“Mobilize Knees”

Acts 2:1-21

Have you ever been afraid to ask a question? Why do you think that is?

Toddlers’ questions are loaded with their own desires! This is not only true with toddlers it is also true with us. We reveal what we really desire with the requests we make.

It was also true with the disciples that followed Jesus. We are going to look at that here in a moment. 

Each of the disciples was following Him because they wanted to be a part of a movement.

This prophesied messiah would birth a new movement of God in their world and set them free from Roman occupation. And when Jesus arrived, they followed Him because they all suspected He was the one the prophets pointed to.

Jesus blew them away with His fresh perspective and the power that seemed to follow Him wherever He went. They were craving a movement of God that would transform their world.

Is there anyone here today that would love to have a fresh perspective on life?

Is there anyone here who desires to have the power to deal with all that life is throwing at you right now?

Is there anyone here today that would love to experience a new movement of God in your life?

Then you can relate to the disciples.

The disciples wanted in on the source that propelled Jesus! And as they watched Jesus, they noticed that he had a source.

Jesus would pray daily to His Father God with an intimacy that they had never seen before.

This simple request exposed their deepest hunger.

It could be that they saw a connection between prayer and power. And they wanted in on it.

They couldn’t help but notice that Jesus had a pattern that produced power in His life. They were eyewitnesses to miracles and life-changing encounters that caused the crowds to chase Him down.

Yet early on in Luke’s account of the life of Jesus, even when people were pressing in for more, the disciples witnessed that . . .

Luke 5:16 “. . . Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Jesus knew the heart of this movement is only found through an encounter with God! 

So, the disciples made their simple but revealing request: Teach us how to pray!

Do you want power, presence, and perspective? Those are only found when you connect with your Father in heaven through prayer. 

That is how you access the heart of God;

• When we Praise our Father in heaven - "'Father, hallowed be your name

• When we ask for His Presence in our current situation – “Your kingdom come you will be done.”

• When we seek His Provision in everyday life- “Give us each day our daily bread.”

• When we offer our Penitent hearts and repent seeking His reconciliation - “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.”

• When we seek His Protection – “And lead us not into temptation."

Then we will connect with the heart of God!

This rhythm of prayer practiced in a consistent pattern will unlock a movement of God in your life.

What does Jesus want for us today? We are to connect to God’s heart, and in that sacred space, God desires to move.

Why am I supposed to connect to God’s heart? Because then He begins to reveal to us His presence.

When we are connected to the heart of God, we can become His hands and feet in the world.

The disciples gathered to pray and wait on a gift that He had promised to give them. This gift would grant them access to the power that drives the movement. 

The disciples took the leap and built on the lessons Jesus had taught them. They gathered and prayed.

What Jesus had promised came true. They received the gift, and a movement was born!

How am I supposed to connect to God’s heart? Through humble submission to God through the pattern of prayer that Jesus taught.

This power can’t be purchased. And We can’t possess it in our power.

Movements that matter are born in the heart through an encounter with God. We only find this in humble submission to God through the pattern of prayer that Jesus taught. We find that connection on our knees!

Today, we saw the disciples ask Jesus about the source of His power. They saw that Jesus was different and had a source of power different than anyone they had seen before. They also saw Jesus withdraw by Himself to pray. Jesus was showing them that the source of His power is only found through an encounter with God! 

The same is true for us. To experience Jesus’s power, we are to humbly submit to Jesus through prayer. When we seek Him, He begins to reveal to us His presence, He points to our provision, He forgives us and protects us from our enemies, then positions us through His power to make a difference in our world. Would you like to have the power that can fuel a movement of God in your life? Then will you bow your knee in humble submission and pray.