Jesus commanded the apostles that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, “‘which,’ He said, ‘you have heard from Me’” (Acts 1:4). Jesus had told these men that He would send the Promise of the Father (Luke 24:49), and on the Day of Pentecost this prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28,29) was fulfilled (Acts 2:1- 4,16-18).
As Christians, by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free, “and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13) At the very moment of conversion, we are sealed and secured unto the day of final redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14, 4:30). The Scripture emphasizes our relationship with the Spirit of God, not our experiences, which may or not be valid. A simple reading of John, chapters 14 -16, and the oft-mentioned references that Jesus makes about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit reveal that relationship believers have with the Holy Spirit.
This Promise of the Spirit is for all who call upon the Name of the Lord (Acts 2:38,39). Now we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:14). However, there is more. Just as the Spirit leads us to the saving knowledge of Christ (John 16:7-9) and baptizes us into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), John the Baptist declared, “I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” (Mark 1:8) The church may differ on what to call this that John speaks about, but we must be sure that we do not simply file this into our theological folder and nullify the power that we are promised as Christians to have in order to walk with the Lord and serve Him effectively. Paul exhorted the saints in Ephesus to be “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18b), and this happens whenever we worship and praise God with thankful hearts (Ephesians 5:19-20). There is a “filling” of God’s Spirit every time we turn when corrected by the Word of God (Proverbs 1:23).
Some commentators have called the book of Acts the Acts of the Holy Spirit for the simple reason that all the work that was done and ever will be done in the Church is by the power (Acts 1:8) and might (Zechariah 4:6) of the seven fold Spirit of God (Revelation 4:5). May His work be evident in our lives, both individually and corporately.
