Sunday, October 16, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: Do Not be Conformed with the World
Topic: Church
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:15-17 KJV)
James 4:4 says that “whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Even though God created everything in the world, He let Satan rule His creation for while. This doesn’t means he have the right to control our minds (see Job 1:12, 2:6). We have the freedom to choose which life we would like to live. Either we can live our lives with the system of this world or the system of God. We cannot have both systems (Matthew 6:24).
Sadly, most of us choose the world system to live a life today. If we’d look into churches, there would be many people dropping out from the solid biblical teaching Christian churches and move into secular Christian churches. If we’d look into differences between these two groups of churches, we have:
Biblical Teaching of Christian Churches | Secular Worldview Churches |
- Praise & Worship time must be about honoring God
- Sermon must be related to Scriptural context of the Holy Bible
- Equal time limit on both Praise & Worship and sermon times
- Cross must be on both outside and inside of the church
- Fellowship time must be separated from the worship services
- Less time of using the high tech equipment during the services
- Congregations have their own Bible
| - More contemporary Christian music time
- Less sermon time
- Sermon maybe related to today’s Christian living
- Their own interpretation of the Scripture
- Cross is no longer found
- Congregations can bring food and high tech devices during the worship services
- Pastor is using many bible versions for the sermon
- Pastor is using Christian films for his sermon
- Having social and physical interactions are allowed during the services
|
Above the paragraph, we can see why most Christians are moving to secular Christian churches. As a result, people are believing that Jesus is just their pal. Some Christian t-shirts are labeled as Jesus Freaks.
The Bible says clear that if we are friends of this world, we are enemies of God. Many today’s Christian leaders are going to that direction with Chrislam.
Is your church representing for the world or God?
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: How to Rebuild Trust?
Topic: Church
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? (Malachi 3:8 KJV)
Even though this portion of the passage of the Scripture is related to tithing, I’d like to discuss on how we can build our relationship again. This message is important to us today as we see many churches are downsizing the congregations.
I recently heard that one of local Baptist churches in my area has decreased the activity program for singles, because some of them decided to leave the church. Also, I just read that our nation will increase the Muslim population by doubling it by 2030 (Muslim Population to Double in U.S. by 2030, Report Projects). It is sad to hear that we have president and some Christian evangelists are advocating for Islam and deny the true God, who created the universe.
Many today’s Christian leaders have compromised the Words of God to make everyone would feel “good.” Joe Osteen, Kenneth Copland, TD Jakes and many other Christian media preachers have thousands of congregations, because they preached the wrong messages of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, if you’d watch Joe Osteen, there is no message that contains about sin, God’s wrath, justice, and hell. Yet, he is making about $1 million per week for the 30 minutes TV show.
People are heading to wrong direction to seek the counseling. Others may decide to leave the churches because their preachers may change their hearts. There are some preachers today, who have fallen down from the foundation biblical teaching to more contemporary sermons, such as Max Lucado and Andy Stanley. Even some church services may have more contemporary praise and worship time and 15-20 minutes for the sermon (spiritual meat).
We need to reunite with God rather than robbing Him. In Malachi’s time, there were some people, who cheated on God. Instead giving some financial supports to the temple, they were robbing things from God. We see exact same events that are happening in today’s churches as the days of the Old Testament.
Jesus didn’t said, “I have come to destroy you.” Instead, He said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b.) So, why some Christians are walking away from God? Can we have satisfied lives without God? We need to evaluate ourselves to which god we want to serve. If we don’t serve God, we would be automatically serving Satan, the Devil.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: Understanding the Sign of the End Time II
Topic: Church
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8 KJV)
The second point I’d like to bring you to attention, from Matthew 24:4-8, is the terror and war. We just celebrated the 10th anniversary of 9/11 attack. Many people are still remembered what it happened on that day and are stilled wonder what it would happen next. I recently talked with one of my church members about our country economic system issues. One of things this person most concerns is cutting social benefits for the next generation.
Right now, we see some developments of financial wars in U.S. and other parts of the world, which it would end up with creating One World Currency (OWC). Some parts of European countries are beginning to work with other countries to develop OWC. Some parts of British country already has street cameras. Other parts of countries already come up with putting microchips into animals and humans’ skins. Couple years ago, one of Virginian delegates rejected the idea of putting a microchip into human’s skin. If that person would accept to make this as a law, we’d be big trouble, because it is not an idea from God, but it’s a satanic system. Once we would accept the Mark of Beast, there is no guarantee for us to be united with Jesus Christ.
