
school was all I knew and I figured it was the starting point to a successful, if not decent, life. I knew in my heart that I would attend a UC (University of California), although I didn’t know which one. I applied to three colleges and did campus tours. When I arrived at UCR (University of California at Riverside), Testimony • 9
“Where will you go when you die?” My heart dropped when I realized, without him having to tell me, that I was going to hell. That’s when it became urgent. I knew that it would be my school for several reasons; the main being that it was the only UC that had creative writing as a major. My freshman year was a lonely one. I had no friends and spent most of my time commuting back and forth to school. My second year was when the party started. I moved closer to campus and it was at this new location where I met people who would turn my antisocial life into a social one. That’s when I stepped out of my comfort zone and tried many things for the first time; marijuana, alcohol, and even ecstasy. Life 10 • The Good News April 2012
couldn’t get any better, until the time came when many of the people I knew were getting ready to graduate. That’s when I started to think what my life would be like once they were gone. What would I do? Would I go back to being alone and depressed? My heart was heavy with these questions. One day between classes, when I wasn’t feeling especially good nor bad; I was only sure of one thing. I wanted to know God. A certain man asked me a question earlier. He stopped me as I was heading to the library and asked me if I knew the most important or most difficult book in the world, I can’t remember which it was he asked. I drew a blank so I said the first thing that popped into my head: James Joyce’s, Finnegans Wake. He said it was the Bible. “Ah,” I thought, “That makes sense.” Then he asked me something that would change my life forever. “Are you a sinner?” “Of course I’m a sinner”,
Salvation Testimony
I am most happiest when I am used by God to cross borders and gain the hearts of the students of Tecate, Mexico.
I told him. “Where will you go when you die?” My heart dropped when I realized, without him having to tell me, that I was going to hell. That’s when it became urgent. I needed—not just wanted—to know what I could do to change that. As luck would have it, I received a flyer that day from a woman named Young, inviting me to attend a Bible seminar for three days. At
this point, there were two voices in my head. One said, “You don’t want to go to that. You’re better off. It’ll be a waste of time,” and the other said, “Go.” I had free time and nothing to do. In the end the latter won. I first walked into a room full of smiling, eager Korean people and immediately I felt intimidated. Not only was I the minority, I was the only one there. I wanted to run. Testimony • 11
I knew that I could no longer call myself a sinner and that I could no longer believe in what I had been taught all my life. I knew then that I was righteous. I sat in the front row and just when I wondered when others might arrive, one of the men (Pastor Eddie) said let’s get started. “Great,” I thought. I could feel the pressure building up already. In spite of my anxiety, as soon as I saw the video presentation about IYF, my heart opened up to their organization and I decided that I wanted to be a part of it. Then the sermon started. I sat on the left side of Pastor Eddie as he preached and he took me to Romans 5:19 which said, For as by one man’s disobedience many were made 12 • The Good News April 2012
sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous. That’s when he explained two concepts, the righteous and sinners; heaven and hell. I didn’t understand what this meant but he didn’t fail to explain it in detail by taking me to many other verses in the Bible. I was so confused at the end of the day that half of me wanted to forget about it but the other half, which reminded me why I was there in the first place, was intrigued so I decided to go the second day. I was more eager and hungry to know more so I listened intently, but still couldn’t quite shake what I had learned all my life. I was taught that I had to be a good person and do good things to meet God. In my eyes, I was not fit to enter into the kingdom of heaven. It was the last day, however, when my life reached its turning point. There were two guys from an on campus Christian organization
Salvation Testimony
who attended that day. They listened as I did and while things were still a bit foggy, I began to understand more and couldn’t help but to listen. At the end of the sermon, Pastor asked if there were any questions. One of the men said, “Yes. I love Jesus. I love the Bible. I have many questions for you,” and the debate started. He flipped through the pages, pointing out certain verses. Mind you, many of his points were logical, but I couldn’t help but be more interested in what Pastor Eddie had to say. It was then, where I remembered Romans 5:19 and could clearly see the difference between God’s righteousness (which Pastor Eddie represented) and man’s righteousness (which this man represented) and that’s when it clicked. I knew then that I could no longer call myself a sinner and that I could no longer believe in what I had been taught all my life. I knew then that I was righteous and holy
in God’s sight, not because of what I had to do, but because of what Jesus did for me. So I accepted God’s Word into my heart and threw away what seemed logical. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to stay longer to see the end of the debate because I had class. However, I could clearly see the will of God working in my life. There was a reason I attended UCR, a reason I had no class that day and just happened to walk by a table where people were passing out flyers to attend a Bible seminar on campus, a reason why I met brother Peter and his wife so that I could be able to attend church in LA on Sundays. It was all according to the will of God for me to receive salvation, for there to be a church established in Riverside, and for me to go out and “preach the Gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) so that others can have the opportunity to receive the forgiveness of sin just as I did. For that, I am truly thankful. Testimony • 13
Two Types of Righteousness An Excerpt from One of Pastor Ock Soo Park’s Sunday Services
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.... (Romans 3:19-31)
14 • The Good News April 2012
There is one thing we must know precisely to live by faith. Faith is not me reading the Bible and trying to live by faith, but it is discovering. erty wearing worn out shoes and an old suit. Then he realized for the first time that there is a way to go to God regardless of the Law and the righteousness that is obtained by it; in other words by keeping the Ten Commandments and living as a good person not doing bad things. He was happy and deeply moved. “I found out that righteousness is received by the grace of God and not through the Law. I received that righteousness. Now I’m saved and I’m going to heaven.” He cried, he laughed, and he danced all day long. 16 • The Good News April 2012
DISCOVERING IS FAITH
There were a few people that preached this Gospel in Korea in the early 1960s. Nowadays, because our church readily preaches the Gospel, people just think of it as, “My sins are forgiven. I’m righteous now.” Even now there are many people that preach something similar to the Gospel, but it is rare to see anyone preaching the true Gospel. There is one thing we must know precisely to live by faith. Faith is not me reading the Bible and trying to live by faith, but it is discovering. As we live spiritual life, if we are not happy after reading the Bible or if arriving late to service doesn’t bother us or making an offering to God seems like a waste, bit by bit our faith becomes vague. Rather than making us commit sins like theft, murder, or adultery, Satan makes us gradually avoid things that are burdensome. Spiritual life was actually easy when people were imprisoned or executed
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for Jesus because it was a life or death situation. But spiritual life becomes hard when we are led by Satan to accept the flesh little by little thinking, “I don’t have faith.” If we know the Bible precisely, we will have faith. Forgiveness of sins is not the only thing obtained by faith. When we live life itself with faith in Jesus, we will experience limitless peace, joy, and hope that we couldn’t experience in the world, and God will work in our life.
