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Where Are the Other Nine?

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker explained that Jesus was going through a region usually avoided by Jews, due to their disdain for Samaritans. This sets the stage for a significant event that underscores themes of inclusivity, love, and redemption. In this passage, Jesus encounters ten lepers, who are not only suffering from a physical ailment but also represent the spiritual and societal isolation akin to sin. This interaction goes beyond mere physical healing; it symbolizes Jesus’ outreach to all humanity afflicted by the ‘leprosy’ of sin. The plight of the lepers reflects the isolation and separation from God caused by sin, akin to living in a global leper colony. This section of the passage emphasizes the importance of recognizing one’s own spiritual sickness to seek and receive healing from Jesus, resonating in a world where physical proximity often masks underlying emotional and spiritual isolation.

As the passage progresses, the lepers’ plea to Jesus for healing becomes emblematic of a broader human predicament. Their request represents the humility and acknowledgment necessary for seeking salvation. This moment signifies a deeper understanding of spiritual needs and acknowledges that true healing, both in physical and spiritual forms, comes through faith in Jesus. The isolated state of the lepers parallels the pervasive loneliness in modern society, suggesting that spiritual leprosy is comparable to the emotional and social isolation prevalent today. This part of the passage extends the metaphor to loneliness as an incurable disease, highlighting the profound human need for Jesus’s healing and grace.

The passage culminates with a powerful demonstration of gratitude’s transformative power. While all ten lepers are physically healed, only the Samaritan returns to express gratitude, indicating true spiritual healing and salvation. His act of thanksgiving, more than a mere polite gesture, is a transformative expression of deep appreciation for Jesus’s love and sacrifice. It illustrates that true healing encompasses not only the physical aspect but also a transformation of the heart, marked by genuine gratitude and a changed life. This gratitude is a vivid expression of faith and a testament to the transformative power of Jesus’ love and salvation.

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The Prayer of Elijah

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker explained that the great prophet Elijah stands as an example the effectiveness of powerful prayer, exemplifying a profound connection with God that we too can strive to emulate. His confrontation with King Ahab and the prophets of Baal is a pivotal moment, revealing the stark contrast between the worship of false idols and the true God. As Elijah challenges the people to choose between the allure of temporal satisfaction and the eternal God, the story speaks to contemporary times where similar distractions persist. The fire from heaven that consumed Elijah’s sacrifice is more than a miraculous display; it symbolizes the purifying truth of God’s word, which has the power to burn away the idols of our time, be it greed, lust, or materialism. This narrative calls for introspection and a decision: to continue wavering or to commit to the path of righteousness, where the Lord’s truth reigns supreme.

Elijah’s faith was not merely reflective but actionable. He senses the impending end of the drought and prepares for the rain he believes God will provide. His prayer posture, earnest and humble, is one of complete submission to God’s will. This account illustrates that a person of faith possesses a spiritual sensitivity, an awareness of God’s workings that transcends the physical and the immediate. Just as Elijah did, believers are called to prepare for the blessings God will bestow, a task that often requires persistence and a heart attuned to the divine. In a world that seeks tangible proof for every claim, the story of Elijah beckons us to a higher standard, where faith is the evidence of things not seen, and prayer is the means through which divine plans are realized.

Elijah’s persistent prayer for rain, sending his servant seven times to look for a cloud, underscores the virtue of perseverance in faith. This persistence is reflective of a heart that truly seeks God, understanding that His timing and methods are beyond human comprehension. The eventual downpour from a small cloud is a testament to the potential of faith that perseveres. This passage invites believers to maintain hope and optimism, even when the beginnings are as small as a mustard seed. It’s a call to believe in a God who sees the potential for great storms in the smallest of clouds, a God who envisions a grand future for even the humblest of His followers.

Elijah’s prayer was effective and righteous, and through his example, we are encouraged to lean into the Holy Spirit, allowing it to intercede in our weaknesses, to transform our small beginnings into abundant blessings.

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The Prayer of Jabez

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker dove into the obscure genealogy within 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, where we discover the remarkable Prayer of Jabez. This is a lesson found in one of the least-read books of the Bible, yet it’s a gem. We know little about Jabez himself, but what’s remarkable is that he is known more for what he prayed than what he did. The key to his honorable standing among his brothers and sons of Judah was faith – looking up to God, believing in His existence, and earnestly seeking His rewards. It’s time to rely on God, pray in faith, and embrace the special nature of the Prayer of Jabez.

The Prayer of Jabez opens our understanding to a life of honorable prayer and righteous faith. It’s about looking up to the great God of love, seeking His blessings, and trusting Him with our needs, desires, and struggles. We must recognize that true spiritual righteousness is in being weak and relying entirely on God. Jabez’s name signified a destiny of pain and suffering, but his faith found a way to overcome it. Luke 11:5-10 teaches us the secret and power of prayer in serving others with love and pain, getting ourselves out of our selfishness, and embracing the love that sets our hearts honorably before God. Praying with deep love and pain allows God’s unlimited blessings to flow into our lives.

