Memory Verses:
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Acts 1:7-8 NKJV
One of the biggest challenges in our spiritual lives is the temptation to skip steps and pretend we haven’t. We want to be the best followers of Jesus we can be, yet we often avoid being fully honest with ourselves. We ignore areas where we need to grow, resist change, or remain stuck in patterns we’ve been working on for years but haven’t committed to breaking.
In today’s passage, we find the early church in its formative stages—being born, shaped, and prepared for what’s to come. But there were steps they couldn’t skip.
We Delay God’s Work In Our Lives When We Skip or Ignore Moments of Spiritual Growth
Sometimes, like the early disciples, we must confront what’s missing or what needs to change. That includes recognizing when relationships, seasons, or spiritual influences have run their course. I’m not suggesting we should go out and find someone to betray us like Judas did, but I am saying we must acknowledge when God is calling us to move forward—whether it’s replacing what’s no longer fruitful or stepping into new areas of growth.
This morning, as we study the rest of Acts 1, we’ll see three key actions from the disciples:
They spent time in unity and prayer, seeking God’s direction.
They were aware of the vacancy that needed to be filled.
They trusted the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit to move forward.
One Accord
Acts 1:12-14
Unity in Prayer Isn’t Optional; It’s Essential for Kingdom Impact
To desire revival… and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another. — A.W. Tozer
It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone. — Hudson Taylor
God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil. — E.M. Bounds
Aware of a Vacancy
Acts 1:15-20
To Move Forward, We Must Recognize What is Absent
Focusing on God Turns the Scars of Betrayal into Spiritual Restoration
Steps for Spiritual Maturity & Restoration:
Healing Starts with Acknowledgement
Honesty with Scripture as Our Guide
Differing Opinions Does Not Always Mean Betrayal
Don’t Just Fill a Vacant Area Instead Replicate Jesus’ Model
One Accord Acknowledges the Power of God to Fill the Vacancy
Acts 1:21-26
Pause Before Progressing: Reset Purpose Over Preference
Prayer is the Pathway to Purposeful Decisions
Takeaways:
Godly decisions prioritize purpose over personal preference.
Prayer unifies and aligns us with God’s will with one accord, one passion, and one purpose, emphasizing dependence on God
Take one intentional step this week to address the ‘vacancy’ in your spiritual life.
If there are areas in your life that remain unchanged, perhaps it’s time to reflect on the teaching from this passage. Are you truly in one accord, one mind, and one passion with the Lord? This is what matters most: living on a mission for the will of the Father—to connect people to Jesus Christ.
But let’s take it a step further. Maybe you’re confident in the direction God is leading you, but others in your circle of influence aren’t fully aligned. Perhaps they see things differently. Instead of dismissing their perspective, what if you listened? What if God is using them to speak life and truth into your heart? Sometimes we resist change because we’re too focused on comfort or too set in our ways.
Changing our minds can be one of the hardest things to do. Once our minds are made up, it takes a miracle to untangle the thoughts we’ve woven—thoughts shaped by manipulation, conspiracy, or even pride. Maybe, just maybe, the vacancy you feel in your life can begin to be filled with small but intentional steps: reading God’s Word ten minutes more each day, asking questions, admitting you need help, or allowing someone who loves you to speak truth into your life.
And hear this truth today: life is hard, life is rough, and no one has it all figured out. But with faith in Jesus Christ, He will guide you. He will restore you. He will forgive you. He will love you. He will be with you—filling the vacancy in your heart—for the rest of your life.
Prayer: Imagine how different our prayer life would be if we adopted the heart posture we see in this passage: “Lord, You know all things. Reveal to me…” Instead of coming to God with complaints—“It’s not fair I have to deal with this,” or “Why doesn’t the ball ever bounce my way?”—we approach Him with humility and trust. What if our prayers shifted from demands to a single passion: that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven?
Maybe it’s time to stop trying to fix everyone else’s problems and instead allow God to work in our own lives. And perhaps our prayers need to be simpler—not systems or formulas, but honest cries from the depths of our hearts.
So today, let’s pause. Let’s align our hearts with His. Let’s trust Him to fill every empty space and lead us forward in His purpose.