The Gift of the Holy Spirit – Acts 1

²⁷ And I will put my Spirit in you… Ezekiel 36:27a (NIV)

God promised that He would do something different with the new covenant spoken of by the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel – He would place His Spirit within the hearts of His people.  God would then be ever-present in believers’ hearts and available to them to access as a continual source of power, comfort, wisdom, purity, love, and forgiveness towards others around us. He is right there, if we seek Him.

The gospel writers record several of the times that Jesus spoke to His disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit.  One writer, Luke, also wrote the book of Acts, which describes what happened with the disciples immediately after Jesus was raised from the dead after being crucified.  Luke writes about Jesus:

³ After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. ⁴ On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. ⁵ For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:3-5 (NIV)

Some of Jesus’ disciples interpreted the kingdom of heaven to be the immediate establishment of a physical throne on earth, one that would decisively overthrow and overrule the great Gentile empires, such as the then-current Roman Empire.  This throne in the line of David had been described by many of the Old Testament prophets, so it was not an unreasonable expectation that its timing was imminent.

The disciples were correct in their vision of the ultimate nature of the kingdom, but significantly off in their expected timing.  Jesus will, indeed, one day return to reign over the entire earth on a throne, in the line of David, from Jerusalem.  But that will only come after every spiritual effort has been made to grow the kingdom of heaven in the hearts of all people, worldwide.  This effort will only happen through the dedication and perseverance of people operating in obedience under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit working within them.

Near the very end of His earthly ministry, after His resurrection, Jesus’ immediate group of disciples numbered around 120 people.  One of the last things He did with them was to give them the instruction to assemble together in Jerusalem to pray, and to wait there for divine power to come upon them from on high.  When they receive this power, they were to use it to go out and make new disciples, beginning in their immediate neighborhoods, then spreading out, eventually covering the entire globe.  The good news of Jesus Christ deserves to be heard by everyone, in every nation and in every tongue, to help build the global kingdom of God as a “temple” of disciples, reflecting God’s glory. Luke continues his narrative about Jesus:

⁹ After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

¹⁰ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Acts 1:9-10 (NIV)

Jesus will indeed return to earth at a time to be determined by the Father.  After that, He will reign as Lord over the entire globe (and likely beyond) from the throne of David in Jerusalem.  But until this happens, we, His followers throughout the world, are to work in the strength and guidance of the Holy Spirit to do everything we can to make disciples for Him.  Like the precious treasure buried in a field or the pearl of great price found by a wise merchant in Matthew’s gospel, Jesus and His salvation are too valuable of a gift to be ignored, go unshared, or to be hidden under a bushel to hide its ever-burning Light. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, may His Light shine brightly in each one of us today, attracting new believers to His eternal kingdom.

Reflection

Who is the Holy Spirit to you?  If we turn to God in faith through the forgiveness available through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, He will put the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

How do we go about making disciples?  How do we prepare?  What steps can I take, with God’s help?  Lord, lead me in Your path and show me the way, one small step at a time.

Father God, we rely completely upon Your Holy Spirit to help us and guide us in everything we seek to do for You.  Your Spirit draws us, knows us, loves us, and defends us from the forces of evil.  Bless, use, purify, and anoint everything we do in our efforts to make disciples.  May the focus of our work always be upon You, never on us. May You be glorified through these efforts, with many people saved, healed, and spiritually strengthened in Your power.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Have a wonderful day in the Lord’s blessing today.