April 19-20 - Expanding the Church’s Horizons - Acts 1:1-8

Welcome to the In Touch Devotional. Dr. Charles Stanley

The line where the sky meets the earth is called the horizon. It is the farthest point of land or water that a person can see. But, the universe extends far beyond what the eye can behold.

In a similar way, the church’s vision can be limited. God’s mandate is to bring the gospel to every nation. Some believers often confine their outreach to what they see as manageable. Sometimes what holds them back from fulfilling God’s command is their limited experiences and understanding.

In other words, the believers frequently act according to logic. Our Father calls His children to obey in faith. Rational thought might lead people to avoid missions in a foreign country because of safety concerns or a language barrier. No excuse can nullify the truth of Jesus’ statement from Luke chapter 18:27: “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God”.

The Lord expects His followers to obey when He says in Matthew chapter 28:19, “Make disciples of all the nations.” But He knows human limitations. So Acts chapter 1:8 tells us He empowers through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit provides guidance, wisdom, and strength to accomplish His will.

The church is to share the gospel. God will call individuals to fulfill this commission in different ways. All believers are to participate through prayer, giving, and action. Pray for direction and wisdom in communicating the good news of salvation to the world. The Holy Spirit will lead and empower you.