Ron Sawka Ministries
January 22, 2025; Tevet 22, 5785
“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46–47).
“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men’” (Mark 1:17).
Oikos (Households) and Apostolic Centers
One of the key results of Apostolic Centers is the rising up and activation of oikos. We must not only think of the activities and meetings of the APC, but must also realize the Lord wants to use the homes and workplaces of the believers. The Greek word oikos, appearing some 106 times in the New Testament, can mean the physical house or a household (family, dependents, and employees).
Its usage in the Bible seems to indicate that we should regard oikos as a place the Lord wants to—and does—work. When Jesus visited his house, Zaccheus was saved. We read, “And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house’” (Luke 19:9). Jesus told the man delivered from a legion of demons, “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you” (Luke 8:39). When the nobleman’s son was healed, the whole house believed. John 4:53 states, “And he himself believed, and his whole household” (John 4:53).
That the Lord works mightily inside the oikos is clear in the book of Acts. Consider Cornelius, who met an angel while worshiping inside his house. It resulted in Peter’s coming to the house of Cornelius, who “had called together his relatives and close friends” (Acts 10:24), and everyone getting saved and filled with the Holy Spirit (see verse 44). We see the same with the Philippian jailor and his household (see Acts 16).
Perhaps we should state it this way:
1. God raises up Apostolic Centers where people gather for the following reasons:
Worship and praise
Teaching (revelation of the word of God)
Demonstration—See healings, deliverance, and miracles.
Impartation
Activation
Acts 2:42–46 states, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship … So continuing daily with one accord in the temple.” We also should realize it is through these corporate gatherings that spiritual breakthrough happens and is held over the region.
2. As a result of this spiritual breakthrough and because of what new believers received and experienced, they immediately and spontaneously offer their oikos to the Lord, where He works mightily. We see the following things:
Joyful fellowship
Nurturing and spontaneous discipling that come from enjoying the Lord together in their oikos.
Evangelism—Repeatedly in scripture, we see that after spiritual breakthrough of/by the Apostolic Center in the region, a good deal of subsequent evangelism and growth happens spontaneously in the ever-increasing number of oikos.
Acts 2:46–47 states, “So continuing daily … breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
How to have the Lord use your oikos and what will happen?
Look at the story of Jesus asking to use Peter’s boat in Luke 5:1–11. Here are four simple points:
1. Say yes—Jesus approached and asked Peter if He could sit in his boat and teach. He wants to use your oikos (household/workplace). Simply say yes like Peter did. You don’t have to do anything. Just say yes and know the Lord will do something.
2. Jesus will bless you—Jesus then told Peter to go out and cast his nets again. Peter caught a miraculous number of fish. You can expect blessing in your finances or business. There will be a definite, seeable favor upon you—“and having favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47).
3. Others will likewise begin to follow—Peter had to signal for James and John to come and help. Their boat also was filled to the full.
4. Jesus will make you a “fisher of men”—Peter knew he was being blessed by a miracle from God and likewise knew he was unworthy. He asked the Lord to depart, but Jesus lovingly said, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men” (Luke 5:10).
So please, commit your oikos to the Lord. Most of you are already connected to our online Apostolic Center, which provides necessary spiritual breakthrough. Now, commit your home to the Lord and watch Him work there.
Prayer Corner-Things for all of us to pray for
Pray for me and my son Pete as we go to Mexico City (Jan. 22–27) to minister in a Revival Makers conference and churches. The Lord has been speaking about opening doors in Latin America.
Pray for many to respond to the Lord’s request to use their oikos (household/workplace).
Ask the Lord for an increase in number of Apostolic Fund Supporters (see article below).
Keep praying for all of our webcasts and videos to have great impact and for the word of the Lord to run quickly (see 2 Thess. 3:1).
That the weekly online APC-MPP meeting would continue to grow and activate and cover many as they rise into all God has for their lives. Our next webcast will be Wednesday, January 29, 6–7 a.m., Japan time.
Please Consider Becoming an Apostolic Fund Supporter (AFS)
One thing I know is that the Lord is bringing a lot of changes, and lots of new and unexpected doors are opening. Thus, I ask you to consider becoming a supporter, because I feel we will need them more than ever as we head into 2025. We feel your giving is like a covenant with us. We pray for and minister to each AFS regularly. (We will ask you for a recent photo to help us/me as we pray for you.)
Apostolic Fund Supporters pledge the equivalent of $1200 for the year. This is the backbone of our financial support. We use these funds in some of the following ways:
1. Ministering in poorer nations—they are often unable to cover expenses and we do that for them.
2. Writing and publishing books and materials. In some of the languages we publish in, sales don’t even cover the cost of printing. We publish materials in languages including English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Russian, and Sri Lankan. We give away a fair amount of content.
3. Paying our staff that does admin, and the work connected to webcasts and online posting.
Sign up Here.
Thanks for your praying,
Ron and Teddy
Blessings for the Hebrew Month of Tevet
Tevet 5785—The Tenth Hebrew Month, January 1–29, 2025
Moving into Maturity
Scriptures are full of people who had great potential, but who came up short, often because of immaturity. Cain couldn’t control his anger. Esau gave into hunger. Reuben and Samson gave in to sexual sins. The list is long. God doesn’t want us to be tripped up; rather He wants us to mature and fulfill the potential He made us for. Let’s be sure to take steps to maturity.
Also, the letter of the month is ayin (ע) which means “eye” or “to see.” The more we recognize (see) that God is in everything, in all our circumstances, the more we will move into maturity. Conversely, an immature person quickly forgets/doesn’t see God, and makes immature choices.
Ron’s Travel Ministry Schedule
Jan. 22–25—Project 173, Mexico City, Mexico
Feb. 19–23—CTF Pakistan
Broadcast Schedule
Weekly
Apostolic Center MPP
Mondays (except for Japanese Public Holidays in which case it will be on Tuesday), 6–7 a.m., Japan Time. (Times are listed in Japan Time, UTC +9.)
Schedule: Jan. 29 (an atypical Wednesday); February 3, 10, 17, 25 (Tuesday)
How to Join
You can watch on YouTube or join live via Zoom:
Zoom ID: 865 1546 9529, Pass: 964072
Zoom main room is English translated into Japanese
Chinese translation room
Russian translation room
Korean translation room
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