7^th Sabbath in Easter

May 18/20, 2007

Ascension of Christ/Confirmation

Victor H. Nixon

WAITING FOR THE PROMISE

Acts 1:1-11

Waiting is not on of my great strengths. I’ve become accustomed to having everything instantly whether it’s fast food, information or service. I dislike standing in line, waiting in offices, or being put on "hold." Those folks who camp out all night for tickets or sales are not my people. The express check-out at the grocery was made for me. I prefer email to the snail variety. I just not good at waiting—are you?

Yet, when it comes to faith the Bible tells us to wait. Following his resurrection, Christ appeared to the disciples and "ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father."(1:4) "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth."(1:8). Waiting, Luke tells us in Acts, carries the promise of power by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of being witnesses for Christ. You want God’s power in your life? You must wait.

Confirmands have been waiting for nine months or so for this weekend. But they haven’t just been sitting around waiting for time to pass; they’ve been studying and learning about Christian Faith, the Bible, the church and discipleship. They’ve taken field trips and delved into church history. They’ve been actively waiting, working and receiving the power of the Spirit to be disciples of Christ. Today, their faithful waiting will be confirmed.

Early disciples received God’s power at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit swooped down on them and set them loose as Christ’s witnesses through the world. People heard the Good News. Lives were changed. Hope sprouted like peas in a spring garden. Churches were born. It still happens when disciples receive God’s promised power.

But that’s getting ahead of our story. Today, in the Book of Acts, Luke describes the Ascension of Christ, how he was lifted right up through the clouds, while the disciples stood there gaping at the skies, like something out of Star Trek or Matrix Reloaded. Pentecostal power comes next week. Now, we are in the waiting period, in the interim, between what was and what is yet to be, needing the power of God in our lives.

You’ve been there before. Waiting for your birthday to arrive. Waiting to see if you made the team or made the grade. Waiting for a job offer or a new position. Waiting for the wedding and marriage, or for your child to be born. Waiting for reconciliation or divorce. Waiting for test results. It’s a period of uncertainty and anxiety, between a life you’ve known and a future that is unknown. It’s when we wait and need God.

How did the original disciples wait? They didn’t just twiddle their thumbs, muttering something like, "I sure wish the Holy Spirit would hurry up!" (Though they may have had such thoughts.) A closer look at this Ascension story indicates that Christian waiting is marked by gathering. "So when they had come together," Luke says.(1:6). Christian Faith is about a gathered community. It’s one of the things we do best. We gather for worship, fellowship, study, planning and decision-making designed to empower us in our walk of faith and ministry. Waiting is active, purposeful gathering. The promise of scripture is that when we gather we can expect to receive God’s power in our lives.

Second, Christian waiting is characterized by seeking. Did you notice that when the disciples came together they asked the Risen Jesus a question? "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom of Israel?"(1:6) Jesus said, in effect, "Only God knows."

It’s important to ask questions of faith. The great philosopher/theologian Anselm said that faith is always in search of understanding. A faith that seeks, a faith that asks questions of Holy Scripture and Christian belief, is a faith that is constantly growing. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, said that believers should "unite those two so long disjoined: knowledge and vital piety." Never lose that quality of inquiry where faith is concerned. Although our knowledge can never fully comprehend the nature of God, knowledge brings power to faith. Faith that has been scrutinized by honest doubt and intellectual inquiry is much more apt to stand up to the tests of life.

Third, Christian waiting involves prayer. After Jesus’ Ascension, according to Luke, the disciples returned to the Upper Room where they "were constantly devoting themselves to prayer."(1:14)

Carmelite William McNamara describes contemplative prayer as "experiential awareness of reality," communion with what is real, taking a "long loving look at something—a child, a glass of water, a beautiful meal."(1)

Prayer takes a long loving look at the reality we call life—a reality sometimes beautiful, sometimes ugly. Robin Williams was quoted in last week’s daily crossword: "Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’" Reality can be gorgeous and fun. Reality can include dishonesty and disappointment, war and poverty, suffering and death. Prayer brings compassion to our reality.

Prayer is taking a long loving look at God. Prayer keeps you in touch with the One who cares for you. Christ ascended but Christ is never out of reach through prayer. Let your waiting be filled with prayer. Prayer keeps you in touch with the Ultimate Reality who is our source of power and strength.

Fourth, Christian waiting responds in service. Early disciples waited by selecting a twelfth person to fill the vacancy among the twelve by the death of Judas Iscariot.(1:26) It was an interesting exercise in leadership development. Two were proposed: Justus and Matthias. Matthias was selected by prayer and casting lots. I don’t know whether they drew straws or tossed dice. It really doesn’t matter. What matters is that people offered them selves in service to Christ. Serving Christ is an important means of waiting.

Don’t be a nominal Christian! Don’t join the church just to have your name on the role, or just because others are doing it. Don’t be passive about your faith, a mere consumer of the church’s ministries. Be an active Christian who helps shape the church and its witness. Jump in and get your feet wet in service to Christ. Actively support the ministries of Christ with your prayers, presence, gifts and service. You have a calling and a ministry to fulfill for Christ here and "to the ends of the earth."(1:8)

Don’t be a Christian in name only when it comes to the way you live your life. Hold fast to the teachings of Jesus. Lift up the high standards of behavior that Christ taught. Live by the Golden Rule in your relationship with others by doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Don’t give in to peer pressure when it goes against what you believe to be right and good, according to the teachings of Jesus. Serve Christ by the way you live.

One final thing: The Ascension lifts up the significance of Christ and the rule of Christ in our hearts and lives as we wait for the promise. Likewise, confirmation means ascending to a higher level of commitment to Christ and His church, stepping up by the power of the Spirit to follow the Risen Christ and to grow in faith throughout your life.

Listen to the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah:

"Even youths will faint and be weary,

and the young will fall exhausted;

but those who wait for the Lord

shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faith."

Is. 40:30-31

Wait. Wait for the promise of God’s power in the gathered community of faith, search for insight and understanding, share your reality with God in daily prayer, and serve Christ in your life and by your witness. You will be strong. It’s a promise.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

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