An Expectant Church

I would encourage you to open up your Bibles, if you would please, to Acts chapter 1.

Acts 1 · chapter mention

!

Everywhere Jesus seemed to go, there were crowds that were in tow.

This excitement, this movement that was taking place.

And so when Jesus arrives in Jerusalem, that final week of His public ministry before the cross,

the disciples and everyone there who was present in seeing Christ's ministry teaching daily in the temple,

day by day He was there, and the crowds were hanging on every word,

there was this expectation that this was the moment.

Certainly this is what God had promised through the prophets so long ago.

The Messiah was here, and the evidence of that seemed to be so prominent in front of them.

And yet, now we turn the page to Acts chapter 1,

Acts 1 · chapter mention

and we see now what was such electric crowds and momentum that seemed to be taking place.

The energy of Christ in the movement that was happening now seems to be a distant memory.

It's a reminder to us this morning that most of life's changing moments don't start in stadiums.

They begin in waiting rooms.

Stadiums feel powerful.

They feel full of energy.

There's momentum.

There's excitement.

There's something happening.

But in Jesus' ministry, people, while they were everywhere,

were going to see that now was a moment,

a moment that was taking place

when God would begin to change the hearts of people,

but He would do it in a way that was silent.

God was about to do something that would change everything.

And He often does that through times of quietness and solitude.

Things that were ordinary.

Away from the action.

Away from the noise.

Think of Noah and 120 years of waiting for the flood.

Think of Abraham and the 25 years that he waited

and patiently waiting for God to give him the promise of a son.

Think of Moses in the 40 years of waiting in the backside of a desert in Midian,

waiting for God to accomplish His purposes in delivering His people.

Or think of David and his patient waiting

from the time that he had been anointed king

to the time that God finally brought him out into the forefront

and established him as king over Israel.

You see, the waiting room is the time, I believe,

God delights most in accomplishing or beginning,

initiating His purposes in the hearts of His people.

And so that's where we find this work beginning.

In Acts chapter 1, verse 4,

Acts 1:4

Jesus ordered His disciples, remember,

He remembers that He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem,

but to wait, to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Spirit to come.

Here we are in Acts.

We're back in the waiting room.

Waiting rooms are strange places, aren't they?

They're a mix or a mingle of joy and sometimes a mix of sorrow.

Waiting rooms aren't always the place where you would expect to be

or even hope to be.

My guess is that most of you have been in a waiting room at some point or the other.

On six occasions through the years,

my wife and I have been in a waiting room

as we waited expectantly for the birth of a child,

a son or a daughter.

Those joyous occasions,

excitement,

maybe even worship and praise to the Lord for His provision for you.

There may be trembling,

there may be pain,

but it's all followed by delight

as in that waiting room you get to see

and hold that precious little child.

In all of this,

there's this real,

even unspoken,

understanding and awareness

that I can't control this.

I can't speed this up.

I can't determine the outcome.

I can only wait

and trust

and pray.

That's what God wants to accomplish

in the waiting rooms

to drive us to a place of dependence

on Him.

Well, many of you know

this has also been

a year of waiting rooms

for our family.

A different kind of waiting,

as it were,

as I've kind of gone through

the waiting rooms

of a heart surgery

and the waiting room

of an eye surgery

and the waiting room

of a stroke

and trying to decide

or figure out

what was taking place.

It was a different kind

of waiting room,

but accomplished

and was oriented

towards the same kind of purpose.

I can't control this.

I can't determine

the outcome of this.

I can't speed this up.

I can't slow this down.

I can only wait

and trust

and pray.

You see,

waiting rooms

strip away

the illusion

of control,

don't they?

And they strip away

the illusion

of strength

and they seek

to push us

into dependence

on God

where confidence

alone can come.

They teach us

dependence.

They confront

our limitations.

And in their own way,

they invite us back

to simple posture

of faith.

Lord,

if you don't act,

nothing will happen.

Now imagine,

here we are

in Acts chapter 1,

Acts 1:14

verse 14,

another waiting room.

A waiting room

that God delights

in driving home

those messages

of his power

and the dependence

of his people

that they need

to be on him.

The crowds are gone.

Jesus has ascended.

The mission

in front of these

disciples

is massive.

Go to the uttermost

parts of the world.

How will they accomplish

this?

Will they accomplish

this in the waiting room?

That's where it will begin.

