Heal the Blessing of the Church (Colossians 1:24-29) 2/16/2025
Heal the Blessing of the Church (Colossians 1:24-29) 2/16/2025
If a single church in a region is properly established, it can serve as a lighthouse that shines light and a watchtower that breaks the darkness in that area. However, the problem is that churches worldwide are losing their strength. There may be various reasons for this. Theological issues, lack of evangelism, or church conflicts. But the most important reason is that believers either do not know or have lost hold of the blessing of the church. Because believers are unable to enjoy answers and blessings, at least 85% of churches (especially in Latin America) are struggling to be self-sufficient. Today’s message is not about lamenting over the church’s downfall and sickness and trying to heal those churches. It is about restoring our thoughts, standards, values towards the church, and restoring the answers and blessings that come from the church through healing.
1. Healing of the blessing of church has two meanings.
1) It means discovering the meaning and value of the church so that all believers can enjoy God’s answers and blessings through the church.
① If we do not know the value of something, we will neither cherish nor try to protect it (Matthew 7:6). Paul stated, “The church is the body of Christ” (Colossians 1:24) and that it was purchased with Christ’s blood (Acts 20:28). One of the greatest ways for believers, saved as Christ’s people, to deeply know and love Christ is through the church.
② This is why Paul was proud to be a minister of the gospel (verse 23) and a servant of the church (verse 24). He even said, “I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, the church.” That is how important the church was, and how much he loved the church.
2) We must restore the blessing of the church not only for Christ but also for ourselves.
① Satan wages war against “the remaining people of Christ”—the church (Revelation 12:17). Satan’s strategy to destroy the church is simple. He makes believers unable to enjoy its blessings.
② We are a church and an organization focused on “only the gospel” and “only evangelism and missions.” Two things will continue to happen. As one side continuously experiences the working of the Holy Spirit and blessings, the other side will also continuously face Satan’s attacks (Luke 21:34, 1 Peter 5:8).
2. Know the role of the church and enter into its blessings.
At the very least, the church must fulfill four fundamental roles, and believers must enjoy the blessings and discover their mission within them.
1) The church helps believers enjoy the blessings and answers of the throne of heaven (worship system). Without enjoying these blessings, believers cannot overcome nor save this suffering, disaster-filled world. Worship must be a time of experiencing the blessings of the heavenly throne. Praise and prayer during worship bring forth God’s work. The pulpit provides messages that comfort, awaken, and challenge us (Ezekiel 47:1-12, Acts 2:42). God gives us His Word and sends heavenly armies to fulfill it (Psalm 103:19-21).
2) The church is a place where saved believers grow spiritually and receive healing (education and training system). From the moment we accepted Christ, our spirits were saved. We were reborn (John 3:5) and given a new life (Romans 6:4). Our spirits must grow spiritually. That is when we receive healing for our old self, its standard, nature, thoughts, and tendencies (Colossians 3:6-10). We must heal from a life tainted by the world and be established as complete people in Christ (28). Participate in all church training, use it as an opportunity to revive yourself, your family, and the church. Then go into the field.
3) The church is an ark of salvation for all people (evangelism and mission system). Through the church, anyone should be able to hear the gospel and begin a new life. It is like a city of refuge in the Old Testament (Joshua 20:1-9). That is why the church must focus on evangelism and missions. If all the believers do not enjoy this blessing together, it becomes like a stagnant pool of rotten water. The blessings of health, family, industry, and economy necessary for evangelism and missions will follow (Isaiah 60:1-7).
4) The church is the Lord’s army that fights against the forces of Satan (prayer bartizan system). Satan, too, has an organization. Satan organized a system that attacked the early church (Revelation 2:9). Believers must block false teachings and recognize Satan’s schemes to divide the church. This is why we individually pray for the church, and collectively pray together (Matthew 18:19-20).
3. The church has an absolute mission it must restore for the future. It is the blessing of the three courtyards of the temple.
Jesus rebuked the temple leaders and told them to destroy the temple because they failed to enjoy and uphold these blessings (John 2:13-22). We are grateful that God gave our church the model of the Antioch Church (Acts 11:19-21) when we started, and God has allowed us to remain in this blessing to this day. This year is the year to establish and complete a firm foundation. This is also the reason for our temple construction.
1) The courtyard of healing. The Antioch Church was built through those who had been “scattered due to persecution” (Acts 11:19).
① The church must be a place where the sick, suffering, and failed can come and receive healing. Only Christ can heal them, and He came to do that (Isaiah 53:5, 61:1, Matthew 4:23).
② We understand that God’s heart in healing us through our pain, suffering, and failures, so that we can heal others. The church must create an atmosphere of acceptance in the gospel and establish healing systems.
2) The courtyard of all nations. The Antioch Church preached not only to Jews but also to Greeks (Acts 11:20).
① The temple was meant to be a house of prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7). The failure to embrace this mission led Israel into captivity. Latin America, being linguistically unified, is the great place for multiethnic ministry.
② Our church’s medical missions last year and focused ministry in El Salvador began with one El Salvadoran elder. There are people who served multiethnic ministry at our church, became and elder, and is fulfilling the work of saving one nation (Tanzania).
3) The courtyard of posterity. This includes Sunday school, Saturday Summit School, preschool, and even a school for children with disabilities. Our mission is not just to raise children for worldly success (true meaning of education in the bible is “devotion”).
① God will raise them to save the world. He calls them a holy seed and a remnant (Isaiah 6:13). With their like, He will send them out to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6). Some will be raised as missionaries. That is why they must be trained in evangelism, languages, and expertise to go into the world.
② They are the future of God’s kingdom, our families, and our church. So do not prohibit children from coming to you (Matthew 19:14). “The things you do for the least, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
Conclusion – Paul said, “To this end, I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1:29). This means putting all our energy into this battle. May you be the first to enjoy all the answers and blessings of Christ’s body, the church, and be used for His purpose.
2.16.25 Heal the Blessing of the Church