2017.1.29_The Church Jesus Established

The Church Jesus Established

(Acts 2:1~13)

The Church that accomplishes the will of the Father on earth as it is in heaven

God is the living Creator. The Things he created have filled the heaven and earth from beginning to the present. We do not have any other choice but to admit that God’s word is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).

God created all things for the Son in his own bosom. Hebrews 1:2 says, “but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the worlds.” God exalted the Son above all things to receive glory.

It is for this purpose that God sent His Son into the world. Had the Son of God not shed His blood on the cross, God would still have been glorified through other creatures, but he would not have received glory from man, who He made in His image according to His likeness. Previously, a man was dead in the sight of God. So God sent His Son to save those who died and gave them to His son, and He was glorified through them.

Some of the things God created are large, and others are so small that they are invisible to man. The important thing is that all of it is created by need. For example, there are many organs and parts in a human body. Some of them are so small that a person might think they are unnecessary. But some of them are vital for survival. In the same way, God is glorified not only through visible things but also through invisible things.

Everything in the world is ultimately used to accomplish the purposes of God for the Son. It is not a coincidence that the Son of God died on the cross, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven. Right before He died, Jesus said, “It is finished.” He had accomplished the will of the Father. Jesus told His disciples to pray, ‘Let the will of the Father be done on earth as it is in heaven. To this end, He founded the church by going to heaven and sending the Holy Spirit, and now He is nurturing and leading the church by the Holy Spirit. Jesus fulfilled all His work. It is time for the church to do its work by the Holy Spirit.

A Church that does not fear death

Hope is an essential component in the church.  Regardless of how zealous or pious a man may be concerning his life of faith, without hope, it is all in vain. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). For Christians, our hope is in the resurrection (that we will be resurrected like Jesus) and eternal life with Him. Many people regard their faith as a disciplining of their will and actions to conform to certain rules and to educate themselves in these set of rules. However, faith is not in living a life that is oppressed but in living a life that obeys the Word. Jesus said, ‘Anyone who does not carry his cross and follows me cannot be my disciple’ (Luke 14:27). It means that whoever wants to follow Jesus should be prepared even to die.

Martyrdom is the great hope of the Christian. When Christians desire martyrdom, the church can not help but revive. The apostle Paul confessed that he died daily (1Cor. 15:31). It is the Christian who denies herself day by day to lay down her life. Love God with all your soul, love neighbor with all your soul. And be loyal to your office with all your soul.

Jesus said, “Whoever wants to save his life, will lose it, and if anyone loses his life for my sake, he will find it” (Mt 16:25). It is because of this promise that a Christian does not fear to die. No one can escape death. Since the beginning, only Jesus has defeated death. We are so grateful that, in baptism in the name of Jesus Christ, we have been united with Him in His death and resurrection. That is why we can have hope and faith in the resurrection.

Jesus gave His life and fulfilled the will of God. He did not avoid his death because he had faith and hope in the resurrection. Only those who have hope can have the faith of a martyr. Revelation 20:4~5 says that “The souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast of his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. This is the first resurrection.” Those who have the faith of martyrdom can participate in the first resurrection.

The word of God is not subject to criticism or evaluation. When people hear the bible being preached in the church, many make judgments concerning the preaching according to their own ideas and interests. But that is not a proper attitude toward God’s Word, rather We should bow beneath its authority and be willing to die rather than to disobey God’s word.

A church filled with the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). This is not what Jesus had in mind for a particular person or group, but rather, He gave this command to all believers. The eleven disciples who were with him just before Jesus was betrayed were the most loyal among the many disciples who followed Him. However, they all left Jesus when he was captured by the soldiers. They were afraid to die, which is not what Jesus wanted to see from His witnesses. But after Jesus was resurrected and ascended into heaven, they became completely different. Not just the eleven disciples, but many more of them even gave their lives to testify of Jesus. This is because Jesus went to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to believers.

The disciples tarried in Jerusalem and prayed as they waited for the Holy Spirit just as Jesus had commanded before He ascended. Ten days after the ascension of Jesus, on the day of Pentecost, the disciples gathered together in the upper room, as usual, praying together. Suddenly the sound of a rushing mighty wind filled the room, and divided tongues as of fire came upon each person. All of the disciples gathered there were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other tongues(Acts 2:1~4).

The crowd in Jerusalem was bewildered when they heard this sound from the mouths of His disciples. At that time, Jews who had gathered from all over the world for the feast were surprised to hear the disciples’ speaking in tongues because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Some, however, made fun of them and said they were drunk (Acts 2:5-13).

The church began the moment the Holy Spirit came to the disciples. This scene in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost should be the standard of the Church of Christ. Since the arrival of the Holy Spirit, there have been people in various places who speak tongues in the name of Jesus, and they have cast out demons in the name of Jesus and have laid hands on the sick and healed them. As God said through the prophet Joel, “In the last days I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your children will prophesy; your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.”(Acts 2:17). All kinds of gifts came upon people.

The work of the Holy Spirit in the church should not be resisted. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the gospel Jesus must advance. There must be so much news that people come to the church expectantly and filled with the anticipation that, ‘If I go to that church, I will see and experience the work of God.’

Jesus said, “If I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Mt 12:28). Because the church is the part of the kingdom of God, it must not stop casting out demons by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Mt 5:10~11). It is unreasonable for the church which has received these promises to conform to contemporary culture in order to avoid persecution.

The church cannot experience revival if the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemed because the growth of the church is accomplished only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because the disciples obeyed Jesus’ command to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the Holy Spirit, they experienced the work of the Holy Spirit. Today is no different. In order to experience the work of the Holy Spirit, we must obey Jesus’ commands.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The same Jesus who spoke to the Church two thousand years ago is still speaking to the church today.

Summarized and translated by Sungrak Mission Center