| BOOK OF ACTION IN THE N. T. By Erwin Bourne—August 28, 2002 The fifth book of the New Testament is called ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. I often refer to it as the ACTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT or THE CHURCH IN ACTION. To hear many folk talk, you’d think we didn’t believe in the Trinity. We talk about the Father and study the Son—but when it comes to the Holy Spirit, we are confused at best and frightened at worst. Confused because we’ve never been taught. Frightened because we’ve been taught to be afraid. Let’s simplify things a bit. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives, carrying on the work of Jesus. In evangelism the Holy Spirit is on center stage. If the disciple teaches, it is because the Spirit teaches the disciple (Luke 12:12). If the listener is convicted, it is because the Spirit has penetrated (John 16:10). If the listener is converted, it is by the transforming power of the Spirit (Romans 8:11). If the new believer matures, it is because the Spirit makes him or her competent (2 Corinthians 3:6). There’s a wonderful example of the Trinity in action found in Acts 8:26-40. An Old Testament Ethiopian Eunuch had been to Jerusalem to worship God the Father and was now returning down a desert road. The evangelist Philip had received an angel’s order to go to this road to Gaza where he met the treasurer of Ethiopia. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” Philip heard the Eunuch reading from Isaiah and asked him if he understood. The man said he had no instructor, so invited the evangelist up into the carriage. There Philip taught him “the Good News about Jesus.” The study was so convincing that the Ethiopian was baptized that day. Then they separated. The story has a happy ending. Philip teaches, the Ethiopian obeys, and the gospel is sent to Africa. Are we still writing the Acts of the Apostles? The Trinity of Heaven is still in action. Jesus’ commission to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel” is indisputable. The story in Acts chapter eight is being repeated over and over again. If the Bible were being written yet today, that could be your name in an Acts-the-eighth-chapter episode. A number of years ago, Jean and I were flying to Alaska via Colorado Springs, Chicago and Anchorage. A strange routing—but God’s schedule. I was sitting in an aisle seat, and across from me was an apparent business man. He was deeply involved with his lap-top and some ledgers, so we were nearing Chicago before I could make an approach. I said, “You must be involved in business.” “Yes,” he replied, “world-wide!” Then he inquired about me. Now over the past years we have kept in close contact via internet. The “Good News of the kingdom” is the lodestone of attraction. By Erwin Bourne <Outreach_amazon@yahoo.com> |