The First and the Last

Sunday 1st Service Worship
Title/Scripture: The First and the Last (Matthew 20:1-16)
Speaker: Pastor Ryu Kwang-soo
Date/Location: April 24, 2022, Immanuel Church (Busan)

Matthew 20:1-16

01 For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard

02 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard

03 About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing

04 He told them, You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right, so they went

05 He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing

06 About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?

07 Because no one has hired us, they answered. He said to them, You also go and work in my vineyard

08 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first

09 The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius

10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each of them also received a denarius

11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner

12 These who were hired last worked only one hour, they said, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day

13 But he answered one of them, Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?

14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you

15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?

16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last

Summary

A woman who was told separately by the most famous fortune-tellers in Jeolla-do and Busan that she would die received Christ and confirmed that her destiny was changed, after hearing that her husband would die if she did not divorce him, and trembling in fear.

▣ Introduction _ The moment one knows Christ, one’s destiny is reversed (John 1:12, John 1:11). Anyone who has confirmed this fact cannot help but evangelize.

1. Our country was bound in a destiny of darkness for about 500 years, attacked by great powers, in incompetence, and trapped in idols. Since the light of the gospel entered our country, our destiny has been reversed to the point that we now do world missions.

2. As the gospel entered a household steeped in idolatry, the destiny of that household was reversed.

3. The moment I personally, in a life that had been hard to live, came to know the gospel, God changed my life.

▣ Main_ What is important to take away from the text

1. A meeting with Jesus Christ reverses a terrifying past destiny.

1) I discovered the fact that Satan was destroying us through 12 strategies, as I watched our struggling parents, nations receiving foreign aid, and churches distributing relief goods.

2) At this point, the covenant of why one is a Christian came clearly.

3) My destiny was reversed from this point on.

(1) Our status was changed.

(2) He gave us the authority to become children of God.

(3) We come to use that authority, and that is prayer – once I knew prayer, prayer became a joy and I was able to restore many things. And I began to understand what the blessing of the throne is, and what transcending time and space is.

2. The moment one truly meets Christ, today’s destiny is overturned.

▷ Even after being saved, people do not come out of the destiny made by unbelievers and Satan. Being saved yet remaining within it is double suffering. Seeing this urgently, I came to hold on to the conviction that we must live only by the gospel and only for evangelism. Just as the Jews could not escape their destiny (Matthew 20:2, 8), churchgoing people cannot escape from it either. We must open our eyes to this. We were in the most urgent and terrifying past destiny of Satan, and we came out of it. If so, we must also come out of today’s destiny of darkness.

▷ In today’s text there is a parable in which the vineyard owner gives the same one denarius to the workers he called at the third hour, the sixth hour, the ninth hour, and the eleventh hour. This means that whether one has believed for 30 years or for one year, if one believes in Jesus, one becomes a child of God who is saved equally.

1) Therefore, when we as children of God enjoy the blessing of the throne, today’s destiny is reversed. That is why Jesus spoke precisely and only about the throne.

(1) Matthew 5:3 Even when teaching for the very first time, He said the kingdom of heaven is yours.

(2) Matthew 6:10 Even when teaching the Lord’s Prayer, He said to pray for God’s kingdom to come.

(3) Matthew 6:33 He said that even without praying for other things, since God knows all, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

(4) Matthew 12:28-30 He said that when the Holy Spirit comes and Satan is bound, the kingdom of God has come.

(5) Matthew 28:16-20 After His resurrection, He promised to be with us, having all authority in heaven and on earth.

(6) Mark 16:15-20 It is written that the Lord, seated on the throne, worked.

(7) Acts 1:3 At Mt Olive at the very end, He explained the work of the kingdom of God for 40 days.

2) Find the throne and the 40 days.

(1) In the upper room, they devoted themselves only to prayer for 10 days (Acts 1:14).

