Acts 2 - 10.4.23
Scripture
Acts 2:17-21, 38, 41 NIV
In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’….Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit……Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
Observation
It was the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was the Greek name for a festival known as the Feast of Weeks in the Old Testament. The Greek Word means fifty and is the fifty days after the Passover. In the Book of Acts, it signified the beginning of the church age, after Jesus’ ascension, when the Holy Spirit came upon the Believers. (Source: gotquestions.org)
God will use whatever means necessary to get our attention and to make our ministry more effective to the lost. When the Holy Spirit came upon the Believers at Pentecost, they were able to speak in different languages. Although they were Galileans, the Word of God spread to those who spoke different languages because of the Holy Spirit’s work in each of their lives. A total of 3,000 people repented, were saved and baptized that day!
Application
Be open to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Whether it is speaking in tongues, prophesying or healing, God distributes the Holy Spirit’s gifts as He wills in order to edify the believer and the Church. We believe that those gifts are still being distributed and available today!
On Wednesday, October 11th, during our worship and small group Bible study, Justin Eaves will be teaching us how to activate one of the Spirit’s gifts, which is prophecy. We will be learning to hear God’s voice and how to give prophetic words to each other.
In kids church, last month’s memory verse described the purpose and importance of prophecy within the church. “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
Prayer
Dear Lord, we pray that we wouldn’t hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, however that looks like, and that we would be open to all the gifts of the Spirit that You desire us to have. Thank You that the power of Your Spirit is still alive and available to us today! I pray for an abundance of salvations and baptisms as a result of His work through us and in the church. May we experience the same power of ministry and love that the early church did. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi