2016. 05. 25. Wednesday.
Absolute impossibility(Acts 11:19~30)
Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord(19~21).
Hymn for scheduled worship: Korean/English Hymnal #413 When Peace, Like a River, Attendeth my Way(#470 in previous version)
The Israelites failed to understand evangelism and missions. They were within absolute impossibility and could not be used by God. So, they faced seven great disasters. Especially, during the time of the Early Church, Peter went to the Gentile Cornelius' house and ate with him, preaching the Gospel to him. But this incited great anger and criticism. To this extent, the Israelites didn’t know what God desired. That is why God used the Antioch Church and Paul instead for evangelism and missions. Even in this age, there are people who are within absolute impossibility. Who are they?
1. This person
Though the Jewish people are very intelligent and have received many Nobel prizes, God could not use them because they were consumed by the chosen people ideology and legalism. Also, God could not use the religious leaders, teachers of the law, Pharisees, priests and politicians who were only interested in rising in the ranks. In addition, God could not use Rome, a nation that invaded other nations and induced them to worship idols. This is because all of them were within absolute impossibility.
2. Those who don’t know about the disasters
The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and their labor was used to create the idols of Egypt. Unending wars arose through Philistia that worshiped Dagon. Moreover, the Israelites were attacked by Assyria and Aram and were taken as captives to Babylon and colonized under Rome. This is the disaster. Evangelism and missions is the Gospel movement that blocks disasters. But if we don’t know about disasters, we will remain in the place of absolute impossibility.
3. Those who don’t know about the spiritual problems of the future
In A.D. 70, the temple of Herod was destroyed and in A.D. 79, a volcano erupted and swept over Pompeii. But in 313, Rome declared Christianity its national religion. In 1517, Martin Luther carried out the Religious Reformation and the works of the Gospel that changed the world began. In the future, the anti-Christ will arise and religions will become integrated. This is a tremendous spiritual problem that will arise in the future. If we don’t know this spiritual fact, we have no choice but to remain within absolute impossibility.
[Prayer of the Evangelist] Loving God! Thank You for calling me out of absolute impossibility into the place of being used by You. Help me to enter into the flow of God to change the things that are absolutely impossible.
20th World Mission Convention Lecture 1 / 2016. 02. 19.
[Bible Reading] Ezekiel 41~42.
[Gospel Memory Verse] For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God(Romans 3:23).