Musing – What Did Jesus Promise Us Before Leaving Us?

 

Hebraic Musing – What Did Jesus Promise Us Before Leaving Us?

Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he made a promise. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, … in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 1:4-5  NIV    True to His word, right after Jesus ascended, the promise was fulfilled in Acts 2.  In Peter’s infamous sermon he quotes the prophet Joel prophesying that God's Spirit will be Poured Out – “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days;  … And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD Shall be saved.”  Acts 2:17-21  (& Joel 2:28-32) NKJV

That promise was fulfilled!  “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1-4 NKJV   Charles Spurgeon* explained each of the powerful gifts and events in those four verses in one of his sermons?

·      “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come”   Feast day Celebrating the giving of the Law.

·      “they were all with one accord”  (together in unity).  They were ready to receive the wind and the fire.

·      “sound from heaven” “rushing mighty wind”   That’s special! Wind normally comes from N, S, E or W!  From Heaven?!?!  Wind is destructive, but this is like God’s “breath” or “spirit” (Same word in Hebrew!).

·      “it filled the whole house”  Crushing men’s selfish hopes, dreams, goals and ambitions.  Replaced with…

·      “there appeared to them divided tongues”  “as of fire”  Reminiscent of Pillar of fire over the tabernacle, fire of God over sacrifices and the Holy temple, Moses’ burning bush, God’s presence, etc.  Fire provides light which leads to truth.   “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth;”  John 16:13

·      “sat upon each of them”  “May a fire burn steadily within to destroy our sin, a holy sacrificial flame to make us whole burnt offerings unto God, a never-dying flame of zeal for God, and devotion to the cross.”*

·      “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”  I wonder if the apostles remembered Jesus breathing on them and saying “Receive the Holy Spirit” in John 20:22 ?      Did fire fill the house or the hearts of all the men?

·      “began to speak with other tongues,”  All the men hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God.*

·      “as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Spurgeon said “The Spirit speaks so Peter’s words could be understood.”  “Where the Spirit of God is truly at work He first fills and then give utterance.”  “Our words are now full of life and flame; they fall like fire-flakes, and set the souls of men blazing with desire after God.”* 

Paul recognized the Spirit’s power.  “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5  NKJV

What were the GLORIOUS RESULTS?  After Peter’s explanation “…they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Men and brethren, what shall we do?’”   AND  they heard about their REDEMPTION and REMISSION of SIN by the blood of Christ     AND   “…that day about three thousand souls were added to them.”      

Spurgeon’s prayer - “O that thou wouldest send the wind and the fire!  Thou wilt do this when we are all of one accord, all believing, all expecting, all prepared by prayer.”* 

And the church had continuing gladness, generosity, baptisms, steadfastness and Hallelujahs galore!*

Point(s) to Ponder

Are those results the dream of every minister, preacher, evangelist, Christian and ourselves?

How can we have all messages ending with the people saying “What shall we do?”?

Would our application of this working of the Holy Spirit result in an “Awakening” today?

♫  Spirit Of The Living God, Fall Afresh On Me. Melt Me, Mold Me, Fill Me, Use Me,   Spirit of… ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                         December 15, 2020

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

* - Inspired by and excerpted from “Ten Classic Sermons by Charles Spurgeon,”  Ch. 1 – “Knowing the Holy Spirit”