{"id":10958,"date":"2025-01-19T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-18T20:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=10958"},"modified":"2025-01-18T21:55:12","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T10:55:12","slug":"the-lord-makes-us-renew","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=10958","title":{"rendered":"The Lord Makes Us Renew"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Scripture Readings:<\/strong> Isaiah 62:1-5 & John 2:1-11<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God works for His people, speaks life into our circumstances, and rejoices over us. We will be inspired from Isaiah\u2019s proclamation of God\u2019s promises and John\u2019s account of Jesus\u2019 first miracle. Through today’s Scripture readings, we see the Lord\u2019s love and dedication to His people, His transforming power, and His invitation for us to participate in His renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Isaiah 62, the prophet declares, \u201cFor Zion\u2019s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem\u2019s sake I will not remain quiet.\u201d Here we see God\u2019s relentless commitment to His people. God\u2019s righteousness and glory will shine brightly through His people, offering hope and assurance of restoration. God is actively working for their salvation and righteousness, ensuring that they shine like a blazing torch in the darkness. May we express our trust to God in his plan, no matter how dark the present looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some interpretations, Zion in this text refers to the church that will be built by the redemptive work of Christ. Through the love and sacrifice of Christ, who loved even unto death, the church was born, and Christ is constantly labouring without ceasing to keep it alive and vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s people sometimes sense God\u2019s silence, and there are many dangers and difficulties in the world and in the Church, but the Lord is praying and working to save the Church, us, and the world. Christ will not rest and will not be silent so that righteousness, or salvation, may appear like a torch of light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem being given a new name by God and powerful words of identity: \u201cYou shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.\u201d (v.2-3) This reflects the transformative power of God’s love and His ability to redefine our identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These words remind us that we are not forgotten or forsaken. We are precious in God\u2019s sight, chosen and cherished. With God’s love and power, God will transform our existence into something new and beautiful in Christ this year, too. Just as God promised a new name and identity to Jerusalem, He offers us a renewed identity in Christ.  May we embrace our God-Given Identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaiah expresses that God will rejoice over His people \u201cas a bridegroom rejoices over the bride.\u201d This imagery speaks of God\u2019s deep delight in us. It is not a distant, abstract love but an intimate joy that celebrates our relationship with Him. May it be a year of developing the close and joyful relationship with God. Let us have a thankful year as we remember together that God rejoices over us. This marriage blessing, which contains God’s joy, appears in another form in the wedding feast of Cana in John 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In John 2, Jesus attends the wedding at Cana. The wedding at Cana is a setting of celebration. Jesus’ first miracle occurs at a joyful occasion, showing that God\u2019s work is not limited to solemn moments but includes blessings in everyday life. Jesus\u2019 response demonstrates His care for the people\u2019s joy and need. He acts, often in ways beyond our understanding, to reveal His glory and bring renewal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019 actions at Cana -turning water into wine- symbolize transformation. Just as plain water becomes the finest wine, we, too, are transformed into something precious and holy in God\u2019s hands. This transformation assures us of our worth and purpose in His kingdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Jesus performed the miracle at Cana, it was not merely to provide wine but to demonstrate God\u2019s abundance and joy in being present in our lives. The Lord delights in renewing our circumstances, bringing hope and celebration where there was lack and despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the wedding, Mary\u2019s faith stands out. She notices the problem and turns to Jesus, saying, \u201cThey have no more wine.\u201d Despite His initial response, she instructs the servants, \u201cDo whatever he tells you.