Soul Food
Words of Life to Feed Your Soul
God Is Always With You!
In our Sunday message, “Loving God by Enjoying His Presence” we talked about how God’s presence is with all Believers at all times. His presence is not exclusive and it is not rare. Instead, God has made available and gives us His presence in overwhelming abundance all thanks to what Jesus has accomplished through the cross! God’s presence is God’s greatest gift to us. It is life changing, destiny empowering, and joy giving. If you are a Believer, you can be full of confidence that you are in God’s presence at this very moment, and you will always be, for He said He will never leave you nor forsake you! (Her 13:5)
But sometimes we all fall into the trap of thinking God’s presence is based on the size of our faith or faithfulness. The mistaken thinking goes that if we lack faith or lack faithfulness, then God’s presence is not with us as much or as powerfully. What makes it worse is when there is lack of “evidence” of God’s presence in our lives.
But the truth is that it was not, and never will be, about us! It has been, it is, and it’ll always be: ALL ABOUT JESUS! Our greatest evidence is the cross. Our greatest assurance is His Word. The truth is that God’s presence in our lives does not depend on our own righteousness, but the perfect righteousness we have in Christ! As well, God’s presence in our lives does not depend on the size of our faithfulness to God, but on His faithfulness to us!
PSALM 16:11
But sometimes we all fall into the trap of thinking God’s presence is based on the size of our faith or faithfulness. The mistaken thinking goes that if we lack faith or lack faithfulness, then God’s presence is not with us as much or as powerfully. What makes it worse is when there is lack of “evidence” of God’s presence in our lives.
But the truth is that it was not, and never will be, about us! It has been, it is, and it’ll always be: ALL ABOUT JESUS! Our greatest evidence is the cross. Our greatest assurance is His Word. The truth is that God’s presence in our lives does not depend on our own righteousness, but the perfect righteousness we have in Christ! As well, God’s presence in our lives does not depend on the size of our faithfulness to God, but on His faithfulness to us!
PSALM 16:11
하나님은 당신과 늘 함께 계십니다!
저번 주일 설교에서 우리는 “하나님의 임재를 누림으로 하나님을 사랑하자”라는 제목으로 믿는 자들과 항상 함께 계시는 하나님의 임재에 대해서 나눴습니다. 하나님의 임재는 특정한 사람들에게만 머물거나 희귀한 것이 아닙니다. 오히려, 하나님은 예수님의 십자가를 통해서 자신의 임재를 우리 모두에게 넘치도록 주셨습니다. 하나님의 임재는 그가 우리에게 주시는 가장 큰 선물입니다. 그의 임재는 우리의 인생을 바꾸고, 가는 길을 힘차게 하고, 기쁨을 줍니다. 만약 당신이 믿는 자라면, 당신은 지금 이 순간 뿐 아니라 영원히 하나님의 임재 안에 있다는것을 믿으세요. 하나님께서 결코 당신을 떠나지도 버리지도 않으신다고 말씀하셨습니다. (히 13:5)
하지만 우리는 종종 하나님의 임재가 우리의 믿음과 신실함의 크기에 따라 달라진다고 잘못 생각합니다. 만약 우리가 믿음을 잃거나 신실하지 못하면 하나님의 임재가 우리와 함께 있지 않거나 적게 임한다고 생각합니다. 그리고 우리 인생에서 하나님의 임재의 “증거”들이 안보일 때 이 잘못된 생각은 우리 안에서 더 굳어집니다. 하지만 유일한 사실은 하나님의 임재는 한번도 우리에 대한 것이 아니였고 전에도, 지금도, 또 영원히: 오직 예수에 대한 것입니다! 십자가가 우리의 가장 확실한 증거입니다. 그의 말씀이 우리의 가장 큰 확신입니다. 유일한 사실은 우리 삶 가운데 계신 하나님의 임재는 우리 스스로의 의로움이 아닌 예수님 안에서 우리가 누리는 완벽한 의로움에 근거하고 있다는 것입니다! 이와 같이, 우리 인생 가운데 계신 하나님의 임재는 우리의 신실함의 크기가 아닌, 우리를 향한 그 분의 신실하심에 근거하고 있습니다!
시편 16:11
하지만 우리는 종종 하나님의 임재가 우리의 믿음과 신실함의 크기에 따라 달라진다고 잘못 생각합니다. 만약 우리가 믿음을 잃거나 신실하지 못하면 하나님의 임재가 우리와 함께 있지 않거나 적게 임한다고 생각합니다. 그리고 우리 인생에서 하나님의 임재의 “증거”들이 안보일 때 이 잘못된 생각은 우리 안에서 더 굳어집니다. 하지만 유일한 사실은 하나님의 임재는 한번도 우리에 대한 것이 아니였고 전에도, 지금도, 또 영원히: 오직 예수에 대한 것입니다! 십자가가 우리의 가장 확실한 증거입니다. 그의 말씀이 우리의 가장 큰 확신입니다. 유일한 사실은 우리 삶 가운데 계신 하나님의 임재는 우리 스스로의 의로움이 아닌 예수님 안에서 우리가 누리는 완벽한 의로움에 근거하고 있다는 것입니다! 이와 같이, 우리 인생 가운데 계신 하나님의 임재는 우리의 신실함의 크기가 아닌, 우리를 향한 그 분의 신실하심에 근거하고 있습니다!
