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a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

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some consensus regarding <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit in evangelism among <strong>the</strong><br />

Evangelicals and <strong>the</strong> Charismatics, as Lord has pointed out, ‘<strong>the</strong> issue <strong>of</strong> “signs<br />

and wonders” and o<strong>the</strong>r experiences <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit were absent. According to him,<br />

this missing aspect <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit is at <strong>the</strong> ‘heart <strong>of</strong> evangelical-pentecostal<br />

divisions in understanding <strong>the</strong> work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit in mission.’ 60<br />

Although <strong>the</strong>y may differ over <strong>the</strong>ir understanding <strong>of</strong> mission, almost all<br />

Pentecostals are in agreement over <strong>the</strong> missiological purpose <strong>of</strong> Spirit<br />

empowerment. As McClung has noted, for some Pentecostals, <strong>the</strong> chief purpose<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit experiences, such as <strong>the</strong> baptism <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit, is for ministry,<br />

and especially evangelism. 61 Many o<strong>the</strong>r Pentecostal scholars who have studied<br />

Lukan pneumatology have demonstrated <strong>the</strong> missiological purpose <strong>of</strong> Spirit<br />

empowerment. 62 According to John Penney, <strong>the</strong> ‘Spirit-endowment’ is for<br />

‘missionary enablement,’ and it is ‘essentially missionary empowerment.’ 63<br />

Analyzing <strong>the</strong> various terms used by Luke, such as ‘filled or full <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit,’<br />

‘baptised with <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit,’ ‘receiving <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit,’ and ‘clo<strong>the</strong>d with<br />

power,’ Penney concluded that Spirit-endowment is for mission, by which he<br />

chiefly meant world-wide mission. 64<br />

60<br />

Lord, Spirit-Shaped Mission, 47. For more details <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> discussion <strong>of</strong> this tension see, pp. 45-<br />

47.<br />

61<br />

McClung, ‘Truth on Fire,’ 82.<br />

62<br />

For example, see Roger Stronstad, The Charismatic Theology <strong>of</strong> St. Luke (Peabody,<br />

Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1984); James B. Shelton, Mighty in Word and Deed: The Role <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Holy Spirit in Luke-Acts (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1991); Robert P. Menzies,<br />

Empowered for Witness: The Spirit in Luke-Acts, JPTS Series 6 (Sheffield: SAP, 1991).<br />

63<br />

John M. Penney, The Missionary Emphasis <strong>of</strong> Lukan Pneumatology (Sheffield: SAP, 1997),<br />

120.<br />

64<br />

See Penney, Missionary Emphasis, 15, 96-110.<br />

279

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