Your Gift is a New Life

This post is about a message I delivered in May 2018.

At the end of every semester at Christ For The Nations Institute, select students who make 100 on their preaching final get to present on stage in front of the school. For the past 3 semesters, it has been so inspiring for me to hear students deliver powerful messages. I wanted to sign up for the Homiletics class but I chickened out. However, this semester I decided to go for it and not let fear hold me back. I'm so glad I did!

Homiletics is the art and science of preaching. The delivery is the art and the preparation is the science. I have spoken in front of an audience a few times and I thought this class would give me additional pointers to what I already knew but I was wrong! Pastor Eric, my teacher, had me start from scratch and I was so challenged in the best way possible.

Throughout the semester, we learned how to give a sermon and for our final, we had to present a 10 minute message. If we scored 100 on the final, we would be considered to be one of the few students to present at the end of the semester to the school. For my two story illustrations, I chose to speak about my own family and also a family whose baby I cared for in the intensive care unit. With permission, I can share the details. This baby named Boaz was born very premature and stayed in the hospital for 403 days. For my final, Boaz and his mother came to hear me speak. My parents and friends also came to support me.

The day of my final, I was so nervous. My friends Laura, Kim, Brittany and Irma came to my apartment and prayed over me. I got 100 on my sermon! So now I would have to wait a few days to see if I would be one of the chosen to speak in front of the school at the end of the semester.

Boaz and his mom Ellie with me and my friends Laura and Kim who were also his nurses.


My sweet family and friends. Left to right: Ellie, Boaz, Caleb, Daniel, Kim, Dad, me, Mom, Brittany, Laura, Irma, Charles

A few days later, I received an email saying I would get to speak to the CFNI student body. I thank my Vietnamese friends at school for helping me thank my parents in Vietnamese at the beginning of my speech.

My parents and me.

At the end of my sermon, my dad gave me a BIG hug which was very special and rare. He isn't a hugger. He usually expresses love through his cooking and doing things for our family.

Audio transcript of sermon:

Hello everyone. The title of my message today is “Living Hope, Living Proof”. Let’s open up our bible to 1 Peter 1:3-7. Again, it’s 1 Peter 1:3-7. I will be reading from the English Standard Version. In this passage, Peter is giving encouragement to persecuted Christians; reminding them of the gift of salvation and to give glory to the Lord even during trials. Today, I will give you two lifelines to firmly take a hold of when your situation wants to shake your faith. They are “your gift is a new life” and “make your choice to rejoice!”

1 Peter 1:3-7 reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The first lifeline is “Your gift is a new life”. Going back to verse 3, Peter states, “he has caused us to be born again to a living hope”. November 1^st, 1955 was the beginning of the Vietnam War. It was a grueling armed conflict between North and South Vietnam. After 20 years, the South fell to communism. Four years later, also on November 1^st, a baby girl was born in Saigon, Vietnam. Her father fought against the communist during the war so the government would not allow him to work. Wanting a fresh start for their daughter, he and his wife made the brave decision to escape Vietnam for America. Along with 69 other people, the family sat cramped in a small fishing boat, knee to chest, and set out to sea. On the 4^th day, pirates from Thailand attacked the boat and destroyed its engine. Everyone gave the pirates all their belongings. The attackers left quickly. Stranded and left for dead, everyone on the boat prayed. Within moments, a large U.S. Navy ship came and rescued them. The family relocated to Texas. The father found work as a busboy and had to walk miles in inclement weather because he couldn’t afford a car. Later he was a convenient store clerk and was robbed multiple times with a gun pointed at his face. His small paychecks were used first to feed and buy essentials for his daughter. As the baby girl grew up, she developed a wonder for the world. She went to high school, and graduated from college as a nurse. She was the first in her family to receive a bachelor’s degree. Years later she traveled to help people around the world. On one of these trips, she received the gift of salvation, becoming the first in her family to do so.

That girl was me and I’m here to say “You are a new creation!” When Jesus came, He gave you a new life. Walk with confidence without condemnation. Rebuke the lies that say you’re chained to your past! Be convinced in what Jesus has done for you at the cross. He paid the full price for your sins. Acknowledge the authority in your anointing knowing that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is also in you!

This brings me to the second lifeline, “make your choice to rejoice!” Let’s revisit verse 6 and 7: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Here in Dallas lives a Korean couple who yearned for a baby but doctors told them they couldn’t have a child because of medical problems. So they adopted a small, hairy, big eyed baby with four legs. A dog they named Kore. 4 years later, the mom felt sick, went to the doctor, and was told, “You’re pregnant. It’s a miracle!” A week before this baby was born, God told mom to name him Boaz. Mom researched the name and found it is the name of one of two pillars at the Temple of Solomon. It means “strength”. Boaz was born prematurely at 23 weeks gestation and weighing only a pound which is 542 grams. Boaz needed machines to eat and breathe. Though tiny and fragile, the parents didn’t dwell on that but instead gave thanks to God for their miracle baby. One day, the doctor told mom to let him go but she said no, “God gave me a promise. Boaz is here for a purpose!” During his arduous hospital stay, Boaz had to have 9 surgeries including for his heart. Before the procedures, instead of being intimidated by the situation, she thanked and leaned on God for the words He gave her from Psalm 121, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord.” There were many times Boaz would stop breathing and need resuscitation. The parents made a cd of worship songs to play at Boaz’s bedside. Dad sang and mom played the piano. Boaz began to get better. After 403 days, he left the hospital. He is now 4 years old, goes to school, and loves music.

You are sons and daughters of a powerful healer in Heaven! Give Him glory through your suffering because your faith is being refined and strengthened. Don’t focus on your fleeting feelings. Cry out with joy that what is constant is Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever! Proclaim your new songs of victory. Instead of grumbling, sing with confidence that Jesus will carry you through your trials because He has overcome the world!

Let today be the day you hold on to your two lifelines: First, “your gift is a new life”. Be convinced in what Jesus did for you on the cross, knowing the power that raised Jesus from the dead is also in you! Second, “make your choice to rejoice”. Give God glory during your trials and proudly proclaim your new songs of victory!

This post is dedicated to Boaz and his family. He now has a brother named Jachin. The brothers are named after the two pillars at Solomon's temple. The name Boaz means "strength" and Jachin means "He will establish". Boaz recently had heart surgery and is recovering well.