Creeper
May 16th, 2003, 08:36 AM
ACTS CHAPTER 2
The people in the first century had and needed many things. They had the passion to suffer even to the point of death. And many went to that point because of their firm beliefs. Their beliefs in JESUS as GOD, as Messiah, and as The Savior and LORD of their own lives.
This belief gave them a reason to preach, to witness and evangelize. They were sure of their beliefs in JESUS because they had seen HIM die, they had seen HIM after the resurrection. They understood the powerful principles of HIS death.
1. HE died voluntarily. John 10:18 says, "No one takes it from ME, but I lay it down of MY own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from MY FATHER." JESUS was talking about HIS life.
2. HE died as an atonement for your sins and mine HE was our substitue sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 5:21 "GOD made HIM who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in HIM we might become the righteousness of GOD."
3. HE died victoriously. Matthew 27:50 "And when JESUS had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up(yielded or sent back) HIS spirit." Also in John 19:30 "When HE had received the drink, JESUS said, "It is finished."( this is the shout of the victor) With that, HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS spirit." HE didn't die of exhaustion. HE chose the time and place and the why or the reason of HIS death.
The death of JESUS is central to salvation in Hebrews 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin." HE had placed HIS blood on the altar one time and one time only. This act would never be repeated again.
In verse 4 of Acts 2 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them." This was a promise to all believers the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS was saying to you and me "YOU can Trust the FATHER and believe and that every promise would be fulfilled." In the book of LUKE HE (JESUS) told them to wait in JERUSALEM. That the Comforter would come to them.
The FATHER is trustworthy. The promise of the FATHER validated the purpose of the FATHER. The FATHER had promised them a Helper and they felt the need for this helper. The word wait means continuous and we need to keep on being constant in our seeking. The promise is salvation and the Comforter. When you receive JESUS as Savior you at the same time receive the HOLY SPIRIT.
And you receive all the HOLY SPIRIT that you will ever receive. There is not anymore than you will ever get. You may not use all that you are given right away but with time and maturity you can use the resources available throught the HOLY SPIRIT. Our position is by the HOLY SPIRIT having sealed us to become children of GOD. "For we were all baptized (the word here used means to be immersed) by one SPIRIT into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
Also in John 3:6 "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the SPIRIT gives birth to spirit." We are born into the kingdom of the LORD JESUS through receiving HIM as our substitute and by asking HIS forgiveness of our sins and as a testimony to our faith we are baptized according to HIS command.
In Romans 8:16 which says, "The SPIRIT HIMSELF testifies with our spirit that we are GOD's children." This is how we know we are saved. We have the HOLY SPIRIT with us always. The promise of the FATHER personifies the SON. John 4:16,17a, 25,26 "And I will ask the FATHER, and HE will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the SPIRIT of truth.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the FATHER will send in MY name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." JESUS is saying to the disciples that when HE was gone another person would come to be with them. The same is true for us today. The HOLY SPIRIT is with and in every believer.
The HOLY SPIRIT majors on JESUS as seen in John 16:14 "HE will bring glory (or to reveal to you the true identity of the LORD) to ME by taking from what is MINE and making it known to you." The HOLY SPIRIT never emphasises HIMSELF more than JESUS. The promise brings the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT to us when we believe.
Six times in John 16:13 JESUS used the word HE to refer to the HOLY SPIRIT and what HE would do. "But when HE, the Spirit of truth, comes, HE will guide you into all truth. HE will not speak on HIS own; HE will speak only what HE hears, and HE will tell you what is yet to come." Nothing that is of GOD moves without the HOLY SPIRIT. The one of the things that the HOLY SPIRIT does is to witness concerning JESUS.
In Acts 1:8 it speaks of power "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." We need to let GOD take control and take over.
These disciples sensed their need of power beyond themselves. If you don't intend to work for JESUS you don't need any power. We have access to the power but many times we are not plugged in. If you go into your kitchen in the morning to make toast and you put the bread in the toaster but the toaster is not plugged into the power source will you get toast. OF COURSE NOT!! The same is true in our lives.
We have the available resource of power but we must be plugged into the source into order for us to accomplish the tasks that are set before us as believers. We must possess and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to give us the enablement by allowing HIM to rule our lives. We are to use plans and methods to reach and win the lost but only through the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT. Anything that is done outside of the HOLY SPIRIT will be considered as wood, hay and stubble. Prayer is a tool that helps release the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives.
The power demonstrated by the HOLY SPIRIT is mentioned several places in the New Testament. The purpose of the power of the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives is first and foremost to witness and give boldness to speak for JESUS.
The proclamation of the angels that JESUS will come again meant to come with a burst of power a dramatic appearance. But this was not to mean that we do nothing in the meantime. We are to witness. We are not to stand around waiting. We are to allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide us as we witness, as we encourage others, as we expectantly live our lives, as we receive teaching and enlightment that we may prosper spiritually and grow to maturity. That our lives will show to others the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT that they may see our good works and glorify the FATHER in heaven.
