INTRODUCTION

1. The failure of the Disciples to pray was candidly noted in the Gospels

2. The shameful prayerlessness of the Three Disciples was painfully observed

3. But now they had seen the Risen Saviour and had been further instructed

4. Would that improve their prayer-life?

 

INSTRUCTION FROM THE LORD JESUS

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem,

but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;

and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8

1. The Assembling of the Disciples

a) They were in Jerusalem

b) Commanded not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the Promise of the Father

2. Still pursuing the wrong things

a) The restoration of the Kingdom of Israel

b) They still had to be corrected

3. The command of the Lord

a) To wait for the Descent of the Holy Spirit

b) To wait till they were filled with Power from the Holy Spirit

c) To bear witness for the Lord with great courage and commitment

 

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD JESUS

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus,

who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:9-11

1. The Lord Jesus was taken in a cloud to return to Heaven

2 The Disciples looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up

3. Two angels asked the Disciples why they were gazing up into heaven

4, They declared that the Lord Jesus would return to earth with much glory

 

RETURNING TO JERUSALEM

12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey.

13 And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew;

Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James.

14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,

with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:12-14

1. The Disciples returned to Jerusalem

2. They met together in an Upper Room

3. All the Apostles were there minus Judas Iscariot

4. An important observation:

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,

with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. Acts 1:14

a) The Disciples were in “one accord”

i) They were not rivals

ii) They were not disputing among themselves

b) They were praying and supplicating

i) They were actually praying together

ii) They were submitting their prayers to God humbly

c) The women were praying together with the men

i) In a typical synagogue this was not done

ii) Men and women prayed separately

iii) There was a special sense of unity and affinity

 

WHAT CAUSED THIS CHANGE?

1. Their shameful failure in the past

2. The rebuke of the Lord Jesus concerning their lack in praying

3. The new-found hope and faith after the Resurrection of the Lord

4. A new desire to improve their prayer life

5. The many lessons of the Lord on prayer must have made an impact on them

6. The exemplary prayer life of the Lord Jesus