It’s time to get our “Act” together -I
Let me begin with the equivalent of a Democrat Presidential candidate giving a thumbs up to his Republican counterpart and vice versa!!! Boy, this would jolt even the sound sleepers from sleep. Have you caught up with what’s buzzing in the media now a days or to be more precise what’s buzzing in the Indian car market. A media report says that the Nano car bookings (now it’s ultra-competitive price of just Rs1.00 lakh is sensational by all accounts) have crossed the 2 lakh mark, what with its manufacturers-Tata motors- already netting 500 million dollars account bookings. The bookings are still bound to go up courtesy the burgeoning number of eager prospective car owners hopelessly hooked to its price tag. Is Nano car the best thing to happen to the middle-income group? Difficult to say NO really, considering that car ownership adds to one’s standard of living besides augmenting the feel-good factor all around, principally in a nation’s economy.
With nervous competition looking over its shoulder, predictably Tata motors (whose stakes are very high in this venture) is leaving no stone unturned going for flashy full-page ads in the print media highlighting the features of its “wonder car”. Now let’s “change tracks” and “motor down the road” of yet another related subject… “Product-advertisement”. Again quite predictably, as every manufacturer is expected to blow his trumpet about his own product, Tata motors raving about its own Nano is not a strange phenomenon at all. But consider hypothetically the occurrence of the most unlikely phenomenon…Maruthi Suzuki the chief competitor of Tata Motors unwittingly paying a compliment (to its business rival) such as “ Oh Nano has turned the World of Car market UPSIDE DOWN”. If it really does, everyone would sit-up and take notice and most importantly Nano’s stock would further soar-up, as receiving an endorsement from the most unlikely source… its arch rival is the BIGGEST ADVERTISEMENT any player in a market, can hope to get. For this to happen (getting such a lofty compliment from a competitor wittingly or unwittingly) it goes without saying, Nano ought to have caused an earthquake measuring at least 8 in the Richter scale of the Car Industry!
Now lets switch tracks hitting the “spiritual road”, as it were, and “zoom” back in time to 1st century AD and what do we see? The early Christians are getting the highest compliment ever paid “ These men have turned THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN” (Acts 17:6-KJV) not from its friends or well-wishers but from its MOST BITTER ENEMIES. Oh boy, oh boy, what a compliment, which is not so much inked as engraved in World history! Now consider the fact that disciples were not “selling” Gospel of down-to-earth, cheap, Nano-like price but one which required shelling out a “high price” of “cross-bearing” (suffering and even martyrdom -Luke 9:23/Acts 14:22) albeit with Holy Spirit empowerment (John 15:5-6) and the magnitude of their achievement would loom large before our eyes like a towering landscape. Add to this fact the point that disciples were not from the well-educated, higher, spiritual echelons of society boasting of impressive, lengthy CVs’ and the truth that God delights in showing His strength through weak folk (II Cor 12:9) blares out loud and clear. With Pentecost Sunday around the corner, let’s focus on a paramount subject. With the ever-present God’s power NOW available to them WHAT DID the early Church (both its leaders and laity) DO to tick despite odds stacked against it so much so, its most bitter enemies unwittingly paid it the highest compliment of having turned the World topsy-turvy (honestly the Early Church turned the world of its time which was upside down spiritually, right side-up)? The answer is as profound as it is simple. Even as they were empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit (the upper room ethereal experience was the turning point – Acts 2:1-4) we see them, most importantly in the Book of Acts, GETTING THEIR ACT TOGETHER. Not only they had clear-cut priorities but they also went about it in right earnest (oh, how many have fallen in recent times despite being given various gifts). In this Sermon – a two-part series- let’s firstly focus on
a) Priorities that defined the Ministry of the Early Church leadership and then
b) What constituted building blocks for success of the laity in their victorious Christian living.
Firstly the Leadership…
Capture:
Were not disciples called to be “Fishers of men” (Matt 4:19), their mission further fuelled by the Great commission (Matt 28:16-20)? Now the Peter and co. in their “spiritual capture business” were unlike normal fishermen. If the professional fishermen of the worldly realm in order to make a living, spread their nets to capture and kill the fish eventually to fry them in the hot oven, then the spiritual fishermen of the First century in stark contrast even gave-up their lives in the process of “fishing” in order their “captured fish” ended up in cool heaven.
