a pentecostal worldview

THE PARK AVENUE PULPIT! PAGE1

The Park Avenue Pulpit, Box 26, Mount Pearl, NL A1N 2C1 | 709-368-3777 | [email protected]

ACTS 1-6-11 ESV

6Sowhentheyhadcometogether,theyaskedhim,"Lord,willyouatthistimerestorethekingdomtoIsrael?"7Hesaidtothem,"ItisnotforyoutoknowtimesorseasonsthattheFatherhas?ixedbyhisownauthority.8ButyouwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpirithascomeuponyou,andyouwillbemywitnessesinJerusalemandinallJudeaandSamaria,andtotheendoftheearth."9Andwhenhehadsaidthesethings,astheywerelookingon,hewasliftedup,andacloudtookhimoutoftheirsight.10Andwhiletheyweregazingintoheavenashewent,behold,twomenstoodbytheminwhiterobes,11andsaid,"MenofGalilee,whydoyoustandlookingintoheaven?ThisJesus,whowastakenupfromyouintoheaven,willcomeinthesamewayasyousawhimgointoheaven."

ACTS 4:23-31 ESV

23Whentheywerereleased,theywenttotheirfriendsandreportedwhatthechiefpriestsandtheeldershadsaidtothem.24Andwhentheyheardit,theyliftedtheirvoicestogethertoGodandsaid,"SovereignLord,whomadethe

heavenandtheearthandtheseaandeverythinginthem,25whothroughthemouthofourfatherDavid,yourservant,saidbytheHolySpirit,

"'WhydidtheGentilesrage,andthepeoplesplotinvain?26Thekingsoftheearthsetthemselves,andtherulersweregatheredtogether,againsttheLordandagainsthisAnointed'—27fortrulyinthiscitytherewere

gatheredtogetheragainstyourholyservantJesus,whomyouanointed,bothHerodandPontiusPilate,alongwiththeGentilesandthepeoplesofIsrael,28todowhateveryourhandandyourplanhadpredestinedtotakeplace.29Andnow,Lord,lookupontheirthreatsandgranttoyourservantstocontinuetospeakyourwordwithallboldness,30whileyoustretchoutyourhandtoheal,andsignsandwondersareperformedthroughthenameofyourholyservantJesus."31Andwhentheyhadprayed,theplaceinwhichtheyweregatheredtogetherwasshaken,andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGodwithboldness.

“ButyouwillreceivepowerwhentheHolySpirithascomeuponyou,andyou

willbemywitnessesin

JerusalemandinallJudeaandSamaria,andtotheendofthe

earth."

Volume 1 Garry E. Milley

“A PENTECOSTAL WORLDVIEW”

mailto:[email protected]


A PENTECOSTAL WORLDVIEW! PAGE2


Theearlychurchfacedmanychallenges.Thegreatestat?irstwastheoppositionfromtheleaderswhocontrolledthereligiouslifeofthepeople.Theymadeitdif?icultfortheapostlesandtheyoungChristiancommunitytobeheardproperly.TheyoungChristianmovementwasmisunderstoodandpersecuted.Theywerethreatenedandcharged.TheywerecommandednottospeakinJesusname.

Inthestorywereadtoday,theapostleswenttotheirfriendsandtoldthemwhathappened.They“lifteduptheirvoicestogether”inprayer.TheirprayerwasbasedonPsalm2.

GodhadsetDavidasKingoveralargepieceofconqueredterritoryandhisrulershipwasbeingopposedbythenations.Thepoetcouldn’tunderstandthis.“Whydothenationsrage?”Whydon’tthenationsrecognizethatGodanointedthekingtorule?Hisruleistobeagodlyrule.Whytheopposition?

TheearlychurchbelievedthatJesus,theSonofDavid,wasmeanttoruletheworldforever.Hewasthepromisedkingwhosekingdomwascomingandwhosekingdomwouldhavenoend.That’sthepointoftheMessianicprophecies.TheMessiahisakinglytitle.TheGreekwordChristmeansthesamething—theanointedonewhoischosenbyGodtoreign.

TheearlychurchsawtheresurrectionofJesusasthebeginningofhisreign.Theycouldnotunderstandwhy

somanypeoplecouldnotacceptit.Theirfrustrationisre?lectedintheirprayers.“WhydidtheGentilesrage...AgainsttheLordandagainsthisanointed?”TheirprayerswereinformedandshapedbyScripture.WhattheScripturesaid,theHolySpiritsaid.Didyounoticethat?DidyounoticethatwhentheyreadtheScripturetheyheardtheSpiritspeaking?

