June 14, 2010

Acts 1
Luke says that Jesus appeared to the disciples during the forty days between His suffering/resurrection and His ascension speaking things pertaining to the kingdom of God. The Prophets had envisioned the Kingdom of God as a glorious Kingdom in which the Messiah would reign and Israel would be the head nation of the earth. All nations would come to Jerusalem to worship Yahweh.
Yet the only thing that Luke records of what Jesus said concerning the kingdom of God, is that in not many days they would receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Then the disciples asked Him if it was at that time that He would restore the Kingdom. His reply was significant but a little cryptic in relationship to the kingdom of God.. He said,
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.

He was then gloriously lifted up into the clouds and some angels appeared to the disciples and told them that Jesus would return in the same manner in which he saw them leave. The glory of Jesus in the time being is that we should be filled or clothed with power from the Holy Spirit. Having been endued with power, we are to make disciples of all nations, building His church until the end comes. Right now, the glory of Christ is seen by the world only in His people who are filled with His Holy Spirit and are busy witnessing by their words and actions, making disciples, building His church.
Indeed our King is a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John