St Timothy Presbyterian Church In Toronto: Sermons podcast

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Take On Your Righteous Suffering 21:49

21일 전21:49

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21:49

Scripture Passage Isaiah 50:4-9 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Our mission team is in Cuba right now. For their trip, we asked for support from all of you. The response was incredible. Many backpacks and items. And cash amounts that exceeded what we asked for: almost $30,000. I reflected on what that means. The amount of support we received tells me this: there is a real desire for goodness in this world. You were inspired by people who wanted to go simply to serve. They're not going to spend time on a resort. They paid their own money and all expenses simply to see what good we can do. And you in turn wanted to support that desire to do good. There was no ulterior motive, nothing suspicious. So you gave so generously. All of this tells me that people are wired for goodness. We are created to do good acts for one another. Seeing pure goodness in others inspires us. It makes us want to do good as well. Doing good is what makes us most human. Doing good things here and there feels good. But what about doing good everyday, as your job even? It almost sounds silly in today's world. When I was younger, many young people wanted to do good in this world. There were many things for young people – things like service corps, volunteering opportunities. A whole generation was inspired by JFK's famous speech: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. (Working at P&G in my university days – community work) But I sense that kind of idealism to be dead now. What young people see now is a world full of competition and self interest. They see the opposite of goodness. They see a world where you have to fight to get what you need. They see meanness, greed, the will to power. And so the heart gets jaded. It becomes cynical. It doubts the possibility of real goodness in this world. And they look out for what's best for them. But this lack of goodness is causing so many issues. Many people struggle with mental health issues, lack of joy, loss of meaning. I think a huge reason is that they see no motivation to do good in this world. There is nothing beyond themselves to live for. Israel was set apart to do good in this world. To be a blessing. They were called to live a new way – the way of God's goodness. But they were a small country surrounded by powerful neighbours. Those neighbours did not care much about goodness. They were more interested in power and wealth. Small nations like Israel got beat up by those powerful neighbours. Israel experienced slavery in Egypt, being under the thumb of Philistines, forced assimilation by the Assyrians, and deportation and exile under the Babylonians. They experienced the lack of goodness firsthand. They had to decide: would they give up on their unique identity and become like other nations? Or would they remain distinct as the people of God? Would they resign themselves to the world as they experienced – a world without goodness – or would they reinterpret their experiences of suffering and maintain faith in goodness? Isaiah was a prophet during one of these difficult times. His people were crushed by Babylon, and its leaders were deported to live as exiles there. They experienced the raw power of a mighty nation. They suffered indignity, humiliation and powerlessness. This is how one psalmist described it: By the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, and there we wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung up our harps. For there our captors asked us for songs, and our tormentors asked for mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion! How could we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:1-4) They were asking difficult questions in their hearts. In this situation, Isaiah saw new meaning in their suffering. Their suffering was not meaningless. Isaiah interpreted their weakness not as something to be ashamed of, but as the very means through which God was creating something new. God gave Isaiah the vision of a Servant. We don't know exactly who this servant is. But in a way, this Servant represented Israel. It represented a new interpretation of Israel's suffering. Today's passage is one of four servant songs. We see here the purpose of the servant: The Lord God has given me a trained tongue, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. (Isaiah 50:4) The purpose of the servant is to do good for the weary. To lift them with a word. But the servant runs into a big challenge: The Lord God has opened my ear, but I was not rebellious; I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. (Isaiah 50:5-6) In trying to do good, the Servant runs into vile opposition. They strike him. They pull out his beard. They spit on him and insult him. But in that suffering of persecution, the Servant discovers something: The Lord God helps me It is the Lord God who helps me. (Isaiah 50:7, 9) He discovers the presence and power of God. When you look at this world, it often seems like a world without God. People look at all the evil in this world as evidence that there's no God. I can see why people think that. God is definitely not present in the evil and sin of this world. But there is one place that God has chosen to be: with those who suffer for doing good. When those who try to do good suffer for it, God is there with them. That is what Jesus meant when he said this: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10) Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness will taste the kingdom of heaven. They will be in the presence of God. Today is Passion Sunday. We reflect on the suffering of Jesus. Jesus' life took on the shape of this servant. He did good. He loved this world. But the world did not love Jesus. People did not like what Jesus did. It made them very uncomfortable. They opposed Jesus. They began plotting against him. In the Garden of Gethsemane, this is what Jesus experienced: Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, Sit here while I go over there and pray. He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me. And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want. (Matthew 26:36-39) He did not want the suffering that was to come. But in that moment, he experienced the power of God. He experienced the help of God. After this experience in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was able to bear his suffering all the way to the cross. Jesus suffered persecution not in spite of his righteousness, but BECAUSE of it. Our world is so twisted that if you try to do good, you WILL suffer persecution. People will not pat you on the back and say, good job . They will look at you funny. They will think you are strange. They will look for ways to take you down. They will look for any reason to tear you apart. It's to the point where doing good is seen as a bad thing now. One of the first things the US government cut off was the US Agency for International Development. They provide help for millions of vulnerable people around the world. They attacked funding for churches that provide shelter and help for refugees. This is becoming more and more a dark, cold world. In these times, we need to restore our thirst for righteousness. We need to rekindle our desire for good. We need to overcome the fear of doing good. Now is not the time to keep your head in the sand. To keep your head down and stay in your lane. Now is the time to seek the good that God desires. God is calling YOU to do good. It is not the easy path. Jesus' death on the cross is evidence of that. But it is the only way that leads to life. You want to find meaning in life? Do good for others. Do good and seek righteousness – right living. Take on the righteous suffering that will come your way. When you find yourself alone, powerless and tormented, God will be with you. You will experience the presence and power of God. The post Take On Your Righteous Suffering appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church .…

