Today I'd like to share the grace of God under the title, "The Threefold Blessing." We ought to know where we are so that we may find out how to live. If we understand the meaning of sufferings we go through on earth today and the covenant of life given to us in Jesus Christ, we can live with a courageous faith. If we realize what kind of pain and suffering we are in and why Jesus has came to us, we can have a bold faith in our hearts. John Calvin, the Reformist, said that as long as human beings don't realize who God is they cannot find who they are. It is true. No matter what others say, we can recognize the true identity of us only if we know who God is. How can we realize who we are without knowing God? Psalm 8:5-6 says, "Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." When we look up to God who created us, he says, "I have made you a little lower than God." What an astonishing word! He created us a little lower than himself. "And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet." God has put all the creations under our feet to rule over them as his agent. He definitely declares that humankind is the creation of God and also his agent on the earth. As we clearly recognize this truth, we can discern who God is and who we are so we will overcome any circumstances. First, we are his masterpiece among his creations. Humankind is quite different from animals. Those who have claimed that we have been evolved from monkeys do not belong to our category. The Bible says that God created humankind according to his image and likeness. You will know God through yourself, who is his image and likeness. You are made as God, his masterpiece. You are not created randomly. "Whatever will be will be. I don't care whether I live or die!" You should not underestimate yourself like this! You are not only his creation but also his agent on the earth. Before the fall, we ruled over all the creations. Even now after the fall, we humans have been conquering and ruling over the earth, haven't we? Genesis 1:27-28 says, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground." God gave us two orders. Please repeat after me, "Subdue the earth and rule over it." You and I are destined to conquer and preside over our destiny and circumstances. Not ruled by them but actively overcome and control them. It is the fundamental purpose of God in his creation of humankind. Then what happens in reality? Since we have challenged his sovereignty, we are being punished. After God created Adam and Eve, he said to them, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden. This Garden of Eden is your home. There is no greater being than you on the earth. However, there is one condition. You may eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." Why did he say this? The knowledge of good and evil means the sovereignty of God to decide good or bad. "Only God can have the casting vote on this. You must believe in what God orders and obey and follow it." This is quite significant. God has made humans so great that he has given us the freedom of choice. Through this he wants us to commit the right of decision to him and to obey his choice absolutely. To test whether we choose obedience or not, he put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Then the devil tempted our human ancestors. He said to Eve, "When you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, deciding good and evil. You may get abreast of God." When Eve saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Both of them ate the fruit against God's sovereignty. They ate what they were told not to. Since they violated God's order, they rebelled against him. What was the result of their sin? Their soul died! God once said, "When you eat from it you will certainly die." Their soul was dead and the fellowship with God stopped. Then the ground was cursed and began to produce thorns and thistles. The earth of which center was once the Garden of Eden was surrounded by thorns and thistles and began to be deserted. To cultivate this for our living, we have to sweat on our brow. Then God said, "For dust you are and to dust you will return." How sorrowful! Since we are dust, we have to return to it. Would we return to dust without any suffering? In order to do that, all kinds of diseases and pain attack our body so it would be broken down and end up a handful of dust. Thus human beings are crushed by sins and guilt, trampled down by emptiness and meaninglessness, and suffer from the fear of death and nothingness only to disappear. Genesis 3:17-19 says, "To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat from it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." What a frustrating declaration! The devil seduced Adam and Eve to rebel against God so he caused the huge tragedy in which their soul died and they were cursed in everything and would return to dust in the end. Even today we should discern the work of the devil. The Bible says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."(Jn. 10:10) Who is this thief? The devil is the universal robber. Why did he become the devil? Originally he was once called Lucifer, the archangel. He was created as a beautiful archangel who was a little lower than God. However, he fell into self-intoxication to challenge God to be equal to him. As he tempted Adam and Eve to rebel against God, he confronted God. He tried to raise his throne above the stars of God and to rule like him, but he was cast down from heaven. It was the devil, Satan who was brought down with two thirds of the angels in heaven to the earth. Then all the things that the devil is doing are to disturb God, but he cannot stand in the way of God directly. How could God and the devil confront? God is a Creator and the devil is his creation. Therefore, God suffered most when those who were created in his image confronted him. It would hurt him, so the devil has been doing his best in indirectly causing people to rebel against God. In Job, we can find the normal activity of the devil among humankind. He robs us of everything. In Job 1:6-11, "One day the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD," The sons of God indicate the angels. "and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” God transcends time and space so he can present everywhere simultaneously, but the devil has to roam. He is quite different from God. He is unable to exist every place at the same time. "Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Look at here! The devil incited God against Job and accused him saying, "Job has not respected God without cause. Since God protected and blessed him, he admired him. If God withdraws his protection and prosperity from him, he will surely rebel and curse God." So the devil challenged God to take back his blessings from Job. Job in the Bible is the story among God, the devil and Job and the three of them are closely connected. Even in his trials and sufferings Job did not complain or lament before God as he did not surrender to the devil's wish. In the hardest situation, Job overcame the fiery trial of the devil without murmuring against God to be a model believer giving glory to God. The Bible says that he received the double portion of blessings than before. Even nowadays the devil has tried to overthrow us to complain against God with accidents and disasters, diseases and business failures like he did to Job. We must keep in mind that he prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Therefore, people are already corrupt to become a slave to sin, iniquities, diseases, curses and poverty and pain, death and destruction. The devil magnifies this fallen fruit to keep stealing, killing and destroying. He never does good things; he is an evil devil. On the contrary, God has no intention to harm you; he motivates good things all the time. In comparison he says, "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"(Mt. 7:9-11) Thus we should understand our God as a good God in our life. David