ListenDaily - 24 February 2009; Backing up to move forward
AN INVITATION!
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We have already discussed how the presence of the Spirit was manifested in the "speaking in tongues and praising God ". Now let us look back at the preceding verses:
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:38-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came..."
Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians that we should not quench the Spirit, or put out the Spirit's fire, and He lists ways to avoid that pitfall. I wonder if what we are seeing here is the exact opposite. If we have the capability to limit the Spirit, then do we not have the opportunity to create an environment in which the Spirit is welcomed and can readily work? When that happens, we may see tongues and other manifestations of the Spirit's presence.
So the, how did Peter welcome the Spirit?
He preached Christ...crucified and resurrected! And while he did, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...[they began] speaking in tongues and praising God."
We still have some work to do, figuring out what the Scriptures say about 'speaking in tongues', but this much is crystal clear: the Spirit can be ushered in by the sharing of the crucified and resurrected Christ with those who do not yet know Him.
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Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
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