Some secret scientists come up with weather control device to try to destroy other nations. This might be the reason why most meteorologists can map the direction of hurricane before it would hit on the Gulf Coast.
Jesus said cleared that there will be rumor of wars, earthquakes, and other natural disasters before His coming. This is why the Church needs to be ready for His coming. We also need to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: Understanding the Sign of the End Time I
Topic: Church
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:4-8 KJV)
This past week, Eastern Region of the United States had 5.9 magnitude of earthquake, severe thunderstorm, and Hurricane Irene. From all three storms, many reports came in and said that some people have died, injured, and suffered. It was unusual that all three storms were happening in one week.
As we read in Matthew 24:7, these terrible storms are the signs of the end time. Of course, this earth would not be perished forever, but it will be renew as the original form of the earth in Genesis 1-2. But, to get renew the earth, God must bring judgment to the earth to separate the sins from righteousness. He cannot build His government on the earth until He would wipe away all the dirt (sins). As we continue to study on Rebuilding the Temple of God, I’d like to discuss on signs of the end time. I am not going to encourage you to look for these signs every time that tragedy would happen in your community, state, country, or world. But Jesus told us to be ready for His second coming and become His bride.
First thing that Jesus warned us about the deception from false prophets and teachers. Apostle Paul warned us in I Timothy 4:1, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils…” Nowadays, we see many media evangelists are teaching the Gospel from their own interpretation of the Bible. This is why United States have so many Bible versions. Currently, we have more than 100 Bible versions rather than King James Version of the Bible. Our country is accountable when we’d try to twist God’s words from the original translation (see Revelation 22:18-19 KJV). I am guilty of this, too, when I discovered this as I got into in-depth study of the Bible.
When we’d turn on TBN, CBN, or Daystar, we hear many teachings on finance, Christian living, end time prophecy, or how to receive blessing from God. What about how God can get blessing from us? Or how we’d need to build solid relationship with God? Our mission is not for us to become multimillionaires, but to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others who don’t have relationship with Jesus Christ. Today, many churches are emerging together with other religions, such as Roman Catholicism, Islam, Jehovah Witness, and Mormonism. Currently, many media evangelists are trying to push us toward to Chrislam (Christianity-Islam). If this would success as they succeed Christianity-Catholicism, we will have big issue.
We’d need to rely on God and not mislead by false teachers and prophets.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: Ready to Give Answers
Topic: Church
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. (II Timothy 4:2 KJV)
Our mission is not about how we can be in the world popularity contest, but it’s about spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost souls. There are many preachers today who travel around the world to share the Good News of Christianity, except the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to change our concept to spread the Words of God.
We need to be ready to open to share the Gospel to other people around us. In II Timothy 4:3-4 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” We cannot be like Joel Osteen, a pastor of Lakewood Community Church in Houston, Texas, who avoids teachings on sins, judgment, and the wrath of God. Even though God is a loving God, He is also God of justice.
In Proverbs 6:16-19 says, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” We cannot let sins go unpunished. We need to correct from our errors before God would correct us. Sadly, today’s media evangelists would preach from unbiblical aspect of Christianity. Some churches may decide to do the communion each Sunday, which Roman Catholic Church practices this ritual.
We cannot be too religious of Christianity because that’s not all about. We need to train for ourselves by spending our time with God, and be alert to ready to give answers to those who questions about Christianity and our faiths in Jesus Christ.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: Be a Salt of the Earth
Topic: Church
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. (Matthew 5:13-14 KJV)
To rebuild the temple of God, we would need to be salt and light of this world for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Before He ascent to the Heaven, Jesus commended us to preach the gospel to the world (see Matthew 28:18-20). Even though we see many evangelists would go to other parts of the world, it doesn’t mean that they’d have successful mission trip. They would need to put extra effort to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Let’s look Seven Statics on World Needs by Doug Nichols, Founder and International Director Emeritus of Action International Ministries:
- There are 28 million people in slavery worldwide; many are children and victims of human trafficking. 400,000 children are in slavery in Haiti. [“Finding Slavery in My Own Backyard”, by David Batstone. “Missions Frontiers”, September-October 2007 29:5, p.12]
- There are 3.2 million untrained or undertrained pastors throughout the world. Pray for missionary mentors and trainers to assist these needy pastors [www.topic.us].
- There are 100 million Christians living in persecution throughout the world [www.persecution.com].
