For many of us, the goal of life is to be self-sufficient. We don’t like to be dependent on others; we equate independence with maturity. That’s why we struggle at times to value the helpless like babies and the infirm or disabled and why the gospel is so counter-cultural.

In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus told a parable about a man who felt self-sufficient even in prayer, a Pharisee who prayed, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.‘ (Luke 18:11-12) In his own eyes, despite his attachment to religious practices, he didn’t really need anyone else. He was righteous in his own eyes and felt good about it. Others looked up to him.

The tax collector, on the other hand, was well aware of his inadquacies and failings. ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (Luke 18:13) He knew that he couldn’t make it through life on his own, that he was in need of God’s mercy. He was not independent; he needed God’s help.

Our emptiness and brokenness are not barriers to maturity or to spiritual growth. They are, perhaps, the indispensable factors in both. When we come to God with empty hands, He can fill us and then instead of offering the world our self-sufficiency, we can offer His. God’s grace is sufficient for us and for the world. It’s grace that we need to receive and to give.

John Stott reminds us that the first apostles fell into two traps which are still waiting to trip us up. Initially, as the apostles were talking to Jesus after the resurrection, their focus was still very much on the restoration of the kingdom to Israel. (Acts 1:6) They were curious as to how Jesus was going to sort out the political mess which being under Roman rule meant for Israel. They were doubtless full of good intentions (as are many politicians!), but their focus was very much on the here-and-now, and as such, was a limited vision.

So often, we too can be like that. We want to establish heaven-on-earth; we are keen to right wrongs and make the world a better place, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Much good has been done throughout the centuries by Christians who long to see God’s kingdom here on earth and who work tirelessly to see His rule and reign established here. Nonetheless, if our whole vision is fixed on earth and our faith is in ourselves to right the wrongs, we will end up disillusioned and disappointed.

The other extreme happened after the Ascension, when the apostles were gazing intently up into the sky (Acts 1:10) and it took angelic instruction to re-focus the apostles on the task Jesus had set them. This is the way of the pietist, who dreams only of heavenly bliss and whose entire focus is on worship, not work.

John Stott reminds us that these verses teach us about earthly responsibility and heavenly enabling.  We need both! The apostles were called to witness to Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:8) Activism and piety have to be combined; we have a job to do, but it’s not one we can do in our own strength or using only our human resources. Our citizenship is in heaven; we are only pilgrims on earth… but there is work to be done during our earthly journey. Are we keeping the balance?

We may not know when Jesus will come again, but the subject of His return to earth (also known as His ‘second coming’ or the ‘parousia’) forms a large part of New Testament teaching. The topic is said to be mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament (once for every 25 verses). Jesus Himself taught about this (notably in Matthew 24 and Luke 21) and reminded His disciples that though He went away, He would return for them (John 14:1-3). In Acts 1:10-11, the ascension is linked explicitly with the return of Jesus Christ to the earth, a theme expounded in virtually every one of the New Testament letters (e.g. 1 Thess 1:10, 1 Thess 4:16-5:6 & 23, 2 Pet 3:3-5, Titus 2:11-4, 1 John 2:28, Rev 3:11). Virtually the last words of the Bible are ‘come, Lord Jesus’ (Rev 22:20), the phrase ‘maranatha’ in Aramaic.

We need to proclaim this truth clearly and frequently, for it’s easy to believe life will continue indefinitely and to live without purpose or urgency as a result. The Bible is adamant that history is proceeding according to God’s plans, but these plans include a future date when Jesus will return to earth.

His return will be:

• personal (‘the Lord himself’ 1 Thess 4:16/ ‘this same Jesus’ Acts 1:11)
• bodily (‘this same Jesus will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’ Acts 1:11)
• visible (‘every eye shall see him’ Rev 1:7)
• sudden and unexpected (‘as lightning’ Matt 24:27; ‘like a thief in the night’ 1 Thess 5:2; see also Mark 13:35-36)
• triumphant (2 Thess 1:7-10; Rev 19:11-16)

He will return to:

• receive His own to Himself (1 Thess 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:51-53)
• reward His servants (Matt 16:27; Luke 19:11-27; 1 Cor 9:25; 1 Thess 2:19; 2 Tim 4:8; 1 Pet 5:4)
• judge and reign (Rom 14:12; 1 Cor 3:13-15; Matt 25:32; 2 Thess 1:7-10)

Whilst we may not understand everything about the future (this is one topic on which Christians regularly disagree!), we stand united in the fact that Jesus will return, and this fact has an impact now on how we live. John tells us that all who have this hope purify themselves (1 John 3:2-3), a theme echoed by Peter (who tells us this hope motivates us to live holy and godly lives. 2 Pet 3:11-13) We don’t want to be like the foolish virgins who were not prepared for the bridegroom’s return (Matt 25:1-13); instead, we long to hear the words ‘well done, good and faithful servant!’ (Matt 25:21) and to receive the rewards promised by Jesus to the faithful (see 2 Tim 4:8).

The hope of Christ’s return acts as a spur to us, a reminder that one day every tear will be wiped away and there will be no more suffering, pain or sin. Now we groan with creation (Romans 8:22-23), longing for Christ’s return and the fulfilment of God’s plans. While we wait, we serve God faithfully, worship Him adoringly and wait patiently (Rom 8: 24-25). The cry of our hearts is ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ (Rev 22:20)

(Thanks to Irving L. Jensen’s commentary on Acts for the collation of many Scriptural references about Christ’s return to earth used here.)

