Thank you. By the grace of God, we shall be having our sermon from where we have read this morning, the Book of Acts of the Apostles. But before we go into the scripture, let's pray to God and seek his help again. Father in heaven, we thank you for this hour. As we fully trust in your grace this hour, we pray that you will help us, especially myself, a needy preacher and a needy sinner saved by grace. And everyone seated here, Lord, we pray for your help to enable us hear you, oh God, as you speak to us through the scriptures. that our hearts will burn within us, that we shall come to your word as one who comes to reflect on a mural, to checkmate ourselves and to examine ourselves, and take corrections where necessary, and take encouragement where necessary. and follow you, Lord, sincerely all the days of our lives. So we pray for the help of the Holy Spirit upon the preaching and hearing of your word. Thank you, blessed Redeemer, for you always do more than we can ask or imagine. For it's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Amen. Let's read the book of Acts, chapter 2, this time. Acts, chapter 2, I will read. Four verses, and then I will read 2 Peter chapter 3, 17 to 18. Let's start by Acts chapter 2, verse 2 to 4. This is what the word of God says. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind. And it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues, as of fire, appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Now, let's turn to 2 Peter, chapter 3. and the last two verses, where we've been taking our reading over the past few Lord's days. So 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 17 to 18, it says, you, therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the arrow of lawless people and lose your own stability. but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. And the title of this sermon tonight is Growing in Grace of Waiting upon the Lord. We've been having a series of sermons about growing in grace. Today, we shall be looking at growing in grace of waiting upon the Lord. The text we have read in our first Bible reading tonight from the book of Acts, chapter 1, verse 1 to 14, the one that we just read, chapter 2, verse 1 to 4, is the fulfillment of that Lord's promise recorded in chapter 1 of that book of Acts. So if you look at chapter 1 that we have read of the book of Acts, Jesus Christ, before he was taken into heaven, He asks his disciples, or the scriptures say he ordered them. In other words, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which is the Holy Spirit. So you find in the book of Acts chapter two, verse one to four, is the fulfillment of that promise that was recorded in chapter one. before Christ ascended to heaven. So our focus tonight is not primarily on what happened on the day of Pentecost that we have just read in chapter 2, but our focus tonight is on what happened before the time Jesus spoke about the promise. Oh, before the time, yes, Jesus spoke about the promise. between the time that Jesus spoke about the promise and the time when the promise was fulfilled. That is what we shall be focusing tonight. So that timeframe between when Jesus spoke about that promise in chapter one and the time that that promise was fulfilled in chapter two. So that time period is what we shall be focusing on. In other words, our focus tonight is mainly on the waiting time. Hence the title of the sermon, Growing in Grace of Waiting upon the Lord. Amen. So we have three subheadings, and I will quickly go through them as God will help us tonight. And the first heading for tonight is Jesus presented himself alive to his disciples. Jesus presented himself alive to his disciples. And this is taken from the Book of Acts, chapter 1, verse 1 to 3. If we go there, we see the writer writes, In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day when he was taken up after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Now in verse 3 says, he presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. So if you see in verse 3, it says Jesus presented himself alive to his disciples after he arose from the dead. So if you go back to scripture, especially the book of Mark, we are not going to read. Book of Mark, chapter 9, verse 30, Jesus foretold his death and resurrection. when he was with his disciples. He told them clearly that the son of man will be delivered into the hands of sinners. They will kill him. And after three days, he will rise to life. And we see the fulfillment of that in this book of Acts. So what is all this telling us? Jesus, or our Lord, is faithful to his word. You can hold on to God. You can hold God by his word. He said it to them. Son of man will be killed, will be delivered into the house of sinners. He will be killed. After three days, he will rise to life again. And we see here in the book of Acts, seeing Jesus presented himself alive to them. So after Jesus arose from the grave, he did not go to heaven straight away. Instead, he presented or he appeared to his disciples and many other people, not only to the disciples that he'd chosen, but he appeared to many other people. We remember the same book of Acts. There are two men walking on their way to Emmaus. One of them is called Cleophas. The other one, the Bible did not record his name. And then they were discussing. what happens recently, the news in the town of the arrest and killing of Jesus Christ. And then, not knowing to them that this Jesus has already, what, arose from the death, and Jesus appeared to them. So he appeared to many after he resurrected from the death. And in the book of Acts, it is recorded that Jesus stayed with his disciples and other people for how many days? For 40 days before he was taken to heaven. And what was Jesus doing for that 40 days? If you go through the scripture, the same verse three, it says, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. So that last 40 days that Jesus did on earth, he was speaking primarily about the