Receiving the Gift of the Spirit
Acts 1:1-7
Jesus died, buried, rose again, and for 40 days appeared to his disciples.
Wouldn’t it be intriguing to sit in on those conversations of the early church?
We can!
However . . .
Like the disciples, we often focus on the details of Christ return when we ought to be more focused on what He would have us do here on earth.
The question at that moment was not “Are you going to restore our kingdom?” but “What are we to do until you come to restore Your kingdom?”
Just before Jesus died…
John 14:18
I will not leave you comfortless (orphaned)
I will send you a counselor
John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Today, we can do nothing without the Counselor who teaches & empowers-we need Him.
We have not been left orphaned. Though it may appear that God is far away in heaven and that Jesus has left us to fend for ourselves here on earth, we are not left orphaned.
Jesus was Emmanuel-God with us. The H.S. is God within us.
Receiving the Gift of the Spirit means…
BEING BAPTIZED
Acts 1:5
John baptized you with water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Baptism means immersion or identification.
Identification
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, F71 who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.
Baptism took place at Pentecost (fifty days after Passover). One of the festivals where all male Jews attended. Brought thanks to God and committed themselves. City swelled from 100k to a Million man march.
Jesus ate the Passover meal
Spent 40 days with them and ascended (1:9-11)
Disciples waited 10 days for the Gift of the Spirit
(2:1-5)
They were filled or drenched (baptized with Spirit). They were identified as Christ’s followers.
This is a once for all event. It only takes place once. Some of us remember the day, some don’t. It isn’t followed by wind/fire and gift of language anymore.
Have you been baptized?
Have you turned from your sins to God?
The question here is do you have God?
Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit means…
BEING EMPOWERED
Acts 1:8
But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere-in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Power in the greek is dunamis (Dynamite power of God).
Empowered to witness: Peter’s sermon (2:37-42)
Receiving the gift of the Spirit means
BEING FILLED
Acts 2:4-15
Reverse of Babel (Dialektos). Most in Roman Empire were bi-lingual (with Greek and another dialect).
Ephesians 5:18
18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you.
Being filled will look different for each of us.
There is a difference between baptism and filling
The first part of each phrase below deals with the Baptism, the second part of the phrase deals with the filling.
I belong to God’s body……..My body belongs to God
Final once for all act………..Repeated on daily basis
Public and communal………Private and personal
The question with the filling is not “Do you have God?” but “Does God have you?”
Baptism is God’s work; we are commanded to be filled.
Pastor Vinnie Cappetta, PhD
Cornerstone Community Church
Marlborough MA
www.faithandreality.com
