Power

 Acts 1:8 ESV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 


At first glance, this promise of Holy Spirit power sounds great. Yet the Greek word for witness here is the one from which we get our English word 'martyr'. Jesus wasn't deceiving his people that all would be health, wealth and happiness if we follow him.

Jesus is warning us here that we'll be like sheep to the slaughter. Yet even so, we will be given the power to testify of him as our Lord and Saviour. Very soon the likes of Stephen and James would be martyred.

If we have the Holy Spirit we have all we need to give for God. We will have the power to endure even death for Jesus' sake. Nothing can separate us from his love.

Note how the church is spreading across the globe. We share the good news where we're at (Jerusalem), regionally (Judea), cross culturally (Samaria) and globally (to the ends of the earth). Humanly speaking we're not up to the task; with Holy Spirit power we can do this.

'Sovereign God, may we be obedient to your call to make you known. Please forgive us for how long it's taking us to reach the ends of the earth. In Jesus' name, amen'.

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