God's Spirit on All People

This excerpt is from Peter’s preaching on the Day of Pentecost. The stirring, mouth-watering truth is “…my Spirit on all people.” There are believers who don’t know this. It is the great Gospel gift that comes from simply coming to Jesus and receiving. “Jesus said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit…” (John 11:37-39)

Study the Scripture

Read in  Acts 2:17-21

For more help use this Bible Study method

REFLECTION

Receive the Power

by Judy Webb

Let’s back up a bit before diving into this text from Acts 2:17-21 and read Acts 1:8. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus had to send the Holy Spirit to this Disciples in order that they could be His Witnesses. They could not do it on their own, there was too much involved, to many things to say and so many people who needed to hear those words. The Good News needed the Holy Spirit’s power in the disciples hearts. We need the Holy Spirit to do the same. And isn’t it perfect that we only need to ask for this wisdom to be given to us? I am amazed each time I ask, at the way in which God answers.

Now, let’s read from Acts 2:17-21. “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. This pouring out of the Spirit was predicted in Joel 2:28-32 and marks the beginning of the end times, the age to come. Those who believe in Jesus have received the Holy Spirit. That applies to us today as well. We received the Holy Spirit at our Baptism.

“And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” (Acts 2:21) What powerful and sweet words. To call on the name of the Lord is to repent, be baptized and embrace salvation. It is so simple, yet so difficult. We are told to give up our sinful ways, to let go of our false gods and bury those idols deep in the dirt.

Advent is about embracing the true God, the only one worthy of our praise. It is a time for recognizing Hope and experiencing Joy during this time of anticipation. Let’s get ready to look for the Star, to follow it to the manger and then sing “O, Come, let us adore Him.”

Prayer Practice: Listening prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to your attention: a person to pray for, a verse to reflect on, sin that you’ve been ignoring, or anything else that God may wish to speak in to your life.