Acts 1:8

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:8 NASB). After his resurrection, Jesus gathered his disciples together and explained to them that they would be baptized by the Holy Spirit in just a few days. With Jesus standing before them and the promise of the Holy Spirit coming upon them, the disciples wondered if this was the time he was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. They still thought it was to be an earthly kingdom to be established now. They didn’t understand it was to be a kingdom of believers that was being formed.

Jesus responds by implying that this was not the time and then gives some information on how they will take part in forming that kingdom. When the promised Holy Spirit comes upon them they will receive power, not to fight to establish the kingdom, but to be his witnesses. Notice that our verse says “you shall be my witnesses”. You do not have a choice about being a witness, but you have a choice about how effective you will be. How we reflect Jesus Christ to those around us as we live out life is our witness. We are to be intentional in being effective and we are to be so no matter where we happen to be in the world. Being a witness is a life long job and takes on many different forms when we are intentional about being effective.

Prayer

Father, it is clear that as believers we are part of the kingdom of your beloved Son and that we have the responsibility of searching for lost sheep and making disciples out of them. In parts of the world, believers are sacrificing their lives in their witness, but we in the west seem to be on vacation in regards to this assignment and as a result spiritual darkness is settling into our nation. Father, have mercy on us for surely judgment lies ahead for us.