Romans 9:6-16
Sunday Sermon – 24 Jun 2018 11:25:49 am
“But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.” So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.”
Romans 9:6-16 NKJV
There are a lot of people in the world who believe in God and serve him but how Jesus sees and how we see is very different.
Once there was girl who was dead. People were crying. But when Jesus saw the girl, to Him she was not dead but sleeping. If people can implement the perspective of Jesus, then their lives can truly change.
There is my perspective and there is the perspective of God.
When I was little, I used to go to Presbyterian church. I was forced to go and if I didn’t, my mum would rebuke me. We learnt a lot of things about the bible. If I knew about the bible, then I should have been very free from sins but it was not so. In fact, it was the opposite. I was more and more confined in my difficulties and sins.
““You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.”
Matthew 5:21-22 NKJV
I was completely shocked as I read these verses. The bible says that if I have been angry with my brother then I am a murderer. Truth is that I have four younger brothers and I used to fight a lot with them. I then made up my mind not to fight with them but it was not possible. I sometimes wanted to even kill them. This is my true heart. In Sunday school today, I asked the children, when your sibling is sick, how do you feel? One child say that she felt really good. I guess she has the same heart as I did when I was young.
““You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.”
Matthew 5:27-30 NKJV
Here, what is written is completely different to what I am.
When I was young, close to my house, there was a chubby girl. She would say hi to me and also wink at me. Then very naturally, I started to think about her. Continuing on, lustful heart started arising. However, if I apply these scriptures, then I have to pluck out my eyes. But I could not do it. In the church as well, I did not see anyone who plucked out their eyes.
“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.””
I Samuel 16:7 NKJV
When Samuel was going to choose the anointed of the Lord, he observed all the sons of David. However, as all the sons passed by, the Lord spoke to Samuel “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”. This is fundamental that many do not understand and so problems come about.
When the standards of God and our standards are aligned and the same, then our spiritual life becomes a lot better.
““You shall not have in your bag differing weights, a heavy and a light. You shall not have in your house differing measures, a large and a small. You shall have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure, that your days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who behave unrighteously, are an abomination to the LORD your God.”
Deuteronomy 25:13-16 NKJV
When you look at me, do you think I am short or tall? Short? Well, it is because I am standing next to my son. But if I was next to my daughter, then I would be fairly tall. Well, how do you consider yourself? Tall?
In the Philippines, there is a particular tribe that is very short. Any average person who goes there will feel like a giant. It thus depends on the standard you use to compare.
Have you ever feel that you are evil? Or a good person?
When I was young, I used to steal a lot from others. However, one day I happened to meet an old man whom I greet so well. Then, he complimented me. This compliment really really set into my heart deeply. Thus, with that I thought that I was a good person for a long time.
But how does God see us? What we feel in our heart and how God sees is completely different.
The problem is that we have a completely different weight compared to the weight of God.
What does the Word in the bible do to us? The Word helps us to remove the different weights of God.
Back then in the times of Noah, there were as many people as we have now currently.
However, there was only Noah who could receive the heart of God.
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Genesis 6:5 NKJV
Noah was the only person who could see his own heart as evil before the Lord. So many others heard the same words of God. However, they had a different “weight in their bags”. When God says that all people are only evil continually, then they should have said that their heart was the same and agree with God. But many people do not think so. Only Noah did. This is why those people died in the flood.
The difference between those in the ark and those out of the ark is life and death. Noah received the one word in his heart. Then his heart began to change.
Once a young man lived in Japan for a long time. He lived a riotous life. One day he concluded that he has HIV disease. He experienced the symptoms of AIDS and HIV. He concluded that he would die soon. One day, there was a bible seminar with pastor Ock Soo Park. His mother asked pastor sincerely to meet her son. So he did and the man said to pastor that he felt he has AIDS. Pastor asked if it was the doctor’s diagnosis and he said “no”. But since he had lived in Japan for a long time, and had met a lot of women, he felt surely that he had AIDS. So pastor Park asked him to not think like that, but to go to the hospital and test it. Indeed, the test came out negative and showed that he did not have AIDS.
Folks, this is so true. So many do not see their hearts through the Words of God. Rather, with their own information, they judge themselves. It becomes so easy for them to hold on to their own thoughts.
A few days ago I met the pastor from a Philippines church who came to our bible seminar. He was so happy having attended the Christian Leaders’ Forum with pastor Ock Soo Park. I asked him to attend the world camp in Korea and a few days ago, he actually booked the airline tickets. His wife was so happy about it. They are really eager to hear the Words of Pastor Park. Now they are very eager to work and cooperate with us. I am very thankful to hear this.
