The Worship that Saves Me, the Church, and the World (Rom. 12:9-21)

January 11, 2026

The Worship that Saves Me, the Church, and the World (Rom. 12:9-21)

Let us bless and greet one another, “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”  The title of today’s Word is, “The Worship that Saves Me, the Church, and the World.”  Last week, we received the Word, “The Answer that Saves Me, the Church, and the Field.”  God will surely fulfill the Word He gives us, so every week, you’re experiencing how God is fulfilling the Word that He gave us.  Last week, I met about two or three people, and I confirmed that Word.  Yes, I meet with people, but with what plan did He have me meet them?  To save them.  The person I met had a child who had bipolar disorder and it went through the family line.  There are some people who have the family line of bipolar disorder, there are some people who have the same thing with addiction or alcoholism, and I told them, “The problem is really the same, because the fundamental problem is the same.  The real problem is that we are separated from God, and seized by Satan and sin, so you and I are the same.”  So, the bipolar disorder is not the real issue, but the fundamental problem is we are separated from God, our spirit is dead, and we are seized by Satan; this is the same fundamental problem everyone on earth has.  I told them, “Because you are a believer, it is important and beneficial for you to concentrate on and listen to the Words of Christ.”  We might meet people without any thought and end up ending the conversation with worldly talk, but if you think about the Word and why you are meeting with them, you will see it being fulfilled.

Before we go into today’s scripture in Romans 12, Romans 1 to Romans 11 tells us that all human beings are sinners.  Everybody, you must understand and remember what the word “sinner” means, it means “against God.”  We do not have the ability to come out of our sin towards God, but people might misunderstand this and think, “Why am I powerless?  I’m successful, why are you saying I’m powerless?”  If there are any of you who are thinking like that, you have not heard the Word of the Bible correctly.  The Bible is not telling us about our relationship with other people, it is telling us about our relationship with God.  God is saying, “Because of your sin, your spirit is dead and you are incapable of going to God.  You have no ability to escape from Satan’s grasp, and you are totally depraved.”  But there are many people who think, “I haven’t done anything that bad; why is it that every time I go to church, they call me a sinner?”  That person has yet to receive God’s grace, because from God’s perspective, He is saying, “You are a sinner to Me.”  He is saying, “You are not a sinner because of anything you have done, but because of the Original Sin of Adam, every human being is born spiritually dead and a sinner.”  

In order to solve this, Jesus Christ died on the cross and said, “It is finished.”  “What exactly did He finish?  I don’t have enough money; I have all of the same problems in my family, but when I go to church, they say, ‘It is finished.’  What are they talking about?  I’m still suffering because of all of my scars, but the church tells me, ‘It is finished’?  I don’t agree with that.”  This is why we must receive God’s grace.  What does it mean, “it is finished”?  The result of all of your sin, your Original Sin, your ancestors’ sins, and your consequential sins have been finished on the cross.  What do you think resulted in your scars?  It’s coming from your disbelief.  We think we got a scar because of that person or those people, but that’s from the perspective of people.  But the spiritual state that left me no choice but to receive a scar was one that did not believe in God.  

Sometimes, there’s a mental illness that is passed down the family line.  All of that comes from Original Sin as well.  There are some families that are continuously struggling with the same diseases.  All of those things are a result of sin and all of that has been finished on the cross.  Your scars have been crucified because they are a result of sin.  Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sin; therefore, it is finished.  If you receive this by God’s grace, then you are set free.  

Now, what I must hold onto is not my past or my scars, but Christ Who is with me, because Christ is my Lord.  But instead, I hold onto myself, and then we keep on saying, “It’s not working.”  Of course, I will never work out; I have to hold onto Christ.  He is the True God, He has the power of creation, and if you are with Him, then your scars will be broken.  If you are within that, then a problem is no longer a problem.  What could be a problem to God?  If you believe in Him as your Lord, what could be a problem to you?  Could money be a problem?  Could your diseases be a problem?  God is the One Who can heal your diseases as well, and if He is with me, then is the problem that I have really a problem?  You need to have, enjoy, and relay this gospel correctly.  You cannot just believe in the gospel as a theory; you need to actually enjoy it personally.  It is all finished; now, how must we live?  Now, we give our bodies as a living sacrifice.  This means, you are sacrificing every aspect of your life to God, and that is the correct worship.  Then, how can we give a “living worship”?  God has given each person their talents, so use your gifts to raise up the church.  

