God

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Gods Provision For Mission Today.
The Holy Spirit
Looking beyond the nuts and bolts.
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The Holy Spirit is the Executor of the Godhead.

• When Jesus ascended after His death He left his
  last will and testament with His disciples...Matt
  28 18-20.
• The Holy Spirit became the executor of this
  testament.
• Jesus was not foolish leaving His mission in the
  hands of 12 disciples. He trusted the Holy
  Spirit.
• Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit would come and
  guide, coach, teach, comfort, lead and empower
  the disciples to accomplish His mission.
• This was the Fathers plan..Jesus obeyed in
  every detail..the Holy Spirit obeyed in every
  detail too!

3
The Holy Spirit directed the Church to be planted
in Cities.

• The Urban Church Planting Mission started in
  Jerusalem, spread to Antioch in Syria, then to
  the Cities of Asia and then onto Rome.
• The Church quickly became multi-cultural and had
  to respond to the many cultures of the
  Mediterranean region, as well as African and
  European.

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The Holy Spirit in urban mission- A quick review

• Guiding principles
• Mission shapes the Church
• Context shapes the Mission Mode.

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Gods Mission for His Church.

• For us to join with Jesus in His Mission.
• All authority in heaven and on earth has been
  given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of
  all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
  Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
  and teaching them to obey everything that I have
  commanded you. And remember, I am with you
  always, to the end of the age. Matthew.
  2818-20

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Our mission context.

• Post Christendom. Christendom Rejected
• Post Modern. Modernity Rejected
• Diverse, pluralist with few commonalities.
• Relocated / transient. Exilic
• Spiritually curious, hungry searching.
• Dogmatically suspicious and often hostile.
• Officially disinterested / hostile to
  Christianity.

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It looks so simple !
The Mission Objectives being pursued
Conditions and demands of context Shape
and Mode of Church
Couldnt this apply to any human enterprise?
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Does God do it differently?
Are we Christians or Deists?

• Is it all good strategy and human kindness?
• What role does God play?
• How does God enable His Mission?
• How does God work through His people?

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Where is God in history

• Looking on from a distance?
• Closed system
• Deism - believes in God but has no relationship
  with God
• Dissolved and incorporated
• Indistinguishable from system
• Eastern- Hinduism ultimately inclusive of all
  concepts of God
• Separate and sustaining
• Creator standing outside creation, able to
  intervene.
• Judeo-Christian able to be involved with God

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Is there something else?
For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on
power. 1 Corinthians 420
Jesus said to them, Truly I tell you, there are
some standing here who will not taste death until
they see that the kingdom of God has come with
power. Mark 91
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Where is Gods power today?
Lets take a closer look at the Twentieth Century

• What has God been doing?
• Where has the Power been at work?
• How is the Holy Spirit working?

Some reflections
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1901, A fresh outpouring.
Bethel Bible College, Topeka, Kansas, USA

• Charles Parham and others, seeking holiness
• Opens Bethel Bible School with 40 students, a
  faith community seeking Gods provision through
  prayer and service.
• Prayer was central with a 24 hour prayer tower
  vigil.
• 3 days before 1-1-1901 Parham asked students to
  study baptism in Holy Spirit, especially in Acts
  and search for objective, biblical evidence where
  by a person could know for certain they had in
  fact received the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
  On New Years Eve he returned.

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What did he find?
Parham Wrote

• To my astonishment they all had the same story,
  that while there were different things that
  occurred when the Pentecostal Blessing fell, the
  indisputable proof on each occasion was that they
  spoke with other tongues.

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And then?

• In the watch night service (1900-1901) later that
  evening, the Holy Spirit manifested Himself with
  unusual intensity. At about 1100 p.m., Agnes
  Ozman (1870-1937), asked Parham to pray for her
  that she might receive the baptism of the Holy
  Spirit as observed in their study.

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What happened?
Parham wrote

• Humbly in the name of Jesus, I laid my hand upon
  her head and prayed. I had scarcely repeated
  three dozen sentences when a glory fell upon her,
  a halo seemed to surround her head and face, and
  she began speaking in the Chinese language and
  was unable to speak in English for three days

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Significance ?

• This was a spiritual breakthrough.
• The Bible would never be read the same way again.
• The Holy Spirit was coming in from the cold.
• It established for these first Classical
  Pentecostals speaking in tongues as the Biblical
  evidence for baptism in the Holy Spirit. This
  experience provided the desired objective
  proof.
• New idea? In 4th Century Augustine and
  Chrysostom had reached same conclusion.
• Others sought to receive from Parham and revivals
  spread.

