Zion, sit enthroned !

Isaiah 52:1-6 Zion, sit enthroned !
God said to the Israelites who were carried to Babylonia as the captives. "Without money you will be redeemed. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. Therefore you will know my name."
And God asked the Israelites with this words. "Awake Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor. Shake off your dust."
It means that God will do new things for the Israelites and the Israelites have to go forward with God with the new thought. We believe this prophetic words of God was not only given to the Israelites but also to us, so that this year will be the year of blessing, year of prosperity, year of glory and year of revival. Let's greet each other "Something good will be happened to us !"
Today God also said to the Israelites. "Rise up. Sit enthroned !" At that time it was beyond the imagination for the Israelites to be enthroned. But God promised to enthrone the Israelites, to make them Cinderellas, stars and kings.
How could it be happened ? When they heard this news through the prophet Isaiah that they would be set free from the slavery of Bablyonians, it was the shocking news to them. But today God said to them, "I will make you kings !"
Oh, how great news to them ! It sounds like a lie. But we believe this words will be done just as God said, because God is not a liar.
Let's see Joseph in the bible. He was kidnapped by his step brothers. He was sold as a slave. And he was falsely accused of trying to rape the wife of his master Potiphar. He was in prison for years.
If Joseph would be set free from the prison, we can say it is a miracle or dream. Furthermore we cannot imagine even in the dream that Joseph would be enthroned to the prime minister of Egypt. But God enthroned him to the prime minister of Egypt. God raised him to the seat of glory from the seat of slave.
Brothers and sisters, our God rewards us for our labour not only in the kingdom of heaven but also in this world. Therefore Jesus said, "No one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age and in the age to come, eternal life." (Mark 10:29-30)
That is, God rewards us who work for the kingdom of heaven, and he let us be prosperous not only in the kingdom of heaven but also in this world as well.
Let's see Joseph. God enthroned him to the prime minister to save the people and his family from the 7 years of severe famine. Likewise God wants to enthrone us to save the people of this age from the spiritual famine.
Just like Joseph was refined and trained by God, so was we trained and tested in the furnace of affliction, so that we can distinguish what is right, what is wrong, what is good and what is evil, and we can realize, "Aha, we have to believe in Jesus with the pure heart, with the thankfulness, faithfulness and obedience even in the hard times !"
God trains, refines and enthrones us to teach others how to believe in God. To be enthroned does not mean to be arrogant but to be the model to others and to teach others with the good examples, and to be set free from the slavery and negative thinking.
Just like Joseph became the good leader through the many sufferings, we can be also the good leaders through the many hardships. And just like the refined Joseph taught the people, don't you think we have to teach the other church members who are to come in our church ? God tells us to sit enthroned. Why ? To teach others with the good examples.
Brothers and sisters, think of yourselves. Are you the good leaders who can be enthroned by God like Joseph ? I hope you to answer like this, "Lord, I want to be enthroned. I want to be the good leader. I want to make our church the best church and blessed church. Lord, lead me to be the model to the others."
I am sure if we have this attitude, this year 2002 will be the best year to us, and God will bless us with his rich blessings.
Brothers and sisters, don't you think we have to believe in God with the good attitude and with the faithfulness and with our whole heart ? How sad and regretable it is if we do not believe in God with our whole heart in this foreign land ?
Don't you think we have to believe in God with our whole heart and with our deed even though we did not believe in God with our heart in the past ? Don't you think we have to make a decision, "Lord, I want to believe in you with my whole heart. Lord, give me strength and power so that I can do everything for you !"
God gives power to those who make a decision to believe in God with their whole heart, so that they may overcome the world. And Jesus says, "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne." (Rev 3:21)
It was not easy that the Israelites kept faith in God in the foreign land. But God promised to enthrone them who overcame. Likewise God promised to enthrone us who overcome and keep our faith in this foreign land.
You and I are to be enthroned in the kingdom of heaven and rule over all the universe. And we are to be respected even in this world. Therefore shake off the dust of shame, and take off the clothes of the slaves, and put on the garments of the kings, and sit enthroned. Today God says to us, "Zion, sit enthroned !" Amen !