HOW DO WE KNOW?
 

 In the letter to the Hebrews, there is a long list of Old Testament characters commended for their faith in chapter 11. The next chapter says this:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3)

The Jewish church in Rome, to whom the letter is addressed, were being encouraged that their faith can be based on the witness of others.

So how do we know what to believe?

Firstly, Jesus is the pioneer of our faith. We have faith in him and it comes a s gift from him. Faith itself is a spiritual gift. He not only pioneers that faith he perfects it. The importance of Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit was poured out on all believers. That same Holy Spirit (of Jesus) points towards the pioneer and helps us grow in that gift of faith.

The encouragement is to persevere and not to grow weary.

But the cloud of witnesses does not stop there.

The disciples spent three years with Jesus, seeing what he did, listening to what he had to teach them. They saw him unfairly tried, they saw him on the cross, they saw him buried, they saw the empty tomb and they met him, ate with him, were commissioned by him and received 40 more days of teaching in the light of the knowledge of his resurrection! How much more must his teaching have meant to them then?!

After the ascension to heaven, and ten more days of waiting, on the day of Pentecost, everything changed again. Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled. The Holy Spirit came like wind and fire filling all the believers. And Peter it was who stood up and preached the Gospel of Christ and told the surrounding crowds:

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call….save yourselves from this corrupt generation” (Acts 2: 38-40)

About 3000 people accepted this and were baptised that day alone.

They gathered every day together and lived differently, sharing, praying, worshipping and studying and trying to love as they had been loved by the pioneer. They sought to do what he had done. One day Peter and John met a man physically broken and desperate for financial help.  Peter said “Look at us.. silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. IN the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!” That was the first of many healings, just as they had seen Jesus the pioneer perform.

The community of believers grew and became stronger. A man called Stephen, one of the first deacons, set aside to serve others, had been doing miraculous signs. The religious authorities whipped up lies about him and he was arrested. He did not go quietly. He told the story of his people before them angering them even more, but proclaiming Jesus as the anointed one who was killed.

They stoned him for his words.

Saul looked on and approved. Yet soon after he would meet the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. A faithful believer he had persecuted this new “way”. Now he knew their claims to be true because he heard it form the source, from the pioneer and the perfecter of faith. Immediately he had to tell people. He then went away to talk to others and to pray and study. When he reappeared he was commissioned in Cyprus with Barnabas and off they went on several journeys around Asia and southern Europe. And planted churches of believers.

Now known as Paul, he wrote letters to the churches to encourage their faith and to correct their behaviour. Paul also wrote to church leaders to mentor and encourage them, men such as Timothy and Titus. We have these letters as a witness to us. John did the same. Peter did the same. As did James.

It may be that Peter later met (John?) Mark in Rome and told his story. Mark wrote it down with some urgency. Matthew took the same source or maybe Marks own work and wrote from a longer, more Jewish perspective. He included parables and family histories and included the birth and more of the resurrection of Jesus and what happened next.

Luke set out to contact as many witnesses as he could and record an “orderly account”. He went on some of the journeys and was able to provide his own eye witness account. He recorded not only the Gospel account of Jesus’ ministry but also what happened next, the Acts of the Apostles. Based on eye witness accounts and his own latter part in it.

And we call these recorded accounts of eye witnesses “scripture” or God’s Word.

But it doesn’t stop there. The early church gave way to the later church, the mediaeval church, the reformation church, the modern church, the Pentecostals, Baptists, the Methodist movement. And every church and every denomination have stories of people of faith who have witnessed and acted in ways that show the Holy Spirit is alive and active in every generation.

And that is true today.

God is speaking. People are seeing him at work and are eye witnesses. The Holy Spirit is drawing people to know the pioneer and perfecter of faith.

And he calls you to be a witness too.

Join the cloud.

Do not grow weary. Dig deep into the witness and faith of others. Read and grow every day.

Trust that it is true. Wrestle with the tricky bits and be built up by his Word.

Our mission is to Make Passionate Disciples for Christ.

That means:

• Being rooted and grounded in God’s Word
• Being led by the Holy Spirit
• Giving it away!

And that can start afresh today!

Happy Easter, one and all.

Every blessing

Doug

vicar@christchurchpurley.org.uk

MIND, BODY AND SOUL – ARE THEY WELL?