Whose Son is the Messiah?

Luke 20:41-47

Key Verse 42b, 43

“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

1. Read verses 41-42. What might have prompted Jesus to say this? (39) What question did Jesus ask them? (41) What did David say about Jesus in Psalm 110? (42) Who are ‘the Lord’ and ‘my Lord’? What does this conversation reveal about who Jesus is?

2. Read verses 43-44. How does the Lord make His enemies a footstool for his feet? (43, Php 2:6-11) What can we learn from his declaration? What was the relationship between David and my ‘Lord’? (44)

3. Read verses 45-47. What was Jesus’ warning to His disciples about the teachers of the law? (45-47a) Why will they be punished most severely? (47b) How can we avoid becoming like them?

Whose Son is the Messiah?

Luke 20:41-47

Key Verse 42b, 43

“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

Introduction

In the previous lessons, religious leaders came up with questions to trap Jesus. But today Jesus took initiative to question the teachers of the law in order to teach them who the Son of God is. Jesus must have thought that the teachers of the law were in charge of a very important task to teach the people with God’s words. When they had an unhealthy view about Jesus, the outcome of their teaching was devastating. Jesus had a shepherd heart for them. May the Lord help us not to repeat the same mistake as these religious leaders. Instead, may we grow as Bible teachers who have correct knowledge about Jesus in this confusing generation.

1. Read verses 41-42. What might have prompted Jesus to say this? (39) What question did Jesus ask them? (41) What did David say about Jesus in Psalm 110? (42) Who are ‘the Lord’ and ‘my Lord’? What does this conversation reveal about who Jesus is?

1-1, Read verses 41-42.

Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

1-2, What might have prompted Jesus to say this? (39)

Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!” 40 And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

• The Sadducees were silenced, and no one asked any more questions.

• But some of the teachers of the law, so impressed by Jesus’ Bible teaching, called out, “Well said, teacher!”

• But Jesus wasn’t going to forge a political alliance with the teachers of the law. Instead, Jesus points out a problem in their teaching regarding the Messiah.

1-3, What question did Jesus ask them? (41)

Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David?

• Teachers taught about the coming Messiah as the Son of David. They were looking forward to a descendant of David who would retake the throne and herald in a new age of Jewish dominance.

1-4, What did David say about Jesus in Psalm 110? (42)

David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand (Mark 12:36a)

• This Old Testament verse is the most quoted verse in the New Testament.

1-5, Who are ‘the Lord’ and ‘my Lord’?

• Surely David wasn’t referring to himself as “my lord,” nor was God referring to himself, and so David and God must’ve been addressing someone else of great importance: the messiah!

• In English, the same word "Lord" appears twice. But in Hebrew these are two different words.

• The first "Lord" is translated from "Yahweh" and refers to the sacred name of God.

• The second "Lord" is translated from "Adonai" and refers to the one who is absolutely sovereign.

• In the Ten Commandments, the people of Israel were warned against abusing or misusing the sacred name of God, Yahweh.

• The Jewish people became very careful about guarding themselves, lest they be found guilty of blasphemy.

• To do so, they devised different titles which became substitutes for the name Yahweh.

• The supreme title of substitution was Adonai, meaning, the one who is sovereign over the kings of the world.

1-6, What does this conversation reveal about who Jesus is?

• What David wrote in Psalm 110:1 was: “Yahweh says to my Adonai.” God is having a conversation with someone whom David is addressing as Adonai.

• And Adonai is God’s title. It is that supreme title, the title reserved for God himself, which is bestowed upon Jesus Christ.

• In short, David was saying, “Jesus is God, the one who is absolutely sovereign over the kings of the world.”

2. Read verses 43-44. How does the Lord make His enemies a footstool for his feet? (43, Php 2:6-11) What can we learn from his declaration? What was the relationship between David and my ‘Lord’? (44)

2-1, Read verses 43-44.

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ 44 David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

2-2, How does the Lord make His enemies a footstool for his feet? (43, Php 2:6-11)

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2-3, What can we learn from his declaration?

• First of all, both God and Jesus struck a conversation.

• God the Father said to God the Son, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”

• God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit have complete unity according to John 17:23. Still they have three entities, similar to our state.

• Our federal government has 3 parts: the Executive, (President and about 5,000,000 workers) Legislative (Senate and House of Representatives) and Judicial (Supreme Court and lower Courts).

