Sermons by Dr. John Sung on

“The Way of the Cross”

1.     THE LIFE OF FAITH, ELIJAH, I Kings 17. Nanking.  Pentecost Sunday 1937. Sing 173: “Lift up your Eyes” and 166: “I Stand on the Word of God.” 2000 or more read the Bible verses together.  The Word was like thunder!

I Kings 17:1, Faith and Courage: “No rain except by my word.” If you have no faith, you are unworthy to receive God's love and grace.  Sing: “I Stand on the Word of God.” #166 in Dr. Sung's Chorus Book.

17:2,3, Hide by Cherith.  Did Elijah say, I won't go?  No, he said, "I believe the Lord." so he went.

Sing: "I Stand on the Word of God."

17:4, Ravens will feed you.  Impossible?   Refuse to go?  No!  "I Stand on ...."

17:5-7, He went: "I'm a child; God, you tell me to go, I'll go." A Chinese proverb says: "Eat a man's rice, listen to his talk" (meaning: do what he says) so since you eat God's food, do as God commands.

Sing: "I Stand on the Word of God."

Elijah went, the ravens came: "Caw, caw." Elijah ate with relish.  The brook slowly dried up.  God's Word?  It never changes.  So don't depend on man, depend on God.  God is dependable: Sung went to Manchuria by faith-he still has his fur coat.  Sing: "I Stand on the ...."

17:8,9, God told a widow to support him.  Do you believe?  Hands up!

Sing:  "I Stand on the Word of God."

17:10, There was the old widow gathering sticks.  Did Elijah believe?  He did!  He called to her.  Deaf?  He asked for water.

Sing: “I Stand on...”

17: 11, As she was going to get water: “Also bring bread.” “I Stand on….”

17:12, She said, “I have just a little meal and oil; I will eat and die.” Yet God is faithful.  Don't look at man; don't look at circumstances; here was a tottering old woman, ready to die. , It was the widow and orphan's last bit of bread.  Can God help?  Do you believe? 

  “YES” they shouted.

Sing: “I Stand on the Word of God.”

17:13, Elijah said, “Don't fear.” Obey God and trust. (Glory!  I'm blest.)

17:14, Meal and oil shall not fail until rain comes.  He believed!

 Sing:  “I Stand on the Word of God.”

17:15, 16, She went and did it.  Did she believe?  Yes! and Elijah ate it, her last food.  Believe!  He believed.  They all ate many days.  Dr. Sung in the hospital, funds gone; what could he do?  Friends came with help.

17:17, Her son fell sick; did, she doubt God?  She misunderstood.  Don't look at outward circumstances, appearances, though he was dead.  “I Stand….”

17:18, The widow still had a little doubt of Elijah.  Nevertheless: “I Stand on the Word of God.”

17:19,21, Elijah took her son and prayed.  “God I believe.”

 Sing: “I Stand….”

17:22, The child revived.

Sing: “I Stand on the Word of God.”

17:23,24, Precious; Elijah took her son down.  “Now by this I know that thou art a man of God.” Also, “The word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.” Sing: “Do not fear, only believe; look not on outward appearances.” (#43) Dr. Sung told of the time he was in the mental hospital 193 days.  He Was tested.  His faith went up and down; even in China later, but he was finally established.

Sing 175: “Viewed from all sides, all seems dark ... cannot trust self; I beg my Lord to go with me, lead me through.” (Guard them today in China.)

2. THE ABUNDANT LIFE --- To OBEY

Nanking, Monday a.m., May 17, 1937. I Samuel 15. All read each verse aloud.  Sing 187: “Not in Canaan, Died in the desert” or 142: “Have Thine own Way, Lord,” after each comment.

15:1, God sent Samuel to anoint Saul king, but not unconditionally; Saul must hearken to the Voice of God. We can do great things if we obey.

       Sing: “Have Thine own Way, Lord, have Thine own Way.” #142.

15:2, It means a fight; Amalek opposed Israel.

Sing: “Have Thine own Way.”

15:3, Utterly destroy the “Old Man" to avoid inner conflict.  Sing “Have....”

15:4, God has many heavenly soldiers.

Sing: “Have Thine own Way, Lord."

15:5, Saul obeyed only partly.

Sing: “Have Thine own Way, Lord."

15:6, Saul   told the Kenites, "Come out, lest you be destroyed." Did he obey?

Sing: “Have Thine own Way, Lord, have Thine own Way.”

15:7,8, Saul overcame.  God gives us only as much as we want.

Sing:  “Have....”

15:9, Saul disobey; he kept the good things for himself; this was imperfect obedience.  Here Dr. Sung drew a picture of a heart on the blackboard, with plus and minus.  Minus won, became larger, and black; it bore fruit, must be axed; some leave some sin in the heart; have no life.

Sing: “Have Thine own Way Lord, have Thine own Way.”

15:10,11 God told Samuel; Samuel gieved, and prayed all night.  “Have Thine ....”

15:12, Samuel rose early; Many things God told you, you have not done.

Sing: “Have Thine own Way, Lord, have Thine own Way."

15:13, Saul said, “I have performed all.” You can deceive man, but not God.

Sing: “Have Thine own Way Lord.”

15:14, Samuel said, “Bleating, lowing?” Sin has a sound.  Abel's blood had a sound; God heard.  A child stole peppers, thought they were prunes.

Sing: “Have Thine own Way, Lord.”

15:15, King Saul “passes the buck” to the people: it is their sin.  Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent.  Sin cherished becomes attractive.

Sing:  “Have Thine own Way, Lord, have Thine own Way.”

15:16, Samuel: “God told me.” Saul.  “Say on.” Pride.

Sing: “Have Thine own....”

15:17-19, “When thou wast little in thine own sight.” Sung drew a candle by the sin in the heart. God's light revealed Saul's sin.  “Have Thine....”

15:20,21, Saul refused to acknowledge his sin, still blamed the people.  Thus a fervent heart becomes selfish, then hard, then stony.

Sing:  "Have Thine own Way, Lord, have Thine own Way."

15:22, 23, The Holy Spirit's sword struck Saul.  Sung drew a sword in the heart by Saul's black sin in one corner.  Saul was rejected; drew a hammer.

Sing: "Have Thine own Way, Lord, have Thine own Way."

15:24,25, Saul's false repentance:  he still blamed the people, and was afraid of them.

Sing:  "Have Thine own Way, Lord.”

15:26-29, Samuel also rejected Saul; Saul had left God, so God rejected him.

Sing: "Have Thine own way, Lord."

15:30, Saul: "I have sinned; however, honour me.”

Sing:  "Down with the Old Nature." # 138.  (Tune:"Jesus Saviour, Loves the Children. #137).

16:14, Saul no longer felt the Holy Spirit: "The Spirit departed from Saul," and "an evil spirit troubled Saul." Dr. Sung wrote "Satan" in Saul's heart by the side of the sin of disobedience.  Saul went down grade until he committed suicide.

There were many hands confessing disobedience.  They went to the altar; there was concert prayer, then single prayers of repentance and dedication.  They also prayed after Dr. Sung.