Holy Spirit What or who?

We will start this year of right by diving into one of the most exciting and interesting books in the bible and it is the book of Acts or sometimes refered to as the “Acts of the apostles”

What you need to know about Acts?

The book of Acts is written by Luke , yes the same Luke who wrote the gospel of Luke.

This book is written about the early church and how it spreads. There are speeches and sermons and short stories of persecuted Christians and we see God rescue them and protect the church.

Believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be witnesses for Christ to Jews and Gentiles to then start the church.

Luke writes this book to “Theophilus” and some say this was a symbolic word to encourage the reader because in the Greek it means “loved by God” or “lover of God” but some say that Theophilus was a man possibly a Roman officer of high rank and Luke writes both the Gospel of Luke and Acts to “Theophilus” there is no real way to know exactly who this Theophilus.

Its important to note that Luke picks up from his gospel and where Jesus ascends from Earth and the beginning of Acts starts with the ascension of Christ.

Read Verse 1-4 , Its important to realize that Luke is emphasizing that the same Spirit who rested upon Jesus in his ministry would empower the apostles for witness. And same Jesus who taught them during his earthly life would continue to instruct them through the presence of the Spirit once they experienced the Spirit through the presence of Jesus. After Pentecost they would experience Jesus through the presence of the Spirit.

Verse 3, You might remember a time before Jesus began His ministry where he entered into the wilderness .. Does anyone know how long he went into the wilderness? 40 days and nights Jesus went into the wilderness to be tempted to prepare for the start of His ministry and a few years later he now is going to appear to the disciples to confirm his resurrection and prepare them for their ministry when Christ would ascend to sit at the throne.

Verse 4, Luke recalls one of these appearances after the resurrection of Christ where Jesus sits with his disciples and it says he ate with them and He commands His disciples to remain in Jerusalem and await the gift of the Father. They were to wait in Jerusalem for the “promised helper” that Jesus had spoke about before the crucifixion.

Verse 5, So unlike John the baptist the new converts would also receive the presence and power of the Holy Spirit . Through the book of Acts new converts experienced repentanece, baptism and the gift of the Spirit. All three are essential elements of the conversion experience.

Its important that I mention that there is a bit of mystery or different beliefs about the Holy Spirit and the power in which receive at salvation and heres what I will say, Jesus promised us the Holy Spirit and said that he would send him as the helper, later in this passage he says in verse 8 “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Those are the words of the son of God and if all followers of Jesus would find themselves in a frame of mind and heart that is this. “Lord fill me with your Holy Spirit and guide me and lead me in all of your truth, reveal to me the depths of your heart” and with an open heart and mind we are allowing God to do whatever he chooses through us and in us.

The Holy Spirit isnt a what it is a who and its is the 3rd person of the trinity. The Holy Spirit is the promised helper and the one who indwells in us to guide and lead us and to help us share the message of the cross.

The Holy Spirit isn’t to be looked at as a stranger that you don’t really know, The Spirit of God is an essential piece of our discipleship to Jesus and we cannot do the work of the great commission with the Holy Spirit, much less deny our flesh and put to death our sin and take up our cross and follow Jesus. IT cannot be done alone.

SO don’t start your year off with out guidance from the Spirit of God. Don’t make decisions with out the Spirit of God. Don’t leave the Holy Spirit out of any door you might walk into. Remeber He is living with you! HE’s here to help guide and direct and discern and encourage.

Verse 11, Arguably my favorite part of these few passages where these 2 angels look at the men and ask them “why are you standing here staring into heave”? Its pretty understandable why they would be looking up they literally just witnessed the ascension of Christ. The men were to get down the mountian and wait on the Holy Spirit.