Good morning! This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Transcription

1 Good morning! This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Today, we d like to begin a new sermon series called, Enough. It will be our church-wide study and worship emphasis in September as our stewardship campaign. In this sermon series, we ll explore biblical principles of life style that helps us to assess our financial situation and to develop financial plan. Some may people think that stewardship is about money. That is not true. Think of the meaning of stewardship - it means a job of taking care of something. You are to take care of things that God has given to you. So, what God has given to you? Everything! Stewardship is about everything, our lifestyle, our behavior, our service, our gift and our giving, absolutely including our money and resources. It is about the way in which we live. We d like to call this sermon series Enough, because we wonder what makes us feel enough. When I first came to the United States, there was one word captured my mind. As Americans, we proudly say the word, American Dream. It means the ideal that every US citizen should have an equal opportunity To achieve success and prosperity through hard work, determination, and initiative. This is not my definition but what the dictionary says about it. Do you think that this American dream works in these days? It seems wonderful that every one has an equal opportunity. Is this true? Well, I m not against the value of equality, hard work, determination. Yet, it still focuses on success and prosperity. What kind of dream do you dream for your life? Of course, we need to succeed and prosper. We need money to live. But I m talking about the purpose and vision, and God s higher call for your life. The material things cannot satisfy our deep hunger of our souls. 1

2 Money and possession can t help you quench your spiritual thirst. The American Dream is not our final destination. We need to dream the dream and the vision that God has stirred within us. Our dream and vision goes beyond what the world offers. I mean we are living in a society that constantly tells you you deserve it now and you need it now, seducing stuffs can satisfy your hunger and thirst. No matter we could afford it or really even need it, it seems to bring happiness to us. So, in September, we d like to go back to the Bible where we hear God s word, Hoping to establish biblical foundations that help us to look at our lives, our lifestyle, behaviors, including our financial situation and truly experience God is only Enough for us. Where could we find joy and happiness? Only in Jesus. Jesus is the joy of our lives. As followers of Jesus, this morning, we d like to look at the sermon on the Mount, the first message that Jesus is bringing to his disciples, discipleship! Many of you know today s scripture known as the beatitudes, the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. The sermon on the Mount is very important for us to know what Jesus teaches about God s mission - kingdom works. In verse 1, the Bible says that When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Jesus sat down with his disciples, now with the crowds. So, what Jesus is going to say something for his disciples, discipleship. It is Jesus desire for his followers, disciples. Since it begins like Happy or blessed are those. we might think this is about happiness and blessing - how to be happy or blessed? But when you really think of what Jesus says in his preaching, when you really ponder on what it means to be blessed, you may overwhelmed by its impractical values that may be hard to apply in this world. 2

3 Another word is that are you sure about this? Are you really ready to be disciples or followers of Jesus Christ? Jesus said that Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. These first four statements talk about honorable dispositions: Humility, mournfulness, meekness, and passion for injustice. Jesus didn t teach his follower about how to be happy, blessed and successful but teaches about characters and values of discipleship. This is very countercultural! Whenever you turn on TV and media, the world seems to teach us, You have to be rich - that s where you find happiness. Don t be fool and always enjoy your life. You have to be brave, intractable and active instead of being gentle or meek. If you are hungry and can t afford your life, we re sorry you are living in poverty. Well, we live in a time or a culture when or where the blessings given are to those who succeed, often at the expense of others. A word, affluenza, describes where we live, how this country runs right now. It is the constant need for more and bigger and better stuff and a desire to acquire. However, Jesus was turning the values of the world upside down. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Are you poor in your spirit? Are you a meek and gentle person? Are you also hungry or thirsty for righteousness? There are ones who are happy and blessed. This is very different from what the world teaches. You may think these are radical or high expectations of discipleship that some saints could only achieve. 3

4 No, Jesus teaches the beatitudes to everyone of us who accepts Jesus as their savior. This is what we need to remember, to teach our children, to witness to the world in order to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. So, pay attention to how Jesus begins the beatitudes. How Jesus begin the beatitudes? His premises are not conditional. He doesn t teach how-tos but he proclaims the status of being happy and blessed. They are present-tense statements. The poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful- they re all blessed. The pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted - blessed. Jesus is not giving us something like pie in the sky, but proclaiming the reality of God s kingdom. Jesus doesn t conditionally say you will be blessed. Instead, he says that you are blessed. It s a present-day reality shaped by the truth that God is with us and the kingdom of God has come near and will continue near until all is made well. The poor, the meek, the hungry, the merciful, the peacemaker, You are inherited all the promises of God. This is very simple. This is for us who willing to serve our Lord, Jesus Christ as his disciples. You are blessed in this life whenever you demonstrate humility, bring a peaceful presence, open your heart to others, and show mercy on those who cry for it. We know we have a right to the pursuit of happiness written in the declaration of independence. But I m telling you that the true happiness is right here in Jesus Christ. We live in this world where there is lack of hopefulness. People become more cynical. 4

5 We become to accept whatever is, regardless of the consequences. Do not worry about it. That is just the way things are. You will get used to it. However, the Beatitudes offers the opposite point of view. We place our hope on Christ, who offered hope to the hopeless. Thus we are able to approach the world with a spirit of hope. When we are hopeful, we stand in this world sure of the possibility that the day will come when mercy, humility, peace, and love become the social norms. The next words in the beatitudes refers to acts of mercy, peace and justice. Jesus invites to us be compassionate. We listen, support, pray for each other. We act whenever we sense the movement of the Holy Spirit. We show our acts of mercy and peace Because we strongly feel that God has called us to what God has already done to us. Blessings is one of the words we always hear in church but we aren t really sure what it means. It s not a guarantee of an easy life. It s not a promise of luxury either. Receiving a blessing means becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ who always praises God in the good and the bad, and like Paul, to have joy in even suffering and follow Jesus Christ in practicing of love, mercy, and justice. We all know what it means to be blessed - a blessing is receiving the gift of Emmanuel, that God is with us, and putting our trust in that gift as the one that makes all the difference. So living with Jesus Christ is the key! How could we be poor in spirit, meek, humble, hunger and thirst for righteousness all the time? Those who live with Jesus remain open to God and grow as disciples. No matter what storm will come, no matter the mouton to climb, no matter the obstacle in our way, we are blessed because we are not alone. God is with us. This is the promise that Jesus has given us. You re blessed! 5

6 When we invite Jesus to live within us, our lives will be simple, one minded, meek, righteous. Your life will change in a way toward being Christ-like. You look at your lifestyle, your behavior, your way of spending. Even though we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior and receive a changed heart, we need it each and every day, saying that Lord, help me to focus on you: you are only one that I yearn and seek. You can only satisfy me. As Christ works in us, we shall open ourselves and seek first his kingdom and strive to do God s will. We need to look at ways we can make a difference with our time and talents and resources. The beatitudes invites us to simplify our lives and silence the voices constantly telling us we need more and to live counter-culturally by living selflessly, not pursuing earthly success so that we would be able to live generously and faithfully. I d like to invite you to put your hands on your lap, just extend your hands palm upright on your lap. And I would invite you to say this prayer with me, just quietly under your breath. Change my heart, oh God. Clean me out inside. Make me new. Heal my desires. Help me to see what it means to be blessed not by my possessions but by your love. Teach me simplicity. Teach me generosity and help me have joy. I offer my life to you. In Jesus' name. Amen. 6