When the heart is set on a right goal, would not the good Lord give all the strength and support that is required? Consider even the time of Holy Spirit outpouring (have we ever praised God for his perfect sense of timing – Gal 4:4- He does everything at the RIGHT TIME) on the disciples. The Lord “baptized” them with fire not a day before or after the Pentecostal day but only on the Pentecostal day -the day “plenty of live fish” would be available in Jerusalem (mind you, only on the day of important Jewish festival of Pentecost would the Jews from all over the world flock the temple in Jerusalem). How powerful was the Holy Spirit baptism that day! When Peter completed his soul-stirring sermon, he did not even give an altar call, for people “cut to their heart” by his message came of their own accord asking, “What shall we do” (Acts 2:37). That epoch –making moment frozen in history, set the tone for the rapid growth of the Church, for from then on, it grew not in mere arithmetic progression but in geometric sequence (Acts 2:41,47, 4:4, 9:31-Boy, even the relevant references’ seem to have almost a Geometric progression about them)!
Now let’s dig deep into this subject of the “capturing” of 3000 souls (Acts 2:41) on that momentous day we can christen as the “Birthday of the Church or the Birthday of the Bride (Church is the bride of the Bridegroom Christ-Eph 5:22-33). The crowd that listened to Peter’s message comprised of godly and devout Jews, as this Scripture portion so clearly states.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.-Acts 2:5
Men who were willing to expend their time, money, energy and other resources to travel from 15 countries to be at Jerusalem in obedience to the Law (Deu 16:16). Now they were no run of the mill, ordinary sinners but the Holy Spirit who convicts people of their sins (John 16:8) using Peter’s message brought them virtually onto their knees. How Is the key question???!!!
Here we have to understand the difference between the Covenant the Lord has with the Christians and the Jews (those who listened to Peter’s message before becoming Christians were Jews). In the New Testament dispensation with the Gospel, spreading to the ends of Planet Earth the Lord has a covenant with Local Churches (if the Church has thousands of people, then the Covenant is with an individual) and the Local Church becomes accountable to the Lord in all matters. For instance for the sin of incest in the Church at Corinth (I Cor 5), the Lord does not take the Church at say Thessalonica to task. For that matter, do not we see our Lord reviewing the “spirituality” of each of the 7 Churches in 2nd and 3rd Chapters of the Book of Revelation without calling to account say a Church at Pergamum for the sins seen in the Church at say Sardis (Rev 2,3)? But in OT Dispensation, the Covenant was with the Nation of Israel (a small nation at that with a stretch of less than 250 kms from the Northern end of Dan to the Southern end of Beersheba-1 Sam 3:20, 2 Sam 3:10), as this Scripture portion so clearly states…
For I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that our fathers were ALL under the cloud and ALL passed through the sea; and ALL were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and ALL ate the same spiritual food; and ALL drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.-1 Cor 10:1-4
Look at the number of times the word ALL is used to describe the Nation of Israel (5 to be precise in the 4 verses). It was with ALL of them (read the whole Nation of Israel) that our Heavenly Father entered into a Covenant at Mount Sinai (50 days after their liberation from the Egyptian Slavery- the word Pentecost derives its origin from Penta 5*10). So throughout their History, our Heavenly Father would call this Small Nation (all it’s citizens) to account even if there is a sin at individual level, as this Scripture portion clearly attests (to this truth)…
Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the LORD? He was not the only one who died because of his sin.”’”-Joshua 22:20 NLV (also read Joshua 7:1,10, where we can the Lord’s displeasure expressed at National level and not at individual level)
Let’s also look at the panic reaction of an individually righteous Ezra when he heard about the sin of other Israelites (to substantiate this fact about the National Covenant in existence between the Almighty and the Nation of Israel). Let the Scripture take over…
Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites. “For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands; indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.” When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled-Ezra 9:1-3
The question to be posed here is did Ezra as an individual compromise on purity matters? NO!!! But there is a deep sense of contrition in him because the Biblical Scholar that Ezra was (Hey, he was a Scribe who knew the scriptural onions right-Ezra 7:6,10) was aware of the National Covenant his Nation had with the Almighty and implications of the same. Well-grounded in Scriptural history, he feared that the Divine wrath would come over the whole Nation. Only the subsequent, sincere national repentance seen in the subsequent verses/chapter (Ezra 9:4-15, 10) averted the same.
Now coming back to the subject of the repentance of Godly Jews (who were aware of the National Covenant with the Almighty) on the Day of Pentecost. When the piercing truth of Peter’s message that Jews (may not be this godly lot) had rejected and killed the Messiah registered in their minds and hearts
Let ALL the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him
both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom YOU CRUCIFIED- Acts 2:36
No wonder, they were cut to their heart and this question (virtually seeking God’s mercy) emerged subsequently and immediately from the depths of their spirit
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the
rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”-Acts 2:37
Talk of heart alteration, without even an altar call!!!
