Sunday 1st Service Worship
Title/Scripture: Christ Who Broke the Sabbath (Luke 6:1-11)
Speaker: Pastor Ryu Kwangsu
Date/Location: August 14, 2022, Immanuel Church (Busan)
Summary
▣ Introduction
1. The gospel that cannot be blocked – the Jews, Pharisees, scribes, and chief priests tried to block the gospel but the early church completely won; Rome tried to block the gospel but Paul evangelized five important nations that Rome was controlling.
2. What happens when you do not know the gospel?
On the Sabbath, Jesus’ disciples picked wheat and rubbed it to eat, and Jesus healed a man with a withered hand, and the Pharisees who followed Him around to find evidence to accuse Jesus criticized this.
1) Because they do not know the gospel, even their zeal becomes a problem.
2) Later generations were scattered as slaves, captives, subjugated peoples, and wanderers.
3) The churches of the world are closing their doors. You must not be zealous about the wrong things.
3. The gospel
1) Enjoying the fact that the Triune God is with me invisibly
2) Gaining the qualification for the blessing of the throne to come whenever I pray
3) The content that completely changes one’s past, present, and future destiny
Because we could not obtain this, God promised Christ in advance.
▣ Main_ What covenant did the powerless early church grasp that changed the world?
1. What seemed to not match reality at all but was within the fulfillment of God’s absolute covenant – Christ is the one who completes the Sabbath, who can give true rest (verse 5).
While going the wilderness road, they were told to build the tabernacle; as soon as they returned from Babylon, they were told to build the temple; they were made to stand before the Red Sea and told to cross. It seems to not match reality, so people are deceived.
1) Matthew 5:17-18 Jesus who came to fulfill the law completely; His word is fulfilled without missing anything
2) John 2:19-22 With the courtyard of the Gentiles, the courtyard of the Remnant, and the courtyard of prayer being used for other purposes, He took a whip and said this temple could be destroyed and built in three days (resurrection).
3) John 19:30 It is finished.
2. The one whose master has changed
1) The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (verse 5) – the Triune God is the master of my life, my work, and my church
The fact that I am the master is religion, an idol temple. It is the gospel when God becomes the master, and when God becomes the master it becomes the temple.
2) The moment the master changes, sickness is healed and destiny is reversed (Matthew 8:17, Luke 6:10).
3) The life movement can completely overcome the legalistic movement – the Pharisees were caught up in the system and had no idea of the content at all, having completely missed the essence.
3. It is Christ who gave true rest, more important than the Sabbath.
1) John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. The peace I give is not as the world gives.
2) Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
3) He does not tell the prodigal son to come after being restored, but to come just as he is, as a beggar.
4) Jesus healed those with incurable diseases and those possessed by demons. He completely changed their destiny.
5) Romans 8:31-39 Nothing can take away those who are in Christ.
▣ Conclusion
1. The resurrected Christ who changed the Sabbath into the Lord’s Day (John 20:1) – the Christ who is with us invisibly, seated on the throne
2. Every day is the Lord’s Day, the day of the Lord. Today is the Lord’s Day when we gather together.
3. Depression – enter a quiet and deep time and change your master. Entrust it to your master.
Transcript
Already 20 years ago, that’s 2002, right? It was when the World Cup was held in our country. Our country came in 4th place. So the whole world was shocked, wasn’t it. How enthusiastic everyone was at that time – didn’t they say our Republic of Korea people were the most united ever? Well, of course, women don’t really understand what it’s about. Women watch dramas even during the World Cup. So it was total chaos. The Hiddink statue was erected and things happened that will remain in history. If our Korea had gone to the World Cup and beaten Germany, the favorite to win, 3 to 0, what would that be like? And if Korea had made it to the finals doing that, what would that be like? If they made it to the finals and faced Brazil and won 5 to 0, that would be like a dream story.
▣ Introduction
1. The gospel that cannot be blocked
Now, something like this happened in the early church. The Jews, Pharisees, scribes, and chief priests, these people, tried to completely block the gospel. But Israel was completely defeated. The early church won. It was truly a 3 to 0 victory. How long did Rome struggle to block the gospel? But in the early church, a figure named Paul appeared and evangelized five very important nations that Rome was controlling. That’s why I say “they won 5 to 0.”
