Promised Holy Spirit

The Breathe of Life

Jesus breathe on the disciples and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Where else do we read that God breathed on mankind? Genesis 2:7 “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” Jesus needed to reassure His followers that all was good. They had recently witnessed Jesus death & burial and they were very sad and overcome with fear. Then Jesus rose from the dead, defeating death; He revealed Himself to His followers and spent several days with them. John recorded one of their meetings with Jesus in John 20:20–22 “After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” . Yes, Jesus had to prove who He was to the disciples and He then told them to be at peace “Peace be with you.” Can’t you imagine that they were a bit anxious? Jesus continued “as the Father send me I am sending you? Where was He sending them? It is not answered here but Jesus knew what they needed, they needed the Holy Spirit. Jesus breathed on them “new life” a life where they would now lean on the Holy Spirit.

On another occasion Jesus gave gave these instructions. Acts 1:4–5 “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus then met them on a mountain giving them His final words. Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Remember the words Jesus spoke in John 22 “I am sending you.” Now the disciples knew they were going to share the good news through out the earth.

The disciples then retreated to a place in Jerusalem, partially out of fear of those who killed Jesus and in obedience to Jesus’ word to WAIT for the promised gift. If someone you knew and respected told you to wait for a special gift wouldn’t you wait? Waiting is not alway easy, we get anxious and we want everything now. But often times in the waiting there is growth, preparation, and our faith can grow but it takes patient endurance and trust.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

The day of Pentecost was the first day of the Feast of Weeks, 50 days after the passover. This was a feast established long ago to celebrate the harvest. Jesus rose from the grave on Passover, which we call Easter and the day of Pentecost is celebrated 50-days after His resurrection.

The disciples, followers of Jesus, were all together as they were waiting obediently. They were not just sitting there doing nothing, they were taking care to appoint another to take Judas’ place as a disciple. We read in Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.” These followers of Jesus were praying and I believe I can safely say that they were asking God for protection and guidance.

Acts 2:1–4 “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Scripture says SUDDENLY! To me that means the wind came UNEXPECTEDLY it was not a breeze or just a mild wind - we read that it was a mighty rushing wind, o it was a powerful wind and what’s more amazing it was in the house. I have experienced strong winds when I am outside but Scripture does not say it was outside but in the house. Then we see that tongues of fire rested on the head one of those present. Fire is often a symbol of Power, Passion, Purification and Transformation. The arrival of the Holy Spirit gave these followers a new and life changing experience, one that they would need and use to be witnesses about Jesus throughout the world.

Now we have a Mighty wind and Fire in the room plus we are told that the fire in the shape of a tongue. The tongue is synonymous with speaking and here we read that those present are now speaking in languages they do not know, their words are powerful and their words are telling people about Jesus. This powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit may have been confined to a room but it was apparently noticeable to the public and the voices they heard caused people to come and see what was going on.

The power of the Holy Spirit is the gift that Jesus told them they would receive. Yes there were people who made fun of them and said they were drunk but the disciples of Jesus were the recipients of a life changing outpouring of the God. Further on in Acts 2 we read that Peter boldly stood up and told the crowd about Jesus, the Savior the world had been waiting for, Peter called the to turn from their sins, repent and accept Jesus as their LORD. That day 3,000 people believed and were baptized.

The same Holy Spirit that appeared that day is the same Holy Spirit, which is available to us today! That means the same power that gave the discipled boldness to witness about Jesus is ours today!

Part of Peter’s words came from the prophet Joel. Let’s read Acts 2:16–21 “No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Peter believed that he was living in the last days and that is why he repeated the words from Joel. Today, at this time in our world I believe that we are quite possibly living in the last days. I truly believe Jesus is returning to take us to Heaven soon! If Peter and the other disciples had a passion to tell others about Jesus, how much more should we passionately tell our family, friends, and everyone who God brings across our path. They must know that Jesus is the Son of God, He is LORD and He