RETURNING TO SPIRIT- EMPOWERED MOBILIZATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY Subtitle.

RETURNING TO SPIRIT-EMPOWERED MOBILIZATION AND

CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRYSubtitle

EXPLORING AND EMPLOYING THE

PERSON AND INDISPENSABLE

MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE WORK OF MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM IN

THE 21ST CENTURY

WELCOME! HOLY SPIRIT: THE CHIEF MOBILIZER AND ENERGIZER FOR

MISSIONS

This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

‘Not by might nor by power, but by

MY SPIRIT’,

says the LORD Almighty. What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel, you will

become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of “God bless it!’ ‘God

bless it!’

Zechariah 4:6-7


MISSIONS

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go

away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in

regard to sin, righteousness and judgment….But when the Spirit of Truth

comes, he will guide you into all Truth....”

John 16:7,8; 13 ff


MISSIONS

Luke 24:49Acts 1:4Acts 1:8

DEMYSTIFYING “PENTECOSTALISM”

THE PROMISE BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST OF THE COMING AND THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN EMPOWERING BELIEVERS TO BE WITNESSES FOR HIM IN JERUSALEM, ALL JUDEA, SAMARIA

AND ENDS OF THE EARTH [Acts 1:8] UNDERSCORES THE CONTINUING ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (THE THIRD

PERSONALITY IN THE TRINITY) IN GOD’S WORK AND MISSION ON EARTH.

THIS PROMISE IS NOT JUST FOR THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE “PENTECOSTALS” BUT FOR EVERY BELIEVER. NEGLIGENCE OF HIS PERSON AND MINISTRY WILL PERPETUATE POWERLESS,

WOEFUL AND UNPRODUCTIVE CHRISTIAN LIFE AND MINISTRY.

ABUSE OF HIS ROLE ALSO LEADS TO ACTIVITIES AND SELF DRIVEN EFFORTS THAT OFTEN RESULT IN FRUITS THAT DO NOT LAST AND OUTCOMES THAT DO NOT IMPACT ANY LIFE, SOCIETY

OR SITUATIONS.

THE TRAGEDY OF CONTEMPORARY MISSION

EFFORTSMAJORITY OF THOSE WHO ARE SERIOUS AND BUSY ABOUT FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION ARE DOING SO MORE IN THEIR OWN STRENGTH AND POWER, WHEREAS MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO CLAIM TO KNOW AND ARE FILLED WITH THE

POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE USING THE SO CALLED EXPERIENCE AND POWER THEY POSSESS

FOR THEIR OWN SELFISH AND PAROCHIAL ENDS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE GREAT COMMISSION, BOTH LIKE THE DESCENDANTS OF NOAH AND

THEIR TOWER OF BABEL PROJECT [Genesis 11:1-5]

THE CRITICAL ISSUES ABOUT MISSIONS

TODAYSCARCITY OF WORKERS

[Matt. 9:37]

1. Where are the labourers?

2. Why are there more consumers than producers, more spectators than actors/players, more masters than servants, more ‘short-term’ rather than ‘life-time’ commitments?

3. What has happened to the reinforcement and supply lines?


TODAYQUALITY OF THE LABOURERS IN

GOD’S VINEYARD [JUDGES 18:3; ROM 10:14-15; JOHN 1:41-42; 43-45]

1. GOERS WITHOUT SENDERS

2. PREACHERS WITHOUT THE GOOD NEWS

3. TEACHERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN TAUGHT

4. DISCIPLERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN DISCIPLED

5. MOBILIZERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN MOBILIZED


TODAYMENTALITY OF THE LABOURERS IN

GOD’S VINEYARD [John 10:12-13]

1. Where are the ‘Calebs’ of our days who will follow God whole heartedly and dare the “Giants” for the glory of God – Numbers 14:24; Joshua 14:7-12?

2. Where are the 300 volunteers of Gideon’s army recruited and screened by the Lord, who, even when exhausted, yet would keep up the pursuit – Judges 6:34; 7:2-8; 8:4?

3. Where are the ‘Good Shepherds’ ? Why do those with the ‘hireling, self-serving and merchandize mentality’ dominate the labour-force – John 10:11-13, Ezekiel 34:1-10?

4. Why is there much inclination towards “using the Holy Spirit” for our own ends rather than yielding to His leading and using us for “divine purposes”?