They need to unite

under the banner

of God's power

in his plan

in order to enjoy

the benefits

of God's work

in their life.

We saw that

last week

that there was

obedience,

simple obedience

to the instructions

of God

that would begin

to activate

God's purposes

in their life.

Simple,

clear instructions.

Go back to Jerusalem.

Wait to the coming

of the Holy Spirit.

I think all of us

could do that

and yet we see

this mission

in front of us

and we think,

how are we going

to accomplish

the mission?

Well,

we simply need

to obey

the instructions

that are in front of us

and let God

accomplish

his purposes,

his mission.

What if God

loves to start

his greatest work

in the waiting room?

As you're waiting

for him

to initiate

his plan.

As you're coupling

your heart

to the unity

and purpose

that he has set

before you.

As you are learning

to depend upon

the Spirit

for his power.

What if the most

powerful thing

a church can do

is not to rush

ahead

but is to wait

to gather

and to pray?

What if the Spirit's

power is not released

through hype

and hoopla,

through energy,

through movements,

great movements

but it's unleashed

to us through

the simple,

unified,

humble

expectancy?

That's what we're

going to see

this morning

as we unpack

Acts chapter 1

Acts 1:14

verse 14

and we see

how God begins

to do this

in hearts.

The hearts

of 120,

this meager group,

this small gathering,

the thousands

that had been there

are now reduced

to 120.

Here they are.

And we find

through this

that God does

his greatest work

through a unified

people.

That's our

first point

this morning.

God does

his greatest

work

through

a unified

people.

Notice this,

Acts chapter 1

Acts 1:12–14

verses 12 to 14

says this,

Then they returned

to Jerusalem

from the

Mount Colt

Olivet,

which is near

Jerusalem,

a Sabbath day's

journey away.

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.

And here it is.

All these,

with one accord,

were devoting

themselves to

prayer together

with the women

and Mary,

the mother of

Jesus,

and his brothers.

God does

his greatest work

through a unified

people.

And here we see,

first of all,

the picture of

their oneness.

Notice their

oneness.

It's represented

for us in a

number of different

ways here.

In this short

verse,

the picture

of their

oneness

is captured

for us

in the words

of Luke.

We move

through this

book and we

see one of

the central

realities of

a church

that will

enjoy the

benefits of

the Lord

and that is

this,

this predominance

of unity.

We'll see it

time and time

and time again

as we work

our way through

this little

book.

It's the

preeminent

feature of

this gathering.

They're gathering

and they're

unified.

Notice the

words that Luke

uses in these

verses.

They returned.

They entered.

They went up.

They were staying.

All these with

one accord

were devoting

themselves to

prayer together

with the women

and Mary,

the mother of

Jesus.

Luke labors

in these short

verses to draw

out and

emphasize the

oneness in

the community

of this

gathering.

How many

times does he

have to

emphasize the

togetherness?

You see,

he begins with

all these

with one

accord.

What a

beautiful word

this little

word all

is.

Simple and

beautiful.

Every,

it really is

the simple

meaning,

every,

describing the

totality and

the wholeness

of this

group.

No one

was missing.

It's especially

important given

the fact that

this was such a

meager group,

such a small

group.

Given the

enormity of

the massive

size of the

crowds and

Luke begins

with all.

All are

together.

As with the

disciples,

this group is

here in the

upper room.

And a

movement that

had consistently

numbered in the

thousands was

now reduced to

120.

But Luke wants

us to know

they're all

here.

The group is

complete,

at least for

now.

And God's

purposes have

not failed.

Everyone that

God needs to

activate his

purposes is

present for

this work.

No one is

missing.

There's a group

that God is

going to use to

launch the

church age and

they're all

present and

accounted for.

Notice they

gather with one

accord and this

also signifies

this unified

heart.

They belong

together.

They're not

fractured.

This Greek word

is a compound

word which

essentially means

one and the

same, is the

first piece,

and thumos

which is

temperament or

mind.

They all had

the same

spirit, the

same mind,

the same

purpose.

They all had

the same

heart.

One of the

prevailing

features of

this movement,

this one

accord,

purpose that

is seen

throughout the

book of

Acts.

This heavy

emphasis, 11

times this

word one

accord is

used throughout

the New

Testament and

ten of those

times find

their way in

the book of

Acts.

We see it

here in Acts

Acts 1:14

chapter 1

verse 14.

We see it in

Acts chapter 2

Acts 2:1

verse 1.

