Christian Hope: New Heavens and Earth

26 July 2009
SPEAKER: Dr Tan Kang San


What is heaven? A place we go to after we die? Are Christians wrong in our thinking about heaven? In his book,"Surprised by Hope", N.T. Wright wrote that the Bible does not talk so much about going to heaven as the coming down of heaven to earth.

In the Gospel of Matthew, the phrase 'kingdom of heaven' is equivalent to 'kingdom of God' used by the other three Gospel writers, and indicates a situation when God reigns, not a territory. Luke 10:25, the phrase 'eternal life' also has to do with 'kingdom of God'. Jesus Himself talked about the kingdom of God being 'at hand' or 'near'.

Some say we are living in the 'in-between' times, between the already and the yet to come.

Peter wrote about "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4) and Paul said that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20). During Roman times, the idea of Roman citizenship meant that wherever a Roman citizen was, Rome would come to protect him from his enemies.

In Romans 8, Paul wrote that "the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time," and that we "who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies". We, the church, are God's means to prepare for a new creation, hidden inside, unseen, like the presence of the Holy Spirit who also groans with the world and with the church: "the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express".

In 2 Kings 6, the story of Elisha and his servant is told:

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. "Oh, my lord, what shall we do?" the servant asked.

16 "Don't be afraid," the prophet answered. "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The heavenly reality all around us is hidden from the eyes of most of us, like the servant. The fact is that heaven has come and is near, God is not far removed in His heaven, as in the teaching of Deism.

Thus for us, our Christian hope is not an individual thing, but an integrated view of future hope for the world, for the healing of creation, and for the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth.

Second, our view of mission is an integration of creation and heaven, the practising of heavenly values here on earth. Thus we pray and work for political justice and care about issues of poverty, environmental pollution and all social concerns, to build a world order in line with God's reality.

Our view of God: He is not just out there, but He is a good God who is actively involved in our world today.

This is our Christian hope, a hope that is both future and present, a hope for ourselves and for the whole world.

Servanthood

19 July 2009
SPEAKER: Chris Teoh
TEXT: John 13:1-17

Two days before His crucifixion, just before starting to eat His last Passover meal with the 12 disciples, Jesus "now showed them the full extent of his love", and He did this by getting up from the meal, and beginning to wash His disciples' feet one after another. The disciples must have been stunned into silence by this unexpected and startling act of servanthood and lowliness by One whom they called "Teacher" and "Lord". It was only Peter when it came to his turn who found voice to ask, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" and object, "No...you shall never wash my feet."

Then, "(w)hen he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."

Jesus could do this lowly act of a servant to His disciples because He was secure in His relationship with His Father: He knew the Father's love for Him and He knew who He was, and as such He was able to love all His disciples, even the one who was going to betray Him. "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal..."

If we are to follow Jesus' example,to serve others in humility, we need to have that same strong relationship with our Father God and to be secure and confident in His love and wisdom.

Jesus "took off his outer clothing" in order to bend down to wash the feet of His disciples: it is a picture of Jesus stripping of Himself and laying aside His royal garments and rights to become a man and a servant even to die a criminal's death. As Paul put it in Philippians 2:

Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!


We too need to strip ourselves, putting aside our rights and wants, to die to self, in order to serve and bear fruit in our lives, for as Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." John 12:24

"The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus." Jesus knew this, and yet He also washed Judas' feet. It is hard to serve those whom we know will hurt and betray us, but Jesus could do it because He is not only truth but grace: as John testified, "We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." John 1:14

After Judas left the room to betray Him, Jesus said to the remaining disciples:

"Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:31-35

So we need to be light, be salt and be the aroma, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 2:14-16,

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task?"

As someone wise put it, we need to preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary use words. Too often, we use a lot of words, and don't preach Christ at all!

So let us preach the Gospel and glorify God by our acts of service to others done in love and humility and grace.

Building Bridges

MESSAGE: Building Bridges
TEXT: Matthew 4:17-25
SPEAKER: Ps Barnabas Boon

Hope EFC is a church with a myriad of ministries. There are Burmese migrants among us and we have a thriving ministry among them. There is also ministry to the Orang Asli where much developmental work has been carried out through Pastor Chong Keng Sen. In all these ministries, we need to know how to build bridges so that we can strengthen relationships and when the time is right, to invite them to know who Jesus is

.

