Gospel moves to the end of Earth

 

 

 

    

John Wycliffe was born around 1330. He received his Bachelor of Divinity in 1369 and his doctorate in 1372. Wycliffe clashed with the traditional teaching of the Church. As a scholar he began to attack what he considered to be the abuses in the Church. Although some of his friends sought to dissuade him from this clear challenge to the Church, their attempts were unsuccessful.

Wycliffe was influenced early in his career by the importance of Scripture and at the twilight of his career he came to a fully developed position on the authority of the Scriptures. He declared the right of every Christian to know the Bible. Had the clergy of his day desired to use the Scriptures, they were only written in Latin. This moved him inexorably to a logical outcome-translation of the Bible into English.

Serving as the inspiration of the activity, Wycliffe lived to see the first complete English translation of the Bible. He spent the last two years of his life unhindered in the parish at Lutterworth. A veritable torrent of writings flowed from his pen. In 1382 he suffered the first  stroke which left him partially paralyzed. On December 31 of that year, he suffered a second stroke, which caused his death.

After Wycliffe’s death his followers continued his work and carried the Scriptures to the people. But, the opposition and persecution grew more and more intense. Wycliffe movement was effectively suppressed in England. But, his writings were carried to Bohemia by students from there who had studied under Wycliffe at Oxford. His cause and teachings were taken up by John Hus and his followers.

In 1415 the Council of Constance burned John Hus at the stake and also condemned John Wycliffe on 260 different counts. The Council ordered that his writings be burned and directed that his bones be exhumed. Finally, in 1428, the remains of Wycliffe were dug up, burned and scattered into the little river Swift. As history has revealed, Wycliffe’s bones were much more easily dispersed than his teachings.For, out of a sea of controversy and angry disputation rose his greatest contribution-the English Bible.

The chronicler Fuller later observed “they burnt his bones to ashes and cast them into the Swift, a neighboring brook running hard by. The brook conveyed his ashes into Avon; Avon into Severn; Severn into the narrow seas; and they into the main ocean. And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine which now is dispersed the world over.”

The disciples of Jesus had forsaken everything in order to follow him. Jesus was constantly preaching about a kingdom, but where was it? They must have been extremely confused and perhaps disappointed. They had never seen a kingdom like this, nor seen a king like Jesus, He seemed to be powerless , weak, despised and poor.Then, finally when Jesus was crucified their last hopes were dashed.

Jesus knew the doubts and struggles his disciples would experience; so he gave them a parable to encourage their faith. The parable was his way of telling them not to despise the day of small beginnings (Zech. 4:10). He said, “to what shall we liken the kingdom of God…It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth, but...it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs (Mark 4:30-32).

The mustard seed was the smallest seed planted in the gardens of Jesus’  day. A grain of mustard seed was so small but it had life and it would grow! The kingdom of our God was just like that tiny seed in the beginning. No one could see what it would become when it reaches its full potential. His kingdom will surpass all earthly kingdoms, when Jesus returns his kingdom will be glorious.

On the day of Pentecost Peter gave the first sermon of the newly formed Church.  What he initiated that day has proved to be one of the most significant phenomena in human history. The gospel took the first step towards the end of the earth. Jesus promised that it would continue until it reaches the remotest parts of the world. But how was Jesus going to accomplish this?

First he told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came and filled them, they spoke in languages of every tribe represented there on that day. Symbolically this meant that the gospel will reach every tribe on earth. But it also meant that the word of God will eventually be translated into every language on earth. The Bible which was originally written in only three languages (Aramaic, Hebrew and Greek) has so far been translated to thousands of languages.

In the very first sermon Peter explained to the crowd that what they had just seen was the fulfillment of what their prophet Joel had predicted. Joel had said  “ in the last days,' God says, 'that I will pour forth of my spirit on all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams” (Joel 2:28-29).Pentecost was the beginning  of the last days. The Bible teaches that the last days will be bleak in many ways (2 Tim. 3:3, Luke 21:9-11).

Jesus said “they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come” (Matt 24:9-14).

The gospel was not going to flow easily and unhindered. Serious challenges would be encountered. Jesus said that it would be preached to the very nations that will hate the disciples (v.9). The task required people who would be committed enough and strong enough in the face of persecution. These people needed supernatural power from on high (Luke 24:49). Jesus said, "you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, then you will be my witnesses” (Acts 1:5,8).

Peter said "in the last days God will pour out his Spirit upon all flesh." The purpose for this is to empower his people with extraordinary grace and power for witnessing. In the midst of all that unbelief, coldness, treachery and persecution, Jesus will equip his people with extraordinary power, zeal and passion to preach the gospel. The Spirit filled, fruit bearing believers (Gal. 5:22-23) will adorn the gospel in all things (Titus 2:9-10).

The Holy Spirit will be poured not only on the priests like it was in the Old Testament days, but on every believer. All God's people will be clothed with power; they will be so gripped by the Holy Spirit that they see the greatness and the purpose of Jesus with extraordinary clarity and speak it with extraordinary boldness. The Holy Spirit will come upon all (Eph 5:18), give gifts to all (1 Cor.12:7, 1 Pet 4:10) and empowers all for witness.

The young will have visions; the old will dream.The disciples will not only speak different languages but they will also receive messages from God in various ways. Jesus will continue working in them and through them; he will guide, direct, encourage and comfort them using dreams and visions. He will speak to his people both day and night. In the rest of the book of Acts dreams and visions are given for missionary strategy.  

The visions provided direction or encouraged boldness. For example Jesus spoke to Ananias from heaven and directed him to go to minister to Saul, reassuring the disciple that he will not be harmed (Acts 9:10-17). Paul and his companions were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach  in Asia but Paul saw in a vision  a man of Macedonia pleading with him saying "come over to Macedonia and help us "(Acts 16:9-10). 

Saul was on the way to Damascus breathing threats and murder against the disciples when suddenly a voice from heaven said to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:1-5).  When Paul got into conflict in Corinth , the Lord spoke to him in the night by a vision  and said "do not be afraid, but speak and do not keep silent  for I am with you and no one will attack you to hurt you (Acts 18:9-11). 

When Paul was in a fierce storm, one night an angel stood beside him  and said, ‘do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you” (Acts 27:23-25). When Stephen was dying heaven opened, he saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56). This must have encouraged and given hope to others in their martyrdom,

A Gentile man called Cornelius was told by an angel in a vision “your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon. God also spoke to Peter in a vision to prepare him to receive the men. From that time the disciples accepted the gentiles into the Church. The Book of Revelation is a record of visions that John saw in the Island of Patmos.

Although the kingdom of  God began very small and obscure , it will spread throughout the world  and have a glorious ending.The kingdom is far bigger now than it was when Jesus walked the earth. Although it could barely be seen then, you cant help but notice it today! It will steadily grow until its consummation when Jesus returns in glory. the flaming end-time Church will finish the Great Commission and welcome the King.