Sunday 1st Service Worship
Title/Scripture: The Shepherd Who Seeks the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-10)
Speaker: Pastor Ryu Gwang-soo
Date/Location: August 21, 2022, Immanuel Church (Seoul)
Summary
▣ Introduction
The Lord did not write a single book, yet there are more writings about the Lord on this earth than about anyone else.
1. Peter and the disciples saw that the suffering Lord left behind eternal blessing when He departed. – We can turn the suffering we go through into eternal blessing.
2. We must ask several questions seriously.
1) Why did the Jewish people, who had the Nobel Prize, the kibbutz spirit, and outstanding knowledge, perish? – For almost 1900 years the Jewish people’s descendants could not find their nation and were massacred. Because the Jewish people still deny Christ, this will continue to be a problem in the future.
2) Why did powerful Rome, which conquered the world, perish and create that great problem?
3) Why were Israel’s descendants taken as slaves and captives? – The bigger problem is that in the future, their descendants will scatter as refugees.
▷ The Lord explained this reason during His earthly ministry, and the disciples knew it.
3. The Lord called the tax collectors together, and they came to hear the Word.
The fact that tax collectors were treated as sinners is the responsibility of the nation of Israel, which had become subject to Rome; the responsibility of the church that caused people to miss the gospel; the responsibility of leaders who do not even know why the problem came; and the responsibility of the believers.
▣ Main_ Three ways the Lord showed how to turn suffering into eternal blessing
1. He showed what the fundamental problem and answer were.
1) The Lord had a different way of seeing the problem. – When the Pharisees, the orthodox church, saw the tax collectors, they called them sinners, but the Lord called them lost sheep.
2) The Lord had a different way of giving the answer. – The parable of the one lost sheep, the parable of the virgin who lost one drachma, the parable of the prodigal son who left home.
2. He showed what the fundamental mission was.
1) The Jewish people were victorious in what is visible. – Economic power, the Nobel Prize, success. But they are failing in what is invisible. – They have no need of the Word.
2) Satan, who is invisible, employed the twelve Nephilim strategies to take control of humanity. – There is no answer.
3) So the Lord spoke about the kingdom of God and the throne. – This is the answer.
3. Suffering is the restoration of a fundamental blessing.
1) The Lord’s suffering at Calvary was the beginning of resolving every spiritual problem.
2) The Lord showed and left behind the truth that for those in Christ, suffering is eternal blessing.
3) The Lord showed us that through His suffering on the cross, He restored eternal blessing to us.
▣ Conclusion
1. The one who received an even greater answer without having seen the Lord was Paul. – We too can receive the same answer now.
2. When the answer of the kingdom of God and Mt Olive is restored, the recreation history of the Upper Room at Mark’s house will occur. – Do not be discouraged, and wait for the kingdom of God.
3. Make three courtyards where the multi-ethnic peoples, the sick, and the Remnants can come and rest.
Transcript
▣ Introduction
Thank you. The Lord did not write a single book. Yet there are more writings about the Lord on this earth than about anyone. There are many books, but the books about Christ are the most numerous. So there is a reason we must know Him. He was crucified as the most important event on this earth, yet He only ministered for exactly three years. So then, we must find out everything about that period.
1. Peter and the disciples saw that the suffering Lord left behind eternal blessing when He departed.
The disciples saw this as they closely followed Him. That is the Key. In a word, the Lord was continually criticized, and even so, after three years He was crucified on the cross. In a word, the suffering Lord left behind eternal blessing when He departed. Peter saw that. The disciples saw it. The Lord’s goal was world evangelization, but He showed this to the disciples at that time. So then, we must see this important thing. The suffering you go through can be turned into eternal blessing. Peter directly witnessed this for three years. You know Peter’s influence. Peter was a fisherman, but after meeting Christ he left a greater mark than the Roman emperors. Whose influence was greater, Napoleon’s or Peter’s? Peter’s influence is greater. Because the Lord showed and left behind the secret of turning that suffering into eternal blessing, we must be able to find it too.
2. We must ask several questions seriously.
So then, we must first ask a few questions. You must do this seriously.
1) Why did the Jewish people, who had the Nobel Prize, the kibbutz spirit, and outstanding knowledge, perish?
Why did the Jewish people, who had the Nobel Prize, the kibbutz spirit, and the most outstanding knowledge, perish? To the point of misery, for almost 1900 years their descendants could not find their nation and were simply massacred. The Jewish people do not know the reason. Peter knew it. That is why you must properly grasp that covenant which turns suffering into eternal blessing.
Let me say it again — the Jewish people will continue to be a problem in the future. They still deny Christ.
2) Why did powerful Rome, which conquered the world, perish and create that great problem?
