August 11, 2024 - The Church Covenant to Enjoy Eternally (Isaiah 61:8-9)

The Church Covenant to Enjoy Eternally (Isaiah 61:8-9)

Rev. Myung-Sin Choi

“8 For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

Introduction

I am sure you have seen the opening ceremony for the Olympics. I am not sure what you think of this. What is absolute is that this world is being ruled by the Freemasons and the 3 organizations. They opened the opening ceremony like this when the whole world was watching. We can see the power and influence of the 3 organizations through this opening ceremony. I am sure that the president of France, president Emmanuel Macron, knew what he was doing. These world leaders know what is going on and what they are doing will influence the world and children of this world. I am sure they are doing all of this because they have great influence and power in this world. Their goal is destruction and to destroy the children of the world. This is openly challenging against God and Christians. At this time, what must we do who have the gospel? How should we approach the world? We must go out with the accurate answer. God has given us an important covenant today through this sermon. No matter what happens in this world, God’s covenant will absolutely be fulfilled. We must see how God will fulfill His covenant through us. What is the eternal covenant that God has given to us? 

1. The Eternal Covenant

1) God of Justice

Verse 8 - Last week, we spoke about the great blessings that God has given to His priests. Today’s Biblical Scripture speaks about how God is a God who loves justice. If you look in history, when the Israelites were worshiping idols, they committed sin to God by this. What is important is that even though they were considered people of God and chosen people of God, God still brought His justice and judgment among His people when they committed sin by worshiping idols. But who did God use to bring justice to His people? God used Assyria and other nations to enslave them. 

Isaiah 10:5 “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!” - This was how God judged Israel by using Assyria and Babylon. But Assyria and Babylon ended up doing something strange. Assyria bought Israel as slaves and made them worship other idols. Also, Babylon also enslaved Israel and made them fall into idolatry. As you know Daniel’s three friends went into the furnace of fire when they refused to worship idols. God was so furious when Babylon and Assyria did all of this. 

Isaiah 47:5 “Sit in silence, go into darkness, queen city of the Babylonians; no more will you be called queen of kingdoms.” - God was so furious here. If you look in history here, we can see that God did not allow these nations to become powerful nations because of their idolatry. Even though Israel committed sin against God through idolatry, God still used the remnants to fulfill His covenant. This was because there was God’s covenant that absolutely needed to be fulfilled. No matter what, God will absolutely fulfill His covenant. We must hold onto this. This was why Jesus Christ died on the cross, to fulfill God’s covenant. God’s covenant was to restore the church. 

2) The Eternal Covenant

The reason why God restored Israel is seen in today’s Scripture readings. This was all because of Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

Genesis 22:13 “Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.”- This was when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. That was when Abraham told Isaac to the Mount of Moriah and when he was about to kill Isaac, God stopped Abraham at that moment. When Abraham stopped at that moment, God prepared a ram as a replacement of Isaac as a blood sacrifice. Why did God tell Abraham to sacrifice Isaac? It says in the Bible that God wanted to test the faith of Abraham. There may be some truth in that but we must see another reason here. Why did God try to kill Isaac and then save him? The reason is so that we can see the purpose of the blood of the covenant of Jesus Christ. What is the purpose of the covenant? It was the blood of Jesus Christ and to fulfill the covenant of God. 

Ephesians 1:4 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.” - The reason why God called was so that we can become holy and blameless before Him. With what method? Through the blood of Jesus Christ. We may think that this was the purpose of salvation for God’s people but there is another reason as well. 

Matthew 16:16, 18 “Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” - We can see how much the church has pleased God. God’s plan was to raise up the church. This was why God fulfilled everything. 

Matthew 16:16 - When we read this scripture, we can acknowledge and believe in Jesus Christ, and this is how we are saved. 

But if we look in Matthew 16:18 - How was God’s righteous plan fulfilled? It was through the church. 

1 Corinthians 1:2 “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours.” - What is the church? It is a place where the people of God are sanctified. Also, the people sanctified in Christ and people who call on the name of Jesus Christ gather at the church. This was Paul explaining what a church was. 

2. The Eternal Temple

1) The Mystery of the Church

Verse 9 - How did the priests live? They received the covenant to relay the gospel to the rest of the world through the church. 

1 Corinthians 3:11 “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” - The foundation of the church is the confession that Jesus is the Christ. Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church. Any one who confesses that Jesus is the Christ can gather at the church and is a church. Whether it be individuals, church, or denomination, you can be anything as long as you have the foundation of Jesus Christ. If you are a church or denomination that does not confess that Jesus is the Christ, then you are not a true church. When you have this foundation of Jesus Christ, then you will receive the power of the heavenly throne. 

