"A Glorious Vision" - a sermon on Revelation 7:9-17

When it comes down to it, we don’t know very much about the after-life, and what it will be like in heaven. And this is well and good, for we have so much responsibility here on earth, that’s enough for us to deal with. Eternity will look after itself for us, if we fully put our trust in God, receive the gift of salvation, and follow in the way of Jesus. But sometimes it’s just nice to think what heaven might be like, especially at times when life (on earth) is getting us down. We read in Revelation chapter 7 (v.9-17) a glorious vision of life, such as it will be for those who enter heaven.

But, as I will argue over coming weeks, we should also seek to experience, as much as we can, this sort of connection and relationship with God here and now. We are worshipping apprentices here on earth, in preparation for an eternity filled with opportunities to commune with God (without distraction), so a bit of practice, better ... a lot of practice, would no doubt be a good idea! And given our freedoms here in Australia, we have unending opportunities and forums through which to express our worship and service to God. So, for this reason as well, we are given a bit of a view, a vision, of what eternity might be like.

Now, as I said, this ‘vision’ is very important for those who are struggling in this life. Here they see what a glorious time awaits them. The struggle will be replaced by beauty; sadness given over to joy. The Book of Revelation was primarily written to encourage Jesus followers suffering under the varied challenges of life and in some cases being persecuted for their faith. There was certainly degrees of distress and harassment in the churches that this document was addressed originally to (the churches referred to in chapters two and three), being marginalised communities trying to exist within the general Greco-Roman culture.

This book reassures us that God will have the last word and that Jesus has brought the victory. When I was a young boy, I thought that the crowd of over 121,000 at the MCG for the 1970 Carlton versus Collingwood Grand Final was huge. But that was nothing compared to the vision we have in Revelation 7. John sees a vision of the biggest crowd imaginable, incorporating people from all nationalities and language groups, standing in awe before God and Jesus, clothed in transformed perfection, waving palm branches acknowledging their king, and singing together “Salvation belongs to our God”.

To say “Salvation belongs to our God ... and to the Lamb”, is to acknowledge that our total well-being is found in our relationship with God made possible through Jesus. Now, on a much smaller scale, we have already rehearsed for this today; just without the palm branches. What will it be like to sing that song in such a large gathering, simultaneously in thousands of languages? As we look at our society and shake our head and wonder sometimes, this glorious vision should encourage us. We are part of something big, huge, immeasurable, and eternal; all the children of God that span all the centuries, the cultures and the continents are together (M Eugene Boring).

Where at the “tower of Babel” (Genesis 11) God dispersed people into different language groups so that they would never again be tempted to think they could usurp God from his throne, now those who have responded positively to God over the centuries will happily and enthusiastically gather around God’s throne in thanksgiving and praise (without any thought at all of rebellion). This was foreshadowed on the day of Pentecost when people of many varied cultures heard the gospel of Jesus (from the mouths of the disciples) in their own language.

All the angels and heavenly beings will be there, and “elders” too – which perhaps represent all of God’s true leaders and prophets that have been so foundational to our faith – the patriarchs like Abraham and Moses and the apostles like Peter and Paul. These provided an example for us as they “fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God” (v.11-12). For God in “wisdom” and “might” has brought them (and us) through from birth to death to eternity; or we might say – ‘from birth to spiritual re-birth to physical death into eternity’.

In verses 13 to 14 we have a very interesting dialogue between John and one of the “elders”. John hears the “elder” say to him, “Who are these [ones] robed in white ... where have they come from”? John replies to the effect, ‘well I could guess but I reckon you are the one who already knows’! This dialogue sets the scene for we listeners and readers to hear the important identification that follows. Our attention has been gained and we hear: “These are [the ones] who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”.

Now sometimes this “great ordeal” is interpreted to mean some future ‘end-time’ period of great persecution, or perhaps a specific time of persistent persecution back in the first century of the church, and each of these may be true; but I still think it best to see this “great ordeal” as generally representing each of our testing journeys of life on earth in a fallen world environment, or if you like, the violence and terror and evil that can afflict any generation. If we over-analyse the symbolism in the Book of Revelation we tend to get bogged down in a multitude of different opinions and in so doing miss the basic message.

Using such terminology as the “great ordeal” will serve to wake up any of those who were complacent about their faith and saw no contrast between their Christian commitment and the surrounding culture, making them aware of the critical situation in which they lived and the threat they faced (M Eugene Boring) – i.e. the danger of compromising themselves out of their salvation experience.

Life is difficult, especially if you are abused, neglected or oppressed on the one hand, or you make an unpopular yet righteous stand against the tide on the other hand. One brings poverty, the other brings persecution. Yet, hang in there, God will have the victory, and you can be a part of it. “Who are these ... and where have they come from” is the question. The answer is: ‘these are the ones who have received God’s gift of forgiveness through accepting what Jesus did for them on the cross – these are the ones who have had a change of heart and direction, and allowed God’s Spirit to transform them – these are the ones who have taken their burdens to the foot of the cross and left them there – these are the ones who have emerged from the threat of evil clothed in the righteousness made possible by Jesus’.

To loudly sing “Salvation belongs to our God” suggests that we know that we have been lifted out of the mire and been cleansed; we understand that something remarkable has happened to us and continues to happen to us ... leading us to such gratefulness. Our state of being “robed in white”, as we have it in verse 9, has occurred because we have washed our robes (ironically in the blood of Jesus) – verse 14. This has happened as we have received Jesus’ forgiveness and then actively kept ourselves away from the perversions that ‘dirty’ life.

The ones who have “come out of the great ordeal” have been interpreted by some to be those who have died (or will die) for their faith and become martyrs. But equally, we could consider such ones as any whose faith has been found genuine through times of trouble. Their lives have equally been given up for Jesus and his cause – they have truly ‘taken up their cross and followed him’; and even in this life they have “irrepressibly” risen above their ordeals (Michael Wilcock). Of course, such generous commendation of these “martyrs” (and their resultant celebratory state) is because they never took the ‘easy way out’.

