Read Acts 1:3-8
3 During the forty days after [Jesus] 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.”
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?”
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.” (NLT)
Discover
1. When would the apostles be able to leave Jerusalem (verse 4)?
2. What would the apostles receive when the Holy Spirit came upon them?
3. What would this allow them to do?
Respond
Today's verses show us Jesus' final words on earth before He ascended to heaven. Just as He had done previously, He told His followers about the Holy Spirit, this time being more direct about His coming. Specifically, the apostles were told to wait in Jerusalem. When the Holy Spirit came, He would fuel them with power to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, completely changing the landscape of the known world.
This same power is available to us. When we choose to follow Jesus as our Savior, we too are filled with the Holy Spirit. Not to keep Him to ourselves but so we can be witnesses, telling people about Jesus everywhere we go, whether close to home or across the globe.
Have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit for yourself? If you haven’t, you can make a decision today to start following Jesus. We would love to help you take that step. Simply visit tpcc.org/Jesus to let us know.
Here are some other steps you can take:
How You Can Pray
Thank God for the power He provides through His Holy Spirit. Confess any areas where you’ve tried to operate by your own power, neglecting to invite Him into your life. Ask for a fresh refilling of His Holy Spirit and for boldness to share His message with others.
What You Can Do
One of the most impactful ways to let the Holy Spirit’s power work through you is to serve others. This time of year, there are many opportunities to do that. To see specific opportunities available in Indianapolis, visit tpcc.org/serve-near-calendar.