SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. …
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”
6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
OBSERVATION: In verse two, we see that the Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 3:22, 4:14,18-19) continued after His crucifixion and resurrection. Earlier He had told them to go into all the world, and after seeing the resurrected Jesus, they were ready to go! But here He tells then not to go anywhere UNTIL then have received the empowering of the Holy Spirit. After receiving that empowering they will take the gospel to the ends of the earth ie, Asia, Africa, Americas, etc.!
APPLICATION: To do what Jesus tells us to do, we need the same power that Jesus had during Him ministry. He did not minister as God, but as a man empowered by the Holy Spirit. To do what Jesus tells us to do, we need what He provides to empower us!
PRAYER: Lord, I ask you to fill me with your Holy Spirit, keep me full of your Holy Spirit. Use me for your glory. Teach me to walk in humble obedience to you. Amen
Pastor Leon
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