John 8:1-11
Sunday Morning – 20 May 2018 11:26:50 am – Pastor James Yang
One time, there were group of travellers sailing on the huge amazon river. It was so large that it appears to look like a sea. As time passed, they ran out of water and as more time passed, they became so thirsty. However, they did not drink of the water that was surrounding them as they believed they were at sea and therefore it was saltwater. So they nearly died of thirst. However, one ship happened to pass by them and when they did, the travellers called out for help and many asked for water as they were dying of thirst. Then the captain of the new ship yelled out to them that they were all in the Amazon where the water is drinkable as it is fresh water.
The woman caught in the act of adultery (WCA) had to die and thought she was dead, but she was able to meet Jesus, who said to her “Neither do I condemn you”. She was so shocked. Like the passengers who were travelling on freshwater but mistook it for salt water, WCA also did not know that under Jesus, was the law of life and not of death.
I know one pastor whom I preached this exact gospel to and he and his wife were so refreshed and yet shocked because they still operated under the old law and not the new covenant. As they heard that they are now under Jesus who took away their sins forever, they truly understood and believed that their sins are over and forgiven once and for all. Therefore, they asked if they could join our church and I welcomed them.
If you can really meet Jesus in your life, then no matter whom you meet, they can never be a problem to you. Even cancer is not a problem for you at all.
My wife was once diagnosed with cancer and about 80-90% was cancerous. The specialist in fact, even showed me what was a cancerous tumour and what was not. My son was 8 and my daughter was 5 years old. So I had the heart that if she dies, I would not be able to continue with my ministry. From Monday to Friday that time, my wife cried. I searched for faith from Genesis to Hebrews at that time but I just could not accept the word in my heart. The most difficult time is this – when we do not have the Word of God in our heart. Even though I tried to look for faith, I could not find it as much as I tried. And then, 2 Timothy 2:4 struck my heart and came to me.
“No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.”
II Timothy 2:4 NKJV
It was around Friday 4pm. My wife asked me, “Do you have faith, honey, that I would be healed?” And I replied “Of course! Yes, I do! You are already healed”. With faith, folks, we can say such things with absolute clarity.
On the following day, we went to the specialist’s office. My wife was checked up and I was sitting in the corridor. I overheard the conversation between the nurse and the speciality.
“Doctor, the tumour is gone!” The nurse said.
“What? Impossible, search for it again!”, the doctor said.
And when the nurse gave the same answer, the doctor took over and examined the chart for himself. He looked and looked and then came out to confirm the details.
“Ma’am…you are Mrs. Kim so and so, right? You are female and aged so and so right?”, the doctor asked.
As much as he checked, the tumour was no where to be found. And I gained this heart, “I knew it already yesterday at around 4pm”.
And indeed, the specialist confirmed that day that the cancer was all gone. He said that he had never experienced this and was very bewildered.
The Words in the bible is the truth. What you see with your eyes is not necessarily true. Many people respond to what they see. But not many respond to the words in the bible.
As my wife got healed, I felt that the Words in the bible is so true.
As long as we believe in the Words in the bible, then even if we have problems, they cannot be a problem for us at all. With the Word in your heart, you can live just like Moses and Abraham of this generation.
“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.””
Galatians 3:10 NKJV
The woman was cursed because she was under the law. For instance, if you are driving then you are under the traffic law. As long as you drive, you are under the traffic law. How would you feel if you are under the law? That you would have to do well and keep the law, isn’t it?
If you are determined person to do good and be well, then you are someone who is under the law.
Let’s say you are driving the car and driving, then you have to keep the traffic laws, right? But let’s say you are out of the car, then do you still need to put on the seat belt or hold both hands at the steering wheel? Fact is, once we are out of it, we have nothing to do with the traffic law.
People who are under the law try to do things well and they try to be good people by themselves. But if you are free from the law, then you would not try to to such things any more.
