Formed in Waiting: From Ascension to Spirit Power

May 18, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Clouds and Commission

The disciples stood on Mount Olivet, dust clinging to their sandals as Jesus lifted His hands in blessing. A cloud enveloped Him, leaving them staring at empty sky. Two men in white interrupted their gaping: “Why stand looking into heaven?” They walked back to Jerusalem, obeying Christ’s final command—wait for the Spirit’s power. Their sandals scuffed the same roads where Jesus had carried His cross. [42:28]

Jesus’ ascension wasn’t abandonment but enthronement. By taking humanity into heaven, He opened eternity to flesh-and-blood people like Peter, James, and you. The disciples’ waiting wasn’t passive—it was active preparation for a mission greater than restoring Israel.

You’ve been given assignments, but have you run ahead without His power? Stop. Sit in the upper room of your heart. What task feels overwhelming unless God fuels it? When did you last let His timeline reshape your urgency?

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8, ESV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal one assignment requiring His power, not your striving.
Challenge: Write “WAIT” on your wrist. Pray each time you see it.

Day 2: Forty Days of Formation

For forty days, Jesus ate fish with disciples, let Thomas touch scars, and walked Emmaus roads. Noah endured rain forty days. Moses fasted forty days for commandments. Israel wandered forty years. Elijah trekked forty days to hear God’s whisper. Formation always precedes fruit. The disciples didn’t know Pentecost required ten more days of prayer after Jesus’ ascension. [49:54]

God uses waiting to dismantle slave mentalities. Israel needed desert years to stop seeing themselves as Pharaoh’s workforce and start living as Yahweh’s heirs. The disciples needed fifty days total to shift from “Restore Israel now?” to “Preach Christ crucified.”

What “desert” has God placed you in? A delayed promise? A silent season? Name one way you’ve resisted this shaping. How might this waiting be saving you from a smaller vision?

“And he ate in their presence and said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’”
(Luke 24:43-44, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where impatience has blinded you to God’s forming work.
Challenge: Fast from one distraction today to create space for 10 minutes of listening prayer.

Day 3: From Fear to Fire

Peter hid from servant girls at a charcoal fire, denying Jesus three times. Fifty days later, he stood before thousands at another fire—the Spirit’s flames—preaching boldly. The same fisherman who fled Golgotha now faced Jerusalem’s leaders unshaken. The difference? Ten days praying in an upper room. Forty days walking with a resurrected Savior. [01:08:02]

The Holy Spirit doesn’t erase our stories; He redeems them. Peter’s cowardice became a testimony of grace. Your failures are kindling for God’s fire—if you let Him ignite them.

Where does shame still whisper “unfit”? Write one failure Jesus wants to transform into a sermon. Who needs to hear your “before and after” story?

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
(Acts 4:13, ESV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for three specific scars (yours or His) that display His power.
Challenge: Text someone: “God reminded me of His faithfulness through this story: [share one sentence].”

Day 4: Coals in the Fire

The Upper Room group—120 believers including Mary, Jesus’ brothers, and former rivals like Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector—prayed together for ten days. Like coals in a fire, their unity kept the heat. Separated, they’d cool quickly. Herod’s threats couldn’t extinguish what communal prayer ignited. [01:10:39]

Satan fears united believers more than gifted individuals. Hyenas attack lone lions; cults isolate members. But fire spreads when coals stay together. Your “upper room” might be a small group, family, or a persecuted church overseas.

When have you withdrawn under stress? Name one relationship that needs rekindling. Will you reach out before sundown?

“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”
(Acts 1:14, ESV)

Prayer: Intercede for someone you’ve avoided or envied.
Challenge: Invite a fellow believer to coffee. Ask: “How can I pray for your hidden battle?”

Day 5: Vines and Obedience

Jesus didn’t say “Produce fruit.” He said “Abide.” A branch survives by staying connected, not striving. The disciples’ final lesson before Pentecost: fruit grows from intimacy, not intensity. They prayed ten days—then three thousand converted in one sermon. [01:17:50]

Modern ministry idolizes metrics—views, conversions, buildings. Jesus measures abiding. The Father prunes fruitful branches to bear more (John 15:2). Your “productivity” may decrease to increase your dependence.

What “fruit” have you clung to as identity? Ministry success? Parenting wins? Quietly release it. Can you trust the Vinedresser’s shears?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
(John 15:5, ESV)

Prayer: Hold out empty hands. Say: “Cut what You must. I want more of You.”
Challenge: Spend 15 minutes outdoors studying a tree or plant. Journal what the Vine speaks.

