Hey Element Church! I hope that many of you will join us these next 28 days to unite ourselves into One Prayer for the church. I’ve never been a part of a sermon series like this nor have I done anything this intentional with a local church I was a part of to unite for this long of a time with one Scripture, one prayer and one voice. This idea for One Prayer comes from Ephesians 4:5-6. Our reading today is from Acts 1. The prayer and fasting schedule is on the One Prayer calendar. You can get that here. If you’re having trouble downloading it let me know.
Today’s prayer is “Lord make us authentic.”
Here are my thoughts on Acts 1:
Acts 1:3 — This thought came to my mind. If we REALLY want to know if Jesus is “the Messiah”. If we REALLY want to know He’s alive. If we REALLY want to know He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, He’ll prove it to us. V. 3 says that for 40 days he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. People who say they won’t believe because they don’t have proof, probably aren’t opening their eyes to see the proofs He’s trying to give them. I firmly believe that if you seek, you’ll find. Why? Because Jesus will prove Himself to you. It may not be the proof you WANT but it will be the proof you NEED. Big difference.
Acts 1:4 — (don’t worry I’m not going to comment on every verse) Jesus established the importance of waiting on and being filled with the Holy Spirit. “Don’t leave Jerusalem” until you’ve been baptized with the Holy Spirit. How many times have I/we tried tried to do the work of Jesus without the Holy Spirit? What happens? The power of the Holy Spirit is PARAMOUNT to the success of God’s church and to the success of each individual believer.
Acts 1:6-8 — The disciples were STILL concerned with an earthly kingdom. “They kept on asking…” about it. Jesus brought them back to what He saw as MOST important. Don’t worry about this earth, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. Again, He reiterates the importance of the Spirit in our hearts. THEN you’ll be my witnesses all over the world. Be concerned about two things: 1. The Holy Spirit’s power and control in my life. 2. Being a witness. Folks, if we would be concerned with those two things what could happen to our communities? Homes? Relationships?
Jesus also establishes what I think is a healthy missions effort. Jerusalem (home town), Judea (region), Samaria (Country), ends of the earth (foreign missions). I am a HUGE proponent of being missionaries FIRST to Cheyenne and last overseas. Do I believe in overseas missions? Unequivocally! But we must FIRST AND FOREMOST be about our city.
Final thought on verses 6-8. I’m going to get a bit ahead of myself here. Notice what went away from the hearts of the disciples once they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. No more jockeying for position. No more seeking an earthly kingdom. No seeking to be the “greatest”. Something happened in their hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit that purified some motives. Peter has a new passion and resolve. No longer is he swayed by the crowd. No longer is he concerned with public opinion. He isn’t even concerned for His life. Gonna go from commenting to preaching so I better quit. lol We’ll look at that coming up.
Those are my main thoughts on chapter one. If I had to pick one theme on this chapter that Jesus was trying to get across it would be the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Even in the end of the chapter the disciples sought the counsel of the Spirit on finding a replacement for Judas.
Questions for reflection:
What is the Holy Spirits role in my life right now? Do I need to surrender some attitudes to Him? Am I concerned with my “earthly kingdom” more than I am with God’s? How can I be a better witness to my city? Am I asking for proof of God in some areas of my life but not willing to accept his revealing?
There ya go. Make sure to follow your calendar for the churches to pray for. Also for our daily one prayer for the church. Love you guys.
Following Christ,
Jeff
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