A Time of Waiting
Sunday, May 23, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, Thank You for a new Lord’s Day, when I can gather with brothers and sisters through Your Son, Jesus, to worship You! I praise You that whether I am in a time of “waiting” or a time of “deliverance” or somewhere in between, that You are always with me. I pray that You will fill me with Your Holy Spirit today that I may think, speak and act in ways that will glorify You. I praise You for the promise of Your word that the Holy Spirit baptizes those who trust in Jesus, so that we may be equipped to serve You with boldness and power. May our worship this day glorify You, and may my life today and always bring You honor. This I pray in Jesus’ name and for the sake of His coming Kingdom. Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Acts 1:1-5
1Dear Theophilus:
In my first book I told you about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2until the day he ascended to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions from the Holy Spirit. 3During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time and proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. On these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
4In one of these meetings as he was eating a meal with them, he told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you what he promised. Remember, I have told you about this before. 5John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Reflecting on God's Word
What is your response to season of waiting? Are you patient, impatient? What makes those seasons of waiting easier for you?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
What does Luke tells us was the purpose of his first book—the Gospel of Luke? (1:1-2)
What did Jesus do between the time of His resurrection and the time of His ascension into heaven? (1:3)
What instructions did Jesus give to His followers for their time of waiting for the Spirit to come? (1:4-5)
Understanding God's Purpose
What do we see of God’s purpose for His followers in today’s reading?
Why do you suppose that Jesus waited 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension?
Applying God's Word to Our Lives
What one thing will you do today as a result of reading this Scripture?
Thoughts...Waiting for What Was Promised...
Luke makes it clear that he wrote his first letter—the Gospel of Luke to tell us about everything that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach. His second letter, the Book of Acts, tells us about the CONTINUATION of Jesus’ ministry through His followers. Before Jesus’ followers could fulfill His plan for them to take the Good News to the ends of the earth that had to go through a “season of waiting” for what was promised. What Jesus promised was the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit is the power source for our lives as Jesus followers. In order to share the Good News in word and action requires spiritual power. That’s because we aren’t just sharing information, we are sharing the transformation that Jesus brings to every person’s life who trusts Him as Savior and Lord. That transformation takes place from the inside out, and is the result of the Holy Spirit “taking up residence” within us. If our lives lack power, then we must wait on the Holy Spirit. We must be baptized in the Holy Spirit BEFORE we will be transformed, and before we can share the Good News in a transforming way with others. Waiting is the first step….