2. What happens when you do not know the gospel?
How could such a thing happen? Uh, when you do not know the gospel, what happens first? Like the Pharisees back then, when they did not know the gospel, they followed Jesus around and criticized what He did. Looking at verse 2, Jesus’ disciples were hungry, so they picked the wheat and rubbed it like this – the wheat? They probably blew off the husk and ate it. So the Pharisees followed along, hiding and watching, and said, how can you do such a thing on the Sabbath day? Since they picked and rubbed it on the Sabbath day, they did work. How can that be allowed? If you don’t understand the gospel, this is inevitable, isn’t it? Who wants to talk like that? But it comes out anyway. Jesus said this. “Have you not read what David, your revered ancestor, did when he and those with him were hungry – he ate the consecrated bread that only the priests are allowed to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” Also, looking at verse 7, they were following Him in hiding to find evidence to accuse Jesus. So on that Sabbath day, He healed a man with a withered hand. In the text? Why do this on the Sabbath? They were trying to accuse Jesus now. Jesus said this. “Which is right on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it, to do good or to do evil?” When He said this, the Pharisees, as we see in verse 11 today, “were filled with rage.” This is what happens – a traditional Jewish church, a church that God allowed, but when these Pharisees do not know the gospel, this is what happens to them. It’s terrifying. They just keep looking for something to fight about.
Are you perhaps like this in the churches of the world? I was shocked when I visited other churches that are in conflict. When I was living the life of faith with you all and saw people like that, I thought, “Wow, are these people even saved?” to that extent, to the point of not understanding. They just look for something to fight over. They don’t even pray at dawn prayer. They write down things to fight about, today’s prayer topic, subjects to fight over.
1) Because they do not know the gospel, even their zeal becomes a problem.
Now, because they cannot understand the gospel, they keep this tremendous day of the Sabbath incorrectly, rather observing it in a problematic way. Do not do anything at all – that’s how it is. That’s the way they keep it. Then do you leave a person to die? Do you leave someone who is drowning in water alone? Do not walk more than five ri. Because of this, wouldn’t walking more than five ri be considered labor? So do not walk more than five ri. Then what do people who live more than ten ri away do? Then can’t they come to worship at church? What those who live ten ri away do is walk five ri at night, the day before. Then they walked five ri, right? They plant a stake and go home. Then they’ve already walked ten ri, right? Then the next day I come again up to here. Then I’ve walked fifteen ri, right? “I planted a stake here yesterday, so I’ve only walked five ri.” They came like this. That’s twenty ri, right? In the end, they go home? They walked thirty ri. This is the kind of thing the Jews did. So you don’t know how terrifying it is to not understand the gospel now. Because they don’t know the gospel, even their zeal becomes a problem, right?
2) Later generations were scattered as slaves, captives, subjugated peoples, and wanderers.
What good is it to be zealous without knowing the gratitude and gratefulness for the salvation God gave me, the content of the gospel? This is why the Israelite people’s later generations were scattered as slaves, as captives, as a subjugated nation, and later as wanderers.
3) The churches of the world are closing their doors. You must not be zealous about the wrong things.
I’m sorry to say that the churches of the world are now hastily closing their doors. You must not do other things. Isn’t that right. What else would you be zealous about? If your life of faith is sufficient with just attending worship, that is proper faith, right? Because you don’t know the gospel, this doesn’t happen. It’s called the gospel in words, but you don’t actually know it.
3. The gospel
1) Enjoying the fact that the Triune God is with me invisibly
This is tremendous. Isn’t the gospel a tremendous thing, enjoying the fact that the Triune God is with us invisibly? Right?
2) Gaining the qualification for the blessing of the throne to come whenever I pray
Gaining this qualification for the blessing of the throne to come upon you whenever you pray is the gospel. Because we could not obtain this, God promised that Jesus would send Christ. He promised it in advance. That is what the Old Testament is.