\u201d This is faith in action – a trust that Jesus can and will respond to the need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we face empty places in our lives, do we, like Mary, bring our concerns to Jesus? The servants\u2019 obedience to Jesus’ instructions and Mary\u2019s trust in Him highlight the role of obedience and faith in witnessing God\u2019s work. Faith and obedience can move the Lord’s heart. May we possess the faith to seek Him in every situation, to consult Him, and to obey Him even when the way is unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The transformation of water into wine is a profound act of renewal. What was ordinary and insufficient became extraordinary and abundant through Jesus\u2019 touch. The servants, who obeyed Jesus\u2019 instructions without hesitation, became witnesses to His glory. Weddings or many celebrations also provide opportunities for families and people to glorify God and demonstrate their faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus\u2019 miracle reveals that when we bring our empty vessels to Jesus, He fills them with the best – with joy, purpose, and blessing. In the same way, He desires to fill the empty places in our lives with His goodness and grace. May we bring the empty jars of our lives to Jesus and trust Him to fill them with His grace and power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John\u2019s Gospel notes that this was \u201cthe first of the signs through which he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.\u201d This miracle reveals Jesus\u2019 glory, begins to build the disciples\u2019 faith, and leads to the greater work of Christ. Jesus\u2019 miracles are never just about solving immediate problems; they point to His divine identity and invite us into deeper faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we witness God\u2019s renewing work in our lives and the lives of others, we, too, become witnesses to His glory. Our faith grows even in unseen grace, but when we see or experience His power displayed in tangible ways and His love manifested in concrete ways, it becomes an unforgettable experience and witness that solidifies our faith. May we live as a sign of God\u2019s glory, shine forth righteousness, and be a living testimony to God\u2019s transformative work in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaiah\u2019s vision of justice and healing, paired with Jesus\u2019 miracle at Cana, invites us to experience the renewing power of the Lord in every aspect of our lives. May God\u2019s justice and healing be evident in our relationships and communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Scripture readings reflect themes of joy and celebration, pointing to the ultimate joy in the Kingdom of God. Like the joyful wedding feast, let our life reflect the celebration of God\u2019s abundant blessings and steadfast love. May we trust Him to transform our emptiness into abundance and our despair into joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We can be burdened by past mistakes, but through faith in Christ, we are forgiven, loved, and restored to a new identity that allows us to embrace our new identity and be renewed in the Lord’s love. God embraces us just as we are, but He doesn’t leave us alone, He calls us to a new life of hope and purpose, and He renews us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lord is at work for His people. He does not remain silent but speaks life, hope, and renewal. He calls us by a new name, rejoices over us, and invites us to bring our needs to Him. Jesus, who turned water into wine, stands ready to fill the empty places in our lives with His most precious blessings. May we, like the disciples, believe in Him, obey His voice, and become witnesses to His glory. Let us open our hearts to His renewing power and trust Him to make all things new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks be to God! Amen.
<\/strong>(Ref. Bible, commentaries, theological books, UCA materials)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Scripture Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5 & John 2:1-11 God works for His people, speaks life into our circumstances, and rejoices over us. We will be inspired from Isaiah\u2019s proclamation of God\u2019s promises and John\u2019s account of Jesus\u2019 first miracle. Through today’s Scripture readings, we see the Lord\u2019s love and dedication to His people, His transforming power, and His invitation for us to participate in His renewal. In Isaiah 62, the prophet declares, \u201cFor Zion\u2019s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem\u2019s sake I will not remain quiet.\u201d Here we see God\u2019s relentless commitment to His people. God\u2019s righteousness and glory will shine brightly through His people, offering hope and assurance of restoration. God is actively working for their salvation and righteousness, ensuring that they shine like a blazing torch in the darkness. May we express our trust to God in his plan, no matter how dark the present looks. In some interpretations, Zion in this text refers to the church that will be built by the redemptive work of Christ. Through the love and sacrifice of Christ, who loved even unto death, the church was born, and Christ is constantly labouring without ceasing to keep it alive and vital. God\u2019s people sometimes sense God\u2019s silence, and there are many dangers and difficulties in the world and in the Church, but the Lord is praying and working to save the Church, us, and the world. Christ will not rest and will not be silent so that righteousness, or salvation, may appear like a torch of light. Isaiah speaks of Jerusalem being given a new name by God and powerful words of identity: \u201cYou shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.