- There are 145 million orphans worldwide. If one missionary (or one church) took responsibility for 1,000 orphans, there would, therefore, be a need for 145,000 missionaries (or individual churches) [www.viva.org; www.compassion.com; www.actioncic.org].
- There are 160 million street children, especially in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Thousands of missionaries and Christian workers are needed to take the Gospel and compassionate care to these needy children [www.actioninternational.org; www.actioncic.org].
- There are 200 million people worldwide on the move (referred to as the Diaspora) in search of employment and a better education, because of persecution and natural disasters, and so forth. Many are open to kindness and hospitality which opens the door for the Gospel [www.fin-online.org].
- There are three billion people worldwide with no nearby Christian or church to share the Gospel with them. They can only be reached by someone (a missionary) going to them with the Gospel. If one missionary went to 5,000 of these, there would be the need for 600,000 additional missionaries [www.actioninternational.org].
Resource: Spring 2011 Newsletter at www.epm.org.
If we’d look at all these numbers of people, we need more than one person to share the Gospel with them. Even though MGJC Web Ministries can touch millions of lives through today’s modern technologies, it cannot reach other millions of people, who don’t have access to computers.
It’s sad enough some today’s evangelists go and preach the gospel to the world for their recognition, such as Benny Hinn, Rick Warren, and Robert Schuler, Sr. We need to evangelize to proclaim the Words of God to people, who don’t know about Jesus Christ.
The number one of today’s world religion would be Islam. Why? They are evangelizing throughout the world, even though they are hurting millions of people. I believe September 11, 2001 terror attack on U.S. was their remark of spreading their gospel. After a decade later, we see some Christian leaders turn their faiths to Islam and rename the religion into Chrislam. This is sad.
We need to rebuild Christianity from the biblical (KJV) standard and not by someone else or any modern day of Bible versions. Some today’s Bible versions (NIV, CEV, MSG, TLB, NASB) are fulfilled with today’s manuscripts, which contains many constrictions with original manuscripts from the KJV (1611) Bible. To heal our land, we would need to return to God and begin to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ within our community before we’d reach the other parts of world.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: The Apostasy Church
Topic: Church
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (I Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)
The word “apostasy” is “a falling away from the faith.” We are living where some Christians may decide to give up their faiths in Christ and decide to follow the other ways to life. This message is specifically for believers to be ready for the return of Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:5 tells us that “many shall come in” His “name.” In a few moment, I’m going to name some evangelists who proclaim to be prophet of God or Messiah.
In Old Testament, we read how King Saul turned away from God and deceived his people. Unlike his successor, Saul didn’t learn from his mistakes. He kept trying to do his way to please others. We cannot keep try to please other people. Instead, we need to try to please God.
Recently, I watched one of Dr. Jack van Impe’s DVD on apostasy churches. In this DVD, Dr. Impe explained why some America churches are falling from the faith. Some churches have lost the fundamentalism of Christianity, such as virgin birth, Jesus’ baptism, ministry, death, and resurrection. Instead, many preachers teach on prosperity messages. Even though we need money to survive our lives, God wants us to be lived healthier life in both physical and spiritual. We just cannot have nice things to live for Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Right now, this maybe shocked you. If you’d visit TBN Bookstore, you’ll find a side by side book on the Bible and Qur’an. The description of this book says, “Many of the Bible's characters and stories are also found in the Qur'an, but there are often differing details or new twists in the Qur'an's retelling of biblical narrative. In this compelling book, seasoned theologian Michael Lodahl explores these fascinating divergences to discover the theological difference they make.Writing from a Christian perspective that is respectful of the Islamic tradition, Lodahl offers an accessible introduction to Muslim theology and to the Qur'an's leading themes to help readers better understand Islam. Lodahl compares and contrasts how the Bible and the Qur'an depict and treat certain characters in common to both religions, including Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. He offers theological reflection on doctrines held in common by Christians and Muslims, such as creation, revelation, and the resurrection of the body. Lodahl also explores the Jewish tradition as an important source for understanding the Qur'an.”
There is no common between the Bible and Qur’an. Islam is about summiting or surrender to that religion or else die. But the Christianity is about building a loving and personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Recently, Rick Warren spoke at the Islamic conference. In this conference, Warren wanted to build partnership with Christianity and Islam communities. It is also sad in his book, Purpose of the Driven Church, teaches us how to build secular world mega church rather than a place for us to come to worship God and fellowship with brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.
