The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel, Classic Version, 2015Sample

Proclaiming the Gospel in the Power of the Holy Spirit

Canon Andrew White is known as the ‘Vicar of Baghdad’. He is proclaiming the gospel there in the power of the Holy Spirit. He sent me an email headed, ‘A Day of Tears’, in which he wrote, ‘Well, today has been awful. For two years we have worked every day on getting the two Jasons back. They were my friends; I ate with them and lived with them. One day when I was ill, one of them cared for me in the hospital; he had been an army medic. These people were not just hostages … they were my friends. Every day I prayed for them and sought their release …

‘I confess that once the news was confirmed about the [killings] I cried … I cannot imagine the pain of their dear families. How terrible it must be for them and how we pray for them.

‘As I was in tears I was trying to prepare for our service … Church was great as usual, the people are all so nice and so encouraging; together we shared our pain and love.’ 

As was the case with the apostle Paul, there are many tears, as when on this occasion two of Andrew White’s friends were taken hostage and killed. Yet, he continues to proclaim the gospel in the power of the Spirit.   

The message of Jesus is the most powerful message in the world. It is good news. It changes lives. It changes cities and cultures. Yet it is also a message that provokes opposition. God equips his people to pass on this message by giving us the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 78:40-55

1. Proclaim the good news of rescue from sin

We will never understand the good news of the gospel until we understand why we needed rescuing.

Jesus, through his life, death and resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit, has rescued us from sin. As the psalmist continues his recounting of the story of God’s people we get a glimpse of what we have been rescued from. This passage gives us an understanding of sin.

First, we see the nature of sin. Sin is rebellion against God: ‘They rebelled against him’ (v.40). It is not a single act. The psalmist writes, ‘How often … again and again’ (vv.40–41). Sin comes from not trusting in God’s character, God’s word and God’s actions (vv.41–43).

Second, we see the consequences of sin. It grieves God (v.40). It leads to anger, wrath, indignation and hostility (v.49). Ultimately it leads to death (v.50).

It was not only the Egyptians who sinned (vv.43–51) but also God’s people (vv.40–42). Nevertheless God rescued them. He redeemed them (v.42): ‘He brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the desert’ (v.52). He guided them safely, so they were unafraid (v.53). All this was preparation for God’s great rescue plan in Jesus.

Thank you, Lord, for rescuing and forgiving me through Jesus. Thank you that you lead me and guide me so that I do not need to be afraid.

Acts 20:1-38

2. Proclaim the good news of God’s grace

Paul’s example encourages us not to waste a single day of the precious life God has given us. Whatever you are called to do, however difficult your circumstances, you can enjoy your calling and complete the task with joy.

The message of the gospel is a hugely encouraging one. Everywhere Paul went he encouraged them to ‘keep up the good work’ (v.1, MSG). As he travelled around, ‘he gave constant encouragement, lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope’ (v.2, MSG).

Paul felt passionately about this message. It was hard to stop him speaking about it. In Troas he ‘kept on talking’ (v.7). As ‘Paul talked on and on’ (v.9), Eutychus fell fast asleep, fell out of the window and died. Paul raised him from the dead and then ‘went on telling stories of the faith until dawn!’ (v.11, MSG).

It takes a lot to stop a preacher once they’ve started – members of the congregation dying and rising again only causes a coffee break!

Paul took every opportunity to get the message out. ‘I have not hesitated to preach to you anything that would be helpful to you … I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God’ (vv.20,27). He spoke both ‘publicly and from house to house’ (v.20).

It was hard work (v.35). Paul laid his life on the line (v.19, MSG). He was not afraid to die in the process. He did not regard himself as indispensible: ‘Neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy’ (v.24, AMP).

He knew that it would not be ‘any picnic, for the Holy Spirit has let me know repeatedly and clearly that there are hard times and imprisonment ahead’ (v.23, MSG). He was severely tested (v.19). There were lots of tears (vv.19,31,37).

