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ACTS 1-6-11 ESV
6Sowhentheyhadcometogether,theyaskedhim,"Lord,willyouatthistimerestorethekingdomtoIsrael?"7Hesaidtothem,"ItisnotforyoutoknowtimesorseasonsthattheFatherhas?ixedbyhisownauthority.8ButyouwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpirithascomeuponyou,andyouwillbemywitnessesinJerusalemandinallJudeaandSamaria,andtotheendoftheearth."9Andwhenhehadsaidthesethings,astheywerelookingon,hewasliftedup,andacloudtookhimoutoftheirsight.10Andwhiletheyweregazingintoheavenashewent,behold,twomenstoodbytheminwhiterobes,11andsaid,"MenofGalilee,whydoyoustandlookingintoheaven?ThisJesus,whowastakenupfromyouintoheaven,willcomeinthesamewayasyousawhimgointoheaven."
ACTS 4:23-31 ESV
23Whentheywerereleased,theywenttotheirfriendsandreportedwhatthechiefpriestsandtheeldershadsaidtothem.24Andwhentheyheardit,theyliftedtheirvoicestogethertoGodandsaid,"SovereignLord,whomadethe
heavenandtheearthandtheseaandeverythinginthem,25whothroughthemouthofourfatherDavid,yourservant,saidbytheHolySpirit,
"'WhydidtheGentilesrage,andthepeoplesplotinvain?26Thekingsoftheearthsetthemselves,andtherulersweregatheredtogether,againsttheLordandagainsthisAnointed'—27fortrulyinthiscitytherewere
gatheredtogetheragainstyourholyservantJesus,whomyouanointed,bothHerodandPontiusPilate,alongwiththeGentilesandthepeoplesofIsrael,28todowhateveryourhandandyourplanhadpredestinedtotakeplace.29Andnow,Lord,lookupontheirthreatsandgranttoyourservantstocontinuetospeakyourwordwithallboldness,30whileyoustretchoutyourhandtoheal,andsignsandwondersareperformedthroughthenameofyourholyservantJesus."31Andwhentheyhadprayed,theplaceinwhichtheyweregatheredtogetherwasshaken,andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGodwithboldness.
“ButyouwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpirithascomeuponyou,andyou
willbemywitnessesin
JerusalemandinallJudeaandSamaria,andtotheendofthe
earth."
Volume 1 Garry E. Milley
“A PENTECOSTAL WORLDVIEW”
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Theearlychurchfacedmanychallenges.Thegreatestat?irstwastheoppositionfromtheleaderswhocontrolledthereligiouslifeofthepeople.Theymadeitdif?icultfortheapostlesandtheyoungChristiancommunitytobeheardproperly.TheyoungChristianmovementwasmisunderstoodandpersecuted.Theywerethreatenedandcharged.TheywerecommandednottospeakinJesusname.
Inthestorywereadtoday,theapostleswenttotheirfriendsandtoldthemwhathappened.They“lifteduptheirvoicestogether”inprayer.TheirprayerwasbasedonPsalm2.
GodhadsetDavidasKingoveralargepieceofconqueredterritoryandhisrulershipwasbeingopposedbythenations.Thepoetcouldn’tunderstandthis.“Whydothenationsrage?”Whydon’tthenationsrecognizethatGodanointedthekingtorule?Hisruleistobeagodlyrule.Whytheopposition?
TheearlychurchbelievedthatJesus,theSonofDavid,wasmeanttoruletheworldforever.Hewasthepromisedkingwhosekingdomwascomingandwhosekingdomwouldhavenoend.That’sthepointoftheMessianicprophecies.TheMessiahisakinglytitle.TheGreekwordChristmeansthesamething—theanointedonewhoischosenbyGodtoreign.
TheearlychurchsawtheresurrectionofJesusasthebeginningofhisreign.Theycouldnotunderstandwhy
somanypeoplecouldnotacceptit.Theirfrustrationisre?lectedintheirprayers.“WhydidtheGentilesrage...AgainsttheLordandagainsthisanointed?”TheirprayerswereinformedandshapedbyScripture.WhattheScripturesaid,theHolySpiritsaid.Didyounoticethat?DidyounoticethatwhentheyreadtheScripturetheyheardtheSpiritspeaking?