Now, why did powerful Rome, which conquered the world, perish and create that great problem? We must ask this question.
3) Why were Israel’s descendants taken as slaves and captives?
Why were Israel’s descendants taken as slaves and captives? And now they have become a subject nation.
The bigger problem is that our descendants will also scatter as refugees in the future. The Lord explained this reason, and the disciples knew it. The representative figure in this is Peter. You must look carefully at the Lord’s earthly ministry. Look at it, and we must find the answer. But we must see this in order to properly understand every event now.
2022 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC Response 24 (34) (The World Evangelization Full Gospel Bible Center) www.weea.kr
Category: Sunday 1st Service Worship | Title/Scripture: The Shepherd Who Seeks the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-10) | Speaker: Pastor Ryu Gwang-soo | Date/Location: August 21, 2022, Immanuel Church (Seoul)
3. The Lord called the tax collectors together, and they came to hear the Word.
The Lord called together the sinners and tax collectors, and they came to hear the Word. Seeing this, the Pharisees criticized Him again. The Pharisees, in other words, were the orthodox church of that time. In every age, the church is the problem. These people were the ones who criticized. Now, because Israel became a subject nation, the Romans took control of the whole world and extorted taxes. It must have been tremendous. Rome conquered the whole world and then collected taxes. The method of collecting was to recruit somewhat unscrupulous people among the Romans. So they said, “Collect that tax and bring it up.” “How much exactly?” “You figure that out yourself. Everyone’s circumstances differ, so collect according to their situation. Whatever extra there is, you can eat.” This was the policy they used. So how diligently they must have gone around collecting taxes. Tax collectors were the ones the Jewish people hated most.
Now, whose responsibility is this? This is not the responsibility of the tax collectors. It is the responsibility of the nation of Israel that became subject to Rome, the responsibility of the church that had been causing people to miss the gospel, the responsibility of leaders who do not even know why the problem came, and the responsibility of the believers. This is extremely important.
▣ Main_ The Three Ways the Lord Showed to Turn Suffering into Eternal Blessing
So if you understand these three important things, your suffering will certainly be transformed into eternal blessing. This is what the Lord is showing us now. It is not simply that the tax collectors gathered to hear the Word — there is much important content contained in this. What you must take home with you today are the three things the Lord gave for turning your suffering into eternal blessing — you must hold onto them firmly.
I know a little about the late Joseon dynasty period. Why, because we have somewhat experienced and lived through such things. Surprisingly, the situation at the end of the Joseon dynasty is exactly the same as the situation that continues even now. What is even more surprising is that the church situation is also exactly the same. I have seen this myself. I may have seen it wrongly. But as far as I have confirmed, I am certain. Japan built up its strength in order to conquer Korea, and further, to conquer China and the world. Korea, Joseon, was always fighting over positions of power. Of course it was going to lose. What did it miss? But this is exactly the same in the church too. I have watched churches from my home church all the way to now. They have exactly the same problems as unbelievers had during the Joseon dynasty period. The future is obvious.
Today, these tax collectors, whom the Jewish people call sinners — how did they behave? They came near to hear the Word. That’s what happened. The orthodox believers, the Pharisees, came near in order to criticize, while never coming close to knowing the great mystery, Jesus Christ Himself, always coming near only to revile Him. These tax collectors were people treated as sinners. “They came near to hear the Word” — that’s what it said. What exactly did the Lord show us? What must we grasp today? Why does Israel, though believing in God, suffer such hardship?
1. He showed what the fundamental problem and answer were.
First. We must know what the fundamental problem and answer are. The Lord gave us what the fundamental problem is and what the fundamental answer is.
1) The Lord had a different way of seeing the problem.
The orthodox church at that time called these people sinners, but what did the Lord say? He said they were lost sheep. This is a completely different way of seeing. Of course the Jewish people had to perish. Why — their perspective was different. They saw those tax collectors, who had no choice but to fall into hardship and die in that harsh difficulty, and called them sinners, criticizing, “How can you eat with such people?” Now, we must hold to the right gospel and become the right kind of believer.
2) The Lord had a different way of giving the answer.
The Lord explained differently. “You have a hundred sheep and you lose one. Would you just go home?” Because their spiritual eyes were so dark, the Pharisees thought themselves clever. He was explaining that very thing. “If it were you, would you keep tending a hundred sheep, lose one, and just go? Go home? Wouldn’t you search for it?” These people already knew what the real problem of life is and what the answer is. He was telling them that.
