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This morning, we're going to look at some exciting stories, and these are stories that are true. Stories of Jesus' followers after Jesus ascends into heaven. Now, as you look at these stories, you realize these are some wild times in the life of the disciples. As the author recounts these events, there's almost a breathless excitement as this T. He's writing these things, and he's thinking, can you even believe this stuff happened? Do you see that in the text as they're thinking about me? Can you even believe that God did these things through us? Jesus goes back into heaven, and as we read the book of Acts, we see the church move forward in confidence and in power filled with the Holy Spirit. Last week we looked at the events of day 10. Pentecost. So this is 10 days after Jesus returns to the Father. Pentecost, the Spirit of God is poured out on the people of God. The Spirit of God is given to dwell in Jesus' followers and to fill them with the power that they'll need to accomplish in the mission that Jesus has given them. Pete talked last week about the beauty we see as what had been a corporate identity, the nation of Israel as God's people. Now an individual identity as the Spirit of God is resting on each one of us. People, not unlike you and I, that's who we're reading about in Acts. These aren't superstars. These are people that God uses, people like us, to change the world. So that was day 10. This morning we're going to back up and look at days one through nine. Luke, the author of the book of Acts, recounts some of what happened. And what he gives us is two pictures or scenes. And these pictures or scenes aren't just for people 2,000 years ago. They're not just to tell a story. These scenes or these pictures help us to see the priority of Jesus' followers. They help encourage and instruct us as we seek to follow Jesus, and they give us a vision for how our lives moment by moment, day by day, can be lived with Jesus and for Jesus. So what next? That's the question we're looking at this morning. And I'm going to read chapter 1, verses 12 to 14, scene 1. Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey, which is like three-quarters of a mile away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room where they were staying. Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaus, and Simon the zealot, and Judas, the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer together with the women, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. So what next? Well, this is what was next for these, and that's a beautiful picture, isn't it? Truth number one for Jesus' followers, and this is a powerful truth, and one that we need to not miss as we read these verses. For Jesus' followers, their communion with, their fellowship with, their friendship with Jesus does not end when Jesus ascends to heaven. Amen. For Jesus' followers, their communion with, their fellowship with, their friendship with Jesus doesn't end when Jesus goes back to the Father. It continues through prayer. They press into prayer, they press into their relationship with Jesus through prayer. Truth number one, prayer is about relationship and is the foundation of action. It's not an afterthought, it's not something we tack on, it's not just a good thing we should do. It's the foundation as they move forward. Something we notice in Jesus' followers immediately is that after the resurrection, it's like they're a whole new group of people. Because the resurrection had a profound effect on them. They're no longer scared. We don't see them being confused. We see them being united. We see them having purpose. We see them having a mission, and we see them being obedient to the instruction that was given them. Remember what they're told to do? Wait. Go to Jerusalem and wait. And they're obedient to that. And so Jesus' followers are together doing what they were told to do. It gives a list of those assembled. Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James, Simon the son of the zealot, and Judas, the son of James. Why give the list? Why not just say the disciples? Well, because the people there are important. This list, if you go back into Luke chapter 6, it's the same people. Which is showing the powerful truth that this group is a continuity of what Jesus had started. What Jesus started with these followers are the people who would carry the early church forward. These are the leaders in the early church. And then we're told along with these are the women. These two had been so faithful to Christ, these two were the first witnesses of the resurrection, the first to speak to Jesus. And this is a group of women that grows as the church multiplies and it's powerfully used by God. And Mary, Jesus' mother and Jesus' brothers, which is an incredible little detail. Mary, who gave birth to Christ, was a part of the birth of the early church. How cool is that? She was a woman of faith who was used by God powerfully. My exposure to Roman Catholicism growing up, the veneration, the statues, made me maybe shy away from Mary. Maybe you're from a kind of a similar, you have kind of a similar attitude toward her, but she was an awesome lady. Luke chapter 1, verse 38. Behold, I am the servant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word. Now, imagine you're a young man, one of the disciples, tasked with Jesus to accomplish this mission. And this lady's hanging out with you. From her attitude and the way she sat, the way she was used by God. I think that's incredible. I think we're supposed to see that and understand that. So that's what's that's what's going on. The women, Mary's there. Mary's a model of trust and obedience and had an influence on the early church. It says they are together with one accord or with one mind or passion. They are unified. All these with one accord, and we know what that mind or that passion or what it is that we're doing with themselves, they are devoting themselves to prayer. They are constantly in prayer. They are giving themselves to prayer. Now, maybe you have heard this talked about or understood this as prevailing prayer or praying without giving up or praying till something happens. And maybe when you've read that, you've thought, oh, look at these guys, their effort and their grit to just keep on praying. Maybe that's how you've understood that. And I think there's a time and a place for that, but I don't really think that's the focus here. Prayer for these was not a duty, it was a delight. This is not them pulling themselves up by the bootstraps and prevailing in prayer. This is them taking advantage of the incredible opportunity