Spirit 01: The Coming of God’s Spirit
Orientate
God is three persons in one (Father, Son [Jesus] and Holy Spirit). These three persons are distinct and yet one. If you find this difficult to picture, join the club. But of course, wrapping our little brains completely around God is always going to be an impossible challenge for humans. But that doesn’t mean we can’t understand more about God and his work. In this module, we will be focusing on the most shadowy member of the “Trinity” – the Holy Spirit. He is now living in you, so it will really help to understand what he is doing in you and with you and for you.
Explore: Acts 2:1-12
1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own languages!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Journal
Journal for a few minutes on the following questions:
1. What is God saying to me? Which verse is most significant?
2. What do I want to discuss/explore further?
3. What do I need to do?
4. What was the significance of the way in which God’s Spirit came?
Reflect
What an unusual event! The book of Acts is the story of the growth of the early church and it all hinges on the coming of God’s Spirit into believers. You see right through the Old Testament, God’s Spirit only came on very significant Israelite individuals like kings and prophets and occasionally very talented artists (Exodus 31:3). These important people in Israel had the presence of God in their lives through the Spirit, but ordinary people didn’t. That all changed at this event (Pentecost) that occurred shortly after Jesus’ resurrection and return to God. As Peter goes on to quote from an Old Testament prophet, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17). So in this passage we see God breathing his Spirit onto and into all his people for the first time. It was a very significant and very exciting event. From this point on, all followers of Jesus would receive God’s Spirit.
So now all believers have God’s Spirit living in them. That includes you. God breathed on you when you believed and gave you his Spirit to fill you and help you. You are never alone. God is living in you. You may or may not have seen fire or heard a mighty wind or be able to speak in other languages, but this has happened to you. God’s Spirit has been poured into your life to help you do all that God wants you to do and become all that God wants you to be. From now on it’s the Holy Spirit and you together. It makes all the difference, as it did for these new believers in Acts 2.
Pray
Thank you Lord for sending your Spirit into my life. I’m so glad that I live in these “last days” when your Spirit is poured out on every believer. I know that I have a long journey ahead of me to continue to grow as a Christian, but it’s going to be so much better doing it in tandem with you. Please fill my life Holy Spirit. Take over anything you want.
Respond
Take a moment to stand with your hands raised (as a symbol of your connection with and openness to God) and say, “Holy Spirit, please take all my life and work in me whatever you want.” Say it again.
