One Accord
Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 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
Why did Jesus remain with His followers for forty days before He ascended to heaven? I think we can safely rest on a few conclusions.
– His presence proved that He had been fully resurrected from the dead effectively silencing any doubt that He was the long-awaited Messiah.
– Jesus calmed His followers’ fears and reassured them that His death was a part of a master plan, a plan they could not fully comprehend.
– Jesus gave further instructions for the coming season of evangelism.
Isn’t it funny how God often frames our storylines in ways we never expect? His ways may seem unorthodox, but our Father is brilliant in all of His ways. He is entirely trustworthy, wholly gracious, and desperately loving! When Jesus rose from the grave,He healed the pain His followers experienced at the cross. He dashed the hopelessness of their present circumstances, and then He directed their future footsteps. Who knew that under such duress Jesus’ followers were actually standing on solid ground? Truly, truly our footing could never be more solid than when we stand on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ!
The death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus were filled with both trauma and joy. These events were filled with mystery and revelation. Through these amazing events, God orchestrated heavenly mysteries before mortal eyes. And in the process of all of this, hearts were being transformed. They were humbled. They were softened. God was opening the eyes of men’s hearts and changing them forever. And then…
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; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 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
Following the instructions of Jesus, His followers assembled in the upper room and waited. But for what? A baptism of the Holy Spirit. What was that? Regardless of their lack of understanding, they obeyed. And when they came together something substantial happened.
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1
One accord – Together, Unified, Like-minded, Of one heart
Then came one. One mind. One plan. One heart. All for one God.
The power of one can never be underestimated. When we operate as one, we join our hearts together with a sharp focus on our King seeking His will over our church body. That’s when God brings the wonders of heaven to earth transforming us into glory bearers for His kingdom. When we enter God’s throne room together, there is nothing we cannot do.