癤풱unday, November 30th, 2003
Scripture Reading: Psalm 23:4-6

?ㅻ뒛??留먯?: ?곸썝???덈?湲띿젙
Eternal Absolute Affirmation

Now I'm going to deliver a message
titled, "Eternal Absolute Affirmation".
From birth, we are surrounded
by numerous negative influences
in our environment such as sin,
seduction, lust, greed, disease, pain,
poverty, hatred, despair, death.
When we live in these environments,
we naturally develop negative thinking
and character. It doesn't require
any effort to be a negative person.
Left alone, a person easily becomes
negative.혻 However, it requires firm
determination and sustained effort
to be a positive person. When a person
believes in Christ, becomes a child
of God, and has His Word, he can live
a life of eternal absolute affirmation.
Psalm 23 clearly shows us the way
to become absolutely affirmative.
First, it tells us that we all혻
experience the valley of the shadow
of death. In life, there is joy, vitality,
hope, dreams, and happiness,
but in death, there is sadness, lethargy,
despair, frustration, unhappiness,
and loneliness. Romans 5:12 says,
"Therefore, just as sin entered
the world through one man, and
death through sin, and in this way
death came to all men, because all
sinned." Since all men live in a world
under the influence of death,
today the world is filled with
sorrow, lethargy, despair, frustration,
misfortune, and loneliness. It says
in Ecclesiastes 2:22-23, "What does
a man get for all the toil and anxious
striving with which he labors under
the sun? All his days his work is pain
and grief; even at night his mind does
not rest. This too is meaningless."
There is not only death in our lives.
The Scripture says that we do not
only walk on a wide field and the plain,
but also through a dark valley, where
we fear, are abandoned, cannot
escape, and don't have any strength
or tactics against the devil's attack.
Today there are many people who walk
through a dark valley, having trouble
in life because of bankruptcy.
Some time ago I heard a man, who
was caught while committing a robbery,
say that he couldn't help being a robber
because his wife was pregnant;
he had nothing to eat; and he had lost
his job. While he was walking through
the valley of the shadow of death,
where he was abandoned, couldn't
escape, and didn't have any strength
or tactics, he couldn't help turning
into a robber. It is the worst, darkest
place that one can experience in life.
When faced with this situation,
people usually lose the desire to live,
and go astray or commit suicide.
Psalm 107:10-11 says, "Some sat in
darkness and the deepest gloom,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
for they had rebelled against the words
of God and despised the counsel
of the Most High." According to
a survey of public opinion last year,
one of five adults in our country
felt an urge to commit suicide.
Economic problems formed 34% of
the reasons and the other reasons
were because of troubles between
a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law,
married couples, lovers, friends,
and work. currently, about 50%
of housewives are suffering from
mental depression. Hearing that
some people commit suicide because
of a hard life or a bad school score,
70 % of our nation confessed that they
could understand how these people felt.
It is reported that a person commits
suicide every 40 seconds throughout
the world. In the advanced countries
that have good welfare facilities,
people commit suicide mostly because
of alcoholism, family troubles, and
helplessness. Every year there are about
1,300 cases of suicide in Switzerland
and 1,100 in Hongkong. In Japan,
they have been going through severe
unemployment since 1990, and now혻
around 100 people a day kill themselves,
distressed with dejection. Suicide and
mental disease is the most serious
problem in the world. Therefore, walking
through the valley of the shadow
of death is very awful and painful.
However, it is said that those who
depend on the Lord will not fear evil.
In the valley of the shadow of death,
people lose hope and are inflicted
with great harm. Concluding that it is
impossible for them to come back,
they are caught in extreme anxiety
and fear. Meanwhile, those who rely
on the Lord will not fear but overcome,
for God who is greater than death is
with them. If we clearly know and
accept the one who is greater than fear,
it will flee in seven ways though it
came in one way. It says in 1 John 4:4,
"You, dear children, are from God
and have overcome them, because
the one who is in you is greater
than the one who is in the world."
If there is a fight between a big one
and a little one, the big one will win.
Since the One who is within us is
greater than the one in the valley
of the shadow of death in the world,
He must win. John 4:18 says, "There is
no fear in love. But perfect love drives
out fear, because fear has to do
with punishment. The one who fears is
not made perfect in love." If we accept
the love of our Lord Jesus Christ
in heart and dwell under the wing
of God's grace, we will not fear evil
although we walk through the valley
of the shadow of death. Jesus said
in John 16:33, "I have told you
these things, so that in me you may
have peace. In this world you will
have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world."
Jesus who has overcome is with us.
As light overcomes darkness,
so Jesus has defeated even death.
It says in 1 John 5:5, "Who is it that
overcomes the world? Only he who
believes that Jesus is the Son of God."
If we believe that Jesus is the Son
of God, God becomes our Father;
Jesus becomes our Lord; and we who
are in Him can overcome the power
of death. Psalm 5:8 says, "Lead me,
O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies -- make
straight your way before me."
