Sunday Morning IBC. 12/22/2013. Luke 8.

"Listen Well." Luke 8:16-21.
Pastor Nam Park.

The emphasis is on hearing and doing God's Word.
We just went over the different types of soil. These aren't issues of people that have never heard the word of God preached. Jesus is addressing individuals that hear the word on a daily basis. They hear but it doesn't bear root.

It's not so much about just hearing, but our response to it. A good and excellent Word for me to think upon and to grow from. Why like a tree in Psalms 1? A: Because a tree continues to grow.

Parable of the Lamp

Luke 8:16 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”

19 And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” 

As Christians, we should be the most distinctive/joyful because we have a hope in Jesus Christ, that is not just a good hope but the ONLY hope. Help us to be the kind of men and women that live out our hope in a genuine and real way. That we might be a people of the Word. We submit ourselves to your sovereignty, that we might be transformed day by day. Amen.

Young and old people commonly use the term "I forgot."
Having a lot of things on our minds as adults, "I forgot" is an excuse for our inattentiveness but it's also due to the fact we can't keep all the information in. 

The Delusion-ist in James 1.
James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

If we're becoming forgetful of God's Word, this is the Lord encouraging us to do something about it. The Lord's instruction to do something with God's Word. And the incentive to listen well is the reward of being related directly to Jesus Christ.

1. MAKE IT VISIBLE.
The lamp's purpose is to shine/give light. An oil burning lamp/lantern.
Hear the word of God in such a way to fulfill it's purpose.
Luke 8:16 “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 
- Drink in God's Word as how we were created to drink it in and dwell on it. We are not animals. And it is not just a catchy motto. Not to hear it and have the world choke it out and take away the nutrients. We are to hear so that it becomes VISIBLE in your living. 
- There is only one world-view that is accurate: coming from the word of God.
- You are the lamp and the Lord has no intention of hiding you. Let other people see you, as flawed as you are.

2. MAKE IT GENUINE.
Hear with authenticity and sincerity. If there's an issue with our lives, we are to obey the Word of God. Don't just know the Word in principle. Have integrity with what you hear.
- It's not "should I obey the Word of God or Satan." Usually it's not as clear cut. It's "shall I obey the Word of God, or shall I delay, since there are certain things I'm hoping for first."
The point: Nothing is hidden, including men's motives.
Things will become clear, publicly displayed. God knows.
Choose well, at the moment that you have to choose well. Choose obedience. Choose humility.

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 
- Not just coming to hear.

Difference between Deceit and Delusion.
Deceit: Tricked from the outside. The con-man tricking you to believe you're Napoleon.
Delusion: Believing the wrong thing. You believe you're Napoleon. This is all on you.

3. MAKE IT PRODUCTIVE (FRUITFUL).
A warning to "look out."
Luke 8:18 So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
- The idea of "the poor get poorer."

Psalm 1 Principle. Drink in the Word and grow roots. No matter what is thrown at them, they can withstand since the Word of God has prepared them.
A tree is a good example. Either you continue to grow, or you die. And if you look at a tree's stump and roots, the roots go deep.

Exhortation. Make the hearing of God something VISIBLE, GENUINE, PRODUCTIVE.
And if you find yourself forgetting, THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. There must be something creative you can do to engrain the Word of God in your hearts.

THE INCENTIVE: WE GET JESUS.
The illustration of His family.
Luke 8:19 And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.” 21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” 
- Catholic church thinks that these are children of Joseph in a previous marriage. Or Jesus' cousins to protect Mary's virginity.
- Probably these brothers were their children after Mary gave birth to Jesus.
- A surprising characterization of human allegiance. 
- Jesus isn't disowning or disliking His family. He is emphasizing that there is something that ties us stronger than blood.
- Jesus also chooses a disciple that is not martyred and lives into his 90's to take care of his Mother. He did want to take care of her.
- The incentive: We get Him. We will be related to Christ. Some Christians are kicked out of house and home for their faith.

