Witnesses of the Blessing to Save Jerusalem (Acts 1:4-8) 10/03/2019
Actualization of 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC:
Witnesses of the Blessing to Save Jerusalem (Acts 1:4-8) 10/03/2019
The 237 missions that saves all people is God’s own desire, the last missions from Christ, and the conclusive blessing that all people of God must enjoy. Today, we will share the word about the enjoyment of those realistic answers and blessings.
Jesus gave us the answer in the passage. Essentially, he is telling us to enjoy the evidence of the “blessing that saves Jerusalem.”
Jesus emphasized this twice. In verse 4 he says, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my father promised.” In verse 8 he says, “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and to the ends of the earth.”
Where is this Jerusalem? It is us ourselves and also the church we belong to. The moment you receive salvation, you become God’s temple (1 Corinthians 3:16). The church in which all the saved people gather is Jerusalem (Revelations 21:3). If we as individuals and as a church are not able to enjoy this blessing, we will run into conflict. Saving 237 nations is nice but we personally may not be receiving answers and may be exhausted and stressed out. We must discover this answer today. If we restore three things, everything will change.
- We must first restore our identity of Jerusalem; a holy temple that God had chosen.
If you do not realize how great of a blessing you have been given (absolute blessings, blessing of nobody), then you will be deceived by Satan. Among believers, there are so many that live under captivity, slavery, colony, mental illnesses, and dependency issues.
1) The blessing of Acts 1:1, 3, and 8 is a fundamental blessing that you will enjoy.
Theophilus was the recipient of Acts. He was a prominent figure in the age of Rome. Luke, a doctor and a co-worker of Paul, gave him the answer that saved him. If politicians, the authorities, the wealthy, and even pastors do not know this blessing, it can lead to depression, mental illnesses, and suicide.
① Christ had finished life’s fundamental problems (Acts1:1). The original sin, Satan, and eternal curses.
On the other hand, if we are within Christ, it does not matter what situations or problems we face. Christ has finished it all on the cross (John 19:30). We have been freed. We are the source of blessings. We are victors. He remains in us. Do not ever be discouraged or afraid. All of that is Satan’s strategy for making you lose hold of this Christ.
② The background of those who are inside Christ is the background of heaven. That is the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3).
You are enjoying this and realistically experiencing the kingdom of God coming upon wherever you go (Matthew 12:28). Wherever you are, whatever you do, pray for the kingdom of God. The forces of darkness will crumble, and the flow will change.
③ The power that we have is the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
If not for this power, we cannot even save ourselves, let alone save 237 nations. We are constantly discouraged before our own powerlessness. This is something that everyone goes through, and all the more if you are to do important works. This is why He promised us the power of the Holy Spirit.
2) He made us his children to give us the right to enjoy this blessing.
He gave us the privilege to be able to call God our father and pray to him (Romans 8:15). If you pray to him and ask, it will be given to you (Matthew7:7-11). Even if sufferings come, it’s okay. We are the heirs of God. Suffering is training for our vessels (Romans 8:17).
3) 1 Peter 2:9 speaks of the four identities that saved people of God must hold onto.
We are deceived because we try to find our identities through physical and visible things and comparative and competitive mentality. We are the chosen people (within God’s absolute plan), a royal priesthood (within God’s absolute authority), a holy nation (within God’s absolute power), and God’s special possession (within God’s absolute love).
- Restore deep prayer at least once a day to enjoy the blessing being filled with the Holy Spirit.
This is the reason he tells us not to leave Jerusalem. He wants us to receive the promised Holy Spirit first, and want us to enjoy the blessing of spiritual summit.
1) If we truly enjoy this filling of the Holy Spirit, no Satan’s schemes would matter to us. Those things will become greater blessings.
If you are surrounded by the noise of your environment, reality, your own voice and the voice of others, that is what you will be filled with. Listen and hold onto the word of God every moment. Pray on top of the covenant. That is when you will experience the filling of the Holy Spirit. Satan tempted Jesus, but Jesus overcame with the word. The help of angels began after that (Matthew 4:1-11).
2) There is a way to quietly overcome Satan. It is making the three things in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 our lifestyles.
① Rejoice always. You may experience problems and unjust situations. How can you be happy? Realize that you are participating in the sufferings of Christ (1 Peter 4:13). There is glory that you will also receive.
② Pray continually. Satan will continuously try to deceive us. We must not cease our prayers. You can pray with your eyes open, as you move about throughout your day. Looking upon God and communicating with him is prayer.
③ Give thanks in all circumstances. There may be times in which you feel discouraged and angry. Have faith in the fat that there are great answers prepared and give thanks. These three attitudes are what God wants to see in us. The Holy Spirit will undoubtedly work in our lives.
- There is a blessing of the three ministries that is fulfilled inside Jerusalem, the church.
1) Talent ministries given to us individually (Matthew 25:14-30)
God has given everyone that forms the church a talent (Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4). It may seem like an insignificant talent, as it was in Jesus’ parable of the talents. What are the blessings that God gave to the ones who devoted and served with those small talents?
2) Ministry that you do for someone very small in the church. Jesus gave a parable about sheep and goats (Matthew 25:31-46).
Jesus said, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Giving bread to the hungry, healing the sick, and caring for the one in prison are done for Jesus. We must take care of each other (Hebrews 10:24-25).
3) Ministry that the positions and departments in the church must do. This is the reason positions are given and departments are created.
Elders act as shepherds. They protect and feed the lamb (1 Peter 5:2). Senior deaconesses encourage and comfort the sick and lonely (Romans 12:8). Deacons and deaconesses look after the widow and the poor (Acts 6:1-2). There are many departments in the church. As every department plays its roles, the church will be strengthened.
Conclusion – Reviving oneself and the departments of the church is the blessing of saving Jerusalem. This is the beginning and background of saving 237 nations. May all departments become the witnesses of this blessing that will surely save 237 nations.