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Look To the Future 20:01

26일 전20:01

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20:01

Scripture Passage Philippians 3:4b-14 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script What do people value the most? A recent Reuters poll says that American people value time the most. Then career , success , and money come in as close seconds. I think that is so true. What good is money when you have no time to spend it? What good is all the power and success when no time is left for you. It is like a parable of a rich fool that our Lord Jesus taught us. Then he told them a parable: The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops? Then he said, I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry. But God said to him, You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be? (Luke 12:16-21) He had all the riches but he didn't have time. What's the use? Time is the most valuable, the most important, and the most practical. So, appreciate your time. Cherish it. Don't waste it away. It is free but priceless. Once you have lost it you can never get it back. There are different ways of thinking of time. Different aspects of time. The Past, the Present, and the Future. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Of these three, I think the future is the most important. If there is no future, our past and present become meaningless. You reflect on your past to make a better future. You work hard today so that you can have a good tomorrow. So your past and your present should ultimately work for your future. Because your future is the most important. The interesting thing is: The future is not here yet but it is the most important. In our hands, we don't have the future yet, but it is what determines the quality of your life. When you have no future, you will be devastated. So life is very interesting and strange in that way. What we don't have, what we don't see, what has not happened yet, – that controls and determines the quality of our life. So don't tell me that I can accept only thing that I can see, I can touch, and I can feel. You are controlled by what is not here yet. Your future. The future – It is interesting. People have different attitudes about their future. I don't think many people are comfortable with their future. Is your future your friend or your enemy? Do you love to think about your future or you try to avoid your future as much as possible? The future can be scary because it is unknown. It is uncertain. These days, the uncertainty of our future has become very real. Because of US policy, the whole world is wondering what their future may be. Uncertain, unknown, unpredictable. The future is not just uncertain and unknown – It is uncontrollable. The future is not in your control. You don't know what tomorrow holds for you. In Myanmar, close to 3,000 people died because of earthquake. Nobody knew that it was coming. Recently in LA, and also in Korea, so many people lost their homes because of fire. Nobody expected that. The future just comes without warning. What are human responses to the very nature of the future? Worries and anxieties. That is what a lot of people have about the future. University students – What if I can't get into the program I want. People who are working, especially in the auto industry – What if I get laid off because of this new tariff. Old people – What if I get sick, who will take care of me? Worries and Anxieties – A very common attitude towards their future. Another human response is – You become helpless and hopeless. You can do nothing about your future. So, just passively receive your future. Que sera sera – whatever will be, will be. The future is not ours to see. But Paul showed a different attitude towards the future today. but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead (Philippians 3:13) He didn't worry about his future. He didn't just passively take whatever future that came to him. He strained forward to what lied ahead. He put away his past. He didn't dwell on it. Our past can be a good teacher for us. But at the same time, our past can haunt us. Our past can drag us down. Not just your painful past but even your glorious past can drag you down. What good is your glorious moment in the past? It's gone. No use. You have to cut it off. St. Paul considered his past as rubbish. Rubbish is a very toned down translation. The Greek word Paul used, skubalon – means “dung,” “excrement,” or “refuse . He cut it off. Forgetting what lies behind me, I will strain forward to what lies ahead. A very future oriented mentality. How could he have this very strong future-oriented mentality? Because he saw what most of us don't see. He clearly saw what was ahead of him. He clearly saw the end. He was able to see the goal. Verse 14. I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) What do you see in your future? Do you see only dark, gloomy, and ominous clouds? In the same letter St. Paul said this. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6) What does he see in his future? The good work that God began will be completed. The good work God began in you will be completed. He saw what was in his future with the eyes of faith. He saw the power that moved and propelled him into the future. He did not just wait passively for the future to come to him. He entered into the future with boldness. There was power within him and this power propelled him into the future. His attitude towards future is very different from most common attitudes of people: like worries and anxieties, or hopeless submission. He knew that his future was not in his hands. BUT He believed that his future was in God's hands. He believed that death is not the final station of his train. My friends, death is not the final station of your train. Don't get off there. St. Paul believed that the resurrection is his final station. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:10, 11) The power of the resurrection was what propelled him to take on his future. The resurrection was what he saw in his future. Even suffering could not stop that future. Death could not stop that future. If somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3:11) What do you see in your future? Believe in your future. When faith dances with the future, it becomes hope. Live with hope. Believe in your future. At the end of your journey, there is the resurrection. See that. And boldly take the challenges that come to you. And build your beautiful future. The post Look To the Future appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church .…

