10-DAY HOLY SPIRIT CHALLENGE: Day 1 (Ascension) "Wait for what my Father promised"



 Scripture text: Acts of the Apostles 1.4-11

     Who enjoys waiting?  I get restless when I must wait in line at the grocery check-out.  Often, we feel like it’s up to us to figure things out, and quickly!  But in today’s scripture, the risen Jesus tells his disciples to wait.  He also tells them that they will soon go out on a mission, but for now, they are to wait until they are equipped by the Father for the work they are called to.

     Today, we celebrate the moment when Jesus was exalted “to the right hand of the Father” after entrusting his followers with a mission to make disciples of all nations; that is to say, today is the feast of the Ascension.  The risen and glorified Jesus can now only speak through our mouths, can only touch through our hands, and only go to the places we dare to go.  That’s what Jesus’ ministry was all about – through, and as, Jesus, the Creator spoke words of eternal life (Jn. 6.68), healed lepers with a touch of his hand (Lk. 5.12-13) and went to the darkest places to set captive souls free (Mk. 5.1-13).  Now that Jesus has been enthroned at God’s right hand, he continues his work through his Spirit-filled followers.  Before the incarnation (the birth of Jesus), God had equipped certain people with the Holy Spirit at certain times for certain tasks.  Most of the time, it was prophets, priests and kings who received God’s Spirit to empower them for their task of speaking for God, leading the worship of God or ruling the people of God.  The risen Jesus tells his followers that they will receive power so that they can act as “witnesses” of his resurrection throughout the world.  Jesus tells them to wait in the city of Jerusalem until they have been “baptized” in the Holy Spirit.

     Centuries before Jesus, God had made a promise to his people through the prophet Joel:

“Then afterward I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your old men shall dream dreams,

and your young men shall see visions.

Even on the male and female slaves,

in those days, I will pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2.28-29; cf. Ac. 2.14-18)

God promised that he would “pour out” his Spirit on each and every member of his people – young and old, women and men.  The result of this downpour of the Spirit would be that each member of the people of God would become a “prophet”, that is to say, a spokesperson for God.  This is precisely what happened on the day of Pentecost.  The Spirit was poured out on the apostles and over a hundred other followers of Jesus, and they all began to proclaim “God’s deeds of power” (Ac. 2.11). 

     Wait.  Wait and pray.  If you are willing, God will fill you with his Spirit, fill your mouth with his words and set your heart aflame with his love.  The world waits to hear your testimony.

 

Prayer to the Holy Spirit:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And you will renew the face of the earth.

Lord, by the light of the Holy Spirit you have taught the hearts of your faithful.

In the same Spirit help us to relish what is right and always rejoice in your consolation.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

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