HOW TO KNOW GOD’S WILL IN MINISTRY OR ESTABLISH A MINISTRY
Acts 1:12-14
INTRODUCTION:
A. Today we have so many programs to “establish” ministries
1. In Evangelism: GROW, Faith, Share Jesus Without Fear
2. Sunday School: The Winning Spirit
3. Stewardship: Encouraging the Heart
4. Missions: WMU
5. Youth: It
6. Children: Team Kid, AWANA
B. Folks, I have not even begun to scratch the surface of “Programs” that are available
1. I often have thought, “What did the first century church do without programs?”
2. I ask this question when things don’t seem to be going anywhere and I give myself a very sarcastic answer – “MINISTRY!”
3. But folks, programs are not the problem or answers – they are tools.
4. It is first and foremost about the heart!
C. Ministries should begin, not because of a new fangled program that has hit the market, but rather because they have been born out of a heart set on the Lord.
1. As we read our passage for this morning I am glad that Jesus did not give the disciples of the early church a “program” packaged, sealed, and ready.
a. He did give them a commission found in Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
b. He gave this to them before He ascended back to His heavenly Father.
2. But he gave them something else to do in the intervening days between His ascension and the beginning of their ministries.
D. Look at our passage Acts 1:12-14 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. [13] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother 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 brethren.
1. As we think about what the Lord would have us to do we would do well to follow the disciples actions. Notice three things from our text
a. They Waited on the Lord
b. They Had Unity in the Lord
c. They Prayed to the Lord
2. This action provided the perfect soil for the seed of ministry that would be planted in just 10 days following Christ’s ascension. May we learn from their example.
PRAY
As we seek to know God’s will, for instance land, or in starting a ministry we should purpose in our hearts that we will not move ahead of the Lord but be willing to
I. WAIT ON THE LORD, Acts 1:12-13a Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. [13] And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room,…
A. The Setting
1. Jesus has just ascended back to His heavenly Father (v. 9)
2. Jesus is no longer present with them
3. All they presently have concerning Jesus are memories and words – words that He had spoken to them, many of which they still did not understand at this point.
4. So after the awe of Christ ascension had worn off a little bit they headed back to Jerusalem, a walk of about ½ to ¾ of a mile and went to an upper room.
B. Just before the Lord left them He had given them a command: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. Acts 1:4
1. It is interesting to me that the Lord did not tell them to “Get out there and do something!”
- You should know that God is not interested in us getting out there and doing Something.” (hold that thought)
2. In context the Lord had told them to wait for the Holy Spirit because the Spirit would empower them to do the ministry God had for them – in other words the Spirit would lead them in what the Lord wanted them to do!
3. As I bring this message to you I want us to understand that we must wait on the Holy Spirit to speak to us, direct us and guide us.
- We don’t just need to do something, we need to do the Lord’s will!
4. This was the purpose of the disciples waiting on and at the Lords commands!
C. I think the church too often jumps out there to do all the ministries other churches are doing without even considering what the Lord would have them to do.
1. The mentality “this is what we have always done” is not sufficient reason to do it or even continue doing it!
2. If we are right with the Lord and doing His will then there will be fruit, in whatever area of ministry we are involved in – do you agree?
D. May be it is time that we decided that we are going to wait on the Lord and not get antsy or neglectful.
1. We need to wait upon the Lord
2. For Isaiah said, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; Isaiah 40:31
3. What is it He wants us to do?
So the first step, so to speak, in knowing the Lord’s will in ministry or starting a ministry is to wait on the Lord! But this is not the only important thing we need to know for there must also be
II. UNITY IN THE LORD, Acts 1:13-14 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James…with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (about 120 people)
A. This is very important to the church
1. The early church only had each other, and maybe that was incentive to love each other, watch out for each other and trust each other.
2. Everything was very much out in the open – no secrecy
3. As you can guess with that many people in one room there was not much privacy either.
4. It is interesting to note the words found in Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
a. This is ten days later – still in one place and in one accord!
b. That is unity!
5. Look at Acts 2:42-44 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
6. Even after the first signs of persecution they were together, And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: Acts 4:32
B. Unity – One Mind
1. No one person’s agenda being supreme!
2. Our society prides itself on # ONE – ME!
a. It blows my mind that one or two people should think themselves to be right and know what is best for the great majority.
b. And even worse get all bent out of shape when they don’t get their way
3. When there is a lack of unity it becomes obvious the mistrust and fear we have of one another when we insist on “secret ballet” for things
a. If we truly feel that the LORD wants us to vote one way or another there should be know reason not to
b. As Baptist we started using secret ballets probably because we did not feel we will or can love others if they vote differently than ourselves.
c. Secret ballets often (notice I said Often not always) encourage voting after the flesh, our own personal desires, rather then the leading of the Holy Spirit.
4. Children of God we are to be of one mind - one heart - one desire
5. Even if we do not agree, when the leadership or church makes a decision we should all support the decision without having little pity pow-wows or dissention group therapy meetings
C. Unity in the body means one thing “The mind of Christ.”
1. Paul wrote to the Philippians Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phil. 2:5
- which meant that we are to think His way and do His will
2. And that is possible for Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Cor. 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
3. We must wait on the Lord and come to know His mind on things
And this leads us right into the last point I would like us to see. When we are looking to know God’s will in the ministry or start a new ministry we need to
III. PRAY TO THE LORD, Acts 1:14 …These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication,….
A. The Emphasis
1. Luke writes & places a lot of emphasis on prayer – he uses two words
a. Prayer - proseuche¯ - which could mean general prayer or an appointed place of prayer
b. Supplications - dee¯sis – meaning 1) need, indigence, want; 2) a seeking, asking, entreating, entreaty to God or to man
2. It should be noted that this emphasis is seen though out the entire book of Acts
3. Anytime God is doing great things the church is praying
a. Before for guidance
b. During for power
c. Afterwards in praise
4. Last week we spoke about Promises, promises, promises, this week it is prayer, prayer, prayer
B. If the people of God, Christ’s church is to know His will she will have to be in contact with Him and that happens in prayer: meditating on His word and seeking His guidance through prayer!
1. I am so glad God laid the burden of a prayer ministry on the heart of one of our own
2. It is a ministry that will eventually under gird the entire line of ministries of the church and will from this point on be the seed plot for future ministries!
C. So how is our prayer life today?
1. Are we spending significant quality time in prayer?
2. Is it intended to find the Lord’s will or accomplish our own will?
3. Are we asking God to give us His mind and to allow us to be in unity with the body or do we seek to under mind the unity?
4. Are we seeking to see our own life come into conformity to Christ’s or are we focused solely on seeing others change?
5. We need to pray God’s purpose and God’s will be done!
CONCLUSION:
A. Folks we serve a great God
1. While this small group of believers were seeking God will for their lives they were willing to wait on the Lord, stay in the Unity of the Spirit and seek His face through prayer
2. I think they were a good example for us.
B. Let us endeavor to do the same!
