The Spirit of Missions: Lessons from the Book of Acts (Part 1)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. – Acts 1:8
My grandparents used to own a cottage situated up on a hill besides a gorgeous lake. There was a nice dirt trail which went down the hill, winding through the woods from the cottage to the lake. The trail ended at a dock, which extended several feet out into deeper waters. I vividly remember running down to the lake one day—fully clothed, mind you—and I had so much speed and momentum that by the time I got down to the dock, I just kept going . . . until I made an embarrassing and unintended splash.
When it comes to physically running, that was probably the only time in my life that I went too far, too fast. In ministry and missions, however, it is far too possible to go too far, too fast. We may get caught up in the momentum of zeal and enthusiasm only to end our efforts with a sinking splash, because maybe we weren’t ready, weren’t equipped.
Jesus told His disciples that they were to be his witnesses “to the end of the earth.” As such, we in His church should also have our eyes and our hearts’ desires set just as far. But Jesus also gave leading instructions towards that great end—they would first be His witnesses “in Jerusalem and all Judea, and Samaria.” They started right where they were, and then would move out from there.
I think it is important for you and me to remember that Jesus’s assignment for you, as part of his church and his mission, starts wherever you are. It is also important that we remember that Jesus’s declaration that “you will be my witnesses,” has the Greek word “you” in the plural form (i.e. y’all), so this is not all about you, but the singular you is still important here. This is a good reminder, because some Christians can get caught up thinking that the entire weight of Jesus’s charge is placed entirely upon themselves. With a zeal that is not according to knowledge, such a well-meaning Christian might avoid, if not outright reject, the counsel, support, training, assistance, correction, or cooperation which Jesus provides from his church for his mission.
So, if the Lord has laid it upon your heart to go and be a witness to the ends of the earth, be sure to stop and look around also for opportunities to be a witness where God has already placed you (even if only for the time being), as well as to look around for those with whom you can partner with in your desire to go.
Oh, hold on. Everything above is all good and well, but if I ended right there, I’d be guilty of running too far, too fast with this blog post. After all, as is far too common, we have overlooked the most important part—the Holy Spirit! He is the one who gives you (again, y’all) power to be Jesus’s witnesses to the ends of the earth, and all destinations leading there. Jesus had even commanded his disciples just before this in Acts 1:5 to not leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the Holy Spirit.
The disciples had an entire world to witness to, but in obedience to Jesus, and to Jesus’s mission for his church, they were not going to go anywhere without the Holy Spirit and his power. You and I do not need to wait for the Holy Spirit to be poured out as he was on the day of Pentecost (in the 2nd Chapter of Acts), but we do still need his power if we are to be Jesus’s witnesses anywhere.
Join me here in upcoming weeks as we look through the book of Acts together, to learn more about the role and the power of the Holy Spirit in carrying out Jesus’s mission for his church.
Jonathan H. is the pastor of Manhattan RP Church in Manhattan, KS, where he lives with his wife and two young children. Jonathan sensed his call into pastoral ministry while serving overseas on an RP Missions short-term trip.