The promise delivered, the resurrection realized
“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1, 4).
Fifty days! That was the exact count of days from the Passover to the Day of Pentecost. In the course of busy lives fifty days seem like ages. That’s seven weeks on our calendar. A lot can happen in that amount of time. Fifty days ago we were in the celebrating Easter. I’ve been writing about it ever since. I’m sure for some it seems like we have run the subject in the ground. Isn’t it time to move on!
And so it was in the first century. I’m sure there were those in that day who were ready to get on with life and move the news of the resurrection into an archived file of past history. But the resurrection was never intended to be just history!
It was Jesus’ purpose to keep the resurrection as a current event. Returning from the grave and being seen of so many people after His resurrection kept the news alive. Then just a week before Pentecost He suddenly left, but not without leaving instructions for them all to wait for the promise!
The only way to make the resurrection real and keep the event current is to experience the resurrection continually. The promise of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers served that purpose. Not only would they experience the initial fulfillment of that promise but they would continue to experience the impact of a changed life by the continued presence of Christ living in them. This was current and real evidence of the resurrection refreshed daily in their lives.
After two thousand years the resurrection is still fresh news to believers around the world. The weekly worship celebration on the first day of the week commemorates the anniversary of the resurrection. It is no accident that we meet on Sunday for worship. The tradition must never replace the reality of new experience.
It is more than a tradition that we gather for worship, sing our songs, and recite our verses. Let every worship session be a celebration of current experience. The resurrected Lord is here among us and fills our lives with His power. On Pentecost Sunday and every other day of the year be filled with His Spirit and be a witness that He lives!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Sunday, May 20, 2007
After Easter – The Ascension
Just you wait and see!
After the thrill of seeing the risen Jesus for five weeks there was a sense of impeding change coming. It was evident He would not always be with them. Many references during His ministry and in the days following the resurrection prepared them for the fact that He would be going away. However, it was urgent that He gave them instructions before His departure.
On a hillside outside of Jerusalem, Jesus met His disciples and instructed them to return to the city and wait to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. Luke said, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (24:49). In his account in the book of Acts he gives more detail, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
One of the most significant events in history would soon take place. All the planning and preparation of the ages brought Christ to the world to fulfill His purpose. Now it was His intention to leave so that He may return in the form of the Spirit to dwell in His believers, enabling them to do the work He had called them to do.
The clarion call of the commission rang in the ears of the disciples. The divine imperative was to send them into the entire world declaring the good news of Jesus Christ. However, first things first, they were instructed to wait! Before launching an international evangelistic effort they were to tarry in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting on a promise. It wasn’t just a moment or even a matter of hours. It was days, an entire week of waiting for the promised event.
Over five hundred witnesses watched Jesus ascend into the clouds. Their mouths agape, their eyes were bright. They had never seen such a sight. While they stood there staring into the heavens, two angelic messengers appeared to them and gave the final promise of Jesus’ life on earth. “Just like He went away, He’ll be returning someday.” The disciples made their way back to Jerusalem in obedience to the Lord’s command. It was time to wait. However, not all obeyed. Out of five hundred witnesses, there were only one hundred twenty in the upper room waiting when the Spirit visited a week later. But, those who waited were the first to receive this miraculous promise, the baptism of the Holy Spirit! Now they were equipped to go!
In all of our efforts to do the work of the ministry we must not forget the Apostolic pattern. Wait until you are empowered by the Spirit, then go! It is essential that we are baptized with the Holy Spirit power before we can be effective in any kind of ministry.
After the thrill of seeing the risen Jesus for five weeks there was a sense of impeding change coming. It was evident He would not always be with them. Many references during His ministry and in the days following the resurrection prepared them for the fact that He would be going away. However, it was urgent that He gave them instructions before His departure.
On a hillside outside of Jerusalem, Jesus met His disciples and instructed them to return to the city and wait to receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. Luke said, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (24:49). In his account in the book of Acts he gives more detail, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
One of the most significant events in history would soon take place. All the planning and preparation of the ages brought Christ to the world to fulfill His purpose. Now it was His intention to leave so that He may return in the form of the Spirit to dwell in His believers, enabling them to do the work He had called them to do.
