I would encourage you to open up your Bibles, if you would please, to Acts chapter 1.
!
Everywhere Jesus seemed to go, there were crowds that were in tow.
This excitement, this movement that was taking place.
And so when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, that final week of His public ministry before the cross,
the disciples and everyone there who was present in seeing Christ's ministry teaching daily in the temple,
day by day He was there, and the crowds were hanging on every word,
there was this expectation that this was the moment.
Certainly this is what God had promised through the prophets so long ago.
The Messiah was here, and the evidence of that seemed to be so prominent in front of them.
And yet, now we turn the page to Acts chapter 1,
and we see now what was such electric crowds and momentum that seemed to be taking place.
The energy of Christ in the movement that was happening now seems to be a distant memory.
It's a reminder to us this morning that most of life's changing moments don't start in stadiums.
They begin in waiting rooms.
Stadiums feel powerful.
They feel full of energy.
There's momentum.
There's excitement.
There's something happening.
But in Jesus' ministry, people, while they were everywhere,
were going to see that now was a moment,
a moment that was taking place
when God would begin to change the hearts of people,
but He would do it in a way that was silent.
God was about to do something that would change everything.
And He often does that through times of quietness and solitude.
Things that were ordinary.
Away from the action.
Away from the noise.
Think of Noah and 120 years of waiting for the flood.
Think of Abraham and the 25 years that he waited
and patiently waiting for God to give him the promise of a son.
Think of Moses in the 40 years of waiting in the backside of a desert in Midian,
waiting for God to accomplish His purposes in delivering His people.
Or think of David and his patient waiting
from the time that he had been anointed king
to the time that God finally brought him out into the forefront
and established him as king over Israel.
You see, the waiting room is the time, I believe,
God delights most in accomplishing or beginning,
initiating His purposes in the hearts of His people.
And so that's where we find this work beginning.
In Acts chapter 1, verse 4,
Jesus ordered His disciples, remember,
He remembers that He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait, to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Spirit to come.
Here we are in Acts.
We're back in the waiting room.
Waiting rooms are strange places, aren't they?
They're a mix or a mingle of joy and sometimes a mix of sorrow.
Waiting rooms aren't always the place where you would expect to be
or even hope to be.
My guess is that most of you have been in a waiting room at some point or the other.
On six occasions through the years,
my wife and I have been in a waiting room
as we waited expectantly for the birth of a child,
a son or a daughter.
Those joyous occasions,
excitement,
maybe even worship and praise to the Lord for His provision for you.
There may be trembling,
there may be pain,
but it's all followed by delight
as in that waiting room you get to see
and hold that precious little child.
In all of this,
there's this real,
even unspoken,
understanding and awareness
that I can't control this.
I can't speed this up.
I can't determine the outcome.
I can only wait
and trust
and pray.
That's what God wants to accomplish
in the waiting rooms
to drive us to a place of dependence
on Him.
Well, many of you know
this has also been
a year of waiting rooms
for our family.
A different kind of waiting,
as it were,
as I've kind of gone through
the waiting rooms
of a heart surgery
and the waiting room
of an eye surgery
and the waiting room
of a stroke
and trying to decide
or figure out
what was taking place.
It was a different kind
of waiting room,
but accomplished
and was oriented
towards the same kind of purpose.
I can't control this.
I can't determine
the outcome of this.
I can't speed this up.
I can't slow this down.
I can only wait
and trust
and pray.
You see,
waiting rooms
strip away
the illusion
of control,
don't they?
And they strip away
the illusion
of strength
and they seek
to push us
into dependence
on God
where confidence
alone can come.
They teach us
dependence.
They confront
our limitations.
And in their own way,
they invite us back
to simple posture
of faith.
Lord,
if you don't act,
nothing will happen.
Now imagine,
here we are
in Acts chapter 1,
verse 14,
another waiting room.
A waiting room
that God delights
in driving home
those messages
of his power
and the dependence
of his people
that they need
to be on him.
The crowds are gone.
Jesus has ascended.
The mission
in front of these
disciples
is massive.
Go to the uttermost
parts of the world.
How will they accomplish
this?
Will they accomplish
this in the waiting room?
That's where it will begin.
They need to unite
under the banner
of God's power
in his plan
in order to enjoy
the benefits
of God's work
in their life.
