Life of enjoying Christ 24 hours
Matthew 16:13~20 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (16)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #289 What a Wonderful Change (#208 in previous version)
People, whoever they may be, have the power and responsibility as to how they use their 24 hours and what they do with them. There may be some who only worry over conflicts, some who only play games, or some who only chase after the things of the world. On the other hand, there may be some who make their hours the time of blessing and growth in Christ. God, however, answers His children 24 hours. As the evidence, He gave us Christ and that Christ took us from 24 hours of curses and failures and moved us to the path of life and hope. Living the life of enjoying Christ 24 hours is living the life of enjoying the Gospel. What is the classiest way to use the 24 hours that we are given today?
1. With what things must we enjoy our 24 hours?
The beginning of the mystery of enjoying God’s 24 hours and entering inside His blessings is salvation. The salvation that came upon us when we first believed Christ is the beginning of great changes that are unseen to our eyes. In our 24 hours as God’s children, the forces of darkness and the problems of curses, fate and sins cannot lay a hand on us and we come to hold the status of the Holy Spirit being with us. The blessing of a chosen nation, royal priesthood, and holy nation will overflow in not only our past and present but also future (2 Peter 2:9). In the midst of this our spiritual eyes will open to hear the voice of God through the help of the Holy Spirit and His Word. Therefore, we only need to enjoy 24 hours the authority to which the authority of Satan, who attacks the children of God, submits before and is bound, as well as to use the status of being God’s children.
2. When and how can we enjoy our 24 hours?
Everyone has problems and there is no life without problems. However, we feel especially that our own problems seem harder to bear and more troublesome. Even if we just remain in Christ, we will be victorious and Jesus Christ is the solution to all our problems. If we use the authority given to children of God and have with us the power to pray, our problems will no longer pose as problems. The mystery of changing all the incidents and matters that happen in our lives and our eyes to see people is possible only when we are aware of this truth. The true power to wait or take up the challenge as we are aware that God has His plan and time schedule for us can only be seen when we correctly understand the Gospel. Grabbing hold of God’s Word and entering into prayer each moment is 24 hours of enjoying Christ.
- Let us meditate so that the current state of our lives, the focus of our living, and the answer of our future become Christ 24 hours.
PK Retreat Lecture 1 / 2011.8.4