Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him — but some of them still doubted. (Matt. 28:16-17)
Apparently, three
years of miracles weren't enough. Neither were forty days at the Resurrection
Retreat Center. They'd seen him empty tombs and dictate weather patterns, but some
of them still doubted. Really? Who knew him better than they did? Just ask them
a Christ question. Did he hum as he walked? Did he pray before he ate? Did he
talk to storms in his sleep? And, if he did, did the storms listen? They knew.
They knew the person of Christ. And they knew the passion of their Master.
John probably winced
as the hammer clanged. Mary wept as her son groaned. Close enough to be
splattered by his blood, they knew his passion. When it came time to prepare
the body for burial, they did. And when it came time to see the empty tomb,
they did that, too. Peter ran a finger down the stone slab. Thomas studied
Christ's pierced hands like a palm reader. And for forty days Jesus taught
them. Can you imagine a six-week seminar with the mind behind the universe?
Hand trained by Christ. Witnesses to the most critical moments in history.
These folks were ready, weren’t they? Apparently not. Why? Because "some
of them still doubted."
Questions surrounding
the disciples kept buzzing like the summer flies in Ramona. Even after a
thousand campfire conversations and a scrapbook full of jaw-dropping moments,
some disciples resisted. “I'm still not sure.” So, what’s Jesus to do? What
will he do with the doubters? We'd like to know, wouldn't we? We'd really like
to know the answer to that question because that word, “still,” stalks our
sentences, too. "I still worry." "I still gossip."
"Permafrost still chills my marriage." "I'm still torn between
the AA meeting and the corner bar." "I still clench my teeth every
time I get a text from that ex-boyfriend of mine." The truth is that we
find odd comfort in the lingering doubts of the disciples. That’s probably
because we still have our own. And so we wonder, “Does Christ have a word for
those of us who are at a standstill
of doubt?” Yes, he does, and Jesus’ instruction might surprise you.
What he told
them then, Jesus tells us today. “And when they came together, he gave them
this order: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift I told you about,
the gift my Father promised.” (Acts 1:4) Jesus’ word to the doubting disciples?
"Don’t leave." Before you go out, stand still. Prior to stepping out,
sit down. "Don’t leave the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you
with power from heaven." (Luke 24:49) So they do. "They went to the
upstairs room of the house where they were staying . . . . They all met
together continually for prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several
other women, and the brothers of Jesus." (Acts 1:13-14)
They have their reasons
to leave, of course. Someone has a business to run, another has a field to
farm. Besides, the same soldiers who killed Christ are still walking
Jerusalem's streets. The disciples have ample reason to leave . . . but they
don't. They stay. They don’t leave and they stay together. "They all met
together continually." As many as 120 souls huddle in the same house. So,
just imagine how many potential conflicts existed in that group. Talk about a
powder keg.
Nathanael might
glare at Peter for denying Christ at the fire. Then again, at least Peter stood
near the fire. He could resent the others for running. But so could the women.
Faithful females who stood near the cross share the room with cowardly males
who fled the scene. The room is ripe for conflict. Mary could demand special
treatment. Jesus' blood brothers are in the room. They once even tried to lock Jesus
up. Who's to say they won't lock up his followers? And isn't this a men's
meeting? Who let the women in? The room is a tinder box for bitterness,
arrogance and distrust. But no one strikes a match. They stay together – and pray
together. "They all met together continually for prayer."
Mark uses the
same Greek word here translated "continually" to describe a boat
floating in the water, waiting on Jesus. The Master, speaking on the beach of
Galilee, told the disciples to have a boat ready and waiting. (Mark 3:9) The
boat was "continually" in the presence of Christ. So are the Upper
Room disciples. One day passes. Then two. Then a week. For all they know, a
hundred more will come and go. But they aren't leaving. They persist. Then, ten
days later, On the day of Pentecost,
seven weeks after Jesus' resurrection, the believers were meeting together in
one place. Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty
windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were
meeting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled
on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 2:1-4) Doubters became prophets. Peter preached, people came, and God
opened the floodgates to the greatest movement in history. It began because the
followers didn’t leave. They waited in the right place for power.
We're so
reluctant to do what they did. Who has time to wait? We groan at the thought.
