Acts 4:33

The scripture for today is Acts 4:33
 
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And great grace was upon them all.
 
The apostles, who were hiding in fear after the crucifixion of Christ, were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit which was poured out on the day of Pentecost. Jesus, who had left them to return to heaven, had now returned to them in the person of the Holy Spirit. The same expression of the Father’s love and power that Christ demonstrated was now working through them. Gone was the fear; gone was the timidity; gone was the doubt and unbelief. They were now filled with the Spirit of Christ and, just like Christ, they ministered with great power.
 
The power of the Holy Spirit was given to them to give witness to the ministry of Christ. He came to this world as love reaching out. He lived a sinless life and died the death that we deserved for sin that He never committed. He entrusted Himself into the hands of His Father in heaven and God accepted His sacrifice on our behalf. The acceptance of His sacrifice was punctuated by His resurrection. 
 
God exercised His mighty power when He raised Christ from the dead. “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He performed in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 1:19-20  
 
That same mighty power was poured out on His church on the day of Pentecost. That same power is still here today. The Holy Spirit has not left us and, through unconditional surrender to God (that is what they spent 10 days doing before Pentecost), we can receive the same power to witness that the apostles had. 
 
God looks on our hearts and He is seeking those who have hearts that are steadfast in their dedication to Him. He will empower such a people to be His witnesses in these last and evil days. May we, like the apostles, move from fearful hiding to boldly witnessing for our Lord and Savior.
 
God bless you as you continue in His service.
Tim