POWER TO BE SERVANTS OF JESUS
I’ve been given several passages from the lectionary text to share thoughts about, so I hope you can hang in there with me. A theme I felt was coming through was “what could it mean to be born again?” How do we know we are on the right track of faith and belief in God?
The first passage is Acts 1:1-11 It is written by Luke to Theophilus to encourage him in believing who Jesus is and give proof of what he had done. He also wrote the book with his name, Luke, so he starts by saying:
Acts 1:1-11
1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2. until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6. Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7. He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9. After he had said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky. This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
I love how this passage shows some clear proofs Jesus gave his disciples. First, he appears to them over a forty-day period, giving convincing evidence that he truly rose. We know he ate with them, showed them his hands and feet, we also know he walked through walls and disappeared from sight, only to appear again later. He commands them to stay in Jerusalem as well, which had to hold some fear for them, yet this is the place Jesus promised to pour out his Spirit! I wasn’t surprised by their question in verse 6, “Lord is this the time you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus stands before them even more powerful than ever, but instead of setting up His Kingdom yet he was telling them they would be given the power of the Holy Spirit and to witness. He also states the Kingdom is in the Father’s hand to set the date.
In this passage, I believe we are shown how God will do the work, but we will be his tools. He pours out His Spirit on all who repent and believe. It is God’s first work of pouring the Spirit on the Church.
Sometimes things happen in life to make us realize God is calling us to do his work in various ways, like these disciples of old. (Please don’t think I’m trying to be political) I was privileged to tour the Ronald Reagan Museum a few weeks ago and listened to the President say, after he woke from surgery, right after a bullet was pulled from his chest an inch from his heart, “Jesus must still have work for me to do!” President Reagan realized God’s control. It was a great reminder to me of God’s work in our world. We may like one president or another better, or think a world ruler in another place is doing amazing things or bad things, but the truth is no one can do anything without God allowing it. God is in control of all things! He protects, he allows, he sends us out, and he calls us to be his children.
Pastor Joel reminded us on Easter, “Do Not Be Afraid!” When we believe God is in control, it is so much easier not to fear. Two of the other passages I was given came out of the Psalms. Psalm 47 and Psalm 93. Please check them out in your own quiet time, but I noticed I had underlined four sentences in Psalm 47.
Verse 2: “For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.”
Verse 7a: “For God is the King of all the earth.”
Verse 8a: “God reigns over the nations.”
Verse 9b: “for the kings of the earth belong to God.”
Psalm 93 uses similar words, yet it is a little different. It opens and closes with power, saying, “the Lord reigns.”
Verse 2: “Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity.”
This Psalm closes with verse 5, “Your statutes, Lord, stand firm.”
Another passage I was given to go over with you was from Luke 24:44-53.
Luke repeats encouragement and again proof of who Jesus is and what happened during their last time with Him.
Luke 24:44-53
44. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that was written in the Law and the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47. and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48. You are witnesses of these things. 49. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” 50. When he led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them 51. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Wow! I’m certain there is a little fear in what would happen next, but at the same time, amazement at what they witnessed and the insight into scriptures they were given. We know they were given great power 50 days later at Pentecost to witness in ways no threat could stop them. They no longer ran away from the truth of Jesus or denied him! They were filled with power so that today we can see the whole story clearly given in the word they boldly shared.
Our last passage is from Paul in Ephesians 1:15-23 — A beautiful passage reminding us to be thankful as well as certain of the power in Christ we have!
15. For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16. I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19. and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20. which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21. far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but in the age to come. 22. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
I know this is a lot to read, but there was so much richness here I couldn’t just use one passage! Do we realize how much power we possess?? I know I don’t stop and think about it a lot. I tend to worry or fret about all the negatives in the world or my life, but when I truly meditate on the passages above, I think, “OH, you foolish woman!”
God has given us so much power and proof to live without fear and be certain of his truth. It should become second nature for us to share Jesus with all we know or meet, as well as be certain that we are God’s children and we are born again!
Let’s go now and be powerful servants of Jesus!