Which Way Am I Going (Acts 20:22-24) 6/21/2020
The Answer of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd RUTC:
Which Way Am I Going (Acts 20:22-24) 6/21/2020
Evangelist Paul often compared life to a race. It says, “Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly,” in 1 Corinthians 9:26. If there is no reason or purpose behind my running, that is just wandering. Some people run hard to find a way. They are only struggling. 2 Timothy 2:5 states, “Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules.” This means that cheating to get to the desired place is not how it should be done. There is a Korean proverb that goes, “If it is not a road do not walk it, and if it does not make sense, do not listen to it.” Before being martyred, Paul confessed “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith,” in 2 Timothy 4:7 and stood before God. The passage is Paul’s confession before he went into Rome, the ‘ends of the earth’ of that age. Although he knew that many tribulations were awaiting him before going to Rome, he still “finished his race” that was rightful, inevitable, and absolute. People are depressed, frustrated, and are unable to see which way to go (no way) as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The second most read book by Christians after the Bible is the book entitled, “Pilgrim’s Progress.” It is a book that well explains how to be triumphant with faith as one goes down the way where he leaves this earth, the “City of Destruction,” and goes towards an eternal city, the “Celestial City.” It is Father’s Day. May you strengthen and comfort your Father as you remember his labor and devotion. Father must question, which way am I going as a Father, and am I going well?
All believers and remnants should question themselves. “Which way am I going? Am I going the way that I must go? For things to work out right now, to receive answers and to be successful is not what is important. If I go the way that God desires, no problems will matter and there are blessings that God has separately prepared everywhere I go. The 7 remnants and people of God took this way. We will remember at least the three ways that God desires from the passage. Go with that assurance.
- We are going the way that God has prepared (Covenant Journey, Way of the Covenant People).
To us who have been saved and become children, no problem and conflict that comes in our way matters. We are going the way that God has prepared.
1) The word in which Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” is a tremendous covenant. It is an eternal covenant.
① He became the way to meet God and even took responsibility for the way to go to Heaven.
Everything on earth changes but He does not. That is why He is the truth. Our life and death are all in Him, and it is an eternal life no matter when death may come.
② He came with three authorities to fulfill this covenant.
He has solved all our sins and curses as He died on the cross with the authority of the Priest (Romans 8:1-2). He has crushed the head of Satan with the authority of the King and has said that He will surely have Satan crushed underneath our feet (1 Corinthians 15:15, Romans 16:20). He became our way through the authority of the Prophet and is forever with us through the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18). This can never change. It is an eternal covenant.
2) There is a covenant to hold onto within the eternal covenant of Christ in the way I am going in life.
① God will use me as the one who will save and heal this age (covenant of the age).
In the end, all the problems I face are problems of this age. God will allow us to heal and let us become ones who receive evidence there.
② For that, He will give us evidence as one who will save the land, country, and region I am living in (regional covenant).
Hold onto the reason I must live in America, in Washington D.C, and the absolute reason why I have become a member of One Mind Church. This is especially the reason why I must accurately hold onto the pulpit message, meditate, and hold onto it as my covenant (Acts 2:42, 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
③ At that time, the answers I will receive, the accurate time schedule, and the work I must do will become visible (personal covenant, my CVDIP).
No matter what problems come, do not be discouraged, in despair and afraid. It is a process of God’s CVDIP being fulfilled and a time schedule.
- We are going the way that God will use (Evangelist Journey, the Way of the Evangelist).
If I am a person of the covenant, then live my 24 hours thinking, “how does God want to use me?” Eat, study, do business, and everything else for this (1 Corinthians 10:31). That is what living for God’s glory is.
1) How can we live a life that is used by God? That is God’s grace.
① God used Paul who used to persecute and stand against the church as an evangelist who saved the world like this.
That is why He confessed, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (verse 24).
② Hold onto my insufficiency, incompetence, scars, failure, suffering, and all as a time schedule to experience God’s grace.
Romans 5:20 said, “But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.” Look at myself that can’t be without God’s grace. A person who has experienced grace from within can give true devotion. That is how deep things come forth (deep thanksgiving, deep prayer, deep devotion). That is when God’s absolute answer that overcomes me comes forth, and I will inevitably confess that it could only be done by grace (1 Corinthians 15:10).
2) It is not only a level where problems become irrelevant. It is going with knowing the problem, the loss, and unfair treatment that will come.
Paul knew that there would be tribulations along the way he went through Jerusalem to go to Rome. That was not all he knew. He knew that in the way where he held onto God’s absolute grace, absolute power would be revealed (this is 25 hours). Abraham was able to sacrifice Isaac through this faith that held onto this absolute grace and power (Hebrews 11:19), Daniel and the three friends went into the fire with this faith, and Esther confessed, “If I perish, I perish.”
3) Confirm two things when problems and crises come. Question this before God and concentrate.
Am I a person who has the gospel and a person who will live as an evangelist? Even if there may have been any persecution, damage, or loss, the Lord said that He has prepared a hundred-fold of that (Mark 10:29-30).
- This earth is not everything for us. Go down the eternal way that God has prepared (Journey of Heaven, Pilgrim’s Way).
1) There will be a day where we leave this earth and stand before the throne of God’s glory (eternity).
There are a separate glory and reward we will enjoy that day. It said that God will wipe our tears that we shed for the gospel and evangelism (Revelations 21:4). We will reap all the seeds (hidden prayer, labor, devotion) we sowed on that day (Galatians 6:7-9).
2) Be triumphant today as you look to that day and the things above (Colossians 3:1-4).
The Lord said that we will bear much fruit (John 12:24) if we deny ourselves and are willing to die for Him (Matthew 16:25). Living may be harder than dying. If that is for the gospel then we are living a life of a martyr (living martyrdom).
Conclusion – Which way are we going right now? Who are the ones going with us? May you enjoy this blessing.