Allaroundthemwasconfusionandopposition.Yet,theyknewtheywerelivinginabiggerstorythantheirown.TheyknewthatalltheterriblethingsthatwerehappeningwerehappeningsomehowwithinagreaterplanofGod.Intheirprayer,theydidn’tdocrazythingslike“rebuketheenemy”or“repentforsinsofpreviousgenerations.”Theydidn’tevenasktheLordtoprotectthem.Theydidn’tinterprettheeventsastheresultsofagenerationalcurse.Theydidn’tcomeupwithstrangepropheciesaboutseeingintoaspiritrealm.Nothinglikethatatall!Theysaid,“lookuponthethreats”butgrantuscouragetowitnessboldly.“Whileyoustretchoutyourhandtoheal,andsignsandwondersareperformedthroughthenameofyourholyservantJesus.”Ilovethatprayer.“Lordtheproblemsareallaroundus,butkeepusfaithfultothetaskofproclaimingthetruthaboutJesus.”Everygenerationneedstodothat.Andweneedtodoitinabalancedway.

“andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGod

withboldness.”

“While you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

Jesus Will Return!





Verse31says,“Andwhentheyhadprayed,theplaceinwhichtheyweregatheredtogetherwasshaken,andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGodwithboldness.”

Theshakingwasnotdonebyloudpulsatingmusic.Itwasnotproduced.Itwasnotengineeredbypeopletryingtogetaneffectoutofthecrowds.ItwasthepresenceoftheHolySpiritthatshookeverythingtothecoreandturnedthemallintopowerfulandboldwitnesses.That’sthekindof?illingweneedtoday.Theemphasiswasonthe?illingoftheSpiritandtheresultingwitness.

IamaNewfoundlanderbybirth.IamaChristianbythesecondbirth.IamaPentecostalbothbyexperienceandconviction.Iam,whatiscalled,a“classical”Pentecostal.ThatmeansonewhoseeshisspiritualrootsgoingbackthroughAzusaStreettotheDayofPentecost.Somemaythinkofa“classic”asanoldcarinneedofapaintjobandatotaloverhaul.ReallyitmeansthattherootsofhowIunderstandbeingPentecostalgobackallthewaytothe?irstwaveofthemodernrevival.IcantracethebeliefsweholdandthespiritualdisciplineswepracticetotheAzusaStreetrevivalof1906‐1909andbacktotheNewTestamentitself.

Iholdthepositionthatthe

modernPentecostal/charismaticrenewalgotitsimpetusfromtheAzusaStreetmovement.The?irstwavecontainedthecoreelements;itcontainedtheheartoftherevival.Astherevivalfacedchallengesofopposition,falsedoctrineandsinfullives,itdevelopedabalancedandintegratedapproachtospirituality.Itwasnotextreme.PentecostalismisonewayofbeingaChristian.Itisn’ttheonlyway,butitisthewayIknowbest.

IstruggletobeabalancedmiddleoftheroadPentecostal.Iseektoavoidtheditchesoneitherside.Itisn’teasy.Someonehassaidthatthemiddleoftheroadisabadplacetostandbecauseyouaresuretobeknockeddownbywhateveriscomingalong.WhatImeanisobvious.Idonotwanttobeidenti?iedbyextremesoneithersideoftherevival.

WehavesomePentecostalchurchessoupsetwithsomeofthecurrentexpressionsoftherevivalthattheyhavelefttheirPentecostalrootsaltogetherandhavebecomeliturgicalliketheEpiscopalians.Othershavesaidthe“classical”Pentecostalsareancienthistory.Godis“donewithus,”theysay,becausewehesitateinacceptingsomeofthenewerthings.SomewanttoembracewhateverisnewonthemarketandtheyleavetheirtraditionalPentecostalchurchforanynumber

ofindependentchurches.

Ihavefriendswhoareinvolvedinboththeseextremes.Ilovethemdearlyandtheyloveme.But,bothsidescan’tseemtounderstandme.Eachsidewantsmetoendorsethem.ButIwanttoremaininthecentralposition,themiddleoftheroad,ifyouplease.

