“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (NLT)
I love reading through the book of Acts. Some Bibles call this book “The Acts of the Apostles.” It would be more accurate to say, “The Acts of the Holy Spirit” in the lives of Christ’s followers. In the Gospels, Christ had promised that, when He left, God the Father would send the Holy Spirit to occupy the hearts of His followers. His presence would provide the very power of God for them to tell people everywhere about Christ. Their message would be empowered to bring life change to those who listened and believed.
The promise of Acts 1:8 was fulfilled ten days later on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2. When the Holy Spirit indwelled the hearts of Christ’s followers, their lives were never the same! He transformed them into courageous men and women who lived a quality of life that had no other explanation but God! Unbelievers and skeptics responded to them with wonder and awe.
What is it that best defines your life? If the events and circumstances of your life can be explained by your own ability, resources, and power, then where is God? We all like to live in the comfort zone of what we can understand and control. People controlled by the Holy Spirit live a life of faith that requires obedience and involves risk. They accomplish the impossible because they believe God. They share that life with Christ now that they will also share with Him forever in Heaven. They don’t wait until they get there to do it. The adventure of the saving life of Christ is not primarily about getting you out of Hell and into Heaven as much as it is about God getting out of Heaven and into you! What acts of the Holy Spirit does the world see in you?
“Thank you Father that the same Holy Spirit who came to indwell the lives of Your people in Acts is available to me today. Fill me with Your power to tell others about Christ just as they did then.”
