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The opening on the Book of Acts reveals a time of the most vital transition for the work and will of God The concern of the Lord Jesus is revealed as we see Him carefully instructing His disciples. He was concerned that they be able to grasp the full significance of this time and these crucial developments, for them personally, and especially, for the work to which He appointed them.

He would soon be leaving them as He ascended to His rightful place of eternal glory. To His position of exalted majesty at His Father's right hand.

They would be staying as His representatives. His ambassadors. He had charged them with the great responsibility of bringing to effective culmination the work, which He Himself had begun.

We have already been reminded of the fact that all that the Lord Jesus said and did, He said and did under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He had accomplished all His work through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

He had repeatedly reminded them to wait until they received the same anointing. Until they also experienced the same indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

It is so obvious: Their Lord knew that He needed, and depended on, that anointing and enabling power of the Holy Spirit. He continually relied on those spiritual resources, which were available to Him through the Holy Spirit filling Him.

Then, how much more would the disciples need to experience this anointing, receiving both the baptism and the infilling of the Holy Spirit; to be able to depend on the dynamic resources which He would bring into their lives.

The Lord Jesus reminded them that all they would need would be provided in: "The Promise of The Father!"(Acts 1: 4). Every spiritual resource would be released to them when the Holy Spirit came on each of them personally.

"When they therefore were come together, they asked of Him, saying, Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?"

This was the very day in which He would be taken up from them to be received into glory. For the previous forty days following His resurrection He had shared with them. He had carefully instructed them. He had sought to open their minds, their understanding, so that they would be better able to comprehend the message of the Scriptures.

Yet, at this most crucial moment, their expressed concern was: "Restoring the kingdom to Israel!"

Why? This certainly had not been the concern of the Lord during the forty days that He had shared with them. Rather, His concern had been the proclamation of the Gospel to all the world!

"That repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem" (Luke 24: 47).

It is so obvious that they had still not caught up with Him. Not grasped His challenge to see His mission to the world.

Their concern was still focused of nationalistic hopes in which they had far more in common with the unbelieving Jews than with Jesus! "The kingdom to Israel!" - which was of this world. This, in contrast to His words, "My kingdom is not of this world!" (John 18: 36).

They were revealing that in both heart and mind they were still not truly one with their Lord. They so greatly needed the promise of the Father. The coming of the Holy Spirit who would guide them into all truth!

Their problem is still a very common problem among so many Christians today. There are so many who claim to know Him and love Him. Yet, the focus of their lives and their hopes is so completely different from that which we see in the Word of the Lord Himself.

Sadly, it must be admitted that such "Christians" give clear evidence that in their thinking they are still too much conformed to this world. To its emphases and values. Its focus and its priorities.

What was the problem that caused the disciples to ask this question? It is the identical problem that we see so frequently today. See it in the focus of so many who claim to know Jesus yet who obviously do not share His vision.

Their problem: They have not yet received: "The Promise of The Father!" They had still to enter into the personal experience of the Baptism, the anointing, the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord Jesus had reminded them that when the Holy Spirit came to be in them, "He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you" (John 14: 26).

"He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you!" (John 16: 14).

They asked the wrong question because, as they had not yet received the promised baptism of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit had not been able to renew their minds and guide their thinking into all truth!

It is when the Holy Spirit is permitted and invited to fill and take charge that we experience the personal reality of Paul's words:

"Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God!" (Romans 12: 2).

If we would really understand the reason there is so much immaturity among Christians today we would do well to seriously and prayerfully consider this truth. The failure to understand it is the cause of so much worldliness and carnality. Of compromise with the world and disobedience to the Word of God.

Why is it so many even condone or excuse sin? Why are they satisfied to live lives that know little of victory or fruitfulness? It is due to ignoring or forgetting: The Promise Of The Father! The baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Too many are content to claim to be saved. Yet they know nothing of the essential experience about which Jesus taught His disciples. This baptism of the Holy Spirit! The anointing and infilling of the Holy Spirit. His guidance and teaching. They experience nothing of His personal leadership and guidance.

