Let’s be real. Amongst us, who is continuously authentic at anything? I’m the chief mess up; the worst I know. The only real thing I can be is a mess. Hiding my mess is my natural response. There now. I’ve confessed I am not perfect nor good enough to even get close, and I’ve been around enough other people to understand the same is true of them as well. We are all a mess, every last one of us. Even God agrees, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23, NLT).

God knows all things. Nothing is hidden from him. Our every thought is known by him. Therefore, we ought to pray to him confessing all that is within us, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Especially since he already knows, and we can’t hide it. God has said he loves us even with our shortcomings. John 3:16 says he loved us even before we recognized our need for his love. “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him” (NLT). His love caused him to die for us that we might have purpose in our life. Believers ought to always pray openly and in an intimate manner.

God asks believers to gather together and it seems from this passage, verse 14, the main purpose for gathering is to lay aside self, focus on God, and worship him in prayer. Could it be the reason the church of today struggles with petty discord is that we don’t gather together to authentically pray? We don’t humble ourselves before God either personally or in our corporate prayer. We don’t really pray.

I heard a statement about marriage and prayer. The couple who prays together stays together. This is true if their prayer is authentic opening of themselves before God and each other, confessing wrongs and asking forgiveness. This doesn’t work if the only prayer request is for the likes of Aunt Edna’s ailing knee, a sort of shopping list prayer. God isn’t a heavenly department store clerk to pass out blessings requested from a list. No, he honors genuine seeking him in prayer.

Please don’t think I am saying praying for a list of sick ones, and such is wrong. What I am saying is the most effective prayer is meeting with God, being humbled in his presence, confessing unworthiness, and asking as one in complete dependence for genuine felt needs. Does the church today really pray?

I have experienced this kind of genuine, heartfelt, humbling encouraging group prayer. A gathering where each one prayed from the depths of their heart, confessing sinful attitudes and behaviors, and the desire to live in the manner causing God to smile in approval. I’ve come to understand more clearly the heart of others as together the group prayed corporately in this manner. Real prayer brings real unity. Authentic living.

For further reading on unity in prayer, examine Hebrews 10:25 (gather together), 1 Thes. 5:17 (pray continuously), Ephesians 5:21 (submit to one another).

Why don’t believers pray?

Life’s Purpose: Distracted, Assured, Engaged (Acts 1:9-12)

  Searching for life’s meaning and purpose is an age old quest. We question, “Why? What for? What now?” The disciples had given three years of their lives following Jesus and now what? As soon as Jesus finished talking he was taken from them. He had just given them their life’s purpose (see verse 8). He had just given them their job description, the purpose and meaning for all they were to do. His last words give us a meaning to life as well. Be covered by the Spirit (see previous post Finding God in Sequels, Unknowns, & Promises), Tell everybody about what God has done.

As the words still hung on Jesus’ lips, he was taken from them in a cloud. His mission, his job was done. He said in John 19:30, “It is finished.” Right before their eyes, a cloud hid him and he was whisked away to heaven. Clouds have been God’s chosen chariot all throughout history (Luke 21:27, Dan. 7 13). God’s presence is hidden in a cloud, for his glory cannot be looked upon with human eyes or death would be the outcome (Exodus 33:20). Jesus was returned to his glory and position in heaven, the fulfillment of his ruling his kingdom.

God was working right next to them on the ground as they stood distracted by staring hard into the clouds for Jesus. We need to be careful to not to be distracted by mystical searches in the clouds or by mundane routines of earthly pursuits to the point we miss God working amongst us.Two men, most likely angels, appeared out of nowhere to give them assurance. In this case, God used some spectacular white robed guys to assure some pretty distracted believers. Yes, believers can be distracted and need assurance. And God is big enough to deliver.

We have a work to do and God will do his part. Jesus will come again in the same way he left. The disciples had to first go to Jerusalem according to verse 8. We can see, according to verse 12, they engaged their work after being assured by the angels.