We saw that
last week
that there was
obedience,
simple obedience
to the instructions
of God
that would begin
to activate
God's purposes
in their life.
Simple,
clear instructions.
Go back to Jerusalem.
Wait to the coming
of the Holy Spirit.
I think all of us
could do that
and yet we see
this mission
in front of us
and we think,
how are we going
to accomplish
the mission?
Well,
we simply need
to obey
the instructions
that are in front of us
and let God
accomplish
his purposes,
his mission.
What if God
loves to start
his greatest work
in the waiting room?
As you're waiting
for him
to initiate
his plan.
As you're coupling
your heart
to the unity
and purpose
that he has set
before you.
As you are learning
to depend upon
the Spirit
for his power.
What if the most
powerful thing
a church can do
is not to rush
ahead
but is to wait
to gather
and to pray?
What if the Spirit's
power is not released
through hype
and hoopla,
through energy,
through movements,
great movements
but it's unleashed
to us through
the simple,
unified,
humble
expectancy?
That's what we're
going to see
this morning
as we unpack
Acts chapter 1
verse 14
and we see
how God begins
to do this
in hearts.
The hearts
of 120,
this meager group,
this small gathering,
the thousands
that had been there
are now reduced
to 120.
Here they are.
And we find
through this
that God does
his greatest work
through a unified
people.
That's our
first point
this morning.
God does
his greatest
work
through
a unified
people.
Notice this,
Acts chapter 1
verses 12 to 14
says this,
Then they returned
to Jerusalem
from the
Mount Colt
Olivet,
which is near
Jerusalem,
a Sabbath day's
journey away.
And when they
had entered,
they went up
to the upper room
where they were
staying,
Peter and John
and James
and Andrew,
Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew,
James the son of
Alphaeus,
and Simon the
zealot,
and Judas the son
of James.
And here it is.
All these,
with one accord,
were devoting
themselves to
prayer together
with the women
and Mary,
the mother of
Jesus,
and his brothers.
God does
his greatest work
through a unified
people.
And here we see,
first of all,
the picture of
their oneness.
Notice their
oneness.
It's represented
for us in a
number of different
ways here.
In this short
verse,
the picture
of their
oneness
is captured
for us
in the words
of Luke.
We move
through this
book and we
see one of
the central
realities of
a church
that will
enjoy the
benefits of
the Lord
and that is
this,
this predominance
of unity.
We'll see it
time and time
and time again
as we work
our way through
this little
book.
It's the
preeminent
feature of
this gathering.
They're gathering
and they're
unified.
Notice the
words that Luke
uses in these
verses.
They returned.
They entered.
They went up.
They were staying.
All these with
one accord
were devoting
themselves to
prayer together
with the women
and Mary,
the mother of
Jesus.
Luke labors
in these short
verses to draw
out and
emphasize the
oneness in
the community
of this
gathering.
How many
times does he
have to
emphasize the
togetherness?
You see,
he begins with
all these
with one
accord.
What a
beautiful word
this little
word all
is.
Simple and
beautiful.
Every,
it really is
the simple
meaning,
every,
describing the
totality and
the wholeness
of this
group.
No one
was missing.
It's especially
important given
the fact that
this was such a
meager group,
such a small
group.
Given the
enormity of
the massive
size of the
crowds and
Luke begins
with all.
All are
together.
As with the
disciples,
this group is
here in the
upper room.
And a
movement that
had consistently
numbered in the
thousands was
now reduced to
120.
But Luke wants
us to know
they're all
here.
The group is
complete,
at least for
now.
And God's
purposes have
not failed.
Everyone that
God needs to
activate his
purposes is
present for
this work.
No one is
missing.
There's a group
that God is
going to use to
launch the
church age and
they're all
present and
accounted for.
Notice they
gather with one
accord and this
also signifies
this unified
heart.
They belong
together.
They're not
fractured.
This Greek word
is a compound
word which
essentially means
one and the
same, is the
first piece,
and thumos
which is
temperament or
mind.
They all had
the same
spirit, the
same mind,
the same
purpose.
They all had
the same
heart.
One of the
prevailing
features of
this movement,
this one
accord,
purpose that
is seen
throughout the
book of
Acts.
This heavy
emphasis, 11
times this
word one
accord is
used throughout
the New
Testament and
ten of those
times find
their way in
the book of
Acts.