As we see TBN, Rick Warren, and others are trying to make biblical Christian churches into One World Religion church. These and other apostasy churches/organizations are accountable when they’d come to the Judgment Seat of Christ.
As I said from previous message, the church has to be in unity with Christ and not separate from each other. We must stand against all these apostasy activities within our churches. If we’d see one or more apostasy activities, we must walk away from the churches or let us put pastors out from the churches.
Are you saved in Jesus Christ? If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Friday, July 8, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: Division of the Church of Christ
Topic: Church
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (I Corinthians 3:3-6 KJV)
There are many divisions are going on in today’s Christian churches as well as divisions of the Holy Bible. Instead we should be in unity with other Christian brothers and sisters in Christ, we are dividing from each other within church and family. No wonder why many Christians are pulling themselves from their home churches. “According to Rainer Research, 70 percent of youth leave church by the time they are 22 years old. Barna Group estimates that 80 percent of those reared in the church will be "disengaged" by the time they are 29 years old. Unlike older church dropouts, these young "leavers" are unlikely to seek out alternative forms of Christian community, such as home churches and small groups. When they leave church, many leave the faith as well.” (See Christianity Today article: The Ones Who WalkAway.)
Many Christians have decided to change the church because either they would itchy for the lifestyle messages or the preacher wouldn’t bring the truth from the Word of God. Either way, we are accountable what we have done when we would come to the Judge before we’d enter the eternality.
Sadly, we have too many divisions within the church. We have Baptist, Pentecostal, Seven Days of Advance, Mormonism, Church of God, Church of Christ, Calvary and many others. These church denominations are good, but when we’d try to believe certain biblical doctrines, then we would have problems in our hearts. For example, Baptist church doesn’t believe speaking in different tongue, even though it’s one of spiritual gifts in the Bible. Some denominational churches may proclaim that Roman Catholic Church is the sister of Christian churches, or we can combine Christian and Islam together. These are against the Word of God.
We must believe all the doctrines in the Bible and not portion of it. We also must not be embraced with other religions. Right now, TBN is starting to sell Quran (Islamic Bible) in their bookstores. I used to enjoy watching some TV programs on TBN during 90s, but when I heard what TBN was doing and some preachers tried to twist the Word of God, I stopped to watching of it. They are few good and solid preachers on any Christian TV channels. But when any preacher (your or mine) may try to manipulate to against the Bible, we may need to resign from that church. Not only the preachers are accountable, we also are accountable as well if we would decide to keep staying in the same church.
The church has to be in unity with Christ and not separate from each other.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Rebuilding the Temple of God: Defining the Church of God
Topic: Church
He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:15-19 KJV)
Many Catholics use Matthew 16:19 as Peter is the cornerstone of the church. Even Jesus gave permission for Peter to start the church, it doesn’t means that he was the pope or cornerstone of all Christian churches. The word church means “a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.” It is not about Peter or actual building.
Jesus wanted to establish the church that many people can come together to worship God and encourage each other. Some people may think that the Old Testament church is ceased. Even though we don’t do the animal sacrifice anymore, it does not mean the Old Testament church is useless. We still need present our sacrifice life to God. We still need to bring tithe for our storehouse. The ceremonial laws are fulfilled by Jesus Christ, but He summarized other laws with two simple commandments—love God and love people.
Church is not about building, but it’s about people who work for God to touch lives of other people into Christ.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Testimony of Life Journey
Topic: Testimony
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3 KJV)
What is your life journey like? Every moment we are living on this earth is a journey to eternality. We cannot live this life without purpose.
Let’s look the life of Abraham, a father of great nation. Even Abraham didn’t reach the great purpose of life during his lifetime, God used him to start this long journey with Him. Throughout the Book of Genesis, we see this journey has begun to take place. Hebrews 11:8-11 says, “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.”
Hebrews 11:40 says, “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” God cannot just give us the purpose of life until we would build our desires in our hearts. When we’d define our desires in our hearts, God would begin to put the great purpose in our lives.
Most people would misunderstand the will of God in today’s churches. The words blessing and prosperity are not related to how we can become rich. Please don’t misunderstand that Christian cannot be rich. These two words usually related to everything in us, such as body, soul and spirit. God wants us to be in healthy living and enjoy life while we are living in this world. He also wants us to discover the great purpose for our individual life. Even we couldn’t reach the purpose of life, we could start our journey with Him and pass onto the next generation.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Testimony of Worshiping God
Topic: Testimony
For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, (II Chronicles 6:13 KJV)
Jesus said in John 4:23, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” The word worship means “kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon).”
