2-19-2017 Weekly Message

The Meditation of the Week: Psalm 12: 1-8

Text: Mark 11: 12-26

Title of the Word: Are You Obeying the Words of God Believing in His Power?

            Jesus brought his disciples, and taught the truth, and by the time he was about to go, one day he passed by a fig tree and asked his disciples to see if any figs in the tree.  Of course, there was no fruit because it was not the season of figs. Then the LORD cursed the fig tree. The disciples passed by thinking of Jesus very strange to say that.   The next morning the Lord Jesus again passed by the tree, which he intentionally cursed yesterday. Then the disciples saw that the fig tree was dry. Then they remembered the words of the Lord yesterday, saying, “Teacher, behold, the fig tree that you cursed has dried up.” At this time the Lord spoke of a very important truth that we should know:

” Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. “(Mark 11: 22-24).

The word “Have faith in God” is to forsake man’s thoughts, and to have the thoughts in the Almighty 

         We must realize here why  the Lord Jesus cursed the fruitlessness of the fig tree even knowing of nor season of figs at that time. He wanted to show a very important truth both in terms of doctrine and spiritual teaching.

       First of all, he wanted to show his disciples that he is God Almighty and God the Creator. Also, when the Lord spoke about what the Jews should seek first, he said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). In other words, it was an invitation to invite them into the kingdom of God by believing in Him that is  God’s righteousness. But at that time, almost all the Jews could not enter into the kingdom of God for they not believed in  Him. The Apostle Matthew testified about the things the Lord said to the Jews:

  Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. “(Matthew 21: 42-43)

Because they did not believe in Him as the “righteousness of God,” but still claimed their righteousness through the law, God  took away the kingdom of God from the nation of Israel and gave it to the Jews or Gentiles, whosoever believes in Him. Nation of Israel was like fruitless fig tree.

          Then we need to realize what an important spiritual lesson is given to us through this statement: When the Lord cursed the fig tree, they could see no change in that tree. It was just a green fig tree. But the next morning the Lord deliberately passed through the fig tree. Then the disciples were greatly surprised, and shouted, “Teacher, behold, the fig tree that the curse you have cursed is dry.” They saw the fig tree dried from its roots. The roots are invisible. When God cursed the fig tree, nothing seemed to have happened at that time, but the root was decaying immediately.

           If we do not know the spiritual world, we are to say nothing has been happened even though we are disobedient to the words of God.

 The, it is the way of thinking of the word of God meaningless. But later on we are going to say few years later, “ I do not know why it happened “. It is the attitude of spiritually young Christians.

           Why did God make the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? We hear of such  a question, and even Christians are questioning themselves in their mind not utter with their mouth. When we raise  children, they are not given only that they need.. Sometimes boiled hot water and sometimes even fire are put before them., Then Mom says not to touch them all, no because mom loves them.. This tree of the knowledge of  good and evil was given to Adam and Eve, because God needed even though they are forbidden to eat.  Human being know that God is like them. but God is not like them. God sais, My thoughts are higher and deeper than you think. We cannot understand all the words of God because we still live in the world of sin. We cannot understand all the words of God, and we cannot know the reason of the words of God with the sinful reason.  Because of sin, the human heart is more corrupted than the beast’s. It is the reality until the Lord comes to restore them fully.. So in Ephesians chapter 1 saying,  God’s will is in the dispensation of the fullness of times.”

             There are seasons of times. That is why it is the Bible that we are given during our life in the world. In this world of Satan’s ruling yet with sin and curse, we are able to be blessed  only if we live in the words of God.. So God spoke to the nation of Israel through Moses. I have set before you life, death, blessing, and curse, so that you choose life to live.

Then someone may say why  God put gives curse and death not giving only blessing and life?.   If you do not understand the meaning of God’s word yet, if you say this. If someone complains saying, why is this world so evil? Because he does not know the word of God because I do not know God’s dispensation of the fullness of times.,

It is because that he himself is God. So, through Samuel, God told Saul that obedience is better than sacrifice. Sacrifice is a religious act. In the end, it is sacrifice to sacrifice animals because they sinned. God wants us to obey the Word of God, not to keep sinning  and repenting. Of course, if we sin, we must repent and worship. But more important than doing religious activity is obeying God’s Word. More important than healing is to live in health living in the Word of God.

         ‘Apostle John  prayed “Thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul  prospereth.” .’  It is God ‘s will to be healthy. But living in this world we could be emerged into disease. Therefore, Is there anyone among you who is sick? He will ask the elders of the church. They would pour oil and pray.  Paul was sick, Timothy was sick, and Trobimos was sick. What is important is obedience to God’s Word.

               Today we want to learn spiritual lessons from the words God spoke to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. God  said,

‘Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of  good and evil, thou shall not eat of it.” Only two kinds of word was given to them.’ This statement is so clear that we do not have to interpret it.

        It is not necessary to study what the meaning of the Word of God. His  Word is not given to interpret, but to obey. How did human sin begin to come out? The wage of sin has become death. Of course it is a spiritual death. But Adam and Eve may have said each other saying. ‘Oh, he said we would die. We do not die after 10 years, we are not dead after 20 years, and after 900 years we are still not dead and alive? Adam lived to 930 years. It’s very similar to people’s mind these days.

          Nothing seems to  happen without submitting to the Word of God . For example, if a wife does not obey her husband, nothing happens  right away. If the husband does not love his wife, nothing happens. But nothing happens, but spiritual darkness is coming,  We have to know that. This spiritual darkness takes some time until it is coming to  the soul and to the flesh finally.