We see it
here in Acts
chapter 1
verse 14.
We see it in
Acts chapter 2
verse 1.
When the
day of
Pentecost
had come,
they were
all in
one accord
in one
place.
In chapter
2 verse 46
it says,
So continuing
daily with
one accord
in the
temple breaking
bread.
In chapter 4
verse 24,
So when they
heard, they
raised their
voice to God
with one
accord and
said.
In chapter
5 verse 12,
And through
the hands of
the apostles,
many signs and
wonders were
done among the
people, and
they were all
with one accord
on Solomon's
porch.
The togetherness,
the unity, the
one heart, one
spirit, one
mind, one
purpose, propelling
them as a
collective group
into the mission
that God had
called them to
be.
They're also
together.
Notice that
word, this
simple Greek
word which is
the word
sun, which is
the word
with.
With or
together.
A group of
incredible
diversity, men
and women,
undoubtedly
young and
old, fishermen
and zealots,
wealthy and
poor, different
experiences, different
backgrounds, different
economic status, and
here they are, all
together, all
represented.
Next we see the
purpose of their
oneness.
The purpose of
their oneness.
You see, Christ had
given the eleven
apostles some very
clear commands, and
he had told them
precisely what they
were meant to do
when they went
back to Jerusalem.
Acts 1, 1 and 2,
in the first book,
O Theophilus, I
have dealt with all
the things that
Jesus began to
teach until the
day when he was
taken up after he
had given commands
through the Holy
Spirit to the
apostles whom he
had chosen.
Notice, commands to
the eleven
apostles.
What were they to
do?
Well, verses 4 and
5, we've already
read this a couple
of times.
They're to wait in
Jerusalem until
they receive power.
That's what they
were to do.
And they were
given a clear
promise in Acts
chapter 1, verse
8.
You will receive
power when the
Holy Spirit has
come upon you.
You will be my
witnesses in
Jerusalem and
Judea and Samaria
and to the ends
of the earth.
You will be
witnesses.
You will receive
power.
In this chapter,
the apostles are
promised power.
They're promised
to be witnesses.
And as we kind
of look back for a
moment to the
gospel records,
even in the time
right after the
resurrection to the
time of the
ascension, those
same kinds of
commands were given
to the eleven.
In Matthew
chapter 28, verse
16, now the eleven
disciples went to
Galilee, to the
mountain which Jesus
had directed them,
and what comes next
is this great
commission promise.
You're going to be
witnesses.
Go, make disciples
of all nations.
I'm going to give
you power.
My power is going
to go before you.
I'm going to give
you all authority
because I'm going
to be with you.
In Luke chapter
24, verses 44
to 49, this is
the moment in
the upper room.
Again, Jesus is
just with the eleven.
24, verses 48
and 49.
You are witnesses
of these things,
and behold, I am
sending the promise
of my Father upon
you, but stay in
the city until you
are clothed with
power from on
high.
In John's account,
it's much the same
thing.
John chapter 21,
verses 19 to 22.
On the evening
of that day,
the first day
of the week,
this is the time
of the resurrection,
the doors were
locked, the disciples
gather, and Jesus
says, peace be with
you.
Verse 20, when he
had said this, he
showed them his
hands and his side,
and the disciples
were glad.
Verse 21, he says
to them again,
peace be with you.
As the Father has
sent me, so I am
sending you.
And when he had
said this, he
breathed on them
and said to them,
receive the Spirit.
This was a symbolic
gesture.
This is something
that was coming.
This is something
they could expect.
In John chapter 14,
26, Jesus helps
the disciples to
understand that the
Spirit is going to
come.
The helper, the Holy
Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my
name, he will teach
you all things and
bring to your
remembrance all that
I have said to you.
Peace I leave with
you.
My peace I give to
you.
Not as the world
gives to you do I
give to you.
Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let
them be afraid.
And so, here we are
again in the upper
room and Jesus says,
peace be to you.
It would have been a
flash of recollection
of what had happened
just a couple of days
before where Jesus is
seeing them on the
night before he's
crucified.
This promise of the
Spirit.
It's striking that in
every example that we
find, these direct
promises of God's
power coming on the
people is to the
eleven.
So why are the
hundred and twenty
here?
Why are they gathered?
The promises are to
the apostles.
