The Western Church, Pentecost and Mission
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 15:07 — Richard Roper
I wanted to detail the above because I didn't want to be accused of playing down the significance of the coming and baptism of the Holy Spirit. But I constantly confronted with extreme errors that I think are a major source of a troubled western church.
1. A concentration on the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the point of failing to be prepared.
2. A total dismissal of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Neither of these are seen in the events of Pentecost. So why is it that so much of the western church thinks that we can either be careless about our mission or making excuses as to why we are not doing anything?
Beats me.
Richard
Why is it that so much of the western church thinks that we can either
be careless about our mission or making excuses as to why we are not
doing anything?
In Acts chapter 2 One of the most powerful events occurs and certainly the most significant events outside of Creation and the resurrections of Jesus Christ. This is the day of Pentecost.
The disciples have been told to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit and wait they did. Gathering quietly with fear and not a clue as to what was about to happen.
Now there is a common belief that the disciples were hidden away in their prayer, possibly in a house somewhere or some place that they could meet in secret. In fact this is not the case.
The word from which we get Pentecost is the Greek for 50. It came into being as the Greek for of the Jewish festival of weeks, a very holy festival, held seven weeks or 50 days after the festival of first fruits.
This is important for 2 reasons:
In Acts chapter 2 One of the most powerful events occurs and certainly the most significant events outside of Creation and the resurrections of Jesus Christ. This is the day of Pentecost.
The disciples have been told to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit and wait they did. Gathering quietly with fear and not a clue as to what was about to happen.
Now there is a common belief that the disciples were hidden away in their prayer, possibly in a house somewhere or some place that they could meet in secret. In fact this is not the case.
The word from which we get Pentecost is the Greek for 50. It came into being as the Greek for of the Jewish festival of weeks, a very holy festival, held seven weeks or 50 days after the festival of first fruits.
This is important for 2 reasons:
1. It gives us a time line of events
from Jesus Crucifixion in that Jesus died just before the beginning of
passover. He is in the grave at the beginning of the feast of
unleavened bread. A festival that runs for 7 days, starts the day after
passover and is considered part of the passover festival (passover
itself is a one day festival). He is raised from the dead on the
festival of first fruits, the second day of the feast of unleavened
bread. He then spends 40 days with the disciples and then ascends to
heaven.
Since 50 days are counted from the festival of first fruits that means that the disciples were alone for 10 days before the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Since 50 days are counted from the festival of first fruits that means that the disciples were alone for 10 days before the coming of the Holy Spirit.
2.
It tells us where the disciples were at the time of the coming of the
Holy Spirit. It was the first day of the festival of weeks. Pentecost,
50 days after the feast of first fruits and 50 days after the
Resurrection. The disciples were huddled together in a corner of the
temple. They were not in a secluded place or a members house. There
were 120 of them and that's the reason why people were
suddenly everywhere wanting to know what was going on. They were out in
public.
Yes they were confused
and bewildered about what was to become of them but they were
continuing there normal lives as best they could. Just as any grieving
family would. And in amongst this suddenly there is the beginning of
the most significant missionary movement ever.
I wanted to detail the above because I didn't want to be accused of playing down the significance of the coming and baptism of the Holy Spirit. But I constantly confronted with extreme errors that I think are a major source of a troubled western church.
1. A concentration on the gifts of the Holy Spirit to the point of failing to be prepared.
Jesus
spent 3 years preparing his disciples and then a final 40 days
preparation as we have seen. Yet many in the western church are happy
to say "I'll just go and be led by the Spirit"!
The result is in many cases, except by the grace of God, disaster for the ministry, the person who went and the people who were supposed to receive the word. Yet Acts 2 is there point of reference when they are asked why.
The result is in many cases, except by the grace of God, disaster for the ministry, the person who went and the people who were supposed to receive the word. Yet Acts 2 is there point of reference when they are asked why.
2. A total dismissal of the power of the Holy Spirit.
I
remember being told in my youth that the reason why there were people
who could not be involved in ministry is that they had not had enough
training. When I asked what they meant I was told that Jesus had given
his disciples 3 years of training before He set them loose into
ministry. When I replied that this was not true because Jesus had them
doing healing, etc before he was crucified, I was told that, that was
different. That was before Jesus died. Jesus was with them then and He is not now.
I was not a very popular person when I screamed out of frustration "But you taught me that Jesus is not dead"!
I was not a very popular person when I screamed out of frustration "But you taught me that Jesus is not dead"!
Neither of these are seen in the events of Pentecost. So why is it that so much of the western church thinks that we can either be careless about our mission or making excuses as to why we are not doing anything?
Beats me.
Richard
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