Why Mission and therefore Church Planting matters Part 3

The final part of three on why mission and therefore church planting matters from Acts 1.

So the mission of God to glorify himself by bringing people to know and enjoy him as they were made to do has not changed.  And the need of men and women to know God through Jesus and be saved from a lost eternity has not changed either.  I wonder how that makes you feel?  

It's both thrilling and terrifying? But ‘I can’t do it’ we think, ‘it’s too big’, ‘where do we start’, ‘how do I choose who I share this good news with’ ‘where would we as a church seek to reach and how’? ‘I’m not an extrovert or a public speaker...’ Jesus anticipates and demolishes every potential excuse the Apostles and we might make in(v8) of Acts 1.

Jesus says two things to them regarding timing of this massive mission: Wait and Go.  

Wait

The disciples aren’t sent out straight away, they’re commanded to wait(4). They’re to be Jesus witnesses but they can’t do it themselves, and Jesus doesn’t send them alone. What are they waiting for? (5)“you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” (8)“you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses...”

Often we think wrongly about the Apostles and the early church. We read the stories and assume they were rocket fuelled extrovert types, naturally charismatic powerful speakers, who were brave and fearless and loved living life on the edge. You know the sort; adrenaline junkies who in their spare time relax by base jumping, free climbing or snowboarding. By thinking of them like that we excuse ourselves from witnessing because that’s not me, so we limit witnessing to Jesus as just for the extrovert or the adrenaline junkie.

But Luke in his gospel has shown us they aren’t like that. They‘re just like us; prone to avoiding confrontation as they slip away from the mob in the garden, prone to worry and anxiety in the face of a storm, prone to want their comfort as they try to send the 5,000 away rather than feed them, prone to saving their skin rather than standing up for Jesus round the fire in the courtyard.

So what changes? How come these men and women turn the world upside? God doesn’t change their personality type, if you’ve been praying for that you’ve been praying for the wrong thing. These men turn the world upside down because Jesus keeps his promise and he sends them the Holy Spirit. They aren’t alone as they go to witness to Jesus, God the Holy Spirit fills them enabling them, and us, to know God and enjoy new life in Jesus. He helps us know we are loved and share in the Father, Son and Spirit’s joy and delight in each other. And he causes that love and delight to overflow into our words and actions as we witness to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord.

He says wait for that to happen and then GO.

Do you see the significance of this? This isn’t mission impossible, the message doesn’t self destruct in 10 seconds. The Apostles aren’t sent out alone. Neither are we, but unlike them we don’t need to wait. When we trust in Jesus for forgiveness, when we repent of our sin and ask him to be our Lord he promises and gives us the Holy Spirit. And by that empowering God equips us to be his witnesses; to take on his mission for his creation to delight in and enjoy life lived with Father, Son and Spirit. God doesn’t give us a character transplant to make us extroverts! He calls, equips and empowers us to witness to him as he has made us.  We are to witness to who he is and what he has done for us and in us.

The mission can seem vast, it can seem overwhelming, if we take our eye off who God is and who he has given us.

Only one power exists on this planet, in this town, in this community that can bring lasting change. Only the love of Jesus Christ that conquers sin, wipes out shame, heals wounds, and reconciles enemies can change the world one life at a time. And God has given that message to his church, to us, filled with his Spirit to bring others into his kingdom while we wait for that kingdom to be fully realised.

And notice one last thing. (10-11)The angels come and prod the disciples, don’t stand around waiting staring up into the sky, he’ll come back, yes, but don’t wait for it. Live in the light of it. God’s unchanging mission is for his people to witness to him. To break new ground with the gospel, see the lost saved and churches planted to disciple new believers.

Mission matters and therefore church planting matters as we establish disciples in every city, town village and suburb that are reaching out to others with the gospel.  The church is the visible embodiment of our mission to witness to Jesus.

Why Mission and therefore Church Planting matters - Part 1

I'm going to post three short posts about why mission and church planting matters from Acts 1.

Part 1: The Unchanging mission of God(1-8)

When you remove the key leader often companies or movements struggle. Think of Manchester United since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, or the concerns about Apple without Steve Jobs.

