The Holy Spirit for All Believers

 

[Peter said] “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” (Acts 2:17-21 ESV).

 

There are two principles at work in the quoting of the Old Testament prophet Joel by the Apostle Peter. Each of these is equally important for believers to accept. First, the gift of the Holy Spirit is for all believers. The presence of God through the Holy Spirit is dependent on our actions; nor, is it always evidenced by the same gifting. Some have believed that “speaking in tongues” is a requirement as evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit, however, this is simply not supported by Scripture (cf. 1 Corinthians 12-14). Second, the gift of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost) begins “the last days.” This truth is a bit more difficult to grasp, though it is important. After all, it has been 2,000 years since that first coming en masse of the Holy Spirit to the Church (both Jew and Gentile).

 

It is easy for us to think of the concept of “the last days” and begin to anticipate the coming of Jesus to be very soon as we calculate the days involved in “soon.” I would caution you to retain the belief of an imminent return of Christ. Even Jesus said it could be at any time and without warning. We ought to view this truth as an understand that we have appointed to the preparation committee, not the program committee. We don’t determine the calendar. Our heavenly Father has that well in hand.

 

So, as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit we should remember that our celebration of Pentecost is not so much meant to be talked about as it is to be lived—in word and deed. By the power of the Spirit working through us, our words and fruit-filled actions are the tools God uses to build his kingdom.