The next few weeks we will be looking at the
influence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the Lord’s disciples – the ‘twelve’
and other close followers of Jesus in the Book of Acts.
Mark 16:20 (NLT)
And the disciples went everywhere and
preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many
miraculous signs.
The lead up to Pentecost
In Acts
1 we are told that Jesus appeared to the disciples on a number of occasions
after his resurrection to encourage them. On one of these occasions whilst
dining with them, he tells them not to leave Jerusalem until they have received
the Father’s gift of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.
Acts
1:3-5 (NIV)
3 After
his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs
that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and
spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while
he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave
Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard
me speak about. 5 For John baptized
with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit.”
Just before the ascension of Jesus into heaven,
he left the disciples with the instruction to wait in Jerusalem until they receive
the promise of the Father which was the infilling of the Holy Spirit – power
from on high.
Luke 24:49 (NLT)
“And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as
my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and
fills you with power from heaven.”
And in John
16:12-15, again just before his ascension, Jesus tells the disciples that
he has lots to tell them, but they won’t be able to bear it all right then, but
when the Holy Spirit comes, as in Luke
24:49 above, he will guide them in all truth, step-by step throughout their
lives.
John 16:12-15 (NIV)
12 “I
have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But
when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will
tell you what is yet to come.14 He will glorify me because it
is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All
that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will
receive from me what he will make known to you.”
So now we have the scene set, the lead up to
Pentecost, where the disciples are waiting in Jerusalem to be baptized with the
Holy Spirit and where they will receive power from on high to enable them to
step out and fulfil their God-given purpose in Christ Jesus.
Acts 1:8 (NLT)
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.”
In the meantime, let’s have a look at what
they were doing whilst they were waiting. They weren’t just hanging around,
they were actively engaged in putting into place some very important spiritual
principles.
1. They were waiting in Jerusalem just as the
Lord told them to. Being obedient to the Word – Acts 1:4; Luke 24:49.
Isaiah
40:31 (KJV)
But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
2. They were praying together continually – Acts 1:14.
3. They chose another apostle to replace Judas in
obedience to the Word – Acts 1:20; Ps 109:8.
What can we learn from this to apply
to our lives today?
Cultivate a daily lifestyle where prayer and
obedience to the Word plays a BIG
part – in fact the BIGGEST part and
wait patiently for the Lord!
May the name of Jesus be lifted up and glorified!
An extract from my book: Fan Into Flame: Life in the Spirit available on Paperback:
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