1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,635 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: Abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,315 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,795 --> 00:01:21,795 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Ben. Did you know 12 00:01:22,035 --> 00:01:25,755 Speaker 2: that all of us who follow Jesus are called to 13 00:01:25,795 --> 00:01:32,555 Speaker 2: be storytellers? Take a moment and think if someone asked 14 00:01:32,595 --> 00:01:37,915 Speaker 2: you today to tell the story of Jesus, where would 15 00:01:37,955 --> 00:01:50,955 Speaker 2: you begin. For forty days after Jesus's resurrection, he appeared 16 00:01:50,955 --> 00:01:56,475 Speaker 2: to many people, teaching them about the Kingdom of God. 17 00:01:58,635 --> 00:02:01,155 Speaker 2: When it was time for him to ascend to heaven, 18 00:02:01,995 --> 00:02:05,675 Speaker 2: he told his disciples what to expect next. In the story. 19 00:02:07,715 --> 00:02:11,995 Speaker 2: He said, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit 20 00:02:12,075 --> 00:02:15,995 Speaker 2: has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses 21 00:02:16,195 --> 00:02:21,315 Speaker 2: in Jerusalem and in all Judaea. And Samaria and to 22 00:02:21,435 --> 00:02:32,675 Speaker 2: the ends of the earth. Jesus's death, resurrection, and ascension 23 00:02:33,475 --> 00:02:35,995 Speaker 2: were the beginning of a new story for the Church, 24 00:02:37,675 --> 00:02:41,355 Speaker 2: and the Holy Spirit enabled those who had seen Jesus 25 00:02:41,875 --> 00:02:48,075 Speaker 2: to tell his story and to pass it on. Because 26 00:02:48,075 --> 00:02:52,435 Speaker 2: of their witness Now you are a part of the story, 27 00:02:53,755 --> 00:02:58,315 Speaker 2: and you're called to keep telling it, to keep sharing 28 00:02:58,475 --> 00:03:01,595 Speaker 2: in the power of the Spirit, the things that you've 29 00:03:01,635 --> 00:03:08,595 Speaker 2: heard and seen Jesus. Do commit in the days ahead 30 00:03:08,915 --> 00:03:18,395 Speaker 2: to telling that story. Witnessing doesn't need to be scary. 31 00:03:20,355 --> 00:03:24,075 Speaker 2: It's as simple as telling the people you love about 32 00:03:24,115 --> 00:03:27,955 Speaker 2: important things that have happened in your life because of Jesus. 33 00:03:31,595 --> 00:03:35,115 Speaker 2: Thank Jesus now for giving you a story to share. 34 00:03:40,115 --> 00:03:46,555 Speaker 2: Pray with me, Jesus, I'm so grateful that you've called 35 00:03:46,595 --> 00:03:51,515 Speaker 2: me yours, that you've woven me into your family and 36 00:03:51,555 --> 00:03:55,595 Speaker 2: your story. I want to help others find the same 37 00:03:55,715 --> 00:04:01,075 Speaker 2: love and transformation that I've found in you. Please help 38 00:04:01,155 --> 00:04:03,915 Speaker 2: me to find ways to tell others about all that 39 00:04:03,955 --> 00:04:08,475 Speaker 2: You've done in my life and to invite them into 40 00:04:08,515 --> 00:04:12,835 Speaker 2: the full, vibrant life that you offer us. Fill me 41 00:04:13,115 --> 00:04:19,515 Speaker 2: with your spirit, Let your story spread through me. It's 42 00:04:19,515 --> 00:04:25,075 Speaker 2: in your precious name I pray, Amen. Notice how your 43 00:04:25,075 --> 00:04:31,155 Speaker 2: body responds to the idea of witnessing. If anxiety leaves 44 00:04:31,155 --> 00:04:36,075 Speaker 2: your muscles tight, or your heart beating more quickly, slow 45 00:04:36,115 --> 00:04:57,755 Speaker 2: your breathing, breathe into the places of tension. Fear can 46 00:04:57,795 --> 00:05:03,115 Speaker 2: stop us from sharing God's love. Other times, we are 47 00:05:03,155 --> 00:05:07,395 Speaker 2: so involved in our own busy lives that we forget 48 00:05:07,555 --> 00:05:13,195 Speaker 2: to invite others into God's story. Confess any failures to God. 49 00:05:13,315 --> 00:05:35,355 Speaker 2: Now He's ready to forgive. You are beloved, forgiven, and restored. 