Prepare for the Holy Spirit by resting from our works, believing the word of God, and joining believers by heart and Spirit.

Acts 1:12-14

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“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying: Peter, James, John, and Andrew; Philip and Thomas; Bartholomew and Matthew; James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot; and Judas the son of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” Acts 1:12-14

“Then they returned” refers to after witnessing the ascension of Jesus Christ, as described in Acts 1:9-11. The Apostles of Jesus were eyewitnesses to the literal ascension of Jesus, which no Christian of today can be a witness to. By hearing, we have faith to believe this to be true as faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. A “Sabbath’s day journey” refers to being limited to traveling 2/3 mile on the Sabbath, any more than that would be considered working on the Sabbath. Today, we rest from trying to please God by the works of our own efforts and place our faith in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit comes to us because we believe the word of God and we trust in Him above human endeavors.

The Apostles who went to the upper room were eleven, the twelfth Apostle was not there because he is the one who betrayed Jesus with a kiss, whose name was Judas Iscariot. All eleven Apostles, with the women and Mary [the mother of Jesus], and the brothers of Jesus Christ, were all united in their prayers and requests. Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters, “Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters…” Matthew 13:55-56 As followers of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to us as we join our heart and spirit with our brothers-and-sisters-in -Christ in cities across the globe.

The twelfth Apostle, chosen to replace Judas Iscariot, was Mathias, as described in Acts 1:15-26 .

From these verses, we know that the Holy Spirit comes to us 1] as we rest from our own efforts and place our faith in Jesus Christ. 2] as we believe the word of God. 3] as we join our heart and spirit with fellow Christians in every city around the world. In today’s atheistic world, we are physically separated from fellow believers, but we are joined together by the Spirit of Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1