Why “Jerusalem” Matters (More Than You Think)
- Pastor George Sawyer
- Apr 19
- 2 min read
When we talk about Jerusalem in this context, we’re not just talking about a city.
We’re talking about a moment of activation.
After the resurrection and after the instruction to return to Galilee, Jesus tells His disciples:
“Stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49)
That city was Jerusalem.
So here’s the flow:
Galilee = calling and restoration
Jerusalem = empowerment and sending
And if you miss Jerusalem… you miss the power to live out everything God called you to do.
The Two Things Jesus Transferred (That Still Matter Today)
Jesus didn’t just give them a mission, He gave them what they needed to fulfill it.
1. Authority: The Right to Represent Heaven
In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says:
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
That’s not just a statement, it’s a transfer.
Authority that was lost in the beginning… restored through Jesus… and now delegated to His followers.
That means this:
You don’t just believe in Jesus, you represent Him
You don’t just attend church, you carry His name
You don’t just hope for change, you have the authority to walk in it
But here’s the key…
Authority only works when you actually use it.
2. Power: The Ability to Live It Out
Authority without power? It’s just theory.
So Jesus tells them in Acts 1:8:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…”
This is where everything shifts.
The same disciples who:
ran in fear
doubted constantly
hid after the crucifixion
…became bold, fearless, and unshakable.
Why?
Because the Holy Spirit changed everything.
Authority Gives You Position. Power Gives You Capacity
Let’s make this practical:
Authority = you have the right
Power = you have the ability
You need both.
And Jesus made sure they, and we, would have both.
This Was Never Just for Them… It’s for You
Sometimes we read the Book of Acts like it’s history.
But it’s more than history, it’s a blueprint.
The same authority… The same Spirit… The same mission…
Still available today.
Not just for pastors. Not just for “super spiritual” people.
For you.
At your job. With your family. In your everyday life.
So Why Aren’t We Living Like This?
A lot of us are living beneath what God has given us.
Not because we don’t love Him, but because we don’t fully understand what we’ve received.
We:
pray timid prayers
avoid bold steps
stay comfortable instead of stepping out
But Jesus didn’t die and rise again so we could live small.
Step Into What’s Already Been Given
This is where it gets personal.
You don’t need more potential. You don’t need a different life.
You need to step into what’s already been transferred to you.
Authority
Power
Purpose
Don’t Just Learn This. Live It
Jerusalem wasn’t the end of the story.
It was the beginning of a movement.
And that movement is still going.
The question is…
Are you just watching it… or are you part of it?
Ask yourself honestly:
Am I walking in the authority Jesus gave me?
Am I relying on the power of the Holy Spirit daily?
Or am I living like none of this actually applies to me?
If you’re ready for more, start here:
“Holy Spirit, fill me. Help me walk in what Jesus has already given me.”
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