no other gods

The first of the Ten Commandments is "You shall have no other gods before Me." (Exodus 20:3)

God gave His laws to the children of Israel through Moses in order to show them His desire for His people in regard to character, worship, relationship, and society.

According to a 3rd Century Rabbi, Moses have 365 prohibitions and 248 positive commander. So in all, 613 commands set the pattern that described a life as God had intended for His children to live in obedience.

But the ultimate purpose of Law was not in any way to make people good. In fact, it accomplished two things we would sooner not deal with:

1. The Law revealed sin; and,
2. The Law revealed a need.

The law is like a dentist little mirror with which the doctor checks for cavities and other abnormalities in the mouth. Its function is to reveal, not heal. It can show the area of problem, but it does not provide the solution.

And that is exactly what Apostle Paul is saying in Romans 7:7-11. Law shows us we have fallen short of God's demands and righteous requirements. But it cannot save us.

Once we come to understand and accept this truth - this problem of sin from which we cannot be freed on our own - we are then ready to share Paul's amazing confession in Romans 8:1-2:

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

And it is here that we understand our need for grace.

The best way we come to God is not after we have "cleaned up our act." It is before.

When we try to come before God, we come to him as did that rock-stacking brother from Max Lucado's Parable of the River.

Remember the Firstborn's words: "Favor won is no favor. Mercy earned is no mercy."

Come to the Father whose mercy can never run dry. Do not wait until you feel you are "good enough" to be accepted by Him.

--from Nakwon EM Jan. 28th Sunday Worship Service

cost of obedience

If we obey God, it is going to cost other people more than it costs us, and that is where the pain begins. If we are in love with our Lord, obedience does not cost us anything— it is a delight. But to those who do not love Him, our obedience does cost a great deal. If we obey God, it will mean that other people’s plans are upset. They will ridicule us as if to say, "You call this Christianity?" We could prevent the suffering, but not if we are obedient to God. We must let the cost be paid. -Oswald Chambers

Daniel's three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew the cost of obeying God by not bowing before idol. They were cast into the fiery furnace, but God delivered them and honored their faith-driven declaration: "But even if he [God] does not [deliver us], we want you to know, O king, we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:18)

Their powerful testimony only heats up the fury and rage of both the king and the fiery furnace.

God rescues the three friends by allowing not even their hair to be singed. The only thing that gets burnt up when they were cast into the fire were the soldiers who were pushing them into it and the binds that held them fast.

When we obey God, there is a cost to be paid. For these three young men, it was their lives. They were willing to pay it, and God honored that faith.

But as Oswald Chambers mentioned, there is another, far more difficult cost that has to be reckoned when we walk in obedience to God. It is the cost our loved ones are forced to pay as a consequence of our obedience to Him.

As they [the soldiers] led him [Jesus] away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. (Luke 23:26)

Jesus obeyed His Father and took up the cross. But as a result, another (ostensibly innocent bystander) paid a price for his obedience.

A man Simon from a North African city of Cyrene was randomly picked out picked out from the crowd to carry Jesus' crossbeam up to Golgotha.

We know little about this man from the Gospels. Luke along with Matthew and Mark make a one-verse mention of this seemingly minute detail, easily overlooked in the light of the incredible historic event of crucifixion of the Son of God.

Nonetheless, it is significant that all three synoptic Gospel authors make a point to mention Simon of Cyrene.

It must have been a humiliating experience to carry the blood-drenched cross of a condemned criminal. It identified Simon to a bloodied felon.

We don't know what he thought of the whole ordeal, but we do know what happened as a result of his unintentional participation: his entire family became believers.

Mark takes effort to mention that Simon was the father of two sons, Alexander and Rufus. Mark's Gospel was written for a gentile audience - most likely those residing in the heart of the Empire, Rome.

It is interesting that Apostle Paul, in his list of greeting in which he recognizes notable leaders and servants in the Church in his letter of to the Romans, he mentions a man named Rufus:

Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. (Romans 16:13)

Chosen in the Lord.

Simon Cyrene was forced by a pagan Roman soldier who cared as much for as him as he did for the condemned Jesus to carry the cross. What history can retell as "forced" and "random," God calls it "chosen."

We don't know what went through Simon's mind during his cross bearing ordeal, but we do know he along with his sons and even his wife were all saved.

What's more, not only were they saved, they were of notable character in the body of Christ in Rome.

Jesus obeyed God and paid a huge cost to save all mankind.