When they crucified Jesus the Jewish leaders hoped that’d be the last they heard of him. That his disciples would drift back to their normal lives and Jesus and his works would become a fading memory. But on Easter Sunday Jesus rose again, death wasn’t the end, (Luke 24:46)just as the law and prophets promised. Jesus proves it conclusively to his followers(3). But now, here in Acts1, Jesus is about to go away, (2)he’s going to be taken up to heaven. The question is what will happen to the disciples without him? Will they go back to their fishing boats and tax booths? Will Jesus become a forgotten footnote in history?

Fast forward 30 years after Jesus’ ascension and the good news of Jesus has turned the world upside down. Jesus who never left the area surrounding Judea is known, worshipped and followed across Asia, Europe, Africa and elsewhere. How and why did that happen?

That’s the story of Acts. The explosion of the gospel from the backwater of Palestine across the world. And in his opening verses Luke wants Theophilus, and us as we read over his shoulder, to see why. (1-2)“In my first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day he was taken up...” Luke’s gospel is about who Jesus is and what he did before he ascended to heaven, Acts is the account of what Jesus does after his ascension. Jesus isn’t done when he ascends; Jesus is alive and reigning at God the Father’s right hand. And he isn’t distant; an isolated, pampered prince. He reigns and intercedes on behalf of his people and Acts will show us how. Acts isn’t the Acts of the Apostles. It’s the continuing Acts of the risen reigning Jesus at work by the Spirit in his people.

And that hasn’t changed. What is true in the first century is true this morning. Jesus is alive and reigning right now at his Father’s right hand. That’s the lens through which we view the world. All the chaos; the fractures caused by sin, the pain and hurt which is the result of rebellion against God, the evil which comes from wanting to rule ourselves is painfully real. But Jesus Christ is reigning over all. It doesn’t knock him off his throne. That’s our confidence, just as it was the church’s confidence in Acts as they faced external persecution and internal challenges, as they went to a hostile world with the gospel, Jesus reigns and rules.  He is still on mission.

Jesus reigns, right now this morning, he will be reigning tomorrow as you go to work or school or home. And he is at work, it may be small and hidden, but he is at work.

You can imagine the disciples’ excitement can’t you? Like Christmas, birthday and bonfire night all rolled into one. Jesus is alive, raised to life again by God so now he’ll bring the kingdom he’s been teaching about into being. His rule will begin, his enemies will be defeated and everything will be amazing. So they ask “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” You can imagine the excited glances, smiling expectantly, like children waiting for the cake at a party as they ask the question.

They expect Jesus to bring his kingdom right now. But (7-8)Jesus wants them to understand the nature of the kingdom, the timing of the kingdom and their role in bringing the kingdom.

They ask about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel. But God’s plans have always been much bigger than one nation. Jesus has been teaching them about (3)the kingdom of God. God’s kingdom has never been exclusively to one nation. Father, Son and Spirit have planned from eternity to reconcile, redeem and reunite all humanity. Jesus says “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

God’s plan has always been to reach and win the world. In Genesis 12 as an embryonic Israel is in promise form, the promise is of people, place, and protection but also God’s plan that “in you all families of the earth shall be blessed.” Throughout the Old Testament we see glimpses of that plan as Joseph blesses the nations by providing food, as Solomon’s wisdom impacts nations beyond Israel’s borders. As Rahab, Ruth, and others join God’s people by faith, as Jonah and Nahum are sent to the Assyrians, as Daniel and friends witness in Babylon. As the prophets cast a vision of God’s people as a light to the nations who flock to know God.

God’s plan has always been for people from every nation to enter his kingdom through faith in Jesus. To know the king, follow him and live enjoying his rule.  And God invites, no he commands his people to share the family values.  Mission not an option it is a necessity.  Therefore planting churches, communities that hold out the gospel - not are inward looking and naval gazing - is an absolute must if we are to play our part in God's mission.

Daily Reading: Acts 12 'Expecting God to answer?'

