Title: Results of Gospel Preaching
Contents
Zechariah 9:15-17, 2 Timothy 4:7-8
There is something called the “butterfly effect”. The theory that in a connected universe, not only does every action lead to a certain outcome, but every action also affects everything else. It is said that he created the world so that when a butterfly flaps its wings in Seoul, a tsunami can occur in Washington. Now, everything in the world is not ours. The world is a world of globalization where the butterfly effect is getting bigger and bigger.
Small actions and actions can have huge consequences. Sometimes our words can have big consequences. Sometimes it brings great joy, sometimes it brings great disaster. Jesus, who came to this earth, lived a short life of 33 years in this world. Also, Jesus' public ministry lasted only three years. However, the result was a huge world-historical revolution. Even today, such a revolution is taking place all over the world. The amazing effect of turning the whole world upside down can be seen everywhere.
The story of the early missionaries in Korea is truly tearful. There are missionaries who died while coming to Korea from abroad because they got sick on board. As soon as they arrived in Korea, there are missionaries who have never been able to preach the gospel and died after getting sick. There seems to be no result from them. However, their deaths were not in vain and blossomed through the gospel.
Peter and John converted 3,000 people in one day. Philip of the early church goes into the wilderness under the direction of the Holy Spirit. He met a eunuch in the wilderness, and this was the beginning of evangelism in Africa. Since Paul went to the Athens of Christ to evangelize, 98% of all Greeks are Christians. So is our country. When Underwood and Appenseller first came to Korea 120 years ago, it was very small, but now it has become the largest church in the world. The results of evangelism are astonishing.
It is said that smart leaders help their people achieve good results in two ways. First, make sure you know what your goal is. Second, we support and encourage and guide our employees to achieve their goals. Good results come from good policy. The gospel has a good policy. Therefore, the results of evangelism are always gracious and glorious.
Negative thoughts cannot bring positive results. Results come from thoughts. The gospel is always positive. So it comes with positive results. Those who believe in Jesus will do well. People who come into contact with the Gospel will prosper. This is the result of the gospel.
John Maxwell said, “Who we are today is the result of the choices we made yesterday. Tomorrow will be the result of our choices today. To change means to choose to change.” Today is the result of yesterday. Tomorrow is the result of today. Evangelism will surely bring good results. Are you curious about the outcome of evangelism? Let's look at the results of evangelism through the Bible.
First, you will live a life full of confidence.
Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.” Paul's words are majestic. I am full of confidence in the results of evangelism. In Scotland there is an expression "He has a brass neck". It means that you are so confident that you are willing to stick your neck out. Strike the neck, but it means that there is no nod.
Peter was crucified. On the other hand, Paul was beheaded. He was beheaded, but his neck is brass. Even if Paul died, the gospel Paul preached lives on. Paul's faith and spirit are still alive, not dead. This is a brass neck. What is Paul talking about?
The first is that we fought the good fight. If you do not evangelize, there is no fight. Evangelism is a battle. Prayer is a fight. It's a spiritual battle. Evangelism is challenged by Satan. The devil also challenges Jesus. “Jesus, Son of David, have you come to destroy me? Leave me.” This is the nature of the devil.
A couple quarreled and quarreled. The two quarreled and tried not to talk. My husband has an early departure for work tomorrow morning, so I wrote a letter on a piece of paper. “Honey, wake me up at 7 tomorrow” and I fell asleep. The next morning, when my husband woke up, it was past 8:00. My husband got angry and jumped up. I turned around and there was a note. “Honey, it’s seven o’clock. wake up." If you have this kind of power, fight spiritual warfare. It is useless to fight the good fight, but there is no time to lose strength. Those who fight the good fight don't fight anywhere.
The Bible speaks of the full armor of God's soldiers. We are told to wear the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, put on the shoes for worship with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word. All of these are necessary to fight the good fight. You must be prepared with armor all over your body.
The second is that I have finished my run. Those who say that they have not gone far enough is evidence that they have not evangelized or that there are still others to be evangelized. Lincoln Stephens said, “Nothing is over. Everything in the world remains unfinished.” The famous book by American doctor Scott Peck is titled 'The Never Ending Journey'. But Paul says it's all over. You say you've finished running.
Ichiro Suzuki, a Japanese player in the American Major League Baseball, is a great player. He became the batting king of American professional baseball in 2001, and tried to give him the "National Honorary Award" in Japan, but he refused. He declined the award, saying, “I would be grateful if I could give you an award when my baseball life is over, but I am still young.” that it's not over yet. There will certainly be times when it will be said that it is over.
The last book my father wrote was ‘Introduction to the New Testament’. My father gave me the manuscript of this book and said, “You must give this book.” At that time, I asked, “Why do I pay if my father gave it to me?” He only said, “It would be better for you to publish this book.” When I saw the manuscript of that book, I was amazed. On the first page, he wrote, “I dedicate this book, which seems to be my last book, to my faithful companion for the rest of my life, my beloved wife Seol Gwi-yeon.” The moment I received the manuscript, I thought, “Oh, my father’s calling is over.” But a few days later, I got the news that my father was ill. After that, he was hospitalized for over a year and then passed away. Father knew that he had done everything.
