The events surrounding the preparation for the encounter with the Holy Spirit:
- Obedience
- Prayer
- The unity of the 120 including the women from Galilee and other followers from the 70. Mary the mother is present for the second encounter after her pregnancy announcement. She experiences the Power and activity of the Holy Spirit twice.
- Practical matters to be seen to:
Some kind of structure for decision making
Biblical prophecy and fulfillment per Jesus example
Fulfilling the initial leadership group of 12 - Judas is gone and that brings an element of fear that this is a critical and serious event - not just a party.
Psalm 109:8, Psalm 69:25, (55:23)
The vision is greater than 12 - or even the 120. Imagine the scope of responsibility Jesus places on them. - God’s purpose, plan, vision is to be filled through them - where is the organization, the finance, the strategy, the focus of unity in purpose? Impossible for sure! - the vision is God’s from the beginning.
Upward: I saw the Lord
Inward: Woe is me I see my sin and my inadequacies
Outward: Here I am, send me
In order to be fulfilled, the vision, once accepted, needs means and method, so the preparation must come first, like in Isaiah’s encounter: before here am I send me, there is a process of preparation - and it begins with repentance and cleansing and open hearts to God.
The encounter is both equipping and commissioning. But the encounter requires the preparation and agreement to allow Jesus his lordship in your life.
