Term 2: All about the Holy Spirit
Chapter 1: The Promise of Power and the Posture of Waiting
The Book of Acts opens not with a sudden burst of action, but with a profound command to wait. Before Jesus ascended into heaven, He gathered His closest followers and instructed them not to depart fromJerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. A fascinating and deeply pastoral detail is found in how Jesus gave these instructions. The scripture notes that Jesus gave His commandments to the apostles "through the Holy Spirit". Even the resurrected, glorified Lord Jesus Christ, who held all authority in heaven and on earth, relied on the power and presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit. This beautiful truth introduces us to our first theme:the Holy Spirit is a Divine Person. He is the active, cooperative partner within the Holy Trinity. If the glorified Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit to accomplish His earthly ministry, surely we cannot afford to attempt the work God has given us without Him.
While they waited, Jesus promised them the ultimate gift. He said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon
you". This introduces our second theme: the gifts of the Spirit. God does not give us the Holy Spirit simply to let us enjoy a spiritual high or the equivalent of a day at an amusement park. The power and gifts of the Spirit are given for a specific purpose: to make us witnesses to the ends of the earth. Jesus was essentially telling them, "I need you to tell people what I have done for them, but do not attempt to do this in your own strength—do it in the power of the Holy Spirit". The gifts of the Spirit are the divine tools we need to effectively share the love of Christ with our neighbors, coworkers, and family members.
As the disciples returned to the upper room to wait, we see the beautiful, quiet emergence of the fruit of the Spirit. There
were about a hundred and twenty believers gathered together, including Mary the mother of Jesus, the apostles, and other brothers and sisters. Waiting is incredibly difficult for human beings, yet these believers demonstrated the fruit of patience, self-control, and faithfulness. They did not wait in idle frustration; they waited in persistent, united prayer. This is the fruit of peace and unity in action. When we find ourselves in seasons of waiting, we must remember that God uses the waiting room to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit within our character, perfectly preparing us to handle the powerful gifts He is about to release in our lives.