20260705 주일예배 / 역대하 14:1~15 사방에 평안을 주심은

Today is the Thanksgiving Sunday for the First Fruits. This day is a feast where we offer the first fruits of the first harvest to God. Offering the first fruits of the first harvest to God embodies a confession of faith that puts God first. It also signifies setting apart the best for God. As we strive to accomplish everything, may we see God's responses and workings through our confession of faith that we will put God first, prioritize Him, and offer Him our best. As we reflect on the first half of the year 2026 and look forward to the new half, may we give overflowing thanks to God for being with us more than He has in the past six months, and may the miracles of gratitude continue to unfold. I bless you in the name of Jesus. >> Amen.

During the meal time, I would like to share that the Enoch Mission is present. In celebration of Thanksgiving Sunday, the Enoch Mission provided bulgogi, and Sister Kim Da-young from San Jose provided rice cakes, while Deacon Park Soon-tae provided wood. Every Sunday, Deaconess Jang Gyo-seong serves the congregation with side dishes she makes herself, and we also thank Sister Kim Hee for serving with the minimum oil-free dishes from her home. However, I want to clarify that just because I announce this does not mean that the pastor expects me to feel burdened to do this every week. I hope that through these announcements, the service of these individuals can be shared with other congregants, allowing everyone to contribute together to serve God, the church, and fellow believers.

I would like to ask for your continued prayers for Deacon Baek Kyung-won, who, as we all know, has been diagnosed with cancer that has spread to four areas. He is currently undergoing treatment and is hospitalized in ICU Room 255 at Spring Valley Hospital. He is gradually recovering, and we are hearing many good news regarding his treatment and future life. I ask for your prayers that he may recover well this time, return home, resume his life energetically, and be able to stand here to glorify God through his praise ministry, giving testimony to God's living presence and omnipotence. For other announcements, please refer to the church bulletin.

At this time, we welcome new family members. Sister Kim Yang-sook, we did not welcome you last week, but please stand up for a moment. Sister Kim Yang-sook, we welcome you into our family in Christ with the love of Jesus. Let us all extend our hands toward Sister Kim Yang-sook and bless her. [Music] Show us in the appearance of the saints. In the appearance of the saints [Music] [Song] it is shown. God's image is beautiful. [Song] Precious [Music] since we have become children of the Lord [Song] we will love and serve [Song] and welcome and bless you with the love of Jesus. [Applause]

I see that I have suddenly forgotten names. Yes, our Deacon Jo Yo, it seems that you and your spouse have come back from Korea after almost seven months. Yes, if you could stand for a moment, we welcome you with the love of Jesus. [Applause] Please be seated. The word of God given to us today is from 2 Chronicles 14:1-15. 2 Chronicles 14:1-15. I will display it on the monitor, but it would be better if you could find it in your Bibles. 2 Chronicles 14:1-15 is the entire chapter. It is recorded on page 673 of the Old Testament. Let us read together the entire chapter of 2 Chronicles 14.

Abijah rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David, and his son Asa succeeded him as king. In his time, the land was at peace for ten years. Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands. He removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah, and the kingdom was at peace under him. The Lord gave Asa peace and rest, so that there was no war during those years. Asa built up the fortified cities of Judah, since the land was at peace. He said to the people of Judah, "Let us build up these towns and put walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and prospered.

Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah, equipped with large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. All these were brave fighting men. Zerah the Cushite marched out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. Asa went out to meet him, and they took up battle positions in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah. Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you." The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled, and Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. Such a great number of Cushites fell that they could not recover; they were crushed before the Lord and his forces. The men of Judah carried off a large amount of plunder. They destroyed all the towns around Gerar, for the terror of the Lord had seized them. They plundered these towns since there was much loot there. They also attacked the camps of the herdsmen and carried off droves of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

