Finding Power for an Impossible Mission
Jesus told us his mission was to save the lost: “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10, NKJV). He made it our mission, too: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
Christ was speaking to a small band of believers, about 120 people who had gathered in the Upper Room. What an impossible task he laid before them! He was commanding these humble, mostly working-class people, “Go and tell proud, egotistical Caesar that there can be no king before me. I rule over all creation. Go to Athens, where paganism rules, and preach that I am the way, the truth, and the life. Go everywhere that philosophies, ancient religions, false gods and superstitions rule, and preach my cross and resurrection. Go to foreign nations, live with the people and study their languages. Lay hands on the sick, cast out devils, and proclaim the good news. Go to the very seat of Satan and preach the power and victory of the risen Savior.”
An Overwhelmed Band of Believers
These people had to be overwhelmed. Can you imagine the conversation that must have taken place once their Master ascended to heaven? “Did we hear him right? How could ordinary people like us start a worldwide revolution? We’re penniless, the castaways of society. How could we be treated with anything but disdain? The Romans are beating and killing us. If they treat us this way here in Jerusalem, how will they treat us when we go to Rome witnessing and preaching? How does our Lord expect us to go into all the world with the gospel when we don’t even have enough money for even a short journey? How are we to learn languages, when we haven’t been trained or equipped? What he’s asking is impossible.”
Beloved, our challenge today is just as daunting, as each succeeding generation grows worse and worse. As I think of ancient Rome and Athens, I realize those societies didn’t have all the exotic, sinful temptations our generation faces. They didn’t have ungodly television, filthy movies, porn magazines or internet sex. Jesus knew everything that his church would be facing today. He knew about the numerous impossibilities, the many obstacles, and the overwhelming opposition. He knew exactly what would happen to our society, that there would be a moral landslide, that humanity would wax worse and worse, and that an angry devil would spew out a river of hell against Christ’s Church.
Jesus’s promise to his helpless disciples applies to us with equal power: “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). Jesus was saying, “If you try to evangelize in your own strength, you’ll fall on your face in a very short time. You can’t do anything for me unless you’re full of the Holy Ghost.”
The Power Given Is More Than Sufficient
Christ’s commission was to the same followers who had run in fear when soldiers came for him. They were the same men who went fishing instead of obeying him because they were afraid to take a stand. They were unskilled and intimidated. Jesus knew, however, that these men, when fully yielded to the Holy Ghost, would work miracles, put demons to flight, and overcome every opposition.
Indeed, when the Spirit fell upon the disciples, they became fearless. As they went forth to the temple to witness, the Holy Ghost made their words cutting and convicting, like swords piercing to the heart. They preached the gospel with power and authority because they had Holy-Ghost fire. Suddenly, the crowds were awed by them, recognizing the authority with which they spoke. In a short time, some 5,000 people were saved! Even priests were converted. Further outpourings happened in nearby villages, in distant cities and even among Gentiles.
The best part of this unbelievable scene is that the church got all its direction from the Holy Ghost. Nothing happened until the disciples had shut themselves in with the Lord and fasted and prayed. When they did this, the Spirit filled them and began to direct their every move.
The Holy Spirit Overcomes All Barriers
The disciples were to take the gospel to every nation and every people, yet Jewish tradition forbade them to associate with Gentiles. How were they supposed to bring the Good News to a lost world that they weren’t allowed to be part of? It was an impossible command. When the Holy Ghost took over, however, the widespread proclamation of the gospel began. The Spirit visited Peter during his daily prayer time on a rooftop. “And a voice spoke to him again the second time, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common’” (Acts 10:15). The Spirit told Peter, “Don’t dare call unclean what I have sanctified and made clean. Now, go downstairs, where some Gentiles are knocking on your door. I want you to go with them and preach to them about Jesus.”
The Holy Spirit had overcome the barrier in an instant. He opened the Gentile world to the gospel simply by speaking to his followers. It was all clearly directed from heaven. Those first-century believers received all their marching orders and power from the Holy Ghost: “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus” (Acts 13:2-4).
The disciples prayed, “Lord, to which cities should we go? When and how? Once we arrive, how should we reach the people?” They never made a move until they first sought God, fasted and prayed. The Holy Ghost answered them by giving clear direction. How much more do we need the Spirit’s direction today? Bookstore shelves are lined with an abundance of how-to books, telling us how to prevail in prayer, strategize for evangelism, and do spiritual warfare. None of these books will do us any good if we have not spent time on our knees.
When the Holy Ghost is leading you, you don’t have to strive in your flesh to have his burden. No Christian should ever feel burdened to find new ways and means to reach lost souls. The Holy Spirit knows the heart and burden of the Father, and he will give us his burden and strategy if we’ll simply seek him.
Diligently Seek the Lord
“Therefore he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:5). Paul says that God measures out the Holy Ghost to us, not according to our works but according to our faith in him. Our part is simply to pray, “Holy Ghost, you know everyone in my circle of influence who is under conviction, because you’re the one who convicts them. You know everyone who weeps in the quiet of the night, desperate for help. I am your instrument. Fill me with your burden and lead me to those you have prepared to receive you.” God wants to empower us to get us into the streets, filled with his Word and led by his Spirit. He wants us to be able to speak directly from heaven, a piercing, convicting message that has the unmistakable fire of the Spirit.
If you don’t know Christ’s heart and have his burden, you can never expect to be used of him. This message is to awaken you. Each of us can ask in faith for more of the Holy Ghost. He is waiting to reveal to us the Father’s ways. Our calling may not be overseas, but for every Christian the work of eternity centers on family, friends, and coworkers. To reach the lost, we must ask the Lord to move on them with conviction and to prepare our own hearts with a timely word.
If all who read this message would seek the Holy Ghost for his burden and guidance, there is no telling what harvest the Spirit might reap. The greatest works for eternity are done not in mass crusades but with one saint reaching one lost soul at a time. This can happen only when every saint gets the Lord’s own burden.
Offer yourself to the Holy Ghost now. Call on him, fast, and pray. Ask him to lead you to those he has convicted and prepared to hear his Word. Then trust in his guidance and power to do the miraculous. He will do it! Amen.