3) The content that completely changes one’s past, present, and future destiny
This content that completely changes your past, present, and future, that changes your destiny, is the gospel. Because there is none of this power, this is what happens.
▣ Main_ What covenant did the powerless early church grasp that changed the world?
What covenant did the early church of only 120 people grasp that you should hold onto today, that changed the world?
I received strength from thinking a lot this past week. Pastor Lee Seonghun submitted a report, and looking at it, it started a month ago when I said “Let’s build our temple.” I told you a month ago. But how much have you, our elders, our building committee members, prayed? It’s only been a month, and 75 billion won came in. I expected it, but I was surprised at the speed. “Wow, this…” We are aiming for 100 billion won now, but I could feel that “God is truly accomplishing this with a definite plan.” Actually, such a case is rare. Even after a year of advertising, less than half participate. That’s usually how churches are, right? Some churches, when they try to build, go through trials and fights, don’t they? Even building one small church, they go through all kinds of trials. I was amazed looking at you all. I was amazed at you all from long ago too. When I came, I thought, “Can this become a church?” seeing just a few grandmothers and a few people sitting there, but that was my mistake.
How did this powerless early church of 120 people defeat the Jews and defeat Rome, that is the question.
1. What seemed to not match reality at all but was within the fulfillment of God’s absolute covenant – Christ is the one who completes the Sabbath, who can give true rest (verse 5).
First. It seemed to not match reality at all, but it was within the fulfillment of God’s absolute covenant. That would be fine, right? It was within the fulfillment of God’s absolute covenant, but if you think about it a bit, it doesn’t match reality well. This is where people are deceived. It’s hard enough going the wilderness road, and God says “build the tabernacle” like this, right? Not having recovered their senses after returning from Babylon, “rebuild the temple.” Bringing the Israelite people in front of the sea and saying “cross over.” So people without faith absolutely cannot understand this. But what do people with saving faith say? They know what the fulfillment of God’s absolute covenant is. Looking at this, what do we say? Christ did not break the Sabbath, He is the one who completes the Sabbath. That is exactly what is contained in it. He is the completer of the Sabbath who can give true rest.
1) Matthew 5:17-18
Matthew chapter 5, verses 17-18 say this. “I did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. Not one jot or tittle of God’s word will fail to be accomplished.” That’s what He said.
2) John 2:19-22
What appears in John chapter 2, verses 19-22? The temple that God should abolish is like Herod’s temple. Jesus took a whip and struck it, it says. Why? Where did Jesus take the whip and strike? It wasn’t people He struck. What did He strike? In the courtyard where the Gentiles should come, they were exchanging money there. They didn’t know about missions. In the Remnant’s courtyard, where children should come, they were inspecting animals for sacrifice. In the courtyard of prayer, where many people should come to be healed without their fire being put out, they were conducting all sorts of events. Jesus struck those stalls with a whip. So the Pharisees picked a fight again. “Why are you being so violent?” Jesus said this. “This temple can be destroyed and rebuilt in three days.” So they said, “He’s crazy. Rebuild in three days what took forty-six years to build?” “I will die and rise again in three days. That is the temple.” He said. Jesus is the completer who gives true rest, that’s what I’m saying. Right?
3) John 19:30
In John chapter 19, verse 30, among the seven sayings Jesus spoke on the cross, what is the most important word? He said, “It is finished.” The early church was within that. If you are within the covenant being fulfilled by Christ, the true completer of the Sabbath, of course you win, right? Our elders who have been here since the early days are present, right? That is the first thing I said when I gathered the elders. At that time, when Elder Kang Chilse and a few others were there, I said this. “If I am truly one who evangelizes, won’t God bless our church?” I said that, right? “If we truly evangelize, no matter who persecutes and speaks against us, if we preach the gospel, God will bless us.” I said that. Finally, the time has come to build a proper temple here, that’s it. I was truly amazed looking at you all. So our 1,000 bartizans –
is it building 750 of them now, and you all have brought in 75 billion won like this, now. I’m not surprised because of the money, I’m surprised because of your speed, now. How earnestly you all were waiting, that’s how this is happening. And how much you all are holding onto the word and praying, that’s it.
