Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Waiting Upon the Holy Spirit


Dr. Thomas K. Jose
MTC Staten Island, NY
2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

In the book of Acts, Luke continues the story he began in his previous gospel and covers the short span of time after Jesus has resurrected from this world. It was during this time that the church was established and the gospel was spread and preached to different parts of the world through ordinary men with human frailties and limitations and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem till they are anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit God has promised, before they  scatter to many parts of the world. Jesus said John the Baptist was baptized with water but soon “you will be baptized with the Holy spirit”.

Trinity specifically speaks about the holy relationship of God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is a unique relationship of the three. Jesus knew that his disciples cannot do anything without him being physically present with them or if not  His Holy  Spirit has to be there to empower them. Many  a times Jesus has seen that his disciple have failed to do his mission when he was alive. So he instructs them to wait in Jerusalem till they get filled with the Holy Spirit to go out to the world in full strength.
 
Holy Spirit is the very presence of God within us and all believers, helping us to lead a life that God wants by building the Christ’s church on this earth. It is only by faith and constant prayer we can appropriate the Spirit’s power each day. Jesus promises us in John 14 that “if you love me obey my commandments. And I will ask the father and he will you another Advocate who will never leave you." This is the Holy Spirit that leads us in to all the truth. The world cannot receive Him because it is not looking for Him and does not recognize Him. But we the believers know Him because He lives within us now as we believe in Him.

At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was made available to all who believed in Jesus and Peter was able to make a powerful sermon of salvation and repentance and a total of 3000 in all believed, baptized and added to to the church in one day. We all will receive this Holy Spirit when we receive and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Let this be our goal today, this morning to accept Him and to trust Him as our Redeemer and Savior. Let us be filled with the Holy Spirit and power so that we can be powerful witnesses for Him.


PRAYER


Merciful Lord thank you for giving another day to praise and meditate upon Your word which is the cornerstone of our life. May the experience in today’s meditation prepare us to live a more meaningful and fruitful way. Grant us through your Holy Spirit, boldness to live faithfully and allow us to recognize our weakness and trust more on your sufficiency. In your precious name we pray Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
STRIVE TO LEAD A LIFE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

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