The clarion call of the commission rang in the ears of the disciples. The divine imperative was to send them into the entire world declaring the good news of Jesus Christ. However, first things first, they were instructed to wait! Before launching an international evangelistic effort they were to tarry in an upper room in Jerusalem, waiting on a promise. It wasn’t just a moment or even a matter of hours. It was days, an entire week of waiting for the promised event.
Over five hundred witnesses watched Jesus ascend into the clouds. Their mouths agape, their eyes were bright. They had never seen such a sight. While they stood there staring into the heavens, two angelic messengers appeared to them and gave the final promise of Jesus’ life on earth. “Just like He went away, He’ll be returning someday.” The disciples made their way back to Jerusalem in obedience to the Lord’s command. It was time to wait. However, not all obeyed. Out of five hundred witnesses, there were only one hundred twenty in the upper room waiting when the Spirit visited a week later. But, those who waited were the first to receive this miraculous promise, the baptism of the Holy Spirit! Now they were equipped to go!
In all of our efforts to do the work of the ministry we must not forget the Apostolic pattern. Wait until you are empowered by the Spirit, then go! It is essential that we are baptized with the Holy Spirit power before we can be effective in any kind of ministry.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
After Easter –A Mother’s Pain, A Mother’s Joy
A mother blessed like none before
with a child of promise to be born
A lowly servant, a man, a king,
Who’d rule the world but own nothing,
To her was born a son so brave
He’d give His life the world to save
And in the process she’d know pain
because he’d give all earthly gain
To win, to run, complete the task
of giving all the Father asked,
And while still young he felt the sting,
The scourge, the nails, the thorny ring
And vines of pain around his head,
To cause to fear and fill with dread,
The dark of death, the sting of woe
He’d drink the cup and here below,
He’d give His life, the price of sin,
And give us hope to live again,
The women stayed there near the cross,
To grieve and comfort those who lost,
Her son, their brother, companion, friend
The one they’d followed to the end
There in the dark and lonely grave,
He lay alone, await the day,
When he would rise, up from the tomb,
Like Spring’s new field of flowers bloom,
Announcing hope and filled with life,
New hope begin and day of light
His mother clung to him in fear,
That she had dreamed it all and here
There was no living, breathing form,
Clutched in her grasp, and all forlorn,
Could it be that he’d come back
To live again and just like that,
He’d leave again from the rocky mount,
To dwell in Heaven there was no doubt,
She saw him go, her heart grew weak
And answers vain she had to seek,
If only she could have him stay
And be with her throughout the day
She waited in an upper room
Trying to suppress the gloom
And dread that she would never see
His face again in history,
But wait she did as he had asked
Until the numbered days had past,
The Spirit came like wind in Spring
And brought new joy and everything
The Spirit wind, it came in tongues
Of fire and sat on every one
His mother there, just like he said
Was also comforted and led
To know the King of Glory here
Her Savior, Lord, her son so dear!
with a child of promise to be born
A lowly servant, a man, a king,
Who’d rule the world but own nothing,
To her was born a son so brave
He’d give His life the world to save
And in the process she’d know pain
because he’d give all earthly gain
To win, to run, complete the task
of giving all the Father asked,
And while still young he felt the sting,
The scourge, the nails, the thorny ring
And vines of pain around his head,
To cause to fear and fill with dread,
The dark of death, the sting of woe
He’d drink the cup and here below,
He’d give His life, the price of sin,
And give us hope to live again,
The women stayed there near the cross,
To grieve and comfort those who lost,
Her son, their brother, companion, friend
The one they’d followed to the end
There in the dark and lonely grave,
He lay alone, await the day,
When he would rise, up from the tomb,
Like Spring’s new field of flowers bloom,
Announcing hope and filled with life,
New hope begin and day of light
His mother clung to him in fear,
That she had dreamed it all and here
There was no living, breathing form,
Clutched in her grasp, and all forlorn,
Could it be that he’d come back
To live again and just like that,
He’d leave again from the rocky mount,
To dwell in Heaven there was no doubt,
She saw him go, her heart grew weak
And answers vain she had to seek,
If only she could have him stay
And be with her throughout the day
She waited in an upper room
Trying to suppress the gloom
And dread that she would never see
His face again in history,
But wait she did as he had asked
Until the numbered days had past,
The Spirit came like wind in Spring
And brought new joy and everything
The Spirit wind, it came in tongues
Of fire and sat on every one
His mother there, just like he said
Was also comforted and led
To know the King of Glory here
Her Savior, Lord, her son so dear!
