To The Ends Of The Earth
Posted: October 10th, 2009, 1:55 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #132s, Re-Written 10OCT09
The Disciples’ Prayer—Part Nineteen: To The Ends Of The Earth
by rev dave c
Mt 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one' (NIV).
After Jesus had been crucified, died, was entombed for three days, and was resurrected, the Bible tells us that He walked this Earth for 40 days and that He appeared to over 500 people before He ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. During that 40 days He was actively involved in the lives of His friends and disciples. Acts 1:4-8 provides us an example of that involvement. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (NIV).
Once again, the subject of the Kingdom timetable is on the surface of the Jewish mind and heart. Essentially, Jesus reiterates His statement of Matthew 24:36, No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (NIV)—with one notable change. In the Acts 1:7 passage, Christ says, It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority (NIV). Had He become aware of those times and dates? I don’t intend to go beyond what is written, but I have to wonder if Jesus had gained freedom of knowledge when He rose from the tomb, as well as freedom from the bonds of death. The idea that glorification perfected also brings knowledge perfected is suggested by Paul in First Corinthians 13:12 when he discusses life for the Believer before and after resurrection, Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (NIV).
More immediately important for us, the risen Lamb of God informed the apostles he had chosen that they would receive dunamis power when the Holy Spirit came upon them/they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is this power in, of, and through the Holy Spirit that would make it possible for the Apostles to be Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This is the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (NIV); and Mark 16:15-18, 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (NIV).
Unfortunately verses 17 and 18 of Mark 16 have been used and abused by some fringe element cultists who teach “the handling of snakes and the drinking of poison” as proof of salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. While I know that each sign listed is individually possible, I believe they are given as collective examples of the type of spiritual power that followers of Christ should expect—I do not believe that Jesus intended to provide us a check-list of necessary proofs. With the exception of “drinking some deadly thing,” the Bible depicts the Apostles, as a group, experiencing each of these miracles during the establishment of the First Century Church. I do not, however, hold to the opinion that this sort of miraculous power ended with the death of John the Beloved, as the last living original Apostle. Quite the contrary.
Verse 16 tells us, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...and verse 17 states, these signs will accompany those who believe. If believers are still being baptized and saved, I have to accept the fact that miraculous signs should be accompanying them. Rather than thinking individually about the particular signs, however, we need to think of them as examples of day to day situations that everyone who transits time through this fallen planet experiences—literally, and figuratively. Whether we realize it, or not, we all encounter demon activity. Our God-given human language was “confused” into many languages at the Tower of Babel because of the pride of Man. The first snake we encounter in Scripture is found in Chapter 3 of Genesis with the serpent as a manifestation of Satan. Deadly poison represents any and all activities that lead us to death...including hate born of arrogance. Finally, all sicknesses entered humanity as Adam and Eve chose the way that seems right to a man, but that led to death. The Mark 16:17&18 verses are telling us that through the power of the Holy Spirit, true disciples of Christ have been equipped to deal with the evil encountered during a typical day’s activity in the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Disciples’ Prayer—Part Nineteen: To The Ends Of The Earth
by rev dave c
Mt 6:9 "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one' (NIV).
After Jesus had been crucified, died, was entombed for three days, and was resurrected, the Bible tells us that He walked this Earth for 40 days and that He appeared to over 500 people before He ascended to Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. During that 40 days He was actively involved in the lives of His friends and disciples. Acts 1:4-8 provides us an example of that involvement. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (NIV).
Once again, the subject of the Kingdom timetable is on the surface of the Jewish mind and heart. Essentially, Jesus reiterates His statement of Matthew 24:36, No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (NIV)—with one notable change. In the Acts 1:7 passage, Christ says, It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority (NIV). Had He become aware of those times and dates? I don’t intend to go beyond what is written, but I have to wonder if Jesus had gained freedom of knowledge when He rose from the tomb, as well as freedom from the bonds of death. The idea that glorification perfected also brings knowledge perfected is suggested by Paul in First Corinthians 13:12 when he discusses life for the Believer before and after resurrection, Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known (NIV).
More immediately important for us, the risen Lamb of God informed the apostles he had chosen that they would receive dunamis power when the Holy Spirit came upon them/they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. It is this power in, of, and through the Holy Spirit that would make it possible for the Apostles to be Christ’s witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This is the Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (NIV); and Mark 16:15-18, 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well" (NIV).
Unfortunately verses 17 and 18 of Mark 16 have been used and abused by some fringe element cultists who teach “the handling of snakes and the drinking of poison” as proof of salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. While I know that each sign listed is individually possible, I believe they are given as collective examples of the type of spiritual power that followers of Christ should expect—I do not believe that Jesus intended to provide us a check-list of necessary proofs. With the exception of “drinking some deadly thing,” the Bible depicts the Apostles, as a group, experiencing each of these miracles during the establishment of the First Century Church. I do not, however, hold to the opinion that this sort of miraculous power ended with the death of John the Beloved, as the last living original Apostle. Quite the contrary.
Verse 16 tells us, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved...and verse 17 states, these signs will accompany those who believe. If believers are still being baptized and saved, I have to accept the fact that miraculous signs should be accompanying them. Rather than thinking individually about the particular signs, however, we need to think of them as examples of day to day situations that everyone who transits time through this fallen planet experiences—literally, and figuratively. Whether we realize it, or not, we all encounter demon activity. Our God-given human language was “confused” into many languages at the Tower of Babel because of the pride of Man. The first snake we encounter in Scripture is found in Chapter 3 of Genesis with the serpent as a manifestation of Satan. Deadly poison represents any and all activities that lead us to death...including hate born of arrogance. Finally, all sicknesses entered humanity as Adam and Eve chose the way that seems right to a man, but that led to death. The Mark 16:17&18 verses are telling us that through the power of the Holy Spirit, true disciples of Christ have been equipped to deal with the evil encountered during a typical day’s activity in the Kingdom of Heaven.