Those who are considered as a family who will be together eternally by God

While Jesus was still talking to the multitudes, one said to him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with you.” He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”, and he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46~50)

In view of the circumstances at the time, Jesus’ words were so shocking. Unlike today, that is because the society of that time was a family-oriented society that couldn’t afford to live unless every single member in the family cooperated. Even though it is hard to accept introducing his disciples as a family before their own families, we have a new hope and expectation which can’t be expressed through words through His word. That’s because Jesus considered His ascension in the future and spoke with hope for what was to come. That’s because the mind of Jesus was already full of desire for heaven and the expectation of living eternally in heaven with the people who he cherishes.

Jesus clearly said that the people who he considers as an eternal family are those who do the will of God. Jesus has spoken of how important it is to do the will of God, ‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven.’ Even though people said ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ The Lord will declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’ And then he said, ‘Everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand, and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell. And great was its fall.’(Matthew 7:21~27)

Casting out demons and doing works can’t justify a life of ignoring the will of God. Whoever is loved by God has to do the will of God. We might not do His will because we lack ability. We have to repent of it and strive to improve. We will be punished on the last day because we didn’t do the will of God. On that day in order to be accepted as a great saint who will enjoy glory eternally with the son of God, all saints must diligently do the will of God while on the earth.

Four action points to do the will of the father

There are four action points which you must preferentially practice to do the will of God. First, Tithe and Offering. As a concept of today, offerings include Thanksgiving offering, Monthly offering, Feast offering, Construction offering, Purpose offering etc. If we are not sure of ourselves as a person of God, we can’t tithe and make offerings, and even if we did, we can’t continue giving. When we do not obey the commandment about tithes and offerings, whatever we ask for, we must be hard pressed to receive it. In this way, tithes and offerings are the minimum qualification for prayers to be answered.

Second, Service and Evangelism. Every saint has to do service. Do not use all of your skills and abilities for the world, but use them for the church of the Lord. Even though we may not have many abilities for service, we might be able to at least pick up some trash and clean the bathroom. Even small things like that are precious service for our church. Evangelism is the fundamental task that a saint must do for life continuously. We must think of evangelism and be ready to share the word of God always.

Third, constant prayer and meeting together. We have to pray constantly from morning to night. Inform God of what you will do first and then thank God and pray at the end. It means our mind must be opened to God all the time. We all must actively participate in all sorts of meetings. Somebody might say that they don’t participate in it because it isn’t of help to them. That might be true, however the important reason why we have meetings is not for help. God wants us to associate with Him by meeting with others. Even though we are not of help to God, God doesn’t desert us. Like that, even though the meeting may not help, we must not give up on meeting.

Fourth, loving church. It is a new commandment and is related to our way of thinking, lifestyle, and philosophy of life. To do the will of God, practice the new commandment first. Time is an opportunity given by God from the day we received salvation to the day we leave this world. We have church responsibility, duties, and our character for a short time for eternal fruits. We who have the life of God without doing works are those who owe God. As God told Paul, ‘My grace is sufficient for you,’ the grace we receive is so big. Therefore, do not desire to receive something from God, but love our church by obeying the new commandment.

The will of God told by the three authors of the New Testament

In the big picture we will concretely be able to do the will of God. The New Testament which is the fulfillment of the Old Testament divides two parts, which are Gospels and letters. The gospel shows us the history of sin that the son of God came to conquer in this world. The will of God in the gospel for whoever believes the son of God is entering into eternity, but Jesus Christ has already done everything through his public ministry. So what do we have to do to achieve the will of God? There is something which Jesus prepares for us in order to do the will of God. That is Church. The work of church is sharing the Gospel and managing the church. In the New Testament, the letters have defined the organization, duties, and activities of the church. The letters were written by disciples of Jesus and apply the teachings of Jesus in reality.

There is the will of God that the three authors of the letters have revealed. First, the author of Hebrews emphasized that Jesus Christ carried the cross for us to enter into Sanctuary. (Hebrews 10:9~22) He mentioned the work Jesus achieved to do the will of God first and then the work believers have to do. He said in Hebrews 10:23~25, ‘Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.’

Second, Peter said, ‘Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.’ (1 Peter 4:1~2) And emphasized, ‘above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’ (1 Peter 4:8~10)

Third, Paul said in Romans 12:2, ‘Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God’ and informed us in detail what to do according to the principles of love as the body of Christ. We are to serve each other according to each empowerment, to enjoy with the people who are enjoying, to cry with the people crying, to be humble, not to return evil by evil, to do good things, and to be peaceful with others. And in Romans 13:8~10, ‘Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.’

What we are able to know through the three authors of the New Testament is that the will of God is in the same way as the new commandment of Jesus. The person who obeys the new commandment of Jesus is the person who does the will of God and the person who loves the church is the person who obeys the new commandment of Jesus.

 

Let us love church as the will of God

God gave us new life in order to achieve the will of him through us. God wishes that the love and compassion wouldn’t dissipate from us and would be transmitted to others. Therefore, we must not lose the passionate spirit of a person who is loved by God. We have to do the will of God with pleasure as witnesses knowing that God shed blood for us and we have to try to repay the grace of God by loving the church of Lord.

First of all, we have to trust church. God must help us if we do this. To build a life of doing the will of God, all saints must work together. All saints must be the brothers, sisters, and mothers of the church. Though we have been justified, do not forget that we were originally sinners doomed eternally and have the mind of debtor. Let us be saints who consistently serve the church with a sense of gratitude.

As is every year, let’s gather at Mongsanpo Surgrak-won for summer camp. This year, we will have a great gathering, divided into two sessions. Not for someone else, but for your soul, let’s be together and receive abundant grace.

The world is gradually becoming weaker, and churches are also getting weaker, so I am greatly worried about what is to come. However, our church, with a lot of church members gathering with one heart every year, has fulfilled the righteousness of God. This year, we are expecting a greater work than the last year. All of us, like the Ninevites who clothed themselves with sackcloth in the dust, must receive grace greatly with repentance. Without putting away your conflicts between parents and children, husband and wife, brothers, and neighbors, you can never love God.

Through this holy assembly, we must change ourselves, so that we can fulfill the will of our loving God. A lot of people complain against God when they are not helped by Him. However, it is not that God does not help them, but because they disobey God, He cannot fulfill His will for them. If we become people that follow after God, after we receive much grace, He will allow us to survive, and give not only much grace but also glory and blessings. Therefore, with all your family members, you must draw near to God.

In my old age, I do not know when the Lord will call me. However, when the Lord calls me, I will serve the Lord with all my heart and power without regrets, drawing near to God through this holy assembly. By doing this, let us fulfill a great miracle that will greatly affect the world. Please bring even those who do not attend the church and friends, and let us fulfill the Lord’s will. Even if people have nothing to give, the Lord prepares what He will give for all whom He will call

Sungrak people have more spiritual experiences and know grace more than any other church members in the world. If you please the Lord by practicing through your gifts, the glory of the Lord will come upon your household and each heart of your family. Please prepare and make plans in advance, examining ourselves, without making mistakes, and let us receive a great grace. I will help you with my all life.

Dear people of Sungrak, let us be earnest. Let us obey the Lord’s New Commandment loyally. May miracles and experiences of drawing near to God be with your family, so that you will have a significant testimony.

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Outline translated by Sarah Lee
Letter translated by Sung-In Hong
Interpretations by Sarah Lee

Chief Editor: Helen Nam
Korean Summary by Ki-Taek Lee