The Greatest Helper, the Holy Spirit Guides, Strengthens and Comforts BelieversPrimjer

The Holy Spirit empowers people to be witnesses.

“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)

Before Jesus returned to heaven, He commissioned His disciples to spread the Gospel all over the earth. That was a difficult task! The disciples could not do that in their own strength. They were only “uneducated, common men” (Acts 4:13). Moreover, the spread of the Gospel would meet fierce resistance from both human and spiritual powers. Therefore, the disciples had to wait until they were clothed with power from on high (Luke 24:49).

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came. He filled the disciples with new courage and gave them the skills they needed to witness. In a special way, this became audible when the disciples began to speak in different languages so that everyone present could understand them. But it was also evident in the transformation Jesus' followers underwent: they changed from fearful people hiding from the Jewish leaders to courageous men who continued to preach openly even when the religious leaders threatened and imprisoned them.

Jesus' disciples were not super missionaries through their own effort and ability. It was the Holy Spirit who gave them the power to carry out their mission. Do you know somebody in whose life this is visible? What does that evoke in you?