The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:1-8
The Present:
Jesus was sharing the Vision with them. Jesus’ vision was for them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Way too many people are still only baptized by the water and not the Holy Spirit. Way too many trusting in the physical church instead of the Spiritual Church. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit that comes to live in us that brings the comfort, power, and direction each of us need. Ephesians 5:18, NKJV)
one Lord, one faith, one baptism; Ephesians 4:5
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: Acts 4:8
And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:52
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18
The Future:
They were trying to share their vision. We have to be careful we don’t get off track with our own Vision instead of God’s vision for us! Our main purpose is to get people is to get people into the Kingdom before Jesus comes back!
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8
