Every Christian is called to be a witness for Christ, but there is more significance loaded into the word “witness” here than is usually the case in its everyday sense. This role of being witnesses for Christ reflects the position and roles of Christians in today’s world.
In a recent article, we saw the powerful work of the Holy Spirit through a group of committed and dedicated witnesses of Christ. It was this powerful work by the Holy Spirit which started the powerful and impactful global spreading of God’s Good News. In just a few days’ time, we will be remembering through the celebration of Pentecost the empowerment of the early Christians by the Holy Spirit. In a seeming time of grief, the visitation of the Holy Spirit gave them comfort, and more than that, it brought them into new and abundant lives in God.
The Bible does not present things to Christians through naive, idealistic, rose-tinted lenses. Though the early Christians were empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Bible also tells us that the early Christians underwent intense persecution. It confirms that in all periods of history, there will always be opposition to the truth of God, very often from powerful forces in this world.
Nevertheless, the take away point here is that the very fact that the Holy Spirit was with them meant that God was present in the world to comfort, protect, and instruct. This remains true today. He has always been around. He was there during Creation, hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). He will be there on the last day of history, ushering us all into the New Heavens and the New Earth (Revelation 22:17).
The Holy Spirit is crucial in the lives of Christians. It is through the Holy Spirit that Christians make an impact. Also known as the Comforter and the Counselor, He reminds and teaches all Christians the things Jesus had taught when Jesus was on Earth. In this hostile world, the grace of God through the Holy Spirit enables His truth not only to survive but to thrive.
Even in the Old Testament days, God’s Spirit would come powerfully upon specific individuals. This would enable them to carry out the responsibilities God had given them. However, in those days it was usually temporary. The new covenant established through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross shifted the paradigm.
God’s gift of grace manifested powerfully on that day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus’s resurrection and victory over death. The Holy Spirit descended on the early believers on that day like a fire, empowering them with extraordinary courage, resilience, and spiritual potency.
That same gift and promise of grace have passed down through the generations. It is always with us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us. Every believer is gifted with the presence of the Holy Spirit, who mediates and confirms the truth of God, extends God’s reign, and establishes His Truth (Acts 2:38-39).
How does the Holy Spirit empower Christians? In Romans 8, Paul provides a remarkable view of the believer’s life as lived through the Spirit. The Spirit sets Christians free from the law of sin and death (v 2). He guides us toward the right focuses and things in life (v5-8), reassuring us of the promise of resurrection and our identities as children of God (v11, 16). He serves as our intercessors during our time of prayer (v26-27) and in helping us fulfill God’s work in and through our life (v 29-30).
Notably, Paul also writes in 1 Corinthians 13 that the Spirit always leads toward love and unity, not disintegration and competition. Like the Hebrews, God has equipped individuals in the Church with various spiritual gifts. These gifts were given for a purpose. God wants to redeem this broken world, and He has chosen the Church to fulfill this. He has already given us His spiritual gifts to accomplish the purpose He has set out for us.
For the Church to fulfill its purpose, we must all work together as a unified body. Collectively, we are to work together in unity, acknowledging and using these gifts for God’s intended purpose. Sadly, there is some tendency today, even in Christian churches and organizations, to see each other as the competition, each wanting to emerge the stronger, and I have even known cases where internal politics tear down whole organisations or churches.
The Holy Spirit’s power is gifted to us so that we can built our families (both natural and spiritual) and friends up – especially in the Body of Christ. God has invested these spiritual gifts in us so that we may use them for the good of others. We are to steward them well so we may serve and collectively bless the Body of Christ. Though the Holy Spirit empowers us, we must not allow pride and selfish ambition to govern our spiritual gifts. As we use our spiritual gifts in proper stewardship, God will multiply the blessings according to His purpose.
Christians make up the visible Body of Christ in this world. We have roles to play as salt and light and to be an influence on the world around us. As Christians, we need to be united. In fact, when Jesus prayed for us in John 17, He also prayed earnestly for the unity of the Church (John 17:20-26). It is through our unity that the world will see and believe that the Father has sent Christ as the door to reconciliation with Him. God has given us His Holy Spirit so that we can be a potent force for His sake. Let us start to build bridges with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and let’s exercise our positions and roles in the power of the Holy Spirit.
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