Encounter, to Empower Mission

In Acts 1:8 Jesus makes one of the most significant promises in the New Testament:

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon 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). 

Many times we emphasize what an encounter with the Holy Spirit’s power feels like and the impact this has on us personally, and we thank God for these powerful transformational encounters!  

However, the Holy Spirit was not given just for spiritual experience.  He was given for mission.  

Acts 1:8 provides the roadmap for the entire book.  The Gospel begins in Jerusalem, spreads through Judea and Samaria, and ultimately reaches the farthest corners of the known world.  What started as a small gathering of believers in an upper room soon became a Spirit-empowered movement that crossed cultural barriers, planted churches, and carried the message of Christ across the Roman Empire.

In light of this verse, we should ask ourselves…

How often have we as believers kept this “whole-earth invasion” of the Gospel in our minds?  

Do we genuinely believe we are called to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth?  

If we do believe it, how often do we intentionally pursue fulfilling it?  Do we make practical plans to accomplish it, even on a small scale?  Or does our attention get caught up with the happenings inside our local church community, as the Great commission’s call to “the ends of the earth” fades into the background?  

The early church did not possess many of the advantages modern ministries often rely on today. They had no buildings, no political influence, and little cultural leverage. Yet they possessed something far greater—the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. And that was enough to change the world. 

The word translated power comes from the Greek word dunamis, which speaks of supernatural ability and divine empowerment.  That same powerful encounter with God’s Spirit that has transformed our lives personally is empowering us and urges us to expand the Gospel of the Kingdom even to the ends of the earth today. 

No one person has the resources to reach every person, but we should all be intentional about bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth. One way you can do so is by supporting church planting and revitalization through giving to Harvesters ministry!