This article categorized the 31 sermons from the first half of the year into the four sections above. This categorization was for the sake of convenience only; each and every one actually contains all four messages in a perfect, complete structure. Even just one of these sermons is worthy enough to become our lifetime precept.
When the messages are proclaimed with great focus on the “Jubilee” and “Sabbath” that symbolize heaven, the saints should instinctively know it: the time is at hand. The first half of 2014 was a time of serious realization of the meaning and importance of Jubilee and Sabbath. We now understand that the number “17”?a combination of full number, the heavenly number, and the earthly number?is used exquisitely in the chronologies of the Redemptive History. Every year and date has been fulfilled according to God’s plan without an inch of error, and all will continue to progress this way.
It is the darkest just before the break of dawn. Now, the Holy Spirit, man himself, and whole creation are deeply groaning because of the terrible sin of man. At the same time, however, the Lord is with us and shining like the sun at noon; now is the twelfth hour of the day when we must work fervently and faithfully to evangelize.
When saints have an awareness of time, they will know how a saint should live out the last days. This year is the sabbatical year during which not even one second should be wasted, and the year we received the proclamation of jubilee through the Word. We must now make the most of time by finding lost opportunities and redeeming those lost hours with a price. It is time to learn from Lot, who was once a righteous person who was brokenhearted from looking at the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, but succumbed to sexual depravity in the end. We must fearfully live out the life of godliness. Also, with an emphasis on filial duties among the Ten Commandments, it is time to become mature by performing filial duties to our physical parents, so that out filial piety can reach all the way to our Father God.
As the end draws near, Satan’s challenge becomes more powerful. However, with faith of nakedness like that of Job, saints must be determined not to be attached to this perishing world and must be bold to say, “The time has come, and I am not afraid.” Saints will not fear hardship when they live the life of thanksgiving in all circumstances, the life of focused prayer, and the life in the redemptive history. Although suffering is an inevitable fate in human life, they will turn into happiness if there is only hope, faith, and thanksgiving. It is because the “terror” that is only in God will protect the saints.
Victory and blessings are predestined for saints. The blessings that are thousand and ten thousand-times greater than now are promised to the saints in the covenant march towards Canaan. These blessings certainly include material wealth as well. However, the greatest and the best blessing of all is the blessings of evangelism. It is because we are the priests of the gospel. The March 19th sermon is like an epic poem that portrays God’s universal plan for salvation and its fulfillment.
By Ho, Joon-seok