• The President of the United States administers the Executive Branch of our government. He enforces the laws that the Legislative Branch (Congress) makes.

• God the Father is declaring His solemn laws and His words of promise. (Genesis 3:15)

• God the Spirit convicts us regarding sin, righteousness, and judgement. (John 16:5-16)

• God the Son, Jesus Christ is in charge of executive duties, performing critical deeds such as creation, administration, and judgment.

John 1:1- 3 reads,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Colossians 1:15-19 reads,

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,

John 5:22 reads,

Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

• Above all, what Jesus focused on was to lower Himself (becoming incarnate God) to reconcile us back to God.

Colossians 1:20-22 reads,

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior.22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation

• Although Jesus is God, He humbled Himself like a servant of God. He did this to fulfill God’s will on the cross as the Lamb of God.

• Against all odds, Jesus chose to trust His Heavenly Father to the end.

• His mind must have been heavy due to the fact that He would be crucified soon according to God’s will.

• On the cross He exclaimed, “Why do you forsake me?” But there was no answer from above. He had to die lonely. He yielded Himself to the utter darkness by becoming sin and a curse.

• But that was not all. God raised Him from the dead and put all His enemies under His feet, making them His footstool.

1 Corinthians 5:20-28 reads,

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

2-4, What was the relationship between David and my ‘Lord’? (44)

David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

• Although David was Jesus’ grand grand ancestor physically, Jesus was before David.

Revelation 22:12-13 reads,

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

• Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. So David, a human king was a mere servant of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 19:11-16 reads,

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

• David went through one battle after another. His life must have been hard due to continuous battles from every direction.

• The book of Psalm depicts how tough his life must have been!

• However he sanctified his hardships to know the Messiah deeper.

• It reminds us of what his son, Solomon said in 1 Kings 5:1-5.

When Hiram king of Tyre heard that Solomon had been anointed king to succeed his father David, he sent his envoys to Solomon, because he had always been on friendly terms with David. 2 Solomon sent back this message to Hiram:

3 “You know that because of the wars waged against my father David from all sides, he could not build a temple for the Name of the Lord his God until the Lord put his enemies under his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side, and there is no adversary or disaster. 5 I intend, therefore, to build a temple for the Name of the Lord my God, as the Lord told my father David, when he said, ‘Your son whom I will put on the throne in your place will build the temple for my Name.’

• Although David was a shepherd boy, he had personal faith in the Lord.

• From the beginning of his success against lions in the field or Goliath, he relied on the name of the Lord in facing his enemies.

• As a result, he was able to win victories no matter where he went.

• Likewise he must have received one word through God’s word of declaration.

“Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies a footstool for your feet”

• The first and foremost step that we might have is to have trust in our Lord and King, Jesus Christ just as David had done throughout his lifetime, thick or thin.

• All he had to do is to sit and rest assured in his God, admitting the fact that he is helpless and hopeless, asking for God’s mercy through many prayers.

• God is the living God as we learned in previous lessons.

• Likewise David believed God is living and working amidst any difficulty he faced.

• It was the one and only secret through which he claimed victories - one after another.

• Praise Jesus who became the ultimate victor who helps each of us to claim the same victory as His co-heirs.

• May the Lord help us to trust in our Lord and King so that we may not succumb to any problems and challenges.

• May the Lord help us to grow in our personal faith and fight our battle to the end for God’s glory.

3. Read verses 45-47. What was Jesus’ warning to His disciples about the teachers of the law? (45-47a) Why will they be punished most severely? (47b) How can we avoid becoming like them?

3-1, Read verses 45-47.

45 While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

3-2, What was Jesus’ warning to His disciples about the teachers of the law? (45-47a)

While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, 46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers.

• When they had shallow knowledge about Jesus, their practical lives were terrible as described above.

• Rather than promoting the good of others, they became rotten leaders.

• Praise Jesus who helped them to open their spiritual eyes although he was about to enter Jerusalem for his death on the cross.

Isa 30:15 says,

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” May the Lord help us increase our faith to trust in Him more.

3-3, Why will they be punished most severely? (47b)

These men will be punished most severely.”

3-4, How can we avoid becoming like them?

• We can avoid becoming like them through following Jesus’ humble and sacrificial life on earth.

• He is like a prototype for those who follow him.

