1) How do you know that Jesus really rose from the dead? What evidence is there?
2) What is so special about the Holy Spirit? Why did Jesus insist His followers stay put until the Holy Spirit arrived (1:4, 8)?
3) Jesus is coming back (1:11)! How does that impact the way you live day-to-day?
The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is the cornerstone of our faith. Without the resurrection, we are a sorry group of people with a faith that is useless (see Acts 15:12-19). But Jesus did indeed rise from the dead, and we can prove it (1:3)! For further evidence see Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20-21.
Jesus told His followers about the Holy Spirit before He died (John 14:15-16; 14:26; 16:7). Now He reminded them to wait until the Spirit arrived to begin the work they had been commissioned to do. If we are in Christ, we have already received the Holy Spirit. We are now able to go in His power and with His presence.
From the day Jesus went back to heaven, His followers anticipated His return. They knew the promise (1:11) and lived with a real sense of expectation. We would live differently day-to-day if we really believed that Jesus could return today.
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