Listening is the only way I spend my time, Amen. Shall we look at the person next to us and bless them? Hang in there, the Lord is with you. I don't know how you are living your life right now, but I’ve been feeling a bit scared about driving lately. I've reduced my driving quite a bit due to some hurtful experiences. There were a few mistakes on my part, but while driving, there are often uncomfortable situations. During those times, I find myself getting angry and facing aggressive drivers, which makes me question if it’s really worth getting so upset. It seems like many people have a lot of anger inside them, and they also feel a sense of alienation and loneliness. Moreover, there seems to be a lot of anxiety as well. Some people do seem to be quite angry. This kind of behavior can be seen as excessive in a way.

우리가 살고 있는 시대는 마음이 불안하고 정신적으로도 불안정한 상태입니다. 우리가 이해할 수 없는 점은, 가장 발전한 과학과 기술이 있음에도 불구하고, 우리는 절대 빈곤이 없는 정말 풍요로운 세상에 살고 있다는 것입니다. 그럼에도 불구하고 정신 건강은 너무나도 나빠지고 있습니다. 왜 이런 일이 벌어졌을까요? 그 원인이 무엇이라고 생각하시나요? 왜 우리는 자꾸 피폐해져 가는 걸까요? 비슷한 현상을 바울은 아테네에서 발견했습니다. 아테네는 2천 년 전에는 세상의 중심이었고, 지금도 아테네는 어마어마한 도시입니다. 모든 철학과 사상은 소크라테스의 영향을 받았다고 할 정도로, 플라톤과 아리스토텔레스의 도시입니다. 당시에는 비교할 수 없는 최고의 도시였던 것입니다.

We are entering Athens. As you read, it shows how Paul is evangelizing in Athens this week and next week. However, Paul discovered something remarkable there. He found that all the misfortunes people face stem from feelings of alienation, anxiety, and loneliness. What he realized is that before considering the environment, the structure of the city, or its institutions, it is the souls and minds of the people that are governed by a certain ideology. In other words, humanism, which bases everything on humans as the standard and source, influences all thoughts and reasoning. This means that humanity becomes the origin. But to be more precise, it is the self that becomes the origin; my ego becomes the center. Thus, humanism is, in fact, a source of great comfort, inspiration, and tears for us. Humanism is truly...

It moves us and touches our hearts. However, this humanism continues to create unhealthy states for us as people. That is what Paul discovered. Today's topic is that Paul was angry; he fought and preached the gospel. In our language, we might say spirit or mind. This is the center of the spirit. We refer to it as spirit, and sometimes as soul. Humans may appear to move with their bodies, but before the body moves, there is another invisible space within—this is what we call the mind. It can also be expressed as the heart. Within this concept of heart and mind, there is a master; there is a lord. It is supported by that lord. However, humanism casts uncertainty over this lordship.

Due to the blind spots of humanism, as we elevate humanity, we find ourselves as anxious beings. How about you, everyone? Is your character solid, sturdy, and pure enough to support you? In reality, it often isn't. Humans tend to make themselves the standard, using their own self as the foundation to uphold their minds. This leads them to think, judge, and make decisions based on their own criteria. However, this structure of humanism has a fundamental problem. What is it? It's that this foundation, which is me, is not healthy. It is not wise. So, the moment that an unhealthy, unwise, and incapable self becomes the foundation of my mind, my mental state becomes unstable, and I lose control. There is an old saying: even if you're bitten by a tiger, if you can just keep your wits about you, you can survive.

Like this, the most important thing for humans is the mind. And what kind of mind is it? Is the mind gone, or has it come back? Has the mind regained its clarity? The soul is fully realized based on who is asserting and supporting that mind. Is there a basis for this? If there is, is it me, or is it another god, or is it an absolute being? This is what today's topic is about. Paul was angry about this issue. Paul did not see himself as being destroyed or held back; rather, he saw a world where people's minds were completely broken. Scholars like Epicurus, or those with their imaginations and logical reasoning, created things based on their eloquence. But it always comes back to the same point: it revolves around human-centeredness. While discussing this structure, one maintains inner peace, seeks pleasure, and gains wisdom.