Well, there have been
indications that God's
power would be given
to them as well.
In the ministry of
John the Baptist, in
Luke chapter 3, verse
16, John says, he will
baptize you with the
Holy Spirit and fire.
And then in Luke, as
Jesus is talking about
the need for the eleven
apostles to pray, he
says, ask and I, or
excuse me, I tell you,
ask and it will be
given to you.
Seek and you will find.
Knock and it will be
opened to you.
If you then who are
evil know how to give
good gifts to your
children, how much
more will the
heavenly Father give
the Holy Spirit to
those who ask?
Ask.
Again, another
indication that when
we pray and ask that
a benefit of that will
be the blessing of the
Spirit.
And of course, this new
covenant community, this
new covenant expectation
in Ezekiel 36 about the
Spirit who's coming.
But while there are
indications of a larger
work, the specific
command that Jesus has
given in the time of his
resurrection and the time
of his ascension are
specifically given to the
apostles.
So why are the 120 here?
I think this is really
significant.
Because I think the
disciples, the apostles,
knew the promise.
But they believed that
that promise was going to
be carried out to the
apostles alone.
So why are they here?
Well, they're here because
they knew that God is
about to do something and
they're supporting the
work of God even though
as far as they're concerned
they're not going to be
immediate beneficiaries.
They knew that God in
some way would send power
on the apostles and that
this work would break
forth and it would break
into the uttermost parts
of the earth.
But I'm inclined to think
that as they gathered,
they did not understand the
extent of God's promise to
the apostles.
They had no idea that they
also would be beneficiaries.
Because this gathering was
not about what's in it for
me but what is God about
to do?
I want to support the work
of God, whatever that work
is.
So what was God doing?
Well, as they prayed, as a
unified people, they begin
to understand that God's gift
was so much bigger than their
expectations.
God's grace blew away their
categories.
We're going to see this in a
couple of weeks.
That God would exceed their
expectations.
They were faithful.
They expected and knew that
God would work.
But God happened to have
something in mind that they
would also be able to
participate in experiencing
the power of God working
through them as well and not
just through the apostles.
You know, what if obedience
comes before clarity?
It's so easy as we look at
the scriptures.
We kind of look at it with a
hindsight.
We don't expect or even
anticipate that sometimes
these things that God will do
wasn't necessarily what the
people at the time expected.
And yet our obedience to the
Lord needs to be obedience
because we believe his
purposes are best, whether or
not I am a personal
specific beneficiary.
That God's glory is in view.
That God's purposes are my
highest goal.
And so we see that happening
here with this group of 120.
Then we also see the priority
of their oneness.
The priority of their oneness.
This unity of this body was a
clear priority for the Lord.
As we work through the
gospel of John, we see this
upper room, all of these
commands that God gives to
these disciples in this upper
room to strengthen and secure
and help to fan into flame the
unity that they would have.
John 13, 34 and 35, a new
commandment I give to you that
you love one another just as I
have loved you.
You also are to love one
another.
By this all people will know
that you are my disciples if you
have love for one another.
John 15, verse 12.
This is still this upper room
discourse.
Jesus says, this is my
commandment that you love one
another as I have loved you.
John 15, 17.
These things I command you so that
you will love one another.
And then the high priestly prayer,
John 17, 11.
I'm no longer in the world but
they are in the world and I am
coming to you.
Holy Father, keep them in your
name which you have given me that
they may be one even as we are
one.
And then in John 17, 20 to 23.
I do not ask for these only but
I ask for those who will believe
in me through their word that
they may be one just as you
Father are in me and I in you
that they also may be in us so
that the world may believe that
you have sent me.
The glory that you have given me
I have given to them that they
may be one even as we are one.
I in them and you in me that
they may become perfectly one so
the world may know that you sent
me and loved them even as you
loved me.
You get the sense that Jesus
cares a little bit about unity?
You get the sense that Jesus
cares a lot about God's people
demonstrating not just lip service
to love but true authentic
loyalty to God and devotion to
him by loving the people that
God has put them in community
with.
As a priority God has gifted the
church with leaders and those
leaders are to strengthen and
reinforce that unity.
We see that in Ephesians chapter
4 verses 11 to 13.
