Reading: Acts 1: 4-8; 2:1-4, Psalm 131:1-2, Luke 24: 45-49
We make many choices in our life.
How do you make decisions?
I am sure you are thoughtful.
I am sure you make good decisions.
Still, I wonder whether you have tried to wait for God, before making decisions.
Have you tried to relax before God, as you make decisions?
Have you tried to wait for the presence of Christ to lead you?
Have you tried to wait until you feel peace and harmony?
When we make decision this way, we bring a peaceful presence around us.
When we wait, we learn to make decisions inspired by God.
There is a divine power available for those who actively wait.
As you wait, we welcome divine wisdom.
Waiting is practically useful.
Even in our daily conversation, we wait and listen to the others.
Then we understand more.
Before sharing things with others, we wait. We think about, and examine our opinion.
Similarly, we wait for God.
We talk to God and listen to God.
What about Jesus?
Before starting his ministry, Jesus waited for thirty years.
When he was thirty years old, then he decided to start his ministry.
Why did Jesus wait so long?
Even when he started his ministry, he waited in each step.
Jesus went to John the Baptist and was baptized.
Then, the Holy Spirit came on him like a dove.
He then went to the wilderness.
He was there for 40 days and nights.
He was even tested.
After all this waiting and preparation, he went out to serve people.
Also, at the end of this earthly ministry, Jesus said to his students, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised. So, stay in Jerusalem until you have been empowered from on high.” (Luke 24: 45-49)
Jesus said it again, in the book of Acts 1: 4-5.
In this time, while they were eating, Jesus said: “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 with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus asked the students to wait, so that they be empowered by the Holy Spirit.
When they were empowered, they were able to continue the ministry of Jesus.
That is the secret.
We wait, and are empowered, and move with the Holy Sprit.
What do they do while waiting?
They meditate on their time with Jesus.
They ponder about what Jesus said and did.
They thought about last three years of following Jesus.
So, they wait in Jerusalem, the very city where Jesus was crucified.
They wait without knowing what to expect.
But they believe that something is going to happen.
They trust in Jesus who asked them to wait there.
So, the students stayed put.
They wait for 50 days: five zero.
They wait together in one place.
Then suddenly a sound like the blowing wind came from heaven.
It filled the whole room.
Then what looks like tongues of fire are separated and came to rest on each of them.
Then all of them are filled with the Holy Spirit.
They begin to speak in other languages as the Spirit enables them. (Acts 2:1-4)
Now they are empowered to tell the story of Jesus to the end of the world.
They experience the Holy Spirit.
The secret of waiting for God and being empowered by God is found in the Bible again and again.
Let me read to you some scriptures that talk about "Waiting for God."
Isaiah 30:18: “Blessed are all who wait for him!”
Psalm 33: 20: “Our soul waits for the Lord. God is our help and shield.”
Psalm 27: 14: “Wait for the Lord. Be strong and let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the Lord.”
Hosea 12:6: “Return to your God. Maintain love and justice, and wait for your God always.”
Isaiah 40: 30-31: “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles.”
Here are some Bible verses that are related to “waiting for God.”
Psalm 46: 10: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 131: 2: “I stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Have you seen a baby who is about to fall asleep in a mother’s arm. In that total trust, we can wait for God.
Isaiah 30:15 says, “In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”
The best way to be saved and get your strength back is to come to God and rest.
Stay with God in quietness.
So, in waiting, we learn how to return to God and rest.
We get strengthened while we wait in quietness and in trust.
You may still say, “I am not sure about waiting. I don’t like waiting. We are Americans. We don’t wait.”
There is an interesting article published, in terms of waiting and meditating. In this report, a CEO explains how his practice of meditation helps him to makes better choices. (“Discernment and Strategic Decision Making.” http://business.scu.edu/isol/discernment.pdf) I also know a Christian community, (the community of Taizé) that is established, by waiting for Christ. After they wait, they take actions accordingly and change many people’s lives.
Here are some other reasons.
In waiting, we learn to sense and follow the Holy Spirit.
In waiting, we examine our heart.
In waiting, we realize our call in life, our vocation.
In waiting, we experience God’s guidance. (Isaiah 40: 31)
In waiting, we learn the practical way of God.
In waiting, we notice our desire for God.
In waiting, we sense God’s will.
In waiting, we invite God into our life.
In waiting, we experience that God comes into our lives.
In waiting, we learn to trust in God.
When we wait, we learn that God is always on time.
Right before making any important decision, Jesus waits for God.
Waiting, Jesus discerns and makes valuable choices for his ministry.
Jesus waits, until he knows what the next step for his ministry is.
Brother Roger of Taizé said something like this: When you feel like walking in a thick fog, waiting for Christ means giving him the time to put everything in its place. Then a fountain of gladness springs up in the desert of your heart. It is not just any kind of joy, but that jubilation which comes straight from the wellsprings of Eternity.
