Last words tend to matter. Some are profound. Some… not so much.
“I am going to the bathroom to read.” (Looking at you, Elvis Presley.)
But when it comes to Jesus’ last recorded words before His ascension, we’re not getting bathroom humor—we’re getting marching orders. The book of Acts picks up where the gospels leave off. Acts 1:1–11 gives us the resurrected Jesus’ final instruction, and it revolves around three things: Promise, Power, and Purpose.
First, the Promise.
Jesus tells His disciples to wait. Not act. Not strategize. Not form a committee. Not “get out there and hustle.” Just… wait.
That’s already uncomfortable.
Why wait? Because the mission of God doesn’t start with human effort—it starts with divine presence. The Holy Spirit isn’t a bonus feature for elite Christians; He’s the standard equipment for every believer. If you belong to Jesus, you already have the Spirit. The better question isn’t “Do I have the Spirit?” but “Does the Spirit have me?”
Second, the Power.
Jesus says, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.”
Translation: You don’t have what it takes.
Not exactly a motivational poster. We love the idea of self-sufficiency—dig deeper, try harder, believe in yourself. But the Christian life doesn’t run on positive thinking; it runs on surrendered living. The power you need isn’t within you—don’t try to dig deep – the power you need is given to you.
This is not a power you possess but a power that possesses you – or as much as you allow it to possess you. And the church can’t properly function without it. “Be filled with the Spirit” Paul commands the Ephesians. We will receive power as we moment by moment yield our will to his.
Third, the Purpose.
“You will be my witnesses.”
Not “you might be,” not “if you feel like it.” You will be. And this is the theme of the rest of Acts. Power from on high to fulfill a purpose from on high.
The only question is whether your life is a compelling witness… or a confusing one.
The word “witness”, martus, is where we get martyr. So this isn’t casual Christianity. This is whole-life, no-reserve, everything-on-the-table faith. Your life is meant to point people to Jesus—through how you live, what you say, and what you refuse to compromise.
And here’s the tension: we’re called to live transformed lives, but we still stumble. The good news? God doesn’t just call you—He sustains you. The same Spirit who empowers you also sanctifies you.
So what do we do with Jesus’ last words?
We stop trying to manufacture spiritual strength.
We start surrendering to the Spirit’s control.
And we remember that the story of Acts isn’t finished.
It continues… with us.
So, how’s your witness? Because like it or not—you are one.
Ted Harris
Associate Pastor