One team
Acts 18:1~4 ”There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.” (2~3)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #542 ‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus (#340 in previous version)
The meeting between Paul and the couple, Priscilla and Aquila, was no ordinary meeting, but an extraordinary one. In the Gospel, they became a team and experienced amazing works together. They enjoyed the Word and prayer together. These works started with a single person, Paul, and continued to spread. The greater the worker, the more evangelism, the Word, and prayers will give life to many people. God is most pleased with this kind of work.
1. All we need is one person
The entire world was affected through one person, Paul. However, it was not Paul’s work, but the work of God that moved the world. In God’s eyes, the work that Paul did was very important. The most important things in the world are the Gospel, evangelism, and the Word. Prayer follows from these things. Paul focused on these things his entire life, and he gathered together people who did the same. Like Paul, we must enjoy these blessings and allow the Holy Spirit to work through our meetings with people. If there is even one person who enjoys these blessings, the Word movement will take place in the field, and missions will take place in the field. Even in times of tribulation, everything is okay if we can see God’s mighty plan.
2. We must create one team
This work must not stop at one person; we must create one team for evangelism and the Word, and raise people who are of one mind in prayer. Because there is nothing more important than the Gospel and evangelism, we must throw out disbelief, personal motives, and humanism. When there was one team, many disciples rose up, and the Word movement flourished. These disciples possessed the mystery that Jesus is the Christ, the mystery of the kingdom of God and the mystery of the Holy Spirit. When two or more people who possess these mysteries gather together, the works of the Holy Spirit arise, and miracles will continue to take place.
3. We will see God’s work
The meeting between Paul and the couple, Priscilla and Aquila, was timed perfectly. They enjoyed many blessings as they worked together. God was so pleased with this couple that He blessed them with great wealth. The couple shared their blessings with others and became important workers for the evangelization of Rome. When church workers today experience works like that experienced by Priscilla and Aquila, miracles like that of the Passover, the Jordan river, the walls of Jericho, and the Early Church will take place.
° Forum Topic - Pray that you can share the blessings you’ve enjoyed with people you meet after you taste the power of the Gospel first.
70 Worker Retreat Lecture 1 / 2010.1.21