Living Between Acts and Revelation
Some of you know exactly what this feels like.
You start a project with energy and excitement.
You have a plan.
You have momentum.
And then life happens.
The project sits unfinished—
tools still out,
materials still there,
work started but not completed.
Every time you see it, it reminds you:
This isn’t done yet.
As we come to the end of this year, many of us feel that way about 2025.
- Prayers we started praying haven’t been answered yet.
- Steps of faith didn’t turn out the way we expected.
- Growth we hoped to see still feels incomplete.
But Acts chapter 1 opens not with an ending—but with a continuation.
Jesus has risen.
The cross is empty.
The tomb is open.
And yet He tells His disciples:
“You will receive power… and you will be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8)
In other words:
The story isn’t over. I’m not finished yet.
I. The Helper Has Come
Acts 1:8; Philippians 1:6
Jesus speaks Acts 1:8 in the quiet space between resurrection and ascension.
That timing matters.
- The cross was not the conclusion—it was the catalyst.
- The empty tomb was not the finish line—it was the doorway.
The resurrection proved Jesus is alive.
The Spirit makes that life active in us.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8)
God’s power is not limited by:
- Time — He is never rushed.
- Fatigue — Our weakness does not exhaust Him.
- Failure — Our past does not cancel His purpose.
- Unfinished plans — God works in process, not just in completion.
The disciples weren’t spiritual giants yet. They were still confused. Still hesitant. Still marked by failure.
And Jesus didn’t say, “Come back when you’re ready.”
He said, “Wait—and receive power.”
The same Spirit who empowered the early church is still active today. Not watered down. Not retired. Not replaced.
And Paul gives us this assurance:
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
If you’re still breathing, God is still working.
Your doubts do not disqualify you.
Your fatigue does not remove you from His plan.
Your failures do not cancel His future purposes.
The Helper has come—not to admire your progress—but to empower your obedience.
II. God’s Mission Is Still on the Move
Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19; Habakkuk 2:14
“…and you will be my witnesses…” (Acts 1:8)
That word matters.
A witness is not someone who has all the answers.
A witness is someone who tells what they have seen and heard.
Jesus places the future of the church not in polished presentations—but in personal testimony.
The gospel was never meant to stay in one place.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19)
“The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.” (Habakkuk 2:14)
Acts is not just history—it’s movement.
The Pattern of Acts 1:8
Jerusalem — Where You Are
Your home.
Your workplace.
Your school.
Your community.
God doesn’t ask you to reach the world before you love the people right in front of you.
“Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much.” (Luke 16:10)
Judea & Samaria — People Near and Unlike You
Samaria represented tension and discomfort.
God’s mission stretches us beyond our comfort zones—racially, culturally, socially, spiritually.
Witnessing isn’t about winning arguments.
It’s about crossing relational boundaries.
The Ends of the Earth — Beyond What Feels Safe
Anywhere obedience feels risky.
Anywhere faith requires courage.
Anywhere you’re tempted to say, “Surely God means someone else.”
And yet Jesus says, “You will be my witnesses.”
The early church didn’t grow because believers were impressive.
It grew because they were honest.
“We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)
God uses:
- Ordinary people (1 Corinthians 1:26–29)
- Imperfect stories (2 Corinthians 4:7)
- Everyday faithfulness (Zechariah 4:10)
You don’t have to go everywhere—but you are called to go somewhere.
And that somewhere begins right where you are.
III. Victory Comes Through the Lamb and the Testimony
Revelation 12:11; Romans 8:1
Revelation tells us how the story ends:
“They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” (Revelation 12:11)
Spiritual victory does not come through force, fear, or fame.
God overcomes darkness through truth:
- Truth about what Christ has done.
- Truth about what Christ is doing.
The Blood of the Lamb — What Christ Has Done
“It is finished.” (John 19:30)
Sin has been paid for.
Death has been defeated.
Accusation has lost its power.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
Every testimony begins here.
The Word of Their Testimony — What Christ Is Doing
Testimony isn’t performance—it’s proclamation.
“Come and hear… and I will tell what He has done for my soul.” (Psalm 66:16)
It’s not about how strong we are.
It’s about how faithful God has been.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Our weakness doesn’t weaken the testimony—it magnifies grace.
Darkness survives on silence and forgetfulness.
“Remember the deeds of the Lord.” (Psalm 77:11)
God uses honest testimony—not polished perfection—to bring hope to others.
Your story does not replace the gospel.
It points to it.
Living Between Acts and Revelation
Revelation ends in victory—not because of our strength, but because of God’s faithfulness.
- God wins.
- Christ reigns.
- The story concludes in glory.
2025 may feel unfinished.
Some prayers remain unanswered.
Some chapters are still being written.
But this is not the end.
Acts reminds us what we are called to do.
Revelation reminds us how the story ends.
We live faithfully in the middle.
And God is not finished yet.
