The people of God who enjoy the Gospel
Matthew 18:1~4 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (3~4)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #356 War of the Soul (#396 in previous version)
The reason why God has called us is for none other reason than to begin the spiritual fight. While the churches of the world remain divided and in conflicts, the number of believers has decreased, and church buildings are being sold to other religions. Losing the commission of the church as a result of division and conflict is a strategy of Satan. He drives the world into confusion and disasters and attacks the believer. Blocking this is the evangelism movement. This is the time for the evangelists to arise.
1. Spiritual battle of the Word
Enjoying the Gospel correctly is fighting the spiritual warfare with the Word. When God told Abraham to leave Ur of the Chaldeans and go to the land of Canaan, He wanted him to begin the full-force spiritual warfare to save the age and the nations. The exodus was the evidence of victory in spiritual warfare through the Gospel. Jesus said to bind the strong man (Matthew 12:28~29), and He said that He has given us the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). We must hold on to the Word and begin a spiritual fight.
2. Spiritual battle of prayer
God has given us salvation not by works or merits, but solely by the grace of God. The start of salvation is not faith, but grace, and the method of salvation is not payment but faith. God has called us to have victory in spiritualwarfare. Only those who enjoy the fact that saving people who are under the forces of darkness can only be done by God’s grace can know this fact, and for those people, true joy, thanksgiving, and prayer will continue. When we pray, the power that no one can block is revealed in our spiritual fight, and we will see the evidence of the Word of God having victory.
3. Spiritual battle of evangelism
Evangelism is something that the forces of darkness are most fearful of. Only when Jesus Christ is testified will the forces of darkness tremble in fear. God entrusts the future to us who have the spiritual answer. The fact that we need to fight the spiritual fight doesn’t mean that we should be unnecessarily aggressive. The most important element of the spiritual fight is the kingdom of God. This symbolizes the governance of God. When we pray holding on to the covenant and evangelize, God’s governance will come upon the region and the field. Do not be deceived by what you see with your eyes. Have faith and live the life of the evangelist. Then, you will save the world and have victory.
-How am I holding on to the Word every day? Am I seeking the will of God through my prayer? Am I asking God what plan He has for the people I meet, the place I am in, and the work that I am doing?
Core Training Message / 2011.1.29