Sunday, May 6, 2007
After Easter – Power to Witness
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Jesus offered many assurances to the believers concerning the time following His departure at the end of the forty days after the resurrection. The Gospel writers tell of these events and promises in their own words. Matthew recalled Jesus’ promise, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Powerful signs and miracles were promised in Mark’s record of Jesus’ last days. (See Mark 16:17-18.) Through the writing of John we are assured that the One who was with them is in us. Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:17-18).
It is in Luke’s writing that we have assurance of the enduing power of God. Jesus declared, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Luke continues the story in the Book of Acts recalling that the believers were instructed to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. One of Jesus’ last promises was recorded here, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” This power wasn’t something to revel in or to simply enjoy. This Spirit was given as a specific enablement to perform the commission. “You shall be witnesses both here and around the world!” Jesus stated; literally, to the end of the earth.
Timid disciples became powerful preachers after the infilling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter, who denied the Lord before His trial, now boldly proclaims Christ’s resurrection and confronts those who crucified Him with the Gospel message. (See Acts 2:32-40.) The observers even remarked at the boldness of these disciples to speak with authority concerning the Scriptures and their fulfillment in Jesus.
Men who fled in fear before the crucifixion became strong in faith and public in their witness of their identity with Christ. Even in the face of death themselves they were able to speak boldly of their faith in Jesus. The only explanation of their changed behavior is the enablement of the gift of the Holy Spirit that filled them.
The greatest promises for living life as a powerful witness come from the forty days after the resurrection. There was power in Jesus’ words and assurance in His provision. If God is for us, who can be against us! The power within us is greater than the task before us. When Jesus said, “Go,” He didn’t leave us powerless. He has equipped and enabled us to fulfill His purpose. The power of the Holy Spirit in our lives still provides the power to be His witnesses!
Jesus offered many assurances to the believers concerning the time following His departure at the end of the forty days after the resurrection. The Gospel writers tell of these events and promises in their own words. Matthew recalled Jesus’ promise, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Powerful signs and miracles were promised in Mark’s record of Jesus’ last days. (See Mark 16:17-18.) Through the writing of John we are assured that the One who was with them is in us. Jesus said, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:17-18).
It is in Luke’s writing that we have assurance of the enduing power of God. Jesus declared, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Luke continues the story in the Book of Acts recalling that the believers were instructed to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father. One of Jesus’ last promises was recorded here, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” This power wasn’t something to revel in or to simply enjoy. This Spirit was given as a specific enablement to perform the commission. “You shall be witnesses both here and around the world!” Jesus stated; literally, to the end of the earth.
Timid disciples became powerful preachers after the infilling of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Peter, who denied the Lord before His trial, now boldly proclaims Christ’s resurrection and confronts those who crucified Him with the Gospel message. (See Acts 2:32-40.) The observers even remarked at the boldness of these disciples to speak with authority concerning the Scriptures and their fulfillment in Jesus.
Men who fled in fear before the crucifixion became strong in faith and public in their witness of their identity with Christ. Even in the face of death themselves they were able to speak boldly of their faith in Jesus. The only explanation of their changed behavior is the enablement of the gift of the Holy Spirit that filled them.
The greatest promises for living life as a powerful witness come from the forty days after the resurrection. There was power in Jesus’ words and assurance in His provision. If God is for us, who can be against us! The power within us is greater than the task before us. When Jesus said, “Go,” He didn’t leave us powerless. He has equipped and enabled us to fulfill His purpose. The power of the Holy Spirit in our lives still provides the power to be His witnesses!
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