1. About the Church

So, today’s sermon will be about the church and the world, it’s a sermon about people.  When I was a nonbeliever, I researched a lot about people.  I thought, “If you succeed with people, you will be successful,” but I couldn’t understand people.  I think God led me through that process so that I could receive salvation.  The reason we suffer is because of people, and we make enemies with people, and we hate people, we don’t want to live with people.  When you go to work, your job is not what’s hard, it’s the people who are hard.  When you go to church, it’s the people who make it difficult.  But the world is not telling you or teaching you about people.  The world only teaches you to study about the material world.  The only One Who knows about people is the Creator God.  God knows more about you and me than even our parents, that’s why God gives us His Word today.  

How will I give the living worship in the church using my gifts, and how will I give this living worship in the field of the world, at my job or my school?  And I believe that Word of God will be fulfilled exactly.  That’s how you can have the correct success in the world. 

In the church, God has given every individual their gifts.  We must use these gifts to raise up other people, to save people.  You must be good at saving people.  If you save people, then success follows.  I talk about success, but that’s not our goal; saving people is the goal.  As we live our walk of faith, everybody has their own thoughts.  Everybody has the nature of “sin” that only cares about or thinks about themselves in Genesis 3.  The “living worship” means that I die on the cross with Christ and now, the Lord lives within me.  

1) Love – What is Good (Rom. 12:9)

Now, we are talking inside the church.  It says, “Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil and cling to what is good,” in Romans 12:9.  So, inside of the church, do not have a fake love.  Don’t act like a hypocrite.  In movies, there are many actors who act or pretend like they’re in love even though they’re not.  Don’t do that in the church.  A hypocritical love, because the love God gives us is agape love.  There are also different types of love, for example, between siblings or between romantic partners, but all of those other loves have a condition.  “I can love you because you’re my friend.  I can love you because you’re my boyfriend or girlfriend,” and a parent can love their child because, “This is my child,” but the love that the Lord gives us is unconditional, agape.

(1) Cross – Death (Rom. 5:8)

(2) God showed His love (Rom. 5:8)

Rom. 5:8 says this, that while we were still sinners, God confirmed His love for us by dying on the cross.  There is no condition for His love; it’s not while we were doing well, but it was while we were still sinners.  A sinner against God is someone who says, “I don’t want to believe in You, God; I don’t need You, God.”  But despite that, God sent His one and only Son to die to save us.  That is why, in His love, there is no falseness or hypocrisy.  So, hate what is evil and cling to what is good.  The more you receive God’s love and grace, how do you change?

(3) Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:30)

2) Brothers

(1) Love – Brotherly affection (Rom. 12:10)

(2) Honor one another above yourselves (Rom. 12:10)

Rom. 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another, honor one another above yourselves.”  “To one another” means, to other members of the body of Christ.  To “devote to one another in love” means to treat one another as family.  You know how you treat your family, right?  So, treat one another as your family in the church, and “Honor one another above yourselves.”  Every person has their gifts, and their gifts must be utilized for me to come to life.  So, do not wait to be honored, but instead, you honor them first.  If you work like this at your job, then you will be ahead of 50% of others.  Imagine, for once, that your boss would honor those who report to them, because this is the living worship that I’m giving to God, and this is how we serve the Lord, so what happens if you work like that?  What would happen?  Even if you tell the people who report to you not to be faithful or earnest, they would be.  This is the Word of the God Who created us.  These are words that do not exist in the world, so do this first in the church.  This is the way to raise people up in the church.  This is the way to achieve harmony, so do this first; don’t wait to receive it.  Don’t wait to be greeted, but instead, you greet them first.

(3) Serve the Lord with spiritual fervor (Rom. 12:11)

Rom. 12:11, never be lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor.  Laziness belongs to the devil, it says here, “Keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord,” which means, the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit.  With your own fervor, you will, without a doubt, collapse.  In Philippians 3, it tells you to serve with the Holy Spirit.  If that comes from your own hard work, you will face limitations and fall into trials.  But the church is the body of Christ, so the Lord has to give us the power and grace to do His work.