50 00:05:37,195 --> 00:05:41,435 Speaker 2: God has given you everything you need for life and godliness. 51 00:05:43,155 --> 00:05:46,915 Speaker 2: Look to God to find fullness of life and a 52 00:05:46,995 --> 00:05:53,115 Speaker 2: story worth telling to everyone you know. This verse from 53 00:05:53,155 --> 00:05:59,195 Speaker 2: Acts one eight is a promise from God. Listen carefully 54 00:05:59,475 --> 00:06:02,435 Speaker 2: as I read it in the new revised Standard version. 55 00:06:04,555 --> 00:06:07,795 Speaker 2: You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come 56 00:06:07,875 --> 00:06:12,555 Speaker 2: upon you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem 57 00:06:12,715 --> 00:06:16,555 Speaker 2: and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of 58 00:06:16,595 --> 00:06:23,675 Speaker 2: the earth. Let me read that for you again. As 59 00:06:23,715 --> 00:06:27,515 Speaker 2: I do, ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate a word 60 00:06:27,595 --> 00:06:33,035 Speaker 2: or phrase. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit 61 00:06:33,115 --> 00:06:37,235 Speaker 2: has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses 62 00:06:37,715 --> 00:06:42,595 Speaker 2: in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to 63 00:06:42,675 --> 00:06:48,595 Speaker 2: the ends of the earth. What stood out to you. 64 00:06:51,155 --> 00:07:27,115 Speaker 2: Meditate on that word or phrase. Now, Jesus doesn't explain 65 00:07:27,275 --> 00:07:29,795 Speaker 2: what the power of the Holy Spirit will feel like, 66 00:07:31,435 --> 00:07:35,955 Speaker 2: but he does say that after the Spirit comes, the 67 00:07:35,995 --> 00:07:41,755 Speaker 2: disciples will speak about Jesus. Ask the Spirit what words 68 00:07:41,795 --> 00:07:49,435 Speaker 2: there are for you today? What words does the Spirit 69 00:07:49,515 --> 00:08:22,395 Speaker 2: want to give you? Now listen to Acts one eight 70 00:08:22,795 --> 00:08:27,355 Speaker 2: in the Living Bible. But when the Holy Spirit has 71 00:08:27,395 --> 00:08:31,715 Speaker 2: come upon you, you will receive power to testify about Me 72 00:08:32,155 --> 00:08:37,195 Speaker 2: with great effect to the people in Jerusale, throughout Judea, 73 00:08:37,875 --> 00:08:41,435 Speaker 2: in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth about 74 00:08:41,515 --> 00:08:53,835 Speaker 2: My death and resurrection. Those places Jesus named make concentric 75 00:08:53,915 --> 00:09:00,115 Speaker 2: circles moving out. Picture for a moment, your place, Picture 76 00:09:00,155 --> 00:09:04,195 Speaker 2: the story of Jesus rippling out from your heart to 77 00:09:04,315 --> 00:09:15,955 Speaker 2: your neighborhood, your town or city, your state, your country, 78 00:09:18,755 --> 00:09:25,515 Speaker 2: and beyond. Name those places to God right now. Whisper 79 00:09:25,555 --> 00:09:29,595 Speaker 2: them aloud if you can, and ask the Spirit to 80 00:09:29,875 --> 00:10:05,435 Speaker 2: fill them. Ask God to speak to you now to 81 00:10:05,475 --> 00:10:08,275 Speaker 2: give you the name of one person you can tell 82 00:10:08,435 --> 00:10:44,715 Speaker 2: about Jesus. Take a deep breath and center your heart 83 00:10:44,955 --> 00:10:52,275 Speaker 2: on God. Now listen to Acts one eight in the 84 00:10:52,275 --> 00:10:58,675 Speaker 2: Good News translation. But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, 85 00:10:58,675 --> 00:11:02,315 