Building bridges for us is guided by three vital concepts.

First is the importance of location. We need to understand that God has placed us where we are. In Matthew 4:19, 21 and 23, we read of Jesus going on from where he was to another place to preach and to teach. The Lord went out of his comfort zone to reach the least, the last and the lost. Jesus took the gospel to people rather than wait for them. We are always waiting for people to come to church. Although this is not wrong, the right approach is that the church must go to where the people are. When we are with the people we will be able to grab opportunities to share the gospel. We need to ask our selves the question. Have we shared the gospel lately? If not, why? Are we keeping to our Christian friends only and not breaking out to meet others. Are we just occupying areas where we are comfortable? In the great Commission, Jesus rightly pointed out to his disciples that they must “go”. The word "go" here is a command and is in the tense which has a finality about it. You are not to turn back. The act of going and sharing the gospel is a command and if we turn back or rescind the command then we are disobedient.

The second concept important to bridge building is relationship building. Bridge building involves building relationships. Matthew 4:18 and 21 shows us that when the Lord called his disciples to himself, relationships played an important part. Andrew’s brother was Simon and the father of John was Zebedee. The spread of the gospel from the earliest days followed relational lines. An examination of the relationships between the disciples and in the family trees of Jesus and others like Simon and Cyrene all showed the gospel spreading through relationships in the family or through friendship clusters. We need to remember that as it was in those days so it will be in ours that the gospel will spread through relationships. Hence it is imperative for us to build relationships and to follow relational lines as we share the gospel.

On a practical level, there are five basic steps when we build relationships. These are first, we must be helpful. Doing a kindness is a good basis for a relationship to begin. Second, learn the art of conversation. Make the mundane interesting by indulging in creative chit chats. Third, listen patiently. When friends share their life issues with us, let us show genuine interest in what they are saying to us. Fourth, be ready to share a Christian perspective when asked. Learn to engage with the world through Christian values and always be ready to share that perspective. And finally, at an opportune time, share the gospel. Discipleship is not about the transmission of skills and information alone, but it is about deep, strong and lasting relationships. Gospel sharing is not just about sharing the gospel elements but it is sharing your life and making friends because you want to be friends and to love them for who they are. You make a friend not just to share the gospel but because you are interested in him or her.

The third important concept is the vital invitation for people to cross over the bridges we have built. In Matthew 4:17, 23 and 24, we have the sense of urgency in the preaching of Jesus as well as his personal touch of healing and love in the midst of his preaching the Kingdom of God. We invite people to trust in Jesus because he has the words of life. He came and died for us so as to remove the hindrance of sin that separates us from God. He has come to free us from the bondage of sin and from the wiles of the evil one. It is therefore imperative on our part to invite people to come to him, to hear him and then to accept him as Lord and Saviour.

In conclusion we must go to people, and to get out of our comfort zone if we are to share the gospel widely. We need also to strive to build long lasting and deep relationships with people. We must reach out and touch people through our lives and our witness to the word. Only then can we begin to share the gospel in an effective manner.

Now that faith has come

28 JUNE 2009
SPEAKER: DAVID TAN

Psychologist Dr Carol Dweck in the book MINDSET wrote that the view we adopt for ourself profoundly affects the way we lead our life. The writer suggests that in general our society is made up of two types of people – those with a fixed mindset, and those with a growth mindset.

Now in a slightly different context you could say that Paul’s letter to the Galatians was addressed to these 2 different groups of people: those with a fixed mindset were locked in the demands of the Old Testament laws (the letter kills), and those who were in a growth mindset – believers who have been set free by faith and growing in the grace of Jesus Christ (the Spirit gives life, 2 Cor 3:6)

Strangely we who are followers of Jesus Christ who believe we are saved by grace do not always evidence this changed mindset. Instead due to mistaken notions or teachings, our lives as Christians often lack passion and power, and there is little growth. We'll take a look at what Paul has to say to us:

1.Faith in Christ grows out of God’s promise (vs 15-18)

Believers and followers of Jesus Christ stand as direct descendants of Abraham, inheriting the blessing that came from God’s historic promise (3:6-9). Abraham’s faith was counted to him as righteousness – and this was hundreds of years before Moses was given the Law. Today it follows that our faith in Jesus' finished work is counted to us as salvation as well - in both cases, the promise of the blessing of salvation came by the grace of God.

