Acts 1:8
Biblical Christianity is a powerful thing. It cannot be stopped or extinguished. It is like a broken dam. I like how Jesus referred to it. He referred to it as “… a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:14). He also affirmed that “… out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). It is unstoppable! It keeps springing up!
It is my earnest belief that we have not seen anything yet. They think that we have become dried up and washed up, but it remains my genuine conviction that we have only just begun. They have not seen anything yet. Before this is all over there shall be such a manifestation of God’s power like has never been seen heretofore. Instead of drying up or shriveling up, the church of these last days, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is getting ready to go into overdrive. Jesus as much as said it and we still believe it “… And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
Regardless of what is hurled against the church, the language of inspiration still firmly reminds us “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise up against thee in judgment thou shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17). Therefore, in this we stand unshakably firm, especially in these very dark and troublesome times. From whichever way you look at it or from whatever angle you approach it, the church of Jesus wins and is destined to win and not just barely win but earmarked to triumph and triumph exceedingly. We remain on the winning side! For us, no defeat – No going under or giving up!
In Acts 1:8, we hear the prophetic words of Jesus again promising indisputable power and divine ability to His “ecclesia.” He solemnly declared “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Today who can seriously contend and disprove that we have not been recipients of that power? As the people of His Spirit, we persistently move forward, witnessing, preaching, teaching, evangelizing, worshiping, and instructing as many as we can to be reconciled to God. We do so with great urgency and conviction, especially knowing how late the time is.
This power within, makes us veritable witnesses for Him. It is more than a shake, a shout, or a good feeling. It is divine power that makes us do outstanding service for the Almighty. It makes the truth of God within us, irrepressible and unstoppable. When the Holy Ghost becomes operable in our lives, He gets us going. He is the ignition key of the church. He is our direct source and power line. He makes miraculous power, ability, and abundance available to us and operative within. He makes us dynamic witnesses. We refuse to remain unproductive benchwarmers. We feel driven and compelled to get up and do something to advance the cause of Christ in our churches and in the community at large. We feel absolutely motivated to get up and testify!
At this point what more can I say to you but to charge you to – Let your light shine brighter! Saints, I urge you to Continue preaching! Spread even more joy! Live out loud! Speak the truth! Get up and live! Spark Revival! Turn your church around! Shake things up! Make necessary changes! Revolutionize your world! Lift Jesus higher! Turn it up! Stop backing down! Accept the challenge! Walk in power! Stop looking down! Remember who and whose you are! You are His witnesses, His hand-picked ones, His “ecclesia,” filled with His power.
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