Speaker 2: you will be filled with power, and you will be 86 00:11:02,395 --> 00:11:07,595 Speaker 2: witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judaea and Samaria, 87 00:11:07,715 --> 00:11:11,955 Speaker 2: and to the ends of the earth. Here's what happened 88 00:11:11,955 --> 00:11:20,795 Speaker 2: next in the story. Put yourself there. Imagine it. You're 89 00:11:20,835 --> 00:11:23,595 Speaker 2: on a hill with the disciples and the risen Lord. 90 00:11:25,715 --> 00:11:30,635 Speaker 2: You've just had the most intense two months of your life. 91 00:11:31,475 --> 00:11:36,715 Speaker 2: And after saying this about the Spirit and witnessing, Jesus 92 00:11:36,755 --> 00:11:40,595 Speaker 2: is taken up into heaven and a cloud hides him 93 00:11:40,595 --> 00:11:49,195 Speaker 2: from your sight. The disciples keep staring into the blue sky. 94 00:11:51,435 --> 00:12:25,715 Speaker 2: What do you think they are looking for? The unexpected 95 00:12:26,075 --> 00:12:30,595 Speaker 2: keeps coming. Two men in white show up and tell 96 00:12:30,635 --> 00:12:34,395 Speaker 2: you to stop looking into the sky. So you do. 97 00:12:36,715 --> 00:12:40,635 Speaker 2: You return to where you've been staying in Jerusalem, not 98 00:12:40,755 --> 00:12:51,155 Speaker 2: sure what to do next. You wait, eat, pray, wonder 99 00:12:53,435 --> 00:13:26,715 Speaker 2: what kinds of things do you pray for? Days pass? 100 00:13:28,395 --> 00:13:32,315 Speaker 2: What is this Holy Spirit that has been promised? How 101 00:13:32,355 --> 00:13:37,635 Speaker 2: will you know when it has arrived? You continue meeting together. 102 00:13:38,915 --> 00:13:42,955 Speaker 2: You choose someone to replace Judas as a leader. You 103 00:13:43,115 --> 00:13:49,595 Speaker 2: need leaders. You miss Jesus. You wonder how long you're 104 00:13:49,595 --> 00:13:54,275 Speaker 2: supposed to wait. When people ask what you're waiting for, 105 00:13:55,595 --> 00:14:26,475 Speaker 2: what do you say? How do you explain it? Then, 106 00:14:26,955 --> 00:14:31,635 Speaker 2: on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit comes in power 107 00:14:32,435 --> 00:14:38,515 Speaker 2: with fire. What is the experience like when people ask 108 00:14:38,595 --> 00:14:41,635 Speaker 2: you later, how will you tell the story of who 109 00:14:41,715 --> 00:14:46,075 Speaker 2: Jesus was and how it changed you? To be filled 110 00:14:46,155 --> 00:14:52,395 Speaker 2: with the Holy Spirit? Practice telling the story right now. 111 00:14:54,835 --> 00:15:00,795 Speaker 2: Imagine telling someone about who Jesus is and who he 112 00:15:00,915 --> 00:15:36,915 Speaker 2: is to you, how he has changed your life. Pray 113 00:15:36,955 --> 00:15:42,555 Speaker 2: with me, God, thank you for weaving me into the 114 00:15:42,595 --> 00:15:48,755 Speaker 2: story you're telling. Give me confidence and sensitivity and grace 115 00:15:49,355 --> 00:15:53,275 Speaker 2: and courage to tell others about you, who you are 116 00:15:53,875 --> 00:15:58,315 Speaker 2: and what you've done for me and for all of us. 117 00:15:58,995 --> 00:16:03,195 Speaker 2: Fill me with the Holy Spirit. Inspire me and speak 118 00:16:03,235 --> 00:16:07,355 Speaker 2: through me. Let me see your love spread ever further, 119 00:16:08,195 --> 00:16:12,555 Speaker 2: from my neighborhood, to my city, to my nation, and 120 00:16:12,595 --> 00:16:21,915 Speaker 2: to the world. Amen. Witnessing isn't hard. It's simply telling 121 00:16:21,955 --> 00:16:25,875 Speaker 2: others what you've seen, telling the story of how God 122 00:16:26,315 --> 00:16:33,555 Speaker 2: has changed your life. Tell someone today until next time. 123 00:16:34,555 --> 00:16:38,835 Speaker 2: May you abe did in Christ