kingdom of God, about the kingdom of God, before he was taken to heaven. So this is different from before he was handed over the Lord's supper. So the last 40 days that he did when he resurrected, when he arose from the dead, he was speaking to his disciples and other people that he met about the kingdom of God. Even to those two men on their way to Emmaus, when he appeared, the sermon that he gave there, when and after he disappeared, they say, Didn't our heart, oh, have not our heart born within us when he spoke to us and when he shared the scripture, oh, he read the scriptures with us? So Jesus was speaking about the kingdom of God during the last 40 days that he appeared to the disciples. In the book of John, chapter 19, verse 29, that was where Jesus appeared first to Mary when she visited the tomb, and then he appeared to his disciples. And we remember the story when he appeared, one of the disciples was not there, by name Thomas. So when he appeared, he said, peace be unto you. Thomas was not there. And the disciples were locked up because of fear of the Jews. So remember, Habon told them that he will be killed, and after three days he will arise. Now he arose and appeared to them. And they went into hiding because of the fear of the unknown. And Jesus appeared to them. Thomas was not there. We look at the implication of not finding Thomas when Jesus appeared for the first time after he arose from the dead. So this is the first heading that we have. Jesus presented himself alive to his disciples and stayed with them for 40 days, speaking about the kingdom of God. Now, in our second subheading, it says Jesus commanded his disciples not to depart from Jerusalem, So during that 40 days, he gave a command to them not to depart from Jerusalem. And this is found from the book of Acts, chapter 1, verse 4 to 5. And it says, and while staying with them, that is during that 40 days, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the father which he said, you heard from me for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. Jesus commanded his disciples not to depart from Jerusalem. There's a reason for that. So not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. So to wait for what? To wait for the promise of the Father, which is the Holy Spirit. And the question is, to wait for how long? Did Jesus mention the number of days or the length when that promise will be fulfilled? The scripture didn't say that. But previously, we saw the same Jesus telling his disciples the number of days that it will take for him to rise from death. He clearly stated that. In the book of Mark 930, he say, the son of man will be delivered into the house of the sinners. They will kill him. And after three days, he will arise. And he ordered them that he will appear. So they have that knowledge. And what do we expect? So it's expected that these disciples will be counting. And that's why. If you meet any woman of faith, she will say to you that men are nowhere to be found when it comes to having faith in the word of Jesus. And they always make reference to Mary, who went to the tomb early in the morning on the third day. Can you see the difference? We men were there in hiding. They were in hiding. But Mary remembered clearly the word of Jesus. See, this Jesus, he said it, let me go. So early in the morning on the third day. Can you see the fate of that woman? And then she was not disappointed in that fate. And she was the first to meet and to see Jesus after his resurrection. And when he appeared to the disciples, they were already in hiding. They were amazed. Most of them were amazed, having told that I will appear after three days. But here, we see Jesus. So look at it. Jesus now make it more complicated. Is it not complicated? Not mentioning the days. It's only recorded in chapter 5 that You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. It can be one day. It can be two days. It can be three days. But the number of days is not specified. This is tricky. This is more complicated. There is a lesson for us there. So how many days did it take Jesus from ascension to heaven to the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. And the promise came to fulfillment on the day of Pentecost. It has been recorded that it took 10 days, only 10 days, from his ascension to heaven to the day that the promise was fulfilled. But it was not mentioned in the scripture. So if you read verse 7, it says, he said to them, no, even from verse 16, so when they had come together, so when Jesus said that you should receive the promise many days, not many days from now, verse 16, so when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel? And in verse 7, he said to them, it is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth. So you see, now they start asking another question about the restoration of Israel. This is really tempting, and we need the grace of God as we wait upon the Lord for every promise recorded in the Bible, especially things that are not within our power, things that are Like verse seven, it is not for you to know times or season that the father has fixed by his own authority. Times and seasons that God has fixed by his own authority. Only him and him alone knows when that thing will happen. Even if it is a promise to his children, recorded in the Bible, but the time and season for that promise to come to pass is only known by God and is by his own authority, then the truth is we need the grace of God as we wait. We need the grace of God, and hence the need for growing in grace of waiting upon the Lord. Now we will see shortly in our third heading what happened on the day of Pentecost, or what they do when they return back. Because they saw it clearly with their eyes when he was taken up to heaven. But the point I'm trying to bring here is, this is a really, it's complicated. It's tempting. It's not only for the disciples, but it's for us today. We have many promises. I come to a point, previously in my work with