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Pain of Letting Go 19:36

5 weeks 전19:36

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19:36

Scripture Passage Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script This is a very famous story. I am sure most of you have heard about this story and are very familiar with it. This is one of the most famous parables Jesus left behind for us to remember. What we read today is the last one of three stories. All three stories have the same theme. The first one is about a shepherd searching for one lost sheep, leaving 99 in the wilderness. The second one is about a woman searching for one lost coin. And today's story is the last one about a father who lost a son. All three parables are about losing something and finding it back. But the third story has its unique message that is not in the first two. The shepherd and the woman were actively searching for their lost one. The shepherd went out and went through all the troubles to find the lost sheep. The woman lit a lamp and swept through the whole house to find the lost coin. But the father didn't do anything to find the lost son. He didn't go out to search for him. He didn't send people to find his son. Was it because the father did not love the son? Was it because he was upset at the son? Or was it because he didn't care? I don't think so. I see two images of God in these three stories. The first one is the image of God who actively goes out to search for the lost. The second one is the image of God who waits. The lost sheep and the lost coin could not come back on their own. That's why the shepherd and the woman actively searched for it. But the son – he was different. He chose to go out. He didn't want to stay home. The Scripture doesn't tell us why he wanted to leave the house. Maybe because of his self-righteous brother? Maybe because he felt stuffy at home? Maybe because he wanted to see the bigger world? Maybe because he simply wanted freedom? We don't know why. But he wanted to leave home. He wanted his inheritance. The father didn't die yet. But he wanted his portion anyway. That doesn't sound nice. But strangely, the father was silent. He just gave it to him. The father let him go. He didn't tell him to stay. He didn't tell him to reconsider. He didn't threaten him not to give him his portion. He simply divided his property between two sons and gave his portion. The father might have been disappointed. The father might have been angry. The father might have been concerned. But the Scripture doesn't express any of his emotions. The silence of the father speaks volumes. The father knew exactly that his son needed to do that. He needed to leave the house. He needed to go out and experience the world. He needed to find his own life. He needed freedom even though the father knew that freedom was costly. That is the kind of God we have. God allows us to go. God allows us to have freedom. God allows us to have our own choice. You have many young children. Now they are cute and adorable. But there will be a time when they want to leave you and leave home. They want to make their own choices. They want to have their own freedom. Letting them go is hard. There is pain in letting go. Sometimes going out and actively searching for them is easier. But human beings are not like a sheep or a coin. The image of God this parable portrays to us is the pain of God who lets his son go. The pain of God who lets his son reject him. Asking for his inheritance while the father was alive was the greatest insult and disrespect. And yet the father doesn't say anything. His silence delivers his pain. That is the kind of love Jesus showed. Jesus allowed people to reject him. I could see that very clearly in his last supper. He knew that Judas would soon reject him. And yet he gave the bread to him. Then he said, Do quickly what you are going to do. (John 13:27) John described the scene in this way. So, after receiving the piece of bread, he (Judas) immediately went out. And it was night. (John 13:30) And it was night. This was a symbolic expression. He left Jesus who is the light and entered into darkness. Jesus allowed Judas to betray him. Jesus allowed Peter to deny him. Listen to this conversation. Peter said to him, Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.' Jesus answered, Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times. (John 13:37, 38) Jesus allowed Judas to betray him and Peter to deny him. Jesus allowed people to reject him. That is the message of the cross. Today's story shows the agony of the father who allows the son to reject him, disrespect him, and leave him. But that is not the end. The story also shows the image of God who is waiting. The father let him go even though it was painful but deep inside, he was hoping that he would come back. This is well captured in verse 20. So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20) I have an African Bible. It is in English but there are commentaries about how Africans may read a particular passage. On this passage, it says, African elders will never run. Same with older Korean custom. They never run. While he was still far off, the father could recognize his son. It gives me the image that he was waiting every day for the son to return. That is the kind of God we have. Not only he allows son to go but he waits for the son who rejected him, insulted him, and left him. That is the gospel. That is the good news. Waiting is much more difficult than doing something for your son. Waiting is much more difficult than searching. The third parable is the climax of God's love. It shows the epitome of God's love. My friends, our God is not God who forces you to stay home. Our God is not God who justifies his righteousness by punishing us. I told you so is not God's attitude towards us. Our God is not God who is forcing you to follow his command so that he could claim his authority and ownership. Our God is God who wants you to be free and experience the world. Our God is God who even allows you to reject him and leave him. But our God is God who waits for you and is always ready to embrace you when you return. This new image of God is what Jesus showed to all of us. This new image of God is what St. Paul discovered. This is the image Pharisees did not understand and could not accept. So they rejected Jesus. My friends, God is always waiting for you. Come home! The post Pain of Letting Go appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church .…

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Hold Fast, Do Not Give Up 23:18