David prayed in Psalm 43:3, "Send
forth your light and your truth, let
them guide me; let them bring me
to your holy mountain, to the place
where you dwell." He also sang in
Psalm 107:14, "He brought them out
of darkness and the deepest gloom
and broke away their chains." Hence,
with a rod the Lord leads you and
rescues you when you are in a pit.
A staff is used to defeat enemies.
With the staff the Lord strikes enemies
away. Psalm 121:5-7 says, "The LORD
watches over you -- the LORD
is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night. The LORD
will keep you from all harm --
he will watch over your life."
God is the One who watches over us.
Secondly, the Scripture says, "God
prepares a table in the presence of
my enemies," Enemies are not far
from us. Jesus said, "Enemies are
in your family. Saul fought with David,
his son-in-law. David's enemy was his
father-in-law. You know, Cain fought
with his brother Abel and killed him.
A disciple Judas became an enemy
against his teacher Jesus. Judas helped
in the killing of his teacher.
There must be enemies between
nations and between countries.
If we want to live without enemies,
we have to leave this earth. As long
as we live on this earth, there will be
enemies among our family, neighbors,
relatives, and friends. That's because
the devil enters into people and
steals from, kills, and destroys them.
That's why we should not fight
against enemies with our power.
The apostle Paul said, "I do not live
any longer but Christ lives in me."
If Jesus lives in us, we are not
our own lords but Jesus is our Lord.
We are the house in which God dwells.
Since God dwells in our bodies as
our Lord, He cares for us. If we live
as His servants, He will take charge
of our lives. When people become
the owners of their houses, they have
to keep, repair, take care of them,
don't they? If they lack ability, they
can't keep, protect, repair, and care
for their houses. However, if God
dwells in us, our bodies become
His temple. If we become servants
to Him, our Lord God will protect,
keep, repair, and care for our houses
with the power of omniscience,
almightiness, omnipresence, and they
won't be broken. Hence, God our Lord
says that He will prepare a table
for us in the presence of our enemies.
Look at the table God prepared for David
in the presence of Goliath. He was
the champion of the Philistine armies.
In the sight of them, God prepared
a table, by empowering David, so that
he could cut off the head of Goliath.
This story is in 1 Samuel 17:50-51,
"So David triumphed over the Philistine
with a sling and a stone; without
a sword in his hand he struck down
the Philistine and killed him. David ran
and stood over him. He took hold
of the Philistine's sword and drew it
from the scabbard. After he killed him,
he cut off his head with the sword.
When the Philistines saw that their
hero was dead, they turned and ran."
Look at this story. God prepared
a table for David in the presence
of his enemies, the Philistines.
Since David defeated Goliath, he was
known all over Israel and God made
a way for him to become a king later.
Look at the table that God prepared
for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
He prepared a table in the furnace in
the presence of King Nebuchadnezzar.
He was a great king who had all
authority over that country. Against
the king's command, Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego didn't bow down to
an idol, did they? The king got furious
and had them thrown into the furnace
heated seven times hotter than usual,
but God prepared a table for them
in the presence of their enemies.
Daniel 3:28-30 says, "Then
Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to
the God of Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego, who has sent his angel
and rescued his servants! They trusted
in him and defied the king's command
and were willing to give up their lives
rather than serve or worship any god
except their own God." The king was
so amazed. Three men were thrown
into the blazing furnace, but four men
were dancing in it. It was said that
the fourth one looked like the Son
of God. Jesus got into that furnace.
When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
got out of the furnace, except for
the ropes with which their bodies
were tied, no hair of their heads was
singed, nor were their robes scorched.
The Lord prepared a table of a blazing
furnace in the presence of the king.
Today if we cry out to God, He shows
us great and unsearchable things and
prepares a table for us in the presence
of our enemies. Jeremiah 33:3 says,
"Call to me and I will answer you and
tell you great and unsearchable things
you do not know." We can solve
what we do know. However, God will
prepare a table in the presence of
our enemies by telling us great and
unsearchable things we do not know.
It says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, "However,
as it is written: 'No eye has seen,
no ear has heard, no mind has
conceived what God has prepared
for those who love him." The Lord
tells us what is not seen, heard,
or conceived. Since He prepares
a table in the presence of our enemies,
we will face our enemies with a table.
Without enemies, He will not prepare
a table. If an enemy comes, the Lord
prepares a table before him, feeds
His children, and strengthens them.
Moreover, He anoints His children
and exalts them. Anointing symbolizes
giving His Holy Spirit, empowering,
and exalting. Micah 7:8 says, "Do not
gloat over me, my enemy! Though I
have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit
in darkness, the LORD will be my light."
If God is with us, though we have
fallen, we will rise and though we sit
in darkness, the Lord will be our light.
Psalm 92:10-11 says, "You have
exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured upon me.
