THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

TODAY’S PASSAGE: 

Acts 1:1-8 (NLT) – 1 In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. 3 During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. 4 Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. 5 John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?” 7 He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

• Luke, the author of the Book of Acts, chose his words carefully. His first book, the Gospel of Luke, tells us only of the beginning of Jesus’ work, while Acts describes how His work was continued through the first century disciples.
• Jesus had already promised His disciples that the work He started would grow and expand.

John 14:12 (NLT) – “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”

• Anyone who believes in Jesus will carry on the work that He began. Every believer can expect that they will see miracles, signs, and wonders, just like Jesus did, and even “greater!”
• DEFINITION – greater (megas): larger in numbers, in extent, a grander scale
• Jesus was promising all believers that together we would see more people saved, more people discipled, more people delivered, and more nations reached.

• Although Jesus had risen with all authority and power, He still chose to rely on the Holy Spirit when giving the disciples his final instructions on the earth.
• If our resurrected Savior relied on the Holy Spirit, so should we!

Luke 6:40 (NKJV) – A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

• One of the most Christ-like things we can do is ask the Holy Spirit for help!
• In fact, Jesus wouldn’t even allow His disciples to attempt the work He’d given them to do without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
• Likewise, none of us should ever attempt to do the work Jesus has appointed us to do without the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

• Jesus appointed His disciples to be witnesses, telling people everywhere about what they had seen Him do and teach.
• DEFINITION – witness (martyr) – a legal or historical spectator who can swear to what he has seen or heard
• Jesus finished His work, dying on a cross, resurrecting, and establishing the means by which all people can be saved.
• Every disciple of Jesus now has the job of spreading the Good News message that salvation is found in Christ alone throughout the world.
• Thankfully, God not only sent His Son to die on a cross for us. He also sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to tell people about how Jesus has saved us and can save them too!
• We can share the Good News and the Holy Spirit will confirm it, changing hearts and healing them right before our eyes!