An interesting tidbit about prophecy is involved concerning the place where all this happened. They were on Mt. Olives a little more than a half mile to the east of Jerusalem. Jesus left them on Mt. Olives and since he is to come the same way he left, a good supposition is that a cloud and Mt. Olives might be significant. The prophecy of Jesus’ return from long before he walked the earth is, “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.” (Zech.14:4) And a prophecy from long after the passage in Acts is, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.” (Rev. 1:7)

We have no need to be distracted searching the clouds for some sign of God, because believers are assured of his return with all eyes able to see him. Instead, believers can live out their purpose, engage the mission that gives life meaning—being covered by the Spirit and telling others about God and the amazing things related to Jesus.

1.      If you’ve found practical meaning for your life, would you share it?
2.      What kinds of distractions commonly keep people from living out their purpose?
3.      What ways can we be given the assurance we need?
4.      What are some realistic ways to engage our mission in our culture?

Church, What’s the Point? (Acts 1:6-8)  

We gather together out of our need. This small band of believers had spent three years working with and following Jesus, and in verse 6 they are gathered together again, directionless, hopeless, and confused. I’m sure they had many questions. Did I waste the last three years? What am I to do now? They needed encouragement and direction, so they gathered together.

Gathering, or assembly, is the root meaning of ekklēsia, the word for church used in scripture. In my search for the purpose and relevancy of church, the study of Acts provides insight into its beginning. How did it work in its infancy? What can or do we do today in keeping with its original function? The usage of the word ‘church’ changed to include a local gathering of believers, as well as a term for all believers everywhere. I understand church to be a gathering of believers brought together by a common need. It could be a lunchtime prayer group at work, a support/recovery group, or soup kitchen as long as those gathering are believers. Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”[1] What a great promise! As we gather together, because it is our need to do so, Jesus promises to gather with us. This is churching.

Another aspect of churching is training. As they gathered, they asked questions, sought directions and understanding. Because they didn’t comprehend their purpose or the kingdom of God, Jesus taught them and gave them a focus on their role. When we hear the words of God, we are trained and taught about our purpose and God’s kingdom plan.

The disciples demonstrated the ability to question God. We should have no fear in asking when we are seeking him. However, God reserves the responsibility to help us understand and function in our specific purpose, and teach us not to worry over other stuff. Much like a child needs to trust the knowledge of a parent saying, “Don’t put that paperclip in the electrical outlet.” God gives the knowledge we need to follow him and grow, and cautions us to trust him in the things we don’t need to know. In Genesis 3:5, Eve sought forbidden knowledge—being like God, knowing good and evil. Because of that, we suffer today. We may ask questions of God, but not question his authority. We must trust him in all things.

In verse 8, we have our purpose. It is to be testifiers or influencers, empowered by the immersion, the covering of the Holy Spirit, telling people everywhere about Jesus. I’ve heard it said, “Power equals influence and influence equals power.” We have a great amount of influence over those around us. Simply smiling often causes others to smile back. When God’s presence smothers us, comes upon us, we have a powerful influence for God and his kingdom. Living out our purpose makes us a powerful positive influence that starts at home and reaches far. We may never know for certain how many we influence.

If you’re a believer, will you share how you creatively church, seek encouragement and training?

Do you have an experience to share of trusting God and his authority while asking questions of him?

Considering our impact this past year, what are some practical ways to personally increase our influence?

[1]Tyndale House Publishers, Holy Bible : New Living Translation., “Text Edition”–Spine., 2nd ed. (Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2004), Mt 18:20.

Finding God in Sequels, Unknowns, & Promises (Acts 1:1-5)

We’re left hanging at the end of the book and hooked before the first paragraph of the sequel. We have no idea how it all will pan out, but the author does. The author can be trusted to write out the middle as well as complete the perfect end. Luke is believed to be the man who wrote Acts. His first phrase alludes to a previous writing making Acts his sequel.

