1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them 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. 4 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. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:1-8
Questions for Reflection:
Reflect on the last couple weeks, can you think of a time when your "default self" took control? What triggered it? While reflecting on a specific time can you identify the New Life way of Jesus?
How have you seen the Holy Spirit working in you? How have you seen the Holy Spirit be the "secret sauce" of sharing the Gospel?
Is there a place in your life where God is calling you to "wait" rather than "go"?
Prayer of the Week:
Jesus, I love You! I worship You! I trust You! I give myself over to You today in my heart’s search for life. Restore me in You! Renew me in You and lead me in this time of prayer.
Jesus, I sincerely receive You as my Life, and I receive all the work and triumph in Your resurrection, through which You have conquered sin, death, judgment, and the evil one. Death has no power over You, nor does any foul thing. And, I have been raised with You to a new life, to live Your life—dead to sin and alive to God.
Jesus, You are my Living Hope, and I now receive the gift and presence of Your Holy Spirit. “Come Holy Spirit” – I receive You now and surrender to You so that I might be empowered by You, and I might always be ready to give an answer to anyone asking about the reason for the Hope I have. You are my Hope, Jesus, and I sincerely ask You to lead me in my life, decisions, conversations, and actions this day so that hope seeking questions about You are cultivated in the minds of those around me. Oh, Jesus, I want to be a life giving, sincere, and hopeful witness for You among the people around me.
Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me see how “hope in Jesus” makes a difference in my life today. Help me be thoughtful about You and the life and hope I have because of You so that I might be ready to give a gentle, respectful, and life giving answer to all who are open and asking.
Heavenly Father, thank You for the Alpha course. Thank You for this worldwide, Holy Spirit inspired tool, which helps Your children share “Hope in Jesus” with friends and family. Holy Spirit, I ask You to bring to mind those people in my life which I might invite to Alpha. Please inspire conversations around me so that I might join You Jesus in touching the lives of people who are close to me but far from You that they might come to know the Hope You have for them. (Notice who comes to mind that you might pray for and be open to inviting to Alpha.)
I love You Jesus, and I am thrilled that today, I get to be Your agent of Hope in the world of people around me today!
Amen
