TOPIC: PURPOSIVELY EMPOWERMEN
Read Acts 1:1-8
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me a in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
MEMORISE:
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth (Acts 1:8).
EXPOSITION
During our Lord Jesus Christ’s mentoring of His first set of disciples, it seemed His mission on earth was not totally clear to them! The Disciples, just like an average Jew then, thought Christ the Messiah had come to rescue them from the dictatorship of the Roman empire! Even up till the time Christ was about ascending into the heavens, they asked Him the very time of Israel’s political restoration when they would hold key positions in the supposed “Independent Israel.” However, their earthly ambition was dashed by Christ’s response.
Jesus bluntly told them to shelve the thought of emancipating Israel and establishing an earthly kingdom.
Instead, they should wait for divine empowerment by His Spirit. This dose of the Living Water concerns itself with shedding more light on why the Holy Spirit is given to all Christ’s followers. Since an abuse or misuse of something becomes inevitable, if its purpose is unknown or misconstrued, we must know the purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Majority of believers have been misdirecting their efforts as they abuse the Holy Spirit. It is unequivocal that the Holy Spirit was purposefully released on the Church to be empowered for the propagation of the Gospel here on earth and for practical Christ-like life. The power is not for the Church to become a political force here on earth.
The Holy Spirit is to back up the gospel message by convincing and convicting the sinner. The Holy Spirit pricked the hearts of Peter’s listeners during his Pentecostal sermon. It is time we were back to using the Holy Spirit’s Power in the right way. Some people erroneously think they can channel the Power towards political emancipation and materials gains or merchandising. Thank God for Peter who rebuked such intentions.
If evidently you have received the Holy Spirit, He is to empower and help you build God’s Kingdom here on earth, and prepare you for the rapture and His coming eternal Kingdom. Receive the grace to properly understand and apply this truth. Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Spirit and Power to do the works You have ordained for me.
2. Lord, assist me to make use of the Power of Holy Spirit in the right way.
3. Pray against the abuse of God’s power in some quarters, and that the eyes of members and leaders would be more opened to deal with such godlessness.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 44:13 – 47:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:8 – 2:18
HAVE A WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY………….SHALOM