It's one of my favourite moments in the whole of the bible, v13-14 record the arrival of an angelically rescued Peter at the house where the church was holding it's prayer meeting interceding with God on Peter's behalf.  He knocks on the door and Rhoda opens it, what happens next reads almost like a comedy sketch, you can imagine her eyes going wide as she sees Peter and then leaves him stood at the gate as she runs in and tells the others that peter is stood at the gate.  But before we are too harsh on Rhoda she is not the only one who finds it hard to believe that miraculous way God has answered their prayers.

Peter himself struggles to believe it (v9) Peter assume he is seeing a vision and it's only in verse 11 that "When Peter came to himself he said "Now I am sure that they has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."  Then he goes to the house of Mary.  Peter as he seeing the angel and obey his call to get up and walks past dozing guards assumes its a vision not reality.  And the early church are as incredulous as Rhoda is, what is their response (15) "You are out of your mind... and they kept saying it is his angel!"

We expect the soldiers an the Jewish leaders and Herod to be amazed but in this passage ewe see that the church is amazed too.  They have been praying but don't seemed to have expected this answer.  It's another reminder that God rules.  It's a spur to pray.  And it convicts me because too often I am just like them in my lack of expectancy when I pray.  God rules, he reigns, he acts.  Whilst his answer may not always be as we want, as James martyrdom shows, we are still to pray and expect to see answers.  Certainly when we see the answer standing there right in front of us we mustn't write it off as coincidence but praise God for his gracious answer to his people's prayers.

Daily Reading: Acts 12 'Prison Break'

I can't help but wonder how the Apostles felt throughout the events on Acts 8-12.  The initial growth of the gospel in Jerusalem had been explosive, but with persecution the church has been scattered across Judea and Samaria and the gospel growth there has been dramatic.  Now in chapter 12 the focus shifts back to Jerusalem and we see that the Apostles now face persecution, a significant shift from Acts 8.  Now it's not the religious leaders leading the persecution it's Herod, pursuing and persecuting and even execution some of the churches leaders because it wins him favour with the Jews(2).

So Peter finds himself imprisoned and on death row, no doubt knowing exactly what happened to James the brother of John. I wonder what he thought about as he sat in his jail cell.  I wonder if his mind wandered back to his reinstatement by Jesus when he was told that when he was old another would lead him where he did not want to go.  Did he wonder if this was it or if he was secure in trusting he would live?  The key detail we're told is (5) "so Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to Go by the church."  Where is the power in v1-5?  It looks v4 humanly speaking as if it is with Herod; he seized Peter, put him in prison, delivered him, had him guarded by 4 squads of soldiers, he keeps him in prison.  But the power is really seen in verse 5 as the Church approach and pray to God, the almighty, the king of kings, before whom Herod is less that dust on the scales.

We are shown again that though it looks to earthly eyes as if Herod has the power really the church have access to the sovereign ruling mighty God, the one who is all powerful.  It ought to spur me on to pray.  We are, in Jesus invited, to come to God the almighty sovereign ruler of all not as subjects grovelling hoping to persuade him to hear us but as our Father.  We are heard by God because of Jesus, and there we have access to the real power in the universe. 

Daily Reading: Acts 11v19-30 'Being Barny'

"19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

27 Now in these days prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). 29 So the disciples determined, everyone according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul."

There is a lot we could focus on here.  But what has struck me is the character of Barnabas, who Luke keeps on drawing our attention to (ch6, 9, 11).  "When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose..."
Barnabas was an encourager, such an encourager that encouragement could have been his dad because they had the same DNA, the family likeness and here we see a picture of what encouragement looks like in the church.

Barnabas is sent by the Apostles and just look at the description he "came...saw...was glad...exhorted them to remain faithful..."  Barnabas was a man filled with the Spirit in whom the fruit of the Spirit were obvious.  When he gets to Antioch he rejoices that the Gentiles have come to faith, that the grace of God is at work, active, among them as a community.  And that joy leads him to encourage them to keep on going.  he doesn't coolly and critically evaluate and then troubleshoot, or suggest how he would have done it differently.  There's no criticism sheathed within a velvet glove as we can sometimes do.  Barnabas rejoices in the gospel bearing fruit and works to encourage further fruitfulness.