Sermon Summary

We remember that Jesus rose, remained with his followers for forty days, and then ascended into heaven, carrying our humanity into the presence of the Father. We see the number forty as a pattern of formation before mission, a season where God shapes our hearts, rids us of fear, and prepares us for greater responsibility. We watch the early followers obey the command to wait in Jerusalem, gather in unity, and devote themselves to prayer for ten days before receiving the Holy Spirit. We notice how that waiting moved them from fear to boldness, from self-centered ambition to humble service, and from scattered individuals to a committed community empowered to witness to the ends of the earth.

We must not skip formation for activity. The assignment comes, but the power to carry it comes only after abiding with Christ and receiving the Holy Spirit. The upper room illustrates the necessity of communal prayer, mutual encouragement, and shared preparation. True witness flows not from technique or influence but from being with Jesus, being transformed by his love, and being released in humility to serve others. We recognize that leadership in the kingdom requires a servant posture, counting others as more significant while still stewarding our gifts.

We also see the danger of chasing visibility without formation, of confusing influence with anointing, and of building on unstable foundations that collapse in storm. Abiding in Christ is primary; fruit follows from remaining in the vine. Seasons of apparent loss or pruning can conceal fruit forming beneath withered flowers. We resolve to embrace waiting as active formation, to pursue community that keeps coal glowing, to lay down self for the sake of others, and to seek the Holy Spirit as power for mission rather than as a credential for prestige.

Key Takeaways

1. Wait to be formed, then go Waiting with God prepares the soul for the assignment. Formation refines motives, removes fear, and reshapes ambition so service flows from love rather than self. Rushing past this season risks running on zeal without power and missing what God intends to birth in us. [49:54]
2. Community fuels enduring boldness Shared prayer and mutual presence sustain courage for witness. Alone we cool like a single coal, together we stay in the fire and shine. Real boldness bears the marks of having been with Jesus and having been sharpened by others. [68:23]
3. Serve others, forgo selfish ambition Greatness in the kingdom wears humility and hands that wash feet. Counting others as more significant preserves integrity and protects against the corrosion of narcissism. Leadership becomes sacrificial participation in Christ rather than a platform for self. [77:32]
4. Abide before you seek anointing Fruit springs from intimacy with the vine, not from techniques or flash. Abiding reorients desires so asking becomes rooted in the Father rather than in self-promotion. Pruning and waiting often precede deeper fruitfulness. [85:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[41:27] - Resurrection, Proofs, Ascension
[48:18] - Forty Days of Formation
[50:44] - The Call to Wait in Jerusalem
[63:57] - Upper Room and Ten Days of Prayer
[66:19] - From Fear to Faith
[68:23] - The Power of Togetherness
[77:32] - Servant Leadership and Humility
[84:35] - Abide in Christ before Fruit

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 1:1-14 (ESV)
Philippians 2:1-13 (ESV)
John 15:4-11 (ESV)

Observation Questions

In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus instructs the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. What specific command does He give them, and how long do they wait after His ascension?
The sermon compares believers to "coals in a fire" ([01:10:39]). What happens to a single coal removed from the fire, and how does this relate to Christian community?
According to Philippians 2:3-4, what two attitudes are believers called to reject, and what two actions are they to prioritize instead?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasized waiting for the Holy Spirit’s power before starting their mission (Acts 1:4-8)? What might have happened if the disciples had rushed ahead without this preparation?
The sermon warns against confusing "influence with anointing" ([01:21:44]). How does Philippians 2:5-8 redefine true leadership compared to worldly ideas of greatness?
In John 15:5, Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing." How does this statement challenge the common cultural emphasis on self-reliance or "hustle"?

Application Questions

Are you currently in a season of waiting or preparation? What practical steps could you take to lean into God’s formation during this time instead of rushing ahead? ([49:54])
Reflect on your relationships in Christian community. Are there areas where you’ve isolated yourself like a "single coal"? How could you intentionally reconnect to stay "in the fire"? ([01:08:23])
Philippians 2:3 calls believers to "count others more significant than yourselves." Identify one person in your life this week whom you could serve in a humble, unseen way. What would that look like?
The sermon warns against chasing visibility without abiding in Christ ([01:24:35]). What habits or rhythms could help you prioritize intimacy with Jesus over external results or recognition?
Think of a situation where fear has held you back from sharing your faith or serving others. How might the disciples’ transformation from fear to boldness (Acts 4:13) encourage you to act? ([01:07:45])

Sermon Clips

42s

#WaitAndPrepare

“There's too much to be done to sit around, but instead God goes, nope. I need you to wait. I need you to pray. I need you to allow me to continue this preparation. I need you to examine yourselves. I need you to to wait and see what it is that I'm doing. I need you to sit and wait until I give you everything you need for the assignment. They've already gotten the assignment but now what they need to do is come and sit and examine and be together and be united in order to receive what they have or what they need for the assignment.”

