Introducing The Holy Spirit
Acts 1:1–5
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
From Jesus…
Luke begins his account of the Acts of the Apostles by recapping to Theophilus where he had previously left off in his gospel.
Jesus had: done his work of establishing the coming of his kingdom and taught the disciples about the kingdom of heaven; chosen his apostles and given his commands to them to fulfill the proclamation of the gospel; and proved his resurrection in his appearance to them.
Luke’s point is this: “so far you have seen and heard all about the work of this Jesus… but now that he has ascended to heaven, it is time for his command for gospel preaching on earth to be fulfilled…”
…Now Over To The Holy Spirit.
Lest we are quick to think that God’s part has ended and the kingdom’s baton has been completely handed over to the mortal apostles, Luke corrects our thought pattern right from the start.
“The Holy Spirit”, he says, “is the main character for this next act.”
Indeed, the apostles have been given the command to proclaim repentance and the forgiveness of sins through the suffering of the Christ to the world (Luke 24:45–48), but they were also instructed to stay in the city to first receive power from on high (Luke 24:49).
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.
Luke 24:49
Go Ye, But Tarry Ye
Before the apostles could go out and start on the kingdom work, they had to first wait on the Lord’s promise of the Holy Spirit.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:4–5
This command tells us a few key things:
First, the kingdom work that was to come would be fulfilled by the Holy Spirit. True, the command to work and proclaim fell onto the shoulders of the apostles — yet, the one who would truly enable the work to be done (and done according to God’s will) is God Himself through the person of the Holy Spirit. He is to be their guide and their help.
Without the Holy Spirit, not only would the work done be lackluster, it would not be of God’s.
Next, those who are called to the kingdom’s work must wait upon the Lord for the Spirit’s guidance. Why couldn’t the Holy Spirit just show up instantaneously — like a quick change-of-command ceremony, for Him to take over and instruct the disciples on what to do next?
Had the apostles gone ahead to embark on their work outside of Jerusalem, they would have certainly missed a powerful and awesome event in the Day of the Pentecost — where thousands gathered to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I doubt that the apostles could have predicted that such an event would take place in spectacular fashion; this is exactly how our perspective is like with God’s plans. We are often unable to see how He is orchestrating the fulfillment of His kingdom’s work but if we are impatient and pay little heed to His timing, we will certainly be out of sync with Him.
The failure to wait on God to fulfill His work might as well bring us to futile work — God’s work must take place according to His timing; we must exercise patience in waiting on the Lord.
Another lesson that we may capture is that God will provide abundantly for those whom He calls to His work. The apostles certainly may have had some success had they proceeded to proclaim the gospel by themselves. Yet, God saw it fit that they shall not carry out His work in haste but to first receive His very presence.
The work of the kingdom is a tiring one. The evil one aims to wear the saints down — proclaiming and witnessing the kingdom is an endeavor that essentially calls one into a service of self-sacrifice. Persecution, fear, reluctance, discouragement, discord, frustration, fatigue — all these come with the territory. It is impossible for men to do the work of God by their sheer will alone; God knows this fully and hence gives us the Holy Spirit who will enable us to persevere in this work.
Prayer
Dear Father in Heaven,
I give You thanks for the gift of Your very presence — through the Holy Spirit, I am sealed in Your promise of salvation. Lord, You know how impatient and distracted I can be with handling Your work. You know how sloppy and lethargic I can be as well; when I am focused, You know how hasty and self-willed I can be in pursuing my direction rather than Yours.
I ask thee, humble Thy servant so that I may learn to wait on You and do that which You have truly called me to. Teach me to wait on You and Your Spirit, O God — so that I may be filled by Your presence first for You are the God of peace, and then to be moved by Your will and not thine own.
I trust that Your grace is sufficient for me, O God. For the namesake of Christ Jesus, Amen.