When There Is An Obstacle In Front of You! [Mark 9:23]

New Zealand / West Side                                      Moru

 

“When There Is An 

Obstacle In Front of You”

                             [Mark 9:23]                                  

 

 

/ By Priscilla

 

“If you can?” said Jesus. 

“Everything is possible

for him who believes.” 

(Mark 9:23)

 

 

Two weeks ago, 

Pastor Joen shared

the words with the title of 

 

 

"Can Jesus Count On You

For Miracle?"

(Jn 6:1-5) 

 

 

So we have learned thru

message for 3points 

 

 

1) Attitude, 

2) purpose, 

3) where is the 

miracle begins? 

 

 

we should not give the devi

l an opportunity but continually 

be armed with your heart. 

 

 

But Guard your 

heart and mind.

(Prov 4:23)

 

 

Therefore, 

I want to introduce

about the attitude and 

heart of blessed man.

 

 

Do you remember that 

we should not complain

and disappoint to face the

obstacles but entrust God 

in any difficult situation?

 

 

We have learned with 

good example of the life of Isaac

 

 

First, he was absolutely 

obedient to God. 

 

 

Second, he did not complain

even with the difficult

environment.

 

 

Third, Isaac has an 

absolute trust in God.

 

 

In fact, there is no such problem 

to be solved easily in this

world we live in. 

 

 

Also, even there will be 

no such preference to the 

Children of God who have 

accepted the Lord as Saviour. 

 

 

Rather they are more like

the target of the forces of darkness

and will suffer more persecution 

and all kinds of disturbances. 

 

 

The reality is that life is tough 

and repeating infinitely which 

seems to pass through a tunnel

of invisible darkness. 

 

 

Things in the world are not 

so easy as you take them to be.

 

 

Satan does not pay attention 

anymore when the children 

of God live a meaningless life.

 

 

However, one day there

is a person who is born-again 

 

 

and decides to put the past

behind him and start new life

as a Christian. 

 

 

Since then, Satan causes 

all sorts of problems not 

to lose the one who 

belongs to him. 

 

 

Likewise, it is the reality that 

once a child of God has faith

 

 

and removed the obstacles 

in the matter; more obstacles

will come back with bigger

threat continuously.

 

 

There are many options, 

and then which should

you choose?

 

 

It is true that “selection” is 

such a burden as like 

homework for us. 

 

 

However, God encourages

and gives comfort to His 

children and says 

 

 

“Take courage; 

I have overcome the world.”

 

 

God does not want His children

to be disappointed or have fear 

with the obstacles and problems. 

 

 

It is because God already

has been paid enough in His heart

and love as “the price of suffering”

 

 

and He wants His immortal love 

that He has shown to humankind

not to be in vain. 

 

 

Therefore, 

the “never ending problems”

is the evidence that you are

much loved by God. 

 

 

If so, what attitude do 

we have to live with?

 

 

1. We should be filled with t

he Holy Spirit as the river 

of grace to overflowing.

 

 

When the grace is depleted, 

all of the motivation of life 

will be disappeared 

 

 

and you will lose

your patience with temper.

 

 

In addition, if you lost grace,

your faith will be disappeared 

and it is easy to be disappointed 

in faithful life at all. 

 

 

Therefore, we should know

that the river of grace is 

dried up when your

joy is gone 

 

 

and may feel that you will 

easily get annoyed and 

angry without knowing why. 

 

 

This is a sign to realize 

and ask for help of the

Holy Spirit.

 

 

[Testimony 1]

Watchman Nee

 

 

He published well-know book

entitled “The Spiritual Man.”

 

 

He wrote a book while at a

young age but he had to stop 

writing many times due to be

entrapped and jealousy 

by others. 

 

 

Also, he received countless

attacks from Satan because 

his writings were dealing 

with not general but 

spiritual things. 

 

 

His work was very hard 

and difficult. 

 

 

Moreover,

to make matters worse, 

Satan began to attack his body

 

 

and he experienced difficult 

hardship with extreme pain 

and nervousness. 

 

 

He was sick enough and 

unable to write an article. 

 

 

Then one day, 

he was too tired so went 

to bed and fell asleep. 

 

 

He was rowing a small boat 

across the Yangtze River 

in his dream. 

 

 

Then, suddenly the great

mountain has appeared 

as a big obstacle 

in front of him, 

 

 

which was beyond his ability to 

remove so he prayed to God.

 

 

“Lord! I cannot go beyond

the high mountain that 

submerged in the middle of 

the river by earthquakes.

 

 

It is impossible to fight with 

the huge obstacle on my own so 

please make that mountain

disappear!”

 

 

Then he heard a loud voice 

of God from his inner-self.

 

 

“Child, do you want me to

disappear the mountain

in front of you?

 

 

Or you can simply row a boat

across over the mountain 

by raising the water level

of the river?”

