Discover His heart: He has promised us a gift, and He keeps His promises!
The check is in the mail, the package is on its way, or any similar promise will send us running to the mailbox each day until it arrives. I was working on a project one time and needed additional resources, so I contacted an individual with the information and heard the promise, “It’s in the mail.” After several days, I realized that it wasn’t. Quite upset by this, random thoughts flooded my mind about the possible hazards in starting one’s car or 1000 camels, but then who hasn’t failed at one time or another to keep a promise? Well, the answer to that would be God – He always keeps His promises!
@Acts 1 – It’s in the mail!
“Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. John baptized with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (4) Jesus reminded the disciples before He left for Heaven that the promised gift would soon arrive. I think Luke, the writer of Acts, was the perfect believer chosen to give us the historical account of Pentecost and the early church. As a doctor, his writing may not have been very legible to those who had to transcribe his words, but he sure did manage to present a methodical and descriptive accounting of the early church. He let readers know from the start that this baptism in the Holy Spirit was not some fluke. It was promised by God, and it was expected!
Jesus went on to explain what this Holy Spirit baptism was all about, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”(8) Power! The disciples would be receiving power, taken from the Greek word dunamis where we get our word dynamite. I, for one, am hesitant to receive a gift of dynamite, but if it’s coming from the Holy Ghost, bring it on! The baptism of the Holy Spirit is explosive power, empowering us to be an unstoppable force, obliterating darkness around the world and spreading the light of the Gospel. Have we used our dynamite power today?
@Acts 2 – Promise Delivered!
“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (1-4) God’s promised gift was delivered! The power of the Holy Spirit was the gift and speaking in other tongues was the evidence that the gift had been delivered, the Delivery Confirmation if you will.
The Holy Spirit plays so many roles in our life – convicter, comforter, counselor and teacher – just to name a few, but in Acts 2, He is our baptizer. Has your Gift been delivered – with your Delivery Confirmation?
Moving Forward: I’m so thankful to have received God’s promised gift long ago, but I’m reminded that it’s not a gift to be placed on a shelf. It’s a powerful gift to be used every day in sharing His Gospel.
Tomorrow @ Hebrews 5-7
Phyllis Benigas 