Omer Devotional Day 40

May 9 at sundown - Day 40
Today is day 40 of counting the Omer 
Today is day 40 out of Egypt
Today is day 40 of Messiah Resurrected

Now Is the Time (Acts 1:1-11)

When Will Yeshua Restore the Kingdom?1 I wrote the first volume, Theophilus, about all that Yeshua began to do and teach—
2 up to the day He was taken up, after He had given orders by the Ruach ha-Kodesh to the emissaries He had chosen.
3 To them He showed Himself to be alive after His suffering through many convincing proofs, appearing to them for forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 Now while staying with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father promised—which, He said, “you heard from Me.
5 For John immersed with water, but you will be immersed in the Ruach ha-Kodesh not many days from now.”
6 So when they gathered together, they asked Him, “Lord, are You restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?”
7 He said to them, “It is not your place to know the times or seasons which the Father has placed under His own control.
8 But you will receive power when the Ruach ha-Kodesh has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and through all Judah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
9 After saying all this—while they were watching—He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
10 While they were staring into heaven as He went up, suddenly two men stood with them in white clothing.
11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you keep standing here staring into heaven? This Yeshua, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Reflect:

The fortieth day is an important day in the counting of the Omer. There are only ten days left to Shavuot and on this day Yeshua ascends into heaven. The focus of his ascension was to encourage his disciples with the words, “You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and through all Judah, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Interestingly, they really don’t go to the ends of the earth for another fifteen years. They continue to focus on Jerusalem and Samaria and Jewish people. In Acts 10, about fourteen years later, Peter shares the Gospel with a Gentile named Cornelius and he and all of his household turn to Yeshua. This opens the doors to the ends of the earth and the disciples begin to travel all over the known world telling the nations the story of Yeshua and encouraging them to put their trust in Him. Yeshua leaves the disciples with a command and after he is gone they just stand there. They’re so amazed by what just happened that an Angel says to them, “Why do you keep standing here staring into heaven?” The Angel’s message is essentially, “Stop staring and get to work!” The real work doesn't begin right away; it takes time. Think about the last fifteen years and how many things have changed. Maybe now is the time to do the things that God has called you to do?

Prayer: Lord, I don't want to wait and stare into Heaven, I want to do the things that you have called me to do. I know you have a greater purpose than I am living out right now. Help me to live a life worthy of the great calling that I have received. Amen.

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At Restoration, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer. During this season of counting of the Omer, we have decided to do this collectively as a congregation in the days leading up to Shavuot. Together, we want to trust in His power to impact our lives, our congregation, our city, and our world. The last 10 days we will encourage a corporate time of fasting and prayer, which starts the evening of May 9 and ends the evening of May 19. The conclusion of this season of prayer will culminate in a congregational picnic on the 50th day, the day of Shavuot - Sunday, May 20 at noon.