This was the problem when the disciples asked their question about the kingdom. It is the problem today.

The Kingdom of Israel! This particular emphasis inspired them with thoughts of power, authority, and glory. But the power involved was not the power of the Lord. Rather it was the political might of the world. The authority and glory were also the expressions of the world.

In this we see clearly illustrated the problem of spiritual immaturity. Such spiritual immaturity is the fertile breeding ground for: "Self!" It is so easily enticed into promoting: self-glorifying egotism!

It is this same self-serving, self-centered spirit which John describes: "I wrote unto the Church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence, . . . receiveth us not" (3 John 9).

The focus is wrong. Concentrating on things that build up man, or self, in some way or another. The aim is more to glorify man rather than the Lord. Thus the requirements for growth to spiritual maturity are reversed with the most damaging results.

The great majority of the problems which plague Churches everywhere are the direct result of this attempt to exalt and honor self rather than the Lord.

There is an effective answer to this problem. For the disciples it is quite clear what they should have done. They should have listened more intently to all that the Lord Jesus was saying to them.

Particularly, their desire should have been focused on: "The promise of the Father," - "the baptism of the Holy Spirit," and the need to personally experience the fullness of the promise in their lives.

We must keep to this central priority! Not focusing on what may appeal to us in some sensational way. But carefully listening to all that our Lord is saying to us. Then responding in devotion and faith to His Word.

"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."

It is important for us to notice this fact: The Lord Jesus refused to give a direct answer to their question! He did so because He was well aware of a far more immediate problem. The problem which was revealed by the fact that they asked the question!

His compelling concern was to deal with the sad immaturity which their concern for this issue revealed.

In His gracious and loving way He was carefully yet definitely correcting them: "Why is it that you will not listen to all that I am attempting to tell you? Why do you insist on being preoccupied with this unimportant side issue?"

"Unimportant side issue!" Does that evaluation really apply in this situation? Yes, most definitely! Especially when we take into account all that the Lord Jesus was attempting to help them see and understand.

There are some issues that are of the utmost importance. There are other issues which, by comparison, fade into insignificance.

One of the greatest hindrances to the true work of the Christian Church today is so clearly identified at this point. There are far too many Christians who place far too much emphasis on: unimportant side issues!

At the same time, the central task of the Church, the responsibility entrusted to the Church by the Lord Jesus, is almost totally ignored!

It may have the effect of boosting the ego to be able to claim we really do understand all of the intricacies of prophecy. Yet, if we listen carefully, we may well hear our Lord pleading with us, When did I tell you that such was your responsibility?

All the while a lost world is ignored. The great and vital truths of the Gospel are, at best, relegated to a secondary place. And precious souls continue to

perish. Yet many Christians want to congratulate themselves on their profound understanding of prophecy!

Is it any wonder the Church is wracked by tension and turmoil. Problems multiply. Division and dissension increase. All of these would vanish if only Christians would always make the first priority of the Lord Jesus their first priority.

When will we learn? Why do we insist on allowing ourselves to get all bent out of shape when someone does not agree with us on some issue which really does not count?

Are we today really listening to all the Lord Jesus is saying to us? He is telling us in no uncertain terms, These things are not your business!

Do you really think that this is too strong? "That is none of your business!" That is in fact what He, Jesus, was saying!

Could it possibly be, that, if only we would listen more carefully to Him, we would hear something quite similar? He may well be challenging us in an equally strong fashion!

Remind yourself of this fact: Everything that the Lord said and did He said and did in the anointing of the Holy Spirit. He was always most careful to ensure that in every way His entire life was in perfect agreement with all that His Father wanted Him to say and do.

Listen once again to His personal testimony: "And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please Him" (John 8: 29).

This is the intense insistence that He personally applied in every area of His own life. He rightfully applies it to our lives and our service for Him. Which means, in our love for Him we will always seek to say and do those things that please Him.

The inevitable result of this: Everything else is excluded! Everything! All of our pet theories. All of those teachings which tickle the ears but do nothing more. Everything, which does not relate to the central and preeminent emphasis which, is His will for our lives.