Mark 8:34-38 reads,

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

• Jesus wanted to protect His disciples from the bad influences of the religious leaders. He wanted them to follow His in his footsteps after His death, resurrection, and ascension.

• May the Lord help us to avoid false teachings in our times and follow Jesus to the end. As we do this by serving the will of God for us, challenging campus mission with absolute trust and faith.

Matthews 28:18-20 reads,

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Mark 16:15-20 reads,

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Conclusion

Today’s passage is a great comfort for us in that we are engaged in spiritual battle daily. But the Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool at your feet.” We can rest assured with God’s word of promise in any challenging situation. May the Lord help us to claim Jesus’ victory in our mission life and in our remaining earthly lives. May we do this by repenting of all negative ideas and words so that we may follow Jesus’ footstep in serving God humbly. May we claim the ultimate victory in Him. Amen.

One word: Sit at my right hand!

Sit at My Right Hand

Luke 20:41-47, Key Verses 42, 43, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

Have you heard about a new sport called “gravedigging contest”? Contests are judged on the appearance of the grave. So each gravedigger labor in the heat and calculate the precise measurement of each plot. The Sadducees were like gravediggers, for they did not know the living God. They were stuck in this age, digging into a nonsense question. In the previous passage, Jesus silenced them. Now another gravediggers, teachers of the law being impressed by Jesus said, “Well said, teacher!” Those days they were wrongly looking forward to a descendant of David who can defeat all Israel’s enemies and bring in a new kingdom of David to make Israel nation great again. Their view about the Son of David was political, trying to fit their own narrow nationalism. They could not see beyond their thought. How about their practical lives? Look at v 45-47. “While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples, “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.” They were very sensitive to people’s recognition. They lived before people. Their religious establishment was their Lord for their glory in this world. They were different from David, who was a man after God’s own heart. Jesus told his disciples to beware of them. Especially the desire for prominence rather than selfless service; the desire for self seeking rather than seeking to promote the good of others. God was not pleased with them. Jesus was quite opposite from them. Jesus was a man of sorrows and sufferings. Jesus was a man of obedience to his Father until he would die soon on the cross. Jesus lived as a shepherd deciding to serve, rather than to be served. Jesus seemed to be a loser from their view. But Jesus will claim ultimate victory. To help them out, Jesus now quoted Ps 110, the theme of which is the ultimate victory of David’s Lord.

Part 1, My Lord Jesus is the Victor. Look at v 41-44. “Then Jesus said to them, “Why is it said that the Messiah is the son of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?” The Lord said to my Lord. David was not referring to himself as “my lord.” God was not referring to himself either. God and David must’ve mentioned someone else of great importance:the messiah! In English, the same word "Lord" appears twice. But in Hebrew these are two different words. The first "Lord" is translated from "Yahweh," referring to the sacred name of God. The second "Lord" is translated from "Adonai," referring to the one who is absolutely sovereign. The people of Israel were warned against abusing the sacred name of God, Yahweh. So they invented it’s different titles, the supreme title of which was Adonai, meaning, the one who is sovereign over the kings of the world. So it means, “Yahweh said to my Adonai.” or, “The Lord, God the Father said to my Lord, the Messiah the Son, Jesus Christ.” Physically David is the ancestor of Jesus Christ. But Jesus Christ was with God in the beginning. He is God and became flesh. Because teachers of law had shallow knowledge about Jesus Christ, they puzzled, “How did David call Jesus ‘Lord’? “How then can he be the Lord of David?” That was ridiculous! But Jesus having absolute ownership over the king David came to this world according to God’s promise through David. In Rev 1:8, Jesus says, “Before David was, I am. I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa 9:6b)

The Lord said to my Lord! Here through this intimate conversation, I personally noticed love and trust relationship between God the Father and His Son. One day Jesus points out, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Jesus knew all that He needed to know. He came to know as much as his Father was pleased to reveal to him. The Father had shared with him as much about the mystery of redemption as Jesus needed to know. In Ge 1:26, God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over” Now Jesus would be crucified in a few days. Jesus had to submit to knowing partially like a human being. He had to obey without knowing all of the facts, and to walk by faith without having the whole picture. He cried on the cross, “Why do you forsake me?” He suffered as one who did not have all the answers. He had to ask God why. He became sin, and had been banished to utter darkness. That was a harsh reality that David’s Lord chose to do. He had to serve within the limitations of humankind. But he did not doubt God at all. Nor did he utter negative words. Nor did he confuse despite Satan’s accusation. He trusted His Father to the end. When he died, it is not the end of the story. God raised him up from the dead. God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2) So Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the Father’s eternal throne. (Heb 8:1) Teachers of law must have studied hard God’s words. They must have known who Jesus is by now, because all the writings in the Scripture was about Jesus Christ. But their eyes were too blind to accept Jesus as their Lord, much less surrender themselves to Him.

