Let the Remarkable Become Routine
Bible passage: Luke 5:18-26
“18. Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
These days, I am experiencing joy and happiness. Even though I stayed in Korea for two weeks due to the summer retreat in Seoul, I was happy knowing that I had people waiting for me back home with unchanged love, even from afar.
Even after returning to Nairobi, looking back at the summer retreat, the grace and inspiration still feel vividly alive. Today’s scripture is about Moses meeting God on Mount Horeb and undergoing a transformation. Moses was born as the son of Israelites enslaved in Egypt. At just three months old, he was placed in a basket and sent down the Nile River, but was miraculously rescued by the Egyptian princess and raised as a prince in the royal palace. When Moses realized he was an Israelite, he killed an Egyptian taskmaster who was oppressing his people.
As a result, he became a fugitive and fled to the wilderness of Midian. There, he lived as a shepherd, spending 40 years in what seemed like meaningless days. But one day, while leading his flock up Mount Horeb, Moses encountered God in a burning bush, and his life changed. He would go on to become the great leader who led the Israelites out of Egypt. For Moses, Mount Horeb could be considered his summer retreat. As we reflect on how Moses met God at his "Mount Horeb retreat" and was transformed, I hope to share the grace and power received during this summer retreat.
1. The Grace Received from the Summer Retreat is the “Presence of God.” Moses, adopted by the Egyptian princess and raised in the royal palace, fled to the wilderness of Midian after killing the Egyptian taskmaster. There, for 40 years, he lived a lowly life as a shepherd, which at the time was considered a humble profession. If we were suddenly placed in such an unfamiliar environment, it would be difficult to adjust, and the discomfort and suffering would be severe. Especially for Moses, who had enjoyed every privilege as a prince, living as a shepherd in the wilderness of Midian must have felt like unbearable suffering. How much conflict and wandering would he have experienced during those years? Though he was one of God’s people, Moses had never truly met God. He only knew of God through rumors and believed in Him theoretically.
Moses, trying to escape his monotonous routine, took his flock far into the wilderness to Mount Horeb, where he met God in the burning bush. Exodus 3:2 says, “The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed.” The God Moses had only heard of appeared to him personally. God’s presence on Mount Horeb changed Moses' life forever. There is a book titled ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’, written by a man known as Brother Lawrence. He lived in the 17th century and was an ordinary man who worked in a monastery kitchen.
But even in the boring tasks of kitchen life, he deeply yearned for God’s presence and experienced it abundantly. His book teaches us that Christian life should be lived in constant awareness of 2 God’s presence. Why should we live in constant awareness of God’s presence in our everyday lives? Because the Lord said this, in Matthew 28:20, the very end of the age.” “ …... I am with you always, even to Do you know what a stuffed tiger is? A stuffed tiger may strike a fierce pose, as if ready to pounce, but it’s dead. We must not have a dead faith but a living faith that seeks the living God - a faith as vibrant as a living tiger. In this sense, I hope that all of you can echo the confession of Jacob in Genesis 28. Jacob, having deceived his brother Esau and lived selfishly, found himself cast out into the wilderness. There, in Bethel, Jacob made this confession as recorded in Genesis 28:16: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” Jacob didn’t temporarily leave God and return later. He thought he was always with God. But his life had been consumed with the belief that “I must take charge of my own life,” and thus, he had not experienced God’s presence. Yet, in the wilderness, as he experienced God’s presence, Jacob confessed, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” This summer retreat was a time to recognize that “God is surely here with us.” On the final day of the retreat, we were invited to the prayer site of the Senior Pastor. After spending time with Pastor Mi-young Lee discussing the spiritual world, we received grace, ate barbecue with the Senior Pastor, and took pictures together. As night fell, it was time to leave the prayer site.
As we waited for the vehicle to take us to the bus, the Senior Pastor told us, “Look up at the stars while you wait.” When we looked up, to our amazement, one of the stars among the many began to move. God, who was with the Senior Pastor, affirmed her words by showing us a moving star. Church. That moment reminded me of Genesis 28:16: “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” It was a sign of God’s presence at the prayer site and His presence with Manmin Though God is always with us at retreats, let me share one more example of a distinct and moving experience. We went up to visit the grave of the late Bishop Myong-Ho Cheong.
