The Covenant that Our Church Must Enjoy (John 15:7)

Rev. Myung-sin Choi

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

Introduction

From today’s sermon, I pray that you may hold onto it well. May this word become fulfilled in your life this year. I am in great anticipation for the year of 2022. God’s word that He gives us is accurate so I am in much anticipation and very curious on what word God will give us and bring to fulfillment this year. I read a news article and it was about Abraham Lincoln. Rev. Kwang-Su Ryu also spoke about Abraham Lincoln but President Lincoln experienced many great failures and setbacks in his life to the point that he experienced 27 failures. But during those times of failures, the one who was able to overcome those failures was Abraham Lincoln. He fell from his senate seat and his elections, and he said that he walked a very dark path during this time. And, in the midst of those failures and setbacks, President Lincoln said to himself, “On your path, there will be many times when you may slip, but it's just a slip, not a fall. Never Give Up!” Abraham Lincoln was a person who saw crises not as failure but simply as a slip. Abraham Lincoln not only experienced failures but he suffered from severe depression. During his young years of 26 and 32, he had thoughts of suicidal ideations. However, even during those times of depression and failures, Lincoln continued to persevere with his faith and continuous prayer, and eventually became the president of the United States. In history, there was a historian who wrote about Abraham Lincoln’s 10 rules regarding his walk of faith. The first Abraham abided to keep was, “I will keep Sunday holy and strive for worship. Secondly, every single day, I will meditate on God’s word and Bible, and will work to fulfill God’s word daily. Third, I will humbly pray to God every single day. Four, I will obey God’s will and not my own. Five, I will remember God’s grace and mercy that was poured upon me, and always be grateful and remember it. Six, Even though I am weak, I will depend on God’s help. Seven, I will uplift God and give glory to God alone. Eight, Inside of God, I believe that there is complete freedom and equality for mankind. Nine, I will love my brothers and neighbors, and carry out this Lord’s commandment. Ten, I will pray for God’s truth and justice to be realized on this Earth.” When you look at this, you can see why Abraham Lincoln was the most respected president of the United States as well as the fact that Abraham Lincoln was a person of prayer. One day, there was someone who was yelling and screaming so loud, and when the person went to go see who it was, it was Abraham Lincoln who was screaming and praying to God. There was no one around but he was screaming out in prayer before God. This is why God had no choice but to use Abraham Lincoln. May you also receive this answer from God. We also received the message from the Southern Remnant Conference (SRC).

1. The Blessing of the Throne

1) If you abide in Me

I received a lot of grace regarding God’s throne. When I listened to pastor Bong-Jun Shin during the SRC message, I realized that this was the message that I wanted to fulfill in my life. I was able to give thanksgiving to God because I realized God will fulfill His word in my life. We need to hold onto the method on how to enjoy God’s throne from today’s sermon. This message is seen in John 15:7. Enjoying God’s throne first is what it means to become a child of God.

John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” - When you become a child of God, you have the right and authority to enjoy God’s throne. What kind of blessing comes to you when you become a child of God?

Hold onto Ephesians 1:13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” - When you listen more to God’s word, you gain more faith. The moment you have faith, then God’s promise of the Holy Spirit comes upon you. To show us proof of our salvation, God sent us the Holy Spirit.

The way to explain this accurately, it can be seen in Romans 11:17“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree.” - The wild olive tree is referring to our old past as a nonbeliever, when we were not afflicted with God at all and were children of Satan. We who were part of the wild olive tree as the branch were broken off and grafted and tied onto a new branch of a new olive tree. This means that we have become nothing to do with the old wild tree and you are part of a new tree. The new tree is alive and abundant. This is very important. Our old self and past is completely dead. We have been completely dead but now, we are part of the new olive tree and have new life. This is what it means to be a new creation. Only when you become a new creation, then can we receive the blessings that come with that the new identity.

John 15:5-6 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” - We came out of the old wild olive tree and now part of the new tree. We are part of a new tree and when we stick onto the new tree, then we can live. This is what it means to abide in God. If we don’t abide in God, then we are coming out of the new tree. Then, we will die.

