Acts 1:6–8
6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. 8 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.”
Over five hundred people witnessed the ascension of Jesus. The disciples walked with Jesus for three years. Did they not know Jesus had a greater purpose than walking on earth. There is a future that goes beyond this world. God’s rule and reign will be done on earth. Jesus promised His rule would go beyond this world. He promised His apostles they would sit upon thrones judging the people of Israel. He promised His followers there were two requirements to receive their reward. The follower of Christ are to be in service and ministry proclaiming the salvation of Christ. We must hear the cry of a lost world. We become so concerned with the Second Coming of Christ to the dismissal of what Christ has called us to do now.
The Christian is not to be passive awaiting the return of Christ. We are to be witnesses of Jesus throughout the world. We have either not been taught what Jesus said in verse 8 or have not believed Jesus words. There is no greater power on earth than the power of God’s Spirit living in the life of a Christian. My sermon on Sunday is about the power of God working in the church. The problem we face is many churches are powerless.
The power of God is not the power of position, recognition, fame, wealth or politics. Our power is spiritual and supernatural. The power in a Christians life is the power of God Himself. A Christian carries within himself the very power of God. There is no greater power anyone could possess.
So why do we continue to defy God? Why do Christians live for the world? The Christian has been given a task by God. Christians have a mission to carry out in the here and now. So why do so many not carry out God’s will in their lives? We do not allow God’s spirit to work in us.
We put so many worldly things ahead of God! The world is dying in sin, we profess Christ but there is a powerless emptiness that fills not just in the live of the individual, but in the church.