Good afternoon y’all. Today we continue our study of Acts. We are in chapter 2.

I found out some interesting facts about the celebration of Pentecost. I’ve always thought Pentecost was a celebration that only started on the day the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples. It never occurred to me that it was an existing celebration. Here is what I found about Pentecost and the significance of the Holy Spirit coming on that day. The extract below is from David Guzik commentary-

“The Day of Pentecost: This was a Jewish feast held 50 days after Passover. It celebrated the firstfruits of the wheat harvest.
i. In the Jewish rituals of that time, the first sheaf reaped from the barley harvest was presented to God at Passover. But at Pentecost, the firstfruits of the wheat harvest were presented to God; therefore, Pentecost is called the day of the firstfruits(Numbers 28:26).
ii. Jewish tradition also taught that Pentecost marked the day when the Law was given to Israel. The Jews sometimes called Pentecost shimchath torah, or Joy of the Law.
iii. On the Old Testament Day of Pentecost Israel received the Law; on the New Testament Day of Pentecost the Church received the Spirit of Grace in fullness”.

Below are a few points I picked out from today’s chapter.

Be blessed 🙂

– The disciples were in one accord before the Holy Spirit came. They were united in mind, faith and purpose waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit. David Guzik in his commentary for Acts 2 said “Before we can be filled, we must recognize our emptiness; by gathering together for prayer, in obedience, these disciples did just that. They recognized they did not have the resources in themselves to do what they could do or should do; they had to instead rely on the work of God”

–  “And suddenly there came a sound….” (V2)  – The sound came suddenly. It wasn’t planned or expected. I’ve come to realize that most times, God tends to move in a suddenly manner when He is ready to do something new. This is why we have to be alert, ready, and well positioned so we are not caught off guard. The disciples were in one accord waiting for the promise when suddenly the fulfillment of the promise came to pass. Had they been sleeping or gone back to fishing, they might have missed their suddenly moment. I pray we don’t miss our suddenly moment; and that we will be found at our duty post doing what God has called us to do.

– “There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire,…”(V3) – I tried to understand the significance of the fire then I remembered in the old testament God talks about fire being used to purify: like a refiner’s fire purifying gold. It removes all impurities till only pure gold is left. So the fire represent the Holy Spirit’s purifying work in our lives. David Guzik commentary explains this well for me. It says:

“The idea behind the picture of fire is usually purification, as a refiner uses fire to make pure gold; or fire can burn away what is temporary, leaving only what will last. This is an excellent illustration of the principle that the filling of the Holy Spirit is not just for abstract power, but for purity. In certain places in the Old Testament, God showed His special pleasure with a sacrifice by lighting the fire for it Himself – that is, fire from heaven came down and consumed the sacrifice. The experience of the followers of Jesus on Pentecost is another example of God sending fire from heaven to show His pleasure and power, but this time, it descended upon living sacrifices(Romans 12:1)”.

– Peter the timid one, who denied Jesus earlier all of a sudden became bold and stood up to defend the gospel. It just goes to show that when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, He empowers you to do that which naturally, you cannot do of your own might. Peter was terrified when he was associated with Jesus during the crucifixion, now in front of the same set of Jews, he was bold to declare the gospel of Jesus. I pray that the Holy spirit will fill us with power and help us be witnesses for Jesus wherever we find ourselves.

– Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (v21). There is power in the name of our Lord. The name is available to all. Not just the Jews but now has been extended to the gentiles. The name has authority and power to deliver and to save from all forms of destruction. I’m reminded of proverbs 18:10, which says, “the Name of the LORD is a strong tower. The righteous runs into it and they are saved“. Are you in need of salvation or deliverance? Why not call on the name of the Lord today and be saved.

– The gift of the Holy Spirit is available to all but you can’t receive it if you are still living in sin. Peter, in verse 38 -40, told the crowd they had to repent of their sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Repentance is not just a case of saying I’m sorry. It’s a complete 180 degree turnaround from an old way of life to a new one. You have to turn away from your life of sin to a life of obedience to Jesus.
Charles Spurgeon says: “The old-fashioned grace of repentance is not to be dispensed with; there must be sorrow for sin; there must be a broken and a contrite heart. This, God will not despise; but a conversion which does not produce this result, God will not accept as genuine”.
When you turn to God in genuine repentance, He will forgive and save you. What are you waiting for? Why not give Jesus a try today and you too can experience this gift of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit which you have bestowed upon us. This day we ask for fresh outpouring of your Spirit to renew and revive us. Give us boldness to be witnesses for You wherever we find ourselves, in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.

Thanks for joining today. Pls feel free to share your thots on the chapter.

I’m blogging through the book of Acts a chapter a day with Good Morning Girls. Check us out at www.goodmorninggirls.org

Have a blessed day 🙂

Link to David Guzik commentary on Acts chapter 2 can be found here

***With God all things are possible***