If one manages oneself well to achieve results, the mind can be filled, and one can bear fruit, maintain calmness, and enjoy happiness. Those who transformed this imagination into a science, articulated it into language, and formed a community were the Jewish legalists, the Epicureans, and the Stoics. Their language, logic, and imagination stimulated people, leading to the belief that humanity must be at the center, and even God must exist for the sake of humanity, thus giving birth to human-centered humanism. This ideology and its writings ultimately created a legacy that shaped Greece, and later Rome, leading to the Westernization of the entire world. So now, humanity has never excluded God, but it has never placed God on the throne at the center of the human spirit.

Humanity has now embraced modernism, and the phrase God is dead, as Nietzsche said, does not reject the existence of God but rather declares that God is an unnecessary presence that should not intervene in human affairs. As a result of this declaration, all of humanity has rapidly chosen a mindset devoid of divine intervention—a human existence without God. This philosophy has permeated education, politics, economics, and culture, leading to a society where God's intervention and existence can no longer be found anywhere. 

So, what is the reason Paul diverged from this perspective? In this state, where God is excluded from the mind and from the city and civilization, does this lead to greater human happiness? Or is it the case that when God enters into our minds, solidifying our core, and when God is present in our homes and within the city and civilization, that is what truly makes us happier? Paul fundamentally disagrees with the notion that humanism can lead to absolute human fulfillment.

He has decided that he cannot make anyone happy. The religious form of humanism he chose is legalism. Legalism posits that if you follow the law, you will definitely be saved and you can reach the desired state of elevation. It is a principle of causality: if you meet the conditions well, the results will come. This control over results through the acts of the law is about salvation. Paul, who was the highest scholar of the law as a Pharisee, realized that while it is theoretically possible, in reality, no one can keep the law. Therefore, he understood that the salvation and happiness he had imagined and hoped for could not actually occur. He recognized human limitations, contradictions, ignorance, and incompetence. Furthermore, as Paul observes in today's text, he sees how humanity, devoid of the divine, can become so impoverished by the many thoughts and cultures of humanism.

He clearly understood how much one can shake and how much one can be shaken, and that is why he became angry with those who teach humanism. I bless all of you, our beloved saints of the Seti Church, that you may gain clear wisdom and knowledge about this matter. So, what is humanism? It is not a difficult topic. The word human implies that humans are the masters. In other words, humans become the center of everything; the beginning, the process, and the result all revolve around humans. It is human-centered. There is no divine element in it. Humans are considered the highest value. However, if we look closely, this human is precisely me. So, what does this teach us? Today’s text reveals the struggles Paul faced, and these themes will emerge as we continue. Modern society is...

They say we are in an age of uncertainty. Have you heard that phrase too many times? It’s because we chose humanism over uncertainty. Life is certain. All valuable outcomes in human existence occur only when people have conviction and belief. Do you think a mother believes that her child will not be born after nine months? A mother is certain; it is not uncertain. Is there a farmer who sows seeds with the thought that he might not reap a harvest? No farmer sows seeds with uncertainty. Farmers sow seeds with conviction. In our daily lives, we also start each day with certainty. Those people create fruitful outcomes. If we let humanity drift like a shipwreck, uncertain and directionless, it will lead us to a meaningless life.

You're allowing it, right? That humanism continues to think and think about the end, and that end is always uncertain. I have to decide whether to marry that woman or not. If I keep centering on myself as a human, what does that mean? I don't know. I have to marry that woman. So, where are we going? Let's go see a fortune teller. So, the end of humanism leads to idolatry. Instead of doing nothing, let's at least consult a fortune teller again. Humanism faces the uncertainty of being human, and then, to overcome that uncertainty, it resorts to idolatry. It enters into shamanistic beliefs. Those shamanistic beliefs promise peace and prosperity to those people, but if the outcome of that shamanistic faith is peace and prosperity, then everyone would be rich. Right now, we are being deceived by humanism. Paul hated that because behind it is the power of darkness, the devil.

