“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Acts 1:8 (NASB)
As Christ commissioned His apostles in Acts 1 He foretells the arrival of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He promises that when they are filled with the Holy Spirit two things will occur. First, the Apostles will receive power. It is the power of the indwelling Spirit of God that enables us to walk in obedience to Christ. This is impossible to do in our sinful flesh. Secondly, Jesus tells them that they “shall” be His witnesses. The phrase for “you shall be” used here is the Greek “esomai “ which means “will come to pass”. Jesus is not offering them a suggestion, He is saying that when they receive the Holy Spirit, they WILL BE witnesses. Here is why sharing our faith isn’t an option for believers today any more than it was for the Apostles 2000 years ago; God’s command hasn’t changed. The great commission will only be obsolete once “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations.” (Mt. 24:14) Finally, we who are filled with the Holy Spirit (believers) will do what the Holy Spirit leads us to do and the work of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Christ.
Questions for application…
Why is witnessing not an optional activity for believers?
According to Christ’s command in Acts 1:8, where are believers to witness?
>What are some signs that we are filled with the Holy Spirit?
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