Scattered: Day 07
“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 the Scattered theme, this verse spoken by Jesus reminds us that we are not alone. That wherever we are scattered, we don’t have to rely only on our own strength but we can rely on God’s power!
Firstly let me remind you of the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When we ask Jesus into our lives we’re asking God into our lives. God is 3 in 1, meaning the Holy Spirit lives in us as our helper as described in John 14.
Sometimes we take that for granted or underestimate the power available to us through the Holy Spirit. Let me put it like this – the same power that rose Christ from the grave lives in you! Wow! With that in mind, doesn’t that give you a different perspective on your everyday life and telling people about Jesus? Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can have courage, boldness, insight and confidence as we witness!
In Acts 1 the disciples had not yet received the Holy Spirit. In verse 4, Jesus commands the disciples not to leave Jerusalem yet but to wait for the gift the Father promised; before they scattered they needed first to receive the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive power to witness after they received the Holy Spirit. Notice the progression:
- They would receive the Holy Spirit
- He would give them power
- They would witness with extraordinary results
Often we try to reverse the order and witness by our own power and authority. Witnessing is not showing what we can do for God, it is showing and telling what God has done for us. God has important work for us to do but we’re not going to manage it in our own strength we need to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us and when we do I am sure we’ll see our own extraordinary results.
Prayer
God thank you for your power that lives within me, let me never take that for granted. Help me see opportunities today for me to share about you. Help me to witness not in my strength but by your power.
Ps Sophie McGuinness
Associate Pastor