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The Holy Spirit and the Kingdom

[Jesus] gave them this command, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but
wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me
speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you
will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.… 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.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes,
and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:4–5, 8–9)

Pentecost embodies the “already” aspect of the Kingdom’s coming.
You will remember that the disciples had inquired about the “not yet”
aspect of the Kingdom. They had asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this
time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (v. 6). Jesus did not answer
their question, but pointed them back to the “already” business of the
Kingdom, that is, witness to the nations in Pentecostal power (vv. 7–8).
The empowering of the Holy Spirit is thus a crucial matter in the present
work of the Kingdom.

The Transfer of Kingdom Power

At Pentecost, Jesus transferred His kingdom power to His disciples.
The Spirit who had anointed and
empowered His ministry would anoint
and empower theirs. Bible scholars
note that this transfer of power from a Patterns give us
Spirit-endowed leader to his follower(s) insight into how
is part of a recurring “transfer motif”
seen in the Old Testament (Stronstad, God works in and
20–22). In Scripture, a motif is a through His people.
recurring historical pattern. Such
patterns give us insight into how God
works in and through His people.

This motif can be observed in the ministry of Moses. For example,
God transferred the Spirit who was upon him to the 70 elders in the
wilderness (Numbers 11:10–30). On another occasion, God transferred
Moses’ charismatic authority to Joshua (27:16–20). The transfer motif is
also seen in the way God transferred the Spirit who was upon Elijah to
Elisha, his servant (2 Kings 2:9–15).

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