The intent of the devil is to exclude God through lies and rebellion, disregarding Him. Therefore, I encourage you, my fellow believers, to respect, love, and serve humanity, as this is the mission that the Lord has given us. However, we must never become the masters of our own minds, nor do we have the ability or purity or wisdom to do so. Let us consider the battle that took place in the greatest city of Athens during that time. I will explain this by looking at verse 6 in our original notes. First, Paul was indignant; it was his heart. Paul was waiting for his companions in Athens, and while he was waiting, he became angry. Paul was upset because he saw that the entire city of Athens was filled with idols.

You see, we are filled with idols. When you think of this, you might assume it indicates a strong sense of religion, but in reality, it reflects humanism. Ultimately, all the gods of Greco-Roman culture exist for humans, and all religions exist for humans. We perform ancestral rites for the wealth of humans, and we do everything for the abundance of human reality. In the end, it is all about humans. What appears to be filled with idols is, on the surface, idolatry, and humanism is the ultimate form of idolatry. Before that, there was uncertainty; those people worship idols because they face uncertainty. Humanism confronts us with uncertainty. Paul was angry. Let's take a look at verse 17. So, what does he do? He begins to argue. Here, in Athens, he starts a very deep and profound debate, addressing how humanism is wrong and how idolatry is...

He became very angry and started a discussion about the wrongdoings. At the synagogue, he debated with religious people, especially Jews and devout individuals filled with religious fervor. The author pointed out that many people there could easily deceive the scales for their own benefit and lie without hesitation, living in a culture where such behavior was normalized. They were immersed in a world of falsehood, hypocrisy, and humanistic ideologies that had been created. He began to argue with the people he encountered daily, emphasizing that this way of living was unacceptable. He developed a significant awareness of the problems posed by humanism and began to fight against it. However, a greater conflict arose, which is mentioned in verse 18. Let's take a look at verse 18, where the people of Ephesus are discussed.

There were philosophers, and there was a debate with them. This means that the arguments were intense; they fought fiercely. At that time, Epicureanism dominated Athens. We commonly refer to it as Epicurus. The Stoics are also mentioned here, which refers to the Stoic school. To briefly explain, Epicureanism is not different from other schools in various ways, but the most important aspect is this: it is a materialistic philosophy that holds the belief that humans are composed of atoms. They thought that there is no boundary between visible and invisible substances through these atoms and molecules. Therefore, their ultimate goal was to mobilize all of this.

Inner peace is important, so I believe it is crucial for humans to continuously maintain this peace. This peace is true pleasure. Epicurus' school is called hedonism, but the hedonism here is not about satisfying my desires like a libertine. The pleasure referred to here is the belief that I can maintain a state—physically, realistically, environmentally, and mentally—where I can keep my inner peace, regardless of the circumstances I face. Therefore, I dressed differently and comfortably, and I always think about this while relaxing my body and shoulders. When you look at Epicurean images, they always appear relaxed. Nowadays, it feels like what you might call brain breathing. That's what it is: being able to maintain my inner peace.

They imagined that there was a state of being and then they made it logical. They taught it through eloquence, and that teaching was quite persuasive, leading Greek philosophy for 400 years before it disappeared. Why? Because it is impossible to maintain tranquility. They had a cause that claimed the impossible could be made possible, and they created a community through their imagination, logic, and leadership, sustaining it for 400 years. However, people realized that it was impossible to maintain tranquility. At least, that's what I would say. I'm not trying to belittle things like brain breathing; in fact, I somewhat want to belittle it. Why? Because there is someone here who is extraordinarily high-ranking, someone who was involved with Amorepacific, and I have nurtured their children. It's quite shocking. The relationship between that couple is truly shocking, and the individual's life with their children absolutely does not maintain tranquility.

I have clearly seen that we cannot maintain joy or pleasure. I think at this time that our human imagination continuously evolves us; it is incredibly important. However, there is a clear distinction between what can be done and what cannot be done. There are people who incite others to believe that everything can be done. They all changed their clothes, originally wearing very thick leather belts, but due to Epicurean philosophy, they all switched to strings, needing to be comfortable. So, to maintain comfort, I selected food that preserved my peace of mind and created a good environment, even dressing appropriately. I was taught how to speak and manage finances in that garden, in that pavilion. However, they could not maintain their peace. What about Stoicism? There is pantheism in Stoicism; this is...

