Called to Witness – The Presidential Prayer Team

It is not for you to know times and seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. – Acts 1:7

During the three-year ministry of Jesus Christ, His disciples struggled to comprehend all that He was teaching them. Their whole form of worship changed after Christ’s death and resurrection. Their concept of God must have changed, as well. The pious Jew would not even say the name of Yahweh (the scribes would bathe after writing the name), and now Jesus taught His followers to pray to the Father who would be intimately aware and responsive to their requests.

Thus, when the disciples asked, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel” (Acts 1:6), it was not an unusual issue about which to wonder. The Old Testament prophets foretold that the Messiah would come to reign over Israel (Obadiah 21), and this seemed like it could be the time. However, it was not. Christ’s answer was gentle, and He did not call the question foolish. He redirected their thoughts to His Father in heaven who is in control of all time – past, present, and future. As Creator God, He has the authority to shape the flow of history according to His will.

When the disciples asked Jesus the question, He told them that another subject was of greater priority. The power of the Holy Spirit was to come upon them, and they would be called to be witnesses and proclaimers of the “gospel of the kingdom” of Christ (Matthew 24:14). It was not for them to know the times or seasons, but they were commissioned, as are you, to proclaim the good news of salvation through Christ (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). You have the power of the Holy Spirit! Praise the Lord for that assurance.

Today’s Verse: Acts 1:7

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Matthew 24:3-14

³As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” ⁴And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁵For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. ⁶And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. ⁷For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

⁹“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. ¹⁰And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. ¹²And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.