The Church of Jesus Christ celebrated Ascension Day this past Thursday, May 13, 2010 (That was also the day 15 years ago that Vickie and I walked along Lake Michigan near Lincoln Park in Chicago, and I gave her a white Bride’s Bible and asked her to be my wife.)
So what were Peter and John and James doing on this day, 1,980 years ago? What were Andrew, Philip, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Bartholomew, Simon, and the other disciples doing on this day, the first Resurrection Day without the Savior on Earth.
In Acts 1:14 we read:
These with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus and with his brothers.
But where do we find the disciples?
Back in the Ancient city of Jerusalem, the disciples were in an upper room praying.
There would be time taken out to select a replacement for Judas, but then again they would be back on their knees in prayer.
Jesus had given them strict instructions: Acts 1:4
And while staying with them he charged them, not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said ‘you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit/Ghost.
Yes they were to be witnesses. Right before ascending to heaven Jesus gathered his disciples and said, “All authority (power) is heaven has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father an dof the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20
And only minutes before Ascending, Jesus said,
Acts 1:7,8
It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has in his own power. But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. And ye shall be witnesses unto me, in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And then he was gone…Angels beside him saying, “Why stand ye gazing up into heaven, this same Jesus which is taken up from you shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go.”
NOW THEY ARE PRAYING…
If prayer was the Lord’s command, and the first and foremost duty of the First Christians, why would we suppose ourselves exempt from the call to persistent, insistent, consistent prayer?
The Churches of our nation are more and more worldly, as nearly half of those who profess to be born again do not believe that the 10 Commandments are absolutely true—and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God.
The culture is more violent, promiscuous, and hateful by the day.
Only a move of God in Holy Ghost, Sin-Killing, Devil-Defeating Revival Power can stem the tide and turn our nation back to God.
WE MUST PRAY…AS INDIVIDUALS…
Until we pray we will never see God for who He is, and us for who we are.
--THE HOLINESS AND POWER OF GOD…our own sin and powerlessness and profound dependency
Until we pray, surrendering our lives to His absolute authority, we will have no authority against sin.
AS A COMMUNITY OF FAITH…
There will be no revival without prayer. And revival begets more prayer.
Only the effectual fervent prayer of God’s righteous men will avail much against the strongholds of the enemy.
Jesus said, My House shall be called an House of Prayer! Not a crass commercial business.
Jim Cymbala observes, “God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, and prayer meetings today are almost extinct.”
Until we pray we will not have what we need most—we rush around, we run around after this and that, when God is saying, “everything you need I have.”
Only a praying Church can be a soul-winning church
Only a praying Church can be a place where lives are changed, and the power of God is released in miracles.
Only a praying Church can be a bold witness against the Spirit of the Age.
No church should be measured by attendance, rather we must measure ourselves with the Word of God and our faithfulness to it.
Daily in the Temple and in every house…
Only a praying Church will be concerned about the never-dying souls of its community, of its neighbors, of its family.
Oh yes they prayed and turned the world right-side up.
Will we?
No comments:
Post a Comment