Church that Leads All Peoples to Salvation
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January 17, 2016 |
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Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
"[God] desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
For the last six thousand years, the earnest heart of God has never changed. In order to fulfill this hope, He has been waiting for a thousand years as if it were a day. In this message, I am going to talk about what we have to do to become the church that leads all peoples to salvation.
1. Following the example of Apostle Paul's ministry
The message that Paul preached had authority. It's because he lived a holy life according to the Word of God. Even before he met the Lord, he strictly followed the Law. After meeting the Lord, who is the truth and true light, he lived an even holier life according to the words of the Lord. According to the will of the Lord, who fulfilled the Law with love, Paul loved God first and foremost, and he tried to love his neighbors as himself. Paul could communicate with the Lord all the time because he lived a holy life. As he prayed, there were strong works of the Holy Spirit manifested. When he commanded in the name of Jesus Christ, the lame came to walk and jump and evil spirits departed.
Just like Apostle Paul, this church and I have tried to live by the Word of God until we received the authority given by God. We lived with prayers and fasting to obey the words of God telling us to do, not do, keep, and cast away certain things.
As a result of living with prayers and fasting to obey the Word of God, when this holiness gospel was preached in each part of the world, many souls repented, and the works of power to guarantee my messages took place. Then, even those with hardened hearts acknowledged God and believed in Him.
The 12 united crusades that we had since 2000 in particular, were the occasions that proved the authority in the messages and in the power of God. For three years we delivered the holiness gospel and God's power all over Israel, following the footsteps of the Lord. Even after initial fulfilling of the Great Commission of the Lord, we still continue to save souls.
But God let us save even more souls just as He greatly fulfilled the missionary works for the Gentiles through Apostle Paul. When he was going to Rome, the ship that he and his delegation were onboard was wrecked but everyone survived.
When we tried to spread the gospel despite all the threats and dangers, God showed to us even greater works.
2. How to be the main players who will lead all peoples to the way of salvation
1) You should become one with the shepherd through 'trust'
Even at the time of Paul, the spreading of the gospel was accomplished greatly through those co-workers who became one with Paul through trust. Furthermore, depending on the strength of the trust, they utilized Paul's authority in the Word and the power of God in different measures.
Acts 19:11-12 reads, "God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out."
Those who believe in this passage of the Bible and trust the power of the shepherd can take the handkerchiefs to many parts of the world and show the same kinds of works. And, depending on the magnitude of the trust, the level of power manifested will be different. The power of God manifested will become greater.
Manmin members have been becoming one with the shepherd through trust by personally seeing, hearing, and experiencing various signs and wonders. God also has given us many chances to receive His grace so that they could build up deeper trust. Through those moments, many souls have come forth as leaders who strive to save the souls with the heart of the shepherd. And the important thing here is that your trust must be complete trust that will not change.
Even at the time of Apostle Paul, while some of his co-workers remained with him until the end, some others forsook their trust and left him.
Timothy and Titus served him like they were his sons. They also conducted pastoral ministry in a church that was established by Paul, according to his request. On the contrary, some of the co-workers left Paul following their own benefits.
Likewise, if you do not have complete trust, you cannot participate in the precious ministry of fulfilling the providence of God until the end. I urge you to all become one with the shepherd through trust, and play major roles in leading all peoples to salvation.
2) You should fulfill your duties in your given positions to fulfill the justice
According to how you cut it, a diamond will have so many different kinds of beauty reflecting the light. Likewise, when you bear the fruit of Light and refine yourself in spirit and body, your Light will shine even more brightly. For example, when you go out to the world with the handkerchief, the kinds of fruit that you will bear will be different depending on the amount of fervent prayer and fasting you offered and your good and well-refined behaviors. It is up to you to store up prayers and fasting and your effort.
And, is there any of you who think like, "I am not a pastor, and what can I do?" In order for our church to lead all peoples to salvation, we must have an organization and other staff who can support the preachers. Also, we will need a lot more people who will work at the main church. Paul did not do his ministry all alone either. There were many workers who were helping him according to their roles.
As I mentioned, Timothy and Titus took care of the churches that had been established by Paul. Priscilla and Aquila provided much comfort to Paul when he was having a hard time in Corinth. They even prepared the way for Paul in places where Paul was going to spread the gospel. This couple would not spare even their lives for Paul.
Believers in the church of Philippi often made missionary offerings. Titus Justus of Corinth and Lydia of Philippi offered their houses to be used as a church. Onesiphorus came to visit Paul and comforted him all the time when he was in jail in Rome. Silas and Paul were put in jail for preaching the gospel. Tertius helped Paul by taking dictation of Paul's letters for the believers. Titus and Tertius delivered Paul's letters to places that took weeks or even months to reach and then brought back their replies. They also made reports to Paul who wanted to know about situations of the churches.
If you become one with the shepherd by trust and fill up your own measure of justice, then you can become great strength to me in saving the souls in your respective positions. Apostle Paul had the church of Antioch that had commissioned him as a missionary and supported him with fasting and prayers as the headquarters.
In the same way, you may receive more power in prayer, and you can support the saving of the souls more powerfully. Also, if laymen members try to fulfill their duties in the home and the workplace to become the light and salt of the world, it is also fulfilling their measure of justice.
When all of you play your respective roles, the holiness gospel and power of God will spread all over the world and lead all peoples to salvation.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Apostle Paul did not consider his life as dear to himself or of any account and preached the gospel passionately (Acts 20:24). I pray in the name of the Lord that you will strive to constantly lead many souls to salvation like Apostle Paul and pile up everlasting rewards in Heaven.
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