“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (NASB1995)
God doesn’t leave us powerless. The Holy Spirit brings divine strength—not for comfort or control—but for witness.
When Jesus said, “You will receive power,” He tied it to our mission: to testify of Him. Whether in your kitchen or workplace, neighborhood or online, you are His witness.
Reflection: Where has God placed you to be a light? What would it look like to walk in Spirit-filled boldness today?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill me with Your power. I want to glorify Jesus in every place You send me. Use me as a bold witness today. Amen.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (NASB1995)
Jesus promised His friends they’d get special help to tell others about Him.
That help is the Holy Spirit. He gives you power to love people, speak truth, and be brave for Jesus—even when it’s hard!
Try This: Tell one person today something good about Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you!
Prayer: Holy Spirit, give me Your power to tell others about Jesus. Help me be brave and kind. Amen.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (NASB1995)
Power. Everyone wants it—but what kind of power are you after?
The Holy Spirit gives you strength to stand when it’s easier to fold. Courage to speak when silence seems safer. You weren’t saved to sit still—you were saved to be sent.
Challenge: Where is your “Jerusalem”? Who around you needs the hope you carry?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, fill me with power. Help me live like I’m sent. Make me a witness to friends, classmates, and anyone You put in my path. Amen.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (NASB1995)
Jesus said His followers would be witnesses in their city and all over the world.
But it starts right at home. The Holy Spirit empowers us to live in such a way that others see Jesus in us—through how we speak, serve, and love.
Family Talk:
How can we be witnesses for Jesus as a family?
What “remotest part” has God placed on our hearts to pray for?
Prayer: Holy Spirit, give our family the courage and power to be witnesses—here in our home, in our community, and to the world. Let others see Jesus in us. Amen.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” — Acts 1:8 (NASB1995)
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” — John 14:26 (NASB1995)
Whose Interpretation?
The question is no longer, “Is Scripture true?”—but rather, “Whose interpretation of Scripture is right?”
Some say Calvin. Others, Augustine. Still others, Luther, Aquinas, or a denominational confession.
But the early Church had another answer:
The Holy Spirit.
Scripture Interprets Scripture—By the Spirit
The Ante-Nicene Church understood what Jesus taught: that the same Spirit who inspired the Scriptures would also teach and interpret them for those who belonged to Him.
They didn’t need a new method. They needed the same Spirit who taught Peter, John, and Paul.
“The Scriptures are indeed perfect, since they were spoken by the Word of God and His Spirit.” — Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 2, Chapter 28 (c. AD 180)
They did not invent allegorical methods or theological structures to discover hidden meanings. They believed the plain sense of the text, in context, was enough—especially when read under the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
What Happens When Man Takes Over
As early as the second century, men like Origen began using allegory and Greek philosophy to “deepen” the meaning of Scripture. But this move away from Spirit-led interpretation led to confusion, contradiction, and corruption.
By the time of Augustine and beyond, interpretation was no longer Spirit-driven—it was system-driven. Verses were pulled from their context and reinterpreted through philosophical categories.
The Church no longer asked, “What did the Spirit teach through this?” Instead, it asked, “How does this verse fit within our system?”
“Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’—for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.” — 1 Timothy 6:20–21
The early Church warned of this—of knowledge that overcomplicates the truth and pulls us away from the simplicity of the gospel.
The Spirit Is Still Our Teacher
Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would guide His disciples into all truth (John 16:13). That promise wasn’t limited to the apostles—it was extended to all who receive the Spirit.
“As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things… just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.” — 1 John 2:27
This doesn’t mean we ignore teachers. It means we test every teaching by the Spirit’s interpretation of the Word—not by theological constructs.
If an interpretation:
Contradicts the plain reading of the text
Requires allegory or abstraction to make it work
Ignores historical or grammatical context
Overrules Scripture with philosophy
Then it is not from the Spirit.
Ante-Nicene Discernment
The early Church judged doctrine by:
The plain reading of Scripture
The consistent testimony of the apostles
The fruit of obedience and holiness it produced
They didn’t say, “That’s a valid interpretation within our theological stream.” They said, “That’s not what the apostles taught.”
“Those who wish to be saved must not follow doctrines which come from their own minds… but must hold fast to the teachings of the Lord, which have been delivered to us through the apostles.” — Irenaeus, Book 3
Kingdom Discipleship Reflection
Am I allowing the Holy Spirit to teach me Scripture, or relying on a theological system?
Do I believe the Word is clear—or do I think only scholars can rightly understand it?
Have I tested the interpretations I believe by reading the Scriptures plainly, in context, with prayer?
This week, choose one passage that has often been debated or systematized. Read it afresh. Slowly. Prayerfully. Ask the Spirit:
“What are You saying here—not what others say You are saying?”
“But the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” — 1 Corinthians 2:14
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