“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have baptised us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we can be Your witnesses, in different places. We are here to reconcile people and creation back to You. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 1:8 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.”
Jesus has shown us the progression that must be in place as we witness Christ. Witnessing begins from our Jerusalem and then spreads out to the end of the earth. It is like the blot-paper-effect. We focus on our Jerusalem, in our witnessing, and the Lord spreads us out to other destinations. What is our Jerusalem? Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. (14) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. (15) Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. (16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jerusalem is the place, where we belong. Witnessing begins from our own homes, with the people, places, culture and language that is closest to us. This is our Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the place, where our commitment to Christ, will be tested thoroughly. These are the people who know us well. When we believe in Jesus and we are being filled with the Holy Spirit, these are the ones, who will identify the change in us, very well. We cannot be pretenders here. If we are not salt and light, in our Jerusalem, then we are fit for nothing but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.
Salt in the salt shaker or the light that is hidden is of no use to anybody. We are to be salt that is added and light that is on a lampstand, in our Jerusalem. This infers that we connect with our own people, in the day-to-day issues of life and there we display the love of Jesus, in the enablement of the Holy Spirit. If we do have a burden for our own people and if we run away from our Jerusalem, then, there is something seriously wrong about us being His witnesses. Are we expecting someone from another culture to come and be a witness to our people? Will we not be answerable and accountable before God, for our own? We are here in this world for a very short window of opportunity, to be His witnesses. If our life has not fulfilled the primary purpose for which we are here, then what answer are we going to give the Lord, when we stand before Him?
When we seek first, His kingdom and His righteousness, our needs are met. The Lord supplies our needs according to His riches. So, what are we troubled about? He has birthed us in a particular nation, culture and people group, for His purpose. Acts 17:26-27 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, (27) so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; God has determined people to be placed in their pre-appointed times within the boundaries of their dwelling. So that people there will seek the Lord, grope for Him and find Him. When people are in this process of seeking and finding the Lord, it is important for the salt and light to be there, for them, to find the Lord.
The Gospel then moved beyond Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. The church was scattered because of the severe persecution. Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. The persecution caused them to be scattered but when they went to other places, did they become quiet and decide to play it safe? No. They preached the word of God, everywhere they went.
What do we see happening today? Those who left their cultures and people and decided to live in another culture for economic considerations, have to a large extent, compromised with the world. Their zeal, passion and love for God have diminished. An outward form of being a disciple of Christ has been set in place, and the fire within is dying. This is known as the ‘Lot syndrome’. The Gospel also moved to the end of the earth. Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. The Lord desires that people, all over the world, must have the opportunity to hear of the loving Saviour, who has come to reconcile man and all of creation, back to God. To this end, we are to be His witnesses.
”Lord Jesus, I am first accountable for my own people.