I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh

Friday, June 3, 2022

Theme : “ I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh ” Text : Acts 1:1-8

1. Théophile, I spoke, in my first book, of all that Jesus began to do and to teach from the beginning 2. until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after having given his orders, by the Holy Spirit, to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3. After he had suffered, he appeared to them alive, and gave them many proofs of it, showing himself to them for forty days, and speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God. 4. As he was with them, he commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, what I have announced to you, he said to them; 5. For John baptized with water, but you, in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. 6. Then the assembled apostles asked him, Lord, will you restore the kingdom of Israel at this time? 7. He answered them: It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Let's remember:

Jesus gives the roadmap to the disciples. It described the different stages of their mission with formal details. The route is already known and traced by the authorizing officer. However, the mission would only begin after receiving the “GO” of the Holy Spirit. Until the disciples are sealed with the seal of the Spirit, they must not move from Jerusalem; until they are endued with the power of God. When God pours out His Spirit on flesh, a relationship of dependence on the Spirit is created such that obedience to the Holy Spirit becomes a major non-negotiable imperative. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit is a baptism. 1 Peter 3:21 says water baptism “is not cleansing from the defilements of the body, but the commitment of a good conscience to God…” that of the Holy Spirit is an experience of spiritual renewal , by which a person is baptized (immersed, filled) with the Holy Spirit. The water baptism of Jesus was coupled with that of the Holy Spirit. Thus he wanted his disciples to also have the baptism of the Spirit which is the most powerful weapon that Jesus left to the disciples. Excellent Friday and good start into the weekend. Amen Alain Louz.-