JESUS promised the HOLY SPIRIT. After
the crucifixion, JESUS rose from the grave and appeared to the
disciples. He said, “49 I am going to send you what my Father
has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed
with power from on high,” Luke 24:49, NIV. They obeyed. Then
came the Day of Pentecost!
“1 When Pentecost day
came round, they had all met together, 2 when suddenly there
came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled
the entire house in which they were sitting; 3 and there
appeared to them tongues as of fire; these separated and came to rest
on the head of each of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began
to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power
to express themselves. 5 Now there were devout men living
in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, 6 and at
this sound they all assembled, and each one was bewildered to hear
these men speaking his own language.” Acts 2:1-6, NJB
Those who saw it were confused. They
either wondered what it meant or believed the men to be drunk. Peter
stood up, and explained to them that they were witnessing the
fulfillment of scripture from the prophet Joel, “And it shall come
to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit
on all flesh,” Acts 2:17, NKJV (Joel 2:28 NIV/NKJV; Joel 3:1 NJB).
He explained that JESUS is the fulfillment of GOD's promise to King
David, that he is the CHRIST, the MESSIAH. “ 32 God has
raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.
33 Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received
from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured
out what you now see and hear,” Acts 2:32-33, NIV.
“36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has
made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah,”
Acts 2:36, NIV.
Then comes the most important message of all. “38 Then
Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For
the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar
off, as many as the Lord our God will call,'” Acts 2:38-39, NKJV.
What they were witnessing was the POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! That very day, those who accepted the salvation
message were baptized, and received the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. This
is what JESUS was referring to when he spoke of, “what my Father
has promised” Luke 24:49. The HOLY SPIRIT is the promise, the
gift and the
power of GOD!!!
Join us next week as we look at the work of the FATHER, THE SON and THE HOLY SPIRIT in salvation. We
leave you with the following blessing until then:
“13 May the God of hope fill
you with all joy and peace in your faith, so that in the power of
the Holy Spirit you may be rich in hope,” Romans 15:13, NJB.
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