Waiting
Book of Acts: Be the Church • Sermon • Submitted
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· 18 viewsThier (Apostles) waiting is a good example for us to wait
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Who likes to wait?
Who likes to wait?
Everyone in CA complains about waiting in line at the DMV as one of the least favorite things to do. Well I think it is worse is waiting on hold for customer service department. (expand in general waiting)- Christmas, birthday, etc.
The Apostles were told they had to wait
Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me;
And they were told what they needed to wait for
for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
TODAY WE WAIT
Not for the promise of the Holy Spirit - that already happened (expand)
But for the promise of the Son
They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
We wait for our final salvation, our final redemption, we wait looking, longing for the return of the Lord (expand some)
How the disciples waited for the promise of the Spirit provides us a great example, or at least some insight on how we should wait for the promise of the Lord’s return. So let’s today look at how they waited, how we are to wait.
I. Waiting - Promise of Spirit (then)
I. Waiting - Promise of Spirit (then)
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, 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.
First they returned, in which meant, they obeyed Jesus command (v.4); they came from Mt. Olivet, or mt. of olives the place Jesus ascended from, about Sabbath journey away (1/2 mile or so)
We are told where they were waiting (upper room); and you see who returned from (v.13) - so these we know are the witnesses of the ascension (expand if needed)
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act1:
14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 15 At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said,
14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
We can tell more about who was waiting, the women, Mary, the brothers, abut 120 people were waiting. but again it only mentions the 12 returning from Mt. Olivet. And this is the last time you will hear Mary mentioned in the scripture.
We can tell
We do not know who the women are for sure, but more than likely people who were witnesses of Jesus and the resurrection, people like Mary and Martha, how about Mary Magdalene? - we do not know for us, but it would make sense.
We know His brothers, his previously unbelieving brothers are there - let me give you names.
55 “Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 “And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”
Mt
LEt me give you the unbelief scripture
5 For not even His brothers were believing in Him.
We can know what they were doing while they waited
14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.
They were devoted to pray, they were of one accord (used 18 times in Acts - Jude)
24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
How about
6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
They came in one accord in prayer, (v.14); and in Act4:24 then Rom15:6 it was in exaltation - so having one mind, being of one accord is important to unlock the power that was coming
Content of the prayer is unknown, but what you be praying for?
Understanding to what the Lord just said and what just happened?
Fulfillment of the promise of the Holy Spirit
Safety, yep you more than likely would be praying for this too.
So we have they came together, in one accord, with one mind, in prayer. Not only do that, they also prepared.
15 At this time Peter stood up in the midst of the brethren (a gathering of about one hundred and twenty persons was there together), and said, 16 “Brethren, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit foretold by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.
17 “For he was counted among us and received his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the price of his wickedness, and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his intestines gushed out.
19 And it became known to all who were living in Jerusalem; so that in their own language that field was called Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his homestead be made desolate, And let no one dwell in it’; and, ‘Let another man take his office.’
Peter tells us about what needs to be done, the replacement of Judas Iscariot. The death and replacement were foretold by the prophets, with quotes from Psm69:25 and Psm109:8
But first, before moving on, they need to go over the requirements
21 “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Someone that had been with them
Someone who was there in the beginning of ministry
Someone who is a “witness” of the resurrection and will be a witness as Jesus commanded
Ac
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Now came the selection process
23 So they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen
25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Interesting fact, Matthias chosen but never mentioned in scripture again.
So they were not idle in their waiting were they? They assembled, they prayed, they prepared and the promise was delivered just a few days later.
Now when it comes to us today, 2000 years later we too should not be idle in our waiting, waiting for the promise of the return.
II. Waiting - Promise of Return (now)
II. Waiting - Promise of Return (now)
They gathered (assembled) - we should too
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
when we assemble we can stimulate one another to love and good deeds
When we assemble we can encourage one another.
We can put into practice the things the early church did.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
In 1The5:1-11 which is about the “Day of the Lord” - I was just going to summarize it, but better we turn there and read it together. Then I will make a few points
It will come suddenly like a thief in the night (vv.2-3)
Destruction will come (v.3)
Be ready, don’t be asleep (v.6)
Be sober, and have your equipment on (v.8)
Breastplate of faith and love,
Helmet of hope of salvation
We are children of light (v.5) - so we are not destined for wrath (v.9)
And the greatest thing, we will be together with Him (v.10)
It is especially good for us to gather (assemble) on Lords day, following the pattern of the early church
7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.
now couple that with
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
So gathering on the first day of the week, to break bread, to proclaim the Lord’s death UNTIL HE COMES. We encourage each other, or one another when we gather.
They gathered, and they prayed, as should we
We have a need to pray as Jesus put it
Be persistent in prayer (Lk18:1-8)
Be alert in prayer or on guard in prayer
34 “Be on guard, so that your hearts will not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day will not come on you suddenly like a trap; 35 for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 “But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
pray so not to loose heart or faith
pray for the day will come unexpected and you are ready
praying continuously, earnestly with thanksgiving (Col4:2)
So we are prepared, so we are not accursed, so we are ready (1or16:22; Rev22:20
And so we are looking for the day
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!
13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
We should be earnestly vigilant and anxious for His coming, looking and hastening for the day, so be fervent in prayers, sharing, testifying of what the Word says about His return. And to prepare.
As they prepared, we too should be prepared, or should prepare
Jesus told His apostles the importance of preparing
45 “Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.
47 “Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 “But if that evil slave says in his heart, ‘My master is not coming for a long time,’
49 and begins to beat his fellow slaves and eat and drink with drunkards; 50 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour which he does not know,
Mt24:47-48
51 and will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mt24:51
Be like the wise faithful servant
on in another story of the 10 virgins (Mt25:1-30) be looking, waiting for the bridegroom to come
Put our talents to work for the Lord and be productive
14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
Know the the work you do will not be in vain
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
So in other words in our preparation
Be in holy conduct, found in peace
Be without spot or blemish
Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work!
Don’t just be watching, be working for the kingdom, don’t just be looking for the return of the Lord be working for it.
2pt3:8-
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
He is waiting on us, wanting all to come to repentance and how people come to know they need to repent is through sharing God’s word with them! Isn’t that what the Apostles did? It worked for them or you would not be a Christian today, and it will work for us for others to become Christians.
The equipping of the apostles was about to come (Act2:1-4) so they could carry out the mission (Act1:8), they received the promise and we too one day will receive the promise of His return.
So until them, until the promise of the return of the Son, let us be gathering, praying and preparing, add to that sharing with others how to become a Christian.
Lead to invitation