Our salvation comes out of a promise that God made – God’s initiative. God’s salvation to us is a gift and it comes not because we have earned it, but because Jesus has paid for it The Christian life will be filled with many challenges and temptations. There will be many occasions when we fall. During those times, it is good to know that our security and confidence rest solely upon God's promise and gift of grace: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8,9)

2. Faith in Christ sets us free (vs 19-24)

In v23, Paul said we were captives under the law. God’s law exposed sins. In v24, Paul also said the law was our guardian (NIV “put in charge” or, a disciplinarian).

The Law of God was essential in showing us what God’s standards were and how far we had fallen short of His holiness. Woe is me, as Paul says: “Who can save me from this body of sin?” How then did God’s laws which were meant to serve righteousness and holy living turn us into prisoners?

As an illustration consider what happens when traffic lights fail: the roads get terribly jammed and it’s every person for himself. He who dares wins! Once the traffic lights go out, everything we know about responsible driving, etc is forgotten. After years of submitting to traffic lights, we do not become better drivers. What this shows and what Paul agrees is that laws are ineffective in making people better – it maintains order but does not change us inside out. But without the law, without knowing how far we fall below God’s holy standards, we will not understand nor appreciate the need to be saved.

It was God’s plan to let the Law steer us towards holy living until Jesus came to fulfill it perfectly and save humanity from its curse. Therefore as we share the gospel, share the severity of sin. And now that faith has come - now that Jesus is come - see how Jesus is the perfect Saviour.

Gal 3:23-25 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.

Therefore now that we have been set free, we are free to draw near to Jesus. We ought not fall into sin and false ideas like those taught by the Judaizers.

3. Faith in Christ makes us one (vs25-29)

This is one of the great passages of Scripture. What happens now that faith has come? What happens when people put our faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord? V26, says they become sons and daughters of God!

1Jn 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Christianity celebrates the person, our identity for we are created after God’s image. Faith in Christ restores our personhood, our identity, our relationships. And this relationship goes on – we belong to God as sons and daughters in Christ. It fulfills the deepest human needs of belonging, of being loved.

And Paul says this is true for all people. Indeed when we become followers of Jesus, our race (Jew nor Greek), our gender (male or female), our status in society (slave or free) will no longer separate people or divide society. Christians need to demonstrate this mindset of the unity of God's people. It does not mean that we no longer have race or gender, etc, for in heaven these distinctions remain. But in Christ, we see everyone without prejudice and we no longer judge people on the basis of colour, their gender, or their class in society. This is why as a Church, God’s people are committed to reach out to all people, love all people, and serve all people. More than that it is also our calling to keep unity as a people united in one faith.

Eph 4:3-6 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Conclusion

Now that faith has come...we must see a dramatic change in our mindset. The confidence in the security of God’s salvation, the freedom we have in Christ, and the new identity as sons and daughters of God should put us in a place of growth and positive action. Above all it should move us to review how to remain in faith and find satisfaction in God alone. When we move from a fixed mindset of self-condemnation and sin, into the growth mindset of life in Christ, our lives will change. This church will change. Our neighbourhood will change.

As Paul also wrote to the Romans, this changing of our mindset and renewing of our faith is an ongoing process. And in the process of renewing and transforming, God will reveal his good and perfect will to us.

Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

May God help us to hold on fast to what we have gained in Christ.

Father's Day Message

MESSAGE: The Prodigal's Father
TEXT: Luke 15:11-31
SPEAKER: David Tan

There was a man who had two sons. (v11)

The Bible has much to say about fathers and children. On the occasion of Father’s Day, we’ll look at the familiar parable of the Prodigal Son and take the father’s perspective.

Lesson 1: God is honoured when fathers are honoured

The Bible places high regard on the role of fathers. In Exodus 20, the fifth of the 10 Commandments requires that we honour our father and mother – meaning, respect and prize them highly. Just as God our heavenly Father gave us life and sustenance, He has dignified fatherhood and placed earthly fathers to provide, nurture and bless families. Therefore respect for one’s parents is commanded, and is not dependent on whether they are superior or well regarded by their peers, or whether they have done well as exemplary parents.

