In Conclusion to my time in Tarneit and Wyndham ...

·         In Luke 10:1-3, Jesus first sends his disciples, then calls them to prayer, and then sends them again ... 'off you go' – no greater statement on the connection between prayer and action, or if you like, prayer … and being a party to the answer to that prayer.

·         This is not ‘pray and sit back’; nor is it ‘go on your way’ in your own strength, but rather: ‘go on your way in the prayerful expectation that others are going to join you on the journey’ … and this is not your mission, but God’s mission – and the ones being reached should be the ones who will in turn reach others with the Gospel.

·         This text sets the expectation that those who join as a result of prayer, will not be ‘pew-sitters’ or passive self-interested people, but rather co-workers and true disciples (of Jesus); this will be a growing movement of mission-minded people.

·         In this ‘going out’ the disciples are representatives of Jesus – they will go where he wants to go, they will act as Jesus wants to act, they will speak what Jesus wants to speak; so this will be a Holy Spirit led movement bearing witness to Jesus. And certainly in ‘going’ like this, we will be out of our comfort zones.

·         This connects well with Colossians 4:2 … “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving”. While in a 24/7 prayer mode, we are to keep alert to all the opportunities that present themselves to bear witness to Jesus (to the Gospel, to the mystery of Christ), with a thankful heart that God is going before us, with us and behind us … that God’s Kingdom will grow.

·         Every day is a day for prayerfully ‘going out’ – every interchange during the day counts for something. We don’t have to be called or sent – we have already been called and sent. We don’t have to discover our particular mission field – where we live is already our mission field. This makes for an exciting, challenging and purposeful life … both individually, and also collectively in the Body of Christ – where shared giftedness allows for effective teamwork.

·         This is the Christian life, the Jesus-following life – to receive the grace of God, made most evident through the forgiveness made available to us via Jesus’ death on the cross, and to live out the resurrected life of Jesus through the Holy Spirit … prayerfully being involved in God’s mission in the world – “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

Special Instructions (Colossians 4:2-6)

(1)    PRAYER

How would you explain “keeping alert” in prayer?

• What is God saying? 
• Listening as well as speaking … listening to God & listening to others. 
• Reading Scripture prayerfully. 
• What are circumstances saying? 
• What are circumstances saying about God? 
• Prayer is the place of decision-making.                                                                                                                                                                                                              
• A priority for prayer … prayer is for the spreading of the Gospel. Two specific points here – (a) prayer for open doors; and, (b) prayer for a communication of the Gospel that is clear. (a) Where there seems to be resistance or lack of progress, we should pray for new doors of opportunity to open. (b) Then as new doors open (or old doors seem worthwhile again), there needs to be a clarity about how best to represent the Gospel message to the various recipients … which generally means an understanding that allows us to speak and to act in their language.

Now Paul prays this way from prison, being able to focus on the priority of mission despite his personal circumstances. In fact, he would have sensed a degree of success and vindication, because it is the impact that he has had … that has put him in prison in the first place. Prison to Paul is something of a compliment! Not to say that Paul (or anyone else) should not pray for release from prison, just that not being released from prison is not the end of prayer. There needs to be an acceptance of circumstances such that there may be a greater purpose found in any continuing form of ‘imprisonment’.

John Dickson comments: An “open door” for the message, even though the chief messenger is locked up “in chains”: only prayer could ensure such a beautifully illogical reality!

We ourselves, because of a seeming lack of effectiveness in our witnessing or Gospel sharing – might we feel that we are in a sort of prison ourselves?!? We seemingly have trusted God, but to little effect. We have talked our head off, walked our feet off, or worked our heart out, with little response. Is there an answer here in verse 3-4??

We should pause to look at one other word or phrase (from verse 2), i.e. “with thanksgiving”. We should note always that God is doing something as a result of our prayers, and that would be something good (even though we may not yet perceive it), and that this is worthy of thanksgiving.