Then it says, “Serving the Lord,” in other words, serving one another in the church.  When Paul was on the road to Damascus, Jesus came to him and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  But Saul had never met Jesus, how could he have persecuted Jesus?  But every time Saul was persecuting believers of Jesus, he was actually persecuting Jesus, because Christ is the head of the church and we are the body, so we are united.  

(4) Share with the Lord’s people, practice hospitality (Rom. 12:13)

So, what about on the other side, what if you bless them?  Then, you are blessing the Lord.  But if you don’t know this, then your blessings run away from you.  So, to put this all simply, your life is determined based on how you treat other people.  This world tells you to treat other people well for your own benefit.  But the Bible tells us that everything has already been finished on the cross, so now, you can love and serve other people with that strength.  

3) Posture 

(1) Rejoice in hope (Rom. 12:12)

Rom. 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope.”  What hope do you have?  Our hope is in heaven.  What does that mean?  It means, “Don’t work inside of the church, hoping for things of the world.”  Even in your work, do not go to your job for the things of the world, because if you do that, then you will one day collapse.  Without a doubt, you will be disappointed by people.  “Oh, I devoted myself because of this person, but I’m disappointed in that person so now I’ve collapsed.”  So, where should we fix our focus?  We set our sights on the hope of heaven and do the work of the church.  “Well, aren’t we all going to heaven anyway?”  Yes, we’re going to heaven, but the reward in heaven is different.  If you believe in Jesus, you have salvation, but depending on how much you devote for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, your reward in heaven will be different.  It says this in the Bible, if God gives you one talent and you bury it into the ground, then that is the nature of the devil, laziness.  But for the people who receive three and five talents, immediately they went and multiplied it.  Then, God said, “My good and faithful servant, come join Me at my table and reign over the 12 tribes of Israel with me.”  So, in heaven, we will have different levels.  In other words, are you closer to the Lord, or do you have to sit far away from Him.  Are you reigning over God’s Kingdom with Him, or not?  

(2) Be patient in tribulation (Rom. 12:12)

The Apostle Paul went through so much persecution and tribulation to proclaim the gospel, but the reason he was able to persist was because his hope was in heaven.  You should never look at other people, but if you do, you will fall no matter what. If you look at the pastor, then without a doubt, you will fall.  You must go looking towards your hope in heaven.  It’s the same thing no matter what, whether you’re working in the world or you’re raising your child.  Children are so difficult in their teenage years.  But if you look at them as if they are your child and you have your goals for them, you will be disappointed.  God has entrusted this child to you.  Before they are “my child,” they are a child of God.  Why are you devoting to them?  It is not because they are yours; it is because God has entrusted them to you.  If your goal is whether your child is doing well or not, then you will for sure fall.  You must put your hope in heaven.  We want to hear from God, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.  You have done well with what I have given you,” and we want to participate with God.  For me, as a pastor, I receive so much grace from those words, but if I look at people as I’m doing my ministry, I don’t think I could do it.  I’m not talking about any of you, so don’t be offended; I’m talking about my own family.  Let’s say, for example, I had worldly goals for my own daughter; I don’t think I would be able to raise her, but I have to remember that she is a child of God whom God has entrusted to me, and I’m faithfully devoting to what God has entrusted to me, so even while she is yelling at me, I’m still devoting.  Even while she is yelling, “Why do I have to do this?” I still have to devote myself.  

