“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.” Acts 1:8
Our pastor preached on this during our service this morning. It was such a powerful and convicting message! I really strongly encourage you to take some time and listen here. (It’s not up as of my post time, but it should be soon – the 9/7 message)
Some highlights:
For people who say we must reach the people here before we go to the ends of the earth, waiting until every single person around us in our neighborhood to get saved is not realistic. It’s not going to happen. More importantly, Jesus didn’t say to go to Jerusalem and when they’re all saved go to Judea and when they’re all saved, etc. He said go to all – it’s not a either/or – it’s a both/and.
He talked about people that like to sit and just learn and just soak up scripture – great -but it can’t be to the exclusion of Acts 1:8! Churches that neglect this portion are going to be dead! So many of us are spiritually constipated (we take in scripture, and more, and more – and don’t do anything to give it back out – get it?). I get fired up about this – what’s the point of me being well-read and “deep” and knowledgeable of a bunch of philosophies and books and authors and ideas when people around us are going to hell? Quit reading and get out there! Man. Again, it’s not EITHER discipleship OR evangelism – it’s BOTH AND!
A group from our church just recently got back from a mission trip to serve the mission workers in Central Asia. They have so much that is not available to them and so much they cannot do. There is no church, and many of them are the ONLY SINGLE Christian family SURROUNDED by Muslims. He pointed out how we sit and complain b’c this message doesn’t have what we think it should in it or we were offended by this or that or we didn’t get a close parking spot or someone didn’t treat our kid exactly the right way or give them exactly what we thought they should have. He said we are a bunch of WHINERS and it makes him SICK! I agree. All it takes is a mission trip to whip your priorities into place!
I sat there and just thought about what God would have us to do. What Lord, what are you calling me to? I’ll go to Africa or Asia. I’ll adopt babies – what? But, in my head at the same time come flooding the realities and doubts. Can I raise kids on the mission field? Do we have the money for mission trips? Can we afford adoption? How will those choices effect our family? And, I might not even be called to the “big” things. It may be even harder to accept that I might be just where God wants me – a mom, serving our church, teaching my kids, connecting with and teaching youth. I don’t know. I can get so confused sometimes! I want to do it all! And then diapers and carpool lines and soccer games and daily tidbits seem to eat away the days and my intentions. Do you ever feel that way? Like your intentions are good, but the days just seem to disappear so quickly! We have to be intentional though! But where?? How?? It looks different for everyone I know.
But, that’s when I know that I have to wait. Wait upon the Lord and He will give me direction. Until we have clear direction we stay put. Stay put. Remain. That’s hard to do. So, I am very prayerfully seeking when I am to move (if at all) – and what are we to do? What areas do I need to get up and DO something with? I am praying for strong conviction on the areas I’m lazy in. Make me intentional Lord – days will slip away and heaven will be here, and then there will be no more time left.
I remember Wendy Taylor telling me a long time ago (when I was pregnant with Adeline) that now what God was calling me to what to minister to my family. It’s tough b/c I am with you. I would LOVE to leave everything and take my family overseas, adopt babies and just GO, but for now (just now) God has given me the huge responsibility of ministering to my own babies as I change their diapers, take them with me to the grocery store and invest in their lives.
Thanks for this post! Such a great reminder of Sacred living.
as always a great post Sarah… love ya girl
I, too, loved this sermon from Bro. David. It really spoke to me in the same way it appears it spoke to you. I loved the term, “Constipated Christian”. This is a great post! Thanks, Sarah. Waiting and listening really is key, you’re right.
Be still and know that I am God. I have to remind myself of that tiny but powerful phrase quite often. Sometimes we are searching so much that we forget how to just BE STILL in the blessings – or the life that God has given us.
Sarah, this month, God revealed to me concerning that Scripture that this wasn’t a command, it was a fact. In other words, we don’t have to work up what we’re going to do to fulfill this command. He isn’t saying “be my witnesses.” He’s saying, “You WILL be my witnesses” if you have the Holy Spirit. The disciples didn’t receive the Holy Spirit and then try to figure out how to witness to their surroundings; they did what they were led to do by the Holy Spirit. If you have the Holy Spirit, which you do, He will make it plain and simple, and you WILL be His witness. Matter of fact, not much choice in the matter. Birds make nests, disciples are witnesses. Love ya, Kristen