Sunday Morning IBC. 10/27/2013. Luke 7.

John Seeks a Report on Jesus: The Identity of Jesus. Luke 7:18-23.
Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 7:18 The disciples of John reported to him about all these things. 19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” 20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” 21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 23 Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Expectation is a powerful tool. John is a rock of faith, so why was he in need to question Christ?
- He was perplexed.
- He was doubting. A momentary uncertainty. Struggle of wondering if his expectations of Christ were right.

Luke doesn't mention that John is currently in prison when he asks Christ this question.

Similar to the item of church discipline (step 2), two people would be brought to confront the person in the wrong. John saw the verification of Jesus as a serious matter.
Luke 7:19 Summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” 
- Luke doesn't even mention that John is in jail at the moment.
- These two disciples would repeat John's question verbatim.

Luke 7:21 At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. 
- These infirmities demonstrate the brokenness of this world, and our need for a savior.
- It is to God's glory that we see the healing. It is also to God's glory that we see the brokenness (the need to be healed).

Luke 7:22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have the gospel preached to them. 
- Good news comes even to the poor.
- The poetic form was somberly sent from Jesus for the purpose of encouraging John the Baptist. 

Luke 7:23 Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.
- It is the "trip-wire", the stumbling block that causes you to trip. The religious leaders were tripped and fell over... because Christ didn't "fit" into the religious leaders' mold. (The righteous were still suffering, etc.)
- When people decide to stop coming to church. They don't usually go out like rebels, they just tend to fade away, since they didn't get the expectations that they were hoping for.
- We must take Jesus for who He is.
- I wouldn't want to live in this world forever. All the horribleness of a fallen world. We want the Savior to come. 
- Right after John receives this word from Christ, he gets beheaded. Thus, v.23 was written as a comfort to John. This scripture saturated man could then lay down his life gladly. He wasn't waiting for the 2nd part of the promises to occur, but was satisfied that the Messianic age was here.

Lord, help us to trust you, even in our moments of doubt.

Sunday Morning IBC. 10/20/2013. Luke 7.

Lord over Death and Sorrow. Luke 7:11-17.
Pastor Nam Park.

Jesus can bring people back from the dead. He is also willing to do so because his compassion cares for those with sorrow.

We err if we believed in His goodness and care but believed He wasn't able to do anything. We also err if we believed that He's all powerful but believed He didn't care.

He is Lord over Death. He is also Lord over our Sorrows.

Luke 7:11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. 12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!” 17 This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

v.11 Nain is still in the Galilean region. A fairly small town ~200 people.

v.12 "behold" stresses that these two groups are an unlikely meeting: Jesus and the disciples and this funeral party.

Luke 7:13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 
- The Lord responded specifically to the mother. 
- Funeral processions are usually held on the day of the death. No chance to reflect on the death of her son. The grief is fresh and raw. 
- It was a double sorrow. The deceased was the ONLY son of his mother. She was also a widow. She was all alone.
- The people in this town understood and joined her and weeped for her loss.

- Nam remembers when his mom died. He now understood what it meant for one to mourn and become experienced in grief. There is still a rawness of this sorrow when thinking upon it. 
- Jesus' Reaction: Remarkable Compassion. It says that He saw HER. He saw a woman in her desperate brokenness. He didn't see a young man that had lost his life in his youth, He saw a woman.  It's about Jesus seeing one person suffering intensely on the most difficult day of her Earthly life. And, He felt compassion for her.

Could Jesus have just let this funeral procession pass? A: Yes.
BUT, he wanted to help. A visceral effect: A feeling from the gut. 
He takes the initiative to do something to help her sorrow.
It's not required of him to help her. Eternity would not be changed if He didn't heal.

Theologically the bringing back of people from the dead are not resurrections, but they are rather resuscitations. 

Story of Lazarus being raised from the dead. Jesus was moved to the point that He didn't have any words left. No words left. All He could do was "sigh."  Similarly in that same section of scriptures, we see the following verse:
John 11:35 Jesus wept.

Now, why would Jesus weep? In His sovereignty, He knew Lazarus died and He knew He would soon raise Lazarus from the dead. This short verse shows the compassion that Jesus has over this momentary death.

If you feel like no one "gets it," you're right! Except for one person, Jesus Christ.
He can also sympathize to a degree that no one else can.

