Come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
Psalm 95:6 (HCSB)
Series: Hands and Feet
Got Faith? Now What? Jen opened our new series “Hands and Feet” last week and encouraged us to fulfill the Great Commission, as instructed by Jesus (see Matthew 28:16-20 and Mark 16:15-18). Faith is believing in God and that His Word is true. It is rooted in the acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. Faith isn’t just believing, though. It requires action. What we do overflows from and expresses what we believe.
In Acts Chapter 1, Jesus instructed His followers to wait for His Holy Spirit. Then, Jesus ascended into Heaven. The believers had a choice. Their actions determined their trust and confidence in Jesus’ words, or lack thereof. Would they wait together, expecting the Holy Spirit? Or would they dismiss Jesus’ urging and go on with their lives apart from Him?
Let’s turn to Acts 1:12-14 (HCSB):
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. All these were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.
The disciples, the women, the mother of Jesus, and the brothers of Jesus sought the instruction, will, and presence of God as one body. Faith fueled their commitment to gather and unite in prayer. As we read further in Acts, we see God move in response to their reliance upon Him, just as promised.
Acts 2:1-2 (HCSB) reports:
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying.
And in Acts 4:31-32a (HCSB), we read:
When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness. Now the large group of those who believed were of one heart and mind.
Faith doesn’t just nurture a commitment to pray with other believers and believe God for the fulfillment of His promises. It ignites our passion to unite with people of faith—to seek God together in one accord—to have one heart and one mind with God and toward each other—to be partnered in purpose as we pursue His perfect will—to lay down our agendas and, as one body, complete His.
In 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT), Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth:
I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.
Do you participate in prayer with your church? Are you committed to being of one heart and one mind with fellow believers? This week, let’s reflect on the measure we unite with others in prayer as we seek God’s plan and purpose together. Let’s consider how we may partner with God and with others in one accord as an expression of our faith.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Psalm 95:6, 133; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; Acts 1:12-14, 2:1, 4:31-32a; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 2:1-6; Philippians 2:1-4
