After a few months on other topics, our bulletin devotionals return this month to sharing our faith. Last time, we saw the Lord’s Great Commission for us to go and make disciples of all nations. We do so, realizing that He is with us always. Now, we come to Acts 1:8. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The first thing that we see here is that the power of gospel witness is not in our abilities, but in the Holy Spirit. Only He can give new life, opening blinded eyes and deaf ears (John 6:63). We must pray for His power to be upon us every day to share the gospel with others. Since the Holy Spirit is in every believer (Romans 8:9), we must trust His enabling and be witnesses. You shall receive power… you shall be witnesses.
Who should I start with? The command for the apostles was to start in Jerusalem. I must start where I am today. This applies to unbelievers at home, at work, friends and relatives. These are people who we already have relationships with, so it should be natural for us to want to share Christ with them. Next, go to all Judea. This was the broader region that they were in. This expands our witness to those we would not encounter unless we were searching them out. We need to seek out opportunities to establish relationships with people so that we can share Christ with them. We should take opportunities to give people gospel literature. Simple challenge- you will only use it if you have it with you. Take a gospel tract and give it to someone! It is even better if you give it with an explanation of what it is and why they should read it. Then He commands them to go to Samaria. This was a region that they had natural prejudices against. We need to take the opportunity to allow the gospel to break down our prideful prejudices and social barricades. Then He says that we are to go to the end of the earth. The gospel task of the believer is never done. There are always more who need to hear.
Take the first step. By the power of the Holy Spirit, share the gospel with someone in your Jerusalem. If you are not willing to share the gospel with your friends and relatives, what makes you think that you would be willing to ever share Christ with anyone? Many think that they would go across the world when they are unwilling to go across the street!
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