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.”
Acts 1:8
In Acts 1:8, Jesus gives a powerful promise to His disciples before His ascension into heaven. He tells them, “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.” This promise of power is not arbitrary; it is given with a specific purpose in mind.
As believers, we are recipients of this same promise of power through the Holy Spirit. God desires to equip us with supernatural abilities to fulfil His purposes and advance His kingdom on earth. However, it’s crucial for us to understand that this power is not given for our own glory or selfish desires. It is given for a purpose – to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the world.
Following Jesus’ instruction to his disciples to begin their witnessing in Jerusalem and spread outward to the ends of the earth, we are called to start right where we are and extend the reach of the gospel to every corner of the earth. This begins with the way we live our lives as ambassadors of Christ, demonstrating His love, grace, and truth in our everyday interactions.
But our witness doesn’t stop there. We are also called to actively proclaim the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, sharing the good news with those around us and beyond. Whether it’s through verbal proclamation, acts of kindness, or living out our faith authentically, we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19).
As we yield to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, He enables us to be effective witnesses for Christ, both in word and deed. Let us embrace the purpose for which God has empowered us and be diligent in fulfilling our role as ambassadors of His kingdom.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the promise of Your Holy Spirit, who empowers us to be witnesses of Jesus Christ to the world. Help us to understand the purpose of the power You have given us and to use it faithfully to advance Your kingdom. Fill us afresh with Your Spirit today, that we may boldly proclaim the gospel and live as authentic witnesses of Your love and grace. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name