I Will Be a Witness with the Help of the Holy Spirit
Scripture Passage: Acts 1:1-11 (NASB)
1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 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 things regarding the kingdom of God. 4 Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” 7 But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set 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 as far as the remotest part of the earth.” 9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11 and they said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
SUMMARY
Luke was a physician and is the author of this letter to Theophilus, a high ranking official of Rome. He wrote two letters and one of them was the gospel of Luke while the second letter is known as the book of Acts. Luke declares that Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering and spent 40 days demonstrating many convincing proofs with His disciples and sharing about the kingdom of God. Jesus commanded them to stay and wait to be baptized by the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and that they will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Samaria and to the remotest part of the earth. As Jesus ascended to heaven, two men in white clothing told them that Jesus would return the same way as they saw Him go into heaven.
MEDITATION & REFLECTION
While Jesus was with the disciples before the crucifixion, He often reminded them that He would have to be taken away from them but that in His place, He would send a Helper, a Comforter. In John 14:16, we see an example of that.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” Just when the disciples were disconsolate and felt that He was abandoning them, they thought they had no one to trust and follow, but Jesus promised a Helper who would be with them forever. Also in John 14:26, Jesus said,
“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.”
The disciples were never alone; all that Jesus talked about, the Holy Spirit will remind them. From Luke’s writing we can know unequivocally that Jesus is the fulfillment of the holy scriptures.
Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension all have come to pass. The two men in white reminded us that He will come back the same way and this has yet to be fulfilled. Am I looking forward to His promise of return? How am I preparing and making His kingdom known to those around me?
APPLICATION
With the rising anxieties and challenges of our current event; changes in government, social structure, uncertain economy and insecure future, I’m asking God, where are You? Have You forgotten us? Will You not intervene? Will You cast us off forever? But today’s passage reminded me that God has a plan. He promised to help us and comfort us by the Holy Spirit He sent during His absence. He hasn’t changed, The Holy Spirit still is in work within me, reminding me of all that He spoke to me from the scriptures...”I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5) and just as He promised His disciples, He gives us the same promise...
“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him.” (Revelation 1:7)
I have the responsibility to share the gospel with those around me. With the help of the Holy Spirit I want to be a bold witness for Jesus at my home, work and in my daily living.
PRAYER
Father, thank You. You have lavished Your love to us through the cross when You shed Your precious blood. And now we have the Holy Spirit within us to help us remember who You are and also to be comforted in such a time as now. We want to fully submit to the authority and leading of the Holy Spirit and the gifts that come with it. Forgive us for neglecting and grieving the Holy Spirit with our unbelief and stubbornness. Fill us now once again. May the Holy Spirit be the impetus that once again brings revival in my heart, our home, Your church and the nations. Come Lord Jesus.
In Jesus Name, amen.
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