(2)    CONDUCT & COMMUNICATION

Paul, in his time, believed there wasn’t much time before Jesus returned. He had a great sense of urgency. Today we always seem ‘time poor’, which might alert us to a similar urgency, lest the mission of God’s Gospel falls right of the back of the stove … you know, not just on the back burner, but right off the back of the stove. This is often what happens when churches get fixated or bogged down in internal affairs. The cynical person inside me says that some people in churches actually like it that way because it protects them from real risk-taking mission work.

Paul’s phrase, “making the most of the time” (v.5) suggests to me again what the priorities of our life should be. This includes living in a way that makes it easier for other people to come to know God. We might say ‘living in a way that attracts other people …’; but I think a more basic necessity is just opening up paths for people to be able to appreciate God, i.e. making it easier (not harder) for them to know God. And the most basic way to do this is to humbly walk in the Jesus way. Another way of translating this “making the most of the time” is ‘buy up the occasion’ (Dickson) i.e. grab hold of the opportunity with both hands!

What particular advice does Paul give in terms of our speech (in verse 6)?

(a)    Graciousness – what does this mean? Words that point to the Grace of God i.e. God’s love, mercy, compassion, desire for relationship; words that make people feel encouraged, supported, cared for, accepted, valued.

(b)   Seasoning (with salt) – what does this mean? Words that make a difference, words that touch the heart, words that preserve life, words that tend towards an improvement in the appreciation of life. As one commentary puts it: our speech should be “compelling”, not dull nor uninteresting … I would add not trite and full of platitudes (what Tom Wright calls “parroting stock responses”).

All this implies listening carefully both to God and to the other person. This mindset of ‘graciousness’ and ‘salt-seasoning’, is so that we don’t merely ‘tell’ stuff, but rather so that we can “answer” real (heart-felt) enquiries (v.6b)! John Dickson suggests that Paul’s intent here is to see Jesus followers simply respond to other people’s own comments, questions, or even criticisms, with a gentle and gracious reply. People may have many objections to belief in God, or, have absolutely no faith background and are thus just puzzled, or, have bad experiences of Christians or the church, or, have ever-present personal difficulties whereby they find it hard to access a compassionate God – each needs to be listened to with gentleness and graciousness.

This can all take place in natural conversations (not just in evangelistic sermons … and probably preferable to), yet are conversations that are prepared for prayerfully, and undertaken with a redemptive mindset.

Shared Responsibility (Acts 6:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Things can get missed when there’s plenty to do. The first disciples, called “the twelve” here, had plenty to do as the number of adherents to the Christian faith increased. Also, as their particular quality of ministry and care became well known, opportunities of helping people from the general community, most often the poor, also increased. With increasing numbers, especially when it happens in a hurry, tensions can arise. In the particular case we read of in Acts 6, those new Christians from a Greek speaking background outside Jerusalem (the “Hellenists”) felt that their widows were not getting as good a deal compared to the widows of Aramaic-speaking background (from Jerusalem itself) – in fact it is said they were being “neglected”. There could have been some partiality here, but it is more likely that this was more due to time and resource pressures (perhaps leading to responding only to the closest standing need).

So there needed to be an all-hands-on-deck approach, lest opportunities would be lost, and tensions would increase leading to fractures; and the cost of this would be … the effective sharing of Gospel. There needed to be an understanding of shared responsibility! Practical things always need to be attended to. Nothing happens unless someone opens the door and offers a seat. Those who could take on more practical tasks would free up others to take up more teaching roles. The principle to be drawn from this, is everyone getting involved according to the gifts, abilities and availabilities that God has given them (to be invested in the Church). This is all very inclusive too – one of the new ‘seven’ named Nicolaus was described as a “proselyte from Antioch”, meaning that he was a Gentile who had first been attracted to the religion of the Jews and then subsequently became a follower of Jesus.