But waiting doesn't mean inactivity. Waiting means watching for him. If you’re waiting
on a bus, you’re watching for the bus. If you’re waiting on God, you’re watching
for God, searching for God, hoping in God. Great promises come to those who do.
"But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high
on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not
faint." (Isa. 40:31) To those who still struggle, God says, "Wait on
me." But be sure to wait in the right place.
Jesus doesn't
tell us to stay in Jerusalem, but he does tell us to stay honest, stay
faithful, and stay true. "If you rebel against the Lord’s commands and
refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon
your ancestors." (1 Sam. 12:15) Are you illegally padding your pocket? Are
you giving your body to someone who doesn't share your name and wear your ring?
Is your mouth a Colorado River of gossip? If you intentionally hang out at the
bus stop of disobedience, you need to know something – God’s bus doesn't stop
there. Go to the place of obedience, instead. "The Holy Spirit . . . is God's gift to those who obey
him." (Acts 5:32)
And while you're
waiting in the right place, get along with the people with whom you’re waiting.
Would the Holy Spirit have anointed contentious disciples? I don’t know. But according
to Peter, disharmony hinders prayers. He tells husbands, "Live with your
wives in an understanding way. . . . Do this so that nothing will stop your
prayers." (1 Pet. 3:7) Waiting on God means working through conflicts,
forgiving offenses and resolving disputes. "Always keep yourselves united
in the Holy Spirit, and bind yourselves together with peace." (Eph. 4:3) Jesus
promised, "When two or three of you are together because of me, you can be
sure that I'll be there." (Matt. 18:20) So if you want power for your
life, it will come as you "do your part to live in peace with everyone, as
much as possible." (Rom. 12:18)
It will also
come as you pray. For ten days the disciples prayed. Ten days of prayer plus a
few minutes of preaching led to three thousand saved souls on one day. Too
often, however, we invert the numbers. We're prone to pray for a few minutes
and preach for ten days. Not the apostles. Like the boat waiting for Christ,
they lingered in his presence. They never left the place of prayer. Biblical
writers spoke often of this place. Early Christians were urged to "pray
without ceasing" (1 Thess. 5:17); to "always be prayerful" (Rom.
12:12); and to "pray at all times and on every occasion." (Eph. 6:18)
Remember the
adverb “continually” that described the Upper Room prayer of the apostles? It's
used to describe our prayers as well: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being
vigilant in it with thanksgiving." (Col. 4:2) Sound burdensome? For
instance, are you wondering, “My business needs attention, my children need
dinner, my bills need paying. How can I stay in a place of prayer?” Unceasing
prayer may sound complicated, if not impossible, but it doesn’t have to be that
way. Do this – change your definition of prayer.
Think of prayer
less as an activity for God, and more
as an awareness of God. Seek to live
in uninterrupted awareness. Acknowledge his presence everywhere you go. As you
stand in line to register your car, think, “Thank you, Lord, for being here.” In
the grocery store as you shop, “Your presence, my King, I welcome.” As you wash
the dishes, worship your Maker. Brother Lawrence did. This well-known saint
called himself the "lord of the pots and pans." In his book The Practice of the Presence of God, he
wrote: “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer;
and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the
same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility
as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.”
Though only a
rookie in the League of Unceasing Prayer, I’ve been enjoying the pursuit of
late. I've discovered the strength of carrying on two conversations: one with a
person, another with the Person. I’ve found that one can, at once, both listen
and petition. As a person unfolds his or her problem, for instance, I'm often
silently saying, “God, a little help here, please?” He always provides it. I've
also discovered the delight of regular sips from his water cooler. Lately, throughout
any given day, my thoughts are marked with phrases like, “Guide me, God,” or “Forgive
that idea, please,” or “Please God, protect my wife and children today.”
One last thought.
The Upper Room was occupied by 120 disciples. Since it’s been estimated that there
were about 4,000,000 people in Palestine at the time, that means that less than
1 in 30,000 was a Christian. Yet look at the fruit of their work. Better said,
look at the fruit of God's Spirit working within them. We can only wonder what
would happen today if we, who still struggle, did what they did: wait on the
Lord in the right place, and not leave. “Wait passionately for God, don’t leave
the path. He’ll give you your place in the sun while you watch the wicked lose
theirs.”
Grace,
Randy
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