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Seeking a personal Pentecost

• Normal activities at Bethel were suspended all
  went to an upper room and waited on the Lord for
  their personal Pentecost.
• By January 3rd, 1901 all students and Parham had
  received a powerful Pentecostal Blessing.
• Parhams own description There came a slight
  twist in my throat, a glory fell over me, and I
  began to worship God in the Swedish tongue, which
  was later changed to other languages and
  continued so until the morning.
• In the following days sincere and curious seekers
  came, some also received a Pentecostal blessing
  and took the witness out.
• By Summer the buildings were sold and school
  closed.
• A spark had been lit .

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Another ripple, William Seymour
312 Asuza Street Mission, Los Angeles, USA, 1906

• William Seymour spent much of his time behind the
  pulpit with his head inside the top shoe box of
  which the pulpit had been made, praying.
• One participants description Someone might be
  speaking. Suddenly the Spirit would fall upon
  the congregation. God himself would give the
  altar call. Men would fall all over the house,
  like the slain in battle, or rush for the altar
  enmasse to seek God. We simply prayed the
  Holy Ghost did the rest.
• A fire was being kindled.

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Asuza Street, the urban poor!

• At last there was a church where black and white
  could worship together.
• Blacks were mostly poor, although some poor
  whites where present as well.
• Pentecostal experience was marginalized in
  society.
• To gain respectability Pentecostals gradually
  lost their appeal to the poor as the dominant
  wealthier racist white class took control.

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How to frame these events?
A First Wave of Pentecost for the 20th Century

• It featured
• Racial Diversity. Black and white praised God
  together. Colour was washed in the blood
• Gender Diversity. Women preachers. Gal. 3 v 28
• Tongues as evidence of baptism in the Holy Spirit
• Through the first decades of the 20th century
• Similar outpourings were documented around the
  world Europe, India, China, Africa, South
  America etc. A new out pouring seemingly
  orchestrated by the Holy Spirit.

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An example from India, 1906

• Pandita Ramabai (1858-1920) a well educated
  woman born of an upper caste, had become a
  Christian in the latter part of the 19th c. An
  astute scholar, she was recognised by the
  Sanskrit scholars of Calcutta University who had
  conferred on her the distinguished titles of
  Sarawatti and Pandita. She mastered 7 languages
  and translated the Bible from Hebrew and Greek
  into Marathi, her mother tongue. She authored
  The high Caste Hindu Woman and A Life of Christ,
  as well as numerous tracts distributed throughout
  India. During a severe famine in her region of
  India she opened a home for girls and in this
  endeavour was totally dependent on God for
  provision, and prayer was her lifeline.

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An example from India, 1906

• In January 1905 Ramabai began to speak about the
  need to seek God for revival. Before long, 550
  people, mostly women and girls, were meeting
  twice daily, praying for revival and for the
  endowment of power. On June 30, Ramabai was
  teaching the girls from John 8 when suddenly the
  Holy Spirit fell as in the Book of Acts.
  Everyone in the room began to weep and pray
  aloud. The revival had begun.
• Ramabai suspended regular school activities,
  giving the Holy Spirit free reign in their midst.
  At the outset, confession of sin and repentance
  dominated, but then came glad singing, wonderful
  praise and joy-filled dancing. Some experienced
  visions and supernatural dreams. Many
  experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit
  accompanied by speaking in tongues.

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Another example from Kunming

• James A Baker ran an orphanage in Kunming South
  West China in the late 1800s to early 1900s.
  The story is in his book Visions Beyond the
  Veil.
• James Baker tells the story of a Holy Spirit
  visitation where children from 3-10 years old saw
  visions of heaven, and Angels, spoke in tongues,
  and told adults in the streets there sins,
  whereupon the adults repented.

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A First Wave 1901 - 1960.

• By the third generation after Bethel and Asuza
  Street, and many other places the place of
  Pentecost had become confused.
• Spiritual Treasure in Clay Pots?

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The Evidence of Pentecost?

• To Pentecostals the evidence was the gifts and
  signs of the Holy Spirit, and in particular
  speaking in tongues.
• To outsiders the evidence was that finally there
  was a church with the power that could break down
  the divisions between rich and poor, black and
  white, upper class and lower class.
• Sadly, this new found reconciliation among
  societys long standing divisions did not last
  long in the Pentecostal Church.

