Ye Shall Receive Power

Topic: Our Preparation for the Promised Power

Text: Act 1 & 2

Key text: Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you...

Discussion: As we come to study the Book of Acts of the apostles, we shall be studying, about the Promised Power and it's potency, and that's why, this series of devotional study in the book of Act is tagged "Ye shall Receive Power"

This book opens with a departing message of Christ to the Church (the disciples then, and by extension You and I) he already concluded his mission, to Die for the Salvation of the world, but for men to be aware and take advantage of his Saving Grace through the Cross, the Church has to carry the Goodnews to everyone, for this to be effectively Done, Jesus had to reiterate a Promise which the Father has already given,  Acts 1:5 "...ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."
The disciples probably seem not to understand the necessity, they were trying to focus on the kingdom of this world, Acts 1:6  ....saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
Just the same way the Church today seem to be uninterested, in the Promised Power, we seem satisfied with the empty tongues without effect of life transformation, we seem to be OK once the Power of money, position, and popularity are there.

But Jesus quickly draws the attention of the Church to the priority of this Power for the assignment, (Acts 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.) Leave the care of the world, and awake to the Need of highest priority, (Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.) No other discussion, should engage us than, the Necessity of Power and the the assignment that follows.

With this Jesus was received into the cloud, now they understood what Jesus was saying, he was saying prepare! Get ready, "ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence" 

What Preparation Did they need to make? (Acts 1:12)

1). Obey the Positional instruction: they were to be in Jerusalem
Luke 24:49  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Several people Miss God's appointment, because they fail to be where God instructed them to be. But the disciples were not so.

2). United Prayer (Acts 1:14)
Though the promise has been given yet it was for those who will ask see
Luke 11:13 ...how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Yes asking was good but for men to believe they need to be united, no wonder when the Holy ghost came eventually, there were added to them in one day 3000 Souls.

3). Reading and Desire to fulfill the Scripture (Acts 1:20)
Many people today only read they fail to Obey, when the Scripture says come out from among them, and talks about self denial as condition, they close their eyes to that and expect to receive the Power, no wonder people go about with the fake Power, but as you Obey the Scripture "You shall receive Power "

4). Personal experience of Salvation
Acts 2:38 
If we talk about every other thing and fail to mention this, the study will be an incomplete one, because any Power received without salvation and freedom from sin, is Fake, it is of the Devil, sensual and earthly. But the Promise is unto you, who are called out of Sin(verse 39) who have been saved from this evil and perverse generation.

Arise! Open your mouth wide, Let God fill you with the Promised Power of the Holy Ghost.

Challenge: The Promise is unto You, if you are willing and Obedient.

Prayer: Endure me with Power oh Lord