POKEMON TRAINERS,
SOMEBODY IS LOOKING FOR YOU!
Pastor KC Liu / Luke 15:3-7 / July 17, 2016
Good morning everybody! How are you all doing this morning? Today I am going to talk and respond to the current social gaming phenomenon Called POKEMON GO! Ok, let me take a survey, how many of you play this game, let me see your hands. Thank you for being honest. I do too, I played for like 10 minutes.
So the audience that I am speaking to today are specifically Pokemon Go Players, here in this church, and also around the world via internet. We are recording this message, and I plan to share it with all the players out there on social media. So, friends around the world, if you are one of the 15 million Players out there, I hope you will hear me out this morning.
And the message this morning is entitled, “Pokemon Trainers, Somebody is looking for you!”
If you are under the age of 30 years old, you were born in the Pokemon Era, and most likely you have this Game downloaded on your smart phone. We all know that this game has taken the nation by storm. If you are older and have no idea what this game is about, allow me to describe it to you.
The game takes utilizes Google Map and their GPS system and created a virtual world, an augmented reality world. This is where the players, or Pokemon trainers, aka, your kids, go around their physical surrounds to catch Pokemons, or cartoon monsters. They will walk around the neighborhood, around the parks, libraries, coffee shops, and even outside our church, to catch them. The more Pokemons they collect, the more powerful they will be, the more bragging rights they will have with their friends!
Apparently this game is extremely addicting, and have caused quite a stir in the news, both positive and negative aspects of the game. Today, we will just focus on more of the positive side of the game.
Let’s look at some of the fun facts:
So, if you have a business of your own, you can also consider using this game as a marketing tool to increase your sales! If you don’t know how to use “lures” just ask Michael or Isabella or Jonathan, or anyone under 30, they will show you how to do it. Of course that was a joke, I cannot endorse any products from the pulpit.
- 5 hours after it was released on July 4th, Pokémon Go became the No. 1 downloaded app.
- The app has grossed around $1.6 million per day, just in the United States.
- More people spend time playing this game than they do on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
- Global streams of the Pokemon theme song "Gota Catch 'Em All" have increased by 362% on Spotify since the game's release.
- Local businesses have used “lures” to draw trainers to their stores, increasing their sales up to 2000%.
So, if you have a business of your own, you can also consider using this game as a marketing tool to increase your sales! If you don’t know how to use “lures” just ask Michael or Isabella or Jonathan, or anyone under 30, they will show you how to do it. Of course that was a joke, I cannot endorse any products from the pulpit.
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TOP 5 SIGNS YOU'RE PLAYING TOO MUCH!
Now for your sake, I’ve done some thorough research, and I’ve come up with the TOP 5 SIGNS that You’re playing too much Pokemon, if that was even possible. Are you ready?
#5) After walking for many hours everyday, you no longer notice the shooting pain in your legs. (I guess that’s a good thing, it means your legs are getting stronger)
#4) You’ve started calculating distances in kilometers instead of miles. (The kids are like, what’s a kilometer?? It’s what the rest of the world is using as a measuring system. America is the only country that measures with miles, FYI.)
#3) You haven’t spent this much time outside since PE class in Jr High. (if your friend is looking very tanned, you know what they’ve been up to.)
#2) Your google search consists of “Where to find rare Pokemons.” (and also you are Yelping and eating only at restaurants with Poke stops)
#1) And the #1 SIGN that you are playing too much: when you get hit by cars and fall off cliffs, you are playing TOO MUCH Pokemon! (blame the game all you want, just keep your eyes on the road please!) Can we all agree on that? Keep your eyes on the road when you play.
WHY DO PEOPLE PLAY SO MUCH???
Now, let’s ask the question, WHY do people play so much? Seriously. I am not joking anymore. Why do people play so much? Let me give the top serious 3 reasons - in my opinion.
