Sunday On A Tuesday // Bishop James L. Rowson // 5.17.26

Devotional

Day 1: Lifted Hands in Bethany

Jesus led His disciples to Bethany, the village where Lazarus lived. He raised His hands to bless them there – the same hands that healed lepers and broke five loaves. As He blessed them, He ascended into heaven. The disciples stood staring upward until angels snapped them back to earth. They returned to Jerusalem shouting, not because their problems vanished, but because His promise lingered: “Wait for power from on high.” [30:25]

Bethany was safe. Jerusalem meant risk. Jesus didn’t commission them to bask in blessings but to burn with purpose. The blessing prepared them for battle, not complacency. Comfort zones become graves when God calls us higher.

You’ve tasted blessings – answered prayers, moments of joy. But have you settled for Bethany’s safety while avoiding Jerusalem’s assignment? What problem have you been staring at instead of stepping into your Spirit-empowered purpose?

“And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.”
(Luke 24:50-53, ESV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal where you’ve prioritized comfort over His commissioning.
Challenge: Write down one “Bethany blessing” you’ve clung to, then list three steps toward your “Jerusalem assignment.”

Day 2: Power Over Pampering

The disciples waited in Jerusalem as instructed, though Roman soldiers patrolled outside. They didn’t redecorate the upper room or debate seating charts. For ten days, they prayed in unity – fishermen and tax collectors, zealots and doubters. The promise wasn’t about better circumstances but greater capacity: “You’ll receive power.” [29:52]

Jesus didn’t send them to build a megachurch but to manifest His authority. The Holy Spirit turns pew-warmers into prison-breakers. Without Him, we’re just religious social clubs with good music.

Your calendar reveals your priorities. Does “waiting on power” get equal time to Netflix and grocery runs? When did you last clear your schedule to seek the Spirit’s infilling rather than just His favors?

“And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…”
(Acts 1:4-5,8, ESV)

Prayer: Confess areas where you’ve substituted activity for anointing.
Challenge: Set a phone timer for 8:09 AM/PM – when the pastor said “lift Him” – to pray aloud: “Holy Spirit, override my agenda.”

Day 3: Louder Than the Storm

The woman with the issue of blood pushed through a crowd. Jairus fought despair as his daughter died. Both chose to magnify God’s power over their panic. The pastor shouted, “Make your praise louder than your problems!” – not denying pain, but drowning its voice with declaration. [21:25]

Jesus never said storms wouldn’t come. He said His presence would outshout them. Our praise isn’t a denial tactic but a demolition tool. When Paul sang in prison, God shook the foundations.

You’ve rehearsed your problems to friends. When will you proclaim God’s promises to your crisis? What storm have you been measuring instead of mastering through worship?

“I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!”
(Psalm 34:1-3, ESV)

Prayer: Thank God for three past victories when praise shifted your perspective.
Challenge: Play a worship song at full volume during your next crisis moment.

Day 4: From Spectators to Stormchasers

Peter stepped out of the boat while others white-knuckled the rails. The early church prayed for boldness after being flogged. Jesus didn’t commission us to spectate miracles but to initiate them: “Greater works than these will you do.” The disciples’ obedience turned Jerusalem upside down. [43:53]

We’ve reduced “greater works” to bigger buildings. But Jesus meant broader impact – healing the sick in Walmart aisles, casting out demons during Zoom calls. Your workplace is your upper room.

When did you last attempt something requiring Holy Ghost backup? What “boat” have you been clinging to instead of walking on water?

“And Jesus came and said to them… ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”
(Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

Prayer: Ask for boldness to pray for a stranger’s healing this week.
Challenge: Carry $5 bills to give unexpectedly, saying, “God told me you’re worth more than this.”

Day 5: Altars Before Outcomes

The widow gave her last coins. Abraham climbed Moriah with firewood. Sacrifice precedes supernatural supply. The pastor warned, “We want blessings without bending knees.” True power comes when we seek the Giver more than gifts. [53:15]

God’s math confounds carnal minds: surrender increases capacity. Fasting sharpens spiritual sight. Tithing trains us to trust the Provider over provisions.

Your bank statements and screen time logs reveal your altars. What have you placed on the throne that’s blocking His flow?

