Dear Precious Friends,
On this Magnificent Monday, this gift that God has given us, I pray you had a beautiful weekend and are ready to embrace this new week knowing the great purpose God has for you. I love the expression that we should begin with the end in mind. That’s why I love sharing this post today.
When we think about our day ahead and all the opportunities God will give us to share the light and love of Jesus, we must remember why we are here and the great power God has given us through the gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit.
We have access to receive the same power the disciples received in Acts 1:8 when Jesus gave power to all who were at Pentecost through the Holy Spirit.
Woaaaaasaa
Please don’t skim by this truth....
He also left us our job description which is why we are still here
In Luke 24:47 Jesus says to his disciples just before he ascends to heaven that "repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in my name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem."
Then he says, very much like Acts 1:8, "You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you (i.e. the Holy Spirit), but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high."
Acts 1:8 says that they shall receive power from the Holy Spirit and shall be witnesses. Luke 24:48-49 says that they shall be witnesses and must wait for to be clothed with power from on high.
Notice that in Acts 1:8 receiving power is what precedes and leads to being witnesses for Christ. And in Luke 24:48-49 they are to be witnesses but power from on high is so crucial they must wait for it in the city before they begin to launch out to the nations from Jerusalem.
In Acts 1:8, Luke was recording the promise of the gift of the HS by Christ to the disciples and to all believers in Christ that would take place after His ascension. Jesus made a similar promise in John 7:37-39 where He said, “On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’ (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were going to receive; for the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.)”
The meaning is that the era of the Holy Spirit had not yet arrived; the Spirit was not as yet at work in a way he later would be because Jesus had not yet returned to his Father. Acts 19:2; Eph. 1:13-14.
The HS today is God’s special gift for all those who, having realized we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory or the holy character of God, have turned from any form of self-trust or from their apathy, etc., to Jesus Christ to trust in Him by faith. This means trusting in the Bible’s witness to the person and work of Christ on the cross for our sin.
The Spirit is not anything mysterious. He is the third person of the Godhead whom the Father and the Son promised as the one to personally indwell all believers and to be their enablement to live the Christian life. This was the meaning and point in Acts 1:8, “you shall receive power … and you shall be my witnesses.”
So here is the main point that Jesus and Luke are teaching us: Special power is essential for an expanding witness to those who don’t have Christ.
Before you read another word, be sure you have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Use this gift to plant hope, cause laughter that chases tears away and lift someone’s burden ... and you will know you spent the day wisely. Only one life twill soon be past
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Building relationship helps build the Kingdom as people see Christ in us through the Holy Spirit!
If you want more understanding of this please message me!!!
Love you and let’s all commit to spending this day wisely walking in HIS strength
Who will join me?
Amen
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