 

 

He thought it would be better

to make the mountain be sinking 

under water and across the river

 

 

and there is no need to make

the mountain disappear. 

 

 

He woke up while he was 

giving answers to God. 

 

 

He decided to continue to 

write articles without fear 

as the Holy Spirit helps to

 row a boat to get across 

the river and mountain. 

 

 

He realized that his writing

cannot be done by his own will, 

 

 

nor effort but depends on God 

as he crossed the mountain 

without damaging the nature. 

 

 

He would not lose his heart

from any obstacle such as 

slander or jealousy that comes

around him if he relies on

the Holy Spirit

 

 

then the river of grace 

will overflow from his heart. 

 

 

Thereafter, the obstacles 

still came to him continuously

but he entrusted God only and 

faced them without despair. 

 

 

He was able to write over

a long period of time and 

finally completed successfully 

by the grace of God. 

 

 

As a result, his book

 became as the precious

 guide that assists to open 

the eyes in spiritual 

world today.

 

 

“No temptation has seized you 

except what is common to man.

 

 

And God is faithful; he will not

let you be tempted beyond 

what you can bear. 

 

 

But when you are tempted, 

he will also provide a way out 

so that you can stand up under it.”

(1 Cor 10:13) 

 

 

2. Do not interprete and 

over-analyze the obstacles.

 

 

If you look at the problem only, 

the problem becomes large 

and finally, only problem

 is shown to you. 

 

 

As the result, rather worry 

and anxiety come in mind 

with a rush and fill the mind. 

 

 

So, what we have to know is that 

“Worries” does not mean that 

it is solvable with problem

by itself. 

 

 

Therefore, one who is especially 

blessed should be able to look at 

Almighty God who is greater 

than the problem 

 

 

whenever you are felt

 hard by the problems

and obstacles. 

 

 

That is faith! 

 

 

The faith is to wait knowing 

that invisible thing will become 

to pass as the visible thing. 

 

 

If we cannot solve our problem 

even if we did our best in faith,

then boldly, we should entrust

the problem in the hands of God. 

 

 

If we partly rely on God and act

according to our plan, we 

away from God's plan

 and become to make

a mistake.

 

 

[Ex] Sarah

 

 

The famous woman who 

appeared in the Old Testament, 

Sarah was barren. 

 

 

But she received promise 

of child from God. 

 

 

So, she has lived holding 

the promise of God. 

 

 

But passing by 10 years, 

she began to see the problem 

and finally, she was overrun 

by the problem. 

 

 

In order to solve the problem, 

she gave her maidservant

 to Abram and made her 

give birth to a baby. 

 

 

Later, how did she regret her 

mistake after getting Isaac, 

her own son? 

 

 

The child by human decision, 

Ishmael and the child

 by promise of God, Isaac.

 

 

How badly have their descendants 

been fighting each other so far? 

 

 

Therefore, 

when we met an obstacle, 

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit 

to give us the wisdom first. 

 

 

And let’s try to find the cause 

of the problem and let's find out 

what is the God's will through 

the problem, even it takes time.

 

 

Let’s trust in God and wait 

without doubt believing that my 

hope and dream should be done.

 

 

3. Please shake the fear and 

do not turn away. 

 

 

Rather, face on reality boldly

with a challenging spirit.

 

 

"Dear friends, do not be surprised 

at the painful trial you are suffering, 

as though something strange 

were happening to you. 

 

 

But rejoice that you participate

in the sufferings of Christ, 

 

 

so that you may be overjoyed 

when his glory is revealed." 

(1 Peter 4:12-13)

 

 

[Testimony]

Naturalized Chinese woman

 

 

A long time ago I attended 

the Yoido Full Gospel Church 

in Korea as a Home cell 

group leader. 

 

 

There was a Chinese

couple living in the

same apartment.

 

I led her to the Christ 

and we became to have

fellowship in faith. 

 

 

One day, a Chinese wife 

has consulted me about

her husband.

 

 

Her husband seems to be

an angel in usual.  

 

 

But when he was drunk, 

he beats her because of 

disorderly acts under the

 influence of alcohol. 

 

 

By her prayer request, 

I began to pray with other 

cell group leaders for 21 days 

every morning as a 

Daniel’s prayer. 

 

 

During the first week, her 

husband began to beat his wife

more severely because of 

appearing of inferiority 

and anger in his mind.

 

 

And she should avoid him

and hid from room to room 

holding the door with 

trembling in fear. 

 

 

And following day, she 

attended in prayer meeting 

and appealed to God in

prayer with tears. 

 

 

And during second week 

of Daniel’s prayer,

her husband's behavior 

was so guttering worse, 

 

 

drunken husband asked

her to bring the cold water

 

 

and after drinking, he

threw the cup towards the 

back of her head. 

 

 

She fell down on the floor

with bleeding blood 

and called to me.

