The Spirit Poured Out
Jesus has been taken to Heaven, making way for the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be poured out on all people. It is the birth of the Church!
Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit and His work throughout His ministry. He even stated that the Spirit had revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Christ. God’s Spirit was not a new concept, but the indwelling of that Spirit was. Jesus’ disciples needed that closeness to God for their future walk. And the indwelling of the Spirit was the beginning of the church.
Let’s return to our story and watch as the relationship with God changes again. From walking with the Son, to being filled by the Spirit.
Holy Spirit, thank You that Your indwelling was not just for the disciples or men of that day. Thank You that You testify of the Father and the Son in my life. That you lead and guide me in the way I should go. And that You open God’s word for me in ways I never dreamed of before. Keep working, please!
♥ ♦ ♥
Peter leads the group into Jerusalem after Jesus’ ascension. The group is over one hundred and twenty people strong. That’s not even counting the women! These are all those who followed Jesus faithfully from the Mount Tabor in Galilee. Those who took the last ‘road trip’ with Jesus.
When they reach the city, they have to find a place to stay.
“I could ask about using the room where we had our Passover feast with Jesus” John offers.
“I don’t know if we will all fit, but go ahead and ask” replies Peter.
John hurries off to speak with the owner of the house. He meets him as the two of them are walking toward one another.
John greets him warmly. “Shalom my brother.”
The man’s smile is as wide as his face. “I was just looking for you.”
John is surprised. “Why were you looking for me?”
“Because I had a feeling that you needed my upper room again.”
John shakes his head in wonder. “Only Jesus could do this; even though He is no longer with us.”
The man’s eyes widen in surprise. “Where is He? I have heard that He rose from the dead. Why is He not with you?”
“That is a long story in itself” John says. “He is with His Abba now. He ascended to the Father just this morning. We were witnesses to this.”
“I would have given anything to have seen that!”
“I’m sure many would. But that brings me to why I was coming to see you. Those of us who were witness, Jesus told us to stay in the city until we receive power from on high. I was going to ask permission to use your upper room again.”
“Then I suppose you already know the answer” the man says with a smile. “One question though.”
John waits as the man frames his question.
“What did Jesus mean by ‘receiving power from on high’?”
“I believe He was speaking of the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of God. But as to what that looks like, I have no idea. We will have to wait and see.”
“Sounds like Jesus. As for the room, it’s yours to use as long as you need it.”
John returns to the group with the good news. “The room is ours for as long as we need it.” He figures he can fill Peter in on the rest of the conversation later on.
The room is a little small for all the group to sleep in, but several were from Jerusalem and offered space in their own homes for their brothers. The owner offers the women a place in his home for themselves. They met together during the day for prayer, to worship Jesus, and to attend the Temple. They felt safe together.
Pentecost is still three days away. Peter has been thinking about something for a while. He wants to share his concern with John, for a second opinion.
“Take a walk with me please” Peter says to John.
Once the two of them are alone, Peter launches into his concern. “I have been thinking about what Jesus said during our Passover supper. The part about the twelve having twelve thrones in Heaven.”
John nods. “You asked about the betrayer; if he would have a throne.”
“Jesus never answered that question. What I’m wondering now is, if we should ask the Lord to appoint another to take Judas’ place. To make our number whole again.”
“That is an interesting idea. I have felt incomplete at times, even though we have MANY more with us.”
“If we do choose another, it should be from one who has been with us from the beginning.”
“Agreed.”
John falls silent after that. Peter tries to wait him out, but gives up. “So, should we do it, or not?”
“We should bring the matter to the rest of the group and allow a decision to be made with everyone’s input.”
“When should we do it?”
“The sooner the better. We can put the idea forward at evening meal, then decide what is next from there.”
Peter is nervous. He doesn’t want to be stepping out of God’s will, so he spends the rest of the day praying for guidance. When dinner arrives, Peter is ready to present the idea to the others.
“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry” (Acts 1:16-17).
Heads nod around the room. Their hearts are saddened by Judas’ betrayal, but they KNOW this was part of God’s plan. After a moment to reflect, Peter lays out his plan.
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and ‘Let another take his office.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection” (Acts 1:20-22).
Heads nod around the room. “This is only fitting” says Matthew.
Everyone begins to look around the room and identify the men who meet the criteria set forward. There are only two men who were with Jesus the entire time, including with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them in the house that first time. Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.
