THE STORY OF JESUS: Acts 1:6-8
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
God made Adam and Eve to be His witnesses in creation (Genesis 1:26-28).
They received the breath (Spirit) of life to equip them for this task (Genesis 2:7).
Jesus comes to restore God’s image-bearers to their creation calling.
He receives, and disperses, God’s Spirit of life, to equip His followers for this task.
We are reconnected to God, and being remade into His likeness.
As such, we are restored to our original assignment – to re-present God to the world.
But why specifically does Jesus say that we are to witness to Him?
To be Jesus’ witnesses is to show the world what we have seen and heard and experienced.
We are to embody the good news in our words and deeds, to show the world what God is like.
Evangelism is WAY MORE than converting people to our faith, or our church.
It is BEing good news to the world, so that they can see, hear and experience it too.
The power of the Holy Spirit is producing this good news transformation in us.
As we display love, joy peace, etc (fruit of the Spirit), the world is impacted, blessed.
Unfortunately we’ve spent more time trying to convert people, and not enough blessing them.
Conversion is what happens when we love and bless people – like God has loved and blessed us.
I believe the wind of the Spirit is blowing through the world, the wind of grace, mercy, love, etc.
We need to receive this wind, and allow it to move us toward others, so that they can see Jesus too.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, forgive us for missing the point of our calling. May a fresh wind blow over us, so that we become Your loving witnesses to the ends of the earth, as You intended.