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow…”
(Matthew 6:33-34, ESV)

Prayer: Confess one area where you’ve sought outcomes over obedience.
Challenge: Fast from one comfort (coffee, social media, etc.) for 24 hours, dedicating that time to prayer.

Sermon Summary

The Holy Ghost stands as necessary now, not optional. Praise rises as the lift that lifts the soul above issue, circumstance, and feeling because the Lord is high above the earth and his glory above the nations. Luke 24 names the hinge: Jesus blesses at Bethany yet commands tarrying in Jerusalem until endued with power from on high. The blessing visits the comfortable place, but the power waits in the place of obedience.

Apostasy shows as a slow falling away, not always a public backslide but a quiet drift into carnality. Convenience has replaced accountability. The carnal mind is death, so a mediocre spirit settles for a C life and then lowers God’s expectations to fit that ceiling. Western church culture has baptized lack and called it holy, wearing suffering like a badge while silently agreeing to live beneath privilege. The devil’s lie whispers that less is fine and God exists as a 911. The call refuses that lie and seeks God’s face without crisis.

The Great Commission pushes beyond survival. Greater works become possible when Christ multiplies his life through many bodies. If there are fifteen believers yielded, there is fifteenfold capacity for signs. Jesus names the signs that follow them that believe, yet those signs do not visit an undisciplined people. Power walks with sacrifice. Altars demand time, prayer, fasting, study, and consecration. Titles without hidden life breed embarrassment. Hell recognizes Jesus, and hell respects those who walk with Jesus. Paul is known. Pretenders are exposed.

Holiness shows up not in churchy flair but in love. Gossip, slander, and constant offense deny God’s presence because love for God is proved in love for neighbor. “By this shall all men know” sets the measuring stick. New believers must be protected from sheepdogs who bite lambs in the name of zeal. The environment must be safe enough for infants in Christ to grow.

Bethany remains the conclave of comfort. Jesus blesses there. Jerusalem holds the assignment. Power waits where obedience waits. A bless me club shouts over benefits but never tarries for enduement. Kingdom order flips the chase: seek first the kingdom and his righteousness, and the other things are added. Tithe, honor, and integrity align life to be trusted with more. The pattern is still Pentecost. When disciples leave Bethany for Jerusalem, upper rooms fill, gates called Beautiful witness healings, and thousands enter the kingdom. The church is called to look like that again.

Key Takeaways

1. Refuse carnality, recover spiritual edge [35:01] Carnality numbs discernment and shrinks desire for God until blessing without transformation feels normal. The carnal mind makes peace with bare minimums and then blames God for their consequences. Repentance here is not mood but reordering loves, practices, and priorities toward life and peace. Power returns where appetite is sanctified. [35:01]
2. Greater works demand costly consecration [47:31] Multiplication without consecration produces noise, not fruit. The altar is where schedules break, appetites submit, and authority is entrusted. God will not put kingdom weight on lives that cannot bear it in private. When the hidden life deepens, the public work widens. [47:31]
3. Titles mean nothing without authority [49:47] Hell does not negotiate with résumés. Authority flows from proximity to Jesus, not self-ascribed status. When demons say “Jesus we know, Paul we know,” they are naming relationship, not rank. A quiet life of prayer, Scripture, and obedience makes a believer recognizable in realms where titles do not reach. [49:47]
4. Love of neighbor proves love of God [59:31] Affection for God that bypasses people is self-deception. God receives honor through the embrace, the peacemaking, the bridled tongue, and the refusal to bite lambs. Holiness shows in how conflicts are handled and how dignity is given. By love, the church becomes a safe room for the newborn in Christ. [59:31]
5. Blessed at Bethany, powered in Jerusalem [01:09:04] Comfort hosts blessing, but obedience receives enduement. The move from Bethany to Jerusalem is the difference between inspiration and infusion. Those who tarry enter the stream where assignments are resourced by the Spirit. From that place, gates open, bodies rise, and the harvest rushes in. [69:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[17:42] - The Holy Ghost is necessary
[30:40] - Naming apostasy in this hour
[33:39] - Post-COVID drift and no accountability
[35:21] - The trap of mediocrity
[40:43] - God is not a 911
[44:37] - Greater works through multiplied bodies
[46:16] - These signs shall follow believers
[47:31] - Sacrifice, altar, and prayer
[49:47] - Titles without power rebuked
[51:42] - Follow peace and holiness
[65:47] - Bethany’s comfort and blessing
[69:04] - From blessing to power in Jerusalem
[72:27] - Seek first the kingdom
[75:03] - Pentecost outcomes envisioned

