The Gifting of the Holy Spirit
7/15 Reading Portions: Joshua 22; Acts 2; Jeremiah 11; Matthew 25
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
7/15 Reading Portions: Joshua 22; Acts 2; Jeremiah 11; Matthew 25
Acts 2:3
And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.
TONGUES
Before the blessed message of the crucified and risen Christ could be preached to those whom the Holy Spirit prepared to receive the message, before they were amazed by a manifestation of the Holy Spirit to arrest their attention to a work of God occurring in their midst, those empowered to deliver the message must be baptized, as promised by the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:5), with the Holy Spirit and fire. Before the disciples of Christ could speak in the tongues of those gathered at the temple on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit’s fire appeared to Christ’s disciples manifesting as divided tongues of fire… and rested on each one of them. Others in the temple did not see this. This manifestation was for the disciples alone, since the “fire appeared to them,” from our verse. Since that Pentecostal day, anyone saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will receive the Holy Spirit upon conversion. The apostle says,
Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. Romans 8:9
The event at the temple on the day of Pentecost, however, presents to us a truth concerning our salvation— we will know Christ has saved us. When Jesus saves us, we will be sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is Himself, the pledge that Jesus will return for us (Eph 1:13-14). Therefore, we will know we will spend eternity with Him. The tongue of our mouths will also be transformed so that blessings unto God in Christ will be uttered, and moreover, those who hear you will understand that you are praising God; albeit some will even mock you for it (Acts 2:13). Finally, your faith will stand firmly upon the truth of Christ’s incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, just as Peter preached (Acts 2:22-36). You may not have the capacity to preach as the apostle had, but you’ll believe the truth He proclaimed. Will doubts arise in some? Of course, for this is the enemy’s strategy from the beginning. Nevertheless, this recorded event is a blessed testament of what occurs when Christ saves us through the work of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we may examine ourselves and prove whether we are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5). Hallelujah! What a Savior!