Why was the apostle Paul willing to go through all of this? Surely it was for three reasons:

• The power of the message
  Paul went around preaching the message of God’s grace, the ‘incredibly extravagant generosity of God’ (v.24, MSG). It was ‘the truth’ (v.30).

It was all about Jesus. Grace is undeserved love. It is made possible through Jesus and ‘his own blood’ (v.28). It cannot be earned. It is a free gift.

How do we receive the gift? St Paul’s answer is: First, turn to God in repentance (v.21). Repentance is such a positive word in the New Testament. It means turning away from sin and to God.

Second, have faith in our Lord Jesus (v.21). We receive the gift by faith in Jesus Christ.

• The power of the Holy Spirit
  Everyone who repents of their sins and puts their faith in Jesus Christ receives the Holy Spirit. Paul himself had experienced this. Now he speaks about how he is ‘compelled by the Spirit’ (v.22). The Holy Spirit speaks to him (v.23). It is the Holy Spirit who anoints and raises up leaders.
• The power of giving
  Paul knew that money is not the key to happiness. He explains how he has not wanted or needed great wealth. Instead he encourages them to ‘keep remembering that our Master said, “You’re far happier giving than getting” ’ (v.35, MSG).

Paul preaches ‘the whole will of God’ (v.27). Obviously, that includes a lot! In this passage we only get a glimpse. But it clearly includes the word of God (v.32), prayer (v.36), a church of overseers and shepherds (v.28), the sacraments (vv.7–11), sanctification (v.32), helping the weak (v.35), and much else besides.

Thank you, Lord, that you have given me the power of the Holy Spirit. Give me courage to face hard work, tears and all the other obstacles in order to ‘finish the race’ and ‘complete the task’ you have given to me (v.24).

2 Kings 1:1-2:25

3. Proclaim the good news about Jesus

Good leaders train up successors. This is one of the examples in the Bible of where succession worked really well.

A good mentor is a great gift. Elijah was a mentor to Elisha and passed on his power to him. Elisha had asked, ‘Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit’ (2 Kings 2:9). He wanted to be a holy man, just like his mentor.

Elijah told him he could get what he asked for if he stuck with him to the very end. ‘If you’re watching when I’m taken from you, you’ll get what you’ve asked for. But only if you’re watching (v.10, MSG).

‘Stickability’ is so important in ministry. It is easy to start off with zeal and enthusiasm, but not everyone has the ‘stickability’ to endure hard work, difficulties and disappointments and see things through to the end in the way that Elisha did.

Elisha did indeed receive ‘a double portion’. The mantle of Elijah fell on Elisha (v.13). It was clear to all who were watching that Elisha was the anointed successor: ‘the spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha’ (v.15).

The account of Elijah and his extraordinary power to call down fire from heaven (2 Kings 1:12) and to divide the waters (2:8), should be read it in the light of the New Testament. Elijah prefigured John the Baptist. John ministered ‘in the spirit and power of Elijah’ (Luke 1:14), preparing the way for Jesus.

Jesus says that you are better off than Elijah or Elisha. He says, ‘Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist’ (the Elijah who was to come). Yet he goes on, ‘Whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he’ (Matthew 11:11). Every Christian is in a better position than Elijah and John the Baptist for at least two reasons.

First, we are in a better position to proclaim the good news about Jesus. Second, we can experience the outpouring of the Holy Spirit given on the day of Pentecost. Every Christian (‘whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven’) has the opportunity to proclaim the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, thank you for the amazing privilege I have. Thank you for all you have done for me through Jesus. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you that I can pass on this message of the kingdom, of Jesus and the gospel of his grace. Thank you that this message transforms lives, communities and cultures.

Pippa Adds

Two warnings in today’s passages:-

1. Don’t be rude to bald-headed men (2 Kings 2:23–25)
2. If the preacher is going on and on, find a comfortable (and safe!) place to doze off (Acts 20:7–12).

Notes:

Unless otherwise stated, Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised, Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Publishers, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790.

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture marked (MSG) taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.