That is why the Bible says, Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. It said that no man is recognized as righteous by keeping the Law. Even a person who seems good in our eyes can’t become righteous by keeping the Law. But Satan is very crafty. He makes everyone think they need to keep the Ten Commandments and do good deeds.
YOU CAN’T BECOME RIGHTEOUS BY THE LAW
I received salvation in 1962 and received training at the Daegu Missionary School. Many young people back then were determined to devote their life to the Gospel, but none of them is still preaching the Gospel today. Satan led them craftily down the path of corruption, little by little. If we don’t know the Bible precisely, it’s likely that we will be deceived by Satan. Don’t trust in yourself thinking, “I’m saved. I received the grace of God.” “Because
I want to ask you a question. Please raise your hand if you think, “I can become righteous if I keep the Law.” Next, raise your hand if you think, “Even though I keep the Law, I can’t become righteous.” You’re not sure, right? The Bible says, “The man that doeth them shall live in them.” One can become righteous by keeping the entire Law, but the problem is that there is no one in the world who can do that.
THIS MUCH IS ENOUGH
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Additionally, born again people think it’s okay to not read the Bible, not pray, not make an offering, and arrive late to service or not attend at all. I’m saved, it’s okay if I don’t read the Bible today. It’s okay if I miss service once. It’s okay if I don’t make an offering.” These thoughts seem harmless, but it’s Satan’s plan to lead you steadily into destruction. Most people don’t search the Bible in such situations, thinking, “What does it say in the Bible?” They trust their judgment, “This much is enough,” and they gradually fall into sin. CHRISTIANS THAT ARE BECOMING SECULARIZED
In the time of the Romans, Nero killed countless numbers of Christians. 18 • The Good News April 2012
Christianity spread all over Rome during that time and the number of Christians grew at an alarming rate that they were hiding everywhere. With the Korean War as the starting point, the number of Christians in Korea increased until 1993 and started to decline slowly. Many pastors of megachurches today shorten their sermons to make their congregation feel at ease. Now sermons are only fifteen minutes long, and most are going in the direction of having fun. Even churches with born again people are rapidly becoming secularized. As the economy in Korea is getting better, there is a sharp drop in the number of Christians. On the other hand, the number of people committing suicide is increasing because they don’t have true peace in their hearts. Even among Christians, the number of people that think, “I should receive salvation and go to
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heaven,” is gradually decreasing. Additionally, born again people think it’s okay to not read the Bible, not pray, not make an offering, and arrive late to service or not attend at all. THROUGH THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY IN AFRICA
As we toured the four African countries of Burundi, Zambia, Uganda, and Kenya, a reporter from the Joongang Daily accompanied us. As he saw how our missionaries lived in Africa, he gave all the money he had on him to a missionary and his wife. Then he cried and said to me, “Pastor, I never imagined a missionary would be living this poorly. I don’t believe in Jesus, but I want to continue helping these missionaries.” Every time I go to Africa, I feel ashamed to have many clothes and shoes. I start to have the heart of wanting to mingle with the African brothers—contracting malaria, shedding tears, and
living in starvation and in rags like them. During the Korean War, the GNP in Korea was $67, but now it is about $20,000. Korea is now unbelievably prosperous compared to that time. Nevertheless, people still feel insufficient, and the ambition that they need to live even better lives is holding a tight grip on their hearts. The Gospel that you received in such an age as this is invaluable. Many Christians today are deceived by Satan to keep the Law and do good to enter heaven because they don’t know the fact, “ by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified”.
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We have to cry out whether the people hear it or not. If this Gospel becomes blurred, how can your children and their children receive salvation? THE FIRST LADY RECEIVED SALVATION
On my visit to Africa, a certain minister in Burundi helped me to meet the president and first lady of Burundi. The first lady was a pastor. I gave her a detailed explanation on how we became righteous according to the Bible. I preached the Gospel in Korean, which was interpreted into English, and that was interpreted into the official language of Burundi. Ten minutes into my preaching, the expression on the Burundian interpreter started to change. The interpreter also attends church, and it was 20 • The Good News April 2012
the first time he heard such words. After around twenty minutes, the interpreter’s face turned red and the first lady quietly listened to me speak. The first lady and the interpreter received salvation that day. God gave us this Gospel to preach it. There are many people with a Bible in their hands when you go out into the streets. Ask them this question, “Can you become righteous if you keep the Law?” It’s written clearly in the Bible, “By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin,” but many Christians are going against the Bible by trying to become righteous through keeping the Law. NOT PREACHING THE GOSPEL IS SIN
A collection of my sermons were published in 1988 as The Secret of Forgiveness of Sins and Being Born Again. The majority of pastors in Korea at the time insisted, “We are sin-
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ners,” and among the pastors that criticized me was a person who wrote a book saying, “I declare myself a sinner until death.” A long time ago, a certain person living in Daejeon read my book and sent me $10,000 in cash. I actually went to that person’s house to pay him a visit, and that person was barely making ends meet. That money was lying on top of my desk for several days as I prayed, “God, how should I use this money?” While praying, I wanted to make a pocket edition of The Secret of Forgiveness of Sins and Being Born Again and distribute it to my fellow countrymen in North Korea. 10,000 pocket editions were printed for our Chinese brothers to distribute when they traveled to North Korea. The evidence of people saved by grace becoming corrupt is reluctance in preaching the Gospel and offering money to God. The important thing here is that salvation can never be obtained
through the deeds of the Law. The Christians that are corrupt are those that remain still when there is a person right in front of them who doesn’t know this fact. That is sin. We have to cry out whether the people hear it or not. If this Gospel becomes blurred, how can your children and their children receive salvation? TWO TYPES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
If we look at Romans 3:21, it says, “Not the deeds of the law, but the righteousness of God without the law is manifested,” we can see that there are two types of righteousness—the righteousness of the Law and the righteousness of God. The righteousness of the Law is where we become righteous by keeping the Law perfectly. The problem here is that there is no one who can keep the Law perfectly; therefore, no one is justified by the deeds of the Law. Even if one of them is violated, that person will be destroyed. Because we already violated the Law, no matter Sermon • 21
Because God crucified such people like us, spiritual life is when we acknowledge we are dead, receive the heart of Jesus and live with the heart of Jesus. how well we keep it in the future, we will be destroyed. People think they will be fine if they start keeping the Law even though they violated it in the past, but that is wrong. We heard the Gospel and received salvation after realizing on a certain day, “There really is no flesh that is justified by the deeds of the Law. We freely receive salvation by the grace of Jesus.” But after receiving salvation, there are times when we lie or go against the Word, right? Should we be keeping the Law during that time? Not so. It can never be done through the deeds of the Law. In other 22 • The Good News April 2012
words, there is no method in me to become righteous because I’m very wicked and filthy. YOU CAN’T BECOME GOOD BECAUSE YOU ARE SAVED
The life span of cars in the past was 200,000 km, but cars today go over 1,000,000 km. That is why it’s rare for a car to become useless because of a worn out engine. An engine is swapped out when it’s battered. Likewise, when a certain part is no longer useful, only that part is swapped out. The only time we throw out the old car and buy a new one is when all of the parts are useless. In the case with people, let’s say everything is perfect, but they did one thing wrong such as lying or stealing. They might think correcting only that one thing would be fine, but in God’s eyes, mankind is a “lump of evil” that can never become good. That is why God had to destroy mankind, but Jesus received the judgment instead. Therefore, not
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only can we not become good just because we are saved, but we are still evil. LIVING WITH THE HEART OF THE LORD
Just like Galatians 5:19 said, God can never be served with this flesh because fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, witchcraft, and hatred continue to arise from within everyone until their death. Because God crucified such people like us, spiritual life is when we acknowledge that we are dead, receive the heart of Jesus and live with the heart of Jesus. It’s not done with me becoming good, holy, and righteous. When people don’t grasp this fact, many of them make an effort to become good and serve God well by keeping the Law. Then you are completely going against God. A broken engine is swapped out for a new one. Likewise, God wants you to disregard the good and evil things inside of you and live with the heart and Words of Jesus.