“Seven” were appointed, and the original “twelve” apostles prayerfully commissioned them. The ‘seven’ were thus trusted and encouraged in their role. It’s interesting that no one need be typecast in any one particular role for too long. Case in point is Stephen, who originally is appointed to the practical tasks of distributing food and waiting on tables, but by verse 8 of this chapter has already proceeded to very upfront roles (refer Acts 6:8-10). Another case in point is Philip, who by chapter 8 is out and about sharing the Gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch (and baptising him when he accepted Jesus – 8:26-38). This shows us that sometimes someone needs to be given a chance or encouraged to take on a small role, and that through this opportunity they discover the full breadth of their giftedness. People’s ’giftedness’ can actually emerge over time.

The actual “gifts of the Holy Spirit” are taught and listed in several parts of the New Testament. There can be found over twenty particular gifts, and it is often obvious which gift or gifts a person has – and everyone who has received the Holy Spirit has been given at least one gift. But mostly I think, people find their way into God’s best for them, through a little bit of trial and experimentation. One can grow into their full giftedness. And certainly the process of discipleship, i.e. learning how to follow Jesus ever more closely and accurately, is enriched by either specific or broad involvement in (and through) the church community. After all, no gift of the Spirit was ever given for one’s own advantage, but rather only for the “common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). We should only expect growth in ‘giftedness’ if we are going to be active in the Church for the common good.

We should also note that no person is ranked above anyone else … every gift is needed to complete the whole. This is why Paul in 1 Corinthians (12:12-26) uses the analogy of a human body, demonstrating that the body is less for any missing part and that all parts are needed for good functioning to occur – no part (i.e. no one) is indispensable. The only ranking officer is that of Jesus at the head. In Acts 6, we see that even those being nominated for practical tasks had to be of “good standing, full of the Spirit and wisdom” (verse 3). And why shouldn’t they be? Firstly, the hospitality tasks they would perform are frontline and important, and secondly, all Jesus followers … all members of Jesus’ body … should live lives of “good standing, full of the Spirit and wisdom”!! There are actually no excuses not to – we have the Bible, the Holy Spirit and prayer as resources. Everyone has a unique contribution to make.

Good quality leadership is always helpful, but not always available. Leadership too sometimes has to emerge. The “twelve” were having to operate in the early days in a cooperative manner – Peter only beginning to grasp a leadership sort of role amongst them. When Peter was more focussed on outward mission, it was James (not one of the “twelve” but the brother of Jesus) who more became the notional leader in Jerusalem. Then we see that Paul was right out there as the most forthright and Christ-focussed teacher and church planter, coming right out of left field, and the one most people either wanted to follow or oppose. We can’t often predict where leadership is going to come from. In the meantime, the “twelve” together with the ‘seven” did the best they could. Having said this, we cannot deny that good quality leadership does connect with the notion of effectiveness and longevity.

The Coming of the Holy Spirit - Four Questions

Passages read and referred to: John 14:25-27; 15:26; 16:13-15; 20:21-22; Acts 1:8; 2:1-15 & 36-39

(1)    How would you describe the Holy Spirit?

·         A member of the Community (‘Trinity’) of God – Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer? (though the Holy Spirit was active in the creation of the world – “a wind from God swept over the face of the waters – Genesis 1:1)

·         A travelling companion

·         A real and present acknowledgement of Jesus’ love for his disciples/followers

·         Carries on the earthly (& heavenly) life (& work) of Jesus in his disciples/followers

·         The powerful presence of God in the world, ensuring the continuation of God’s mission

·         The promoter of notable fruitfulness, and the giver of particular ‘gifts’ that will aid in the church’s mission

·         We read in John 14:27, that, like Jesus, the Holy Spirit gives in a very different way to what the ‘world’ gives. What might this indicate? The Holy Spirit works above and beyond the physical and material into the spiritual – right to the depths of the meaning of life. Also we might say, what the Holy Spirit stands for or seeks to promote is unusual, maybe unexpected, in the world’s general cultural patterns.

·         A promoter of peace – “peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” (John 14:27) – the Holy Spirit is closely identified here with the notion of “peace”, which of course is NOT something the world is big on! The Hebrew concept of ‘shalom’ which closely aligns with the Greek word for “peace” refers to the well-being of people as they live in harmony with God and others; also to wholeness or completeness, and to ethical soundness.

