A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Future Now)
Scripture for the Day (April 21, 2017)
For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is for you and your children and for all who are far away [including the Gentiles], as many as the Lord our God calls to Himself. (Acts 2:39, Amplified Bible)
One of the results of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost is that men and women receive boldness to witness, preach, testify, and teach about Jesus. The Greek word used for boldness is “parrhesia” which means all-out spokenness, frankness, confidence, assurance, or boldness of speech. Peter went into the Upper Room a person that denied Jesus three times. The first time we see him opening his mouth after that was when he preached about Jesus and several thousand people were saved. That Upper Room experience changed Peter forever!
Let’s look at a few scriptures which depict this Holy Ghost boldness:
In Matthew 26:69-70, Peter denies that he even knows Jesus when questioned by a young girl. But after he receives the Holy Ghost in Acts 2, he preaches his first gospel message to thousands with a new boldness. Acts 2:14 says, But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. The results of Peter’s Spirit-empowered preaching are seen in verse 41 which says, Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. Peter went from backing down from a young girl, to preaching the gospel to thousands. This was because of the empowering that Jesus had promised they would receive from the Holy Ghost after He departed.
Acts 1:7-8 says, And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 4:13-17 says, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled and they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name. What made these untrained, uneducated men, become more confident, passionate ministers of the gospel?
Acts 2:1-4 says, And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
That empowering, that baptism of the Holy Ghost, that second experience was the reason why the Jewish leaders recognized Peter and John as having been with Jesus. It was the anointing of God on their lives as a result of the Holy Ghost baptism. That same anointing is available for all of us today. All we have to do is believe, ask for it, and receive it. It’s a promise!!!
