09.01.24 "When We Are Connected"

1.

While preparing for the talk, I learned about 'cells,' which, although not my area of expertise, are present in all living things. Cells are said to be the smallest independent living unit of a living organism, and it is said that humans have approximately 60 trillion cells. These numerous cells break down nutrients in our bodies to create energy, build our muscles and nervous tissue, and also play a role in helping us respond to the surrounding environment in which we live. When numerous cells connect, become one, and function again, our body functions healthily.

The same goes for the church that God established and the community that we form. I believe that when we function again as members of the body of Jesus Christ, then the community will be established in a healthy way.

Am I spiritually united in order to become a healthy church and community in the spiritual flow that God gives to our community? What happens when we become spiritually one? Or, if I am not spiritually united, what is the reason? Let’s look at His words together.

2.

First, “When the community becomes spiritually united, we pray.” The key thing to look at in today's text is the way the church prays. Looking at the Acts of the Apostles, after Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples' gospel ministry began in earnest, and the church naturally arose.

Through the disciples, the gospel of Jesus continues to spread, and the number of followers increases. Religious leaders who didn't want all the attention going to their disciples decided to kill them. Deacon Stephen was martyred, and in Acts 12, James became the first of Jesus' disciples to be killed. And the next target was Peter.

As those who spread the gospel of Jesus Christ are killed one by one, the crowd's attention changes. The Bible even records that the Jews rejoiced at this. So King Herod puts Peter in prison. This news was delivered to the church that formed a community with Peter.

3.

And if we look at today’s text again, it says, “Peter was imprisoned, and the church prayed earnestly to God for him.” The church decided to pray in the midst of a crisis. It is said that they did not just pray but prayed ‘fervently.’ I hope that we can feel the spiritual unity of this community as we see this record of ‘earnestly’ praying.

How long did this community pray? How much did they pray? What happened after Peter was imprisoned? An angel appears, and Peter escapes from prison. And in Acts 12:12, “Peter went to the house of Mary, the mother of John, also known as Mark. Many people were gathered there and praying.”

They continued to pray and prayed until the end. “Many people gathered together,” and people began to come together and become spiritually one.

When the church becomes spiritually united, it begins to pray. Prayer unites the church spiritually. We also want our church to be a church where people can pray in the process of spiritual unity. I hope that the leaders’ call to “pray” will not sound awkward. In our church, where the leaders' call to “pray” is natural, the way to check whether you are spiritually united within the community can be seen by whether you are responding to the call to prayer.

The calling of prayer does not discriminate between time and place. The calling of prayer makes me let go of what is mine. Because the calling of prayer is spiritual, we can become one when we respond to it. We want to be all of us who can respond to the call of prayer.

4.

Second, “when a community becomes spiritually united, it grows.” During Jesus' public life, the disciples were always by His side. The disciples were the ones who watched Jesus' work more closely than anyone else.

When Jesus proclaimed the gospel, performed miracles, was attacked by opposing forces, faced crises, and suffered, they were always by His side. But now Jesus has ascended to heaven. The disciples no longer have anyone to rely on. Now it's real time for them. The disciples now have to face everything that Jesus experienced.

Do you know what the first thing the disciples did after Jesus ascended to heaven? That too is prayer. The work of the upper room at Pentecost happens to the community that decided to pray without relying on anyone else. Because the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will not easily break down from any hardship. As the community becomes one and prays, our faith grows.

I believe that when our faith grows in this way, the crises and hardships that come into our lives become times when we can hold on to God more through those difficulties and turn into a faith that relies more on God.

God has given us all the blessing of community.

Ephesians 2:19-21

19. Therefore, from now on you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

20. You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

21. In Christ, the whole building is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Now we are growing together as God's family. I believe that our faith grows when we become one in suffering and spiritually.

5.

When I started speaking, I talked about ‘cells.’ Our body can live as a healthy body when its numerous cells are connected, become one, and function properly. On the other hand, if the cells inside us do not function properly, our body will break down. If your immune cells do not function properly, your immunity will weaken, and you will inevitably get sick and catch a cold. Heart disease can occur when heart cells do not function properly.

But I learned one surprising thing. As biology researchers continue their research, they say they have discovered something called ‘cell plasticity.’ What this means is that when any nervous system in our body is damaged, the brain adapts to the surrounding environment and recovers. It's so amazing.

For us, cellular plasticity is prayer. It is about the community becoming one spiritually.

The power experienced when a community becomes spiritually united is what connects us. True community is connected. I believe that then we can become one spiritually and experience true power.