Preaching through the book of Acts has proven so rich. You can trace the Holy Spirit leading and guiding people to make a difference. This is proven by the boldness men had in preaching the gospel, leading people to Christ, and strengthening the disciples. The Spirit gives boldness and direction in all these matters. Disciples that are committed to make disciples is key. The gospel is good news!
It’s pretty obvious that the Holy Spirit is our dispatcher for the work of the gospel to reach the ends of the earth. Are we listening to what the Holy Spirit is telling us and where He is telling us to go? Are we prayerful, available, and faithful to people He puts in our path that we could witness to? The Holy Spirit’s nudge is the first ripple in the water of God’s plan that reachers farther, and farther, and farther. Here’s the deal, he’ll never send you to a place that does not need your witness! He’ll never nudge you to speak to someone that He isn’t already dealing with. He is the ultimate direction giver! You are called for a purpose! You don’t have to look any farther than the Book of Acts. Note specifically Acts 13:2, “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’” We must be careful not to neglect complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit in our gospel witness.
While He is certainly so much more, the Holy Spirit is our dispatcher. I pray that the Holy Spirit would dispatch preachers into pulpits and missionaries to the nations. I pray that many Gospel conversations happen because of obedience to the Spirit. It excites me to think of all the people God is calling right now to the nations, in fact it’s a priority of prayer (Matt. 9:38). It encourages me that the Holy Spirit is arranging our tomorrow’s. It thrills me that the Holy Spirit is nudging people out of their comfort zone into an area they can trust Him in. Faithful is He who calls you, who will also do it. (1 Thess. 5:24).
We may not “SEE” the Holy Spirit, but as He dispatches people near and far, you can rest assured that He is the first one that made the difference. It’s not to us, but to God whom we give glory. I thank God for the Apostle Paul, Adoniram Judson, Jim Elliott, William Carey, Billy Graham. I thank God for the untold missionary serving in Burkina Faso, for the teacher serving students in rural America, for the Physician that is providing gospel-centered care to his/her patients, and for the preacher that is preparing for his first sermon to preach. I celebrate the impact these have had on their respective areas of assignment. But I know who dispatched them out…the Holy Spirit. What is He saying to you? Let Him have His way because after all, He is leading you and giving you the directions to someone whom He has prepared.