The Spirit Gives Power to Witness
Month 11: Standing Firm in a Tough World · 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
“Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.””— Joshua 1:9 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 1 Corinthians 1–4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time.The Heart of It
Right before Jesus went back to heaven, the disciples wanted to know about the future. Jesus pointed them to something better. "You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (). Standing firm in a tough world is not something we can do on our own willpower. It takes power from outside us. And that is exactly what Jesus promised. He sends the Holy Spirit, poured out to make ordinary, fearful people into bold witnesses.
Watch how fast it worked. Peter once denied Jesus three times to a servant girl. But just weeks later, filled with the Spirit, he stood up and preached Christ to thousands (). This baptism in the Holy Spirit is Jesus filling His people for mission. And it's for your family too, not just for famous preachers. But notice what the power is for. "You shall be witnesses to Me." It is not power to show off, or get rich, or feel important. The Spirit makes Jesus famous through us. A witness simply tells what he has seen and known of Jesus. And when the Spirit fills us, we find courage we didn't know we had to do exactly that.
Around the Table
The Holy Spirit gives us power to tell people about Jesus, even when we feel a little shy!
Let's do it: Put your hand on your heart and say, "Holy Spirit, make me brave to talk about Jesus!"
Being a witness means telling others what you know about Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us the boldness to do it.
Let's talk: Who is one person you could tell something true about Jesus this week?
Jesus promised power for witness. The baptism in the Holy Spirit fills us for mission, not for show. We can ask the Father to fill us ().
Let's go deeper: Why do you think Jesus tied the Spirit's power to witnessing, and not just to feeling good?
💬 Conversation Starter
Who is someone you'd find it a little scary to talk to about Jesus? What is one kind thing you could do for them first?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
How do we know the Spirit's power is real and not just hype? It keeps producing the same fruit in very different people and cultures. Ordinary believers find courage to speak. Lives bend toward love and holiness instead of show. A power that humbles us and sends us, instead of puffing us up, rings true ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Look closely at the shape of . "Jerusalem… Judea and Samaria… the end of the earth." The Spirit's power moves outward in widening circles, and your home is the first one. Before your kids ever witness to the ends of the earth, they learn it by watching you love the neighbor across the fence and pray for a coworker by name. So make witness concrete this week. As a family, name three people you'll pray for. Then look for one small way to show and tell them the love of Jesus. Mission isn't mainly a trip overseas. It's the ordinary courage to speak His name right where you already are. And children who see that at home will carry it everywhere they go.
Draws on: Thom Rainer, Pray & Go; Tony Evans, Kingdom Disciples.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit. Give us power to be witnesses for Jesus. Make us bold and make us loving, so the people around us would come to know Him. In Jesus' name, amen."
I don't witness in my own strength. The Spirit gives me power to tell people about Jesus.