THE APOSTLES' GRADUATION

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Acts 1:7-11 "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. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.'" (NKJV)
 
Jesus had been with the disciples for three years. He had taught them all that He could at that time. Many things were a mystery to them for they did not have the ability to understand it all then. But, Jesus had now ascended back to the Father and it was time for them to do something. Jesus was gone, but He sent the Holy Spirit (chapter 2) to fill them, enable and equip them for the job ahead of them.
 
They were about to embark on a journey that was totally foreign to them, but not impossible. They were given the power of the Holy Spirit. Though their "teacher", Jesus Christ, was gone from them, His spirit was poured out and they were able to accomplish much more than if He had remained with them in person. Acts 4:31 states: "And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness."  The entire book of Acts describes the acts of the apostles- their boldness, courage in face of opposition and even death. They had been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, the boldness to preach and teach the Word of  God. They had graduated from their years of learning and testing while Jesus walked with them. Now it was time for them to put it all into action.
 
We have the same challenge today! When we have been filled with His Spirit- we have that same ability and boldness that the Apostles did. We must do something with it! It is time that Christians graduate from constantly learning to no avail-- and put all that learning to use! We have the same Spirit! We should have that same boldness and courage that the Apostles did! And we do, but we must utilize it- not depend on others, step out in faith-- and walk in the boldness of the Holy Spirit!
 
 
(Taken from Pastor Keith's message 6/19/2013)
 

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