(2) On the Lord’s Day they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread and fellowship, and only to prayer (Acts 2:42)

(3) Daily in the temple and in homes (Acts 2:46)

3) At this point Paul’s words became understandable – Ephesians 6:18 be alert at all times in the Spirit (24). 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 always rejoice, do not cease, and pray.

3. He said that the first will be last, and the last will be first. – He spoke of changing the future destiny.

1) That the first will become last means that although we who believed first appear to be small, our later generations will accomplish a work greater than ours. This means that this power will be passed on to later generations, to the gentiles, and to the world.

2) That the last will become first means that the history that will unfold after you will completely change the future destiny.

3) What is important is that a future age of disaster will come upon our country and the whole world. As the fourth industrial age comes, many will be covered by mental illness and great darkness and disaster. We must make sure preparation to change this.

▷ Therefore, we must hold as a covenant the promises Jesus gave us, knowing the future in full. You will be witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20). I will be with you by the power of the throne (Mark 16:20). We must take hold of these promises as a covenant.

▷ We are to change our household’s and our country’s and my own past destiny through Christ. There may be many problems before us. At this time, do not remain in the destiny where Satan is playing tricks, but change it. What is even more important is the future to come. If we only take hold of this covenant, God will act.

▣ Conclusion_ Take hold of the covenant to change your past destiny, today’s destiny, and future destiny. From that point on, God will work.

▷ I told a missionary couple, If I were the missionary I would not accept help. Here I make them receive an answer. I change these people into those who overturn destiny by healing them. They will do world missions, I said.

▷ In 1987, when I planted the church, the first thing I did was this. The presbytery had assessed the smallest possible dues for us because we were a church plant, and I said I would pay more to the presbytery. Why? Because all of our past destiny must be reversed. Today must be changed.

Christian Evangelism Association www.weea.kr 〈02〉 ▷ 237 Data Missions_ National Bank 856701-04-232485 Christian Evangelism Association (Data Mission Office)

▷ During my time as an associate pastor, I saw many believers spending their time on trivial things, being hurt, and dying of illness, and within that I sought out those with a calling and evangelized them. Just by doing that, God worked. Now something important is happening for world evangelization – the Remnant has risen. If so, then we are preparing to change our future destiny. Take hold of the covenant. From that point on, God will work.

Transcript

In 1988, the Olympics were held in our country. That’s why the ’88 Olympics is talked about so much. I came to Yeongdo in 1987. The Olympics were held the following year. We were worshiping in a small church building, and it was a Wednesday. Back in the early days, there was a member, Deaconess Kim Pyeong-ji, who has since passed away. She brought a young woman with her. She was running a shop just below my place. She had gone to a relative’s wedding, and the mother said something strange there. She was the most famous fortune-teller in Jeolla-do, and she had gone to have her fortune told. She said that her daughter would die this year. Since the mother believed in the fortune-teller, wouldn’t she be worried? So she told her daughter. When the daughter heard it, since she didn’t believe in God, she felt bad hearing it. She came to Busan and told her husband about it. But the husband said, Why would you go get your fortune told in Jeolla-do, get it done here in Busan. So they went to the most famous fortune-teller in Busan. But strangely, the same answer came out. Now, how could this be? How could even a fortune-teller give the exact same answer? The woman became strange as a person. The deaconess brought her to the Wednesday service. She told me what had happened, and I told her clearly. To all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Just before that, in John chapter 1 verse 11, it says, Jesus came as the light. That day, she came to know Jesus Christ and received Him through prayer. She shook all over and was covered in sweat.

Once, back in the early days, in Yeongdo, a team gathered at Deaconess Kim Geum-ae’s house to study the Bible. One woman was crouched in front, crying. So I told the person I was with to go bring her in. She came to the Bible study. The exact same thing happened here too. If you don’t get a divorce, your husband will die – that’s what the fortune-teller told her. That day she heard about Christ and received Him as her Savior. Both of these people are still very much alive today.

▣ Introduction _ The moment one knows Christ, one’s destiny is reversed (John 1:12, John 1:11). Anyone who has confirmed this fact cannot help but evangelize.

