Glory
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October 08, 2017 |
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"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Dr. Jaerock Lee,
Senior Pastor of Manmin Central Church
- Chairman, The United Holiness Church of Jesus Christ
- Permanent President, The World Christianity Revival Mission Association
- Joint President, Association of Lovers of National Assembly and Prayers for the Country
- Founder & Board Chairman, Global Christian Network
- Founder & Board Chairman, World Christian Doctors Network
- Founder & Board Chairman, Manmin International Seminary
- Founder & Board Chairman, The Alliance Holiness Theological Seminary
- Doctorate of Ministry, and Honorary Doctorate of Divinity
- Senior Pastor, Manmin Central Church
- His sermons were broadcast by the Far East Broadcasting Company and the Asia Broadcast Station
- His Christian columns appear on The Chosun Ilbo, The JoongAng Daily, The Dong-A Ilbo, The Hankook Ilbo, The Seoul Shinmun, The Kyunghyang Shinmun, The Hankyoreh Shinmun, The Korea Economic Daily, The Shisa News, and The Christian Press.
- He conducted crusades in New York, Washington, Baltimore, Maryland, Los Angeles, Hawaii in the United States; Japan; India; Pakistan; the Philippines; Argentina; Honduras; Peru; Russia; Germany; Kenya; Tanzania; Uganda; DR Congo; Jerusalem, Israel; and Estonia.
In this special edition, we are going to look into the sources that have enabled Manmin Central Church to lead countless souls to salvation and glorify God until this 35th anniversary.
Firstly, I thought it has been done only by the grace of God, and never thought that I have done it.
One may feel flattered when he achieves something and receives recognition although it was just a small achievement. He may feel confident, or he can even be arrogant. However, I have never felt that way. I drove away hurricanes, flooding, droughts, and epidemic diseases by the powerful prayer and let tens of millions, millions, or tens of thousands of people receive the Lord's great grace, but I didn't dare let myself lifted up. I spent more days fasting than eating, and I spent more hours praying than sleeping. I received deep and mysterious messages from God and delivered them to people. But I couldn't be arrogant. It is because I have known very well that if God didn't walk with me, I would be nothing.
Before I met God, every part of body was stricken by diseases except for my eyes. I was waiting only for death. I could not play the role of the head of my family. I could not lead a decent human life. I was neglected and despised. To such a miserable person as me, God came to me first. At the moment I knelt down before God, He healed me of all my diseases. Furthermore, He called me as His servant. In May 1978, while I was praying, a voice was heard, which says; "My servant whom I chose before the ages! I will reveal and use you. You will cross the mountains, the river, and the sea, and I will walk with you anywhere. You will spread the word about the living God all around the world with signs and wonders." Had I considered the reality, however, it would have been hard for me to obey.
In reality, I owed a huge debt due to my seven-year life affliction with diseases. I was an ordinary man responsible for a family with three children who were all living together in a small single room. I was not confident about studying theology because I was old and I had lost ability to remember things. Also, due to my introverted personality, I thought I would not be able to stand in front of many people. I had just experienced the healing work of all my diseases and gained spiritual life after I was forgiven of my sins through the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The experience and the spiritual life were all that I had at that time.
God knew my heart and my situation very well. He went on to say, "I chose you before the ages. I have protected and guided you with My blazing eyes since you were in the womb. Let your wife manage your shop, and you go the way of My servant. You will make more money than when you and your wife both worked. You won't run out of money, nor run out of rice in your rice jar, and it will be overflowing. You will help others. It is God who put you in the lowest place, and it is also God who has led you so far and will guide you. You will understand why I put you in the lowest place. I will lift you up on the highest place by My power."
As God said, He set me up as His instrument and let me spread the gospel crossing the mountains, the river and the sea. Countless people were set free from futile idolatry and the bonds of wickedness, and they were healed of incurable and terminal diseases.
Even now pastors and church leaders go to many countries with the handkerchief I prayed on (Acts 19:11-12) and lead many people to the way of salvation. Also, the holiness gospel and the powerful works are broadcast, adding to the number of saved people. The prayer transcending space and time brings the work of re-creation to people who are suffering from many kinds of disasters in every corner of the world. When we gave all the glory to the Lord, He let us give greater glory to Him.
Secondly, I thought everything is God's and the Lord's, and never thought something is mine.