Isn't that a challenge, am I characterised by joy in seeing the gospel and grace at work in others.  Am I rejoicing in the faith and fruit of others?  Am I looking to spur others on rather than bring them down.  This is so counter our culture, our culture prizes criticism not praise, it assumes that intelligence and skill always evaluates and knows a better way.  But that is the fruit of this age not the fruit of the Spirit.  Imagine what church would be like if when we walked in we all looked for two people we could encourage about our joy in seeing the grace of God at work in their life.  Two people we could encourage by praying with and for them.  Every church needs a Barnabas, if not more than one.

Daily Reading: Acts 11v1-18 'Challenging a prejudiced church culture'

"Now the apostles and the brothers who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, 3 “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began and explained it to them in order: 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision, something like a great sheet descending, being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to me. 6 Looking at it closely, I observed animals and beasts of prey and reptiles and birds of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But the voice answered a second time from heaven, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’ 10 This happened three times, and all was drawn up again into heaven. 11 And behold, at that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesarea. 12 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. 13 And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; 14 he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?” 18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”

Luke gives considerable weight to the issue of the gospel going to the Gentiles.  48 verse sin chapter 10, another 18 here, and the issue resurfaces again in chapter 15.  The crux of the issue is the very nature of the gospel also it is no wonder Luke gives considerable time to these events.  The mission of God, which he has called to the church to be part of, to take the gospel to the whole world, from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the earth.

But there seems to be an assumption that has been made by the church and here in chapters 10 and 11 God is challenging the church to see the world and the gospel as he does.  The assumption they have made is that the gospel is to be shared with Gentiles who have become proselytes - followers of Yahweh through Judaism.  In verse 1-3 that is made apparent as Peter is criticised for doing the very thing he struggled to do until God showed him, associating with Gentiles.  What is the problem?  Peter has shared the gospel with non-proselyte Gentiles.  They are not culturally Jewish with everything that entails, and so Peter is criticised because they are uncircumcised and unclean.

Peter's explanation focuses on the fact that he, and they (17) by implication must not oppose God but rather join with God's mission as he defines it.  They cannot put up barriers to others that God does not.  The Jerusalem church cannot be monoculture and after this realisation the spread of the gospel round the world accelerates. Understanding that God is prejudice less that his mission is prejudice less makes his people prejudice less.   God leads the church to get over its prejudice of culture so that it can take his gospel to all.

So what does this mean for us?  Where may our church culture be a barrier to the spread of the gospel?  What are type cultural norms that we assume people either must adopt to hear the gospel or to be welcomed into church?  In the UK church is overwhelmingly middle class. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but the question is are we willing to take the gospel to others? What is there in our assumptions, our church culture, which means we limit practically who the gospel is for? Are there ways in which we preach what are cultural norms as gospel norms?

I want to suggest a few areas where our church culture may be a barrier to the gospel being for all:

Identity – for most of us our identity is linked to our education and achievements. For those from deprived area and working class areas identity is linked to appearance, dress and respect in community.

Community - For many of us our relationships are network based and are spread out. For those from working class cultures their networks are neighbourhood based. What does this mean for reaching them?

Attitude to learning - We have generally enjoyed learning and school. For others school has been a place of failure and learning has been hard or had little relevance.  How welcoming is church for those people?

Ability to access and be involved in church - We generally prize logic and clear dispassionate thinking. For those from working class backgrounds they value passion and concrete practical teaching.

Use of the home –we regularly use homes and invite people in for meals and are comfortable with that. That is not the case for many in working class culture and may be a barrier, as they prefer social spaces.

Perception problem – for many the problem is perception, they feel we judge them, they feel they aren't welcome. Unless we work hard to overcome this and get up and get out and invest in getting to know them we will never overcome this barrier.

I could go on about cultural differences – attitudes to money, people, the future, love, time, family, language, authority and so on. Whatever differences there are everyone needs the gospel and everyone can find in the gospel the hope of salvation. God is prejudice less, how can we not be.  The great gospel is for all and God invites us to be part of taking it to people everywhere.