they had to continue in relationship with Jesus their Savior. They prayed because they missed Jesus. They prayed because prayer is talking and listening to them, to him. They're following Jesus' example. Jesus prayed all the time. He would get away by himself. It was part of his rhythm, spending time with the Father, talking and listening, drawing strength. We see Jesus praying before big events, before he chooses the twelve apostles. We see him praying before the cross. These disciples are following Jesus' example. What do we do when we wait? What do we do when we're anticipating a big event? We spend time in relationship. Lord, show us your will. Lord, soften our hearts. Lord, give us eyes to see. Lord, help us to follow you. Lord, give us the words to say, give us the strength we need. Help us be faithful. Lord, we trust you. They are devoting themselves to prayer. They're also following Jesus' teaching. He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Not because God is reluctant to give, but because prayer prepares the heart. It aligns our minds and our spirits and our wills with God. Do you ever speculate on what they prayed? Maybe how they prayed? They prayed for nine days. Devoted themselves to it. If you were given nine days and told to pray, you think you could fill that time? That's very different from what we're used to, right? My guess is they did what Jesus taught them to do. Pray then like this. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. They likely prayed as they had been instructed to pray. Prayer is communion with God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit, and it's the foundation of relationship. And in relationship, we talk about what is on our hearts, we talk about our burdens and concerns, we talk about our hopes and joys, we talk about our successes and failures. Megan and I are doing some premarital counseling with some people, and we're talking some this week about communication. That's what prayer is. It's communication with God, your heavenly Father, not just talking, but listening. For nine days they prayed, and on the day of Pentecost, we can assume that they were praying. After Pentecost, what do we read about them doing? 242. They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers, and actually they're likely referring to the Jewish pattern of praying morning, noon, and night. That's what that the prayers. It was a pattern and a rhythm built into the life of that community. As the gospel goes out, as the church grows and persecution comes, we read this. They pray, and now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. As the apostles, as the church grows and the apostles are being spread thin, they need to figure out how they're going to spend their time, and this is what they do. We will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word. Was that important to them? Time spent with Christ, time spent with the Father in relationship. In times of crisis and helplessness, so Peter's kept in prison, but the followers, his friends, his family, the church made earnest prayer for him to God. As the church sent people out. They are worshiping the Lord and fasting, and the Holy Spirit said, Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then after fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them off. What started the missionary journeys of Paul the Apostle wasn't a strategy session where they sat down with a map and tried to figure it out in their own strength. No, they were praying, and the Lord told them to do this. As the church grows, and when they had appointed elders for them in every church with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord, to them, to the Lord in whom they had believed. In Philippi, and on the Sabbath day, we went outside the gate to the riverside where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. Part of their missionary strategy was to find the people who are praying. Prayer is the undercurrent, it is the foundation of what we're reading about in the book of Acts. Again, it's not tacked on, it's just something on a to-do list. It's the foundation for what they're doing. Scene number one, Jesus' followers prayed. Truth number one, prayer is about relationship, and prayer is the foundation of action. All right, scene number two. Listen as I read verses 15 to 26. In those days, Peter stood up among the brothers, the company of persons was in all about 120, and said, Brothers, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry. Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle of all middle, and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language a Keldamah, that is field of blood. For it is written in the Book of Psalms, May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it, and let another take his office. So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us, one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection. And they put forward two, Joseph called Bar Sabbas, who was called Justice, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place. And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Another beautiful picture, isn't it? Of what they do during this time, picture of their obedience. Truth, too, that we see in these verses is that time with Jesus is what matters. See that? Who was someone who is, it says, who was with us the whole time and who was a witness to the resurrection. Judas was a painful memory. You hear that? Like it's being talked about in all of Jerusalem, like the rumors are flying rampant. He was a painful memory. He was one of them who betrayed them and then who died a violent and shameful death. That was part of their story, part of their history. But moving forward, that would not be a part of their identity. Sin leaves scars. It's painful, it hurts, but it does not define us. And shame and regret can be healed by Jesus. That's what they're doing here. They desperately needed this healing. Twelve was an important number to them: twelve tribes, twelve apostles, the fulfillment of Scripture. And the primary qualification for this that they put forward were people who had spent time with Jesus. And not just that, but verse 24, you, Lord, know the hearts of all, show us. They put two guys forward, and then they choose. The Lord helps them to choose. Their trust and hope in God is incredible moving forward. And now for us, this side of Pentecost, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit. He is our guide and he can be trusted. And so we ask him for help in making decisions. They chose Matthias together and they moved on. Matthias isn't mentored again, and that is a good thing. Did you ever