Whoever you are, if you compare your heart with the heart of God, then changes will come to your lives. Merely physically coming to church back and forth is not spiritual life.
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
Genesis 6:5-8 NKJV
The last sentence there is so great. Let’s say as per the Words of God in this scripture, you are reading the bible right now, then are you evil or good? Well, the fact is that you are still evil. When you fight or swear, it is easy to say that you are evil. But when you are helping someone for instance, can you say that you are a good person or an evil person? Truth is that you are still evil.
The bible says that we are evil continually. Let’s that a new born baby is just born now. Is he or she evil or good? Now, the baby has not done anything bad nor good.
Well, the bible says this:
“Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”
Genesis 6:5 NKJV
This means, even when we eat, or study, or work, etc. etc. we are evil. We are evil continually. This was the Word that Noah received in his heart. When Noah received it, a change came about in his heart.
“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”
Genesis 6:8 NKJV
Once we find grace in the eyes of the Lord, as a result of us finding out that we are only evil cointnually, then a change comes about in us.
“This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.”
Genesis 6:9 NKJV
Noah became a just man and he walked with God.
For those who realise that they are an evil person, they find grace in the eyes of the Lord. How does one walk with God? In so doing, he built and ark through which the lives of people are preserved.
No matter who you are, if you walk with God, then you can save others’ lives.
With your own intention in you, you cannot travel with God.
Some of you come to church and you have no will of God in you but only your own will. This is not travelling with the Lord.
How do you walk with God? By giving up your will and walking with Him.
When can you walk with God? When I realise that I am only evil continually.
Those who have their own will will always have problems in their spiritual life. This is because you have your own weight in your bag.
“And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.” As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.””
Romans 9:10-13 NKJV
Folks, think about this. The children we not even born. But why is it that God hates Esau and loves Jacob? Isn’t this strange?
Spiritually speaking, actually Jacob represents grace. Esau represents works. In other words, actually God loves grace and hates works.
Once, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a stew of lentils. Folks, what does birthright represent? It represents grace. The book of Hebrews says to us not to be like Esau with a morsel of food. God loves grace and not our works.
Why do people love their works? Since when did people love their works? As soon as Adam and Eve at of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Unless we cut down our works, we cannot stand before God. God hates our works.
“By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.”
Hebrews 11:20 NKJV
Genesis 27 speaks about how Jacob is blessed and Esau is cursed. But in the book of Hebrews, it says that both are actually blessed. This is the love of God.
Usually my wife rebukes the short-term missionaries. A lot of them cannot take it and want to go home. But half way through their experience, they can see that it is actually the love of God. Some in fact cry and say that they do not want to go home and want to stay. Why? Because they felt the love. But those who cannot feel the love, just want to leave.
Isaac cursed Esau. Why? It isn’t easy to curse your own son, right? So why did he curse? Well, to cut down the works of Esau.
When Jacob was to go before Isaac to receive the blessings, he was so worried that he would be cursed. So Rebekah said to let all the curse be on her. On this basis, Jacob could stand before his father saying ‘I am your first born Esau’. Before the Lord, this is the correct answer. Because it is the answer of faith.
Likewise, when we stand before the Lord, we can say that we are righteous and therefore have no more sin. This is the response of faith. But those who are not of faith are those who would say that they still have sin.
If you look at the book of Esther, there is the decree of Haman. On 13th day of the 12th month, all the Jews have to be killed. This is like the law. All those under it should be killed. Then there is the decree of Mordecai. As a result, all the Jews felt very safe.
In your heart too, you should have firstly the decree of Haman — the law. Then you should have the decree of Mordecai which is the new covenant.
“then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, “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.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.”
Hebrews 10:9-18 NKJV
The first law was written on the tablets of stone. The new covenant is written in our minds and in our thoughts. To the woman caught in the act of adultery (WCA), she was firstly faced with the law of Moses. The law of Moses could not help the WCA. She was caught by it. Then she was dragged to Jesus and Jesus asked those who have no sin in them to condemn her first. Then, the people left one by one. Jesus then stooped down to write on the ground again. We do not know what Jesus wrote. The WCA probably saw what Jesus wrote. But the scriptures say that the new law is written in our minds and in our hearts. This new covenant freed us from sin.
Folks, who can receive grace? Those people who realise that they are evil. Then God can say that we are sanctified.
“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
According to this promise of the Lord, we are sanctified and we are now perfected and justified. This is all by grace. If you have this Word written in your heart, then you can truly travel with Jesus.