Conference in Poland

Sorry for missing for a longer time... I was gone, together with Márta and Johanna to the Field Conference of the European Missionary Fellowship, between 29th July and 4th August. Than here, at home, the Internet was not working... So, only now I can write again, about what happened in the last few days.
The Conference was held in Wloclawek, Poland, which is about 1200 km from here. Pál (my youngest brother) and Sándor (my associate pastor), together withe their family members also took part in this meeting.



You can see on the pictures most of the participants, as they sit at one of the “Open Sessions”, where we discussed a pastor’s call to the ministry, his financial support, divine sovereignity and human responsability, etc. So, all the lectures and meetings were very useful ones. I also delivered a sermon on Wednesday evening: its notes you may read below.
Earlier in Hungarian I mentioned that two former graduates of our Seminary, who are living here in Targu Mures, are ready to be invited: Szűcs Otto’s wife graduates the Medical University next year, and for the studies of Kelemen Szabolcs’s wife is not necessary either to stay in this city. They also are ready to move on, if necessaary. Their pictures are at: http://iborzasi.blogspot.com/2007_07_25_archive.html

Our oldest daughter, Johanna applied to study at Babeş-Bolyai University, in Cluj. She will try to start (and graduate!) both the Hungarian-English and Hungarian-German faculty. I am also doing my doctorate here, beginning with sept. 2005. I amd going to have two important exams in September, this year, and after that I hope to write my dissertation until May or June, 2008! I would appreciate your prayers for this item as well.

About the last Camp we had with the Gipsy children, mentioned in my last English note, I wrote an “evaluation” in Hungarian at http://iborzasi.blogspot.com/2007_07_24_archive.html
You will find a couple of pictures there. This Camp was the third one we had this Summer, and another one for teenagers, which was led by Sándor Kelemen. He took part also at a youth camp in Hargita, before we started to go to Włocławek. I have to admit, that especially Márta was busy in organizing and leading these camps, together with the other pastors in Mures County: Sándor Kelemen, Attila Tóth and János Tőtős.

In Hungarian I also made a short report about my trip to the USA, at the end of June and first days of July. You find this (in Hungarian) at http://iborzasi.blogspot.com/2007_06_17_archive.html where you are surely able to read the pictures... I was invited by Barnabas Kui, the founder are leader of the Hungarian Baptist Missions, and (miracle!) I got a visa for ten years. In New York I lost my vallet, with all of my documents (and some money!), but I didn’t lost my Passport! I count this as another miracle, a genuine sign of the providence of the Lord... (I already received new copies of most of my documents). My intention with this trip was not only to speak about the church-planting mission we are doing here in Mures County, Transylvania, Romania, but especially to find supporters, if possible, for building the Seminary building in Cluj. I met wonderful people, not only among the Hungarian churches, but also among the Americans in New York, San Antonio TX and Greenville SC. I came home with the assurance, that the Lord may provide enough resources to start and finish to build the Seminary building in Cluj. This may happen soon, if this will continue to be the decision of the leaders of our Convention. I want to thank you again, for all of you in the USA and Great Britain, who are praying for this issue, and are ready to help us! I am grateful for the hospitality and warm welcome I experienced everywhere, in New York, Washington DC, Cleveland, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Greenville (but especially in San Antonio)! (See, please the pictures below, at: http://iborzasi.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html
May God bless you all!

SERMON NOTE
APOLLOS, A LEARNED (ELOQUENT) PREACHER
Acts 18:24-28

24 Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
27 And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;
28 for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

● May this message encourage us to do be more dedicated to the work of preaching!
● All this is happening in Ephesus. Paul was in Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla were already in Efesus, where they found Apollos. Not only Apollos, but there were 12 other people who knew only the baptism of John (see Acts 19:1-12.)
● From Ephesus the gospel went out to all Asia Minor (Smirna, Pergamum, Thiatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Colosse and Hierapolis).
● God wants to use learned people. He wants to train us, to become eloquent preachers... Surely, He is able to use unlearned people as well: He can use the donkey of Balaam, if He wants... He can raise children for Abraham even from stones! But he wants us to be prepared for preaching. To be eloquent.
● “If I could be a ram-horn in God’s hand, thats OK. But if I could be a silver trompet, thats better!” (Spurgeon) “If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” 1Cor 14:8 * Tibor Király and the trompet.
● There are things which must be learned, and other things which are given... Basic training, and higher training is necessary, than to be comissioned by the church.