I can talk about this, but there are various claims. I believe that there is a god who created the entire universe, and that god's energy is filled throughout the universe. Because that god's energy and wisdom are abundant in the universe, it teaches that through alignment with that god and harmony with nature, we can access the energy and wisdom present in the universe. With that imagination, even now, if you look in Washington, D.C., you will see the triangle on the American dollar. That symbol represents the builders, which is related to the Freemasons. Thank you, I can't see the text well because I've broken my glasses. I have only this magnifying glass, and I can't see anything right now. But anyway, I’m not particularly interested in the Freemasons, yet the pyramid and the eye drawn on the New U.S. dollar are notable, right?

Everyone, we design Washington and Sydney, and it's an incredible group. What do you think the Freemasons do? I showed you pictures and videos of it back then, right? In Washington, D.C., there is their temple. We went there, and our brothers and sisters also went together to see it. How was it? On the altar, there are the Quran, the Torah, and the New Testament, among other books, placed on the table. The wisdom of the universe has come to each religion and philosopher, and if we can receive the energy and wisdom that comes from that, we can lead the world. We are the ones who create stones, build structures, and make cities, and that is why we call ourselves Freemasons. These people currently believe that this energy and the wisdom of the universe can manifest through certain actions.

There are those who believe that salvation can be obtained through certain actions. These individuals are akin to the Stoics, embodying a kind of pantheism. In other words, the legalism that existed in the first century, such as Epicureanism or legalistic Judaism, still exists in modern society. Even today, within the church, there are those who preach legalism, saying that if you act in accordance with the law of cause and effect, you will achieve salvation, and if you do good deeds, you will receive blessings. While there is some truth to this, people are easily deceived. We must ask ourselves: can we truly perform actions worthy enough to attain salvation? Are we pure enough to achieve such a state? Paul himself understood that it is impossible for us to maintain that level of moral purity and existential integrity. Among the Pharisees of the law, he states in Romans that there is no righteousness in the world, not even one. We, as human beings, cannot attain salvation.

The only true salvation that exists in this world is the salvation of Jesus Christ. That is why he broke away from the Pharisees. They seemed to have the imagination, strength, eloquence, and systems in place that would make it seem like they were right, but in reality, what they proposed did not come to fruition. That is not the truth. Paul had already experienced those processes. He had gone through the law and had encountered the claims of the Epicureans and Stoics. After going through all that, he saw how people made a living from it, how they gained power and how thinkers and philosophers manipulated religion to serve the powerful, all while profiting from money and authority. This was disgusting to him; it made him angry. People were completely unaware, believing that what those individuals said was true, investing their lives in that imagination, wasting their lives, and ultimately facing uncertainty.

Impossibility, impossibility of salvation, and in the end, what we gain is uncertainty. Everyone, if humans keep pondering, they become uncertain. Should I marry that woman or not? The more you think about it, the more uncertain it will be. Paul was serious; he took life seriously because we only have one life. Who is the true human? How can humans be saved? Dear believers, if you came here to practice your religion, you have come to the wrong place. I am serious. I want to discuss with you what true humanity should pursue and where we should go in this one life we have, just as Paul did. That’s why I sometimes get angry. Why do so many people risk their lives based on the imagination of others? How can they speak of ideologies they themselves cannot live by? Paul was angry and fought against them, but they were completely...

They had power, and because they had tremendous strength, they looked down on Paul, a mere traveler from a foreign land. What did they say? They said, What is this man talking about? What is he trying to say? They approached it like this. What is a talker? This is related to the concept of a seed picker. So, if a seed picker, without any deep knowledge, sees a bird in a plaza eating seeds, what do they do? They just spit it out and, as if they understood everything from a movie, they talk about it as if they know the truth. They speak about life as if they have deeply researched it, but in reality, it’s not their story. They talk about it as if it were their own, and this is what we call a talker. Therefore, what does it mean to be a talker? It means to be truly serious.