6 weeks 전23:18

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23:18

Scripture Passage 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Have you had a personal experience of meeting God? Meeting God is a wonderful experience. When you meet God, everything is good. You feel embraced by God's love. Your burdens are lifted. You feel that everything is going to be alright. Many of you have experienced this kind of wonderful encounter with God. This is what it was like when the Corinthians received the gospel. Meeting God instills a core belief: that everything will be alright. In God's hands, all will be good. In Christian faith, we call that hope. Everything might not be alright now, but they will be. Hope is at the core of Christian faith. Hope is what the resurrection is all about. No matter how bad things are now, in the end, God will be victorious. The writer of Revelation articulates a beautiful vision of this good ending: See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and be their God; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4) That is the promise of our hope. Our whole Christian faith is built on the promise that no matter how bad things are right now, in the end they will be alright. Because of that hope, how you live now changes. You live based on the promise that is to come. That's what happened to the Corinthians when they met God. Christ was coming soon, and that all would be well. Based on that belief, they made radical changes to their lives. They created a new community that crossed social and economic lines. Relationships that would never have been formed were created. It was a beautiful new kind of humanity and community. When you meet God, that hope seems so real and alive. It is a beautiful thing. But what happens when that hope doesn't manifest? What if there is a never ending delay to that promise? What if things don't really get better? Things don't change or even get worse? When the promise of a better future doesn't become real, two questions arise in the heart: What's the point? What difference does it make? What's the point of holding onto faith when nothing changes? What difference does it make to keep trying? Your belief in the promise of a better future erodes. You lose hope. That is the situation that Paul is addressing. Christ did not come as they expected. Their problems remained. They were losing hope. In today's passage, Paul is warning them using examples from the past. The examples he uses are from the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. The Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. God heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them out of Egypt. They experienced the mighty hand of God in leading them out and providing for them. This is how Paul describes this: I do not want you to be ignorant, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) God had led them out with a mighty hand. God promised that he would lead his people into the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey. But then they got stuck in the wilderness. People grew restless. They began to lose hope in the promise. Paul describes what happened: Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. (1 Corinthians 10:5) They lost hope and fell away from God. Paul has a few warnings based on what happened to them in the wilderness: Do not become idolaters as some of them did, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play. (1 Corinthians 10:7) This is based on the golden calf. Moses went up to Mt Sinai to receive the commandments from God. But he took so long. The people got tired of waiting. They demanded a god they could see. So Moses' brother Aaron created a golden calf. They held a festival where they ate, drank and played. God makes a promise that all will be good. But when things don't seem to get better, people easily turn to other things. Where do you really turn to to feel safe and secure? What do you trust to make your life better? We must not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. (1 Corinthians 10:8) At another point during their time in the wilderness, they settled at a place in Moab. The men began to sleep with Moabite women. Not only that, they began to offer sacrifices to Moabite gods. They forgot about God's promise. They lost hope they would ever get to the Promised Land. So they focused on pleasure for that moment. Many people say: just focus on the present. We should enjoy each moment, yes. (Olivia tanned from vacation – jealous!) But when you only focus on the present and ignore the future, if all you look forward to is pleasure, it could be a sign of lost hope for the future. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. (1 Corinthians 10:9) When God's promise does not come to fruition, people question God. When I see people, they don't turn to God or places like the Bible for wisdom, guidance and answers. They turn to experts online, influencers, people who sound intelligent. Anywhere but God. When I mention the word Bible , many times I sense an immediate aversion. It's almost like: God can't exist when there's all this mess – prove to me that God exists . Even after all that God had done, many people in the wilderness questioned God himself. And do not complain, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. (1 Corinthians 10:9) People complained and grumbled to Moses the whole time. They even asked why he had brought them out of Egypt. At least there they had food to eat! Grumbling, complaining, being a victim – these are not marks of trust in God and his promises. Paul uses these examples to identify pitfalls to faith. Things that take your eyes away from the promise we build our lives on. What is the Christian journey? It is living in that gap between God's promise and its fulfillment. That's what it means to follow Jesus. The Christian life exists in tension between the messy reality that's now and what will be. That's why it can be so difficult. That's why so many people fall away. Christian life is not for the faint of heart. It's not for those seeking a simple, easy life. It is living with that gap that sometimes seems like a chasm. The main ingredient for life in this gap is faith: trusting in the promises of God, even when they seem so far away. Trusting the one who makes the promises. When faith goes, so does hope. There are so many reasons to lose belief in God's promises. We have our Sioux Valley info session today. So many challenges – drug epidemic among youth. Grave concern among elders and leaders for youth. Legacies of history and residential schools is tragic – breakdown of family life where love is experienced. Message from broken family and outside world: you are not loveable. Questions: what's the point? What difference does it make? Lost hope – no belief that future can be different, better. It seems more difficult than ever to hold onto hope in God's promises. But I hold onto God's promises. Why? First, because life with no hope is no life. I don't want to have nothing to live for! Secondly, because of what I've experienced and because of people's living testimonies of faith. I've seen the living testimonies of faith in you and places like Sioux Valley. I've seen people get through so many challenges and difficulties with faith in God's promises. They don't lose hope. I've seen the power of faith that moves mountains and overcomes all manner of tribulations. They assure me that God's promises are real and true. My friends, it is worth it to hold onto the promises of God. The rewards of the promise are great. They are life. They are joy. They are fullness. Living with faith in that promise has its rich rewards now. It brings peace, joy, community. That is what we are: a community that holds onto the promises of God. Paul gives this assurance to us: No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13) We face many tests of our faith. But God will not let them overcome you. God will give you strength. God will give you a way out! God will hold up your hope. Hold onto hope. Do not give up. Find rest in the promises of God. The post Hold Fast, Do Not Give Up appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church .…

