The Holy Spirit Does Not Discriminate!

Peter Addresses the Crowd

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

17 “‘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.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy.
19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
20 The sun will be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
21 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2 gives us the story of Pentecost.  The day the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles, just as Jesus had promised.  One of the manifestations of the Spirit is the disciples began to speak in "tongues", or languages that were unknown to them.  Because the feast of Pentecost brought Jewish believers from near and far, all of the men and women heard the disciples speaking the Good News about Jesus in their own native tongues.  It was quite a miracle.  While some marveled, others sneered and said, "They have had too much wine."  

But Peter stands up and says, "Look guys it is only nine o clock in the morning it is not even close to happy hour."  On the contrary he points out that the coming of the Holy Spirit was prophesied in the book of Joel.  Joel told of a time when the Spirit would be poured out on all people.  The phrase "pour out" implies that when people received the Spirit they would "filled". Filled with God. Importantly Joel said, "God's Spirit would be poured out on ALL people."  Men and women.  Young and old.  Even servants.  The Holy Spirit did not discriminate between age, gender or economic status.

And the effect of the Spirit being poured out would be that the young people would prophesy.  This means they would speak forth God's word.  I.e. They would be God's mouthpiece.  Young and old men would see visions and dreams.  I.e. God would reveal his plans supernaturally to people.  And there would be many supernatural signs in Creation.  I.e. Sun being turned to darkness, the moon to blood. 

The bottom line is that Jesus had come and lived in the power of the Holy Spirit when he was baptized in the Jordan until the same Spirit raised him from the dead.  Jesus promised the disciples days before he was crucified that this same Spirit would be poured out on them.  He told them to wait in Jerusalem.for the gift the Father promised. On Pentecost they received this amazing gift.  Pentecost means 50.  Pentecost was 50 days after the Passover feast.  It was a time all Jewish people came to give thanks for all of their crops.  Jesus ascended 40 days after he died, and ten days later he sent the promised Holy Spirit on Pentecost. 

It is amazing to see the change in the disciples once they received the Holy Spirit.  Just look at Peter today preaching to thousands of Jews in great power.  Later in the chapter it says thousands repented, believed and were baptized. 3,000 were added to their number that day. 

So the question is how does this apply to us?  If you believe in Jesus by faith and been baptized, you too have been filled with the Holy Spirit.  Just like the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit will lead, guide and empower you the rest of your life.  Unfortunately the Holy Spirit is the "worst kept" secret in the church. We don't teach on the person and work of the Holy Spirit near enough. If I were the devil, I will would try to keep Christians ignorant of the Holy Spirit.  And to some extent he has.  But not you!  You have the Spirit.  Live by the Spirit and you will bear fruit that will last.  

Let us pray, "Come Holy Spirit fill our hearts and lives so we can like your early disciples show the world your great love and power in words and deeds."