Who can defeat one who is within the fulfillment of God’s absolute covenant? Does Rome win or do the Jews win?
2. The one whose master has changed
Second. The one whose master has changed.
1) The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath (verse 5) – the Triune God is the master of my life, my work, and my church
Jesus said this. In verse 5, I am Lord of the Sabbath. You all, the master of my life is God. Right? You need to be within that. The master of my life is God. The master of my work is the Triune God. The master of our church is the Triune God, that’s what I’m saying. Who can stop this? Right? Who can stop it? If I become the master, that is called religion. It is the gospel when God becomes the master. When I become the master, that is called idol worship. When God becomes the master, it becomes the temple. Right? Now, “become a Buddha” – that’s religion. I’m not saying which is right or wrong. That is religion. It’s extremely dangerous. That “you become like God” that greatly harms you, that is what Satan said. In the Garden of Eden. “Hey, you don’t need God. Become like God.” This is the New Age movement now. It has captured America. America doesn’t know it. Even American churches read the books these people wrote. “Find the hero within yourself” – that is all New Age messaging.
So, the question is who is our master. Is your master you? If I am my own master, what would be the characteristic? I should be able to do as I please. That is what being the master means. And I mean, can I do as I please? Then, after building the whole temple, living for about 200 years, going around having fun, and when it becomes bothersome, saying “I’m leaving” and leaving – can I do that as I please?
2) The moment the master changes, sickness is healed and destiny is reversed (Matthew 8:17, Luke 6:10).
Matthew chapter 8, verse 17 says Jesus healed all the sick, but what does this simply mean? The moment that person’s master changed, the sickness was also healed. Destiny was reversed. Today Jesus called the man with the withered hand to stand up and healed him with just one word. Who can just do that? Who the master is matters. It is a matter of who is the master of my life and who is the master of the church.
3) The life movement can completely overcome the legalistic movement.
So the life movement can completely defeat the legalistic movement. This person was trapped in the system and had no idea about the content at all. These people completely missed the essence. So they picked a fight over the fact that he rubbed the wheat, the grain. If someone is sick on the Sabbath, shouldn’t they be healed just because it’s the Sabbath? That’s nonsensical talk.
You only need to think about this briefly today. “From now on I will remain within the covenant that God will surely fulfill.” I also have many problems, and we may also face problems. Sickness can also occur. “I am changing my master, and my master is the Triune God.” Jesus said, “I am Lord of the Sabbath.”
3. It is Christ who gave true rest, more important than the Sabbath.
The last, third point. It is Christ who gave true rest, more important than the Sabbath.
1) John 14:27
It is not the Sabbath that matters, but rest that matters. Right? “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.” Jesus said this.
2) Matthew 11:28
How can the world give such peace? “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Who dares to say such a thing? Religion says to solve your problems and come. But He says to come exactly as you are, laboring and heavy laden. Religion is different. “Hey, fix all your deeds (behavior) first, discipline yourself, and then come.” God says to just come as you are.
3) He does not tell the prodigal son to come after being restored, but to come just as he is, as a beggar.
It’s not that the prodigal son comes after being restored. He is told to come exactly as he is, in the state of a beggar.
4) Jesus healed those with incurable diseases and those possessed by demons. He completely changed their destiny.
He healed incurable diseases. Jesus did nothing that overstepped the work that should be done by doctors. He healed incurable patients. He healed those possessed by demons. In simple terms, He changed their destiny. This is true rest.
5) Romans 8:31-39
So if you all firmly hold onto this covenant, evidence will surely come. No one can knock you down before the evidence comes. Why? Romans chapter 8, verses 31 and 39 say, “No power, however strong, can separate those who are in Christ.”
Twenty years ago I hurt this hand, and even now it still sticks out a bit like this. After finishing dawn prayer, I went to exercise. At the Choryang Judo hall, I was doing judo, and that day, some judo athletes came from some technical high school or something. Many students came, like this. The head of the hall said, “Hey, Pastor, since these athletes came to exercise today, why don’t you join in with them.” Wow, I was so shocked. They were really fast athletes, I was completely surprised. In judo, the most important thing is “gripping.” The moment I properly gripped and tried to throw, this hand went out (twisted). Wow, they were so strong! Even a strong person, when these kids grip you, I thought, “This is how different an athlete is.” I couldn’t move at all. We say we’re black belts, but we can’t even compare to these kids. “Ah, this is the difference.” Can a weak person win when a strong person is holding on? Christ is holding you with His strong, mighty hand – who can take you away or attack you, that’s what I’m saying.