What is our testimony of worship God or serve Him? Many of us may have some kinds of worship in our lives. We do not need to have wooden idols, but we put things in our lives that pull away from God. When you’d get up on Monday morning, what kind of things you are thinking on your top priority? Even though many of us may have outside jobs, we need to pause ourselves to have open conversation with God. We don’t have to close our eyes to have quality time with Him. Tune your worship music CD on and reflect what He has done for you. Maybe you are serving your community. Whatever we do in His name, we are worshipping God. Apostle Paul said, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Philippians 4:8).”
We are living in this world that has everything in technology. We do not have to spend hours of cooking to have dinner anymore. Instead, we put the frozen food in a microwave to cook our meals for us within ten minute. Or we don’t answer the phone immediately. Instead, we let the caller put the message in an answering machine. As we are thinking on this, do people have time to serve God? The answer is NO.
As the technologies are getting popular, it doesn’t mean that everything is easy for us. We still need to get up from our beds and do our work for that day. When the computer would decide to take vacation, we would need to call the technician for the repair service. When the football game would come on Sunday morning, we would decide to debate ourselves to whether to watch the game or go to the church. I know this may make some of you nerve.
However, there is a day for us to stand before God to give our testimonies to Him on what we have done with the gift of salvation. It is a question for every believer should testify to God. Last week, I gave a brief testimony of my life and web ministry. You don’t have to give genius testimony for other people to worship you. Every media evangelist should already receive their rewards. We do not have to be world greatest preachers for God’s kingdom. That’s wrong method that most American preachers are doing for over three decades. We are not in some contests against other churches or religions, but our battlefield in the spiritual world, where Satan and demons are.
I love how David fought against Philistine. David said in I Samuel 17:45, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”
We cannot enter into the war zone until we’d recognize God, because He is our Father and King. Not a single His enemy would able to receive the victory over Him.
Again, what is your testimony? If you’d like to know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I’d like to encourage you to do two simple things. First, confess your sins and invite Jesus Christ to your life. Paul said in Romans 10:9-11, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” There is no sinner prayer formula. Instead, you just talk to God at where you are now. Secondly, I’d like to encourage you to find a good solid biblical teaching church and Christian friends. They can help you to build strong relationship with God.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
at 12:01 AM EDT
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Testimony
Topic: Testimony
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5 KJV)
What is your testimony of life? Before we came out from our mothers’ wombs, God knew what He has planned for our lives. Even you were born with disability; it doesn’t mean that God would just ignore you. The mythological religion system said that having a disability means it’s a sign of God’s punishment for our sins. Sadly, some people still believe this myth as a teaching tool in schools, churches, and counseling services. But the Bible has many illustrations where God used people with disabilities to draw many hearts of people into Himself.
God has brought me out from orphan to show me a great purpose of my life. Some of you may know, I grew up in the orphanage in South Korea and came to United States in 1990 through adoption. I began to write inspiration messages in later of 90s and started the web ministry while I was in my vocational training. Even I have physical disability, it does not mean that God cannot use me in the mission field. Over ten years, several thousand people have ministered by MGJC Web Ministry (www.mgjcweb.org) because of support from God and my friends. I didn’t put my name as the title of this web ministry, because it’s not about me or people with disabilities, but it’s about God and His love for us. We cannot seek His blessing, but we’d start to seek His face. So He can pour His blessing upon us.
Prophet Jeremiah did not have a happy life. He went through many hates and sufferings during his life. But he had a great purpose for his life that God gave to him. We do not have to be fame of this world because our eternal awards are in Heaven. But we need to share our testimonies to the world, so people could receive FREE gift of salvation and accept Jesus Christ as their Personal Savior.
What is your testimony? Maybe you are going through some kind of life tragedy now, but God can use your tragedy for a great purpose of your life. You just need to trust in Him that He can walk with you through the tragedy. I Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” “For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, May 7, 2011
National Day of Prayer
Topic: Nation
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near… (Isaiah 55:5-6 KJV)
I believe that we, as a nation, are waiting for God to judge the nation. This pass Thursday was designated for us to pray for America to repent her sins and be reunited with God again. This country was founded by the Holy Word of God. We cannot bring another great revival until we’d repent our sins and rebuild our relationships with Jesus Christ.
