Title: Witnessing the Gospel (Acts 20:22-24)
Then, like the Apostle Paul, we want to share grace together while pondering the Word about what we must do in order to fulfill the mission of preaching the gospel.
First, there must be humility and tears.
“All humility and tears … ” (Acts 20:19a) The apostle Paul preached the gospel with humility and tears. To preach the gospel, we must have humility and tears. Although Paul had great power, he was humble enough to say, “I am the least of the apostles” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Also in 1 Corinthians 15:10, it says, “It is by the grace of God that I am what I am, and his grace that was given to me was not in vain. confessed. God gives great grace to the humble. In addition, Paul admonished each one with tears day and night for three years (Acts 20:31). Psalm 126:6 says, “He that goes out weeping to sow seed will surely return with joy, carrying the altar.” Where there is an earnest appeal, tears are bound to follow. As such, there were humility and tears in Paul's gospel journey. Like Paul, we believe that many souls will return to the Lord when we preach the gospel with humility and tears.
Second, we must not fall to the end in any tribulation and trial.
“And to serve the Lord with patience through the temptations that came through the wiles of the Jews, … ” (Acts 20:19b) Paul did not fall to the end in the midst of tribulation and temptation because of the wiles of the Jews. He had so many trials that even his hope of life was cut off (2 Corinthians 1:8). However, even in the midst of extreme trials, he endured and continued to serve the Lord and testified of the gospel.
The footsteps of Christianity that preach the gospel have grown in the midst of tribulation and persecution both in the past and now. There were persecutions in the days of Jesus, and there were also persecutions and tribulations in the days of the apostles. Our Christian faith has not always been passed down through complacency. Faith has grown in the midst of tribulation and persecution. Matthew 5:11, 12 says, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad. great is your reward in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” In a way, we can see that our faith is strengthened when there is tribulation and persecution, and when we are comfortable without tribulation and persecution, our faith becomes sluggish and lax. Therefore, we, the members of the church, should preach the gospel while keeping our faith until the end by praying to God without falling even in tribulation and trials.
Third, we must be possessed by the Holy Spirit.
"Purple! Now I am bound by the spirit, and I am going to Jerusalem, and I do not know what will happen there” (Acts 20:22). Paul's road to Jerusalem was a path of suffering, not knowing what he would meet there (verse 23). However, it was because he was possessed by the Holy Spirit that he decided to go on that road proudly. Also, because I was possessed by the Holy Spirit in this way, I was able to complete the mission of preaching the gospel in Jerusalem where bonds and tribulation await. When we too are possessed by the Holy Spirit, we can boldly preach the gospel. “When they had finished praying, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:31).
Fourth, we must value the gospel more than life.