Title The First Antioch Church Tanseng
Contents
Birth of the first church in Antioch
Acts 11:19-30
In 1982, a poll conducted by NHK broadcaster in Japan asked, "If you had a religion now, what religion would you have?" There was a question. 36% of respondents to this question said they would like to be Christian.
But now, Christians in Japan make up less than 1% of the total population. Of course, those who answered back then may have responded only by looking at the outward aspects of Christianity.
Also, there must be a reason why the gospel has not yet reached them because of our lack of evangelism. The kingdom of God has expanded. The revelation of God, which started from a small country in the Middle East called Israel, was confirmed to the whole world by Jesus Christ. Even today, the expansion of the gospel continues.
The Lord has called Christians to be evangelists. From my neighbor across the sea to neighboring countries and to the ends of the world, the land given to Christians is infinite.
It is time for believers, not from the world's corporations or political interests, to start managing the world with the gospel of Christ.
Dear saints,
The Christian gospel is seen to be preached in difficult and unfavorable circumstances than in favorable and favorable circumstances.
If we are strangely smooth and the environment is good, on the contrary, we become indolent and sluggish spiritually.
In pain and adversity, we can see the gospel spread and triumph.
It is as if the fire is not extinguished when it is struck to put out a roaring fireball, but rather the flames are scattered in all directions.
Those of you who have seen the wildfires will probably understand quickly. It is as if the gospel of the early church at that time spread like this.
Look at verse 19.
After dealing with the case of Cornelius in verses 10-11:18, the Bible again deals with the founding of the church in Antioch. And Luke, who wrote the book of Acts, connects with the words of 8:1.
In the Bible, there are many records of sudden changes in the content. There are also some verses that are written on a certain subject and speak the inner spirit of another subject, and the time period is also vastly different.
First of all, Phoenicia is a 200-kilometre long plain between the Rabanon Mountains and the Mediterranean coast.
And Cyprus is called Kittim of the Old Testament (Numbers 24:24), and it is located in the northeastern part of the Mediterranean, facing Antioch, Tarsus, and Cilicia, and is a key point in the Mediterranean.
And Antioch is administratively about 20 km inland to the Mediterranean Sea and 480 km north of Jerusalem.
It is a city belonging to Rome.
Because of the incident of Stephen's martyrdom, Christianity was about to spread, and because of that incident, tribulation came at the same time. A person who has the truth will grow bigger the more he touches it.
This is a blessing, not a curse. Those who suffered tribulation began to scatter in all directions.
What is even more surprising is that I was able to evangelize to Phoenicians, Subro, and Antioch.
Dear saints,
Korea also had great trials and tribulations called the June 25 Incident. But in hindsight, it turned out to be a conduit for blessings. People who believe in Jesus from the north have fled to South Korea and built a church on their knees.
The country has also changed. The hardships and trials we are going through now are not given by God without a reason.
Why am I suffering like this now? what's up Do you know the anxieties you feel when there is no response? God weighs our faith through these trials and tribulations.
Do you truly believe in God? He sees if you truly obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit.
So, at the same time, did Peter and Cornello see a vision and obey him? don't you you have seen But don't they both receive amazing blessings when they obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit?
Just as God made Peter and Cornelius meet and start evangelism to the Gentiles, God is fulfilling God's providence of salvation through suffering and trials for us as well.
It strongly suggests that God not only chose Israel as His chosen people, but He will also save Gentiles.