Written by Joel Deacon - Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Wollongong

MULTIPLICATION - PART 1

8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses… to the end of the earth.” After Jesus said this he was lifted up, and the disciples stood staring into heaven until two angels said, “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” Acts 1:8-11 (ESV)

Many Christians today do the same thing. We look to heaven and forget the mission. We wait when Jesus has called us to work. We hesitate when he has called us to step out with gospel ambition and Spirit dependence. When Jesus taught us to pray “your kingdom come, your will be done”, he was training our desires. He was shaping us into people who long to see the kingdom advance, to take new ground, to lead the church well and to see new churches born.

Pentecost launched a movement that changed the world. When the Holy Spirit came with wind and fire he empowered believers with gifts that built and multiplied the church from Jerusalem to the nations. What the Spirit has done across two thousand years is breathtaking, and yet there is more to do. Until Jesus returns, we are called to stop gazing and start praying. We are called into something far bigger than ourselves.

In the Great Commission Jesus lifts our eyes beyond our own church, our own city and our own region. He calls us to think about the nations. And yes, this should feel overwhelming, because we cannot fulfil the mission of God in our own strength. We need the power of the Holy Spirit.

And the Spirit is eager to equip the church with the gifts required for multiplication.

• The gift of apostleship pioneers new work and breaks new ground.
• The gift of leadership guides churches forward in mission.
• The gift of administration creates structures that sustain movement, not just moments.
• The gift of generosity resources new churches and gospel projects.
• The gift of faith trusts God for what seems impossible and helps the church step out boldly as Jesus multiplies his work through his people.

This work is risky. It is hard. It requires courage, change and perseverance. It demands trust in Jesus and dependence on the Holy Spirit. It requires believing that Christ is the head of the church, even when a plant fails or a ministry closes. And maybe this is why many churches stop multiplying and simply gaze into heaven. We fear risk. We hesitate to step out in faith.

But this is the mission Jesus calls us into, and by the Spirit’s power it is a mission we can join with joy.

When we think of the apostle Paul we imagine a successful church planter. But do not be fooled. He learned to plant churches by planting churches. He learned through the chaos of churches in Crete, Galatia and Corinth. He did not do everything perfectly, but in faith he used his gift of apostleship to multiply the church. And as he did, leaders rose, givers gave and administrators served so that the gospel could advance.

QUESTIONS:

1. Where might Jesus be calling you to stop gazing and start stepping out in faith?
2. Which gift of multiplication do you sense the Holy Spirit wants to grow in you?

CHALLENGE:

Pray today, “Lord, expand my heart for your mission”, and ask the Holy Spirit to show you one practical step that advances the gospel.