ENTRUSTING MY SICK HEART TO THE LORD
As I spent the past fifty years in Jesus, there are many things that I am grateful to the Lord for. One of them is when my heart started to get worse from 1990. I almost died in 1999 when I felt pain in my heart. During the time when the mission center was being built in Daejeon, rocks were being attached to the walls of the building. My heart was palpitating, and I couldn’t watch the people working on the seventh floor. That is when I thought, “Would I be able to live one more year?” When I put the stethoscope to my chest, I heard my heart beating, but it would stop beating for a while. Then one day, I was examined by a well-renowned cardiologist in New York. He told me that I couldn’t be treated because the electrical impulses to my heart were leaking. That is why I entrusted this heart problem to the Lord. Then the Lord healed Sermon • 23
I can’t become righteous by doing good deeds and keeping the Law, but I can become righteous by accepting the righteousness of Jesus. my heart in August 1999. Since 1999, I was able to take on the many World Camp schedules as were humanly impossible. RECEIVE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS
No matter how many good deeds we do, we can’t enter heaven with that. Salvation is throwing away that method and freely accepting the righteousness done by Jesus. Likewise, the life I live with my methods and the life where I offer myself to Jesus is different. I can’t become righteous by doing good deeds and keeping the Law, 24 • The Good News April 2012
but I can become righteous by accepting the righteousness of Jesus. Likewise, when I entrust my family and children to Jesus, God will perfectly lead them. People who know that no flesh shall be justified by the deeds of the Law, although they are not good and have committed sins, don’t try to become righteous through the Law. If you continue to live a filthy and dirty life after receiving the righteousness of Jesus, you shouldn’t make an effort to live a good life. You should rather say, “Jesus, why am I filthy? Please come and lead me.” We received the forgiveness of sins by grace, but we try to live our life through our methods. That is why Satan gives Christians the heart that it will be difficult and things will not work out if they live through the methods of God. He makes them to go towards the flesh and ultimately not preach the Gospel. He fills them with carnal desires and
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strongly drags them to live such a life. A LIFE PREPARED BY THE LORD
We have a life lived with our methods and a life prepared by God. People know that the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 succeeded when he lived with his father’s methods and failed when he lived with his methods, but they are not able to put down their “self ”. That is why they live the life of the prodigal son following their methods. You can never be happy if you live with your methods. If you offer your life to the Lord and the Lord leads your life, the perfect righteousness of Jesus will
be accomplished and not your efforts. When you live for the Lord and not for yourself, your life will be at peace, and it will become whole. Loving people, Jesus sacrificed His life for you. It would be great if there was someone among us who could burn himself for Jesus. I hope someone among you will stand up to live only for the Gospel and be ashamed to live for yourself. When I entrusted my children, family, and everything of mine to the Lord, I saw how God took care of everything and led me to be blessed. I hope God will bestow the same grace upon all of you.
Pastor Ock Soo Park Senior Pastor of Good News Gangnam Church Chief Advisor of International Youth Fellowship (IYF) www.ospark.pe.kr Sermon • 25
Open Heart
Wisdom to Yield
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here are painful and despairing situations, such as when a child’s health is at stake due to acute meningitis, but then is made worse by pneumonia and other chronic illnesses. Financial crisis, fiscal deficit, and unemployment are serious problems many countries are struggling with, but on top of those issues, there are some countries that deal with earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters. We often encounter situations in life that can’t be solved with our own abilities. What do we do then? The Bible says, “… Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he 26 • The Good News April 2012
sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.” (Luke 14:31-32) If you conclude that it is a losing fight, it is wise to surrender quickly. During the age of Imperialism, after victories in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese War, Japan was full of confidence. When the United States intervened to stop Japan from exploiting its colonies and stopped the exportation of steel, Japan believed they could win the battle and initiated the Pacific War. However, the United States’ power was entirely different from the national and military power of China and Russia. Initially, the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor was effective, but soon after, Japan suffered consecutive defeats, lost its islands in the Pacific, and eventually their mainland was
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Open Heart
bombed. However, leaders in Japan armed with the samurai spirit did not surrender. They were determined to resist the United States even if only one man was left standing with a bamboo spear in hand. To avoid this worst case scenario, America dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Only then did the Japanese emperor proclaim their unconditional surrender. Although it was fortunate they eventually surrendered, surrendering after experiencing the atomic bomb was unwise. If it is a losing fight to begin with, the sooner the surrender, the better. During the battle between the ten-thousand and the twenty-thousand, there can only be news of defeat, death, and failure. A government that lets many youths die in such a battle, and lets its people starve and suffer from disease, poverty and pain to fund such a war, is a government unfit to lead. If you hear news of failure and defeat everyday, you are fighting the fight between the 28 • The Good News April 2012
ten-thousand and the twentythousand. But the one living a victorious and graceful life is the one who ended such a fight and quickly surrendered to God. Those still struggling to keep the Law and live according to the Word are those fighting the losing fight. When someone with a heart full of sin attempts to abide by the Holy Law of God, it is more difficult than fighting against twenty-thousand with tenthousand. This is the reason behind the unending failure, pain and frustration experienced by those who attempt to live a diligent spiritual life. The Bible tells us to consult and consider, meaning you will reach a conclusion when you consult the Word and consider your options. This is to surrender. Most importantly, surrender from your heart! Don’t surrender after suffering from a serious illness or accident, but surrender while you are still young and full of life and understanding to consider the Words. That is true wisdom. (Editorial Dept.)
