The Acts of the Apostles is the story of a transformed Church, a Church motivated, with a purpose, on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit! The Word of God says Jesus will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire!
'You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth' (Acts 1:8, NKJV). One time when I was away on one of my prayer walks, I was talking to the Holy Spirit and said, "Holy Spirit, You know Jesus better than any of us. I want You to tell me what was the key to the Power that Jesus had." It became absolutely clear from reading the Scripture, that when Jesus was born, He gave up His heavenly power and authority and lived as a man here on earth with us. And it wasn't until His baptism in the river Jordan, when the Holy Spirit came down on Him like a dove, that He received the Power which transformed His life. What Jesus is saying here to these humble men is, when the Holy Spirit is come, He will give you the power which will transform your lives. The revolution when you are baptised in the Holy Spirit has to be life-transforming! In the Acts of the Apostles the disciples received the baptism of the Holy Spirit – instantly they were no longer frightened and ineffective, but filled with boldness and fire! That’s what we need today in the church – a new boldness, a new authority, a new power – which is the result of a baptism in the Holy Spirit!
The book of Acts is attributed to the authorship of Luke. It serves as a continuation of the Gospel of Luke, picking up the narrative with the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven.
Brief summary of Acts 1:
The Ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:1-11): The book begins with Jesus spending forty days with His disciples after His resurrection, teaching them about the kingdom of God. He instructs them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for the Holy Spirit. As Jesus ascends into heaven, angels assure the disciples that He will return in the same way.
Choosing Matthias (Acts 1:12-26): The disciples, now numbering 120, gather in an upper room in Jerusalem. Peter addresses them, pointing out the need to replace Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and died. They cast lots, and Matthias is chosen to replace Judas as one of the twelve apostles.
The Day of Pentecost (Acts 2): The Holy Spirit descends upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost, empowering them to speak in different languages. Peter delivers a powerful sermon, explaining the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy and proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Messiah. About 3,000 people respond to the message and are baptised.
These events set the stage for the subsequent chapters of Acts, where the early Christian community grows, faces persecution, and spreads the message of Jesus Christ. The book provides an account of the missionary journeys of the apostle Paul and the establishment of Christian communities in various cities throughout the Roman Empire. Acts concludes with Paul in house arrest in Rome, still boldly proclaiming the Gospel.
From the moment I was baptised in the Holy Spirit aged 13, my whole life was transformed – not just by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but absolute change! Saved, baptised in water, that baptism in the Holy Spirit was the greatest change of all, a REVOLUTION in my life! It changed my living, my thinking, my preaching, – a physical and spiritual manifestation that was obvious wherever I went. I was preaching in the school: now my classmates changed, two went on to become preachers; the cynical Scripture teacher, who spent his time criticising the Bible, also changed and started a Bible study group and prayer meeting in the school! Baptism in the Holy Spirit is not just an anointing or a feeling or an emotional experience – it has to be an ABSOLUTE LIFE-CHANGING MIRACLE, a spiritual revolution in your life. If it has not changed you, you need to be immersed and baptised in the Holy Spirit again!
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before You believing the promise Acts 1:8, that I will receive Power when the Holy Spirit comes upon me. I acknowledge my need for Your power in my life. Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord, and empower me to be a bold and effective witness for Jesus Christ.
May Your Spirit guide my thoughts, words, and actions, so that I may reflect the love and truth of Jesus in my daily life. Help me to be a witness right where I am - in my home, workplace, and community. Open doors for me to share the Good News of salvation and to demonstrate Your love to those around me.
I surrender myself to Your purposes, trusting that You will equip and enable me through the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for the privilege of being a part of Your mission. In Jesus' name, I pray.
Amen.