Bible Reading – Acts 1:4-8
On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” So, when they met together, they asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Devotion
In this passage, Jesus is instructing His disciples that His church would be empowered by the Spirit of God. It is clear from Jesus’ words that the church would be a spiritual movement of God empowered by His Spirit and not by the gifting and charisma of men. This is clearly seen in Acts chapter two on the day of Pentecost. On this birthday of the church, common uneducated men were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” This was the fulfillment of what Jesus said in Acts 1:8. This new spiritual movement of God had been birthed!
Here at Oak Pointe Church, we see ourselves as a continuation of that spiritual movement that began on that first day of Pentecost. Since that time, God has been transforming the lives of His people through the message of Christ and by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. We are here today because of faithful believers who came before us and embraced this spiritual movement of transformed lives. The early church turned their world upside down with the message of Jesus. Here at Oak Pointe, we are glad to be a continuation of this spiritual movement designed by God to transform the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.
The Big Question
How is Acts chapter two a fulfillment of Acts 1:8? Do you consider yourself a part of this great spiritual movement known as the church? In what ways is the Holy Spirit using you to turn the world upside down for Christ? What is your next step in the process of spiritual transformation?
Spend some time in prayer meditating on what God revealed to you today.