knew the fact. He confessed at the end of Psalm 23, "Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." He confessed that this God had been good and merciful to him. God was wonderful and full of love to him, not bad once. David fully recognized it so that he could be strong and courageous against any adversity. This God not only revealed it to David in Psalm 23 but also in Isaiah 41:10 as follows, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Since God is with us we must have the spiritual eyes to see him all the time. Thirdly, Jesus came to the earth as the last Adam. He was the last one and there would be no one else except him. Why do we call him Adam? He came to the earth as a human ancestor; as the first Adam brought death to us he visited us to save us as the last resort. Since human beings committed sin, only humans can redeem us. God could not replace us. Human sins and iniquities should be redeemed by humans and God cannot involve in this so Jesus the Son of God finally came to the earth as a human being. Isaiah chapter 53 prophesied him carrying all our debts of death on behalf of us 700 years ago. "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." Jesus took our punishment for us to save you and me. We ought to cherish this truth deep in our hearts. Jesus suffered for the salvation of our souls and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. John 3:16-17 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Jesus came not to condemn, but to deliver us. He saves us who are sinful, unrighteous, filthy and deserve abandonment. People might think, "How can the Lord take care of me, a sinner with iniquities? How could he visit me?" No way! What did Jesus say? "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick."(Mt. 9:12) The Lord comes to you because you are a sinner. If you are sinless, he doesn't need to. "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!" You sing this song with your soul and the Lord comes to save you! The reason why you sit here today is that the Lord took all your sins on behalf of you so you could stand before God. What a wonderful love! Titus 3:6-7 says, "--whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." The Lord does not just save us but causes us to become heirs of heaven, the co-heirs with the Lord! Jesus saves us on the cross and does not leave us alone, but gives us the Holy Spirit. When we receive the Holy Spirit, he opens our eyes to see and realize the existence of heaven. The Holy Spirit makes us realize the truth. The Lord delivers us from the curses in everything to receive the blessings of Abraham through sufferings. Galatians 3:13-14 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." Through the cross of Jesus curses are paid off. Now they are ineffective to Christians. You already receive the privilege of being blessed in Jesus. When you enter your home, your home will be blessed; your kneading trough will be blessed. The young of your livestock will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out. You should believe this. You are a blessed person. Curses are far away from you because Jesus has destroyed it. Then Jesus has redeemed our diseases through the cross and allowed health and longevity to us. Matthew 8:17 says, "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases." God said, "--for dust you are and to dust you will return." However, the Lord does not permit our death through extreme pain of diseases. The Lord wants as follows, "With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."(Ps. 91:16) Therefore, as you see yourself before God, you should know that you are no longer under the painful death caused by the devil's stealing, killing and destroying. Rather, you have become a person who can be healed, enjoy health, live a peaceful life and gladly go to heaven. Fourthly, what are the things that we must do? The must do early in January as we serve Jesus Christ as our Savior is that we must certainly know the truth. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”(Jn. 8:32) What is the truth? Jesus sets us free from sin, curses and diseases. We are the man and woman of the Threefold Blessing and the holistic salvation. This is the truth of Jesus Christ as our Rock. On this Rock we need to have a firm root. Nowadays many believers fall during trials and tribulations because they have not rooted on this rock in their hearts; whenever any storm blows, their root will be pulled out easily. We should hold on to it closely. 3 John 2 says, "Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well." This is Jesus' dream for you. He wants you to become like this. Please repeat after me, "Jesus wants us to prosper in our souls, bodies and circumstances." If you accept this, please say Amen. You must embrace your faith firmly; do not let it go. Today I am preaching this sermon because you will be victorious as long as you hold on to this truth no matter what kind of storm or trials may come to you throughout the New Year. You must know the truth clearly and imagine your true self as a reflection in the mirror. Your true self is no more a miserable and wretched being. You have been created according to God's image and likeness and lived as his agent ruling and conquering your circumstances on the earth. We ought to believe "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."(Mt. 21:22) With this faith we should pray. Whenever we pray, we must strongly hold the Word of promise saying, "God, please let me be what you want me to prosper in my soul, body and circumstances. For this Jesus took the cross and tore his flesh and shed his blood to forgive my sins, to redeem curses, and to destroy disease. Lord, give me the price of your blood. I believe this!" As it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved, you should not deny with your mouth. Always speak a positive confession. "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."(Prov. 18:21) Therefore, with your mouth confess this simple Word. I always dream as I wake up every morning. I close my eyes and look at the mirror and confess, "Yonggi Cho, You must enjoy good health and all will go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. God wants you to be like that. Jesus suffered on the cross. Therefore today I will prosper in my soul, body and circumstances and receive life to the full." You need to bind with your words. Then it will be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Through your confession and word you can create your circumstances and destiny. As God created the heavens and earth by his Word, you can make your own heavens and earth by your words. Hebrews 11:3 says tremendously a meaningful word. "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." Now I am emphasizing this truth because you should hold on to the holistic salvation that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well throughout this New Year. Even though it is invisible, you must fill your thinking with this word in order to cherish it in your hearts. Therefore you must arrange your hearts in this New Year. If your hearts and mind are disrupted and scattered, the devil who once tested Job in the past attempts to put you into trials to the end. Don't think complicatedly but in order for this invisible word to be revealed through the heart of humans, you must fill your thoughts, dreams, faith, and confession with the Word. Then you will live peacefully and victoriously throughout this year. The devil which tried to steal, kill and destroy Job in the past is still working on it today. We must fight against the devil to avoid it and get it out of our lives. If you leave him alone, he will not go away. To win over the devil, we need to have our hearts and minds be armed and in good order. First, your hearts should be armed. With what? Please repeat after me, "Let us be armed with and stay in good order of the Five-Fold Gospel and the Three-Fold blessing. Then you will overcome this New Year!