Daily Reading: Acts 10 'Location, location, location'

I gave up geography when I was 16, all the sharpening of coloured pencils necessary was just too much for me.  But geography often matters when we read the Bible.  Places have significance.  That's the case here in Acts 10, where is Peter?  Peter is in Joppa.  Why does Joppa ring a bell biblically?  Because it is the town from which a fleeing Jonah set sail to anywhere but Nineveh as he rejected God's call to take his message to the people of Nineveh.

It is telling that Peter is given his vision and is told to go with these men to the home of a Gentile while in the place where Jonah tries to launch his abortive attempt to flee from God's call to do the same thing.  Jonah prizes the special place of Israel, God's people.  He knows the growing threat to Israel is from Nineveh, so why would he risk them turning to a merciful God and escaping judgement.  Peter's situation is not that different, Cornelius is a centurion, part of the apparatus to the empire which rules over Israel, the actual oppressing power rather than just a potential one, and yet God calls him to take the gospel to him.  Luke records for us Peter's struggle, three times he debates whether to eat what God has provided with God, then it takes further prompting to get him to go, and it is only after he hears from Cornelius that he understands that the gospel is for everyone without partiality.

It's worth us asking who have we ruled out of the gospel?  Who would we never consider taking the gospel to?  Peter's barrier is to do with race, the us and them of Jew Gentile relationships.  Who are our us and them's?

Had God not taught Peter this valuable lesson we may never have heard the gospel.  Who is there who is not hearing the gospel because of our us and them complex?  What will we do about it?  Peter goes when he realises, he preaches the gospel to them when he finally understands, will we?  What will that look like?

Daily Reading: Acts 9v31-43 'Peace and Purpose'

"31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralysed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[a] She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner."

We don't think of peace as a potential threat to our faith.  In fact we tend to pray for it.  But peace must be purposeful for the church.  The church in Acts grow dramatically during a time of persecution, now the question is can it do the same in a time of peace.  Peace poses a different set of challenges to the church than persecution.  The fear is largely gone, the gospel is more acceptable, the potential to grow used to comfort and social status is more pronounced.  Peace can be a big a threat as persecution to our faith and the church.

But the early church invest their peace, just as they invested their persecution.  They live in fear of the Lord as much in peacetime as in persecution.  They use the time of peace to be built up or strengthened.  They don't take it easy, this is not a vacation, eternal life is still at stake, Jesus still need stop be proclaimed, there is a still a spiritual battle raging around us even if its visibility dialled down.

How am I investing the time of relative peace I enjoy?  How am I making the most of the opportunities afforded me?  The resources readily available?  The doors that currently are open but one day may well slam shut?  Am I still living on a spiritual war footing or am I lounging in comfort lulled into oblivion to the eternal plight of those around me?

Daily reading: Acts 9v31-43 'Persecution and purpose'

"31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.

32 Now as Peter went here and there among them all, he came down also to the saints who lived at Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, bedridden for eight years, who was paralysed. 34 And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you; rise and make your bed.” And immediately he rose. 35 And all the residents of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

36 Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas.[a] She was full of good works and acts of charity. 37 In those days she became ill and died, and when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner."

With Saul the driving force behind the persecution now as passionate about Christ as he was about destroying the church the time of persecution is over.  The church in Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoys a time of peace.  That is staggering statement, whereas in chapter 7 of Acts there is only a church in Jerusalem, by chapter 9v31 there are churches in Judea, Galilee and Samaria.  Persecution has been God's means of spreading the gospel carrying disciples and birthing church after church after church.

Don't rush past this and miss it.  Persecution has led to growth, because the believers have carried on boldly proclaiming the gospel, they refuse to be silenced.  That is often not the way we think, we assume that persecution will damage the gospel when Acts, and history, often tells the opposite story.  Maybe this should make us think carefully about what we pray for when persecution comes?

God is sovereign and the gospel is great news.  We must pray that we hold firmly to those convictions when we face opposition or persecution.  We must pray the same for our brothers and sisters who live daily under the threat of persecution.  And when persecution comes not panic as if it threatens God's purpose and his kingdom.

Why not pray now for those in persecution and for yourself that these convictions would so grip your heart that you can stand.