“For this reason”, we go on to read in verse 15, “they are before the throne of God”. I’m excited! I’m really excited!! Again this knowledge and this assurance of what lies ahead has a very real impact on how I live now. The “temple” referred to here (in v.15) is strange because we read in other places that there will be no such “temples” in heaven. Even the mention of “shelter” is interesting, for why would we need to be “sheltered” in the perfect climate of heaven. I think this reference (in verse 15) is reflecting back to our life here and now in this world, and asking us to apply the strength of our faith to our current circumstances, before it reflects back to the eternal security we have with our Good Shepherd Jesus (in v.16-17).

It is our internal and our eternal security that helps us deal creatively and properly with our current struggles and trials. And so we are not only confident in the future, but also in the present, for God is with us here too. The same Jesus that awaits welcoming us at God’s throne, provides thirst-quenching water and 30+ sunscreen and divine consolation now. While we wait patiently for our eternal peace, the love of God “superintends” (or manages) our misfortunes (Richard B Hays).

Ultimately there will be no thirst nor hunger nor heat nor cold to worry about at all. This doesn’t just happen through a perfect environment, but more so through the ongoing loving shepherding of Jesus. And we also read that “God will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes” (v.17), which suggests that all the grief, shame and weariness that we have carried through life will be lifted off us completely! How could this be when we carry our sorrow so deeply? Think about that! Do we leave all our emotions behind ... or become like a robot? I’m sure we don’t!! The passion of the worship seen here would also deny that! There just must be something so remarkable about being so tightly in God’s presence like this, that our various sorrows all roll away. Problems, disability, anxiety, loneliness, hardship, pain, even missed opportunities, will be things of the past. There will be nothing to fear anymore.

We will be able to put all of life’s disappointments aside, and simply worship God in the company of our brothers and sisters. Nothing now separates us from enjoying perfect harmony with God. Our own sin has been dealt with, and evil cannot touch us anymore. It is not those who have selfishly and callously sought power and wealth who are here; it is not the unrepentant abusers and oppressors and bullies who have waged war on us that are here; it is you and I who John sees here ... in this glorious vision of heaven. This passage challenges any thought that the church of Jesus Christ is on a mission to nothing and cannot survive the forces against it – quite the opposite – the ultimate success and vindication of committing to God’s service is seen in the mass international celebration of Revelation 7.

"Godly Authority" by Julie White

This is the sermon preached by Julie White at PCCBC on Sunday 19th June, posted here by request. Warren's sermon entitled "Experiencing Salvation" preached on 26th June appears below it, or can be accessed on the side menu.

GODLY AUTHORITY

The purpose of ‘Godly Authority’ is to –

PROTECT
NOURISH
& LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Today we will look at Godly Authority from the viewpoint of one who has been given authority and also those who are under authority.

Firstly, let’s look at the difference between Godly Authority and this world’s authority. Simply put, this world’s authority is driven by EGO and POWER, but Godly authority is driven by LOVE and is powered by SACRIFICE and SERVICE.

Now, let’s look at how much value God places on authority and therefore how much we need to respect those who have been placed in authority over us. This will cover husband’s authority over their wives, parent’s authority over their children, pastors authority over their congregation and bosses having authority over their employees. If you feel that you don’t fit into any of these categories, then how about the fact that we are all under Christ’s loving authority.

Our first example is the biblical record of King David. Before David became king, Saul was anointed King, but Saul became disobedient to God’s authority. Samuel then anointed David as king, but God left Saul on the throne for a time, to test David’s faith and in particular his obedience to authority.

Let’s look at the background to this story. After David’s anointing, he was called into service to play the harp for Saul, to calm him. Then he volunteered to kill Goliath. Eventually he was called into service as a leader in Saul’s army. He then began a series of war campaigns for Saul, which ended in great victories. The Israelites began to sing his praises and Saul became jealous. Saul tried to kill David, but failed. He then thought the Philistines would kill David for him, but that didn’t work either. Saul then became very active in seeking to kill David.

In this example, Saul shows the worldly type of authority, affected by ego and power. You think that David could have rationalised to himself that he had the right to forcefully take Saul off the throne, after all he had been annointed as king by Samuel and Saul had proven himself to be a wicked and selfish king. However, this was not the case. Let’s look at David’s attitude to Saul and the authority he held.

1 Samuel 24:1-7 & 1 Samuel 26: 5-12

Please note in the first example, David’s men pushed him to take the opportunity, that they believe God had given them, to take Saul’s life. David resisted the temptation and instead only cut off a section of Saul’s robe. Even so, he repented quickly of what he had done, considering this act one of disrespect to Saul’s office of authority. If you read on, you will notice that when David did speak to Saul, it was with great respect, despite the fact that Saul was out to kill him, even though he was innocent.

In the second reading, there is another example of David trying to show Saul that he did not want to cause him any harm and in fact was innocent. Again David’s men tried to tempt David into taking Saul’s life, but he rebuked them and led them by example into not committing this sin.

Let’s now look at another example of Godly Authority and Worldly Authority. Let’s look at Moses. Moses, was an example of Godly Authority, he risked his life to enter Egypt to confront Pharoah. This was leading by example and obeying God, no matter the risk. He tried to nourish Israel to the point of exhaustion, until finally his father-in-law encouraged him to get help by selecting men from within Israel to help rule and guide the people. He was a willing instrument to protect God’s people, through his faith. Remember his courage at the ‘Red Sea’ when Phaorah’s army was in pursuit. He did not run and abandon the people, instead he stood his ground and the people were saved. God can do mighty things through faithful leadership. Therefore, Moses protected, nourished and led by example.

Now, let’s look at the other side of this subject. An example of disobedience to Godly Authority.

