LIVING IN POWER
Acts 2:14-21 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
20 the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
What a difference a day makes! Just one day before, Peter was in hiding. Then, he was transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. And the wonderful thing is that this was not a one-time occurrence! When we surrender our lives to Jesus, then we, too, are filled with the Holy Spirit.
Allow me to ask you this: are you living in the power of the Holy Spirit, or are you living in defeat? Believe me, I am not judging you. I, too, am sometimes overcome by my circumstances. But remember, greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world. Make this your declaration and say it boldly today!
May we determine through the power we have been given to look not at our circumstances, but keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Acts 2:1-13 ESV The Coming of the Holy Spirit
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Well, here we are, fellow Christ followers. The beginning of the Church Age. The disciples waited as Jesus had instructed, and the Holy Spirit fell upon these first followers of Christ. And then what happened?
Men and women had huddled together for fifty days, afraid to step outside. I am sure some wondered if they had misunderstood the instructions of Jesus, but that morning their faithfulness was rewarded.
The streets were filled with a diversity of people, all there to celebrate the Festival of Weeks. May I share with you that it was no coincidence that a crowd of people who spoke different languages and had distinct backgrounds witnessed that first Pentecost?
God, in His infinite wisdom, gave us a beautiful picture of the way His grace would be poured out upon all nations. And then Peter, transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit, boldly preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.
May God so empower us today that we will not be afraid to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Take the name of Jesus with you and share Him with all you meet.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Unity of believers
Acts 1:12-26 (ESV) Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Our scripture tells us that after Judas’ betrayal and subsequent suicide, a replacement had to be named to restore the number of apostles to twelve. It was important that the new apostle had been an eyewitness to the resurrected Jesus and had traveled with them the entire time of Jesus’ ministry. And, both Matthias and Barsabbas were traditionally believed to have been two of the seventy sent by Jesus to witness and prepare His way as he walked from town to town.
While the disciples believed it was important to bring another into their fold, I think the singular most significant aspect of this event was their joining in one accord. Currently our pastors are emphasizing the need to pray for unity in our church, not because there is disunity, but because we are embarking on new missions and nothing restricts our ability to grow God’s kingdom more than disagreements.
.
Have you prayed lately for a spirit of harmony within your church? I have to admit I have been lax in such prayers.
May we join together in one accord, knowing and believing that, as James said, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Unity of believers
Acts 1:12-26 (ESV) Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms,
“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’
21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
Our scripture tells us that after Judas’ betrayal and subsequent suicide, a replacement had to be named to restore the number of apostles to twelve. It was important that the new apostle had been an eyewitness to the resurrected Jesus and had traveled with them the entire time of Jesus’ ministry. And, both Matthias and Barsabbas were traditionally believed to have been two of the seventy sent by Jesus to witness and prepare His way as he walked from town to town.
While the disciples believed it was important to bring another into their fold, I think the singular most significant aspect of this event was their joining in one accord. Currently our pastors are emphasizing the need to pray for unity in our church, not because there is disunity, but because we are embarking on new missions and nothing restricts our ability to grow God’s kingdom more than disagreements.
.
Have you prayed lately for a spirit of harmony within your church? I have to admit I have been lax in such prayers.
May we join together in one accord, knowing and believing that, as James said, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Acts 1:1-5 The Promise of the Holy Spirit
1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
Acts 1:6-11 The Ascension
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
It has been some time since I studied the Acts of the Apostles, Luke’s second letter to his friend Theophilus. Written around 62 AD, Luke records the history of the early church. The book of Acts is invaluable in documenting the establishment, growth, and persecution of Christianity in the first century.
Luke also introduces us to a fresh movement of the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit rested upon individuals to accomplish God’s purpose. However, following Pentecost, the Holy Spirit inhabited the hearts of all believers and nothing has ever been the same.
While Luke never met Jesus, he became a faithful friend to Paul and not only accompanied him on his second missionary journey, but was with him near the end of his life.
As we delve into this book, let us look with eager anticipation into the inspiration we can receive from these early Christians and the way Christianity spread across the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
And I find myself wondering would I have been one of those who lingered in Jerusalem, waiting for the promise to come? Or would my impatience and fear propel me from the very place where the power of God would be made manifest in my life?
May we get the most from these scriptures as we we walk with Jesus day by day.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 