(3) Be constant in prayer (Rom. 12:12)

Then it says, “Patience in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  You will be afflicted.  Because you have the gospel, without a doubt, you will face difficulty and hardship.  Satan does not stay still.  There is an affliction that God gives and there is an affliction that Satan gives, but be patient.  Can we be patient?  It says, “In prayer.” If you don’t know prayer, it will be hard, but if you do pray, God gives you power, the power to overcome, or the power to wait and be patient, or sometimes, He will change your environment.  If you don’t know prayer, you don’t know your walk of faith, but if you do know prayer, you receive power from heaven so you can do all things.  No matter what situation I’m in, if I’m able to pray to God, it doesn’t matter.  I really want our next generation to experience the meaning of prayer.  At your age, you don’t know well.  Your life is not determined by how well or how poorly you study.  If you don’t have the spiritual strength to save yourself spiritually, one day, you will collapse.  And, the more you succeed or the higher you get in the world without the gospel, the more the people around you will tear you down.  If you don’t have the gospel and you’re not able to pray, you have to use your own brain and manipulate people.  No matter how smart you are, if there are ten people around you all plotting to take you down, you cannot overcome that.  That was Daniel, they would never leave Daniel alone because to succeed is no simple matter.  

Many people succeed and then are destroyed after, but if you have the mystery of prayer, God opens the path.  Succeeding is not what’s important; what happens after success is what’s important.  So, if you’re studying without knowing prayer, then you are living a very difficult life and barely surviving.  Even if you make a little more money than others, you might be able to eat just one more meal than others, but what happens when you can pray?  Then, you will receive everything you need from God.  Even if you’re placed in the desert, there will be water there, why?  Because God works with the power of creation, and if you need something, then God can make something out of nothing when He works.  Therefore, devote in prayer.  Then, no matter what situation you’re in, God will give you the wisdom and power to overcome it.  Even right now, you should pray while you listen.  If you listen here with a blank mind, that’s a headache.  You should be communicating with the Holy Spirit of God and listening to the Word God is giving to you, personally.

2. About the World

1) Align my heart to the world

Starting in Romans 12;14, he talks about how we should treat nonbelievers and the people of the world.  These words are the way, the truth, and the life; especially for our next generation, hold onto this Word very well.  The One Who created nonbelievers is God, and God is the One Who created believers.  That means, both believers and nonbelievers are led by God. 

(1) Bless those who persecute you (Rom. 12:14)

“Bless those who persecute you,” how could I bless them?  Do it, because when your words of blessing hit the ground, they will bear fruit.  Without a doubt, God’s Word is fulfilled.  If someone is persecuting or hurting you, you should bless them, then, when your words hit the ground, one day, there will be fruit.

Do not curse.  The logic of the world says, “An eye for an eye,” or even, “You should seek revenge multiple times over.”  That’s the specialty of America, is that they will destroy the second most powerful nation so they can never compete against America.  For example, they made Russia completely collapse, and they are trying to trample China as China arises, and all of the other competing nations, they make them completely subjugated.  That’s always how the most powerful nation behaves, they will never allow a number two powerful nation.  So, the number one powerful nation has to force everyone to submit to them with their power, but that’s not the principle of God, because if you keep destroying them or making them sit down, another competitor will arise.  Throughout all of history, we see the number two powerful nation become number one, and these competing nations arise and take over.  When Great Britain was controlling all of the world, that did not last forever; one day, they had to give the power to America.  But what is God telling us about how to live in this world?  To bless those who persecute you.  This is what God has requested of us.

(2) Rejoice with those who rejoice (Rom. 12:15)

(3) Weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15)

Then, rejoice with those who rejoice, and mourn with those who mourn.  “Why would I have to do that?”  If there are people who have this individualistic ideology, they say, “Why do I have to do that?”  This is the “living worship.”  You sitting by yourself, closing your eyes, reading the Bible and praying, is not all of your walk of faith.  We must have a living worship where we interact with nonbelievers in the field.  It’s not about, “Oh, why do I have to do this?”  You must align your heart to the level of nonbelievers.  That is the living worship that you are giving to God.  In other words, this is a life where you do not exist and only the Lord lives within you.  This is what God is telling us to do, to give your life as a living sacrifice.  

2) With

(1) Live in harmony with one another (Rom. 12:16, 1 Cor. 9:19-23)

Romans 12:16, “Live in harmony with one another.  Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.  Do not be conceited.”  So, lower yourselves so you can be aligned with people of lower position.  It’s possible that you might have a lot of skill, but, align yourselves to the lowest position.  In 1 Cor. 9, the Apostle Paul did this very well.  In 1 Cor. 9:19, Paul says, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.”  When you go to your job or your school, align yourself to meet other people where they are; that is “living worship.”  “Oh, because I’m a Christian, I don’t hang out with nonbelievers,” you’ve lost hold of “living worship.” “I came to work to make money; I don’t care about other people, that’s not my business,” that’s not “living worship.”  Students who think, “Oh, I just have to study hard and get good grades myself; those other things are not important to me,” that’s not “living worship.” 

