African Churches Networking Conference for Unity, Perth, 23.07.2011

1. Some years I awoke to see in my mind multicoloured streams spreading out from Perth into the continents, immediately I sensed these were multinational and multicultural mission teams going out from the city to disciple the nations.

2. Several days later international Christian leader Ed Silvoso was present in town for a conference, and at a leaders meeting declared that Perth had all the ingredients to become an “Antioch city”. Let me explain what this means. The book of Acts, the great missionary book of the New Testament, divides into two parts – the first 12 chapters concentrate on events in Jerusalem: Pentecost, the rapid growth of the church, apostolic ministry, miracles. But, there is no evidence that the while the church enjoyed God’s presence and power it had a vision to disciple the nations.  The church in Jerusalem had settled down and become comfortable, in this way it was like most of the church in Australia, fat, lazy and asleep to God’s greater purposes. Everything changes when Antioch comes into the picture in Acts 13; this is the city whose church sends out sends out Paul and Barnabas on a mission to the Gentiles that will eventually reach the ends of the end.  An “Antioch city” is a sending city with a vision to see all nations become disciples of Jesus.

3. How does a city become an Antioch city? What is the dynamic that will prevent a Church from ever settling down into a comfort zone of peace and prosperity?[1] The answer is found in something Jesus did that is recorded only once in scripture, and it concerns the first Christian martyr, Stephen.

Stephen, “full of the Spirit and of wisdom” (Acts 6:3) fearlessly preached Jesus against fierce opposition from the Jews who had migrated from the various territories of the Roman Empire and settled in Jerusalem (Acts 6:8-10)[2]. Put on trial on false charges he is accused of blaspheming the God of Israel and prophesying the destruction of the temple (Acts 6:11-14). He is dragged out of the city and brutally stoned to death while a young man called Saul, later Paul, watches approvingly (Acts 7:54-60).

4. As Stephen is dying ““he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”” (Acts 7:60), like Jesus on the cross who prayed, ““Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”” (Luke 23:34) he refuses to accuse those who slander him. It is the impact of Stephen’s spirit on Jesus however that is the key to grasping the energy which will empower the church to remain faithful to its commission to disciple the nations.

5. We read, “Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:54-56).

Stephen saw Jesus STANDING at the right hand of God, everywhere else in scripture Jesus is seated at the right hand of God. What is happening here that causes the Almighty Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to stand up in the presence of a mere mortal? The answer is simple and direct, Jesus stands in identification with someone whose heart is just like his, someone who will suffer for the cause of his Father’s kingdom at whatever cost and Refuse to Accuse. The suffering, dying and forgiving Stephen has entered into a complete unity with Jesus which is the secret of the expansion of the kingdom of God. When Stephen died he could scarcely imagine the impact his sacrifice would have on the future generations.

6. Shortly after his martyrdom we read that it was because of the persecution that arose over Stephen that various Christians fled Jerusalem spoke the Word of God in Antioch and a revival broke out in that city (Acts 11:19ff.) Stephen’s testimony is the direct cause of the mission to the nations that spilled out of the Antioch church into all the world, and on which we are all fruit.

7. Yet there is another, more hidden dimension to this story which explains the explosive power of the growth that happened after Stephen’s death, the key is found in the 12^th chapter of Revelation. We read that when Jesus ascended to his throne “war arose in heaven ….and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth…..10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Rev 12:7-11)

Stephen’s refusal to blame those who lied against and slandered him unleashed the power of heaven so that Satan was dethroned from his power to deceive the nations. His refusal to accuse his killers brought openness in the heavenly world that enabled men and women everywhere to believe that God is a Father who has a heart to forgive. No one can understand the people of this nation without understanding how hard it is for Aussies to believe that God is a compassionate Father with this sort of a heart.

This key to spiritual victory remains today. Wherever and whenever the followers of Jesus are united in their refusal to accuse those who abuse and persecute them for their testimony(Luke 6:28) revival will break out and remain.

8. How is this relevant today? If you were to ask around the city which part of the Church is the most divided, the answer would certainly be the African Church. You could take this as bad news or good news. In the wisdom of God and in the ways of the kingdom of God, where the first are last and the last first, this provides the African Church with a tremendous opportunity.

It is an opportunity to stand with Jesus as Stephen stood with Jesus, it is an opportunity to refuse to accuse, to blame, to slander, to bad mouth, to gossip or spread a bad report about any other human being and especially to refuse to fellowship in any way with Satan, as “the accuser of our brothers” (cf. Zech 3:1ff.). For, whether we know it or not, to accuse any other person, is to enter into fellowship with the powers of evil. If we take and stand today and refuse under any circumstances to accuse others, Satan can fall over this city, and as the church goes into the nations the devil can fall over many other regions of the world (cf. Luke 10:17-20).

9. One more thing before I finish. Jesus said,  “The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one”” (John 17:23). It is not that difficult to forgive brothers and sisters who have hurt us, but it is much more difficult to pray that the glory of God come upon their lives and ministries. Without this however the world will never see the oneness in the Church for which Jesus prayed and died.

10. It is the plan of God to make the African Church in this city a spearhead and model of unity, a body of men and women who will be on the cutting edge of the multicoloured streams that can go out of this city to disciple the nations. This however will only happen if we take a stand like Stephen did and not look back[3]. If we do this today can be a turning point for all future generations in this country.