THE SECRET OF FORGIVENESS OF SIN AND BEING
BORN AGAIN A collection of sermons by Pastor Ock Soo Park. Forgiveness, which is the greatest gift that God has given us, is now revealed.
••CONTENTS•• 1. The Four Lepers 2. Jacob and Esau 3. Woman Caught in Adultery 4. The Man With an Infirmity for 38 Years 5. The Chief Butler and the Chief Baker 6. Eternal Redemption 7. Man Hit by Robbers 8. The Power of Samson 9. Cain and Abel
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Meditation and Contemplation
The Eyes of Grace
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hat grace did Noah find? What was that grace? Often the Word of God can have a double meaning or a meaning that is obvious to our understanding. Most of us think of grace as something good like more money, a material gift, or even good luck in an otherwise difficult situation. Additionally, we also think that grace is the result of our good deeds or actions. In reality, both of these ideas or thoughts are wrong. First, let’s determine if Noah did something to receive grace from God. In Genesis chapter 6:5, God describes man as only evil continually. Does this description apply to Noah? Yes, because Noah is a man. So if Noah is only evil in front of God, what can he possibly do to receive God’s grace? The answer is nothing. Grace is not something we earn; it is a free and unconditional gift from God. If grace was something we could earn, it wouldn’t be grace. So then what grace did Noah receive that he didn’t deserve to receive? Noah received salvation. He was chosen by God to build an Ark—an Ark that would allow him to survive God’s judgment through the flood. Not only was Noah saved but his family as well. Hidden in the story of Noah’s Ark is God’s promise to us all. God wants to save us and our families as well, not by our doing something or by our good deeds, but by God’s grace.
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The Strange Man in Black
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was spending the day at one of the most delightful country houses in Scotland. One of the guests present was a man of rare and wide learning and culture, with charming manners, and that easy and graceful address which makes him as welcome in the drawingroom as in the cottage. With his face brightening up, he said to me, “I will tell you a story that will interest you. I can vouch for its truthfulness in every particular.” Marie was the daughter of a very distinguished and wealthy family. When she was quite young, about twen32 • The Good News April 2012
ty I believe, she was married to a young man of equal wealth and high social position. As was common, these young people were worldly and gay, given to everything going on in the fashionable world, and had nothing to do but to amuse themselves and gratify every whim and fancy which an idle fancy suggested. Of course they were utterly destitute of any spiritual knowledge of God and Christ, though, in their own way, devout Roman Catholics. Shortly after their marriage they went one night to the theatre and witnessed a
Words of Wisdom
play, in which, in one of the scenes, there was enacted the slaughter of the Huguenots. The scene was so vivid and life-like that it greatly distressed the mind of the lady. She asked her husband, with bated breath and strained eyes, what it meant. The reply was, “It is a representation of the killing of the Huguenots.” “Why were they killed?” asked his young wife. “Oh, they were killed for their heretical religion.” “And was it for no other reason than for their religion?” “For no other reason; they were heretics.” “And who had them killed?”
“Why, I suppose it was done by order of the Church; they were heretics.” “And did our holy Church have these poor people massacred for no other reason than for believing Jesus Christ could save them without the help of our Church?” “For no other reason, so far as I know,” was the reply. “They were not criminals, but heretics.” And as best he could the young husband related the story of the massacre, without either justifying or condemning it, speaking of it rather as a matSmall Talk • 33
ter of course. This scene, and the story of the slaughter of the Huguenots, with which she had not been familiar, so wrought upon the young wife that she begged her husband to take her home. For days she could not shake off the impression of that scene and the story. It continued to weigh upon her mind until she fell into a deep state of melancholy and profound conviction of sin. There was none to help or instruct her, and she was as utterly ignorant of the Bible as she was destitute of the possession of one. 34 • The Good News April 2012
The husband became so distressed and alarmed at his wife’s condition that he called in medical advice. After hearing from the husband the occasion of his wife’s mental distress, and from the lady herself the story of her horror “that these poor people should be killed for their religion,” and being plied by her with questions concerning religion which he was utterly unable to answer, the physician withdrew and reported the case to the husband. “It is a case of religious monomania—a very bad one. You must act at once and promptly, or your wife
Words of Wisdom
will fall into hopeless melancholia, and perhaps end in permanent insanity. Do anything and everything that will divert her mind from the terrible subject that possesses her.” Acting upon this advice the husband began a round of pleasure and fashionable dissipation, such as even they had never before indulged in. Night after night they were out at the theatre, at concerts, at balls, and entertainments, the wife going reluctantly but obediently. One night they were at a great ball in the city. Of a sudden, like an apparition, there darted
out before them a strange man dressed in black. He stepped up to the lady, and without a word of introduction or apology for speaking, said, with great eagerness, “Madam, do you know ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin?’” (1 John 1:7) To this startling and unheard-of proclamation the lady replied, “What did you say, sir? Will you repeat those words?” At which the peculiar man in black again declared without Small Talk • 35
note or comments, but with intense eagerness and pathos, “The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son cleanseth us from all sin,” and then disappeared as suddenly and as strangely as he had appeared. The lady stood still for a moment dumbfounded, and then remarked to her husband, “Did you ever hear that before? That is the most extraordinary statement I ever heard. What can it mean?” But as she spoke and mused on these words, and climbed the broad and lofty stairway, there fell upon her a peace so sweet and ecstatic that her whole face seemed lit up with 36 • The Good News April 2012
an unearthly gladness. She went at once into the crowded saloon, and approaching the first lady whom she saw, she said to her, “I have just heard the most extraordinary statement. I wonder if you ever heard it, and what does it mean, ‘The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin?’” In a few minutes the words were whispered from lip to ear, “Marie has gone mad.” But, like Paul, she was not mad, only filled with the gladness of God’s blessed peace. Nothing the excited state of mind in which his wife had been thrown, her
Words of Wisdom
husband took her home. For days she simply dwelt in a paradise of joy, repeating over and over again the extraordinary words, “The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” She found out finally where the saying came from. For the first time she got hold of a Bible, and soon, through reading the New Testament, she learned the whole glad truth. Some months after the husband joined his wife in her new faith, and himself parted from the superstition of Rome. This lady lived on for sixty years, and
never ceased to carry her joy and testimony wherever she went. The singular thing about the whole matter was the sudden appearance of the man in black in that house on the night of a great ball, and his apparently mad approach to the ballroom. He had occasion to visit the master of the house that night on urgent business, and as he was leaving, he was seized with an irresistible impulse to tell the first person he met that “The Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) (A story by G.F. Pentecost) Small Talk • 37
Nevertheless, Not as I Will, but as Thou Wilt
“I can bear anything else but the cross! It is too painful!” Jesus might have thought this way because of His flesh. Jesus did say, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death…” In the end, Jesus prayed, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Jesus was able to take the cross because the Word of God took hold of His heart. Jesus followed the will of God above His own will.
