Holy Spirit 11.09.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are beginning our studies on the book of Acts, please read Chapters 1-3 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this link to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201-3&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the ascension of Jesus; the promise of Jesus' return; Matthias replacing Judas as a disciple; the Holy Spirit; and Peter's sermon. Today's message focuses on the Holy Spirit dwelling in you.

The book of Acts is the fifth book of the New Testament and contains 28 chapters. The author of the book is Luke and it was written to all believers, although the book is specifically addressed to Theophilus. The purpose of the book was to address what Jesus continued to do and teach after His ascension through His spiritual Body, the Church. What we are to learn from the book is that the true evidence of the Holy Spirit is directed power. Power to become witnesses for the purpose of extending the Gospel throughout the world.

As the disciples prepare and await for the Holy Spirit Jesus ascends up to heaven. "When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 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. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. " (Acts 1:6-11).

The Feast of Unleavened Bread portrayed the sinless Savior, who is the Bread of Life and it was celebrated in conjunction with the Passover. The lamb without blemish offered as a sacrifice at Passover also typified Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God. The second major festival for which every male was to appear annually before God was 50 days later, following Firstfruits. It was the Feast of the Harvest and celebrated the first ingathering of the annual crops. This festival became known to Christians as the day of Pentecost (Greek: pent kostos) from the Greek word for 50 (pent konta).

It was during the day of Pentacost that the Holy Spirit arrived. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language." (2:1-6). There has always been some confusion as to what it means to speak in tongues. Speaking in tongues means that a person speaks out in their own language, yet when others hear it they hear it spoken in their own language. For example, I speak out in english to someone that only understands spanish and when he/she hears it my words are spanish to them.

On that day, being filled with the Holy Spirit and quoting the prophetic Scriptures Peter gave his first sermon, "And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (2:12-21). The second one asks Jesus to come into their lives they are filled with the Holy Spirit and it never leaves you. Once that happens amazing things begin to happen as you become one of Jesus' disciples.

The believers in Acts knew that Jesus of Nazareth was Christ their Messiah. They also recognized that any belief which did not lead to repentance and a new way of life was insincere and worthless. There are vital obligations for every Christian and the one who has no concern for doing what is pleasing in the Lord's sight should not assume that he is prepared to meet the Lord. However, our faith must never rest in our works. All our trust and hope must be in Christ alone, and not by our good works.

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I will never fully comprehend the depth of Your sacrificial death where we see man at his worst and God at His best. In my place You took my guilt and shame as You became the guilt offering pouring out Your life unto death and taking on my iniquity. You gave all so that I could be forgiven. Though my sins were as scarlet they were washed white as snow, cleansed by the saving blood of the sinless Lamb. You turned my hopeless condition into a life full of hope for this life and glorious anticipation for eternal life beyond the grave. Nothing in all of history will ever compare to the Divine Exchange where my sins were exchanged for Your pardon. I walk in newness of life and in the power of the resurrected Savior. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a wonderful day and week.
God Bless You,
Christina

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