Good Children
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February 08, 2009 |
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 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
God's will for us is to spread His Word and manifestations of His power to countless souls around the world in order to lead them back to God. Accomplishing this requires satisfaction of one condition: we must become God's good children. Christians who truly love God must throw out sin and evil from their hearts and this is the desire God has of Christians around the globe.
1.Importance of Good Children
When Manmin Central Church was founded in July 1982, all I had at the time was 7,000 Won (about $7). At the Founding Service in a sanctuary that was about 36 square foot in area with 9 adults and 4 children on hand, there was no podium, microphone, a choir, or anything else that we needed. Yet, each of us possessed spiritual faith by which we believed in the Almighty God and also the dream and the vision He had given us. We had the hope of blanketing the world, as the water covers the sea, the Providence of salvation by the cross, and the vision to build the most beautiful Grand Sanctuary that would reveal the glory of God the Creator to the whole world.
As time passed, our assurance of that vision realized became all the more solidified and God has shown us the way to accomplish it. Over time, God has given more than two million members in approximately 8,000 branch churches and also precious fruit in Manmin TV and Global Christian Network (GCN) for broadcasting ministry. Even in places where we have yet to visit, countless people have already heard the gospel of sanctification and experienced the manifestations of God's power. In such lands as Islamic and Hindu nations where the preaching of the Gospel is difficult, in Europe where people are thirsty for the works of the Holy Spirit, in Africa where needs for the rains of grace is dire, and in Israel that is the remotest part of the earth, a myriad of people have experienced the works of our God and are testifying to them today. Yet, we are not satisfied and we will continue to expand our territory.
Pastors and church workers visiting Manmin often pose following questions: "How can we grow our churches this big?" "How can we manifest God's power?" "How do we receive blessings both in spirit and in flesh?"
The answer is simple.
"You must become God's good children," I tell them.
Whenever good children come forth in this world, God is exceedingly pleased. When such children ask Him for anything, God answers them and blesses them in abundance in spirit and in flesh. Expanding God's kingdom can be accomplished only by His good children. This is because God's kingdom is accomplished not by the means or the wisdom of this world but by spiritual authority and strength. Therefore, when pastors, church workers, and layman brothers and sisters become God's good children, they will receive His power and the growth of a church will be an easy task.
2.Good Children with whom God is Pleased
a.People with No Fleshly Thoughts
Romans 8:6-7 tell us, "For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so."
"Fleshly thoughts" refer to evil thoughts and all thoughts that are not of the truth. Examples of fleshly thoughts are harboring jealousy towards your brother and wishing him ill or after growing weary and discouraged, the willingness to abandon your God-given duty, thinking that someone else will do a better job than you can. Judging, condemning, and gossiping of others and the inability to see others do well and prosper are all examples of fleshly thoughts.
Wavering of one's faith that causes him to doubt, "Will God really do His work?" is also a fleshly thought. There is no wavering in the faith of people who harbor spiritual thoughts. Once they come to believe in God, that heart endures. When faced with difficulties or when feeling inadequate or weak, such believers cling to God and seek His strength all the more.
Throughout the history of Manmin Central Church, there have been times of immense afflictions. However, I never grew or became discouraged or doubted God; I only harbored thoughts and confessions of faith to God to the end. According to the measure of that faith, God drove away all afflictions and ended up giving me even greater blessings.
b.People Causing Others to Feel at Ease
Good children with whom God is pleased at all times treat others with a generous and magnanimous heart, with a good and meek heart, and are considerate of the others' circumstances and hearts. This is the heart of the Lord. As they remember how Our Lord dealt with people whose paths crossed His, believers' hearts will be moved. When they think of people whose hearts have taken after the Lord's, their hearts will be filled with warmth and joy.
When we take after the Lord, our good deeds will serve and compel people to greatly magnify God (Matthew 5:16). As it had been the case with the early churches, the number of people reaching salvation will multiply day by day. The reason Manmin Central Church could experience exponential growth was because each member made every effort to take after the Lord.
c.People Seeking Others' Interests
Most people live each day, only seeking their own interests and benefits. When a feat is achieved, such individuals credit themselves; when things go wrong, they are certain that others are to blame. However, God's children seek the benefits and interests of others first and live for others. For that reason, God personally seeks the interests of His children.
From the founding of Manmin, I first gave glory to God and thanked church workers when things went well. In a time of crisis, I claimed responsibility and repented in tears for not having taught and taken a better care of workers and church members. I remained thankful even when I could not rest or eat for the Gospel of the Lord and for other souls. Even when I was wrongfully afflicted and forced to make sacrifices, I chose to rejoice. Even when Manmin's own finances were not in a good shape early on, I provided assistances to churches that had recently been founded and cooperated in events held or supported by Korea's Christian circle. In order to help all people experience God's grace and bring to salvation dying souls, I made every effort to achieve world mission with offerings and devotion.
Manmin Central Church strove to accomplish God's will. Even in the Main Sanctuary, thousands of people gathered and called out to God in prayer three hours every night. We prayed to become His good children and for 6.7 billion people in the world, and spread the Gospel in season and out of season. As we dedicated ourselves so, God was with us, nurtured the church, and allowed it to bear abundant fruit.
The church that began with 13 members has today become an enormous congregation consisting of more than 8,000 branch churches. God has also established such affiliates as the Prayer Center, Kindergarten, a publishing company, a seminary, an international seminary, and Manmin TV.
More than anything else, the scale and magnitude of manifestations of God's power have increased over time. From the founding, the blind have opened their eyes, the deaf and the mute begun to hear and speak, and the crippled stood up from wheelchairs. Noticeably from 2000 to 2006, 12 crusades have taken place throughout the world. At these crusades, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and even millions of people gathered. Manifestations of God's power was the same at the Marina Beach in Chennai, India, where a total of 3 million people came together for the Gospel and at Madison Square Garden, the heart of New York City. Whether it was Europe, Asia, Africa, or the Americas that we visited, God made sure to set ablaze those cities and nations by the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Such works of God's power have been methodically confirmed by medicine and science through the World Christian Doctors Network (WCDN). On top of that, the news of our ministry has reached all corners of the globe. GCN has been especially playing a big role; when viewers watch sermon programs and receive prayer, they are healed of terminal and incurable diseases and receive solutions to a variety of problems in life.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we have run thus far without rest for the glory of God. Yet, what we are to accomplish in the days ahead is even greater. To this end, we are in need of even a greater number of workers. Therefore, may each of you become a good child of God and not only accomplish great things on the earth but also enjoy the glory and rewards in the gleaming heaven, in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ I pray!
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