“Waiting on the Power”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Scripture: Acts 1:1-11 (NLT)
Be sure to check out today’s service on Facebook Live at 10:10 am!
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.
This is Luke speaking
– The writer of Acts and the Gospel which bears his name
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.”
The Greek word for baptism is baptizo (Gr. 907) which means “to immerse”
- We often associated baptism with water – but the same word is used for the baptism of the Holy Spirit
- So Jesus is essentially saying “just as you were immersed in water, so you will be immersed in 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?”
So at this point, they are STILL asking Jesus when he will free Israel from the Romans!
They STILL don’t understand it.
- It’s interesting though how Jesus answers, because He is kingdom minded and not earthly minded.
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.”
9 After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. 10 As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them.
11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
Let’s pray together for a moment.
- The purpose of the Crucifixion was the shedding of blood for the forgiveness of sin.
The substitutionary death (atonement)
- The purpose of the Resurrection was the completion of the plan and seal the promise by raising Jesus from the dead.
No one had raised from the dead like this before!
- The purpose of the Ascension was the preparation for the coming of the Holy Spirit!
Jesus left – they STAYED – on His instruction until the Holy Spirit came to them!
All of these elements:
– Crucifixion | Resurrection | Ascension
– Are all about the PRESENCE of God
- The crucifixion was about the presence of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God
- The resurrection was about the presence of Jesus as the risen Savior
- The ascension was about the presence of Jesus to make a way for the Holy Spirit
Now, the power in the presence of God shifts to Pentecost
- Pentecost – the 50th day
The seventh week after the Passover – The Feast of Weeks
- A personal journey in your story
- Are you in a moment of crucifixion?
Personal struggle, sin, tragedy, battle, where something needs to pass
for other things to be healed? - Are you in a moment of resurrection?
Emerging from a tough time, seeing the light, the hope, the future, but still uncertain of everything God wants you to be. - Are you in a moment of ascension?
Something is leaving for something better to replace it. You are trading a past for a future, to have been lost to find hope, to seek something higher.
- Are you in a moment of crucifixion?
In all the moments, the thing we need is God’s presence.
It’s in his presence where God reveals his purpose.
Be sure to check out today’s service on Facebook Live at 10:10 am!
