“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will bear witness for me in Jerusalem, and all over Judaea and Samaria, and away to the ends of the earth” Jesus in Acts 1:8.
In preparation for our upcoming pilgrimage to Turkey and Greece – following the ministry of Paul and the apostles to the Gentile world, I have this week completed a six-month devotional time in the book of Acts. While called the Acts of the Apostles, it can rightly be called The Acts of The Holy Spirit – for He is central throughout the whole book. So many things have stood out to me as I have journeyed through the steps of bringing the gospel, defending the gospel, forming a church and moving on to the next place. We stand on the shoulders of great men! So I’ll just share with you a few bullet points that I have noted – as they say, that will preach!”
-1:16 They knew about the Holy Spirit, but He was not in them. The key is knowledge PLUS experience!
-1:22 They chose a 12th disciple who had witnessed the resurrection – they had a choice of people! Jesus wasn’t resurrected in secret!
-4:4-25 The Jewish religious intelligentsia pressed Peter – “Where do you get your power??” It is the Spirit who gives the Church its power!
-6:1-7 Church is a series of challenges. They had just come through the Ananias and Saphira fiasco and now the Greek speaking women are crying foul. Leader responses determine church effectiveness.
-9:9 When confronted by Jesus, Saul cries “Who are you?” When Jesus speaks to Ananias, he says, “Here I am.” The Spirit was at work to bring Ananias to Saul the converted viper.
-9:22 Not just rhetoric from Paul but reasoned appeals to the resurrection. All the arguments he had used AGAINST – by the Spirit were now arguments FOR!
-9:39 Peter had to go to Tabitha – somehow it was not enough to pray for her healing from his home – he had to be there.
-10:3 The Holy Spirit will speak to someone and get through. Don’t worry that God is timid with people – just tapping them lightly on the shoulder. No – He can speak with power!
-11:23 Peter goes to Jerusalem to ask the leadership if they will accept Gentiles. He talked of the Spirits work and they agreed. What a watershed time that the Spirit oversaw!
-13:44 Paul spoke in Pisidian Antioch and was asked to speak the next week. When he did the whole city turned out. Never underestimate the power of word of mouth!
I’ll stop there and give you the rest of the list next week. Look at what the Spirit can do through you if you will let him! How about expressing openness right now…
Pastor Leon Throness