Apostle Paul gave up many things to fulfill the will of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 9:4-7 reads, "Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?" He meant that as he followed the way of the Lord and worked faithfully with life, he had a right to have what he deserved, but he didn't take it. What was the reason?
The latter part of 1 Corinthians 9:12 says, "Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ." He gave up many rights lest people oppose the gospel thinking he coveted money or put greater priority on private matters than the works of the Lord.
I do understand this heart of Apostle Paul. I have never spent even my time or money for my personal desires or discretion. I have considered my wife, my children, my life, and even my heart as God's and the Lord's. That is why I only prayed, fasted, and worked faithfully as time permitted.
Now I devote myself to communication with God in my prayer house because it is the will of God, but before doing so I preached the message in church every week without missing except for when I went to overseas crusades or specific periods of mountain prayer. On my way to church or back home, I did not take a rest but held my church members' hands sincerely. When I held the hands of thousands of the church members, my hands were hurt and skin was torn. But I did not care about it and I just thought in a prayerful heart about seeking the benefits of God's kingdom and my members all the time. In the answer to my prayer, many church members were healed of many incurable and terminal diseases and their infirmities were made whole. There have been unceasing testimonies.
The reason why I live my days on the earth is not that I want to enjoy my personal life, but that I want to extend the kingdom of God. I was not coerced to give up what was 'mine' by anyone. I was willing to give up everything because I am happiest when I give glory to God.
As Jesus said in John 4:34, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work," I also felt satisfied and happy when I did the will of God.
Not only I but also all the members have increased our faith constantly to such a level. That is why we could accomplish national evangelism, the world mission, and do charitable work.
Thirdly, my heart has been filled with souls whom the Lord bought with His blood.
Colossians 3:1 says, "Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."
From the time I was healed of all diseases and tasted eternal life before death, I have sought only things above. I have earnestly loved Father God and the Lord who came to me and saved me when I was in pain and lonely due to diseases. As I loved God, many poor people came into my sight. I came to have a dream to become a wealthy elder and help people who were sick and poor like I had been.
Then, God gave me an unexpected word. He said, "You love Me more than your parents, your children, and your wife. You love Me foremost of all. You love Me alone. Therefore, I will repay you with a good measure—pressed down, shaken together—and a hundred times." And He called me as a pastor who saves souls.
Amazingly, as my love for God became greater, my love for souls also became greater. My love blazed up for countless souls who God created after His image and whom Jesus shed His blood to save. I felt the heart of God who gave His only begotten Son to gain true children who resemble Him and with whom He can share love. Thus, I have sacrificed all my life to lead countless souls to Heaven and, moreover, New Jerusalem where the throne of God is located.
I want to express this heart of mine by citing the Apostle Paul's confession for souls. 2 Corinthians 11:27-29 reads, "I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?"
Since the opening of the church, there have been difficulties as well. I dedicated myself to souls' salvation with my life, but as this church grew in number, other churches started to feel jealous and tried to destroy this church. Even in such situations, my tears flowed not because of other churches' misunderstanding, but because I saw people leave the truth in their weak faith. And, it was the greatest pain to see people commit unforgivable sins with their eyes blinded by their evil.
I underwent several life-threatening situations while I was interceding for my members as their shepherd so that they could cast off sins and evil and receive blessings and answers. At those moments as well, the physical pain that I suffered was not a source of my pain. I thought, 'I have given everything that I had and I have done everything I could do. What can I do now and what else can I give to souls who still dwell in sins?' This feeling of being lost was the biggest source of sorrow. While I went through such sufferings, the God of justice set me up as the shepherd of innumerable people including the members of approximately 11,000 branch and associate churches world-wide. He even gave me the power of re-creation that changes the hearts of men.
Isaiah 60:4 says, "Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms." As written, more and more people come to the arms of this church as days go by. This could be accomplished thanks to many pastors, church leaders, and you members who have devoted yourselves to the souls' salvation with your shepherd. I give all thanks and glory to God who fills our hearts with the work of saving souls.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this 35th anniversary, I urge you to have only God and the Lord in your heart. I earnestly hope you will pray for the glory of the Lord and the salvation of souls, give great glory to God and the Lord, and reach New Jerusalem. I pray in the name of the Lord that all the people of Manmin will also take part in this glory.
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