Hosanna Restoration Church

Isn’t it interesting, that after seeing miracles performed by the disciples, arresting them, and hearing the boldness of their testimony, the only explanation they came up with was that they had been with Jesus. Notice that they did not say that they had heard about Jesus, or that they followed Him around, but that they had been with Jesus.

There was a time when Jesus was on the earth with them, that He sent them out with power and authority on what we might call a test run. This was great, and things were going great! But then they took Jesus and crucified Him. He rose from the dead, spent forty days with them and then He was gone. Before He left, He told them to go to Jerusalem and wait until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. They really did not know for sure what He was talking about, but they had experienced a taste of the power of God before, so they went.

For a few days they probably tried to figure out what they were waiting for. They talked to others that had followed Jesus to see if they wanted to wait with them. They sort of put a little church of seekers together. Out of thousands who had heard Jesus and seen and experienced His miracles, they managed to get a hundred and twenty who would take the time to wait for His promise. When Pentecost had fully come, they were not disappointed. On that day, they graduated to a new level.

I know that some may object to saying that the baptism of the Holy Spirit moves people to another level, but the fact is that His coming is like a graduation day for a Christian. This experience moves the believer into another level of potential. Notice I said potential. Some think that it is the end, and that they have arrived at this point, but that is not true. We have a responsibility to take this gift from God and move from level to level or glory to glory in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the case of Peter and John, they took note that they had been with Jesus. They continued to minister with Jesus confirming their words with signs and wonders. It was obvious that Christ was in them and with them.

Not one of us has yet moved into our full potential. The Apostle Paul said that he had not yet arrived, but he forgot what was behind and reached for what was ahead as he pressed for the mark of the prize of the high call of God in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit will also keep what is ahead before us. He will remind us to keep pressing. He will keep us enthused. Yes, it is very important to stay enthusiastic for the things of God. That is not just emotionalism. But then, what could be more emotional than the presence of God. People used to faint at the sight of the Beatles! How much more should we be excited about the Lord.

Just like any graduation, what we do with it is up to us. I am told that there are people with Doctorates who are living on the streets. In the same sense, people experience the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and refuse to change or to press on. Still the potential is there for all who will press on to the next level, where the only explanation for their lives and actions is that they have been with Jesus. Then every day is a graduation from Glory to Glory.