What am I saying? We tend to take the gospel for granted, but the moment you know Christ, your destiny is reversed. I have seen this. I confirmed it. I could not help but evangelize.

Why do I say this? After the Republic of Korea was founded, the first president was President Rhee Syng-man. At that time I was still a young student. So I know the background from before Korea was even formed. Our country was completely bound in a destiny of darkness for about 500 years. It wasn’t only what we suffered from Japan. We suffered at the hands of every nation. Japan attacked us, but Russia, China, and the great powers kept attacking us too. Does it even make sense – when a king was to be enthroned, we needed permission from China? It’s unbelievable, but that’s how it was. So strange and incompetent was our situation that we were trapped in it. When a king designated the next king, isn’t that called the crown prince? Even to designate the crown prince, we needed China’s permission. That’s how it’s recorded in history, isn’t it? So we lived under Japanese oppression and then the Korean War broke out, and that was the era we lived through.

Many younger generations and scholars probably don’t know this well. It was at that time that the gospel came into our country. Before that, it was a completely idol-worshiping nation. As you know, as the gospel came in, universities and hospitals were built. Yonhee University and Severance Hospital were established. Combined, they became Yonsei. That’s how the name came together. At that time the king was Gojong, and the first telephone line in our country connected Emperor Gojong’s chamber to Dr. Horace Newton Allen, a missionary doctor who came to our country. Of course it was a bell – a Bell telephone. When the king felt unwell, he would ring that bell and the doctor would come. Fortunately, President Rhee Syng-man and Ahn Chang-ho and many such figures were all Christians. Our country was completely transformed. As the gospel came in, light shone brilliantly upon our country. Most people don’t know this well. All of our leaders, starting from Dr. Cho Man-sik, were elders and Christians. So the gospel did not simply come into our country – it has grown to the point where we now do world missions.

2. As the gospel entered a household steeped in idolatry, the destiny of that household was reversed.

I witnessed our own household, which was steeped in idolatry before the gospel came in. We had no idea what it meant to live by faith. We simply worshiped idols, bowing down to stones and to trees – that’s how our country lived. As the gospel entered our household, it transformed our family.

3. The moment I personally, in a life that had been hard to live, came to know the gospel, God changed my life.

One day I felt somehow burdened, from a young age. Life was hard. I didn’t know why. Then one day I came to know the gospel. God completely changed my life.

▣ Main_ What is important to take away from the text

As you look at today’s text, you must take away what is important.

1. A meeting with Jesus Christ reverses a terrifying past destiny.

First. Meeting Jesus Christ reverses a terrifying destiny. People don’t really understand this well. I can testify to this with certainty. I can testify with certainty even to a Buddhist monk. I can testify with certainty to people of any other religion. This is the promise God made – the Old Testament. Both Old and New Testament mean promise. He made that promise. He reversed us from a terrifying destiny. You must believe this.

1) I discovered the fact that Satan was destroying us through 12 strategies, as I watched our struggling parents, nations receiving foreign aid, and churches distributing relief goods.

I saw our struggling parents and the elders in our neighborhood. Something remained in my heart, though I didn’t know what it was. Somehow I felt in my heart, This isn’t right. I thought, even as a child, We shouldn’t be living like this. On the hillside below our house, there were cans stacked up high with English writing on them. Those of you who are older, like Elder Jeong, will remember this well. We received foreign aid and lived off of it. That’s why the writing on the cans was in English – because we were receiving it. As a child, I wore relief clothing distributed through the church in our yard, clothing that came from overseas. I’m not talking about that. We were completely in spiritual darkness. One day I discovered – I read the Bible and realized that Satan was completely destroying us through 12 strategies.

2) At this point, the covenant of why one is a Christian came clearly.

I was truly shocked. Why am I a Christian? Before, I didn’t even know – I just attended church.

3) My destiny was reversed from this point on.