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Conclusion about the first wave?

• When the Holy Spirit was moving unusually and
  powerfully among the people, traditional social
  divisions were healed.
• As the Holy Spirits power receded the social
  effect receded.
• Pentecostal outpourings moved many poor into the
  middle class and they largely forgot their roots.
  The poor were attracted to the power of
  Pentecost.
• A few movements were started by poor Pentecostals
  to the poor during the early stages of the First
  Wave.

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Personal comment from research into outpourings
of the Holy Spirit

• Most outpourings are accompanied by unusual signs
  that result in abnormal behaviour according to
  the status quo of the middle and upper classes.
• To participate in these outpourings is humbling
  for the middle and upper classes.
• The power of God manifested in the outpourings
  meets the needs (especially healing) of the poor.
  
• Pentecostal outpourings are more appealing to the
  poor than the other classes.
• Humility of heart leading to obedience is the
  goal of the Spirits work.

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A Second Wave 1960-1983.

• The Holy Spirit moved through the existing
  Churches.
• ALL OF THEM.

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Pentecost in the Mainline Churches.Established
denominations visited.
Episcopalians - Anglicans

• In November 1959, while praying in his home,
  Dennis Bennett, (1917-1992) Rector of St. Marks
  Episcopalian Church, Van Nuys California had
  received a Pentecostal Baptism in the Holy
  Spirit.
• TIME magazine told the story in April 1960.
• The Episcopal Church was not welcoming. Bennett
  sent to St. Lukes in the desert and made it
  bloom. - Institutional disapproval.
• By 1963 there were 2000 charismatic
  Episcopalians in Ca. (Source Christianity Today)

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Some welcomed a new Pentecost
Roman Catholics

• On October 11, 1962 80-old Pope John XXIII
  solemnly opened Vatican II, the 21st Ecumenical
  Council and prayed
• "Divine Spirit renew your wonders in this our age
  as in a new Pentecost, and grant that your Church
  praying perseveringly and insistently with one
  heart and mind together with Mary, the Mother of
  Jesus, and guided by Blessed Peter, may increase
  the reign of the Divine Savior, the reign of
  truth and justice, the reign of love and peace.
  Amen."

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Roman Catholic experience

• Vatican II allowed for dialog with others.
• Roman Catholics open to joint prayer with other
  Christians.
• Cardinal Seunens championed role of charismatic
  gifts in life of Church. This led to open and
  positive attitude by Council.

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Roman Catholic experience

• Event happened at Duquesne University Pittsburgh,
  Feb. 17-19, 1967 at a Professors Retreat
• As these Catholic seekers prayed through to
  Pentecost many things familiar to classical
  Pentecostals began to take place. Some laughed
  uncontrollably in the Spirit, while one young
  man rolled around the floor in ecstasy.
  Shouting praises to the Lord, weeping and
  speaking in tongues characterised this beginning
  of the movement in the Catholic Church.
• From here it spread, by 1970 A Catholic
  Conference at Notre Dame attracted 30,000.

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Second Wave, Both blessings and problems

• Pouring New Wine into Old Skins?
• USA high water mark 1977, 152,000 Pentecostal /
  Charismatics met at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas
  City. R.C.s, Lutherans, Presbyterians,
  Episcopalians, denominational Pentecostals,
  Baptists, Methodists and Messianic Jews. A
  tremendous celebration.
• Problems upon returning to local parish.
• Issue of authority between Institutional and
  Charismatic ministry. Whom should yield to
  whom?
• Personal point of entry - Parish Prayer Groups
  1978.

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Second Wave, A summary

• According to Peter Wagner, then professor of
  Church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary.
• The second wave had been particularly
  influential in the more liberal denominations.
• The fire of the Holy Spirit swept through Roman
  Catholic South America and evangelical movements
  flourished when opposition confronted Roman
  Catholics touched by the fire.
• In South America urban poor movements were
  birthed by Pentecostal Churches in countries such
  as Brazil and Chile.

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What happened here in your country?

• Were there examples of first wave outpourings of
  the Holy Spirit here?
• Did these movements impact the poor?
• How was the second wave received by your
  denomination?
• What is your view of tongues as a sign of the
  Holy Spirit?

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Second Wave, An abiding question

• Why did God do this?
• "There will be a new springtime for the Church
  If people will welcome the promptings of the Holy
  Spirit, The 21st Century will usher in a new
  evangelization and, a tidal wave of conversions
  will sweep the earth."
• Pope John Paul II speaking about the Charismatic
  Renewal Movement.