Lamentations 3:22 
The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Luke 7:14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!” 
- Touching the coffin would make that person ceremonially unclean. So the people are shocked and come to a halt.
- The dead sat up and spoke, he's not a zombie. In curiosity, what did he say?
- But the next verse comes back to HER.  This is about Jesus' compassion for her.
Luke 7:15 The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 
- The lesson is that God/Jesus are intentional. Not just that He could but that He is willing and wants to.

At that point, fear gripped them all. 
The "fear" here is one of astonishment.
The praise went to God the Father. (They didn't know who Jesus was.)
The mourning group thought two things:
1. A "Great Prophet" is here. (Vast OT prophets just spoke revelations but didn't do miracles.)  Yet there were two Great Prophets: Moses (plagues and plagues) and Elijah (calling down fire from heaven, raising of people from the dead).
2. God has visited His people.

It's not just about Jesus healing. It was more about the gentle compassion that Jesus used and the gentle manner in which He wielded His power.

He has the ability to do great things and He chooses to do great things, even for those in momentary affliction.
You may think you're going through something TOO SMALL for God to care. You'd be wrong.
You may think you're going through something TOO BIG for God to do anything about. You'd be wrong.

Our God knows all things. Is able to do all things. And His compassion is like nothing that we might ever attest to.  His mercy has not only rescued us but continues to give us hope in the darkest hours of our lives.

Sunday Morning IBC. 10/13/2013. John 13:34-35.

Love One Another. John 13:34-35.
Timothy Jin.

What external denotes Christians? A: Probably the Cross. Maybe a fish. 
Asking the World: What does a Christian look like? A: Someone who goes to church. Someone who doesn't drink. Someone against abortion (has certain political views). No, these things don't make a Christian. The real identifier... look in John 13.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jesus tells us the identifying mark of a disciple: That you have love for one another (brother and sisters in Christ).  

The Setting: the upper room where Jesus is with His disciples [11 disciples, since Judas has already left]. Tomorrow, Jesus knows that He is going to the cross. He will leave them behind on earth to fulfill their jobs as disciples. Here He is leaving instructions for the disciples on how to live.

John 13:33 Little children, I am with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This is one of the simplest commands to understand, yet one of the hardest commandments to obey.

They are the 11 most faithful to Jesus Christ. The legacy He wants them to leave is a legacy of loving one another.

John 13:27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus *said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.

Agape love. A love NOT contingent on the object of what the love is bestowed upon. 

This is also a NEW commandment. This command was given to the Jewish people. 

Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart.

Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.

[The Israelites were to also love those in their midst.]

Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

- Thus, the Israelites are used to hearing about love.

- Yet as Jesus goes to the cross, He is establishing a NEW community in the church that will be formed, bound tightly in a Christ. A new community, a new church.

Short Term Missions to Japan. There's a tearful bond because we've sung the same worship songs to the same God. This is the connection that the Lord is creating that crosses language and cultural barriers.

Acts 2 in the beginning of the church, those of the early church are sharing all of their possessions with one another. 

Even in the most doctrinally sound churches, we lose sight of this type of love.

1 John 3:7 Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

- It's obvious, children of God or children of the Devil.

Jesus has been the example as they have lived with Him for the past 3 years.

This is a humble Lord. Jesus also washes the feet of Judas, and this proves the love of the master.

John 13:5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

- Imagine that Obama comes and desires to vacuum the floors and wipe down tables. We would not allow him to, since he is way too far above us. So then how much more so absurd is it that the Lord of ALL the UNIVERSE would stoop to wash the disciples' feet. This is humility.

John 13:8 Peter said to Him, “Never shall You wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

- This type of love would lead Jesus to the cross.

"Son of Sam" killer.

Friend Rick kept reminding him that no matter what he's done, Christ loves him.

Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

And saved him out of all his troubles.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

- An act of love, so humiliating, yet so loving.

- It's amazing that in light of what Christ has shown to us, such petty things can get in the way of us loving others.
- If someone annoys me, I might not talk to that person.
"I may not like that brother or sister, but I sure do love him." ~ strange thought.
- to love like Christ is to be willing to suffer great humiliation, at personal cost. Christ gave His life. He is the PERFECT model for how we ought to love one another.

The distinctive mark of a disciple:
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.
- If it feels foreign to love, it is then to our shame.