Daily Reading: Acts 9v1-31 "Totally transformed'

Ananias is a reluctant evangelist (10-19). And you can't blame him for being a bit reluctant to go see Saul can you, Saul has harmed the church, and come to Damascus to arrest everyone who follows Jesus as Lord. But God tells Ananias he has changed Saul, he has transformed him and so Ananias goes and Saul's eyes are opened both physically and spiritually. Before Saul couldn't see who Jesus was, now he can and he receives the Holy Spirit given to everyone of Jesus followers just as he promised. But it's not just Saul's eyes who are opened Ananias eyes are opened too to the power of the gospel to save anyone and everyone.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is so powerful that it can change anyone, there is no one too bad or too good that the gospel cannot save them. Meeting Jesus, seeing who he really is changes everything. Some if you her may never have heard that much about Jesus thus week is your chance to find out. Don't think you are too bad for him, you may have taken the mickey out of people who follow him, you may have cursed him but he still wants you to see who he is and be changed.

Maybe sometimes we are a bit afraid of telling people about who Jesus is, afraid of the reaction. Maybe we even think sometimes that someone we know would never believe the gospel. Perhaps it's a parent or a brother or sister or someone at school. The account of Saul and Ananias tells us no one is beyond the gospel. So be brave and share it. Maybe you have never told someone you are a Christian you're afraid of the reaction. Tell someone.

What difference does trusting Jesus make? Does it just change what I do on Sundays? Or my language? Or just make me a bit nicer? No it changes everything. Do you see the change in Saul? He now boldly preaches the message he had tried to destroy he now tries to persuade others to trusting in Jesus. Powerfully he proves Jesus is the Son of God from the bible and calls people to believe. Paul's very reason for living is transformed, he is prepared to face persecution for his faith and his preaching of Jesus as the Saviour of the world.

That is the difference really meeting Jesus makes, it totally convinces you that he is worth everything. He become Lord as well as saviour. Meeting Jesus totally transforms us.  Can I ask you have you been transformed? If you've grown up in Christian home this can be difficult to see. But we see it most clearly when we are away from home influences, how transformed is your living with your friends? At school, at work at home, in your neighbourhood?  Jesus longs to transform us when we see who he really is, when we make him Lord.

Daily Reading: Acts 9v1-31 'You can't fight against God and win'

The bible is one epic story of a battle. But it's not a battle between just a goodie and a baddie it's the battle between God and Satan. Every event you read of in the bible is part of this battle, and Revelation, along with other apocalyptic books, pull back the curtain and shows us the battle raging throughout history.

In Acts we drop in on this battle. In 1:8 Jesus gives his disciples their mission: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." That mission has started but has been met with opposition and a key figure in that opposition is Saul. Saul hates Jesus' followers, this isn't lighthearted rivalry like between two opposing sets of fans. Saul hates Christians and wants to wipe them out, he stands approvingly watching Stephen be stoned to death for his faith in Jesus and he is part of a great persecution that breaks out against the church.

(9:1-2) he gets letters from the high priest so that he can arrest Christians wherever he finds them and put them in jail in Jerusalem. Saul doesn't believe Jesus rose again and he sees the followers of Jesus as a threat to Judaism, and so he sets out to wipe them out. But fighting against God is dangerous.

Saul has his plan but more importantly God has his and there will only be one winner. So as Saul travels and gets near to Damascus he meets the risen Jesus. Suddenly a light flashes from heaven and Saul hears a voice. Saul gets it straight away, it is God speaking just as he had to Moses in the Old Testament. Saul expects the voice to identify himself as Yahweh, maybe even use the name I AM. But here's the biggest shock what does the voice say?  "I am Jesus..." Saul's world is turned upside down in that moment. Jesus who he thought was dead, Jesus whose followers he's been persecuting and arresting and throwing in prison is alive and he speaks as God speaks to his people.

And Saul finds out he hasn't been persecuting a fraud, he hasn't just been persecuting a group of people or a religion, but he has been fighting against God himself. Saul is led into the city blind and humbled, there are no threats, no arrests, no persecution. For three days Saul fasts.

