The Promised Gift of God To Us (All)

This week we are looking at the Early Church and reading Acts 1-10,12.  I started this blog entry while away on vacation but realized I shouldn't really send it out until now, otherwise I would be ahead of where we are in our sermon series.  While away I had a chance to read through the recommended chapters of Acts twice and since being home I've also read the same passages again in "The Story" Bible which many have a copy of. Each time I read these passages I get excited! The promised Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus' followers! My prayer is that we see this same Holy Spirit power operating within in our lives and our church body.

I make the practice of underlining key words and phrases that begin to pop out as I read the Bible.  I also underline promises and commands and those things we can expect to happen when we believe and / or obey the word.  Consequently my Bible has lots of marks on it, especially in the book of Acts after reading it again several times! Underlining also helps me to remember His Word and find things more easily.  

The early church started and continued to grow as a result of the promised "gift" - the gift of His Holy Spirit. Jesus gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit".  Acts 1:4,5

Jesus also said, "... But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

When Jesus ascended, the disciples (120 followers in all) gathered together and prayed and waited for the promised gift. On the day of Pentecost (10 days after Jesus ascended to heaven), the place shook and "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."  Acts 2:3,4  They were declaring the wonders of God as prophesied.  "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people..." Acts 2:17

Peter preaches his first sermon ... the resurrection of the Christ who died for our sins.  "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.  Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what what you now see and hear." Acts 2:32,33 ... keep reading ... Peter says ... "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off  (you and I too! ) - for all whom the Lord our God will call"  Acts 2:28,39 They accepted Peter's good news message and 3000 get added to the church that day! Acts 2:41

Peter heals a cripple in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. A crowd gathers and Peter gets to preach again proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  "Many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about 5000." Acts 4:4

When Peter was questioned by the high priest who asked him "By what power or what name did you do this? (i.e. heal the cripple?)  Peter, recognized as an unschooled, ordinary man by those who knew him, but now, filled with the Holy Spirit and courage, He responds and again shares the gospel, ...  "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:13.  

Peter and John were told by the chief priest not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  They responded, "we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." Acts 4:20. Everyone was praising the Lord and they gathered and prayed and the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."  Acts 4:31

Miraculous signs and wonders were performed among the people.  Crowds gathered, the sick were brought and all of them were healed.  They are persecuted.  They are put in jail.  An angel of the Lord gets them out and they are told to keep telling the people the full message of this new life (in Christ). "The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." Acts 5:32

"They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ."  Acts 5:42  So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7

Now we read the story of Stephen, the first martyr who was stoned to death.  Notice he was actually an ordinary, committed follower like you and I but filled with the Holy Spirit, like you and I can be.  He is described as a man full of God's grace and power, and one who did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people. Acts 6:8 His opposition, the high priests of the Sanhedrin could not stand up against his wisdom or the Spirit by which Stephen spoke.  Acts 6:10

Philip was another follower like you and I, who was filled with Holy Spirit and did miraculous signs and healings and we see how he was obedient to the Spirit's leading and how he effectively shares the gospel with someone who was seeking God.

We then learn about Sauls' conversion how Jesus appears to him and confronts him on the road to Dasmacus and choses him to be his apostle to carry his name to the Gentiles and their kings. Paul was also filled with the Holy Spirit.  After spending several days with the disciples in Damascus he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 

The next scene we see, in Acts 10, is that Peter is called to minister to a Gentile named Cornelius. Peter shares the gospel with him (see Acts 10:34 - 43) and while he was still speaking the Holy Spirit is poured out on all who were hearing the message. Gentiles also receive the Holy Spirit!  Finally! Yeh!

Do you get the picture?  As a believer in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord we have also been given the promised gift of the Holy Spirit.  When we are obedient to Him and desire to share the good news with others, he gives us wisdom and boldness and courage so that what we can share with power.  People will be added to the kingdom of God.  People will repent and believe and also be filled with the Holy Spirit.  The message will continue to go forth and many will be saved. When others see our love, they will want what we have.  We need to be prepared to share your testimony and the good news of the gospel with others who are seeking.  

Let's be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Let's receive him in all his fullness by faith.  God has promised us the gift of His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit equips us with power, courage, boldness and wisdom to share the good news with others. Let's use the gift(s) He has given us. Let's not fear. As we go, in His name and authority, let's love one another, serve one another, love and serve our neighbours, and be prepared to tell our story of how we came to know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour and why Jesus means so much to us.

Let's let Jesus live his life in us by His Holy Spirit and as we abide in Him we too will see much fruit. Remember that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and he has provided us with His power and authority and says that he will be with us always as we serve Him and demonstrate His love for others. He has given us the same Holy Spirit as was given to the 120 that were baptized with fire on the day of Pentecost!  Let's serve Him boldly!