His obedience caused an innocent bystander - as it were - to share that humiliation.

But God took care of the consequences.

Oswald Chambers ends with this exhortation:

If we obey God, He will care for those who have suffered the consequences of our obedience. We must simply obey and leave all the consequences with Him.

--from Nakwon EM Jan. 14th Sunday Worship Service

retreat pre-post CONSECRATION.

Remember Daniel.

Remember his resolve to remain untouched by this world.

Remember how God honored his commitment and devotion by giving him one of the greatest revelation known to mankind.

retreat pre-post CHALLENGE

Remember Peter.

Remember the challenge.

Remember that as rash and tempestuous Peter had been; only he walked away having had encountered Jesus in a way the other disciples who were given the same opportunity failed to do.

retreat pre-post CHOICE

Remember Elijah.

Remember the priority diagram.

Remember where Christ ought to belong in your life.

2007 winter retreat comments

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

We've just returned from our very first retreat at Rosendale Retreat Center (Jan 5th to 7th) and we've all seen what an awesome and faithful and loving God we serve.

Let's share our thoughts and feelings!

a new thing

A child of God ought never lose that sense of awe and wonder in the presence of God.

King Solomon, the wisest man on earth second only to Jesus Christ, came to a tragic conclusion at the end of his life when he confessed "there is nothing new under the sun." (Eccl. 1:9)

For the truly redeemed, "been-there-done-that" attitude has no place. The God I know and love today and always bring me to my knees with amazing revelation of Himself tomorrow... And this until the Day Christ comes.

Prophet Isaiah, in giving hope to the children of Israel, urges them in 43:18-21 to stand upon three foundational promises - promises we cannot do without as we grow in Christ.

1. New Perspective: God urges us to "Forget the former things..." This reference is not to our sinful past; rather, it is to manifestations of God's promises in our lives.

Why?

Because this "new thing" will surpass what we had ever known or experienced in the past. He is not exhorting us to forget God's faithfulness but is speaking of the incomparable glory of what will be revealed to us.

2. New Path: "I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (v.19)

God desires to take us to the next level of deeper relationship with Him in this new year. And that will inevitably lead to a new path; a path we had not tread before in this faith walk.

3. New Provision. "...because I will provide water in the desert...to give drink to my people..." (v.20)

Water in the Bible symbolizes the Word of God.

As we grow deeper and deeper into better understanding and knowledge of our infinite God, we need the firm foundation of God's Words in new revelation of His truths.

As these three things come together - New Perspective, New Path & New Provision - we will grow to know him more and to enter into that deeper relationship with our Creator.

I truly believe this is the Word God desires to give us, Nakwon EM.

He is going to usher us - as we continue to diligently seek after things above - into new understanding of God and His faithfulness.

--from Nakwon EM January 7, 2007 Sunday Worship Service

ebenezer

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying "Thus far has the Lord helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again. (1 Sam 7:12-13)

What is your testimony for the year 2006?

The book of 1 Samuel is about good beginnings and bad endings.

Eli began well, only to end in tragic death along with his sons.

Saul began well, only to end in suicide, away from the presence of the Lord.

How did you begin the year 2006? And how did you end it?

As we face the dawn of new year 2007, we need to take time to remember God's faithfulness to us throughout the past year.

God constantly reminded the Israelites to remember the Lord God who brought them out of Egypt. Even centuries after the great exodus from slavery, God exhorts His children to remember the day of their salvation and their Source of salvation.

Our past is our stepping stone and foundation for our present and future.

We need not - and ought not to - dwell on our failures and sins once forgiven by God, but we need to remember God's ever present help and His amazing work of salvation in our lives in the past.

Do you see God's hand in all that had taken place in the past year? Do you perceive a God who never left you, nor forsaken you?

Did you recognize adversity as an opportunity to see God working in your life?

It is in seeing His loving hand in every facet of our lives that we come to a place of faith and assurance that He will continue to guide us throughout the coming year.

Can you say as Samuel did on behalf of the people of Israel - "Ebenezer"?

John W. Peterson's song expresses beautifully the words I hope we will all confess before the throne of God on that Day:

Someday life's journey will be o'er,
And I shall reach that distant shore;
I'll sing while entering heaven's door,
"Jesus Led Me All the Way."

Jesus led me all the way,
Led me step by step each day;
I will tell the saints and angels as I lay my burdens down,
"Jesus Led Me All the Way."

--from Nakwon EM Decemeber 31st Worship Service