The Gift of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2:36ampsim41)
Jesus Christ promised that he would send us the gift of the Holy Spirit before his crucifixion and resurrection. The fullness and inspiration of this gift produced the sermon of the Holy Spirit. Lets think about how gift of the Holy Spirit comes to us.
1. He pricks our heart. The Advent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost was prophesied in the book of Joel. Its message is that the Israelites crucified Jesus, the example of Gods wonders, miracles and sign, yet God raised him and made him their Christ. The sign of our redemption history is recognizing that I crucified Jesus after thinking that his crucifixion has nothing to do with my life. This mindset is changed when our heart is pricked by the Word revealing our sins. It is the greatest gift. Its the situation where our sins are pricked and revealed by the Word. No matter how nicely we disguise the hatred, jealousy, and adultery within us, the Word that watches over our thoughts and desires penetrates us. Before listening to the Word, we cant see our disgrace and filthiness because we are 100% sinners by nature. Yet when we fall, awakened by the ray of the Word that lightens us, we feel ashamed of our sins. Thats a suffering for sure. However, God bestows on us the gift of the Holy Spirit, watching us and longing for our salvation. This is the moment when his wonders, miracles, and signs are revealed. Therefore, being cut to the heart by the Word is the best blessing.
2. He urges us to say 'What shall I do?' Without the advent of the Holy Spirit, we are blind to our faults and shame. Thats why the buck stops with Christians instead of unbelievers and with senior believers among Christians. Our soul is restored as much as we recognize our sins. The Christians who insist that they are flawless in everything have not yet received the gift of the Holy Spirit. When we are pricked by the Word, we ask 'What shall I do?' People say this when they run out of their money, reputation, and health. Some of us disguise ourselves with a nice and godly appearance quite successfully until cornered because of bankruptcy or a problem child or adultery, brought to light. Having no place to hide themselves, they inquire of their brothers. Understanding the Word means facing our shameful reality before the Lord. Our soul is restored to the extent that our body is pulled down. The question of 'What shall I do?' is the gift of the Holy Spirit. So is with our confession, 'I crucified the Lord.' May God bless us to say this in our incidents!
3. He drives us to repent. Peter answered the question, 'What shall we do?' by urging people to repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. These incidents can happen one after another or all at once. We have two kinds of salvation already and not yet. We need to repent first, which makes us overcome the world before helping those who belong to the world escape from it. Laying down our own way and thoughts calls for our dying to the world. This is what baptism means. It means accepting that I crucified Jesus. The repentance urged by the Holy Spirit is true repentance. The true gift of the Holy Spirit is dying every day. Without this, we cannot display any wonders or power of God. The gift of the Holy Spirit makes us see our sins in all circumstances. God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we can live a new holy life after being cleansed. The true gift of the Holy Spirit is the Spirit himself rather than the gift that he gives us. Even though we rejoice after meeting Jesus, we often get angry when we face trials because we fell Jesus crucifixion still has nothing to do with our life. Thats how we struggle with ourselves who believe that our earthly life will be everlasting. Paul sighed, 'What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?'(Ro.7:24). He made this confession after he was born again. We can also confess that God revived us through Jesus crucifixion even though we are to die because of our sins. Thats why we say 'Thats right!' when we hear 'You crucified Jesus!' God trains us for our mission. The toughest work in the world is submitting ourselves. We come to see our sinful nature through a variety of trials and circumstances, which make us repent. It took three famines for Naomi to make her true repentance in order to give birth to the forefather of Jesus and carry out her mission for world evangelization. Thus God gave her the gift of Holy Spirit through a series of tremendous incidents.
4. He nudges us into the holy community. The gift of the Holy Spirit is in effect regardless of timeand space. Theres no discrimination in his invitations to Gods salvation and the scope of the salvation is universal regardless of nationality and race. The communities called by God can be united as one in Christ. When the Holy Spirit comes on us, we can understand the Word and enjoy the power of God, with which we can preach the gospel. While waiting for the Holy Spirit to advent, Peter revealed his shameful sin of having disowned Jesus three times with cursing him and Jesus visitation for him, which pricked peoples heart and made them be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. It was an unprecedented incident of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, which made the three thousand people repent, tearing their heart and be baptized. May God bless us to join the repenting three thousand and enjoy the gift of the Holy Spirit!
Peter replied, '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. (Act 2:38)