When a virgin was to be married, the man to whom she was betrothed would hang around her neck an ornament set with ten drachma coins. This was so they could recognize each other at the wedding. But this virgin, running around like a tomboy, lost one of the ten drachmas. Having held onto all ten, how would she feel when one went missing? “Wouldn’t you search for it? Wouldn’t that woman take a broom and sweep the whole house searching?” This is what the Lord said. Already, His way of seeing the problem was different, and His way of giving the answer was different. We must remember this. In order to receive a true answer, what must we grasp? We must know it. “A son, worn out because of his older brother, left home and became a prodigal and does not return — wouldn’t you wait for him, if it were you?” We will look at that in the second service.
The Lord is now showing us what the fundamental problem is and what the answer is. “That tax collector is not a sinner but a lost sheep. That son who left home is not a sinner but a lost son. It is because we did wrong, because the nation did wrong, that we became subject to Rome.” This is what He is telling us now. Only when the problem is correctly understood can the answer also be correct. “The church lost the gospel and went off doing something else, and that’s how it ended up like this.” The Jewish people never change. That is why the Lord must have felt so frustrated. Peter understood this. That is remarkable. It’s no wonder they conquered the world.
2. He showed what the fundamental mission was.
Second. Then what is the fundamental mission we must fulfill? He is telling us this now.
1) The Jewish people were victorious in what is visible.
The Jewish people were victorious in what is visible. They made money, received Nobel Prizes, had enormous economic power, and succeeded. But they are completely failing in what is invisible. Do you know what that invisible part is? They have no need of the Word. They think of it as, “the Jewish God.” They think of it as, “the Jewish spirit.” That is wrong. Look at Rome too. “We must dominate the world.” That is wrong. “We must conquer the world. We must drag young people from the whole world and make them slaves. To do that we must not shrink from any means.” Is this different from history today? Is it not the same? This is spiritual blindness. That is why the Lord is teaching us this now. And their spiritual eyes have become completely darkened.
We must know what the fundamental mission is. If you know what your fundamental mission is, you will receive answers even without working. If the fundamental mission is wrong, the harder you work, the more problems arise.
2) Satan, who is invisible, employed the twelve Nephilim strategies to take control of humanity.
At this time, Satan, who is invisible, employed the twelve Nephilim strategies and completely took control of humanity. So there is no answer. Now things are more advanced than in the past. There is more hardship. There is no answer. Now the level is much higher than in the past. There are more mentally ill people. Now you cannot even trust what people say, because there are too many mentally ill people. Even if someone picks a fight beside you, you must not fight back now. There are so many mentally ill people. Now, you must be careful. If someone honks their horn at you, say you’re sorry. Otherwise they might come and shoot you. There is no answer.
3) So the Lord spoke about the kingdom of God and the throne.
So the Lord continued speaking about the kingdom of God and the throne, which the orthodox believers, the Pharisees, could not even understand. Because that is the answer. So He told them what the fundamental problem is and what the fundamental mission is.
3. Suffering is the restoration of a fundamental blessing.
And now there is the final mission being given to Peter. “Restore the fundamental blessing.” Suffering is the restoration of a fundamental blessing.
1) The Lord’s suffering at Calvary was the beginning of resolving every spiritual problem.
The Lord’s suffering at Calvary was the beginning of resolving every spiritual problem. You must grasp
2022 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC Response 24 (34) (The World Evangelization Full Gospel Bible Center) www.weea.kr
this firmly. There is no mistake. Do not try to achieve it — just grasp it, I’m telling you. You have no ability to do it. Why must you grasp it? Because we do not know our future. Grasp it.
Today I found out, just before the worship service, that Elder Jo Seong-mu’s wife had come by briefly and left. When I asked why she had come, she said there was nothing in particular, she just came because she was thankful. She said the elder seems about to pass away soon. She said she doesn’t know when she herself will go either. She realizes she is about to go before God, and she said this out of gratitude, being very thankful to the pastor.
We must know how thankful we should be that we can worship in this moment right now. In the past, before I understood the gospel, I always only talked about problems and complained. Problems kept coming endlessly. Then one day, after realizing the gospel, I began to speak of the answer. From that point on, God’s answer began to come without end.
Make your resolution today. You are not a condemned sinner tax collector. Seeing your shortcomings, other believers may say such things, but the Lord does not say that. “You are My lost sheep. I must find you.” Others may say you are worthless, but what does the Lord say? “You are lost treasure. I must find you.” Others may call you a prodigal, but the Lord says, “You are My lost son. I must find you.” We will see this in the second service today.
Do you know how important it is that you have grasped the covenant? Today in our district Bible study, Elisha said, “I need no house, I need no Gilgal. Give me a double portion of the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.” And this is what set off the Dothan revival movement. The Word will continue to come. We must properly grasp the covenant — only then does worship truly have meaning. “My suffering is the way to eternal blessing.” That’s right, isn’t it?
2) The Lord showed and left behind the truth that for those in Christ, suffering is eternal blessing.