Of course respect is mutual –parents also have to respect their children, and all of us are to respect one another. As persons made in God’s image. Fathers especially are warned not to “exasperate your children (but)…to bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4)

The younger one said to his father, `Father, give me my share of the estate.' (v12)

What made the son to behave like this? To have a son demand his inheritance is a rejection of one’s father, as if the son could not wait for the father to die. How would this father feel then?

Lesson 2: Fathers exercise spiritual leadership

In the Jewish home, educating one’s children in their spiritual, religious and social responsibilities was the job of the father. When a child was younger, it was the mother who was his primary educator. But as the child grew into puberty (13), fathers were always their primary tutor in very important spheres of life – from circumcision, redemption (in the case of the first child), marriage, to professional training as apprentice to the father.

Few fathers today consider the importance of being their child’s primary mentor and educator. Yet this practice is not merely true for the Jews, but something that expected of the head of the household, the father who is to provide spiritual leadership in the Christian home (Heb 12:7-11 talks about discipline). In Deut 6:2-8, the command to instruct children as God instructed their fathers, that they may “fear the Lord and keep His laws.”

Pro 4:1-5 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.

So when a child turns out the other way, there was great shame, and Jewish fathers consider their children’s failures as their personal punishment.

God faces rejection as well, yet He respects the decisions of His rebellious sons and daughters even if it leads to hurt and destruction. But it is a testimony of God’s grace that He welcomes the prodigal sinner - with open arms, with compassion. Which was what the prodigal’s father did in this parable.

Lesson 3: Fathers’ authority should be tempered with mercy

"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (v20)

The father saw him from a long way off and ran to welcome him. In those days it was undignified for an elderly Jewish man to gather his clothes and run in public. The father was filled with compassion. How does a disappointed father respond to a son who has turned his back on his family and has broken his heart? Perhaps the father may have felt he had failed his young son – much like Marcus Aurelius said of his son Commodus in the film Gladiator: “Your faults as a son is my failure as a father.”

Remorse may be the first emotional response of someone who comes to his senses, but it is repentance that must follow. As CS Lewis has said, “Sometimes in order to go forward, we have to step backwards,” which was what the prodigal did as he made his way home. The father ran and embraced the son first before he could express regret and ask for forgiveness. The father accepted the son first, before forgiveness was asked. The father did not wait for proof of repentance before embracing the remorseful son. This kind of compassion is grace. And more than mere acceptance, the father showed that reconciliation is the heart of forgiveness.

Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. (v22,23)

There was a celebration. The son who was once dead was now alive! The prodigal son is welcomed home in style; the best clothes is put on him, as if to cover his rags, his sins; he is given a ring and sandals for his feet. The ring on the finger was a symbol of sonship and position; while the sandals showed that he was accepted as one of the family, for slaves did not normally wear shoes.

Lesson 4: Our Heavenly Father is the model for all fathers

Henri Nouwen in contemplating Rembrandt’s painting (The Return of the Prodigal Son 1662) noticed something in the work of the Dutch painter. The father’s left hand had fingers spread open hard, strong, while the right hand was almost elegant, like a female hand, soft, caressing. Nouwen was struck as he believed God displays grace and love as both father and mother.

Deut 1:31 There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

Isa 49:15 "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

Ultimately, at various times in our lives we are a mix of repentant prodigal and jealous brother. But the prodigal’s father stands in front and in the midst of all these conflicting emotions. In his gracious acceptance of 2 quite different sons, we are all invited to be like this father, whose grace mirrored our God. In so doing, we consciously model after our Heavenly Father who loved us and welcomed us.

Conclusion: The example of Dick and Rick Hoyt

The Powerless God

7 June 2009
Speaker: Ps Barnabas Boon
Texts: Mark 6:1-6, Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 11:22-25, Luke 18:1-8, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Often in our lives, we have unanswered prayers. At such times, we may ask, "Has God abandoned us, or is He powerless to act?" Scripture gives us a number of reasons why God seems to be powerless.