IamnotsayingthatIknowbest,asifIweretheexpertoneverything.I’mnot.ButIwanttobeagoodsoldierfortheclassicalposition.Wehaveourfaults.Wearenotperfect.Butoverthepast100years,theclassicalpositionhasproventobethelessdamagingtopeople.Wehavelearnedsomethingsfromourexperience.Wehavelearnedtobebalanced.BlessedarethebalancedfortheywillremainstandingupforJesuslongerthaneveryoneelsehasfallenover!

IbelieveGodwantstoblesshispeoplebutIamnotahealth/wealthpreacher.IbelievethatGodstillworksmiraclestoday,butIwillnotpromiseyouamiracleinordertogetyourmoney.IbelievethatGodspeakstousthroughhisWordbutIdonotbelievethatGodyammerstouseverymomentoftheday.

Ibelievethatthegiftofprophecyisfortheedi?ication,exhortation,andcomfortofthechurch.Idonotbelievethatevery

“Pentecostalism is one way of being a Christian. It isn’t the only way, but it is the way I know best.”



A PENTECOSTAL WORLD VIEW! PAGE4


positivethingIcanimagineisaprophecyforthewholechurch.

IbelieveGodguidesusdailythroughhisWord,thewisecounseloffriends,andthroughprayer.Idonotbelieveyouneedtophoneintoyourpersonalprophetandmakeafaithpledgeinordertogetguidance.Idonotbelievethataprophetoughttotellyoutoleaveyourspouseinordertoful?illyourspiritualdestiny.

IanointpeoplewithoilforthehealingofthesickasweareinstructedinJames.IdonotbelieveinsendingawayforMiracleSpringWaterandnow,recently,NewEnhancedMiracleSpringWater.Idonotbelievethatyououghttobesending$1000toaTVevangelistsothatyoucanhaveyournameputonthesideofhisprivatejet.Idonotbelieveyououghttosendanother$1000tohaveyounameplacedontheothersideoftheprivatejet!ThesewerethingsIencounteredlastweek!Theseexamplesarenotinventedorreadabout;theyareactualsituationsthatIhavepastoredrecently.

Iamnota“line‘emup;knock‘emdown”pastor.IdonotputonabigshowforyoueachSunday.Icannotcompetewiththeslickproductionsthatmediapeoplecanproduce.WearehumblepeoplehereatParkAvenue.ButwebelievedinthemovingoftheSpirit.WehavehadanexperienceandanencounterwithGodthathaveleftusshakentothecore.WearedoingourbesttobeabalancedPentecostalchurch.Wearenotahighchurchandwearenotalowchurch.Wearenotacathedralandwearenotastorefront.WeareagroupofpeoplefromallwalksoflifebeingbroughttogetherbyapowerfulanddeepmoveofGod.

Asa“classical”Pentecostal,andonewhohastaughtourhistoryforyears,Itendtoevaluatethecurrentmovementsandemergingdoctrinesbyasking,“Havewe,asamovement,beenherebefore?”“Haveweseenthesedoctrinesorpracticesbefore?”“Isthisnewthingreallyneworisitanolderrorrepackagedsomehow?”“AresincerepeoplebeingmisguidedawayfromthesimplicitythereisinChrist?”“AreweseeingdistortionsofthePentecostalfaithinourtimes?”Thesearefairquestions.Theyarenotmotivatedbymeanness.Thereisnointentiontohurtanyone.Theintentionistocautionyoutoevaluatethingscarefullyandprayerfully.TheBibleencouragesustotesteverythingbutholdfasttothatwhichisgood.

AnumberofyearsagoIhadtheprivilegeofstudyingwithDr.StevenJ.Landwhowroteabook,PentecostalSpirituality:APassionfortheKingdom.Hewasteachingusthat,forPentecostals,spiritualityismorethanacertainkindofexperience.Spiritualityisconnectedwithourtheology.Theologyforusisnotjustsomethingthathappensinourheads.Itisnotjust“thinking”aboutGod.ItisnotjustawayofdescribingGodortheplacewherewegettouseourbrainsorourreason.

ForPentecostalstheologyisare?lectiveactionasweseekprayerfullytodiscernGodinthecontextofourspiritualexperiences.WewanttoknowthedifferencebetweenthemovingoftheHolySpiritandouremotions.Today,spiritualexperiencesareadimeadozen.Thereareallkindsofcoursesavailable.SomeofthemarenotevenChristian.Buttheology,forus,isspiritualitydoneinthecontextof

prayer.WeseektobesensitivetotheSpiritinthemidstofourdailyexperiences.WearetryingtodiscerntheSpiritinthemidstoflife.WearetryingtowalkintheSpiritandyetliveinthisrealworld.Thesethingsareintegratedforus.So,prayer,worshipandstudyarepartsofeachother.IseektohearGodspeakasIstudy,prayandlive.Whenwefragmenttheseortearthemapart,wegetintotrouble.

