Acts 1:4-8

“And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,”He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But 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.”

The Greek word for witness is “martus.” This is where we get the word “martyr.” A witness is a person who has seen an event, and in a court of law, can tell her own experience based on personal observation. In this passage, Jesus challenged believers to bear witness of Him in their lifestyle and speech. 

We know that martyrs are tortured and killed for what they believe in. Today, in our country and the society we live in, we may not have to lay down our physical lives for Jesus, but He still calls us to be passionate and uncompromising about what He has done in our lives and for His Gospel. It can cost a lot…friends, family, finances, comfort, etc. 

But here’s some great news…we don’t have to do it in our own strength and power! God has sent us His Holy Spirit with His power. This “dunamis” power is a wonder-working power, a supernatural ability, abundant strength, a mighty miracle power. 

Jesus said that this Promise of the Father (Holy Spirit) would come and then the disciples would have all they need to be who He commissioned them to be. 

What happened when the Holy Spirit came and baptized (fully immersed, overwhelmed) them? If you read a little further into chapter 2, you will see that a rushing mighty wind filled the room, what looked like “tongues of fire” appeared over each of them, and they spoke in many different languages they had never known before. There was a visible and audible manifestation of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit! 

Since the day of Pentecost, believers have been equipped by the Holy Spirit to increase the Body of Christ through divine preaching, revelatory teaching, through the gifts of the Spirit, signs and wonders, all the while giving no thought to their own lives and reputations. We should be operating with  “dunamis” power as “martus” followers of Jesus! 

Jesus did not purpose us to function as  believers who are not fully overwhelmed and operating by the Holy Spirit. That’s why He ascended into heaven and sent His Spirit. He knew that Jesus in us was better than Jesus with us!