By God’s grace may you have an open mind.
Reaching to the level of enlightenment is not easy. Spiritual enlightenment is gained when we open our eyes and ears to seek higher ground and we stay away from all of the worldly pleasures. To achieve this higher level is better than having better health.
We human beings must reach for this spiritual enlightenment. Jesus told us, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” He said that He is the way, which means we have to pass through Him, to get to know Him and to meet Him. Finally He came down to earth in a human form, and what He did was to show us the way of right living. If we attend church and understand what He is
teaching, but never meet Him, then we may be a church member but not a Christian. Many of us are just what we call lukewarm Christians.
Jesus told us, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.” Matthew 7:21
Not many will enter into the kingdom of Heaven. During harvest there is a lot of straw but not too much grain. I understand many of you folk came here because of health problems, but my wish is that you will find freedom, happiness and deliverance before you leave here.
Who is this man called Jesus to me? He is the God of Heaven who came down to earth and asked me, “Who am I to you? Am I an accessory to you? You come to church once a week to listen to the sermon, and then go back to your ordinary life. And while you were busy with your own life, you have forgotten about Me.
And when you come back to church, you barely remembered me. So who am I to you?” Whoever you are I want you to be enlightened.
As I read the Bible I noticed whoever has been born again will be spiritually enlightened. Like Zacchaeus the cheater, Mary the prostitute, Peter and Andrew the fisher of men, they all are spiritually enlightened. In Christian teaching, whether your position is high or low, well educated or not, it really doesn’t matter. But whoever was born again in Christ will be enlightened.
Ladies and gentlemen, the most burdensome person is not your mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, husband or wife. But actually it is you.
If you do not exist, what kind of joy, anger, sadness or pleasure is there? That is why the Bible says we should be, “Born again.”
Some Bible texts sound contradicting to other texts. Such as: Lower yourself first then you will rise, give then you will be given, serve then you will be served and die then you will be alive. Let’s read Philippians 4:11.
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11
Is that so? Whatsoever the condition might be I’ve learned to be content? Verse 12.
“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4:12
Paul went to Lystra to spread the gospel. But people there stoned him. They thought he was dead, so they threw him away outside of town. Oh, he was badly beaten. He knew how to, “suffer” indeed. He was beaten and thrown in jail. But he knew how to be satisfied. And next he says, “I know how to rebound.” In those days people envied him and when he passed by the town many people wanted to touch his garment. And sick people were brought to him and they wanted just to touch his shadow to be healed.
Paul was well respected in the city of Athens, and people thought he was a Zeus god because they noticed that he was powerful, and because of the miraculous things he performed. So they wanted to worship him. Paul never got disappointed even though he was stoned and beaten up. He was never a proud person even though others respected him as God. He was, “Instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians
4:12
We do not have to be disappointed because someone despises us. And also we shouldn’t be too proud because someone praises us. This way we will be enlightened and saved. And that will be Heaven for you. It means whoever is shaken by little worldly things can’t say that he is saved. Such as your mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, someone who has deceived you, or who gave you the bad attitude and still bothers you, then these are signs that you are nobody.
What does it mean he was, “instructed both to be full?” Let’s read verse 13.
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ.” The keyword is Christ.
The freedom of deliverance and happiness and everything is upon Him. So I really recommend you stay focused on Jesus for the rest of your life.
Ladies and gentlemen, from now on, stay away from reading newspapers and spending too much time watching TV. Avoid mingling with gossipers among the church members. The earthly things can’t deliver us. But only through the Heavenly power will we be delivered. Man can’t give other men salvation. Jesus Christ, the one who came to this earth, can. Let us focus on Jesus and not pay attention to the oil prices, or the rice prices. Paul has said, “I also learned that whether someone despises me or praises me, I do not get shaken as much as before. It’s because I have someone who gives me the Heavenly power from above.”
Since I am a Christian, I cannot say no one gives me the power of freedom and power of contentment. If I say so it will be a lie. I have someone who gives me power. If there is someone who I want to brag about it is Jesus Christ my only God. How could I ever find this precious God? How could I ever know Him? As I lay down to sleep or wake up in the morning knowing Him gives me excitement in my heart.
Now I see Him with my eyes of faith, but someday I will see Him face to face. Won’t it be a great day? If we understand that we won’t be staying on earth too long, and we will soon be going to Heaven, we should learn more of what freedom and deliverance are.
All of us will grow old someday, our eyesight will get weaker, dimmer, we will lose our teeth and eventually face death. That is a known fact. In this short life we have on this earth, let us
focus on Jesus Christ and look for His promise to give us eternal life.
I have a friend who had an excellent idea. He discovered that Chinese sesame seeds are 5 times cheaper than the South Korean sesame seed. But it is prohibited to bring these seeds into South Korea. He went to the Buddhist temple and kept staring at the sesame seeds for about 2 months. Finally he got an idea how to bring the seeds to South Korea. He thought I cannot bring the seeds in, but sesame seed candy was allowed to be imported, because a candy form is considered to be a processed item.
