What an incredible honor it was to stand on the amazing Mount of Olives yesterday before our great MCWE partners and share a short devotional on the last words Jesus ever spoke from this very place. I am writing this short blog from Jerusalem this morning to share some of those words with you:
If you want to know what mattered most to a person, listen to what they said last.
Jesus was no different.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
—Acts 1:8 (NLT)
Dr. Morris Cerullo taught us that the heartbeat of God is souls.
From this very mountain—moments before His ascension—Jesus gives us three powerful truths that still define and empower our calling today.
1️⃣ Jesus will empower you for the ministry He has given you.
Standing on the Mount of Olives, I could feel the weight of Jesus’ words as He speaks to His disciples for the last time from this earth.
The first thing He tells them is although He is leaving – power is coming—not natural power, not organizational power, not personality-driven power, but Holy Spirit power.
If we can accomplish our vision without His power, then it’s probably not God’s vision for our lives.
God’s assignments are always bigger than our abilities.
That’s why Jesus’ last message began with “You will receive power…”
God never calls us to something He does not also empower us to accomplish.
2️⃣ Before God uses us, He first gives us an experience.
Dr. Cerullo taught us a life-changing truth:
Before God can use our life in a greater way, He must first infuse our life in a greater way.
Throughout scripture, God never used anyone without first giving them an encounter—an impartation—a moment where something supernatural took place.
Jesus said this power comes after something happens to us:
“…after the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”
Power follows encounter.
Impact follows infusion.
Ministry follows experience.
The disciples were not sent out with ideas—they were sent out with power.
3️⃣ Jesus tells us the purpose of this power: to tell people about Him everywhere.
The anointing and empowerment of the Holy Spirit is not for prestige, position, or platform.
The anointing is not just for the pulpit – it to enable us to communicate who Jesus really is to the people we meet everyday.
Jesus ties the power of the Spirit directly to the purpose of our calling:
“And you will be my witnesses, TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT ME EVERYWHERE — in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” —Acts 1:8 (NLT)
Not somewhere.
Everywhere you go.
From Jerusalem… to Judea… to Samaria…
All the way to the ends of the earth.
This is the heartbeat of God.
This is why the power comes.
This is why the Spirit is given.
So that we can tell people about Jesus — everywhere God sends us.
A Fresh Outpouring for a Fresh Assignment
Yesterday, we prayed together for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit—for the empowerment to fulfill the purpose Jesus connected to it: to be His witnesses.
His first words to the disciples were:
“Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
His last words from the Mount of Olives were:
“You will receive power… and you will be My witnesses… telling people about Me everywhere!”
From first to last, Jesus’ message never changed.
Souls. Souls. Souls.
Every Believer Is a Full-Time Minister
Every believer carries a calling.
Every believer carries a ministry.
You don’t need a title.
You don’t need a platform.
You don’t need official credentials.
Your ministry is as close as the next person you meet.
When the Holy Spirit empowers you, He empowers you for impact — impact that tells the world who Jesus is.
A Prayer of Empowerment for You From Jerusalem
Father, I thank You for every person reading this right now.
I pray in the mighty name of Jesus that You would use their life in a greater way than ever before.
Lord, let a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit come upon them —
renew their strength, enlarge their vision, ignite their passion,
and empower them to fulfill the calling You have placed on their life.
Let them experience the reality of Acts 1:8 —
power to be a witness, power to tell people about Jesus everywhere,
power to live boldly, love deeply, and minister effectively.
Father, raise them up as living testimonies of Your grace and glory.
Use them to touch hearts, change lives, and bring souls into Your kingdom.
In Jesus’ mighty name — Amen!
Thank You — and I’d Love to Hear From You
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog today.
It means more than you know.
I’d love for you to leave a comment below:
- What part spoke to you?
- How are you believing God to use your life in a greater way?
- What fresh experience are you asking the Holy Spirit for today?
Your comments encourage others — and they encourage me as well.
Blessings from Israel!!
Share this:
Discover more from gregmauro.com
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