Of course, it all had to happen on the day of the festival of Pentecost, because observance of Jewish Festivals was Divinely-mandated in the Scripture to portray the sequence of historical events of Christendom (Colossians 2:17). Just as the Almighty descended as fire upon Mount Sinai on the day of Pentecost, to give the Law to the redeemed Jews (Exodus 19:18), He was bound to descend as fire upon the "Mount Sinai" (The Upper Room) of NT dispensation to give birth to the Church and establish a covenant relationship with it.
Pentecost was also observed by the Jews to commemorate the "good harvest" after the "first rains" (there would always be two rains in the Land of Milk and honey-Numbers 28:26). SUBSEQUENT TO THE "FIRST RAINS" OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, PRAISE GOD, THERE WAS A WONDERFUL "FIRST HARVEST" OF 3000 SOULS!!! HALLELUJAH!!!
(for more on Jewish festivals and their relevance to Christians, you may browse my material by clicking on the following URL...http://www.jandsmministries.com/abt_jew.asp)
To arrive at a 360 degree perspective on the Jewish response to the Gospel, it has to be noted here that those Jews who did not respond positively to Apostolic preaching on the Day of Pentecost and thereafter had to face national devastation as Divine comeuppance came upon them in 70 AD by way of Roman Invasion very much in line with the Apostolic warnings (Acts 2:40, 3:22-23). However those Jews who had become Christians did not perish at that time as they left Jerusalem on seeing the warning signs obeying the Master’s words in Matt 24:15-18.
Let’s conclude this subject of Jews becoming Christians on a positive note. Good News with Capital G is after the imminent Church Rapture with the onset of Seven year Tribulation period, at the end of the same with the Antichrist persecuting them severely and gathering of his huge army at Armageddon to crush the Jews in Jerusalem there would be NATIONAL repentance (as a Nation, they had rejected the Messiah 2000 years back but now as a Nation they would accept Him soon) as these Scripture portion affirm
On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn.-Zech 12”8-10
And in this way ALL ISRAEL will be saved, as it is written,
“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;“and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.”-Rom 11:26-27
Nurture:
The Early Church leaders’ were well aware of the fact that at “capture”, their work only began. Spiritual transformation of an individual is very much akin to physical birth. A babe once born, needs to be nurtured. Hence, we see the apostles in line with their call (John 21:15-17) diligently going about nurturing the new Christians (Acts 2:42) strengthening them in the Word of God of NT Dispensation learnt directly from their three and half years of association with the Saviour. Hey, these new 3000 souls were well-versed in OT Scriptures but what they did not know was the teaching of our Saviour pertaining to NT (for instance exposure to the teaching on the Heavenly investment -nowhere to be found in OT- in Matthew 6:19, made them very generous towards the poorer brethren amongst them-Acts 2:44-45).
At this point, three cardinal differences between the Apostles and the 3000 needs to be known which would make us discern as to which Group we in 21st Century would belong… the Apostles or the 3000!!! No doubting the fact that we belong to the 3000 Group. How and why? Read on…
a) While the Apostles had the Word of Christ with them, till the Day of Pentecost they did not have the Holy Spirit indwelling them in full measure whereas the 3000 had a measure of the Holy Spirit indwelling them from day one of their Christian lives but no knowledge of the Word pertaining to NT Dispensation, at the beginning of their Christian journey. Many of us like the 3000 would start understanding The Bible in the true sense only after our regenerative Born again experience with the Holy Spirit leading us into all truth (John 16:13).
b) While the Apostles great testimony would be that they have heard, seen and touched Christ (basis of their faith-1 John 1:1), the testimony of the 3000 would be greater in that they acquired faith on hearing the Redemptive Gospel alone (Rom 10:17,John 20:29). Hey, we see Peter himself appreciating some of the 3000 who had come to Jerusalem from Pontus, Cappadocia, Ausia (Acts 2:9) and had consequently gone back to their towns post the persecution of Acts 8:1-4 and established Churches therein (1 Peter 1:1) with these words of commendation…
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy- 1 Peter 1:8
c) While to the Apostles would belong the unsurpassable privilege of being the foundation of the Church, to us of the 3000 group would belong a commendable privilege of being “building blocks of the building” which the Church is, with our Lord Himself being it's cornerstone (Eph 2:20-22).