The full impact of this statement is felt as we hear the Lord Jesus saying, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father" (Mark 13: 32).

Did the Lord Jesus really mean that? That only the Father knows? Not even the Son Himself knows?

If the Lord Jesus had been like many Christians today He would not have been content to let the matter rest there. Today they say, Well, that may be true - up to a point. But I feel that I am well qualified to share my opinion.

He did not do that! He would not do that! Such a thing was impossible. The Lord Jesus was totally committed to please and honor His Father. Therefore He was committed to fully honor His Father in this specific matter as in everything else.

This was His Father's will! This was the only issue. He willingly left it at that.

There are some folk today who want to parade themselves as being especially "spiritual." They believe that they have deciphered all aspects of "the times and the seasons" in detail. They are so every quick to confidently express all they "know!"

Do they, will they, not see that such an attitude is in clear defiance to the clear and decisive Word of the Lord Jesus?

Jesus states: The Father has put all this in His own power and sovereign authority!

Think carefully of the implications of these words. Our Lord is saying to us: This is not your concern! It cannot be your concern! God The Father declares that this is His concern and only He knows!

Why is it that so many are so obviously dissatisfied with this arrangement? They would much prefer to assert their "right" to claim these things to be under their authority. Then they can demonstrate their spiritual superiority by revealing their great spiritual knowledge.

Yet, what does it mean to do that? That they are attempting to take by force that which God says is not their business? Surely that can be nothing short of foolish rebellion against God's sovereign authority!

When we actually hear our Lord Jesus saying, "It is not for you!" - He means: This is not your concern! Leave it to God! To please our Lord we will faithfully honor His Word and leave it all to the Father!

The spiritually mature Christian responds, "Lord, as You say these things are not my business, I am content to leave it at that. What is the responsibility that you have entrusted to me? What is my personal and specific obligation?”

Those speculations are not for you. Those are the things that merely feed a carnal curiosity, even as they tickle itching ears! Men who have drifted off course manipulate words so as to make them appear new and therefore sensational.

Paul was confronted with this same problem when he met the philosophers at Mars Hill in Athens. Their only interest was to hear some "new" thing! He grasped that opportunity, not to speculate, but to preach: Jesus and the resurrection!(see Acts 17: 16 - 31).

Follow his example. Renounce everything else so that you can be open to the perfect will and plan of the Lord for your life.

When the Lord first called these men, what did He specifically state to be the responsibility involved?

"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mark 1: 17).

"I will make you to become" - all that My Father will's you to become! The person who actually does respond to His call will focus his entire attention on the Lord's clearly stated purpose! The person concerned will be fully committed to "know what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God!" (Romans 12: 2).

"Fishers of men!" What does this involve? Remember the testimony of our Lord: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor." "This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Luke 4: 18, 21).

Is it any wonder, then, that He said: "Learn of Me?" (Matthew 11: 29). Let all I am, all I say, all I do mold you and direct all you are, all you say, and all you do.

"But tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24: 49).

"Power!" The dynamic spiritual resource which is not found in, nor available to, man naturally. It is not a force that he can generate for himself. Nor can he in any way develop it no matter how thoroughly he may attempt to exercise himself.

"I will make you to become!" The source of the power is the same as the source of the promise: The will of God as it is revealed in the Word of the Lord Jesus!

"Power!" "To become!" It is so very vital for us to keep this key emphasis quite clear in our thinking.

"I will make you to become!" Therefore, He assures us that He will also give us the "power" to become. "Become" - all that the Father in His perfect will desires you to become!

In this we see the fundamental purpose for the power. There are far too many Christians who miss this because they have decided to make their own decision of what they will become. Thus, as the result, they miss completely this exciting reality.

Another aspect of this is also so very important. There may be some who believe that it ought to be: "Ye shall receive power" - to do! This emphasis is far more common today. Yet, so obviously, it puts the cart before the horse!

Power "to be" must always have first priority. When it retains this position in our thinking it will be expressed in the perfect plan and will of God. Thus, and only thus, can it then become: Power to do!