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Know You Are Loved 20:17

7 weeks 전20:17

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20:17

Scripture Passage Psalm 27 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script We've been studying David at our Winter Fridays. The psalm we read today was written by him. Around 73 of the 150 psalms are attributed to David. That is almost half of the entire book. He was a talented poet. He had the sensitivity of an artist and the insight of a theologian. When I look at David's life, I see a common theme. It is that God was always with him . He lived his life with this understanding, in all circumstances. God was never separate from or outside the reality of his life. God was intimately involved in his life. We can see this at the beginning of today's psalm The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1) Even in danger, David never lost his confidence. Knowing that God was with him gave him strength. It gave him the courage to face Goliath when no one else wanted to. It gave him the wisdom to spare Saul's life even when it was to his advantage. It made him the spiritual rock that he was. What does it mean to know that God is always with us? What did it mean for David? I asked myself that question. This is something that we hear often. But what is implied in that expression? To know that God is with us is to know that we are LOVED . There is no difference. They are very much connected. That we are loved reveals itself in the way God cares for us. Knowing this is the foundation of our faith. It is the source of our confidence in the midst of trouble. David knew that he was loved. It was not head knowledge. He experienced God's love surrounding him all throughout his life. Not only in his successes and victories, but especially in situations that seemed impossible and life-threatening. He was saved numerous times from Saul's attempts to kill him. He was pulled back from the frontlines just as he thought he had to go to war against his own people. When he was lost and unsure of what to do, David saw God's hand rescuing him like a ray of light piercing through the darkness. God's steadfast love became real to him in those moments. We don't know the exact context or background of today's psalm. It is obvious that he is in some kind of danger. People are against him and they want his life. Yet, he does not easily waver in his confidence. He knows that he is loved and God will take care of him. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. (Psalm 27:5) If my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will take me up. (Psalm 27:10) Whenever difficulties come, the first thing we do is panic . We become fearful. We lose perspective and get overwhelmed. We look for solutions to get rid of our problems quickly. We make rash and impulsive decisions. We end up complicating our situations even more. We feel more powerless and helpless than before. All this comes from believing that we are alone . That is why we ask ourselves, Why is this happening to me ? We feel totally isolated . Is God really with me? In other words, we are asking Am I loved by God? That was Saul. He lived in constant fear. It stemmed from his belief that he was totally alone. Unlike David, God was not a part of his reality. Only himself . His life became all about him trying to deal with his problems. But it didn't better his situation. It only led him further and further into darkness. It ultimately destroyed him. In that sense, dealing with the challenges of life is not so much a question of what to do, but WHO WE ARE . It is not a matter of finding effective solutions, but our IDENTITY . When the storms come, what gets rattled is our sense of self. Everything else in our life feels shaky as a result. If our identity is firmly rooted, we can withstand the storm. If our identity is fragile, we will be knocked down by the storm. That is what our Hi-C students reflected on at their retreat last weekend. The theme was, Be Who You Are . To be a rock, we need to cultivate a healthy and strong identity. Adolescence is perhaps the most formative time for that. Cultivating a healthy sense of self begins with hearing who God says that we are . The first thing God tells us is that we are loved as Jesus heard at his baptism And a voice came from the heavens, You are my Son, the Beloved ; with you I am well pleased. (Mark 1:11) We are not loved because of anything we have done. It is because that is who God is . God is love. We were loved even before we were born. Our very existence is the evidence of God's love. To know that we are loved is where everything starts. It is the bedrock of our life and identity. Do you know that you are loved? Do you believe that? Remind yourself daily of this truth. I AM LOVED . Every morning. During the day. At the end of the night. I think it can be a good spiritual practice for Lent. When we rest in God's love, the power of fear will lose its grip over us. It will no longer control or dictate the way we live. The most visible indication of the absence of love in our life is the presence of fear. From there comes hatred and anger, envy and jealousy. Where love is present, fear cannot exercise its power. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18) Whether you feel it or not, God's love always surrounds you. That will never change. There is never a moment when you are away or apart from God. His love will accompany you through all the stages of your life. David said Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there ; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there . If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. (Psalm 139:7-10) Hearing this, I also thought of what St. Paul said. Like David, he lived with the deep understanding that he was loved. He knew that nothing could separate him from God. No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39) UNCERTAINTY seems to be the word that captures the mood of today. Not that our life was more certain before. But what is happening around us seems to amplify the feeling of uncertainty even more. People are stressed and on edge. They are struggling not just financially, but mentally as well. They seem burdened and down. In some ways, this feels like the next big challenge that we are facing since the pandemic. How we choose to go through this period will be very important. Even though our circumstances may tell us otherwise, remember that you are loved. You don't have to do anything. First, simply rest in God's love. Find refuge in God. Be still and look to him. Be strong and courageous, as David said Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! (Psalm 27:14) You are not alone. God is always with you. God will stretch out his hand and deliver you. God's goodness will surround you and follow you. God will help you come out of the storm stronger than before. This is the time for us to be shaped into a ROCK . The post Know You Are Loved appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church .…