John 15:6 - If we are not in God, then we cannot live. The greatest method to enjoy the blessing of Gods’ throne is to go inside of God and abide in Christ. If you are inside of Christ and the new tree, then you will receive continuous water of life and the continuous power, life, and governance, and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. If you do anything else, you will die. This is the most important message. So, always live a life where you alway seek after God alone and abide in God. Jesus said this once again, and my words abide in you.

2) And My words abide in you

The only way for the branch to live is when they receive nourishment from the tree. This is what it means to abide in God and His word. What does it mean to abide in God’s word? Why is it that we have to live through God’s word?

John 6:63, 1:1 “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life. 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” - The Word that Jesus gave to us is not just empty words but it is life and the Spirit. This is the working of the Spirit. But, how can the word do that?

The word as seen in John 1:1 - The word is the way, truth, and life, this is because the word is God. If we take God’s word as God, Himself, and believe in it, then great works and life will come upon us. If we accept Christ in us, then the heavenly throne will enter inside of us.

Luke 7:7 “Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.” - The centurion comes to Jesus to request Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus agreed and decided to go with the centurion to meet the sick servant. But the centurion said to Jesus that there was no need for him to come with him but just to say the word for his servant to be healed because he didn’t consider himself worthy before God. When Jesus heard this, Jesus was so shocked by the faith of the centurion.

Luke 7:7 - “…But say the word” is referring to logos. The word, logos, that the centurion used was the word that was said in John 1:1, “…And the Word was God.” The centurion was saying that Jesus is the word so the centurion believed that it was enough for Jesus to just say the word and this would bring healing to his servant. When Jesus heard this, He was so pleased and said that everything will be done according to the centurion’s faith and the servant was healed. The best thing within the heavenly throne is to believe in God’s word. What does it mean to abide in God’s word, it means that God, Jesus is abiding in you.

Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.” - Peter went to the house of Cornelius to share the gospel to him. The moment the word of God was proclaimed from Peter, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and his household. When Peter proclaimed the word, the Holy Spirit came upon them. How did this happen? This is because the word of God is God, logos is God. This was the reason why the Holy Spirit worked when the word of God was proclaimed. This is a very important message. It said that while Peter was speaking these words, it was not logos but it was written as, “Rhema.” This means that Peter was proclaiming the word that he received from Jesus and the word of God. He was just relaying the word that Jesus gave to him. Peter edited the word that he received from Jesus as his own and made it into his own. This was an astounding event. He took Jesus’ words as rhema and when he relayed it to all people, and the Holy Spirit came upon them and worked; this is called, “logos.” This is showing the great power of God and the great power of the existence of God’s word. When we proclaim God’s word to people around us, we proclaim it as rhema. But how do people receive the word? They receive it as logos. God’s great work is at work we proclaim the word that we received. The heavenly throne of God comes upon us and is at work when we proclaim the word of God. May you receive this blessing.

2. The Blessing of Transcending Time and Space

1) You will ask what you desire

Psalm 1:2-3 “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” - When you receive God’s word and meditate on it, what kind of works will arise?

Psalms 1:3 - When you go out with God, God who is the word and His word has life, great works will take place. The reason why David experienced great works in his life was because he meditated on Gods’ word day and night. If we hold onto God’s word and have scheduled prayer, then great and astounding works will take place. When you take God’s word and meditate on it, then the word of Psalm 1:3 will absolutely be fulfilled in your life.

What about times of difficulties? It is written about in Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” - Just like how we spoke about Elijah and Elisha when they resurrected dead people back to life, they held onto the prayer of calling out to God. How can you experience miracles and work in your life? Hold onto God’s word and enter into concentrative prayer. When you do this, then great and mighty things, which you do not know will take place.