Once again, the Lord Jesus Himself is the best example of this essential principle. All He was and is leads to all He did and does. Not the other way around.

"Fishers of Men!" First: BE! Then: go and catch men! "DO!" We must always keep things in the order in which Jesus Himself placed them.

Power to be: all He wills you to be. Out of this, the next step is automatic: Power to do, all He wills you to do!

When the Lord Jesus made this promise concerning "power," He had a specific fact in mind. Yet many today ignore His emphasis. They talk about the power as though it was some kind of "super-charged battery!" You plug it in and the power is yours to use. That is all there is to it. You have it and you control it as you please.

Such a view completely ignores the teaching of Jesus. He emphasized this fact: the "power" is the Person of the Holy Spirit. Resulting from a personal experience of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

First as He fills us with Himself. Then, as He is able to work in power, both in us and through us.

The Lord Jesus is Himself the best example of this. The power by which He both spoke and worked was the direct result of the Holy Spirit coming on Him in the form of a dove at the River Jordan.

"He through the Holy Ghost had given commandments." He spoke, in the power released in and through Him by the Holy Spirit who filled Him.

He has promised to us the same reality. The personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us Who will release His resources in and through us.

It was for this reason the Lord Jesus so strongly emphasized: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you" (John 16: 7).

If the Holy Spirit does not come, then you will not, can not receive power! If you do not receive His power, you will neither become, nor do, all the Father wills you to become and do.

First, there must be the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit must come on you. Then, you will personally experience His power in and through your life. "Strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Ephesians 3: 16).

Once again we need to be very careful how we view this statement. The Lord Jesus is not talking about the Holy Spirit as though He would fall on us like a blanket. Or a fog! Such an idea would suggest that the Holy Spirit can be viewed as some impersonal force or thing.

"Ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you." (John 14: 17). This is speaking about the personal knowledge which one person has of another person. Of two persons dwelling together in personal fellowship.

"He shall testify of Me" (John 15: 26). He shall give personal witness to the Lord Jesus.

"When He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide . . . He shall speak. . . He shall hear. . .He shall glorify Me!" (John 16: 13, 14). Each of these expressions reveals Him as a Person doing those things that only a person can do.

When He "is come upon you!" He does so by entering into a most vital personal relationship with you. In His coming He becomes the vital life force within us! Enabling us to share in personal fellowship with Him.

Once we have "become," this personal relationship develops enabling Him to release in and through us His power as He works in us "to do!"

The coming of the Holy Spirit in power to fill the believer moves to a most exciting climax: the full glory of the promise of the Lord Jesus to His people.

"Witnesses!" What is required of a person to be a witness? Even the world readily acknowledges that to be an effective witness, there are certain standards that must always be taken into account. Central to these is, or should be, the issue of character! The integrity and trustworthiness of the person who is the witness.

This principle certainly does apply to every Christian who has been endued with power by the Holy Spirit to be a witness.

Then the witness must speak concerning what he himself has personally seen, heard, and experienced of the events to which he gives witness.

That is the way the world understands this. Yet the understanding which the world has is so inadequate.

The best example of all the Lord Jesus means is: Jesus Himself! In His coming He is the true witness to His Father. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, He hath declared Him!" (John 1: 18).

The Son revealed the Father by witnessing to Him. What did that actually mean for Jesus?

He told Philip, "If ye had known Me, ye should have known My father also" (John 14: 7). "He that hath seen Me, hath seen the Father" (verse 9).

Jesus Himself gives full and accurate witness to the Father. In all He was. In all He did. In everything He said. He had been continuously revealing the Father to the disciples.

To be a witness, in this vital sense, demands the total person! It did with the Lord Jesus. It does with us.

It is for this reason we cannot even begin to effectively witness until we - "receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon" us. "I will make you to become!" This is the method He uses to bring this assurance to an effective climax.

The result is: By the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit His resources are released in and through us. The result, He makes us true witnesses to Jesus. His objective, to create the genuine reality: If you have seen the Christian you have seen the Lord Jesus!

