The New Kingdom

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Scripture: Acts 1:6-9 (ESV)

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

Devotion:

            We now come to the end of Jesus sojourn upon the earth. With his disciples gathered around him some 40 days after his resurrection he gives them his final instructions. The disciples are apparently still confused about Jesus' mission here on earth. They are still looking for a political kingdom. They want Jesus to rid them of their Roman overlords.

            Jesus, the ever patient one, explains one last time that he did not come from heaven to earth to change political situations. Jesus came to change the spiritual situation of his believers. He cried from the cross, “it is finished.” He had been faithful to his calling and would be installed as the spiritual ruler of the whole earth not just Israel.

            Jesus tells the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit falls upon them. Then they will receive power and insight into God’s marvelous plan of salvation for the whole earth. They will begin in Israel and move outward until the whole earth would be covered by the new kingdom they were announcing. They had hoped to be rulers in the earthly sense of the word but found themselves changed into messengers of a heavenly kingdom that would soon take over the entire earth.

            What about us? Do we while away the days hoping for our favorite political party to gain control so we can feel empowered? Jesus’ command to the first disciples stands for us today. Pay no attention to earthly politics and get behind the change that God is seeking to bring to our hurting and dying world. The same Holy Spirit which filled the first disciples is waiting to fill God’s people today. The same power is available to us if we will just believe that God is able to make all things turn out for the worlds good. Let us pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit in this current age.

Prayer:

            Lord, God Almighty, we praise your holy name today. We thank you that you sent your only begotten son Jesus to save us from Satan’s plans. We are grateful that you sent your Spirit to fill the earth with your power after Jesus had physically left us. Fill us today with the fullness of the power of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of all who will read this. Thank you for your wonderful gifts to us. Amen.

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