Acts 1:12-26 In Germany and other parts of the world, October 31 is celebrated as Reformation Day. It is a day when we ought to rejoice that the Bible started to become accessible to everyone in their own language. When Luther nailed his 95 thesis to the door of the church in Wittenberg, he intended to begin an academic discussion on the (lack of) biblical foundations for indulgences. God used it to expose the greed of unscrupulous men and religious leaders. As a result, Luther translated the Bible into German so everyone could read it for themselves. William Tyndall did the same with an English translation, and this trend of supplying the Scriptures to all in their own language continues to today.
The events surrounding the preparation for the encounter with the Holy Spirit:
Psalm 109:8, Psalm 69:25, (55:23)
The vision is greater than 12 - or even the 120. Imagine the scope of responsibility Jesus places on them. - God’s purpose, plan, vision is to be filled through them - where is the organization, the finance, the strategy, the focus of unity in purpose? Impossible for sure! - the vision is God’s from the beginning.
Upward: I saw the Lord
Inward: Woe is me I see my sin and my inadequacies
Outward: Here I am, send me
In order to be fulfilled, the vision, once accepted, needs means and method, so the preparation must come first, like in Isaiah’s encounter: before here am I send me, there is a process of preparation - and it begins with repentance and cleansing and open hearts to God.
The encounter is both equipping and commissioning. But the encounter requires the preparation and agreement to allow Jesus his lordship in your life.