"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)
As we continue our 21 Days of seeking, we recogniize that the church is completley unable to fulfil the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus gave apart from His help. After all, it was Jesus who said, "without me ye can do nothing.." (John 15) In the passage of Scripture we reference today, you can see that the Lord gave the power and ability to the church to complete the task.
He promises, "you will receive power." A phrase that is often used by ministers to pray for the sick or to cast out devils. Unfortunately, some (mostly media-type preachers) will even use this phrase to generate funds, which in my opinion makes them no different than the moneychangers that Jesus drove from the temple. (Mark 11:17)
The remainder of Acts 1:8 clearly states why we received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. Yes, you read it right, to witness. It is the obligation of all followers of Jesus to be witnesses. No, you may not be a professional preacher or a licensed teacher, but YOU are to be a witness.
Also it is important to note that there is a definite pattern given. The disciples were in Jerusalem when they were commissioned by the Lord. He was telling them, 'START WHERE YOU ARE," then use an ever-increasing, widening pattern of the next areas until you reach the world. Those first followers reached the known world in their generation. (Acts 17:6)
I believe its time we repeat their example.
As we continue our 21 Days of seeking, we recogniize that the church is completley unable to fulfil the Great Commission (see Matthew 28:19-20) Jesus gave apart from His help. After all, it was Jesus who said, "without me ye can do nothing.." (John 15) In the passage of Scripture we reference today, you can see that the Lord gave the power and ability to the church to complete the task.
He promises, "you will receive power." A phrase that is often used by ministers to pray for the sick or to cast out devils. Unfortunately, some (mostly media-type preachers) will even use this phrase to generate funds, which in my opinion makes them no different than the moneychangers that Jesus drove from the temple. (Mark 11:17)
The remainder of Acts 1:8 clearly states why we received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. Yes, you read it right, to witness. It is the obligation of all followers of Jesus to be witnesses. No, you may not be a professional preacher or a licensed teacher, but YOU are to be a witness.
Also it is important to note that there is a definite pattern given. The disciples were in Jerusalem when they were commissioned by the Lord. He was telling them, 'START WHERE YOU ARE," then use an ever-increasing, widening pattern of the next areas until you reach the world. Those first followers reached the known world in their generation. (Acts 17:6)
I believe its time we repeat their example.
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