Monday: The Disciples’ Mission
Read Acts 1:8. Instead of indulging in prophetic speculations, what were the disciples expected to do?
There are four important elements in this passage concerning the disciples’ mission:
- The gift of the Spirit. The Spirit had always been active among God’s people. According to the prophets, however, there would be a special endowment of the Spirit in the future (Isa. 44:3; Joel 2:28-29). As Jesus Himself was anointed with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit was already at work during the time of His ministry (Luke 4:18-21) but officially was not inaugurated until Christ’s exaltation in heaven (John 7:39, Acts 2:33).
- The role of witness. A witness is a firsthand account. The disciples were fully qualified to give such a witness (Acts 1:21-22; Acts 4:20; compare with 1 John 1:1-3) and were now commissioned to share with the world their unique experience with Jesus.
- The plan of the mission. The disciples were to witness first in Jerusalem, then in Judea and Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth. It was a progressive plan. Jerusalem was the center of Jewish religious life, the place where Jesus had been condemned and crucified. Judea and Samaria were neighboring areas where Jesus also had ministered. The disciples, however, were not to limit themselves to this locale alone. The scope of their mission was worldwide.
- The orientation of the mission. In Old Testament times, it was the nations that should be attracted to God (see Isa. 2:1-5), not Israel that should “take” God to the nations. The few exceptions (for example, Jonah) do not invalidate the general rule. Now the strategy was different. Jerusalem was still the center, but rather than staying and building roots there, the disciples were expected to move out to the uttermost ends of the earth.
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Read Luke 24:44-48. What was the core message that the disciples should preach?
In the forty days He spent with the disciples after the resurrection (Acts 1:3), Jesus must have explained much truth to them about the kingdom of God, even if there was still much they didn’t understand, as their question in Acts 1:6 showed. They were familiar with the prophecies but could now see them in a new light, a light shed from the Cross and the empty tomb (see Acts 3:17-19).
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Jesus answering the question of end time to the disciples says,
"This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony (witness) to all nations, and then the end will come."
The disciples asked the question, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
The simple answer of Jesus to the disciples, "it is not for you to know the date or time."
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever.
In Revelation once again he reiterates the eternal gospel will be given as a witness to the world.
Beginning of the New Testament and the end of the New Testament is encapsulated in the mission of the gospel.
We mortals are entrusted with giving hope of immortality to a dying (eternal death) world.
I appreciate point #4, that the orientation had changed.
Prophecy was given to be understood, but understood correctly, and never to be speculated upon. Part of being a faithful witness is to "rightly divide" the Word of Truth, including all relevant prophecy. Only by the indwelling Holy Spirit can this take place, while being obedient to the Lord in all things He has commanded us, for God "gives wisdom to the wise"(Dan 2:21, see also Matt 7:24).
As for the orientation of the mission, it is still God's plan that the institutions that follow His instructions will draw others to them, while also sending out mission-minded witnesses to those who remain in the darkness of falsehood and ignorance.
As Jesus Himself was anointed with the Spirit, the Holy Spirit was already at work during the time of His ministry (Luke 4:18–21) but officially was not inaugurated until Christ’s exaltation in heaven (John 7:39, Acts 2:33).
What does this mean? Who inaugurated the Spirit? Where is it written? Kindly help as we go through today's lesson
"Inaugurated" would not have been my choice of word here but I think that within the flexibility of the English language we can include the notion that Jesus made an announcement at the time to make it clear to the disciples that they were not going to be left alone, but to prepare for a new relationship with the Holy Spirit. I use the word "announce" but I know that in some circles inauguration and announcement have an overlap of meanings. (Example: the inauguration of presidents often comes after the new president has been given the power to rule. The inauguration is essentially a public announcement of the fact.)
I believe it's clear from Jesus' instructions(John 16, Acts 1:4-8) that the intention was to mark this outpouring upon the church in such a manner that would help to make known the purpose of God to the church and the world. The Spirit was already present in those(John the baptist, Jesus, Simeon, Anna, etc) who were aware of it's presence and ministry throughout the history of this world, but now a new manner of communicating to the world (via the Church) was put in place to bring truth to a lost world. The nation of Israel was no longer part of God's plan, except as they, with anyone else, receive Christ as Lord and Savior and become part of His Church. This was to be the invitation and demonstration of the church through the gospel work that was/is to go to every corner of the earth.
Thus, this formal outpouring of the Spirit on the church was done in such a marked manner, and witnessed by all who saw/heard them. Look at the results! The lack of such results today should cause solemn reflection among God's professed people. The Spirit is still promised and willing to enable any who will repent and believe the gospel. This and the counsel to Laodicea should make our present need clear to understand.
I think for me a more better word than inaugurated would be active. For the Father, Son and Holy Spirit all play important but still equal parts. I would like though to share just a little on today’s lesson titled: “The disciple mission”. It was not until the out pouring of the Holy Spirit that the disciples begin to effectively witnessing and it all began in the upper room (church) pouring out there hearts on true issue about how they felt toward and making amends. As they emptied themselves the spirit was able to refill that void with power. Then they were able to witness powerfully on the things they had seen, heard and felt to the community below as they gathered hearing one speaking their languages and than moving abroad baptizing over 3,000 in one day. The power that they received is still available today for faithful witnesses if we were to follow their foot steps. We would find are conversations less about them and the impact they had in the past, be sharing are own experiences with Holy Ghost power about what we have witnessed with our own eyes, what we have heard with our own ear and to what we have felt.