When the

day of

Pentecost

had come,

they were

all in

one accord

in one

place.

In chapter

2 verse 46

it says,

So continuing

daily with

one accord

in the

temple breaking

bread.

In chapter 4

verse 24,

So when they

heard, they

raised their

voice to God

with one

accord and

said.

In chapter

5 verse 12,

And through

the hands of

the apostles,

many signs and

wonders were

done among the

people, and

they were all

with one accord

on Solomon's

porch.

The togetherness,

the unity, the

one heart, one

spirit, one

mind, one

purpose, propelling

them as a

collective group

into the mission

that God had

called them to

be.

They're also

together.

Notice that

word, this

simple Greek

word which is

the word

sun, which is

the word

with.

With or

together.

A group of

incredible

diversity, men

and women,

undoubtedly

young and

old, fishermen

and zealots,

wealthy and

poor, different

experiences, different

backgrounds, different

economic status, and

here they are, all

together, all

represented.

Next we see the

purpose of their

oneness.

The purpose of

their oneness.

You see, Christ had

given the eleven

apostles some very

clear commands, and

he had told them

precisely what they

were meant to do

when they went

back to Jerusalem.

Acts 1, 1 and 2,

in the first book,

O Theophilus, I

have dealt with all

the things that

Jesus began to

teach until the

day when he was

taken up after he

had given commands

through the Holy

Spirit to the

apostles whom he

had chosen.

Notice, commands to

the eleven

apostles.

What were they to

do?

Well, verses 4 and

5, we've already

read this a couple

of times.

They're to wait in

Jerusalem until

they receive power.

That's what they

were to do.

And they were

given a clear

promise in Acts

Acts 1:8

chapter 1, verse

8.

You will receive

power when the

Holy Spirit has

come upon you.

You will be my

witnesses in

Jerusalem and

Judea and Samaria

and to the ends

of the earth.

You will be

witnesses.

You will receive

power.

In this chapter,

the apostles are

promised power.

They're promised

to be witnesses.

And as we kind

of look back for a

moment to the

gospel records,

even in the time

right after the

resurrection to the

time of the

ascension, those

same kinds of

commands were given

to the eleven.

In Matthew

Matthew 28:16

chapter 28, verse

16, now the eleven

disciples went to

Galilee, to the

mountain which Jesus

had directed them,

and what comes next

is this great

commission promise.

You're going to be

witnesses.

Go, make disciples

of all nations.

I'm going to give

you power.

My power is going

to go before you.

I'm going to give

you all authority

because I'm going

to be with you.

In Luke chapter

Luke 24:44–49

24, verses 44

to 49, this is

the moment in

the upper room.

Again, Jesus is

just with the eleven.

24, verses 48

and 49.

You are witnesses

of these things,

and behold, I am

sending the promise

of my Father upon

you, but stay in

the city until you

are clothed with

power from on

high.

In John's account,

it's much the same

thing.

John chapter 21,

John 21:19–22

verses 19 to 22.

On the evening

of that day,

the first day

of the week,

this is the time

of the resurrection,

the doors were

locked, the disciples

gather, and Jesus

says, peace be with

you.

Verse 20, when he

had said this, he

showed them his

hands and his side,

and the disciples

were glad.

Verse 21, he says

to them again,

peace be with you.

As the Father has

sent me, so I am

sending you.

And when he had

said this, he

breathed on them

and said to them,

receive the Spirit.

This was a symbolic

gesture.

This is something

that was coming.

This is something

they could expect.

In John chapter 14,

John 14 · chapter mention

26, Jesus helps

the disciples to

understand that the

Spirit is going to

come.

The helper, the Holy

Spirit, whom the

Father will send in my

name, he will teach

you all things and

bring to your

remembrance all that

I have said to you.

Peace I leave with

you.

My peace I give to

you.

Not as the world

gives to you do I

give to you.

Let not your heart be

troubled, neither let

them be afraid.

And so, here we are

again in the upper

room and Jesus says,

peace be to you.

It would have been a

flash of recollection

of what had happened

just a couple of days

before where Jesus is

seeing them on the

night before he's

crucified.

This promise of the

Spirit.

It's striking that in

every example that we

find, these direct

promises of God's

power coming on the

people is to the

eleven.

So why are the

hundred and twenty

here?

Why are they gathered?

The promises are to

the apostles.

