ESOCS Devotional 13 September 2022
TEXT: ACTS 2: 1-13
MEMORY VERSE: “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
Joel’s prophecy that God would someday pour out His Spirit on all people was a pointer to the Pentecost experience (Joel 2: 28-32). This prophecy of Joel which took place at about 900 BC, actually came to fulfillment on the fiftieth day after the resurrection (Acts 2:2-4).
On the Pentecost day, the apostles and other believers from all over the then known world, were gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Passover. Then suddenly a great and unusual sound from heaven ushered in the coming of the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the mammoth crowd noticed the apostles speaking in diverse tongues. More so, every one present could hear the apostles speaking in their own native tongues. Note, the apostles were not just making some gibberish sound, but spoke the gospel in the different languages of the peoples from diverse nations. Also worthy of note is that the ministry of Jesus under the Old Testament Law was to the Jews only. The aim was to prepare them for what took place on, and would continue after this day of Pentecost. His message to the Jews was to repent, and thus, prepare their hearts for the spiritual future of Christianity, after His death, resurrection and ascension.
The day of this great event was called Pentecost, after the Greek word for fifty. The time of this event was early Sunday morning, on the fiftieth day following the Jewish Passover feast. In other words, Pentecost came the day after seven consecutive weeks from the Jewish Passover.
Jesus had promised that the apostles would be baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). The Spirit Himself simply gave a visual indication by the tongues of fire, after immersing them. Following this experience, the apostles were all miraculously filled with the Holy Spirit. Consequently, all things Jesus had taught them were brought to their remembrance. By the inspiration of the Spirit, the apostles began to prophesy in diverse languages, and performed miracles (Mark 16:17; Acts 10:46; 19:6).
Child of God, have you yet received the Holy Spirit since you believed? It is important you do, for we are now in the era of the Holy Spirit. It is one of the pointers to the last days (Acts 2:17). Take note.
CHALLENGES: Having been baptized with water by immersion, do you think it is still necessary to be baptized with the Holy Spirit? Discuss.
PRAYER POINTS: Holy Spirit Divine, please fill me with yourself, that I may become more effective.
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FURTHER READING: Judges 5: 1-18; Ezra 7: 11-28; Matthew 9:27-38.
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ESOCS Devotional 13 September 2022
