Witnesses!

Witnesses!

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 NIV

The Inspiration:

The words of today's verse are from Jesus, just as he was about to be taken into heaven. He had completed the earthly mission, after offered his life as the perfect atonement for sin. Over a period of 40 days, he appeared to different people at different times, offering irrefutable proof that the same one who was crucified is now the Risen Lord. That is the foundation and pillar of our faith: we have a God who has conquered all that could hurt us and He has offered us a way back to the Father. Now, no matter what comes my way here on earth, I know it is for a season, and victory has already been secured for me by the death and resurrection of Jesus. For the disciples, it was quite real. They had seen it all, having witnessed the initial humiliation as well as the glory of His resurrection. Now, they were receiving a mandate to go out and speak about the things they have heard, seen and personally experienced. This is the simple definition of a 'witness'. You are a witness only to what you have seen, heard, tasted or felt yourself, not what a friend or another person had said, heard, tasted or felt. 

The Contention:

One definition online for 'witness' us to 'have knowledge of something from observation or experience.' Whst would I be a witness of or to? It is the power of God to save a sinner, and to offer life full and free. It is a witness to the power of God to keep a man from sin and on the path of eternal life. It is a witness to the power of comfort from God, even in the most distressing of circumstances. No matter what comes now or is ahead, being sure of who you are, what you have received and where you are headed are the greatest boosts to confidence and assurance in the person you are a witness for. This just means that if I am to be a good witness, it can't be about hearsay or someone else's view; it has to be mine. The only way it can be mine is to have the Presence of God in me, which is by the Holy Spirit. He is the One who has seen the Father, and as he comes into a life, he comes with the power required to be an effective witness. I cannot face the world without this power; I dare not face the devil without this power. Have I received this power? Does God's Spirit live in me, bearing witness to the power available for the life God has called me to? 

The Conclusion:

This Presence and Power are required for what is ahead. The world needs to hear of the saving grace of Jesus, and men will only respond when they hear the truth. How would I testify to the truth, if I don't know the truth? The journey starts from where I am now, and I must receive the power of the Holy Spirit before I dare stand before men. My Jerusalem could be my immediate community, or the place where I work or do business. It is the familiar that lays the foundation for world outreach. As I touch my own community with the power of the Holy Spirit, the message of life in Christ spreads outwards. Many of us may not have heard the message of life if someone did not reach out beyond their immediate environment. The power of the Holy Spirit to change lives is still as potent and effective as it was in the days when the words above were pronounced by Jesus. He seeks men who will speak to the convictions they have about Him. Have I indeed met this God? He can only flow out of me if He lives in me. God's time of favour is here.