다가오는 하나님 나라 The Coming Kingdom of God (마 6:10)
일상의 삶에서 믿음의 성도들이 바라보아야 할 것 Things that believers should consider in their daily lives
- 그리스도인은 ‘삶 자체’가 목적이 아닙니다 Christians do not live for the sole purpose of "life itself" 마6:10 눅17:26
- 다가오는 하나님 나라를 위한 ‘사명’을 가져야 합니다 They should have a "mission" for the coming Kingdom of God 계11:15
- 하나님 나라를 위한 ‘참된 소망’을 가져야 합니다 They should have a "true hope" for the Kingdom of God. 마24:4-46
Summary
During our prayer meeting, we focused on "Living a Life that Overcomes the World with Faith." We praised together, prayed in groups, and felt truly grateful. This meeting strengthened our faith as individuals and as a community. I believe God will work through our prayers.
As we conclude, let's discuss how to live a life that overcomes the world abundantly. May our lives overflow with faith, love, and hope, just like the saints in Thessalonica. Remember, we are on a mission until the Lord comes.
- Our ultimate goal is not just life itself; it's God's kingdom on earth. We should look forward to heaven, but also focus on God's coming kingdom. The Lord's Prayer teaches us to pray for God's will on earth as it is in heaven. We shouldn't be indifferent to God's kingdom approaching; life's purpose should be beyond ourselves.
- Embrace a mission for God's kingdom. The apostle Paul valued his mission on earth while desiring to be with Christ. We must work for God's reign on this earth, not just await heaven. God's kingdom is already within us and coming. Let's be faithful servants like David Livingstone, who spread the gospel in Africa with passion for God's kingdom.
- Have true hope for God's kingdom. Don't live for worldly benefits; prepare for God's reign. Let's broaden our prayers, hoping for Jesus' return and God's will to be fulfilled. Even in challenging times, see God's kingdom being established in every aspect.
To live victoriously, remember: 1) Life isn't just about us, but God's kingdom on earth. 2) Embrace a mission for God's kingdom, dedicating your life. 3) Hold true hope for God's kingdom, praying and working for its fulfillment. Let's be faithful and wise servants, living for God's kingdom. May you all be blessed believers and saints.
Script
Over the past week, during the three-day prayer meeting, we shared about "Living a Life that Overcomes the World with Faith" as the theme. We praised together and prayed in groups of three to four people, and it was truly an evening filled with gratitude. Through this prayer meeting, I believe that our faith as individuals and as a community has become stronger. I trust that God will work in the prayers we offered throughout the week.
Today, as we conclude the three-day prayer meeting, I want to discuss where we should set our sights in order to live a life that overcomes the world abundantly. Through today's message, I pray that our lives will overflow with the history of faith, the labor of love, and the patience of hope, just like the church in Thessalonica and other saints. I bless you all in the name of the Lord.
A Sense of Mission During the Japanese occupation, there was a destitute woman in a city called Nanam in Hamgyeong Province. This woman, who begged for food here and there, smiled even when children teased and threw stones at her. People saw her as a mentally disturbed beggar. However, when Japan fell, and the Soviet Army took over the city, she appeared before the people dressed in a Soviet officer's uniform. As it turned out, she was an undercover Soviet officer dispatched to gather intelligence about the city's situation. She had been pretending to be a mentally disturbed beggar all that time to gather information. Based on the information she obtained, she captured the local landlords and officials and handed them over to a people's trial. The Soviet female officer endured being ridiculed by people and pretended to be a beggar in order to fulfill her "mission."
We are the ones who will continue living on this earth until the Lord comes. So how can we live in this world and experience the power of faith?
- First of all, we must remember that as Christians, "life itself" is not the ultimate goal.
While it is essential to open our eyes to the "heaven we will enter after death," it is even more crucial to open our eyes to the "coming kingdom of God."
Jesus taught us a prayer known as the "Lord's Prayer." In Matthew 6:10, it says, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." What is the content of this prayer that Jesus spoke of? In Luke 17:26-30, Jesus says that as the end approaches, people will go about their daily lives without preparing for the Lord's second coming. Let's take a look at verse 26: "Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man." What was it like in the days of Noah? They heard about the judgment coming with the flood, but they got married, went about their lives, engaged in business, and focused on their daily affairs. Many believers today are living without any preparation for the kingdom of God. However, it is serious to be indifferent to the fact that God's kingdom is drawing near. In verse 26, what Jesus seriously mentioned was not their "specific sins," but rather their "attitude toward daily life," and we should pay attention to this.