I'm not someone who enters their own mental world and seeks to understand what I am centered around, what I apologize for, and what the essential truths and realities are in my life. Instead, I want to be recognized immediately; I want to stand out as if I am extraordinary in a group, to be acknowledged here and there. This way, I live each day as an empty human being, a hollow person. I act as if I have succeeded, speaking as if I have realized the truth, pretending to be a scholar. When I embody the charm of countless people, I ultimately lose myself. I lack a sense of self and the courage to express who I truly am, so I just continue living as an empty person. But when I encounter such situations, I speak as if I am possessed, and it becomes a cycle of pretending.

By embodying and acting in such a way, I am continuously wrapped in falsehoods, and ultimately, I do not know who I am. Who am I? What am I, after all? This is humanism. Humanism continuously surpasses uncertainty, and that uncertainty ultimately frightens me, makes me anxious, and lonely. I want to be recognized by others, so what do I do? I keep embodying falsehoods, making me speak and act as if I am that person. In the end, hypocrisy continues, and I cannot know who I am. This is the reality, everyone. People are aware of this, which is why Paul knew it too, and he treated you, Diabia, as a mere talker, simply approaching Paul with fixed notions and prejudices. In other words, they are living like this, without serious contemplation about their own minds and lives.

Without even embarking on a journey to find myself in the world, I am becoming an empty human being, endlessly chasing after countless new things. City Mission Church members, I sincerely believe that both my life and yours have armor. I believe that your life is not that of an empty, futile human being. What did it say? I am like chaff in the wind. It is not about being an empty person; rather, I hope that you will find yourselves. Let’s look at the word a bit more. In verse 21, we see that Paul was angry. There is a way of salvation, yet there are fake truths, false leaders, and false thinkers who claim to offer a way of salvation that isn’t true. These people, who cannot even live or enjoy what they preach, angered Paul so much that he was filled with a holy rage every day without rest.

He had no rest. He couldn't take a break. He had to spend time with himself, as a seeker, standing before God, and he had to continue to share this truth. He had to prepare for this time, which was a time when he could not rest. He was always before God and the world, living a fulfilling life in pursuit of truth and honesty. He became a wanderer among all the people of Athens, reaching out to those who came to Eden for a brief visit. He realized how these Athenians, caught up in humanism, were living. What this means is that, looking at the text, they did not spend time wisely. They didn't use their time for anything else; they only spoke about the newest things. Their interest was in the new—new marketing, new branding, new selling, new...

It's a theory, something new. A new culture, new items, something new. I spend each day pursuing new things, listening to new things, and talking about new things. However, what's truly important is not the newness but my current self. Is my mind clear? Is my soul healthy? What has my life been like? I can no longer live in falsehood, lies, and hypocrisy. There is no serious contemplation or challenge regarding myself among them. They only want to hear new stories. As the day goes by, I continue to seek new things, and in the end, I disappear; only the new remains. Tomorrow, I will search for something new again. The people of Athens that Paul observed did not confront themselves; it was not a serious understanding of the lives they had lived, nor was it observation—it was merely new things.

Yesterday, our brother from the judo team suddenly had an accident, so I went to Korea University Hospital. On my way back, I stopped by Kyobo Bookstore because there was a book I really wanted to see. Oh, above Gwanghwamun, there were massive impeachment protests going on, and I had no idea there were so many people trying to oust the president. So, I went in, and when I got to Kyobo, it was packed with people. There were so many people in the bookstore, and so many books were being sold. This made me think; we need to have thoughts about these new things. That’s very important. We need to understand and be aware of the newly unfolding world. But it’s not just about that; it must be preceded by something essential.

What will happen is my current soul and my spirit. Am I in a clear state of mind right now? Why are you not looking at me? It's because you lack confidence. This time may be uncomfortable for you, but it is a time that can improve us, and it can be a time when specific prayer topics arise where God can grant us grace. Hallelujah! People are always pursuing something new. Modern society is said to be an age of uncertainty, and that's due to humanism. Everything is uncertain. For example, earlier, the Stoic schools kept saying it's uncertain. So, let me give you an example. If I just ask, What is a calf? To know what a calf is, you need to know what a cow is. What is a cow? To know what a cow is, you need to understand living beings. What is a living being? To know what a living being is, you need to understand life. What is life? To understand life...

