The Mission of the Kingdom Acts 1-2 Session 4

The series The kingdom of God: the mission and message of Jesus Your personal Pentecost: experiencing kingdom power The church as kingdom/Pentecostal community Empowered ministry: demonstrating the kingdom Our calling: the mission of the kingdom

The Sons of the Prophets Prophetic and Healing Gifts Elijah/Elisha The Sons of the Prophets Eschatology Jesus Prophet and Healer Succession The Apostolic Church Prophetic and Healing Gifts

The Theology of Luke-Acts The new or messianic age has dawned, fulfilling Old Testament expectations and inaugurating the relentless and determined will of God. Its focus is the messianic King, Jesus who, by the power of the Spirit, brings healing and salvation to all nations. This salvation includes previously excluded groups: sinners, the sick, Gentiles, Samaritans, the poor, women and children. It spreads through the proclamation of the word, healing and phenomena of power and revelation. Those who receive this salvation experience forgiveness of sins and respond with song, praise, prayer and wonder. The message has financial and social implications.

Salvation/healing, sozo/soteria It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed (4:10). Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved (4:12). But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say (4:14).

Comprehensive healing/salvation soteria Forgiveness Deliverance from demons Healing Rescue from danger

Healing fuels mission/evangelism/churches Proclamation and demonstration of the kingdom Combination of prophetic and healing gifts Reactions of awe, praise and joy Greater and greater numbers believe in Jesus Apostolic teams plant churches

Demonstrating the kingdom The kingdom of God Christian identity Being filled with the Holy Spirit Operating in charismatic gifts Prophetic ministry Healing ministry Power evangelism

Jesus and the Samaritan woman Jewish male, Samaritan female (social barriers). “Go call you husband.” “You have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.” “I know that Messiah is coming” … “I am he.” “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony.

Jesus and Peter “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31-32). “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:34). Peter denied Jesus 3 times. Jesus made Peter confess 3 times (John 21). When you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” (John 21:18-19).

Revelatory gifts in Acts Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). An Angel of the Lord said to Phillip (8:2) … The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet… (8:29). When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus … (8:39-40).

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight” (9:10-12).

Cornelius had a vision at three in the afternoon (10:3) … Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea” (10:5-6). At noon the following day, Peter fell into a trance (10:9- 10) … “Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” (10:19-21).

My first encounters

Some recent stories

Key factors Prophetic knowledge creates the context for healing. Prophetic and healing sets up power-evangelism. By power evangelism I mean a presentation of the gospel that is rational but also transcends the rational. The explanation of the gospel comes with a demonstration of God’s power through signs and wonders. Power evangelism is a spontaneous, Spirit- inspired, empowered presentation of the gospel. It … is preceded and undergirded by supernatural demonstrations of God’s presence (John Wimber, Power Evangelism, 46).

Operating in the prophetic How “You will receive power …” is worked out. Faith is spelt RISK = boldness. A combination of revelatory gifts plus trial and error. While helpful and edifying in church services, often with healing prayer, it is most effective “on the streets.” It grows through both prayer for impartation and discipling/modelling (“better caught than taught”). There are numerous training resources

Resources John Wimber tape series and booklet Mark Stibbe, Prophetic Evangelism Bruce Collins, Prophesy!: A Practical Guide to Developing Your Prophetic Gift Graham Cooke, Developing Your Prophetic Gifting Kris Vallotton, Basic Training for the Prophetic Ministry ___________School of the Prophets: Advanced Training for Prophetic Ministry

How it comes An impression or mental picture (“vision”) “Seeing” a word or short phrase “Hearing” a word or sentence Through vicarious pain or emotions An growing inner knowing or conviction Recalling a specific text or previous story Speaking something involuntarily in the moment