 

 

I took her to the hospital

at 2:00 a.m and doctor

sewed the wound. 

 

 

The incident became

an opportunity to challenge

her faith and made her faith

depend on the Lord. 

 

 

So, while she pray hard 

enough in a prayer meeting, 

the Holy Spirit has touched

her heart. 

 

 

Then the change began 

to occur in her mind. 

 

 

She has hated her husband 

whenever he beats her and

waited him to be changed. 

 

 

By the way, the Holy Spirit

gave her the spirit of repentance

and she became to realize that 

 

 

she has a strong Ego and not

 being changed, not forgive 

her husband, only avoid

the situation… etc. 

 

 

So, she decided her 

mind to resemble Jesus. 

 

 

“My problem is not the 

husband’s problem but the

problem from my formal 

Christian life.

 

 

Maybe, is not my husband

suffering because of me?”

 

 

Eventually she cried a lot 

when she realized that he is

the offering of a sacrifice 

for her to be changed. 

 

 

She confessed that the 

problem was not with him 

but with her and experienced to

become a born-again Christian. 

 

 

I was delighted with the day 

she was born-again and gave

comfort and encouragement

with the following Scriptures.

 

 

 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 

he is a new creation; the old 

has gone, the new has come!"

(2 Cor 5:17)

 

 

“I have been crucified with 

Christ and I no longer live, 

but Christ lives in me. 

 

 

The life I live in the body, 

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave 

himself for me.

(Gal 2:20)

 

 

Now, once she repented 

and got the confidence, 

she decided not to escape 

 

 

but she faced her violent

husband to practice love

no matter what happens. 

 

 

Time after time, there was 

the unexpected miracle 

happened on the last day

of 21 days of Daniel’s prayer. 

 

 

As usual day, the husband

was going to beat her again 

and she started kneel

in prayer. 

 

 

Then, he shouted as soon as 

he beat her arms several times 

because he felt pain as

he beats the rock. 

 

 

He tried two or 

three times more.

 

 

But he complained of pain

and requested her to 

massage his hands.

 

 

On the 21st day, 

the last day of Daniel’s prayer,

she testified that God is alive

because He heard the prayer. 

 

 

Her husband was completely 

sober and confessed, 

 

 

“I’m really sorry for you.

I do not know what

I did to you.”

 

 

Then, he promised that he 

would stop drinking. 

 

 

Even now, I can remember

that moment of the last day 

of the 21st of Daniel’s prayer 

was filled with the testimonies

of the miracles of God 

 

 

and we all gathered to share 

and rejoiced over a victory. 

 

 

Since that day, he stood

by his promise to stop drinking 

and they opened a Chinese

restaurant after a few 

months later.

 

 

They invited us, and 

Pastor Paul and I have 

glorified God 

 

 

that they were live in 

peace and joy.  

 

 

On that day, we, all payers 

have experienced that nothing

is impossible if we do not

avoid obstacles

 

 

but approach with courage,

accept the opponent with 

great love and grace of God. 

 

 

We will overcome

all of the problems.

 

 

We convinced that the obstacles 

are already disappeared 

 

 

when we rely on the Holy Spirit 

and deal with them with 

courage and faith. 

 

 

In addition, the leaders 

who prayed together to receive

the power and protection 

in spirit had learned 

 

 

that I am no longer the one 

doing it, but the power of God. 

 

 

Since at this moment through

the years, such experiences

in the field have become as 

the motivation that gives me 

the strength to go on. 

 

 

God is the same and works

yesterday, today, and forever.  

 

 

Even today, the faithful God 

wants His children to have 

the courage to overcome 

the world. 

 

 

He sent His Spirit who is 

the Counselor and Comforter 

so that His children may be 

filled with the Holy Spirit. 

 

 

So, let’s rely on the Holy Spirit

to overcome every upcoming

issues and obstacles.

 

 

Furthermore, 

let’s hope and become

a courageous child of God

 to win myself in trials, 

 

 

and win the world 

as well. 

 

 

“Not by might nor by power, 

but by my Spirit of God.”

(Zechariah 4:6)  

 

 

Amen!

 

 

Let us pray together

 

My Lord, “Today we already 

learned about 3things 

by your grace 

 

 

under the title of 

“When there is an obstacle

in front of you.”

by the Holy Spirit.

 

 

1. We should be filled with the

Holy Spirit as the river of 

grace to overflowing.

 

 

2. Do not interprete and 

over-analyze the obstacles.

 

 

3. Please shake the fear 

and do not turn away. 

Rather, face on reality boldly 

with a challenging spirit.

 

 

“This is 

Not by might nor by power,

but by my Spirit of God.”

(Zechariah 4:6)  

 

 

We give thanks 

glory to our God!

 

 

Hallelujah

 

 

Amen!

 

 

 

 

2022/07/10(주일)

 

 

/ By Priscilla