You need to understand the concept of a molecule. What is a molecule? If you ask, people often don’t know. What I’m talking about is not about just talking; I suffered so much in my twenties during that process. In my pursuit of truth and reality, there were no answers anywhere. The reason humanism has declined is that it continues to give people uncertainty. When you provide uncertainty, it leads to anxiety. When anxiety arises, it brings loneliness and fear. Everyone, despite being wealthy, having cars, and houses, and with no one starving to death, why do people live like a massive mental asylum, adrift like a shipwreck? It’s because of humanism. It places humans at the center, ultimately forcing them to confront uncertainty. In this age of uncertainty, as time goes by, I will briefly summarize. Hallelujah! We are like empty humans, like ghosts.

There are so many people living, and I really wonder why that is. Even wrongdoers don't realize they are wrong. They lie boldly. Lies can be good or bad; they were all just lies. So, where exactly are the lies of babies? They stole something. When asked why, they say it was a theft done with good intentions. They committed fraud. They say they did it for their family. Is that acceptable? Humanism not only leads us into uncertainty but also confuses us. On the contrary, we interpret everything from our own perspective, and then those who are harmed feel anger. The person who was defrauded might think, So, is it just fine to commit fraud? If they report it, lying is a way for citizens of South Korea to express themselves legally. Even if lying is illegal, it has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and those fake articles are definitely exempt from several defamation laws.

There are lawyers here, but lying itself is not a problem. Why? Because humanism is what I wanted. Lying is my right. Then, the person who gets hurt is the one who is being unfaithful. Oh, I'm in a relationship, so it became a law. There is no law against adultery. In the United States, there is no law against adultery either. Even if I cheat, the one who attacks me for cheating suffers more harm. Why? Because I'm expressing myself; the focus is on me. So, people get hurt. When they get hurt, they keep going in circles. You know, I had a truly terrible experience; people get hurt so much. When I was young, I lived in the countryside. While I was going back and forth in the countryside, my uncles loved dog meat. They would always eat the dogs they raised. There were several dogs, and one was caught.

She was really nice. My name is Mary, and I'm the famous Mary. There was a girl named Merin, and she was really smart. When my grandfather rode his bicycle, even if we didn't know, we could recognize the sound of his bicycle. Even if dozens of bicycles passed by our house, we could tell my grandfather's bicycle sound. So when my grandfather came, I would rush out because I knew he was coming. He was very smart and friendly. But my uncles used to catch fish. They would ask, How did you catch it? Can you tell us something? Since this is an old story, my uncles don't do that anymore. They used to hang the fish on a tree with wire like that. I saw it when I was little. I couldn't bear to watch it. I saw a child being hanged, struggling so much that I couldn't look away because I really disliked my uncle. I stared at it intensely to take revenge.

But while they were doing it, the kid wouldn’t die, so Ja-eun's father started hitting him. He hit him on the head with a stick and beat his body, and even though the kid was bleeding, he still wouldn’t die. He just kept bleeding. I can’t talk about it anymore. Then, suddenly, he stopped moving; it was like his energy was cut off when he got caught in the tree. He just dropped. Then he ran away to the back mountain, to the ancestral grave. Mary was crossing over, and I can't forget it. I was so worried. When I got home, I kept thinking about where Mary was. So I went to the back and saw Mary spinning in front of my grandfather's grave, going around in circles. It was supposed to be covered in blood, but she was spinning in a one-meter radius. It was the most horrifying scene I have ever witnessed.

One of the scenes is that I realized then that when you are deeply hurt, you can't break free from it. People can't stop circling around it. They can't stop doing that. Even when they want to stop, they can't. They keep creating it. I was like that, and you all will be too. People are really struggling and finding it difficult. Because they are hurt so deeply, they can't let go. They keep circling around and around. Everyone, I wonder how much humanism has devastated people's souls and this society. Does one need to be devoid of God to be happy, or is it that having God makes one so unhappy? Humanism is truly corrupted. I believe in Jesus and am convinced that there is a way to salvation. If I express this, people treat me like an ignorant person. Where is the answer in the world? The world has no answers. Life has no answers. No, there is an answer. Our mothers and I have that answer.