“Who is my Lord?” has been a timeless question throughout history. In the early Christian era the world declared, “Caesar is the Lord.” But the Christians never compromised with their belief that only Jesus is their Lord, even though their lives were in great danger. In our times, people in authority, in the university, religion, pleasure seeking lifestyle, & under the name of democracy, try to get rid of Jesus as the Lord. Under the advanced technology culture, we’ve had many benefits. But people are addicted more on their phones, social media, and apps. Many believe that soon virtual reality will be the future of communicating and socializing, encapsulating the world. Silicon Valley think tank envisions that nanotechnology can make humans immortal by 2040. However it will reduce human dignity, and weaken our relationship with God. “Hot or not” becomes girl’s daily obsession by posting their sexy bodies. In this way our enemy, the Devil enslaves young people shrewdly. People consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than anything else. Success is frequently defined by material gain. Happiness and relationships are 2ndary to income. We seem to lose ground due to the persistent invasion of our inner enemy through high tech and money centered value system. But it is not true! Still Jesus is the Lord in our culture and the most liberal state of CA. Heb 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The whole world is in his hands like the Children’s song, “He’s got the whole wild world in His hands.” We know, in history any fads or trends followed by an enthusiastic group of people for a limited time period will come and go regardless of their popularity. No matter how great world leaders are, they all disappear from the stage of history in a matter of time. But whoever promotes evil practices must stand before the judgement seat of Jesus.

There are many believers who accept Jesus as their Saviour, but not as their Lord. They believe according to their desires and ideas for the gain in this world. We should firmly believe that He is the Lord of all people and the whole universe is His. Once we experience deeper relationship with the Lord, our living God, all material gain, pleasure seeking, and high tech turned out to be a sheer joke. Once we tap into infinite grace and love in the Lord, we experience contentment. Godliness with contentment is great gain! This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength (Isa 30:15) As for young people it’s important to find good meetings and churches. Yet, what matters the most is whether we know who the Lord is and commit our lives to him, entrusting our security, marriage, and all things in life to Him and live by faith in the Lord, our Lord and the Lord of all. Then the Lord will lead us in his best way for His purpose. Apostle Paul said in Rm 14:8, “If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” May it be our same confession of faith.

Part 2, Sit at my right hand. In this part let us think about what is the real difference in our daily lives when we know Jesus as our Lord and the Champion God chose? Please look at the key verse. The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. Take notice of the first command word, “sit”. In the OT, did you ever wonder the reason why the priests never sat down? There was no chair in the tabernacle or temple, because their work was never finished. But Jesus sat down, because His work is finished. Heb 10:11–14 reads, “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” So Jesus does sit and expect His Father to bring all His defeated enemies under His feet, meaning that defeated enemies were brought back in chains and the victorious king would sit on his throne and put his feet on the backs of his defeated enemies as a sign of victory. Paul wrote this quotation repeatedly in 1Co 15. “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put everything under his feet.” Eph 1:22,23 reads, “God also placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body.” God’s Word is the truth and He keeps His Word. God is telling us to have the same attitude as Jesus—to sit, while He makes our enemies a footstool for us. So with each passing day, we have all things, including the defeated enemies and all kinds of curses, being put under our feet. It is not one time transaction, but reliably repetitive pattern throughout history. In Gen 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Since Adam failed from love fellowship with the Lord, God promised to send Jesus to defeat the Satan. Despite all backsliding of his descendants, without fail God called one person Abraham to be an ancestor of faith for God’s redemption. When God chose a young boy David, God put all his enemies under his feet as well. (1Ki 5:3) When a general Joshua conquered the promised land, he dealt with defeated 5 kings by saying, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” (Jos 10:24-25) In Rev 3:8-9, “You have kept my word and have not denied my name… I will make them come and fall down at your feet.” In fact this promise, Ps110:1 is the most frequently quoted v. in the New Testament.