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Know Who You Are 20:02

8 weeks 전20:02

나중에 재생

리스트

20:02

Scripture Passage Deuteronomy 26:1-11 Worship Video Worship Audio Know Who You Are Rev. Simon Park share Social: jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $('#facebook-player-share-43119').sharrre({ share: { facebook: true }, urlCurl: 'https://timothypc.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/rainmaker/library/external/genesis-simple-share/assets/js/sharrre/sharrre.php', enableHover: false, enableTracking: true, disableCount: true, buttons: { }, click: function(api, options){ api.simulateClick(); api.openPopup('facebook'); } }); $('#googleplus-player-share-43119').sharrre({ share: { googlePlus: true }, urlCurl: 'https://timothypc.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/rainmaker/library/external/genesis-simple-share/assets/js/sharrre/sharrre.php', enableHover: false, enableTracking: true, buttons: { }, click: function(api, options){ api.simulateClick(); api.openPopup('googlePlus'); } }); $('#linkedin-player-share-43119').sharrre({ share: { linkedin: true }, urlCurl: 'https://timothypc.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/rainmaker/library/external/genesis-simple-share/assets/js/sharrre/sharrre.php', enableHover: false, enableTracking: true, buttons: { }, click: function(api, options){ api.simulateClick(); api.openPopup('linkedin'); } }); $('#twitter-player-share-43119').sharrre({ share: { twitter: true }, urlCurl: 'https://timothypc.com/wp-content/mu-plugins/rainmaker/library/external/genesis-simple-share/assets/js/sharrre/sharrre.php', enableHover: false, enableTracking: true, buttons: { }, click: function(api, options){ api.simulateClick(); api.openPopup('twitter'); } }); }); Link: Embed: https://timothypc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/knowwhoyouare.mp3 Download Audio Subscribe Sermon Script When I think about people today, there's a word that comes to my mind: overwhelmed. I sense that people are just overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the demands placed on them. Their time. Energy. Attention. It is true, our senses are overwhelmed, our brains are overwhelmed. We can't even sit still: our phones demand our attention. But I think there's a deeper force that leads people to feel overwhelmed. It's that the anchors people rely on are crumbling. In Canada, we're going through a huge change. For our entire lifetimes, the United States was our anchor. Our identity as Canadians was closely tied to the United States, whether we like it or not. We liked to say that we're not Americans, but even saying that reveals just how closely tied we were to them. They were our economic anchor. They were our security anchor. We could live safely, peacefully and prosperously because we had a strong, rich, friendly neighbour to the south. But all that has changed in just two months. Canada is very alone and vulnerable right now. We cannot rely exclusively on the United States for our economy. But it will take time to diversify our trading relationships. Even geographically we are isolated – the only neighbour we have is the United States. I have concerns about the future; I don't know what will happen. Today's passage is the final speech of Moses to the Israelites. It begins this way: When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you (Deuteronomy 26:1) They are still in the wilderness. In the wilderness, the Israelites had no anchor. Their only thing they knew before freedom was their life in slavery. That's why even though they were free in the wilderness, many times the people complained to Moses. They would say that at least in Egypt we had food to eat! In the wilderness, they had absolutely no anchors but God. They had to learn how to trust completely in God. They trusted God for everything: food, water, shelter and where to go. It took a whole generation. Over 40 years. The first generation all died in the wilderness. A new generation was born. But finally, by the end, they knew their anchor was God. They became God's people. Our identity is always in connection with something or someone else. I am not just Simon. Even my name is not from me – it was given to me by my parents. I am their son. I am Joonie and Abby's dad. I am a pastor of St. Timothy. I am always someone in relation to someone or something else. For me, the most important part of my identity is that I am a child of God. God is the unchanging anchor that I pin my identity to. That was the main outcome of the Israelites in the wilderness: they became God's people by pinning their identity to God. They and God became one. My friends, in these times, we feel no true anchor in this world. Anything can change. And that can be overwhelming. But we HAVE an unchanging anchor. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. God is steadfast, unchanging and forever faithful. That is who we pin our identity on. If your identity as God's child is clear, steadfast and unchanging, then you can get through ANYTHING in life! That's how important your identity is. You are a child of God. You are God's. If you know who you are, if you know whose you are, then you will withstand anything that comes your way. Moses' main concern was whether the people would maintain their identity. Their time in the wilderness was coming to an end. A whole generation had passed away, and a new one emerged. They would enter a new environment filled with new challenges. Would they remain attached to God, or would they attach themselves to other things? That was the great question and concern in Moses' mind. Who would they be? That's the question for us. In today's passage, Moses institutes spiritual practices so that people would maintain their identity as God's people. That is what today's passage is all about: how the people maintain their identity as the people of God in new and changing environments. Those practices are just as relevant for us today. When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess and you possess it and settle in it, you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place that the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his name. You shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.' (Deuteronomy 26:1-2) Moses instituted the first fruit offering. This is where we get our practice of tithing from. Give to God before you take anything for yourself What does this achieve? It affirms your connection to God. It acknowledges who gave you this fruit in the first place. You may have been the one to harvest the land, but it was God who gave you the land in the first place. There's an old Korean custom I learned growing up. When you start a new job, you give your first paycheque to your parents. It's an acknowledgement of their hard work and sacrifice to help you get to where you are. It's affirming your relationship with them. I think it's a beautiful custom. Giving your first fruit to God: that is affirming your identity as a child of God. That is something that was instilled deeply in the first generation. During COVID, when we could not meet in person, people would deliver their offering envelopes in person. When they miss a week at church, the next week they bring two weeks of offering. We need to learn from these things. Giving of your first fruit is a tangible, concrete expression of your relationship with God. When presenting the first fruit, the people were to say this: Today I declare to the Lord your God that I have come into the land that the Lord swore to our ancestors to give us.' (Deuteronomy 26:1-2) After that, this was his instruction: When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the Lord your God, you shall make this response before the Lord your God: A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, we cried to the Lord, the God of our ancestors; the Lord heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. The Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O Lord, have given me.' (Deuteronomy 26:4-10) While giving their offering, they remember all that God has done. Not just that, but especially how God came in their darkest moments and helped them. My friends, we are here because God has been with us. God has helped you. All of you have faced great challenges. Overcome great difficulties. Many of you still are dealing with great challenges. But God has been with you. God has brought you to this point. God is carrying you now. Sometimes when we look back, we don't know how we made it. But we realize that it was God who did. When I really look back, there were so many dark, difficult moments. I don't know why or how God helped me. But somehow, God did. I am so blessed now – I don't deserve any of them. When I think of how God has been with me, it brings tears to my eyes. In that sense, it is nothing to give the first fruits to God. Of course God deserves that first portion. God was everything when I was nothing. That's the attitude we bring to offering. By reciting the past, God once again becomes center in the present. You shall set it down before the Lord your God and bow down before the Lord your God. (Deuteronomy 26:10) Our offering song was simple and beautiful. We fall down, we lay our crowns, at the feet of Jesus. We cry Holy Holy Holy is the lamb! That is our worship. With thanksgiving, we give to God and fall down in worship. That is what we do. Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the Lord your God has given to you and to your house. (Deuteronomy 26:11) After worship and thanksgiving, there is a celebration! Levites were the priests. Aliens are the strangers in their midst. So with the pastors and people from all over, we celebrate! That's what happens in our Fellowship Hall. I know it can seem intimidating to go into a hall full of people. It's hard for introverts. But from a spiritual perspective, our fellowship time is a great celebration of the God who has been with us. Everyone is a part of that celebration. These were practices that Moses left so that Israel could affirm its identity as God's children. This is not just a one-time thing. God has given us the gift of the Sabbath. A weekly rhythm of rest and making life blessed again. Sabbath is a day of rest. But rest is not doing nothing. Rest is recentering your identity. Coming back to who you really are. Coming back to God and resting in God's presence. On the Sabbath day, we worship God and affirm once again who we are – beloved children of God. You are God's children. We have an unshakeable anchor in God. No matter how much the world changes, our God does not. How wonderful that is! Know who you are. Know whose you are. That identity be your anchor to get you through anything that life throws your way.…

