The Ripple Effectنموونە

The Church Empowered

At the beginning of Acts chapter 1, we see the resurrected Christ command His apostles to "not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised" (1:4). The apostles do exactly this after Jesus ascends (1:10) by returning to Jerusalem, going to the upper room of where they were staying and "joined together constantly in prayer" (1:14) with the others that were with them. Finally, we join in on the story at the beginning of Acts chapter 2.

Empowered: The Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit

After Christ lived, died and rose again, the presence of God no longer resides in the temple (a building) but in His people – the Church. Paul calls the Church the "Temple of the Holy Spirit," as seen in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 and 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.

The Church as the Temple of the Holy Spirit means we each have access to the presence of God, and it is His presence that purifies us and guides us on the journey of sanctification.

Empowered and Equipped

Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8, shows us that the Holy Spirit was given for a purpose. The Holy Spirit brings power- not just power for the sake of power- it is “enabling and empowering” power that assists Christ's followers in being a witness.

The immediate impact of the Holy Spirit on those in the upper room is that they began speaking in other languages that were unknown to them but were known by the many Jews who were in Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost. They exclaimed -“we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” (2:11-12). This led Peter to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and "three thousand were added to their number that day" (2:41). It is this same Spirit that we have access to today, which provides us with the same enabling power.

To be a witness for Christ is not something you have been asked to do in your own strength. But God has graciously given us a ‘helper’ (John 14:15) to assist us in all that God has called us to do.

Prayer Point: Lord, I thank you for the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that came at Pentecost. I thank you that I have access to the same power that raised Jesus from the dead and filled the disciples to be witnesses. Father, I pray that you would empower me with your Holy Spirit afresh today, so that I am impassioned for the mission of the Church to be a witness to all I meet.