“When they entered the city, they went to the upstairs, in the upper room where they were staying. Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (known as the Zealot), and Judas son of James were there. They all continued praying together with some women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and Jesus’ brothers. The brothers of Jesus are, James 1st, Bishop of Jerusalem, Joseph, Simon 2nd, Bishop of Jerusalem, and Jude,” Acts 1:13-14.
After seeing Jesus lifted up and taken from them into heaven. The disciples went back to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. They all continued praying together and were with one accord, devoting themselves to prayer. The church valued prayer as a leading devotion to God. This is the unity of devotion of the disciples, Jesus’ mother, Jesus’ brothers, and the 120 as they wait for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. They were united in spirit, love, and devotion to prayer knowing that the Holy Father’s promise was to come to pass. There were no signs of doubt in the promise but just the confidence in God, knowing that prayer is the vital key to opening up God’s presence. As Christians, we must devote ourselves to the presences of God in prayer. The early church prioritized prayer and encouraged the saints to imitate this devotion. Do the same thing that you see us do as we wait on the promise of God. The promise of the Holy Spirit will come upon the followers in Jerusalem, equipping them with the ability to teach the gospel in different languages. This is the clear opening of the promise that is stated in Luke chapter 24. This is the foundation and the layout of all they did as it applies to the beginning of the ministry of Christ, including: His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. The promise of the Holy Spirit was not to do away with prayer, but to quicken and encourage them to pray more as the Holy Spirit would come upon them and equip them with power. To quicken is to ‘enlighten the inner man with knowledge and understanding.’ It’s to give you wisdom, to fortify you and to increase you in the word of God. We have been given so much heresy, non-theism, idolatry, and blasphemy of the word of God so that you don’t know what to believe. This is why we must have one mind, and that mind is the spirit of God. To be a highly effective disciple (a Christian) you must know and believe that Jesus is Lord, and you must be empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness His word to the world. The question is, ‘do you have the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your life?’
During this time of prayer, the disciples were in the upper room where there was a meeting of the believers about 120 of them. What are we to do to be a highly effective disciples [Christians]? (Acts 1:15).
You must know and believe that Jesus is Lord and you have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to witness His word to the world. Do you have the outpouring on your life?