Allaroundthemwasconfusionandopposition.Yet,theyknewtheywerelivinginabiggerstorythantheirown.TheyknewthatalltheterriblethingsthatwerehappeningwerehappeningsomehowwithinagreaterplanofGod.Intheirprayer,theydidn’tdocrazythingslike“rebuketheenemy”or“repentforsinsofpreviousgenerations.”Theydidn’tevenasktheLordtoprotectthem.Theydidn’tinterprettheeventsastheresultsofagenerationalcurse.Theydidn’tcomeupwithstrangepropheciesaboutseeingintoaspiritrealm.Nothinglikethatatall!Theysaid,“lookuponthethreats”butgrantuscouragetowitnessboldly.“Whileyoustretchoutyourhandtoheal,andsignsandwondersareperformedthroughthenameofyourholyservantJesus.”Ilovethatprayer.“Lordtheproblemsareallaroundus,butkeepusfaithfultothetaskofproclaimingthetruthaboutJesus.”Everygenerationneedstodothat.Andweneedtodoitinabalancedway.
“andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGod
withboldness.”
“While you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Jesus Will Return!
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Verse31says,“Andwhentheyhadprayed,theplaceinwhichtheyweregatheredtogetherwasshaken,andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGodwithboldness.”
Theshakingwasnotdonebyloudpulsatingmusic.Itwasnotproduced.Itwasnotengineeredbypeopletryingtogetaneffectoutofthecrowds.ItwasthepresenceoftheHolySpiritthatshookeverythingtothecoreandturnedthemallintopowerfulandboldwitnesses.That’sthekindof?illingweneedtoday.Theemphasiswasonthe?illingoftheSpiritandtheresultingwitness.
IamaNewfoundlanderbybirth.IamaChristianbythesecondbirth.IamaPentecostalbothbyexperienceandconviction.Iam,whatiscalled,a“classical”Pentecostal.ThatmeansonewhoseeshisspiritualrootsgoingbackthroughAzusaStreettotheDayofPentecost.Somemaythinkofa“classic”asanoldcarinneedofapaintjobandatotaloverhaul.ReallyitmeansthattherootsofhowIunderstandbeingPentecostalgobackallthewaytothe?irstwaveofthemodernrevival.IcantracethebeliefsweholdandthespiritualdisciplineswepracticetotheAzusaStreetrevivalof1906‐1909andbacktotheNewTestamentitself.
Iholdthepositionthatthe
modernPentecostal/charismaticrenewalgotitsimpetusfromtheAzusaStreetmovement.The?irstwavecontainedthecoreelements;itcontainedtheheartoftherevival.Astherevivalfacedchallengesofopposition,falsedoctrineandsinfullives,itdevelopedabalancedandintegratedapproachtospirituality.Itwasnotextreme.PentecostalismisonewayofbeingaChristian.Itisn’ttheonlyway,butitisthewayIknowbest.
IstruggletobeabalancedmiddleoftheroadPentecostal.Iseektoavoidtheditchesoneitherside.Itisn’teasy.Someonehassaidthatthemiddleoftheroadisabadplacetostandbecauseyouaresuretobeknockeddownbywhateveriscomingalong.WhatImeanisobvious.Idonotwanttobeidenti?iedbyextremesoneithersideoftherevival.
WehavesomePentecostalchurchessoupsetwithsomeofthecurrentexpressionsoftherevivalthattheyhavelefttheirPentecostalrootsaltogetherandhavebecomeliturgicalliketheEpiscopalians.Othershavesaidthe“classical”Pentecostalsareancienthistory.Godis“donewithus,”theysay,becausewehesitateinacceptingsomeofthenewerthings.SomewanttoembracewhateverisnewonthemarketandtheyleavetheirtraditionalPentecostalchurchforanynumber
ofindependentchurches.
Ihavefriendswhoareinvolvedinboththeseextremes.Ilovethemdearlyandtheyloveme.But,bothsidescan’tseemtounderstandme.Eachsidewantsmetoendorsethem.ButIwanttoremaininthecentralposition,themiddleoftheroad,ifyouplease.
IamnotsayingthatIknowbest,asifIweretheexpertoneverything.I’mnot.ButIwanttobeagoodsoldierfortheclassicalposition.Wehaveourfaults.Wearenotperfect.Butoverthepast100years,theclassicalpositionhasproventobethelessdamagingtopeople.Wehavelearnedsomethingsfromourexperience.Wehavelearnedtobebalanced.BlessedarethebalancedfortheywillremainstandingupforJesuslongerthaneveryoneelsehasfallenover!