Numbers 12: 1-15

Miriam and Aaron began talking against Moses, behind his back. It really doesn’t matter what their problem was here, what matters is the way that they went about it. Instead of going to Moses and talking with him privately and with great respect about their concerns, they condemned him and talked amongst themselves. They could have taken their concerns higher up the chain of authority and directly laid them before God. Notice how forcefully God dealt with them, especially Miriam. Authority is an important part of God’s Kingdom and he has put great value on authority, not only the giving of it, but also the expectations of those under it. Notice that the way God disciplined Miriam was very public. All of Israel knew what had happened to Miriam. God wanted it to be an example that would be remembered. Not just for Israel then, but for spiritual Israel now.

Talking about spiritual Israel, let’s look at an example from the New Testament of how Godly authority works over the spiritual nation of Israel (or, God’s Church, the body of Christ).

Ephesians 4: 9-13

The authority that God has established in the Church, (spiritual Israel), is again created to protect, nourish and lead by example. Notice the scriptures are saying that those in leadership have been put there to build and unify the Church. In other words, to nourish. If you read on in v. 14, it talks about this leadership being instrumental in protecting God’s people from those who would try and take the truth from their hearts. Furthermore, in other scriptures, it condemns leaders who do not lead by example. Remember what Christ said to the Pharisees and Saducees about their conduct witnessed by the people.

As further evidence that God’s leaders must lead by example and in turn be obeyed, let’s look at – Hebrews 13: 7, 17.

Part of the protective aspect of Godly Authority is one of discipline. Discipline carried out in love is meant to protect us from the outcomes of sin.

2 Corinthians 12:20 – end and 2 Cor. 13: 1-2

This was obviously a heavy burden for Paul who appeared to prefer not to have to discipline the Church. However, he made certain that it was made clear to the people, that he would do what was necessary to protect the spiritual lives of those under his authority.

Now, let’s have a look at the authority God has set up in the family.

Ephesians 5: 22-33 [ed. note - actually start reading at 5:21]

Notice that in the first few scriptures it talks about wives being under their husband’s authority in everything. There is no exception to obedience mentioned here, other than the obvious one, which can be easily found in other scriptures, including those on the 10 commandments. I am speaking of the command to put God first in our lives, before all others. Therefore, if a husband asks his wife to do something that is in direct disobedience to God, she could respectively refuse. Also, remember, that although we are no longer under the law in the New Testament Church, we follow the spiritual principles of the law, as directed by Christ, when he stated that he had not come to do away with the law, but to enhance the law into the realm of the spiritual. If a wife is having particular trouble with the way her husband is using his authority, she has the option to discreetly talk with her pastor, or an older spiritually mature man in the Church. Both of these individuals may be able to encourage her husband to lead in love and consider his families needs. Ultimately, we can always go before the throne of God with our concerns. Remember, God honours a pure and meek spirit.

Also notice that God commands husbands to use their authority in love, manifesting it by sacrificing their desires for the sake of their wives wellbeing, as Christ sacrificed his whole being for the Church. In verse 26 it mentions the ‘word’ being used to cleanse the wife. Husbands, are you using God’s word to promote the spiritual holiness of your wives and children? Are you leading the family spiritually? If your wife refuses to be led, then hand this over to God, after that there is nothing further you need to do. However, God will still judge your efforts in this area and I encourage you to continue doing what you can to nourish your wives and children spiritually. Remember, Godly Authority is driven by love and powered by sacrifice and service.

Speaking of children, what does God say about the authority that is given to parents over their children.

Ephesians 6: 1-4

Please take special note of verse 4, which encourages the father’s authority to be given as a careful balance of training and admonition. In other words if you are forever criticising and berating your child, they will grow to despise themselves (and quite possibly the parent) and only be able to see their mistakes and failures. Instead, encourage them whenever possible by speaking of your love for them and of their worth in Christ. Guide them into doing the right things. When you do need to discipline them, make sure it is done with plenty of consideration and respect for the value and future dreams that God holds for them. Choose the words that you speak over your children wisely, remembering that words can be used as a weapon, or a protective shield of love that acts as a wall between them and the world’s negativity.

Some of the great leaders of Israel began their training for leadership as shepherds (remember David and Moses). This is because shepherds are a fantastic example of leaders who protect, nourish and lead by example. Shepherds were known to fight wild animals to protect the flock, (remember what David said he fought to protect his flock), take the sheep into the best pastures to nourish them and lead the sheep from the front of the flock through the sound of their voice. Sound familiar, remember the scripture that says that the sheep know the sound of their shepherds voice. Referring to God’s people knowing the sound of Christ’s voice in their lives.

Let’s now have a look at what God says to those shepherds who do not lead their flocks with Godly Authority.

Ezekiel 34: 1-10 and v. 23

Notice in verse 23, that David will be a shepherd over spiritual Israel in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Also notice how much passion God has for the role of authority being carried out as He created it to be.

Who is the ultimate shepherd? Christ our Lord.

John 10: 14-18

If you would like to read more about how Jesus feels about His role as our shepherd, read from verse 11-16.

I encourage all those who have been given authority, whether it be authority in the Church over God’s people, a boss over employees, a man over his family, or parents over their children – to exercise this authority in a Godly manner. To sacrifice and serve for the sake of those they are in authority over. So that their leadership can be a blessing, as they protect, nourish and lead by example.

Julie White - Chaplain

"Experiencing Salvation" - an interactive sermon based on Acts 2:37-47

1. Jesus brings Salvation

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit had come upon the first disciples with great effectiveness and power. Then the newly equipped Peter spoke the church’s first sermon, and we read that people “were cut to the heart”. Why so emotional? Well ... they had suddenly made the realisation of their lives!! From this moment their lives would never be the same.

Some of these may have previously cried out “crucify him” when Pilate had produced Jesus to the crowd some 53 days earlier, and now were feeling very complicit in the crucifixion of not only an innocent man, but also the Son of God. To live at a time of great injustice, while doing nothing about it, can raise much guilt in a person. They may have been there that day some years earlier when Jesus was rejected in his own home town of Nazareth.

