Expectation, Belief & Structure, by Senior Pastor Fred Garcia
Acts 1:9-11 Jesus’ Ascension
Among other places, the description of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven is found in Acts 1:9-11 “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
Look at what happened prior to and just after
Anytime you look at an event in God’s word, helpful to look at what happened prior to and just after. There is great significance to the Ascension of Jesus, but the context is where we are called to live. Pastor Fred takes time to explore just that using Acts 1:4-8 and Mark 16:14-20 as he talks about how Jesus challenged his disciples faith and built up their expectation about what was to come. Jesus not only promised that the Holy Spirit would come with power from on high, He was preparing them to receive it before being taken up. “Belief & Expectation give direction. Without direction, power is dangerous and largely ineffective.”
We need the power of the Holy Spirit. “In our culture it is very easy to go intellectual and lose the awe and wonder of the Supernatural God whom we serve and be reduced to a powerless people…to the degree which you may have lost that or have never experienced it – I want to invite you to remember! I want to invite you to allow Him to set the culture around you…”
After Christ Ascension
After Christ Ascension, and prior to Pentecost, the disciples didn’t stop meeting together, Acts 1:14 “These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Hebrews 10:23-25 encourages us in the same manner, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
Acts 1:15-26 also give the account of the apostles adding structure as they replace the office which Judas left vacant. Structure may be in relationship to many things including Relationships (boundaries, pressing into, etc.) with God and man, Organizational, Functional and even Physical. Structure comes before power because “you can only receive power & grow to the extent that your weakest, most underdeveloped structure in you life can take you.” Where do you need structure??? Take some time to consider it and lean into Papa’s voice as you listen to this inspiring word by Pastor Fred.