Paul says, “To the Jews, I became a Jew to save the Jews.  To those under the law, I became like one under the law, though I myself am not under the law, to win those under the law.”  If there are any students who are thinking, “Oh, does that mean I should start doing drugs so that I can save people who do drugs?”  That is not what I’m saying.  I’m saying, align your heart to those people, not your actions, but your heart.  To those not having the law, I became like one not having the law, though I am not free from God’s law, I am under Christ’s law, so as to win those not having the law.  I have become all things to all people so that I may save some for the sake of the gospel.  It’s not about you having the gospel; it’s about you adjusting yourself to align to the people in the field so that you may share the gospel.  

(2) Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly (Rom. 12:16)

(3) Never be wise in your own sight (Rom. 12:16)

3) Harmony

(1) Do not repay evil for evil (Rom. 12:17)

Romans 12:17, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.”  Nonbelievers say you need to repay evil for evil, and that is how evil people will stop doing evil things.  But God says, “Do not repay evil for evil, and if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  If I’m getting along with evil people, then that means I’m doing evil things, right?”  That’s why He says, “If it is possible.”  What does this mean?  This is telling us how we, as believers, can live by giving a living worship to God in the world.  Yes, one part of our faith includes just looking to God and praying to Him, but also, we must align ourselves with the people in the field, to save them.  However, those nonbelievers are possessed by evil spirits, so when you try to spread the gospel, they will try to stop you.  There are people like that.  Then, what must you do?  

(2) Do what is right (Rom. 12:17)

(3) Live peaceably with all (Rom. 12:18)

3. About the World

1) Enemy

(1) Never avenge yourselves (Rom. 12:19)

(2) Leave it to the wrath of God (Rom. 12:19)

Rom. 12:19, “Do not take revenge, but leave room for God’s wrath.”  You must do this well.  If you seek revenge, then that process will always repeat.  Cain killed his brother Abel, and the first thing he felt was this fear.  It said that, after he was cursed, even his future generations, the generations of Lamech and below, were scarred and were afraid of retaliation.  

God is the One Who repays our enemies.  What did David do when Saul tried to kill him?  He entrusted it to God.  He had a chance to kill him, but what would happen if David killed Saul when he had the chance?  David’s best friend was King Saul’s son, Jonathan.  Do you think Jonathan would just let it be?  He killed his father, he never would have let that slide, and it’s not just Jonathan; King Saul had multiple descendants, so they would all have arisen to kill David, and David would have spent the rest of his life running for his life.  So, it’s exactly as the Bible said: entrust it to God.  And then God took care of King Saul and even Jonathan.  But there are situations where people who sought revenge for themselves were cursed.  

Jacob had 12 sons and one daughter named Dinah.  Dinah was raped, and she had two older brothers, Levi and Simeon.  Because Jacob had four wives, all of the siblings were from different mothers, but because someone had raped their younger sister, they were angry.  So they thought, “If you want to marry my younger sister, you have to get circumcised.”  They said, “We’ll only let you marry our younger sister if you act like the Israelites,” so the people said, “Okay,” and they were circumcised.  The third day after being circumcised is the most painful, and that is when Levi and Simeon went and killed everybody.  What did God say about these two individuals?  God told the rest of the people not to join Simeon and Levi, that they are cursed.  That’s what happened with these two individuals who later became tribes.

Why are you repaying your revenge?  God is the one who repays, God is the One Who judges.  So why are you putting yourself in the seat of God, being the judge of this or that?  Do you have an enemy?  Entrust it to God; God is the One Who will make sure it is taken care of.  If you do something by yourself, revenge will go back and forth and everyone will be destroyed.  I’ve experienced this a little bit, it’s possible to be like that, among ministers as well.  You just let them be; because God is moving all people, you let God take care of it. There are some times when I get scared, it’s even possible my family might get hurt.  If you block it too much, even your family can get hurt.  I was so shocked after I experienced that.  So now, I’m a little more careful with my prayers.  I say, “This person is blocking the gospel, but don’t take care of them too quickly; just give them grace and let them be saved little by little.”  Because God can even kill people, but if someone is blocking the gospel, God will never let them slide.  

