Towards the end of His earthly ministry, our Lord Jesus Christ gave us an assignment, commonly called the Great Commission: to preach the gospel to every creature.

He however, mentioned a requirement we would need before going out to witness to the whole world about Him - the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:.

Embarking on the work of missions without the power of the Holy Spirit is suicidal. This is the reason we have casualties among modern day missionaries because some of them are not spiritually-equipped. While they have the zeal, many lack the spiritual empowerment for the work at this present time, just like Uzzah when the Ark of the Covenant was being moved.

“And when they came to Nachons threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there… for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.”
2 Samuel 6:6-7.

Presumptuous sin killed Uzzah. This is the reason David prayed that God should deliver him from presumptuous sins:
“Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins…”
Psalm 19:13

We need to be endued in the Holy Spirit before we can be effective missionaries. While the missionary mandate must be kept by genuine children of God, we must be sure to receive the power of the Holy Ghost before we start. We must therefore be baptized in the Holy Spirit. I pray that as many as are thirsty for the baptism of the Holy Spirit shall be satisfied with it today, in Jesus name.

Going by the gift which the Holy Spirit offers us in Acts 1:8, we can see the reason every missionary and soul-winner must be possessed by the Holy Spirit. For example, the word of wisdom is necessary for effective evangelism. A preacher without the Holy Spirit is a mere orator. A missionary needs the gifts of prophecy and discerning of spirits as a weapon against the deceit of the devil. Of course, without speaking and praying in tongues, a missionary’s prayer life would be in shambles. I pray that every soul-winner using this devotional today will be adequately equipped by the Holy Spirit for exploits, in Jesus name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.