The sequel was written to Theophilus, a relatively unknown person. The fact is Luke mentions him here and in the first words of his previous book (Luke 1:3), but nowhere else is this man mentioned by Luke or anyone else in the Bible. It appears that he is a nobody. His name means ‘friend of God’ or ‘lover of God’ so Theophilus is no nobody to God. God knows no nobodies. All are somebody in his thinking. Even when nobody knows who we are, God knows us.

Luke’s given title to Theophilus as ‘most honorable’ in Luke 1:3 lends an assumption that he may have been a benefactor of Luke’s. In Dicken’s Great Expectations, Pip’s benefactor believed in Pip’s abilities, and supported him financially to help him accomplish great expectations. Theophilus may have supported Luke in numerous ways. Indeed, he was no nobody!

 According to these words in Acts, the first book was written to tell about all that Jesus began. Luke states that Jesus began to do and to teach, including instructions given through the Holy Spirit. The sequel was written because Jesus wasn’t through. He had only begun. The story wasn’t over and still isn’t. Some remains to be revealed. After God raised Jesus from the dead, he walked the earth for 40 days—the number of days for completion used often in scripture—proving himself alive and continued teaching his followers about the Kingdom of God. What Jesus began, he is continuing to do through the Holy Spirit. We are part of the sequel.

To play our part in the sequel, believers are given a promise. This is no lover’s “flowers, chocolates, and promises we don’t intend to keep.” You get more than a “You have my word on it.” or a signature on the dotted line. This promise is not only based upon character, but person as well. A person with outstanding character can still fail keeping a promise due to lack of ability, but God’s person has all the ability and character to fully keep his promise. We are promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, a gift that allows Jesus to continue his sequel in and through believers.

Jesus used a word picture to help us understand this promise. He said my cousin John baptized you with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. To baptize means to immerse. I like to think of this as covered, permeated with, nearly smothered with. Just as what would happen if I was held under water ‘til I thought I was going to die. The Spirit should permeate the believer to the degree that self is denied as Jesus taught in Luke 9:23. “He must deny himself and take up his cross…” Cousin John also said, “He (Jesus) must become greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30) The gifted promise is the opportunity and ability to live dead to selfishness and alive to a higher purpose, God’s purpose.

Much more is found in Acts 1:1-5. Please make comments and share your insights and questions concerning this week’s thoughts.

1.       If Jesus began a work in you, please teach us how you allow the Author to continue writing the sequel in your life through the Holy Spirit and prove himself alive?

2.       Who are the ‘unknowns’ God has used in your life? Are you a nobody with a big impact in another’s life? I had Mrs. Darden, who loved me enough to faithfully teach a bunch of silly and ornery girls in Bible class.

3.       Share some practical ways to live a life that counts, to be immersed by the Spirit of God, and dead to selfishness?

Hello,

You are invited to join us on a journey seeking God through the book of Acts. It is God’s story about initiating the church age, forming the first church and his dealings with the religious and non-religious. We will examine Acts verse-by-verse with intentions to seek God and discover a relevant relationship with Him. Through uncovered truths and encouraged application of those truths, my prayer is that we spiritually experience God, and not only gain head knowledge about God.

The repeated request for my notes and wish for interaction prompted the establishment of this community discussion on a blog where you may read and make comments on the insights of others on a weekly stop. Join us to be both encouraged and to encourage others. You can subscribe to the RSS feed and it will prompt you of the new posted discussion. The link is www.RobinBryce.com/blog. The blog discussion will open after each Sunday. Check it out and invite your friends whether religious or non-religious.

I look forward to journeying with you into a deeper relationship with God, watching God work, and changing our lives.

Blessings,

Robin

PS – I may need to work out some glitches in the blog world in the beginning of this effort; therefore, I ask for your patience, please. If you have ideas or thoughts related to this, please leave a comment on the post.