ALTHOUGH JESUS HAD GOOD JUDGMENT
We can see through Jesus’ life that the Word of God was clear and distinct in His heart. We can especially see this distinction in Matthew 4 where Satan tempts Jesus. When Satan came to Jesus and said, “If thou be the Son of God, command 38 • The Good News April 2012
that these stones be made bread”, Jesus didn’t reply, “I don’t think so. I don’t want to make these stones into bread.” When Satan tempted Jesus to fall from the pinnacle of the temple or to bow down and worship him, Jesus didn’t say, “I don’t think so, I don’t want to fall down from there.” Nor did
Repentance and Faith
He say, “I don’t think so. I don’t want to bow down and worship you.” Although Jesus’ judgment was exceptional, He never relied on His own thoughts, but rather answered, “It is written.…” It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4) Jesus always said, “It is written...” This is the difference between Jesus and us. I CAN DECIDE
Many brothers and sisters rely on their own judgments and opinions to make decisions rather than seek God’s Word. They may think things like, “Since I have received salvation…”, “I have lived spiritual life for many years…”, “Since I have become a minister…”, “Although I don’t seek God’s Word, I can make a decision about this...”. After I received salvation,
there were many times when Jesus worked while I was doing the work of God. God also fulfilled many works that seemed impossible. After people experience many of these works, their hearts begin to be filled with thoughts like, “It will work if I do it like this, This way will work for this problem, If I witness this way, I can do it”. So instead of seeking God’s will precisely or looking for God’s Words, many times we live according to our human opinions and thoughts. However, Jesus didn’t live like that. BECAUSE WE ARE THE DESCENDANTS OF ADAM
The difference between Adam and Jesus is the position of their hearts before the Word of God. God spoke very clearly to Adam. And the LORD God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat Sermon • 39
When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He didn’t speak of his own will or opinions. The Word of God was always established inside of Jesus. of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2:16-17) Although God spoke to Adam, his thoughts influenced him more than God’s Word. Instead of establishing the Word of God “If you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die,” inside their hearts, Adam and Eve were enticed by Satan to follow their thoughts. Eating the fruit seemed like a good idea in their own judgment, and that took hold of their hearts instead. Adam departed from the Word of 40 • The Good News April 2012
God and followed his own thoughts. When we are tempted by Satan, we often follow our own good judgments to make decisions instead of seeking God’s will or the Words of Jesus, just like Adam did when he committed sin. As a result, we are deceived by Satan countless times. THE REASON WE FAIL IN SPIRITUAL LIFE
I saw that many people who realized the Gospel tried very hard to live for it. I also saw many who gave up all their possessions and even their own lives to serve the Gospel. However, I also saw the very same people end up following their strong judgments and fall into their own human methods when their flesh was in pain. This is the difference between Jesus and us. Jesus established God in His heart by continually meditating on God’s Word and by praying whenever it was
Repentance and Faith
quiet and free. We, on the other hand, are satisfied by just realizing the Gospel or grasping the Words of Jesus. However, we still often serve and follow after the pleasures of the flesh. This is how many precious workers end up leaving the Gospel. They distance themselves from God by trying to do good deeds through the flesh and end up reaching the point of no return when they think, “I can’t do this anymore,” and give up. They often fall into sin after trying to resist the power of the flesh. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He didn’t speak of His own will or opinions. The Word of God was always established inside of Jesus. It was because Jesus often dealt with the Word of God and prayed. On the other hand, we become arrogant if we realize some Word of God, or get our prayers answered, or if people receive salvation through
our preaching, or if we get acknowledged at church, or if we are established to become ministers. Then without knowing it, we begin to lift ourselves up. We often live following after our thoughts after we do a good job or if we already have a reputation for doing good work. As a result, we don’t seek God’s will or His Word. This is exactly why so many Christians today stop believing in God, are corrupted, and fail in spiritual life. NEVERTHELESS, NOT AS I WILL
In Matthew 26:36, Jesus
Sermon • 41
The will of God was above His will and the Word of God was raised inside His heart. Although Jesus was the Son of God, He finally chose the cross. goes to Gethsemane to pray for the last time before He is crucified. There, Jesus had one last fight with His flesh. His flesh may have caused Him to think, “I have followed the Word of God till now. But now, I will live according to my own judgment. I can bear anything but the cross! It’s
42 • The Good News April 2012
too painful! I don’t want the crown of thorns. It’s too difficult. I really hate this!” Jesus would have found it difficult when He heard the voice of the flesh. Jesus expressed His sorrow saying, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death...” Jesus prayed at the end, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” The will of God was above His own will and the Word of God was raised inside His heart. Although He was the Son of God, Jesus finally chose the cross. HE WAS OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH
In John19, all the prophecies of Jesus were fulfilled according to the Word of God. It was recorded beforehand that the soldiers would cast lots for the clothes of Jesus. Even Jesus crying when He was thirsty
Repentance and Faith
was recorded before in the Word of God. The entire life of Jesus was so. Finally Jesus said, “It is finished.” Then He gave up His spirit. Jesus lived entirely according to the Word of God, and at the end, He chose the will of God, defeating the power of the flesh in front of the cross. It is recorded in the Bible, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:5-8) The Lord desires us to follow the same path that He took. From time to time when the flesh hates the will of God and goes against it, we must fight against the flesh with the Word of God and defeat it just as Jesus did.
If parents grant all the requests of their children, their children grow up to live a dissipated and corrupt life because they haven’t learned to control their desires. In the same way, if we consent to all the desires of our flesh, we will disappoint the Lord and our flesh will ultimately take over and lead us to destruction. There were many occasions when precious servants of God were corrupted. They did well serving God, but at the last moment they gave up living spiritual life because they weren’t able to overcome the power of the flesh. I hope that today, we who are born again can fight against the wants and desires of our flesh and live as precious children of God by establishing and following the Word of God in our hearts just as Jesus did. We will also receive the joy of sharing the glory of Jesus Christ if we live this way. (An excerpt from Pastor Ock Soo Park’s sermon) Sermon • 43
Jesus Came to Minister to Us
Jesus came to the world to minister to us instead of being ministered to. Jesus didn’t like being ministered to and rejected it. He said, “I came to serve you.” So what do we need to worry about then? Even if situations and circumstances don’t seem favorable, Jesus helps us because it is promised in the Bible.
