Passing the Baton

Posted on April 22, 2015 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Passing the Baton!

We just experienced the great miraculous resurrection and the power of the redemptive act of cross. We were reminded of the revealed passion of Jesus’ heart toward sinners. How sweet it is to be under Christ’s administration, wrapped with bands of love. What a comfort it is to the believer that all the powers of darkness are under the control of the Lord Jesus! It is a miracle of mercy.

However, the cross wasn’t the end of His earthy ministry. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering, appearing to His chosen for forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Jesus is very productive in the days between the resurrection and the ascension. One of the purpose of this return is to establish the role of the Holy Spirit. He passed the baton!

Who received the baton! He is referred to as the advocate, comforter, counselor, and the like. He is the most silent party of the Trinity, yet ever present in all the earth. “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.” (Acts 1:8 ESV)

Energy from the Spirit flooded the atmosphere and every nation was able to be understand the truth in their native tongue. Many were saved and baptized in the name of the Lord. The disciples were called, fueled by the Holy Spirit to be the foundation of Church. He doesn’t just give them the power, He is the power!

He was their assurances, the positive declaration for their much-needed confidence. The Holy Spirit was the promise, the guaranteed for surety. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”

It’s a wonderful story of healing and forgiveness.

We live with that same Holy Spirit in us, and He is with us. This reality should provide the power and desire to live the life that God has provided. God did not die on the cross in vain, He desires us to love and serve each with the hope of glory. We are written in the Lambs book of life, to one day be in a perfect fellowship with our God. But before we go we should continue passing the baton, of the Gospel, to the next generation of saints. Chaplain Juan Mendez serves full-time at the Colony of Mercy and is a graduate. You can write him at jmendez@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 11-12; Revelation 9

Think About This: “The Christian idea is this: that God is the absolute owner of all things.” – Clovis G. Chappell

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool. Proverbs 19:1