Acts 2:4

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them ~ Acts 2:4

 

This is called the “crowning glory” of the new covenant gospel. I have talked before how in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit would operate mostly outside the people, occasionally coming upon those God had chosen for His work either prophetically, physically (such as Samson), or in craft making. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit came upon mankind intrinsically, within us, and there He now acts. Our heart is now filled with God’s Holy Spirit! To what degree are we filled with God’s Spirit, I ask, for there are degrees! Jesus had breathed on all these men (John 20:22) before He ascended into heaven, so why now is the Spirit poured out upon them again? I think it is that the Holy Spirit claimed a greater portion of their life. We know we can shut out, or, shut down the Holy Spirit. We do that by not listening to Him speak to us, by not surrendering our all to Him. This inhibits the Holy Spirit within. Paul the Apostle warned us “to not grieve the Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 4:29-32), indicating we can make the Holy Spirit sorrowful. The apostles at another time prayed for boldness, thus enacting the Holy Spirit within them to a greater indwelling. Our churches need the filling of the Holy Spirit to the degree of overflowing! We have an opportunity right now of reaching a lost world through the power given to us by God’s Spirit. The internet is our tool, the church outside of herself is our target, the hungry are our ministry. God sent Jesus Christ to live, to die, to be resurrected so that we would come into a place of salvation through grace. Jesus’ Spirit came so that we would know and experience Truth, and, be filled as Witnesses of what Jesus has done. Let us not grieve His Holy Spirit but let us be filled to overflowing! Let us be bold in our proclamation as His witnesses in every place, in every nation, to every generation!

Pastor Julia


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