Pentecost then and now

TROWEL & SWORD

Rev Bert Kuipers

1. A Geographical Shift Is Taking Place

On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out in a new and powerful way upon the gathered believers in Jerusalem. The New Testament Church was empowered to be Christ’s witnesses “…to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8b. “…the gift of the Holy Spirit…” was also “…for all who are far off…” Acts 2: 38,39. On the day of Pentecost the international missionary expansion of the church was inaugurated.

Ever since that day the Holy Spirit continues to be given to the church. He is sent forth and has penetrated every continent and nation and tribe. Yet if we look at Church History, we see that the church became more strongly established to the North and then all to the West of Jerusalem. Asia Minor and Europe became the centres of Christianity for almost 2000 years. Of course I am looking at church history in a very general way.

Where is the Holy Spirit powerful and active today? I believe we are in the midst of a huge shift in the composition of the church. As recently as fifty years ago, half of the church was still in the West (Western nations). Now only 30% of the church is considered to be Western.

Fifty years ago only 5% of Christians lived in Asia. Now the percentage of world Christians living in Asia is considered to be at least 20%. What an amazing change! It may not be too many years when the size of the Eastern part of the church is larger than the size of the Western part. It may have happened already.

In this article I am not even considering the shift to the South of Jerusalem (Africa) or to South America. In both of these regions the church has expanded rapidly in the last 50 years. So, the “centre of gravity” is shifting more to the south and east (according to Patrick Johnstone the author of “Operation World”)

2. How Should We Be Involved In This Geographical Shift?

It makes sense to be working where the Holy Spirit is working. That is a fine and reasonable thing to be doing! Yet, the Holy Spirit does not reveal to us the precise area of His operation. He is God and so works according to His sovereign purposes. Yet he is pleased to use the efforts of his church to be His instruments. At the very least we can support and encourage the young church that is growing so fast to the East of Jerusalem. As well as that, what is considered to be the “Eastern” region of our world is nearest to where we live. This is the very region God has placed us.

Surely we need to be busy planting churches in the cities and towns of Australia and New Zealand. That is our important task today as well. Yet, as well as that task, we ought also to be involved in where the Holy Spirit seems to be most active. China and India represent over a third of the world’s population and some of the least evangelized part of the world. India it seems is more responsive now than ever before.

3. It’s Wonderful And Yet, I Must Be Watchful

Let me suggest that our involvement
should be tempered by two opposing truths. Joy and excitement on the one hand and being on our guard and cautious on the other hand.

• On the one hand we are rightly awed by what God has done and is doing in building his Kingdom. What grand things does God have in store for those who have so little in this life. He is bestowing his eternal riches on all who turn to him in faith. One truth then is to rejoice with the wonderful work of God’s almighty grace and power. God’s people must support the work of God.

• Yet, on the other hand we must figure with the revolution against God’s almighty power. Wherever the Gospel is preached there we see Satan at work seeking to undermine and destroy.

Illustration From Scripture

In the parable of the sower (Matthew 13)
we read about the seed that falls on good soil. God opens hearts to hear the Word. Yet that same parable tells of rejection of the Word and resistance to the Word. “… the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” v19

Therefore when we think of Missions, we pray that the Holy Spirit would come with power and we also pray that the work of the Devil may come to nothing.

Missions is both positive and negative. Missions is wonderful when we see there is a miracle of God’s grace in a hard heart. Yet we also see that there is a negative response when the Word is received with shallowness or rejected.

The “BUT” of missions

1. Opposition from without.

Whenever the Holy Spirit is being poured out, there the Evil Spirit will seek to distract divert and confuse. Satan always opposes
the work of Christ. Along with the Holy Spirit comes the evil spirit.

E.g. Paul on his first missionary journey.

Acts 13: 7,8 “The proconsul … wanted to hear the Word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer … opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.”

What an amazing story. Open opposition at the first missionary endeavour in Cyprus.

The very same chapter tells about amazing Gospel opportunities in Antioch. Apparently “almost the whole city” gathered to hear the word of the Lord. What a great moment in the missionary expansion of the church.

Acts 13: 49,50 “The Word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jews incited the God-fearing women...and...men of the city. They stirred up persecution…”

2. Opposition from within.

In the New Testament church there was a dispute about the necessity of circumcision for Gentile believers. Acts 15. Some were teaching that circumcision was mandatory for salvation.

We are told in Acts 15: 2 “This brought Paul and Barnabus into sharp dispute and debate with them.” Sharp dispute and debate! Paul and Barnabus would not leave the matter they resisted this attack on grace alone. They resisted it vigorously and they would not let up. The struggle was about the implication of the Gospel.

How sad this is. Yet it is a reality we need to figure with.

Strife from within can also come from disputes about non Gospel issues. These issues too bring strife and discord. Acts 15:39

Indeed, there’s always a but, Satan opposes the church. Watch and pray.

1. There may need to be a stand taken.
The Gospel alone.

2. Sometimes we hurt each other needlessly. Let us be careful we don’t oppose fellow workers who are hard at work in God’s Kingdom.

This month we remember the day
of Pentecost.

As we consider Pentecost, we also
remember that:

1. There is a significant change afoot in World Missions. Are you a part of it?
Do you see how God is at work in
the world?

2. How can you be more prayerful about this? Are you supporting God’s purposes in the world?

3. Will you be distracted when there are problems? Satan will be doing what he can to oppose and destroy.

A modern believer knows that God is in heaven. So, he/she will not just pray as an earthling. Rather pray because you know that your God has almighty power.

Don’t pray as if Satan has stopped his opposition. You need to pray as a very submissive and very trusting child of God.

4. Illustrations From Church Planting Partnerships In India

I’d like to illustrate these points with a ministry we have been developing in the Western regions of India. Our denomination has endorsed the ministry of G.O.S.P.E.L. At least one quarter of our churches support this ministry financially.

1. There has been wonderful fruit. God has brought many conversions. There appears to be amazing fruit. Well over 5,000 believers in 50 churches. All that has happened in 6 years. Should we just believe these things? Last year I wrote about the fact that there was a lot of shallowness, especially foundthe Gospel is not taught with the same clarity that we hear from our pulpits. The missionaries are not trained well enough. Why work in India when we have so much work to do at home? Are we right is choosing to plant churches in India? Is this where the Holy Spirit is really directing us?

2. There is opposition on the ground (India). The Hindu majority gets upset when more and more followers turn to Christ. Their opposition may be with threats and community pressure against believers. Yet the team goes on with faithful preaching despite opposition. They are looking to God and relying on his power, despite setbacks they have faced such as the accidental death of the team leader.

3. There is opposition at home (Australia). Not everyone believes we have the best men on the job and they know that many of these men are not well trained. In response we have made significant changes to deal with these limitations.

The day of Pentecost was a wonderful work of God. God is still at work and pouring out his Holy Spirit upon His church. The missionary task was never easy. It was not easy then and it is not now.

I hope this article will spur you to be serious in prayer for the growth of the church, diligent in prayer against Satan’s devices and faithful in prayer for the peace of the church.

I hope this article will make you think of ways that you could be a partner with a missionary endeavour where the Holy Spirit is working so spectacularly.

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