Well, there have been

indications that God's

power would be given

to them as well.

In the ministry of

John the Baptist, in

Luke chapter 3, verse

Luke 3:16

16, John says, he will

baptize you with the

Holy Spirit and fire.

And then in Luke, as

Jesus is talking about

the need for the eleven

apostles to pray, he

says, ask and I, or

excuse me, I tell you,

ask and it will be

given to you.

Seek and you will find.

Knock and it will be

opened to you.

If you then who are

evil know how to give

good gifts to your

children, how much

more will the

heavenly Father give

the Holy Spirit to

those who ask?

Ask.

Again, another

indication that when

we pray and ask that

a benefit of that will

be the blessing of the

Spirit.

And of course, this new

covenant community, this

new covenant expectation

in Ezekiel 36 about the

Spirit who's coming.

But while there are

indications of a larger

work, the specific

command that Jesus has

given in the time of his

resurrection and the time

of his ascension are

specifically given to the

apostles.

So why are the 120 here?

I think this is really

significant.

Because I think the

disciples, the apostles,

knew the promise.

But they believed that

that promise was going to

be carried out to the

apostles alone.

So why are they here?

Well, they're here because

they knew that God is

about to do something and

they're supporting the

work of God even though

as far as they're concerned

they're not going to be

immediate beneficiaries.

They knew that God in

some way would send power

on the apostles and that

this work would break

forth and it would break

into the uttermost parts

of the earth.

But I'm inclined to think

that as they gathered,

they did not understand the

extent of God's promise to

the apostles.

They had no idea that they

also would be beneficiaries.

Because this gathering was

not about what's in it for

me but what is God about

to do?

I want to support the work

of God, whatever that work

is.

So what was God doing?

Well, as they prayed, as a

unified people, they begin

to understand that God's gift

was so much bigger than their

expectations.

God's grace blew away their

categories.

We're going to see this in a

couple of weeks.

That God would exceed their

expectations.

They were faithful.

They expected and knew that

God would work.

But God happened to have

something in mind that they

would also be able to

participate in experiencing

the power of God working

through them as well and not

just through the apostles.

You know, what if obedience

comes before clarity?

It's so easy as we look at

the scriptures.

We kind of look at it with a

hindsight.

We don't expect or even

anticipate that sometimes

these things that God will do

wasn't necessarily what the

people at the time expected.

And yet our obedience to the

Lord needs to be obedience

because we believe his

purposes are best, whether or

not I am a personal

specific beneficiary.

That God's glory is in view.

That God's purposes are my

highest goal.

And so we see that happening

here with this group of 120.

Then we also see the priority

of their oneness.

The priority of their oneness.

This unity of this body was a

clear priority for the Lord.

As we work through the

gospel of John, we see this

upper room, all of these

commands that God gives to

these disciples in this upper

room to strengthen and secure

and help to fan into flame the

unity that they would have.

John 13, 34 and 35, a new

commandment I give to you that

you love one another just as I

have loved you.

You also are to love one

another.

By this all people will know

that you are my disciples if you

have love for one another.

John 15, verse 12.

John 15:12

This is still this upper room

discourse.

Jesus says, this is my

commandment that you love one

another as I have loved you.

John 15, 17.

These things I command you so that

you will love one another.

And then the high priestly prayer,

John 17, 11.

I'm no longer in the world but

they are in the world and I am

coming to you.

Holy Father, keep them in your

name which you have given me that

they may be one even as we are

one.

And then in John 17, 20 to 23.

I do not ask for these only but

I ask for those who will believe

in me through their word that

they may be one just as you

Father are in me and I in you

that they also may be in us so

that the world may believe that

you have sent me.

The glory that you have given me

I have given to them that they

may be one even as we are one.

I in them and you in me that

they may become perfectly one so

the world may know that you sent

me and loved them even as you

loved me.

You get the sense that Jesus

cares a little bit about unity?

You get the sense that Jesus

cares a lot about God's people

demonstrating not just lip service

to love but true authentic

loyalty to God and devotion to

him by loving the people that

God has put them in community

with.

As a priority God has gifted the

church with leaders and those

leaders are to strengthen and

reinforce that unity.

We see that in Ephesians chapter

Ephesians 4:11–13

4 verses 11 to 13.

It says,

And he gave the apostles and

prophets, the evangelists, the

shepherds, and the teachers to

equip the saints for the work of

ministry for building up the body

of Christ until we all attain the

unity of faith and the knowledge of

the Son of God to the mature manhood

to the measure of the stature of the

fullness of Christ.

