It had been some 40 days since Jesus rose from the dead. Over those 40 days Jesus had been presenting Himself to His followers with many convincing proofs that He was alive! He was also speaking about the Kingdom.
He told them not to depart from Jerusalem because something would be coming. In fact, He commanded them to wait for the promise of the Father, which He said, . . .
† “You have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4b-5
His disciples asked Him if this was it; if NOW was the time He was going to restore the Kingdom to Israel. But Jesus responded that it wasn’t for them to know the times or seasons which the Father has set by His own authority.
What Jesus did say, however, would be His LAST WORDS before ascending into heaven.
† “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.”
Acts 1:8
It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus entered the world, into our humanity, and personally, into our very lives.
Because there was still work that needed to be done before the full coming of His Kingdom, Jesus would now be sending His disciples on a mission to continue His ministry and take the Good News to the ends of the earth. In the process, they would also learn what it means to cross all kinds of cultural, social, economic, status and hierarchical borders in order to enter into the lives of others with this Good News of Jesus Christ!
Here’s the kicker though:
The same Holy Spirit that rested upon the Lord and empowered His life and ministry, would also rest upon His disciples to empower their lives and ministries!
It’s so much easier to be that person God call us to be, and to live out that life of service God has called each of us to, with the presence, peace, strength, wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit, than without!
May the Lord’s anointing rest upon your life, ministry and service to others. May His presence and power reside within you and overflow into the lives of others. And may you be filled to overflowing this day, with hope, joy and peace by the power of the Holy Spirit!
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