First, there are situations where God seems powerless to act. In Mark 6:1-6 we read of Jesus at his hometown and marveling that he could not do any miracles there because of their lack of faith or unbelief (vv5, 6). It is not that Jesus would not do works of wonders, it was that unbelief on the part of the people, tied his hands so that he could not do any miracles there. He was one of them and thus a local 'boy' and a prophet in his home town is without honour. The principle is clear with respect to powerlessness. We are powerless when unbelief, skepticism and faithlessness rule our hearts. We will have the powerful God on our side if we have faith and believe in His sovereign rule over our lives

Second, we experience being powerless because of our own prayerlessness. In Matthew 17:14-21 we read of the disciples being powerless to cast out a demon. In the privacy of their meeting with Jesus, the disciples inquired of this phenomenon and was rebuked by Jesus for their lack of prayer (21). The disciples could not heal because they had not been in touch with the One who could. They were relying on their own strength instead of seeking God's power through prayer and the spiritual discipline of fasting. Herein lies a very important principle. We should not be too quick to blame the unbelieving and skeptical sick and needy. There is great responsibility on the part of those who minister and who do ministry. Let us remember then that in order for us to minister in power we must also get in touch with the God of power through prayer and fasting.

Third, we are powerless because there are obstacles within our hearts which impede the power of God in our lives. One of the greatest obstacles to the flow of power from God through us is our own unforgiving spirit. In Mark 11:22-25 we read of the power available to the disciples and the issue of unforgiveness in the heart. These two ideas which occur side by side in Mark is not found in the other gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke. The occurrence of these two ideas side by side is no accident as some commentators have it. It points to a very important principle of ministry in the power of God. Should there be any unforgiveness in our hearts or any impediment which obstructs the flow of power from God to us, we would not be able to minister in power.

Fourth, we are powerless because we do not persevere in prayer. Persevering prayer indicates to God our seriousness and in persevering for what we ask, He will so grant that request. In Luke 18:4,5, we read of the persistent widow against an unjust judge. Jesus teaches us that God is more than and better than this unjust judge. In the face of our persistent cries for help God will act powerfully on our behalf. Persevering prayer is powerful. When we persevere in prayer God is pleased. Are we powerless? Is God powerless to act. No, we persevere in prayer to a powerful God who will act.

Finally, we experience powerlessness in the midst of God's purposes. There is such a thing as the thorn in the flesh. Paul experienced it and taught us valuable lessons. Life is not about being triumphant in everything. There is the dimension of humility and patience which is very much part of the life of power and worship. In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul speaks of the grace available when the thorn in his flesh was not resolved. God had allowed the thorn to torment him because it was in the purposes of God to keep him humble and powerful in Christ. Hence, instead of despairing, Paul rejoiced in his weakness and in his suffering of insults, persecutions and difficulties. And therein lies the wonderful paradox of power in God for Paul. When Paul experienced such weaknesses, he was also experiencing the surpassing greatness and power of God. We too must learn of God’s grace in this manner. God's grace also comes through from the side of humility, humiliation, failure and difficulties and not just through blessings and honour and wonderment. Oftentimes God allows a thorn to come into our lives and at such times we must learn to submit to God. And then we shall in a strange way experience his power.

Horatio Spafford, is an example of a malleable soul completely surrendered to God. After the loss of his children, he found great comfort in God and out of that sorrow and loss wrote the hymn “It is well with my soul”. The words of the hymn illustrate for us the wonderful experience of grace in the midst of sorrow, loss and pain. And out of this thorn in the flesh, Horatio Spafford and his wife would build a ministry to the Jews and Muslims in Jerusalem.

Pentecost Sunday

Speaker: David Tan
Text: Acts 2:1-21

Pentecost Sunday falls on the 50th day after Easter. It was this day that the Holy Spirit fell upon God’s people causing tremendous excitement resulting in 3,000 saved in one day.

Interestingly, the NT Pentecost happened on the same day as the Jewish Pentecost. Celebrated on the 50th day after the Passover, and subsequently observed as the day Moses came down from Mt Sinai with God’s Law, we can draw very interesting reflections from these important events as they contrast and mirror God’s work in history.

