The Holy Spirit Comes
Good Morning,
In Acts 2 we read about the promised coming of the Holy Spirit to all believers. This is in contrast to the Old Testament where the Holy Spirit would speak to specific people, at specific times, for a specific purpose. In John 14 Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come as a counselor (or advocate) to live in all believers forever. He refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth.
In the centuries since Pentecost the church has experienced periodic discord over the Holy Spirit. Sad, because the Holy Spirit came to unite us not divide us (1 Cor 12). Too often we get caught up in the outpouring of power – sound, fire, wind...This is not the right perspective. The purpose of this first outpouring was to get the message of Christ out to the world. The gospel was now able to be taught and understood in every language. It represents the fulfillment of Old Testiment prophesy, and It really launches the apostolic ministry to the world.
The events in Acts 2 are certainly remarkable. Here was the church gathered together, all 120 of them, along with several God-fearing Jews from all over the world. Jews that had been scattered and previously forced to leave Jerusalem and had learned to speak other languages. Now upon returning they were hearing Galaleans’s speak their own tounge! And what were they talking about? The wonders of God – the proclimation of the mighty works of God. So these Jews likely went back to their own homes and countries having been impacted by this event. Remarkable indeed.
And today, the Holy Spirit is still fueling revival across the world. That is really our great hope. A hope not just for faraway places but for nearby. For your loved one far from God, the Prodigal in your family, or your intellectual co-worker who cannot get beyond their own understanding…none are too far for the Holy Spirit to reach. None.
For those of us who are Christ-followers, He provides the power for bringing about God’s purpose and plan in our lives (Phil. 2:13) and for living together in unity. He is the seal of our redemption until Christ returns again.
How grateful we should be that God did not leave us without His divine guiding Spirit as we navigate life this side of heaven.
Questions to ponder this week:
1) Spend a few moments thinking about how the Holy Spirit has drawn you to Him.
2) Who in your life can you have renewed hope for because the Holy Spirit still speaks?
Live on purpose,
Ron Klopfenstein, CPLC