Here is how important unity is.

That God has gifted the church with

leaders, pastors, teachers to

strengthen, reinforce, and cultivate

unity among his people.

He cares about the unity of this

church.

He cares about the unity of this

congregation.

And notice this is not the unity of

the world.

The unity of the world which is to

rally around a common cause or to

fight a common enemy or to demand

conformity by silencing dissent in

some way or to stay peaceful by

avoiding conflict.

This is not a unity at the expense of

truth.

This is unity that comes because of

truth.

Notice.

God has gifted the church with

leaders and what do they do?

They not just strengthen it, they

teach it.

They are there to equip the saints for

ministry and it happens as they're

attaining the unity of the faith.

There is a theological doctrinal source

for their unity.

This unifying teaching that's

happening by the pastors and

teachers that God has gifted a

congregation.

They're strengthened.

They grow.

They grow in doctrine.

They grow in knowledge and they

grow in likeness to Christ but they

don't do it in isolation.

They don't do it independently.

They do it because of the gifting of

God to strengthen unity among his

people through the gift of pastors and

teachers.

leaders.

It's not an independent venture but a

collaborative journey.

We're all moving together because we're

committed to the truth of God's word

together not independently.

Now we see that God not just works

through a unified people but God does

his greatest work through a praying

people.

You see that here too.

All these with one accord were devoting

themselves to prayer.

Devoting themselves to prayer.

We see this picture of their dependence

here in verse 14.

They're waiting in Jerusalem.

It did not mean inactivity.

It did not mean boredom.

It did not mean passivity.

They're not just waiting and twiddling

their thumbs.

They're waiting purposefully.

They're waiting prayerfully.

They're worshiping.

They're seeking God.

They're pursuing.

They're praying.

Waiting.

This word for devoting is a present active

participle and all that really means is

that it was a current reality in their

life that was a consistent theme as long

as they were there in Jerusalem.

Waiting.

Devoting.

This word devoting occurs ten times

throughout the New Testament and six of

those times happen here in the book of

Acts.

This was a serious group.

A devoted group.

An expectant group.

Time and time again we see that as a quality

of their personhood.

This unified group devoting themselves to

prayer here in verse 14.

We also see the pattern of their dependence.

Acts chapter 1 verse 14 again devoting

Acts 1:14

themselves to prayer.

They were a group that had learned the lesson

the disciples had missed.

When Jesus says men ought always to pray

and not lose heart.

Remember that Jesus in the night of his

crucifixion before he's taken away

he's encouraging the disciples watch and

pray that you enter not into temptation.

And here we find a pattern of dependence

that is coming through this group of

individuals.

And a number of times throughout the book of

Acts where prayer becomes this constant

this constant pattern of life.

I've put a number of those examples in your

in your outlines.

You see it in Acts chapter 1 verse 24

Acts 1:24

and they prayed for wisdom concerning

leadership.

In chapter 2 verse 42 devoting themselves

to teaching and prayer and time and time again.

This posture of prayer is a pattern for this church.

There's no wonder why God used them mightily

because they anchored their hopes.

They anchored their purposes.

They anchored their activity in the power of God

and not in human effort.

They trusted in him from start to finish.

This word for prayer is a general term

that helps us recognize the significance

of their posture before the Lord.

It was prayer that activated God's promises.

It was prayer that would be the ongoing mark

of their dependence on the Lord.

And finally, we find the purpose of their dependence.

The purpose of their dependence.

Why do they depend on the Lord through prayer?

What amplified this?

What motivated this?

What prompted this?

Well again, if we look back

at the example of our Lord Jesus

and the way that he encouraged his disciples

and he emphasized the significance of prayer

the night before he was crucified,

well, maybe we'll begin to understand

how important this would become

to this new group of individuals

who were meeting together in Acts chapter 1.

Acts 1 · chapter mention

On four occasions, Jesus,

in this short span of this upper room supper

that they were having,

emphasizes the significance of prayer.

In John chapter 14, verse 13,

John 14:13

Jesus says this,

Whatever you ask in my name,

this I will do.

That the Father may be glorified in the Son.

If you ask me anything in my name,

I will do it.

Are you listening?

Okay, if you're not listening,

disciples, let me say it again.

