The Holy Spirit Changes and Protects

PRAYER PRACTICE

Lectio – Read today’s passage through once. Then spend some time praying and asking God to show you what you need to pay attention to in the text. Read it again. Now ask God to help you see what this text, and the part that has stood out, may mean for you. Don’t expect to get a clear word every time but always be ready to really hear from God through His Word.

DAILY READING

Acts 2:17-21

DEVOTION/REFLECTION

The Holy Spirit Changes and Protects

by David Thompson

"In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people." At first glance, this may be confusing. We may think of the last days as the rapture or the time just before the end. In the commentaries it describes it differently. The "last days" are anytime between when Jesus was crucified to the time He comes back. Therefore, it includes the experiences of the Apostles outlined in Acts 2 and it also includes us now. We are living in the last days, therefore what is told about here is ongoing.

Some of the various promises of things happening are not here yet but all will be fulfilled before Christ's return. It might get easy to take things for granted and not stay vigilant, but it is wise to be ready when the time comes. Acts 2:19 says, "I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke." Although some have tried to say that these things have happened already in war with missiles in the air and smoke and blood, I am convinced that this is actually stretching it for saying the end of the world is close. I believe we all will see these promised signs and will worship God for these things. 

Finally in the last verse of this section we are given a promise of assurance, "And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." This is a great promise as it explains why we are saved and that God is giving the unsaved another chance. I believe that with all the signs in the air, with so many prophesying and dreaming dreams that many will be convinced to believe. This does not take away from our duty to be ready with a good Word to friends, coworkers and family members, but it also gives us assurance that some that have been hardhearted might turn it around.

 

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.