It says,
And he gave the apostles and
prophets, the evangelists, the
shepherds, and the teachers to
equip the saints for the work of
ministry for building up the body
of Christ until we all attain the
unity of faith and the knowledge of
the Son of God to the mature manhood
to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ.
Here is how important unity is.
That God has gifted the church with
leaders, pastors, teachers to
strengthen, reinforce, and cultivate
unity among his people.
He cares about the unity of this
church.
He cares about the unity of this
congregation.
And notice this is not the unity of
the world.
The unity of the world which is to
rally around a common cause or to
fight a common enemy or to demand
conformity by silencing dissent in
some way or to stay peaceful by
avoiding conflict.
This is not a unity at the expense of
truth.
This is unity that comes because of
truth.
Notice.
God has gifted the church with
leaders and what do they do?
They not just strengthen it, they
teach it.
They are there to equip the saints for
ministry and it happens as they're
attaining the unity of the faith.
There is a theological doctrinal source
for their unity.
This unifying teaching that's
happening by the pastors and
teachers that God has gifted a
congregation.
They're strengthened.
They grow.
They grow in doctrine.
They grow in knowledge and they
grow in likeness to Christ but they
don't do it in isolation.
They don't do it independently.
They do it because of the gifting of
God to strengthen unity among his
people through the gift of pastors and
teachers.
leaders.
It's not an independent venture but a
collaborative journey.
We're all moving together because we're
committed to the truth of God's word
together not independently.
Now we see that God not just works
through a unified people but God does
his greatest work through a praying
people.
You see that here too.
All these with one accord were devoting
themselves to prayer.
Devoting themselves to prayer.
We see this picture of their dependence
here in verse 14.
They're waiting in Jerusalem.
It did not mean inactivity.
It did not mean boredom.
It did not mean passivity.
They're not just waiting and twiddling
their thumbs.
They're waiting purposefully.
They're waiting prayerfully.
They're worshiping.
They're seeking God.
They're pursuing.
They're praying.
Waiting.
This word for devoting is a present active
participle and all that really means is
that it was a current reality in their
life that was a consistent theme as long
as they were there in Jerusalem.
Waiting.
Devoting.
This word devoting occurs ten times
throughout the New Testament and six of
those times happen here in the book of
Acts.
This was a serious group.
A devoted group.
An expectant group.
Time and time again we see that as a quality
of their personhood.
This unified group devoting themselves to
prayer here in verse 14.
We also see the pattern of their dependence.
Acts chapter 1 verse 14 again devoting
themselves to prayer.
They were a group that had learned the lesson
the disciples had missed.
When Jesus says men ought always to pray
and not lose heart.
Remember that Jesus in the night of his
crucifixion before he's taken away
he's encouraging the disciples watch and
pray that you enter not into temptation.
And here we find a pattern of dependence
that is coming through this group of
individuals.
And a number of times throughout the book of
Acts where prayer becomes this constant
this constant pattern of life.
I've put a number of those examples in your
in your outlines.
You see it in Acts chapter 1 verse 24
and they prayed for wisdom concerning
leadership.
In chapter 2 verse 42 devoting themselves
to teaching and prayer and time and time again.
This posture of prayer is a pattern for this church.
There's no wonder why God used them mightily
because they anchored their hopes.
They anchored their purposes.
They anchored their activity in the power of God
and not in human effort.
They trusted in him from start to finish.
This word for prayer is a general term
that helps us recognize the significance
of their posture before the Lord.
It was prayer that activated God's promises.
It was prayer that would be the ongoing mark
of their dependence on the Lord.
And finally, we find the purpose of their dependence.
The purpose of their dependence.
Why do they depend on the Lord through prayer?
What amplified this?
What motivated this?
What prompted this?
Well again, if we look back
at the example of our Lord Jesus
and the way that he encouraged his disciples
and he emphasized the significance of prayer
the night before he was crucified,
well, maybe we'll begin to understand
how important this would become
to this new group of individuals
who were meeting together in Acts chapter 1.
On four occasions, Jesus,
in this short span of this upper room supper
that they were having,
emphasizes the significance of prayer.
In John chapter 14, verse 13,
Jesus says this,
Whatever you ask in my name,
this I will do.
That the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask me anything in my name,
I will do it.
Are you listening?
Okay, if you're not listening,
disciples, let me say it again.
John 15, verse 7,
If you abide with me
and my words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish,
it will be done for you.
