Reflect:
Acts 1:1-11
“When they had come together, they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But 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 1:6-8)
One of the most popular songs in 1965 was Burt Bacharach’s, “What The Word Needs Now Is Love.” If you were alive and interested in music back then, those syrupy, sappy lyrics are probably running through your head right about now. Since I’ve planted the thought in your mind, you will probably be singing it throughout the day: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love…” Sorry about that!
It seems to me that many in the modern American church would change those lyrics to, “what the world needs now…is a political party that represents our Christian values.” It doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, but that’s the way a lot of believers think these days. That is unfortunate!
The disciples were thinking that way too. After Jesus rose from the tomb as the victor over death, these followers were thinking that the Roman Empire was next in line for conquest. Perhaps the current Jewish religious regime could be dealt with at the same time. Finally, the kingdom of God would rule the earth in power and glory!
However, in this post-resurrection interaction in Acts 1, did you notice how Jesus distanced himself from that line of thought? He pointed out that political domination was not high on his list. What the world needed, Jesus said, was not political power, but a good dose of spiritual power being exercised through his people.
The kingdom of God was coming, all right, but it wouldn’t be through political persuasion or military conquest or social reformation. It would come when the Holy Spirit baptized believers with power, enabling them to do the works, speak the words and live the witness of Jesus before a watching world.
God’s kingdom on earth will not come through presidential elections or political persuasion or military conquest or social reformation. It will come only as Jesus prophetically outlined it in Acts 1:8–when the Holy Spirit baptizes believers with power, enabling them to do the works, speak the words and live the witness of Jesus before a watching world.
Things haven’t changed, you know. Two thousand years later, that is still Christ’s plan for world domination. The Holy Spirit is still available to all believers (Acts 2:38-39). He will fill those who yield, empowering ready vessels to extend the kingdom of God to a lost world, not in their own strength, but in the glorious might and supernatural power of God himself.
What the world needs now is power—sweet Holy Spirit power.
The Father’s gift of the Holy Spirit is still available. All you’ve got to do is ask and receive. I think I am going to ask today! Want to join me?
“There is no better evangelist in the world than the Holy Spirit.” ~D.L. Moody
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.