[Music] My soul [Music] [Song] only rests in you [Song] our [Music] sadness is this world also heaven [Music] [Song] Hallelujah [Music] [Song] praise, all my sins forgiven [Music] Lord Jesus [Music] where is the heavenly kingdom [Music] before your face [Song] even before I am overwhelmed [Music] [Song] heaven follows, it is fulfilled in my heart [Song] day by day [Music] Hallelujah, praise [Music] all my sins forgiven [Song] I will walk with Lord Jesus [Song] but [Music] the heavenly kingdom [Music] [Song] [Music] I will go >> [Song] >> Goliath Jesus [Music] Jesus [Song] wherever you see [Song] [Music] the heavenly kingdom Hallelujah [Song] praise all my [Song] [Music] sins forgiven, Lord Jesus [Song] through wherever [Music] [Song] the heavenly kingdom [Music] [Sniff] goodbye. I am [Cheering] this [Music] this member is the only internet star, so it has been financially tough. In a way, I lived a bit hard with my mother without any support from my father. So I thought I had to work part-time, but then there was a talent contest called Super Voice Talent. It was my first time participating, and I thought, "If I win first place, I can use the prize money for my tuition." I went and ended up winning first place >> first place >> yes, I won there. >> I thought it was ten million won, but I misread the number, and it was one million won. I had thrown away one ball, but I had no concept of numbers, so I won first place there, and I met a person named Byun Ki-soo, who was the second place winner. He said to me, "Let's try out for a comedian." So he brought amateur comedians, and since they gave a stipend, it was better than working part-time. So I did it because of the stipend, and they said I had talent. I was preparing to return to school, but my mother said, "Why don't you try out?" So I thought, "How about taking a year off?" >> My mother >> laughs, "What are you studying anyway?" So I thought, "Shall I try it for a year?" I took the test, and I passed on the first try. Wow >> I thought it was ten million won, but it was one million won. >> How did you manage with one million won? >> It was about 790,000 won. >> Yes, it was about 790,000 won, but my mother saw it as the first fruit. I think my mother did well. Because of that year, my mother must have felt something through it. My mother heard everything, but I offered it as my tuition, and my mother >> she offered it all. I guess she felt some inspiration. It was too much for my class; I am K-18, and for our class, each person had a contract of one million won. >> Originally, there was no contract. But for our class, >> there was. [Laughter] >> Why was there? >> I didn't have it. Originally, there was none. With 700,000 won, it returned tenfold. [Music] [Music] There is a ministry called the O.K. ministry, which means helping the poor within a 5km radius of my room. It started from Seoul Station and now has expanded to about a thousand places. [Music] I am one of the staff members there. I am not the only one; the staff members are also [Music] like me, going around to fundraise and then tying red ribbons every week. People think that if I give, I will lose. But God says that is not the case. He speaks of sowing and reaping. So [Music] if I sow, I will bear fruit. But where do I sow? People think that if they sow, God will make my life abundant. He will allow me to bear more fruit. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] The unchanging law is that you will reap what you sow. This law comes from God and is a law given to humanity and nature. As I mentioned earlier, Thanksgiving Sunday signifies offering the first harvest, the first fruits to God. The word "first" is included, isn't it? First, this teaches us to put God first, to prioritize God. And when we say first, it means offering the best, the finest to God. What happens when we sow blessed and right things in our lives? We reap what we sow. We will reap according to what we have sown. I bless you in the name of Jesus that as you think of God and sow blessed and right things in your lives, the amazing blessings of God will return to you thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and a hundredfold, and that the miraculous works of God will occur. >> Amen.

These days, if you go to the bestseller section of bookstores, there are words that frequently appear in book titles. [Clears throat] Rest, healing, relaxation, pause, etc. It’s not just in bookstores. Convenience stores sell stress relief items, chocolates, and if you put on earphones, you can listen to ASMR sounds of waves and rain, which are among the top downloaded sounds that provide a pleasant and tingling sensation around the scalp and neck. Massage chair companies advertise every holiday, "Shouldn't you enjoy this level of peace in this life?" Some companies sell scented candles for $50 or $100. While buying a scented candle, we think to ourselves, "At least buying this will make my heart feel a bit more at ease." There is an interesting statistic. The global wellness industry, which makes money by selling mental health and recovery, has grown to several trillion won. We live in the most materially abundant and convenient era in human history, yet we are spending the most money in history to buy peace. But I want to ask you, have you become peaceful because of this?

