Monday, September 03, 2012

Opening: Have you ever been part of a conversation or had an initial impression of someone that later you realize you were missing the point or way off on your assessment? Or have you ever done something just because that’s the way it has always been done, only to realize that doing it the old way was really the wrong way?

Scripture: Read Acts1:9-26.

Insights:

• The Ascension of Jesus is briefly described in Mark 16:19-20 and Luke 24:50-53. Look up these verses and compare them to Acts 1:9-10. 
• Certainly, Luke is telling us that the disciples were engaging in more prayer than usual (that is, more than several hours a day, maybe in anticipation of the coming of the Holy Spirit) or he would have no reason to mention it. Read Acts 1:14 in as many translations as you can to see how this verse is translated (go to www.biblegateway.com for additional translations). 
• It is interesting to note that Jesus’ family is here with the company of the disciples. During Jesus’ lifetime, they had been among his opponents (see Mark 3:21). It may well be that for them, as for so many others, the death of Jesus opened their eyes. What they could not understand before the Cross, they understood now. 
• Matthew 27:1-10 records the account of Judas’ suicide. Acts 1:18-19 collaborates the story as well as adds some fairly graphic information. The text also indicates that this was well known in Jerusalem, adding credibility to what Luke was now writing (and would write) to Theophilus.

Life Questions:

• Prayer was vital for the post-Ascension believers. How vital is it in your spiritual life? 
• It would seem that the apostles are struggling to know what their focus. In verse 6, they pester Jesus about politics. In verse 10, they strain to catch a final glimpse of Jesus until the angels interrupt their tunnel-vision. Finally, in verses 21-26, they insist on filling the opening left by Judas with Matthias, who is not mentioned again in the New Testament. Without the leading of the Holy Spirit, they are a little lost. Have you ever felt this way, or experienced this lack of focus and spiritual leading? How about now? 
• How many disciples were there before the coming of the Holy Spirit? 1 Corinthians15:16 says that Jesus was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time. Where are the rest? What might have happened? Have you ever seen anything similar in your experience?

Prayer Focus: For a clear direction and leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the life of our church.