Sermon: Pentecost and the Mystery of the Church
#1656A-AM
Mark Schindler
Given 05-Jun-22; 39 minutes
description: God's called-out ones, from the first Pentecost up to the present day, have entered into a life-changing covenant to become faithful stewards of the mysteries of God. The Feast of First Fruits teaches that this is not the only day of salvation; it is just a pilot program in which a small group of draftees will be assembled in a teacher's college to provide the leadership for the wonderful World Tomorrow, God's coming Kingdom, to provide life-saving instruction to those living in the Millennium. This precious knowledge is withheld from the majority of mankind because of their blatant rejection of God's holy and spiritual law, and the subsequent curse of a debased, reprobate mind under Satan's sway. God absolutely forbids us to make alliances with carnal minds on the world's divisive issues. The only division or separation God desires for His saints is a separation from the world and its enticing drives. In other words, our division cannot be within the world, but from it. As God's people, we are knitted together in love, to the knowledge of the mystery of God and the hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge, currently withheld from most of the world. An analogy could be made from the terms of surrender the Japanese military submitted to following World War II where only a skeleton force of officers were allowed to remain as the Japanese military presence. However, this skeleton force was thoroughly trained in every aspect of military logistics, equipped with the ability to train other recruits quickly and thoroughly. As God's draftees in His Teacher's College, we are being fashioned in similar teaching roles as His kings and priests in His coming Kingdom.
transcript:
Finally! Brethren, we have come to the fiftieth day of God’s fifty-day/seven-Sabbath count to Pentecost.
As I stressed in the sermon last week on the sixth of the seven-Sabbath count, God may have intended that those last seven weeks emphasize the brevity of our own lives within the body of Christ and how closely the days of our lives need to be lived intertwined with Jesus Christ and remaining within the refuge and stability of the sanctifying work only He can do.
I tried to show a very possible connection between the count to Pentecost and numbering our own days connected to Jesus Christ, while juggled between the awesome and almost unfathomable perspective of the Eternal God and our own perspective of seemingly mundane but difficult lives, which are, by comparison, a mere wisp of smoke!
What seemed like a long time when we started to count feels like it was only last week that we were getting all the leavening out of our homes and preparing to keep Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread.
Was it not only yesterday we prepared to make a life-changing covenant with God, and were buried with Jesus Christ in the waters of baptism, received God’s Holy Spirit, and began a journey to live as He lives under the direction of His Holy Spirit?
Was it not only yesterday we became stewards of the mysteries of God that have been revealed to His elect in order that we may do our jobs within this world, while not being part of it? How well have we handled that very serious responsibility, and remained patient under the power of God’s Holy Spirit to live as Christ lives?
We can and must live with patient submission to a way of life that is truly unfathomable to the rest of the world at this time, as an outward expression of our God-given faith that is an intrinsic part of perhaps the greatest mystery God has revealed to His elect. It is beyond human reasoning to consider the absolute sovereignty of God over everything, whether good or bad, in the way He has determined to complete His perfect plan of creation in His image!
I started out this sermon with the word, “finally,” and purposely with an emphatic tone of frustration, because patience is a significant part of the work of God as it must be for all us if we are to be like Him.
Following God’s instructions today, we have come to the conclusion of the God-commanded count to Pentecost, just as someday we will come to the conclusion of our own days in this flesh. But God expects us to patiently work within the bounds of His plan with the same patience He has used to accomplish His purpose. This is a significant part of the reason why God has entrusted us as faithful stewards with things that are yet to be revealed to this world. This is one of the primary reasons, on this anniversary of God’s explosive empowering His firstfruits within the New Covenant church, we need to consider the church and how enigmatic it is to this world, especially to those who consider themselves followers of Jesus Christ.
In his introduction to the short 1996 study on Pentecost Earl Henn wrote:
As we study the meaning of God's holy days a logical pattern surfaces that unlocks truths that remain a mystery to the vast majority of the world's people. The day of Pentecost symbolizes a major key to spiritual understanding because upon this day God sent His Holy Spirit to His church, providing Christ's disciples with the power, love and understanding to carry out the work of the church.
