Engaging the Spiritual

by ricks 22. January 2010 05:52
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Continue to pray for Haiti -- another earthquake hit this morning. Check out this link for more. http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/01/20/haiti.earthquake/index.html?hpt=C1

Engagement with spiritual reality happens in many ways in Acts 19. Disciples of John who have never heard of Jesus or of the Holy Spirit are baptized into the name of Jesus. When Paul laid his hands on them, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Seven sons of Sceva were amazed by Paul's spiritual power and tried to cast out an evil spirit in the name of Jesus. The evil spirit said, "Jesus I know, Paul I recognize, but who are you?" And the evil spirit overpowered these seven men. The riot at Ephesus results from Paul's ministry in Ephesus.

Spiritual transformation happens through speaking the Word, the Holy Spirit's power demonstrated in various ways, and the spoken testimony of the evil spirit before it jumped the seven sons of Sceva.

What might God be teaching us? "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms . . . be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power" (Eph 6:12, 10). The Holy Spirit empowers and guides us along.

The video below details the upcoming mission trip out of our church to Roatan, Honduras. Let's pray for the power of the Spirit to work through our team to bless the people there with good deeds and good news.

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Engage | WorldMissions

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1/20/2010 8:38:14 PM #

As I read about the Holy Spirit working through the Apostles, I'm overwhelmed with the fact that NOTHING can stop the will of God, seen through His power at work in their lives.  They went out in God's strength as they sought Him in prayer first.  In Acts 16:6,7, the title, "Spirit of Jesus," shows that Jesus' work continues in the lives of the apostles through the work of the Holy Spirit.  As believers, we have God's Spirit at the moment of conversion and are also empowered when we ask God to fill us and use us.

We're being asked to think of ways to reach out to the community in the hope of sharing the Gospel.  The message we share is simple and clear as stated in Acts 16:30-31:  "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved."  As we're devoted to regular, earnest prayer as a body of believers in seeking God's direction for us, believing He'll answer, we'll know what He wants us to do.  Since God's ways aren't our ways, we are dependent on Him to show us how to go about doing this when we ask Him.  Think of the impact of our whole Shalom family uniting together in prayer, seeking God's will in asking for opportunities to reach out to the community!  He will hear and answer and we will rejoice together when we see His awesome power at work in us.  Also, needs within the church will be known and met as we meet together in prayer.

A wise man told me that people won't see the need to meet together regularly for prayer unless they're desperate.  That time may soon come.
Kathy

kathy eggimann United States |

1/22/2010 10:55:31 AM #

Very helpful comments, Kathy.

After the community prayer gathering on Monday, a couple approached me and one thing they commented was how "lifeless" Christianity feels here and how "full of life" followers of Christ are in places like Tanzania. One reason this is true is that we are so detached from one another. Not only has the church become an island separate from the rest of our culture, but the unwritten rules of our culture draw us into self and away from others. The American god is "me" and it's idol is "autonomy."

So I agree with the comment that desperation draws people to prayer. But do we have to wait for great trouble like an earthquake or 9-1-1 to hit us? I think we can be intentional about building community which engages the world with the gospel and service, and which engages God with prayer for one another and our communities and world.

Intentional engagement is obvious in the early church. May it be increasingly obvious through Shalom. That is my prayer.

Rick Stapleton United States |

1/27/2010 3:23:11 AM #

Although I agree being intentional is a great thing-- and that if we hope to engage others we need to step out of our comfort zones and reach the unreachable-- I feel the church isn't even reaching out to its own. I'm not sure how we can expect to reach others when we can't even be real with one another. There is such a religious spirit in the church today... those within the body who are struggling don't even feel free to share what is on their hearts. The leadership within the church is constantly putting on a front that everything is perfect and if you're not perfect- you don't belong here. The church is drowning in performance. I believe if we do things solely for the intent of pleasing God and are free to love and be loved NO MATTER what the situation-- we will reach our community and our world effectively. If we allow Him, He will be strong in our weakness. If we can effectively love one another (in the body) we can most definitely expect to EFFECTIVELY reach others.

inHisgrip United States |

1/29/2010 10:17:48 AM #

I am sorry to read that you have these feelings about the body of Christ. My perception is that your feelings and accusations are meant to challenge the body of Christ to do better at authentic love for one another. If I read you right, you believe that we are full of hypocrisy and religiosity and once the church is full of Christ's love then we'll really be effective in reaching others. I am sorry that you have these feelings and I think that you want to see things get better -- as do I.

My reflection is that I do not see what you see. Certainly, there are issues within the body at Shalom, as there are in every church. Does the church reach out to its own? From my perspective -- definitely yes and yet we can all improve. So I actually am rather positive by the bigger picture that I see. If, for some reason, you want to talk about this more, please feel free to contact me in person. Is there a religious spirit in the church? Is it true that people cannot share what is on their hearts? From the bigger picture that I see, I know that many people share what's on their hearts. However, most of those people do so within small groups or with friends. That, to me, is the most appropriate context because that is where you can get the most personalized support. So if you feel that you cannot share I would encourage you to get into a small group Bible study. Is the leadership putting on a front? From what I see, Shalom has amazing leaders who are not perfect but not putting on a front either. I don't understand where you get that perception. And I would warn you about making such charges against your leadership (1 Timothy 5:19). Is the church drowning in performance? I'm sorry that you feel this way and I really do not know how you come up with this assessment or what it even means. We are saved by grace and we live by grace for the glory of God. That's not performance. I do not see what you see.

So I have several questions for you. First, what are you doing to make things better? Second, who are you? Third, would you like to talk with me -- I am willing to talk.






Rick Stapleton United States |

1/23/2010 6:33:10 AM #

Pastor Rick -

Here's my thoughts on Acts 19.

1 - What ingredients are necessary for spiritual transformation?
- Inquiry into people’s beliefs and correct teaching about the Gospel.  When Paul met the disciples at Corinth, he had to talk to them and probe to understand their spiritual condition.  Then he had to teach them the truth regarding Jesus Christ since they did not understand.
- God’s provision of the Holy Spirit on believers.  Is the ability to grant the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands gone after the age of the Apostles?  I’ve been taught that these things (baptizing in the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues, healings and other signs and wonders) were given at that time to provide proof for the message (given either by Jesus or the Apostles).  We now have the New Testament which is sufficient proof and the signs have ceased.

2 - How were followers of Christ engaged?
- Being baptized – the Ephesian believers responded with obedience after receiving the Gospel and were baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection.
- The seven sons of Sceva were engaged in exorcisms.  However, they were unable to because the demons only recognized Jesus and Paul (an Apostle).  Doesn’t this mean that the only people who can cast out demons are Jesus and the apostles?  Isn’t it dangerous, even unwise, to tread in these waters?
- Paul submitted to the local believers in Ephesus, following their advice regarding the uprising, and did not enter the assembly/riot.

3 - What is God saying to our church and me?
- We can not trust in a person’s outward actions to know if they are a Christian.  We must engage each other and share our faith (even with fellow believers).  If true salvation in Jesus hasn’t occurred, we must point each other to Christ.

- Brett

Brett H United States |

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