Waiting for the GIFT

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/d99c11f6/waiting-for-th...

This is about to get really exciting!

But first . . . in one of His last conversations with his disciples, Luke writes that Jesus “opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”¹ 

And so, we pray "Lord, would you open our minds today that we might also understand the Scripture?  How apt are Your words for our lives!  Free us from distraction for a bit, I pray, so we might see and clearly understand the import of your words.  Amen."

Over the last few weeks, I ventured into how you and I can live RESILIENT lives, challenged by biblical heroes Caleb and Paul, to live courageously, taking charge of our thinking, and caring well for our bodies, that we may live out our God-given purposes, long and effectively.2  And now I return you to the Mt. of Olives from whence Jesus has just ascended into Heaven as his closest disciples watched him go. 'Missed last Morning Briefing? "Keep Looking Up" - https://conta.cc/4kgd8xM

Our guide, Luke, concludes his gospel in the 24th chapter rather minimally:

Jesus said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things.

“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”

Then Jesus led them to Bethany3, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God.  Luke 24.46-53, NLT

This recounting of Luke was not wordy, but so very powerful as we look again at how he described those who saw Jesus go into Heaven. Their reaction was not as it had been when Jesus was crucified and buried, when they ran and hid in fear. No, their response was first of all obedient, filled with joy and worship. Why? Jesus was trustworthy--he had done what he said he would do: rise again! And. he. did. They had seen the risen Messiah in the flesh for a period of 40 days. These facts, in addition to all they had seen and experienced before then, made Jesus credible and worthy of their trust, gave them reason to be obedient.

So the 120 disciples gathered near him, heard Jesus' last words--his charge to them, and they saw him then go into Heaven. The faithful group then returned to Jerusalem to wait. . . for the gift of the Holy Spirit, promised by the Father.

with joy. . . Why, joy? They trusted that Jesus would again do what he said he would do - what was that? Send them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

As they went, they reminded each other what was true, the things Jesus had told them about the coming gift. 'Remember,' Peter might have said, 'he looked right in our eyes, slowly, one by one, making sure we each heard this promise":

->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.4

'and remember, Friends, he said this too:

-> I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.5 

In fact, Luke expounded on this in his continued writing in the book of Acts: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.6

This assignment was huge! Take the gospel to the world? Yes! Jesus was saying, 

"Tell them what you have seen and experienced in me, that I came to set them free and establish a relationship with them?" Yes!

But for that, Peter . . .

in order to be effective, James . . .

in order to withstand what you will face, John,

you will need the Gift. . .

you will need the Holy Spirit himself.

Go back to Jerusalem and wait.

Wanting to trust Jesus fully, endeavoring to be obedient, they stayed together and they waited, praying persistently.

Friend, you and I need the Gift as well. We are weak and powerless in our lives for God without the Holy Spirit. And he's a coming.

In the Waiting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDIOV93t3iM

Come, Holy Spirit. We need you.

Christine - PastorWoman.net

final in Luke series, #64

1 - Luke 24.45

2 - Morning Briefings on Resilience, archived at www.pastorwoman.net, Morning Briefings tab, most recent writings/podcasts

3 - Bethany was a small town on the eastern slope of the Mt. of Olives, just about two miles from Jerusalem

4 - John 14.26, esv

5 - John 16.7

6 - Acts 1.8