"In the Last Days..."
Sunday, May 30, 2004
In the Last Days Bible Study Calendar
My Prayer Today
Heavenly Father, On this Pentecost Sunday, I thank and praise You for the gift of the Holy Spirit! I pray that You may pour out Your Holy Spirit on all people once again. I pray that You will fill me anew with Your Holy Spirit that I may bear witness to the Good News of Jesus’ salvation with boldness and joy. Fill every Christian everywhere with Your Holy Spirit that we may be the “salt” and “light” that Jesus called us to be. Draw the lost to Yourself this day by the millions all over the globe. Use this day to focus our hearts and minds on You and Your amazing gift of salvation and the presence of the Holy Spirit in every part of our lives. I pray these things in Jesus’ name, and for the sake of His coming Kingdom! Amen.
God's Word For Me Today
Acts 2:1-4
1On the day of Pentecost, seven weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the believers were meeting together in one place. 2Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm in the skies above them, and it filled the house where they were meeting. 3Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 4And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.
Reflecting on God’s Word
When you think of Pentecost, what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
What do you imagine it would have been like to be there on the first Christian Pentecost?
A Deeper Exploration of God’s Word
How long after Jesus’ resurrection did this event take place? How long after His ascension into heaven? (2:1)
How does Luke describe the coming of the Holy Spirit? (2:2-3)
What was the immediate result of the believers being filled with the Holy Spirit? (2:4)
Understanding God’s Purpose
Why do you suppose there was a ten-day period of waiting between Jesus’ ascension into heaven and the coming of the Holy Spirit?
What do we learn about God’s purpose(s) for humanity when we see that the initial gift of the Holy Spirit was the ability for the believers to communicate in multiple languages?
Applying God’s Word to Our Lives
What is the most important application of today’s reading to your life right now?
Thoughts...And Everyone Present was Filled with the Holy Spirit...
When the Holy Spirit came to the believers gathered in that house in Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago, in response to Jesus’ promise, and their obedient, prayerful waiting, the Spirit filled EVERYONE who was in the house that day. This included the eleven original apostles, and Matthias whom they had elected to fill Judas’ vacant spot among the twelve. This included Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene and a number of other women. This included those who were young and old. 120 believers received the Holy Spirit in an instant! Never before in human history had so many people received the Holy Spirit at one time. The previous high before that was the day that 70 elders among the people of Israel received the Spirit in the days of Moses. This was only the beginning, though, as following Peter’s message 3,000 more folks became believers and received the Holy Spirit. This moment ushered in a new moment in divine history—the era or age of the Spirit, when the Holy Spirit became available not just to a select few, but to ALL who called on the name of Jesus. That ALL includes you and me. What an amazing blessing that Jesus opened the door both to salvation, and to sanctification—to becoming like Jesus through His life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven—and through sending the Spirit to EVERYONE who will receive Him. May we receive the Spirit—now, and moment by moment that we may be empowered to share the Good News, and to become more and more like Jesus everyday!