Acts 1:4-8

The Art of Waiting

A few weeks ago as I was listening to a morning devotional the passage for the day was from Act s 1. It is a well known passage but that particular morning some things struck me that I’ve shared with a few of you and now I’d like to share with all of you.

Acts 1:4–8 HCSB

While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

For most of us this is a vary familiar passage. We’ve read it, we have participated in Bible studies looking at the passage, and we’ve heard countless messages on the passage.

‘Lord, give us an open heart and fresh eyes and ears to hear what You are revealing in this passage.’

Speaking About the Kingdom of God

From the first message of Jesus recorded in Mark 1, His topic is always ‘the Kingdom of God.’ In the era which Jesus spoke the Jewish community was literally consumed with the idea that God’s kingdom was at hand. One writer summarizes that from 200 B.C. to 200 A.D Jews lived in

Dictionary of New Testament Background Section 1: Defining Apocalypticism

the expectation of God’s imminent intervention into human history in a decisive manner to save his people and punish their enemies by destroying the existing fallen cosmic order and by restoring or recreating the cosmos in its original pristine perfection.

Much like the past 50 years or so Christian culture has been focused on the nearness of Jesus’ return. In 1971, for example, several books predicting the nearness of the apocalypse were popular. Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth suggested that God’s time clock was nearing it’s end; Paul Ehrlich’s The Population Bomb hinted tht the rate of population growth would overwhelm earths resources by the year 2000; and one of the hit movies of that era was The Andromena Strain told a story of a virus brought to earth by a fallen satellite. B.F. Skinner, a noted psychologist wrote that “We can no longer afford freedom.”

(Taken from Rick Perlstein, NIXONLAND: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America [New York: Scribner, 2008] pp541-542])

Now, over 50 years later we look back and shake our heads. Overpopulation has not overwhelmed our food supply. Politics, though perhaps more polarizing than ever, grinds on. Government systems continue to operate at differing levels of efficiency and with some often interesting consequences.

One cry, though, has been constant:

Revelation 22:20 HCSB

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Like the Jews of centuries ago we long for the establishment of God’s kingdom - the one described by Jesus in the Beatitudes -

Matthew 5:3–12 HCSB

“The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. Those who mourn are blessed, for they will be comforted. The gentle are blessed, for they will inherit the earth. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed, for they will be filled. The merciful are blessed, for they will be shown mercy. The pure in heart are blessed, for they will see God. The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God. Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Wait for the Father’s Promise

Throughout Jesus’ teaching ministry He often spoke about the future. For example Mark 13, Matthew 24 focus almost exclusively on the future unveiling of the Kingdom of God.

Most of us who study this passage jump right to vs. 8 -

Acts 1:8 HCSB

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

However, let’s not skip over what Jesus actually commands the apostles He had chosen (Acts 1:2).

Acts 1:4 HCSB

While He was together with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Father’s promise. “This,” He said, “is what you heard from Me;

A. Not to leave Jerusalem

What does it matter where these followers of Jesus are? I

In John’s gospel we read that Peter and the others had returned to Galilee.

John 21:3 HCSB

“I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them. “We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

After the resurrection, during the 40 days Luke writes of in Acts, Peter and several others go home.

What’s next?

Peter, Nathaneal, James and John (sons of Zebedee) and two other followers join Peter in the boat.

Were they wrong in returning home? What else is there to do?

Jesus’ appearance are apparently random and unuexpected. Peter’s choice does give a hint as to his mind-set.

He assumed it was over - whatever ‘it’ was. Jesus was no longer always present.

As dawn breaks and the frustrated fishermen return to shore, there is a figure beckoning to them:

John 21:5 HCSB

“Men,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?” “No,” they answered.

As the boat drew near, Peter recognized Jesus, and immediately jumped out of the boat eagerly rushing to meet Jesus.

But…wait

Returning to Acts 1 Jesus instructed the apostles to stay in Jerusalem.

As they were waiting, Jesus assured them that He would fulfill that which the Father had promised:

John 14:26–28 HCSB

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit —the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you. “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful. You have heard Me tell you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.

B. The indwelling Holy Spirit

Just after Jesus’ last meal with His closest followers He spent considerable time teaching and encouraging them (see John 13-17).

One of the promises threaded through that section is of the coming of the Holy Spirit - which had been prefigured by John the Baptist’s baptism -

Mark 1:7–8 HCSB

He was preaching: “Someone more powerful than I will come after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

REFLECT AND RESPOND

Like the disciples present at that moment we continue to ask the wrong question -

Acts 1:6 HCSB

So when they had come together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”

Many of us are seeking God to restore what was - or what could be. We long for the past when churches were filled with people, resources were abundant, and the future looked bright. Or we look to a future (which mysteriously often looks like the past) in which once again churches will be socially and politically and spiritually significant.

Jesus’ answer:

Acts 1:7–8 HCSB

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

He doesn’t answer their question in an way that appears helpful. ‘You don’t need to know….’

We Wait…

The Holy Spirit promised by Jesus, given by the Father and the Son came on those gathered in Jerusalem just as Jesus said.

We are no longer waiting for the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

So, what are we waiting for?

Here is where I need your patience and assistance:

I will be inviting you to join me in a 31 day prayer experience in August. Some of the details are still being worked out, but there will be daily prayer prompts provided each Sunday for the week to come; these prompts will also be posted on our church’s Facebook page and our website. There may be an opportunity to gather for a time of focused corporate prayer as well.

b. Focus on God’s promise in Isaiah 40:29-31

Isaiah 40:29–31 HCSB

He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.