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RE Verse reading–Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-18 (day four)  “In the last days. . .I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind”  (2:17)  When John the Baptist spoke of Jesus, he used two verbs.  “He is on who baptizes with the Holy Spirit”  (John 1:23)  “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”  (John 1:29)  Two verbs describe His ministry.  He removes sin and bestows life.  Ezekiel saw the same vision.  “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. . .I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes”  (Ezekiel 36:25, 27)  As we study Pentecost this week, let us review the lessons of the last inaugural event of our Lord’s ministry.  On the cross, we see our sins being removed.  At Pentecost, we see His life poured out into ours.  How tragic for some Christians to receive and value only part of God’s gracious work.  He has two gifts for His children.

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-18 (day three)  “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers”  (1:14)  I wonder what these days were like for the disciples.  Exciting?  Joyful?  Or were they hard with spiritual struggle?   I remember that Peter and James and John had stuggled with prayer in the garden.  Was it still a difficult discipline for them? “We wrestle not against flesh and blood”  (Ephesians 6:2)  Our text suggests an answer.  “Devoting themselves” translates a word that meant “to be strong toward”.  It implies a measure of resolve, a necessary struggle.  This hour required them to be strong against distractions, brave against fears.  It is the same with us.  Even with the promises of God and the expectation of exciting days ahead, our participation via prayer will still require energy and devotion.  “Watch and pray. . .the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak”  (Matthew 26:41)

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-18 (day two)  “He commanded them to . . .wait for what the Father had promised.” (Acts 1:4)  “They returned to Jerusalem. . .(and were) continually devoting themselves to prayer”  (1:12, 14)  I cannot think of anything I hate worse than waiting.  The ultimate insult to my self-absorbtion.  Why are the people in the check-out line so slow?  Why is traffic?  Why does God require me to seek His face in patient prayer when I have so many pressing things to do?  None of us should miss the Lord’s purpose in this common frustration.  Waiting on the Lord is a spiritual exercise.  It teaches our souls that WHAT we want and WHEN we want it is not central to the story.  Larger issues are in play than our convenience or momentary happiness.  Until we learn to wait, God cannot fill us with His Spirit because our pride is too much in charge.  “Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength”  (Isaiah 40:31)

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:12-14, 2:1-18 (day one)  ” ‘In the last days’, God says, ‘I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all mankind. . .even upon my bondslaves.’ ” (2:17, 18)  I have a new question re. Acts 2.  Familiar story. The first disciples obey Christ and return to Jerusalem.  They wait and pray.  Pentecost arrives (an old Jewish holiday which God is pleased to “fill full” of new meaning, just as He had done Passover 50 day earlier)  They are baptized through the Holy Spirit.  The immediate effect is boldness of praise to God.  Ignoring the danger and the disapproval, they tell the great story!  Peter claims it fulfills Joel’s prophecy.  Here is my question.  Did God promise (in Joel) to pour His Spirit out on ALL mankind or on ALL WHO MEET THE CONDITIONS of salvation and surrender?  Are ALL people promised this blessing?  Do ALL who claim Christ have this boldness?  Who are the “bondservants” in vs 18?  Much to think about this week!

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:1-8 (day seven)  “Lord, is it at this time that you are restoring the Kingdom to Israel?”  (vs 6)  Another in a long list of things they did not expect.  The disciples had not anticipated the cross.  Certainly not the resurrection. Now, their question reveals that they are not expecting a chapter of world-wide, Spirit-led missionary expansion either. Paul will later say,  God is always “more than we ask or expect”  (Ephesians 3:20)  Question: How seriously do we take the idea that our plans are not His? How ready are we to embrace life when it is different than we expect?  We should be proud of these first followers.  In Acts 1:14  (read it next week) they return to Jerusalem and do exactly as He has commanded!  No pouting.  No resistance or doubt.   In inspiring fashion, they practiced what we preach (and sing). . .”Have thine own way, Lord, have thine own way.  Thou art the potter, I am the clay.”

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:1-8 (day six)  “Gathering them together He COMMANDED them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised”  (vs 4)  There is a great story in Luke 7.  It tells of a Roman Centurian who came to Christ seeking help.  He describes Himself as, “a man under authority, with soldiers (also) placed under me” (Luke 7:8)  Experiencing authority from both sides (as commander and commanded) the Centurian understood the respect that was required of him in relating to Christ.   Jesus was impressed.  He identified the Centurian’s understanding was an essential ingredient of faith.  Perhaps we have drifted from this insight.  If we believe in Christ we will also submit to His authority.  We will not resist His commands–even when He requires us to wait.  Kingdoms require both Kings and loyal subjects.  How blessed we are to have a commander worthy of our trust.  How wise we are to submit to His commands becoming people under authority.

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:1-8 (day five)  “So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, ‘Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?’  He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power. . .and you shall be my witnesses.’ ” (vs 6-8)  Sometimes what we want is not what we need.  It is a blindness often reflected in our prayers.  The disciples wanted KNOWLEDGE (particularly as it related to the kingdom being restored).  Jesus knew that they needed POWER FOR SIGNIFICANT SERVICE.  Hmmmm. . .  Much that is ahead is being hidden from us.  The Father does not allow us to know it so that we may daily depend on the Holy Spirit and His missional plans.  It is not what we want but more than we can imagine.  God is good.  Less is more.

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:1-8 (day four)  “The first account (was) about all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up to heaven” (vs 1-2)  It is a uniquely Christian perspective.  When we gather for worship or read a newsfeed, we do not remember a dead leader.  Christ is still working in the world.  We do not think of Him in the past.  He is “at the right hand of God” and present in the church through the person of the Holy Spirit.  What He BEGAN to do is written in Luke.  What He CONTINUED to do is written in Acts.  What He CONTINUES to do is written in the history of our church and thousands of others around the world.  “It is better for you that I go away”, said the Lord to the disciples (John 16:7) “As the Father has sent me, so send I you” (John 20:21).  Nothing has changed.  The work continues.

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:1-8 (day three)  “The first account (was) about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles”  (vs 2)  Luke is describing the 40 day period between the resurrection and the ascension of Christ.  He speaks of Jesus “presenting Himself alive with many convincing proofs, speaking to them concerning the Kingdom of God”  (vs 3)  One detail catches our attention.  He reports the Lord giving the apostles commands “BY the Holy Spirit”.  How so?  Those who know the story know that Pentecost is still 10 days away.  In what sense did Jesus give orders “BY” the Spirit?  Most scholars believe that Luke meant “with reference to ” the Spirit.  As Jesus gave the great commission (Matthew 28) He pointed to the power that the Holy Spirit would bring. His purpose.  His power.  To serve Him effectively, we must be filled!

RE Verse reading–Acts 1:1-8 (day two)  “Lord, (are you) restoring the kingdom to Israel?. . .You shall be my witnesss both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”  (vs 8)  The disciples were not thinking what Jesus was thinking.  Often still true.  In vs 6, they ask if the kingdom will be restored to Israel.  They imagined a return of the “good old days”–something familiar and contained.  Jesus saw a different immediate future.  He saw a chapter of Holy Spirit-inspired power and progress that would impact the entire planet!  As the children’s song says, He had the whole world in His hands (heart).   Are we more like the Lord or the disciples at this point?  Looking ahead do we see small or big?  Few or many?  The power of self or the power of Spirit?   James Russell Lowell said, “Not failure, but low aim is crime”.  If so, Christ is no criminal.