How Long, Oh Lord! (new format and new directions (like GLEE!))

Acts 1:1-5

"In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: 'Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized by the Holy Spirit.'"


We don't wait very well. As Americans, as humans, waiting is difficult. Anticipation builds our bodies and minds and spirits up to where we need to let out the energy, but sometimes the appropriate manner of release is dependent upon something outside of us. The disciples had just journeyed through a few crazy years of non-stop travel, service, emotional moments, confusion, suffering, witnessing their leader destroyed and glorified, coming to spiritual awakening, confounded by misunderstanding, etc... And as Jesus prepares to leave this earth after its all over, he tells the disciples not to KEEP GOING, "You got what it takes! Run with it!" Instead, he says to wait... Wait for the Spirit... They've already been baptized with John's cleansing waters, but something more remains before the disciples can make Jesus' mission their own.

The Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus at his water baptism by John, but apparently the disciples did not have the same experience. They were clean, as Jesus tells them at the Last Supper, but they are not prepared. After all, the mission, all mission, ALL ministry, is actually GOD'S mission and GOD'S ministry! To take it upon ourselves would be to steal God's glory for ourselves. That is why the Spirit is so critical. To become one with the Spirit is to join God as Christ's body in the world.

But... they had to wait. I can see Jesus telling the disciples "Stay, boys, stay! Stay! Good disciples... Wait! Wait! Good job!" Indeed, sometimes we need to be held back from barging off into the world, believing we know what is ours to do, but having not consulted or been empowered by the Spirit first.

I find myself in a similar state; waiting for instructions. I suppose the truth is, despite how annoying such times are, the greatest ministry can be done while waiting for instructions on later ministry. So hang in there! Its a'comin!