7 Principles for Blessing
Hearing Peter's sermon, the people at that time were pierced in their hearts and asked, “What shall we do now?” (verse 37). The harbinger of salvation is 'piercing', and the harbinger of blessing is also 'piercing'. Look at your own shortcomings and ask a sad question. "God! What should I do now?” There must be a stabbing as to whether one's appearance is truly the image of a person with eternal life.
You must know that you are the cause of all problems. Those who look for the cause of their problems in others are immature, and those who look for themselves in themselves are mature. Therefore, always confess and live like this. "God! It's my fault. I won't blame others. Do not pierce, let it be pierced!” If you want to stab, you die; if you want to be stabbed, you live
2. Assurance of Salvation
Peter said to the people, “Receive Jesus and be saved!” (verses 38-39). God is more pleased with ‘reception’ than ‘merit’. Reception is also important in human relationships. Even people who aren't good at talking can say, "Oh! Yes! That’s right!” If you welcome the other person, you will be recognized and accepted. Even get the words, "Yes! Yes. Amen!" If you receive it and have the assurance of salvation, the door of blessing will also be opened.
There is a bestseller called ‘The Road to becoming a CEO’. This book is a intensive study of 50 CEOs (CEOs), and the core principle of becoming a CEO in the book is ‘belief’. Success comes closer when someone believes in you, doesn't betray your belief in yourself, and, above all, is certain of God's unchanging love.
3. Preaching the Gospel
Peter preached the gospel of salvation to the people (verse 40). The primary purpose of a saved saint to exist on this earth without going to heaven is to ‘preach the gospel’. Some people say, “The Korean church is rotten!” every time, spreading only bad news on the Internet. It is not a blessed look. The way to be blessed is simple. You just need to spread the gospel and hear the gospel.
Don't be an autistic person who preaches the bad news hard and doesn't preach the gospel at all. Even if you are blessed, if you do not spread the gospel, those blessings are of no use. Have you forgotten about fortress evangelism? If you have been praying consistently but haven't been able to evangelize, make a new commitment to evangelism now. When the truth is preached, it becomes true truth, and when blessings are preached, it becomes true blessing.
4. Holy Obedience
Because of Peter's preaching of the gospel, 3,000 were baptized that day (verse 41). However, those three thousand were not really ‘disciples’ but ‘a crowd’. After all, historically, the influence of the church in Jerusalem gradually weakens. Stop fantasizing about the majority. Democracy is the truth of the majority and capitalism worships the majority, but the Bible often sees the majority negatively. People like the majority, but the record of liking the majority and then falling apart is the record of the Bible.
The Lord wants one watchful disciple rather than one who is swept away. Real blessings come when we become disciples, not when we belong to the crowd. What are the requirements for discipleship? It is being taught well (verse 42). To be taught well does not mean that you have a lot of Bible knowledge, but that you live according to the Word. The key to the life of faith is ultimately 'holy obedience'. Obedience is what makes you seem like a loser, but it opens the way to the greatest successes.
5. The importance of meetings
The early church members tried their best to fellowship and gather with each other (verse 42). There is the blessing of breaking the ‘me-centered worldview’ if you value the gathering. Therefore, you need to be able to get along with people even if it is annoying. The spirituality of solitude is important, but the spirituality of community is even more important. A person cannot become mature without learning the spirituality of the community. Whatever community you go to, be more of an owner than a guest, a worker rather than a spectator, and work hard, especially on Sundays.
The Third Middle East War ended in 6 days for Israel. How quickly they occupied Egypt's huge Sinai Peninsula, the speed of the capture was faster than the speed of the tanks passing by. The biggest reason why Israel was able to surrender the Arab Allies in 6 days at that time was that the Jews wanted to end the war before the Sabbath to keep the Sabbath. It takes zeal for such a holy gathering. Even if it is difficult, make up your mind that you will live a life of worship before God only on Sundays. God will work hard to keep the life of keeping the Sunday.
6. Sharing the load
The early church members broke bread and filled the needs of those in need (verse 42). When we share grace, grace returns, and when we share blessings, we receive blessings. Sharing is a better way to prepare for the future than saving. In particular, the eyes on the weak should be warm. When David fled from Saul's hand and hid in the cave of Adullam, the 400 men who were with him were almost afflicted, debtors, and bitter-hearted ones (1 Samuel 22:2). Such fragile beings later became the basis of the Davidic Revolutionary Government. Don't take the underdogs lightly. God's grace is more in our weakness, and there are many cases where future strength is inherent.
Some people like charisma, and they say, "Someone has charisma (sword has!)!" There is no one in this world without a sword. Most of the time there are knives, but be careful with them in case someone gets hurt. When a high-ranking person tries to lead a group with a sword, he rushes in saying “You have good charisma!” and dwarfs his own existence, not of a ‘conscious disciple’ but of a ‘shameful group’. Don't be too fond of charisma. Chasing after a strong person increases your chances of getting hurt, but caring for a weak person increases your chances of happiness.
7. The Passion of Prayer
The early church was a church devoted to prayer (verse 42). Prayer is more important than any project and more important than any program. Pray even more if you feel you are small on the outside and lack resources. If prayer is not opened, the road will not be opened. There is hardly any history of blessings without prayer. Sometimes I have trouble sleeping at night because of worries. Not being able to sleep is God's will to pray. Then pray. If you pray when God gives you an opportunity to pray, that prayer becomes more powerful prayer.
Having problems can actually be a blessing. Because then you will pray. Pray when your heart trembles with anxiety. Urgent prayers are urgently answered by God. Pray even when conflict arises. When there is no prayer, all problems seem to be the fault of others, and the wounds in the heart grow, but when there is prayer, the peace of mind increases as you realize that all problems are your fault. Prayer gives understanding and repentance, and ultimately leads to peace. Even if there is a big problem, if prayer is alive, the problem will soon turn into a cradle of blessing.