The age of business and industry missions
Acts 2:9~11 “Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #270 Let Us Sing of His Love (#214 in previous version)
Although we cannot do it with our strength, all we have to do is embrace the Word of God in our thoughts, minds, hearts, and souls. God accomplished world evangelization through the Early Church. However, while the future descendents lost hold of this blessing, the individual and church experienced great hardships through poverty and discord. This precisely was the state of the church in the Middle Ages. For us who are living in this age, how must we begin?
1. The start of business and industry missions (Acts 2:9~11)
While the Gospel was relayed and expanded through the Early Church, people scattered throughout 15 nations gathered together at the Early Church. These people were businesspeople and important disciples, and were filled with the Holy Spirit when the day of Pentecost came. When the Early Church prayed together on the day of Pentecost, on one day, at one place with one mind and heart, the door of evangelism, missions and business opened. Missions through business can begin when everyone becomes one. When we start with the gathering of hearts, the work of the Holy Spirit arises. At this time, God raised and established three thousand disciples.
2. The couple, Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:1~4)
The businesspeople, the couple, Priscilla and Aquila, met the evangelist Paul. When the meetings God has prepared were fulfilled, He opened the door of evangelism and missions. If you discard other thoughts and motives and grab hold of the Word, God gives you blessings of meetings. That is why it is important that the Word of God first comes upon us. The Early Church, who got a taste of this, went so far as to stake their lives.
3. Gaius (Romans 16:23)
Gaius became the host of all evangelists and saved the evangelists. Gaius was a person who had already grabbed hold of the Gospel that Jesus is the Christ with certainty. In addition, he grabbed hold of the covenant, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” and “I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Apostle John expressed Gaius as “dear friend.” Even upon Apostle John’s death, he helped Paul and many evangelists. Gaius who knew the covenant had no choice but to receive the blessing of the host.
- In order to live the life of the evangelist for the sake of world evangelization, establish the correct plan and start the challenge of faith before God.
World Businesspersons Convention Lecture 2 / 2011.4.13