One Person that God Has Remained (Acts 9:10-15) 7/14/2019

Actualization of 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:

One Person that God Has Remained (Acts 9:10-15)                               7/14/2019

 

In our eyes, one person may seem insignificant. We may think lightly of them and even look down upon them. This is a characteristic of many of those who fail. Those who succeed do not view people that way. Whether it is one person or a brief encounter, they think of the potential and the future of the other. As God’s people who will save the world, what kind of standards must we live with?

In the Bible, God changed the world and the age through a single individual at a time. Those people are called the remnants that God has remained. There are 7 remnants. It was Joseph, Moses, and David alone in each age. In today’s passage, we see that one person – Paul.

Why is it that one person? Those people were not just anyone. They were unique, and absolute beings. Why was that?

First, they were within God’s absolute love. In and because of their shortcomings and failures, they needed God’s absolute love. That is the start of the gospel (Isaiah 43:4, Romans 5:8, 1John 4:10). Do not be deceived by love from elsewhere. Hold onto this absolute love.

Second, they were within God’s absolute method. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, the weak things of the world to shame the strong so that no one may boast before him (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). If you live in arrogance and self-greatness, you will fall. This is how Adam fell (Genesis3:5). The curse of the Babel Tower began this way (Genesis 11:4). When you truly recognize that you are a shameful, incompetent, and insignificant being before God, that is when He will begin his work.

Third, they were within God’s absolute power. God desires for us to live within His power. That is the only way we can save ourselves to save, heal, and bless the world. That is the life of an evangelist. No matter what anyone says, God is wiser and greater than any of His creatures. David truly believed and confessed this as he stood before Goliath (1 Samuel 17:47). God also granted victory to the 300 Gideon soldiers over the countless number of the Midian army for this reason (Judges 7:1-7).

Through those who are within this absolute love, method, and power of God, He will heal and save the world. The one person isn’t merely a single individual. He is a unique, absolute individual that God has left behind. We are the ones within those three.

 

  1. Hold onto the covenant that you are that one person God has remained and restore your faith. You are standing as the absolute disciple.

1) The fact that we are saved is itself an evidence. The Bible continues to give us confirmation through the word, but we lose hold of it.

It matters not whether you are lacking or what your environment has been like. Even if that remains as a scar and you fall again, it also does not matter. Do not be deceived.

When God saved us, he had planned and chosen us before creation (Ephesians1:3-5).

He had made us and formed us in the womb (Isaiah 44:2). He knew the kind of lives we would live.

Because he knew that we could not earn salvation for ourselves, he came to find us and saved us (Isaiah 43:1).

He even came to find Paul, who was persecuting Christ and antagonizing the church. There may be suffering that comes as a result of living maliciously under the forces of darkness, but God must also make all of that into evidence (verse 16).

2) If this person realizes Christ, God’s amazing and absolute plan will be fulfilled.

“This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel” (verse 15).

Listen to the word of Christ and imprint it in yourself (Romans 10:17). Your thoughts stem from your imprints and determine all your circumstances.

We have been freed inside Christ (Romans 8:1-2). Free yourself and free others. We have been given the authority to have victory in Christ (1 John 3:8). If you fight against the forces of Satan that have been working in your life and family until now, you will be victorious (James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9). With this authority, you need to save those who are bound. We have found the way through Christ (John 14:6). In every moment of our lives, He is with us. Tell them of this way.

Root down deeply as you meditate on Christ. As much as you are rooted, you will be stronger and more fruitful.  Our bitter roots must change.

Meditate on the word even just a little and experience God’s absolute love, method, and power within you who are inside Christ. Rethink the word “meditation” and apply it to yourself (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:2-3). For your life is inside God’s absolute love, method, and power, change everything into thanksgiving (Colossians 2:6-7).

As you fight with the name of Christ, change your nature. Your life depends on your nature. It has been long-imbedded.

Our unknown nature of unbelief (worries, anxiety), secular nature (physical pleasure and worldly greed), legalistic nature (judgement and condemnation of others) are alarming. It becomes your efforts, your merit, and your source of pride. Then if things do not work out, you become stressed and give up. This nature can not easily be changed. Fight against yourself (1Corinthians 15:31), fight against the world (1John 2:15-16), and fight against Satan (Luke 10:19).

 

  1. Hold onto the covenant of saving that one person and begin concentration. Through you, absolute disciples will be raised.

1) how does God use Paul, the persecutor? Through one person, world history was transformed.

He became the first missionary that saved the Gentiles, historical evangelist, and the individual that recorded half of the new testament through the Holy Spirit.

Out of all cities, why was it in Damascus that Paul was transformed and was brought back to Christ?

There is an important reason. There was one person named Ananias there, who could accept and help Paul. What was he doing? He was praying as he prepared and strengthened himself to obey God’s will. There was also Mark’s upper room meetings in Damascus at that time. This is called the pre-camp.

Why did Paul’s ministry begin at Antioch church?

There were church members along with Barnabas in Antioch church that could understand and unite with Paul, even with his past full of persecution and failures. God does not attach important individuals to just anyone. He wants you to be prepared first. You must see everything with the eyes of the gospel. If you think about it, everyone is a sacrificial lamb of Genesis 3. Nonetheless, God has finished all things in Christ (John 19:30), He is able to do all things (Romans 8:28), and He will use everything as evidence (Acts 1:8).

2) When that one disciple is being raised, there are three terms that we must remember.

A few. Concentration becomes difficult with large numbers. Jesus himself only chose twelve disciples to deeply concentrate (Mark 3:13-19).

God is not telling us to do many things. Consider small tasks, small individuals, and a few people as a thousand (Isaiah 60:22).

Continuation. The chosen disciples went through many failures, but He did not give up. He continued (John 13:1).

If you can focus on someone for just three years, his life will bear healing and transformation. That is when he becomes a disciple.

Concentrate on Only Christ. You may understand and help their hardships, but that must not become the main focus.

Help them with everything, but make sure what remains is Christ. There are people that follow the word and follow Christ down to their core (John 6:68).

 

Conclusion – You as a single individual is the method and the conclusion. May you be able to save the one person like you that God has prepared.

 7-17-2019 English

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