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)

Devotion:

“God could never forgive me for what I have done.”

Those words haunted me for years because they came from someone I dearly loved and could not imagine doing anything so bad that God could not forgive. So I persisted, for years, to share the Good News and pray she would finally realize just how loved she was! It was not until her final moments with us on earth that my Grandmother finally realized Jesus loved her and already made a way for her to be forgiven. It was truly one of the most precious gifts my Father in Heaven gave me … the ability to pray with her and witness the freedom she experienced in that moment when she received his forgiveness. Her next moments took her into his presence.

As I have prayed with and for so many others, God has reminded me that I need to be just as diligent to share Jesus with them as I was with my grandmother. 

The stories of addiction, despair, broken marriages, abuse, hatred toward others, and suicide are heartbreaking. There is so much brokenness all around us. Our world needs hope. Our world desperately needs Jesus!

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? (Romans 10:14, NLT)

Brothers and Sisters, if you are a Christ-follower, every conversation you step into ushers in the very presence of Jesus. You are a hope-bearer. You and I have been personally commissioned by God as witnesses to the greatest news in all the world.

So what is it God has called us to do? He has called us to change this city and the world by sharing the Good News of the Gospel with those around us, in our workplaces, our schools, our homes, our neighborhoods, our community, and throughout the world. Wherever Jesus places us, he has commissioned us, Church, to be his witnesses among all people, everywhere—to proclaim his life-changing power.

We are not alone. We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to speak on behalf of God with his anointing and authority to share how Jesus has changed our lives and how he can change theirs. (See Acts 2:17-18.)

You and I are a group of ordinary people who have been clothed with extraordinary power through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. (See Luke 24:45-49) 

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:45–49)

The Spirit of God changes everything. Lives will not be changed by our own efforts, hard work, or abilities. Jesus is the One who changes lives as his Spirit empowers our testimony.

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)

Apart from the power of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing to change this city or our world. But with Jesus, lives will be changed, including ours, and communities will be transformed.  

Many are praying for their loved ones to come to know Jesus. They are counting on individuals like you and me, clothed with extraordinary power and personally commissioned by God to boldly and lovingly share the Good News of the Gospel to them. 

Our obedience will be used to transform lives, communities, and our world!

PRAYER

Almighty One, I pray that we, the people of your Church, will personally come to experience the love and the power of Jesus like never before—that we will remember how you have changed our lives and the hope we have because of Jesus.

God, I pray you will place a Spirit of evangelism in and on each of us, that we will be burdened for the lost in our city and in our world. I cry out for the Spirit of God to empower and embolden us to speak the name of Jesus to everyone around us. 

In your powerful name we pray,

Amen.

Angela Presley
Pastor, Global Missions

Resources

• Watch Go message from Senior Pastor Marty Grubbs
• Listen to God of this City by Chris Tomlin
• Listen to For the Sake of the World by Bethel Worship

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