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A Touch of Faith

by with No Comment Sermons
These passages record two intertwined miracles-both demonstrating the profound impact of simple, resolute faith. Jesus, after crossing the lake, is immediately approached by Jairus, a synagogue leader desperate for the healing of his dying daughter. Amidst the pressing crowd, another desperate figure emerges-a woman afflicted for twelve years with a condition that not only drained her body but also her societal worth and spiritual life, as her bleeding rendered her unclean by Old Testament Law. This backdrop sets a stark contrast between the crowd’s curiosity and the woman’s profound need for deliverance, illustrating how physical proximity to Jesus doesn’t equate to spiritual closeness unless coupled with faith.

The woman’s approach to Jesus signifies more than just physical healing; it symbolizes a breaking free from societal constraints and personal despair. Her condition, causing continuous bleeding, relate to us since life in this world is one of continuous hardships that drain one’s spirit without relief. Living on the margins of society, she represents those among us caught in the painful cycle of isolation and suffering due to various life’s burdens-be it chronic illness, mental health struggles, or societal rejection. Her belief that merely touching Jesus’ garment would restore her health highlights a profound faith and understanding of Jesus’ divine nature, which she pursued despite the overwhelming obstacles presented by the dense crowd and her physical weakness.

This miraculous healing juxtaposed with the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ ministry-offering hope and renewal to all, regardless of their societal status or the nature of their affliction. Both miracles are connected not just by their proximity in the scripture but by their shared theme of faith overcoming despair. The woman’s healing interrupts Jesus’ journey to Jairus’ house, yet both stories beautifully illustrate that Jesus’ power to heal and revitalize is boundless, transcending all human barriers and reaching those who feel unworthy or forgotten.

This message encourage us to reflect on our lives, recognizing areas where we might be ‘bleeding’ and in need of the touch of faith and the spark of life from Jesus Christ. It challenges us to reach out in faith, believing in His power to transform even the most desperate situations.

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I Will Pour Out My Spirit on All People

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Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

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On This Rock I Will Build My Church

by with No Comment Sermons
Near the town of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples a pivotal question: “Who do people say that I am?” This wasn’t just casual curiosity; it was a critical moment that set the stage for a significant revelation. When Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” it marked a turning point. For the first time, Jesus spoke of building His church, emphasizing that it would be founded on the truth of Peter’s confession about His divine identity.

This conversation is crucial for us today as it challenges us to consider our own beliefs. Who do we say Jesus is? In society, it’s often acceptable to view Jesus as a moral teacher or a historical figure-a perspective that doesn’t disrupt the status quo. However, recognizing Him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, involves a deeper, more personal acknowledgment of His role in our lives. This acknowledgment shapes not just personal faith but also the essence and direction of the church itself.

Reflecting on this, we see the church as more than a building or a gathering; it is a community founded on the rock-solid belief in Jesus as Christ and his saving grace in our lives. This foundation is what keeps the church steady against challenges. In our lives and communities, affirming the grace of Jesus Christ and role invites us to build everything on this solid ground. This belief influences how we interact within our communities, uphold our values, and face the complexities of life with faith and conviction.

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Holiness

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God calls us holy people of God and makes us holy. God has the power to sanctify or make holy those who believe in Him. Jesus came not to condemn but to save from sin. We need to remember the story of the adulterous woman who was brought to Jesus; Jesus said that he doesn’t condemn but to go and leave the life of sin. This message emphasizes the compassionate and redemptive aspect of Jesus’ message and at the same time how our life should reflect the grace that we have received. It’s more important for believers to align themselves with the character of God rather than simply following rules or being outwardly “right”.

We are encouraged to introspect and consider whether their actions, attitudes, and behaviors align with the example set by Jesus Christ. It is important to live a life that mirrors the teachings and character of Jesus. We have attained holiness through the sacrificial death of Jesus and we should live a holy life that involves experiencing and embodying God’s grace and love, which empowers believers to live free from the influence of sin.

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Jesus Walks on Water

by with No Comment SermonsUncategorized
Water means a lot of things to us; it can mean the unknown situation that is out of our control, causing us to be anxious. We may face many ongoing crises that come to us as dark nights, complete pitch darkness where we cannot see anything before us. At this moment, Jesus is coming to us, and He is above the storms. He is in control.

Taking the step forward, trying to change is much better and easier than being stuck in our situation. We don’t need to make a perfect move, and there is no such thing as a perfect step, but as we take a step, God will guide our steps and walk with us.

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The Parable of the Lost Sheep

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Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

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New Wine into New Wineskins

by with No Comment SermonsUncategorized
Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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When the Time had Fully Come

by with No Comment Sermons
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

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Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

by with No Comment Sermons
They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

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He Saw Everything Clearly

by with No Comment Sermons

The sermon delivered by Pastor Walker Tzeng, was on Mark 8:22-26 entitled “He saw everything clearly”. The following is a summary of the sermon.

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. (Mark 8:22)

In Mark 8, we are introduced to a blind man who is brought before the Lord and healed. This miracle, recorded, serves not only as a testament to Jesus’ divine power but also as a symbolic representation of spiritual blindness. The recording in Mark was especially relevant as a message to powerful and capable societies like ancient Rome.

This message also resonates with all of us in modern America today. Self-assurance often masks a deep-seated spiritual blindness and it’s a condition that persists in our times. We are born into a world where our values and beliefs are shaped by a convoluted history, often leading us away from the truth. This passage challenges us to recognize our blindness – to the truths about ourselves, our world, and our need for a savior.

Just as the blind man in the Gospel was brought to Jesus by friends who recognized his need, we too must acknowledge our own spiritual blindness and turn to Christ for healing and salvation.

He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” (Mark 8:23-24)

The process of healing for the blind man was unique since it occurred in stages. Initially, the man saw people as trees walking, a partial and unclear vision. This gradual healing mirrors two prevalent attitudes in Jesus’ time, as well as in our own.

First, there were the Pharisees and teachers of the law, burdened by the minutiae of over 600 laws, leading to a life of religious rigor but also spiritual suffocation. This is akin to seeing trees – an awareness of sin and righteousness but lacking clarity and freedom. On the other hand, the Greeks, known for their logic and philosophy, recognized a higher power but lacked a personal understanding of God. Both methods see something, but are ultimately a frustrating and partial.

These two perspectives – legalistic righteousness and logical reasoning about God – represent our own struggles to comprehend God and our place in His plan. Our efforts, whether through action or intellectual reasoning, often leave us feeling stifled, as if we’re seeing only part of the truth. This mirrors our own life experiences, where we sense a path forward but find ourselves impeded by our limitations and complexities.

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” (Mark 8:25-26)

The story culminates with Jesus fully restores the man’s sight. This two-stage healing is reflective of spiritual growth in faith. Initially, we might only grasp the basics – the ‘milk’ of faith, such as the straightforward commandments of the Law. But this is not the end goal. The ‘solid food’ of faith is understanding and embracing the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Just as Paul adapted his teachings to the Jews and Greeks, acknowledging their respective stages of understanding, we too must recognize that spiritual maturity is a journey. Some might start with a desire for clear, moral directives or intellectual answers about faith – the ‘milk’. But eventually, we must progress to the ‘solid food’ – the core message of Jesus Christ, His crucifixion, and resurrection.

The Gospel is about transforming our lives through the love of Christ, moving from a vague understanding to a clear vision of God’s will. This passage invites us to go back to the Lord and experience a second miracle – being ‘born again’ in the love of the Lord.

Let us pray for the grace of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, enabling us to live in the love of Christ, to see our world, our lives, and God’s kingdom with newfound clarity and purpose.

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