This regeneration by the Holy Spirit, the key to understanding the spiritual principles of God's Word, opens our understanding of the plan that God is working out among humanity.
God established His holy days around the two major harvests of the year, a small one in the spring and a larger one in the fall. These harvest seasons typify two spiritual harvests. Pentecost, occurring in late spring, symbolizes the first spiritual harvest and reveals that this is not the only day of salvation.
Those whom God calls now are merely a ‘pilot group’ that He has specifically selected to be His firstfruits.
This day is also the anniversary of God's church—the beginning of the portion of God's master plan in which He calls people out of this evil world to create in them His holy, perfect, spiritual character.
Brethren, this is an incredible mystery that cannot be understood without the revealed truth of God’s Word. The primary work of the church of God now is not worldwide salvation for all who choose to, “come to Jesus,” as is the claim of most of those who call themselves Christian, whether today or over the last 1,991 years. As Herbert Armstrong always said, “It is a matter of “draftees and not volunteers,” which in itself runs contrary to carnal nature and is one of the first of the great mysteries of the church. However, this reflects the very words of Jesus Christ Himself, said as recorded in Matthew 7.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'”
John 6:44-45 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore, everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”
Brethren, this too, goes to another mystery of the church that Mr. Armstrong pointed to—the work of the church, and all that have been drafted into it, is primarily a teacher’s college.
As he wrote,
The Church was planned to be God’s instrumentality for calling predestinated human beings out of this world to be trained for positions of leadership in the World Tomorrow, when they shall teach and train others. This is why the Church is called the firstfruits of God’s salvation.
All this necessitated certain vital steps—one at a time—in the procedure of God’s supreme master plan!
The Holy Spirit was closed to humanity at the time of Adam’s sin at the very foundation of the World. It was closed to humanity, as a whole, until Christ, the second Adam should restore the government of God and unseat Satan from the throne of the earth.
He continues a little further down after emphasizing the scripture we have already read in John 6:44:
That is why those in the Church are referred to as having been called or chosen. That is why the Church is called a chosen generation. That is why predestination is mentioned twice in the New Testament; that the called were predestinated to be called. Indeed, they have been drafted. They are not volunteers!
I hope as we sit here today on this spectacular Feast of Firstfruits, we truly grasp what an incredible gift God has given through the explosive power of His Holy Spirit to understand something that is an absolute mystery to this world. The reality of the work of the church and God’s predetermined calling of each one of us into it at this time, is clear to us, but it is almost a complete mystery to this world.
God has revealed the mission of the church so that, as the world flies apart around us, we can see His sovereign authority in it all, and continue to patiently do the work He expects within the body of Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit. We are not here to get caught up in the catastrophic problems of a world that is enmity against God, but to be trained to move forward together with Christ at His return.
Brethren, here is an analogy you may want to consider in thinking about the work of the church. Although I have never dug into the details of this particular report, I think you will still be able to see how this is analogous to the church at this time.
Following World War II and the Japanese surrender in August of 1945, part of the terms of the Japanese unconditional surrender concerned the size of their post war military. For a set number of years they were only allowed to maintain a small group of armed forces for self-defense. Under their strict restrictions the Japanese determined the best thing to do was make sure that every member of the military from top to bottom was trained just like their officers. Their military became more of a service academy like West Point or Annapolis, so that whenever the time might come and the need arose for well-organized large military force they could expand quickly because every member of that small force had been trained to lead—from general to private.
Each member was trained like they were in a military college. What this did was make them ready, when the situation arose to expand their army on a moments’ notice, under the leadership of the small fighting force that already was in place. Their army had no battles to fight anymore but they were being trained to lead when and if they would be called on to do so in the future. The Japanese, who no longer could fight, had taken a small select group and trained them to be prepared to lead when the circumstances immediately call for it.
This is very similar to what is an absolute mystery to the world regarding the church.
God has taken a small select group, as Mr. Armstrong said, to be trained to lead when the time comes under Christ at His return.
