Method of the Life of the Evangelist
Acts 1:4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father has promised, which you have heard me speak about.”
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #361 Tis the Blessed Hour of Prayer (#480 in previous version)
What is the best method to live the life of the evangelist? The answer is in today’s passage. The members of the Early Church are similar to us in many ways. They were powerless, poor, weak, and their circumstances were horrible. In those times, Jesus told them to wait for the kingdom of God that God had promised. There is a mystery behind Jesus telling them to wait for God’s kingdom.
1. Possess God’s kingdom (Acts 1:4)
What exactly does it mean to wait for the gift the Father has promised? It means for us, individuals, as people of God, to experience and possess the kingdom of God. True answers come through the enjoyment of Christ, true peace follows possession of God’s kingdom, and possession of true power comes by the filling of the Holy Spirit. Wherever we are, wherever we go, gaining strength from God is the start of God’s kingdom. When we possess God’s kingdom, the blessings of the throne will come upon us, the heavenly forces will be mobilized, and the forces of Satan are destroyed. You must possess the mystery of prayer to gain and enjoy the kingdom of God.
2. Share God’s kingdom (Acts 19:8)
The members of the Early Church possessed the kingdom of God. In the face of persecution, they did not fear, and shared about God’s kingdom everywhere they went. There is nothing to be afraid of because we possess the kingdom of God. Pray for the kingdom of God to come upon all the people and fields you encounter. Just as the Early Church saved the region and nation, we will also receive answers.
3. Enjoy the background of the kingdom of God (Philippians 3:20)
As a person of God and an evangelist, there is no reason to worry or to be shaken. Our background is not the world, but God’s kingdom. A person of God who has the background of the kingdom of God will succeed so much so that he will consider all the success and prestige of this world as rubbish. Only then can you do world evangelization. A person of God must enjoy the background of God’s kingdom whether alone or in the face of problems. If you can enjoy God’s kingdom every day, you will gain the one and only answer to save the age.
- Do you possess the kingdom of God? How, exactly, are you going to relay and share it?
LA Conference Lecture 2 / 2011.2.15