“But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.” Acts 1:8 AMPC
When a Christian receives the Holy Spirit in their life, they turn into superman. Inherent power to do what God can do is given to them. This power is actually ability, efficiency, and might to provide proof that Jesus is the Son of God. He was born of the Virgin Mary, lived and died on the cross of Calvary, and on the third day, He rose again from the dead.
Before the Holy Spirit came into the life of the Apostles, they were terrified to identify with Jesus Christ when he was arrested. Peter even denied him thrice (Matthew 26:69-74), fearing the consequences if they discovered he was one of Jesus’s disciples.
In Matthew 26:74 (TPT), Peter denied it and, using profanity, exclaimed, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment, the sound of a crowing rooster pierced the night. This Peter was different from the Peter of Acts 2:4 (TPT), who was filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit, inspiring him to speak in tongues—he was literally empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages he had never learned!
When the Holy Spirit filled Peter, he immediately began proclaiming the gospel, and became a soul winner. Acts 2:14 (TPT): “Peter stood up with the eleven apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, my fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem. You must clearly understand what’s happening here.” Where did he find the boldness and wisdom? The Lord Holy Ghost who dwelt in him.
The same Holy Ghost is in us today, and He came to make us first, soul winners. Our opening verse explains that we received power so that we could be witnesses unto the Lord Jesus. This is soul winning! Make up your mind this year to win souls and bring them into the Church. Glory, halleluyah!
PRAYER
Dear Lord Holy Ghost, I desire to be an effective witness of Christ every day of my life. As long as I live, I ask You to guide and strengthen me daily for soul winning. Show me how to share the message of the gospel with my family, friends and everyone in my world. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
DEEPER REFLECTION
Acts 2:37-38 TPT
When they heard this they were crushed and realized what they had done to Jesus. Deeply moved, they said to Peter and the other apostles, “What do we need to do, brothers?” Peter replied, “Repent and return to God, and each one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus, the Anointed One, to have your sins removed. Then you may take hold of the gift of the Holy Spirit
Matthew 26:74-75 AMPC
Then Peter began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not even know the Man! And at that moment a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered Jesus’ words, when He had said, Before a single rooster crows, you will deny and disown Me three times. And he went outside and wept bitterly.”
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Exodus 13-14, Mark 3
2 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Genesis 31, Matthew 11:16-30