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Luke 24:49-53 (ESV)
“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Observation Questions

In Luke 24:49, Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for “power from on high.” What specific contrast does the sermon highlight between Bethany (where Jesus blessed them) and Jerusalem (where power was received)? [01:09:04]
According to the sermon, what are the consequences of settling for a “C life” spiritually? How does this mindset affect one’s relationship with God? [35:21]
The sermon mentions that “greater works” require sacrifice, prayer, and consecration. What examples of sacrifice or discipline are tied to walking in spiritual authority? [47:31]
How does the sermon define the connection between loving others and proving love for God? What specific behaviors are highlighted as contradictory to this love? [59:31]

Interpretation Questions

Why might Jesus command the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for power instead of allowing them to remain in Bethany, a place of comfort and blessing? What does this reveal about the relationship between obedience and spiritual empowerment?
The sermon warns that “titles without authority breed embarrassment” because even demons recognize true spiritual authority. How does this challenge modern views of leadership or status in the church? [49:47]
The sermon argues that “suffering is not sacred” and criticizes complacency with mediocrity. How does this perspective align with or challenge common cultural attitudes in Western Christianity? [39:04]
What does it mean for the church to be a “safe room for newborns in Christ”? How do gossip, slander, or judgmental attitudes directly contradict this vision? [01:03:18]

Application Questions

The sermon warns against a “911 relationship” with God, where we only seek Him in crisis. What practical steps can you take this week to prioritize time with God without an immediate need or crisis? [41:35]
Reflect on areas where “carnality” (e.g., convenience, lack of accountability, or mediocrity) has numbed your spiritual discernment. What one habit can you adopt to “recover your spiritual edge”? [35:01]
How can you intentionally demonstrate love for others this week—especially those you find difficult to love—to reflect your love for God? What would repentance look like if you’ve been a “sheepdog” biting others? [59:31]
The sermon contrasts staying in Bethany (comfort) versus obeying the call to Jerusalem (power). What “Bethany-like” comforts (routines, relationships, or habits) might God be asking you to leave behind to pursue greater obedience? [01:09:04]
The sermon emphasizes that “authority flows from proximity to Jesus.” How can you deepen your “hidden life” (prayer, Scripture, fasting) to cultivate spiritual authority in your family or community? [49:47]
Are there areas where you’ve lowered God’s expectations to match your current spiritual effort (e.g., tithing, serving, or prayer)? What specific commitment can you make to align your life with His kingdom priorities? [01:12:27]
The early church saw miracles and growth when disciples left comfort for obedience. What “assignment” has God placed on your heart that requires courage to step into, even if it feels uncomfortable or costly? [01:15:03]

Sermon Clips

58s

“Had they not gone from Bethany to Jerusalem, the 120 in the upper room would have never been filled. After that, a week later, 3,000 souls were added to the church. By the end of maybe three or four weeks of the church's existence, another 5,000. Deacon Garvin, the church in the first month had over 8,000 people filled with the holy ghost. And I can't get 80 of you all to come to Bible class. Do we look anywhere near like what Jesus intended.”

47s

“It is the devil's job to make you think that it is okay to settle for less. And we have reduced our relationship with god to being a nine one one. God, your purpose in my life is to come to my rescue. God is offended when the only thing we see him as is a rescue nine one one. When was the last time you said, god, this is my time with you, and I don't want nothing. I just wanna bless you.”

43s

“15 people sit across this front in front of me. That means that the potential of miracles, signs, and wonders just went from one to 15. And there are more of you in here, and Jesus says greater. Well, y'all don't know when to shout. Yet, we are not doing a fifth of what Jesus has done. We are not seeing anything close to what Jesus. He said to them, oh boy, y'all y'all y'all okay. I don't have much time. I get that.”

64s

“Many of us make the mistake of being okay with less as if that's all god has for you. I study religions and I study I study history a lot and I study the culture. And one of the things that is interesting about westernized Christianity is we have made it a very low ball experience. We have been hoodwinked into believing that suffering is sacred. Let me try it again. We have been lied to. We've been tricked into thinking that suffering is sacred and we wear suffering like a badge of honor.”

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