THE SECRET of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new – Socrates.
That was what Jesus did. He came to build the new covenant—and by calling this covenant new, he made the previous one obsolete. (Hebrews 8:13)
He obeyed the Father’s Will.
The Narrative
ALTHOUGH HIS DISCIPLES had their future laid before them, they still had a lot to learn.
They were worried about arrests—they hid behind closed doors. And with so much time on their hands, they wondered what to do with it.
But Jesus knew their state of mind. He spent forty days teaching them about the Kingdom of God.
Do you have so much time on your hands?
If you do, spend some time with God—learn about his kingdom and become the person God wants.
He prohibited them from leaving Jerusalem until they received the promise of the Father.
When they asked him, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?” (Acts 1:6)
“The timing is the Father’s business,” he replied.
And they watched him as he was taken up into heaven.
Then, they returned to Jerusalem.
Under the Influence
FOR THEM, these were extraordinary times. But they were filled with joy, curiosity and amazement.
They understood that faith in God is the platform on which to build their curiosity—so they waited at Jerusalem.
On the day of Pentecost, there was like a rushing wind from heaven.
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke in tongues.
Devout Jews from different nations in Jerusalem had them speak their language and were amazed.
And some made fun of them saying, “They have had too much wine.”
But they didn’t have any wine, and the opinion polls don’t count for much—they were under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Make God famous
WITH NO PERSONAL COMPONENT in anything he did, Peter stood up and explained—the people are not drunk as you may think—this is the fulfilment of prophecy.
‘In the last days, God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”
When Peter shared the gospel of Christ, those who accepted his message were baptised—and three thousand people were added to the church.
He thought globally and acted locally—his desire was to make God famous.
He knew that the essence of knowing Christ can only be realised in influencing others to know Him.
God’s Workmanship
ONE AFTERNOON, Peter and John went to the temple to pray.
At the Beautiful Gate, a lame man from birth begged them for money.
Peter knew that they were God’s workmanship created for good works.
And he said to him, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” (Acts 3:6)
He stood up and walked.
The people were amazed, and Peter shared the Gospel of Christ with them.
The captain and priests ceased Peter and John. But many people believed.
Peter told them that he did this by the name of Jesus. The leaders were surprised and confused.
However, the leaders knew that they were uneducated and ordinary men with extraordinary confidence who had been with Jesus.
BRINGING IT TOGETHER
UNDER THE INFLUENCE, the apostles stopped being calculative. They became the outworking of the Holy Ghost.
If you’re going to make an impact, you must be led by the Holy Spirit, and whatever matters to God must matter to you.
Then, you can act locally and think globally.