Wanting, Waiting, Working
Hear Him • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsLet's talk about the disciple's desire to HEAR HIM after the resurrection
Notes
Transcript
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,
2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me;
5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away.
13 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.
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,
16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”
18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.
19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “ ‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.”
They had experienced his life, feared through his death, now they celebrate and are empowered through his resurrection
The Wanting
The Wanting
Jesus gives a very simple command…wait
Why does he ask them to wait?
The time frame he gives them is not long, but it is also not specific
They WANT to know more
They begin to ask questions…probe further in the future
John 16: 12-15
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
Jesus desires to lead us hand in hand (image while praying)
STORY....walking with my daughter
Many times we WANT more, and sometimes forget that Jesus is enough
Not necessarily stuff…sometimes “what’s next”
What is Jesus’ reply…Acts 1:7
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.
We need to WANT him…Jesus
This is very hard!
STORY…overreach on a ladder
What Jesus has is so much better!
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Apostles were looking for a restored city…Jesus was showing them a restored world!
The Waiting
The Waiting
Where do they go during the WAITING?
Where do they go during the WAITING?
They RETURN to Jerusalem (Where Jesus instructed)
Near Mt. Olives
Back to the Upper Room
What did they do during the WAITING?
What did they do during the WAITING?
They all met together…they were unified (Acts 1:14)
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
Even the women....and his family
They were devoted to prayer
stay closed to....persisited....held fast to
it sustained them…guided them (from then on out)
The Working
The Working
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,
We are not sure what prompted Peter to stand up...
It doesn’t appear that he gets a direct word
The Holy Spirit had not come yet
What we do know...
They were united
They were praying
We will see that he was guided by the Word
Sometimes in our prayers (both corporately and individually, we get direct revelation…sometimes it’s a prompting…a drip…a seed and we have to ask ourselves...
It is of God
So we have to ask...
What are WANTING....We know the apostles were wanting Christ, because they were OBEYING
Are we WAITING or RUSHING…We know they were waiting because they were DEVOTED
Does it align with the WORD?
What’s the Issue?
Judas betrayed Jesus (but this was told to us in the Word)
Judas had been an important part of the ministry and message…He had been one of us
His guilt cost him his life
How does Peter respond?
He reflects on the Word (Acts 1:20)
20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “ ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “ ‘Let another take his office.’
Part of this is from Psalm 69:25
25 May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.
Which Jesus had quoted from the same psalm, but different verse in John 15:25
25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
The other part is from Psalm 109:8
8 May his days be few; may another take his office!
Both of these Psalms are from David when he was in the midst of struggle and attack, but knew the mission of God must continue
Peter knew the mission and knew it would continue
Wanted to honor the task that was given to them
Because of Peter’s surrender, his purity of wanting, and his waiting, his reflection on the Word, it is fitting for him to replace Judas for the sake of the mission
Could the Holy Spirit operate without Judas being replaced? Most definitely!
But Peter in his prayers was convicted…AND
They were in ONE accord
They were WAITING in obedience
They were DEVOTED to prayer
It ALIGNED with the WORD and the HEART of God
They TRUSTED
How do we know?
During their waiting and praying they chose two that had been with Jesus since his baptism
They knew the one must be a witness to the resurrection
They prayed and sought the will of God (Acts 1:24-25)
24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”
They drew lots (doesn’t makes sense, but for them a form of trusting)
What Next?
What Next?
I think many of us and around us are hungry to hear from God, especially during this current season we are in
BUT, we need to change our WANTING
We have to be willing to do the WAITING
Not haphazardly…or alone, but united and devoted
We have to do the WORKING
Responding to the small promptings
Responding to the guiding of the Word
Trusting God to lead us, even when we haven’t heard directly
Are we wanting the will of God? SURRENDER
Are we waiting for Word of God? TRUTH
Are we working for the heart of God? LOVE
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