The Gospel that no one can block
Acts 28:23~31 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ- with all boldness and without hindrance! (30~31) Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #368 Heart Longings (#486 in previous version) We are children of God who have been saved by believing in Jesus Christ. We are also evangelists who have received the commission of world evangelization and desire to live as evangelists; however, we are a far cry from being a witness of Christ, and have fallen into despair. But the members of the Early Church were not dismayed by their powerlessness or poverty, and instead stood firm even in the face of death and persecution. What mystery did they have that enabled them to do that?
1. Mystery of Jesus Christ
When Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus promised Peter the greatest blessings that the world could not fathom. Christ is not something that can be expressed through words; it is in fact a mystery that can only be realized by the grace of God. The Early Church members all formerly thought Christ was merely one of the prophets, but after meeting the resurrected Jesus, they came to know that He was the unique name that solved all the world’s spiritual problems. Because of this, they did not waver in the face of their circumstances, problems, or difficulties.
2. Kingdom of God
The resurrected Jesus Christ explained the kingdom of God for 40 days. Heaven is the kingdom of God, but we can enjoy His kingdom on earth as well. Wherever a child of God goes, the heavenly armies will be mobilized and the forces of darkness will be expelled. Satan conquered the world through idolatry and instilling a culture driven by evil spirits. If we pray to have the kingdom of God established in the fields where we live, we will discover hidden disciples in the field and the long-entrenched culture of idolatry will fall.
3. Filling of the Holy Spirit
The resurrected Jesus promised that we would be witnesses to the ends of the earth only when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. The Early Church held on to this promise, and as a result, remained steadfast through all sorts of grave difficulties, problems, and persecutions. They knew that there was no other answer but the filling of the Holy Spirit because all fields need Jesus Christ. That is why no one could block this Gospel, and ultimately, they were able to conquer Rome.
- You are a child of God. But what are you afraid of, and what are your problems? Enjoy a day of discovering the kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, and the filling of the Holy Spirit and make it truly your own. Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service / 2012.7.22