         Eve, who heard the serpent’s words, said,  ” We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.“(Gen. 3:3)

 Yea! Satan tempt us holding on the words of God. , Satan may  know all the words of God more than we do. Unless we know the words of God, we shall be defeated by Satan hundred times of hundreds in the spiritual warfare. Even though we know his words, we also shall be defeated unless we are obedient to his words. This is the spiritual warfare. Satan tempted not only Adam, but Jesus that is the last Adam with the words of God.  So it would be natural for us to fall if we do not know God’s Word.

        When you caught the cops driving the car too fast in America, ‘Huh! I did not know of the traffic law”. There is no excuse at all. The law is already declared. All the words of God that is the law have already been proclaimed. Therefore we cannot excuse ourselves saying, I not aware of the words of God.   There are three things Eve said to the serpent. This is the beginning of human sin and we also are now to be sin because of these three things when we receive the word of God.

         The first is that she wants to add something to the word of God  thinking God’s Word is incomplete. God did not tell them not to touch the tree of the good and evil. But Eve added that she should not touch it. She herself became God. She added her thoughts to the Word of God. This is the beginning of sin.

         Second, she  removed the Word of God, saying, ‘Thou shall surely die. “and changed the word of God as “lest ye die.” She means that she may die or not.  She removed some and changed some to the words of God.

They  have removed 13 verses  in the new translations, such as the America Standard or Revised Standard versions. Why did they delete them? They thought that  the word of God must be noble. Is there anything like hell? Is there anything like fasting? They though to believe in God in moderation and no need to believe  in all the heart.  When the Ethiopian eunuch believed in the Lord, Phillip said to him, ” you have to believe in all your heart.”  But this verse is completely erased. The Amplified Bible also made the Lord  not coming back  to this world omitting the word “now”. in the verse “Now this kingdom not belong to me.”

       Third, the word of God does not necessarily mean this. How dare you die? Whether it’s going to die or die, you know, you have to eat it. How do you know? This is the interpretation of God’s Word figuratively rather than literally. This is also what Eve said.

          Jehovah’s Witnesses say, ‘How can God make the hell out of the God of love? It’s a grave. ‘ The fundamentalists say, “Where is hell? It is not burning, but forever separated with  God. ‘ Catholic marks hell as purgatory. In addition, the popes have made Babylon’s mystery, the great Babylon of Revelation, saying ‘Oh, this is the Roman Empire.’ Christian science say of  heaven and hell, ”  heaven and hell is just related to the mental status at all not physically exist at all.”  And the Reformed converts all the covenants to Israel into the Church and interprets them spiritually. All spiritual interpretation of the Old Testament. The coming of the Lord also interprets spiritually.

        Spiritually? Eve interpreted spiritually. God said that ye surely  die in the day of eating the fruit, but she said, “lest I die.” She means to die or not. God’s Word is just as it is. It’s just straightforward and sure. Then even ignorant people  are able to understand the word of God. They made the words of God is only for the well educated ones.

              If we   look at a concrete example, we shall be able to realize it more clearly. For example,  we miss the blessing so often. ‘Do not worry about anything.’ This word is same as the word of God saying not eat the fruit of the forbidden tree. Why do we care? ‘This is something wrong.’ So we are  worried. ‘

Why? ‘Yes, it is. This should be a concern. how we cannot care about tomorrow?. ‘What is this? I am discerning good and evil. Isn’t it? ‘Thank you for everything .’ How can we appreciate for all things? This is the way for us to be God.  ‘Maybe we can thank them. How do we appreciate for this?’ How? I hear of “how”. But what about say “why” instead of “how”?  Why did God say thank for all things? We need to know what it means. That is why the Bible is important. The word is light, but if we accept it, our minds will be brightened and we will leave our anxieties,, and we will live in darkness because we will not accept it.

              Every morning, sparrows obedient to the Lord. They always praise. We can feel it when we sit in the morning and hear sound of birds. Therefore, we must eat all of the words that we have given to us. This is the reason why Jesus said, If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. At that time the Jews did not understand the meaning of the word. So what did the Lord say? ‘The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.’ When we eat and accept that word, it is life. This is the secret of eating life. In order to live a life of vitality in this sinful world, we must eat these words. We must not forget that we want to eat all of this and appear by obedience to the Word of life.

       Therefore, in 1 Thessalonians 5, “Rejoice always,”  To eat the fruit of life. ‘Do not cease to  pray.’ It is to drink the Holy Spirit. It is to eat life. Then, ‘thank all things.’ This is to eat life. ‘This is God’s will for you in our Lord Jesus Christ.’

          Many people looking for the will of God. The Bible clearly says that it is God’s will to always be rejoice and do not cease to pray, and thank everything in all things. What does God mean by saying so clearly? If something bad  happened, we should thank him with . Rejoice. There is God’s will. we can see that we fall down because we do not know the meaning of this word. Of course, We can suffer when something is too difficult. But thanks to the word of God and the Creator in the midst of suffering, thanksgiving is created in the darkness. Why? This world is a world of darkness. This world is a world where there is no rejoicing. This earth  is a world in which nothing can be grateful. As Moses confessed, seven hundred and eighty years of life have nothing but labour and sorrow. This is the reason why we have to thank..  . What is prayer ? It is to receive the Holy Spirit. Then the Holy Spirit teaches and illuminates everything. The Spirit leads us. Leads to the Word

          All the words of God are light, as the Word says. we have to accept this statement. Now here is Eve and Adam, because they broke these three things, and because they did not accept the Word of God and did not believe it, this is sin. We do not believe in God, do not believe the Word, and therefore do not do it. The wage of sin is death. But the gift of God is eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ, and every word of God is eternal life. When we receive these words, we can save others through these words. Now, you will live a life that will live by obeying the Word and eating the fruit of life. Amen! Hallelujah!