The disciples and the Spirit

Because what happened next is such an exciting – and important – event, let’s read the whole story.

Read: Acts 2 v1-40

This experience of the Holy Spirit was not simply some warm inner glow to make them feel nice; nor some sort of inner assurance that they received – but an encounter that transformed and empowered them for their new life in Christ. 

Baptism in the Spirit is what fills us with God’s presence and power!

Look at the following verses from the book of Acts (the story of the growth of the early church) and note the different aspects of life where the Spirit changed them and gave them power to live differently:

Acts 2 v42-47
Acts 4 v31-35
Acts 6 v1-6
Acts 7 v54-60
Acts 8 v26-39
Acts  9 v17-22
Acts 13 v1-3

But this powerful experience of the Spirit wasn’t something that was simply intended for the first disciples – a sort of divine ‘shot in the arm’ to help ‘get the church going’.  This was to be the experience of everyone who became a believer in Jesus, just as Peter said on the Day of Pentecost: “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2 v39).

This powerful and life-changing experience of the Spirit is what God wants for all his children.

Pray: Ask God to give you a powerful life-changing experience of his Spirit.

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