The Gift of The Holy Spirit - Acts 2

Let us set the scene, it's Pentecost, 50 days after Passover and 10 days after Jesus ascension into heaven. The disciples were all together, as Jesus had commanded them in Acts 1:4-5 waiting for 'the gift my Father promised'.

Can you imagine how they would have been tested during this time?

God used this time to test their patience and their kindness and compassion to each other.

Yet they all stayed together, prayerfully waiting, united, sharing the same heart, the same love for God, the same trust in His promise of the creation of the church.

Acts 2:2, "Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven...."

• Suddenly - sometimes God moves suddenly

• Sound - it was real, it was heard!

• From heaven - and mighty! Full of force and coming with great power.

This single verse tells us much about how the Holy Spirit moves. God is often marked by a thunderous presence of wind, cloud or fire.

Acts 2:3 tells us:

"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them."

This is an important picture, because in the Old Testament, God led the people to the promised land by cloud in the daytime, and fire by night. There was one pillar of fire leading the entire nation of Israelites.

Now in Acts 2:3, we see a change in the way God is leading his people. The fire rested on each of the 120 believers within the upper room, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. This is the new covenant, because of Jesus' sacrifice for us on the Cross.

The Holy Spirit dwells within us when we, according to God's grace and by faith, confess our sins, ask for forgiveness and surrender our lives to Him. This is a gift from God.

If we look back at the night before Jesus went to the cross, the disciples were fearful and hiding and 50 days later, they were bold and courageous from the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gives us power, so we can walk in the purpose and plans that God has for each of us.

The Holy Spirit unites us in Jesus, and as a united body of believers, we then fellowship, grow and boldly witness for Jesus together. (Acts 2:42-47)

How amazing is that.

God bless.