The world is filled with all kinds of serious sins. At least we may not be committing gross sins. However, a more significant issue for us is our "attitude toward daily life." In other words, it means that life itself has become the sole purpose, or that all our concerns revolve around our daily lives. Jesus emphasized this point more seriously.
Then, what should we embrace in our daily lives?
- We must have a "mission" for the coming kingdom of God.
In Philippians 1:21-24, the apostle Paul expressed his desire to depart and be with Christ, which he considered as far better. Yet, he also valued his "mission" on this earth. Therefore, Paul lived with his focus on the time when God's kingdom would be completed on this earth.
In this sense, our ultimate goal should not be merely looking forward to entering heaven, but rather working for the establishment of God's reign on this earth. Of course, someone who only looks to heaven and lives with a disregard for reality may end up living in escapism. However, Revelation 11:15 prophesies that the worldly kingdoms that oppose God will ultimately perish, and Jesus Christ will return to reign forever. Let's read verse 15: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever." Yes, the kingdom of God, where God reigns, has already begun within us. It is already prepared in heaven. Simultaneously, God's kingdom is coming now, and someday the perfect kingdom of God will arrive.
David Livingstone, a Scottish missionary, ventured deep into the jungles of Zambia and lost contact with the outside world. In 1871, the explorer Henry Stanley entered Africa to find Livingstone. After a year, he finally met Livingstone, who was suffering from a severe fever with almost no food or medicine left. Stanley earnestly urged him, "Missionary, you have devoted yourself to the gospel work in Africa for 30 years. Now, why don't you stop and return to your homeland with me?" To this, Livingstone replied, "No. For me, the missionary work in Africa is not just 'dedication'; rather, it is a great privilege that God has given me. Whenever I think of this glorious task entrusted to me by God, my heart is overwhelmed, and I cannot resist it." About a year later, on May 1, 1873, Livingstone peacefully passed away, kneeling by his bedside, hands clasped together in prayer.
That's right. Through Livingstone, who eagerly anticipated the coming of the kingdom of God and embraced his mission, the gospel was spread in Africa, and God's reign came to pass.
- The third aspect that a person of faith should embrace in their daily life is to have a "true hope" for the kingdom of God.
Unfortunately, most believers, not understanding the glory of God's kingdom coming to this earth, often live seeking only the benefits of this world. They may think they are preparing for the "future," but ultimately they are living for the "present." Studying hard or earning money often stems from the desire to live well in this world.
Therefore, we need to broaden the "scope of our prayers." The desire of believers is for Jesus to return, make the world new, and reign, and they eagerly await that day. This should also be the purpose of our studying, working, and making a living. The coming of the kingdom of God means the complete fulfillment of His will.
Thus, when reading the "Bible," we must be able to see what is truly essential. If you find yourself in difficult and challenging circumstances, passages like "Do not be anxious, your Father will take care of you" will resonate deeply with your heart. However, we should go beyond merely looking at the Scriptures in light of our current situation. Even in difficult times, we should first view all the words from the perspective of "God's kingdom" being established.
Living a life of "hope" means knowing that the kingdom of God is drawing near and preparing for it. In Matthew 24:45-46, the Lord says that a blessed servant is someone who is faithful and wise. Let's read together: "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns." Yes, the Lord tells us to be faithful and wise servants, doing the work of the master on this earth until we meet Him. However, if we do not open our eyes to the kingdom of God, we cannot prepare to welcome that glorious day.
Therefore, I pray that our beloved saints, like "HOF," will live as pilgrims in this world but with their eyes opened to the "mission" for the kingdom of God. May they live with a "true hope" for establishing that kingdom, becoming believers of faith and blessed saints in the name of the Lord.
I will summarize the message. Saints who conquer with faith should live their lives as follows:
- First, they should remember that being a Christian is not about living for oneself. Beyond looking forward to heaven, their ultimate goal should be working for God's kingdom on this earth.
- Second, they should embrace a 'mission' for the coming kingdom of God, dedicating their lives for the already established kingdom of God.
- Third, they should hold a 'true hope' for God's kingdom, broadening the scope of their prayers and viewing the Scriptures from the perspective of God's kingdom. They should hope for God's reign in their workplaces and among their neighbors and embrace the mission God has given them, becoming useful saints in the name of the Lord.