Daily 7A Movement Launch Meeting Launch Code
5 minutes to light the fuse
Hear from God
Remember who we are
Receive blessing
Go change the world
Ron and Nick talk religious platitudes like "I guess that's the will of God" and "I really want God to use me."
Notes:
Acts 1:15
Peter stood up (also in Acts 2:14)
There is a scene in The Matrix where Neo stands up to the representatives of the evil matrix for the first time and doesn’t run away. When someone asks what he is doing, Morpheus replies, “He’s beginning to believe.” We can almost see the wheels going round in Peter’s head when this moment comes. He’s been a failure till now. A denier and a runner. But now he stands up. What gives him the right to speak to the assembly? Who gave him a platform or authority? He thinks he can rebuke Jesus. He uses swords when Jesus says put swords away. He spouts curses when he’s afraid of associating with Jesus. And he goes fishing when it looks like Jesus’s plan isn’t working out. Now he stands up? Shouldn’t it be John? At least John didn’t cut, curse, or run. But it’s Peter who takes charge when the community is waiting for the gift. He recognizes the moment they are in together - the need for perspective and replacement of the traitor. He has no particular right to take a place of leadership himself. He is a traitor too. But he is beginning to believe something. He is beginning to believe the Jesus commissioning; the placement of Peter at the foot of the church (Mt 16:18). The declaration that he is not Simon but Peter. He is beginning to believe in his given name and place. Peter stood up because he began to believe the gospel. Jesus restoration and Jesus placement.
Acts 1:16
Identity
The Holy Spirit is the one who Peter sees in the words of the Old Testament. He doesn’t yet possess the Holy Spirit or vice versa but he knows him. The Holy Spirit identity is a writer and speaker. He is consistent from the beginning of time. He is always speaking to and through people who know him.
Acts 1:17
He was one of our number
The implications of this statement are profound. Judas the betrayer was not an outsider. He was one of them. He was one that Jesus called to himself after praying all night (Luke 6:12-16). This means that Judas joined Jesus' ministry on purpose - God's purpose. The betrayal was not a mistake nor did God cause it. God knew it and He also knew how it fit in his plans.
Acts 1:20
In the Psalms
There seems to be no doubt on the part of the earliest believers and teachers of Christianity that everything in the Scriptures related to Jesus, his life, his death, his earthly ministry and his future ministry. All of everything related to Jesus for them. It was a simple belief that they held and allowed them to look to the past present and future with confidence that since they belonged to him nothing could be beyond explanation and nothing could be out of control. If you need convincing read the Psalms quoted here and see how little they have to do with "systematic theology." No modern theologian would try to make these connections. They would be run out of their school. We can have a better theology and a better life if we adopt the view of these simple believers. Everything is about Jesus.
