January 11, 2009: “The Unstoppable Advance of the Gospel to All Peoples” from Acts 1:1-14

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In Acts, Luke records the continuing work of Jesus Christ by his Spirit through his people. In verse 1:8, we see Christ’s promise to his followers that the gospel will go out to all peoples in an unstoppable advance: unstoppable, because the language used (“will be”) indicates a certainty; the gospel, because that is what his followers will bear witness about; and to all peoples, because it will go to the ends of the earth.

Why is the advance of the gospel unstoppable? Because Jesus is alive and working.

How is the unstoppable advance accomplished? By Christ’s witnesses who are empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Some ways that you can position yourself for greater participation in the unstoppable advance:

1. Apply the gospel to yourself daily—gratitude for the cross and a holy jealousy to see the name of Christ glorified will give us the ultimate motivation to evangelize.
2. Believe that the Spirit is preparing the hearts of people around you for the gospel, working in ways that we cannot see or even anticipate.
3. Cast gospel seed indiscriminately—we are a most ordinary people empowered by the Holy Spirit to bear a most extraordinary message.