Spirit-Led Ministry in the Twenty-First Century Revised and Updated Edition

CHAPTER 3

MINISTRY AND THE HOLY SPIRIT

Christian ministry is more than just a helping profession; it is the outcome of consecrated lives represented by life-giving service and living sacrifices of men and women who are called by God for His eternal purposes....Authentic ministry is Spirit-empowered service in the name of Jesus. A ministry without the presence and power of the Holy Spirit is ineffective. The apostle Paul exhorted believers, “Be filled with the Spirit,” (Eph. 5:18). He knew that by being filled with the Spirit a believer would have access to the gifts of the Spirit and the opportunity to be formed by the fruits of the Spirit. Effective ministry requires both Spiritual empowerment and character formation. True ministerial formation is a spiritual process of transformation.

WHEN THE SPIRIT CAME

The key to understanding empowerment in ministry is to understand the impact of Pentecost on the disciples of Jesus. They were under instruction to wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. They knew that the Spirit would empower them for service, but it is unclear if they knew what that would look like. The book of Acts presents a detailed narrative of their work following Pentecost which is our clue to this dimension of life and service.

It appears that Pentecost introduced four unique spiritual characteristics that were incorporated into the apostles’ ministry. These characteristics went beyond the summary description of post-Pentecostal life in Acts 2: 42-47:

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Let us look at these characteristics briefly here.

1. The Holy Spirit Empowered Ministers

The ministry that followed the day of Pentecost was empowered. Human agents were involved and human efforts were needed, but what made the difference in the outcome of their work was divine presence and mediation. The Holy Spirit manifested as the source of power to witnesses beyond the disciples’ abilities. They were empowered to minister healing (3:8). A new boldness possessed this petrified group (4:20; 5:29; 7:54-60; 9:31). Signs and wonders took place beyond the ministries of the apostles (8:8) in places far away from Jerusalem, the center of spiritual gravity. The Spirit began to move in the margins in places like Antioch through persons who were not the recognized administrators of the divine work.

2. The Holy Spirit Expanded the Vision

When the Spirit came, Christian ministry moved from being local to global. The disciples experienced an expansion of their vision. It seems that things Jesus had told them began to make more sense to them. They watched the 120 in the upper room becoming 3000 in one day. The community grew and their vision and mission expanded. The whole world was in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost and Jerusalem was challenged to go to the whole world. The church was adding members at the beginning, but soon it seemed to be multiplying membership.

3. The Holy Spirit Embraced Diversity

The Spirit brought strangers into the church and the church was able to embrace them. This was not always the case with the disciples. The Spirit began to remove internal and external hindrances to grow of the church. Distance was no longer a barrier; Samaria and Antioch were reached. Gender was not a barrier to ministry; Women were included in ministry. Sons and daughters were prophesying, finally (18:26; 21:9). Titles were not a barrier to ministry; Deacons, not just apostles, were ministering signs and wonders. Race was not a barrier. The group of 120 in the upper room was basically a Jewish gathering, but in Chapter 3, a handicapped person was coming in. In Chapter 6, Greek women were being taken care of. Samaritans were coming in Chapter 8. The Ethiopian, an African, came in Chapter 10. The gentile Cornelius was in by Chapter 10. Lydia, the European woman, was in by Chapter 16. The Spirit enabled the local group mostly villagers to embrace global diversity.

4. The Holy Spirit Transformed Individuals and Communities

The Holy Spirit transformed individuals and communities in the first empowered church. Communities were transformed in Jerusalem and Ephesus as everyone touched by the Spirit was personally transformed. Peter is the best case in point. Here is the disciple who said “no’ to several key initiatives. He had said “no” to crucifixion. He was on record against Jesus washing his feet. He definitely said “no” to the idea of going to the house of a Gentile like Cornelius. He was, however, persuaded by unbelievable divine appointments to go and visit Cornelius. He preached Jesus at the house of this Gentile and the results completely surprised him and everyone else involved.

“While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have,” (10:44-47).

Peter was never the same again. His transformation was complete, significant and strategic for the purposes of God. Later, this very apostle who was adamant about having Judaic pre-requirements for Christian initiation defended the opposite position on diversity at the Jerusalem conference (15:6-10). Amazing, indeed! The wind blows where it pleases. The fire burns as it pleases. The river flows in the desert. The Spirit transforms.