Acts 1:1-8 (NIVUK)
In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen… 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ 6 Then they gathered round him and asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7 He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’
In his letters to the Corinthians, Paul focuses on the gifts of the Spirit as used in gathered worship, because this was a problematic matter for the people at the church there. Because of this focus, so often discussions around the work of the Spirit revolve around matters. Jesus shows us, however, that this isn’t necessarily the main focus of the Spirit’s work – here for example, his focus is not on worship but on communicating the good news of God’s love to others.
Spirit, I am not in Jerusalem or Judea, and may not even travel far from home this week, but I do want to talk to others about God’s love. Please help me to share my experiences with others.
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