I know an elder who turns on a meditation app every night before going to bed. However, there is something he does before turning on the app. He spends 30 minutes scrolling through social media platforms. He checks who got married, who went on a nice trip, and whose children got into prestigious universities before he thinks, "Shall I try to empty my mind now?" and turns on the meditation app. It’s like lighting a fire and then sprinkling water on it. He fills his mind with chaos and then covers it with a thin blanket called peace. Some people do fire-watching or water-watching to find peace. A middle-aged gentleman sought peace by visiting a famous monk deep in the mountains. "Monk, my heart is always anxious, and I feel surrounded by enemies on all sides. How can I find peace?" The monk silently filled a cup with water until it overflowed. When the gentleman exclaimed, "The water is overflowing!" the monk quietly replied, [Clears throat] "You must empty your desires like this first." The gentleman, impressed by the monk's words, returned home and tried the same thing with his wife. He filled a cup to the brim and said, "Honey, I have gained enlightenment!" His wife, however, slapped him hard on the back and shouted, "Are you going to clean the table with a wet cloth? The water is overflowing, and what nonsense are you talking about?" This is our reality. Nagging family members, oppressive bosses at work, and the harsh realities of rising prices and negative bank balances await us. Anxiety and worries surround us. In fact, these troubles are not new. People in every era have desired peace. Thus, the Romans coined the phrase, "If you want peace, prepare for war." It means that one must gain strength to achieve peace. Therefore, every nation increases its defense budget, buys weapons, and forms alliances. However, peace built on strength crumbles the moment that strength is shaken. The history of humanity is a cycle of the strong becoming weak and the weak becoming strong, a history of the strong preying on the weak.

The given text speaks about how humans desire peace but fail to attain it, and where true peace comes from. The text from 2 Chronicles 14 tells the story of Asa, the third king of the southern kingdom of Judah during the divided kingdoms of Israel. Asa ruled Judah for 41 years starting in 911 BC. The books of 1 Chronicles and 2 Chronicles were written for the community that returned from Babylonian captivity. They had lost their nation, their temple, and their dynasty. The author of Chronicles recounts the history of Israel to show the way to restoration. After Solomon, Asa's great-grandfather, the kingdom of Israel was divided into north and south, and during the reign of his grandfather Rehoboam, the king of Egypt came and plundered all the treasures of the Jerusalem temple and palace. During the reigns of Asa's grandfather Rehoboam and father Abijah, the spiritual state of southern Judah was in disarray. From the end of Solomon's reign, various idolatries had filled the land, and the people had turned away from God. In such a situation, Asa ascended to the throne. In verse 1 of the text, it says, "In his time, the land was at peace for ten years." In verse 5, "The kingdom was at peace under him," and in verse 6, "The Lord gave Asa peace." In verse 7, "The Lord has given us peace on every side." The word "peace" appears five times. When Asa became king, he commanded the people of Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and in verse 7, he said to the people of Judah, "We have sought the Lord our God." The fact that God gave peace to King Asa and the people was primarily because they sought the God they had turned away from.

The renowned Christian author C.S. Lewis said, "God wants to give us peace and happiness, but peace cannot exist when we are separated from God." There is an empty space in humanity that cannot be filled by anything in this world. Only God can fill that space. In 1 Kings 11:3, it says, "He had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines, and his wives led him astray." King Solomon tried to fill the empty space that only God could fill with 700 wives and 300 concubines. As Solomon led the first thousand, the foreign gods they served entered Israel, and as we see in the given text, Israel tried to fill the empty space that only God could fill by serving idols such as foreign altars, high places, Asherah poles, and sun images. They had completely turned away from God. As a result, there was no peace. However, when they sought God, returned to Him, and drew near to Him, they were able to restore and enjoy the peace of a prosperous kingdom.

Here, we are people chosen by God to live with the source of life and blessing, the Almighty God, who has called and established us. We are people set apart by God. Just as fish cannot live outside of water, we cannot live apart from God. So how should we live? In Psalm 73:28, it says, "But as for me, it is good to be near God." In Nehemiah 8:10, it says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Above all, we must draw near to God and find joy in Him. That is the way to live and the way to receive blessings. In Psalm 23:4, it says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." What does the dark valley represent? It signifies all situations where human strength is insufficient. As we live, we may encounter crises in health, family, and livelihood. Even so, we should not fear because God is with us. In Psalm 23:1, it says, "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing." Because God, who is overflowing with love and kindness, is my protector, no situation can be a problem. In Psalm 62:5, it says, "Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him." In Philippians 4:13, it says, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." No matter what we encounter or what situation we find ourselves in, we must remain in God. God will surely take care of us.

