Promise, Postponement and a Prayer Meeting

Acts 1:12-14

Introduction

–          Acts 1 outlines several important preparatory events that happened during the fifty day period between the resurrection and Pentecost

–          We are going to focus on three of those events this morning which had to happen before the Church was born: 1)Promise;  2) Postponement;  3) Prayer

I. Promise  (vv. 4, 8)

1.  The purpose of the prayer meeting in vv. 12-14 is related to Jesus’ promise of Spirit Baptism (vv. 4, 8)

2.  Jesus’ promise to send the Holy Spirit is foreshadowed in Old Testament passages (cf. Is  44:3; Jer 31:33-34; Ez 36:24-28)

3.  The activity of the Holy Spirit under the Old Covenant is different than His activity under the New Covenant

• In the OT, the Spirit came upon various leaders such as prophets, priests and kings
• In the NT, the Spirit indwells every believer
• In both Testaments the Spirit’s work in regenerating the dead and depraved human heart remains the same!

II. Postponement

1.  The fifty day postponement is related to the Jewish Feasts

• Passover commemorates the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and coincides with the death and resurrection of Jesus
• Feast of Weeks in Jewish tradition commemorates the giving of the Mosaic Law at Sinai and coincides with the baptism of the Spirit on Pentecost
• God decided to inaugurate the New Covenant on the very day that Jews celebrated the Mosaic Law – this is why the disciples had to wait in Jerusalem until the Feast of Weeks/ Pentecost

2.  The postponement is also due to the need to restore the full number of Apostles before the Church was born

3.  The postponement was intended to motivate the disciples to prayer

III. Prayer  (vv. 12-14)

1.  The disciples obeyed Jesus’ command to wait in Jerusalem

• ‘Sabbath Day Journey’ = 2000 cubits = ½ mile
• Upper Room – probably same location as Last Supper

2.  The prayer meeting consisted of 120 people including a number of women

3.  The prayer meeting was marked by two main qualities

• Unity of mind and purpose
• Perseverence