Where Does It Begin?

Read Acts 1:4-9, 12-14, 2:1-3

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, 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.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying... These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication...

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.

What it is speaking to me today

Jesus is about to ascend to heaven, and the disciples must have been wondering: "What's next?" Jesus promises the power of the Holy Spirit. And He tells them that the power of the Spirit will make them witnesses throughout Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Those geographical locations are in loose circles expanding out from Jerusalem.

(As an aside for future study, the book of Acts is noticeably organized around verse 8.)

• Jerusalem (Acts 1–7): The church's birth at Pentecost, Peter's leadership, and initial persecutions.

• Judea and Samaria (Acts 8–12): the expansion through Philip, Saul's conversion, Peter's ministry to Gentiles

• The Ends of the Earth (Acts 13–28): Paul's missionary journeys to Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome.

As we read the Book of Acts, we see the power of the Spirit go out to all the known world, but the focus for me today is where does the Holy Spirit's power come FIRST? Yes in Jerusalem, but even more poignantly, in a small upper room behind a closed door. With people waiting and praying.

Where does the power of the Holy Spirit first manifest in us? Our hearts and minds.

Whatever the "ends of the earth" means for each of us, it begins in our hearts. In the prayer closet, in the quiet waiting. We absolutely should pray for the Holy Spirit's power to MOVE in the whole world, our nation, our city, our neighborhood. But our first prayer should be for the Holy Spirit to MOVE in us. The miraculous growth of the church in the Book of Acts begins with the hearts of those disciples in the Upper Room. So the miraculous growth of the church today AROUND us begins with the Holy Spirit moving IN us.

With a prayer like "Come Holy Spirit, and fill me. Show me your ways. Work your power in MY heart, and then send me where you want me to go...to my neighborhood, my city, my nation, to the ends of the earth."

What is it saying to you?

Where and how are you waiting on the Holy Spirit for his power?

Your feet may be willing to go, but is your heart willing to receive?

What are we going to do about it?

Pray that the Holy Spirit would fill your heart, your mind.

Pray that His power would move in you, and show you where to move with Him.

Try and move in that power today, in word or deed.