This reflection series is based on the book of Acts. That means for the next weeks, we will be learning the book of Acts, and how what we learn can help us be the kind of Christians God wants us to be.
In this specific article, we will use Acts 1 as our foundation. Read it first before continuing with the reflection.
There are three themes you come across as you read chapter 1 in the book of Acts. But, before delving into that, let me say a couple of things to give you some context to what I would like to share with you through this article.
First, they attribute the authorship of this book to the same person who wrote the Gospel according to Luke.
Read verse one,
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach.
Based on that, most people have concluded that he’s talking about the Gospel of Luke. Read Luke 1:3,
With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus.
Second, the author didn’t originally write the book for the Church, but for Theophilus. Both books do not describe who Theophilus was. However, he wasn’t for sure a Jew. He was a gentile, and probably an official, especially if you read Luke 1:3 where Luke refers to him as “most excellent Theophilus.”
Theophilus might have been either an influential Roman governor or someone with influence in the Roman government.
God Has Power Over Everything and Everyone
Luke, either in the Gospel or in the book of Acts, doesn’t just describe a movement. He’s talking about three themes, and the first one is God’s power.
First, he talks about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Read verses 3 and 4,
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command:
Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
The above two verses point out God’s power.
God Has Supreme Power Over Everything and Everyone!
Jesus, three days after his death, came back to life. And, he appeared to a lot of his disciples. Luke even said that Jesus showed himself to the disciples for forty days.
Not only he presented himself to the disciples, but, he also ate with them.
Saying you’ve seen a deceased person once can be ok. But, seeing them for forty days in different contexts and even eating with them, makes your experience with them more real than ever.
Jesus did it all. He taught them about the Kingdom of God and that they would also be baptized through the Holy Spirit.
Now, read verse 9,
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
When we say God has supreme power over everything and everyone, that also includes the reality of what we call gravity, time, and space.
[bctt tweet=”The power of God is this reality that God’s working can against everything we know or believe.” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
What’s My Purpose?
The second theme you come across in Acts 1 is your purpose.
Read verses 4-5 and 8,
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 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.”
There are two things here and based on the above verses.
[bctt tweet=”It all begins with the Holy Spirit. ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
Jesus was clear about that. And, that’s the reason he commanded the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. We will talk more about that in the next article.
He knew that without the Holy Spirit, the disciples could not do anything.
If you revisit the four gospels, when Jesus was arrested, no one stayed with him. The disciples all fled. Even though it was to fulfill the Scripture, but, they had not yet received the Holy Spirit yet.
I know you may wonder saying what about the Scripture that says “And then he breathed upon them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22)?
The gospel according to John has a different take on the whole account, but John doesn’t give any specific details on the number of days between Jesus’ resurrection and the time he had spent with the disciples. He does not even talk about his ascension. Actually, none of the gospels talk about it.
The book of Acts is the only one to talk about Jesus’ ascension.
Before ascending into heaven, Jesus wanted to make sure that the disciples understand that everything begins with the Holy Spirit. And, they had to wait for the promise.
[bctt tweet=”The Holy Spirit helps us make sense of our purpose in life! ” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
You may ask “how?”
Jesus would answer: “trust and obey.”
Our purpose is to be God’s witnesses. We receive the Holy Spirit for personal use, but to become God’s signs.
[bctt tweet=”Your life is a sign that points everyone you meet, every day, back to God!” username=”emmanuelnaweji”]
God Has a Plan
God has always a plan. Just as He had a plan for creating the universe and humankind (Genesis 1 and 2), God still has a plan for us all today.
God’s plans consist of three things, according to Acts 1.
First, God wants to baptize us with the Holy Spirit. When you read the rest of Acts, what happened next (based on Acts 2, which we study in the next article), the pouring of the Holy Spirit also happened with other people, including non-Jews.
Second, God will restore the Kingdom of Israel. Now, when you read some of the Apostle Paul’s letters, Israel does not have to do with the physical Israelites.
When you choose to believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you become a member of God’s family. Abraham, the father of all believers, also becomes your ancestor (see Romans 9:6-8, and Galatians 3:7).
Third, God makes you His witness wherever you may be. You are the sign God uses to lead people back to God.
In Conclusion
Acts 1 talks about God’s plan for humankind. This plan comes to reality through God’s power. In this plan, you and I play a major role. But, for us to be a part of the plan, we have to let God baptize us through the Holy Spirit. Without God’s Spirit, we are like beings with the shape of God’s heart, but void of God, Himself.
