Originally posted: 1/12/2020
“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth,” (1:8).
Somehow, I missed what Jesus had spoken before His words recorded in verse 8. For many years I have known, quoted and often shared Acts 1:8 in small groups or in teaching. But today, I saw something different.
I saw Him turning His early followers’ eyes away from what need not be their concern to that which would sustain them throughout every need… His Promised Power.
His disciples were now in the very Presence of their risen Savior… stop and think about that! Yes, I know they had witnessed countless miracles throughout their three-year journey with their Messiah; but they had also seen His brutal crucifixion, His body mutilated and torn beyond repair… and they had seen their hopes crucified as well.
And now He stood before them:
To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God, (1:3).
This scene far outplays anything Hollywood could ever concoct. Can you imagine? There is no doubt now in any of their minds… Now they are convinced by many convincing proofs; He truly is the Promised Messiah, All-Powerful, conquering even death!
And now, in what may appear to be a bit anti-climactic, it is as though He picks up where He had left off when He walked among them as a Man, and continues teaching, teaching them about the kingdom. But in their own understanding, they thought they already knew what that kingdom should look like.
So, they ask, when… when is all this going to happen? Is it now, Lord; is it now that You are you going to overthrow the enemy (the Romans) and set up Your rule Lord?
So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (1:6).
And before His Promised Power, comes His realignment of the confused, and somewhat misled, presumptions of His disciples.
Consider His Promised Power
He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth,” (1:7-8).
- His Promised Power redirects our focus.
- “It is not for you to know times or epochs…”
- His Promised Power reveals His authority.
- “…which the Father has fixed by His own authority;”
- His Promised Power supplies His provision.
- “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;”
- His Promised Power manifests His glory.
- “and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth,”
How do we respond to His Promised Power?
- His Promised Power redirects our focus.
- He will redirect our focus as we fix our minds on Jesus and not on our own understanding or preconceptions, that we may experience His Promised Power to live as His witnesses.
- Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1-2).
- Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2).
- He will redirect our focus as we fix our minds on Jesus and not on our own understanding or preconceptions, that we may experience His Promised Power to live as His witnesses.
- His Promised Power reveals His authority.
- As we submit to His Promised Power He will reveal His authority, enabling us to effectively run this race of life. May we live in deliberate obedience to obey His command to be His witnesses, that He would work through us to win souls and make disciples.
- And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
- But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men,” (Acts 5:29).
- As we submit to His Promised Power He will reveal His authority, enabling us to effectively run this race of life. May we live in deliberate obedience to obey His command to be His witnesses, that He would work through us to win souls and make disciples.
- His Promised Power supplies His provision.
- When our focus is on our own strength and ability, His command to go into the whole world to be His witnesses will be unattainable. But as we depend on His Holy Spirit to supply His provision to fill, teach and remind us, we will be prepared, empowered and enabled to share His Promised Power to all those He brings into our lives.
- “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you,” (John 14:26).
- for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure, (Philippians 2:13).
- When our focus is on our own strength and ability, His command to go into the whole world to be His witnesses will be unattainable. But as we depend on His Holy Spirit to supply His provision to fill, teach and remind us, we will be prepared, empowered and enabled to share His Promised Power to all those He brings into our lives.
- His Promised Power manifests His glory.
- In and of ourselves, we are completely unable to live a life that brings God glory. But as we depend on His Promised Power, He will manifest His glory as He supplies all we need to glorify our Father in Heaven.
- “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 5:16).
- And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:19-20).
- In and of ourselves, we are completely unable to live a life that brings God glory. But as we depend on His Promised Power, He will manifest His glory as He supplies all we need to glorify our Father in Heaven.
Oh that we would live each day in unassailable confidence; for He has granted to us all we need, if we will but believe and commit to live in His Promised Power.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus, (Philippians 1:6).
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me, (Philippians 4:20).