TANGIBLE PROOF THAT JESUS KEEPS HIS PROMISE!
- Key Verse
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; And you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
READ TODAY'S PASSAGE-
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
The resurrected Jesus promises that He will use us to take the gospel from our hometown, across racial and cultural boundaries, to the ends of the earth; and the way Jesus fulfills his promise is by infusing us with the Spirit's power.
Reflections
In the past 100 years an amazing new movement has swept the world that’s gone largely unnoticed by the mainstream media. The Christian faith has morphed from a mostly European and American phenomenon into a diverse worldwide movement centered on one person: the resurrected Jesus.
On the one hand, we shouldn’t be surprised, because it’s precisely what Jesus promised in Acts 1:8. On the other hand, the movement is full of surprises. With Jesus at the center and with God’s word as our guide, Christ-followers exhibit amazing creativity at reaching the world.
For instance, when persecuted, Christians grow all the more passionate about risking harm to share their faith, particularly with those in need. We’ve seen this first hand as we’ve helped establish churches in Russia and Cuba. When not persecuted, Christians tend to excel in all facets of art and culture: Witness the work of artists ranging from Albrect Durer to Bono. Or think about Christian athletes like Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy who excel at their sport and are vocal about Jesus. Jesus always performs as promised: He empowers us to penetrate His world with His good news.
One of my greatest experiences with Acts 1:8 took place in Russia. On a misty, windswept afternoon, my translator and I knocked on the door of a ramshackle house. With kind hospitality, a middle aged woman invited us into a scene of pain and sorrow. An elderly grandmother lay dying in one room. An alcoholic husband puttered about in the other. The woman made us tea, and we shared our faith in Christ. Then, it was as if God’s power swept through the room. She opened her heart and prayed to receive Christ. When we handed her a Bible, she clutched it, as if she’d found a lost child. A former atheist and communist, this woman now knows the Savior and worships Him in the context of her own language and culture.
The resurrected Jesus is always passionate about fulfilling Acts 1:8. Take a moment right now and ask Him about who you might be a witness to today.
Discussion Questions
- Jesus promised we would be His witnesses, because of the presence of His indwelling Holy Spirit. In what ways do you see yourself as a witness to the work that Jesus did on the cross? Are you better at expressing your faith through service or expressing the gospel with words?
- In which of the three areas do you feel most comfortable in being Jesus’ witness: in your home (your Jerusalem), across cultural and racial lines (your Samaria), or far away in a different country? Why?
- Has God been placing anyone on your heart with whom you can share your faith? How can you be better prepared to share your faith with that person? Who could you enlist to pray for you so that you might be better prepared to share your faith today?
Thanks for joining the journey!
Jeff
December 31, 2009 11:17 PM
Rod MacIlvaine is the MAN!!! I mean really... I wish I had a white belt in karate (not sure why he left that off his bio)!! Oh Yeah... Acts 1-11 is cool too, thanks for the insight!! I'm pumped for Join the Journey this year with the body of believers that make Grace Community!!
Linda Dixon
January 1, 2010 01:26 AM
Perfect way to start the new year with Acts 1:8 - empowerment from on high to do the Lord's work.
Doug Quinn
January 1, 2010 10:09 AM
wow, what a powerful devotion to begin the journey into this new decade! I am really thinking about who I might be a witness to today,and will continue to ask for discernment during my morning devotions this year. Thanks Rod!
Brittany McDougal
January 1, 2010 12:36 PM
Wow! I'm loving our Journey from the very beginning! What a great thought to be joining each other in prayer to inspire us through God's strength to share more boldly the name of Jesus. I have already asked a dear friend of mine if she would pray for me in this way as a response to todays entry. I can see this moving God's people!
Jeri Stewart
January 1, 2010 01:59 PM
Rod, Your devotion was a great way to start off our year. I am encouraged. Jeri
Ray Wall
January 1, 2010 05:38 PM
Thanks Rod. Challenging and encouraging devotion. Great passage to begin our "Join the Journey" experience.
JoAnn Gillispie
January 2, 2010 12:14 AM
I rejoice to hear such accounts of persons receiving Christ in dark places! I pray for a day when the light of the Holy Spirit breaks through the darkness in my own family back home. I pray that someone takes the time to love them like Jesus & share their faith. In the meantime, this reminds me that I am to be salt and light in my neighborhood & in Bartlesville because I may be answering the prayer of a daughter, mother,son, father, ect. from somewhere else.
Julie Capranica Taylor
January 2, 2010 04:29 AM
After reading this yesterday morning and reflecting on some of the preaching that Rod has given to us about going out and meeting people where they are and how Christ calls us to places where we have opportunity to reach others who have not embraced Him, I was listening to Alister Begg on Bott radio and he was preaching on this very subject! I find it the easiest to share my faith with my children in my home and other Christians at GCC. But God is stretching me as He has put me in an environment through my work, where I have the chance to be His light and bring His message of grace. In a world of quick fixes and push button gratification, the message that God has given to me is to "show", not so much "speak" of the ways that God can change lives and bring salvation, although others know that I am a Christian. This is a process that takes time...gaining trust through compassion, kindness and sharing of the "peace that passes understanding" to others I work with. There is a specific person whom God has called me to minister to at work. I ask for prayers that God will give me oppotunities to make a difference in her life by sharing my faith in the way that He would want me to.
Gary Rix
January 2, 2010 06:28 AM
Rod, thanks for getting us off to a great start in 2010 with your "Join The Journey" devotional reminding us that Jesus' is fulfilling His Acts 1:8 promise to use us as His witnesses in the world. May we each be willing, intentional participants!
Joanie Jorss
January 2, 2010 11:14 AM
When I read about Rod's eperience in Russia, it brought tear's to my eye's. Here was a truly lost women who had no hope. I can so relate to being that lost and without hope before Christ but we have so much more opportunity here in the US and I thank God everyday I was born in the US and for the ppl he brought into my life 15 years ago who reconized my desparte need for Christ! So far has where I feel most comfortable as a witness is my Jerusalem. I really don't know why, maybe someone can offer some reason's if there area of comfort is the same.
Lynn Carpenter
January 3, 2010 01:00 PM
Rod, Thanks for starting our Grace Community Church Join the Journey--very well done and thought provoking. Also, totally true!
Peggy Robbins
January 10, 2010 03:48 PM
I am Rod's aunt, living in a retirement community in PA. My volunteer job is to find preachers each Sunday at 2 pm to bring us a Christian message. Of the 50 Protestants and 50 Roman Catholics at the services I see the sincere faith and devotion to our Lord Who has been ardently loved and trusted for almost a complete lifetime, and to whom each has given his/her trust. My job is to see that their faith is continuously fed.
Karen
January 18, 2010 07:07 PM
A boldess of spirit, a passion for the truth... yes, a great way to start the New Year! What appeared to be you stumbling into a really unfortunate set of circumstances for this Russian family was not unfortunate at all! It was the perfect time for God to enter this lady's heart. He had prepared her for you. His timing is always perfect!