First, people are discovering new places. It creates a real world adventure. They are exploring their own community as if they were a pirate on a treasure hunt. A common reaction of trainers is this, “I live 15 minutes from here, I’ve lived here for 20 years, and never knew this place existed!”
Second, it’s changing the way people interact with each other. We live in a very private culture. We don’t talk to strangers much. We rarely greet strangers when we walk by them. But because of this game, young people are greeting each other and striking up conversation, as if we’re living in the 1950s!
Third, the game motivates people to go exercise! Gamers generally know that exercise is a good thing. They generally know that it’s not healthy to stay in their room for 12 hours playing games, and eating Ramen. But, they don’t do it because they are not motivated. Now the game gives them a reason to go outside and be active. They know this game improves their health more than playing other games in their room.
YOU LOOK FOR THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU
Now, allow me to ask the trainers around the world a question. How much effort do you put in to look for Pokemons? I know people spend hours and hours playing, day and night, night and day, trainers are roaming the streets. Michael told me that he bikes around the city 6 hours a day! This game is training him to join Tour De France!
The point I want to make in talking about Pokemon, is that you, the trainer, invest a vast amount of time, money, and energy in looking for something that is IMPORTANT to you. If it was not important to you, you would not look for it, you would not play it. This is true for life in general. You look for things that are IMPORTANT to you. You spend a lot of time, money and energy until you find what you are looking for, or aiming for.
If you desire to get married and you are looking for a future spouse, you would invest a lot of time, money and energy into it. If you are looking to be successful in your career as an Engineer or Medical Professional, you will invest a lot of time, money and energy, in your higher education. The point is, you look for what is important to you.
YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO SOMEBODY
Pokémon Trainers, I have something really important share with you. And what I am about to say is not a game, it is a reality. I am not talking about augmented reality, but a real-life spiritual reality.
You are important to someone. You are loved deeply by someone. That someone is the Creator God, whom I call my Father in Heaven. God is real, he is not an imaginary figure that people made up to worship. God created the Heavens and the Earth, God created you and me. You were designed and formed with great detail. You are not a result of random cosmic accidents. You exist for a reason. You exist for a greater purpose. Trust me when I say, God loves you deeply. As your own earthly mother and father loves you, God loves you even more. You are extremely important to Him.
How do I know that you are very important to Him? Because God spent a lot of time, energy looking for you, and He also paid the ultimate price to get you back.
WHERE ARE YOU??
You see, when God created this world, he created our first parents, Adam and Eve. Things were wonderful and beautiful for a while, until they started to disobey God. When people disobey God, that is called “sin”. Sin is like a giant wall that separates us from God. Ever since the creation of the world, people have been separated from God because of our disobedience and unbelief. And when Adam and Eve sinned, they felt ashamed and hid themselves from God. And even in the Garden of Eden, God looked for them and said, “Where are you? Where are you?”
Right now, many of you listening to my message do not know God personally. That means you are separated from God. But God, your Father in Heaven, doesn’t want to be separated from you. God paid the ultimate price to break down the wall of separation between you and Him.
2000 years ago, God sent his only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to this world to reconcile this broken relationship. Jesus came to make you right with God. Jesus came to show you of who God is, and what He is like. He told a parable that reveals the heart of God towards you.
PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP (Luke 15: 3-7)
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3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. |
Let’s learn something about this fascinating animal, the sheep. Sheep are pack animals. They always travel together in a pack. They derive their identity from their flock and also from their shepherd. Apart from their flock and shepherd, the lone sheep is basically defenseless and does not have the capability to defend himself against predators. They have no protection mechanism, which makes them a very rare animal, in a sense.
Nearly all other animals have protective mechanism. For example, Pikachu can strike lightning to protect himself. Just kidding. They’re not real... A roly poly can roll up into a ball to protect himself. A turtle has a shell to protect himself. A skunk releases gas to protect himself. A fly can see 360 degrees and fly away to protect himself. And a cat can run away to protect himself. But, a sheep cannot protect himself. He runs too slow, and can’t bite really hard. So a sheep depends on the shepherd to survive. If the sheep gets lost, he will be very lonely, cold, confused, and scared. He is completely lost.