It was a scorching summer day in Korea, with temperatures exceeding 35°C. Yet, when we arrived at the grave, the sky was clouded, and a cool breeze blew, making us think, “Today’s weather is pleasantly cool.” However, as we descended from the grave site, we received a heatwave warning on our phones. How could this be? Despite the scorching heat, the area around Bishop Cheong grave was cool, as if God had worked to provide relief. Once again, I felt God’s presence. Just as the burning bush at Mount Horeb wasn’t consumed by fire, the spot where the Nairobi Manmin Church members gathered remained cool, despite the heatwave. The confession, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it,” should not only be the confession of Jacob or Moses but should be yours as well. When your children or family make this confession, and when all members of Nairobi Manmin Church do the same, that is when families will be restored, and the church will begin to grow.
2. When we look at Moses, who was transformed at the Horeb Retreat, we see that life is like surfing the waves. For 40 years, Moses lived as a forgotten shepherd in the wilderness of Midian, but then, suddenly, his life changed drastically. A great “wave of change” came crashing into his life. In Exodus Chapter 2, we read that Moses, only three months old, was placed in a basket and set adrift on the Nile River to escape the Pharaoh’s order to kill all male Hebrew infants. But the Egyptian princess rescued him, and Moses grew up as a prince in Egypt.
From being tossed about by the waves in that tiny basket to being miraculously saved, Moses’ life could be described as one of surfing the waves from the very beginning. Life is like surfing the waves. Just as the sea sends wave after wave, big and small, life constantly brings challenges and problems, pushing us to places of change and growth. In America, one of the most popular sports is surfing. Though not as common in Korea, surfing is so beloved in the U.S. that it is included in the curriculum for elementary and high schools. The charm of surfing lies in using the power of the waves to glide forward for tens or even hundreds of meters. It’s an adventurous and exciting sport for those who seek thrills. Similarly, in our spiritual lives, we must learn to surf the waves.
As we sail through life, we often encounter fierce waves. While such waves can evoke fear or dread, those who know how to surf can use 5 even the biggest waves to move forward with greater strength. However, when we face the waves of life, we often become discouraged. We tend to be overwhelmed by fear, thinking that the waves will destroy our lives. But remember this: the waves and storms in our lives are not sent to destroy us but to bless us. The prophet Jonah, for example, refused God’s command to go to Nineveh and proclaim repentance. As he fled in the opposite direction, heading for Tarshish by ship, a great storm arose. It was through this storm that Jonah realized the error of his ways and repented. He then fulfilled God’s command and went to Nineveh. Jonah used the great storm and waves to realign his life with God’s will. Are you facing difficulties?
Are enormous waves that you feel powerless to overcome crashing into your life? Remember, those waves may have been sent by God to help you see if your life is headed in the right direction. When a great wave of hardship hits, the first thing we must do is examine ourselves. Like Jonah, we must ask, “Is there anything I need to repent of before God?” We must also recognize that God uses the waves to accomplish His purpose. After self-reflection, we must then consider what great work God intends to do through this wave. If we remember this, we won’t be afraid of the waves in our lives. Instead, we will be able to surf them with peace, knowing that the waves are not meant to harm or destroy us. Are waves crashing into your life? Waves of hardship, pain, or emotional wounds? If so, now is the time for spiritual surfing. Whether in relationships, unexpected issues at work or business, or overwhelming6 family or children’s problems, these challenges are the time to ride the spiritual waves. No one likes suffering.
But if hardship is coming regardless, we must ride that wave to move forward. King David, who successfully surfed the waves of hardship, declared in Psalm 119:71, “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.” Every Christian must become a spiritual surfer, skillfully navigating the waves of trials and tribulations, so that even the biggest waves won’t intimidate them. I once read about the experiences of surfers. They say it’s better to surf the waves in deep water because the current is smoother and safer there. Rather than being afraid of the waves, they recommend watching them closely, and when the wave approaches, gently lift your feet, let the wave carry you, and ride it easily. The greatest wave humanity has ever faced occurred when Moses and the Israelites were trapped between the Red Sea and the pursuing Egyptian army.
In Exodus 14:10, we see that the Israelites were terrified of the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them. The greatest wave in history was crashing down on Moses and the Israelites. However, in Exodus 14:13-14, Moses confidently declared, “Do not fear. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” While the people trembled in fear of the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, Moses cried out in faith, believing in God’s omnipotence. The people failed to surf the wave, but Moses succeeded. Which group do you belong to? 7 Are you someone who blames others and says, “It’s all your fault I’m in this situation”? Or are you someone like Moses, who cries out to the Lord? The key isn’t the situation itself but how you interpret it. When crises of life and waves of despair come, don’t be like the Israelites, who feared the waves and complained. Instead, be like Moses, who cried out to God and surfed the wave with faith.
