Power for a Purpose

Description

In our first devotional on Acts chapter 1, we explore Jesus' final instructions to His disciples. He commands them not to rush ahead, but to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. Through a modern parable about a visionary entrepreneur, we'll discover that God's power isn't just for our personal experience, but is the essential fuel for His global purpose.

Full Episode

    "scripture": Acts 1:4-8. 

    "short_explanation": "In these powerful verses, we see a profound disconnect between the disciples' expectations and Jesus' divine plan. Fresh off witnessing the resurrection, their minds were still fixed on an earthly, political kingdom for Israel. They asked,  Lord, dost thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Their focus was local and immediate. But Jesus lifted their eyes to a grander, spiritual reality. He redirected their attention from the 'when' of prophecy to the 'what' of their present mission. He promised them not political dominion, but spiritual power the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This power wasn't for their own comfort or status; it was for a specific purpose: to be His witnesses. He laid out a strategic, ever-expanding mission field, starting right where they were in Jerusalem and rippling out to the ends of the earth. The key was to wait for God's provision before attempting to fulfill God's purpose.",

    "parable": "Let me share a story to illustrate this. There was a brilliant young chef named Maria who inherited her grandmother's beloved but failing Italian restaurant. She also inherited a secret, handwritten book of recipes that were legendary in her family, promising dishes unlike any other. Eager to save the business, she immediately printed new menus featuring these amazing dishes and launched a huge marketing campaign. The restaurant was packed on reopening night. The problem was, the recipes called for a rare, specially grown San Marzano tomato that her grandmother had cultivated in a small, private greenhouse. The current crop wasn't ready; it needed another two weeks in the sun to reach peak flavor. Her father, the gardener, warned her, 'Maria, you must wait. If you use the standard tomatoes from the market, the soul of the dishes will be missing. The power is in the tomato.' But Maria was impatient. She used store-bought tomatoes, thinking no one would notice. The food was good, but not extraordinary. The customers left feeling underwhelmed, having been promised something legendary but receiving something ordinary. The restaurant's reputation suffered. Two weeks later, when the special tomatoes were finally ready, she tried again. This time, the dishes were breathtaking. The flavor was explosive, and word-of-mouth spread like wildfire. She had the right plan all along, but she failed to wait for the essential ingredient that gave it power.",

    "moral": "The lesson for us is clear. We have the greatest message in the world the gospel of Jesus Christ. We have our commission to be His witnesses. But we cannot fulfill this mission in our own strength. Like Maria needing that special ingredient, we need the power of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be witnesses, but we must first wait on and continually rely upon God's promised power to fulfill that purpose effectively. As Jesus said, ye shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be my witnesses (Acts 1:8 ASV)."