“The Coming of the Spirit” 06/04/17
Try to imagine what it might have been like for those first disciples. First, their master had been crucified, but then he rose from the dead. Jesus appeared to them over a period of forty days. He ate with them, He taught them, He told them to wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came, as he had taught about before His death. Then he ascends into heaven.
A day or two goes by, nothing happens. A week goes by, no change. I don’t know about you, but waiting is not my strong point. I wonder what the disciples were thinking. Maybe they asked themselves, “How long are we just going to wait here?” Whatever they may have felt or thought, they obeyed. Finally, ten days after Jesus ascended:
Acts 2:1–4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
It was their obedience to Christ’s command which put them in the right place to receive His blessing
They were all together in one place
Men, women, young old
Together – community
Joined together constantly in prayer (Acts 1:14)
It was prayer which put them in the right attitude to receive
They heard – sounded like a violent wind – word for wind related to the word for spirit
Filled the whole house
They saw – what seemed to be tongues of fire
Rested on each one – not just the apostles, not just the men
Fire sometimes a symbol of God’s presence in the OT
Abraham – flaming torch
Moses – burning bush
People of Israel – pillar of fire
They were filled – the first outpouring of the Spirit
Baptizing them into the Body Christ – uniting them with Him
Indwelt by the Spirit – had been with them, now in them
They spoke – experience not a private one, meant for service
Miracle indicating the new indwelling of the Spirit
Sign to others
Witnessing – heard the disciples declaring the wonders of God
The coming of the Holy Spirit marked the beginning of a new age
Beginning of the “Last Days”
Brought new life to the disciples
Purifying
Power
Passion
The Holy Spirit will do the same for us
The New Testament speaks of Christians being both indwelt and filled by the Holy Spirit. There is a difference between the two. Through its wiring system a building may be indwelt by electricity. It is filled with its power only as it is allowed to work through electrical appliances: light bulbs, motors, and the like.
Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us at the moment of conversion
Ongoing filling – In Eph. Paul commands the believers to be filled with the Spirit
Daily experience
Full surrender to the Spirit’s leading
Ask, seek, etc.
At the moment of regeneration the Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (see John 14:17). But the individual is filled by the Spirit when he yields his life to the Spirit’s direction and power. If you wish to be filled with the Holy spirit, you must yield your body, your total self, to Him that He might work in and through you.
We don’t have to wait as those first disciples did. The Holy Spirit has come, we simply need to seek to know His presence and yield to let Him do His work.