IbelieveGodwantstoblesshispeoplebutIamnotahealth/wealthpreacher.IbelievethatGodstillworksmiraclestoday,butIwillnotpromiseyouamiracleinordertogetyourmoney.IbelievethatGodspeakstousthroughhisWordbutIdonotbelievethatGodyammerstouseverymomentoftheday.
Ibelievethatthegiftofprophecyisfortheedi?ication,exhortation,andcomfortofthechurch.Idonotbelievethatevery
“Pentecostalism is one way of being a Christian. It isn’t the only way, but it is the way I know best.”
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positivethingIcanimagineisaprophecyforthewholechurch.
IbelieveGodguidesusdailythroughhisWord,thewisecounseloffriends,andthroughprayer.Idonotbelieveyouneedtophoneintoyourpersonalprophetandmakeafaithpledgeinordertogetguidance.Idonotbelievethataprophetoughttotellyoutoleaveyourspouseinordertoful?illyourspiritualdestiny.
IanointpeoplewithoilforthehealingofthesickasweareinstructedinJames.IdonotbelieveinsendingawayforMiracleSpringWaterandnow,recently,NewEnhancedMiracleSpringWater.Idonotbelievethatyououghttobesending$1000toaTVevangelistsothatyoucanhaveyournameputonthesideofhisprivatejet.Idonotbelieveyououghttosendanother$1000tohaveyounameplacedontheothersideoftheprivatejet!ThesewerethingsIencounteredlastweek!Theseexamplesarenotinventedorreadabout;theyareactualsituationsthatIhavepastoredrecently.
Iamnota“line‘emup;knock‘emdown”pastor.IdonotputonabigshowforyoueachSunday.Icannotcompetewiththeslickproductionsthatmediapeoplecanproduce.WearehumblepeoplehereatParkAvenue.ButwebelievedinthemovingoftheSpirit.WehavehadanexperienceandanencounterwithGodthathaveleftusshakentothecore.WearedoingourbesttobeabalancedPentecostalchurch.Wearenotahighchurchandwearenotalowchurch.Wearenotacathedralandwearenotastorefront.WeareagroupofpeoplefromallwalksoflifebeingbroughttogetherbyapowerfulanddeepmoveofGod.
Asa“classical”Pentecostal,andonewhohastaughtourhistoryforyears,Itendtoevaluatethecurrentmovementsandemergingdoctrinesbyasking,“Havewe,asamovement,beenherebefore?”“Haveweseenthesedoctrinesorpracticesbefore?”“Isthisnewthingreallyneworisitanolderrorrepackagedsomehow?”“AresincerepeoplebeingmisguidedawayfromthesimplicitythereisinChrist?”“AreweseeingdistortionsofthePentecostalfaithinourtimes?”Thesearefairquestions.Theyarenotmotivatedbymeanness.Thereisnointentiontohurtanyone.Theintentionistocautionyoutoevaluatethingscarefullyandprayerfully.TheBibleencouragesustotesteverythingbutholdfasttothatwhichisgood.
AnumberofyearsagoIhadtheprivilegeofstudyingwithDr.StevenJ.Landwhowroteabook,PentecostalSpirituality:APassionfortheKingdom.Hewasteachingusthat,forPentecostals,spiritualityismorethanacertainkindofexperience.Spiritualityisconnectedwithourtheology.Theologyforusisnotjustsomethingthathappensinourheads.Itisnotjust“thinking”aboutGod.ItisnotjustawayofdescribingGodortheplacewherewegettouseourbrainsorourreason.
ForPentecostalstheologyisare?lectiveactionasweseekprayerfullytodiscernGodinthecontextofourspiritualexperiences.WewanttoknowthedifferencebetweenthemovingoftheHolySpiritandouremotions.Today,spiritualexperiencesareadimeadozen.Thereareallkindsofcoursesavailable.SomeofthemarenotevenChristian.Buttheology,forus,isspiritualitydoneinthecontextof
prayer.WeseektobesensitivetotheSpiritinthemidstofourdailyexperiences.WearetryingtodiscerntheSpiritinthemidstoflife.WearetryingtowalkintheSpiritandyetliveinthisrealworld.Thesethingsareintegratedforus.So,prayer,worshipandstudyarepartsofeachother.IseektohearGodspeakasIstudy,prayandlive.Whenwefragmenttheseortearthemapart,wegetintotrouble.