“The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ God doesn’t say to us, “Wait until all your enemies have been destroyed, until every problem in your life has been resolved, then you can sit.” Rather he says, “Sit, that means to trust and rest assured first rather than being anxious until I make all your enemies your footstool.” What is our natural response when it comes to challenging problems? “Let me fix this situation first, and then I can relax” Our human nature is inclined toward worry. In our brain, fight/flight center oftenly hijacked a center of logic and reason. Likewise the devil loves to see human nature reign and have us believe that we can be sure when only things go well. But the problems never end! That is the problem. That’s why God says to us, “Seek first His Kingdom & His righteousness, all these things will be given to you as well.”

Sit at my right hand! Here the word “sit” is also the same meaning with “rest”. Heb 3:11 reads, So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’’ Here God called the promised land “My rest”. However, when the Israelites almost entered the promised land, they chose to believe the negative report of the 10 spies because of giants from the Anakites. (Num 13:33) Instead of focusing on God’s goodness and promise, the Israelites focused on their giant enemies and were fearful, anxious, and doubtful. But God in Deut 9 says, “But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly as the Lord has promised you.” Because God is bigger than any problem we have, God wants us to have faith. Caleb set a good example in keeping his faith more than 45 years. As we have faith in God, God works! God takes notice of one person like Caleb, beginning His mighty work and giving him the Hebron where the Anakites resided.

By faith we will rule with our King of kings, Lord of lords! Rev 3:21 says, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.” With this in mind, we only need to take up a kingly and queenly attitude and rest in Him. Further we never lose our 20/20 vision. Isa 54:1–2 says “Sing, barren woman, you who have never bore a child; burst into song, and shout for joy, you who were never labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has husband.” says the LORD. Enlarge the place of your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” Here the “barren woman” is a picture of someone who has not seen immediate outcomes. God never meant for us to be barren. God blessed man to be fruitful from the beginning. But the devil come and say to us, “A mother of many? Where is your Bible student?” Don’t listen to him. God wants us to trust Him before we see the fruit. So we rest in the midst of our problems and scarce fruit. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” By trusting in Jesus’ words, we serve His world mission. How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news? Despite many rejection, we are engaged in fishing, 1 to 1 and disciple making ministry even in this Summer, for God guarantees victory.

Lately due to my broken conditions, especially with my son, Hope. He ran away after staying at men’s house more than 100 days and wandered again on the street for 50 days. Although he came back this week, I was down and I felt like helpless because of his chronic sickness. It was hard to be motivated when I felt that I was powerless. I withdrew to my cave and wanted to have my own space. But through meditating this passage, I realized that my negative thoughts, doubt, and confusion was not natural but came from Satan. I was still liable for downloading his accusation without resisting. I better take captive all my negative thoughts. I newly renewed my heart by accepting key verse. “The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ Although Jesus was weak to human eyes, he became the Lord sitting at the right hand of His Father in Heaven when He trusted and surrendered himself to His Father. I must look at myself from His point of view as His servant and His coheir sitting next to him. Instead of being in the doldrum, I must live a life by resurrection faith. I better imitate Jesus. I chose and accepted my mission life from my Lord Jesus through His Words of promise. So God will surely make all my enemies a footstool at my feet. Just God’s timing is not due yet. Just I have to trust in Him and follow His step. I should not be discouraged in the middle, for His victory is guaranteed by God. Today’s key verse is a powerful reminder of His victory. May the Lord help me to trust in Him and have attitude of “let go, let live, let God” rather than being anxious about anything. All I have to do is to believe my God and His Words of promise. God is in control. Control over others or things is not mine but it is my obsession. I don’t have to control small or big. Just let God! I pray and take life one step at a time. I confess, “God is good and God’s love never fails.” Now I learned how to be a successful father and a Bible teacher. It is to love my sons and Bible students with God’s love. I will rest in God’s love by believing that they will come back to God, although most of time it may pass my deadline. I am now grateful, even by the fact that I have an addict son, not because he is sick, but because I learn how to trust my Lord in any situation and be grateful always. I now come to trust my Lord more and more. From now on, my job is not to criticize them or control them, but bless and release them by resting myself in God’s love. Let us read the key word, “The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.””

One word: Sit at my right hand