Pentecost Sunday however has more to teach us than mere historical facts. What are they?

The Presence of the Spirit

Acts 1:8. Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples were told to expect the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit fell upon the disciples in tongues of fire, and they began to speak in various foreign languages to the surprise of all the onlookers. That day marked the real birth of the church.

What has this to do with us today? On the simplest yet deepest level, it reminds us that God’s people and His ministry are spiritual in nature. We must remember that what ultimately drives us - the work we do, the life we live, the Church that we belong to and serve in – is not management skills (although there is a place for it), not human excellence and intelligence (although these too are gifts from God), but the presence of the Spirit, and his enabling power.

• John 14:15,16 – the promise of the indwelling Spirit within believers. He is both Counselor or Helper in the absence of Jesus’ physical presence.
• Eph 1:13,14 – the Spirit is the seal of guarantee of the believer’s salvation
• 1 Cor 19:20 – the Spirit is the mark of God’s ownership of the believer.

There is therefore a spiritual dimension to our lives. The presence of the Spirit within the believer is testimony that we are no longer our own. God owns us; the Spirit possesses us. If the Spirit does not possess us - our thoughts, deeds, habits, ambitions, dreams, recreation, etc – it will show in His absence. And if the Spirit is absent, what or who is in control of the driver’s seat?

The power of the Spirit

Firstly, as Acts 2 reveals, the Holy Spirit’s work is to empower. Unless He empowers, we are finished. “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The Christian life and the life of the Church are undeniably supernatural. So we should expect miracles, divine intervention, and works of deliverance, great revival in the church, which point to the reality of the Spirit’s power in our day.

But as the NT shows us and as church history records for us, these spectacular displays of power are also not as common as we want them to be; that’s why they are called miracles. People still die of diseases; not all Christians are healed; many do fall into spiritual oppression; Christians get killed every day and churches get burnt. Where is the power of God, we cry?

This leads to the second aspect about the Spirit’s power:

We read in John 14:26 that the Spirit is to make Jesus real to believers. John 16:13 further elaborates that it is the Spirit who leads people to the truth, and convicts them of sin (John 16:8). What is often missed is that often this work of conviction, transforming and sanctifying of believers is unseen, and usually slow and plodding. Yet this is very much the power of the Spirit at work.

The primary display of power that the Bible talks about, is seen in a believer’s faithfulness, growing in holiness, transformation of character, persevering through trials, running and finishing the race. Like reading the Bible one verse at a time, page by page, book by book. Nothing glamorous, but this is normal method employed by the Spirit to advance God’s plan.

We need to see both aspects of the Spirit’s power in our church today – the dramatic acts of power, as well as the slow abiding work of sanctification.

The purpose of the Spirit

The work of the Spirit cannot be separated from his purpose.

In Genesis 11, we hear the proud men of Shinar say: "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

God struck down their work on that day and the people found themselves speaking in different languages, and were scattered. The Tower of Babel testified to humanity’s natural instinct to glorify the human spirit. God’s instinct on the other hand is to scatter us (physically and metaphorically) to extend the boundaries of His kingdom on earth. And He did this in Acts 2.

As the Spirit fell on those gathered in the upper room, we saw another scene of people speaking in foreign languages. As in the plains of Shinar, the coming of the Spirit led to a scattering of people – not as a punishment but as a means to spread the good news of salvation throughout Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth (Acts :8) This time, the dispersion was not to subvert human ambition, but as a means to point people to Jesus. (John 15:26)

The Spirit’s work is to glorify Jesus (Jn 16:14). You do not read in the NT about glorifying the Spirit or instructions to magnify His gifts and miracles. They are first and last about Jesus and it is always so that Jesus is lifted up and glorified.

Conclusion

The progressive revelation of God throughout history points to dramatic periods of preparation and fulfillment. The Old Testament was about the 'old creation.' In the 'new creation' of the New Testament, the focus is not us, not a place or possessions, but a Person - Jesus. All that we are, all that we do, all our desires will never satisfy unless we are satisfied in Jesus. It is the Spirit's work to nudge us, challenge us, empower us, sanctify us, inspire us, so that our passion for glorifying God will be the most satisfying thing in our lives. May we allow Him to accomplish that in us in the days ahead.