Peter, in his Pentecost sermon, had spoken about how Jesus of Nazareth was actually sent by God to usher in a new kingdom rule. At the one and the same time, Jesus’ death was both an injustice to be regretted, and the perfect gift from God to bring about salvation. Jesus died because of these people, but Jesus also died for these same people! This man who they had put on the cross was offering them both forgiveness and a new start. And the resurrected Jesus had made the way clear for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Here was salvation – Jesus was indeed the answer to the whole world’s problems – so people “were cut to the heart”. Some no doubt through guilt, for reasons just expressed, but others maybe through joy – for their life was such that they needed a new start, something hopeful ... someone they could absolutely trust in and never be disappointed. Here was Jesus – so interested in their welfare, that he did not shrink from going to the cross to bring them freedom.

Now we know that some people can be emotionally moved at some tragic event or major news story, but then quickly change the channel to something more trivial and less disturbing. And we know that in reality, some people would have walked away from Peter’s sermon that day unchanged. But that there was a really serious and sincere response is shown by the question that was asked: “Brothers, what should we do”? The proof that something is important to someone is seen in the action they are willing to take.

These people might have rejected Jesus in the past, or they might had stood by apathetically, but now they see the truth, and want to know what they needed to do. And they realised that just believing in an intellectual sense was not enough ... they needed to respond in some active way. They had become aware of the void in their lives and the bankruptcy of many of their actions, and were now willing to respond to this good news about God’s forgiveness.

2. Repentance, Baptism, Forgiveness & the Holy Spirit

The answer they received was to “repent”, and “be baptised” – so that their sins would be forgiven; and after this happened, just like happened for the original followers of Jesus at Pentecost, they would receive the Holy Spirit. Salvation is about the redeeming forgiveness of sin and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit within a life.

The first required response was to “repent”, which means to admit that you have acted wrongly and been on the wrong path, and commit to a new life orientation ... which basically centres on following in the Jesus way. This is not just mental agreement to wrongdoing or simple remorse. To “repent” is to have a change of mind, do an about face, and head in a new direction. This is a change of heart that leads to a new brand of decision-making and behaviour. To “repent” is to actively step away from that “corrupt generation” (mentioned in verse 40) and start living for God’s kingdom.

Why do we need salvation many will ask!?! It’s because once a person’s conscience is activated concerning their behaviour, there will be conscious or sub-conscious feelings of regret, guilt and shame. Without these feelings being lifted, they will accumulate into a very destructive and burdensome package. We can try to better ourselves and make up for our mistakes, but ultimately, we need the power of our transgressions lifted from us; and this is exactly what Jesus has done for us (through God’s grace).

It is God’s offer and our acceptance of forgiveness that starts the process of salvation. How else will we escape the slippery slope of soured conscience and shame that heads to corruption and darkness!! Where else have we to go than to Jesus? As Paul put it in his letter to the Romans (6:23) – “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”. Salvation is God’s ‘search and rescue’ mission! Salvation brings the freedom from spiritual oppression and mundane lives that so many are searching for (and so little are finding).

John the Baptist had been the forerunner of such a call for “repentance”, taking people out into the Jordan river to be baptised. And so it was very natural for people once they “repented” like this, to understand that they should be “baptised” to publicly show that they had truly repented and been forgiven. Now with Jesus’ resurrection in view, and being baptised “in the name of Jesus Christ” (v. 38), baptism will clearly signify that a person has died to their sin and risen to new life. “Repentance” and forgiveness will be a continuing dynamic through this person’s life as needed.

In later times there has often been much more time taken between “repentance” (or we might say ‘conversion’) and actually being baptised. This is usually for the purposes of further instruction, or to make sure that this ‘change of mind’ is going to be permanent. But we should not get too far away from the point that baptism is the biblical symbol that designates a follower of Jesus. To be baptised “in the name of Jesus” signifies that this person now puts the Kingdom of God first and takes up their Holy Spirit inspired role in the church.

The forerunner, John the Baptist, preparing the way for the coming of Jesus, said, “I baptise you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming ... He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (Luke 3:16). And so it is, that this mindset for change and public witness to this life transformation leads to ultimate forgiveness and an experience of the Holy Spirit firing up our lives.

What are the two conditions on which we receive forgiveness??

(a) We should see in verse 38 that forgiveness does depend upon truly wanting to change, and taking the actions that lead to change and prove that change is taking place (baptism being seen as part of this process).
(b) If we read the “Lord’s Prayer” again in Matthew chapter 6, we will also remember that our forgiveness also depends upon our willingness to forgive others (following Jesus’ example). These conditions on our forgiveness actually coincide, because the one committed to change, will also be committed to seeing other people in new more transformative ways.

3. A Gift for Everyone

Now this salvation is an offer to everyone, for God continues to reach out in his love to all humanity ... everyone can experience salvation by coming to Jesus. And I want everyone here to truly experience salvation; and everyone out there to experience salvation as well.

As we have already mentioned, once Peter had established that this ‘salvation’ (and the promise of the Holy Spirit) was available to everyone, he implored the listeners to, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation”. The particular “generation” that Peter referred to, was the generation that Jesus had come to personally, and had largely rejected him. They were again being asked to change their allegiance from an old outmoded religious system to a living dynamic movement (based on personal relationship).

For us, we might interpret this as a call to change our allegiance from a faulty and fractured world system to this same living dynamic movement built around Jesus. To remain attached to the world as our primary reference point, causes the further “corruption” of life where people try to live without the God who created them in the first place to have a relationship with Jesus. This then brings all sorts of struggles. Where God is not on the throne, that only leaves self; and where there a large collection of selves fighting for supremacy ... well, we know how that turns out! Yet God continues to mourn for those affected by turmoil, violence and suffering, and remains hopeful that there can be a reconciliation.