You can't fight against God and win. It is vital that we understand that, no-one has ever won in a fight against God. Don't fight against God, if you hear God speaking to you listen to him.

I remember the night I came to trust Jesus. I'd always gone to church, but lived a double life, one way on Sunday and at youth group a totally different way at school. But when I realised I had to trust Jesus for myself or face a lost eternity I tried to fight it. I spent all night telling myself Jesus was about to come again, you see my logic went like this, the bible says no one knows when Jesus will come again so if I say he's coming he can't come because no one knows. Pretty dumb! But in the early hours of the morning I realised I couldn't live my whole life like that and I went to my parents and chatted with them about it, I asked Jesus forgiveness and trusted him. You can't fight against God and win.

But here's the second thing when other people oppose us or laugh at us for following Jesus they aren't just fighting against us but against God, father, son and spirit. Saul had been attacking the church but Jesus takes that personally. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." If as Christians we find ourselves being persecuted we need to remember that they can't fight against God and win.

Bible Reading: Isaiah 52v13-53v12

The Ethiopian Eunuch as Philip runs alongside his chariot is reading Isaiah 53, his question is the question to ask of this text: who is the prophet talking about? What joy for Philip in explaining to the man that the prophet is talking about Jesus, and then waking him though Jesus majesty and humility in coming to earth, his willing giving of himself to face injustice and bear the punishment for our sins, and the wonder of his resurrection which secures forgiveness and righteousness for us. Little wonder the Ethiopian Eunuch after his baptism goes on his way rejoicing, his sins are forgiven, his spiritual thirst is satisfied and he knows God. As we read it ask not just who is he talking about? But how ought this passage to fuel my joy in knowing Jesus?

  "See, my servant will act wisely;
    he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him –
     his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
     and his form marred beyond human likeness –
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,
    and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
    For what they were not told, they will see,
   and what they have not heard, they will understand.


53 Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
   and like a root out of dry ground.
   He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
   nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
   a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
   Like one from whom people hide their faces
   he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
   and bore our suffering,
   yet we considered him punished by God,
   stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
   he was crushed for our iniquities;
   the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
   and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
   each of us has turned to our own way;
   and the Lord has laid on him
   the iniquity of us all.


7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
   yet he did not open his mouth;
   he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
   and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
   so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
   Yet who of his generation protested?
   For he was cut off from the land of the living;
   for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
   and with the rich in his death,
   though he had done no violence,
  nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
   and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
   he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
   and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
   he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
   by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
   and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
   and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
   because he poured out his life unto death,
   and was numbered with the transgressors.
   For he bore the sin of many,
   and made intercession for the transgressors.

Bible Reading: Acts 8v26-40 'Invited to join God's mission'

"26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road – the desert road – that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means ‘queen of the Ethiopians’). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked.

31 ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

‘He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.’

34 The eunuch asked Philip, ‘Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?’ 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they travelled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptised?’ 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptised him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and travelled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea."

This Sunday we will be looking at Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.  One of the major things we are reminded of here is that it is not that God gives the church a mission rather he invites us to play our part in his mission.  Christopher Wright puts it this way: "Our mission flows from and participates in the mission of God."  That is particularly clear here as we see God clearly directing Philip in terms of where to go and then in terms of a direction to go up to the chariot and stay close to it.

But we also see it in the way God has been at work in the Ethiopian Eunuch's life long before Philip was directed to go to the desert road.  The Ethiopian Eunuch has a spiritual thirst that he has not been able to satisfy, he has travelled from modern day Sudan to Jerusalem a journey which would have taken months to worship God.  And as he journey's back he is still searching, still scouring scripture, he still has questions, his quest is not over.  In many ways he is the evangelists dream, certainly his question is, when he asks Philip "who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?"  What a great question to ask as you read Isaiah 53?  What a great question to be asked by someone who is spiritually hungry?

Philip is invited by God to be involved in his work of making Jesus known.  Philip is not involved in so much of the work God has been doing but he is called to play his part in the mission of God.  How would thinking like that transform our thoughts on mission and evangelism?  As we share the gospel we are participating with the Almighty missional God empowered by the Spirit not going it alone.