[The Meeting of the Holy Spirit]
Acts 10:23-29
After the introduction of the Holy Spirit, now we are meeting in the Holy Spirit. Because of the coronavirus, we had decided to have online worship services for the sake of our country, and we restarted our offline worship service as the last one, being cautious of the circumstances. We decided to open only Pangyo chapel, but even at Pangyo, we are to receive the minimum number of applicants due to the repeated rise of the coronavirus. We take this action so that all of you could meet Jesus. Let us think of the meeting of the Holy Spirit.
First, the meeting of the Holy Spirit is unexpected. Last week, two servants and one of Cornelius attendants came to take Peter, giving such a great introduction of the Holy Spirit about their master. Peter was moved, and he decided to go with them. When Peter arrived at Cornelius, he found Cornelius relatives and friend waiting for him. Philip had personally evangelized the Ethiopian eunuch in the wilderness. And now was the first historical moment of evangelization of the Gentile community. The names of the Gentiles were not listed, but they were gloriously recorded in the Bible for over two thousand years. God called these unexpected people to be used. They sure have a great prize in heaven. An unexpected person comes up for the journey of redemption history.
Second, the one who desperately waits has the meeting of the Holy Spirit. Apostle Peter and the centurion Cornelius finally met each other. Cornelius not only waited desperately, but he gathered many of his relatives and friends. This desperation is a blessing. Cornelius fell at Peters feet before the Word. This is humility. The humbleness without finding ones true self before the Lord is only a hypocrisy and a disguised arrogance. At the time of Jesus, the Jewish religious leaders were those hypocrites. We do not know what sin is. We cannot force one to see his sin. We just have to show how we live well among the suffering. That is why suffering is a blessing. The Holy Spirit wanted to let us realize that we are sinners, and He had us to make impossible applications at home. Cornelius prepared in detail for this meeting with consideration for others. I think the Lord would come to meet us if we prepare all the worship services and meetings with people in this way.
Third, the one who is aware of himself has the meeting of the Holy Spirit. When Cornelius fell at his feet, Peter said that he is only a man. He clearly admitted his limits as a man. This is a mature and sanctified attitude compared to Peter in the book of Matthew. A mature person knows his limits. We only have tears to shed in relationships with our spouses or small group members. We have to know our places. We have to step down from Gods seat. We have to know that we have to step down from our high places in the future. Even though a place of praise is poisonous, we are desperate to be praised. However, when people who know about themselves gather, they can build a healthy church. All the problems at work also are caused out of ignorance in ones self. If we are well aware of ourselves, our marriage would not be broken.
Fourth, Gods Law is above any other law. When God led the Israelites to Canaan, He commanded not to follow idolatry of the natives in that land. He also commanded to destroy them in the book of Deuteronomy. Peter went into a Gentiles house, and that meant he volunteered to be mocked and shamed. He put down every privilege he had as a Jew. Peter accepted Cornelius invitation without any hostility because he accepted Gods invitation which was related to the vision of unclean animals he saw. All the walls fall where the cross of Christ stands. Gods Law is above every law. Gods Law is helpful to us. Mens law only cares about the current issues, but believers must see far.
There was this meeting of the Holy Spirit. A new member wrote this story on the online QT prayer meeting: One day in April, the taxi I was in got into an accident. The taxi driver bumped into a parked car, and the damage was quite great. And a young couple with a baby came out of that car. The mother smiled at the taxi driver who was apologizing to them, giving him a book (a QTin). They told the driver, 'Go on Wooridle Church webpage, and please listen to five sermons of our pastor.' And then they vanished. It was impressive because I know I could not find a couple like that these days. I asked the taxi driver about the webpage and I read through all the news on it. And finally last week, I registered. I was away from faith for a long time, but the actions that they took and the words of the woman led me to listen to the Word.
The meeting with Jesus is such a joy. And I think that we have to make a sacrifice, even a little one, to make it happen. There was a fruit in an unexpected place. Let us love always and feel the Lords attention on us. If we love, we can feel it. We can do everything voluntarily. Brothers and sisters, I pray that you would have this meeting of the Holy Spirit.