America has built so many debts over years to other countries, especially communism nation in China. We had a hit by terrorists from radical Islamic group on September 11, 2001. This nation hits by natural disaster every year.. Public and private schools are corrupted by witchcraft, immorality, violence, and crime activities. Some churches decide to stop telling the Word of God. Instead, they bring messages that would bring satisfy to our fleshes and not our spirits. America families are dying almost every day, both secular and Christian worlds, because of miscommunication. Many entertainment industries are corrupted by ungodly activities.
It is time for us to step out from our closets to proclaim the Word of God. We do not need our national leaders, that don’t stand for the truth, to run for our lands. It is sad to see our former and current presidents proclaim to be Born-Again Christians for the Presidential Election; and we don’t see any fruit of spirit when they work for our nation.
National Day of Prayer is not one day event. It is ongoing process. We need to vow our knees and pray to God. Not only do we pray for our needs, also, for our nation, president, government, children, education system, entertainment, family, and other nation/social issues. God said in Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
This is not about religion, but it is about relationship with Creator. God created America for purpose. We need to be under His authority and do His-given assignment to us. That assignment is sharing His loving messages to lost souls.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, April 23, 2011
He is Risen
Topic: Gospel
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. (Acts 1:9-11 KJV)
Even though this is the Holy Week, I’m not going to bring why we celebrate Easter Sunday. As I mention in previous messages, the word Easter in KJV does not associate with Resurrection Sunday, but it’s related to Passover Feast. Also, Jesus didn’t die on Good Friday, but Wednesday, and resurrected on Saturday evening. Every action that Jesus takes must foretell by prophets in Old Testament. For example, Isaiah 53 predicts the death of Messiah in Gospels, which is the death of Jesus Christ.
Why Jesus died for us and resurrected on the third day? Read with me in Isaiah 53: “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.“
Jesus did not die for us to give us the demonstration His deity, but for our transgression of sins. Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus did not need to die on the cross for our sins, but He did for us with His blood. But He didn’t just die for our sins.
He resurrected on the third day to identify Himself that He can be with us always. We don’t need to have another god to protect us. There are many religions that claim to have the road to Heaven, but only our relationship with Jesus Christ can make to be with our Heavenly Father eternally.
Are you ready to meet with Jesus Christ? He is not in His tomb, because He resurrected from the grave. Jesus said in John 11:25-26, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” Would you take a moment to evaluate yourself and reunite with God? You may have deeply sorrow experience in your life, but God can restore your life. You may decide to take drug pills or shoot yourself with gun. I’d like to encourage you to stop what you are doing at this moment, and just talk to God as you are talking to your friend. If you’d like to stay in touch with me for further assistance, please don’t hesitate to email me. Please let this day would be the best day of your life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, April 16, 2011
Resurrection of the Dead (Part III)
Topic: Gospel
There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. (Luke 16:19-23 KJV)
I would like to conclude this series with two kinds of resurrection. Most of us may know the story of Lazarus and Rich Man in Luke 16. As we understand the story, the filthy rich man had a wealthy earthly life while Lazarus tried to survive his earthly life. One day, these men died and went to two separate directions to eternality. Lazarus went to his bosom and the rich man ended up to hell. Of course, the rich man tried to escape from the hell by calling Father Abraham, but it was too late for him to repent his sins.
Why do I mention this? Many today’s people don’t have idea where they’d spend eternality. About 80 percent of Americans believe that they’d go to Heaven, but only few percentage of Americans have fully devoted to Jesus Christ. It is devastating to see that some Christians destroy their bodies by tattooing symbols on their bodies and try to live for Christ. This is one of things God doesn’t like to see us to do (see Leviticus). Paul said that we are the temple of God (I Corinthians 3:16). We just cannot put tattoos on our bodies.
The rich man, in Luke 16, didn’t care for God’s children or have any relationship with Him. Even though God doesn’t like to see anyone to go to Hell, He doesn’t have choice to throw this rich man to the dumpster.
Let me ask you this important question. What if you’d die today, where would you spend eternality? If you’d continue to follow this world system, then your resurrection would be in Hell. However, if you’d choose to live for Jesus Christ, then you resurrection would be great. You’d have eternal life with God.
Some today’s preachers do not teach the importance of resurrection, because it’s all about what we want from God. God cannot just send you to Hell unless you’d decide to refuse Him to be your personal Savior and Lord of lords.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, April 2, 2011
Resurrection of the Dead (Part II)
Topic: Gospel
Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (Matthew 27:50-53 KJV)
Before Jesus died on the cross, there was a preview of the rapture of the church. We see that many people began to rise from their graves at the voice of Jesus. Their bodies began to transform into new bodies. We do not know how they transform, but Paul said that “we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump (1 Corinthians 15:51b-52a).”
