Like Wildfire (1)

To spread like wildfire = to spread or disseminate rapidly. “The virus spread like wildfire throughout the Internet.” “News spreads like wildfire when people are excited.”

My dream is that the good news about Jesus will spread like wildfire here in NE Ohio and around the world. And what if the fire started here? In your heart and mine?  If you’ve even wondered, “Is there a purpose for me?” then I might ask you, “Is your heart beating?” If your heart is still beating, then God has a purpose for your life.

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.  Acts 1:8 (ESV)

Look at that word witnesses. Jesus is not looking for defense attorneys. You don’t have to defend Jesus. And Jesus is not looking for salesmen. You don’t have to sell Jesus. What He’s looking for are witnesses. A witness is someone who just says what they’ve seen. “I saw this and I saw that. That’s all I know.” That’s what Jesus is looking for. He says, “I just want you to tell people what’s happened to you. Tell people what I’ve done in your life. Tell them about the difference I’ve made in your heart.”

Around here we say it this way:

I am a missionary cleverly disguised as a ________________.

Why does God want us to do be missionary witnesses? Because people need Jesus. People are hurting and wounded and enslaved.

And God is building a family of healed and whole and free people. He wants more and more people to be forgiven, to be His children, to love Him, to glorify Him, to spend eternity with Him. He wants people to be set free from addictions, from past hurts, from sin and selfishness and Satan. That’s why Jesus came.

God has chosen you and He’s chosen me to complete the mission of Jesus. He’s saying, “I want you to finish it!”

Maybe you’ve heard the story about Jesus returning to heaven after dying on the cross and rising again. An angel comes to Jesus and says, “OK, now what? Who’s going to fulfill the mission now that you’re here?” Jesus says, “I left my followers to carry on the mission.” And the angel says, “Your followers? They are so unreliable. What if they don’t get it done? What’s plan B?” And Jesus says, “There is no plan B.”

We’re it. Being on mission to join with Jesus in setting captives free is the greatest privilege we’ve ever been given. We are in on making history.