Exciting Stuff

The book of Acts is, of course, an action story.  In breathtaking fashion the non-existent and invisible church becomes the existing and visible church moving across the world with extraordinary speed.  But, it is also a book which tells the story of a praying church.  Acts 1 speaks of the waiting disciples devoting themselves to prayer.  Acts 10 reports the powerful praying of Cornelius, a Gentile, and Peter, a Jew and the way their praying changed the world's view of the church.  And then, there is the prayer story of Acts12 which tells of the church's prayer for an imprisoned Peter.

 

The truth is the prayer stories are every bit as exciting as the action stories of the mission work which was bursting out upon the earth.   One of the things we see as we read and read again this textbook about the Holy Spirit is that prayer is one of the great tools of the church; yet, one which in surprising fashion continues to be pulled out either in a perfunctory manner or as a last resort.  Seldom does the church take the time to pray about the future and its challenges.  It always seems in too big a hurry to get things done to really invest time and energy in praying about its future and challenges.

Perhaps, it can be no other way.  The church is full of people afflicted with the disease of hurrying and staying busy.  Sadly, both seem to speak of the attributes we value more than paying attention to what our culture would declare to be the insignificant.   Sitting and waiting would be an impossible use of time for most church committees as well as worshipping congregations.  Sad.  What it means is that the church misses out on some of the exciting stuff the Holy Spirit would do among us.