Today's Reading - Acts 3-4
Background
In Acts 3 and 4, the Apostles take up where Jesus left off as they begin their ministry and their conflict with the very people who put Jesus to death. They committed a grievous sin! In the shadow of the Temple, they healed a man who had sat there year after year. The religious leader could toss him a coin now and again to assuage their guilt, but in the name of Jesus, these unlearned and ignorant men did what the honored leaders could not. They healed him. Having suffered in the name of Christ they continued to proclaim Christ and the church continued to grow rapidly in Jerusalem.
Devotional - Are You Spirit-filled?
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit?
More specifically, how can anyone know that?
Much theological discussion, debate and even disagreement have been devoted to the question of what marks the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Some have asserted, contrary to the observation of this pastor, that those who are full of the Spirit are no longer subject to sin, but attain perfection in this life. Would that it was so, but it is certainly not my experience. Of course, the debate has raged throughout my life as to whether tongues or any other manifestation of the Holy Spirit is a necessary evidence of the fullness of the Spirit. It is not the purpose of a devotional like this to address such a topic
But when we examine the book of Acts, there is one universal evidence of the fullness of the Spirit. Nothing else happens every single time the Spirit shows up in power except this one event.
"...they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness."Throughout Acts, one thing happened universally when the Spirit-filled believers - they proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ boldly. At Pentecost, many things happened, but the Word of God was proclaimed in power. In Samaria, in Caesarea, in every place the Spirit's fullness appears, those filled with the Spirit proclaim Christ.
I can remember a dear old man in my last church who would come up to me after a particularly stirring or enthusiastic service and say, "You could really feel the Spirit here tonight, couldn't you, Dave?" And I know what he meant. There was a sweet, sweet Spirit in the place.
But not enthusiastic worship, vibrant music, stirring preaching, or any emotion produced by these is a true marker of the work of the Spirit among the people of God. The primary work of the Spirit is to glorify Christ and if I am filled with the Spirit then that will be my goal. If the Spirit is filling me, my soul will overflow with love for Christ and I will desire to make the gospel known to the entire world. More than that, all my fear - of rejection, of the reactions of people, of ridicule - will be overpowered and I will boldly speak of Christ.
When the fullness of the Spirit falls, the name of Jesus rises!
Father, may the name of your Son rise on my lips as the Spirit fills every part of my being. May fear fall away in the desire to exalt the Name above all names.
Think and Pray
Does your life give the one true evidence of the filling of the Spirit?
Do you devote your life to making Jesus Christ known in this world?
Do you tell others about the difference that Jesus has made in your life?
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