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Luke 24 36-49 COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES 26 12May2022 Luke 24 48-49 The work of the Holy Spirit
📖 Luke 24:36-49
26 – 12May2022 – The work of the Holy Spirit - Luke 24:36-49 - COMMISSIONED TO BE HIS WITNESSES - Bible reading: Acts 2:14-16
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that the Holy Spirit is the senior partner in this work of being Your witnesses. It is not He, who works with us, but we work with Him. We are co-witnesses with the Holy Spirit in every situation to bring people to be reconciled with You and experience the Shalom of God. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
Luke 24:48-49 And you are witnesses of these things. (49) Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."
We need to be filled and operating in the Holy Spirit, to be witnesses to Christ, for He is the senior partner in this task. We cannot be witnesses by the flesh. The Holy Spirit leads us and we follow. We are hidden in the Holy Spirit. We need not be afraid of any situation because we are in the protection of the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit, fell upon the disciples, there was a marked change in them.
Acts 2:14-16 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. (15) For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. (16) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: Joel 2:28-32
This was how Peter and the rest of the Apostles gave witness to Jesus when the Holy Spirit fell on them. These men were no more, timid and fearful. We recall how Peter reacted when the maid challenged him of being a disciple of Jesus.
Luke 22:56-57 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him." (57) But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."
Now, after being filled with the Holy Spirit, the very same Peter stands up, raises his voice and witnesses Christ, to a distinguished audience. This was not the work of the flesh but of the Holy Spirit. Peter was being an instrument in the hands of the Holy Spirit.
Peter also connected with the prophecy in Joel. This particular audience needed to hear the connection of Christ with the Old Testament. The Holy Spirit gave this utterance through Peter.
The Holy Spirit leads us to reach specific audiences in specific ways so that that audience will have an opportunity to hear the message and believe in Jesus.
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
The Holy Spirit is the Enabler of God. We rest and we operate in Him, for the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of grace.
Acts 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."
As the Holy Spirit witnesses through us, what is expected of us is our obedience.
We must realise that witnessing is spiritual warfare and we are in an engagement with the enemy. The devil is very angry when we witness, for he does not want people to be exposed to the Word and believe in Jesus.
This is the reason why we see a rise in persecution against the church. Witnessing to Christ has increased and the devil is busy, trying to prevent the witness to Christ, from going out to the world.
II Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, (5) casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, (6) and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
It is the Holy Spirit who wages war against the enemy, through us. Our obedience is critical, in this engagement. We cannot be living in disobedience in the flesh and expect the Holy Spirit to win battles against the enemy. Our obedience to Christ is necessary for the Holy Spirit to bring down the strongholds of the enemy.
Hebrews 2:4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
When the Holy Spirit witnesses through us, there will be signs and wonders. We need not be surprised but we must give ourselves to obedience to Jesus. Remarkable experiences can make us think that we are doing a great ministry because people will praise us. This is where we must be extremely cautious, for miracles, signs and wonders are the nature of the Holy Spirit, but our part is to only obey Christ.
This was all part of God’s overarching plan of salvation of man and all of creation.
I Peter 1:12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
The work of the Holy Spirit, in witnessing to God, is across time. Angels desired to look into these things, for angels were also present, throughout time, being witnesses to the things of God.
May the Lord bless us as we are commissioned to be witnesses to Jesus.
Thought to ponder
Learn to rest in the Holy Spirit, as you witness Christ.
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