Acts 1:12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. 13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. 14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
The Bible is endless. The answers to all questions that we need individually and as a church are there. The historical record is great, but the practically of it teaches us so much. This passage does that as well.
It was a critical time in the church. Jesus had just ascended to heaven. From the disciples point of view a cloud took him out of their sight. The angels told them Jesus would return in like manner. They went back to Jerusalem. They had been without Jesus from the crucifixion to resurrection. He was with them, teaching them, for 40 days. As they returned to Jerusalem they probably had a sinking feeling. Physically they were on their own. Maybe they said to each other “it’s just us.”
They met in the upper room. Luke specifically tells us there were 120 of them. He mentions the names of the disciples as well as some of Jesus’ family. He says they prayed in one accord “with the women.” On this Mother’s Day consider how needed we all are. The Jews had taken to Old Testament to the extreme. They set up a man’s religion; some separated the women from worship, and some excluded women altogether. Jesus taught the Pharisees and Sadducees his total disregard of their traditions. He treated women as he did the men. He allowed the Jews and Greeks, old and young, small and big to him to come to him. All were valuable to him.
All of us have a position, but we must work together. Jesus didn’t walk around with his followers in a straight line behind him. He walked among them. The 12 were called for a specific purpose, but many others who had made Jesus their Messiah and Savior followed him too. We can institutionalize church and make it religion apart from Christianity, but it’s with God and each other that we have a real church.
In this passage they needed each other. They excluded no one. All were in the upper room continuing in one accord. Don’t feel inferior. It takes what you do and what I do. It takes each other to be successful. We don’t know how much longer we have here, but we have to remember that if we are successful with the Lord it will take us to continue with the women and with the men. When someone is down, lift them up. Your strength will help them. There is nothing stronger than the power of unity. It has been the success of the church in the past and it will be in the future. We can’t do it without the women, without the men or without the kids. It must be all of us together. There must be that companionship mentioned this morning. Not walking ahead or trailing behind, using each other, playing politics or mind games-all these eat away at the foundation of love and unity. When the early church was on their own, they found out they needed each other. We do too.
Let’s not try to get our own way. The only “I” in the Bible is the “Great I Am.” Jesus said “I am the way” and “I am the resurrection and the life.” If we make it until the Lord comes, we must appreciate and love each other. We all see a lot to complain about in each other. We all have our down sides, but find something to exalt. We all have our good sides too. Let’s face the devil together, hand in hand. Wars are won with unity. The church’s battles are the same. Whether we pray, fight the devil, or witness, if we continue with each other the Lord will bless us.
As in the upper room, continue to be with each other. Lord, help me; help us to be as they were-with each other.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 