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Made to Witness
…You will be my witnesses…Acts 1:8
The first ‘you will’ in Acts 1:8 talks about receiving his power, the second ‘you will’ talks about a person’s state of being who has been filled with Gods Spirit. In Greek, the phrase ‘you will be’ is one word, unlike 3 words in English. The same root word ‘you will be’ is used in the ‘I am’ statements of Christ, ‘I am the way’… ‘I am the Bread’. This highlights identity-the state of being, rather than the ‘doing’. You are witnesses- It is therefore not a command or a mandate, but it declares a state of being. A witness is someone who testifies about an event that he or she has observed. A witness by virtue of the definition, speaks up when called upon to testify, in court. Being silent is not an option.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3.
The apostles had seen, heard and touched the Lord. Their experiential understanding of the Savior moved them, to proclaim Jesus. When he called them, he did state that He will make them fishers of men (Matt.4:19). So, the great commission Matt. 28:19,20, was not just a command TO DO something, but more so a call to fulfill what Christ had made them TO BE or destined them TO BE.
Similarly, as we get to know Christ and the way He works in our lives, it will naturally prompt us to share what we have seen, heard or experienced. We have more than enough, power along with his promised presence, in order to proclaim the good news of Christ. Let us fulfill our God given destiny. A close relationship with the Lord is the way he makes us fishers of men. As we get to know Him, may we believe and fulfill what He is making us to be.
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About this Plan
Chapter 1 of Acts sets the stage as it were for the events that occurred on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. It highlights how the Apostles were equipped and empowered to spread the word of God, starting from Jerusalem and eventually to the ends of the earth.
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