Acts 20:28 “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.” - What is a church? It was made by the blood of Jesus Christ. God established the church through His own blood. Then, all of the people of God, how should we live? As individuals, church, or denomination of God, we must save other people in the gospel and save the church.  

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” - We are all priests of God so we must save and protect the church. This is our role and responsibility. For this reason, this is why God has given us our talents, His grace, and blessings. Then, all of our fruits will be revealed when we come before God on the last days. 

1 Corinthians 3:14-15 - With the talent that God has given to us, we need to give glory to God. Then, we can bear great fruits. But our fruits can also be used to make us suffer. That means that you use your talents and what God has given to you for your own needs and to destroy others. Then, that will all be burned in the end and none of them will bear great fruits. If you receive salvation, then you can be part of the church and foundation of Christ. As a church, what have you done for God? Sometimes, I have some fear when I think about God. I feel like I have done nothing for God. This is my honest opinion. What will I show God when I go before Him in the end. If God asks me when I have done for Him, I don’t know what I will say. For the rest of our lives, we must live a life where we can give glory and praise to God. What kind of thoughts do you have about this? Is there anything that you feel proud that you have done for God? 

If you look at today’s Biblical Scripture in verse 9 - When we go before God in the end days, may we become people of God who can be acknowledged by God. These are the fruits that we must bear. This is what it means to live as an evangelist. May God be glorified through you. 

2) The Eternal Church

Hold onto 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” - No matter what people say, you are a temple of God. You are a church of God. We are all a church of God. Why is that? It is because the Holy Spirit is inside of us. We receive the right to receive God’s blessings. 

1 Kings 6:7 “In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.” - This is important. This means that when King Solomon built the temple of God, when he built it, he bought the stones together at the quarry. Which means that none of the temple of God was built inside the temple. This means that outside the temple, is the life you are living right now. The labor and fruits that you are bearing. But when you become a temple of God, you can’t build and bear your fruits anymore. That means while you are living your life right now on this earth, this is the only opportunity where you can bear God’s fruits. It is difficult to build God’s temple but when we become the finalized temple of God with great fruits, then God will be glorified through you. 

Ephesians 2:20-21 “Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.” - The faith of the apostles and prophets, we have received their fruits and foundation of faith. Jesus Christ stood as the cornerstone for the temple. He is the foundation of the temple and we are part of this temple. God is raising us up like each piece of the temple of God. We are built up little by little with faith. What is more astounding is seen in Revelation 21:2, 9-10, 14 “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” - When Jesus Christ comes for His second coming, the entire new city of Jerusalem will come down from heaven. When God sees His lambs, He is telling us to come. 

Revelation 21:10 - This is astounding. God promised to show us the bride. The bride was the new city of Jerusalem. 

Revelation 21:14 - This is amazing. We have not read this yet but it was written about the 12 tribes and the names of apostles were written. Who does this mean? The people of God. This means that our names will be written on the temple of God. The new temple that will come down from heaven will shine brightly. All of our fruits and labor that we bore on earth will shine brightly in the last days. It will be like stars in the night sky. I hope that you can see many fruits that you have borne on this earth. May you receive great blessings and give great glory to God. If that is so, how should we live our walk of faith? 

3. The Concern That We Must Have

1) Paul's concern

2 Corinthians 7:10 “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” - Our concern should be towards the salvation movement that brings no regret. This is not legalism. We must live a righteous life. We must live a life where we can shine the light of salvation. We must live a life where we shine the light of the gospel to the world. We saw the video in the introduction. The 3 organizations are controlling the world and what they are doing is making the world fall more into sin. What is sin? Sin is loving yourself. Making yourself your own master is committing sin. Loving yourself and making yourself your own master is making you fall into sin and making you fall into corruption. From here, we must live a life of repentance and righteousness. What is our concern? 

2) The concern that we must have

Ephesians 6:10-11, 18 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” - We saw this in the messages but we must gain power. That is why we must wear the armor of God. This means that we must hold onto the peace of the gospel, shield of faith, and sword of God’s word. If we wear the armor of God, we will be victorious. 

Ephesians 6:18 - Always pray inside the Holy Spirit. Enter into 24 hour prayer. Then, we can experience 25 hours. Then, we can find God’s fruit of masterpiece. And, God will grant us the fruit to shine His light of glory. 

Conclusion

Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” - For God, He knows all of our hard work and everything that we do. God has given us His mission and talent. May we do everything for the sake of God’s glory and to bear great fruit for God. God absolutely said that God will reward you according to your works. May you receive great blessings.