What is our problem? We keep talking about situations and conditions. What is the problem? The problem is not being in God. We mobilize human methods and worldly ways, and we are rolling our heads around, so we cannot see God's work. We must be in God. Living in God is where the answer to our problems lies. If we look closely at the text, Asa sought God not only in difficult times but also in times of peace. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a leader of the German Confessing Church, said, "It is human instinct to seek God in suffering, but seeking God in times of peace is a privilege of the saints and a true testament of faith." Humans are quite insincere. The heart that goes into the bathroom is different from the heart that comes out. When life becomes a little easier, the place of prayer becomes distant. When the weather is nice on weekends, golf courses or camping sites come to mind before worship. When my bank balance is solid, I rely more on my wallet than on God. That is not peace; it is merely a calm before the storm that is about to come.

There is a story about a deaconess. When her husband's business was thriving and all her children were entering prestigious universities, people around her said, "That family has no worries now." During that time, the deaconess maintained her early morning prayer meetings. She told her children that now is the time to be most grateful and to kneel even more, making their home a place of worship. Later, an unexpected tax audit crisis hit her husband's business. However, she was not shaken at all. Because she had built up spiritual strength during times of peace, she was able to maintain her peace of mind and respond calmly, ultimately achieving victory despite the rumors of trouble. Faith that seeks the Lord not only in difficult times but also in times of peace is true faith. Humility when one has much and is at peace is true humility. When we show such true faith and humility, God will not take away the peace that surrounds us.

Beloved congregation, do not forget that when King Asa and the people of Judah sought God, longing for His mercy in their difficulties, and sought His guidance and grace in times of peace, they were able to enjoy peace. Let us read together the first half of verses 3 and 5. "He removed the foreign altars and the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles, and he removed the high places and incense altars in every town in Judah." The reason God gave peace to King Asa and the people was that they removed idols. The word peace appears five times in the text. We often think of peace as a state of calm where nothing happens. However, the peace given to King Asa and the people of Judah came through a bold reform that involved removing, smashing, and clearing away what needed to be cleared.

So what should we do to enjoy peace in this place? We must boldly remove the elements that separate us from God, the walls that block our relationship with Him. The expression "in the eyes of the Lord" appears in the text. This expression is important. From a human perspective, it is easy to overlook and ignore. However, when viewed from God's perspective, He saw the evil things and decisively removed, smashed, and cleared them away. This is not a mere policy; it is a very firm and radical reform. Beloved congregation, while we are in a close relationship with God as Father and children, we must also examine our own state in light of God's righteous perspective and His Word. We must remove the unworthy things and sins that block our relationship with God.

Beloved congregation, take a moment to think about the idols, unworthy things, and sins that are blocking your relationship with God. What is above God, what comes before God, what is considered more important than God, and what is placed at the center of my life instead of God? An obsession with money, wrongful desires, and fame. Symptoms of addiction where one cannot put down their smartphone. Getting lost in platforms like AI and YouTube. All these must be organized. We must place God as the top priority in all things and put everything under God. We must be under His governance. Only then can everything we have become a blessing, and we can enjoy the peace that God gives.

There is a story about a deacon. While running a business, he made excuses saying that it was unavoidable and accepted practices like entertaining with alcohol and opaque accounting. However, he reached a point where he could not sleep due to problems arising from all sides and conflicts with employees. One day, he reflected and repented, coming across the word of God that says, "Depart from all sin." He fell before that word. The word struck his heart. The deacon made a bold decision. He broke the idols of alcohol entertainment and opaque accounting practices that he had considered normal business practices. He declared to his regular clients, "From now on, we will not entertain with alcohol, but we will compete with the best quality and honest prices." People around him laughed, saying, "If you do that, you'll lose all your business." In fact, sales dropped in the first few months. However, something miraculous happened. Sales decreased, but he found a deep peace in his heart that he had not felt for a long time. He began to sleep at night. After a year, his company became known as trustworthy, and large corporations began to request formal contracts. The surrounding threats and crises turned into peace.

