The greatest mission we have in life and our ability to accomplish it all hangs on the very words of this verse.  “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.” Acts 1:8

  We all enjoy having a sense of power and authority.  Power over our current situations, power over life’s outcomes, power over our adversaries, we simply enjoy having POWER!  

  The kind of power this verse describes is different.  It’s not a power rooted from a carnal and self centered perspective, but a kind of power we cannot receive unless we become power-less meaning, “He must become greater; I must become less.” as we read in John 3:30. 

  The entire notion of us giving Jesus authority over our lives insinuates that there must be a transfer of power.  So in other words to be power-less in this context is to surrender our own ideologies and beliefs and to give ourselves fully to the Holy Spirit’s true purpose for this power. 

  I’m not surprised to read that in verse 6 the disciples are questioning Jesus about this power that would come from the Holy Spirit.  “Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  

  The reason I’m not surprise by the disciples response and intent is because I can fully relate.  I’m reminded of what Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

  God’s very purpose for sending us the Holy Spirit in this verse is to advance His kingdom in heaven through our witness here on earth. “…and you will be my witnesses” 

  When we BELIEVE in the Son of God we become candidates for receiving this POWER from the Holy Spirit to be WITNESSES.

BELIEF + POWER = WITNESSES

BOOM…!  This is the point where the purpose for the Holy Spirit’s power can become clear to us.  All of a sudden, we begin to understand that our life’s purpose is really to tell the world of God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ.

We receive this power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us to be His witnesses because we understand His purpose for power.  We are now equipped to accomplish our mission in life as we march on as EMPOWERED agents of reconciliation for Jesus.

  “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself…” 1 John 5:10 

  What are you waiting for…?  Take this POWER and go be a witness for Jesus to everyone in your neighborhood, in your surrounding cities and across the whole wide world.  “…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”