Introduction
What makes the difference? A
foundation in Jesus that brings intimacy with God. Yes! Now where do we go from
there? How does this work in real life when obstacles present themselves? How
does a church work its way through the mountains of complexity, to make a real
impact in its local context?? When Jesus left us with such a great commission,
what provision did he make for this mission’s success??? As we shall see, the
way of true progress, is the way of the “Spirit”. Whereas, God doesn’t
recognise what we do in our own strength, what we do through God’s Spirit moves
mountains.
Zechariah 4:1-7
First to the Hebrew
Scriptures. God’s people had returned to their homeland from exile after Cyrus
King of Persia had overthrown the Babylonians. Their major task was to rebuild
the Jerusalem temple. This was a huge task, for a people, who had for so long
been removed from their land and spiritual heritage. They were discouraged,
believing that they lacked the necessary resources. The prophet Zechariah was
here bringing God’s message to the people’s leader Zerubbabel – that this task
was indeed possible … under certain circumstances. What could be seen as a big
mountain to climb in the sense of the task at hand, could actually become much
more achievable.
Zechariah was telling
Zerubbabel, that the resources that they thought they lacked, were NOT the
resources that they actually needed! Under certain conditions, that
metaphorical “great mountain” (of verse 7) could become like a flat wide “plain”.
What were the conditions that would help them? These would NOT come by human
“might”, strength, or energy – nor through human “power”, position or
influence; but rather … only … by God’s Spirit. Verse 6 says, “This is the word
of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says
the Lord of hosts”.
And the fact that, through
God’s Spirit, the seemingly impossible, or at least hugely difficult, would be
achieved, would result in a witness to the character of God – there would be …
quote … “shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it’”. There would be an obvious and
undeniable witness to God’s activity amongst them. Perhaps we also see here a
pointer to the ultimate person of “grace”. The completion of this temple
project would be roundly celebrated when the “top stone” (verse 7) or
“capstone” or “final stone” was installed in its rightful position.
So, having heard this,
wouldn’t Zerubbabel, put aside any reliance on his own might, and his own
political power, and just be open to God’s Spirit?! You would think he would!
But he may not! Why not? The job will not get done unless he does! But
still … he may prefer his own resources (even though they will be found
deficient), he may prefer his own way of going about it over God’s design (even
though that won’t work either), he may not be able to trust God enough
(even though he has had enough good experiences of God to counter any fear), he
just may not be able to feel it (he may not know God intimately
enough … even though he has worshipped God in the past). His life might be
racked with sin or resentment that he just can’t confess or get past.
The good news is, even to
such a one as this, that the invitation persists to simply open oneself to
God’s Spirit. Don’t try to fix yourself, don’t try to survive on your own,
don’t try to achieve the unachievable without God, don’t think that you know
better (in limited finite understanding), don’t ignore those previous
faith-filled moments, don’t ignore the testimony of the worshipping people
around you. Don’t hang on to your sin and your bitterness as if they are your
friends, when they are really your enemies. Don’t! Just don’t! Be open to God’s
Spirit!! AND THE RESULT WILL BE REAL AND TANGIBLE EVIDENCE OF GRACE! “Not by
might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD”.
What are our “mountains”?
What are our ‘obstacles’? Individually? As a church? Mountains seemingly too
high to climb. Mountains seemingly too wide to walk around. Mountains seemingly
to vast to see beyond. Mountains of our own making. Mountains of others’
making. What sits across our path? Whatever it is … “Not by might, nor by
power, but by my spirit, says the LORD”. And they will become as “plains”.
These could be areas difficult to deal with. These could be mountains that we hide
behind. These could be circumstances completely out of our control. “Not by
might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the LORD”.
Acts 6:1-15
Now to the New Testament. In
the early church community, things were moving quickly, and there was rapid
growth. And there are often teething problems with anything new and organic
like the early church. There is often a variety of expectations and demand, as
against the capacity to supply. Here, some people thought they were getting a
worse deal than others, when it came to the distribution of food, with the
concern that this derived from preferential treatment based on cultural bias.
How to tackle this … so the work of the Kingdom could go on?
Wisdom was needed in handling
this. The apostles would clearly need to continue with their assigned role of
prayer and preaching, while other leaders would need to be raised up for new
roles within the team ministry. As the circle grew bigger, so would the need
for more people to collaborate according to God-given giftedness. Where
participation simply means involvement on a team, ‘collaboration’ means
producing something as a team.
The apostles seeking the
Spirit’s guidance, asked the whole gathered community of disciples (refer v 2),
as the congregation was called, to be part of discerning and selecting certain
disciples for the practical ministry task at hand – seeking those who were
filled with the Spirit and wisdom in their lives (v 3). The presence of such
“Spirit and wisdom” could only be identified through the character and
‘fruit’ of their lives (and the truth and integrity of their words). And for
this process of discernment, the Holy Spirit would be required as well – for
the right personnel assessments to be made. As a result of this Spirit-led
discernment, seven ‘deacons’ were appointed into this particular ministry of
service. {We should note, that the cultural context evident here, where only
men were being mentioned, was later counteracted by Paul, as, following Jesus,
he rightly gave equal status to women.}
We should note also, that as
these ‘deacons’ gathered together and stood before the apostles, who prayed for
them and blessed them with a laying on of hands, they were NOT to be individuals
off on their own independent mission, but rather part of a joint effort to the
serve the whole … accountable to one another. They were part of a team. That’s what the
Holy Spirit is about – bringing together great diversity into unity of faith
and action. We all have equal access to the empowering of the Holy Spirit –
just different callings and roles to perform.
The Holy Spirit is a
pre-requisite for all effective ministry. And what results we see from this
process!! For example look at verse 7 – even “priests”, who were likely seen as
stuck and immovable in old religious tradition, were sensing the possibility of
freedom and coming to faith in Jesus. Here we see a mountain being brought low!
