But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 KJV
Jesus explains in verse 8 how the Church would grow. It would not be by the wisdom or power of man but the power of the Holy Spirit as He empowers believers to be witnesses in ever widening circles, so that the whole world is reached. That has some tremendous significance for us today! First, we are evidence of its fulfillment. The gospel has spread so that we have heard and believed. Second, we are part of its continued fulfillment as we share the message of Christ with others. None of us can say that we do not have the ability to be witnesses. We are witnesses if we know Christ as Savior because the Spirit empowers us as witnesses. The question is whether we are responsible witnesses or not?
Lord, because You sent the Spirit into believers the good news of salvation spread quickly beyond Jerusalem and continues to spread from new centers of gospel activity today. Because You have empowered me as a witness I want to be responsible as one.
