"God's Heart for Missions"
Pastor Mike Vincent

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in #1-Jerusalem, and in #2-all Judea and #3-Samaria, and #4- to the end of the earth.” -Acts 1:8

People are wired to model themselves after others they observe. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus modeled for us the Spirit-empowered life. As we are transformed by the Spirit, our lives should better reflect the image of Jesus as we make disciples who make disciples.

One of the great blessings of the Spirit-empowered life is experiencing transformation! We are being conformed into the image of Jesus, progressively becoming more like Him in our attitudes and actions. One of the ways that we know that we are part of God’s family (saved) is the transforming work of God’s Spirit.

Paul’s conversion is one of the most inspiring events in the Bible. Paul was probably the least likely person to come to faith in Christ. He described himself as the worst sinner, and declared that God used him to be an example of the grace of God (1Tim. 1:12-17). So, there is hope in the transforming work of God’s Spirit!

Our world is fallen and in darkness; the way we advance the kingdom and topple the gates of hell is by obeying the call to preach Jesus and make disciples. Preaching is simply passionately and persuasively talking about something you love, enjoy, and believe in.

All people’s actions and desires change as they grow. As followers of Jesus grow the more their actions and desires will change to be in line with the Holy Spirit.

Those who are yielded to God, reflect upon where they need to grow to be more like Jesus. They consider where their attitudes or actions may be misaligned; and when God reveals correction they repent and yield to God’s Spirit rather than resist. We can minimize regrets in this life and the life to come by yielding to God’s Spirit.

God has generally given humanity the freedom of choice. You can thus choose to reject God, you can also recognize and receive Him. Yet, there is also the condition of recognizing and receiving God, but then resisting His leading in your life. The best way to limit regrets in this life, and the life to come, is to yield to God’s Spirit.

Sharing Jesus and His gospel is intellectual, emotional, and spiritual. In this section of Scripture, and the one that follows, we discover how the Spirit was manifest in Stephen’s life. Stephen’s ministry and his message remind us of the reality that we can receive and also resist God’s Spirit (v.51). The best way to limit regrets in this life, and the life to come, is to yield to God’s Spirit.

As disciples we are individually called to serve together in unity. When this happens we will see communities reach for Christ.