The book of Acts was written by Luke, the author of the Gospel of Luke, to record how Jesus continued to teach and bring salvation to the world through his disciples after He ascended into heaven. This is a very important topic for us as Twenty-First Century Christians. Right from the outset, we must begin with two key ideas that we get as we read Acts 1. The first key idea is: Jesus is still in the business of teaching and bringing salvation to people in this world through His disciples. The second is this: We are those disciples.
I believe that as we read Acts that we see Christians dealing with a world that has more in common with our world, spiritually speaking, that any other time in the history of the church since Constantine proclaimed Christianity a legal religion. Therefore, I believe that as we see how the early disciples went about their work, that we will get a glimpse of what is important for us as modern disciples going about the work God has given us.
So now you know my presuppositions. As we walk through Acts together, we’ll see if they hold water.
When Jesus ascended into heaven he charged his disciples with a mission. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.” This work is to be done in the power of the Holy Spirit, Whom they would receive at Pentecost, but we received when we were baptized and through God’s work in His Word. And the pattern Jesus shows is an outward progression we could modernize to: hometown, wider community, the slums and the world. The picture is of the Gospel always moving outward.
But the disciples did not immediately engage in taking that message outward. They began with gathering in the upper room where Jesus had instituted the Lord’s Supper, and they, “were devoting themselves to prayer. . . .” Which brings out one of the first key things we must begin to wrestle with: the importance of prayer in our lives.
How often do you pray? How long do you pray? Please understand, I’m not saying that the length or frequency of our prayers makes us better or worse than anyone else. What I am saying is that God’s people pray. God’s leaders pray and seek His will and heart. We pray about God’s mission, and not just about our daily needs. (And notice that I said, “just.” We pray about out daily needs, but our thoughts and prayers focus in on God’s will and plan to bring salvation to all people and grow his kingdom.)
It was through the Word and prayer that the apostles were lead to choose a replacement for Judas, who had committed suicide after betraying Jesus. In prayer they selected the criteria for a new apostle. It was through prayer that the lot fell to Matthias.
Where are our prayers focusing? May I suggest that if we’re not praying about the mission Jesus has given us that at some point today we take five minutes and begin praying daily that God would lead us. As we seek Jesus’ will and heart, He will guide and empower us to do the work He began.
Father in Heaven, help me to pray about Your will, to seek after what you desire, and to be one of Jesus’ witnesses by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
I believe that as we read Acts that we see Christians dealing with a world that has more in common with our world, spiritually speaking, that any other time in the history of the church since Constantine proclaimed Christianity a legal religion. Therefore, I believe that as we see how the early disciples went about their work, that we will get a glimpse of what is important for us as modern disciples going about the work God has given us.
So now you know my presuppositions. As we walk through Acts together, we’ll see if they hold water.
When Jesus ascended into heaven he charged his disciples with a mission. “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.” This work is to be done in the power of the Holy Spirit, Whom they would receive at Pentecost, but we received when we were baptized and through God’s work in His Word. And the pattern Jesus shows is an outward progression we could modernize to: hometown, wider community, the slums and the world. The picture is of the Gospel always moving outward.
But the disciples did not immediately engage in taking that message outward. They began with gathering in the upper room where Jesus had instituted the Lord’s Supper, and they, “were devoting themselves to prayer. . . .” Which brings out one of the first key things we must begin to wrestle with: the importance of prayer in our lives.
How often do you pray? How long do you pray? Please understand, I’m not saying that the length or frequency of our prayers makes us better or worse than anyone else. What I am saying is that God’s people pray. God’s leaders pray and seek His will and heart. We pray about God’s mission, and not just about our daily needs. (And notice that I said, “just.” We pray about out daily needs, but our thoughts and prayers focus in on God’s will and plan to bring salvation to all people and grow his kingdom.)
It was through the Word and prayer that the apostles were lead to choose a replacement for Judas, who had committed suicide after betraying Jesus. In prayer they selected the criteria for a new apostle. It was through prayer that the lot fell to Matthias.
Where are our prayers focusing? May I suggest that if we’re not praying about the mission Jesus has given us that at some point today we take five minutes and begin praying daily that God would lead us. As we seek Jesus’ will and heart, He will guide and empower us to do the work He began.
Father in Heaven, help me to pray about Your will, to seek after what you desire, and to be one of Jesus’ witnesses by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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