Focal Passage: Acts 1:4-8, 12-14; 2:1-4
Recent events have given many hope that a revival at some level may be upon us. With the assassination of Charlie Kirk (and what it spiritually sparked in some), the increase in Bible sales, and a renewed interest by younger generations in spiritual things, many are praying that a real revival is upon us. We may be entering a ‘season of reprieve’ where many are pushing back against the moral and spiritual insanity of the age. Time will tell.
However, the enemies of the cross (Philippians 3:18-19) are not going away. They are retooling. Once the spiritual fervor of the moment has passed, they will once again rise to push back against the gospel, the Church, and all things Christian. We cannot get spiritually lazy. What are we to do?
The early church faced similar challenges. After Jesus’ resurrection those early believers went about preaching the gospel in the face of severe persecution (Acts 8:1-4). They were beaten, name-called, and arrested. Yet they persevered with great success. How? The keys to their success are found in the early chapters of Acts in three dynamic, related truths: a Promise, Prayer, and Power.
A PROMISE (Acts 1:4-8) — Jesus knew that His people would need power, the kind of power that can confront sin and endure suffering. While the disciples were interested in eschatological questions, Jesus was interested in His mission to the world. So, He gave them a promise.
Kevin Shrum
Yes, He would return. That is a promise you can take to the bank. But He would also give them a promise — the power of God would come in the person of the Holy Spirit. Until that power had come, they were do to nothing. To invert the saying, ‘Don’t just stand there, do something,’ Jesus turned it on its head by saying, ‘Don’t just do something, stand there.’ They were to wait for the promise of the Spirit.
The early believers lived on the promises of God. All of the promises of God find a resounding YES in Jesus Christ (II Corinthians 1:20). The power of God is stronger than the might of men. The singular truth that God keeps His multiple promises anchored those believers in all types of circumstances. They will anchor us as well. We can do nothing without the Spirit.
PRAYER (Acts 1:12-14) — And what did those believers do while they waited? They prayed. Acts 1:14 states this in clear terms: “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” They practiced active waiting. They were preparing for the battles ahead by waiting for the presence of their Commander in the person of the Holy Spirit.
The early believers prayed constantly, consistently, and fervently (Acts 2:42; 3:1; 4:23-31). They knew, and so must we, that when we act, we act, but when we pray, God acts. And when God acts, He can do more in one minute than we can do in a lifetime. They, if you will, prayed without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17).
POWER (Acts 2:1-4) — The promise of God and the prayers of God’s people conjoined in the power of God falling on His people in the person and work of the Holy Spirit. So strong was the power of the Spirit that (1) the disciples appeared to look as if they were inebriated, out of control, controlled by a foreign power and (2) they were able to do what they could not otherwise do — speak the gospel in the languages of many people so that they could hear the good news of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:6, 11-13). So, as we wait on God, let us know the promises of God, pray those promises, and then act in the power of the Spirit. The time is now! B&R
