Acts 1:8, But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses…

“This passage shapes our identity as a Spirit-empowered, Christ-centered, globally minded people of mission.”
- John Stott

Acts 1:1,2, In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

Luke is… “…among historians of first rank.”
- Sir William Ramsay

Acts 1:3, 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.

Acts 1:4,5, 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; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:6, So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

Acts 1:7, He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.”

Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:9, And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Acts 1:10,11, And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Why does Holy Spirit power require waiting?

1) Waiting tests our trust.

I John 2:19, They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.

John 10:4,5, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

Faith wouldn’t be faith if there were no waiting.

2) Waiting builds our character.

Romans 5:3-5, …We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Philippians 4:11-13, …I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

3) Waiting enables God’s perfect timing.

Genesis 50:20, As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.