ToisolatethestudyoftheWordtoauniversityorcollegelibrary,toisolatepraisetoaconcert,ortoisolateprayertoapersonalmysticalexperience,istorunintoproblems.PentecostalsareattheirbestwhentheWord,praiseandprayerareintegrated.
Dr.Landmadeaninterestingcomment.ForPentecostalsthecoretheologicaldisciplineislivingspiritually;thecorespiritualdisciplineislivingtheologically.Thatiswhy,fortheclassicalPentecostal,theBibleinformsthehead,theheartandthelifeatthesametime.Theyareintegrated.EverythingistobejudgedbytheWord.WhatweteachmustlineupwiththeWord.WhatweexperiencemustlineupwiththeWord.HowweliveandbehavemustlineupwiththeWord.
Wedon’twanttobejustintellectual.Wedon’twanttobejustsentimental.Wedon’twanttobejustagoodworksfocusedchurch.
Thequestionishowdowebecomeintegratedandnotfragmentedinourspirituallife?Howdoweholdallthesethingstogether?SomechurchesaremoreorlessintellectuallyfocusedontheWord.Othersarejustsentimentallyfocusedontheemotions.Stillothersseemto
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befocusedonsocialjusticeandworksofmercy.Howdowebestintegratethesethings,whichareallproper,inbalance?Ifweweretointegratethem,whatconnectivetissuedoweuse?
Inthetextweread,thereisareferencetoshakingandtothefullnessoftheSpirit.Today,weseepeopletryingtoignorethefullnessoftheSpiritandfocusontheshakingorsomeoftheotherphysicalmanifestations.
AsIhavespentalongtimethinkingaboutthis(Istillhavemuchtolearn)IhavecometotheconclusionthattheconnectionbetweenourthinkingaboutGod,ourexperienceoftheHolySpiritandourobedienceinalifeofdiscipleshipismadeinPentecostalismbyanapocalypticoreschatologicalworldview.NowI’mgoingtoexplainthatforyou.WediscussedthisinourWednesdaymidweekashortwhileago.Thesewordsrefertotheend‐times.
InActschapterone,thedisciplessawJesusgointoheaven.Theyheardapromisethathewouldreturnagain.Jesuspromisedtoreturn.Thatnotewasneversilencedintheearlychurch.TheearlychurchlivedinaworldviewdominatedbythesenseofexpectationfortheLord’sreturn.
TheearlyPentecostalslivedinthelightofthesecondcomingofChrist,too.IfyoureadthehymnalsusedinourhistorymanyofthemwerefullofSecondComingsongs.ThemotiveforpersonalholinessandevangelisticmissionwasthatthedoorofgracewasabouttocloseandJesuscouldreturnatanymoment.
Thiskindofapocalypticand
eschatologicalself‐understandingwasattheverycoreofwhatitmeanttobePentecostal.Thatbeliefpenetratedeverything.Itwasconnectedtoourwitness.(Thereisn’tmuchtime.WehavetowintheworldforChrist.Soonthetimeforweepingwillbeover,soonwegathertoourharvesthome.).Itwasconnectedtoourdailyavoidanceofworldliness(Bereadywithyourgarmentsunspotted).Itwasconnectedwithourunderstandingofsufferinginthisworld(Thisworldisnotmyhome.I’vegotamansionjustoverthehilltop).LivinginthelightofthesecondcomingwastheseasoninginourfaithandinourexperienceoftheHolySpirit(Itwasaforetasteofheaven.Oh,thisislikeheaventome.I’vecrossedoverJordantoCanna'sfairland.)Itwastheairtheybreathed.Alltheirbeliefswereheldinthatatmosphere,heldwiththeawarenessthattheylivedinthelastdays;theywerethe“lastdays”people.Theylivedwithheaveninview.Thatunderstandingaffectedeverything.Itwasaworldview.
Thatcoreelement,thatintegratingconnectivetissueisstillthewayIunderstandourPentecostalfaith.It’sthewayIhavereceivedtheChristianfaith.Iamstillthere.WemustlearntoliveinthelightoftheSecondComingofJesusChrist.