In 1 Chronicles 4:10, we are reminded not to limit our prayers to our own boundaries but to trust in God’s desire to expand our territories for His glory. Jabez’s prayer wasn’t selfish; it was about the heart and God’s Kingdom. We must transcend our limits and ask God to make a great impact for His Will. Jabez also prayed for God’s hand to be with him and to keep him away from harm. We must recognize our weaknesses and humbly ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and protection from evil.

Especially for students who are embarking on a new school year, may the Prayer of Jabez inspire us to embed its words into our hearts, to pray earnestly for God to expand our boundaries, and to open ourselves to the abundant blessings that God, the Creator of this whole universe, wishes for us.

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Surely the Lord was Fighting for Israel

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker spoke Joshua and the Israelites, under the threat of a combined force of five Amorite kings. News of their victories in Jericho and Ai, and the subsequent peace treaty with the Gibeonites, had spurred these kings into action against Israel. Yet, in the face of what seemed like insurmountable odds, Joshua remained unshaken. Why? His name, meaning “God is salvation,” echoed the core of his faith and the source of his strength. His conviction was rooted in God’s assurance that the victory was already theirs. Akin to us in our moments of trial, when spiritual, emotional, and financial battles seem to attack from all fronts, Joshua faced his opponents head-on. He marched his army all night, surprising the enemy forces, and stood firm in his belief that God’s promise of victory was immutable, unshakeable.

In the midst of this fierce battle, as daylight waned and the enemies began to regroup, Joshua boldly called upon the Lord for the unthinkable – to make the sun stand still in the sky. His faith was not confined to his understanding or the physical limitations of the world; it was centered on God, the transcendent One, capable of the extraordinary. When we, like Joshua, face challenges that seem to defy resolution, how often do we look within our sphere, trying to solve problems with our limited human capacities? Joshua teaches us to look beyond ourselves, to God – the source of all solutions. Miraculously, the sun did stop, giving the Israelites the time they needed to secure complete victory over their enemies.

Yet, the true miracle of this narrative lies not in the physical suspension of the sun, but in the underlying message of God’s transcendence and fidelity. It’s a lesson in faith – faith that goes beyond our abilities and perceived realities. The journey of Joshua teaches us that, regardless of the battles we face – the incessant whispers of doubt, the persistent trials, the sin that seems to resurface – victory is assured if we, like Joshua, place our faith in God. Just as the sun stopped for Joshua, God will provide us with the time, strength, and wisdom we need to overcome our trials.

As we confront the battles in our lives, may we, like Joshua, remember to look beyond ourselves and our limitations, to God, the One who truly fights for us and brings us victory.

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Joshua 7-8:Achan’s Sin

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker spoke about Achan’s sin, as narrated in the book of Joshua, and serves as a stark reminder of how our personal actions, however minor they may seem, can have far-reaching effects on our community, particularly the Church. Achan’s transgression was in the wake of the Israelites’ victory at Jericho. It’s important for us to reflect on our actions and their potential influence on the wider body of believers. We must also remember to surrender our missteps to God, opening ourselves up to the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ.

Achan’s sin was committed amidst the euphoria of victory, a moment when the Israelites had just experienced a significant triumph at Jericho. Achan, swayed by temptation, went against God’s command not to take spoils from Jericho, hiding some for himself. This seemingly minor disobedience resulted in a surprising defeat at Ai, the next battleground, shaking the Israelites’ confidence. God’s revelation to Joshua about Achan’s sin and the resulting consequences for the entire community highlights the significant impact of individual transgressions. Even when we bask in the glow of blessings and victory, we remain susceptible to pride, greed, and sin, which can cause harm beyond our immediate understanding. The tale of Achan urges us to maintain a constant, sincere alignment with God, particularly during good times.

The confession of Achan illuminates how a minor personal sin can drastically affect an entire community. Despite the relative insignificance of what Achan stole from Jericho, his actions led to the devastating defeat at Ai. His story serves as a sobering reminder that no sin is inconsequential in God’s eyes, and our actions can deeply affect those around us. This lesson is reiterated in the New Testament story of Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) whose deception led to their immediate death. These narratives call us to a life of transparency, obedience, and generosity, continually self-evaluating and seeking God’s grace. As we move forward, let us remember that we are not isolated believers, but part of a larger body – God’s family. Our actions and behaviors can have significant implications for this community.

Let’s strive to live transparently, always seeking forgiveness when we falter, and endeavoring to move forward in God’s grace.

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God Has Made Me Fruitful in the Land of My Suffering

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker spoke about the story of Joseph through Genesis 41. Joseph was one of the twelve sons of Jacob and a favored son who was sold into slavery in Egypt but eventually rose to prominence as the interpreter of Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph’s trials, temptations, and sufferings, including being in jail, showed his determination to stay pure and true to God. Despite the difficulties, God used Joseph’s circumstances to deliver his messages and Joseph was able to remain faithful, pure, and persevere, allowing him to be in the right place at the right time to fulfill God’s purposes. This serves as an example for us to learn from, reminding us to remain faithful, pure, and persevere, so that we can better understand the messages God is trying to convey in our lives.

Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream about 7 years of abundance followed by 7 years of famine, and guidance to prepare for the famine. Joseph was able to interpret God’s Will because he was pure, not asleep in sin, and in tune with God and the message and guidance. Joseph’s deep relationship and understanding of God’s will allow him to accurately interpret the dream and gain wisdom from God. By being faithful to God’s will and surrendering to Him like clay to a potter, Joseph was carried through all his experiences, both good and bad, and God was able to fulfill His purpose.

Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of the whole land of Egypt and he solved the famine problem during 7 years of abundance by storing grain. God used Joseph’s difficult circumstances to further His purposes and bless others. Joseph’s name choice for his children shows that God can help us forget our past troubles and make us fruitful in a way that blesses others. To be like Joseph and have victory, we need to remain pure and faithful, store up spiritual food (the Word), and trust in God’s power. The victory of Joseph resonates with the victory of Jesus on the cross and can be experienced by us now.

May we always remain faithful to God and become victors like Joseph, no matter the circumstances of joy and hardship, as God is the one who overturns everything and gives us victory.

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Be strong and Courageous

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker explained how the book of Joshua begins with the passing of leadership from Moses to Joshua, after 40 years in the desert following the Red Sea crossing. The Israelites were unable to enter the Promised Land due to their disobedience and lack of faith. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who had faith, but the other ten leaders with their bad report caused the Israelites to fall into despair. The lesson is that anger, disobedience, and lack of faith won’t get us to the finish line and prevent us from receiving God’s glory.

God gives encouragement to Joshua as he becomes the new leader of the Israelites. He commands him to be strong and courageous, keep the Law, and not turn to the right or left. God’s presence is with Joshua, guiding him straight. The Israelites wandered aimlessly for 40 years, but God was always with them, providing for their needs and giving them guidance. This reminds us that we need God in our walk of faith and should trust in His Word as our foundation, which provides guidance and wisdom in times of uncertainty.

Joshua’s firm faith can be understood in light of the parable of the two sons, helping us understand the importance of authentic faith in leadership. It is not enough to simply obey outwardly while having doubts inwardly. Rather, leaders must have genuine faith and show positivity even in difficult situations. The parable in Matthew emphasizes the importance of following through on one’s commitments, even if the path seems hard. Ultimately, Jesus provides an example of true strength and courage in faith through his obedient walk towards the Kingdom of God.

The faith of Joshua reminds us to have strength and courage to finish the task as God is guiding us towards Kingdom of God.

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He Has Risen

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In the sermon, pastor Walker spoke about the resurrection of the Jesus. Comparing the recording in Matthew with Paul’s explanation on the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15, Pastor Walker exhorted the members to live with faith and power of resurrection in their lives.

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Is Anything Too Hard for the Lord 

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In the sermon, Pastor Walker spoke about how Abraham received a great blessing from God through three visitors and strangers. Abraham served them generously and lavishly. We see that Abraham was simply a person of love towards others, faithfully believing that God always blesses. Indeed, God did reveal himself through these strangers and they gave him great blessing.

This blessing was that his wife Sarah would have a child, even though she was an advanced age. In that culture, not having an heir was as if life itself was cut off. Yet, God made the impossible situation possible. It’s something that God has been doing since impossibly creating this universe out of nothing. He also showed us the impossible by raising Jesus Christ from the dead. God makes impossible possibilities happen.

For us, we believe in Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit with us. Just like for Abraham, God would reveal himself to us in great ways. If there is a great goal, hope, and blessing for us, He would give us great ideas. These ideas wouldn’t just be from human thoughts, but we should scale up and think towards what God can fulfill. May we respond to the impossible possibilities that God has for us with faith and joyful hope.

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Mark 7 Ephphatha! Be Opened

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In the sermon, Pastor Tzeng explained the meaning of the deaf and mute man as it relates to us. In the sinful world, we live in confined, unclear situations in our life. We don’t listen to God, nor do we speak to Him. Also living in this world, we want to be heard, but we can’t because we are in the confined situations we are.

The Lord healed the deaf and mute man by first taking him away from the crowd. Then, the Lord got up close and personal, touching his ear and tongue. Then he woke the man up by shouting “Ephphatha! Be Opened!”. We too, need to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and be up close and personal with him. We must hear the words of the Lord that are waking us up from our confined situation and unclear life. God created us out of love, to have a two-way communication with him. Faith is not just God talking to us or us talking to God, but it is a relationship of love.

Finally, the Lord told the crowds not to speak about what happened, which seems hypocritical in this miracle. But the reason why is that many followed just the miracle and weren’t sharing the true good news of God’s love. If we do have lips to speak, we shouldn’t speak of worldly things, but we must speak by the Holy Spirit as it has loosened our tongue. It is about testifying the good news of salvation of Jesus Christ.

May our ears be opened to hear the truth and our tongues be loosened to share the name of Jesus Christ to the world.

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