Effective witnessing is the life expressing the glory and wonder of the personal experience. Sharing in words, as well as by our attitudes and actions. Seeking to reveal the dynamic personal reality of our daily walk with the Lord Jesus.

To achieve the desired result there must be real communication with those we are seeking to reach.

Thus the Lord Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16: 15). Go and tell! "Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name among all nations" (Luke 24: 47).

First: Be! Then: Tell! "They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching (telling) the Word" (Acts 8: 4).

When the Holy Spirit does come in power, then the people of God witness in power! This is the clear evidence of the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

The disciples had wanted to discuss the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. The Lord Jesus responded: Forget that! That is not your concern.

How we as Christians today need to hear this challenge. There are so many people who want to discuss and debate all kinds of theories and ideas. To press their own personal opinions. Dabble in prophecy. Or politics. Or anything else with which they have become infatuated.

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: No man cometh unto the Father but by Me!" (John 14: 6).

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me" (John 12: 32).

Peter came to understand this vital exclusiveness. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4: 12).

Paul agrees! "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2: 2). When the Holy Spirit actually does come, He witnesses to: JESUS! That is His mission. He will always faithfully focus on: JESUS.

When the Holy Spirit comes on the Christian, the Christian will faithfully witness to Jesus.

Many Christians today have lost sight of this vital reality. As the direct result of this so many Churches have become little more than religious clubs.

Yet, the exceptions are so exciting! For, wherever the Holy Spirit is received in power, things are so different. Wherever He is free to release the dynamic of His witness to Jesus then Christians are excited about opportunities to witness to others.

It is when Christians are alive in their excited witness to Jesus that the Church is effectively being all the Lord intends His Church to be. Christians are joyfully and eagerly submissive to His will and plan.

The history of Christianity demonstrated the most dramatic evidence of this reality. Whenever there has been a genuine Holy Spirit inspired revival, excited witness to the Lord Jesus has spread like wildfire. Not only have many people been transformed. Whole communities have been wonderfully changed.

How we need such a revival today! We need it personally. We need it in the Church. And yet, are we really committed to be loyal to the Lord and His Word? To be genuine, Spirit-filled witnesses to Jesus?

"Ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth!"

Where? The Lord Jesus said, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest" (John 4: 35).

At that particular moment, "the fields" for the disciples were in Samaria. They were standing near Jacob's well and a crowd of Samaritans was approaching them. Their interest had been aroused by the testimony of the woman to whom Jesus had spoken by the well.

"Both in Jerusalem!" This would be the point of beginning for them. It was the place where they would be at the moment in which they received power as the Holy Spirit came on them.

Begin: where you are! Then, keep lifting up your eyes and see those fields to be found a little further out.

From Jerusalem, to Judea. Then on the Samaria. Wherever there were people who need to hear their Spirit-anointed witness to Jesus.

Even, "Unto the uttermost!" To every nation, every people, every tribe. Until everyone of every generation has heard the Spirit empowered witness to JESUS!

The Lord Jesus impressed upon the disciples that God had made Himself the decision Himself. "All the world!" Wherever there remains even one person who needs to hear the witness.

When "the Holy Ghost is come upon you!" This experience, which guarantees that the child of God will faithfully respond in dedicated obedience. Giving evidence of the sincere commitment to follow, willingly and submissively, the leadership and direction of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit knows perfectly all of the will of the Father. He will unerringly guide! There are times when He will close doors. Paul's experience included being "forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the Word in Asia!" (Acts 16: 6).

The time would come when the Holy Spirit led Paul into the province of Asia to preach there, God knew: the right time! The Holy Spirit directed accordingly.

In genuine dedication Paul and his companions responded to the Holy Spirit in devoted obedience. It was then the Holy Spirit could reveal the next step.

True dedication joyfully submits to the will of the Lord. Faithfully seeking to continually cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He fills and directs. Being effective witnesses to Jesus wherever the Holy Spirit leads and as He grants opportunity.

When you have personally received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Do you know the reality of the anointing of the Holy Spirit? Can you give clear testimony to the time when the Holy Spirit so filled you that He was able to release all of the power of His resources in and through your life and service?