You Shall Be My Witnesses: God's Calling for Every Believer

Acts 1:8 – “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, an in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”

I have said this before and I will always say it, well until Jesus comes or when Jesus takes me home. It is the sole responsibility of every Christian to preach the gospel. The moment you gave your life to Jesus Christ, you are immediately hired to be a gospel preacher. Jesus did not die for you to be a seat warmer, He died for you so that you can be a witness to his death, burial and resurrection.

Acts 1:8 has three parts:

1. The Promise: Receiving the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:8: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…”

Before His ascension, Jesus promised His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit. This promise was a continuation of what He had told them earlier in John 14:16-17: “¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, ¹⁷even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

The Greek word for power, “dynamin“, it occurs 33 times in the New Testament and it means power, strength, and ability to perform mighty works and miracles.   The Holy Spirit isn’t just a Helper or a Comforter but it is the Power that Christians need in order to fulfill their mission.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NLT): “And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised…” meaning that The sealing does not come and cannot come before we believe, and those who demand some assurance from God before they will believe treat God as if His word could not be trusted. This also means that The Holy Spirit dwells within us, equipping us to live out our faith boldly. In times of doubt or fear, we can rely on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance. As Christians, we need to learn to depend on the Spirit of God in everything we do. Without the Holy Spirit, we are just empty vessels, saved, but empty.

2. The Power: Fit for Witnessing

Acts 1:8: “…And you shall be witnesses to me…”

One of the most common excuses for not becoming a Christian is the fear of failure to live the Christian life. Of course, man cannot be saved by good works (Titus 3:5 “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His Mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…”… this objection neglects the truth that God provides the power to live the Christian life. The power of the Holy Spirit was not designed solely for the first-century church. Rather, all Christians are indwelt by the Spirit and thus have God’s power available to them. However, living the Christian life under the Spirit’s power must not be thought as simply allowing the Spirit to take control while the Christian does nothing. The believer still must live the Christian life, though he does it through the Power of the Holy Spirit. The Christian who tries to live the Christian life through his own power will fail.

The empowerment by the Holy Spirit was not an end in itself. It had a clear purpose: to enable the disciples to be a fit witnesses of Jesus. The term “witnesses” in Greek is “martyres,” … The Letter to the Hebrews 12:1 reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Within the context of Christianity, bearing witness came to have a special sense, and the Greek word for witness came to be associated with giving one’s life for the Gospel. The Greek word that means witness, μαρτυρία (marturia), also is the root of the English word martyr, though it originally had nothing directly to do with death or dying. Rather, in its root form, marturia is a legal word, and the testimony or witness to which it applies is testimony in the legal sense of the word. Jesus came to bear witness to the saving love and power of God for his people, and that witness took the form of his death and Resurrection. This powerful witness of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our Church, but it also is the mission and call of the Church. We’re all called to continue to bear the same witness—even to the point of death.

Being a witness involves both proclaiming the Gospel and living a life that reflects Christ. It requires courage and conviction, which come from the Holy Spirit.

In our daily lives, we are called to be witnesses of Christ’s love and grace. This can be through our words (Preaching), actions (Power), and attitudes (lifestyle). In a world that often rejects the Gospel, our witness should be consistent and compassionate.

3. The Purpose: Reaching the Ends of the Earth

Acts 1:8 “…in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” [Telling people about me everywhere Acts 1:8 (NLT)]

This means that Christians are to SIMULTANEOUSLY witness in all these places. It means some are Jerusalem based witnesses; some are Judea based witnesses; some are Samaria based witnesses; and some are to the end of the earth based witnesses. Wherever a Christian finds himself, he must witness to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We are called to be active participants in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19 “¹⁹Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen… This might mean supporting missionaries, engaging in local outreach, or even being willing to go where God calls us. The Gospel is for everyone, and we have a role in ensuring it reaches every corner of the earth.

Conclusion:

Romans 10:133-15: “¹³For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” ¹⁴How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Acts 1:8 reminds us of the promise of the Holy Spirit, the power we receive to be witnesses, and the purpose of reaching the ends of the earth with the Gospel. We are empowered for mission, and this mission requires us to rely on the Holy Spirit, boldly witnessing for Christ, and extend our reach beyond our local communities. Remember to constantly seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance, be intentional in our witness, and support the global mission of the church. Let’s pray for opportunities to share the Gospel and be a light in a world that desperately needs the hope of Christ. Remember, God has equipped you for this mission. Lean on the Holy Spirit, embrace your role as a witness, and be proactive in spreading the Good News. Your life and testimony can make an eternal difference.