3. After successfully riding the wave, God’s control begins When you successfully ride the wave that God has created, do you know what immediately follows? God's control begins. In verse 4 of the scripture, as soon as the words "Here I am" are spoken by Moses, God's control begins in verse 5. Verse 5 records, “Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”” God commands to take off your sandals. Through the summer retreat, as our relationship with God is restored, as we succeed in riding God's wave through prayer and obedience, and as we receive grace, experience power, and are filled with the Holy Spirit, do you know what this means? It means that God's control has begun in my life. In English, the word for religion is "religion," which comes from the Latin "religio." "Religio" means "to bind."
To live a proper life of faith means to bind myself to God. On the second day of the summer retreat, all the domestic and overseas branch churches gathered for a sports event. One of the games was the "three-legged race." Two people form a team, tie one 8 leg together, and run with three legs. Do you know how inconvenient it is to run with three legs as two people? It's not just about running by yourself; you have to match your pace with your partner and run toward the goal. Those who try to run well alone will fall. You must make a promise to each other. You have to run in sync with the count of "one, two." You must match your steps, speed, and hearts. Proper faith is about tying my feet with God. God's control begins.
There are so many commands like "Do not do this," "Do this," "Keep," and "Cast away." Some people attend worship well, serve well, and care for others well. Everyone says they are sincere Christians, but what is the problem? When it comes to making crucial decisions, they do it on their own. They act according to their own thoughts and stubbornness. A good Christian is someone who ties their feet with the Lord and runs together. The Olympics held in France have ended. The more successful the world-class athletes are, the better the coach they have. A coach helps the athlete to perform at their best, accurately assesses the situation, and sometimes gives instructions on what to do and what not to do. During this Olympics, India, despite being the world's most populous country with over 1.4 billion people, did not win even a single gold medal. Let's talk about archery.
This time, South Korea won all five gold medals in archery. The Indian archery team, aiming to win a medal, hired a talented Korean coach at 9 great expense and trained for several years to compete in the Olympics, but they didn't win even a single medal - not even a bronze. Was it because the Korean coach was inadequate that they didn't achieve good results? No, that was not the reason. At the start of the Olympics, they dismissed the Korean coach. They thought they had learned enough, and could do well on their own without a coach. So, they dismissed the coach just before the Olympics and ended up competing without a coach. Isn't that a lack of character? It was a sneaky move. What was the result? Competing without a coach led to poor results, with not even a bronze medal, and despite being the world's most populous country, they became an inferior sports nation without even a single gold medal.
Kenya, on the other hand, won four gold medals in athletics, ranking 17th overall. That's remarkable! Do you have a coach in your life? We need a coach in our lives and in our faith. We must let God, the Lord, and the Holy Spirit be the coach of our lives. Why does God immediately take control after Moses experiences His presence and successfully rides the wave? “Take off your sandals.” Why does God's control begin right away? This is faith. It means that God becomes the coach of Moses' life. The quality of your faith is not measured by how much you love to sing praises, how many sermons you listen to, or how much you pray, but by how much your life is under God's control. Moses' life can be divided into two halves. 10 The life before the event in today's scripture was a life running wildly without a coach or God's control.
As a result, he fled to the wilderness of Midian and lived a life of confusion and lost direction. But after Moses experienced God's presence, confessed “Here I am,” and rode the wave of God, God's control began in his life, and God became the coach of his life. His life then became one of blessing, without confusion or disorder. We are currently reading the Bible as a church, participating in a rainbow or heart- shaped cloud photo competition, and engaging in various prayer meetings and evangelistic activities. Why do we have to keep time, be filled with the Holy Spirit, and give tithes? Why are there so many things we have to do? The life of faith is like a three-legged race, tied together with the Lord. A proper life of faith is one that comes from thoroughly being under God's control and governance.
4. The purpose of riding the wave is to move toward a holy life More specifically, what does God want to control in our lives? The answer is found in verse 5 of the scripture. The command "Take off your sandals" has its meaning. There can be various interpretations, but verse 5 provides the answer. Verse 5 says, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” The answer is clear. Why should we take them off? Because it is holy ground. Leviticus 11:45 says, “Therefore be holy, because I am holy. ” We need to ride the wave and be under God's control because we must become holy. Holiness refers to the way of life that God desires. Are you living in the way that God desires? The motive behind Moses' act of killing can be described in a positive light. Though the result was bad, the motive was good.