Sometimes, we who have accepted the truth and follow Jesus, can just (temporarily) forget about the inheritance of empowerment we have received, and regress a bit, living like we don’t actually know Jesus. We need to quickly recognise this before we are overwhelmed by the negativity this will bring to us or we get entangled in things we can no longer control. Old habits are hard to break ... but we have no excuse not to keep trying (for we have God’s help).

This leads to making two very important points about ‘salvation’:

4. Salvation is not just a one-off event

Salvation is not just a one-off event – it only begins with a one-off decision. Then it requires an openness to growth and fruitfulness and giftedness and ministry and mission. Salvation is a journey from the beginning of a new start on earth, right through to taking up a position in the eternal kingdom. So let’s never see “salvation” as a word on a tick-off list ... done that! ... but rather as a progressive journey towards God. God has got a whole lot more of ‘God’s-own-self’ to give you yet! But are you “cut to the heart” enough to want it?

5. Salvation is not just an inward personal thing

Salvation is also not just an inward personal thing – it is certainly that ... the most poignant and significant of internal dynamics, but it’s not just that. Salvation is also an outward thing, affecting all of our decisions and behaviour. And as well, salvation, if it’s real, should positively affect all our interpersonal relationships and dealings.

Salvation should draw God’s people together, for their own sustaining and strengthening, and for the integrity of their collective witness to the rest of society. Salvation is a journey to be taken with company. As God exists and creates in community (“trinity”), salvation also operates in the context of community.

We read from verses 42 to 47 some of the collective activity of the early church groups. Part of their experience of being saved (from corruption) involved:

(a) Learning together (from those who had acquired understanding of the good news of Jesus)
(b) Mutual care, hospitality, sharing and generosity (social responsibility)
(c) Regular communion, worship and prayer (we commune with God ... Father, Son & Spirit ... as we commune together); and as a result ... as a natural outcome ...
(d) Witnessing (the missionary God creating a missionary church).

6. Now if you had to describe what you read from verses 42 to 47 in one word, what would that word be???

· For me, “togetherness” – together in dialogue we learn better, we discern God’s will more clearly, we have more collective resources to share and give away (including both material things and the various “gifts” of the Spirit), and make a bigger impact (in terms of gaining goodwill). This would be in the face of real differences and difficulties, where diversity and struggle were seen as opportunities through which to build effective unity and purpose.

· It is in being together that answers to prayer can be celebrated and joy can be multiplied; also, those with sorrows can share their discouragement and be supported. Genuine interest can develop in the progress of others, with a growing feeling of responsibility towards the well-being of one another. Jesus followers will want to worship God ... spontaneously, enthusiastically, regularly and corporately with their brothers and sisters in the local church. I hope that I am cheering for God much louder than I am cheering for Carlton!

· It is very unfortunate that some people, because of feelings of disappointment with life and God and God’s people, distance themselves from other church people ... physically, emotionally, or both. This will never help anybody; and many are irretrievably diverted. The Christian life was never going to be plain-sailing for anybody, not in this world – God’s promise concerns his presence with us through the long challenging journey.

· The early Jewish Christians carried on their daily worship and prayers in the temple as per their traditional religious obligations, but also met in each other’s homes, which became house churches, from where they grew the Jesus movement, that eventually cut the ties with the temple due to the new movement’s singular focus on Jesus as the Messiah. It was in this context that the church grew, with “the Lord” adding to “their number those who were being saved”. You’ll note (in verse 46) how often they were meeting together in some form or another ... “Day by day”!

· It is God that brings the increase, but it is God’s people that help create the stir through their everyday activity. And it is us that need to warmly accept and welcome the newcomers in. Wherever there isn’t growth, questions need to be asked as to why not.

"Creating a stir - Pentecost for today" (Acts 2:1-13)

At the conclusion of Luke’s gospel story, Jesus asks his disciples to remain in Jerusalem for their promised gift to come. This would be the gift that “clothed [them] with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This “gift”, when they would experience it, will answer all the disciples’ fears about the time ahead! Yet, given all that had recently happened, with Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter’s denials, Judas’ betrayal, and the real danger of being identified as an associate of Jesus, this may not have been an easy request to follow. Indeed Mark’s gospel story concludes with the disciples and other followers of Jesus dispersing in fear. Yet, there was something about Jesus’ resurrection that really impacted these Jesus people. John’s Gospel has the famous incident where Peter, who in guilt and confusion had returned to his fishing business, was confronted by the resurrected Jesus and was forgiven, and was also restored to his role of ministry.

So, there they all were, in Jerusalem as requested, on this special day, seven weeks following Jesus’ resurrection and ten days following Jesus’ ascension (back to heaven). According to Acts 1:15, there would have been about 120 believers by this time, including the eleven disciples plus the newly elected one Matthias, the various women who had encountered and followed Jesus, Jesus’ mother Mary and his brothers (who had now also come to accept Jesus to be the Son of God). They were there to receive the Holy Spirit!!

I’ll be happy to take any questions on the Holy Spirit at any stage.

What was the purpose of that gift?? You can read about that in both Luke 24:48, and again, as Luke continued his narrative, in Acts 1:8 ... “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”. So there is the purpose statement concerning the Holy Spirit ... to be witnesses to Jesus ... everything about him which could transform lives.

The conclusion of Matthew’s gospel (28:19-20a) has a bit of a results clause that adds to this (often called the ‘great commission’), “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you”. Disciples of course are much more than converts, because they have gone on to exhibiting a day-by-day adherence to their Master; which can be solidified by an obvious public commitment through baptism, and by being dedicated to learning the scriptures in dialogue with others.

The Holy Spirit is part of the diverse yet unified community of God we have come to call the ‘Trinity’. The Holy Spirit was active in the creation of the world, and then was active in guiding God appointed leaders (like Moses) and prophets (like Jeremiah). The Holy Spirit was active in the recording of the stories of people’s encounters with God (that we now have in the scriptures). The Holy Spirit had been connected with significant characters in the gospel story e.g. Mary, Simeon, John the Baptist, and of course Jesus (who himself experienced the ‘descent’ of the Holy Spirit to acknowledge his unique ministry on earth).

