[30th Anniversary of the Church Opening - Special I] Taking After the Early Church - Early Church
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July 29, 2012 |
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"They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved" (Acts 2:42-47).
 Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee
Since the Lord ascended into Heaven, the gospel has been preached in Jerusalem, all Judea, Samaria, and the remotest part of the earth and a vast number of churches have been established. Among the churches, what kind of churches has done the ministry that was the most appropriate in the will of the Lord?
It was the early church that was founded by disciples and apostles who witnessed the Lord's resurrection and ascension firsthand and received the Holy Spirit and the power as the Lord had spoken. The church experienced explosive growth and revival even under severe persecutions. Moreover, it laid a foundation to evangelize the whole world as well as all Judea and Samaria.
From its opening until today, Manmin Central Church took after the Early Church and dedicated itself to the national and the world evangelism. By doing so, it has become a church that leads all people of all nations to the way of salvation together with around 10,000 branch and associative churches. So, let's delve into the characteristics of a church God wants and learn a bit about the early church.
1. It is the church where many wonders and miraculous signs take place.
Acts 2:43 says, "Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles." Here, 'wonders and signs' are phenomena that cannot be performed with human abilities, but can take place only by the power of the Almighty God.
For example, it is causing it to rain in the midst of a long-lasting drought. It is the changing of the course of typhoons and hurricanes—and even causing them to disappear. The healing works that cannot be performed with human ability: like reviving the dead, allowing for the blind to see and the deaf to hear, and causing the lame to walk, can be said to be examples of such 'wonders and signs.'
When many signs and wonders take place, unbelievers and those with small faith are more likely to meet the living God and possess spiritual faith. Today, especially, when science is developed and sin and lawlessness are rampant, we are in desperate need of signs and wonders (John 4:48).
Why, then, did many signs and wonders take place in the times of the early church? At the time, believers always lived lives filled with the Holy Spirit. They tried their best to follow the Lord's teachings taught by the apostles so that the great works of the Holy Spirit could occur. Additionally, at that time the apostles also personally ministered to the church.
Here 'the apostles' refer to those who have no will of their own, but serve and obey the Master with all their hearts. So, the apostles of the Lord cast off all forms of evil, became completely sanctified, accomplished the heart of the Lord, and fully performed the will of God like the Lord. They gained the recognition and love of God. They received the power from above and performed miraculous works.
If pastors are qualified like these apostles even today, amazing works accompany them the way they happened in the early church. Since the church also experienced God's power, the faith of the members was able to grow up day by day. There were even members who performed with the power of God, like the deacons Stephen and Philip.
2. The church that had all things in common and shared all properties and possessions
Acts 2:44-45 says, "And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need." This proves how abundant spiritual love was in early church.
Because they were all brothers and sisters in the blood of Christ they didn't say, "This is mine! That's yours!" They practiced the love of the Lord in deeds and in truth. Among them were people who witnessed the resurrected Lord. So their hearts were burning only with the hope for Heaven. They had no greed to store up properties on earth. They sold their possessions, shared them with the poor, and had all things in common.
Today materialism and selfishness are rampant in the world. It is not easy to find such believers as lived in early church days. But if you have true brotherhood in faith and throw away greed for properties, you can do it. Through the deeds of loving your neighbors as yourselves, you can spread the fragrance and light of the Christ. Through seeing your deeds, many souls can return to the Lord.
"Sharing properties and possessions with one another and having all things in common" doesn't mean only in finances. They also shared their hearts with each other. In the same way, you should not insist on your opinions but respect those of others. Then, no conflict and no argument happen. If we keep peace in all aspects, share all things with one another, and take care of others with loving care, then we also can make our church beautiful in the sight of God.
3. The church where the members gathered in the temple of God every day
Verse 46 says, "Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart." "Breaking bread" doesn't mean they gathered to eat bread for food. It spiritually means that they gathered, and heard, learned and made the word of God their spiritual bread.
The members of the early church diligently heard and learned the Word of God according to the teachings of the apostles. They dedicated themselves to praying in one mind to practice the Word taught. That's why they gathered in the temple of God day by day. Since they dedicated themselves to gather in the church like this and prayed, they received the power from above and they could live by the Word of God. They were also blessed on this earth and piled up heavenly rewards by evangelizing people and working faithfully.
Today, many churches do not gather in the temple. Some churches even do not have sunrise services. Hebrews 10:24-25 reads, "… let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Churches have to devote themselves to 'gather in the temple' and pray with one mind. When churches continue to gather and pray, they can become churches filled with grace and truth in the powerful works of the Holy Spirit.
4. The church where the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved
Acts 2:47 says, "…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved." They could praise God, rejoice, and give thanks to Him with full of hope for Heaven.
When you give out the fragrance of Christ, people will confess, "Oh! That person is a real Christian. I want to go to church and believe like he does!" It will be glory to God and He will lead many souls to your church. In the same way, when your church completely follows and does the will of God, He will be pleased, provide blessings and bring great revival.
Dear brothers and sister, Psalm 37:4 reads, "Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart." When we believe in God's Word, obey Him, and please Him, not only the church as a whole, but also we as individuals, will receive blessings of souls' prosperity, good health, finance, and family. We can receive whatever we ask for.