48s

#TrustGodsWay

“They walk out and they go, have you heard about Jesus? Jesus? Let me tell you about Jesus who lived and died and rose again so that you could be saved. I wanna promise you that God is probably a 100% of the time going to do things in a way that you wouldn't do them. And if you get stuck on your way, if you get stuck on this is the plan that God gave me and I'm gonna do it exactly like this, you're gonna find yourself spinning your wheels. The best thing you can do is allow yourself to sit in these moments and be formed by him and allow him to go, it is not about you.”

41s

#NotAboutYou

“And the very first line in that is it's not about you. Pretty sure that's the opening line of Rick Warren's book too. Which one? Purpose Driven Life. It is not about you. It is not about you. It's not about you. It's not about you. It's not about me. And I know that can sound harsh and especially in a church here where we're constantly saying, you have purpose, you have significant, you are worth it, God sees you, he knows you, he wants to work in your life and I truly believe that. But I also believe it's not about you.”

52s

#BuildOnTheRock

“Right? Because if the wind comes, I know that these forts, however awesome they are, they're built on sand and they will end up instead of protecting my kids, they will crush them. And the truth is that a house built on sand can stand in certain conditions. But when the wind comes or the storms come or the tide rises, suddenly they will come to ruin. And I believe that many people are making this mistake themselves but many of us are following them, following the influence rather than the anointing. And that's the last point as we close-up today is we need to go and it's not that we ever leave abiding but we need to stay abiding in Christ before the anointing.”

48s

#ServantLeadership

“Not only because I think it's so disgusting and wrong because that is not what biblical leadership is. Biblical need leadership is not narcissism and self centeredness. Biblical leadership is servant, go low. Count others as better than yourselves, not look not only to your interest but to the interest of others, that's biblical leadership. But I've also been deeply grieved because as I look around I go, I actually think that's true. I actually think that so many leaders, not all of them but so many leaders, Christian and non Christian alike but I think it's especially devastating in the Christian community, so many Christian leaders are narcissists and they've act we've actually what we've done is we have replaced influence with anointing.”

47s

#AbideInChrist

“So many of us wanna jump to the assignment, jump to the anointing, jump to the let's go out and pray for people before we've allowed ourselves to sit and abide with Christ. The last scripture we're gonna look at is John chapter 15 verses four through 11 and it says this, abide in me. Jesus is speaking, abide in me and I in you. So as we abide in him, as we make space for him, he comes and makes his dwelling place in us. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing.”

43s

#FoundationsMatter

“I'm like, yeah, a house built on sand when people, you know, suddenly because they get the most followers, they have all this influence but they have not been formed in the quiet. We went on our Sabbath on our day off this last Friday, we took our kids to, Ventura Beach and they found a bunch of driftwood and they started making forts. Isn't that cool? It's awesome. So they made these forts, and and set them up and it was so cool because they could go in them and and you know, if we had had more time, I think there would have been like a mansion built. And I love that so much. But let me tell you, if it started to get windy, do you think I would tell my kids to run into the fort or away from it?”

40s

#FromFearToFaith

“And that's that I believe that in the waiting and it's not just in these ten days but I believe in their entire time with Jesus but especially especially you'll notice after the resurrection when he appears to his disciples and then especially in that ten days, I think that he takes the disciples from fearful to faithful. I think he takes them from people who are running away from the cross to people who stand up on Pentecost and Peter who's the one who denied for fear of ending up at the on the cross right next to Jesus. He was so afraid and yet on the day when he receives the holy spirit, the baptism of the holy spirit, he is the one standing up and preaching to everybody.”

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Formed in Waiting: From Ascension to Spirit Power

Devotional

Day 1: Clouds and Commission

Day 2: Forty Days of Formation

Day 3: From Fear to Fire

Day 4: Coals in the Fire

Day 5: Vines and Obedience

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Formed in Waiting: From Ascension to Spirit Power

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