Grace Assembly : Acts of Grace

Last week, we learnt that Pentecost is not just a one time event. It is also not just about speaking in tongues. Pentecost is a continuous infilling of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who thirst and hunger after God, resulting in transformation and changed lives. Therefore, the issue is not just what Pentecost is, it is about how you and I can experience Pentecost.

In Acts 1:14, all the 11 disciples plus the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus were gathered in the upper room fulfilling the M.O.U. or memorandum of understanding that they had with Jesus. If they did not do their part, Jesus would not do his part - Pentecost will not come. They would have been in an empty room. It is not about filling the place. It is about filling lives.

So I want to share with you three simple attitudes based on the letters M.O.U. that we need to cultivate in order to embrace Pentecost in our lives. First of all, ‘M’ stands for maintaining unity.

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. ¹³ And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son 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 brothers. (Acts 1:12 - 14)

Notice that they were gathered at the upper room and they were in one accord. The 11 apostles were the leaders and the successors of Jesus’ ministry and they were all in one mind and one accord. So the first prerequisite to Pentecost is actually unity - maintaining unity through Jesus Christ. In the upper room, there was a unity of purpose – it was to wait for the power from on high, just as what Jesus had told them to do. We need to be united in purpose. The purpose to glorify God. There is also unity of the heart, because unity begins with the heart. It’s our passion; our heart for God and the things of God. All these come in place as we walk together in God

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments. (Psalm 133: 1-2)

Psalm 133 highlights the importance of unity that flows from the head to the shoulders and then to the body and the feet – this talks about the corporate anointing of the Holy Spirit. And this is the time for the body of Christ in this land to stand united. The second thing we need to experience Pentecost is found in the letter ‘O’ - operate in faith. The bible says the people devoted themselves to a purpose. So, what does that mean? It means operating in faith. The word, “devote” is to give ourselves to something or someone. To devote or to follow someone requires faith. It requires faith for you to serve in a company. Suddenly a new CEO comes into the picture, the first thing you want to know is, what is he going to do? What is his plan? What is his vision? Where is he going to take this company? Where is he heading? How am I going to benefit by working under him? So this idea requires faith and the bible says the disciples devoted themselves, they operated in faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)

Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith is a form of expectation, a conviction and confidence. When you have that confidence in your heart, you have faith. There is confidence that you are going to make it, it is not just theory. It is an assurance in your heart, as you walk in the way God wants you to in spite of the storms and all that is happening around you. How do you nurture faith? It is in the condition of testing and trials. Look back in your life, when was the time you really muscled up and built your spiritual muscles? It was during trials and testing that your faith was nurtured. It doesn’t mean that we ask God for trails, the idea is that you grow in your faith in the times of trials and testing.

The last letter, ‘U’ speaks about unceasing prayer. Notice the last part of Acts 1, verse 14, where the disciples with one mind, continued devoting themselves to prayer along with the women. Jesus had left, ascended to heaven, and the bible says they devoted themselves to prayer. I just want to share three things concerning prayer, unceasing prayer. First of all, there is the consistency in prayer. Prayer is not just for once in a while, just as we do not eat once in a while only. There must also be fervency. Look at the life of Jesus and the apostle Paul, they spent time in prayer wherever they went – they had the zeal to pray. Lastly, there must be the urgency for prayer.

What is important is the spirit of prayer. Even if a church does not have prayer meetings every day, it doesn’t mean it does not believe in prayer. Prayer can be conducted in house groups, in homes, in any place and any time - the main thing is the spirit of prayer. Just like cell group, what’s the point of going to a cell group and having cell group meetings but have no cell life? What is cell life? It’s being a part of the cell and being connected to the people all the time.

So, what is the M.O.U. that Jesus gave to the disciples before the day of Pentecost? Three things, maintain unity; operate in faith and last but not least, unceasing prayer. I would like to make a call to you individually and as a church - God has given us an M.O.U., let us maintain unity in the body of Christ through the Holy Spirit, let us learn to operate and grow in faith, and devote ourselves to unceasing prayer. We offer these things to God to see Pentecost come upon our lives, the church and our nation.