THOSE WHO MINISTER TO GOD
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45) It is written in the Bible 44 • The Good News April 2012
that Jesus came to the world, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give His life as a ransom for many. But many who attend church look like they are ministering to God, instead of being ministered to. Most
Admonition of the Lord
People try to minister to Jesus because they either don’t know or don’t believe in the purpose of His coming to the world. He came to minister to us. Christians become people who minister to God. They think, “I need to worship God sincerely! I need to tithe and make offerings! I need to glorify and gratify God. Unless I please God, He will not listen to my prayers. Look! Because I did not please God, my child got into a car accident.” TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS NEED CAREGIVERS
People try to minister to Jesus because they either don’t know or don’t believe in the purpose of His coming to the world. Jesus did not come to judge or to be
ministered to. He came to minister to us. For example, let’s assume that someone was terminally ill and was hospitalized. They wouldn’t be able to go to the bathroom by themselves. Neither could they get up by themselves because they would be too ill. In that case, that person would need someone to take care of them. In fact, patients who stay in intensive care need caregivers who know how to look after them well. Terminally ill patients need caregivers and will accept their help. Who in the world would ask why a caregiver came when they are sick? What terminally ill patient would think that they should minister to their caregiver? When they say, “I am thirsty. Please give me some water,” the caregiver would say, “Of course.” When they say, “My back is aching. I want to lie on my side,” the caregiver would help them again. What kind of caregiver would say, “Just keep lying Sermon • 45
on your back; I am busy”? If they did that, they should be fired. If a patient said, “I’m uncomfortable lying on my side, please erect the bed again,” no caregiver would say, “This patient is so picky. He just turned himself over. He needs to just stay put.” They would always say yes if patients ask for help. SPIRITUALLY CRITICAL PATIENTS LIKE US
We are corrupt and estranged from God from the womb. We aren’t able to please God because we are like critical patients. We can’t be holy, or do any righteous deeds. Since we were estranged from God from birth, we can’t minister to God. Spiritually speaking, we can neither stand on our own nor turn ourselves over. Nor can we go to the bathroom by ourselves. We are spiritually critical patients. God knows this and that’s why He sent Jesus, our caregiver, to help us. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the 46 • The Good News April 2012
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sent us His only Son as a caregiver because He loved us. He didn’t come to be ministered to by us. He came to minister to critical patients like us. But many people try to minister to God even though they’re in a critical condition. They try to be holier, keep the law, and pray more. This is like critical patients trying to take care of their caregivers. What nonsense! IT’S THE SAME AS NOT HAVING IT
Once I got a haircut at a barber shop near my house, and was about to pay. But I realized I didn’t have any money. I thought I took some with me when I left the house, but I couldn’t find it when I went to pay. I was absolutely embarrassed. I apologized to the barber many times, saying, “I thought I brought some
Admonition of the Lord
money with me, but I can’t find it. I live near here, so I’ll come back shortly.” When I got home, I took off my clothes to take a shower and found something in my back pocket. It was the money I was looking for. I never keep money in my back pocket but on that day, I did. When I was looking for the money at the barber shop, I had it with me. I apologized, saying, “I thought I brought it with me, but I can’t find it. I will go and bring it now.” I had the money with me but I didn’t know. People that don’t know they have money are like people who don’t have money. Likewise, Jesus came to minister to us, but we have tried to minister to Him throughout our lives, never being ministered to by Him. From time to time I meet people who can’t believe
Jesus washed their sins completely. Their sins won’t be washed at the moment they believe Jesus already washed them. Whether they believe it or not, their sins have already been washed. They only need to believe this fact. It’s not like Jesus washes our sins when we believe His work. Even before we believe it, our sins have already been taken care of at the cross. We only need to realize that our sins have already been Sermon • 47
What do we need to worry about then? Even if situations and circumstances don’t seem favorable, Jesus helps us because it is promised in the Bible. washed away. This is why the Bible says in John 17:3, And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Unfortunately, so many people don’t know what Jesus did for us. They don’t know Jesus is ministering to us. IF THE WORD OF GOD SAYS JESUS CAME TO MINISTER TO US
During the World Camp last July, a one day camp was held at COEX in Daegu. I was so surprised to see participants from all over 48 • The Good News April 2012
the world attend the camp. Pastor Park told us, “This time teachers will serve students like princes and princesses.” But there were no attractions the students would like in Daegu. So we wanted to take them to the amusement park, Woobang Land. But tickets cost $24 per student. That means we would have to pay $72,000 for 3,000 students. It was more than we could afford. I asked one of the ministers to meet with an official of Woobang Land to ask for a reduced cost and he said that he could reduce it to $14. But that was still too expensive for us. Then he asked us how much we could afford to spend, and we ended up paying a very low amount. The students were able to have a great time there. I’m not good at negotiating prices so Jesus ministered for the students instead of me. When the ministers of youth from around 20 countries came, it was very expensive to host them. For this
Admonition of the Lord
burden we had to negotiate prices again. When the camp was over, it was clear that Jesus had ministered for us. Jesus came to the world to minister to us instead of being ministered to. Jesus didn’t like being ministered to and rejected it. He said, “I came to serve you.” So what do we need to worry about then? Even if situations and circumstances don’t seem favorable, Jesus helps us because it is promised in the Bible. Sometimes people complain, saying, “Jesus is supposed to help me, but why is my son like this? My husband is in trouble, too. Does this mean that Jesus is helping me?” If the Word of God says that He helps us, we only need to trust it. But when we consider situations, we don’t remain in faith because the situation seems unfavorable to us. However bad our circumstances may seem, Jesus helps us because it is promised in the Bible. We only need to believe His Word.
EVEN THOUGH GOD WAS WITH KING AHAZIAH
In 2 Kings 1, King Ahaziah fell from the lattice of his upper room and became ill. So he sent his servants to Ekron to enquire of Baalzebub to heal him. Afterwards, God sent the prophet Elijah and rebuked King Ahaziah. But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed. (2 Kings 1:3-4) God felt very sorry for Ahaziah and rebuked him, saying, “Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?” When God said, “Is it not because there is not Sermon • 49
a God,” He meant that God was in Israel. The fact that He was in Israel means that He was with Ahaziah as well. God loved Israel. Even though Ahab, Ahaziah’s father, was very wicked and his mother, Jezebel, was very cunning and sinful, God was with Israel. That’s why God left the great prophet Elijah in Israel and continued to intervene in their affairs. God wanted to work through Ahaziah and bless Israel. But Ahaziah thought, “Will God work for a person like me? My parents rebelled against Him. He will not work for me. He will not listen to my prayers.” Ahaziah didn’t know that God was with him even though he was. He was tricked by Satan.
YOU ONLY NEED TO BELIEVE AS IT IS WRITTEN
People are tricked by Satan into regarding their experiences and situations in order to deny the Word of God. They think, “Even though God says that He will help us, He only helps spiritual pastors. He will not help me. Think about my situation. If He helps me, why is it like this?” That is really just like saying, “Why on earth would Jesus help me? I don’t even tithe well. I don’t think Jesus will help me.” They are deceived by Satan. We need to believe that God is with us and Jesus came to minister to us as it is written in the Bible, regardless of our circumstances.
