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Esther 2-8 Esther and Mordecai

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In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng shared the story of Esther and Mordecai, how by God’s grace, Esther became queen to the powerful King of Persia. However, one of the King’s wicked advisors plotted against the Jewish people, because of his hatred towards Mordecai, who was Esther’s cousin. Esther was asked to plead to the King, but she was afraid that approaching the King without permission could be death. However, Mordecai encouraged her saying that perhaps she was placed in the royal position as Queen for such a time as this. It is a message that speaks to us, whom God has prepared by His providence in the time, place, and position I am now.

Esther answered with faith, listening to Mordecai, and heeding to God’s Will. Her famous words were “If I perish, I perish”. Her fear turned into faith and trust in God. She now understood that her life was only meaningful in God’s Will. What kind of fears to we have living in this world? Perhaps we try to “play it safe” and not risk ourselves. Apostle Paul said to live is Christ and to die is gain. It speaks to how our life is meaningless in the world and meaningful only is the bigger context of God’s Will. If we perish, we perish, but we still believe in God’s great power to bring resurrection.

Afterwards, Esther appeared before the King and by God’s grace was accepted. Then through a series of events, Haman was executed. Later, Mordecai and the Jewish people were lifted up. This is how God works so mysteriously in the background. When everything seemed to be going against the Jews, and even genocide was imminent, God worked to turn the situation around. This is God’s faithfulness towards the ones who live righteously by faith. As Christians, we also do not fear death and have faith in God who has the power of resurrection.

May we be guided by the Holy Spirit in our lives, believing in the power of the resurrection, and live for God’s glory and Kingdom.

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Fall Retreat Day 3_2

Gratia Held Fall Retreat on Labor Day 

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On Saturday September 2, Gratia Church held their first full day of the Fall Retreat. The Fall Retreat is a time to reunite after being away for the summer and prepare for a new semester of evangelism and missions. The retreat was held in Sacramento, the capital of California.

The day started with opening service led by Pastor Sharon who preached on John 2 and described the qualitative life change that the Lord brings. For the first Bible Study, Pastor Walker preached from John 5 about the invalid man being healed and the heart of faith that is called in effort to stand up for God.

The retreat also featured games and a walk outdoors that was a time for attendees to have deep fellowship together. Also, attendees shared talents by performing in a talent show with a Christian skits, songs, piano playing, and even a Christian rap. Fellowship meals were full of God’s grace. The day ended in a graceful prayer meeting where the Holy Spirit touched the members.

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whatfaithcando

Jesus Walks on Water – What Faith Can Do?

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In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng spoke the wind and the waves that may rock our lives. It makes us realize we are not in control and the unknown feeling puts us in fear and anxiety. However, faith is understanding that God is sovereign and in control of this world and He does not leave us alone. The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost, but he actually came by walking on water. In the same way, God doesn’t just come to us mystically, but He helps us practically and tangibly in our lives.

Peter also does something amazing by walking on water as well. It shows that he has love and courage and was willing to change his thinking. Peter would not have been able to walk on water if he didn’t get out of the boat in the first place. It’s the same with us, in order to have the miracle of walking on water, we need to get out of the boat that we are stuck in. This is about changing our hearts and relying on God is in control and helps us walk on water.

What started off as love and courage, however, ended up with doubt in Peter and he fell when he saw the winds. Doubt is being double-minded, while faith is being single-minded and having simple obedience to the Lord. At no time does the Lord shake, he is in complete control even amidst the wind and the waves. We must have faith in order to go straight and continue on absolutely.

That being said, Peter’s story doesn’t end badly, because he did have faith in the salvation of the Lord. He said, “Lord, save me” and Jesus did reach out his hand and save Peter. Faith in salvation is the basic Christian faith. Without faith in salvation, who would ever go beyond their boundaries? However, Peter got out of the boat, he walked on water, fell in doubt, but was saved by the Lord in faith. This kind of dynamic life is one that we must live as well for the Kingdom, trusting in God who saves us.

We are all limited, but may we all be the ones who walk on water like the Lord, and follow him in faith.

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The Parable of the Ten Minas

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In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng explained how the minas represents time. While it may seem that God gives us each different amounts of time in our life, this is not a quantitative measure of time, but a qualitative measure of time. In God’s eternity and love, He gives us all our own individual time and treats us in this time in the same way.