In the parable, the caring shepherd leaves the 99 sheep to go and look for the 1 lost sheep. Now, that shepherd is taking a big risk. What if a thief comes to steal the 99 sheep? What if a pack of wolf comes to eat the 99 sheep? If he was a smart business man, he would have cut his losses and stuck with the 99 sheep.
But no. He didn’t cut his losses, because he loved that sheep. It’s like a Dad losing a kid at Costco. The kid wonders off to the toy section and gets lost. I guarantee you the Dad will never give up looking until he finds his kid. He is not going to say, we’ll, “I got three more at home, I guess I will just cut my losses.” No, the dad says, “I will find him no matter what because I love him.” And that’s the picture of this loving shepherd.
Again, verse 5 says, “And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ You see how the shepherd reacts when he finds the sheep? He doesn’t get mad at the sheep and yell at him. He doesn’t blame the sheep for walking in the wrong direction. Just the opposite, He rejoiced! He is so happy! He tells all his friends to come over and celebrate! The sheep was lost, but now is found!
In this parable, the shepherd represents God. And the sheep represents you.
People, like sheep, are pack creatures. A person derives his identity from his shepherd and his flock. Without these, he is alone, cold, confused, and afraid. He is lost.
In Matthew 9:36, the Bible says, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Jesus is our Great Shepherd. He comes to look for us because of his compassion. He sees you, and he cares for you.
When we don’t have a right relationship with God, we are like the sheep in this painting. We are stuck, and do not have the ability to go anywhere on our own. We are lonely, cold, and afraid. And deep on the inside of our heart and soul, we are hoping that someone will rescue us. We are hoping that someone actually care for us. We are hoping that someone will actually love us for who we are.
I know for many of us, this hits too close to home. Often times, we lock ourselves in our own room, and immerse ourselves into a virtual world so that we don’t have to face the real world. Perhaps there’s a lot of brokenness in your family, and you don’t know how to face it, so you hide. Perhaps you got bullied at school, and you don’t know how to fix it, so you hide.
Perhaps you feel really lonely and empty inside, and you don’t know how to tell anyone about it, so you hide. And deep inside your soul, you wish someone can come to rescue you and save you from your empty, and broken life.
JESUS DIED FOR YOUR SINS TO BREAK DOWN THE WALL BETWEEN YOU AND GOD
My friends, here is the good news for you. 2000 years ago, Jesus came looking for you and to rescue you. He paid the ultimate price to buy you back. Not with money, but with his blood. He suffered and died on the cross in order to break down the wall between you and God. He absorbed the punishment of your sin on that rugged cross. He did that all for you, because he loves you. He wants to restore this broken relationship between you and Him.
Then the most amazing thing happened, Jesus resurrected from the dead after 3 days to prove that He was indeed the Son of God. Death could not hold him down. Jesus Christ has the power over life and death. And he has complete authority to forgive you of your sins. If you choose to believe, your sins will be forgiven, and relationship will be restored between you and Father in Heaven.
And as a result of this restored relationship, He will fill your life with His peace, His joy, and His purpose. He will teach you how to live a life that will bring you true happiness. He will help you with your family situation. He will help you with your school situation. He will fill your empty soul. And He will be your constant companion. You will never be lonely and empty again. And most important of all, when you die from this physical life, you will be with God forever in Heaven. In His presence is joy forever more. He has prepared a place just for you.
The reality is, in another 3 years, I doubt you will still be playing Pokemon Go. You will not be out on the streets looking for Pokemons. But know that Jesus will never stop looking for you, not even after 2000 years. He will pursue you until he finds your heart to call his home.
Right now, I want to give you an opportunity to do that -to put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s bow our heads in prayer.