In verse 11 of the text, let us read together. "Asa called out to the Lord his God and said, 'Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.'" The reason God gave peace to King Asa and the people was due to their absolute faith in relying solely on God. A tremendous crisis came upon King Asa and the people, as the Cushite army of one million men and 300 chariots invaded. At that time, Asa's army totaled only about 580,000 men. One million against 580,000, it was a hopeless situation. In this moment, Asa did not surrender out of fear. Instead, he brought the desperate situation before God. "There is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you." This confession was a declaration of total surrender to God, acknowledging that they were nothing before the million-man army, but that God was greater than them.

Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation, felt threatened by the Catholic Church and his life at every turn. He meditated on Psalm 46 and confessed, "When I rely on my own strength, I can only fail. But when the Lord fights, no matter how many enemies surround us, we are safe." The hymn he wrote is the one we know as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." Asa's prayer, "Do not let mere mortals prevail against you," transformed Asa's view of the war from a battle between himself and the Cushites to a battle between God and the Cushites. "If I hide in the Lord, then the enemy attacking me is attacking God." It is impossible for the created being, the devil, to overcome the Creator, God. In verse 12, it says, "The Lord struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah." It was not that Judah's army won by their own strength. They did not win by military power. God struck them down. The great army fled in confusion, and the people of Judah experienced a complete victory, gathering an immense amount of plunder. The surrounding crisis turned into a great victory and peace.

There was a congregant who received news of being laid off. The first thing he did upon hearing the news was not to search for a resume template online but to quietly kneel and pray, "God, I cannot handle this situation on my own. Please help me." [Clears throat] After a few months, he confessed, "I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back, that prayer time saved me." This is the grace that is equally available to us today.

In verses 2 and 4 of the text, let us read together. "Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his laws and commands." The reason God gave peace to King Asa and the people was that they lived according to God's Word, practicing righteousness and goodness. Living according to God's Word is righteousness, and that is goodness. The peace of King Asa and the people does not end with the record in the text. It has been perfectly fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." By forgiving and cleansing all our sins, which are akin to idols, on the cross, Jesus removed the barriers between God and us and reconciled us with God. As a result, we are able to enjoy a peace that the world cannot give. In Romans 8:32, it says, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

Beloved congregation, are there those among you facing overwhelming difficulties, like a million-man army, in health, children, business, or relationships, feeling trapped and unsure of what to do? The people of King Asa and the southern kingdom of Judah were in the same situation. A million-man army was invading, and they had to fight with only 580,000 men. It was a seemingly impossible situation. However, in that desperate situation, they sought God, removed what displeased Him, and approached Him with absolute faith, practicing righteousness and goodness. As a result, their despair turned into peace. May we apply this truth to our lives and overcome the crises that surround us, overflowing with the peace that only God can give, in the name of Jesus. >> Amen. Amen.

Let us pray. May we dwell fully in God, and may the situations that make life difficult not be a problem, but rather may we live a blessed life overflowing with the peace that God gives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Let us repeat after me: "I will remove the idols that come before God." >> "I will remove the idols that come before God." >> Yes. Let us greet those next to us and say, "I will remove the idols." "I will remove the idols." Let us all stand and reflect on the message given, responding with a song of commitment and sending. [Music] [Music] In this world [Song] there are many worries [Music] I did not know [Song] >> [Music] >> My Lord Jesus will guide me [Music] soon peace [Song] will come. The grace of salvation from the Lord Jesus [Song] is delightful. [Song] I will enjoy [Song] forever. [Music] Soon peace will come. [Music] In this world [Song] there is a solid foundation [Music] for a moment [Song] I will be [Song] my Lord [Music] Jesus loves me [Music] I will be at peace. [Song] The grace of salvation from the Lord Jesus [Song] is truly joyful. [Song] I will enjoy [Song] forever. [Music] Soon peace will come. [Music] May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship, indwelling, and guidance of the Holy Spirit be with those who wish to live in the midst of seemingly impossible situations, seeking God, removing what displeases Him, and approaching Him with absolute faith, practicing righteousness and goodness, experiencing the amazing work of God where despair turns into peace, now and forevermore. Amen. [Music] [Music] >> [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] >> Lord, very much >> [Music] [Music] >> Lord [Music] [Music] [Music] Ah, but