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The Disciples Keep Vigil in the
Upper Room for the Spirit’s Advent

Acts 1:13a-14(The Message): 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying…  14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Throughout Christian history, there have been “apostolic” movements dedicated to prayerful contemplation, and others resulting in transforming action. There are many definitions of the word “Apostolic”, but in simplicity it means to “act like the early disciples, or apostles of Jesus”. The work and life of the early followers of Jesus took two forms. First, they were very busy praying – a lot. Next they shared the good news (Gospel) about Jesus to everyone who would listen.

I have always been quick to jump over this first part of the “work” that these early Christians did. They spent days and days in prayer and praise before they did anything. I always want to get on to the exciting stuff, tongues of fire, bold preaching, miracles and wild and wooly missionary journeys. The book of Acts reads like an adventure novel, one breathless moment after another. Then you realize that the events in Acts span a time over 40 to 60 years. For every day of excitement, there were months spent in prayer, quiet study and deep conversations with the Lord, working out this new faith in a hostile world.

I confess, most days I might throw up a quick “Help me Lord” or “Thank You Jesus”, amid a few seconds asking for stuff for me or others, but mostly for me. I try to practice having an “attitude” or “mindset” of being in prayer, but mostly I am rushing along to the next moment, and the next. I barely know what Luke is talking about, this thing of humbleness and “constant prayer” of the Apostles.

I think I had a glimpse of “Apostolic” prayer some thirty years ago while in the Bahamas. I was with my new bride, Wendy, honeymooning on Harbor Island, a place of pink beaches and gorgeous sunsets. We were walking through the small town of Dunsmore one evening and passed by a storefront church, The Haitian Mission Baptist.

As best I can recall, a chalk sign announced Wednesday Prayer Meeting, in English and Haitian Creole. As we walked by the open door, I saw people at prayer. Every man, woman and child in the room lay either face-down on the sandy floor or kneeling, praying in a multitude of quiet voices. We quietly walked on, went to dinner and walked back by the church a good two hours later. They were still there, prostrate, praying, humbly and quietly, with no sign of stopping.

At that moment, I felt the presence of Jesus, praying with His people. I think I may have even seen Him, for it was a Holy moment. I’ve been in a few prayer meetings since here in the States. I have felt good afterwards, blessed even, but I do not think I have come close to the prayers in that Upper Room where Jesus’ friends waited for His Holy Spirit, or in that little Bahaman storefront full of Haitian immigrants. I wonder what would happen when or if I ever get there.

Peace.

Phil Parsons

P.S. I looked up opposite words for “Prayer Warrior.” I found one that too often applies to me- “Prayer Quitter”.

And this:
James 4 :1-3(The Message) 1 Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don’t have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn’t yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.
2-3 You wouldn’t think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you’d be asking for what you have no right to. You’re spoiled children, each wanting your own way.
James 4:1-3 (NIV) What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Matthew 7:7-11 (The Message) “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?