1
A Glorious Moment in Difficult Times 16:21

9 weeks 전16:21

나중에 재생

리스트

16:21

Scripture Passage Luke 9:28-36 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Today's passage gives us a wonderful scene. A glorious scene! While Jesus was praying, his face changed. His clothes became dazzling. Two dead people appeared. They were not just dead people. They were like pillars of the Old Testament. Moses represented the Law. Elijah represented the Prophet. So the Law and the Prophet, the core tradition of the Old Testament. What a glorious scene! It's a miracle. It was out-of-this-world experience. I need that these days. The reality is so harsh that I need something out of this world. The world we live in is a very difficult world. Especially for those who are weak and powerless, this world becomes more and more difficult to survive. Yesterday was 3.1. It is a special day for Koreans. They protested against Japanese occupation. The powerless fought against the powerful. Many Christians participated in this movement. But now the powerless has no place to stand. Our reality is harsh; I need fantasy. The Scripture tells us about a few wonderful out-of-this-world experiences people had. It is the intervention of God. It is God's way of entering into this world. It is God's special touch. On the road to Damascus, Paul had this intervention of God. He was going to arrest Christians, imprison them and kill them. He was exercising his power and authority on the weak and the vulnerable. But on the way, he experienced the bright light shining around him. And he heard Jesus talking to him. By then, Jesus was already dead. And Paul knew that. He heard the voice of Jesus telling him, Saul, Saul, (His Hebrew name) why do you persecute me? Why are you doing this to my powerless people? Persecuting those who are weak and vulnerable is persecuting me. Out-of-this-world experience! It happened to Isaiah too. He was in the temple. He described his experience in this way. In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory.' (Isaiah 6:1-3) Out-of-this-world Experience! Elijah also had this kind of experience. He (God) said, Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, What are you doing here, Elijah?' (1 Kings 19:11-13) Out of this world Experience! I discover one common thing of all those who had this wonderful glorious moment. They were all facing their harsh reality. They were all going through hard times before this happened. Isaiah was struggling with his own inadequacy and sinfulness, living in a sinful surroundings. This was what he said. Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! (Isaiah 6:5) Elijah was so deeply depressed that he wanted to die. This was what he said. He asked that he might die: It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors. (1 Kings 19:4) Even in Jesus' case, this was what he said just before he experienced the transfiguration on the mountain. The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. (Luke 9:22) Jesus was facing his own death. Sometimes God intervenes in our life. God shows his grace in a special way. Not necessarily only through the forms of miracles and supernatural experiences. But there are times when God specially touches you, awakens you, and inspires you. These are glorious moments. This happens when you are going through difficult times. When life is difficult, God appears to you and makes his presence evident. God's presence empowers you, transforms you, and lets you experience glorious moment. But my friends, God gives you this wonderful experience not just to console you and comfort you but to PREPARE you. To prepare you to take the challenges ahead of you. God prepared Paul to be an apostle to the Gentiles. How about Isaiah? After this experience, God said this. Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? (Isaiah 6:8) Isaiah said, Here am I; send me! (Isaiah 6:8) Elijah too. Elijah said this. I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away. (1 Kings 19:14) To Elijah, God said this. I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him. (1 Kings 19:18) And go and do what you have to do. God gives us this wonderful divine experience so that we are ready to take our challenges. When you carefully read today's passage, you see that the central message is not the divine experience but the central message is what was coming ahead. Let me read it for you. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30, 31) What departure? Jesus' Death. The Cross. They were talking about Jesus' death. They were talking about what Jesus was about to do. The glorious moment you experience with God is to prepare you to deal with your harsh reality. Every Sunday, you come and worship God. It is a wonderful experience. Thank you all for making this worship service very special. But we should not just feel good about experiencing God's inspiration. This is to prepare you to deal with challenges you face every day from tomorrow. Tomorrow you have challenges ahead of you. There are problems you have to face. That was what Jesus did right after the transfiguration. The very next day, this happened. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.' Jesus answered, You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.' While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. (Luke 9:37-43) Yes, the very next day, Jesus had to deal with the darkness, the evil power, and the poor victims in his life. Tomorrow, from Monday, you have to deal with challenges in your life. Relationship problems. Health problems. Financial problems. Deal with evils around you. God will be with you. God will strengthen you. God will show you the power to deal with your challenges. There will be God's intervention. The post A Glorious Moment in Difficult Times appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church .…

