Watchman Radio Hour

Some say there is not much hope for the further advance of the church and its influence in this world in this age. Our task is about done. The mission to reach the world with the gospel is about over and we've done all we can. We can only expect a small remnant of those in the world today to be saved and only a small influence will be had by the gospel on most nations. The world is in decline morally and spiritually and all is headed toward imminent judgement. If this all be true, the 21st century looks very bleak indeed. Yet, is this truly a Biblical outlook for the future of the church and the world? Could it be that the Bible teaches that better days are ahead even in this age? Could it be that the Bible teaches that the church will be victorious in its mission even in this age?

The early Christians didn't give up. The odds were against them. They had been forbidden by the Jewish leaders not to speak any more about Jesus. They were risking imprisonment if they continued, but they prayed for boldness to proclaim the gospel even more. Those early disciples had a greater vision and refused to give up. They called on God and He answered and gave them power from on High. The gospel advanced beyond Jerusalem. At the end of the book of Acts, the gospel had already reached Rome, the capital of the world empire of that day. They could have given up and said it was no use but they didn't. We can learn from their example today.

The blessing of Abraham had a worldwide focus. God promised Abraham that all the families or nations of the earth were going to be blessed through his seed. It was a forward looking promise and the promise is still in effect and is still looking forward. It has not been nearly fulfilled as yet. There is more yet to come. There are some who want to reject the blessing of God promised for this earth in this age and replace it with a curse. We need to believe the promises of God.

Peter preaching at Pentecost had not only his immediate audience in mind but generations yet to come not only among the Jews but among peoples all over the world. Not only were the Jews of that day given a promise but their children and not only their children but all who were far off in distance as well as time and their children. This promise had a far reaching vision that carried forward even to the end of the age. This promise would effect peoples from every nation and people group all over the world. Today, we need to recapture this vision of Peter's at Pentecost.

The cross was not God's Plan B. It was a part of his master plan, the plan He had from the beginning. God has His plan for history and it is being carried out. There are no surprises to God. He knows what He is doing. There is no Plan B with God. He has a master plan and He will see it through to the end.

A new king had come and He was commissioning His disciples to go and make disciples all over the world and to issue in a New Kingdom - the Kingdom of God. Satan's Kingdom would come under judgement and a new kingdom would take its place. Therefore, Pentecose was an inauguration of the Kingdom of God. Jesus gave the Great Commission and it was inaugurated at Pentecost. The worldwide conquest of the Kingdom of God began at Pentecost and the great judgment on Satan's rule began.

We are living in the days of the dispensation of the Spirit. We could also say that we are living in the days of the fulfillment of Pentecost and that fulfillment is not over yet. Some think the end is very near. Armageddon is upon us. I prefer to think that this is not true. There is more yet to come. Pentecost is not over yet. We know that Jesus will return but is it now time for Him to return. Have we accomplished our task? Is this all there is? Is there not more yet to come? Today, there are billions who know not Christ. There are nations that yet need to be converted and nations that need to be reclaimed for the kingdom of God. How can we say that the end is at hand when there is so much yet to be done.

At Pentecost the power was given for the worldwide proclamation of the gospel. Without that power, Christ's Kingdom could not spread. Without that power, Satan's Kingdom would remain and not be destroyed. Today, that same Pentecostal power is needed to finish the task the Lord has given the church in this world.

Pentecost was a very historic event in the history of the church. Not only was it historic, but it had great significance. It was an event that had already been prophesied and promised by the Lord Jesus Himself. The Old Testament pointed to it. The New Testament records it and shows what happened after it. Not only was it the fulfillment of a promise but it was also the beginning of a new age - the age of the Spirit. It was a great revival for the people - it effected both believers and non-believers. Believers were set on fire for the gospel - nonbelievers were converted to Christ in great numbers. It was a great start for the church. Church history has shown that at particular times - the Holy Spirit has again been poured out with great results. Should we expect further Pentecosts even greater than the ones that have happened in the past?

The crowds were amazed at Jesus' teaching because He was no ordinary man. He was God in the flesh. We should listen to Jesus today because He is God. He has given us His Word and we need to take heed to what it says. Jesus' teaching is unique. The people there on the mountain side heard Jesus directly. They could see him with their eyes and they could hear him with their ears. How do we hear Him today? We hear him through the Bible as it is taught and proclaimed to us or as we read and meditate upon it. The Bible is the Word of God. It is God's message to us. We need to take heed to what it says. Jesus is still speaking. We need to open our ears and listen to what He has to say.