THURSDAY: POWER FROM THE SPIRIT
KEY PASSAGE
“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.”
DEVOTIONAL
Jesus, before His final farewell and His ascension into Heaven, explains that we will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. The Greek translation of this word is dynamis. This word, being the root word for “dynamite,” means explosive and transformative power. This is what we are receiving when we receive the Holy Spirit. This power has the ability to transform not only you, but the people around you.
Jesus goes on to say what this power is used FOR: to be witnesses; to be advocates for and to be living testimonies of Jesus.
Not only does Jesus tell us what this power is for, but WHERE it will go. He outlines four contextual destinations that actually translate to us today.
Jerusalem: This represents those closest to us - our friends and family. Being a witness begins where we live and relate.
Judea: This represents the broader community - our workplace, schools, social groups, and other spaces. It reminds us that we are not called to a bubble, rather a broader circle.
Samaria: This represents those who are not like us culturally, socially, or even politically. It challenges us to embody the mission of Jesus by serving the lost and the least, even by crossing cultural barriers.
Ends of the Earth: This represents the global mission. Some go, others send, pray, and support. But every believer is called to be a witness all over the world.
CHALLENGE
Where do you find yourself today in regards to the space you can be a witness? Can you start today in your Jerusalem? Are you able to say “it’s time to take the next step?” Ask God to reveal to you where you can boldly become a witness today. Begin by praying for those people or that group. Then perhaps, ask to get a coffee with someone who comes to your mind in one of those groups, and ask God how you can be a witness to them.