Introduction

Acts 1 and 2 describe the “birthday of the church” and begin the story of God’s people moving in power to accomplish the mission Jesus sent us on. How is it that 120 people became the multi-billion person global movement the church is today? How is it that Jesus’ followers accomplish the mission he’s given us? And how do we access the life Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead to give us? The answer is… by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:1-11

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

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. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Question 1

Jesus tells his disciples (now apostles or “sent ones”) that they will take his gospel to the ends of the earth. But first, he tells them to wait. Why does he tell them to wait? What are they waiting on and why do they need to wait on it?

Question 2

The Holy Spirit is God’s personal, powerful, presence. He empowers, convicts, comforts, regenerates, indwells, seals, keeps, sanctifies, teaches, illuminates, transforms, and intercedes on behalf of the saints (followers Jesus). Simply put, he provides the power the Christian needs to live the life Jesus has invited us into and become the person Jesus wants to make us. Where or how have you seen the Holy Spirit give you power in your life to live the life or become the person God has called you to?

Question 3

the Bible talks about two opposing ways we can interact with the Holy Spirit. We can access him and his power by thirsting for him (wanting him, being open to him, removing barriers to him, etc.) or we can quench the Spirit (allowing distraction, fear, idols, unconfessed sin, bitterness, unresolved conflict, etc. to block us from his power). What are ways you tend to “quench the Spirit” and what are some ways you can cultivate thirst for him?