Three kinds of eyes
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English #70 God is Our Refuge Strong (#79 in previous version)
Not knowing evangelism is the same as not knowing Christ. Peter said, “I give you what I have” to the man crippled from birth sitting in front of the temple gate called Beautiful. Evangelism is giving what you possess, know, and have seen, and it is something that takes place. Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of men.” And he said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Then, what eyes must we open in order to enjoy the blessing of the evangelist?
1. Eyes to see the state of the nonbeliever
Why does God tell us to evangelize so much, and why has he hidden all the blessings in evangelism? All of mankind left God, has fallen into sin and curses, and cannot be freed from disasters. Jesus said to the people of the world, “your father the devil.” This means that people face problems and hardship because they are under the power of darkness, and they turn to idol worship, superstitions, shamanism, and fortune telling due to anxiety about the future. They have no choice but to struggle in the midst of spiritual problems, physical illness, and materialistic problems. Then, when they die, they go to hell and give their spiritual inheritance to their descendants. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
2. Eyes to see the blessings inside of Christ
What are the blessings inside of Christ? If you are in Christ, your identity changes to a child of God. To those who accept and believe in the name of Christ Jesus, God gives the right to become children of God, is with them until the end of the world, gives them the background of heaven, mobilizes angels, and breaks down the forces of darkness. If the kingdom of God comes, the work of world evangelism can rise.
3. Eyes to see evangelism system
We need a system through which evangelism continues to take place. Just like the Early Church had the evangelism system through which evangelism continued to take place, Word movement and disciple movement must rise. In Acts, the Word movement rose in the households of Mark, Lydia, Jason, and Priscilla. Disciples are raised through this, and therefore the scattered church is as important as the gathering church.
- If we did not know the Gospel, what would have happened? Restore the thanksgiving for salvation, and relay the evidence as a witness.
Reformed Denomination Pastors’ Retreat Lecture 2 / 2011.7.5