[BTW … That this was an inclusive process, is seen in the naming of Nicolaus
who had been a God-fearing Gentile adherent to Jewish religion before becoming
a Jesus-follower.]
When people are ministering
in the right areas, according to their gifts, as part of the ‘body’, this is
the path to health and growth. Yet things don’t remain static in the work of
the Kingdom of God for very long. We should note a couple more of these names
(in verse 5). Stephen was first on the list, identified as “a man full
of faith and the Holy Spirit” (in v 5). Yet, as that criteria was applied to
all the new appointees, it is probably the name of Stephen itself which is
being highlighted here. In verse 5 … Stephen is being appointed as a ‘deacon’ –
a title often used to describe a ministry of service. Then, as soon as verse 8, we read, “Stephen,
full of grace and power [and we now know where that is deriving from – not
from himself but from … God’s Spirit], did great wonders and signs among the
people”.
As we read on, we see that
Stephen has subsequently become a preacher and evangelist (before being
martyred in the cause of Jesus). Point being, becoming open to the Spirit,
enables God’s Spirit to do not just one thing in a person’s life (and
discipleship and ministry), but a number of things … one after another … continuing
to transform and enable a person … probably on the basis of active obedience
and growing maturity. Serving tables obediently and gracefully one day –
capturing thousands for Jesus the next. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my
Spirit, says the Lord”. There were those of different views who opposed
Stephen, but we read in verse 10, that, “they could not withstand the wisdom
and the Spirit with which he spoke”. It is the Spirit of God who grows us into
the person we were created to be, in God’s time, through the appointed seasons
and experiences of life.
There is a Philip here too.
There was an original disciple named Philip, especially mentioned in John’s
Gospel, who likely now has been identified with the “apostles”. So this is
likely another Philip, who has been inducted as a ‘deacon’. It is more than
likely, that it is this Philip, who also quickly became a successful evangelist
to the Ethiopian eunuch we read about in Acts chapter 8. So, it is the Holy
Spirit that guides and empowers us into being the people that God created us to
be, into the giftedness and calling that God had eternally in mind for us, and
into the opportunities and successful avenues of ministry that God continually
provides through the church. And this of course, as we have been saying
over and over, is in the context of being the diverse yet unified ‘Body of
Christ’ together.
But to experience the Holy
Spirit like this … requires what? Being open!! All the same issues that may
have surfaced for Zerubbabel so long ago, may surface for us: preferring to
rely on ourselves (and whatever influence and resources we have at hand),
trying to fix ourselves or go it alone, preferring our own way of doing things
(even when they don’t prove effective or produce fruit), not finding a way …
through which to trust God enough (even though we have a number of good
experiences to draw on), not developing an intimacy with God … through the life
foundation of following Jesus (even though we have sensed God’s presence in
worship), or by just getting stuck in sin or resentment. No! Let’s not get
stuck there or anywhere. Let’s be open to the Spirit!
Conclusion
If we look with our own eyes,
we see mountains … we see obstacles. If we look with the eyes of God’s Spirit
we see opportunities. How hard is it for a smallish church to build a new
worship centre? Our eyes or God’s eyes? Is it a mountain or an opportunity? We
have decided that, indeed, it is an opportunity. How hard will it be to fill
the new worship centre? Mountain or plain? Our eyes or the eyes of God’s
Spirit? If we are all open to the Holy Spirit together, God’s grace will abound!!
As we receive the grace of
Jesus and follow Jesus through everyday life, the Holy Spirit is available to
us. The Holy Spirit is a gift of God. The Holy Spirit is powerful and makes a
load of difference. We know this from Luke … the way he told the Pentecost
story. The believers were together, as they were instructed by Jesus to be, and
bang! Effective communication and thousands into the Kingdom.
But the promise of the Holy Spirit
is very intimate as well. John’s Gospel brings this out, as Jesus reassures his
disciples that they would not be left alone (to their own devices):
Jesus says, “Peace be with you” (20:19-21) and adds “Receive the
Holy Spirit” (20:22). This is a peace that only comes from the Holy Spirit, and
means that we can cope with any challenge and any adventure in the name of
Jesus.
To be described as “full of
the Spirit”, like Stephen, Philip, and the other five were, means that the fruit
and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are evident in our lives in community – within
the team of the ‘Body of Christ’ – the church, and in the life we live in the
world. If we are open to this fullness, and have the humility to put self aside, we will receive it. And this experience can transform the perspective
through which we see everything.
Postscript
I’ve been thinking about the
phrase “labouring in obscurity”. In season one, episode eight, of the
Netflix series ‘The Crown’, a drama following the life of Queen Elizabeth, the
Queen travels to Ceylon on a diplomatic tour. She appoints her sister, Princess
Margaret, to be her representative for minor royal engagements. This drama
portrays Princess Margaret, being unhappy with her sister’s lack of flair,
taking the opportunity to bring some colour to the monarchy. She speaks her own
mind, jokes with the press, and belittles other dignitaries. Princess Margaret
is then rebuked by Winston Churchill, because she had NOT been appointed to
represent herself. Churchill says: Your Royal Highness, when you appear in
public, performing official duties, you are not you. Princess Margaret
replies: Of course I’m me. Churchill responds: The Crown. That’s what
they’ve come to see, not you.
This is NOT about … not being
noticed; rather, it is about who is being noticed! This is
NOT about denying or suppressing our unique personality, but rather seeking the
Spirit … so that all of who we uniquely are … points towards Jesus. This cannot
happen through human might, nor human power, but only through God’s Spirit. And
when people recognise Jesus present in their community, there will be massive
responses to this gift of God’s grace. Amen.
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