John 15, verse 7,

John 15:7

If you abide with me

and my words abide in you,

ask whatever you wish,

it will be done for you.

By this, my Father is glorified,

that you bear much fruit

and prove to be my disciples.

Are you listening?

Is it clear?

Let me say it again.

John 15, 16,

You didn't choose me,

but I chose you and appointed you

that you should go and bear fruit

and that your fruit should abide

so that whatever you ask the Father

in my name,

He may give it to you.

Are you listening?

Did you get the message?

That's three times.

How about one more?

John 16, verse 23,

John 16:23

In that day you will ask

nothing of me.

Truly, truly I say to you,

whatever you ask the Father

in my name,

He will give it to you.

Until now you have asked

nothing in my name.

Ask and you will receive

that your joy may be full.

Is there any wonder

why these disciples now

in returning to Jerusalem

are praying?

Shouldn't be any wonder at all.

Jesus not only set the example

of His confidence

in the Father through prayer,

He helped the disciples

to understand time and time again

the exact same night.

Pray to the Lord

for His work to happen.

So what are they praying?

We understand the purpose.

They're praying

because they've been

instructed to pray.

But what is helping to amplify

and fuel and guide their prayer?

And again,

we could go and spend

a lot of time

working through

this upper room discourse.

And I have there in your notes,

I think there are

ten different things

that Jesus wants

and says He wants

to accomplish in them.

and this would then be

the fuel that they would use

to know

this is what He wants.

This is His will.

Then this is what we need to pray.

For example, humility.

John chapter 13, verse 14.

John 13:14

If then

your Lord and teacher

have washed your feet,

you also ought to wash

one another's feet.

Be men

and women

of humility

and service.

So, O Lord,

help us to be humble.

Lord, help us to be willing

to wash the feet,

the dirty, stinky feet

of the people around us.

May we follow

your lead.

May we walk

after your example.

May we exemplify

the humility

of our Savior.

O Lord,

please make us humble.

Or since your love.

John 13, 34.

A new commandment

I give to you

that you love one another

just as I have loved you.

You are to love

one another.

By this we'll all know

that you are my disciples

if you have love

for one another.

O Lord,

please help me love

this way.

O God,

help me to recognize

the significance

of the community

that you have put together.

Your work in their life

because of the beauty

and the work

of our Lord

and Savior Jesus

who has made us one.

O God,

please help us

to be unified

and full of love

for our brothers

and sisters.

Or,

we pray for the Father

to be glorified.

John 14, 13.

Whatever you ask

in my name,

this I will do.

Why?

That the Father

may be glorified

in the Son.

O God,

I want

the glory of God,

the glory of the Father

to shine forth,

to be so clear,

to be so evident

in this world.

O God,

may you

make your Son

glorified

in this world.

How about the coming

of the Spirit?

John 14, 16-17.

I will ask the Father,

He will give you

another helper

to be with you forever,

even the Spirit

of truth.

O Lord,

thank you for your Holy Spirit.

Thank you for the promise

that you have given

that everyone

who comes to faith

in you

receives the gift

of the Spirit.

You indwell me

and you empower me

and you activate

in my life

the ability

to then serve others.

O Lord,

may the fruit

of your Spirit

be so evident

in my life.

O God,

may your Spirit

have His way

in my life.

How about

for revelation

of truth?

John 14, 26.

But the helper,

the Holy Spirit,

whom the Father

will send in my name,

He will teach you

all things

and bring to your

remembrance

all that I

have said to you.

Lord,

thank you for your truth.

Thank you for your Spirit

that makes your truth

so real in me

that illuminates

my heart and mind,

that makes it clear.

And when your Word

is clear,

O God,

may I do

what your Word says.

Inform my heart

of the truth

that you've given.

Help me

in the power

of your Spirit

to work that out.

Or peace.

John 14, 27.

Peace I leave with you.

My peace I give to you.

Not as the world

gives,

give I to you.

Let not your heart

be troubled,

neither let them

be afraid.

O Lord,

I'm so inclined

to fear.

I'm so timid

and afraid.

I'm not courageous

as I should be.

I'm not bold

as I should be.

I'm anxious

about many things.

O Lord,

may your Spirit

help me to enjoy

peace.

Peace and courage.

Or fruitfulness.

John 15, 4 and 5.

Abide in me

and I in you

as the branch

cannot bear fruit

by itself

unless it abides

in the vine,

neither can you

unless you abide in me.

