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Christ Who Promises the Spirit

Christ Who Promises the Spirit | May 2026

In this series, we delve into our 2026 theme, Kingdom Living, with GCI Superintendents from around the globe.

Each message will explore how God transforms us into kingdom disciples. Join Gavin Henderson, GCI Superintendent for Europe, as he encourages us that Christ keeps his promise. Christ gives us the Spirit, who equips and empowers us to share the good news.

Program Transcript


Christ Who Promises the Spirit | May 2026
Gavin Henderson

“I’m not up to the challenge.”

“I’m not ready.”

If you are like me, these are some of the thoughts that pop into your head at the thought of sharing your faith with others.

I want to see people turn to Jesus, I want the gospel to be proclaimed in my community, in my country, and to the very ends of the earth. So why does my stomach tie itself in knots at the idea of speaking to others about Jesus for the first time?

I wonder if sometimes the apostle Peter felt the same way. He was a fisherman, his job involved manual labour — not reading the Scriptures. Yes, he had followed Jesus. Yes, he had even been one of his closest disciples, but in the end, when it really mattered, he failed Jesus. He had denied him.

This is why I think Peter was back in his fishing boat even after Jesus had risen from the grave. He didn’t feel ready for what lay ahead. He didn’t feel equipped for the mission Jesus was calling him to.

But that is not how Peter’s story ends though, is it? Because just a week or two after that, Peter finds himself standing in front a crowd of more than 3,000 people, telling them about Jesus Christ.

So how did Peter go from being afraid and full of self-doubt to being the bold evangelist we see at the beginning of the book of Acts?

First, he encountered the risen Lord Jesus who confirmed his calling. Second, Peter, and the other disciples, were given the gift of the Holy Spirit.

You see proclaiming the gospel is not something Peter accomplished through his own skills and abilities. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, equipped him for the role.

This is also true for us. The same Lord Jesus who called Peter to be his witness in Jerusalem is the one who now calls us to be his witnesses in our neighbourhoods.

And the same Holy Spirit who equipped and empowered Peter in his ministry is the one who equips and empowers us to share the gospel with those around us.

“We may not be up to the challenge, but Jesus is.”

“We may not be ready, but the Spirit is.”

It is time to share our faith.

 

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