Andronicus and Junias
Romans 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
♬ Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #302 The Mercy of God is an Ocean Divine (#408 in previous version)
What would you do if believing in Jesus meant having all of your possessions confiscated, being fired from work and sent to prison? The Early Church endured all such adversities but triumphed. How was the Early Church able to do so?
1. The power the Early Church possessed
The Early Church knew a very important truth. They knew and enjoyed that Jesus was the Christ and gave utmost thanks. They knew and were brimming with joy in the mystery of the kingdom of God. As they experienced the power of God, they became witnesses of the work of the Holy Spirit. God sent Christ to fulfill all things in advance. If we deeply enjoy this, the forces of darkness will flee and we will gain strength.
2. A once-in-a-millennium meeting
God prepared the greatest meetings for those who know the important mystery of the Gospel and possess spiritual strength. A meeting between a child of God and an evangelist is a meeting that will change the course of an entire epoch. In church history, the meeting of a pastoral worker leading the evangelism movement and a lay person was the most precious, once-in-a-millennium meeting. Many scholars say that Andronicus and Junias were a married couple. Andronicus was of royal lineage. Such an outstanding man met the evangelist Paul and treated him like a relative. He was even imprisoned alongside him. Andronicus and Junias were not apostles but received the respect due an apostle.
3. Gathering of people who receive answers
The figures listed in Romans 16 were nicknamed according to the answers they received. This was the answer given to those who knew the blessings of the Gospel as well as the truth that Satan would have no choice but to ultimately cower and fall to his knees before Jesus Christ. These individuals came together as one. That is why the Early Church was able to triumph over any difficulty that befell them. If we continue to hold onto the covenant that allowed the Early Church to emerge triumphantly, we will receive the filling of the Holy Spirit and connect with God. At this point the Word will be fulfilled and the forces of darkness will be destroyed.
● Forum Topic - We can make our today into the very best of days simply by thinking about our respective fields while meditating upon the Word He has given to me today and discovering prayer topics. Raise up a plan to realistically enjoy today as the very best day.
Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 2nd Service / 2010.2.21