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Mission of the Spirit

9/30/2018

Mission of the Spirit
HIS MISSION, OUR CO-MISSION
Terry R. Baughman

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

The outpouring of the Spirit was intentional and purposeful. It was so important that the first order of business after Jesus ascended into heaven was for believers to return to Jerusalem and await the promise of the Father, “Tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). The same requirement was emphasized in Acts, “He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father” (Acts 1:4).

Power accompanied the outpouring, and the gift empowered recipients with ability. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” The end result of the promise was not the experience but the empowerment. The purpose for the gift was for disciples to become evangelists for the message of the Gospel and missionaries to every nation. “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

When the promise was fulfilled and the Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost the fulfillment of the commission became the imperative, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Jesus must have ingrained that aspect of the Kingdom message among His followers. The Gospel writers caught it and recorded it for the posterity of the Church Age. Matthew’s account has been dubbed The Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them …, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The imperative of evangelism includes the instruction to teach. Discipleship includes doctrine, and doctrine must be taught. The message of the mission is essential. The Name of Jesus, the rite of baptism, and the works of the Holy Spirit in lives of believers is all important in the message. Luke wrote that “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47).

The result of evangelism and teaching the life-changing message of Jesus Christ is a demonstration of powerful signs. “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:17). The disciples obeyed the commission and pursued the mission, but they were not alone. God was with them. Mark concluded his Gospel with this summary, “They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20).

Believe it, receive it, and share it with the world. That is our message and our mission.

Scripture:
How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?” (Romans 10:14)

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Mission Possible

9/23/2018

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Mission Possible
HIS MISSION, OUR CO-MISSION
Terry R. Baughman

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 10:21).

Jesus made His mission known from His early ministry in the synagogue at Nazareth to the day of His death in response before Pilate. He came with a defined purpose. In each of the synoptic gospels Jesus said, “I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Matthew 9:13, Mark 2:17; Luke 5:32). Before Pilate’s questioning Jesus revealed, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:37).

Throughout the ministry of Jesus He gave expression to His purpose for coming, His mission during His ministry, and His vision to accomplish His ultimate goal of bringing everlasting life to all who believe. He said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Jesus most thoroughly outlined His ministry mission when He read from the scroll of Isaiah in Nazareth. He had returned to His home town for the first time after beginning His ministry. The news had spread that Jesus had begun teaching and explaining the Scriptures. Perhaps they thought He was coming of age and would become a new rabbi. They asked Him to read the selected passage for their Sabbath reading. As He took His place in Moses’ seat He opened the book and found the prescribed verses and began reading, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Isaiah 61:1-2).

When Jesus read this far in the passage He suddenly stopped and declared, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). Before He finished speaking that day the crowd was incensed and angered to the point of attempting to cast Him off of a cliff to His death. No doubt they perceived His comments were blasphemous, but He spoke the truth.

Before His ministry was completed a few years later, Jesus left His believers with instructions to fulfill His mission. It is often referred to as the Great Commission. Matthew recorded that Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them …, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). Luke revealed that, “Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:47–49).

When we act in obedience to His Word and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others we are fulfilling the commission and helping to complete the mission He set out to accomplish. Our mission is possible!

Scripture:
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:15-16).

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Receive

9/15/2018

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Receive
IF MY PEOPLE …
Terry R. Baughman

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

God’s character assures us of His expected response. He is a caring and concerned God who is attentive to our prayers. God has promised, “And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious” (Exodus 22:27).

The conditions were clearly outlined to Solomon and God’s response was equally detailed, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). There is a three part response offered to those who identify with God, submit to Him, forsake their sins, and seek His presence.

1) God will hear. We have an assurance that when we pray there is a God in heaven who is listening. He is not just hearing but He has a ready response. It is one thing for God to hear, but he has also given us His Word, “I will answer.” Many passages of Scripture give us confidence of His unfailing love and His listening ear. Jesus said,“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

God said, “I will hear from heaven.” It doesn’t matter how far away He seems to be we are assure of His ability to hear even from heaven. In our text He said “Before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” We are never out of earshot, even when He is out of our sight. When we pray God will hear!