Pastor Dong-sung Kim Senior Pastor of Good News Daegu Church 50 • The Good News April 2012
Meditation and Contemplation • 51
The Mindset of People Who Came Out of the Ark
It is foolish to be concerned with your own self image when the Gospel is so powerful in itself. God is telling us to turn away from ourselves. Things may or may not work out according to the flesh so we should not regard it. Rather, we should follow the Word of God because when the Word of God comes into us, it overcomes all circumstances and accomplishes all things.
52 • The Good News April 2012
Iron Sharpeneth Iron
When my heart falls into the Word, I can present the Word of God which both teaches me and makes other people’s hearts shine brightly. LIKE THE CANDLESTICKS IN THE SANCTUARY
Upon entering the tabernacle, one would find the altar and then the laver. After the priest offered sheep and oxen, he washed his hands at the laver. This is a figure of people who are saved washing the prideful remnants of the hearts after doing the work of the Gospel. I saw God was leading me to live that kind of life. After the laver, there was the sanctuary which contained the showbread, candlesticks and the altar of incense. Last summer, we had the World Camp in Busan for the second time. Since I was the
director of the camp, I wanted to fall into the Bible before the camp began. When my heart falls into the Word, I can present the Word of God which both teaches me and makes other people’s hearts shine brightly. I saw that this is the figure of the candlesticks shining light from the sanctuary. I wanted to pray to God like the priest that burnt incense every morning. As I continued, I remembered the Word Jesus spoke to Peter, “I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” As the Word says, it was Jesus who held on to Peter. I thought to myself, “Just like Peter, Jesus is praying for my faith not to fail! That prayer is holding me!” I had the heart that the Lord was holding on to me. I could see Pastor Ock Soo Park would be praying for the World Camp and for me to carry out the work. This strength kept me standing. I also prayed when I had time. Even though there were a lot of things to be done Sermon • 53
and each work was important, whenever I had time, I kneeled in front of God and opened the Bible to meditate on the Word. This made my heart abundant. “Wherever I may be, the Word of God is with me and the Lord is in me”. This heart allowed me to be relaxed and free regardless of whatever work I had to do. MAN’S HEART IS EVIL FROM HIS YOUTH
Later on while reading the Bible, God gave me the Word in Genesis 8. The story in chapter 8 is about Noah’s family
54 • The Good News April 2012
living a new life after coming out of the ark. I saw that there is a mindset we should have when going into the ark and also a mindset we should have when coming out of the ark. First, I found the mindset we should have when going into the ark in Genesis 6:5. And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5) People that can enter the ark know that their thoughts are evil. People who are led by their own thoughts can never enter the ark. Even though Noah declared that the flood would bring judgment, if people were led by thoughts like, “Can it rain enough to cover the whole world with water?” would they enter the ark? Only people who knew their thoughts
Iron Sharpeneth Iron
were evil and forsook them could enter the ark. Genesis 8 shows the mindset a person should have when coming out of the ark. And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. (Genesis 8:20~21) God said that He would never curse the ground again for man’s sake. Why? Because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. What does that mean? Even though you came out of the ark, you are still evil. You are evil from your youth. Just as you had no part in your own salvation when you received it, neither do you have any part in the work of the Holy
Spirit after receiving salvation. It means that even though we receive salvation, we are still filthy evil humans. If we do work, it will be compromised, and if our own work emerges, everything will be defiled. Therefore, God tells us to stop looking at ourselves and only look upon Jesus. God changes our perspective from looking at ourselves to looking upon Jesus. I had true peace in my heart standing before the Word of God. I should not be the one who does the work of the Gospel. “If the Lord works, everything will be graceful!” I received this heart and had rest. BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY, AND REPLENISH THE EARTH
In Genesis 8, after God said not to regard our image that was still evil, He also said, While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. (Genesis 8:22) The earth represents our Sermon • 55
To be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth means to preach the Gospel. God didn’t regard our miserable flesh but established the Gospel. flesh. While there is flesh, good things and bad things continue. In Genesis 9:1 it says, “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” To be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth means to preach the Gospel. God didn’t regard our miserable flesh but rather established the Gospel. He made us to preach that Gospel. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the 56 • The Good News April 2012
fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. (Genesis 9:2) God is saying that all the things of the world are delivered into the hands of the Gospel. If we do not consider ourselves but instead boldly preach the Gospel, all the things of the world will yield before the Gospel. “As God placed the church above all creation, He placed the Gospel above the authority of the world!” God stirred up this heart in me. I observed that the servants of faith were not subject to anything but boldly walked the path of a preacher by the power of the Gospel. I often saw authorities bowing their heads before the Gospel wherever the Gospel was delivered. It is foolish to be concerned with your own self image when the Gospel is so powerful in itself. God is telling us to turn away from ourselves. Things may or may not work out according to the flesh so we should not regard it but rather follow the Word of
Iron Sharpeneth Iron
God, because when the Word of God comes into us, it overcomes all circumstances and accomplishes all things. BUSAN CITY OFFICIALS SURPRISED
During the last World Camp, we saw that the power of Gospel is above the authority of the world. Before the camp, Pastor Ock Soo Park told us to invite ten ministers from countries around the world, but it wasn’t easy. If we invited more than 10 and one or two were absent we would still have the 10 we needed, so I showed a list of 16 ministers to Pastor Park. When Pastor Park saw the list, he told me to invite 20. Inviting 10 people was difficult, but now it was 20. We added all the ministers from the countries that we could invite and it was less than 30 countries. We invited as many as we could and it was 26 people. However, all 26 ministers wanted to come to the World Camp in Korea. Busan city officials were surprised to hear that minis-
ters from around 20 countries were planning to visit Busan. At first they didn’t think much of the camp so they weren’t interested in helping us, but when they saw the list of the ministers who were coming to Korea, city officials started moving quickly saying that the mayor would prepare an official dinner and so on. This is what God did for the work of the Gospel. Even though I initiated the work of inviting the ministers, I wasn’t the one who actually did the work. I just took a rest and the will of the Lord to advance the Gospel by inviting them accomplished the work. Even though there was a possibility of something going wrong, I could rest because it was not done by my authority. As I rested in the work, it was fun. LET’S GO OUT OF THE CITY TO BETHANY
In the beginning, Abraham was continually regarding himself. He thought that he couldn’t bear a son beSermon • 57
The Gospel is truly great. God committed His Gospel unto us who are nothing, because it is not us who could work but rather the ability is in the Gospel. cause he and his wife Sarah were old. God waited until Abraham was 99 years old, when he could no longer look to himself, to give him His Word. Abraham was free from himself and became a
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person who was influenced by the Word of God alone. Whenever we are led by the Lord, everything is accomplished according to the will of God. God has placed the Gospel above of all creation. The Gospel is truly great. God committed His Gospel unto us who are nothing, because it is not us who could work but rather the ability is in the Gospel. It’s so foolish for us to lead ourselves. Regardless of who we are, we should all leave ourselves out of the work of the Gospel. Since God already told us that He will not regard us, there is no reason for us to cling to ourselves. I once preached about Bethany during Sunday service. Jesus often went to Bethany to rest and pray. Bethany wasn’t inside a city like Jerusalem. What kind of people lived outside of the city?