But now the Holy Spirit was going to be available to all ‘believers’ – by that I mean, all those who have accepted Jesus as ‘Saviour’ and ‘Lord’ and begun to live their lives in the Jesus way. And as we have seen, the purpose of such an indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the life of a Jesus follower, is to be a witness to Jesus in such a way as that others become disciples, are baptised, and are taught and nurtured. In other words, to create a bit of a stir!

In terms of the diversity of background, culture and language we talked about last week, this was the long awaited way that such broad diversity could find unity in the Kingdom of God. Here, God’s call to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, will find the beginning of its spiritual re-unification. There will be a conjoined voice of praise and service to God, as people reach out to other people in the name of Jesus. And this is what happened as these few disciples became numbered in the thousands, formed house churches, and grew right across the Roman empire despite severe persecution.

William J Larkin Jr. writes: “This multilingual witness coheres with the universal offer of salvation in the church’s message and its consequent worldwide mission”.

Ultimately, in good time, there will be that unified chorus of praise in heaven, everyone well understanding all the various tributes being offered to God, as all diversity is brought into perfect harmony (Revelation 7:9ff). Research done in the 1980’s showed, at that time, the Christian faith was known in over 7000 languages.

In verses 2 to 4 of our text, we read about “heaven” reaching down and touching mightily those gathered in faith. There was a loud noise something like a huge wind event (perhaps like a spinning tornado), and out of this came some form of fiery vision representing the personal presence of God impacting enough to set these disciples’ tongues on fire. Some will know of God’s earlier personal appearance to Moses in the ‘burning bush’. There is the suggestion here of hearts being kindled and minds being inspired. What is really pertinent here, is that three key human senses were affected by this event – the ears (our listening), the eyes (our perception), the mouth (our communication).

Remarkably, as a result, these disciples’ were able to speak in such a way that those who had gathered as a result of all the chaos were able to understand. Our minds are being led to picture the collective disciples [“the entire house” – v.2] being impacted by climatic events which bring remarkable outcomes, which in turn, because of the unusual and dramatic nature of all this, bring many from the wide neighbourhood wondering and questioning. You could imagine all the disciples spilling out of where they were and interacting in the street/s with the crowd that started to press in on them.

According to verse 5, among those who gathered that day as a result of all this drama, were Jewish residents of Jerusalem who had originated from far flung nations and who spoke a variety of native languages (from families of origin that had been dispersed across the Greco-Roman world because of invasions in previous centuries). There were also “proselytes” (referred to in verse 10) who were converts to the religion of the Jews. As this was the time of the annual festival to celebrate the ‘first-fruits’ of the grain harvest held fifty days after Passover, this could have brought many visitors to Jerusalem, increasing the spectators even further.

We read that all these people were “amazed” to hear these simple “Galileans” speaking in a variety of languages that surely would have been unknown to them. These were not the “tongues” requiring specially gifted interpretation if spoken publicly (that we read about in places like 1 Corinthians 12), but rather, the actual known spoken languages of those that had gathered (as a response to all the noise). A stir had been created, then the good news of Jesus was being broadly shared in language that could be easily understood!

Some thought that these “Galileans” talking about God and Jesus were crazy or drunk, and that was probably an understandable response. And some people will always misunderstand, or not get it, or be interferingly resistant. But there will also always be those who are seeking truth and are open to new belief. God and the disciples had certainly caused a stir, and got people talking. There was a collection of bewilderment (v.6), amazement and astonishment (v.7); and people were “amazed and perplexed” (in verse 12). Certainly there was the opportunities for many conversations and much follow-through here. Reading later in Acts 2, thousands became believers that day, following Peter’s inspired sermon.

Negotiating our way through these dramatic happenings toward something that might connect with our experience – these otherwise fearful, timid and somewhat reluctant ordinary human beings, were given the ability to effectively communicate across cultural boundaries, where previously they would not have been able to even contemplate this. Fear was being replaced by faith and courage; confusion was being replaced by spiritual insight.

We have to remember that this “Pentecost” miracle was just as much a miracle of hearing as it was speaking. Thus if God is preparing us through the Holy Spirit for what we are going to say in words and in actions, then God is also preparing the hearers and observers for what they are about to hear and see.

How could we create a stir like that??

Well this “Pentecost” event is the forerunner of all believers in Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit. We don’t have to wait in Jerusalem (or anywhere else) until a certain day arrives – this same “gift” has been available from that day on to all those who take on the name of Jesus. We mightn’t hear such a loud noise, or feel the heat of the flames, or speak in languages we haven’t ever learnt – but we can express joy and thanksgiving, enthusiastically embrace worship and fellowship, and live with freedom and courage. We can develop in our ability to share our faith in ways that connect with where the general person around us is at ... for we hear better, see more clearly, and speak more effectively.

And as we learn from other parts of the New Testament, there are even more facets to this Holy Spirit effectiveness than just the ability to communicate well across cultures. There are a variety of mutually cooperative “Spirit” gifts given to all Jesus followers through which to work together in a common purpose for the common good of the community. And then also, so that we may mature in our personal lives, there is the fruit of the “Spirit” that we can aspire to and attain (refer Galatians 5:22-3). As we review those areas of ‘fruitfulness’, we can see how they might bring a contrast and create at least a little ripple if not a stir ... love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control!

Hopefully the integrity of our lives will convince many that the Jesus following life is worth a further look.

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus has filled his followers with suggestions of his nearness. The thought behind this “gift” is to see the life of Jesus continually re-enacted on earth.

Sometimes though, it might seem like that we don’t have the Holy Spirit in our life at all. But what is more likely the case, is that we are allowing the Holy Spirit’s effectiveness to be blocked or hindered because our focus is off the mark. Each one who has accepted Jesus has been given the Holy Spirit, but sometimes to activate this ‘power’ we have to deal with certain disruptive and distracting elements in our life ... or we might say ‘persistent sins’. And this is where we pray that we might be changed.

