Power Has a Purpose
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This is an incredible statement. Not only is it powerful, it was the last thing Jesus said to his followers before he ascended into heaven. If they had any doubt about his authority to speak, the ascension should have been the final exclamation point.
At this point the disciples have been through an emotional roller coaster. They had seen the triumphant entry and had several days of confidence around the city. Then they had seen the crowds turn ugly and murderous. They had seen Jesus arrested, tortured, and murdered. The power of the state was brought to bear and the believers were scattered.
Then there was Easter! The empty tomb, the appearances of Jesus, and then, finally, some time with the risen lord who had honored every promise he had made about himself and the father. Jesus spent forty days with his followers teaching them and preparing them. Jesus left no doubt that he was alive and that there was still a mission to pursue.
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
What is the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is part of the mystery of the Trinity. Part of this nature and being of God that we have trouble understanding. But I’m glad we don’t understand fully. I really have no interest in a God that I can fully understand. I mean, I don’t fully understand electricity or how a fax machine works. And no one even uses faxes anymore! So I don’t understand obsolete technology.
Just because we don’t understand it doesn’t mean we can’t embrace it. God is beyond our understanding, and that’s ok.
The Holy Spirit is the power of God. The Holy Spirit is not a creation of the early church. The Holy Spirit had not been held in reserve and then released by Jesus. The Holy Spirit has always been present.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
The Holy Spirit has been a key part of how God expresses Himself and manifests Himself to us all along.
The Holy Spirit empowered the faithful all through the Old Testament.
Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He went down to Ashkelon, struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he returned to his father’s home.
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.
God never leaves his people unprepared. God is unwilling to be powerless. He is unwilling for us to be powerless when we are acting in His will.
What is the purpose?
What is the purpose?
So why is the Holy Spirit showing up in our verses today? The Spirit is not here by accident.
The Spirit’s purpose was to make the disciples witnesses in an ever-broadening circle. They would first witness in Jerusalem, the center of the Jewish faith. The Jews never fully lost their place as God’s chosen people. The witness of the disciples is to begin in Jerusalem and then expand into Judea. Then the witness is to expand beyond the comfort of the traditional Jewish faith into the hostile Samarian lands. From Samaria the witness is to spread to the rest of the world. While the Jews hold the honor of being the center of God’s revelation, Jesus is not just for the Jews. The Holy Spirit was to be the energy and power that drove the disciples witness. It is still the energy and power that will drive our witness.
Witness
Witness
Lets look at some of the significance of the call to witness.
Confirms
Confirms
A witness confirms something. A witness does not appear in court, take the stand, and say. “Well, maybe that’s what I saw.” A witness doesn’t take the stand and say, “I think I heard that someone might have said something.”
No - a witness says, “I was there. I saw what happened. I heard what was said. I was there and I can confirm that this is the truth.”
Jesus was calling them and the Spirit was equipping them to do more then just spread the story. They were called to be witnesses.
What does that mean for us? It means that we are not called to simply report what someone else said or did. Our witness is about our experience with God. Our encounter with the risen savior. Obviously understanding and sharing God’s acts throughout the Old Testament and the early church are important. But that is not all we are called to be. We are called to be witnesses. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. To be witnesses we need to have experiences to confirm. Our faith has to be alive and real or there is nothing to witness about.
Behavior
Behavior
This takes me to my next point. A witness to the faith is not simply in words. A true witness confirms the faith through action. Our faith and purpose is not limited to words.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Our purpose is to put faith in action. Our words may confirm our experiences, but our behavior confirms our words.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Peter is referencing the witness of our behavior. This is such a critical aspect of witnessing!
Charles E Moore of InterVarsity Collegiate Ministries writes about an unbeliever he knew in college. Despite frequently discussing Christ and faith with this unbeliever, he remained entrenched in his lack of believe. However, after being with a group of believers who watched the sunset from the beach while they sang praises and celebrated their faith, this unbeliever accepted Christ. When questioned about what changed, the new believer said this:
“It came to me last night, while everyone was singing around the fire, that whenever I am around you Christians I am happy. Even when we disagree with each other, I find myself liking to be with Christians."
Charles questioned him and said, "But I thought you were never going to become a believer unless there was first enough evidence." "Yes, Chuck," he replied, "and I still require it. But that's precisely why I now believe. It's how you all love each other that strikes me most. I never considered that evidence before. “
Our witness is confirmed and made real by our behavior.
Sacrifice
Sacrifice
True witness is willing to sacrifice. A true witness is not an act of convenience or insignificance. Witness involves commitment and a focus on our calling.
The Greek word for witness is the same word used for martyr. A genuine witness makes no allowance for circumstances. A genuine witness follows the faith regardless of the cost.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So we have this incredible moment. Jesus is leaving for good. But as always, Jesus has a plan and a promise.
Jesus is leaving, but the Holy Spirit is coming. The Holy Spirit is coming with a specific purpose. To empower the believers to function as witnesses in word and deed, with a willingness to sacrifice themselves because of the genuineness of their faith.
The situation is still the same for us. We are part of this promise and the purpose. The mission of the believers to be witnesses includes us. It is our mission to bear witness. It is our mission to allow the Holy Spirit to power us with energy and intensity. How real is our witness. If it doesn’t confirm what we have experienced then it is not a witness. If our actions do not confirm our words then they are meaningless. And if we are unwilling to sacrifice, then it is all powerless.
As promised, the Holy Spirit is here and ready. Are we?