God, sometimes there are certain things that they get me worried and disturbed. And I will hear a word ringing in my heart or in my head saying that, no matter how much you worry about this problem, is not under your control. And I come to realize that I'm just giving myself unnecessarily distress, though there is a promise to cast our cares and burdens onto the Lord because he cares. But we need the grace of God to hand over every situation, every circumstance, that is under the control of God. And also, it's time and season for it to come to pass, or for us to overcome it, is under God's control and is dissenting here with the disciples. And hence, Christ is saying that it is not for you to know times or seasons. Though they try to deviate, but Christ is talking to them something there, even the promise of the Holy Spirit it will come to pass in time and season. That is what known and approved by God. So it's an encouragement for us here, brothers and sisters. We need the grace of God as we wait upon the Lord. I don't know what your needs are. I don't know what you are waiting and trusting God for it. And especially, one of the things that I learned is regarding praying for conversion of our relatives. And I learned this personally regarding my own dad. There were times that I say, God, I thought by this time my dad would have really gave his life to Christ. And when I come in contact with this portion of the scripture, it's not under my control. It's not under my power. to give time or hour or day that someone will be converted. All that is required of me to pray and leave everything under God's appointed time. And this cannot be achieved without the grace of God. It's only the grace of God that will help us to wait patiently upon the Lord. Now, let's look at our thoughts. And last subheading, which says, what they do upon their return to Jerusalem. That's the disservice. If we see verse 12 of the Book of Acts chapter 1, verse 12 to 14, it says, then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying. And the name of the disciples were mentioned there. Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James, the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas, the son of James. Verse 14. All these, with one accord, were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. Look at chapter 2, verse 1 to 4 now, where we have read in the beginning of this sermon, chapter 2 of the Book of Acts. It says, when the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly, they came from heaven, a sound like a mighty rushing wind. And it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues, as of fire, appeared to them, and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in order tongues, as the Spirit gave them orators." So the word I'm trying to bring out here is, in chapter 1, verse 14, it says, All these people, with one accord, were devoting themselves to prayer together with the women. And in chapter 2, verse 1, it says, when the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. Can you see the common word there? They were all together in one place, devoting themselves to what? To prayers. That is what they do upon their return to Jerusalem. Now let me connect this to what we have heard in our Seconds of Heading, that is the command of Jesus. Jesus just commanded them to wait in Jerusalem. Did Jesus ask them to pray? He said, wait in Jerusalem. They were come back, they obeyed the instruction. When they came back, they enter into the upper room. They have every right to be sleeping, to be sitting, or everyone to just go his own corner doing what he wanted in the name of waiting. But they didn't do that. They devoted themselves to prayer, and not individual prayer, but corporate prayer. And when Simeon was preaching in the morning, The second heading of his sermon, he touched about this, waiting for God's mercy, praying in the Holy Spirit. That was what they were doing, praying together in the Holy Spirit, waiting upon the promise of God. With one accord, they devoted themselves to prayer. And the question for you and I tonight is, what do we do while we wait upon the Lord for his promise? A lot of promises given to us in the scripture. We are waiting, we are waiting, we are waiting. What do we do? Do we just claim them and walk our ways like other people do in this generation? Or other people purposely come to church to receive declarations, to receive prophecies, and then they walk out their ways. That's a false doctrine. We have to learn from the scripture. And as I said, the disciples can decide not to pray because Jesus has promised them the coming of the Holy Spirit. Or say, just catch the prayer and catch the promise. They have every right not to pray because it has been promised. And this is one of the big mistakes that we Christians do, that we are claiming, claiming the promise. as not waiting upon the Lord. Waiting upon the Lord entails devoting ourselves in prayer, praying in the Holy Spirit. And that's why one of the things that the devil does is to attack the unity of the church. Is to attack the unity of the church, because he knows it's when believers come together, devoting themselves to prayer, that unlocks the promises of God upon them as a church, upon them as individuals. So you see, we have to understand sometimes the traps of the devil. So when the devil attacks the unity, he knows, he sees ahead. Imagine if those disciples came back. We're not saying that we are doubting the promises of God. But as we have read from where we have taken our what, our call to worship, Psalms 138, one of the thing that triggers the heart of God is Psalm 138, let's see verse two. David say, I bow down to watch your holy temple. and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness. Look at the B part. For you have exalted above all things your name and your word. So if God promised this, when you come to pray, send back his word to him and then wait. Hold God by his word. And this is what Simeon