AN INVITATION TO MAKE JESUS LORD OF YOUR LIFE
Today, I want to make 2 invitations. The first invitation goes out mainly to the friends watching over the internet. If you don’t have a right relationship with God and want to change that, I want to pray with you. If want your sins forgiven, if you want to make Jesus Lord of your life, would you put your hand over your heart, and say this prayer out loud:
"Dear God, today I have decided to follow you, to surrender my live to you.
I confess that I am a sinner. I confess I have made many mistakes in my life.
I need your love and forgiveness. I pray that you will help me grow,
and reveal yourself to me more and more everyday. In Jesus name, amen."
(If you prayed that prayer for the first time, you have just become a born-again Christian. Congratulations and welcome to the family of God! I am so happy for you! Please write to me at Pastor.KC@icloud.com and I will send you a "New Believers Package" free of charge.)
My friends, here is the good news for you. 2000 years ago, Jesus came looking for you and to rescue you. He paid the ultimate price to buy you back. Not with money, but with his blood. He suffered and died on the cross in order to break down the wall between you and God. He absorbed the punishment of your sin on that rugged cross. He did that all for you, because he loves you. He wants to restore this broken relationship between you and Him.
Then the most amazing thing happened, Jesus resurrected from the dead after 3 days to prove that He was indeed the Son of God. Death could not hold him down. Jesus Christ has the power over life and death. And he has complete authority to forgive you of your sins. If you choose to believe, your sins will be forgiven, and relationship will be restored between you and Father in Heaven.
And as a result of this restored relationship, He will fill your life with His peace, His joy, and His purpose. He will teach you how to live a life that will bring you true happiness. He will help you with your family situation. He will help you with your school situation. He will fill your empty soul. And He will be your constant companion. You will never be lonely and empty again. And most important of all, when you die from this physical life, you will be with God forever in Heaven. In His presence is joy forever more. He has prepared a place just for you.
The reality is, in another 3 years, I doubt you will still be playing Pokemon Go. You will not be out on the streets looking for Pokemons. But know that Jesus will never stop looking for you, not even after 2000 years. He will pursue you until he finds your heart to call his home.
Right now, I want to give you an opportunity to do that -to put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s bow our heads in prayer.
AN INVITATION TO MAKE JESUS LORD OF YOUR LIFE
Today, I want to make 2 invitations. The first invitation goes out mainly to the friends watching over the internet. If you don’t have a right relationship with God and want to change that, I want to pray with you. If want your sins forgiven, if you want to make Jesus Lord of your life, would you put your hand over your heart, and say this prayer out loud:
"Dear God, today I have decided to follow you, to surrender my live to you.
I confess that I am a sinner. I confess I have made many mistakes in my life.
I need your love and forgiveness. I pray that you will help me grow,
and reveal yourself to me more and more everyday. In Jesus name, amen."
(If you prayed that prayer for the first time, you have just become a born-again Christian. Congratulations and welcome to the family of God! I am so happy for you! Please write to me at Pastor.KC@icloud.com and I will send you a "New Believers Package" free of charge.)
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AN INVITATION TO "CATCH PEOPLE, NOT JUST POKEMONS"
The second invitation I want to make is for the believers, those who follow Jesus already. Whether you are here in this room, or across the internet, I want to invite you to put in effort in winning souls like you put in effort in catching Pokemons. Maybe you spend 3 hours a day catching Pokemons, but you don’t even spend one minute trying to catch souls for Jesus. There is something wrong with this picture. It’s probably time to get our priorities straight.
I am not saying don’t play the game. I am simply asking you to put in more effort in winning people to Jesus. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is convicting your heart right now in this matter. If you would like God to help you win souls, would you place your hand on your heart and pray this prayer with me:
"Heavenly Father, I confess that I play a lot of games, but I don't spend any time sharing the Gospel with the lost. Please forgive me. Please help me to get my priorities straight. God, strength me and give me courage to share your love with my friends and family. Help me to be a witness for you. In Jesus name I pray, amen."
