January 14th, 2018
ICA Sunday Pulpit Message
Transcription : MS Word (Korean) , PDF (Korean)
Bulletin : HWP (Korean) , PDF (Korean)
<Intro> The flow that we must follow and the flow that we must block
Last week, we looked at the resolution that Abel made. This week, we will look at the resolution that Enoch made and pray over it. Enoch is very renown. Because he is an outstanding person, many parents name their children after him. Let us look at what kind of resolution Enoch made.
The world has a flow. There are a flow of air, a flow of water, and a flow of atmosphere. Nature has a seasonal flow—spring, summer, fall, and winter. There is a flow in economy. Back in the days, Chung Dynasty of China controlled about a fourth of world’s economy. What country do you think has the most money today? It is the United States. The U.S. has about 30% of world’s economic power. The combined economic powers of Germany, France, England, Italy, and Greece still fall short of the United States’. After the U.S., Japan ranked second and they have about 6%. How much do you think Korea has? It’s about 1.6%. Nowadays, China is economically growing a lot. It used to be where the United States and Russia were the two world-powers, but Russia hasn’t been doing well. Japan hasn’t been doing well, but China has grown a lot. Likewise, there are flows in everything. Therefore, we should be able to see the flow that we must follow and the flow that we must block.
We should be inside of the flow of God’s work and block the flow that Satan and this world bring. God’s flow is the flow of salvation. Because God has raised the Gospel movement, we should be inside of that flow. We saw this during the first service. In Noah’s time, building the ark was the flow of God. There is a flow in the Gospel movement and in church. We must be in this flow. There are different flows to a church that is just starting from a home and a church that borrows a building for Sunday worship. Because we used to borrow a place for Sunday worship, we had to move the speakers, keyboards, microphones, and cleaning tools back and forth. We had to go early and set up everything. For about 5 years, my son set those up on the Sunday mornings. We were in a flow where we set things up quickly. It was always so busy in the morning. One day, a person played the piano while all the other people were busy setting things up for worship. She got scolded for it. To not get scolded, people had to be in the flow of helping setting things up. When the church has its own building, there is another flow. Because everything is already set up, there is a flow of cleaning the church building. Also, when the church was consisted of just 7-8 people, preparing for meals wasn’t an issue, but now that we have about 40-50 people, it became an issue. Some church officers prepare food every week. Some never do. So some church officers got scolded for it. Everything has a flow. We must be in the flow of the work of salvation and Gospel, but we must block the work of destruction and sin.
Especially God’s people who know the spiritual fact must see the spiritual flow of the age. It means you have to be in the flow of God’s work and block the flow of Satan. The flow we need to be inside is the flow of the world evangelization. Jesus said in Matthew 24, “This Gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” We don’t need to be curious about the end of the world. It will come according to the time schedule of evangelism and missions. Jesus went to Israel and the church was built. That Gospel was spread throughout Europe; then it came to Americas and to the entire world. It went in Japan, Korea, and China. When the Gospel is preached to the Islamic Middle Eastern countries and to Israel, then the end will come. You must see this flow carefully.
1. Look at the spiritual flow of the age.
1) The age where Cain’s descendants were flourishing (Gen. 4:16-24)
2) The age where the sin was overflowing (Gen. 6:5-6)
3) The age where the disaster was imminent (Gen. 6:7)
You must see the spiritual flow of the age. Enoch in today’s Scripture saw the spiritual flow of his age well. What kind of age was in Genesis 5? The descendants of Cain who killed Abel were prosperous. Genesis 4 records what they did. They started to have multiple wives. It was the age where the people couldn’t refrain from their physical desire. They kept livestock. They also lived a nomadic life. They played the musical instruments. Because they weren’t satisfied with God alone, they tried to satisfy themselves with music. They made tools with steel. It says they made sharp things. Those are weapons. They also killed others to revenge. Cain’s violent impulse was passed down to his descendants. Murder was prevalent. These are the typical state of the people who left God. It was the age where they made many different things, but their hearts left God. They weren’t with God and they didn’t seek God. It was the age where people didn’t worship God. That was the state of Cain’s descendants. Genesis 6 records that the age was filled with sin. Their thoughts and hearts were always evil. How evil? The age was filled with sin to the point where God regretted creating men.
