Waiting

You may be aware that all the churches in our Methodist circuit are involved in a review of what they are doing and how they are to move forward. Ascension Day was celebrated at the end of May – then there were ten days until Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came and the Church was born. Of course, the disciples didn’t know exactly when the promised Holy Spirit would come – they didn’t know how long they would have to wait or what the future held. So what did they do?

They stayed in Jerusalem and waited as Jesus had instructed. They waited for the coming of the Spirit – although, as Christians, we believe the Spirit has come and dwells within each Christian we can learn from how the disciples waited and be instructed as to how we should wait for guidance for the future as we review the church.

Waiting isn’t passive. They waited with intentionality. They got together with other believers and devoted themselves to prayer revealing their unity and expectancy. Jesus had taught them that prayer isn’t passive.  Prayer in faith ‘moves mountains’ Matthew 17:20 and tears down kingdoms.

They dealt with the practicality of voting in a replacement apostle for Judas Iscariot and preparing for the Pentecost festival, however their primary focus was to wait in prayer and unity for the Holy Spirit. What should we learn from the time of active and expectant waiting on God between Ascension and Pentecost? And how can we apply these lessons as we undergo the review process?

Firstly, we must recognise our absolute need for God’s power for any effective ministry. The disciples had heard the Great Commission and spend three years under Jesus’ ministry yet they needed the Spirit’s anointing before they could proceed. We often learn the hard way that the power of ministry isn’t in adopting the right programme but in the anointing of the Spirit. It is prudent sometimes to wait on the Spirit before moving forward on a whim.

Secondly prayer is paramount. The disciples understood the power of prayer and Christ’s intention for us to actively intercede. They had witnessed his regular prayers with His Father and He had given them a template for prayer. Intercession is our first and primary ministry – we should prioritise prayer in our individual and collective lives, seeking God’s will and empowerment for ministry.  The disciples stayed and prayed together. They were anointed together – as a Church we can’t fulfil God’s purposes and plans alone. We need one another – together we are the Body of Christ – a corporate witness for God. What can you offer as part of the Church community?

We wait expectantly.  God will fulfil His promises in His time and power as He did at Pentecost. We wait with longing and anticipation trusting God to do what he said He would do for His glory and our good. In the meantime, we start to make practical preparations welcome any other ideas to improve this.

Jesus’ death and resurrection happened on the first Jewish festival, Passover. At Pentecost, the second Jewish festival ‘the harvest beginning’ the disciples received the Holy Spirit and His Church was established.  We are now the fulfilment of the final festival, Tabernacles also known as the Ingathering – the end of the harvest where God gathers His people for the end of the age at Christ’s return.