(3) Feed your enemy and give something to drink (Rom. 12:20)

In Rom. 12:20, “If your enemy is hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,” so don’t seek revenge, but be nice to them.  If someone puts burning coals on your head, you cannot endure it.  

2) The way to win

(1) Heap burning coals on his head (Rom. 12:20)

(2) Do not be overcome by evil (Rom. 12:21)

(3) Overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21)

In Rom. 12:21, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” so do not control people with power, but instead, overcome evil with good, because that is what God did for us when He died on the cross for us.  All people are sinners and they tried to kill Jesus, so how did God overcome it?  He overcame it with good by dying on the cross.  This is what we must do in the world to nonbelievers, but is there anyone who can do that?  No, then, what must we do?  This is the Word we must give today.  Yes, the Word is great, and yes, I want to be like that, but I can’t because I’m not able to.  I still have this nature of wanting to be my own god, so even if someone hurts my own child even a little, I cannot let them be.  

3) Holy Spirit

(1) Follow the Holy Spirit – Fulfilled the requirement of the law (Rom. 8:4)

That’s why Romans 8:4 says, “Do not follow the flesh, but instead, follow the Spirit.”  Because the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ lives within me, follow the Spirit.  Then, the words of the law we received today will be fulfilled.  So, how can we live following the Holy Spirit?  God’s Holy Spirit lives inside of me, and my thoughts and my heart need to follow Him.  The Holy Spirit lives within me, but my heart and thoughts are elsewhere; then, even if I hear God’s Word, it doesn’t matter to me.  So, instead of my thoughts, think the thoughts of the Spirit. 

(2) Thoughts of the Spirit – Life and peace (Rom. 8:5-6)

Then, what are the thoughts of the Spirit?  The words of Jesus Christ are spirit and life.  The words of Jesus Christ must come into my thoughts, and my thoughts think of Jesus’ Word.  Then, you will receive life and peace.  We move according to our thoughts.  Whatever you are thinking now will take place throughout the week.  What are you thinking about right now?  That’s what’s going to happen this week.  If you’re concentrating on the Word of God this week, then that’s what will happen this week.  But we think like this, “I live regardless of this,” no, we live according to our thoughts, so what are you thinking about during this time of worship?  If you’re sitting here with a blank mind, then the rest of your week will be blank.  If your thoughts are consumed by something, then your week will be consumed because your thoughts are you.  

Where are your thoughts?  In your brain.  A mental problem is a problem of your brain or your heart.  Why do we get mental illness?  We have no choice but to get mental illness because the Word of God is not in our thoughts and our mind.  When do we receive that spirit?  When our thoughts and our emotions are scarred or shocked, that’s when evil spirits enter and take place, then I can no longer control my thoughts or emotions; I have to be controlled by them. You become obsessed with something, even if you don’t want to be.  If you don’t have enough money, then you’ll always be obsessed with money.  If you’re hurting, you will always be obsessed with that pain, so even if you’re in pain, think of that Word.  People’s circumstances might be bad, so think of the Word.  Then, your thoughts will determine your actions; you will change your fate. It’s not about making your thoughts better; think of the words of Christ.

I’ve been meeting with an alcoholic person every day, and they have gotten so much better.  What did they say to me yesterday? “Pastor, I want to challenge now.”  If your thoughts are so destroyed, even if you want to, it’s hard to even study for a driver’s test. However, when the Word of God goes into us, they said this with their own mouth, “I just get this feeling where I want to start challenging.”  It doesn’t matter how much you think about exercising, you can’t, but if you receive strength from God, He changes your thoughts so you want to exercise.  Same thing with your studies.  If you’re forcing yourself to endure studying, how long do you think that’s going to last?  