1
Don’t Be A Victim, Be Empowered 22:54

10 weeks 전22:54

나중에 재생

리스트

22:54

Scripture Passage Luke 6:27-38 Worship Video Worship Audio Sermon Script Jesus is our Lord. But Jesus was also a flesh and blood human being. His ministry took place among flesh and blood human beings. Jesus' message to them was that the kingdom of God was at hand. Something new was being born. What was the main point about the kingdom of God? Put simply, it was this: you are not merely a victim of your circumstances, but you are empowered to live a better way. Today's passage is the first lesson Jesus gives to his listeners. Love your enemies. Why did he begin with this? He was addressing a critical issue for his audience. His listeners were not people living comfortably, there for a good and entertaining lecture. They were desperate, poor, struggling peasants and commoners in the countryside and small villages. Life had become very difficult for commoners in Galilee. They were forced into debt. They lost their land. They were left behind economically, politically, socially. When things get difficult, the first thing to get affected is unity. The hardships they faced eroded the bonds that held them together. Their difficult circumstances made former friends enemies. Former neighbours adversaries. Hatred and mistreatment grew among people. They were victims of forces and decisions beyond their control. But Jesus is saying: don't be victims of your circumstances. If you react to hate; If you curse those who curse you; If you mistreat those who mistreat you; Aren't you merely a victim of your circumstances? You don't have control over their actions or behaviours. But you allow those behaviours to shape yours. The behaviours and actions of others take control over you. Offering your other cheek; Giving your shirt after they've already taken your coat; Are these signs of weakness? No. They are signs of an empowered person. One who is making their own choice. Jesus' message is that you have agency. You have the power to live a different way. You may not be able to change your circumstances, but you can change how you live. The kingdom of God is this: people who live a new way despite present circumstances. A new way defined by God's will that goes against present circumstances. Jesus came to show that a new way is possible. The kingdom of God is not something that takes place in the afterlife. It is something that is present now. Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed, nor will they say, Look, here it is!' or There it is!' For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you . (Luke 17:20-21) This is a radical message for life. You can live a different way from your circumstances or environment. I don't want to underestimate our circumstances. They have a huge effect on your life. Sometimes they are so difficult to deal with. I know some people are dealing with health issues. Others are dealing with financial challenges or finding a job. Others are very anxious by the political uncertainties in the world. Difficult circumstances instill fear, uncertainty, anxiety. Our circumstances are so powerful. They are powerful because they become so much larger than us. Last Sunday, our sanctuary was quite empty because of all the snow. We had no control over nature. We were at its mercy. Circumstances are like that. Because they are so large, they influence us deeply. They affect how you feel. How you think. But what Jesus is saying is that yes, they are powerful and real, but still, you do not need to become a slave to your circumstances . Human beings are very adaptable. We've learned to adapt and survive in all sorts of environments. It is an important skill. But if all you do is adapt and survive, then you will not be free. You will continue to be a slave to your circumstances. You will be absorbed by your circumstances. Sometimes, we need to fight against the circumstances and work to change them. When things are unfair or unjust, we should speak truth and resist. If your health is not great, then you should seek the best medical help and do everything you can to improve your health. But more important is your attitude and thinking. Do not let your circumstances dictate how you think, feel and behave. Circumstances will come and be beyond your control. But do not let them control your thinking. Don't just react to them with your emotions. If you do, then you are just a victim of your circumstances. The people listening to Jesus had adapted to the hostility around them. They began to think like those in a hostile environment. They began to feel like them. Talk like them. They all became part of that environment and perpetuated it. Jesus came to break that cycle. He came to break the grip that circumstances in this world have on you. Jesus came to bring freedom and the possibility of a new start. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:17) Freedom to live the right way. Freedom to do the right thing. Freedom to live by the golden rule: Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31) If you are not free, you cannot treat others as you would have them treat you. If you're not free, how you treat others will depend on how your circumstances are affecting you. You will not be consistent. Jesus came to bring freedom. But freedom comes with a cost. You have to struggle for it. You have to fight for it. Many Canadians are uneasy by all this talk about becoming the 51st state. I don't know how serious they are. But if they are, and we want to maintain our freedom and independence, it will come at a cost. St. Paul's core belief is that we have been rescued from the bondage of our sins. Sins no longer have dominion over us. We are free in Christ. But that freedom came at a cost. The cost of his life and blood on the cross. Jesus was not a victim of his circumstance. He lived an empowered life, filled with the Holy Spirit. He loved his enemies. He did good to those who hated him. He blessed those who cursed him. He prayed for those who mistreated him. He allowed himself to be hung on the cross. Those of us who follow Jesus are not mere victims of circumstance. We are empowered by his Spirit of freedom. We may not control our circumstances. We may have no say in what happens around us. But we will not let them have control over us. Today's passage reminds me of the Freedom Movement in the 1960's. Martin Luther King Jr articulated a new response to their situation: nonviolent resistance. In a society filled with hatred and violence, they resisted it with nonviolence. They met hatred with love. When they were struck, they offered the other cheek. The real power of the movement lay in the change that occurred in millions of black people across the country. They discovered that they were no longer mere victims of their circumstance. Before, they were mere victims of racism, hatred and evil. They lived in fear of violence and hatred. They allowed themselves to accept their inferior status. They allowed themselves to be treated with less dignity. But now they realized that they were not mere victims. They were somebodies. They had a say in how they lived. They could react differently to the hatred and violence of others. In responding to violence with nonviolence, they became an empowered people. The kingdom of God was alive among them. Their example inspired millions of people around the world. They fueled global movements for change and justice. We need that spirit to come alive today. We need empowered people who live differently than our environment and circumstances dictate. Our context today is very challenging. The issues are so much more complex. It's hard to know what's right from what's wrong. It's hard to know what to fight for, and what to fight against. It's easy to give up and withdraw from caring. Jesus gave us gift to be empowered: the gift of prayer. Prayer is our access and lifeline to the empowering Spirit of Jesus. When circumstances overwhelm us and drown us, prayer is the boat that keeps us above waters. Prayer gives us the strength we need to carry on our own path in the midst of difficult circumstances. Prayer keeps us from being passive victims of these complex and overwhelming circumstances. When circumstances threaten to overwhelm you; When they tire your spirit; Come to Jesus in prayer. He will grant you his Spirit to live an empowered life in the kingdom of God. The post Don’t Be A Victim, Be Empowered appeared first on St Timothy Presbyterian Church .…

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$25 PlayStation Store Gift Card [Digital Code]

Apple AirPods Pro 2 Wireless Earbuds, Active Noise Cancellation, Hearing Aid Feature, Bluetooth Headphones, Transparency, Personalized Spatial Audio, High-Fidelity Sound, H2 Chip, USB-C Charging

Big Spot 'N Bop! The Giant Wobbly "Find It First" Game, A Fun, Active Race For Mind And Body, Run Around The Giant 4 Foot (122cm) Inflatable Bopper To Find And Match Images, For 2 Or More Players, 4+

Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper, 8.5 x 11 inches, 20 lb, 1 Ream, 500 Sheets, 92 Bright, White

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (newest model), free and live TV, Alexa Voice Remote, smart home controls, HD streaming

Amazon Basics Multipurpose Copy Printer Paper, 8.5" x 11", 20 lb, 8 Reams, 4000 Sheets, 92 Bright, White

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About

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