Power of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:2-4 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

When the Holy Spirit has come it was completely felt by everybody inside the room and not one person missed receiving the Holy Spirit that day. It was visible and audible that something new has happened in the upper room. We read in the following verses that people came in seeing the signs and wonders. But the identity of those who came amazed is they are devout people from all parts of the world. These people saw wonders because of their devotion. But others did not see any wonder in this incident and called this as drunkenness. The power of Holy Spirit is similar where devotion and a need for holiness makes it convincing and effective. But if we are of the world completely, we see things as stupidity.

The first result of the Holy Spirit is establishing the wonderful works of God as per verse 11. This is the first sign of the Holy Spirit from us. The power of God is displayed in us so that many people will hear the works of God and not exalt us. When people hear that God is great they come together and understand how great Jesus is. We read this is Romans 15:18-19 where Paul uses the power of God to establish what Jesus did through him so that the complete gospel of Christ is proclaimed. God gives us divine power so that this Gospel is proclaimed to the ends of the earth. We get power so that we are witnesses that Jesus has risen.

Peter, in the first sermon does this work effectively. Starting with speaking about the power of God in the prophecy by Joel, he ends with the invitation that whoever calls in the name of the Lord shall be saved. Then to establish who LORD is, Peter boldly speaks about Jesus who was killed by divine purpose of God, has risen up from the dead and this Jesus is LORD (v36).

We see power as the world defines it. But the power God gives us is different as per 2 Cor 12:9, the power of God is perfected and defined in weakness. Paul continues to mention that when he is weak in the world’s eyes, he is actually strong. This is how we establish that Jesus has risen by the power of God to this world. In Acts 2:40, Peter summarizes to the crowd to be saved from this perverse generation. The whole generation is corrupt and we have to be saved out of this to prove Jesus has risen. Now, according to Romans 8:11, we continue to prove that Jesus is Lord by proving to the world that we are raised from the dead. Let us note that the flesh should be raised and not just the soul. If the soul is separated from the flesh it automatically has no temptation to overcome. Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit would raise our flesh so that it no longer is a slave to the earth’s false richness.

In Luke 24:49, Jesus commands to stay put till we are clothed with power from high. Unless we show this power to the world, we are naked with the world’s sinfulness. We should be ashamed if we still pursue and boast about worldly richness but boast about weaknesses so that we prove that Jesus has saved us out of this perverse generation.

According to 2 Timothy 1:7,8, the Holy Spirit is of power, love and a sound mind which does not deviate away from what His will is and so, we are expected to accept the sufferings according to the power of God and the gospel. We know that the cross was the biggest display of God’s power and so according to the power and the gospel, we have to be saved from the pleasures of the world and embrace suffering so that Christ will be manifested in us. We have to prove to the world that Christ is Lord and the world is not.

As per Romans 15:13, we are given peace and happiness that comes by faith and not worldly blessings by the power of God that brings hope. When we have the power of God in us strengthening us to suffer and overcome, God give us hope. This hope has to become faith and then peace and happiness. There are no rewards mentioned here, but all we get in this world is hope. But hope is enough to build happiness.

The statement in Acts 2:32 is the result of the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.