TODAYBLIND SERVANTS [LEADERS], DEAF MESSAGE BEARERS

AND DUMB WATCHMEN

[Isaiah 42:18-20; 22-23; 52:7-10]

▪ WHERE ARE THE MEN OF ISSACHAR WHO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES, SEASONS, SITUATIONS AND PROFFER DIVINELY INSPIRED STRATEGIES, SOLUTIONS AND DIRECTIONS? [I Chronicles 12:32]

▪ WHERE ARE THE PROPHETS WHO SIT IN THE COUNCIL OF GOD, RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE LORD AND FAITHFULLY DECLARE WHAT THE LORD IS SAYING? [Jeremiah 23:16-18; 21 & 22]

A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MEANS BY WHICH PRESENT-DAY WORKERS IN GOD’S VINEYARD

BECOME WHAT THEY ARE

THE ABOVE SEVEN QUESTIONS ARE GROUPED INTO THREE CRITICAL CATEGORIES

1.ENLISTMENT, MOBILIZATION AND INTEGRATION INTO KINGDOM-WORKFORCE

2.THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE WORKERS ARE FORMED, EQUIPPED AND EMPOWERED

3.MOTIVATION FOR MINISTRY

ENLISTMENT, MOBILIZATION & INTEGRATION OF PRESENT DAY WORKERS IN KINGDOM-MINISTRY

CURRENT EXAMPLES

1. Ministries, Mission Agencies, Denominations and Local Churches applying to training institutions for workers (Pastors, Evangelists, Missionaries) – The Big Question: Where and how would disciples be made and the saints equipped for the work of the ministry if the local Churches are not doing so? [Mark 1:17; Mark 3:13-15; Ephesians 4:11-12] – indication of failure of the Church in disciple-making.

2. Graduates of Seminaries, Bible Schools, Theological Colleges knocking at the doors of Mission Agencies, Local Churches and Evangelical Ministries with their several academic credentials, asking if there are some ministry posts that will be assigned to them based on their certificates [like the Young Levite – Judges 17:6-13] as against the products of the Masters’ School of Ministry whose credentials were proved by their commitment to the purpose for which they were recruited, trained and sent forth (Mark 3:13-15; Acts 4:12-13; 18-20 even in the face of threats and persecution] – an indictment on the ‘one mode’ training programs of present-day means of preparing workers for the work of the Kingdom.

ENLISTMENT, MOBILIZATION & INTEGRATION OF PRESENT DAY WORKERS IN KINGDOM-MINISTRY

CURRENT EXAMPLES

3. Anointing for sale; being engaged by the highest bidder or who will pay more for the anointing in one’s life and ministry [also like the young Levite who had to abandon his contract with Micah to go with the Danites who offered him more than what Micah was paying him – Judges 18:3-6; 19-20; 24, 27]; ‘the ministry contractor-mentality’ and business men investing in or buying shares from successful Church-planting efforts because of the high-yielding dividends on their sponsorship or investments

4. Placement of adverts through the media for workers in the vineyard as exemplified by the following two adverts in The Guardian Newspaper of Tuesday, January 13, 2015 (pages 44 & 46) – an awful and pathetic example of understanding of distinct nature and function of the Church as well as an indictment of the Church’s failure to be a place where disciples are made and the saints equipped for the work of the ministry.

SOURCING FOR WORKERS FOR THE VINEYARD FROM THE LABOUR

MARKET

SOURCING FOR WORKERS FOR THE VINEYARD FROM THE LABOUR

MARKET

HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERED WORKERS AND DIRECTED THEIR

ASSIGNMENTS IN BIBLE DAYSKEY VERSES: ZECHARIAH 4:6 & ACTS 10:38

1. Empowering and directing the evangelism and mission activities of the early Church. The evangelism and mission tasks carried out by the early Church as commissioned by the Lord in Matt. 28:19-20 could only be done through and in the power of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15–18; Acts 1:8, 13:4–5)

2. This gift revolutionized their lives and such unlearned laymen went forth and preached a message that changed men’s lives (Acts 4:13).

