When our Branch visited The Way International, one of the highlights of our visit was a tour of the Victor Paul Wierwille Prevailing Word Auditorium. Among the many stops on the tour was the Founder’s Room. There we saw displayed on a lace-covered table a beautiful assortment of cards sent in by believers from around the world, celebrating the completion of classes made available by our ministry. The very first card that I picked up and looked at was from Africa! Once again I was blessed by how the Word of God reaches out to all cultures and populations around the world.
That was the vision of our Founding President, Dr. Victor Paul Wierwille, as recorded in the September/October 1989 issue of The Way Magazine: “The Way has always been an international ministry. I knew that the Word of God and the love of God would reach people of all races and nationalities if they had an opportunity to hear.” I was one of those who had an opportunity to hear while living in a country outside of the United States. In my brief stay in another country, I had the benefit of participating in our ministry’s Foundational Class, and I became a follower of The Way.
Part of the definition of The Way states, “The Way is a fellowship of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ for the manifestation of the more abundant life. A follower of The Way is filled with and manifests power from on high, holy spirit….” As a follower of The Way, I was thrilled to have the power of God in my life, and as I matured in my spiritual growth, I became interested in spreading the exciting truths I was learning. I wanted others to have the blessings I had so freely received.
In the Administration of Grace, every believer has the ability to manifest God’s power as a witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we look into the Word, we’ll see great truths about the power we have and how to be effective as witnesses unto him.
In his last recorded words before his ascension, our Lord Jesus Christ gave instruction to his apostles to manifest God’s power as witnesses unto him.
Acts 1:8:
But ye shall receive power, after [when] that the Holy Ghost [the gift of holy spirit] is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
The word “witness” in this verse can be defined as “one who remembers.” As we are living life, we remember our lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and what he gave and accomplished for us. As witnesses, we share what God has done for us and what He can do for others so that they too can have an opportunity to hear and believe. Each born-again believer is called to be a witness!
I remember the first time I understood this as a young believer. I was having the time of my life in a career that I enjoyed as a professional model, but it still wasn’t enough to fulfill me. I remember asking God if there was something else or something more that I should be doing with my life. I learned from God’s Word that the something else, the something more, was that I had been called to be a witness. I had been reconciled to God by Jesus Christ, and now as an ambassador for Christ, I was given the ministry of reconciliation (II Corinthians 5:18-20). Having this understanding, I realized that my loving heavenly Father had given my life a meaningful purpose far greater than I ever could have imagined!
Each believer has the power of the holy spirit and is to be a witness by acting on the Word. As believers practicing the ministry of reconciliation, we always have powerful purpose and direction. When the apostles and disciples received power from on high on the day of Pentecost, they had increased ability, and they were powerful witnesses. As we operate the gift of holy spirit, we too are growing up spiritually and maturing in our abilities to be effective witnesses of God’s power.
I Corinthians 12:7:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
God’s power from on high gives every believer the ability to operate the manifestations of holy spirit. There are nine, as listed in I Corinthians 12:8-10. With these manifestations, we can accomplish the vision set for us by Jesus Christ as witnesses unto him.
No matter how young or old we may be, we have the joy and blessing of carrying out the ministry of reconciliation. I remember one Saturday morning when my daughter came home wearing one of her friend’s T-shirts. Across the front of it was this saying: “I’m not like most girls.” I smiled and told her that what truly set her apart and made her different was God’s gift of holy spirit on the inside. I encouraged her to speak in tongues much and to look for open doors to witness the Word to her friends because that was how she could be a good friend and bring the most profit to herself and to her friends. We each have the privilege to speak for God and operate His gift of holy spirit in bringing comfort and completeness to ourselves and to those of all ages….
This is an excerpt from the November/December 2007 issue of The Way Magazine.
Copyright© 2007 by The Way International. All rights reserved.
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