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February 2010 Newsletter

Publicly and from House to House

Paul Galligan

The New Testament pattern of witness and ministry is “publicly and from house to house”. Paul said “How I kept back nothing but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house” Acts 20:20. He goes on to say “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” v.21. For us today the Jews represent the church/religious Christian world, and the Greeks represent the unbelievers who are the humanists, the agnostics, even the atheists. Paul preached to them the need for change in their understanding of God and preached to them the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ – that they needed to be persuaded and fully convinced that “there is only one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus” 1Tim.2:5.

 

Committed prayer leads to a release of ministries

Paul teaches us in 1Timothy 2:1-9 that prayer, supplications, intercessions and the giving of thanks is to be made for all men and “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (v.1-2). It is God’s will for “all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (v.3-4). Paul seems to suggest that if the church in every place will begin to commit to prayer for all men and especially for leaders to be saved, the result will be that God will again appoint “a preacher and an apostle – I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying – a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (v.7).

We need God to raise a generation of preachers, apostles and teachers in our day.

 

Preaching Jesus Christ is Lord

We need to preach again Jesus, the Christ whom God has made Lord of all: “Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,  that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven [referring to demonic rulers in the heavenlies – the principalities and powers], and of those on the earth [human beings of course], and of those under the earth [the demons of hell], and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Phil.2:9-11.

We need to preach Jesus the Christ, understanding who Christ is and what Messiahship means and we need to preach Jesus publicly and from house to house. The first apostles ministered publicly and from house to house, “continuing daily with one accord in the temple [they went to the temple daily and often had opportunities to preach there], and breaking bread from house to house ... And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved” Acts 2:46-47.

 

Tribulation produces patience

Paul warned us that tribulations awaited him as he went on to fulfil the commission given to him: “the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me” Acts 20:23.

Tribulation is good for us. Romans 5 tells us that through faith we have a standing in Christ, “and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (v.1-2). “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance [patience]” v.3.

 

Patience is to be sought after! Patience is a perfector of our souls

“The testing of your faith produces patience. Let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” James 1:3-4. Patience comes not by endowment but through the testing and the pressures that we are to pass through. There is no other way.  

 

Will you finish the race?

If any one of us, or any couple, or any ministry will commit to fulfil the Great Commission and to testify again to the saving grace that is available to every human being through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, tribulation and all sorts of pressures await us.

Paul said, “None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” Acts 20:24. Paul’s life had a purpose: he knew when he had begun the race, that is, when he changed from being a persecutor of the followers of Jesus to be an apostle of that faith in Jesus. He knew he had not yet completed his life’s work. He knew he had not yet fulfilled the ministry given to him by the Lord Jesus.

 

What is the ministry calling?

 A true ministry calling comes from heaven and as Paul testified before King Agrippa, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” Acts 26:19. John the Baptist said “A man can receive nothing unless it had been given to him from heaven” Jn.3:27. He was referring to the ministry calling of Jesus. John knew his own calling was from heaven and he fulfilled it.

·         Have you received a heavenly calling to ministry?

·         Have you fulfilled your ministry?

·         Are you prepared to fulfil it, no matter what the cost?

 

It has become clear in recent times that the goal is not to meet in house churches or ‘organic church’ or ‘simple church’ or ‘book of Acts church’.

 

 

The goal is:

i)        to fulfil the ministry which is to “go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt.28:19);

ii)      to preach “the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 8:12), followed by baptism; 

iii)    to be found “preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence” Acts 28:31.

 

Coming out of the houses to bear witness

The house churches as we have experienced over a number of years are for discipleship and now it is time for the disciples to come out from the house churches and bear witness to Jesus Christ publicly, forming new house churches as disciples are added to the Lord.

The church needs to become relevant, present and openly witnessing

in the ‘marketplace’, in the education arena, in every field of endeavour,

in every neighbourhood.

 

The Gospel of the Grace of God

We are to “testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). The gospel that has been preached has often been weak; the preachers have not been persuasive; the preachers and the teachers have often only given man’s views and versions of ‘end time’ events and have failed to preach the gospel of the grace of God. The lives of men and women and families can be changed radically by the gospel of the grace of God. We bear witness that God’s word is truly “quick and powerful” and “living and active” and is able to deeply affect and change human beings (Heb.4:12).

 

The whole counsel of God

Paul declared, “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). Paul was speaking to the elders – he had instructed them well; but even so, he warned them that all would not be well after he departed. Not only would “savage wolves come in among” them, but also, from among them Paul said, “men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (v.29-30). Even though these men had heard the whole counsel of God from the apostle, they would still go away in error.

 

Take heed to yourselves

Paul pleaded with them, “take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” v.28. There is so much in that verse which challenges

our motives, our conduct, our style of leadership.

It is time to humble down; to take heed to ourselves; to realise our accountability is to the Holy Spirit; our accountability is to God whose church we serve.

 

Finally Paul commends them “to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” Acts 20:32.

Overseas Trips: 2010

India – Paul & Janet left on 1^st  February joined Paul Disher & team, teaching in Seminars for pastors & leaders in Gorakhpur and in Vijayawada. Home on 15^th Feb.

                Jean & Bruce Manning & Miraim Truss in India from 19^th Feb, Bruce & Jean arrive home 20^th March. They will be ministering in Delhi, the Darjeeling district, Chandigargh & Kanpur.   

Miriam Truss remains in India until mid-year. She will be teaching at the Truth Mission School in Fatehpur.

 

Philippines – Paul & Janet, Ian Sproule & Kay Hewson depart 19^th Feb. Ministering in

                          Dipolog, Surigao City, Cebu, Manila area. Home on 11^th March

 

Colombia: Rev Alberto Florez Granados is going on a mission trip back to Colombia from Feb.20^th March to 15^th May (3 months). Alberto is a commissioned apostle. He has already translated ‘Apostles Today’ into Spanish as well as monthly newsletters and other materials. Alberto has been in training here in Australia since March ’09. He will be preaching and teaching the apostles’ doctrine in many cities in Colombia. Brethren are anxiously awaiting his coming. Please keep his wife, Marion, in your prayers also as she remains home in Australia.

 CALENDAR

February: Fri 5^th – 7.30pm worship & preaching

                  Sat. 6^th – Training day at SHILOH: sessions – 10.30-12.30; 1.30 – 4pm

                  Sun.7^th  COMMUNITY SUNDAY at SHILOH – 9.30am Teaching

                                  10.30am Worship/Communion/Preaching

   followed by celebration lunch for Don & Miriam Truss on return from their honeymoon.

 

March: Fri 12^th – 7.30pm worship & preaching

                  Sat. 13^th – Training day at SHILOH: sessions – 10.30-12.30; 1.30 – 4pm

                  Sun.14^th  COMMUNITY SUNDAY at SHILOH – 10 am single service

Worship/Communion/Preaching and ORDINATION of Nicholas Jackson

                                                     followed by celebration lunch

 

WakeUp School of Tyrannus in Tamworth

March 20^th – April 3^rd Guest ministers: Nicholas & Rhoda Jackson from Toowoomba.

                                                Contact Paul Disher or Warwick Cowley 0267609822

 

April 2^nd – 4^th Easter conference at SHILOH, Toowoomba

Friday Sessions: 2pm– 4.30pm & 7pm– 9pm

Saturday sessions: 10am-12md; 1pm-2.30pm & 3pm-4pm

Sunday: 9.30am Teaching, 10.30am Worship/Communion/Preaching

                                                followed by community lunch