\u201d (v.2-3) This reflects the transformative power of God’s love and His ability to redefine our identity. These words remind us that we are not forgotten or forsaken. We are precious in God\u2019s sight, chosen and cherished. With God’s love and power, God will transform our existence into something new and beautiful in Christ this year, too. Just as God promised a new name and identity to Jerusalem, He offers us a renewed identity in Christ.  May we embrace our God-Given Identity. Isaiah expresses that God will rejoice over His people \u201cas a bridegroom rejoices over the bride.\u201d This imagery speaks of God\u2019s deep delight in us. It is not a distant, abstract love but an intimate joy that celebrates our relationship with Him. May it be a year of developing the close and joyful relationship with God. Let us have a thankful year as we remember together that God rejoices over us. This marriage blessing, which contains God’s joy, appears in another form in the wedding feast of Cana in John 2. In John 2, Jesus attends the wedding at Cana. The wedding at Cana is a setting of celebration. Jesus’ first miracle occurs at a joyful occasion, showing that God\u2019s work is not limited to solemn moments but includes blessings in everyday life. Jesus\u2019 response demonstrates His care for the people\u2019s joy and need. He acts, often in ways beyond our understanding, to reveal His glory and bring renewal. Jesus\u2019 actions at Cana -turning water into wine- symbolize transformation. Just as plain water becomes the finest wine, we, too, are transformed into something precious and holy in God\u2019s hands. This transformation assures us of our worth and purpose in His kingdom. When Jesus performed the miracle at Cana, it was not merely to provide wine but to demonstrate God\u2019s abundance and joy in being present in our lives. The Lord delights in renewing our circumstances, bringing hope and celebration where there was lack and despair. At the wedding, Mary\u2019s faith stands out. She notices the problem and turns to Jesus, saying, \u201cThey have no more wine.\u201d Despite His initial response, she instructs the servants, \u201cDo whatever he tells you.\u201d This is faith in action – a trust that Jesus can and will respond to the need. When we face empty places in our lives, do we, like Mary, bring our concerns to Jesus? The servants\u2019 obedience to Jesus’ instructions and Mary\u2019s trust in Him highlight the role of obedience and faith in witnessing God\u2019s work. Faith and obedience can move the Lord’s heart. May we possess the faith to seek Him in every situation, to consult Him, and to obey Him even when the way is unclear. The transformation of water into wine is a profound act of renewal. What was ordinary and insufficient became extraordinary and abundant through Jesus\u2019 touch. The servants, who obeyed Jesus\u2019 instructions without hesitation, became witnesses to His glory. Weddings or many celebrations also provide opportunities for families and people to glorify God and demonstrate their faith. Jesus\u2019 miracle reveals that when we bring our empty vessels to Jesus, He fills them with the best – with joy, purpose, and blessing. In the same way, He desires to fill the empty places in our lives with His goodness and grace. May we bring the empty jars of our lives to Jesus and trust Him to fill them with His grace and power. John\u2019s Gospel notes that this was \u201cthe first of the signs through which he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.\u201d This miracle reveals Jesus\u2019 glory, begins to build the disciples\u2019 faith, and leads to the greater work of Christ. Jesus\u2019 miracles are never just about solving immediate problems; they point to His divine identity and invite us into deeper faith. As we witness God\u2019s renewing work in our lives and the lives of others, we, too, become witnesses to His glory. Our faith grows even in unseen grace, but when we see or experience His power displayed in tangible ways and His love manifested in concrete ways, it becomes an unforgettable experience and witness that solidifies our faith.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":10431,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10958","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-scaled.jpg",800,389,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-scaled.jpg",800,389,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-scaled.jpg",800,389,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-300x146.jpg",300,146,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-1024x498.jpg",1024,498,true],"news_plugin_small":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-700x700.jpg",700,700,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-1536x747.jpg",1536,747,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/lord-is-my-shepherd-scaled.jpg",800,389,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Rev Heeyoung Lim","author_link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/author\/heeyoung"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Sermons<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Scripture Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5 & John 2:1-11 God works for His people, speaks life into our circumstances, and rejoices over us. 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