Norman Vincent Peale talks about waiting in this way:
“My own method is to seek privacy and sit quietly until I achieve a fairly relaxed state of mind and body. Then I practice conceiving of God, the Creator, as actually touching me, actually re-creating me, then, and there. I consciously “feel” new life passing from God into my body, into my mind. I picture my spirit as being renewed again, making vital electric contact. I then say aloud slowly the following affirmation, “In God (I) live, and move and have (my) being.” (Acts 17:28)… “The Kingdom of God is within me.”
There is a well-known saying. It says, “Hurry isn't just of the Devil -- Hurry is the Devil.”
So, Jesus asks his students to wait.
Then they receive what Jesus promised: the Holy Spirit.
They welcome the Holy Spirit.
That is a wonderful experience.
They thank God for the gift.
Then, the students are ready to proclaim the story of Jesus.
Waiting is also a spiritual practice for those who want to walk in the Spirit of Jesus.
As we wait and pray, we experience the Holy Spirit.
But then what can we do while we are waiting?
We meditate.
We sing some songs to God.
We can count our blessings.
We can listen to the inspiring music.
We can read the gospel.
You can imagine how you can serve the world better.
You can think about how you want to live the rest of your life.
We can pray for our life.
You can do some brainstorming for your life.
There are a lot of things we can do while waiting.
We change our lives, as we wait and make decisions accordingly.
When we take actions after all this waiting, it is powerful.
Luke 15: 8-32
Jesus tells a lot of stories about the lost and found.
In those stories Jesus always shows God’s love for the lost.
Jesus comes to find the lost.
Jesus told this story:
There is a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.
She then lights a lamp.
She sweeps the house.
She searches carefully until she finds it.
Then when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me. I have found my lost coin.”
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:8–10)
She is throwing a party because she found 1 silver coin.
She is rejoicing over this one coin.
The ministry of Jesus is about finding this one coin.
Reaching out to the neighbors, and strangers, we help God finds this one coin.
God wants to find them through us.
Jesus searches carefully until he finds the lost.
In the same way, this lady looks for her money.
This explains why Jesus spent so much time with “sinners.”
Jesus reveals how God thinks and how heaven thinks.
God is searching for the lost.
God is looking every corner to find them.
Then, there is a great joy, when anyone understands the very heart of God and returns to God.
This desire of God is so strong that the Son Jesus is even crucified to find the lost.
This is how God thinks.
God thinks that forgiveness of sin is possible through Jesus.
God thinks that the blood of Jesus heals the world.
Through the blood, God makes a new covenant with the human beings.
When we are in tune with the Divine, we rejoice over someone who turns toward God.
This returning leads to the salvation of human races.
Christ Jesus knows this.
Jesus wants to reconcile God and human beings.
In this way, God wants to have God’s beloveds back.
Jesus told another story:
There was a man who had two sons.
The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.”
So the father divided his property between them.
Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country.
And there he squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country.
And he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Then he came to his senses.
He said, “How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men.”
So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.
The father ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field.
The father totally forgot about him.
When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
He replied, “Your brother has come and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
The older brother became angry and refused to go in.
So, his father went out and pleaded with him.
But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
The father said, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:11–32)
Again in this story, the father runs to the returning son!
Again this shows the very heart of God.
The father runs to the son who left him.
His son misunderstood about happiness.
But now he returns.
The father opens his arms and hugs the son.
God reminds the older one that everything is his.
When he is with God, he is able to do everything that makes him happy.
God Jesus is searching for all who have gone away from God.
And by forgiveness, God places on our finger the ring of the prodigal son, the ring of festival. (Modified from Taizé community)
When we join this divine endeavor of searching and finding, we serve God.
When we rejoice over the lost son, we please God.
It is easy to please the heart of the Father.
It is exciting to please the heart of the Father.
In those stories Jesus always shows God’s love for the lost.
Jesus comes to find the lost.
Jesus told this story:
There is a woman has ten silver coins and loses one.
She then lights a lamp.
She sweeps the house.
She searches carefully until she finds it.
Then when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, “Rejoice with me. I have found my lost coin.”
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. (Luke 15:8–10)
She is throwing a party because she found 1 silver coin.
She is rejoicing over this one coin.
The ministry of Jesus is about finding this one coin.
Reaching out to the neighbors, and strangers, we help God finds this one coin.
God wants to find them through us.
Jesus searches carefully until he finds the lost.
In the same way, this lady looks for her money.
This explains why Jesus spent so much time with “sinners.”
Jesus reveals how God thinks and how heaven thinks.
God is searching for the lost.
God is looking every corner to find them.
Then, there is a great joy, when anyone understands the very heart of God and returns to God.