What did Jesus say to WCA? He said, “Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more”. As soon as people hear this, the feel free, but soon they step back into the law.
One day, after I finished work and came home, my six year old son then asked me to wrestle against him. Obviously, I acted as if I was the weaker opponent and so let him defeat me. My son was so happy that he won and he showed off to his mother. He was happy and so was I. His heart became exalted. He became stiff necked. I played the game again and let him win. He was over the moon. He thought lesser of me and began to think that I was not a worthy opponent.
It so happened that a few days later my wife took my son to the childcare as they had the sisters’ meeting there. Also that day it was a public holiday and there were many children. So my son challenged a 11 year old. He was obviously beaten up and he was defeated. He was so upset and cried when he came home. As I returned from work, I saw how upset he was. After I found out what happened, I decided that he should finally be taught a lesson of truth. If I do not teach him, then he would be disabled in his heart. So I picked up him, chucked him down on the bed and placed my foot so as to overpower him. From then on, he came to the knowledge and truth that he was indeed weak. Since then, he played well and got along well with the other children.
Folks, Satan exalts our heart and so we deceive ourselves. Folks, have you hated someone before? Have you called others stupid? Then in your heart, you are already a murderer.
Now, let us ask the men. Men, have you ever had a lustful heart before? Please your hand! Now, it’s the ladies turn? Have you? If so, then you have already committed adultery in your heart.
One day, there was a grand opening for a mobile phone shop. Two slim ladies who were dressed somewhat scantily were dancing outside the shop to bring attention to it. So as I drove, I happened to see them by chance. But soon the traffic light turned red just outside the shop. Then, I turned my head to look at them. My wife who was sitting behind me then smacked my head and said, “If you look twice, then that’s adultery mate!”
Folks, we are so evil. The bible says that we are only evil continually.
But Satan deceives us to think that we are good. This is why my son was also fooled into thinking that he was so strong.
“But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.”
Galatians 3:23 NKJV
The WCA was kept by the law and brought her to Jesus Christ who is the faith.
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:1 NKJV
In South Korea, there is a province called Chungcheon which is an inland province and is not surrounded by the sea. Back then in Korea, after midnight, there is a siren that goes off. It means that there is a curfew and you cannot walk around and move out. This was done because back then, there were many spies from North Korea and so the curfew was maintained. However, in Chungcheon province, there is no curfew. So people who want to play after midnight cross over to the Chungcheon province and do whatever they want.
Before I married, I did not wash my feet much before going to bed. But after I got married, I had no choice but to wash my feet because my wife disliked it. I changed so much. Likewise, we are all spiritually married to Jesus after we receive salvation.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
Romans 6:1-2, 11, 14, 16-18 NKJV
See, we used to be slaves of sin before. But now we are slaves of righteousness.
Many people say that they are still evil and dirty so it is not possible for them to call themselves righteous. Of course, this is exactly who we are. But we call ourselves righteous not because we are good or clean.
We are now righteous because our new master is Jesus Christ. Our old master was Satan. Thus our master and owner has been changed.
“Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”
Romans 7:20 NKJV
Don’t you think the WCA did not want to commit sins? Of course! But her old master was Satan and so she was dragged to sin. But the new master is now Jesus Christ who gives her the heart to be uncomfortable about sin.
As I married my wife, my life changed. Now, I don’t do the old things I used to do because of my wife’s influence.
““This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.””
Hebrews 10:16-17 NKJV
The new covenant was written on tablets of stone. But the New Testament is written into the hearts and minds of ours.
“Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”
Hebrews 10:18 NKJV
There is no longer and offering for sin — this means that we do no longer ask for forgiveness of sin because Jesus has already cleansed, sanctified, washed, perfected and justified us. We became righteous solely because our master has changed. This is what we need to be aware of.
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
I Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV
Following the Words in the bible is believing God. Thus, believing in God means believing in the Words of God.
I really hope that you can experience the grace of God in your life.