It’s easy to tell when something is on fire – it ignites other materials. Any fire that doesn’t spread will eventually die out. The same principle applies to our faith: real faith in Christ creates a spiritual fire that naturally spreads to others. A faith that doesn’t spark others into flame is like a fire that doesn’t burn – a contradiction in terms.
The Power Behind the Mission
The Holy Spirit is God’s power behind the mission. As Peter writes, God’s “divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3). This spiritual power serves multiple essential purposes:
It enables us to walk in God’s ways. As promised in Ezekiel 36:27, “I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”
It gives us boldness in proclamation. As Paul reminded Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once noted, “We might preach till our tongues rotted, till we exhaust our lungs and die – but never a soul would be converted unless the Holy Spirit uses the word to convert that soul.”
This power isn’t just an external force – it’s deeply personal. Romans 8:9 tells us the Holy Spirit dwells in every believer. We are “the temple of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19), and His power “works in us” (Ephesians 3:20-21).
Understanding Our Mission
We are called to be “his witnesses” beginning in Jerusalem and throughout the world. True witnesses don’t just relay information – they share their personal experiences. The apostle Peter emphasized this when he wrote, “we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). As Christians, we are all witnesses. The question is: how effective is our witness?
The word “witness” comes from the same root as “martyr” – a powerful reminder that early Christians were willing to put their lives on the line for their testimony. As Acts 15:26 describes them, they were “men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Consider Joseph Ton, who pastored Second Baptist Church in Oradea, Romania until his exile in 1981. After returning from England in 1972 he preached fearlessly in the face of persecution. In Pastoral Renewal he recounts when he was threatened with arrest and execution. “After our return, as I preached uninhibitedly, harassment and arrests came. One day during interrogation an officer threatened to kill me. Then I said, ‘Sir, your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. Sir, you know my sermons are all over the country on tapes now. If you kill me, I will be sprinkling them with my blood. Whoever listens to them after that will say, ‘I’d better listen. This man sealed it with his blood.’ They will speak ten times louder than before. So, go on and kill me. I win the supreme victory then.’”
There are countless others throughout history who have demonstrated that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church,” as Tertullian famously observed.
The early Christians:
- Started gospel ministry where they were
- Obeyed despite personal cost
- Focused on sharing about a person – Jesus Christ
- “Turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6)
- Reached their known world within 30 years
The Ultimate Motivation
What drives people to such extraordinary commitment? Two key factors:
1. Christ’s Return
Just as employees work more diligently when they know their boss is returning from a trip, Christians are motivated by the certainty of Christ’s return. The ascension of Jesus wasn’t a quiet disappearance – it was a dramatic event with angelic messengers confirming His future return (Acts 1:9-11).
2. Eternal Rewards
“Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Revelation 22:12). Paul elaborates in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, explaining how our work will be tested and rewarded accordingly.
A Call to Action
Through the ages, God’s mission for His church remains unchanged. Rivers of sweat, tears, and blood have carried the gospel’s truth to our generation. Now it’s our turn. To reconnect with this mission:
- Surrender daily to the Spirit’s control
- Commit to daily obedience
- Share the experience of your faith daily
- Keep your focus heavenward, remembering Christ’s return
The power is available (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:25). The mission is clear. The motivation is compelling. As Paul reminds us, “we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7).
Like a fire that must spread or die out, our faith must ignite others. In an age of increasing challenges to faith, we’re called to be bold proclaimers of the gospel, empowered by the Spirit, motivated by Christ’s return, and focused on eternal rewards.
The question isn’t whether we’re witnesses – we are. The question is: what kind of witnesses will we be?
Zambia Hunt 
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