Theme for this week: Birth of the Church
April 25, 2022 (Monday)
Jesus’ followers went with Him to Mount Olivet, where He ascended to Heaven as they watched. His final words were “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.” Then they returned to 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. All these (about 120 people [Acts 1:15]) with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer for ten days, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 2:12-14 ESV).
“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place..”
(– the upper room, where Jesus had observed Passover and “The Lord’s Supper” with the Disciples .. (Evidently they had prayed around the clock, which would have amounted to 240 hours of continuous prayer). “..and suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:1-4 ESV).
If indeed they prayed one ten-day prayer, it did not end with “Amen,” but with all of them delivering the gospel message in languages they had never learned, with tongues of fire above each head.
Jesus specifically criticized long, self-indulgent prayers in which people would brag to God about their good works, but this ten-day prayer by 120 people was no prolonged bragging session. Instead, it was corporate humility, seeking the supernatural presence of almighty God. Those Believers prayed from their hearts, genuinely seeking God, not knowing what He would do in response. They would soon learn, however, when God poured out His Spirit upon them.
MY FAITH LOOKS UP TO THEE
Words Ray Palmer
Music Lowell Mason
1830
My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray;
Take all my guilt away.
Oh let me from this day
Be wholly Thine!
May Thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart,
My zeal inspire.
As Thou hast died for me,
Oh may my love to Thee
Pure, warm and changeless be,
A living fire.
While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread
Be Thou my Guide.
Bid darkness turn to day;
Wipe sorrow’s tears away;
Nor let me ever stray
From Thee aside!
When ends life’s transient dream,
When death’s cold sullen stream
Shall o’er me roll,
Blessed Savior, then in love,
Fear and distrust remove.
Oh bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul.
The theme of this week’s blogs is “Birth of the Church.” It began when 120 followers of Jesus fervently prayed. Six blogs dedicated to this theme are:
1. Introduction (April 23-24 – Weekend)
2. Believers Prayed. (April 25 – Monday)
3. Believers were Spirit-filled. (April 26 – Tuesday)
4. Believers shared the gospel. (April 27 – Wednesday)
5. Peter preached about Jesus. (April 28 – Thursday)
6. Thousands believed and were baptized. (April 29 – Friday)