Power to Change the World

By Greg Laurie, Op-ed contributor Thursday, August 13, 2009

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. - Acts 1:8

There are people today who are always studying Bible prophecy, trying to figure out the date of Christ's return or claiming to have discovered some special Bible codes, hidden codes that no one has ever seen before.

While I am a student of Bible prophecy and believe that we have seen signs of the times and have seen Bible prophesies fulfilled before our very eyes, Jesus said, "No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows" (Matthew 24:36).

So rather than focusing on when Jesus is coming back, we should focus on what we are to be doing as we await His return. Prior to His ascension, Jesus gave His marching orders to the church:

"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19–20)

The apostles were in no way ready for such a task. How could they "make disciples of all the nations"? They would do it with a power they had never known before, a power to change the world.

Jesus told them, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). That same power is available to us today: Power to share your faith. Power to do what God has called you to do. Power to change your world.