In a few minutes we will be trying to narrow down the work we have been called to do in wisdom as stewards of the mystery of the church, as we consider the apostle Paul’s words as written to the Corinthians in the chapter that is titled in many Bibles, “The Greatest Gift,” or, “The Way of Love.”
So, we will be going to I Corinthians 13 to consider the vital work of the elect of God.
But first, we will turn to the very clear specific purpose statement for the body of Christ that God uses to set the pace for all of us.
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
On this very day 1,991 years ago, we see battle lines drawn all over the place according to the thinking of men, though often loosely based on the truth of God’s Word. We need to use God’s Holy Spirit as never before to stay on track. Many issues are clamoring for our emotional time and effort as the lines are being drawn among issues like: right-to-life vs. right to abortion; one man, one woman marriage vs. same sex marriage; guns vs. no guns; capitalism vs. socialism; state’s rights vs. individual rights; etc. These all are issues that have an absolute answer in God’s Word; they are reasons for our sighing and crying, because in most of these things God’s Word is very clear concerning what is absolutely right and wrong. But getting ourselves caught up on any sides within these issues of worldly obfuscation will only lead us to a position of a deserter.
God does expect us to become involved in division, but not in line with the carnally minded.
Acts 4:1-13 Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.
And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, "By what power or by what name have you done this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them,
“Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
Peter’s response began with deference in respect for these folks, but with the boldness that was a witness to their close association with Jesus Christ.
Acts 4:21-31 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed. And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them.
So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ.' “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
It is interesting here in verse 31 that it was within the unity of the elect of God that God made a special note of it with the might power of His Holy Spirit. Perhaps this is another indication from God concerning where He wants most of our time and attention to be spent.
Here is one of the most intriguing mysteries of God that is incomprehensible to those outside the body of Christ: Through the power of God’s Holy Spirit the church of God has been set completely apart from this world.
This is the only side anyone within the church must come down on in order to be please the One who has elected us to be in unity of the body of Christ through the awesome power of His Holy Spirit working within each member for the unity of the body.
I can remember Mr. Armstrong talking about the insanity of men, who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. These are his words, “How can people who claim to be of the same mind fight one another? How can a Lutheran or Catholic German fight and kill another Lutheran or Catholic American, and vice versa?” Herbert Armstrong thought this was indicative of a people who claim to follow Christ but have no real idea who He is or what the purpose of His church is.
Brethren, this is one of the unfathomable mysteries of God. The only division God expects from His elect is a division from this world; distinct from [to bring] the perfect unity within His church under the power of His Holy Spirit—a unity that must be maintained if the church is to fulfill its purpose now with the same patience as the Creator.
Flip back to Acts 2 again. Let us see what Jesus Christ saw within the elect on this day 1,991 years ago today.
Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.“
One accord” is #G3661 in Strong’s, homothumadon, an adverb from a compound of the base of #G3674 and G2372; unanimously with one accord; with one mind; with unanimous consent; in one accord; all together.
They were all together in one place with the exact same purpose, which was to follow Christ’s command and patiently wait for what they knew in faith was certain to come.
Acts 1:4-11 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, "which," He said, "you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Acts 1:14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
There are two things I want us to get from these verses. The first is that they assembled together to faithfully follow Jesus’ command to stay together and be patient. The second is (an interesting side note), they were fully aware from what Christ had taught that Israel—the church in the wilderness—was not being replaced and would be restored again at a later date, but this time with God’s Holy Spirit to do what they could not before.
I cannot even begin to tell you how many letters we receive from people who consider the New Covenant church a replacement for God’s chosen people Israel. The world is truly baffled by what God is doing. God’s patient work is a true mystery to this world, and within this they question God’s veracity, teaching doctrines like "Replacement Theology."
Israel, the church in the wilderness, is as much a mystery to them as the New Covenant church. The world is blind to God’s work and His continued relationship with Israel going forward in His perfecting work, just as the disciples knew, and as is stated in places like Romans 11.
God is working out a specific purpose for all of mankind to create us in His very image (Genesis 1:26). It began with the physical creation (Genesis 1:27-28) and will be accomplished fully when men are finally born into the very Family of God (Revelation 21:6-7).
