Acts 1:8 NKJV
[8] But 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 gospels end with Jesus commissioning the disciples to Go into the world and make disciples, but the book of Acts begins by him telling them to wait. The work they had been commissioned to do was so great that they could not do it in their strength.
At the end of Matthew, Jesus says that all power and authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him, at the beginning of Acts he tells the disciples to wait until they are endued with that power from on high.
To fulfil the Great Commission, we must receive the Great empowerment.
Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, we shall receive power to be witnesses. This means that the primary reason we are filled with the Holy Spirit is not just to pray in tongues as some believe, but rather it is for evangelism’s sake. To win souls and make disciples is the most important assignment for every believer and God has ensured that we have been empowered to accomplish the task.
When we look at the book of Acts we see a pattern of believers being filled with the Holy Spirit, and they go out to share the good news and churches are planted and there is an explosion.
The Spirit of God empowers us to participate in Gods mission of reconciliation. He also teaches us and reminds us of all the things that Jesus said. He also guides us as he did Phillip to the Ethiopian if we will be sensitive to listen and obey. Furthermore, he also helps us to pray and strengthens us in times of trial, as he did with the early church.
Jesus told his disciples that the harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few. Every believer needs to be sharing the Gospel and making disciples but sadly many of us either don’t know how to because we have not been discipled, or we have totally ignored the command of Jesus.
Like the disciples in Acts 4 may we pray for boldness to share the Gospel because we have received the Great Empowerment.
Acts 4:31 NKJV
[31] And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Reflections.
Have you been filled with the Holy Spirit since you believed?
How has the Holy Spirit helped you become more like Christ?
How many people do you purpose to win to the Lord this year?