was saying in the morning, praying in the Holy Ghost, praying the will of God, not our selfish desires or interests. When you pray, do you quote the scriptures? Sometimes I see foolishness in our lives as Christians, claiming promises that are not even in the scripture. And who are you sending that? Who promised that to you? Did God promise to kill your enemies? No, why are you calling God to kill your enemies? That's a waste of time. God exalts above all things his name and his word. That's why when we come, we call upon the name of God and then we send back his word to him and then wait for him to act. And that is not even a guarantee that what we call, even if we are calling according to his will, is not a guarantee that he will do it at the time that we want. Not even a guarantee that he will do it. He may decide not to do it. All things work together for good. And he may decide a particular time that he will do it. So the point here is the power that is in the unity of believers. as they wait upon the Lord, when believers devote themselves in prayer, there is a power. Prayer that is done in accordance to the will of God. And it's the same thing. As we journey, we have a lot of challenges. That's why Jesus Christ encourages us in the book of Matthew 26, verse 41. Simeon has got this passage in the morning. It's part of my sermon. He say, watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. A lot of temptations. Jesus will not just say that. We need to watch and pray. And sometimes, the scripture says that you find that the spirit is willing, but the body become what? Weak. And let me share this with us. Anytime that you feel this body is telling you it's very weak, you feel not to pray. My brothers and sisters, that is the right time that you need to pray. I have found that several times. Because something will be ringing in your mind that needs prayer, but the body is so weak, you feel sleepy, tired. That is the exact and the appropriate time that you need to pray. So you need to activate the spirit to pray, even if it is one minute. Because the devil might be at work, attack, might be about to be launched, or something spectacular is about to happen. And the same thing happens. This connects also to preaching about the second coming of Christ. That's the ultimate thing that we are waiting for. addition to other things that we need for this life. So as we wait upon the second coming of Christ, Jesus Christ said it clearly, and we can hold God by his word. He exalts his name and his word above all things. Jesus stated clearly that I will return. I am coming back. And people think it's a joke. until the day comes like a thief in the night. And as we wait for that day, either Jesus returns or he calls us back, we need grace. We need grace, growing in grace of waiting upon the Lord. Because there are a lot of things, as Christ say, watch and pray so that you don't fall into temptation. There are a lot of things that are capable of drifting us away. So what do we do? Well, we wait. We saw the disciples what they do, and we see the fulfillment. And as I said in the second heading, the risky thing is not knowing when that promise will come to pass. Imagine if someone think among the disciples, OK, when Jesus was taken up to heaven, on their way back, someone say, OK, let me go and do one or two things. I will just join you later. And suddenly, Jesus appeared. Or someone will think, you know, human knowledge and wisdom. You say, okay, many days, Jesus said that, not many days from now, then he will predict, let's say, because he appeared after three days, this promise might likely come after three days. Then someone will just go in doing his own things, and then maybe he want to join after three days. Imagine if Jesus, that promise has come upon them, and one of them is missing. And that was what happened when Jesus appeared after his death. Thomas was not there. But because we have a gracious and merciful God, even in the absence of Thomas, we have a friend. I like this song that say, there's not a friend like a lowly Jesus. He knows all about our struggles. Jesus knows our struggles individually. He knows the struggle of the doubt in Thomas. And that's why when Jesus appeared for the first time, Thomas was not there. And when Thomas came, the other disciples were telling him that Jesus Christ came. Thomas said, no, I won't believe your words until I see and touch. And Jesus knew that is a weakness of Thomas. For the sake of Thomas, Jesus appeared again to them and showed Thomas his hand and his scars and asked Thomas to touch. And after Thomas taught, and Thomas say, I believe, Jesus say, you believe only when you see. And blessed are those who have not seen, but yet believe. So Jesus knows all about our struggles and our weaknesses. And he appeared to Thomas. But that will not be an excuse for us to be taking the word or promises of God for granted. We should ask God for grace. to abide and to live by his word. So in conclusion, where we position ourselves as we wait upon the Lord matters a lot. The best position is in the place of prayer, either as individual, as church. This does not mean that we forsake all our commitments and devote every second that we have to prayers, no, like the disciples. He's not saying that we should leave all our careers and just gather together like they did, no. What it means is what is required of us is to continue to grow in the grace of ensuring that we position ourselves in the right place as we wait upon the Lord. Always remember Thomas. So for you to receive that promise of God, we need to position ourselves rightly. And the only place is to position ourselves in the place of prayer and also sending back the word of God to him as we pray, not just what our minds tells us or what our head tells us. We may pray so many things, but it's good at the end we ask, God, not our own will, but let yours be done. Amen. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we thank you for your