So he made several tons of sesame candy and brought it into South Korea and then he washed off the sugar and recovered the sesame seed. He sold it as sesame seed and made a lot of money. If we really believe that Jesus is the only life and way, then we should treat Jesus as He claimed to be. But why are we treating him as an accessory? You know what He is telling us? “I am thinking that you are my fate. And that is why I came to earth to die for you.”
We seek treatment in some special therapy, certain leaves or roots, rather than everlasting life or Heaven. But it is very clear that our body is more important than our clothes, our soul is more important than our body, isn’t it? If our soul is on the right path then He will give us a healthy body for the sake of our soul. To Him our soul is more important. The problem is we are always thinking the opposite way.
Thread follows the needle, and not the needle after the thread. I want you to know that our soul is more valuable to God than anything; if we put our soul on the right path then He will heal our body.
Two thousand years ago many people gathered around Him because He fed these people with two fishes and five barley loaves of bread. He told them, “Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” John 6:27
Soon after that many people left Him. How sad He was. He must have been disappointed because of these people who couldn’t understand the truth, and so few were saved. We shouldn’t be in that group. We must understand His will. Today I want to share with you the topic “The law of the birth of the newborn.”
Drivers need to follow the highway codes and laws (rules) to drive safely on the street. There are certain instructions on how to make bread and kim-chi. And there are also laws regarding the birth of the newborn.
This is the law of birth. Let’s read Genesis 1:1.
“In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1
In the beginning the earth was created. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters and prepared creation. The spirit of God is the Holy Spirit. And next, the water was mentioned. Let’s read Genesis 8:1.
“And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters receded.” Genesis 8:1
After the flood where the water destroyed everything God saved Noah’s family. Did He ever destroy people with water? Let’s read Genesis 6:3.
“And the LORD said, my spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” Genesis 6:3
The people of Noah’s time were just like men of today looking for convenience, to satisfy their appetites, better homes and better cars instead of seeking spirituality.
All these earthly possessions will do nothing for us spiritually. The people in Noah’s time and the people today are about the same in that aspect. All the smart people who have studied want to get a better refrigerator, and a better home. Why? Because it will show that they make more money and that is the ultimate goal in their life. What if we make more money? Then we can buy better materialistic things.
No matter how much money they make it is only for earthly things. They do not seek spiritual things. When God looked upon the earth, He deplored humans that they had stooped down to the animal level and he decided to eliminate these people with water (flood). Let’s read Genesis 8:1 again.
“And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters receded.” Genesis 8:1
As you read this verse God remembered Noah and his family when they were inside the ark. And the wind blew, water evaporated off the land and finally the new family appeared. God saved Noah’s family. Next let us read Exodus 14:21-22.
“And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” Exodus 14:21-22
This is the scene of God’s new nation rising, the east wind and the water (Red Sea) are mentioned. Among the water and the wind God creates a new nation.
The Israelites suffered for 400 years in Egypt. As Moses was leading his people from Egypt, the Egyptian troops were chasing after them and in front of them was the Red Sea. They were caught in between. In this impossible situation God parted the Red Sea by the east wind and they were led into Canaan.
Whenever we talked about the new world, new family, new nation or new birth, there is something in common, and that is this element called water. Water is an important element in our life. So we recommend that you drink plenty of water. Let’s read 1 Corinthians 10:1 and find out what is meant by going through the water. We must study the New Testament as well as the Old Testament. If we are not comparing these books then we won’t be getting the right answer.
“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea. And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” Corinthians 10:1-2
What does the Bible say about the passing through the sea? It says “All passed through the sea; It represents that we were all baptized.” Baptism is the ceremony that immerses us into the water, and not just by sprinkling water on our forehead. The event of the passing though the Red Sea is the symbol of the baptismal service. Let’s read more verses. 1 Peter 3:20-21.
“Who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also–not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 3:20-21.
Here it says the event of the flood is also the symbol of the baptism of Noah’s family. Then what is the meaning of baptism? It is the sign of salvation. It is the sign that one believes and is saved, that is baptism. And he added that baptism is, “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” What could be a good conscience toward God? Is it our goodness? No. Providing lots of good works? No. A good conscience toward God is, “Oh God, I am a sinner, so I need your blood that you shed on the cross.” The good conscience is accepting Jesus as our personal savior.
We can express our acceptance of Jesus Christ through baptism. This is very important. Let’s read 2 Peter 3:5.
“But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the Heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water.” 2 Peter 3:5
In 2 Peter 3:5 it says, the Heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water. Here we can find the common factor. Whenever there is new birth, water appears. What does that mean? That means the baptismal service. The baptism is a very important ceremony. Now as we read from the book of Matthew 3:16 we will notice the correct way of baptism. Is it by immersing or sprinkling?
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment Heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.” Matthew 3:16
It shows us the proper way of baptism by the way Jesus was baptized. Then when He came up out of the water the Holy Spirit appeared. It says, Jesus was baptized, by immersion and he came out of the water.
As we review the creation in the book of Genesis, Noah’s flood or crossing of the Red Sea, all of these events were describing baptism. That means immersion baptism and not any other method.
