On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” . . . 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.” (NIV) Acts 1:4-5, 8
Jesus had died. . . 3 days later He rose from the dead and appeared many times . . . once to as many as 500 followers. And He promised to send them a gift from His Father. That gift was the Holy Spirit. Jesus related the receiving of the power with being witnesses to all mankind.
The only hope that we have to evangelize our world is through God’s power. And with that power, comes the responsibility of being a witness to what God has done through Jesus. . .and a witness to what God has done in and through your life.
When was the last time that you shared with a “Pre-Christian” the story of what God has done in your life? You may say, “But I’m not an evangelist!” Neither were those who Jesus addressed in Acts 1!
Take a moment now and list 3 people that you know who do not have a relationship with Christ.
Pray that God’s Spirit will prepare those individual’s hearts and minds so that they will be ready to clearly understand who Christ is and what He has done for mankind (John 15:26). And pray that God will continue to give you opportunities to build your relationship with those individuals and that you will act on those opportunities.