This treatment of time is that God gives us a responsibility, a purpose to use that time. Although God is almighty in His providence and sovereignty, taking responsibility for all things in our lives and for the Kingdom, we still have a responsibility in our time. It is to receive God’s purpose in our life joyfully with love because He is the loving God.

The final servant regarded God in a “hard” way, pessimistic, cynical, and lawful. The logical conclusion to this heart is due judgment. Rather, may we receive the time and responsibility we’ve been given by God joyfully. God will allow us to bear fruits and allow our lives glory.

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Gratia Monday Group Bible Study Overflows Grace

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Gratia church offers group Bible study every Monday and regular Bible study students joined it on August 22, 2022. They studied Romans 3 and shared freely about the message after that. Some members asked questions like how we can define sin, and how we can explain grace to non-believers. It was very graceful to see how the attendees were strengthened by sharing their own testimony. We pray that God pours down abundant grace to all members throughout the week.

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Luke 18:9-14.

The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

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In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng spoke about the prayer of the Pharisee which tried to use outward actions to gain righteousness before God. However, we cannot gain peace by our own actions compared to others. It may temporarily ease us to compare ourselves to others, but even the richest and most powerful people have anxiety and lack of peace. This is because our peace only comes from God.

The prayer of tax collector had radical sincerity in it. We can compare this prayer to the calling of Matthew, the tax collector, who Jesus reached out to with radical love. A sincere person will pray to God with a sincere posture like the tax collector did. Jesus himself prayed in this way, with struggling sincerity at Gethsemane.

Whether it is the prayer of the Pharisee or tax collector, we find that we are all completely limited. Even in the heart of trying to be humble, we can be prideful at the same time. Therefore, it’s not as if we can resolve self-righteousness and pride on our own. We need the grace of God from above and that is accepting the love of Jesus on the cross.

May we have the faith in God’s love that is completely beyond us and be sincere in our relationship with Him.

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Next-Level-Faith

He Was Transfigured Before Them

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In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng spoke about the meaning of the scene of Jesus being transfigured before the disciples. The context of the scene is Peter’s confession of Christ. This confession of Jesus Christ is something all believers go through and forms the basis for our faith. It changes our eternal destiny and gives us the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

After Peter’s confession of Christ, the Lord took him up to a mountain where he was transfigured before the disciples. In this event, he was next to Moses and Elijah and Peter was seemingly happy and comfortable with this. He even offered to build a shelter for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. However, after the voice of God came down, Peter realized that Jesus was on a higher level than the other two and fell down trembling in holy fear.

In the same way, we can become comfortable with our faith in Jesus Christ after we confess he is our Lord and savior. However, the event of transfiguration needs to happen in our faith. We shouldn’t be satisfied with our faith and our faith needs to take the next step and we must open our eyes even more to the Lord. His Word must burn in our hearts and we to know his calling for all of us, including the dream of the Kingdom of God.

We may be small like a mustard seed now, but the love of Jesus has the power to transform us. Also, Gratia Church may be small right now, but we must live truly like the early church and God has the power to change transform us into a beautiful church in His glory.

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Gratia Concludes Discipleship Training with Testimonies

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Gratia Church concluded 3-day discipleship training in Colorado on May 22. It was full of grace and testimonies of God’s work in the students.

Pastor Walker wrapped up the discipleship training with closing service, encouraging students to live with the greater righteousness and love of God for the Kingdom.

During the testimony time, every single student gave testimonies of God’s grace that was poured down on them through the discipleship training. Brother Moses shared his gratitude towards God that he received through Bible Studies and receiving the gift of tongues. Sister Chinyce testified how she was pierced in the heart and how God unconditional love of Jesus came to her. Sister Carina was in tears sharing the love of God that she received and wanting to share God’s love with others. Brother Abel shared gratitude and greater vision of God’s Kingdom that he was able to see. Brother Bill shared grace opening up his heart in a greater loving relationship with God.

One overarching theme in all of the testimonies was a deep gratitude to God, a deep gratitude of the Bible Studies, a deep gratitude towards the pastors and ministers.

Please pray for the discipleship training students and ministers to keep the grace receiving deeply in their hearts and grow as a fruit of love of God, being guided by the Holy Spirit for God’s Kingdom.

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