To the ends of the earth

‘But 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).

It will always be our privilege to be able to take the Gospel to the remotest places. But what does it look like when the Good News reaches the ends of the earth?

Sometimes, it’s a campfire beside a red gravel airstrip, music echoing through the bush, and a small MAF plane parked beneath a cross.

In Wandawuy homeland, Arnhem Land, Pilot James Gullett recently described a Gospel gathering that looked like any typical bush barbecue, but was so much more. Yolŋu believers and homeland dwellers alike came together in fellowship — enjoying food, music and dance together. It was the Gospel, Yolŋu style.

‘They’ve been really eager for us to come,’ James shared. ‘The first time, I think there was a little uncertainty about what this was going to look like. But then we came, and I think they really enjoyed what we were able to do with them — just an opportunity for fellowship and a way of getting to know them better. And yeah, I think they’re now really excited for us to come again.’

Yolŋu culture is deeply relational and not bound by time. Attendance at events can shift depending on family and cultural obligations. But, as James observed, ‘God is working in ways that we don’t know and we don’t understand right now, and we can take encouragement from that.’

The power of the Gospel

The Gospel message has power — power to heal, transform and save. We don’t always see the impact of sharing our faith. That part we leave to the Holy Spirit. But we know that an encounter with God changes people.

The apostle Paul’s story is one of the most dramatic examples of this. On the road to Damascus, he went from persecutor to preacher, from murderer to missionary. The Pharisee Saul became the evangelist Paul.

His life was radically changed by an encounter with Christ: ‘As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

‘“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do”’ (Acts 9:3-6, NLT).

Later, Paul would boldly declare that he was ‘not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes’ (Romans 1:16, NIV).

What a transformation of mindset, mission and identity!

What we learn from Paul’s encounter

Paul’s awakening to Christ changed the course of his life. He was never the same after that. His story teaches us that:
• No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace — no past is too dark, no person too far gone.
• An encounter with Christ always brings change — we cannot meet Jesus and remain the same.
• God opens blind eyes to see His truth — spiritual awakening is a miracle of grace.
• Every person has a divine purpose — even the most unlikely man, woman or child can be used powerfully by God.

Our role in God’s mission

We may not always see the significance of what we do when we tell others about Christ, just as James Gullett didn’t fully know what God was doing in Wandawuy. But we trust in the power of the Gospel to change lives wherever, whenever and however it’s shared, whether that’s beside a barbecue, from a pulpit, or over the garden fence.

Wherever we find ourselves, God’s message carries the same power. So let’s keep sharing it boldly, faithfully and expectantly, trusting that God will move in ways we cannot yet see.

Response

• Reflect on all those who played a part in your journey of salvation. Give thanks for each one today.
• Pray for the communities around the world hearing the Gospel, perhaps for the first time. Ask for radical transformation as they encounter the love of God through Jesus Christ.
• Be open to sharing your faith this week. Pray for God-given opportunities to speak, then be bold and follow the Holy Spirit’s leading.

To the ends of the earth

The power of the Gospel

What we learn from Paul’s encounter

Our role in God’s mission

Response

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