Be the leaders that save the church
1 Kings 19:1~20 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him. (18)
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #390 He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought (#444 in previous version)
God told Elijah, who was in despair, that He had reserved seven thousand whose knees have not bowed down to Baal. Even in this age God has reserved disciples all over the place. Finding those disciples is our commission. As we begin today’s evangelism we will see the doors of evangelism when we place the hidden disciples in our heart and record all the meetings that we have. The hidden disciples are reserved in our lives and God has prepared them in the church. If so, how can we find the disciples that are hidden around us?
1. Into deep prayer
First we need to pray for our past, present and future and we will see answers if we enter into deep prayer. Scheduled prayer is setting aside important time during the day and deeply enjoying Christ. When we enjoy this power of prayer, we can hold on to the evidence and become witnesses. If we become witnesses, we will see the time schedule for our lives. It is at this time that we can find the disciples that God has hidden.
2. Into the prayer of healing
Most people are diseased with physical and spiritual problems. All the people that we meet must be cured of these problems. For correct healing to arise, we must first grab hold of God’s Word in the Gospel and gain power through deep prayer, meditation, breathing exercise and continuous physical exercise. We will have victory in spiritual battle only when we gain spiritual power.
3. Into the prayer of saving the church
Looking at his difficult situation, Elijah prayed that there was nothing further he could do and for God to take his life. God, however, called him to Mt. Horeb and gave him a new commission to seek out seven thousand disciples that He had reserved. While the Early Church was holding on to the covenant and praying, three thousand disciples arose in the field. Workers and disciples of Romans 16 are hidden in the field throughout the world. When we restore through prayer the power to find the disciples in the field, we will see the answers for the future and churches will gain strength. This is the blessing of evangelists who will save the church.
- Evangelism is God’s method that transcends our common sense. Let us make a detailed evangelism plan as we gain the spiritual power to find seven thousand disciples in our life today.
Young Adult Leaders Retreat Lecture 1 / 2011.2.4