Whenthiscoreelementismissingsomethinghappenstothespirituality.Forexample,speakingintongueswasonceasignofChrist’ssoonreturn.AfterpeoplehadreceivedthebaptismintheHolySpirit,afterspeakingintongues,the?irstwords,inthenativelanguageinvariablywasthattheLordwascomingsoon.Itwasasignthatthegospelwastobeproclaimedthroughoutthewholeworld.It
motivatedpeopletogetoutandwitness.Pentecostalsbecameknownasthemissionariesoftheone‐wayticket.Theydidn’texpecttoreturnfromthemission?ieldbecausetheyexpectedChristtocomeatanymoment.ItmadethemwalksoftlybeforetheLordinholiness.
ButoncetheexperienceoftheHolySpirit’sfullnessgotseparatedfromtheimminencyoftheLord’sreturn,speakingintonguesnolongerfunctionedasasignofworldwideproclamationorasignthatChrist’scomingwascloseathand.Theconnectionwithwitnessandproclamationwaslost.Theexperience,ratherthanbeingfocusedoutwardonmission,becamefocusedinwardonpersonalrenewal.Speakingintonguesbecameatechniqueforpersonalprayerandthe“prayerlanguage”functionwashighlightedmorethanthesecondcomingorthepowertowitness.Iamnotsayingthatthisistotallywrong,onlythatitisadifferentemphasisthanat?irstandwelostsomething.
Iamafraidoftwoextremes.One,Idonotwanttosingjusttheoldhymnstokeepthepeoplemyageandolderhappy.ItdatesusandmakesitappearasifthetrueexperienceofGodwaslimitedtothe?irstorsecondgenerations.ItmakesitseemasifwethinkGodisnotatworkatalltoday,onlyinthepast.TheotherextremeisthatwegravitatetoonlythemostrecentstylesofmusictosatisfythetastesofpeoplewhoaregenerallyyoungerthanIam.Eitherofthesetwoextremesisaditchthatcaneasilybecomearut.Iwanttorecapturethetrueessenceofwhatitmeanstobe?illedwiththeSpirit.And,whenthatconnectivetissueisthere,itdoesn’treallymatterwhetherthesongis
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neworold.
ThechurchneedstolearnhowtodiscernthemovingoftheSpiritwithoutbeingblownaroundbyeverywindofdoctrine.Wemustneverassumethegrassisgreenerinsomeoneelse’sbackyard.Weneedtodigagainourownwells.Weneedtorecoveradeepprayerlife,aprayerlifethatisbathedintheatmosphereofthepromiseofourLord’sreturn.Heiscomingback.“He’scoming.Hesaidhewould.He’scomingbackagain.Ohpraisehisholyname.He’scomingbackagain.He’scoming.Hesaidhewould.He’scomingbackagain.He’scomingtoearthoncemore.”
Thatexpectationcausesyoutoseetheproblemsoflifeinanew
light.Youdon’tspendyourtimebeggingGodtotaketheproblemsawayasifhewereaSantaClaus.YouprayliketheapostlesprayedinActschapter4.
“Andnow,Lord,lookupontheirthreatsandgranttoyourservantstocontinuetospeakyourwordwithallboldness,whileyoustretchoutyourhandtoheal,andsignsandwondersareperformedthroughthenameofyourholyservantJesus."Andwhentheyhadprayed,theplaceinwhichtheyweregatheredtogetherwasshaken,andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGodwithboldness.”
Prayer:
Lord,IpraythatyouwillfreeusfromselMishprayersandgrantusaboldnesstoproclaimyourword.Letusseeyoustretchforthyourhandtoheal.Wewanttoseeit.MaysignsandwondersbedonethroughthenameofJesus.Wewanttoseethem.FillusagainwiththeHolySpiritthatwemaycontinuetospeakyourwordwithboldness.Prepareusforyoursoonreturn.Helpustoliveasifyourreturningwasjustmomentsaway.Ifitisalongwayoff,grantusthestrengthtoendureuntiltheendandwalkworthy,witnessfaithfully,andliveexpectantlyinthelightofthepromiseofyourreturn.InthenameoftheFather,theSonandtheHolySpirit.Amen.
“Fill us again with the Holy Spirit that we may continue to speak your word with boldness.”
IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON & THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
Park Avenue Pentecostal Church Lord, hear our prayer.
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