The Incredible Human Potential PDF - Church of God Faithful Flock

124 THE INCREDIBLE HUMAN POTENTIALnor the apostles embarked on any "soul-saving crusade," which isa modern Protestant practice. The apostles, as Jesus had done,proclaimed the gospel - the GOOD NEWS of a coming BETTERWORLD. lt was notan emotional pleading, "Won't you give yourheart to the Lord?"True, because unbelieving Jews did not accept Jesus as theirpromised Messiah, the apostles, at first, put special emphasis onthe fact they were eye-witnesses to Jesus' Messiahship and resurrection.They had been with Him 3'h years before He was crucified,and forty days after He rose from the dead.But they did proclaim the same Message Jesus had taughtthem - the coming Kingdom of God. 1t was not a begging for"souls." "... the Lord added to the church such as should besaved" (Acts 2:47).When the apostles met with fierce persecution, imprisonmentand threat, the laity of the Church ENCOURAGED them, prayedheartrendingly for them, supported them financially.So, let the truth be clarified once for all, the PURPOSE of theChurch was NOT to "get the world saved Now!"God's PURPOSE in raising up His Church in a world otherwiseCUT OFF from God, was dual:1) To provide a united body of Spirit-led believers to back upthe apostles (and evangelists) who had been specially trained toGO FORTH into all the world with Christ's Gospel Message. Allthis, as their part in THE GREAT COMMISSION. Theirs was a WORKOF GIVING- giving of their prayers- their encouragement, andfinancia! support of the ORGANIZED Gospel WORK. And this asGOD's means of, and the training groundfor,2) the overcoming of Satan, and the constant development ofthat holy, righteous CHARACTER - thus qualifying them to sit withChrist on the throne of earth-wide GOVERNMENT.Goo's WAY of developing His holy character was THE GIV­ING WAY. Goo's way oflife is the GIVING way ofoutgoing LOVE.Satan's way is INcoming self-advantage - hostility to God's wayand to His Church.Those who allow an attitude of hostility and re be Ilion againstGod's Church - and God's GOVERNMENT within His Church - tocause them to leave, and "go it alone," or follow a MAN, are seek-