The Pentecost as envisioned by El Greco
“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.”
Those are the last earthly words uttered by Jesus of Nazareth, recorded in the opening scene of the book of Acts (Acts 1:8) just before He ascended to heaven. A few short weeks later, after Jesus’ Ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to his followers on the Day of Pentecost, and their ministry began in earnest.
His disciples’ ministry continues today, to the ends of the earth; I am one of them.
The Holy Spirit’s power fuels this worldwide ministry, as people experience the love of God the Father through an encounter with the world’s Savior, Jesus. The Good News that Jesus is alive today, and interceding for us with God the Father changes lives forever, as it did mine.
It is the 30th day of March, 2018 and I’m preparing to leave for Füssen, Germany. next week with a team of 20 fellow Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry students and our leader, my pastor Brandon Rice.
What’s the “value proposition” in sending a score of Christian missionaries from California, USA to Germany? We go where we are sent.
Mission work is consistent with God’s law of seed-time and harvest. Revivalists plant seeds, and water them, and God reaps the harvest to His glory. And although all the followers of Jesus have the same core beliefs, and follow the same Gospel, we bring different skills, different visions and a different anointing one from another. It’s not about counting the cost (monetary or human), it’s about working together with other parts of the worldwide church to reach the lost.
John 14:12 (NIV)
How will we do this in Füssen? Just the way the original disciples did. The way Jesus did. The way He told us to (John 14:12)
Much of my ministry training this year at BSSM has been in the area supernatural healing, both in a pastoral setting and ministering in the Bethel Healing Rooms. Others on this team are more facile then I in hearing words of knowledge, or in giving prophetic words. Still others are powerful evangelists, preachers and teachers.
Together, we are a microcosm of the Body of Christ – bringing the Truth of Him in supernatural power (signs, wonders and miracles) to a weary world. Our presence in Germany and Austria will plant many seeds. Sometimes we see the fruit of those seeds immediately – a miracle healing or a soul saved. Often we won’t. But we do know that our prayers always create an impact, because God says they do.
When people who have not directly experienced the love of God find themselves healed of an affliction, or relieved of physical pain, or suddenly delivered from an addiction – or maybe simply feel the peace of God – they realize God is real, He is good, He loves them, and He has a plan for their life.
So we go to them. We are commanded to go to them. We go to them and love them because Jesus first loved us, and His love fills us to overflowing. It’s a matter of heaven or hell. It’s a matter of life or death.
I have seen God perform these miracles in my own life, and in the lives of others, believers and non-believers both. Jesus is alive, He is full of love and He desires that everyone will – of their own free will – come to know God. He is the way, the truth and the life.
Will you call on Him now?
(Image public domain via Wikimedia Commons)