notice that? How many of the disciples get mentioned again? Peter? Maybe a couple of the other ones? That's because these disciples ministered in obscurity for the rest of their lives. Sounds kind of like you and me, right? How many books are going to be written about you? Probably none, right? Maybe a memoir. You write your own, or your kids will remember you and things you've done, that kind of thing. But by and large, those who are serving God aren't getting fame or recognition. They're serving him faithfully in the areas and places he's called them to. That's what we see for this guy. They choose him. Scene number two, that's scene number two. Truth number two, again, time with Jesus matters. And that brings us to truth number three, which is our application. And maybe you can see where we're going. Truth number one and truth number two aren't that different, are they? Notice that? Those two scenes? Time with the Savior is of highest priority. Time with Jesus is the foundation for all action. Time with Jesus is the source of strength and hope and love and joy. And we spend time with Jesus in prayer. We see that here in these verses during those nine days. We see it in the days following Pentecost when the Spirit is poured out. Time with Jesus in prayer is a priority for the followers of Jesus. We see it. Maybe you even know it up here. You might even feel your heart pulling you toward that. You want that. You want time with him. But in the fullness of life, in the reality of our jobs and our responsibilities and parenting and families and chores, relationship with Jesus, time spent with him can get crowded out. We talk about this often. How many of you need to go to work tomorrow? That's a pretty good number of you. How many of you have other responsibilities? Good number of you. Other obligations? That's most of us. We have things we need to do tomorrow. And you might be thinking, Adam, I know I should pray more. You guys are always saying that. But what does that look like? How do I make this a reality in my daily life? For us, it's not an option just to take nine days off and pray. That's scene three. I want us to get a vision together for what our lives could look like in 2026 that might replicate or be a look like this. And what I want to propose to you is a rhythm. One I was encouraged with recently in a book by Tyler Staten. And it's this rhythm. It's really simple. Morning, as your day's beginning, pray the Lord's Prayer. Noon, spend time praying for those who need Jesus. And we all have people that we know. And then in the evening, give thanks. Rhythm of prayer. Not a checklist. This is really important. There's a difference between a checklist and a rhythm, right? This is a rhythm. You're not earning anything, you're not gaining anything. You're doing this as a way to be with him in relationship. And you want to build relationship with him into the fabric and the rhythm of your daily life. So, the morning, the Lord's Prayer. We read earlier, Matthew 6, 9 to 13. Again, growing up in a Catholic tradition, you can tend to avoid rote prayers and things that are written down because they just get rattled off with no meaning, right? That's not what I'm talking about. I'm not talking about rattling off the words of the Lord's Prayer. I'm talking about using the words of the Lord's Prayer, the instruction Jesus gives us to guide and direct our hearts toward relationship with God. That first phrase Our Father. So important for you to take that opportunity to rest in his love. And goodness towards you. Our Father. Think about that. Rest in His grace and mercy. And then you can go on from there. It guides you. I printed out just a half sheet. It's the same one that was sent out with the promised Bible study stuff. That might be helpful to you. Going through each verse stanza of the Lord's Prayer. Use that to guide and help you to reflect on God, to build relationship with Him. So that's you're going to start your day that way. We'll start our days that way. At noon at lunch. Some of you take, I take a lunch break, some of you don't. I understand. You're too busy to take a lunch break, right? You're too driven and too determined. You've got too much to do. The world will fall apart if you take a lunch break, right? Just pause for a couple minutes. Remember, there's people who need the love and grace of Jesus in your life. And not just the people in your life in your orbit, the people in this county that we live in, Ulster, people in their state, and there are billions of people around the world who've never heard the name of Jesus. I think you can pause for a couple seconds at lunch and remember that. Build it into the rhythm. It's natural. It's not natural. It needs to become more natural, right? And then the end of the day, finish your day with gratitude. In the evening, maybe on your drive home before you go to sleep, give thanks. Remember his faithfulness toward you throughout the day. We were talking in our class before this about that simple phrase. It would have been enough if God had done this, but he did this. It would have been enough that God just got me home tonight, but he allowed me to experience and accomplish some things and see some people and experience a beautiful day. It would have been enough if God had just provided for me meals, but he gave me meals that tasted good. It would have been enough that God gave me a vehicle to drive around in, but he gave me a vehicle that didn't break down today. It's just a totally different way of thinking, and it's a way for us to extend gratitude and thankfulness back to the Lord and to build it into the rhythm of our lives. Simple. And my encouragement for us as a family, as a church family, is that we adopt these rhythms together. Together, we devote ourselves to this kind of prayer. Isn't it powerful to think? If we all did this together, when you're spending time in the morning saying, our Father who art in heaven, we're doing that together. At noon, as you're remembering those in your orbit that need to know him, we're doing that together. Spending time in thankfulness in the evening, we're doing that together. There's power in that because that's a picture of us devoting ourselves to prayer, devoting ourselves not to a checklist, but to the relationship that we're called into. So here's what we're gonna do. That's that's yeah. So what we're gonna do is I'm gonna we're gonna pass out the elements of the Lord's Supper, and then we're gonna pause, and I'm gonna give us just a couple minutes to spend time in prayer in relationship with the Lord, okay? I'm encouraging you just focus on those first two words of the Lord's Prayer. Our Father.