Do you know the origins of marathons? It was a time of war between the Greek city-states and Persia. Hearing that the Persians are coming, he sends Philipides as an envoy to Sparta and asks for help. However, no reinforcements were obtained, and the Athenians defeated the Persians. At this time, Philippides ran 42.195 kilometers from Sparta to Athens, proclaiming, “Our Athens has triumphed,” and collapsed and died. I brought you this good news. The word ‘euangelion’ means ‘good news’ and ‘gospel’. The word “gospel” is derived from this. The good news is the result of evangelism. The gospel is that you have run all the way.
‘Creation’ (bara) means being created. God's creative act is not over, but is still in progress. It's not static, it's dynamic. God does not end, man does not end.
The third is to keep the faith. How do you keep your faith? We keep our faith by evangelizing. It's that you never lose faith. It was a firm hold on to the faith. Acts 18:5 says, “Paul was caught by the word of God, and he testified plainly to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.” Paul was caught up in the Word. The Word kept Paul. It's not that Paul kept his word. It is not that the Jews kept the Sabbath, but that the Sabbath kept the Jews.
Claude-Louis Hector, a 17th-century French general, said: “Protect me from my friends. Because I can do it with my own strength to protect myself from enemies.” There are many times when even protecting myself in the world is difficult.
Colossians 2:7 says, “rooted and built up in him, standing firm in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” This is Paul's final victory sign that he stood firm in the faith and kept the faith.
Pharaoh's chariot did not protect Pharaoh. Goliath's sword did not protect Goliath. Samson's strength could not protect him. God's hand guards it. Faith keeps it. Only faith wins.
Voltaire was an atheist who said there was no God. He made his mother not believe in God. When his mother died, Voltaire said, “Mother, hold on tight.” His mother said, "There is nothing to hold on to because you tell me to let go of everything." I hope that you will hold on to God, hold on to your faith, and hold on to the cross.
In Revelation 3:11, there is a message given to the good church, the church in Philadelphia. “Hold fast what you have, so that no one can take your crown.” what a good word You must hold it firmly so that the crown is not taken away.
Second, the crown of righteousness is reserved.
“From now on there is prepared for me the crown of righteousness,” he says. It expresses confidence in the future and religious confidence. The crown is the reward of victory. It is a recommendation not to lose the reward given at the end.
Laurel wreaths are originally given to marathon winners. However, at the 2004 Sydney Olympics, medal winners in all competitions were given laurel wreaths. This is the crown you get because you win. It's such an honor.
Have you tried all the horse-riding battles? Do women do it too? If you do horseback riding, the hat will be stolen. They make horses and steal hats from each other. They fight each other to keep their hats from being taken away. “Hold it firmly so that the hat will not be taken away.” There are times when you can't keep your own because you steal someone else's hat. It is the most vain to take your hat from behind because your mind is focused only on the rider's hat in front of you. The crown should never be taken away.
If you look at the crown in the Bible, there are various modifiers. “Beautiful,” “precious,” “gold,” “pure gold,” “glorious,” “glorious,” “of life,” etc. The crown comes with modifiers in almost a good sense. The crown is God's reward. What is the ‘righteousness’ of the word “crown of righteousness”? say the right thing. It is the crown of righteousness that is given to those who do what is right.
Queen Victoria of England had the most beautiful crown. The crown had 2,783 diamonds. In the center is a 309-carat diamond, nicknamed the ‘second African valley’. It is said to be a crown studded with 277 pearls, 17 sapphires, 5 rubies and demarais. Queen Victoria was a good Christian. He must have gone to heaven, received a crown, and said, “You cannot compare with this.”
When the crown is taken away, the crown is also taken away. If the crown is taken away, what will be taken? Eternal life is taken away. Our evangelists have a crown that cannot be taken away. It is a crown of glory that no one can surpass.
Zechariah 9:16 says, “In this day the LORD their God will save them like the flock of his people, and they will shine like the jewels of a crown in the land of the LORD.” After this, may all our crowns shine like jewels and use all of these crowns.
conclusion
Livingston's missionary zeal is famous. Although he was bitten by a lion, broke his arm, and died from malaria, no one could stop his enthusiasm. American missionary Stanley Jones, a saint in India, suffered a brain hemorrhage at the age of 89 while serving as a missionary, and was forcibly repatriated and hospitalized. He rose again and returned to India at the age of 90 to continue his missionary work. He said, "He never puts a comma until God puts an end." It is the passion of those who expect a crown reward.
There is a great prize in heaven. persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Whoever gives a bowl of cold water to the little one has a great reward. He said he would never lose the prize.
I hope that we will be greatly rewarded with the heavenly reward for looking forward to this reward and this crown, serving, evangelizing, and spreading the gospel.