Acts 1:4-11 - The Power to Serve

In this special message from Acts 1:4–11, Rev. Dr. George Payton examines Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples before His ascension into heaven and the promise that would equip them for the mission ahead.

As Jesus gathers with His followers, He commands them to remain in Jerusalem and wait for “the Promise of the Father”—the coming of the Holy Spirit. Though the disciples were eager to know what would happen next, Jesus redirects their attention from speculation about the future to preparation for service. Before they could fulfill God's mission, they first needed God's power.  

In this message, Dr. George explores the significance of waiting on the Lord, trusting His timing, and depending on His strength rather than our own. Through the promise of the Holy Spirit, we are reminded that God never calls His people to serve Him alone. He equips, empowers, and enables believers to carry out His work for His glory.

Drawing from Jesus’ commission in Acts 1:8, this sermon highlights the purpose of the Spirit's power—not personal recognition or achievement, but faithful witness. The disciples were called to take the Gospel from Jerusalem to Judea, Samaria, and ultimately to the ends of the earth. In the same way, believers today are called to serve Christ wherever He leads, trusting that the Holy Spirit provides everything needed to accomplish His purposes.  

As Jesus ascends before the disciples' very eyes, two angels challenge them not to remain standing and gazing into heaven, but to move forward in obedience. Their mission was clear. It was time to serve.

This message challenges us to consider our own lives. Are we relying on our own abilities, or are we serving through the power of the Holy Spirit? Are we actively participating in God's mission, or merely observing from the sidelines? And are we willing to follow Christ into new opportunities, new places, and new ways of serving for His glory?  

Join us as we study Acts 1:4–11 and discover that God not only calls His people to serve—He provides the power to do it.