(3) Filling of the Holy Spirit – Authority (Acts 1:8)

When you wake up in the morning, pray for the Holy Spirit of God to fill and control your spirit, mind, and body.  We cannot accomplish the words we read in today’s scripture; only when the Holy Spirit controls our spirit, mind, and body, is it possible.  So, as soon as you wake up in the morning, concentrate on Christ, Christ Who has finished everything, Christ Who is with me.  May the Holy Spirit of Christ completely fill me, from my spirit, my mind, and my body, from my head to my toe, and work upon me.  That’s how I pray, then what happens?  One day, my thoughts are just different.  I didn’t try to change my thoughts, but one day, they’re different.  I’m not that intelligent, but God reminds me of things that I need to know.  So, don’t study hard; instead, study while you pray.  If you study hard, you’re going to get a mental illness, so don’t study hard; instead, study while you pray.  

I told my daughter, “If you keep on studying like you’re doing, you’re going to become like your aunts.  You’re going to study so hard, you’re going to get a mental illness.”  She said, “That has nothing to do with me.”  I said, “The family background goes into you, whether you like it or not.  Your aunt isn’t avoiding you because she doesn’t like you.  All of these things, all of these problems weren’t revealed when she was in college, these things started happening when she was getting her master’s.”  So I told my daughter to pray with me, and I taught her how to pray.  

Conclusion

1. Morning – Fundamental strength and healing

“Christ.  May the Spirit of Christ completely take over my spirit, mind, and body,” why?  Because we need to do world evangelization.  “Go into all nations, all peoples,” that is our standard.  Your studies and your job must be used to proclaim the gospel to all nations and all peoples, so receive strength in the morning. 

2. Daytime – Relay the answer to people

In the daytime, save people.  That’s today’s scripture, place your heart on nonbelievers, do not lose hold of people. Save people.  If you lose this, then you’ll be a slave.  Adults might not understand this, but students, you must understand this.  People.  God came to earth to save people.  God did not come here to advance science.  God did not come here to live a good life on earth; God came here to save people.  If I’m receiving God’s grace and I’m able to have worship, then I am saved and I save other people.  So, hold onto the Word God gave you on Sunday and live every day of the week with that as your covenant.  Amazingly enough, if I have this answer myself, God will attach people who need this answer to me, and God is centered on only that.  He is focused on whom He will give the Christ to, because that is the focus of the whole Bible, and that is the person whose heart is aligned with God in the field.  That was David.  Be the person God is focused on in the field.  In other words, to whom will I proclaim this mystery of Christ?  That is where God is focused.  Ananias was someone like this, and that is why God blinded Paul on the road to Damascus, right where Ananias lived, because that is where the answer was.  The location, the work, the people, God will make sure to orchestrate these three things, centered on the one who has the answer.  You have to interpret this well.  You have to interpret everything that happens well.  

3. Night – Masterpiece to find the answer through the Word

At night, come to the answer of everything that happened with the Word of God.  That’s one day. You have to make one day successful, then the next day will be successful, then the whole year will be successful and your life will be successful.  But if you fail in this, even if you study well, you’re still a failure because you’ll be afflicted out in the world, because you don’t have the ability to save people.  So, for you and me, if we make one day successful, then we can be successful in the year and in our lives.  Save yourself.  I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that you may have the living worship that saves yourself, the church, and the world. 

Message Prayer
Let us pray together right now.  

Offering Prayer and Newcomer Blessing

God, we thank You.  We believe You have finished all problems and You are with us now, and we thank You for giving us the Word every week.  Allow us to receive Your strength and love every day to save the church and the world.  We have returned your materials as offering.  May this be the economy of light that shines the light on those in the darkness.  We believe that You will answer us with the economy of light to shine the light to the ends of the earth.  We pray all of this in the name of our living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

Announcements
1. Remnant Bible 30-Verse Memorization Contest – During Winter Break, Prizes Awarded – Adults can also participate

2. Venmo account address for church offering: @Antiochmissionchurch

Benediction

Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the unending love of God, and the indwelling, working, guidance, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be upon the heads of all the people of God, the people of all nations, and the future generation remnants who desire to hold onto today’s Word to save themselves, the church, and the field, be with them now until forevermore and always, amen.