Some tasks are so big it seems impossible to accomplish, but when you are given a promise that you will have everything you need to complete it, you can begin with confidence. God has fulfilled His promise in sending the Holy Spirit, but He also promises to give you the power to be His witness. God promises power!
I’ve always been mechanically minded and like to fix things. My dad was a mechanic for years, and he taught me a lot about bikes and cars. When I was in college, I thought I could fix my own car with the tools I had acquired. I was continually frustrated by not having what I needed to get the job done.
One quick call to dad and he would say, “bring your car over here, we will get it fixed.” I knew that was true.
I sought to do things independently, but there was wisdom, tools and power I did not have on my own. In my dad’s garage was the proper tools and his wisdom to guide me through the task.
I think we often feel that way when it comes to sharing our faith. We have some tools and knowledge, but we are frustrated when we try to do things independently in our own wisdom. What we need to realize is that in our Father’s house is everything we need to get the task done.
Read Acts 1:1-11
In the last two weeks we talked about the Motivation for global missions, our love for Jesus. We talked about the Cause of Jesus, to make disciples of all nations. Tonight is the Promises of Jesus that will equip us for this Cause.
Promise # 1 – Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Before Jesus ascended to heaven, He made a promise that soon the disciples would be baptized by the Holy Spirit. It was a strange statement, and they really didn’t know what it meant. They knew about John’s baptism of repentance, but what is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
Baptism means “immersion, to be dipped.” As Christ followers, once coming to faith, we are called to be obedient in baptism by being immersed in water symbolizing the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. This is a command to all Christians and is to be among the first steps of obedience for a new believer. However, it’s never too late to be baptized.
Jesus words, “you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” is a foreshadowing of the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the prayer meeting of the disciples and “immersed” them with the Spirit.
It was a new work of God amongst His people. Believers were being “indwelt” by the Spirit in a new way, meaning they experienced the presence and power of the Spirit. This was a unique experience for the early church, but this event (Pentecost) was the first fruit of the regeneration all those who receive Christ share.
Coming to faith in Jesus means that the Spirit of God indwells you and works in and through you.
Promise # 2 – Power from the Holy Spirit
A baptism of sorts is coming, but what is the results? “You will receive power when the presence of the Spirit comes upon you.”
This is a promise of power, dynamic power! Strength, energy, power that is beyond your own is coming.
Think about it this way, say you were given a brand new iPhone, but the battery was completely dead. The one who gave you that iPhone said, “in a few days, you will receive a package with the power cord. Plug it in and you will be able to do amazing things with your iPhone.”
When the package arrives, what are you going to do? Plug it in, right? Of course. Once that happens, so many options become available to you. Without power, the iPhone is just a lump of plastic, electronic parts and glass. With power, it is a dynamic tool of communication and creativity.
You are like an iPhone, and the Holy Spirit is the power cord. When you plug into Jesus, you receive power through the Holy Spirit to become a dynamic force for the Gospel.
Promise # 3 – You WILL BE my witnesses
Not only did Jesus promise that you will have the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, but He said “you will be my witnesses.” Notice, it’s not “might be” or “could be” but it is “will be.”
You see, Jesus is your Creator. He knows you better than you know yourself. And when you come to faith in Jesus, He has a detailed plan for your life.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Jesus has good works, godly encounters and Gospel opportunities prepared for you to walk in. He promises to give you supernatural power and strength from the Holy Spirit in order that you will be His witness to the world. It is a work He does in and through you!
It begins where you are, in your Jerusalem. Think your family, friends and neighborhood. How you live and interact with your parents, siblings, and friends will speak to those in your community about your faith. This can open doors for conversations about your relationship with Christ.
His promises extends to where you go beyond your home community. Pay attention to His heart for the whole world to hear the Gospel, “to the end of the earth.” He wants His witnesses to advance the message to the entire globe.
For a mission like that, it will take a supernatural power, praise God for His gift of the Holy Spirit!
Promise # 4 – Jesus will come again
The last promise in this text is that Jesus is coming again! In His first coming, He came in peace as a baby, lived in complete fulfilment of the law and was the perfect sacrifice for sin. His resurrection conquered sin and death and the Gospel of Grace has been proclaimed for generations.
In His second coming, He is coming to make all things right. He is coming to put an end to sin, sorrow and sadness. He is coming to restore the world to the way it was intended to be before sin entered the world.
This promise is also a reminder that the time for being His witnesses is limited. Now is the time to tell people before He returns. They need to hear the Good News!
Just like going to my dad’s garage made fixing my car easier, turning to God’s Word will reveal to you the promises and provision of God for you to be His witnesses in this world.
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