“On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4-5, NIV
I find this passage interesting. Jesus gave the disciples an overarching command to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They were supposed to teach them to follow everything Jesus had taught them. This is the great commission from Matthew 28:19-20. It was their mission then; it is our mission now.
But Jesus here says “wait.” Don’t leave the city. E.g. don’t go to all the nations… yet. Why? Because the disciples first needed to be equipped with the Spirit of God. This passage is a favourite of mine because it reminds me of two things:
- The power of the Holy Spirit
- Our need for the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is powerful. He is the one who draws us, confirms us, and grows us in Jesus. He is the one who empowers our witness and uses even the feeblest of attempts to showcase the mighty working of God. It is critical to realize that without the Holy Spirit actively working to draw people, and our willingness to allow Him to guide and direct, we will fall short of what God might have in store for us and His church.
Recently, I was reminded of how it’s not really the pastor’s job to grow a church. Neither can a congregation grow itself, unless the Spirit of God draws people (John 6:44). Not that as a church we can’t do things to be poised for growth. Yet the actual growth that we see, be it 1 person or 100 added to the kingdom, is all a gift from God. I say that to say this: we need the Holy Spirit to be present and actively part of our lives if we hope to be a light and witness for the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s not until we receive the Holy Spirit, until God’s presence is within us that we can really be effective witnesses for the good news about Jesus. So, as we work in the next months to press into the Holy Spirit, may I encourage you to earnestly seek Him in your daily life? Here’s another tidbit I just learned: Faith is not just about doing.
First and foremost, it’s about knowing and being known. What does that mean? Know the Holy Spirit, even as He already knows you. Cultivate your relationship with him, because we cannot be passionate and growing Jesus followers if we are unwilling to know and be known by Him. We cannot effectively witness if the One who does the growing work in our lives is not allowed to speak. So, cultivate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Out of genuine relationship with the Spirit of God comes a changed heart and empowerment to live in obedience to Him, including for witness. Draw closer to God, earnestly desire intimacy with Him, and He will use you exactly as He has made you to be used – like a tool being put to work for its purpose. Ask Christ to pour out upon you in a fresh way the Spirit. Know, and be known by Him, so that from that beautiful place of deep relationship you can live all what God has for you to do in His kingdom here on earth.