Pivot Point

Turn Around to God: Stop, Look, Go

[Scripture Reading]

1)For today’s sermon, let us turn to the book of Ephesians 5:15-21. Let us all rise and recite the scripture together. I’ll read one verse, and you the other and let’s recite the last verse together. Word of the Lord.

Ephesians 5:15–21 (NIV)

2)15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

3)17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

4)19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

[Welcome]

Good morning PW. Welcome to the last Sunday worship service of 2024. Let’s take this time to greet one another. Let’s turn to our neighbors and greet by saying. 5)“Good Job!” That is right everyone you all did a great job in living 2024. I hope that 2025 will be even better and that you all grow to be more like Christ in the following year.

[Sermon]

6)According to Wikitionary, ‘Pivot Point’ means the central point of any rotational system. To simplify this definition, it means a point where something changes it’s direction. It is a place or a point where change happens. When we apply this to our Christian lives, pivot point is a moment where we encounter Jesus. It is time where we change according to meeting Jesus in our lives. Last week I shared with you all that people could never change according to their own will but change comes only through Jesus. And I also shared that every moment through the scripture we should change to be more like Jesus. So, today, I would like to emphasize for a change through today’s scripture. Before we finish of 2024 and meet 2025. Through today’s scripture let us meet Jesus and change to prepare for the New Year. Let today be the pivot point for our journey with Christ Jesus in 2025.

Every morning, I would spend at least 7)5 mins in front of my bathroom mirror to check the status quo of the catastrophe that is happening on my face. I was never handsome, but what I realize is that as I get older and older, my facial hair grows with its own will. Mustache, beard, eyebrows and etc. I would shave, I would groom my eyebrows, disconnect the unibrow that is happening. But my priority in my time in front of the mirror is the hair in my nostrils. I never grew quick in my life, but the supposedly protective hair in my nostrils they grow to a speed of bamboos. You know bamboos grow 3 feet a day. I know, my nostril hair does not grow 3 feet a day, but I would always need to check if the hair is sticking out or not every day. I need them to protect my sinus, so I can’t wax them out, but I would trim and cut them every morning. Once I am done, I would look into the mirror for the last time and take care of all the other defects that I can correct and I would take a shower. That would be one of my morning rituals. And even during the day, whenever I go to the bathroom, before I would step out, I would check my face. You know 외모 Check. I know you all don’t check your nostrils but don’t you all do that? It might not be in the bathroom. You guys might use your own hand held mirrors to check how you look. Why? To reflect and to see if you are alright. Some of you guys might check your hair, your make up, your fit and your looks and if the current situation does not seem right, you alter and adjust the way you look. Guys, this is also another example of a pivot point. You look stop for a second and check how you look and change the way you look. Also, this is what today’s scripture tells us to do.

Now Ephesians is a book written by Paul to the church in Ephesus while Paul was in the Roman prison. Paul is urging his disciples to live as a united church and in chapter 5, he encourages the church to live a wisdom filled life. Why, because the Ephesian church was living a foolish life. Let’s read verses 15 through to 16. On the count of 3. 1, 2, 3.

Ephesians 5:15–16 (NIV)

8)15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Paul is saying, “Stop being a fool and live a wise life.” Why? Because the days are evil.

Life is a constant battle against evil. Some are notable and some are not. But for you to differentiate what is Good and what is evil, be wise. If you make unwise choices, then you are losing this battle against evil. This is what Paul is saying to the church in Ephesus. So, what we can know from these verses that the people in Ephesus they were making dumb choices and lost their battle against the evil one.

But now, you can ask, “How can we win then?” For the way to be wise, lets read verses 17 through to 18. On the count of 3. 1, 2, 3.

Ephesians 5:17–18 (NIV)

9)17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

So, to make this wise choice, we need to know the Lord’s will. How do you do that? Be filled with the Holy Spirit. To be in a state of being filled with the Spirit, if you were to fill a cup with water, it is at a point just before tipping. Just before spilling is being filled. So, if you were to filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no room for something else and you would be under the influence of the Holy Spirit. That is why Paul talks about getting drunk. I hope you all haven’t experienced being drunk. To be drunk means that you are under the influence of alcohol. What happens to drunkards? They can’t control their body to their own will. They move and do according to the influence of alcohol. So to be wise, to live according to the will of our lord, you would need to be under the influence of the Spirit. Do what the spirit tells us to do. And what does it tell us to do? Ephesians 5:19-21

Ephesians 5:19–21 (NIV)

10)19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,

20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Paul tells the church 3 things. Sing Praise Worship God! Then give thanks to God. Finally serve one another. This is a spirit lead life.

To summarize this whole passage, 1. Stop and check if you are living a wise life. 2. check if you know the Lord’s will which you could know through the spirit and thens 3. that is shown by worshipping, thanksgiving and serving one another.

The reason I chose this passage today, is because it tells us the right way to reflect on our lives. It sets the standard for us to look into our lives to make the change needed. This is our pivot point for 2025. So, according to this scripture, God is telling us to stop and reflect. Ask yourself this question. Has my choices in 2024 wise? Did I make wise choices? Did I live according to God’s will? Did the Holy Spirit truly lead my life? Did I worship God with all my heart. Did I give thanks for everything? Did I serve others like how I would serve Jesus? We might have done all, we might have done 1 or 2. We might not have done even 1. But whatever the case, God is telling us right now. In 2025 I want to you all to do these 3 things. I want you to do it to the fullest.

This applies for me too. I tried and succeeded few but I most of them was a swing and a miss. I ignored the spirit. I thought I could do things on my own. But even the little things I needed the guidance from the spirit. I lacked gratitude. I was full of anger instead. I served others not as to serve Jesus but for my self and to feel good. In other words, 2024 was a year where my arrogance was in control. But as I reflect on my life as I preach, I want to make that commitment. You guys as my witness, I will do my best to be humble to worship, give thanks to God and serve others like how I would serve Jesus. This is my pivot point and I want to change for Jesus have given me this heart through today’s scripture. And today, I welcome you all to take this pledge with me.

Who wants today to be their pivot point and change in 2025? Then lets all pray like this. Father God, I want to change. Father God, I want to be under the influence of the Spirit within me. I want to live according to your will and live to worship you. Live to give thanks to you and live to serve others. Give me the heart and strength to do so, so that I could live the life that you would want me to live. Let us pray.

[Response]

Holy Forever

[Benediction]

Wonder Good

New Years

Statement of Faith

Jean pregnant