█ I. His basic training
▄▀ intellectual characteristics (what he had in his head)
● born in Alexandria
Where the Allegorical interpration flurished. The largest library. An intellectual center. Luther thought, the Epistle to the Hebrews was written by Apollos... Eloquancy! Paul thoughts (“I planted, Apollos watered” - worked in harmony), but another language! Paul had no time to make beautiful sentences... But Apollos was from Alexandria,an eloquent man... Your birthplace is important! Your church, is important! Where have you been converted? Who was preaching? Who taught you?
● an eloquent man (learned -NIV)
You cannot learn this. Eloquency is a given ability. Using words was taught in Alexandria (Rhetorics). Right words in right places.
● mighty in Scriptures (with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures)
He knew the Scriptures.
● being instructed in the way of the Lord
He knew the basic teachings. He had the knowledge.

▄▀ spiritual characteristics (what he had in his heart)
● being fervent in spirit
If you have to choose between a learned but lazy, and a man with a fervent spirit, but little knowledge, what would you choose? I would prefer the fervent in spirit! A man with a zeel! Enthusiasm! * This is the difference I see between black and white preachers... “We are going to exegeet the 2nd verse of the 3rd chapter...” How are you speaking the truth?
● speaking and teaching accurately the things of the Lord (concerning Jesus – NIV)
What he knew, de did! He didn’t keep his diplom int he chest... He worked hard.
● began to speak out boldly in the synagogue
Boldly, because there were opposition. You need boldness in Ephesus! Paul was speaking boldly, as he says: „The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth.” 4Tim 4:17. He needed courage.
● he knew only the baptism of John
This is the need, which required a continuation of his training.

█ II. His higher training
▄▀ Priscilla and Aquila heard him (collected information)
● the first thing which is needed. You need patience for this. Listen! Don’t jump up to say: this is not so! Students must be listened to, to be able to lead them forward. Nobody is able to lead further, than he arrived! (in knowledge, in prayer, in forgiveness...) You have to go ont he front of the fock!
▄▀ took him aside (invited him to their home NIV)
● Dealing with him in privat... If you have to rebuke a preacher, you better do it in privat, not in public! Apply Mt 18.
● There is always necessary a great wisdom to know, what should be privat, and what should be made public! Acts 19:18-19. „If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” Mt 18:15.
▄▀ explained to him the way of God more accurately (adequately - NIV)
● They enlightened him, they builded on his previous knowledge, continuing to teach him. See: Col 2:7 „Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” There is always a need for more knowledge! You cannot say, you know everything.
● Some preachers use old sermon notes... The listeners know even the illustrations... Where he will weep, or laugh...

█ III. His comissioning
▄▀ wanted to go to Achaia and the brethren encouraged him
● both are necessary! He had the initiative, the church supported him.
● „If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” 1Tim 3:1 Nobody can be sent, if he donÍt want to go... – but God has a solution even for Jonah! You must have the initiative!
▄▀ wrote to the disciples to welcome him
● Not everybody was received. The church’s task is to encourage. Satan wants to stop.
● They sent a letter: like the church in Antiochia, they sent him out. This is a responsability of the church. One church listened to another church, because they were sister-churches. Apollos was a servant of the churches!
● They didn’t say: we need you! Please, don’t go anywhere! The mission never weakens your church: this is strenghtening it. For a sick church a mission diet is the best medicine.
▄▀ he helped greatly
● If you cannot help, at least don’t make a damage!
● The authority is manifested in service. The harvest is great, and is waiting the people like Apollos.
▄▀ he powerfully refuted the Jews in public
● He was succesful. From you it is required to be faithful, not succesful, because success is in the hand of God. If your work is succesful, you cannot bost with this. If it is not succesful, this is not a reason for discouragement. Just go on preaging, boldly, with a fervent spirit, having the initiative to do the work of an evangelist!