Complete the work of God!

[Acts 14:19-28]

The Korean word "사명" translates to "mission" or "calling" in English. The word "사명" consists of (1) a given mission and (2) orders received by an envoy. So, what is our common mission? Are we aware of our mission? There are survey statistics from the American Retail Association stating that 48% of salespeople give up after the first call, 25% after the second call, and 15% after the third call. In other words, 88% of salespeople conclude their efforts after making one to three calls. However, the remaining 12%, who persistently make calls, end up accounting for 80% of total sales. Similarly, in evangelism among Christians today, a small percentage of individuals contribute to the majority of the church's evangelistic efforts. To save a life more precious than the entire world, how should we proceed? We must recognize the mission of gospel preaching and make a commitment to convey the gospel, as per the conclusion drawn from the statistics (Internet).

In Acts 14:19-28, we see the example of Paul and Barnabas fulfilling the mission given by God. Today, focusing on this passage, let's meditate on four aspects of the work of God that Paul and Barnabas accomplished. May we hear the voice that God is revealing to our church and pray for the opportunity to wholeheartedly engage in the Lord's work.

First, the work of God involves proclaiming the gospel.

Look at Acts 14:21 - "And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples ...." Paul, who had been stoned and left for dead in Lystra, miraculously rose up after the disciples had gathered around what they thought was his lifeless body. When Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra and Iconium, the Jewish opposition managed to stone Paul after persuading the crowds. Believing him to be dead, they dragged him out of the city. However, Paul had not died; he had fallen into a state of shock due to the severe beating with stones. At that moment, the disciples who had accepted the gospel through Paul and Barnabas surrounded him, possibly intending to bury his body. But miraculously, Paul got up, reentered the city, and the next day went to Derbe with Barnabas, continuing to preach the gospel (vv. 19-21).

What is the work of God? It is the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, we must not forget the reality of Satan's opposition. Satan's work is a constant opposition to the gospel and those who proclaim it. The Jews, obedient to Satan, planned to stone Paul and Barnabas to death in Iconium, but the disciples' intervention thwarted their plan. Nevertheless, they pursued Paul and Barnabas to Lystra, succeeding in stoning Paul. Despite this persistent opposition, our responsibility, amidst the help of God, remains the same: to engage in God's work, which is the proclamation of the gospel. This is our collective mission.

Second, the work of God involves making disciples.

Look at Acts 14:21 - "... and had made many disciples." In Derbe, where Paul and Barnabas went together, they preached the gospel and made many disciples. This fact demonstrates that, no matter how tenacious and strong Satan's opposition may be, it cannot overcome the work of God. God continued to use Paul and Barnabas to preach the gospel and, eventually, make many disciples in Derbe. This aligns with the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations," and it shows that Paul and Barnabas were obedient to this command.

This Jesus' Great Commission has also been given to us. Our mission is to fulfill this Great Commission. Like Paul and Barnabas, we, too, must make many disciples. We are called to go and make disciples of Jesus, as Pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz mentioned in his book, ‘¿Eres Discipulo?’ (Are You Disciple?) (Internet). In today's churches, membership requirements typically include three aspects: (1) attendance at gatherings, (2) financial contributions, and (3) living a morally mature life. However, being a disciple is different from being a member. A disciple is someone who is called to live the life of their teacher and gradually becomes someone who teaches their life to others. Therefore, discipleship is not merely the transmission of knowledge or promotion; it is an exchange of life. This is why Jesus said, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life," and being a disciple involves more than just acquiring the knowledge known to the teacher.

Third, the work of God involves strengthening the hearts of disciples.

Look at Acts 14:22b-23: "... they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." After successfully completing their ministry in Derbe, Paul and Barnabas revisited the missionary destinations in reverse order—Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch—strengthening the hearts (faith) of the disciples. This task would not have been easy, as there were Jews who opposed the gospel and the messengers of the gospel in these cities. In a way, those who needed to be strengthened in faith were likely not the disciples who had heard the gospel and become followers through Paul and Barnabas, but rather Paul and Barnabas themselves. Yet, what is astonishing is that despite facing persecution and the threat of death, God enabled Barnabas and Paul, and later Paul alone, to continue their gospel work, discipleship, and ministry. By doing so, they were able to strengthen the hearts of the disciples in the face of adversity. When Paul and Barnabas revisited these challenging missionary fields, it was an opportunity for God to personally strengthen the hearts of their disciples amidst danger and opposition. Therefore, Paul and Barnabas, through their perseverance in the midst of suffering, continued to strengthen the hearts of disciples. The key message they likely conveyed during this revisit to the disciples could be summarized into two main points:

Paul and Barnabas recommended to the disciples that they must continue to abide in faith.

They made it clear that faith is not something to be initiated and then discontinued during the process; rather, it should persist in any circumstance.

Paul and Barnabas imparted the teaching that disciples who believe in the Lord must inevitably undergo many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God.

The disciples, having witnessed Paul and Barnabas enduring much persecution from the Jews, would have realistically grasped the significance of this teaching (Yoo).

As disciples of Jesus, we must humbly receive these two recommendations from Paul and Barnabas. We should never interrupt our life of faith once initiated; rather, our life of faith must continue. From the beginning to the end, we should not waver in our faith. Additionally, as disciples of the Lord, we must not forget that enduring tribulations is a prerequisite for entering God's kingdom. We should never underestimate this; avoiding the pathway of hardship while thinking we can still live as disciples of Jesus is a misconception. We must never become lukewarm believers. It is crucial to keep in mind that trials and tribulations are indeed essential subjects for disciples of Jesus.

Fourth and last, the work of God involves establishing leaders in the church.

Look at Acts 14:23 - "And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed." As Paul and Barnabas revisited the missionary fields, they selected elders to oversee and teach the church, aiming to strengthen and establish the churches. They entrusted these elders to the Lord through prayer and fasting. While God undoubtedly used Paul and Barnabas to establish the churches, it was also impractical for the two leaders to personally shepherd all the churches in each region. Thus, by selecting and appointing other leaders, they sought to solidify each church.

Paul expressed this idea when he said, "And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also" (2 Tim. 2:2). One of the tasks that a church must handle from God's perspective is to appoint faithful workers. Setting up faithful and growing leaders is a significant responsibility that a church must bear, especially when there is an abundance of harvest but a shortage of laborers. The church urgently needs to manage this task, particularly during times of plentiful harvest and limited workers.

Ultimately, Barnabas and Paul returned to Antioch, the place from which they were initially sent, and gathered the church. They reported all that God had done with them (v. 27). First and foremost, they confessed that the work of proclaiming the gospel, which they had undertaken by God's grace, was indeed done through God's grace (v. 26). They also reported the fact that, through this ministry, they preached the gospel to the Gentiles, made disciples, and established leaders in each church to strengthen them. We must be able to confess that, even though we have completed the work of God, it was sustained solely by the grace of God. Furthermore, we should, as stated in Luke 17:10, confess, "We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty."

An unworthy servant,

James Kim

(Gratefully acknowledging that God continues to work through even feeble individuals like me)