On the wings of a snow white dove…
Last Sunday, which was the Pentecost Sunday, I couldn’t help but be excited about the bountiful blessings of God as well as His wonderful CHOICE of gifts for us, especially about His promise to send His Holy Spirit as our Helper. Ah, but our God knows exactly what we need.
On the wings of a snow white dove…
Sweet graces from heaven above
Fall afresh on me and set me forever free….
For Christians all over the world, the day of Pentecost signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and disciples of Jesus, when they have gathered in the Upper Room; moments that witnessed the powerful in-filling of the Spirit of God in the form of tongues of fire… What a great occasion of God’s grace…and even more, what a beautiful assurance that our God will always keep His promises…
In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus promises His apostles the baptism of Holy Spirit – "He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Also, in Acts 1:8, He assures them again regarding the powerful grace Holy Spirit will bring to them – the power which enables them to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.
And there it is… the mighty manifestation of our Lord’s promise in Acts 2 – "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
And further on, we can see the details of the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit, and what it did even to an unbelieving crowd. As much as around three thousand people were baptized that day!!! Even Peter who denied Jesus three times in the intensity of his fear was transformed into a man of courage… “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness” - Acts 4:31. Unbelief and doubts moved aside to give way to faith, fear and timidity were replaced by courage and a fresh awakening of resolve.
Holy Spirit is the best of God’s promises, and stirs up in us the urge to be obedient and responsive to the will of God. Our loving Father knew none of us could’ve faced the enemy alone without His Spirit on our side (hmm, see how our Father chooses the gift for us); And true to Lord’s promises, Holy Spirit wages our war with the enemy, instills in us the confidence of God’s love, and empowers us with His wisdom and truth. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty” in Zech 4:6.
The gift of Holy Spirit is a promise to all of us. Peter confirms this in Acts 2:38-39 –"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
God never forgets His promises nor does He fail in fulfilling them; Abba Father, give me the grace to believe in Your promises without even a tiny glimpse of doubt… Help me to receive the promise of Your Holy Spirit, the sweet grace from heaven, and be set free forever… In Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen.
On the wings of a snow white dove…
Sweet graces from heaven above
Fall afresh on me and set me forever free….
For Christians all over the world, the day of Pentecost signifies the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and disciples of Jesus, when they have gathered in the Upper Room; moments that witnessed the powerful in-filling of the Spirit of God in the form of tongues of fire… What a great occasion of God’s grace…and even more, what a beautiful assurance that our God will always keep His promises…
In Acts 1:4-5, Jesus promises His apostles the baptism of Holy Spirit – "He gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." Also, in Acts 1:8, He assures them again regarding the powerful grace Holy Spirit will bring to them – the power which enables them to be witnesses to the ends of the earth.
And there it is… the mighty manifestation of our Lord’s promise in Acts 2 – "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
And further on, we can see the details of the powerful anointing of the Holy Spirit, and what it did even to an unbelieving crowd. As much as around three thousand people were baptized that day!!! Even Peter who denied Jesus three times in the intensity of his fear was transformed into a man of courage… “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness” - Acts 4:31. Unbelief and doubts moved aside to give way to faith, fear and timidity were replaced by courage and a fresh awakening of resolve.
Holy Spirit is the best of God’s promises, and stirs up in us the urge to be obedient and responsive to the will of God. Our loving Father knew none of us could’ve faced the enemy alone without His Spirit on our side (hmm, see how our Father chooses the gift for us); And true to Lord’s promises, Holy Spirit wages our war with the enemy, instills in us the confidence of God’s love, and empowers us with His wisdom and truth. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty” in Zech 4:6.
The gift of Holy Spirit is a promise to all of us. Peter confirms this in Acts 2:38-39 –"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
God never forgets His promises nor does He fail in fulfilling them; Abba Father, give me the grace to believe in Your promises without even a tiny glimpse of doubt… Help me to receive the promise of Your Holy Spirit, the sweet grace from heaven, and be set free forever… In Jesus’ precious and powerful name, Amen.
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