What makes these Household codes in Ephesians 5-6 different from the world?
Answer: These roles are done unto the Lord. Distinctive, Christ-honoring relationships.
Ephesians 5:22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30 because we are members of His body. 31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Faith-works. Not because works save us. It's that faith causes us to act. We are to hear the Word of God and to try to be fruitful. And in hearing well, we get Jesus Christ.

Closing with a memory of preaching labs while earning an M.Div.
He remembers Dr. Ben Aubrey. He'd lay out all his notes. And as someone was preaching up front, he wouldn't write anything. The first thing he'd say would be in appreciation to being faithful in application to the Scripture. He kept preaching labs from being an academic exercise. It is still the Word of God preached. 

We are to take in the Word of God. Drink it in Deeply. And let it seep into the roots of our life.

Christmas Sunday IBC. 12/15/2013.

Luke 2:1-14. Christmas Sunday.
Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 2:1 Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. 4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,

And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

Sunday Morning IBC. 12/8/2013. Luke 8.

The Parable of the Sower. Luke 8:1-15
Pastor Nam Park. 

Luke 8:1 Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

Parable of the Sower

4 When a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. 6 Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. 8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.”As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9 His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

How are we receiving the Word of God?
Are you "falling asleep" spiritually? Not being in the Word. Not allowing the scriptures to change your life.

Beside the Road: Sowing seed was just tossing hand fulls in a general direction.
Rocky soil: Top soil was shallow.

Luke 8:8 Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.”As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
- Let anyone who has ears pay attention to what I've just said.

Isaiah 6:9 He said, “Go, and tell this people:

‘Keep on listening, but do not perceive;
Keep on looking, but do not understand.’

10 “Render the hearts of this people insensitive,

Their ears dull,
And their eyes dim,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.”

They were all "there" at church, but it didn't make a difference in their lives.

Luke 8:14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
- Worry. They are consumed in the moment with this temporary existence.
- Riches and Pleasures.
Enjoying delights apart from God is sinful.

Luke 8:15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.
- These hear the Word and make it virtuous. They don't assume upon God but they do their best to do what the Word says. They believe that the next life is FAR better than this life.

God has a wonderful plan for your life, but it just might be that that plan is for the life to come.

Sunday Morning IBC. 12/2/2013. Luke 7.

Forgiven Much Part 2. Luke 7:36-50.

Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 7:36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 38 and standing behind Himat His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Parable of Two Debtors

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” 41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. 47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Here: A supreme religionist vs. a sinner.

Two individuals that are stark contrasts to each other.

3 Comparisons. It's about this woman. Jesus points out the virtues of a person that's forgiven.

Luke 7:44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 

- Do you see this woman... Simon sees her in dimensions of unworthiness. He might say, "Yes, I see her" but Jesus would reply "Well, so do I."

Luke 7:47 For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 

- Sentiment is not sufficient for Christianity. God doesn't forgive us by sentiment. The price for our sins was paid in FULL by Christ on the cross.

- "For she loved much" gives hint that this is WHY she is forgiven. BUT then stop to think upon the parable that Jesus told. The parable told of the two men who were unable to pay. And the one who loved more was the one who was forgiven more.

After being in church for so long, we might find our passions start to ebb. How do we rekindle it? The recovery comes in the rediscovery of our unworthiness to be forgiven.

Luke 7:48 Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” 

- Affirmation that she is accepted and welcomed by God. This is beautiful.

Luke 7:49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” 50 And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

- The Jewish people knew that only the Lord can forgive sins. 

- Yet Jesus still concentrates on speaking to her. She can now leave and live in peace with God and men.

She then fades into history. Maybe she died an early death. But what she did receive was a public affirmation of her forgiveness from Christ.

If you don't feel like worshipping, then you've lost the wonder.

Why would HE choose you??? us???