Day 41  Timing Is God’s Business

⁶ When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”

^7-8 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.” Acts 1:6-8 (MSG)

Imagine this scene as Jesus is giving his very last words. In the preceding 40 something days his followers had lived through the most unbelievable, miraculous moments in history.

Now they asked a legit question. “Lord, what’s the plan? Are the rest of the prophecies going to be fulfilled now?”

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Day 40  He’s coming back!

 ^9-11 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.” Acts 1:9-11 (MSG)

I don’t anticipate this truth as frequently or deeply as I should. Jesus is coming back, for sure – and not to my expectations.  The Kingdom of God will see the return of the King.

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Day 39  He ascended into heaven

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11 (NIV)

Today is Thursday, Ascension Day, commemorating the day Christ rose into heaven. It is 40 days after Resurrection Sunday, and 10 days before Pentecost Sunday.  Very few churches observe the Ascension, a fact lamented as “a great pity” by Robert Webber in Ancient-Future Time (p. 158)

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Day 38  All Authority

¹⁸ Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

All authority (all power of rule) has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (AMP)

Jesus is giving his followers a Great Commission  that requires supernatural power, the kind that only comes from God. He assures them (and us!) that He has the the power and authority to not only command the assignment, but to empower them to accomplish it.

He is All Authority. Not only is He trustworthy, He is all powerful and able.

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Day 37  Worship and Doubt

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Matthew 28:16 (NLT)

Early in this devotional series we looked at the story of “doubting” Thomas (Many a Doubt: Day #4)  and his response of worship (“My Lord and My God!” Day # 5 ).

The Matthew 28 account gives a very interesting insight into the interaction of worship, faith and doubt.

Not all of those who experienced the truth of resurrection, whether by eye witness or first hand account,  believed the same thing at the same time.

“Some doubted” and yet they worshiped him completely.

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Day 36  Tribe of The Like-Minded

They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer …. there were about 120 of them in the room at the time Acts 1:14-17 (MSG)

I had the honor recently of attending a gathering of worship dudes and dudettes from around the country. I’ve been to many worship-leader events, but I was awakened to the unique reason why this gathering felt like such a good fit.

It was a tribe of the like minded. A place where I felt like I belonged.

At the heart of any purposeful assembly of people are the elements of chemistry and cohesion.

When there is like-mindedness, everything just works.

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Day 35  The Seven Sundays of Easter

“The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one”  John 17: 22

Today is Sunday May 5th, the 6th Sunday of the Easter season.

In his book  Ancient-Future Time Robert Webber states the “ essential theme of Easter cannot be communicated in a day. It takes a season.” In his chapter on Easter, he describes the practices of the ancient church to commemorate the season with the following emphasis.

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We just completed teaching workshops at the Inspire Worship Conference, here’s a link to our free resources page for folks interested in those seminars. 

Day 34 Rest and Recreation

As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.” … Acts 1:4-5 (MSG)

The truth is, as I write this, right now I could really use some R&R (rest and relaxation).

There is a biblical rhythm to work and rest – six days on, one day off.

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May 2 and 3 I’m teaching workshops at the fabulous Inspire Worship Conference, check it out if you can. Here’s a link to our free resources page for folks who attended our seminars. 

Day 33 Preparing For Transition

After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them … Acts 1:2 (MSG)

The ascension will be here on Day 40, and Jesus will literally leave the scene.

Jesus was intentional about passing his mission on to his disciples, who were in turn to pass it on to others, and so on.

Nothing lasts forever in the natural world. The Jesus story affirms this. Even as the resurrected Lord, He knew He would be physically present for just 40 days.

Time is limited for all of us. If you’re a leader (take a hint: worship leaders and pastors!) begin with the end in mind.

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May 2 and 3 I’m leading worship workshops at the fabulous Inspire Worship Conference, check it out if you can.

Today  we have a guest post by Janelle Ross!