This is a very unique aspect. Acts 7:23-24 explains well the mindset Moses had when he killed the Egyptian oppressor. Acts 7:23 says, “When Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his own people, the Israelites.” It says that Moses did it out of concern for the people of Israel. The motive was very good. Though the result was bad, Moses’ motive was very pure. However, just because the motive is pure does not mean the result is always good. How many people here who believe in Jesus would commit bad deeds with an evil motive? Even if the motive is pure, it must be controlled by God, who is our coach, for the result to be good. Moses started with a pure motive, out of love for his people, but why did it result in killing someone and being exiled to the wilderness?
The answer can be found in Exodus 2:11-12. Especially in verse 12, it says, “Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.” Moses did not know what it meant to experience God's presence. He did not know what it meant to live a life conscious of God. He was the kind of person who, if no one was watching, would do anything - even kill someone - after looking around to see if anyone was watching. There was a father and son living in a village. The father tried to steal a watermelon from someone else’s field and had his son keep watch. “Son, I will steal this watermelon for you, so keep a good watch.
If you see someone, tell me ‘Someone is watching.’” The father sneaked into the field to steal the watermelon, but the son said, “Someone is watching.” The startled father quickly came out and looked around, but no one was there. He went back into the field to pick the watermelon, and again, the son said, “Father, someone is watching.” Startled, the father rushed out again and looked around, but no one was there. The father scolded his son. “You need to keep a good watch. I’m stealing this watermelon for you, so keep a good watch.” He then went back into the field. But again, the son shouted, “Someone is watching.” The father rushed out again, but there was no one around. The father, scolding his son again, said, “Who keeps watching that you keep saying someone is watching?” The son replied, “God in heaven is watching.” This son was a good Sunday school student. Christians are people who transcend the order and values of this world, who come under God’s control and order with a new perspective. In other words, they are people who pursue the holiness that is God’s nature.
Today’s young people often argue, “The whole world has changed, and all my friends live like this, so why should I alone be controlled and live according to the Word?” The answer is simple. Because you belong to God. God wants His children to be holy. When we say that we have received grace through the summer retreat, it means that we must now live a holy life according to God’s new way and order. Conclusion By riding the waves well and responding properly to God's control, God desires to give believers, who are pursuing holiness in their lives, a "new goal in life." In verse 10 of today’s scripture, God says, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. ” The command to "take off your sandals" is immediately followed by the command to "now go." ‘Go with a mission to save My people, who are enslaved in Egypt.’
If Moses had been satisfied with the first command, saying, "This holy ground is good; I will stay here," what would have happened to the people who were groaning in suffering? Why must we ride the waves well and strive for holiness? Because we need to make an impact on this wicked age and world. We must change our mindset. Before we go to the New Jerusalem, there is a place we must go first. Where is that place? It is the world. We must go out into the world first and preach the gospel. Just as God told Moses, who had taken off his sandals, "Go to My people who are14 groaning and in need," I hope that we, too, will run with the mission of saving the souls of Kenya and Africa. I want to thank all of you for celebrating my 70th birthday during last night's Friday All-night service.
Yesterday, I promised that anyone who evangelizes to more than 50 people during the second half of this year will receive a ticket to Korea as a prize, allowing them to attend next year's summer retreat. In the first half of the year, we held an evangelism campaign, and many new believers came to church each week. But after the campaign ended, it seems like people are not evangelizing as much, which saddens me. Those who participated in this year's summer retreat in Seoul, Korea, received grace and power and were transformed.
So, next year, even though it may not be through an evangelism campaign, I want to give those who regularly evangelize the opportunity to attend the summer retreat. Moreover, today’s scripture tells us not to simply pursue holiness, but to "go." We are called to "go" toward the world, to "go" toward the dying souls. Through the summer retreat, we have experienced God's presence. So, by setting the right direction for our lives in the midst of the waves, both great and small, that come at us, I hope we receive the grace to go further and faster.
Let us be controlled by God's Word, achieve holiness, and go toward the countless souls in Africa who are oppressed and enslaved by the forces of darkness. May the promise of verse 12 of today’s scripture, message of blessing given to you until the day your life ends. "I will surely be with you, " be the - END -