▣ Conclusion
1. The resurrected Christ who changed the Sabbath into the Lord’s Day (John 20:1) – the Christ who is with us invisibly, seated on the throne
What matters more is the conclusion. What is the conclusion? The Sabbath, simply put, is Saturday. God changed it to the Lord’s Day. John chapter 20, verse 1 says “the first day after the Sabbath.” What day is the first day after the Sabbath? It’s Sunday, right? That is when Jesus resurrected. So we continue to keep that day.
So it’s a bit different. The completely resurrected Christ – this refers to the Christ who is with me even now. The Christ who is with us now, invisibly seated on the throne. What matters more is that today is the Lord’s Day when we gather together. Right?
2. Every day is the Lord’s Day, the day of the Lord. Today is the Lord’s Day when we gather together.
What matters more? We consider every day the Lord’s Day. So the idea that “only Sunday is the Lord’s Day” is something we need to think about a bit more. Right? Monday is the Lord’s day, Tuesday is the Lord’s Day, Wednesday is the Lord’s Day, Saturday is the Lord’s Day, Sunday is the Lord’s Day too. However, Sunday is when we agree to gather together, that’s what I’m saying. Because the Lord resurrected on that day. So we keep it. So this is the worship of the church that started when the disciples gathered by the command of the resurrected Christ. How important is that?
In Japan, Tokyo University is tremendous. A graduate of Tokyo University came to me in the early days and said this. Simply put, it meant many people in your churches are ignorant. Do this, do that. Otherwise, this tremendous movement will close down within 3 years. I said, understood, thank you. But did I really think that inside? He himself closed down within 3 years.
I went up to Seoul in the Gangseo area, and a big church in Gangseo invited me for a revival meeting. But looking at the church, it was a big church. During the gathering, our team –
was so peculiar. I understand that person. No, while his church was holding its own revival meeting, you all came an hour early and took up all the seats. So the members couldn’t even come in and were left outside. This pastor was so upset, saying how can this happen. Even so, at our church’s worship revival meeting, we invited the pastor as the speaker, but other people came and sat everywhere so our own church members couldn’t come in and were all left outside, that’s what he said. The church members couldn’t even come in, he said. I understand that much. Because the place was so packed, people trying to get front seats climbed through the windows. You all were that eager back then. But how can this happen, he said. “Pastor, your sermon is such a waste, I feel. How can you bring such church members around?” It’s not that I brought them around – it’s that they came saying that from various places. “This organization won’t last. It will collapse within 10 years.” He must have been so angry to say that. Remarkably, within 10 years, that church went bankrupt while building a building and closed down. Truly astonishing – that church was completely destroyed, and while digging the ground for construction, they gave up.
3. Depression – enter a quiet and deep time and change your master. Entrust it to your master.
As you all hold onto this covenant and move forward, there are also many cases of depression, even in America, and I too have such struggles. Don’t worry and don’t listen to what people say. Truly enter a quiet and deep time and change your master. On the day the master changes, a work happens. How? Don’t even ask that. Ask your master. What will happen to me? Don’t ask that either. Entrust it to your master.
What is written at that bathhouse somewhere? We are not responsible for items not entrusted to the owner. You all – God is the master, and you must entrust it to Him for Him to take responsibility, that’s what I’m saying. May the prayer for the work of the covenant that saves the world begin, I bless you in the name of Jesus. Let us pray.
Prayer
Thank You, God. We thank You for giving us the gospel. We also thank You for allowing us to preach the gospel. We thank You, God, for allowing us to build the temple needed for world evangelization now that the time has come. We thank You for giving our members a calling and the grace to be able to do it. Please let our lives leave the footprints of Christ in history. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.