Seeing the spiritual flow of the age, Enoch knew that disasters would come upon soon. Genesis 6:7 records, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” God’s plan of judgment was relayed to Enoch. Enoch had a son and he named him Methuselah. The name is a combination of two words, “methu” and “selah”. “Methu” means to die; “selah” means to come. So the name means “when you die, God’s judgment will come.” Indeed, when Methuselah passed away, his grandson, Noah, turned 600 and the flood came.
2. Those who make spiritual resolution will definitely win.
1) I will only believe and seek God. (Heb. 11:5)
2) I will abide with God until the end. (Gen. 6:22)
3) I will boldly preach God’s Word (Jud. 1:14-15)
Enoch received the word of God’s plan. How did he recognize God’s plan and will? He could find them because he was always with God. As he walked along with God, he always prayed. He knew that God’s judgment would come upon the land because of its spiritual state. Everyone left God. No one worshiped God and did their own task. They committed many crimes. During this age, Enoch made an important resolution. “Everyone left God in this age. Then, at least I shall be with God. I shall go before God and pray. I shall seek God’s Word when no one else is worshiping or praying. In this age of unbelief, I shall believe in God. Even if it is just me, I shall pray to God.” He made a resolution of faith. In the age when everyone left God, he resolved to walk with God. He resolved to share the way of salvation because God’s judgment will come. Genesis 5 only speaks about Enoch having a son at 65 and walking with God; you may ask, “How do you know he made such resolution?” But if you look in the Book of Hebrews, there are more detailed accounts of Enoch. Hebrews 11:5 says, “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him.” Enoch had faith. In the age of unbelief, he made a resolution in faith. God was pleased with Enoch and He lift him up to heaven. “Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.” God felt sorry for making people. However, He was pleased with Enoch because he believed in God and walked with God. Because he prayed to God in faith, God was very pleased.
When you make a resolution of faith when all the others are filled with unbelief, God will be pleased with you. This is wisdom for your walk of faith. Others might say you are foolish, but God will be pleased. He will be pleased even if it is just you praying for others, devoting to church, and standing before God. This is wisdom for your walk of faith.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” Even though everyone failed, Enoch received God’s blessing. He sought for God’s rewards. Enoch had faith that pleased God. He believed that he would receive answers and rewards when he prayed to God. That is why he resolved to only seek and believe in God. He was imprinted, rooted, and had nature in this life of faith. As he continued to live this way, he walked with God. For how long did he walk with God? He walked with God for 300 years. Whereas others became old and died, Enoch went up to heaven without dying just like Elijah and resurrected Jesus. This is rapture recorded in 2 Thessalonians. Believe that people of faith will be raptured in the end.
Knowing that God’s judgment is imminent, Enoch shared the way of salvation to the world. Judas 1:14-15 records what Enoch did. Adam’s 7th generation, Enoch, prophesized in front of the people, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His holy ones.” What does this mean? “To execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” He proclaimed to the ungodly people to repent. He is basically saying to come back to God who gives salvation. Even though no one was listening, Enoch continued to proclaim this. In the age where everyone left God, Enoch shared the Word of God. It’s hard to share God’s Word when no one is listening, but Enoch boldly proclaimed. It was possible because he made a resolution. He lived the life of an evangelist to save the age filled with sin. This was Enoch’s conclusion. “In the age where no one believes in God, at least I will believe in God. At least I will walk with God. At least I will proclaim the way of salvation.”