Iron Sharpeneth Iron
People who were despised, like Simon the leper, people who were dirty, filthy and foolish were gathered there. What power could they have in their own lives? I had the heart that Jesus would have been happy while praying and taking a rest there. I looked for traces of what Jesus had done in Bethany in the Bible. There was the story of a woman breaking an alabaster box in the house of Simon the leper, and the story of the donkey that was loosed for Jesus to use and so on. Jesus worked for them while resting there. Even though Jesus spoke often in Capernaum and in the temple of Jerusalem, the many lives of those people who heard the Word didn’t
change. It wasn’t because the power of the Word was lacking. Rather, it was because they were arrogant and thus foolishly regarded themselves rather than Jesus. If my thought has power over me, there is always what seems right and wrong and we become people who try to accomplish what we think is right. There is no power at all in it. Even though the Word of God is declared, God cannot work through it. Just as Jesus rested, prayed and did His wonders in Bethany outside of the city, for us to taste the world of Jesus, we should come out of the city called “I”. Only when we believe in God alone, will the Holy Spirit work powerfully in us.
Pastor Young-joon Park Senior Pastor of Busan Daeyeon Church Sermon • 59
HO
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di, om ful ent n-
ssed was egu
ogy was the as n,
Mayor Pablo Bruera of La Plata City
GOD HAS WORKED IN HIS HEART!
It has been 50 years since I received salvation. When I look back, I can see it was God who worked in me and led me in His plan so I could work for the Gospel, not my own effort or good works. This is especially clear when it comes to preaching the Gospel. Whenever I preach the Gospel, I feel strongly, “Oh, God has been working in this person so that he could listen to the Gospel.” After receiving salvation, I made a plan, prayed, and witnessed to preach the Gospel to certain people. There were many times I 60 • The Good News April 2012
was disappointed because the people did not accept the Word that I preached to them. As I do ministry work, people often come to see me. While conversating with them, I can strongly sense, “Oh, God loves this person! To save him, God brought problems to the things that were going well for him and put him through difficulty to humble his heart!” Therefore, even though I preach the Gospel, in reality all that I do is just add a few words to what God has already done. Whenever this happens, I cannot express how thankful I am to God.
A Grain of Mustard Seed
EVEN THOUGH I NOTICED SECRETARIES URGING TO FINISH IT …
Not long ago, we held the World Camp in La Plata city, Argentina where I met Mayor Pablo Bruera before the camp. He was pleased with having the camp in La Plata city and welcomed us with hospitality. After I delivered my words of thanks to the mayor, God strongly aroused my heart to preach the Gospel to the mayor.
“Mr. Bruera, In the past, I lived a poor and difficult life after going astray. However, after Jesus came to me my life changed.” Starting with my testimony on how God healed me when I had sickness in my stomach and my heart, I preached the Word of the Bible to him. In my eyes the mayor didn’t look healthy. Later, I came to know that his health was poor due to his extreme Testimony • 61
concern for his mother’s health which had worsened after her son was elected mayor. Being a mayor, he was extremely busy and I could not preach the Gospel to him for a long time. I needed a certain amount of time to tell him the necessary things. When I started to preach the Gospel, I could feel that his heart was drawn into the Gospel. The problem was that he had to move onto the next thing in his schedule. There were two secretaries. I noticed his two secretaries were urging the mayor to finish the meeting with me and to leave for the next event. 62 • The Good News April 2012
Nevertheless, he continued to listen to the Word sincerely without caring about the next meeting. I did not know whether I had to keep preaching or to stop. However, I could not stop because the mayor was listening very seriously to the Word. I could read the mayor’s heart, while preaching the Gospel. “Ah, this person really loves the Gospel! He made up his mind to cancel the next scheduled event!” Regardless of his secretaries’ complaints, the mayor did not even look around, but focused on my words. I preached the Gospel through transla-
A Grain of Mustard Seed
tion. He read the verses in his Spanish Bible very carefully following along with his finger, and accepted the Gospel. I WAS SO THANKFUL TO GOD AND TO THE MAYOR
Watching the mayor receiving salvation, I was so thankful to God. “God, there is nothing that I did! You loved this mayor and allowed difficulties to him to save him.” Before I finished preaching the Gospel and got up, I told him, “I want to pray for this city, you, and
your health.” He gathered his hands and put his head down in front of God in a humble manner. I was so thankful to God and to the mayor while I was praying. Usually, people like mayors are so busy that they tend to signal that they want to finish the meeting soon so they can attend the next event. However, Mayor Pablo Bruera was different. When I think about this, I am extremely thankful. By the time we stood up to leave after praying, it Testimony • 63
had already been too late for the mayor to go to the next event. Receiving salvation, the mayor came to the World Camp with us. There, he gave the welcoming speech to the students at the camp. After giving his speech, he excused himself, ”I’m sorry that I have to leave now to attend my next event.” Saying good bye to him, I felt very thankful. I saw him for the first time on that day, and I did not know when I could see him again. God made his body sick, caused him to think of God, let him listen to the Word for a long time, and had him accept the Word. As I think 64 • The Good News April 2012
about what happened to the mayor, I am inexpressibly thankful. BECAUSE I FEEL SO HAPPY LIVING MY LIFE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL WITH GOD…
Even now, the reason why I go out to preach the Gospel with the Bible is that there are many people that God loves. He is working in them to save them in Seoul and many other cities and counties. Just As God connected the Ethiopian eunuch with Philip, Ananias with Saul, and Cornelius with Peter and led them to listen to the Gospel, God is using me to save people
A Grain of Mustard Seed
that God prepared, and for which I am very thankful. I do not just preach the Gospel. I am so happy living my life for God and preaching the Gospel. I give all glory and thanks to Him. I have preached the Gospel to many politicians and public figures. I could not meet with most of them again because they are so busy. However, when I pray, I sometimes think about them. I pray that God will pour his grace on them and receive glory through them.
Although I am away from them, I hope that the Holy Spirit of God will lead them and let them grow as workers of God. When Elijah said “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left”, God said to Elijah “I have left Me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal.” As I see that God has left His servants in this world to accomplish His will, I am unceasingly thankful. (An excerpt from With the Gospel to the Ends, With the Lord to the Last by Pastor Ock Soo Park)
Testimony • 65
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