The Missional Aspect of the Power and Gifts of the Spirit

I recently asked a group of people what the focus of the Gifts and Power of the Holy Spirit was.  The near instantaneous answer I received was the one I had expected, “The edification of the Church Body.”  We give this answer based on Paul’s discussion in I Corinthians.  We proudly give this answer because we have learned from Paul’s discussion in those passages that the Gifts of the Spirit are not for our own personal edification. 

Paul’s discussion concerning the Gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 11-14 is the strongest  focused discussion about the Power and Gifts of the Spirit in the Epistles.  In this very powerful discussion, the work of the Spirit into the body (internally) is discussed.  It is very directly and strongly dealt with in an instructional as well as a correctional way.  It is somewhat disturbing to me to observe that many modern day believers take most or even all of their doctrine concerning the Power and Gifts of the Holy Spirit from these four chapters alone.  Some will expand their basis to include all of the Epistles.  In doing so, however, we limit our knowledge of the truth of the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s work. 

I have heard way too many people say out loud that they want to see today’s church honestly be what the Church in Acts was.  They say that, but in practice and honesty, what they really want is for the modern church to be more like what they read about in the Epistles, which tends to deal with the workings of the Holy Spirit into the Body. If we really look at the Book of Acts and the workings of the Holy Spirit in the Church there, we see a different picture.  What we see foremost, is the Church being empowered to be and do exactly what Jesus said it would be and do—be His witnesses doing His work out into the world.  What we are seeing is the missional side of the Power and Gifts of the Holy Spirit.  To truly get a good look at the missional work of the Holy Spirit we can’t start with the Book of Acts or even Pentecost, however, we have to look first at the life and ministry of Jesus.

In Jesus Christ we see the full and complete revelation of God in human form.  In him we also see the utter and complete fullness of the Holy Spirit at work, empowering a life lived out on earth.  In the Gospels we see that he is guided by the Holy Spirit.  He is empowered by the Holy Spirit.  The Power of the Holy Spirit manifests itself in and through him in many different and wondrous ways.  I believe it’s pretty easy to conclude that all of the gifts of the Spirit were present in and manifested through Jesus during his ministry.  We can actually see most of those listed in the Epistles being manifested through Jesus in the Gospel accounts.  He healed multitudes of people.  He spoke prophesies—one in particular was to Peter predicting his denial.  Jesus spoke words of knowledge—the Samaritan woman at the well was the recipient of this.  Jesus had prophetic visions—he saw Nathaniel under a tree and got insight into his character.  And Jesus taught with power—he taught his disciples and he taught the people.  These and many other examples were all works of the Power and Gifts of the Spirit through Jesus and they were directly into the world—they were missional.

In the Gospels we also see the work of the Holy Spirit being manifested through Jesus’ followers.  In Luke 9, Jesus passed this Power and the Gifts on to the chosen 12.  “He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and He sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (NIV)  In Luke 10 Jesus sends out the seventy-two with the same charge and the same results.  Again, the Power and Gifts of the Spirit are used for ministry into the world.

Then there comes a time when the torch is passed permanently to Jesus’ followers.  When his ministry was coming to a close, Jesus gave a commission to his followers who would establish the Church; the ongoing bodily presence of Christ in the world.   The most notable recording of Jesus’ commission to his disciples is in Matthew 28, but in the beginning of Acts, we find another recording of Jesus’ promise and commission to his followers.  Act 1:4 quotes Jesus as saying, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  He continues in verse 8. “…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.”

Receiving power and being witnesses from here to the ends of the earth.  It’s hard to find a statement that is any more missional than this one.  We shall be his witnesses.  And how are we to be those witnesses?  We are to be those witnesses because we have received power to be such.  We, who believe, have received a gift which is the Holy Spirit.  We who believe, have received power, and that power is to be used to minister into the world.

And that’s exactly what we see in the book of Acts.  It started on the day of Pentecost.  The first recorded manifestation of the Spirit in the Church was an interesting gift that we categorically call “tongues”.  That manifestation was, however, an unbelievable missional gift that allowed all people present that day from many different regions and countries to hear the Good News of Jesus in their own native tongue.  Now that is missional, and I honestly believe that it is a viable ministry gift even for today. 

The disciples would go on to heal, raise people from the dead, prophesy and teach, and continue the missional work of their master.  They would continue his work in the same power that he employed to carry out his ministry.  Jesus had predicted that they would do greater things than they had seen him do.  It’s a wondrous story and a marvelous history that we have to look back on, seeing the Power and Gifts of the Spirit doing such great things through God’s people into the world in the name of Christ.  That is the Church of Acts.  That is what I want to get back to, how about you?

Yes, there are many groups who have denied or shunned the Gifts of the Spirit.  Some say it was for then but not for now.  I don’t agree with these viewpoints.  But, I also fear there are those who, though open to the Power and Gifts of the Spirit would rather focus on the work of the Spirit into the Church rather than out from the Church into the world.

When I look at the unbelievably powerful ministry of Jesus and through the scripture realize that he passed that on to me, I am blown away.  When I look at the powerful work of the Spirit through the Apostles, Disciples and the early Church out into the world I get excited.  I also get convicted, because I have shied away from realizing the missional work and Power that the Holy Spirit wants to work through me into the world.  Powerful work.  Miraculous work.  Supernatural work that touches peoples lives and points them to Jesus, my Lord.

(I always invite comment and dialogue on whatever I post)