“Justus and Matthias, please stand in the middle of us all” Peter instructs them.
Once the two men are surrounded by the whole group, Peter prays for God’s hand in making this decision.
“You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place” (Acts 1:24-25).
With the prayer concluded, and no booming voice from Heaven, lots are assigned to the two of them and placed in a bag. It is shaken vigorously. John reaches into the bag and pulls one of the lots from within it. The one chosen represents Matthias.
“We have our answer. Matthias will take the place of Judas and complete our number” announces Peter.
There are no arguments or disappointed faces. They all left the decision in the Lord’s hand and believe that He made the right one. Matthias is welcomed into the ranks of the disciples. It helps that he was already well know by all of them, as he was with them throughout Jesus’ ministry.
“We will meet all together on the day of Pentecost here in this room. Let’s celebrate it together as one family” James suggests.
Everyone is in agreement and when the day comes, they all gather together, first thing in the morning. As more and more of the group arrive, the sounds of prayer and praise begin to rise. By midmorning, the whole room is worshiping as one. One heart and one mind, set on Jesus.
A new sound fills the room, like the sound of a mighty wind blowing through a canyon. It is so strong that everyone can feel it in their bones, and even those outside the house hear the sound.
Something AMAZING comes with that sound. It is a presence that FILLS EVERY person in the room. It is the Spirit of the Lord. And, just like Jeremiah when he spoke of holding back what the Lord had given him, the group of Jesus’ followers begin to pour forth the words of the Spirit like fire that was shut up in their bones.
They are so involved in praising the Lord that they are not even aware of what is pouring forth. But the neighbors take notice. As it is Pentecost, there are Jews from all over in the city, and they are hearing testimony in their own native tongues!
The multitude of Jews who have been drawn by the sound begin to speak with one another.
“Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God” (Acts 2:7-11).
As they watch and listen, they begin to wonder. “What does this mean?” (Acts 2:12).
No group is without its detractors. Their voices rise as well. “They are filled with new wine” (Acts 2:13) the unconvinced say.
This comment pricks Peter’s ears as if it was spoken directly into them. He steps forward and sets the record straight.
“Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:14-36).
The hearts of those listening are torn by the words spoken. They cry out to Peter and the rest of the apostles.
“Brothers, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).
Peter responds immediately to their cry. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself” (Acts 2:38-39).
People begin calling out for forgiveness; repenting of their sins. Peter begins thinking of where to baptize all these people. The Jordan river is a days’ journey at least. The pool of Bethesda. This is the same pool where Jesus healed the man who was paralyzed for thirty years.
Peter calls out to the crowd. “Those who wish to be baptized follow me.”
He leads a multitude through the streets of Jerusalem and to the pool of Bethesda. From this pool, he and the rest of the twelve begin baptizing the people.
Those who are still holding back hear some of the original group calling out to them; “Save yourselves from this crooked generation” (Acts 2:40).
By the time everyone who wanted to be baptized has done so, there are over three thousand new believers in Jesus. And they each received the Holy Spirit that same day.
This was the beginning of a new community; the Church. They met together in one another’s homes, learned from the apostles, worshiped together in the Temple, ate together, and cared for one another as family. If there was anyone in need, those needs were promptly met by those who had more. NONE went hungry, naked, or cold. The sick or injured were healed in Jesus’ name through the apostles’ prayers.
The words of Jesus manifested in those who believed in Him. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).
(to be continued)
I fully believe that tongues and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is as alive today as it was that day in Jerusalem. Peter was speaking the words the Holy Spirit provided, and he said: “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” This means US today.
The Holy Spirit, through His prayer language has worked miracles in my life. I would LOVE to list them all, but it would take quite a long time. My favorite though is when He prompted me to pray for my husband shortly after heart surgery. He showed me in my spirit exactly what He was doing for my husband as I prayed. THAT NIGHT my husband began to return to life. I call that night, his rebirth day.
Father God, THANK YOU for Your Holy Spirit. THANK YOU for Jesus. THANK YOU that YOU are FULLY in my life and I am YOUR child. No one can snatch me away, and I have ALL aspects of You in my life.
NOT three gods, but ONE God who has three aspects of Himself that work together seamlessly. Work in me daily Lord in ALL Your glory and power. Fill me with Your Spirit anew each morning. Not because ‘I leak Him out’ but because I want more and more of Your presence in my life. And I want to share everything You give me with ANY who care to listen.