시편 16:11
You Are God's Temple!
This is a reminder that God loves you and He is with you ALWAYS! We were made for God’s presence! When we put our faith and life in Jesus, we are born again as “God’s temple”, meaning, His Spirit aka His presence, dwells in us! God desires for us to enjoy His presence everyday, every hour, every moment!
God wants to set you free from all the things that hinder you from enjoying His presence: sin, fear, doubt, wrong understandings about His presence, etc. His grace is enough as it covers over all our sins and weaknesses with the righteousness of Jesus to qualify us to be worthy of God’s never-ending, never-changing, life-giving, completely-loving, not-ever-going-anywhere-for-any-reason Presence!
Remember that God’s presence with you is not based on the size of your faith and faithfulness to Him, but the size of His grace and faithfulness towards you! God is and always will be with you the same yesterday, today and forever! Amen!
Hebrews 13:5
God wants to set you free from all the things that hinder you from enjoying His presence: sin, fear, doubt, wrong understandings about His presence, etc. His grace is enough as it covers over all our sins and weaknesses with the righteousness of Jesus to qualify us to be worthy of God’s never-ending, never-changing, life-giving, completely-loving, not-ever-going-anywhere-for-any-reason Presence!
Remember that God’s presence with you is not based on the size of your faith and faithfulness to Him, but the size of His grace and faithfulness towards you! God is and always will be with you the same yesterday, today and forever! Amen!
Hebrews 13:5
Do the Right Things Rightly!
Everyone gets tired. the Bible says that even youths grow tired and weary (Isa 40:30-31). As humans, it is not a sin to be tired! God created us in a way that we need rest and rejuvenation. The fact is that we can grow tired physically, or emotionally, or mentally, or spiritually, or a combination of them all, or perhaps all of them at the same time.
But one of the mistakes we make is to think that the best “rest” or the only kind of rest has to do with inactivity. Meaning, getting time just do nothing or just sleep. True, there are times where we must be wise about how we use our time, getting enough sleep, and managing what we say “yes” and “no” to. But, another significant side to this is that we need to realize that rest and strength is not a matter of the external but of the internal. The true rest and strength we need often comes through doing the right things not just doing nothing.
Jesus said “come” to me all who are weary and I will give you rest. We see that rest ultimately comes from Jesus as make the effort to “come” to Him. Jesus also taught that if we are anxious and need peace that we are to pray. Even on the Sabbath, a day that people thought was suppose to be a day of rest through non-activity, Jesus offended many by actually doing things on the Sabbath. Why? Because Jesus was teaching us and showing us that true rest comes through the right activity.
What we need to understand is that in our attempts to pray, worship, serve in church, etc. if these things are making us feel tired or we feel too tired to do them, then we are probably doing them wrong! When done rightly, from a palce of dependence, reliance and confidence in Jesus, these activities should give us strength and encouragement!
Philippians 4:6-7
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A6-7&version=ESV;KLB
This article is a spin off of the sermon “We Are 10: We Are Workers Part Three”. To hear the rest of the message and get the sermon notes go to:
But one of the mistakes we make is to think that the best “rest” or the only kind of rest has to do with inactivity. Meaning, getting time just do nothing or just sleep. True, there are times where we must be wise about how we use our time, getting enough sleep, and managing what we say “yes” and “no” to. But, another significant side to this is that we need to realize that rest and strength is not a matter of the external but of the internal. The true rest and strength we need often comes through doing the right things not just doing nothing.
Jesus said “come” to me all who are weary and I will give you rest. We see that rest ultimately comes from Jesus as make the effort to “come” to Him. Jesus also taught that if we are anxious and need peace that we are to pray. Even on the Sabbath, a day that people thought was suppose to be a day of rest through non-activity, Jesus offended many by actually doing things on the Sabbath. Why? Because Jesus was teaching us and showing us that true rest comes through the right activity.
What we need to understand is that in our attempts to pray, worship, serve in church, etc. if these things are making us feel tired or we feel too tired to do them, then we are probably doing them wrong! When done rightly, from a palce of dependence, reliance and confidence in Jesus, these activities should give us strength and encouragement!
Philippians 4:6-7
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A6-7&version=ESV;KLB
This article is a spin off of the sermon “We Are 10: We Are Workers Part Three”. To hear the rest of the message and get the sermon notes go to:
GT AYO!
