May 23, 2011 Monday Message:
“The apostles kept asking Jesus, ‘Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?’” Acts 1:6
If we are both traveling, but have maps to different destinations, we will not arrive together. That’s why it’s so important for us to listen to what Jesus teaches and to participate in what Jesus is doing. We need to learn to think like Jesus is thinking, to get on the same page, to have the same destination in mind.
Even as Jesus prepared to ascend into heaven, the apostles’ thinking was still not quite aligned with their leader. After all they had seen – driving out demons, healing the sick, raising the dead – the apostles still didn’t quite get it. They had been expecting some kind of super-natural king to restore Israel to world dominance, and with 20/20 tunnel vision, this was still their focus.
But Jesus had a different agenda: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Acts 1:8a
This is not the political power the apostles were expecting. Political power doesn’t last. World governments are constantly changing, and Jesus said that there would be wars and rumors of wars until he returns. Even in the United States, the power of the government can change hands every four years.
Jesus wanted his followers to have power that would last, spiritual power, something with eternal significance. Jesus went ahead to prepare a place for us, but did not leave us alone. The power of the Holy Spirit can fill each of us right away, and love us into eternity.
Don’t limit God; don’t just ask for power over Caesar. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit!
Norton Lawellin
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