ToisolatethestudyoftheWordtoauniversityorcollegelibrary,toisolatepraisetoaconcert,ortoisolateprayertoapersonalmysticalexperience,istorunintoproblems.PentecostalsareattheirbestwhentheWord,praiseandprayerareintegrated.

Dr.Landmadeaninterestingcomment.ForPentecostalsthecoretheologicaldisciplineislivingspiritually;thecorespiritualdisciplineislivingtheologically.Thatiswhy,fortheclassicalPentecostal,theBibleinformsthehead,theheartandthelifeatthesametime.Theyareintegrated.EverythingistobejudgedbytheWord.WhatweteachmustlineupwiththeWord.WhatweexperiencemustlineupwiththeWord.HowweliveandbehavemustlineupwiththeWord.

Wedon’twanttobejustintellectual.Wedon’twanttobejustsentimental.Wedon’twanttobejustagoodworksfocusedchurch.

Thequestionishowdowebecomeintegratedandnotfragmentedinourspirituallife?Howdoweholdallthesethingstogether?SomechurchesaremoreorlessintellectuallyfocusedontheWord.Othersarejustsentimentallyfocusedontheemotions.Stillothersseemto





befocusedonsocialjusticeandworksofmercy.Howdowebestintegratethesethings,whichareallproper,inbalance?Ifweweretointegratethem,whatconnectivetissuedoweuse?

Inthetextweread,thereisareferencetoshakingandtothefullnessoftheSpirit.Today,weseepeopletryingtoignorethefullnessoftheSpiritandfocusontheshakingorsomeoftheotherphysicalmanifestations.

AsIhavespentalongtimethinkingaboutthis(Istillhavemuchtolearn)IhavecometotheconclusionthattheconnectionbetweenourthinkingaboutGod,ourexperienceoftheHolySpiritandourobedienceinalifeofdiscipleshipismadeinPentecostalismbyanapocalypticoreschatologicalworldview.NowI’mgoingtoexplainthatforyou.WediscussedthisinourWednesdaymidweekashortwhileago.Thesewordsrefertotheend‐times.

InActschapterone,thedisciplessawJesusgointoheaven.Theyheardapromisethathewouldreturnagain.Jesuspromisedtoreturn.Thatnotewasneversilencedintheearlychurch.TheearlychurchlivedinaworldviewdominatedbythesenseofexpectationfortheLord’sreturn.

TheearlyPentecostalslivedinthelightofthesecondcomingofChrist,too.IfyoureadthehymnalsusedinourhistorymanyofthemwerefullofSecondComingsongs.ThemotiveforpersonalholinessandevangelisticmissionwasthatthedoorofgracewasabouttocloseandJesuscouldreturnatanymoment.

Thiskindofapocalypticand

eschatologicalself‐understandingwasattheverycoreofwhatitmeanttobePentecostal.Thatbeliefpenetratedeverything.Itwasconnectedtoourwitness.(Thereisn’tmuchtime.WehavetowintheworldforChrist.Soonthetimeforweepingwillbeover,soonwegathertoourharvesthome.).Itwasconnectedtoourdailyavoidanceofworldliness(Bereadywithyourgarmentsunspotted).Itwasconnectedwithourunderstandingofsufferinginthisworld(Thisworldisnotmyhome.I’vegotamansionjustoverthehilltop).LivinginthelightofthesecondcomingwastheseasoninginourfaithandinourexperienceoftheHolySpirit(Itwasaforetasteofheaven.Oh,thisislikeheaventome.I’vecrossedoverJordantoCanna'sfairland.)Itwastheairtheybreathed.Alltheirbeliefswereheldinthatatmosphere,heldwiththeawarenessthattheylivedinthelastdays;theywerethe“lastdays”people.Theylivedwithheaveninview.Thatunderstandingaffectedeverything.Itwasaworldview.

Thatcoreelement,thatintegratingconnectivetissueisstillthewayIunderstandourPentecostalfaith.It’sthewayIhavereceivedtheChristianfaith.Iamstillthere.WemustlearntoliveinthelightoftheSecondComingofJesusChrist.