One day, when the covenant of why I am a Christian came to me clearly, my destiny was reversed. It’s true. Now you look at me and think, Ah, the pastor must be an evangelist for world evangelization. But there are people who have known me since I was young. That’s right. One by one they are going to heaven, but there are still people who know me. They all say the same thing now –

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We too must believe in God – people from my hometown say this. That’s how it has turned out now. We too must believe in Jesus.

When I got married into a good family, my wife’s family did not believe. It was a very good family, but there was one bad thing – they didn’t believe in Jesus. Looking at it originally, what do we call it in our language – they were originally good people. But they didn’t believe in Jesus. Isn’t evangelism my specialty? Yet with my wife’s family alone, I did not evangelize. Why? Because they would come to believe by seeing me. Now all the members of that family believe in Jesus. Isn’t that right?

(1) Our status was changed.

When one truly knows Christ, God overturns our destiny. He changes our status.

(2) He gave us the authority to become children of God.

He said, He gave us the authority to become children of God.

From that point on I began to use that authority. Why? Because I learned that there was authority. I learned that this authority is prayer. Once I truly understood prayer, how happy I became. Because I know prayer, I am able to restore so much. I began to understand what the blessing of the throne is, what transcending time and space is. Do not worry, those of you who are new believers – you must recover this blessing.

2. The moment one truly meets Christ, today’s destiny is overturned.

At the moment one truly meets Christ, a second thing happens – what is it? Today’s destiny is overturned. Today! Of course the past must be resolved, but today is changed as well.

I served as an associate pastor at six churches over a long period. I noticed one thing. I realized that these people, though saved, still would not come out of the destiny made by unbelievers and Satan. If a person is unsaved, then it’s fine to remain in it, but if they are saved and still remain in it, that is double suffering. I saw this urgently, and so the word I held onto was, We must live only by the gospel, only for evangelism. You may look like ordinary people, but you are not. God has called you because of world evangelization.

Today’s text, in verses 2 and 8, shows this – just as churchgoing people cannot escape from that destiny, the Jews could not escape from theirs. Isn’t that right? The Jews could not escape. We must open our eyes to this. We were in the most urgent and terrifying past destiny of Satan, and we came out of it. If so, then we must come out of today’s destiny of darkness too.

Today Jesus told a parable. What was that parable about? There was a vineyard owner who had many workers doing his work. Since he needed workers, he called some at the third hour. He made a contract to pay them one denarius. Since he still lacked workers, he went out again and called others who were idle outside, calling them at the sixth hour. Then he went out again, and this owner called others around the ninth hour. He called some around the eleventh hour too. When the sun went down, he had to pay them, right? He gave everyone the same one denarius. He gave one denarius to the one who came in the morning, and one denarius to the one who was called just a little while before and worked. That’s the story. So those who came early in the day complained. Didn’t I work since morning? This person just came now. Why do you give the same amount? they asked. The owner answered like this: Didn’t you and I agree on one denarius? Didn’t I give you that? What have I done wrong? If I give one denarius to this person now, that is my own business. I did not break my promise with you. That’s the parable. This is something that ordinary people cannot understand. Whether you have believed for 30 years or for one year, if you believe in Jesus Christ, you are saved equally. You have become a child of God. That is why you can enjoy the blessing of the throne. From that point on, your destiny is overturned.

1) Therefore, when we as children of God enjoy the blessing of the throne, today’s destiny is reversed. That is why Jesus spoke precisely and only about the throne.

One day I came to understand what the blessing of the throne is. I confirmed that Jesus spoke these words. To be precise, I confirmed that Jesus spoke only these words. That’s right.

(1) Matthew 5:3 Even when teaching for the very first time, He said the kingdom of heaven is yours.

Even in His very first teaching, He said, The kingdom of heaven is yours. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and are persecuted. The kingdom of heaven is theirs. Those are Jesus’ words. He was speaking of the blessing of the throne.

(2) Matthew 6:10 Even when teaching the Lord’s Prayer, He said to pray for God’s kingdom to come.

Even when teaching the Lord’s Prayer, He said, Pray, Your kingdom come.

