Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19970706.htm

ACTS: THE LOCAL CHURCH AS GOD'S AGENCY FOR DISCIPLING MEN
Part II: The Significance Of Geographical Location In Christian Life And Service
(Acts 1:4, 12)
  1. Introduction
    1. Since Jesus commanded His disicples to go out into all the world to preach the Gospel, is it reasonable to assume that God allows a believer to live and minister anywhere he chooses on the earth? If not, how is a believer today to discern God's geographical leading as no Bible verses cover modern geographical areas?!
    2. To answer this question, we view Acts 1:4, 12 with related Scriptures as follows:
  2. The Significance Of Geographical Location In Christian Life And Service, Acts 1:4, 12.
    1. Before ascending to heaven, Jesus ordered the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit's arrival before ministering the Gospel to the ends of the earth, Acts 1:4, 8.
      1. Upon receiving the empowering, indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit, the twelve disciples were to witness the Gospel of Christ all around the world, Acts 1:8 with Mtt. 28:19-20.
      2. However, to receive that Spirit, God ordered the disciples to wait in Jerusalem, Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49.
    2. To understand why this geographical location was so important in the plan of God, we examine the original Old Testament promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit for an explanation as follows:
      1. When the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, Peter explained its arrival as the same thing that was going to happen to Israel in the latter days as predicted in Joel's prophecy, Acts 2:14-20.
      2. In fact, that prophecy would signal deliverance for all who called on the name of the Lord, Acts 2:21.
      3. In Joel's prophecy to which Peter alluded, God predicted a deliverance for all who called on the Lord, and that that this deliverance would come out of Zion in Jerusalem, Joel 2:28-31, 32.
      4. Thus, God wanted the disciples of Jesus to stay in Jerusalem for the Spirit's outpouring, for only in that location would the outpouring occur as a signal to the world that such an outpouring was from ISRAEL'S GOD, that the outpouring was TRULY that of the Holy Spirit of GOD!
    3. Thus, when the disciples returned from the Mount of Olives following Christ's ascension, they were put into the proper location for God's blessing as that location fulfilled Scripture to signal its credibility!
    4. Such movements of the Spirit even after Pentecost still continued to dictate the time and location of each discipler, and that via even circumstantial leading with which we today can often identify with as follows:
      1. Acts 1:8 taught a worldwide ministry following the Spirit's coming at Pentecost.
      2. However, Acts 16:6-10, 11-12 versus Rev. 1:11 and 1 Peter 1:1 indicate God led specific apostles to specific locations at specific times en route to their making disciples, and that even circumstantially!
        1. God circumstantially led the disciples in missionary work by not allowing them to minister in a current region by repeatedly hindering of their discipling efforts in a certain area, Acts 16:6-7.
        2. The Holy Spirit circumstantially led these men by coordinating the closing of two doors of ministry opportunity behind them with the opening of one door in front of them, Acts 16:6-10.
        3. The Lord circumstantially led these men as they tried various opportunities around them, Acts 16:7b.
        4. Yet, God later had churches in these "off-limit regions of Asia and Bythinia, Rev. 1:11; 1 Peter 1:1. Accordingly, He just didn't want Paul and Silas in these regions at that time!
Lesson: God's Word and will as revealed by circumstancial leading often together direct believers to specific locations at certain times to do God's work, and at other times to avoid locations at the time for reasons known to the Lord. Thus, the individual believer is not to pick his location or time of service to God, but heed the leading of God en route, cf. James 4:13-15.

Application: (1) God's Word states that the LOCAL CHURCH is His place of ministry in today's worldwide program, 1 Tim. 3:14-15. (2) Now, to understand God's will for which local church he is to serve under, and when, he must identify God's leading as (a) repeated circumstantial signals (Acts 16:6-7), (b) the coordinating of the closing of doors behind him with the opening of doors before him (Acts 16:6 and 7 with 16:8-10), (c) and treat what appear to be reasonable doors of opportunity as directives to knock on such doors for direction, Acts 16: 7b. One can thus know where NOT to go!