WOW! Wonder Of Wonders.

Through the years WOW has meant many things – Win Our World, Women Of Worth, War On Want, Window On Word, but this week it has been Wonder Of Wonders. We had a missionary friend staying with us, and when Rosie spoke to students at the Union Bible Institute on Acts 1:1-8, at a Chapel meeting, she changed their mindset. One student commented after the service, “I always thought the Holy Spirit would work in me to make me a better person. I never realised His intention is to empower me for His Glory. WOW!”

Rosie read: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God. On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.”

So when they met together, they asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. 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.”

Then she spoke of how the disciples had lived with Jesus during His ministry before His crucifixion and death. Now, as their risen Master, He spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. They were still confused, but we know what happened to them after the Holy Spirit came upon them as Jesus had promised!

WOW! Wonder of Wonders! They were empowered. They were guided; given insight and abilities. They were equipped by the Holy Spirit and their lives were changed. Through them the world of their times was changed. The world of our times can be changed through that same power if we too will respond and allow the Holy Spirit full control of our lives.

Jesus lived with His disciples, but He was leaving them to go to His Father, and He promised to send the Holy Spirit to live in them. It is a promise for all believers today. Jesus wants us to have His same passion for the Kingdom of God, and make it our priority. He wants to use us to draw others into the Kingdom. The student had it right when he said, “It isn’t about me. WOW! Wonder of Wonders! It’s about what He can do in and through  me.”

Amen! What are we waiting for?

Rosie was on a short trip from the US and is presently ministering in North Africa where she is involved in the teaching and encouragement of evangelists. She took a short break to visit old friends, bringing a fresh breath of wisdom with food for thought, and while she is officially “retired” from the mission fields, she is happily continuing in her “retread” or “re-tyred” capacity, empowered by the Holy Spirit. WOW!