Missions

Power Over Prejudice

by Terry Barlow
03/26/14
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Jesus told his Jewish apostles, “- you shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” The Holy Spirit was already within them, but would be UPON them when Jesus baptized them in the Holy Spirit, empowering them not to do witnessing so much as to BE witnesses, beginning where they were and fanning ever outward even into Samaria, the land of those whom they as Jewish people despised and were despised by in return. That baptism of power was so mighty (because the BAPTIZER is so mighty) it was going to overcome and overrule their prejudice so that they would love anyone, even the "half-breed" Samaritans. And doing that in His power, they qualified for being sent to the end of the earth! They were then ready for any and every opposition that could come against them, as it surely would and does when we attempt anything significant with God. One of the ultimate proofs for having been baptized by Jesus in His Holy Spirit is whether or not we have been carried consistently beyond our own personal prejudices in serving Him, so that we can see the unique expression of God's attributes in people and people groups that differ widely from us and from our own.