Power to Be His Witnesses
Month 7: He Is Risen! — Why We Believe · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Memory Verse
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”— 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Isaiah 43–45
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. ("Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine" — Isaiah 43:1.)The Heart of It
These are some of the last words Jesus spoke before He went back to heaven. They tell us exactly how the message of the empty tomb would travel across the whole earth. Notice the order. Jesus does not say, "Now go, work hard, and try your best to be brave." He says, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses." First the power. Then the witness. The disciples had already seen the risen Jesus. They had the facts. But facts alone didn't make them bold. They were still hiding in a locked room. So what changed everything? The Spirit's power, poured out at Pentecost just days later.
This is the heart of the Spirit-filled life. It's the bridge between the resurrection and your family today. A "witness" is simply someone who tells what they have seen and heard. And Jesus promised His followers the very power of God to do it. This is the baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is not a reward for the super-spiritual. It is power given to ordinary believers, and it's for your children too (; ). Now notice carefully what the power is for. It is not for showing off. It is not for getting rich or impressing a crowd. It is for witness. The Spirit makes us bold to point away from ourselves and toward the risen Jesus. Character and Christlikeness always come first. The power simply carries the message further.
Around the Table
Jesus gives us a special Helper. He is the Holy Spirit. He makes us brave to tell people, "Jesus is alive!"
Let's do it: Put a hand on your heart and say, "Holy Spirit, help me tell someone Jesus is alive!"
A witness tells what they have seen. Jesus promised us power to help us tell others about Him. Why do you think we need God's help to do that?
Let's talk: Who is one person you could be a "witness" to this week?
Jesus gives the order on purpose. First comes the Spirit's power, then comes the witness. The baptism in the Holy Spirit gives ordinary believers power to point others to the risen Christ.
Let's go deeper: Why does Jesus connect power with witness rather than with comfort or success?
💬 Conversation Starter
If you saw something amazing happen, how hard would it be to keep it to yourself? Why do people love to tell what they've seen?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Think about how fast the early church grew. It started with a handful of hiding disciples. In just a few decades it became a movement all across the Roman world. That's hard to explain unless something real and powerful happened. The believers said it was a risen Christ and the Spirit's power. And they had nothing on earth to gain by saying it, and everything to lose ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
It's easy to read as a missionary slogan and miss its order, and the order is everything. Jesus deliberately tells the disciples to wait for the Spirit before they witness (). He will not let them try to do God's work in their own strength. That's a word for tired fathers. So much of our spiritual leadership at home runs on willpower, guilt, and white-knuckle effort. Then we wonder why it leaves us dry. The Pentecostal heritage recovers a simple truth: we are meant to be filled and carried, not self-propelled. Before you teach your kids to witness, let them see a dad who regularly asks the Father to fill him fresh with the Spirit. And keep the guardrails clear. The Spirit's power is for Christlike witness, never for hype or self-promotion. As the saying goes, character is always more important than gifting.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, Empowered for Witness; Sam Storms, Understanding Spiritual Gifts.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Give us power. Not power to look impressive, but power to tell others boldly and kindly that Jesus is alive. Make us faithful witnesses right where we live. In Jesus' name, amen."
The same Spirit who made the first disciples bold is given to me. So I can witness in His power, not just my willpower.