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A continuation of the pattern of the end of the
last two centuries?

• In the late 1700s William Carey and a new
  European Evangelical Missionary movement was
  birthed in prayer mobilization took place in
  the early 1800s
• In the late 1800,s a prayer movement preceded the
  Pentecostal outpourings of the early 1900s.
  Another wave of evangelical missions followed.
• Will the unprecedented prayer movement of the
  late 1900s yield fresh movements as Pope John
  Paul II predicts?

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A Third Wave 1983- ???

• John Wimber (1934-1997) A fat man trying to
  get to heaven
• Wimber emerged as spokesperson for Third Wave and
  founded Association of Vineyard Churches.
• His meetings were characterised by unusual
  manifestations of the Holy Spirit similar to
  early Pentecostals. Prophecy, tongues, being
  slain, shaking, swooning as if seemingly drunk.
• Third Wavers tended to stay within their
  denominations.
• Had a different theological explanation seeing
  Baptism in Holy Spirit as part of
  conversion-initiation process not a second
  blessing.

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Third Wave / Wimbers legacy

• He taught us how to see God at work.
• Interpret and discern what God is doing in the
  room.
• How are people being touched by God?
• Prayer Ministry changed from Second Wave
• Less Touch
• Less Talk
• More time
• Wimber made a prophetic visit to England in 1983.
  Ministered in five key churches. Each was to
  become a significant Church in following decade
  and to the present.
• An American the English could learn from without
  pain.
• He moved everyone on from the initial brashness
  yet kept moving forward into God and into mission.

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Third Wave A summary, so far. . .

• According to Peter Wagner, former Professor of
  Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary.
• The Third Wave has been particularly
  influential on the more conservative evangelical
  denominations.
• Alpha may be recognised as a fruitful and
  significant outcome.
• New Churches being planted in pagan England and
  elsewhere, (some Anglican) may be seen as fruit.
  This is ongoing.
• Meshing in with First and Second Wave the Third
  Wave sought and ministered a basic spiritual
  experience of God. In consequence of this by
  2000 over 25 of the Worlds Christians are
  Charismatic-Pentecostals. What will the 21st
  Century bring?

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Fourth Wave ?

• Is it too early to say?
• Will the Urban poor be impacted this time?

There will be more !
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Some personal reflections

• Power Evangelism in todays context
• The model of Elijah on Mount Carmel see I Kings
  18.
• Being modelled in Africa by South African and
  West African Evangelists
• Conclusions
• Whose God is real in the post-modern,
  post-Christian, cynical West ? Amongst Muslims?
• Perhaps only an undeniable experience of Gods
  powerful presence will convict of truth.

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Re-check the mission maths
The Mission Objectives Being Pursued
Conditions and Demands of Context Shape
and Mode of Church Holy Spirits
Empowerment ______________________________________
_____________________________ Fruitfulness as
Jesus intended.
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What does this mean for You?

• What does this mean for the urban mission among
  the poor ?
• What does it mean for the members of the
  Encarnacao Alliance?

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The Fruitful Church

• Needs
• 1. The power of Gods Holy Spirit
• 2. Vessels (People) capable and available of
  being continually filled with the power of the
  Holy Spirit.
• 3. Humility and compassion in carrying out its
  mission
• 4. Structural-Organisational flexibility
  allowing people to engage and pursue mission as
  Holy Spirit empowered agents.

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Acknowledgements

• The producer of this power point presentation is
  deeply indebted to
• James A Baker, Visions Beyond the Veil. Taiwan.
• Dennis J Balcombe, Revival Church, HK.
• David Garrison, Church Planting Movements.
  WIGTake. India.
• Viv Grigg, Urban Leadership Foundation. NZ.
• Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom. Oxford
  University Press.
• Eric H F Law, The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb.
  Chalice Press.
• Manuel Ortiz, One New People. IVP.
• Lamin Sanneh, Whose Religion is Christianity?
  Eerdmans. UK.
• P.G Vargis, Indian Evangelical Team. India.
• The Vatican Council, Pope John Paul II, Rome.
• George Verwer, Operation Mobilization. UK.
• C. Peter Wagner, Monarch Publications. UK.
• John Wimber, Vineyard Fellowships. USA
• George Yancey, One Body, One Spirit. IVP.USA.
• K.P.Yohannan, Revolution in World Misions.GFA
  Books. India.