"GT" means "God's Team", and not only is it the name for the great team of volunteers we have at our church, but it reflects our belief that all Christians are part of God's Team! The Church is like a team in that every member is to work together for God's mission! Be reminded today of your true value, worth, redemption and qualification through Christ! You are GT!! #GTAYO
Ephesians 4:15-16
Ephesians 4:15-16
It's Not for Nothing!
Your sacrifice, the difficulties you are going through, the rough patches, the tiredness, the unexpected let downs, all the times you were not appreciated but did much...they are all NOT for nothing. God will redeem it all as seeds sown and through this dying to self a harvest will come forth!
Being a Living Sacrifice
Jesus is our ultimate sacrfice that makes all our sacrifices - our works for the Lord - holy and acceptable now! God is looking for "living" sacrifices, not dead ones! Sacrifices that cost us, that are hard and painful to us. Sacrifices where we do things when we don't feel like doing them. And sometimes, we feel like we don't have much to give. But the Good News is that Jesus has made our not enough, enough for God to take, mold, build and grow through His grace and process of sanctification. But you got to start by putting it all in His hands first! Make your living sacrifice to God today and see His fire come!
Worship is Powerful!
Whatever you do, don't stop worshipping. When you are feeling down, defeated, or tired, do your best to keep worshipping since many times it is through worship we see the greatest breakthroughs in us, through us, and all around us! When you do what you can do, God will do what He can do, through what you do!
Acts 16:25-28
Acts 16:25-28
Get Expressive!
In our message "We Are Worshippers" from our We Are Series Part 07, we learned that although worship is not all about being "emotional" it is about being expressive! Being expressive in worship is a sacrifice we make for the King of Kings, Lord and Lords and lover of our souls! Jesus said that if we stay silent in our praise then the rocks and trees will cry out! God takes expressive praise seriously! This is because not only is He deserving of our highest, greatings, most extravagant praise at all times, but worship is a powerful force of blessing to us as well! So what are you waiting for? Make a joyful noise!
Luke 19:37-40 (click the link)
Luke 19:37-40 (click the link)
God is Releasing Creative Wisdom!
Often times to move us forward God will use His “creative wisdom.” This means that God will use things we don’t expect, do things in a way we don’t expect, and in a timing that we don’t expect.
The Bible says that God uses the "weak and foolish things” (1 Cor 1:27) to accomplish His plans. His ways are higher than our ways (Isa 55:8-9), therefore, we have to be ready for the unexpected!
When Joshua faced a problem to great for him, God employed His creative wisdom and told Joshua to walk around the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6). This means that sometimes when we are facing things too great for us, God will use things that seem small to us to accomplish the things we can’t accomplish ourselves!
It can seem foolish to pray, worship, go to church, trust in God, not quit, forgive those who have hurt us, keep loving those who don’t deserve it, etc. But always, when we do the ridiculous, we can trust that God will do the miraculous! When you do what you can do, God does what He can do, through what you do! Shalom!
Proverbs 3:5-6
The Bible says that God uses the "weak and foolish things” (1 Cor 1:27) to accomplish His plans. His ways are higher than our ways (Isa 55:8-9), therefore, we have to be ready for the unexpected!
When Joshua faced a problem to great for him, God employed His creative wisdom and told Joshua to walk around the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6). This means that sometimes when we are facing things too great for us, God will use things that seem small to us to accomplish the things we can’t accomplish ourselves!
It can seem foolish to pray, worship, go to church, trust in God, not quit, forgive those who have hurt us, keep loving those who don’t deserve it, etc. But always, when we do the ridiculous, we can trust that God will do the miraculous! When you do what you can do, God does what He can do, through what you do! Shalom!
Proverbs 3:5-6
Never Empty Handed
We see in Joshua 1 that God intends to move Joshua and the children of Israel forward into His plans and their destiny. In order to prepare and equip Joshua to lead the nation forward God gives to Joshua four “p’s” which are God’s Promise, God’s Presence, God’s Pleasure and God’s Process.
We have to know that God doesn’t send us out empty handed and never leaves us empty handed. We may be empty of the things we THINK we need, but He has and always gives us exactly what we TRULY need! He gives us His great and precious promises so that we can prosper in His Will. Even greater, He gives us Himself as ultimately God is all we need! When we have God, we have more than enough!
So the next time you feel like you are not enough, or that you don’t have what it takes, remember, God hasn’t left you empty handed! Look to the cross and remember that you have His promise, His presence, His pleasure and you are walking through His process!
Joshua 1
We have to know that God doesn’t send us out empty handed and never leaves us empty handed. We may be empty of the things we THINK we need, but He has and always gives us exactly what we TRULY need! He gives us His great and precious promises so that we can prosper in His Will. Even greater, He gives us Himself as ultimately God is all we need! When we have God, we have more than enough!
So the next time you feel like you are not enough, or that you don’t have what it takes, remember, God hasn’t left you empty handed! Look to the cross and remember that you have His promise, His presence, His pleasure and you are walking through His process!
Joshua 1
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