TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH

 

Acts 1:8

 

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 

We would like to learn more about this passage so that we would carry out the Lord’s will to be his witnesses in our own time and places. [Note: physically, it means what it says, that is, the gospel spreading from Jerusalem to the four corners of  the world. Can this passage still be applicable to people living in different locations in different generations such as ours? Does this passage really mean that we all must go out to the ends of the earth like to Fiji Island, the North or South Pole or similar places as missionaries? Or are there any further practical meanings we should consider as the Lord’s will for us? We hope to answer such questions and more through the study.]

 

Read v. 8. What does this passage tell us about the purpose of the Holy Spirit coming on you?

** It is to be a Jesus’ witness, not to please ourselves or to make our own name or to serve any human or organizational agenda.

What does it mean to be Jesus’ “witness”? Why is witnessing about Jesus necessary?

** To testify about who Jesus is and what he came to fulfill, not just in words but also in actions, not in terms of head knowledge alone but in terms of real life example. 

 

** John 20:31

Verse 8 talks about becoming a witness in Jerusalem. How might this location be applicable to Christians living in this postmodern age? (Galatians 4:26; Revelation 21:2,9-11; Ephesians 2:6-10)

** One application might be for one to actually go to Jerusalem and preach the gospel to  the people running around in her streets. 

 

Another application can be to recognize that Jerusalem refers to not just the physical Jerusalem on earth but the spiritual Jerusalem above, for the Bible says that the Jerusalem above is the mother of all believers (including Gentile believers). Other Bible passages, such as Revelation 21:2,9-11 or Ephesians 2:6-10 indicate that although people like the Gentile believers live in the 21st century U.S. they did become the members of the church (called the Bride or Wife of Jesus Christ the husband, the head of the church) together with the Apostles of Jesus, such as Peter or John. So although we the Gentile believers live many centuries thereafter, we too are called to be witnesses sent by God in our generation to do the work God has prepared for us to do ‘in advance’. Then, like the early day apostles, we too ought to live as Jesus’ witnesses recognizing it as God’s mission assigned to us living in our generation.

Consider the call to be a Jesus’ witness in “Judea”. In what respect is Judea different from other parts of the land of Israel? What would it be like to be Jesus’ witness in the land of Judea? What practical applications can you think of for yourself?

 ** Characteristically, the land of Judea is less favorably endowed in terms of living environments, such as climate, than other areas like Samaria or Galilee. For one thing, the amount of precipitation is at the minimum necessary for crops (like wheat) to grow, whereas Samaria has much more rainfall than Judea, with Galilee and above having more precipitation than Samaria. So Judea is called the “Judean wilderness”. This is still the case in Israel. So Judea can be characterized as a place where the conditions of life are less favorable than other areas. 

 

** It is more likely for one to be complaining than to be praising the Lord, and therefore become a bad witness of our Lord Jesus. 

 

** Even in a difficult land like Judea, as one lives by faith in the Lord, the Lord satisfies the deep needs he has. When one lives by faith, looking to the Lord, rather than to what is visible, one can be thankful and a good witness of Jesus.

Think about Jesus’ disciples becoming witnesses in Samaria. What did the Jews of Jesus’ day think of the people living in Samaria? (John 4:9) What can we learn from the Lord who wants his disciples to be witnesses in Samaria?

** There was a deep rift between the two classes of people. They did not communicate with each other although they were next door neighbors.

 

** In close communities like the church fellowship there could be many so-called Samaritan territories where people categorize each other and never communicate with one another. Yet Jesus commanded to love one’s enemies, so that through the power of the Spirit of love, one can love one’s enemies and thereby become a good witness of Jesus to people living in the Samaritan territories.

This passage talks about believers becoming Jesus’ witnesses “to the ends of the earth.” What does “to the ends of the earth” mean? Can you think of any practical applications for people living in this highly advanced generation?

              

** It could mean the ends of earth such as Spain or the North Pole or South Pole. It also could mean the end times of the earth.

 

** The Bible heavily talks about the end times (or the last days) when the love of many will grow cold. Jesus also asked whether or not when he comes again he could see anyone living by faith.  The apostles also gave the same warnings. In the last days when wickedness increases, it is critical for a believer to be filled with the Spirit of God so he would not be like the foolish virgins in Jesus’ parable of ten virgins. Otherwise we cannot be Jesus’ witnesses to people living in this post modern age.  [Read Matthew 24:12; 2 Titus 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:3; Matthew 25:1-4.] So like the wise virgin, we need to fill the jar with oil daily (the jar refers to our body, the Lord’s temple; and the oil refers to the Spirit of God, by repenting and turning to the Lord in deep prayer, being filled with God’s word].