3. What is the covenant that God is giving us through Enoch?
1) God is pleased with the ones who have faith. (Heb. 11:6)
2) Being with God is the greatest blessing. (Ps. 23:1-6)
3) God protects the evangelists and their descendants. (Gen. 5:25-29)
What is the covenant that God is giving us through Enoch? Enoch had faith. God’s work will absolutely come upon those who have faith. When you have faith, God is pleased and He gives rewards. God works and He gives answers. So have faith. How? Should you diligently believe in God? No, just believe. Believe that God is alive and that He is your Father. Believe that Jesus Christ has finished my life’s problems. Believe that you are God’s child in Christ. Believe that God knows everything about you and that He guarantees your future. “For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” There could be some good and bad things happening in your life. God gathers all things and guides us with the best thing. Have that faith. God will work.
Another covenant you must grab hold of is the mystery of Immanuel Enoch enjoyed. Confess that God is with you in the midst of your problem and crisis. “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Confess that God is with you. Even if you caught cold, He is still with you. Even if you are poor, God is with you. Many people get anxious when they don’t have much money, but even in the midst of that, confess the mystery of Immanuel. Then, God will be pleased and pour down His blessings. I hope you receive that answer.
Enoch lived a life of an evangelist, sharing God’s Word. If you live the life of an evangelist, God not only blesses you but also protects your future descendants. Enoch’s son, Methuselah died. However, his descendants, Noah and his 7 family members, were saved from the disaster. What does this mean? You need to relay God’s Word to your children. Among children, there are some who sincerely receive God’s Word. Also, among church members, there are ones who sincerely receive God’s Word. When I ask to do something, they carry it out. That means the blessing of the covenant has been relayed to those people. Then, God will absolutely save, protect, and bless their future generations. Enoch found these three blessings and enjoyed them.
<Conc.> What is the only way to be with God and to block disasters and to escape from the judgment? (Jn. 5:24)
Enoch walked with God. How can you walk with God? Enoch and his family were saved from the judgment. How can you be freed from God’s judgment? Should you build an ark? You should do the ark movement, the movement of salvation. Who gives salvation? Salvation is given through Jesus Christ. That is why be believe in Jesus as our Lord. Jesus said in John 5, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” We were once separated from God, but through Jesus Christ, we are with God. We were sinners, but now, we are freed from all sins in Jesus Christ. We were enslaved by Satan, but Jesus gave us the authority to overcome Satan. We must firmly believe in God. You become God’s child when you accept Jesus in you. When you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is with you always and walk with you. When you proclaim the Name of Jesus in you, the Holy Spirit works upon you and chase away all evil spirits. This is the second resolution we need to make in 2018. “I will not leave God even for one second in my life. I will always walk with God and pray.” Then, God will open the doors of evangelism. He will allow you to meet the prepared souls. At that time, you should humbly share the Gospel. Enoch embraced God’s Word to the point he named his children according to the Words he received. Even though others ridiculed him, Enoch firmly shared God’s Word. I hope you can walk with God though God’s Word. In each moment, pray as you converse with God. Then, God will raise the future generation of faith and covenant. God will bless and protect you, your family, and your family line. Believe in Jesus Christ and grab hold of His Word.
<Prayer>
Close your eyes and seek God through today’s pulpit message. God, we have wandered until now, not knowing what to do. We want to enjoy the mystery of Immanuel. We want to receive Your protection and blessing in this age filled with disasters. Although we are weak, we hope this faith would be relayed to our future generations. We want to stand before You. Dear Almighty God, we left You and wandered, but now we stand before You who created this world. Help us to enjoy the blessing of salvation that You completed through Jesus Christ. Help us to have Enoch’s faith who experienced rapture. We resolve to be with You in whatever situation. When You bring people in our lives, we will share with them Jesus Christ who is the way of salvation. Protect us from disasters and judgment. Protect our future descendants. Help us to enjoy the blessing of salvation, and bless our families until You come back. In the Name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.