Dr. John Hartmann

The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost marked the inauguration of the time foretold by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1-21). Peter’s proclamation of the good news on that day (Acts 2:22-36) resulted in the conversion of 3000 that were baptized in water (in the name of Jesus Christ) and the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-41). The church continued to multiply in the narrative of Acts 1:1-6:7. Jesus’ address to His disciples in John 4:34-38 clarifies that the “reaping” of the early Christian witnesses was part of a long salvation-historical process that had involved much “sowing” on the part of a godly remnant over the course of many generations, even centuries. Jesus actually states that others had labored before the apostles, and that they had now entered into the labors of those who had gone before. They were stepping into an already existing field, with a harvest ready to be reaped that they had not sown. Simeon and Anna (Luke 2:22-38) are examples of those who had sown and labored during the time leading up to the new era. We in similar fashion must discern and understand God’s purposes for the church (Ephesians 3) at this hour in history. The church must avoid trying to mix the Gospel Mission with American Nationalism and see what God is calling for at this hour from an apostolic and prophetic perspective.

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