Sunday, April 27, 1997 In Your Absence:
In this week's lesson, which came from Acts 1:4-5, 8, 2:1-6, 17-18, and 36-39, we saw a demonstration of the Holy Spirit's power. His most obvious use of that power has been and is that He can change a person's heart from one that seeks the evil, wicked devices of this world to one that loves and serves the Lord. Because of the events of this particular Pentecost, many have confused the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age, but His role has never been more clear than when He made that first appearance in Jerusalem. He did not come so that the early followers of Christ could babble in either foreign or unknown tongues. He also did not come so that He could provide some kind of unique, spiritual thrill for those who had assembled. He was there with an important mission, to tell others about Christ! The Holy Spirit, as our Pastor has said, does not teach and proclaim Himself. Instead, He always teaches about and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, as Christians, we need to understand why the Holy Spirit is here and why He indwells us. We also need to be faithful to follow His leading.
Our lesson this week showed that the Holy Spirit can overcome barriers. At Pentecost, He had to overcome the barrier of language. Those who had assembled at Jerusalem were from all over the area, and they did not speak a common language. Thus, the Holy Spirit had to find a way to communicate the Gospel among peoples of different languages and cultures, and He chose to do so by having Christ's followers miraculously speak the languages of those who had come. Notice in this passage that no one was left out! These words from the Book of Acts clearly suggest that everyone heard the Gospel in their own tongue or language. Two important conclusions from this are that the Holy Spirit used everyone who was willing to be used. He also presented the truth about Jesus to everyone who wanted to know that truth. Christian living and serving the Lord should not be a life of wandering about in darkness, either of trying to secure our salvation or of attempting to define our calling. If you want to know the truth about the Lord, He, through the Holy Spirit, will teach you. If you want to be used of God and to make your life count for Him, then regardless of your station in life, He will find a purposeful way to use you. Think how wonderful it is that our Creator allows us to participate in His great ministry. Not only that, but as we learn to lean more and more on Him, the Holy Spirit will bring about positive results in our life. The Apostle Peter had denied Christ just a few weeks earlier, but at Pentecost, he was a mighty spokesman and defender of the Faith.
In his message, the Apostle Peter spoke of salvation and of baptism. Are we to understand that baptism is a necessary part of salvation? Certainly not. We are, however, to see that being baptized is a first step of obedience to our Lord. We are also to see that baptism is a way that we associate ourselves with Christ and the Church. Three thousand people were saved at Pentecost, but none of them were saved because they had either spoken in tongues or been baptized. They were saved because they had seen themselves as sinners, because they had recognized Jesus as their Sacrifice, Savior, and Lord, and because they had turned to Him. This is the wonderful Gospel message that we now celebrate and try to share with others. Please make it your goal to serve Him as you go through this week, and be sure to tell others what the Lord has done for you.
Tom of Spotswood"He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (I John 5:12)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13)
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