You have been madly pursuing and wearing something without reason. There is no answer; life has answers. There is a way for humans and a way for beasts. Life clearly has things that must be done and things that must not be done. If one cannot overcome their own greed and desires, panting and fulfilling their cravings, that is a beast, not a human. You are people with minds. The world that has lost its reason makes me want to question the humanists: Are you really rationalists? But do not be discouraged; even if you have been hurt, if you have been wounded, if there is still an opportunity, some people will regain their senses. You know Milton, right? Paradise Lost is a book I like. Milton was deaf. As you know, Beethoven suffered from lead poisoning and various illnesses. How could a musician not hear?

Do you know that epilepsy is a complete disease? Everyone has their own deficiencies and difficulties, but even though the body has epilepsy, the mind can be clear enough to write great books. The problem for you and me, our problem, is not a physical issue, a financial issue, or a networking issue; it is a mental issue. When the mind is clear, even if one is blind or deaf, a human being can create beautiful and great things. Amen. 

If time has made you uncertain, anxious, or lonely, then we have all suffered. However, you can recover. First, I challenge you to acknowledge that you have lived as an empty person. You may not know who you are, and you may have always lacked confidence in yourself, living by embodying someone else or imitating someone else.

I lived as a model for someone, but I don't know who I am. If there are those who think, I don't know who I am, I want to say this to you: you need to find yourself. You need to discover your true self. It's not about whether it's good or bad; first, you need to know who you are. Stop living like others; don’t imitate them. You should live as yourself. You shouldn't put on a show. Misery will come; you will lose your freedom, and you will lose your peace. You won’t be happy. You need to find yourself. To do that, the first thing that needs to happen in your soul is that you must find your true self. The first step is to be in a place where no one else is around, in that private space, and write down what you want to do and how you evaluate yourself. Think about who you are and write down the thoughts that come to you about yourself.

Look, I bless you to face it. Amen. But if that doesn't work well, there is a better way. Through the Bible, by continuously engaging with the characters and content within it, the Holy Spirit will inspire me about who I am and what I desire. Sometimes, while reading, a sudden thought may arise, like, I want to do this. While reading the Bible, you might realize, I am this kind of person. Humans recognize themselves through objects. I don't fully recognize myself. The fact that I am a mother is something I realize when I see my baby. It would be great if we could recognize ourselves, but we have never talked about that part. Write down even your trashy thoughts, your dirty thoughts, your noble thoughts, and your great dreams. Write down all the thoughts and emotions that occur to you.

Look, but don't tell anyone. Rumors spread quickly. Write everything down by yourself and read the Bible. At least if you don't know God personally, read the Bible. In it, you will receive insights, see yourself, and begin to recognize what you desire. Everyone, you must be the center of your mental framework, even if it's lacking. The first thing you need to do is place yourself at the center of your mental framework. Amen. And the second thing you need to do is realize that you may not be clean, pure, or wise enough to maintain this framework. Paul understood this. He lived in humanism and legalism, but he realized that there is none righteous, not even one. There is no upright human being in the world. I understood that we can be saved.

The only way is not by our own efforts, but by realizing that God must save me by grace. Amen. Therefore, if I have become the master of myself, I need to come down quickly. At that moment, what you need to do is say, Lord, I cannot be the master of my own mind, nor can I be the owner of my own life. Then, let the Lord use that person. What Paul preached was ultimately to proclaim Jesus Christ. The reason they could live was not because of their imagination, logic, or theories created by their schools of thought, philosophy, or culture, but because Jesus Christ, the absolute being, became their master. When I become someone who holds on to that master, then, at that moment, you will begin to think, listen, and see in the way of Jesus Christ, and miraculous changes will occur. Amen. That is what it means to receive Jesus. Today, let’s make your master known.

If you make Jesus your foundation and hold onto Him as your Lord, you will be amazed. Your anxiety will disappear, and the plains will be renewed. Is this real? Yes, it is. There is a subtle joy even when there is no money, even when you've been criticized. It's strange, almost like madness. There is freedom—freedom that is not bound by anything. When the Lord becomes my master, I believe that miracle will happen. Amen. Let us praise Him.

[시티미션교회 주일 예배] 분노하고 싸우고 전하라 | 사도행전 17:16-21 | 이규 목사

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