Some of us may die before the rapture and some may still live to see the event. Even though some biblical scholars may have different views of rapture, we all will face the death and pain as the earth would face the seven-year tribulation. There is no guarantee that we would not experience the pain before Jesus would take us to home. But the Bible guarantees that we will have no more pain when we would enter into Heaven.
Acts 1 gives us a glimpse of the new resurrection of new body. This new body will be spirit. We would able to go through the wall and go to outer space. We cannot be sure how this can be done until we’d receive our spiritual bodies. Also, there will be no people with disabilities after the transformation.
Some preachers still believe that being a person with disability is a punishment from God. This is totally myth. God can bring healing upon a person with disability, because He cares and loves His creation. Even though I have physically disability, my body will be changed dramatically on the day of the last trumpet sound.
Are you ready to meet Jesus on the day of rapture of His church? If not, I would like to encourage you to surrender your life to Him. He wants you to be with Him for eternality.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, March 26, 2011
Resurrection of the Dead (Part I)
Topic: Gospel
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. (I Corinthians 15:3-8 KJV)
Today, I would like to look at the resurrection of the dead. Most today’s preachers do not bring this subject any more. It is important for us that there is another life after we would be gone from this planet. You may hear that Jesus will come back to the earth to take us. But, we may be dead or live to experience the transformation of our bodies.
We would like to begin this topic with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Most of us have learned that Jesus died on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday. This teaching arrived from the Catholicism and not from the biblical aspect. In Matthew 12:39-41, Jesus gave His disciples a sign of Jonas as a key to His death and resurrection. He didn’t die on Friday evening, but Wednesday evening, and resurrected on Saturday evening to signify the Passover the lamb on the Sabbath (Saturday).
When Jesus resurrected, He first went to see Cephas and then twelve apostles. Greek word for Cephas is stone, which Jesus gave another name for Peter (Matthew 16:18). This does not mean Jesus put him over the church, which the Catholic Church takes this verse literally. We must understand we, those who believe in Jesus Christ, all are bodies of the church. The church is universal. In Old Testament, people had to go to the temple to worship God. But, after Jesus resurrected from the dead on the third day, we can worship God at anywhere and anytime. His resurrection signified our freedom from sins. He paid our debt of sins on the cross to demonstrate His love. We need to understand His death is not totally free, even though He freed us from sins. We have to follow Him daily and live for Him.
We cannot experience resurrection until we’d full understand what God has done for us.
Would you like to know Jesus Christ today? I’d like to recommend you to stop things what you are doing for moment and ask Him for forgiveness of your sins and invite Him to your life. If you are Christian and would like to re-vow your commitment to Him, it’s not too late for you to reunite with Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. God wants you to be in His kingdom and live with Him forever, but He cannot force you to be there. You have to choose to go either Heaven or Hell for eternality and there is no other way to spend eternality. Jesus paid your price for you to go Heaven by dying on the cross. Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Now, you have choice which life you’d like to live from now to eternality. Hopefully, you have made right choice for your life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Friday, March 18, 2011
Fasting and Prayer
Topic: Discipline
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:16-18 KJV)
Having a fasting is not easy for anyone to do. It takes a lot of prayers and commitment to do this spiritual journey. Unlike yoga, it helps us to build our relationship with Jesus Christ as well as our inner being. As the Holy Trinity, we also have three instincts for us alive physically—spirit, soul, and body. We need our spirits to function our souls and bodies, but we need build our spirits to connect with God. Paul said in Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
We cannot intercede with God without the Spirit. Remember, when Peter, James and John went to the mountain with Jesus Christ for transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13). After Jesus finished to talk with Moses and Elijah, His three disciples failed to heal a demon-possessed boy (Matthew 17:14-16), because they all failed and slept. They didn’t understand the meaning of His transfiguration.
We just cannot give up on certain food. We need to have the full experience of fasting and prayer as Jesus did at the wilderness. We also need to spend our times with God by praying, praising, and reading His words. Most today Americans said that they are proclaiming to be Christians, but there are few of them can quote Scriptures without looking at the Bible. Again, I say this: We need to put God in our communities, public/private schools, homes, supreme courts, and entertainment industries.
Nowadays, we see that many teenagers are hurting, come from broken-families, or come out from abused condition. When we look at the entertainment industry, MTV and Henry Potter movies are influencing our young people and decided to turn away from God, family members, and friends. Our nation is beginning farther away from God. President Obama is doing anything that would turn this nation far from God.