There is something important there, hold onto Mark 11:24 “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” - Do you believe in this? When you realistically believe in God’s word and pray with it, then works and answers will absolutely come upon you. Pray with your sickness. This year, I want to pray over those who are sick. This is the message that I hold onto this when I pray. Believe that you will receive them and you will have them. You may say that you have been praying continuously but you are still sick. That sickness right now has nothing to do with you right now. The word of God already told you that it is already done. It has nothing to do with you. God already gave the promised land to Joshua. The fact that you are still sick and praying, then that is all part of the process. There is no past in God’s word. That is why it tells us to seek after what we desire and it will be done for us. Receive this answer. Through continuous prayer, may you enter into 24 hour prayer.

2) The pilgrim's prayer

I read a book called, A Pilgrim’s Prayer. That book is very simple. In the book, it explains the method on how they received God’s grace and lived a spiritually abundant life during a time when they had no Bible. The main character held onto was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - This was how the main character prayed always, always gave thanksgiving and rejoiced always. He always thought about this. He found a method on how to pray. He didn’t do this by himself but he discovered the mystery of how people prayed around him. How to always communicate and converse with God? He realized the simple method. He would continue to pray, “Lord, Jesus have mercy and pity on me.” He always continued to pray this prayer. Always think about this and say this without resting. He didn’t just do this but he did this while deep breathing. When he would breathe in, he would say, “Jesus Christ” and during his breath out, “Have mercy on me.” He had this habit of prayer. He continued to do this, so whenever he was breathing, his breathing eventually became part of prayer. Rev. Kwang-Su Ryu continued to say to always pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit. Pray this prayer. Try this out. Just like in A Pilgrim’s Prayer, there is a method of prayer that I have made for you. When you take a breath in, pray, “Jesus give me the filling of the Holy Spirit.” And breathe out, “May I enjoy the blessings of the heavenly throne of God.” Those who breathe more slowly, you can add more prayer topics. When this becomes part of your nature and also when you see the way the people of prayer prayed in A Pilgrim’s Prayer and in the Bible, great works will arise for you. They would continuously converse with God and pray, and they would do this in happiness and joy. As you are brushing your teeth and driving, pray this prayer.

3. The Blessing of the Light of Life upon 237 Nations

1) And it shall be done for you

Enjoy the blessing of the light of life of 237 nations. It shall be done for you, God will do it for you.

The greatest prayer topics that we have are Acts 1:8, 20:24 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” - You should be a witness. When we pray with this while holding onto this, then we can enjoy the blessing of shining the light of life to 237 nations. With what method?

Acts 20:24 - The message that we must receive is that no matter whatever the situation or event is in your life, the most important thing is to proclaim the gospel. Whoever we meet and converse with, we need to first examine and distinguish if that person has life or not. And if they are not, we need to help them accept Jesus Christ and raise them up as a disciple. We need to set this as our focus and main direction.

That is why Jesus Christ spoke in Matthew 28:20 “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” - God is always with us and the light of Christ is shining upon us. This is what we must always hold onto. When we enjoy the heavenly throne of God, there are three things that we shouldn’t be deceived by.

2) Three things about which you must not be deceived

First, don’t be afraid. 1 Peter 5:7-8 “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” - Those who fall into fear and worry, you become part of Satan’s prey. Hold onto God’s word and be victorious. When you pray in the name of Jesus Chirst, darkness will flee.

Secondly, don’t be envious or jealous. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” - There are people who staked their entire lives towards success and throw God away but those who do this, the end is death. Don’t be envious of those people.

Thirdly, don’t think lightly of Satan. Why is that? 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. ” - We need to open our spiritual eyes and always be guided by the Holy Spirit. When we hold onto and meditate on the word of God and pray, then great works will arise. Truly be victorious.

Conclusion

Hebrews 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” - Whenever you hold onto the word and pray, then the heavenly armies of angels will be ministered to you. The blessings of the heavenly throne of God, transcending time and space, and shining the light to 237 nations will come upon you this year. This year, we need to receive this answer. Truly receive and enjoy the blessing of the heavenly throne of God. Enjoy the blessing of transcending time and space. Enjoy the blessing of shining the light to 237 nations. Be victorious.