PRIORITIZED GOD’S PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE, AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR CONCERNS
SCRIPTURE:
“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach two 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)
OBSERVATION:
The Bible doesn’t say much about Theophilus except that Luke mentions him here. The name Theophilus means “loved by God” but carries the idea of “friend of God. Whoever Theophilus is, Luke is writing him about ALL THAT JESUS BEGAN TO DO AND TEACH the day he was taken up to heaven. It is essential that the disciples of Jesus were given instructions through the Holy Spirit, and they were chosen.
Jesus chose his disciples, and the Holy Spirit gave them instructions. No one can serve Jesus without being chosen and guided by the Holy Spirit. A disciple of Jesus must be chosen and guided by the Holy Spirit. We do not call ourselves and set our own conditions for serving Jesus. Everything Jesus wants me as a disciple to do is given to me by the Holy Spirit.
Jesus not only chose his disciples but also REVEALED and PRESENTED himself to them, giving them many CONVINCING PROOFS that he was alive. A disciple or a follower of Jesus must believe these convincing proofs that Jesus is ALIVE. No one can follow Jesus unless they believe in His resurrection. Luke recorded that Jesus, after his suffering, presented himself to the apostles 40 times, talking to them about the kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while eating with them, he gave them this command, “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the GIFT His Father promised. The GIFT Jesus told them that they will be BAPTIZED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT in a few days. Interestingly, Jesus was about his Father’s kingdom, but the apostles and the disciples’ concern was RESTORING THE KINGDOM TO ISRAEL.
It is still challenging for these apostles chosen by Jesus to completely let go of their desire for their kingdom, while Jesus wants them to have God’s kingdom in mind. We all, as disciples, have a choice to be concerned about our kingdom or the kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is not limited to Israel. The Kingdom of God is beyond Israel. The Kingdom of God is to be in Jerusalem, in ALL Judea, and to the ENDS of the earth.
Jesus will empower us to do his will. Jesus will anoint us to be his witness in Jerusalem and all Judea and to the ends of the earth. Jesus cares about our concerns. Jesus did not condemn the apostle’s concerns about restoring the Kingdom to Israel. He only said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. God knows when that will happen, but for the disciples, their concerns must be where God is prioritizing.
When we, as disciples, prioritize God’s priority, he will take care of our other concerns in his timing. The Holy Spirit’s anointing is not for me to do what I want but to do what he wants. The Holy Spirit anointed me to prioritize God’s priorities first, and I must learn to trust him for the other issues I may be passionate about. God will not anoint me to do what I want to do. He will anoint me to do what he called me to do.
APPLICATION:
I need to walk in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit instead of asking Him to do what I want. So many times, I learned that people stopped obeying the Holy Spirit because they felt God did not care about what they felt and prioritized. I desire the Holy Spirit to continue to anoint me to do his will daily.
PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, I ask that you lead and guide me to obey your voice. Please help me to prioritize your priorities and trust you for all the needs I have in life. I look to you, heavenly Father, for your continued outpouring of your Holy Spirit on my life to do what you called me to do. Amen!