Throughout this process our sovereign God has been using various situations, people, and nations to accomplish His purpose and specifically Abraham and his descendants: most specifically, the nation of Israel and the church. To Abraham various covenant promises were made which find their fulfillment both physically and spiritually in the nation of Israel—past, present, and future. God’s patient work with Israel and His church are clouded in mysteries to this world!
Brethren, with all this in mind again, and reflecting to Acts 2, why do you think (as we follow in thought the “law of first mention”), this chapter begins with a very clear statement regarding what Jesus Christ expects to see when He looks at those who have been called into the Body of Christ? How can we do this if we are in any way divided amongst ourselves by the divisive issues of this world, which are the consequences of sin, pure and simple? Our division cannot be within them, but away from them.
Acts 2:2-7 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?”
Acts 2:13-16 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.”
Acts 2:22-24 "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”
Acts 2:32-44 “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool."' Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call."
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common.
Brethren, we need to keep this in mind that thousands were baptized and received God’s Holy Spirit on that day and continued steadfastly in keeping the doctrines taught by the apostles together.
By the end of the first Century until now the mocking of verse 13 has been the rule rather than the exception. The infection of faithless self-centeredness had spread so that the true body of believers has been so small it is hidden among the reasoned religions of this world.
As Herbert Armstrong taught, the revealed truth of the mission of the church has been lost in a message of merely salvation.
And, as John Ritenbaugh said in a 2006 series of sermons on “Purpose Driven Churches,”
The New Paradigm churches are similar in principle to that described by Paul in Colossians 2. They have a show of wisdom, but they do not hold to the Head—Christ. Thus, the religions are ineffective in restraining human nature, because the solutions to human spiritual problems lie in the relationship with Christ.
The New Paradigm church leaders avoid biblical doctrines they believe will destroy their unity, and their drive toward membership and financial growth.
Their worship services are designed to appeal to people's feelings rather than a love for God's truth. Spiritual instruction is largely drawn from psychology and philosophy, with some biblical truth added. From that mix they want people to experience God.
Their sin is idolatry. They feel comfortable and justified replacing God's standards with their own. Thus they have placed themselves as God's equal. This explains why they cannot hold to the Head of Colossians 2.
Let us turn to Colossians 2.
Colossians 2:1-10 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
There may be new variations of the generally accepted perspective on the purpose of the church that began with a spectacular exclamation point on the Feast of Pentecost 1,991 years ago. But to all of them the true purpose of the church remains as a mystery and a point of mocking contention against those who gladly received the truth and continued steadfastly together.
Brethren, we have been entrusted as faithful stewards of the mysteries of God, as we saw last week. But, if we are not careful we will get caught up in the emotional upheaval of division within this world, and fail in our responsibilities to be faithful stewards of the mystery of the purpose of the church that God has entrusted into our care—the focus of our life’s work.
Consider that this is the only division that our sovereign God determines is proper for His elect—a perfectly united body of Christ, living together within the unifying power of God’s Holy Spirit [away] from a fractured world that has not the slightest clue of what is the pure and perfecting work of God.
I Corinthians 13:8-13 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
“But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away,” and we will see “face to face” rather than, “through a glass darkly,” as the King James puts it.
Brethren, we may be stewards of some of the mysteries of God, but even those mysteries that are incomprehensible to the rest of mankind still are limited among God’s elect at this time—not by God, but by our own carnal nature that is still trying to bust out. This is the major fight we are fighting—remaining in one place, in one accord, and under the mighty power we share from God’s Holy Spirit working within us in love.
We have been predestined to live within a teacher’s college; within what is an absolute mystery to this world; we must maintain the absolute unity God expects by the gifts He has given. We are an army of leaders in training—patiently working within our gifts to serve all, and who are yet to come as God patiently works His plan toward its end.
This great Day of Pentecost is the end of a count, but is truly the beginning of another absolutely perfect part of the plan God is working toward His purpose; that we have been given the privilege to know in part, so we can continue to prepare for the return of Christ and our service with Him through eternity.
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