Monday, July 26, 2010
Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The third person of the Trinity, the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Spirit, in the Old Testament is simply called the Spirit of the Lord. He was active in Creation -- as God the Father formed the world, the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep.
The Spirit was active throughout the history of the world before Christ came. He was there inspiring Moses, watching over him as he wrote the first books of the Bible -- moving Moses to write not his own thoughts but the very words of God. He was there giving to David the very words to describe the tragedy of sin and the blessed relief of knowing that God has forgiven you. It was He who showed Isaiah the prophet all the things that Christ would have to suffer, so that some 800 years before Christ was ever born Isaiah was able to write, "He was bruised for our iniquity, and the chastisement of our peace was upon Him."
It was the Holy Spirit that descended upon the apostles as they stood there on that Pentecost festival. He gave them the ability to speak in tongues so that they might proclaim to all people regardless of nation, race or language, the wonderful things that Christ has done for us. And it is He Who remains present with us today to call us to faith in Christ, to enlighten our minds to understand the word of God, and to proclaim through us the wonderful works of God to all those who would hear.
