Before we continue further, it is important to note: position always precedes power. We must be positioned in Christ before we can ever do anything for His kingdom.

The Power We Need

And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)

Jesus did not suggest that the apostles should wait for the Promise, nor did He recommend that they heed His instruction. Rather, He “commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem” until the Promise had come. Jesus was compelled to place such high importance on this instruction because the empowerment of the Spirit is essential to all kingdom work. He knew His disciples were eager to share the good news of His resurrection and might grow restless in waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 1:3 we learn that they had spent days with Jesus, hearing Him teach on the kingdom of God. The Bible states that the apostles had received “infallible proof” of His resurrection. They did not need to be persuaded of the validity of their cause because they had firsthand evidence of Christ’s victory over death. In other words, they were ready to get going!

But Jesus looked at them and said, “Don’t start your ministry. Don’t start preaching the gospel all over the world, and don’t start any churches until you have been clothed with the Spirit’s power” (Luke 24:49, author’s paraphrase). I believe Scripture shows Jesus gave this directive to approximately 500 people (see 1 Corinthians 15:6). But in Acts 1:15, we find that the number of people in the upper room had dwindled to 120. What happened to the other 380 people? I personally believe that with each day that passed, more and more of the original 500 left until only 120 remained. Maybe the 380 who left thought, Let’s go back to the synagogues, start churches, and share the wonderful news of Jesus’ resurrection. After all, it wouldn’t be right to waste a single day in sharing this good news. Only 120 were willing to wait as the Master commanded.

At this point, you may be thinking, Well, John, of course the disciples needed to wait for the Holy Spirit. They hadn’t received Him yet. It’s different for us now because we receive the Holy Spirit at salvation.

Take a look at John 20:21-22:

“Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me [Jesus], I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”