(3) Matthew 6:33 He said that even without praying for other things, since God knows all, seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.

You don’t need to pray for other things. God knows everything, He said. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, He said. Those are Jesus’ words.

(4) Matthew 12:28-30 He said that when the Holy Spirit comes and Satan is bound, the kingdom of God has come.

Jesus went in person and spoke this. He spoke to those who believed wrongly in many things. When the Holy Spirit comes and Satan is bound, the kingdom of God has come.

(5) Matthew 28:16-20 After His resurrection, He promised to be with us, having all authority in heaven and on earth.

After His resurrection Jesus said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. I will be with you always, to the very end of the age. Isn’t that right?

(6) Mark 16:15-20 It is written that the Lord, seated on the throne, worked.

At the end of Mark chapter 16, when the disciples went out everywhere to preach the word, it is written that the Lord, seated on the throne, worked.

(7) Acts 1:3 At Mt Olive at the very end, He explained the work of the kingdom of God for 40 days.

At Mt Olive, at the very end, for 40 days He explained the work of the kingdom of God. I came to see this blessing.

2) Find the throne and the 40 days.

So one day, alone, I found something in the Bible – the throne and the 40 days. I found it. You find it too.

(1) In the upper room, they devoted themselves only to prayer for 10 days (Acts 1:14).

In the upper room, they devoted themselves only to prayer, for ten days.

(2) On the Lord’s Day they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the breaking of bread and fellowship, and only to prayer (Acts 2:42)

What is the Lord’s Day? They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to breaking bread and fellowship, and devoted themselves only to prayer.

(3) Daily in the temple and in homes (Acts 2:46)

Daily, in the temple, in their homes. I began to look at this one by one.

3) At this point Paul’s words became understandable – Ephesians 6:18 be alert at all times in the Spirit (24). 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 always rejoice, do not cease, and pray.

Then Paul says, Pray in the Spirit at all times. 24 hours. Always rejoice, never cease, and pray. I came to understand what this meant.

Everywhere we go, we have no power on our own, but God raises up a work that overturns that destiny. You possess this. You must enjoy it. Wherever you go, change the destiny that has fallen into darkness. Because of you, your household will change. Don’t be deceived. Those of you suffering hardship because of the church – don’t be deceived. Because of you, the darkness in the church will change. Isn’t that right? One of you is enough. No matter how dark a house is, one lamp is enough. No matter how dark your household may be, even one small lamp is enough to see by. Completely reverse this destiny of darkness. Don’t remain stuck in it. That’s right? You must not remain stuck in past wounds. Come out of it. Jesus is continuously teaching and showing us this right now.

3. He said that the first will be last, and the last will be first. – He spoke of changing the future destiny.

Then He spoke of a third point. In verse 16, He said this: The first will be last, and the last will be first. Those are Jesus’ words.

Many pastors have explained this – Those who believed long ago are actually slower, and those who believed later become first. That’s how they explained it. There may be people like that. Some believed late but believe well. That’s right. Some believed for a long time but do not believe well. Because that’s how it was continually preached, that’s how I understood it from childhood.

No theologians have explained it this way. In particular, a man named Matthew Henry gave a very accurate interpretation. He explained through biblical evidence what this saying means. I agree with what he said. I think it is the same faith. What did he explain? You who now appear to be small, who believed first and are suffering, but to those who will believe later, tremendous things will happen. Though you who believed first appear to be small, your later generations will accomplish a greater work, a greater work than yours. That is Matthew Henry’s theological interpretation, and I think it is correct. You who believed first now appear to have nothing, appear small, but later a greater work, world evangelization, will be accomplished. This power will be passed on to your later generations, to the gentiles, and to the world. I think that is correct.

2) That the last will become first means that the history that will unfold after you will completely change the future destiny.

So what does this saying mean? The last will be first. What does this mean? The history after you, the future destiny, will be completely changed. You must build such a temple. Isn’t that right? Even unbelievers, over hundreds of years, have built idol temples.