This desire of God is so strong that the Son Jesus is even crucified to find the lost.
This is how God thinks.
God thinks that forgiveness of sin is possible through Jesus.
God thinks that the blood of Jesus heals the world.
Through the blood, God makes a new covenant with the human beings.
When we are in tune with the Divine, we rejoice over someone who turns toward God.
This returning leads to the salvation of human races.
Christ Jesus knows this.
Jesus wants to reconcile God and human beings.
In this way, God wants to have God’s beloveds back.
Jesus told another story:
There was a man who had two sons.
The younger one said to his father, “Father, give me my share of the estate.”
So the father divided his property between them.
Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country.
And there he squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country.
And he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Then he came to his senses.
He said, “How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired men.”
So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.
The father ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
The son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.
Meanwhile, the older son was in the field.
The father totally forgot about him.
When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.
So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.
He replied, “Your brother has come and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.”
The older brother became angry and refused to go in.
So, his father went out and pleaded with him.
But he answered his father, “Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!”
The father said, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." (Luke 15:11–32)
Again in this story, the father runs to the returning son!
Again this shows the very heart of God.
The father runs to the son who left him.
His son misunderstood about happiness.
But now he returns.
The father opens his arms and hugs the son.
God reminds the older one that everything is his.
When he is with God, he is able to do everything that makes him happy.
God Jesus is searching for all who have gone away from God.
And by forgiveness, God places on our finger the ring of the prodigal son, the ring of festival. (Modified from Taizé community)
When we join this divine endeavor of searching and finding, we serve God.
When we rejoice over the lost son, we please God.
It is easy to please the heart of the Father.
It is exciting to please the heart of the Father.
Telling the Story of Jesus
Written by Henri Nouwen
The Church is called to announce the Good News of Jesus to all people and all nations. Besides the many works of mercy by which the Church must make Jesus' love visible, it must also joyfully announce the great mystery of God's salvation through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The story of Jesus is to be proclaimed and celebrated. Some will hear and rejoice, some will remain indifferent, some will become hostile. The story of Jesus will not always be accepted, but it must be told.
We who know the story and try to live it out, have the joyful task of telling it to others. When our words rise from hearts full of love and gratitude, they will bear fruit, whether we can see this or not.
The Church is called to announce the Good News of Jesus to all people and all nations. Besides the many works of mercy by which the Church must make Jesus' love visible, it must also joyfully announce the great mystery of God's salvation through the life, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The story of Jesus is to be proclaimed and celebrated. Some will hear and rejoice, some will remain indifferent, some will become hostile. The story of Jesus will not always be accepted, but it must be told.
We who know the story and try to live it out, have the joyful task of telling it to others. When our words rise from hearts full of love and gratitude, they will bear fruit, whether we can see this or not.
In quietness and trust
When you make decisions in quietness and trust, you matter.
When you make decisions in peace, you matter.
When you make decisions in faith, you matter.
When you take actions after waiting before God, you matter.
God is enough.
God knows.
God cares.
When you make decisions in peace, you matter.
When you make decisions in faith, you matter.
When you take actions after waiting before God, you matter.
God is enough.
God knows.
God cares.
Call to Worship
Leader: The Lord says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46: 10)
All: “I stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131: 2)
Leader: “In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
All: “Our soul waits for the Lord. God is our help and shield.” (Psalm 33: 20)
Leader: “Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.” (Isaiah 30:18)
All: For God alone my soul waits in silence. For my help comes from God. (Psalm 62: 1, 5)
Leader: “Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart take courage.” (Psalm 27: 14)
All: “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40: 30-31)
Opening Prayer:
Christ, you call us and say, “Return to your God. Maintain love and justice. And wait for your God always.” (Hosea 12:6)
Christ, take us by the hand so that we may cross over from hesitation to confidence, that we may abandon ourselves to you in body and in spirit, knowing that you offer us the sounds of joy and festival. (Modified from Taize prayer)
All: “I stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (Psalm 131: 2)
Leader: “In returning and rest you shall be saved. In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)
All: “Our soul waits for the Lord. God is our help and shield.” (Psalm 33: 20)
Leader: “Blessed are all who wait for the Lord.” (Isaiah 30:18)
All: For God alone my soul waits in silence. For my help comes from God. (Psalm 62: 1, 5)
Leader: “Wait for the Lord. Be strong. Let your heart take courage.” (Psalm 27: 14)
All: “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40: 30-31)
Opening Prayer:
Christ, you call us and say, “Return to your God. Maintain love and justice. And wait for your God always.” (Hosea 12:6)
Christ, take us by the hand so that we may cross over from hesitation to confidence, that we may abandon ourselves to you in body and in spirit, knowing that you offer us the sounds of joy and festival. (Modified from Taize prayer)
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