A Gospel for the Whole Earth
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
This week, Beth and I have had the privilege of attending the Vineyard Missional Leaders Meeting in Colorado Springs, CO. It has been a real privilege to meet leaders who are multiplying disciples all across the globe. Each day, different leaders have reported on how God is making disciples in different parts of the world. We have heard stories of the Spirit moving in Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe and around the world. My heart was stirred each time as I heard God doing great works in difficult places where living conditions were awful, resources were limited and the spread of the gospel faced stiff opposition. What left me in awe was how God’s Spirit was working in every place through ordinary people witnessing to the beauty of Jesus. Over and over, the Spirit taking jars of clay, pouring in His power, and new people believers find salvation. This is happening as I type on my laptop, all over the earth. This Sunday I begin a new sermon series called Multiplication: A Journey Through the Book of Acts. I did not orchestrate the timing of this missions conference when I set the date for this series, but I now see the Holy Spirit at work in the timing. God wanted to show me that the book of Acts is still going on. Witnesses are still going to the ends of the earth. New disciples are being made that speak languages you and I have never heard of and can’t understand. On and on and on it goes. All over the world, the new life Jesus’ offers is capturing hearts, changing lives and transforming communities. It is exciting and breathtaking! How do we fit into this amazing unfolding drama? We are called to do the same things the disciples did in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and across the earth. Our sphere begins in Asheville, goes out to Weaverville, Leicester, Candler, Arden, Fletcher and Black Mountain. then it goes to the ends of the earth. We currently have people from our church on the continent of Africa, teaching believers how to heal the broken hearted. The story that began in the book of Acts is still unfolding. I ask you to join me on a journey through this life-changing story. Let’s walk the streets of Jerusalem. Feel the dust on our feet. Hear the shouts of the crowds as they run to hear Paul preach a powerful message to Greek intellectuals. Feel the anguish and fear as the gospel’s apostolic leaders are beaten, threatened and imprisoned. It’s a story for the ages. Let’s dive in and learn all we can. We are now the actors in this life and death drama. The Holy Spirit wants to fill us with the Spirit so we can be His witnesses. He wants to multiply disciples in our city. And He wants to use us to do it. How incredibly exciting! Let’s go!
Tom Camacho