THE HOLY SPIRIT
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” —Acts 1:8
*This power is for a purpose. It is not power to be crazy or power to do weird things.
* It is power to be a witness . . .
* Power to have the courage to tell someone about Jesus Christ . .
* Power to tell people about what Jesus has done for you. CROSS!
The Holy Spirit did not make His first appearance at Pentecost.
Gen. 1:2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
The Holy Spirit is also shown to be doing the Father’s work throughout the Old Testament and Gospels.
*However, the Spirit arrived in the upper room with a fresh mission from the Father.
In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit empowered individuals for specific tasks.
*For example, Bezalel’s God-given wisdom and craftsmanship enabled him to become the Tabernacle’s chief architect (Ex. 31:1-5).
*Men called to proclaim God’s word (Isa. 61:1; Ezek. 2:1-4).
When the Lord wanted a job done, He chose someone to do it.
*Then the Holy Spirit equipped him or her for the task.
God gave power only to certain people and didn’t necessarily remain with them long.
Indicating that the Spirit’s involvement with believers would be different than before, Jesus told the disciples, “He abides with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).
God’s Holy Spirit had come alongside the disciples during their time with Christ. But following the completion of Jesus’ work on earth, He would dwell within them.
Since Pentecost, EVERY BELIEVER HAS received the Holy Spirit.
*If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, then the Spirit is the sap equipping us for the Christian life.
***Furthermore, He no longer comes and goes but rather remains permanently.
He seals us in Christ—proof of the promise that we are forever in God’s presence.
Eph. 1:13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
At salvation, you receive the same spirit that you will have throughout all eternity.
*It will not have to be changed again or cleansed again.
*It has been sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13) and is therefore sanctified and perfected forever (Heb. 10:10, 14; 12:23).
Jesus lives in the spirit of believers.
All that He is will be available to you if you will depend on Him instead of your own abilities.
Thank You God for Your indescribable gift-“The Holy Spirit”. Thank You that the Holy Spirit has awakened me from spiritual death. Amen