But don’t doubt the Holy Spirit’s availability; rather read the scriptures, and pray to discover what is blocking your progress, and take any necessary remedial action with determination. If this doesn’t immediately work, don’t give up, but rather seek the good counsel of a trusted helper. Sometimes this blockage is caused simply by not thinking through something in the right or best way, or through responding to certain pressures in the wrong way.

Jesus said that we would receive “power” when the Holy Spirit comes upon us (Acts 1:8), and quite often we’ll use the word ‘effectiveness’ to explain the word “power” in this context, for the word “power” can conjure up a whole lot of negative emotions for those who been abused by the misuse of power. Yet we should not underestimate the positive brand of “power” made available to us – to tackle the most complex challenges imaginable. The Holy Spirit brings the capacity to be creative in the face of daunting realities ... to create a bit of a stir!

"Diversity is Good" - a prequel to Pentecost (Genesis 11:1-9)

1. God’s Plan for Diversity

In Genesis chapter 10, the descendents of Noah start dispersing around the world. This is in line with God’s creational call to humanity to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen 1:28), a call which was reinforced to Noah following the flood (Gen 9:1). The multiplication of humanity across the earth was God’s unchanged plan before and after the fall. The Bible then centres its attention on God’s relationship with those people groups who came to form Ancient Israel. These people would provide a backdrop for an understanding of God’s love, commitment and care for all humanity, as they were guided by a succession of leaders and prophets beginning with Abraham.

Then, in time, God’s love was epitomised in the life and ministry of Jesus. Eventually, through the leading of God’s Holy Spirit, people from all the dispersed nations and cultures across the earth will be touched by the good news of Jesus and offered a place in the Kingdom of God.

See how easy that all is ... how much sense it all makes!! God creates humankind in a way that they can disperse all over the earth, undoubtedly involving different culture, language and religious forms. People do go astray in all sorts of deviant behaviour and unhelpful belief systems – but ultimately God seeks to deal with the fallen nature of humankind by sending Jesus, so that no-one has to miss out on a relationship with their Creator.

So why is life on earth all so antagonistic, self-seeking and violent? Genesis chapter 11 gives us a clue. People were resistant to God – it seems people are always resistant to God; especially when God’s way doesn’t suit them.

2. Human Resistance

There was a resistance to this spreading out, this dispersal across the earth. The people thought they knew better than God. They thought that if they could stay in their own defined place, build their own idealistic city, with the greatest and largest and most elaborate sky-scraper ever built, while determining their own agenda, and relying on their own abilities, then they would be better off. In a nutshell, they preferred being their own god! They preferred the easy life defined by one culture and one language.

But this is not the way of the God who willingly created us all with very different personalities and looks and interests and abilities and weaknesses. And this is not the way of God who has determined that the most creative way forward for humankind is to find ways of bringing unity of purpose out of such diversity, so that we might fully grow. Uniformity is not unity; true unity is only found in bringing together diversity.

These misguided people, preferring their own agenda to God’s, said, “... let us make a name for ourselves” (Gen 11:4) – wanting to be able to say, “we are the ones who single-handedly built the tallest and best tower in the world ... look at us”. Humankind cannot seek to make their own name great by their own ways and means – really only God’s Name can be deemed great. There may be those who God lifts to that status ... like the promise made to Abraham, “I will make of you a great nation ... and make your name great” (Gen 12:2), but this is because of God’s blessing, not human achievement.

The only name we should want to promote for praise is the Good Name of God, the rest of us are far too fragile to be placed on any pedestal. What danger these people were bringing on themselves and everybody else! Undoubtedly, with the complete rejection of God’s ways involved here, whatever plans they would conjure up and implement would not be in humankind’s interests – far from it (refer 11:6), and would not succeed! These people would think that they were all-powerful, all-knowing and unstoppable, and such absolute power would no doubt absolutely corrupt them. They built a tower to heaven to try to throw God off the throne. Derek Kidner writes that, “The narrative captures the simultaneous absurdity and gravity of it”.

All such plans are completely misguided and ill-conceived. God given boundaries (like happened previously in the ‘Garden of Eden’) are again being crossed. “Our human sin is that we fail to recognise that God is God, and we try, both individually and corporately, to take God’s place ... [this is] an assertion of human autonomy without God; a refusal to live in dependence on the Creator who is the Covenant Lord” (D. Atkinson, p.177-8).

It seems that this city and tower project (in Gen 11) was viewed as the ultimate achievement to show than humankind could live without God and find their salvation from within themselves – and such projects have been repeated over the centuries for the same reason. For, there are already ‘hints’ in this incident, of the negative impacts of political power and technological advances (Atkinson/Westermann). Perhaps then, we should learn, that the only major projects (and political structures) we should attempt are those where God has laid down the blueprints.

3. Diversity is a gift / the Gifts of diversity

This passage in Genesis 11 has sometimes been simply interpreted as God bringing the punishment of scattering because of human pride, but this misses the point (from the context in Genesis) that the scattering of peoples and languages was part of God’s command for the people to be fruitful and fill the earth. This passage is essentially a challenge to any behaviour pattern that resists God’s will. This scattering would always be necessary as God’s preventative approach to the very real threat of human beings getting above themselves and self-destructing (in arrogance), or seeking to dominant others (through their own insecurities). God responds caringly to the threat that this building project posed, seeking the welfare of his people; God has actually bestowed the deliberate gift of diversity as a, “creative step for the enrichment of humanity” (“A Garden of Many Colours”, p.32).