2) God will forgive. God is the one who said, “I am He who blots out your transgressions … and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25). We can petition on the grounds of His mercy for forgiveness and appropriate His grace to remove the stain of our sins. When we call out to Him in sincere repentance we have every confidence that He will forgive us. John assured us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

3) God will heal. Healing is a part of God’s provision and restoration is a part of God’s plan. Both physical and spiritual healing is in God’s plan for us. Isaiah prophesied that the Servant’s mistreatment was a sacrificial offering for our benefit, “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

The effect of our prayer has a ready response. God will hear us, He will forgive our sins, and He will heal. His healing will bring reconciliation to our estrangement, restoration to our brokenness, and wholeness to our infirmity. Pray with expectation. The miracle is waiting. Get ready to receive!

Scripture:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

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Repent

9/8/2018

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Repent
IF MY PEOPLE …
Terry R. Baughman

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19).

Sin separates from God and drives a wedge in our relationship with Him. The original sin drove Adam and Eve from the Garden and denied them the blissful association they once enjoyed walking with God in the cool of the day. The cherubim and a flaming sword insured they were unable to return to the tree of life and forever be condemned to live in rebellion to God. God’s plan was not intended to be permanent separation from His created beings, but to provide a plan of redemption and restoration from the awful curse of sin and death.

Where sin caused separation and death, Jesus came to offer restoration of relationship and eternal life with Him. There was no surprise in the first rebellion. The One who knows the end from the beginning was present and fully aware of the rejection of His creation. More than that He also had a plan for redemption and the necessary provision for propitiation. Jesus Christ was the sinless sacrifice to atone for our sins. Through His death on the cross the blood of Christ provides power to overcome sin. This was in His plan before the Creation. “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, … but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18–20).

The price was paid but it is always our decision whether or not we will accept the provision of His sacrifice. Repentance is recognition of our sinful nature, our debased behavior, and our numerous transgressions. Repentance is the initiation of a desire to forsake sin and to pursue God and His righteousness. To repent is to turn around, change directions, and purposefully commit our ways to God’s path.

The promise of Scripture is conditional, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways …” (2 Chronicles 7:14). To “turn from their wicked ways” is true repentance. We must recognize our propensity to sin and commit ourselves totally to His grace to save us. To approve God in any other way than to humbly repent is vanity. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Overcome by their sinful actions the crowd that gathered on the Day of Pentecost called out the question, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Peter’s answer came without hesitation and was inspired of the Spirit, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).

Jesus came to bring life; but eternal life begins with a turning toward God in repentance. Jesus said, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (Luke 5:32). We can gain His attention and His favor, and receive answers to our prayers, if we will repent!

Scripture:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

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Persist

9/3/2018

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Persist
IF MY PEOPLE …
Terry R. Baughman

“When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek’” (Psalm 27:8).

What does it mean to seek the face of God? It is prayer, but more than saintly sentences recited from printed phrases. It is an active engagement with a spiritual purpose, desiring and determined to gain the attention of the Almighty. To seek His face is to desire Him, to attract His attention, and to covet His favor. It is an entreaty for the graceful response from our great God. As the ancient priestly blessing expressed it, “The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace” (Numbers 6:24–26).

We can simply pray, or we can seek His face! Many scriptural examples illustrate the passion of persistent prayer. None are so intently expressed as those found in the Psalms. Poetry and song express the heart’s emotion and lend sincerity and purpose to our petitions. David prayed, “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ My heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, I will seek.’ Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation” (Psalm 27:7–9).

The implication of seeking is that of continuation, an ongoing engagement. It is more than just casually looking for something. It is diligently, intentionally, and persistently pursuing a goal. As Jeremiah expressed it, “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12–13).

Persistent prayers are not just occasional events, but constant companions. The prophet Isaiah said, “With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early” (Isaiah 26:9). From the first light of dawn to the dark hours of night we must seek Him and desire His purpose. David prayed, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You” (Psalm 63:1).

Our prayers must be a persistent ongoing pursuit of His purpose. Prayers are not just simple statements, sending positive thoughts toward heaven, but persistent petition, active faith that expects an answer, and are humbly presented in submission to His will. Jesus’ model of prayer teaches us submission. We pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

The seeker is assured of resolution. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expressed it, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8). Persist in prayer and seek His face!

Scripture:
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

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