Monday, November 7, 2011

113. Sermons

I recently started listening to sermons again.

While eating dinner just now, I was quite stunned when Pr. Hwang mentioned briefly in a sermon the name of Brother Daniel Zheng (This brother was shot and died in San Francisco when he went out to buy a mother's day card). Just yesterday at GG, Lulu mentioned him because we were talking about youngest people who attended the first NYTS in 1992, and she told me his story.

I'm convinced that this compelling coincidence was not mere coincidence. Perhaps God is telling me something. In the sermon, Pr. Hwang emphasized that if we live, we should not live for ourselves (though everyone lives for themselves). We must live for Jesus.

When I heard "We must not live for ourselves!" ringing through my 1st generation iPod touch, I couldn't help but feel my inner man strengthening.

This is something I really like about listening to sermons. Even though some teachings may not be "new", listening to someone talk about it with full conviction and power is very refreshing.

Friday, November 4, 2011

112. For the Help of Man is Worthless

Give us aid against the enemy,
for the help of man is worthless.
With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies. (Ps 108:12-13)

One might find it difficult to believe that "the help of man is worthless."

In fact, from the eyes of the world, the only help available is the help of man. And people happily rely on this because the capabilities and potential of man are "great." (Look at the medical and technological advancements man has made in the past century!)

However, during both physical and spiritual struggles, whatever help the fleshly arm can provide (how ever "great" it may possibly be) is worthless compared to the arm of God. And to believe this is the core of what we call faith.

With this hard-to-come-by yet simple faith in our God, we can indeed trample down our enemies. God will trample down our enemies.

Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?

Give us aid against the enemy,
for the help of man is worthless.