The Lord is My Shepherd

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. " - Psalm 23:1

1. Yahweh God - God's name has everything to do with salvation. He declares "I am." He's is the un-caused caused, the uncreated, the ever unchanging. Everything around us changes, but He is immutable and so is His love. We never have to worry that He will change from something impacting Him, because He cannot be impacted.
2. Shepherd God - We are often characterized as sheep. Sheep are known to rely heavily on their vision. They can not go where they can not see. Much like them, we need to "see" to believe. Furthermore, much like a sheep without its shepherd, there is no way we can defend for ourselves without the Lord. Yet like a good shepherd, our Lord gives us both provision and protection.
3. Provisional God - Whether we acknowledge it or not our lives are stuck in a "prison of want." It is the hunger within us to pursue things which detract us from God. No amount of things in this world will ever satisfy you. So how do you get out of the prison of want?
   (1) Your stuff isn't yours - You can't take anything out of this world. You came into this world naked and you will leave this world naked. It never has and never will belong to you.
   (2) You stuff isn't you - What you possess doesn't define who you are. What defines you is what is in your heart. A man's life isn't defined by the abundance of his possessions. What we have in God is greater than what we don't have in life. It isn't about what you have, it's who are in the face of the Lord.

Wealth may wither away, friends may turns away and even our youth will eventually erode with the flow of time, but as long as you have your character and your faith, then you have everything you will ever need. You can lose everything, but do not lose your soul for a fleeting temptation for it is nothing more than a speck in the face of eternity.

--from Nakwon EM May 25th 2008 Sunday Worship Service

bah ram ewe~

Knowledge of God

What is the result of someone who comes into contact with the knowledge of God? 2 Peter 1:3-11 talks about what happens to those who comes to know God. The word of God has an uncanny bi-polar effect for those who come into contact with it. It can either change and transform you heart or it can harden and deaden you towards the things of the Lord.

1. Provisional knowledge of God - God has already given us everything we need to obtain eternal life and overcome. However, most of us are unable to see that He has already provided us with such provisions. Many of us fail to come closer to the Lord, because we try to add Christ into our lives without subtracting the world.
2. Progressive knowledge - We are called to better ourselves through our sanctification from the Lord. What we accomplish today in the Lord's name must be even greater tomorrow. If we become content and idle in our spiritual walk, then ultimately we become unfruitful.
3. Positional knowledge - Every child of God has a calling. If you find your calling and make it sure then you will never fall and ultimately receive your welcome into His eternal kingdom. Our purpose is to serve, and we will only find peace with ourselves when we perform the functions we were meant to do. Your love for God will make it natural for you to serve.

If we continue to turn a blind eye towards the things of God, it will ultimately make you turn away from Him. Does of knowledge of God spur your heart to work for Him? Mercy triumphs over judgement, so will you let God's truth touch you?

--from Nakwon EM May 18th 2008 Sunday Worship Service

Not all things that glow have a voice, ESPECIALLY CANDLES!!!!!

Love of God

1 John is considered the greatest treaties on God's love. In 1 John 4:7-12, he talks about the importance of love in understanding God. If you fail to understand the love of God, then you've failed in understanding the Lord. Yet the truth is nothing in the human language can come close to expressing the love of God.

1. Love Defined - Contemporary culture likes to talk about love. There are endless amount of songs which try to talk about it. However, what modern society fail to grasp is that love is not a two-way relationship. Granted love can blossom between two people, but true love must come from the Lord Himself. For a person can only love another, if they themselves have been loved, and what love is greater than the love of God?
2. Love Demonstrated
   (1) God's love is sacrificial - One of the most common heard phrases is that we know God's love because He sent His one and only Son to die for us. While this may be true, many tend to miss the heart of the father. A father's love for their child is unmeasurable and this is no different for the Lord. People often fail to realize the heartbreaking pain He must have endured in having to give up His one and only son for a fallen race.
   (2) God's love is purposeful - God demonstrated His love so that we may live through Him. It showed us a type of love we never knew before. A type of love that He wants us to strife for.
   (3) God's love is unmerited - He knew we needed Jesus long before our creation. The Lord knew that we will become a fallen race and will eventually need the sacrifice of His son to save us. Long before our first breath, the Lord already made provisions to save us. For God's love is everlasting and not dependant on our performance.
3. Love Displayed
   (1) Application of love - God's love is not a natural love, it is supernatural. He does not ask you to better yourself before you are qualified to receive it. All you have to do is accept it. The love of God has the power to turn us from sin. It is far greater and influential than the fear from His wrath.
   (2) Evidence of love - The love in your life must be other focused. Ultimately the Lord will judge you based on the fruits of your life. You can spend the rest of your days memorizing scripture, praying and fasting, but if you fail to help others, then you would have failed in grasping the love of God. Does God's love compel you to spend for others?
   (3) Completions and Change - Love of God has to change you. First your heart, then your appearance. We are called for others to see Jesus in us during this side of eternity.

The love of God is probably the most important and understated attribute of God. It is the single defining characteristics that can be used to explain all His other attributes. Why did he create us? Why did he save us? Why does he punish us? Why are we tested? How do we better ourselves? Everything can be defined by His love. For some, coming to grip with His surpassing love can be difficult. After all, what have possibly done in our lifetimes in order to deserve this? Yet for those who have accepted His love will find that they have gained a deeper understanding of God, a loving God.

--from Nakwon EM May 11th 2008 Sunday Worship Service

Song JDSN ability to love is directly proportional to EM's ability to annoy her.
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