17, March, 2023, Friday.
The Parable of the Fig Tree(Matthew 21:18~22)
Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the tree withered(19).
Hymn #515 Lift Your Eyes and Look to Heaven
The reason why you have so many difficulties is because God loves you. God has called you to the correct side so that you won't be on the side of destruction. In today's Scriptures, Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree. However, the disciples were puzzled because it wasn't yet the season to bear fruit. The fig tree symbolized Israel. The withering of the fig tree meant that Israel was destroyed. Israel suffered because of disasters that came from seven nations. In addition, God sent the nation of Israel and the Remnants to powerful nations that worshiped idols. You must hold onto the mystery of God that's hidden within and believe. Your faith must be enough to move mountains into the sea. Joseph; Daniel; his three friends; the Early Church; Martin Luther; and those who held onto that mystery in the midst of disasters moved mountains with their faith.
1. God's Mystery That Was Testified through All Past Disasters
Through disasters, Israel was deceived; lost hold of the Gospel; and entered curses. Those who changed that were the 7 Remnants. Furthermore, the ones who possessed this mystery and changed these fields of death and disasters were the people of Hebrews 11. God allows difficulties so that everything within disasters can be changed by utilizing this mystery.
2. Through God's Mystery That's Found within Disasters, Today's Urgent Situations Are Resolved
The teachers of the law; the chief priests; the Sadducees; the Pharisees; the members of Herod's party; the many people who were suffering from various difficulties; and the prophets were fighting fiercely when they were colonized. However, God said that He would destroy Israel and start over. However, Jesus said not to be afraid because no matter what difficulties arose, they would be the beginning, and a different end existed(Matthew 24:1~14).
3. Through Israel Which Had Scattered, the Fulfillment of the Mystery of World Evangelization
In AD 70, Jerusalem was destroyed by Rome. Afterward, the Jewish people were scattered to dozens of nations within Europe and were massacred. However, through those who possessed this mystery, world evangelization rapidly took place.
By realizing the Gospel, all disasters will become paths. If they don't, they'll become scars. However, for those who possess the Gospel, the disasters and problems that they undergo contain God's mystery. That's why they mustn't be deceived.
[Covenantal Prayer] Dear God, please help me find the mystery that's inside of disasters. May I firmly grab hold of the covenant to move mountains. In Jesus Christ's name, I pray. Amen.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship, 1st Service / 15, May, 2022.