3. The Holy Spirit empowered the apostles to carry on with the advance of the gospel in their days (Acts 4:31, Acts 8:26–38, Acts 1:8) especially by calling and sending them out to specific assignments and fields (Acts 13:2-4) as well as directing them to ripe fields, ready hearts, needy and priority mission fields (Acts 8:29; 10:1ff; 16:6-10) and emboldening them in the face of opposition, threats and dangers (Acts 4:29-31)



Enabling the conviction and conversion of sinners, as well as in nurturing and impartation of spiritual gifts in the believer:

1. He convicts the sinner of his sin and convinces him of the need of salvation. He leads the sinner to repentance [John 16:7, 8, Acts 2:37, John 1:12–13, Genesis 6:3]

2. The Holy Spirit regenerates the heart of the new believer and makes him a new creature in Christ [I Cor. 12:3-11; 2 Cor. 5:17, Titus 3:4-6]



Enabling the potential for spiritual growth – Phil 2:12 (i.e. as new believers do their part of Bible study, praying and obedience):

1. He uses His gifts to make believers mature and become useful in the Kingdom (Ephesians 4:11-16).

2. He is the One that helps us bear the “Fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22 & 23) and also become “Fruitful” in our calling and relationship with Christ (John 15:16; II Peter 1:8)

MOTIVATION FOR MINISTRYTHERE ARE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE’S MOTIVES FOR MINISTRY

BOTH IN BIBLE DAYS AND CONTEMPORARY TIMES

1. The Story of the Young Levite (Judges 17:6-10; 18:3-4; 18-20)

2. The Good Shepherd and The Hireling (John 10:11-13)

3. The Supreme Example of the Lord (John 4:34)

4. The Shining Example of David, A Man After God’s Heart (I Samuel 13: 14; 17:26; 45-47)

5. The Awful Example of King Saul (I Samuel 15:15; 20;24;30;18:8,12-15)

6. The Beautiful Example of Paul, the Apostle (Phil 1:12; 18; 3:7-11; 4:17)

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD’S PEOPLE ARE EMPOWERED AND MOBILIZED BY THE HOLY

SPIRIT

▪ ORDINARY PEOPLE PERFORM EXTRA-ORDINARY TASKS; MORE HANDS GET ON THE DECK; THE WEAK BECOMES STRONG; MINISTRY EFFECTIVENESS IS ENHANCED, GREATER RESULTS ARE ACHIEVED [Acts 2:1-11]

▪ EVERY PERSON FINDS SPACE TO PARTICIPATE IN, AND WHAT TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS ACCOMPLISHING, GOD’S DIVINE ASSIGNMENT [Exodus 36:7; Nehemiah 2:12, 17-18; 3:1-32; Acts 11:28-30]

▪ DIFFICULT TASKS GET PERFORMED EASILY AND ASSIGNMENTS GET COMPLETED IN RECORD TIME [Exodus 35:5, 10; 21; 36:30-46:1-7; Neh. 6:15-16]

▪ GOD’S PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY, SACRIFICIALLY AND WILLINGLY TAKE-UP RESPONSIBILITIES, LEADING ACCELERATING THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF THE TASK [Exodus 35:21; I Chronicles 12:23-41; Psalms 110:1-3]

RETURNING TO BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF SPIRIT-EMPOWERED CROSS-

CULTURAL MINISTRY IN THE 21ST CENTURY

CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRIT-EMPOWERED AND MOBILIZED MISSIONAL CHURCH

[Acts 2:4-11; 4:23-37; Acts 11:28-29; 5:42; 8:4; 11:19; 28-30; 12:35; 13:1-4; Ephesians 4:7-16]

1. THE LEADERSHIP LISTENS TO GOD [HIS WORD] AND MAKES GOD’S MANDATE THEIR PRIORITY

2. THERE IS A BALANCE IN THE THREE REASONS WHILE THE CHURCH EXISTS ON THE EARTH – UP-REACH (WORSHIP); IN-REACH (FELLOWSHIP & DISCIPLESHIP) & OUTREACH (MISSIONS & EVANGELISM)

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS MINISTRY ARE APPRECIATED AND APPROPRIATED

4. THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP IS MOBILIZED AROUND SUCH MANDATE PRIORITY

[Examples: The Church in the Wilderness; The Early Church in Jerusalem; The Church at Antioch; People’s Church Toronto, Canada; Glory Tabernacle Church, Ibadan; The Presbyterian

Church of North-East India]



CHARACTERISTICS OF A SPIRIT-EMPOWERED AND MOBILIZED MISSIONAL CHURCH

[Acts 2:4-11; 4:23-37; Acts 11:28-29; 5:42; 8:4; 11:19; 28-30; 12:35; 13:1-4; Ephesians 4:7-16]

