The greatest promise
John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #516 We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations (#265 in previous version)
There are some people who don’t pray and ask why they do not receive answers to prayer. We are children of God. Even if we don’t pray, God is still with us. However, if we do not pray, we miss some very important things. We then end up holding on to other things and failing as a result. Although it is a fact that God is with us, when we go out into society, why are we unable to see God, and instead only able to experience how difficult our problems and situations are? We must resolve this problem.
1. It is finished
God did not allow our sin and the power of death to overcome us. He sent us Jesus Christ and saved us. Jesus Christ stated on the cross, “It is finished,” yet we continue to wander. The moment we correctly believe the covenant, the forces of darkness around us will crumble. While we listen to sermons and receive grace, the more important thing is that we apply the Word. When we face problems and difficult circumstances, we tend to forget that Christ finished His work and we grab hold of other things, and we look for solutions elsewhere. God continues to remind us that, “It is finished” and says, “I am with you.”
2. The guidance of the Holy Spirit
If we do not pray, whenever hardships come, we do not seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, but instead choose something else. For the most part, we make decisions based on our own thoughts, knowledge, and experience, as well as what other people around us say. This is called humanism. As children of God, if we simply pray a little within the Gospel and the Word, we will know God’s plan and His time schedule. Then we can accurately receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit and we can make the correct choices.
3. True meeting and forum
Although it is a sure fact that God is with us, we cannot see Him. However, we can see people who enjoy the presence of God. As we live our lives, it is very important to meet someone who realistically enjoys the blessing of Immanuel. When Paul met Ananias and Barnabas, all things were restored. Likewise, if we enjoy the presence of God, we can sincerely save those people we meet.
- How do I enjoy God’s presence in my life? Meditate deeply on this today.
New Believer Retreat Lecture 1 / 2010.11.15