Coming back to the point of Nurture, the leaders of the present generation with the full revealed Word of God from Genesis to Revelation doubtless have a greater responsibility (Luke 12:48) of nurturing the new believers.
Going back to the subject of nurture in the Biblical times....hampered by physical constraints (they couldn’t be at all places at all times) we also see the Apostles appointing overseers (read Pastors) in the Churches, they had established, in order the nurture process goes on unabated, even in their absence (Acts 14:23).
Correspondingly, nurture was on by way of “Distant teaching method” also courtesy the Epistles, through which amongst other instructions, there was always a constant call from the leadership for the laity to grow spiritually (2 Cor 3:11 TLB/Hebrews 5:12-14/1 Peter 2:2-3, II Peter 1:5-9). The Apostles aimed at their flock becoming thriving Christians useful in the hands of the Lord rather than being merely surviving Christians, the genre of which there is no shortage in modern times.
The Church representing the body of Christ (a group of believers) met mostly in homes (Romans 16:23, Philemon 1:2) which besides guaranteeing close and warm fellowship ensured that they shared their problems and burdens cheerfully. While hoping for a return to the era of house churches may be an idealistic pipedream in an age of mega-churches where the Shepherd (read pastor) may not have personal rapport with his flock, all is not lost yet! Within the Church, development of smaller fellowships on geographical basis needs to be encouraged, with the main pastor down-delegating some of his authority to the trained leadership under him to lead these fellowships. This is where, true nurture would occur! Pastors of mega churches, brothers are you listening?
Suture:
This was a socio-spiritual activity perfected by leaders such as Dorcas of Joppa (Acts 9:36-41) who would take care of the poor and needy, “suturing” up their emotional wounds (of being left alone to fend for themselves in this cruel world) besides sewing clothes for them (the needle factor is common)! Paul also exhorts the Church leadership in the matter of taking care of old, helpless widows (1 Tim 5:5). Nothing quite like communicating the Gospel through Christ-like agape love! Brother, tell me when were your Church funds last diverted for this purpose? Remember a certain Mother Teresa…
Do not the Christian hospitals and schools in our country stand as a silent testimony to the untiring efforts of our forefathers in “suturing up” the “wounds” of our society (caused by the evil caste-system) on the medical and educational front? Needless to say, the Church’s social efforts (to be done with pure agape love) at any point of time shouldn’t compete with its main spiritual goals but only complement them.
Rapture:
In all, there are only three doctrines in Christianity. The doctrine of Justification (where a sinner welcomes the Saviour into his life), the one of Sanctification (where the saved sinner starts growing into Christ-likeness) and Glorification (when Christ would come to take believers home coinciding with the rapture moment).
Weaving together these three foundational doctrines into the tapestry of a one-liner, it has been remarked, that “if Justification makes us light, Sanctification bright, then that of Glorification should make us sprite.” How true! But is imminent rapture (in addition to so many epidemics like Anthrax, Sars, Chikungunya, Bird flu…now Swine Flu has also burst on the World scene- fulfillment of end-time prophecy amongst others in Matt 24:7 KJV) really making us sprite meaning vivacious or passionate or we still in the cozy cocoons of passivity borne out of earthly near-sightedness?
The word Sprite, also the brand name of a popular Indian soft drink brings to our mind the catchy slogan (its manufacturer’s use) that has caught the fancy of many a trendy youngster “ Seedhi baat, no bakwas” (meaning plain speaking, with no beating about the bush business).
The Early Church leadership concentrated as much on the doctrine of Glorification (Church rapture – I Cor 15:51-52/I Thess 4:15-18) as they did on the other 2 doctrines of Justification and Sanctification, so much so that the Early Christians greeted one another with the words “MARANATHA” (I Cor 16:22) meaning “Come soon, Lord Jesus”! For all practical purposes, the “sprightly” Early Church was heralding… “Seedhi baat, no bakwas….JESUS IS COMING BACK” Time, the salutation “MARANATHA” returned to the Church fold?
Coming back to Early Church leadership, oh what a challenge it presents to the contemporary leadership. It has been said jocularly that Christian leaders of the modern era spend ALL the time in Church functions involving hatching (birthdays), matching (marriage) and dispatching (funeral) activities important as they are, at a time they should be canalizing all their resources in more important Capture, Nurture, Suture and (teaching) Rapture business.
What about us the leaders of the present generation? Honest introspection on this matter would do no harm to the cause of Christ.
MARANATHA!
Suresh Manoharan
www.jandsmministries.com