What is more important is that a future age of disaster is coming, for our country and for the whole world. We must change that. We must make certain preparation. Isn’t that right? We must be fully prepared.

Many of you may not fully understand, but look at what our headquarters is doing right now. We are determined to change this certain future disaster. When the fourth industrial age comes, there will be more mentally ill people. What are we going to do? We must change this. We need you. We need the Remnant.

When the fourth industrial age comes, many things will happen. Cryptocurrency transactions will replace banking transactions more and more. People will use blockchain more than going to a bank for cash transactions. This era is coming. People will no longer go shopping in person. Everything will be delivered when ordered. Doctors know this and are preparing. Treatments that don’t require hospital visits will emerge. It’s not far off – it’s coming soon. Things are different now from the past. Things are moving faster. It will come quickly.

In such times, greater disasters will come. COVID is a huge sign given to us. Strange diseases may continue in the future. Simply put, great darkness and disaster will cover us – so change your future destiny. Jesus knew this. Isn’t it true that before long the nation of Israel will disappear? Jesus knew this. And afterward, Rome – after Israel fell, less than ten years later, Pompeii in Rome erupted. Jesus knew all of this. Go to the ends of the earth and be witnesses. Make disciples of all nations. Simply put, I will be with you by the power of the throne. You must firmly take hold of this covenant today. We are to change our household’s and our country’s and my own past destiny through Christ. What is even more important? There may be many problems before us. Wherever we go, there may be many problems even within the church. Do not remain in the destiny where Satan is playing tricks – change it. What matters even more? The future. A great age of crisis is coming. Change it. If you only hold onto this covenant, God will act.

▣ Conclusion_ Take hold of the covenant to change your past destiny, today’s destiny, and future destiny. From that point on, God will work.

One day I went to a mission field for a gathering, and I met a very sharp missionary couple. So I said something to them. Since I saw hope in them, I said this: Turn this place into a headquarters for world evangelization. Don’t rely on help from Korea. Do at least that much. Then the wife began serving even more. She came to our church for a residential training program. During the residential training, she requested a meeting. At that time my room was on the second floor, and she came there to meet with me. She asked, But if you say that, pastor, how can mission fields survive when they rely on support? I said, Anyone needs support, and giving support is not really support – it’s an offering, that’s just how it’s done. What I told you was not about that. Looking at you, I sense you have some kind of ability. It seems you know God’s power. Try doing world missions properly. But from her expression, it seemed she didn’t quite understand. So I said this: If I were the missionary in that position, I would not accept help. I would not accept it. I would raise it up from there. I would make it so that they receive answers here. I would heal these people and change them into people who overturn destiny. They will go on to do world missions.

In 1987, when I first came to our church in this neighborhood, do you know the first thing I did? The very first thing – I said this to our elder. Looking at the presbytery records, I saw that as a church plant, we had been assessed the smallest dues. I said, Elder, we must pay more. So we went to the presbytery and said we would pay more. Much more. That way the presbytery could function well. But looking at me, people seemed to look at me with eyes that didn’t quite understand. Do you know why? We must reverse all of our past destiny. We must change today. Isn’t that right? That is what I am working on right now. We must reverse our past destiny. Today, calling those workers, that parable is a tremendous parable. It is a story about the kingdom of heaven. So I did just one thing.

During my time as an associate pastor, what did I do? Many believers were spending their time on trivial things, getting hurt, and dying of illness. So what I did as an associate pastor was this – I found those with a calling among them and said, Let’s evangelize together. That’s all I did. Just by doing that, God worked. So as you know, you may not realize how important your role in world evangelization is – when we first gathered, only a few people came. That’s right. Of course it was God who did it, but the prayer that you began has now spread throughout the whole world – so many Remnant have risen up. If so, then we are preparing to change our future destiny. Take firm hold of the covenant. From that point on, God will work. May today and this whole week be the best days, in the name of the Lord Jesus. Let us pray.

Prayer. God, we thank You for giving us salvation. Free us from our past and today’s destiny. Now make us the main characters who change our future destiny. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.