The placards proclaim, ‘The end of the world is nigh!’ Despite the majority of people carrying on as though this world will continue as it is for ever, there is a general interest in topics like the ‘end times’ or the apocalypse. Humans are curious creatures; we like to know as much about the future as possible, with some turning to clairvoyants and others to try to see into the future. Prophecies about the end times have been circulating for years, with many of the dates for the end of the world already having been exceeded!

The early disciples were no different to us. In that 40-day period between the resurrection and the ascension, Jesus’s disciples asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ (Acts 1:6) They had been told about the gift of the Holy Spirit promised by the Father and were curious to know what this restoration of the kingdom would look like and when it would be.

Jesus was unequivocal in His response: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.’ (Acts 1:7) This is a consistent theme in the Bible. (1 Thess 5:1-6, 2 Pet 3:1-10) We are urged to live in the light of the Second Coming of Jesus and given many pointers to what will happen when He returns (see also Acts 1:10-11), but at the same time, we do not know when this will happen. All the prophecies giving specific times and dates can be safely ignored in light of these facts, though this should not cause us to become complacent or apathetic (see Matt 25:1-13, Matt 24:1-51). God wants us to live in constant readiness. As Paul says, ‘since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.’ (1 Thess 5:8) We have just learnt a new children’s song which touches on this theme:

‘Awake or asleep,

How’re you gonna be, when Jesus comes back from heaven?

Are you gonna be ready for Him,

When Jesus comes back to earth?’ (‘Awake or Asleep,’ Garry Turner)

We are called to be awake, alert, ready. We might not know the date or the times, but we know the facts. Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again!

We have already said that the book of Acts could be summarised as ‘the continuing word and deeds of Jesus by His Spirit through His apostles.’ (John Stott) In this book, we see how the Godhead (Father, Son and Spirit) work in perfect unity and harmony to fulfil God’s purposes.

This unity runs throughout the whole Bible. At creation, we see how the Spirit of God was hovering above the waters (Gen 1:2) and are told that nothing was made without Jesus (John 1:3, Col 1:16). Throughout the gospels, we see how Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19) and how He promised His disciples ‘another comforter’ (or advocate) after He left earth (John 14:16).

Jesus was conceived when the Holy Spirit came upon Mary (Matt 1:18, 20; Luke 1:35) and throughout His earthly ministry, we see the importance of the Holy Spirit: how He descended on Jesus like a dove at His baptism (Mark 1:10), how Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil (Matt 4:1), how His ministry was performed by the Spirit of God (Matt 12:28). He taught about the Holy Spirit to Nicodemus (John 3:5-8) and reminded us that we need to worship God by the Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). This emphasis on truth is further affirmed when teaching the disciples about the Holy Spirit in John 14-16; Jesus says that the Spirit of truth will guide us into all the truth (John 16:13).

Jesus lived and taught while on earth in the power of the Holy Spirit. In this way, he demonstrated to us what a Spirit-filled life looks like. He did not do miracles or works because of his deity; He worked in his humanity through the power of the Holy Spirit, as we are called to do. We may feel this is impossible, but the promises of Jesus (John 14:12) and the evidence of Acts show us that this Spirit-filled, Spirit-led life is indeed possible and should be the norm for those who are following Jesus.

The first followers of Jesus were not renowned for their bravery. Peter, despite all his bluster and bravado, denied Jesus three times and when Jesus was arrested, most disciples fled. They were not expecting the resurrection, despite all that Jesus had told them previously (no wonder he called the disciples on the road to Emmaus foolish and slow to believe! (Luke 24:15)) It’s quite impossible, even as we reach the end of the gospel stories, to believe that this group of followers could turn the world upside down in a matter of thirty years.

How did this transformation happen? Obviously the appearance of the risen Lord – alive despite suffering the most agonising death imaginable – had a large part in this, but Luke makes it clear in the opening chapter of Acts that something more was still needed. Instruction from the Holy Spirit (the third person of the Trinity and himself God) was needed (Acts 1:2); the disciples were urged to ‘wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 1:4-5)

The key verse in the whole of Acts is found in this opening chapter: ‘But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ (Acts 1:8) Here, we have the explanation as to how this raggedy group of people, from all different walks of life, could effectively evangelise the known world at the time. They did so not because of their own power or godliness (Acts 3:12), but because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out on them. (Acts 2)

Throughout the book of Acts, we see the Holy Spirit as the source of the power behind the signs, wonders and preaching of the apostles; the apostles proclaim Jesus to be alive and still working miracles through ordinary people by His Holy Spirit (Acts 4:10-12, 29-31). We need to grasp this fact if we are to see the signs, wonders and church growth which the early church experienced.

No amount of learning, studying, effort and hard work can make up for the gift of the Holy Spirit. We need to receive this gift from God gladly and thankfully. A gift is not earned; it is simply received with gratitude. Let us wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit and receive Him with open hands and open hearts, for He leads us into life, teaching us, guiding us, rebuking us and pointing us to Jesus. (John 16:5-15) Only as we move forward with the help and empowerment of the Holy Spirit can we hope to see the church growth for which we long.