05/27/2017
Have you received the Holy Spirit? Do you really understand what this means to us? Why did the apostles have to wait for this filling and what did they do as they waited? The answers to these questions might just surprise you. So let's have a brief lesson.
“And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."”
Luke 24:49 ESV
At this point you are probably wondering why Jesus didn't just fill his disciples with the Holy Spirit right then and there, and that is a legitimate question... why wait? Some might think this mysterious, but it wasn't; the truth of the matter is that He couldn't give what wasn't His. Let's read a verse that gives us the answer we seek...
“Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.”
John 7:39 ESV
In fact, Jesus had not yet been glorified and the Holy Spirit had not been given to Him, but as soon as it had been given to Him, He breathed it onto His disciples and, yes, to us. We read about this in Acts,
“Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.”
Acts 2:33 ESV
Do we know that the apostles waited for Jesus to be glorified and receive the Holy Spirit, and that once He had received it Himself, He gave it to us. We have the advantage of reading what happened next, but the apostles didn't have a clue what was about to happen. What they did know was that something wonderful was in the offing and they were excited, so they went back to Jerusalem where they did what all good Jews did... they went to the temple in prayer and blessed God.
“While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.”
Luke 24:51-53 ESV
This is exactly what we should do as we seek the Holy Spirit. We should go to church, pray, and bless God! When we do this today we have an idea as to what is coming, but remember, the apostles had no scripture to tell them of this, so their behavior was instinctive... their faith was guiding them. Our faith should be lifting us up in our wait as well. We should be excited about what is coming and shout the praises of Jesus from the depths of our hearts.
But as excited as they were, the apostles had limited knowledge about what Jesus was sending. They had no real idea about the preparation they should make. All Jesus had told them was to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the comforter to come. So the disciples were perplexed and wanted to know what they should do to receive this Spirit; when the tongues of fire fell upon them they were as surprised as anyone else. They were caught in the moment as this happened suddenly...
“And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.”
Acts 2:2-6 ESV
The disciples were surprised, those who witnessed what happened were surprised, and the world was about to be surprised! The power of the Holy Spirit was entering man, and the result was a spread of the gospel that was without parallel in history.
At this moment, Peter told those who were witnesses that this wasn't the result of alcohol, but of God, and then prophesied to them. When the crowd had heard him they were moved and a bit afraid. They wanted to know how they might experience this, and Peter gave them instructions. These instructions are for us, even today.
“Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself."”
Acts 2:37-39 ESV
So what is this power? Is it the power to conquer the world? No. Jesus has no need to conquer something that is already His. Is it to protect us from all harm? No. After all, every one of the original apostles except John died a violent death for the faith. So what is the power of the Holy Spirit meant to do? It is meant to strengthen our faith and give us the power and tools we need to spread the gospel, and win souls to Christ, and this began on the very day of Pentecost...
“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:41 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your many blessings, but this morning I thank you especially for the filling of the Holy Spirit and the power it provides me as I spread the gospel of your Son Jesus Christ. Holy Father your gifts and blessings are bountiful, but never frivolous. You give us what we need and your provision sustains us as we go about the business of your kingdom. Lord you are Almighty and your Holy Spirit amazing in the ability and power it brings to us. In our words to preach, write, heal, pray, and so many other tasks, it provides us with unbound strength. We are not strengthened to defeat and conquer, but to spread the Word of Jesus and lift you up. Thank you for your spirit that draws our souls close to you and provides the path by which we travel in our faith. Praised be your name Father, and may your Holy Spirit always find a welcome home in me.
Rich Forbes