Why are you standing around?

Read: Acts 1:1-11

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?” (v.11)

As the people of God, are we standing around with our hands in our pockets staring at the sky? I am speaking proverbially, obviously, but I am always struck by this scene in the opening of the book of Acts. The disciples have just seen Jesus ascend into heaven… they are awe struck… captivated… and left there just staring up into the sky. Two angels show up and ask them this question: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven?” Isn’t it obvious!?! I wondered if they were tempted to reply: “I don’t know… maybe because we just saw our Lord and Savior Jesus rocket-boost into the sky and leave this earth after just having started to get our minds around the fact that he ROSE FROM THE DEAD just a month and a half ago!?!” There is a lot going on here… don’t you think? Seems like ample reason to take a moment and ponder.

This is the danger of when God works powerfully and supernaturally… we can become paralyzed… awe struck… experience “analysis paralysis” as we are trying to figure it all out. There is a great temptation to remain at the top of the mountain just staring off into the distance. The question posed by the angels speaks to the truth of what Christ is calling us to do: Jesus is calling his people to ACTION… not to simply stand on the “mountain top” staring off into “heaven” feeling good vibes. The time is too short… and the work is too important to become paralyzed… frozen… stuck. There is work to be done. It is time to MOVE. The story of the beginning of the C/church (the book of Acts) is a story of Jesus calling us to this action… calling us to a movement. This is what we are going to look at as our next study / set of devos. What exactly does it look like for the people of God to “move”… for this unstoppable force known as the C/church to unfold?

We will speak “through the Spirit” ; Even Jesus spoke through the Holy Spirit:

“I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.” (v.1-2) Notice how even Jesus “gives commands” through the Holy Spirit. his language was led by the Lord. His message was calibrated by the Spirit. The same Spirit in us! The speech and “commands” of God’s people must always be “through the Spirit”. In a day and age when “talk is cheap”, the words of the people of God should carry weight and power because they are rooted in the Spirit. Why is this so important? Because…

“Waiting for power.” / The Holy Spirit comes with POWER:

Spirit driven activity and speech comes with power. We cannot be the witnesses that God has called us to be part from the power and presence of the Spirit. “And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…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.” (v.4,5,8) The sort of “bearing witness” that Jesus is speaking of has to be so much more than simply “telling people about him”… otherwise they would not need to hang around in Jerusalem and wait for the “promise”. Truth be told, they were already telling people about Jesus before this moment… so obviously this is a witness bearing that moves beyond this. Maybe this sort of “witness bearing” is part of an even larger story. What exactly are we bearing witness about? What was it that Jesus himself focused on when he was resurrected / what did Christ spend his time talking about? : “He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (v.3) We are bearing witness to the Kingdom of God! The Kingdom of God is a place of powerful transformation… it is a place that is “other worldly”. (cf. John 15:19) Whatever is is that God is calling us to say and do… we cannot do it in our own power. Fleshly efforts will always yield fleshly results. “Flesh gives birth to flesh and Spirit gives birth to spirit”. (cf. John 3) The world does not need more ministry rooted in human ideas, strength, or strategy. The world does not need us to come off the mountain top so that we can execute more “ministry” that is comfortable for us and rooted in our own understandings. No… Jesus fought death, ;eft the grave, ascended to the Father, and is dwelling in our midst so that we can bear witness to HIS KINGDOM by saying and doing the powerful spirit-driven things he calls us to say and do. This will be intimidating. This will push us out of our comfort zone. It would be much easier t stand at the top of the mountain and stare at heaven thinking “Jesus’y” thoughts. This is not what the world needs. So why are we standing around?

This past year has pushed pause on a lot of things. It has been a sweet time of resting, deconstructing, thinking, and discomfort. I believe it has positioned us as God’s people to MOVE. The work of God’s people - the C/church - will bear powerful witness to “The Kingdom of God” in this next season. It always has… and always will! The time for standing around has left us. God is speaking through his people. He is working in and through his people. So why are we standing around staring up at the heavens? Jesus is going to come back the same way he left us… when he returns is he going to find us on the move, declaring The Kingdom, and speaking his words directed by the Spirit? Or will he find us standing around? I bet that most of you have something you need to tell someone today… or something that God has placed on your heart to do. Don’t stay around. No more “analysis-paralysis”. Bear powerful witness. Watch as the Spirit gives birth to spirit in the ministry you are called to! Love you guys. - JDP