Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. (Acts 1:4-8, NASB)
Tomorrow, 28 May, is Pentecost Sunday. We remember this day the appearance by the Holy Spirit into the lives of Jesus’ disciples. After the Spirit came upon them, they were preaching about Jesus, Who was crucified, buried, risen from the dead, and had ascended into heaven. Jesus had told His disciples that He would speak to His Father, Who would then send His Spirit to them. I’m sure they didn’t understand just what this meant. They also spoke in various tongues so foreigners would understand them. The people who witnessed this display thought His disciples were drunk. You can read this account in Chapter 2 of Acts.
https://wiirocku.tumblr.com/post/182178219570/acts-18-nkjv-but-you-shall-receive-power-when.
The passage above is Dr. Luke’s account of Jesus talking with His disciples prior to His Ascension into heaven. Jesus tells them not to leave Jerusalem, “but to wait for what the Father had promised,” that is, the Holy Spirit. Jesus then tells them that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Do you know that you are Jesus’ witnesses? If you know Jesus, from the moment you believed in Him, the same Holy Spirit moved into your heart. We Jesus-followers have the very same power within us as Jesus’ disciples displayed in Acts 2! We must unleash the power of the Holy Spirit within so we can be His witnesses to the ends of the earth!
On this Memorial Day I’d like to remember loved ones and friends who have served our Nation, and have passed on.
My Father-in-Law, Bob Brower, who served in the European Theater during World War II. He crewed in B-17s as a radio operator and waist gunner.
Neighbors: Andy La Mar (Hedly), an F-15E Strike Eagle Weapons Systems Operator.
Friends from our Germany assignment: John Davis, an F-4 Weapons Systems Operator.
Squadron/Classmates: Kosta Asselanis, who flew C-141s; and Rod Williams, who was a B-52 navigator.
Dads of USAFA Squadron/Classmates: General Jack Catton, Sr., who flew bombers during World War II, and commanded Air Force Major Commands; and Colonel Cliff Birchman, who flew fighters in Vietnam. I got to meet both of these gentlemen when I was a Cadet. They’re heroes of mine.
Friends and squadron mates who were killed in training accidents: Dave Mayer, USAFA classmate, A-7D accident in Turkey; Kyle Perdue, A-10A mishap in Kentucky; Joe Rayhill, A-10A accident in Arizona; Ross Mulhare, F-117A mishap in California; Mike Stewart, F-117A accident in Nevada; Ralph Gardner, USAFA classmate, F-16C accident in Republic of Korea.
Sunday School class: Don Seymore, USMC, two Purple Hearts in Vietnam; Gene Cole, Army Special Operations (a Snake-Eater!), served in Vietnam; Brigadier General Dick Abel, USAF, one of my mentors; Ed Blanks, U.S. Coast Guard; Rudy Davis, U.S. Army, Infantry.