Extending
God's Kingdom
.
“You
shall receive
power when the
Holy Spirit
has come upon
you,
and you shall
be my
witnesses to
the ends of
the earth”
– Acts 1:8
In This Issue
Do you know the voice of your Lord
and Master, Jesus Christ, who calls you each
and every day to follow him? And do you know
the power of his kingdom of righteousness,
peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? Today we
witness a new Pentecost and outpouring of the
Holy Spirit upon the people of God who listen
to the voice of their Savior and Shepherd,
Jesus Christ.
A
new ecumenism of discipleship
Jesus told his first disciples
(followers), "I have
other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must
bring them also, and they will heed my voice.
So there shall be one flock, one
shepherd" (John 10:16). Today we witness a new
ecumenism of discipleship and a new
evangelization and call to make disciples of
all nations, peoples, languages, and tribes of
the earth. [See James Kushiner's article on Ecumenism
of Discipleship.]
John the Baptist prophesied that the Messiah
would "baptize with the Holy Spirit and with
fire" (Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16). We see
this fufilled at the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit marked with the sign of tongues of fire
over the heads of the first disciples gathered
together in prayer on the Feast of Pentecost.
Before his departure into heaven, Jesus
explained the reason for this extraordinary
outpouring of the Holy Spirit:
“You shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and
you shall be my witnesses to the ends of the
earth” – Acts 1:8
The
transforming power and fire of the
Holy Spirit
The
Lord Jesus continues to give his disciples
today the power and fire of the Holy Spirit
that we may radiate the joy and truth of the
Gospel to a world in desperate need of God's
light and truth. His word has power to change
and transform our lives that we may be burning
lights pointing others to Jesus Christ. Like
John the Baptist, we too are called to give
witness to the light and truth of Jesus
Christ. Do you want the Lord's power, grace,
and love to burn brightly in your life? Ask
him to renew in you the grace of Pentecost and
a thirst for holiness and zeal to extend
Christ's kingdom through the witness of your
life and testimony.
May this issue
inspire each of us to pray fervently for a fresh outpouring of the Holy
Spirit upon all disciples of Christ throughout
the world today that we may grow in unity and
love for one another and for boldness to bring
the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ to
every man, woman, and child on the face of the
earth.
Sincerely in Christ,
Don Schwager
editor
Top illustration of
disciples from the nations following Jesus
Christ (c) by Rachel Chung
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