I pray in the name of the Lord that you will give glory to God with the power of the Holy Spirit and lead many souls to the way of salvation like the early church did.
Beautiful Story of 'Manmin'
 "From the Very Beginning of the Church, Amazing Power of God Took Place"
Pastor Daehee Cho (2nd Grand Great Parish Pastor)
At the age of 21, I was diagnosed with stage 3 tuberculosis and told that I would die soon. In January 1983, I was carried on my mother's back to Manmin Central Church's Friday All-night Service. My grandmother, who lived near the church, led me to the church after seeing God's great work unfold in the church. I was amazed watching people being carried into the sanctuary on a stretcher and going out of the sanctuary on their own.
I couldn't deny the fact that God is alive when I saw people healed of various kinds of diseases by the prayer of Pastor Jaerock Lee. Afterwards, I prepared myself for healing by giving three-day fasting and attended the prayer meeting. I thoroughly repented that I had been abusive towards my brother on account of his going to church and ignored those who preached the gospel.
Then, I received Pastor Lee's prayer. After the prayer, I stopped coughing blood, coughing, and feeling pain in my chest. I quickly recovered my health and gained 44 pounds (around 20kg). I obtained new life by the grace of God and became a pastor.
Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee trained pastors and helped the poor in faith with a vision for national and the world evangelism even when the church didn't have enough finances. Our church still has a Relief Committee and helps more than 1,000 households including those of children with no parent, elderly people with no one to rely on, and sick people by providing them with money, food, and other necessities. The church also helps students in poverty pay tuition fees for education.
The signs, wonders, and powerful works that became greater have given me confidence and assurance as a pastor. I give all thanks and glory to God who blesses me to lead a life as a witness of the Lord.
 "Manmin Is a Beautiful Church that Accomplishes God's Good Will"
Senior Deaconess Jungsoon Lee (Prayer Devotee's Association)
I attended a church in the countryside. After receiving the Spirit, I enjoyed going to church. When I gave my one and only gold ring to God, I asked Him in prayer to let me possess the faith that never changes, the faith like pure gold. Then God allowed me to have unchanging faith and helped me unchangingly preach the gospel to people.
The most precious fruit is my youngest brother. He is Dr. Jaerock Lee who is Senior Pastor of Manmin Central Church. When he awaited death with no hope due to various kinds of diseases, I came to Seoul to lead him to a church. I made up an excuse of my bad sense of direction and asked him to guide me to a meeting led by Sr. Deaconess Shinae Hyun. I believed absolutely that God would heal my brother.
At that time, my brother was very sick, but he couldn't turn me down and he went there together with me. Due to the atmosphere of the prayer meeting, my brother knelt down without thinking. At that very moment he was healed of all his diseases by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!
Afterwards, he was called by God as a pastor. He opened Manmin Central Church in 1982. Now it is celebrating its 30th anniversary of the opening. In the grace of God his church has become a mega-sized church that has approximately 10,000 branch and associative churches.
In August, 1982, I came to Manmin Central Church, and since then I have prayed every day in the church. At that time, there were only six prayer devotees, but now the number of prayer devotees is more than 170. They pray for the church, the shepherd, our country, and the world evangelization every day.
When the church was opened, God gave us the vision for the North Korean ministry. He told us that some of us would go to North Korea and do His ministry when North Korea opens its door to other countries. And He also said to us that one of my children would fulfill it. I am just thankful to God thinking of my child who would go the way the apostle Paul walked for God's providence of salvation and for many souls that were bought with the price of the Lord's blood.
I give love and thanks to the Lord who blesses our church and our family to fulfill God's good will.
 "Manmin is the Fruit of Faith, Obedience, and Love"
Elder Boaz Lee (Chairman of Sanctuary Construction Committee)
In August, 1982, I was guided to Manmin Central Church's Friday All-night Service by Sr. Deaconess Gumseon Vin who is my wife. To my surprise, afterwards I came to believe in all Words in the Bible. Since I realized the importance of prayer in a Christian life, I've never stopped praying.
God gave me some duties: member of Finance Division and chairman of Sanctuary Construction Committee. I found myself hard to deal with the church finance, but I just committed it to God in prayer. It was only faith that enabled us to relocate our sanctuary. God allowed us to move when the church members fully filled the sanctuary in the Wednesday Service as well as Sunday Services and Friday All-night Service. The number of members grew so fast that we didn't have enough time to construct the huge sanctuary on our own.
Pastor Jaerock Lee always showed the example of faith whenever we moved. God was pleased with his faith and guaranteed it. Seeing the works of God unfold, the workers in Finance Division and I could grow up in faith.
God gave Manmin the duty to build the Grand Sanctuary when the church was planted. God showed its roof, interior, 96 marble pillars, and the cross-shaped image on the ceiling. Its aerial view appears on our church weekly bulletin.
Now all of Manmin members are being united as one all the more to construct the Canaan Sanctuary and the Grand Sanctuary that glorify God on this earth. I am overwhelmed with joy thinking of the day when God's children who resemble the Lord will praise Him in the sanctuary filled with His glory. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. Jaerock Lee who achieve all these things only with obedience.
Surprise!
Aurora light images that remind us of the beauty of Heaven
The church members took them in Leadership Seminar held in the early July.
 
 
 
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