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Preparation for Greatness
(Acts 1:12-26)
May 15, 2021
Read Acts 1:12-26 – Imagine sitting atop a space capsule just before launch?
What would you think?
John Glenn said, “I was thinking I’m about to trust my life to a spaceship comprised of millions of parts that was built by the lowest bidder.”
Truth is, astronauts’ heartbeats are highest just before launch as they go thru final checklists anticipating the greatest adventure of their lives.
All the preparation, planning, practice has been aimed at this moment.
Perhaps that’s how the disciples felt as they cooled their heels in Jerusalem for 10 days between Jesus’ ascension and the coming of the HS at Pentecost.
They must have been filled with wonder at what the future held.
If Jesus’ incarnation was lightning, then His continued ministry through them was thunder and they were in the final minutes before launch.
Every life lived for Christ is a great adventure.
While each differs in mission, there are common issues of preparation for greatness that relate to all.
So, what we can learn from the disciples in these final moments before take-off?
The Submission of the Disciples
After Jesus ascension, the disciples return to Jerusalem.
Why?
Home was Galilee.
Jerusalem was a hotbed of danger.
So why there?
Easy: Acts 1:4: “And while staying [literally eating] with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem.”
They stayed bc Jesus said to.
Their running days are over.
They’re in an “the upper room”, perhaps the same as the Last Supper.
But of prime interest is what’s on their final checklist?
14) All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.”
They’re ready to roll.
But Jesus has them wait.
And during that time, they learn unity and prayer.
Beautiful.
Unity wasn’t easy for this crowd.
The apostles could have been criticized for running.
Peter’d been cowardly in his denial of Christ after being so braggadocios beforehand.
Women were there, unheard of at that time, rich and poor, opinions across the political spectrum.
Yet there was unity.
They’re learning Xns need each other.
The Bible knows nothing of isolated believers who have sworn off church bc they’ve been hurt in some way.
Pastor Wm Sangster, asked a critical question: “Are some outside the church because you’re inside?”
That must never be.
We must “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom 12:10).
We may disagree, but kindness must still be our middle name.
We need each other far more than we realize.
Unity is key.
Then, they prayed, the only source for spiritual power.
They were not praying down the HS.
Jesus told them “to wait for the promise of the Father”, not to pray for Him.
They weren’t begging for a blessing God had already promised!
What they were doing: Lu 24:52, “And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53) and were continually in the temple blessing God.”
They were blessing and praising God – waiting with anticipation and joy.
And note, Mary was with them.
They were praying with the mother of Jesus, not to her.
The Bible knows nothing of praying to Mary, the saints or anyone other than God.
Jesus told these men in Jn 14:14: “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”
You don’t need a lobbyist with Him! Mary herself prayed after hearing she’d give birth to Jesus: Lu 1:46-47: “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47) and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Savior?
Why did Mary need a Savior?
Bc she as sinner just like you and me.
She’s no intermediary to God.
I Tim 2:5: “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
Jesus is our mediator.
These are praying people.
Humility bound them together despite their diverse backgrounds.
All had failed in some way – perfect for God’s use.
They knew they must depend on Him.
In His physical absence, they became powerful prayerers.
It was their lifeblood and they knew it; they had demonstrated decisively they could do nothing on their own.
What a critical lesson to learn.
Paul urges in I Thess 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.”
And these men and women did just that.
Acts 2:42: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
They prayed for boldness after being imprisoned (Acts 4:23-26).
The apostles made it their priority over serving widows: Acts 6:4: “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word.”
Peter and John prayed for the Samaritans whom they had previously wished to call fire down upon (Acts 8:14-17).
Stephen prayed as he was being stoned to death (Acts 7:59).
Cornelius prayed.
The church at Antioch prayed.
Paul and Silas prayed and God opened prison doors.
Prayer is all over Acts! Prayer is all over any effective ministry for Christ.
There’s no real ministry without prayer.
Before he went to China, Hudson Taylor, a very common man, said this: “When I get to China, I shall have no claim on anyone for anything.
My only claim will be on God.
[I’ve learned you can] move men, through God, by prayer alone.”
Taylor turned his world upside down – thru prayer.
Nothing of substance has ever been done for God except by prayer.
Visitors asked Spurgeon the key to his success.
He said it was his heating room.
They asked to see it.
He took them downstairs and opened a door to a room where more than 400 people were praying for God’s blessing on a meeting about to start.
Prayer is it, Beloved, if we hope to see God change lives.
Whether you are preaching, teaching, doing fellowship, counseling, sponsoring youth, making phone calls or visits – whatever it is – wait on God long enough to pray.
Jn 15:5c “apart from me you can do nothing.”
So let’s quit trying to go it alone.
II.
The Suicide of a Disciple
15) In those days Peter stood up among the brothers.”
Peter’s back in leadership despite his recent colossal failure.
Why? John 21.
Jesus profoundly forgave him and said, “Feed my sheep” (Jn 21:17), just what Peter is doing?
What encouragement.
We may have failed horribly – even as a Xn, but when we truly repent, God grace is indescribable.
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