MAKING JESUS FAMOUS - PART 2

A strong witness for Jesus Christ can always be trusted to use every opportunity to share the Good News. This is because he's been strengthened with the boldness of the Spirit to be a powerful witness. Christ's love compels them to continue to tell all people that they be reconciled to God through faith in Christ.

Reference: Acts 1:8 New Living Translation (NLT) "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere - in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

There is something about the Holy Spirit that gives us uncommon boldness to make Jesus famous. When the disciples received the power of the Spirit, they had the acknowledgement evidence of dynamic and zestful energy in their inward man, with high-powered spiritual consciousness to speak with boldness, the Word of God which they were commissioned to proclaim. Without being filled with the Holy Spirit, that gutsy, passionate daring for spreading the Gospel would not be displayed through them. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the most important person of influence in regard to sharing the Good News. Salvation is made possible through Jesus Christ, but the Holy Spirit is the One who personally reveals Jesus to the lost, as their Saviour and Lord.

What about Peter and John who displayed a high level of audacious boldness before the Sanhedrin council? This was as a result of the inner workings and valiance sponsored by the Holy Spirit. The rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest's family, just to question the power behind their unusual boldness. The Bible says in Acts 4:13 (NIV-UK), "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus." They tried to stop them from spreading the Gospel any further among the people. But regardless of the harassment, warning and threat, Peter and John continued to share the story of Jesus Christ boldly and unashamedly.

With great power and unusual boldness of the Spirit, the apostles testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus everywhere, making His Name and Lordship famous. And God's grace was so powerfully at work in them all. Acts 4:31 (NLT) says, "After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness."

It was Apostle Paul that said, 'For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes - the Jew first and also the Gentile' (Romans 1:16 NLT). Paul declared boldly that he was unapologetically unashamed of the Gospel because of the Holy Spirit at work in him. The Psalmist also said, "I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed" (Psalm 119:46). What about you?

Beloved, Mark 8:38 reads, 'If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father's glory with the holy angels.' The message of the glorious Gospel is nothing less than power from God that quickens everyone who believes it to be saved. Anyone, everyone, who receives this message and puts their faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross will be saved, justified, made right with God and welcomed into God's family. If all this is true, what is there to be ashamed of? Therefore, go ahead and make Jesus famous in your world.

Scripture Reading - Matthew 1:21; John 14:6; Acts 10:39-43; Ephesians 6:15; 1 Timothy 2:5.

Guided Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of the person of the Holy Spirit, who resides in me. I'm forever grateful for the finished work of Christ, and the Holy Spirit who works through every legit Christian to bring the unbelievers to the knowledge of Christ. I'm insufficiently alone to bring the lost souls to repentance; my sufficiency is of the Holy Spirit. By being filled with His fullness and in sync with Him, He continually reveals the truth and conviction from the Word to every sinner, giving them the opportunity to receive Christ as Saviour and Lord, in Jesus' Name, Amen.