Ten days after his ascension Jesus made his presence felt on the earth by baptising a small group of believers with the Holy Spirit. That was in effect a phenomenal release of power, of enabling. It transformed that group and gave it such an impetus in witness that within a week it had grown from 120 persons to thousands. No wonder that baptism was signified by a gale-like wind! Thank God this is not just history, but the first example of a ministry of Jesus which is still very much with us. It is released today, as it was in the apostle’s time, by taking hold of the promise of the Spirit (which is timeless) through prayer. The history of the church bears abundant testimony to the reality of that ongoing ministry.
Without that impetus the church would never have got off the ground. The 3,000 that were converted on the Day of Pentecost were first brought together by the extraordinary manifestations of the Spirit and then brought under devastating conviction of sin by the anointed preaching of Peter. The book of Acts goes on from there to relate the history of some thirty years of Holy Spirit empowered activity among the first generation of Christians. That activity spread the gospel all around the Mediterranean world, raised many powerful churches in Gentile lands and saw the emergence of very strong leadership in those churches. It was a witness carried out with great boldness in the face of constant persecution. It was a witness of powerful preaching, miraculous signs, visions, dreams, healings, angelic visitations and much moral restoration among Jew and Gentile alike. It was a Holy Spirit ministry.
Whatever else may come in the 21st century we can be sure of one thing: Jesus will continue to pour out his Spirit on his people in this fashion. He will continue to build up his church, he will work until the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, until the gospel is preached throughout the whole world and then he will bring in the “end”. The call on the church is to continue to believe the “promise of the Spirit” and to wait on the Lord for its constant fulfilment. This coming Pentecost Sunday is marked as a “Global Day of Prayer” when the church world-wide will look for renewed “Pentecosts”. What a wonderful prospect!
Bob
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Without that impetus the church would never have got off the ground. The 3,000 that were converted on the Day of Pentecost were first brought together by the extraordinary manifestations of the Spirit and then brought under devastating conviction of sin by the anointed preaching of Peter. The book of Acts goes on from there to relate the history of some thirty years of Holy Spirit empowered activity among the first generation of Christians. That activity spread the gospel all around the Mediterranean world, raised many powerful churches in Gentile lands and saw the emergence of very strong leadership in those churches. It was a witness carried out with great boldness in the face of constant persecution. It was a witness of powerful preaching, miraculous signs, visions, dreams, healings, angelic visitations and much moral restoration among Jew and Gentile alike. It was a Holy Spirit ministry.
Whatever else may come in the 21st century we can be sure of one thing: Jesus will continue to pour out his Spirit on his people in this fashion. He will continue to build up his church, he will work until the fulness of the Gentiles is brought in, until the gospel is preached throughout the whole world and then he will bring in the “end”. The call on the church is to continue to believe the “promise of the Spirit” and to wait on the Lord for its constant fulfilment. This coming Pentecost Sunday is marked as a “Global Day of Prayer” when the church world-wide will look for renewed “Pentecosts”. What a wonderful prospect!
Bob
To make a comment: click on word “comments” below, write your comment in the white box which appears and add your name and e mail address (if you wish), choose “select profile”, click “anonymous” and then continue.
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