In HIS Service
Mary at Bearer Ministries
The people in the first century had and needed many things. They had the passion to suffer even to the point of death. And many went to that point because of their firm beliefs. Their beliefs in JESUS as GOD, as Messiah, and as The Savior and LORD of their own lives.
This belief gave them a reason to preach, to witness and evangelize. They were sure of their beliefs in JESUS because they had seen HIM die, they had seen HIM after the resurrection. They understood the powerful principles of HIS death.
1. HE died voluntarily. John 10:18 says, "No one takes it from ME, but I lay it down of MY own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from MY FATHER." JESUS was talking about HIS life.
2. HE died as an atonement for your sins and mine HE was our substitue sacrifice. 2 Corinthians 5:21 "GOD made HIM who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in HIM we might become the righteousness of GOD."
3. HE died victoriously. Matthew 27:50 "And when JESUS had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up(yielded or sent back) HIS spirit." Also in John 19:30 "When HE had received the drink, JESUS said, "It is finished."( this is the shout of the victor) With that, HE bowed HIS head and gave up HIS spirit." HE didn't die of exhaustion. HE chose the time and place and the why or the reason of HIS death.
The death of JESUS is central to salvation in Hebrews 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness for sin." HE had placed HIS blood on the altar one time and one time only. This act would never be repeated again.
In verse 4 of Acts 2 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them." This was a promise to all believers the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS was saying to you and me "YOU can Trust the FATHER and believe and that every promise would be fulfilled." In the book of LUKE HE (JESUS) told them to wait in JERUSALEM. That the Comforter would come to them.
The FATHER is trustworthy. The promise of the FATHER validated the purpose of the FATHER. The FATHER had promised them a Helper and they felt the need for this helper. The word wait means continuous and we need to keep on being constant in our seeking. The promise is salvation and the Comforter. When you receive JESUS as Savior you at the same time receive the HOLY SPIRIT.
And you receive all the HOLY SPIRIT that you will ever receive. There is not anymore than you will ever get. You may not use all that you are given right away but with time and maturity you can use the resources available throught the HOLY SPIRIT. Our position is by the HOLY SPIRIT having sealed us to become children of GOD. "For we were all baptized (the word here used means to be immersed) by one SPIRIT into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink."
Also in John 3:6 "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the SPIRIT gives birth to spirit." We are born into the kingdom of the LORD JESUS through receiving HIM as our substitute and by asking HIS forgiveness of our sins and as a testimony to our faith we are baptized according to HIS command.
In Romans 8:16 which says, "The SPIRIT HIMSELF testifies with our spirit that we are GOD's children." This is how we know we are saved. We have the HOLY SPIRIT with us always. The promise of the FATHER personifies the SON. John 4:16,17a, 25,26 "And I will ask the FATHER, and HE will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the SPIRIT of truth.
All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the FATHER will send in MY name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." JESUS is saying to the disciples that when HE was gone another person would come to be with them. The same is true for us today. The HOLY SPIRIT is with and in every believer.
The HOLY SPIRIT majors on JESUS as seen in John 16:14 "HE will bring glory (or to reveal to you the true identity of the LORD) to ME by taking from what is MINE and making it known to you." The HOLY SPIRIT never emphasises HIMSELF more than JESUS. The promise brings the presence of the HOLY SPIRIT to us when we believe.
Six times in John 16:13 JESUS used the word HE to refer to the HOLY SPIRIT and what HE would do. "But when HE, the Spirit of truth, comes, HE will guide you into all truth. HE will not speak on HIS own; HE will speak only what HE hears, and HE will tell you what is yet to come." Nothing that is of GOD moves without the HOLY SPIRIT. The one of the things that the HOLY SPIRIT does is to witness concerning JESUS.
In Acts 1:8 it speaks of power "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." We need to let GOD take control and take over.
These disciples sensed their need of power beyond themselves. If you don't intend to work for JESUS you don't need any power. We have access to the power but many times we are not plugged in. If you go into your kitchen in the morning to make toast and you put the bread in the toaster but the toaster is not plugged into the power source will you get toast. OF COURSE NOT!! The same is true in our lives.
We have the available resource of power but we must be plugged into the source into order for us to accomplish the tasks that are set before us as believers. We must possess and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to give us the enablement by allowing HIM to rule our lives. We are to use plans and methods to reach and win the lost but only through the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT. Anything that is done outside of the HOLY SPIRIT will be considered as wood, hay and stubble. Prayer is a tool that helps release the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives.
The power demonstrated by the HOLY SPIRIT is mentioned several places in the New Testament. The purpose of the power of the HOLY SPIRIT in our lives is first and foremost to witness and give boldness to speak for JESUS.
The proclamation of the angels that JESUS will come again meant to come with a burst of power a dramatic appearance. But this was not to mean that we do nothing in the meantime. We are to witness. We are not to stand around waiting. We are to allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide us as we witness, as we encourage others, as we expectantly live our lives, as we receive teaching and enlightment that we may prosper spiritually and grow to maturity. That our lives will show to others the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT that they may see our good works and glorify the FATHER in heaven.
In HIS Service
Mary at Bearer Ministries