Word of
Life Congress in Ephesus, Turkey.
We have
just arrived to Turkey for Word of Life International’s 2nd Congress. We are
very excited about the coming days. Around 450 pastors from 30 countries, from places
like Scandinavia, Central Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Caucasus, Central Asia,
Afghanistan, India, Vietnam, Mongolia and China will soon arrive.
Our congress is held in a resort beautifully
located on the beach, surrounded by hills that overlook the Aegean Sea. But is not only beautiful; it is an area with a
rich spiritual heritage.
Across this
sea Paul, together with Priscilla and Aquila, arrived from Corinth. It was his
second missionary journey and he was on his way back to his home base, Antioch.
He made a short stop in Ephesus, which is actually just a stone’s throw away from
our resort. During his stop he visited the synagogue to reason with the Jews. They
wanted him to stay, which he couldn't, but he promised to return, if the Lord would lead him to.
Paul’s next
visit is far more dramatic. As he arrives some followers of John the Baptist
are baptised to Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. They start to speak in
tongues and prophesy. In the synagogue he spoke boldly for three months before
he moved over to the school of Tyrannus. There he preached and taught for two
years. From this school he reached into the entire region of Asia, so all
residents there heard the word, both Jew and Greek. What an impact!
More than
that - God was working extra ordinary miracles by the hands of Paul. That means
there must have been ordinary miracles too! Sicknesses and diseases left, spiritual bondages were broken and people were set free. People repented from witchcraft and the
word of the Lord prevailed mightily. WOW!
It is in
connection with this, the riot led by Demetrius starts. In the theatre 25
000 enraged people screamed “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians”. It seems like
that riot and revival many times come together. Paul had shaken Ephesus in its
foundations. He had also laid a new one.
Paul’s work
in Ephesus had been marked by manifestations of the Holy Spirit, anointed
preaching with the goal of winning people for Christ, strong teaching and
training of disciples. There were massive manifestations of signs, wonders and
extraordinary miracles. All these are important ingredients in successful
mission’s work and church planting. Sensitivity for the different seasons in a
work is also essential. Paul had that, he knew when it was time to start and
also when his task was finished.
He left
Ephesus, but later on passes by again for his last visit. He stops in Miletus,
not far from Ephesus and the church elders come to meet him. They all know that
this is the last time they see each other. After exhortations and praying together,
there were many tears and kissing of farewell.
During the
tear filled meeting, “he commends the church to God and the word of his grace”
and trusted that the work would go on in his absence. Others would step into
leadership responsibility. Timothy was one of those that pastored the church. Other biblical persons settled there, as the
Apostle John and Jesus’ mother, Mary. Paul’s
work had resulted in a strong and powerful church that would have an impact for
centuries to come. What he had started others continued.
1 Cor
3:10-11 According to the grace of God
given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone
else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no
one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ
These days
church planters and pastors from different Word of Life fields continue to
build the church across the world. It is so exciting to be part of this! We can
all carry on with the work that Paul and the other apostles started and later
generations continued. I truly believe we have a good future full of opportunities.
I will get back with more impressions from Ephesus.
Inga kommentarer:
Skicka en kommentar