The Lord showed and left behind the truth that for those in Christ, suffering is the way to eternal blessing. People may discourage you in every way, but the Lord calls those who are abandoned lost sheep, calls them lost sons, calls them lost treasure. If you firmly grasp that covenant, you will see what comes next — you will begin to see the fulfillment of the Word. That is the life of faith. That is when the answer comes. You must grasp the true answer.
Unable to speak, deaf, blind, and having seizures on top of it — the parents said this child couldn’t be helped. What could they say? “I gave birth to this child and raised her, I know her — she cannot be helped, this one. Don’t bother with her.” Not giving up on that was Anne Sullivan. Right? That doesn’t just mean she persisted to the end. It means she recognized that God’s plan and blessing were contained within that child. Look at what happened in the end. What history unfolded?
Before that, there was Fanny Crosby, whose eyes were blinded due to an accident. But isn’t that, in a way, forced comfort? Her grandmother and mother told her that her blindness was a path to receive God’s great grace — how could that be believed? But Crosby believed it. A true history took place. That is why all her hymns are connected with the theme of a path or way. “All the way my Savior leads me” — meaning He leads me the whole way. “The love of God, how rich and pure” — no words can describe it, it said. And so she wrote so many songs about the journey.
3) The Lord showed us that through His suffering on the cross, He restored eternal blessing to us.
Christ came and showed us just one thing. He suffered on the cross and restored eternal blessing to us — that is it.
▣ Conclusion
Let me conclude.
1. The one who received an even greater answer without having seen the Lord was Paul.
Now, someone who never even saw the Lord came to understand this blessing even more deeply, didn’t he? Why am I saying this? Because it means you too can receive the same answer today. The one who received the same answer, even greater, without having seen the Lord, was Paul. Paul was an intellectual with the highest academic background. He came from a family worth boasting about. Paul had the highest possible profession in Israel at the time. Yet he confessed, “Now that I know Christ, I count all these things as rubbish.” What an astonishing answer he must have received to say such a thing. “What I accomplished, what I did, amounts to nothing.” This is the statement of one who is running to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of him. This is already the statement of one who knows the answer. Earthly things had already become rubbish to Paul. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call.” He did not say our citizenship is in Rome, but rather, “It is in heaven, in the kingdom of heaven.” What a tremendous answer this man left behind. He knew these things.
2. When the answer of the kingdom of God and Mt Olive is restored, the recreation history of the Upper Room at Mark’s house will occur.
Today you are people who know what the fundamental problem is. Isn’t that right? It’s different. Then you truly know what the mission is. It does not end with what we must restore. Now what comes next? Wherever you go, the answer comes — that is the standard. It is the kingdom of God, the answer of Mt Olive. Right? Do not be discouraged, wait. The kingdom of God. Later, the history of recreation will occur. The Upper Room at Mark’s house. Without fail.
Now that I know this grace, even now, when I see our workers filming again, these people have to come from before dawn. How thankful I am. That’s it — the elders come from before dawn, and hold church meetings and pray — how thankful I am for that. Right? I am truly, deeply thankful. How thankful Paul must have been. In Christ. How strange it is. Isn’t this the difference between those who enjoy the blessing of salvation and those who do not? I am so thankful. No matter what anyone says, in this hour of grasping the covenant and worshiping, I am certain that this is the appointed time for the kingdom of God to come and the blessing of the throne to come upon us.
3. Make three courtyards where the multi-ethnic peoples, the sick, and the Remnants can come and rest.
We are making three courtyards here. We are making a place where many multi-ethnic peoples can come and rest. This is not just another task. Make a courtyard where many sick people can come and rest. This is not just another program. Make a place where our Remnants can come and rest. And receive the strength God gives, and go out and take on the challenge.
How could a tax collector, unable to act on his own will, survive before people who call him a sinner? The Lord said they were lost sheep. It’s a completely different perspective — the opposite, entirely the opposite. “How can you eat with such sinners?” But the Lord immediately recognized, “They are lost sheep.” “It is because you did wrong that they became lost sheep. The church, having lost the gospel and running errands for Satan, was destroyed and became a subject nation. That is why such people came to exist. We are the ones who must find that lost sheep.” So if you see the problem wrongly, no matter how clever you are, there is no answer.
Today, grasp this covenant firmly. Christ’s suffering saved all of humanity forever. The suffering I go through will be part of a history that turns it into God’s eternal blessing. Something else will happen. Let us pray.
Prayer
Thank You, God. Grant us the right gospel and the right eyes. Do not let us perish like the Pharisees despite having all our abilities. Do not let us cast our descendants into ruin — help us to grasp the exact covenant. Save Rome, which ruined the world with its great power, with even greater power. Let this prayer begin this week. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.