February 2 - Power for a purpose
Today’s Journey Through Acts Excerpt is:
Acts 2:1-21
Power for a purpose
These first two chapters of Acts set the stage for explosive growth in the New Testament Church. Understanding Acts one and two brings the entirety of the New Testament into perspective. The disciples and apostles were shifting from working alongside the ministry of Jesus to a life of empowerment from the Holy Spirit to carry out the great commission. The lens that we see the New Testament through is shaped by what we believe about the words of Acts two. If we believe that this was a one-time occurrence meant solely as an initial empowerment for the Church as a whole, then the following chapters of Acts become a collection of stories about a group of believers whose lives are something entirely different than ours. However, if we understand that the empowerment that the disciples received in Acts two is for each and every one of us, we will also see the same power alive in us. Peter told them in verse thirty-nine:
For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
If the empowering of the Holy Spirit is for us just like it was for Peter and John, then we must understand the purpose for which he came. After all, the purposes of God have not shifted. When we take note of the purposes of the Holy Spirit in Acts two, we may also see the purposes of the Holy Spirit in our lives. While not exhaustive, here are three important aspects:
One - The Holy Spirit came to unify believers
I love the parallel of Acts two and the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis eleven. In Babel, humanity had conspired a plan to exalt themselves. God stated that because of their unity, they would be able to accomplish almost anything (Genesis 11:6). They showed up that day, but because of God’s judgement on sin, they left with division and diversities that they could not overcome. In Acts two, there were people of every nation with so many backgrounds. They had arrived in Jerusalem with diversities of all kind, but on the day of Pentecost they were united by the same Gospel being preached in every language. Even today, the empowering of the Spirit brings together people of different backgrounds, experiences, races, ages and genders. The Holy Spirit still brings unity today. Psalm 133 tells us that where Holy unity is, God commands a blessing!
Two - The Holy Spirit came to bring power
Power was the thing, right? Jesus declared in Acts 1:8: “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” Understanding the purpose allows us to understand that this power was not to perform a set of spiritual tricks, but rather to live overcoming lives. The Holy Spirit was sent to give us power over our desires, our addictions, sickness, fear, and faithlessness. The Holy Spirit empowers believers to live fruitful and practical lives. Romans 8:26-28 tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, sees my heart, intercedes for me and ultimately works all things together for our good. We need his power at work in our lives.
Three - The Holy Spirit was sent for more
Joel prophesied the coming of the Holy Spirit. He said that when the Spirit came, young men would see visions, old men would dream dreams, men and women of all ages and backgrounds would have an inner sense of the prophetic. The context of these prophecies, dreams and visions were not of what once was, but rather what would be. The working of the Spirit points to the days ahead. Jesus told his disciples in John 16:12-13:
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Put simply if we are going to walk out the purpose of God in our lives, we need the infilling of the Holy Spirit. You’ve not exhausted the plan of God for your life. When we commit to abiding in the Spirit we will without doubt see more of his power working through our lives.
Reflect on the journey:
Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7: “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Is there an area of your life that you could invite to replace feelings or thoughts that are causing you to feel stuck?
Through your prayer time today:
We will see in days ahead that the infilling of the Spirit was not a one time occurrence, but rather a continual renewal. Take some time today to ask the fulness of the Spirit to abide in your life. Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you afresh.