·         A promoter of calm/patience – “do not let your hearts be troubled” (John 14:27)

·         A promoter of faith/faithfulness – “do not let [your hearts] be afraid” (John 14:27).

(2)    What is the Holy Spirit’s role?

·         Teaching everything we need to know (John 14:26)

·         Reminding disciples of all Jesus has said (John 14:26)

·         Testifies (in a positive sense) to Jesus (John 15:26)

·         Guiding us toward all the truth of God – bring Jesus’ teachings forward into the life of the worshipping community – hearing afresh the teachings of Jesus even after Jesus’ departure – guiding us in and drawing us to connect with people for the Gospel (John 16:13). This all makes us better interpreters of God on the one hand and worldly events on the other, with a clearer presentation of the Gospel in between.

·         Glorifying Jesus (John 16:14) i.e. making Jesus accessible and present in daily affairs, opening doors for us to be able to present Jesus.

If Jesus as God incarnate (God personified) brings a distinctive revelation of God to the world, what happens when the incarnation ends and Jesus appears to be gone? Was this revelation of God in Jesus only available for those who lived at the time and had firsthand experience of him and his ministry?? Is Jesus’ revelation of God limited to one moment in history, or does it have a future beyond this particular historical moment??? Let’s answer these questions.

(i)                  If Jesus as God incarnate (God personified) brings a distinctive revelation of God to the world, what happens when the incarnation ends and Jesus appears to be gone? The Holy Spirit.

(ii)                Was this revelation of God in Jesus only available for those who lived at the time and had firsthand experience of him and his ministry?? No, not just them!

(iii)               Is Jesus’ revelation of God limited to one moment in history, or does it have a future beyond this particular historical moment??? A very big future!

The Holy Spirit is the link between the historical ministry of Jesus and the future life of the church. The Holy Spirit is the ongoing presence of Jesus in the world. Matthew summed this all up in one sentence at the conclusion of his gospel – “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age”.

Who has the Holy Spirit? – let’s return to this question later.

(3)    What can we expect through the Holy Spirit?

·         Effective witness across the whole world (Acts 1:8)

·         The ability to communicate the Gospel in ways that others (i.e. non-believers) will be able to understand (Acts 2:4), or at least caused to think about it or respond in some way (2:12-13) … even if only simple ‘Galileans’ are doing the talking (refer 2:7). Doors of communication and relationship are unexpectedly opened, whereby the Gospel has a chance of being planted. Peter’s particular opening was the suggestion of the disciples being “drunk”, and he responds from this point (Acts 2:14-15).

·         People will be convicted and come to believing in Jesus (2:37-8)

·         Extraordinary turnarounds in levels of faith and confidence and courage (Acts 2:14ff).

(4)    Who has the Holy Spirit?

·         The original disciples (up to 120 by now) who were prayerfully obedient, waiting in Jerusalem together for the promise of God (Acts 2:1-4)

·         John’s Gospel conflates the coming of the Spirit back prior to the ascension (John 20:21-22), but with the same message – the Holy Spirit is given to Jesus’ disciples so they can represent him on an ongoing basis in the world, just as Jesus represented and did the works of God.

·         All those who repent (and are baptised) and are thus forgiven (Acts 2:38) … which would assume a sincere change of mind and direction. Baptism would be a symbol of both sincere repentance (dying to the old life and being reborn into the new), as well as an initiation into Christian discipleship and the church community.

·         Everyone who responds positively to Jesus [even those “far away” – “far away” by distance, “far away” through lack of faith] (Acts 2:39); those who accept the crucified Jesus (now risen & ascended) as the Lord and Messiah i.e. God, and also God’s Anointed One – the agent of salvation (Acts 2:36).

We should also note that the Holy Spirit was sent to the church as a collective for its witness to Jesus, so Jesus could be present in the world, more so than being sent to any or all individuals. The Holy Spirit is never our private possession, but rather evidence of God working in our lives for the benefit of all – what Paul calls the “common good” (in 1 Corinthians 12:7). The Holy Spirit is the power of God unleashed in the world, and also the glue that holds us in the church of Jesus together!