I am the vine.

You are the branches.

Whoever abides in me

and I in him,

he it is

that bears much fruit

for apart from me

you can do nothing.

O Lord,

please make me fruitful.

Whatever it takes.

Understand

that in order

to enjoy fruitfulness,

I need to be connected

to you.

Connected to the vine.

And everything

and anything

that would sever

that connection.

Strengthen

my grip

on you

and help me

to obliterate

those things,

those patterns,

those sins

from my life

so I can enjoy

the harvest,

the fruitfulness

in my life personally

and super abounding

for the people

that you put me

in community with.

On and on

we could go

for boldness

in John 15, 26.

When the Spirit comes

whom I will send to you

from the Father,

the Spirit of truth

who proceeds

from the Father,

he will bear witness

about me

and you also

will bear witness

because you have been

with me

from the beginning.

O God,

may the witness

and the testimony

that is so real

in my own heart,

may it not be silent,

a silent witness.

May it be a public,

bold proclamation

of who you are

and what you have done.

The goodness

of the Lord.

Finally,

unity.

As we read

in John 17, 20 and 21,

I do not ask

for these only

but for those

who will believe

in me through their word

that they may be one

just as you, Father,

are in me

and I in you

that they also

may be in us

so the world

may believe

that you have sent me.

O God,

so many things

are in my way

keeping me

from unity

with others.

There's bitterness

in my life

there's unforgiveness

in my life,

there's hurt

in my life,

there are people

who have injured me.

O God,

I pray that you would

help me

to blow those away,

to lay those

at your feet,

to help you do

this work in my life

so I can enjoy

the unity

that you have

obtained

on my behalf

because of the work

of Christ.

You have made

unity possible.

help me not

to be so foolish

as to push it away.

Help me to embrace it,

help me to pursue it,

help me

to strengthen

unity

for the sake

of witness.

Notice

this unity

in verse 21,

they may all

be one

just as you,

Father,

are in me

and I in you

that they may be one

so that the world

may believe

that you sent me.

Do you understand

the significance

of unity there?

Our unity

strengthens

our witness

and confirms

that the gospel

is true.

This is a sketch

perhaps

of things

that they prayed for.

I imagine

there were other things too

but this was on

the Savior's heart

the night before

he was crucified.

This was

what sent him

to the cross.

This was his mission

to accomplish

for the people

that he was

standing in front of

and the people

he would be crucified for.

Jesus has a heart

for this.

Do we have a heart

for it as well?

I appreciate

what E.M. Bounds

says.

He says,

prayer does not

fit us

for the greater work.

Prayer is

the greater work.

Are we people

who have committed

ourselves

to prayer?

You know,

I imagine

that there are

many of you

even now

that are in

the waiting room.

And if you're

anything like me,

you don't like it.

Waiting rooms

are not

the place

that I like

to hang out.

I don't want

to be in a place

of having to

wait for

things to happen.

I want to be

the one

making things

happen.

But that's not

how God

designed it.

That's not

how it's

supposed to work.

That God

has made

the waiting room

for the purpose

of helping

to reinforce

and to push

right out in the

front,

forefront.

You cannot

do it.

It does not

depend on you.

It depends on me.

Praise the Lord

for the waiting room.

In whatever

waiting room

you are in

right now,

whatever thing

that you

are seeking

for God

to accomplish,

whatever

challenges

you face,

even whatever

joys that

you are

anticipating,

instead of

pushing that

forward,

instead of

forcing your

way,

instead of

getting it

done,

is there a

response of

your heart

to say,

Lord,

I'm waiting

for your

timing.

I'm waiting

for your

best.

And in

the process

of waiting,

I'm going

to pray that

you will

accomplish

your purposes

in me

and through

me for

others.

What a

blessing it is

to be in

the waiting

room.

Let's pray.

Father,

we understand

the waiting

room is hard

sometimes,

but you do

your greatest

work there

because it

drives us

to dependence.

It drives us

to rest,

not to

striving,

not to

working,

not to

get things

done,

not to

strategies,

not to

performance,

but to

dependence on

you.

Oh,

Lord,

I pray

that we

would learn

this lesson,

that you

delight in

waiting rooms.

And instead

of us trying

to hurry

things along,

may we

learn in

the process

to trust

you with

others in

prayer.

In Jesus'

name,

amen.

God bless

you.

Have a great

week.

God bless you.