Jesus’ first followers were uneducated, untrained, and unfit for the massive opportunity they would be ultimately invited to seize. “I want you to go into all the world and make disciples,” Jesus would say. And incredibly they said yes. Armed with nothing but that twelve-word directive, the small band of brothers eyed their upside-down world and engaged wholeheartedly in the task of setting it right.

Despite having no financial resources, no elaborate buildings, no satellite technology, no cameras, no media to broadcast their movement, and no ability to produce PR flyers advertising their events, the disciples thrived in their mission for one reason and one reason alone: they had something that was better than all of the bells and whistles put together—the transforming power of God in their lives.

Because they looked to God’s power for their strength, they beat the odds.

Because they looked to God’s power for their strength, they stood firm against opposition.

Because they looked to God’s power for their strength, they persisted amid persecution.

Because they looked to God’s power for their strength, they gained some serious kingdom ground, living life precisely as it was meant to be lived.

I think there’s a lesson here for you and me both.

The God-Sized Gift

In the first chapter of the book of Acts we read that Jesus gathered his disciples around him on the Mount of Olives, which stands even today, just due east of the city of Jerusalem. Their heads were probably still spinning as they considered the roller-coaster ride of experiences they’d known during the three years they had followed Jesus. They had felt the joys of absorbing his firsthand ministry, the sorrow of witnessing the horrible ordeal of the cross, and the elation of knowing he was now resurrected.

Their Lord had chosen them, taught them, loved them, and prepared them and now was commissioning them just before he ascended into heaven. The disciples barely had time to grieve their Master’s impending departure, though, before they were given a promise—a promise that although it was true that Christ was leaving, “another” was coming to take his place (John 14:16). “[The apostle] John baptized with water,” Jesus would say on that mount just forty days after his miraculous resurrection, “but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5). And what a baptism it was! The first verses of Acts 2 describe the fulfillment of that promise this way:

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (vv. 1–4)

This was the Day of Pentecost—the day when the Spirit of God, by way of three miracles, took up residence in every believer, and the church of Jesus Christ was officially born.