"When we reflect on the history of the church, are we not bound to confess that she has failed to follow the example of her founder? All too often, she has worn the robes of a ruler and not apron of a servant. Even in our own day (contemporary day), it can hardly be said that the brand image of the church is of a society, united in love for Jesus and devoted to selfless service of others."
~ Prof Michael Green, Regent College.

Is our love for one another so apparent that it separates us from the outside world. Has something supernatural landed in our midst?
This love needs to be witnessed and SEEN by others. A love that is unique and different, unlike a love that is seen anywhere else.

"If all Christians lived like Christ, there would be no more Islam today." - Muslim, turned Christian.

Be an effective witness for Christ. Bear His love. This is the kind of love that should exist in our church. This is how we will be known as Christians.

May we be all be attentive to the words/command that He has given to His disciples.

Single's 2nd Hour. 10/6/2013. Philippians 4:6-7.

Do Not Worry. Philippians 4:6-7.
Pastor Gary. 

Exercise: Worry List. Write out a list of your worries.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1. Don't worry.

2. Prayer and supplication.

3. With Thanksgiving.

Result: Indescribable peace of God.

The command to "be anxious for nothing" assumes that everyone is already anxious (worried). Our natural inclination is to worry. Yet part of our sanctification is not to act the way we do instinctively. [We are not to worry.]

Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

- The gift from God is that He is in control of everything. God is greater than all the sufferings and all anxieties.

The irrationality of worry. Have you ever solved a problem by worrying about them? A: No.

Matthew 6:25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
- What do people worry about? A: Usually the bare essentials.

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

- Christian, do you worry about death? Paul states here that it'd be better to be with Christ. 

- Yet on TV we see that the world worries about death so much and they advertise "organic" this and that. Products to keep you healthy and living longer.

Matthew 6:30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!

- When we worry, we are demonstrating lack of faith in God and His sovereignty.

- Worry declares our Lord as being untrustworthy.

The opposite action of worry is to PRAY.

Prayer is expressing need and total dependence upon Him.

Prayer is synonymous with worship.

- No sins of Daniel's were recorded in Scripture.

- Here is a portion of Daniel's prayer, it's full of a sense of worship:

Daniel 9:4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed and said, “Alas, O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 5 we have sinned, committed iniquity, acted wickedly and rebelled, even turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. 6 Moreover, we have not listened to Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings, our princes, our fathers and all the people of the land.

Daniel 9:15 “And now, O Lord our God, who have brought Your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand and have made a name for Yourself, as it is this day—we have sinned, we have been wicked. 16 O Lord, in accordance with all Your righteous acts, let now Your anger and Your wrath turn away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain; for because of our sins and the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a reproach to all those around us. 17 So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.

- Godly men, like Daniel, ask the Lord for things, YET their supplications are embedded in worship of who God is.

When Gary was in fear of drowning in a rip tide, he prayed: "God Help Me."

It wasn't flowery, it was a cry of urgency. This is prayer.

Be Thankful. To give "thanks" acknowledges that God is in charge. We need to realize that we deserve nothing and that the gift of salvation is THE GREATEST GIFT God could ever grant us.

Ephesians 5:20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

The Result.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

- Yet everyone wants verse 7 without verse 6.

- The mature Christian will be pleased with whatever solution/outcome the Lord determines.

Worship your anxiety away.

Your circumstances might not change, but your heart will.

Challenge: Find someone that lives without anxiety that doesn't have an active prayer life.

Question: Why don't people pray? Survey says: They are BUSY.

Yet, do you have time to worry?  If you have time to worry, then you have time to pray.

Remember the Exercise of writing out your "Worry List"?

Cross out the title of "Worry List" and replace it with "Prayer List" then pray and worship through those struggles.

Sunday Morning IBC. 10/6/2013. Luke 7.

Amazing Faith. Luke 7:1-10. 
Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 7:1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. 2 And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; 5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” 6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; 7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Sunday Morning IBC. 9/29/2013. Luke 6.

The Final Test of Discipleship. Luke 6:46-49.
Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Sunday Morning IBC. 9/22/2013. Luke 6.

Luke 6:43-49. The Fruit of Discipleship.

Pastor Nam Park.

Luke 6:43 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.44 For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. 45 The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Builders and Foundations

46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”