By this, my Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit
and prove to be my disciples.
Are you listening?
Is it clear?
Let me say it again.
John 15, 16,
You didn't choose me,
but I chose you and appointed you
that you should go and bear fruit
and that your fruit should abide
so that whatever you ask the Father
in my name,
He may give it to you.
Are you listening?
Did you get the message?
That's three times.
How about one more?
John 16, verse 23,
In that day you will ask
nothing of me.
Truly, truly I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father
in my name,
He will give it to you.
Until now you have asked
nothing in my name.
Ask and you will receive
that your joy may be full.
Is there any wonder
why these disciples now
in returning to Jerusalem
are praying?
Shouldn't be any wonder at all.
Jesus not only set the example
of His confidence
in the Father through prayer,
He helped the disciples
to understand time and time again
the exact same night.
Pray to the Lord
for His work to happen.
So what are they praying?
We understand the purpose.
They're praying
because they've been
instructed to pray.
But what is helping to amplify
and fuel and guide their prayer?
And again,
we could go and spend
a lot of time
working through
this upper room discourse.
And I have there in your notes,
I think there are
ten different things
that Jesus wants
and says He wants
to accomplish in them.
and this would then be
the fuel that they would use
to know
this is what He wants.
This is His will.
Then this is what we need to pray.
For example, humility.
John chapter 13, verse 14.
If then
your Lord and teacher
have washed your feet,
you also ought to wash
one another's feet.
Be men
and women
of humility
and service.
So, O Lord,
help us to be humble.
Lord, help us to be willing
to wash the feet,
the dirty, stinky feet
of the people around us.
May we follow
your lead.
May we walk
after your example.
May we exemplify
the humility
of our Savior.
O Lord,
please make us humble.
Or since your love.
John 13, 34.
A new commandment
I give to you
that you love one another
just as I have loved you.
You are to love
one another.
By this we'll all know
that you are my disciples
if you have love
for one another.
O Lord,
please help me love
this way.
O God,
help me to recognize
the significance
of the community
that you have put together.
Your work in their life
because of the beauty
and the work
of our Lord
and Savior Jesus
who has made us one.
O God,
please help us
to be unified
and full of love
for our brothers
and sisters.
Or,
we pray for the Father
to be glorified.
John 14, 13.
Whatever you ask
in my name,
this I will do.
Why?
That the Father
may be glorified
in the Son.
O God,
I want
the glory of God,
the glory of the Father
to shine forth,
to be so clear,
to be so evident
in this world.
O God,
may you
make your Son
glorified
in this world.
How about the coming
of the Spirit?
John 14, 16-17.
I will ask the Father,
He will give you
another helper
to be with you forever,
even the Spirit
of truth.
O Lord,
thank you for your Holy Spirit.
Thank you for the promise
that you have given
that everyone
who comes to faith
in you
receives the gift
of the Spirit.
You indwell me
and you empower me
and you activate
in my life
the ability
to then serve others.
O Lord,
may the fruit
of your Spirit
be so evident
in my life.
O God,
may your Spirit
have His way
in my life.
How about
for revelation
of truth?
John 14, 26.
But the helper,
the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father
will send in my name,
He will teach you
all things
and bring to your
remembrance
all that I
have said to you.
Lord,
thank you for your truth.
Thank you for your Spirit
that makes your truth
so real in me
that illuminates
my heart and mind,
that makes it clear.
And when your Word
is clear,
O God,
may I do
what your Word says.
Inform my heart
of the truth
that you've given.
Help me
in the power
of your Spirit
to work that out.
Or peace.
John 14, 27.
Peace I leave with you.
My peace I give to you.
Not as the world
gives,
give I to you.
Let not your heart
be troubled,
neither let them
be afraid.
O Lord,
I'm so inclined
to fear.
I'm so timid
and afraid.
I'm not courageous
as I should be.
I'm not bold
as I should be.
I'm anxious
about many things.
O Lord,
may your Spirit
help me to enjoy
peace.
Peace and courage.
Or fruitfulness.
John 15, 4 and 5.
Abide in me
and I in you
as the branch
cannot bear fruit
by itself
unless it abides
in the vine,
neither can you
unless you abide in me.
I am the vine.
You are the branches.