1. EVERY MEMBER AND LEADER FINDS SPACE FOR INVOLVEMENT ACCORDING TO THEIR ABILITIES

2. EVERY MEMBER AND LEADER IS INVOLVED IN DOING WHAT IT TAKES TO ACCOMPLISH THE MANDATE i.e. THE PRAYING, GOING, SENDING AND SUPPORTING

3. THE CHURCH GROWS AND MULTIPLIES QUANTITATIVELY AS WELL AS MATURES QUALITATIVELY AS EVERY ONE CONTRIBUTES HIS/HER QUOTA OF MINISTRY

[Examples: The Church in the Wilderness; The Early Church in Jerusalem; The Church at Antioch; People’s Church Toronto, Canada; Glory Tabernacle Church, Ibadan; The

Presbyterian Church of North-East India]



KEY CONCEPT: “TARRY UNTIL…….” LUKE 24:49; ACTS 1:4

GIVE ROOM TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN

▪RECRUITING, MOBILIZING AND SCREENING WORKERS – Judges 6:34; 7:2-8; Matthew 9:38

▪ EQUIPPING AND PREPARING THE WORKERS – Mark 1:17; 3:13-15

▪SENDING FORTH WORKERS INTO THE FIELDS – Matthew 9:38; Acts 13:3




GIVE ROOM TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN

▪ DETERMINING WHERE TO GO AND DO MISSIONS AT A GIVEN TIME – Acts 8:26 (Philip); Acts 11:12 (Peter); Acts 16:6-9 (Paul).

▪ DETERMINING WHAT TO SAY AND DO IN A GIVEN CONTEXT – Matthew 10:19-20; Acts 8:29;

▪ MATURING AND BRINGING FORTH THE FRUITS – I Corinthians 3:7




WHAT TARRYING ENTAILS…

▪ WAITING FOR THE DIRECTION AND EMPOWERMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

▪ ASKING FOR HIS LEADING AND INSTRUCTION

▪ SEEKING FOR HIS DIRECTION AND INSPIRATION

▪ FOLLOWING HIS LEADING




WHAT TARRYING ENTAILS…

▪ DEPENDING UPON HIS WISDOM

▪ DRAWING FROM AND LEANING UPON HIS STRENGTH

▪ OBEYING AND CARRYING OUT HIS INSTRUCTIONS

▪ LISTENING TO WHAT HE SAYS




HOW AND WHERE WE SHOULD TARRY…

▪ IN PRAYER AND FASTING

▪ IN STUDYING AND MEDITATING ON THE WORD

▪ IN WORSHIP AND SUBMISSION

▪ BY LISTENING ATTENTIVELY TO WHAT HE IS SAYING

▪ BEING ALONE AND QUIET IN HIS PRESENCE




WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE TARRY…[Isaiah 6:1-8; 40:31; Acts 1:8]

▪ OUR NATURE IS TRANSFORMED; OUR STRENGTH IS RENEWED AND WE BECOME DIVINELY EMPOWERED

▪ WE RECEIVE REVELATIONS AND DIVINE PERSPECTIVE OF THE GOD-HEAD, OURSELVES AND THE PEOPLE WE ARE SENT TO SERVE/REACH

▪ WE ARE INSPIRED WITH GOD’S VISION, PASSION AND MISSION

▪ WE ARE GUIDED INTO KNOWING AND PURSUING HIS WILL

▪ WE RECEIVE FRESH UNCTION FOR EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING AND A CLEAR DIRECTION ABOUT WHAT, HOW AND WHERE TO CARRY OUT OUR PART OF THE GREAT COMMISSION




HOW HE SHOWS, GIVES, INSTRUCTS, SPEAKS, GUIDES, LEADS AND REVEALS…

▪ THROUGH BOTH THE RHEMA AND THE LOGOS [THE WORD]

▪ THROUGH DREAMS, REVELATIONS AND VISIONS

▪ THROUGH PROPHETIC UTTERANCES

▪ THROUGH THE GUIDANCE OF HIS FAITHFUL SERVANTS

▪ THROUGH IMPRESSIONS HE PUTS IN OUR HEART

THE MASTER’S FINAL WORDWHAT IS THE SPIRIT SAYING TO THE CHURCH IN THE 21ST CENTURY?

“HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES…”

(Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22)NIV

“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’; And Let him who hears say, ‘Come!’; and whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life”

(Revelation 22:17)NIV

RETURNING TO SPIRIT- EMPOWERED MOBILIZATION AND CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY Subtitle.

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