A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison with added notes from New Life)
Scripture for the Day (May 10, 2016)
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (Acts 1:4-5)
During the time of Jesus, Pentecost was an annual Jewish festival, also known as the “Feast of Weeks,” or the “Day of Firstfruits,” a celebration of the first buds of the harvest (Numbers 28:26). Jewish men were required by law to go to Jerusalem three times each year to celebrate the major feasts and Pentecost was one of them (a picture of the Promise of the Holy Spirit which was a subsequent experience to Passover). It took place seven weeks and a day after Passover (a picture of salvation through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God).
On the day of Pentecost, over one hundred disciples of Jesus were gathered together in Jerusalem in an upper room. In this group were Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, Mary, the mother of Jesus, and His brothers, just to name a few. Then something happened that had never happened before.
“Suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:2,4).
When this sound occurred, the Bible says, “The multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language” (v.6). Now, let’s look at what happened here. Jesus had been crucified and raised from the dead. He appeared to the disciples and taught them for forty days and then He ascended into heaven. The disciples of Jesus were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost and the room had been filled on the inside with the sound of a mighty wind. The disciples all spoke in tongues – all the disciples, all of the brothers of Jesus, and even Mary, the mother of Jesus. As they were speaking in tongues, all of the travelers from different regions who spoke different languages each heard the disciples speaking in their own native language. Needless to say, everyone was greatly amazed. Shocked may be a closer word. Some started saying, “What does this mean?” (v.12). And just as today, others stood by mocking, calling them drunks (v.13).
Let’s make sure we understand the seriousness of this mocking. We are not just talking about a difference of opinion, like with a political race. We are talking about the Holy Spirit, the third part of the Trinity. We are talking about God!!! Listen to what Jesus said about this: And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. (Matthew 12:32)
Then Peter stood up with the other eleven disciples and raised his voice and began to explain what had happened. He told them that it was the fulfillment of a prophecy that was spoken by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-29). He told them about Jesus and how He was crucified. He told them that God raised Jesus from the dead. When Peter concluded his sermon, he made a very important statement: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38,39).
Peter said that the gift of the Holy Spirit was not just for the one hundred twenty in the upper room, but that the gift of the Holy Spirit was for all those who were listening to him. Then he said that receiving the Holy Spirit was for their children and for all who are far away. In other words, receiving the Holy Spirit is for everyone who desires to receive Him. That includes you and me.
What must you do to receive? Believe in Jesus, ask, and receive. It’s that simple!
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13)