Here is an egg and from the yolk (embryo) a new life will emerge. This embryo is also surrounded by water. Before the calf emerges it ruptures the water bag and comes out. Here we see water is mentioned. What about humans? Every mother knows that the baby was in the amniotic membrane which is a water bag, and it contains water in her womb. It shows us that all new life comes out of water.
In the Bible, water means baptism. The original word is “baptizo”, or “baptize.” All of these words mean immerse in the water.
Christening means cleansing so is that considered baptism? But, to be completely washed, we have to get into the water and not just to be sprinkled. Jesus did not sin and yet He set an example of baptism and He also wanted to show us the proper way of baptism by immersion. Now you know that water is the baptism. Then what does the wind represent? Let’s read John 3:3.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. John 3:3
Whenever Jesus tells us a very important matter He will emphasize it by repeating the word, “verily, verily.” He says, unless a man be born again, not only he cannot enter to the kingdom of God but cannot even see the kingdom of God. Then how can we be born again? John 3:5.
“Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” John 3:5
Jesus is saying the same thing here. Unless you are born again with the water and the Holy Spirit you cannot enter into the kingdom of God. You already understand that water means baptism. Then what is the wind? John 3:8.
“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
Wind is blowing but we can’t see it. Then how could we tell the wind is blowing? If the laundry or the tree branches are moving then we can tell the wind is blowing. The Holy Spirit is not visible just like the wind is not visible. When you see a drunkard give up drinking, a fighter who doesn’t fight any more, and the selfish or greedy man gives to take care of others, you know the Holy Spirit is working in their heart. So the Holy Spirit is represented by the wind.
Wind is frequently mentioned in the book of Genesis, through the story of Noah’s ark, and the Red Sea. It represents the Holy Spirit. As we study the Bible, the law of new birth is with “Water
and the Holy Spirit.” As we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and confess our sins, “I am a sinner but you have washed away all my sin.” And when we announce our baptism in public, God will come in and dwell in our new heart, and we will be His children. This is the law of new birth.
I heard someone say that it is not important to be baptized. Just attend church and you should be fine. Is that right? May I compare this as to someone who wants to drive a car without proper driver training and license? If you ignore the law, you will end up having an accident.
God has set His law to guide us. I am emphasizing to you again to read the Bible. If we do not read the Bible we may go astray and get lost.
We learned that whenever there is a new birth, water and the Holy Spirit appear. Jesus also mentioned, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” He does not say just believe me, and then everything will be all right. Why did He repeatedly mention water and the Holy Spirit? There should be some reason that He says, “Verily, verily I say unto you.” Later on we can see the apostles are saying the same thing. Let’s read Acts 2:38.
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38
Peter also mentions, “Be baptized” and “gift of the Holy Spirit.”
We can see the same law was mentioned repeatedly. In the sacred place, like in the sanctuary, which is a very important place, there was also a water basin, which represented baptism. It is telling us this law is very important for us to be called God’s people. He is not telling us, if we just follow the rules then we will be God’s people, but rather letting us know that this is the way God wants us to follow through with the ceremony. When a child is born we register the birth certificate. If we don’t register his name he is not an acceptable citizen of that nation.
Two main concepts of Christianity are the cross and the resurrection. Jesus died on the cross for us, and Jesus was resurrected. These two actions are the main points for all Christians. All Christians have accepted that Jesus died on the cross for us and He was resurrected. And we will be resurrected as Jesus was. How could we express our faith in front of our God and church members? Let’s study Romans 6:3 and find out.
“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:3
“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death.” This verse says all our sins are buried in the water, which means immersed in the water, with Jesus. That action is proclaiming that the sinful self has died in the water, just like Jesus died on the cross.
Are we going to come out of water? Yes we are. One man told me, I am now one year old. This means we are born again into a new life. Let’s read Colossians 2:12.
“Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” Colossians 2:12
What does it say in this verse? We can commemorate the cross and the resurrection by the baptism. If we ask the Sunday keepers, in the Bible there is no mention that we should keep Sunday. Why do you ignore the Sabbath and think Sunday is a more important day? They will reply that they want to commemorate the day of Christ’s resurrection.
But there is no mention in the Bible for us to keep the resurrection day. The Bible says commemorate the resurrection by baptism.
So they are keeping Sunday because it is the resurrection day. If you are really yearning for everlasting life, really want to go to Heaven, believing Jesus Christ died on the cross for you and believe that you will be resurrected with Him, then I want you to be baptized. That is the law that God has made. That is the high calling for us. Why don’t you obey, and follow His instructions and be baptized.
Perhaps eating just one fruit of good and evil shouldn’t be that big a deal. But after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit the guilty feelings started in their minds, and they were running
away from God. Some of you may think, “I wish I did not know the words of the Bible” but Jesus mentioned we would find everlasting life in the Bible.
The word of the Bible is life. If it is the way to everlasting life, would you avoid reading it because you don’t want to feel guilty? Please don’t. I tell you again, the word of God gives you life, peace, and light and leads you in the right way. It is very important to know the Bible. We are going to have a baptismal service while you are here. If anyone wants to be baptized this is a good chance.
I wish you would turn your heart toward the grace of Jesus. I don’t believe you will regret it. If you would like to be baptized please sign on this paper. We will help you.
