The Promise of Power

Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

Acts 1:1 KJV “Jesus began to..teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, … giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen.”

Power in a Name

Jesus has given power a name, the Holy Spirit. God the Father they knew, and God the Son they knew, but they had not experienced God the Holy Spirit yet.

Jesus had told them the Holy Spirit would be their personal instructor, pouring into them what they would need, guiding and comforting them.

Power of their Prayers

The eleven disciples had grown to 120 people. This group of 120 people was what we might call God’s nucleus on earth. They got together often to pray. When they met for prayer, they experienced the presence of Jesus spiritually. Prayer was their lifeline to Jesus. He was still their leader. In prayer, they received His instructions about what to do next. As they prayed, God gave them updates. But now, Jesus was directing them from heaven through the Holy Spirit.

Power Holy Spirit

On the day of Pentecost, they met for prayer, in a room located above a bustling street in Jerusalem. The people on the street below were noisy but the disciples were not distracted. Worshiping God together, they were united in thought and purpose.

“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2). It sounded like a high-speed wind, but there was no destruction. All at once the room became alive.

Flames of Fire

“There appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them” (Acts 2:3). Flames of fire danced above their heads resembling forked tongues. The fire of the Holy Spirit was present, but only to scorch or burn their hearts. God the Holy Spirit had arrived.

“They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:4)

 

Crowd Bewildered

There was a crowd of devout Jewish men in town for the feast of Pentecost. There were many nations represented in the crowd who gathered for this feast from all the outlying areas from miles around. These Jews who were busying themselves concerning the feast suddenly stopped in their tracks. Suddenly, as if the sound came out of nowhere, “the crowd came together in bewilderment because each one heard their own language in their own native tongue.” Acts 2:6 These languages the visiting Jews understood perfectly. The languages being spoken were their native tongues.

Power of their message

An interesting detail we don’t want to miss is, that foreign-language speakers were all talking about the wonderful works of God (Acts 2:11).

The Holy Spirit gifted 120 people speaking foreign languages they had not learned, with people who understood what they were saying.

Power of a New Beginning- The Church

It seemed God had waited until Pentecost, the next feast after the Passover feast, to send the Holy Spirit so a great many more people would experience what God was doing. A new day had begun. The Holy Spirit birthed the church that day.

Today’s Church?

When we meet to pray together, what happens? Do we expect God to meet with us? Do we consider Him our leader? Are we united in thought and purpose, worshiping Him in oneness?

Holy Spirit Power

The Holy Spirit is the promise of God the Father (Acts 1:4). He is self-effacing, not highlighting Himself. The Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus. He teaches us about the wonderful works of God.

Holy Spirit Power in Us

When we pay attention to the Holy Spirit’s instruction as we read our Bible, we develop an increased sensitivity to the teaching the Holy Spirit gives us. We should also increase in speaking about the wonderful works of God wherever we go.

Prayer for You

May God pour out His Holy Spirit in you today so you will glorify Him in the marketplace of your life.

 

Francesca Battistelli Holy Spirit

Shirley Logsdon