Whoever abides in me
and I in him,
he it is
that bears much fruit
for apart from me
you can do nothing.
O Lord,
please make me fruitful.
Whatever it takes.
Understand
that in order
to enjoy fruitfulness,
I need to be connected
to you.
Connected to the vine.
And everything
and anything
that would sever
that connection.
Strengthen
my grip
on you
and help me
to obliterate
those things,
those patterns,
those sins
from my life
so I can enjoy
the harvest,
the fruitfulness
in my life personally
and super abounding
for the people
that you put me
in community with.
On and on
we could go
for boldness
in John 15, 26.
When the Spirit comes
whom I will send to you
from the Father,
the Spirit of truth
who proceeds
from the Father,
he will bear witness
about me
and you also
will bear witness
because you have been
with me
from the beginning.
O God,
may the witness
and the testimony
that is so real
in my own heart,
may it not be silent,
a silent witness.
May it be a public,
bold proclamation
of who you are
and what you have done.
The goodness
of the Lord.
Finally,
unity.
As we read
in John 17, 20 and 21,
I do not ask
for these only
but for those
who will believe
in me through their word
that they may be one
just as you, Father,
are in me
and I in you
that they also
may be in us
so the world
may believe
that you have sent me.
O God,
so many things
are in my way
keeping me
from unity
with others.
There's bitterness
in my life
there's unforgiveness
in my life,
there's hurt
in my life,
there are people
who have injured me.
O God,
I pray that you would
help me
to blow those away,
to lay those
at your feet,
to help you do
this work in my life
so I can enjoy
the unity
that you have
obtained
on my behalf
because of the work
of Christ.
You have made
unity possible.
help me not
to be so foolish
as to push it away.
Help me to embrace it,
help me to pursue it,
help me
to strengthen
unity
for the sake
of witness.
Notice
this unity
in verse 21,
they may all
be one
just as you,
Father,
are in me
and I in you
that they may be one
so that the world
may believe
that you sent me.
Do you understand
the significance
of unity there?
Our unity
strengthens
our witness
and confirms
that the gospel
is true.
This is a sketch
perhaps
of things
that they prayed for.
I imagine
there were other things too
but this was on
the Savior's heart
the night before
he was crucified.
This was
what sent him
to the cross.
This was his mission
to accomplish
for the people
that he was
standing in front of
and the people
he would be crucified for.
Jesus has a heart
for this.
Do we have a heart
for it as well?
I appreciate
what E.M. Bounds
says.
He says,
prayer does not
fit us
for the greater work.
Prayer is
the greater work.
Are we people
who have committed
ourselves
to prayer?
You know,
I imagine
that there are
many of you
even now
that are in
the waiting room.
And if you're
anything like me,
you don't like it.
Waiting rooms
are not
the place
that I like
to hang out.
I don't want
to be in a place
of having to
wait for
things to happen.
I want to be
the one
making things
happen.
But that's not
how God
designed it.
That's not
how it's
supposed to work.
That God
has made
the waiting room
for the purpose
of helping
to reinforce
and to push
right out in the
front,
forefront.
You cannot
do it.
It does not
depend on you.
It depends on me.
Praise the Lord
for the waiting room.
In whatever
waiting room
you are in
right now,
whatever thing
that you
are seeking
for God
to accomplish,
whatever
challenges
you face,
even whatever
joys that
you are
anticipating,
instead of
pushing that
forward,
instead of
forcing your
way,
instead of
getting it
done,
is there a
response of
your heart
to say,
Lord,
I'm waiting
for your
timing.
I'm waiting
for your
best.
And in
the process
of waiting,
I'm going
to pray that
you will
accomplish
your purposes
in me
and through
me for
others.
What a
blessing it is
to be in
the waiting
room.
Let's pray.
Father,
we understand
the waiting
room is hard
sometimes,
but you do
your greatest
work there
because it
drives us
to dependence.
It drives us
to rest,
not to
striving,
not to
working,
not to
get things
done,
not to
strategies,
not to
performance,
but to
dependence on
you.
Oh,
Lord,
I pray
that we
would learn
this lesson,
that you
delight in
waiting rooms.
And instead
of us trying
to hurry
things along,
may we
learn in
the process
to trust
you with
others in
prayer.
In Jesus'
name,
amen.
God bless
you.
Have a great
week.
God bless you.