Heart Meditations

Act 1:6-11 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (7) He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (8) 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.” (9) And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. (10) And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, (11) and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

vs 6-7 It is the eager desire of every follower of Christ to know when the Kingdom is going to come. It is natural for us to become so focused on the when, of coming Kingdom that we forget the how, of the coming Kingdom. As adventists it seems we go between the extremes of He’s coming in 6 months to He might not come for 300 years but both of these are about when. However God has know chosen to share with us His knowledge on the subject of when.

vs 8 But God has chosen to share with us the how, we will receive power when the Holy Spirits comes. This is interesting to me because Jesus doesn’t even tell us when the Holy Spirit will come, its like He says you will receive power when the power comes! And when the power comes it well prompt us to sharing Jesus

vs 11 Here is where I am really try to get to. I know that this verse speaks to the literal physical coming of Jesus but I am wondering whether there is more here than just that? What does it mean for Jesus to come in the ‘same way’ you have seen Him go? I looked up the word for ‘way’ and it means ‘style or means’. This might be a stretch but I am wondering whether there is a Chiasm in history so to speak.

A-Jesus Ascends
B – Former Rain- Spirit Poured Out
B’- Latter Rain – Spirit Poured Out in Greater Power
A’ – Jesus Descends

The word for ‘seen’ can be interpreted literally of figuratively. Jesus discussion of the coming of the Holy Spirit and the church reaching the world comes immediately before He is taken into heaven. Could it be that in the last days the same pattern will be repeated, a questioning about the time of the coming Kingdom, A focusing on the need for the Holy Spirit and mission to the world, Jesus comes back as he went.

I am really convicted that I need to pray more for the Holy Spirit.
I need more of His presence if I am to have any hope of doing ministry that is effective. And as Jordyn’s passage reminded us God will give me good gifts.

Lord please pour out your Holy Spirit on me like never before. Make me a vessel that is able to contain your presence. I know I am leaky so keep topping me up may in fact there be a spring in me that bubbles out to others.

Amen

I have been asked to do a Youth Evangelistic Series from July 14-20th I am going to accept. Please pray for this time and also that I wil be able to find the right speaker to cover for me that weekend. ALso continue to keep Gavin in your prayers