Whenthiscoreelementismissingsomethinghappenstothespirituality.Forexample,speakingintongueswasonceasignofChrist’ssoonreturn.AfterpeoplehadreceivedthebaptismintheHolySpirit,afterspeakingintongues,the?irstwords,inthenativelanguageinvariablywasthattheLordwascomingsoon.Itwasasignthatthegospelwastobeproclaimedthroughoutthewholeworld.It

motivatedpeopletogetoutandwitness.Pentecostalsbecameknownasthemissionariesoftheone‐wayticket.Theydidn’texpecttoreturnfromthemission?ieldbecausetheyexpectedChristtocomeatanymoment.ItmadethemwalksoftlybeforetheLordinholiness.

ButoncetheexperienceoftheHolySpirit’sfullnessgotseparatedfromtheimminencyoftheLord’sreturn,speakingintonguesnolongerfunctionedasasignofworldwideproclamationorasignthatChrist’scomingwascloseathand.Theconnectionwithwitnessandproclamationwaslost.Theexperience,ratherthanbeingfocusedoutwardonmission,becamefocusedinwardonpersonalrenewal.Speakingintonguesbecameatechniqueforpersonalprayerandthe“prayerlanguage”functionwashighlightedmorethanthesecondcomingorthepowertowitness.Iamnotsayingthatthisistotallywrong,onlythatitisadifferentemphasisthanat?irstandwelostsomething.

Iamafraidoftwoextremes.One,Idonotwanttosingjusttheoldhymnstokeepthepeoplemyageandolderhappy.ItdatesusandmakesitappearasifthetrueexperienceofGodwaslimitedtothe?irstorsecondgenerations.ItmakesitseemasifwethinkGodisnotatworkatalltoday,onlyinthepast.TheotherextremeisthatwegravitatetoonlythemostrecentstylesofmusictosatisfythetastesofpeoplewhoaregenerallyyoungerthanIam.Eitherofthesetwoextremesisaditchthatcaneasilybecomearut.Iwanttorecapturethetrueessenceofwhatitmeanstobe?illedwiththeSpirit.And,whenthatconnectivetissueisthere,itdoesn’treallymatterwhetherthesongis





neworold.

ThechurchneedstolearnhowtodiscernthemovingoftheSpiritwithoutbeingblownaroundbyeverywindofdoctrine.Wemustneverassumethegrassisgreenerinsomeoneelse’sbackyard.Weneedtodigagainourownwells.Weneedtorecoveradeepprayerlife,aprayerlifethatisbathedintheatmosphereofthepromiseofourLord’sreturn.Heiscomingback.“He’scoming.Hesaidhewould.He’scomingbackagain.Ohpraisehisholyname.He’scomingbackagain.He’scoming.Hesaidhewould.He’scomingbackagain.He’scomingtoearthoncemore.”

Thatexpectationcausesyoutoseetheproblemsoflifeinanew

light.Youdon’tspendyourtimebeggingGodtotaketheproblemsawayasifhewereaSantaClaus.YouprayliketheapostlesprayedinActschapter4.

“Andnow,Lord,lookupontheirthreatsandgranttoyourservantstocontinuetospeakyourwordwithallboldness,whileyoustretchoutyourhandtoheal,andsignsandwondersareperformedthroughthenameofyourholyservantJesus."Andwhentheyhadprayed,theplaceinwhichtheyweregatheredtogetherwasshaken,andtheywereall?illedwiththeHolySpiritandcontinuedtospeakthewordofGodwithboldness.”

Prayer:

Lord,IpraythatyouwillfreeusfromselMishprayersandgrantusaboldnesstoproclaimyourword.Letusseeyoustretchforthyourhandtoheal.Wewanttoseeit.MaysignsandwondersbedonethroughthenameofJesus.Wewanttoseethem.FillusagainwiththeHolySpiritthatwemaycontinuetospeakyourwordwithboldness.Prepareusforyoursoonreturn.Helpustoliveasifyourreturningwasjustmomentsaway.Ifitisalongwayoff,grantusthestrengthtoendureuntiltheendandwalkworthy,witnessfaithfully,andliveexpectantlyinthelightofthepromiseofyourreturn.InthenameoftheFather,theSonandtheHolySpirit.Amen.

“Fill us again with the Holy Spirit that we may continue to speak your word with boldness.”

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON & THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

Park Avenue Pentecostal Church Lord, hear our prayer.



a pentecostal worldview

Documents