The need for Holy Spirit power
I feel stirred to remind us of our need for Holy Spirit power in our lives. Not only for the awesome gifts and fruit, but so that we live as we should.
But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:
17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God,
That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your young men shall see visions,
Your old men shall dream dreams.
18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy. – Acts 2:14-18
When we read Acts 2, it’s easy to give our attention to the incredible things happening at the time and wonder what it would have been like to be there.
When Peter gets up to preach, he gives us an opinion of someone who actually was there and had first hand experience of everything that happened.
But Peter doesn’t focus on the things which we might. He doesn’t try to explain the sound of rushing wind, tongues of fire or other languages. Little explanation was given about their behaviour other than they were not drunk but filled with Holy Spirit power.
He explains that this was the fulfilment of Joel’s prophesy about God pouring out His spirit on all flesh in the end times. The key part of the text and of Peters focus, is that prophecy had returned as predicted in the final age, despite many who said it was at an end.
Prophecy and Holy Spirit power are still in God’s church, even if some have said it is no longer possible. I believe Holy Spirit power is ongoing and not optional to living a Christian life.
Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. – 2 Corinthians 3:16-18
Turning to the lord takes away the veil from our eyes and we enjoy the liberty it brings. We are free from sin due the sacrifice of Christ, now we are also free to live a life without sin, as Holy Spirit power enables us to be more like Christ in our daily walk. This is ongoing as we are being changed from glory to glory until we see Him face to face.
Today we are set free from sin, but we need Holy Spirit power to avoid the daily temptations.
And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. – 1 Corinthians 6:11
God has not changed, we are still living in end times and getting ever closer to Christ’s return. God is still giving us dreams and visions. We can still experience Holy Spirit power which is still as powerful as ever.
Those gathered in the upper room were already equipped by the teaching of Jesus. They were now empowered by Holy Spirit outpouring to go out tell others what they had found to be true.
We today are equipped by reading the word of God. We are still able to accept Holy Spirit power in our daily lives to fight the temptation to sin and to go and tell others of this good thing we have found.
We say come Holy Spirit and wash over your people. Revive us and make us more like Jesus today.