We know that such diversity is good, because of the way Paul embraces this in his first letter to the Corinthians (chapter 12 verse 7). Here Paul talks about the diverse gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit being brought together in unity for the common good (of all humanity). Then Paul uses the example of the human body and all its different component parts being brought together to make a complete whole. Without each component part having a specific role and purpose, then there wouldn’t be any sort of functioning collective whole. If everyone was the same, then there would be no medium for everything to fit together in a complimentary way. See how God has always known best! Like with a car, when things don’t work out as they should, it’s always one or more of the components that are at fault, not the idea of the car itself.

4. Being Peacemakers

So the dynamics of God’s creativity are perfect, it’s just that human freewill has played havoc with it. The major area of disruption in the world, is individual people and whole people groups failing to get on with one another. Instead of difference being embraced and celebrated, again and again it has been resisted and rejected. Dominant cultures have sought to undermine and destroy minority cultures. Certain splinter groups have terrorised citizens, all in an attempt to gain power and control. Nations defend their right to avenge themselves. Some have tried to take actions like these in the name of religion, when actually all violence can only be regarded as demonic. When we put aside all so-called ‘worldly wisdom’ and bring ourselves back to Jesus, we can only say this, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

5. Welcoming Others (Romans 15:7)

Paul writes, in his letter to the Romans, the sweeping and radical statement, “accept one another” or “welcome one another”. Romans 15:7 says, “Welcome one another ... just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God”. Because of the grace we have already received, we should be well and truly prepared to ensure that such ‘grace’ is accessible to all those who need to hear the gospel message. We can’t pick and choose who we welcome or accept, because the context of this verse in Romans, is our responsibility to put ourselves out for the sake of the needy neighbour, and not to be put off by any of their more undesirable traits.

There are at least two areas in which we can fulfil this idea of “welcoming” or “accepting” one another. The first is to “accept” one another’s faults, because we all have human fallibilities. The second is to “accept” one another’s differences. There are different backgrounds (both national and economic), different cultures, and certainly different life orientations, belief systems and behaviour patterns. We don’t have to like the way some of this difference plays out, and certainly we have to critique and legally control some behaviours. But this very attitude sometimes blocks our way to embracing diversity; a diversity first generated by God.

The next stage of accepting one another’s differences is to be able to celebrate such difference (as being of God’s creation) and then find ways of drawing people of difference together in human and spiritual community. To learn to accept each others' faults and to choose to celebrate each others' differences are two of the most important aspects in the Jesus following life. In this way we can show to our community and the world that embracing God does make a positive difference. Through embracing diversity, and loving people as they are (despite how different they are to us), we will be much more credible sources of light and hope.

Certainly when Paul said, “accept one another”, he was first thinking of the Christian community’s inner workings, and their need, if ever they were going to make a positive difference in their society, to “accept” one another’s shortcomings, idiosyncrasies and personality differences. But then of course, this self-same attitude, needed to be expressed to neighbours and family and other contacts through life, if such as these were going to be encouraged to accept Jesus into their life and adopt the Jesus way of living. But at the same time, the Jesus following community would always have to stand against evil and abuse and violence (in all its forms).

6. Living in the Light

But having said this, we can’t let the prevalence of darkness around us, make us miss a hurting person just trying to find their way. We all would want to find ways of breaking the pattern of violence of certain misguided young people lashing out against vulnerable others. Yet we can never agree with a policy that utilises the word “retribution” in all its current vengeful overtones, for, like it or not, this is not consistent with the gospel. All legal measures taken against those guilty of crimes must have an element of rehabilitation and an opportunity of repentance, or it ceases to be human and ceases to be Godly. Let’s not let our frustration and fear give way to vengefulness (Romans 12:17).

7. The Challenge of Post-Christendom

Now there are those in our society who are becoming very vocal in their opposition to Christian influence in places like schools and in the political process. Now we can regret this – not so much because it makes our life harder, but more so because children and families may miss out on some of the God honouring values that have served our society so well. And so we can pray for continuing opportunities to share the love of God in public forums ... and we shall pray for this, and we shall go on praying for this. But the time has gone for the church to have an easy ride. If we are going to make a difference we will now have to stand against the tide, not bemoaning that the past has gone, but rather living out credible caring creative lives ourselves.

This is the very situation the early disciples, then the fledgling house churches, and then the growing Jesus movement faced. And under decades of persecution, the church grew remarkably and strongly and widely. They gained their credibility, and earned their influence, for not just looking after each other, but by looking after those in the community that had been left behind and were lost on the margins on society.

Yet from the 4th Century, when Christianity became the recognised state church around parts of Europe and Asia, it soon became difficult to recognise the true believers from the hangers on. Children were just baptised into the church as a normal everyday routine cultural rite, in some cases just on the basis of some sort of token acknowledgement of God’s existence, and from that day were regarded as Christian. How close to the gospel message do you think that is? I’m not unhappy with the death of that style of Christendom.

It might just be that the death of cultural or nominal Christianity ... by that I mean people who claim to be Christian just because they were born in a certain place but don’t actually put any of its key teachings into practice ... means that the real Jesus followers will rise up, the ones who are thoroughly committed to the Jesus cause will emerge, and the presentation of the true gospel message will be stronger and more convincing. When the gospel of Jesus is shared effectively in cohesion with caring acts of social justice and reconciliation, people will take notice – for these are the ones who will have the blessing and the empowerment of God. These are the ones who have the true prophetic voice of God’s kingdom, as against those more convenient and rebellious “Tower of Babel” type deceptions.

8. Looking Forward (Acts 2)

It will be on the Day of Pentecost that people gathered in Jerusalem from various nations will remarkably hear others speaking about God in language that they can fully understand. Many from far afield respond and are added to the band of believers. This shows that the Gospel of Jesus can break through all cultural boundaries, and that people with very diverse backgrounds can join together in the Jesus movement.

So diversity begins and completes itself with the God who creatively operates in that diverse “Trinity” of Father, Son, & Spirit – of Loving Creative Parent, Living Redeeming Lord, & Giving Guiding Spirit – where these particular roles are brought together in perfect unity for the benefit of all humanity and all creation. Amen!