My eyes have seen the defeat of
my adversaries; my ears have heard
the rout of my wicked foes." It says
in Psalm 68:19, "Praise be to the Lord,
to God our Savior, who daily bears
our burdens." The Lord bears our
burdens every day. Psalm 30:5 says,
"For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping
may remain for a night, but rejoicing
comes in the morning." Psalm 30:11
also says, "You turned my wailing into
dancing; you removed my sackcloth
and clothed me with joy," The Lord
makes our cup overflow. Psalm 90:3
says, "You turn men back to dust,
saying, 'Return to dust, O sons of men.'"
Who will not return to dust? We all will
return to dust. Many of you who sit
here now may pass away over the next
30 years. Psalm 103:15 says,
"As for man, his days are like
grass, he flourishes like a flower of
the field." Hebrews 9:27 says, "Just
as man is destined to die once,
and after that to face judgment."
When we see leaves fallen on
the ground in fall, we are impressed.
The leaves that were very fresh and
green in summer have turned red and
yellow, and now they are blown by
the wind on the ground. Seeing them,
we can imagine our destiny in heart.
"What is your life? You are a mist
that appears for a little while and
then vanishes. Do not boast about
tomorrow, for you do not even know
what will happen tomorrow." says
the Scripture. The same is true
with our worldly houses. We may say,
"I'm the president. I'm a prime minister.
I'm a minister. I'm a chief. I'm a boss."
We boast about our positions in
the world. You can see a small crab
build his house on the sand
at the beach and say to himself,
"Now I have a house." However,
if there comes a harsh wave, it sweeps
away everything, and nothing is found.
The house built on the sand will be
broken when the winds blow and
the streams rise. Ecclesiastes 5:15,
"Naked a man comes from his
mother's womb, and as he comes,
so he departs. He takes nothing from
his labor that he can carry in his hand."
What can we take with us? We will
go without anything. Matthew 7:26-27
says, "But everyone who hears these
words of mine and does not put them
into practice is like a foolish man who
built his house on sand. The rain
came down, the streams rose, and
the winds blew and beat against that
house, and it fell with a great crash."
Our flesh will get old and sick, and
our houses in the world all will be
broken. Psalm 127:1 says, "Unless
the LORD builds the house, its builders
labor in vain. Unless the LORD
watches over the city, the watchmen
stand guard in vain." John 14:1-3
says, "Do not let your hearts be
troubled. Trust in God; trust also
in me. In my Father's house are
many rooms; if it were not so,
I would have told you. I am going
there to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come back and take you
to be with me that you also may be
where I am." We will be with Jesus
forever. Where Jesus is with us,
there is heaven, where we will be
overflowing with the meaning, value,
glory, peace, and joy of life.
On thinking of dwelling in the house
of the Lord with Jesus forever,
we are very excited, aren't we?
What will take place in the house
of the Lord? The Bible tells us just
a little about that in Revelation 21:1-7,
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new
earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away, and there was
no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City,
the new Jerusalem, coming down
out of heaven from God, prepared
as a bride beautifully dressed for
her husband. And I heard a loud voice
from the throne saying, "Now
the dwelling of God is with men, and
he will live with them. They will be
his people, and God himself will be
with them and be their God. He will
wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or
mourning or crying or pain, for the old
order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne
said, "I am making everything new!"
Then he said, "Write this down,
for these words are trustworthy
and true." He said to me: "It is done.
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the Beginning and the End. To him
who is thirsty I will give to drink
without cost from the spring of
the water of life. He who overcomes
will inherit all this, and I will be
his God and he will be my son."
This is the house of the Lord and
of our God. It has been built beautifully
by Jesus for 2,000 years. There is
a beautiful land over the river!
We will get there by faith. If the Lord
rings a golden bell, we will leave
this land of tears, anxiety, pain, and
trouble for the house of the Father.
What a tremendous hope it is!
No matter how wicked this world is
and how weak we are, the Lord is
with us, protects us with His rod
and staff in the valley of the shadow
of death, fights for us against enemies,
and prepares a table before them
to fill us with joy. If death comes,
He will lead us to the Father's house.
Therefore, any absolute despair or
negative power before the Lord will
disappear like darkness before the light
and only eternal affirmation will remain
in us. We will have only the light
without darkness, only life without
death, and only the Lord, our Shepherd
without loneliness. We don't have
negativity, but only affirmation whether
we die or live. If God is with you,
any negative power will flee in seven
ways though it has come in one way.


Dear holy God our Father of great love!
We are so impressed with such amazing
grace and love given to us.
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not
be in want. He makes me lie down in
green pastures, he leads me beside
quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love
will follow me all the days of my life, and
I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
Dear Father, thank You for this Word of
revelation. Please help us to keep this Word
in mind, accept and serve Jesus Christ
and You as our Lord in heart, and live
positive lives filled with joy and hope.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.