We need to exercise our spirits in order to fellowship with God and people. We also need to do fasting and prayer to stand firm against Satan. Satan can attack us if we’d decide to invite him to our lives. Satan cannot attack us unless he’d receive permission from us. This is why some America churches are weak, because they didn’t have experienced transfiguration with God. We need fasting and prayer, not because its religious recommendation, but we need our relationship with Him from now and throughout the eternality.
I know most of us would not able to fast and pray for forty days without food, but we could let some of our favorite things go for while and let’s spend our quality time with God. Most of us would have idols in our lives that pull us away from God. Idols don’t have to be made of wood statues, but they can be sport games, food, drinks, spouses, or anything that make in our first priorities in our lives. In 1 John 2:15-17 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” Things are not considered as our enemies, but when we’d have fallen in love things more than God, we’d consider ourselves as enemies of God.
Would you like to know Jesus Christ today? I’d like to recommend you to stop things what you are doing for moment and ask Him for forgiveness of your sins and invite Him to your life. If you are Christian and would like to re-vow your commitment to Him, it’s not too late for you to reunite with Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. God wants you to be in His kingdom and live with Him forever, but He cannot force you to be there. You have to choose to go either Heaven or Hell for eternality and there is no other way to spend eternality. Jesus paid your price for you to go Heaven by dying on the cross. Paul said in Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Now, you have choice which life you’d like to live from now to eternality. Hopefully, you have made right choice for your life.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, March 12, 2011
Beginning of the Birth Pain
Topic: End of the Age
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. (Matthew 24:5-8 KJV)
In Matthew 24, Jesus began to teach His disciples on the last day of the earth. Before His second coming to earth, Jesus warned that there will be a lot of world tragedies would be going on, including deception of the Christian churches.
As we see in our society, world is chaos. We see that many churches are beginning to fall from foundations, Israel is preparing for war against the other nations, and governments are trying to unite together to One World Government. We also began to see there are many natural disasters are occurring in various places. For example, Japan had about 9.0 magnitude of earthquake this past week. These or more are indicating that we are getting closer to return of Jesus Christ. Yet, many people are still unfamiliar His given signs. Weather Islamic messiah would arrive on December 21, 2012 or not, we need to be ready to meet our Lord Jesus Christ.
The world says that there are many ways to Heaven, even some Christian evangelists said this (such as Billy Graham, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copland, Paul Crouch). But there is only one way to Heaven, which is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Are you ready to meet Jesus Christ? If you are new to Christianity, I’d like to welcome you to God’s family. I’d like to suggest you to visit at MGJC Web Ministry at www.mgjcweb.org to explore who God is, what God has planned for your life, and it helps you to build your personal relationship with Him. If you’d need any assistance, please feel free to email me at www.mgjcweb.org/contact.html.
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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Saturday, January 8, 2011
Journey through Life
Topic: New Year
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; (John 5:24-26 KJV)
Living a life on earth is a journey toward our eternal home. God puts us on this world temporary until He would take us to home. Most people would believe that our homes are the only on earth. However, we are only journeying through life.
Nowadays, most Christian leaders are teaching us how God bless us by gaining material possession. Even though God could bless us through material possession, we should seek His face, not His hands, to get closer relationship with Him. In this passage, Jesus said that whoever hears His word have everlasting life. Words of our mouths have powerful weapons to deliver to other people. They can kill other peoples’ lives or build life. We have choices what kind of words out from our own mouth.
Currently, our U.S. Congress is trying to put down the Obama Healthcare, because the Americans believe that this healthcare is destroying the American lives, especially lives of unborn children. Once Americans selected Barak H. Obama as the next U.S. President, it will be hard to give him advice to change his new legislations. We let him to sign the Military Gay Rights and socialism version of healthcare. Only we can change the America back as it was is through the power of prayer. We need to put the name of God in communities, schools, and our governments. We cannot change anything until we’d reunite with Him first.
Most TV evangelists would believe that December 21, 2012 would be the beginning of the Last Day. I do not believe this date as the day of Armageddon, but we should be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. We should continue to walk through our journey of lives. Even though Jesus died for our sins, it doesn’t mean that we have nothing to pay. We have to live for Him and continue to do His mission that He gave us to do (Matthew 28:18-20). Will you continue to walk through journey of life since Jesus began His journey for you to do?
Posted by MGJC Web Ministry
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