The Church’s Mission

“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

Receiving power from the Holy Spirit comes before and leads to being a witness for Christ. It is not training, courage, passion, or discipline that makes an effective witness, but power from on High. Two thousand years ago, Jesus’ disciples had to wait in the Upper Room to be clothed with the power of the Holy Spirit so that they could tell the world about Jesus Christ. When (not if) they received that power, Jesus told them, they would be His witnesses, both at home and to the ends of the earth.

The same is true for disciples of Christ today. While we don’t have to wait to receive the Holy Spirit once we place our faith in Christ, it is still impossible to be His witness without this power. Presbyterian minister Arthur T. Pierson wrote, “The Church has money, brains, organizations, rivers or prayer and oceans of sermons, but she lacks in POWER” (Missionary Review, 1882).

How is it possible for the Body of Christ to lack power? It is not a lack of available power, but a lack of dependence on this power. Love for God and compassion for the lost may be enough motivation to share the Gospel, but it is not enough to make you an effective witness with expanding effects. Only the Spirit’s power can accomplish what Jesus describes in Acts 1:8. Only the Spirit can cause a disciple to have the deep conviction, wisdom, self-denial, and effectiveness that God uses to convert lost sinners to faith in Christ.

Are you content with the level of power in your witness for Christ? Have you given up on Christ’s amazing promise that “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you?” This power is available to every follower of Jesus Christ…we must merely want, ask for, and depend on it.

Father, You have promised power from on high to all those who believe. Yet so often, my life seems void of effectiveness for You. Please place a deep longing in my heart for more of Your power, and teach me how to depend on this power that Your Spirit brings. May my life be effective in bringing many souls to You! In Jesus’ name, amen.