When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind. . . . And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-2, 4).
THEME
WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
In his diary Jim Elliot wrote, "Am I ignitible? . . . Saturate me with the oil of the Spirit that I may be a flame."
The disciples went through emotional burnout. The trial, the crucifixion, and the burial nearly snuffed out their flame. The resurrection and forty days with Jesus served as a bellows, but the fire still flickered. Then the Holy Spirit came like a mighty wind, and they became human infernos.
The Holy Spirit participated in creation, empowered Old Testament people, revealed God's Word to the prophets, and played an important role in Jesus' birth; but He never came for a permanent stay until Pentecost. Since then He has made His home in every believer and makes God's firepower available to us all.
The greatest evidence of His work may seem to many the most mundane: He grows spiritual fruit. That does not seem as exciting as starting spiritual fires. But His fruit is characteristic of Christ's life, and so He works at reproducing the best life ever lived in each believer. Like the oil of the olive used in lamps, the juice of this fruit lights the Christian life.
Unlike Jim Elliot, most of us would prefer to hear the Holy Spirit yell, "Lights out!" so we could get some rest. Instead, as a battle commander, He cries, "Fire!"
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DEC 16
LUKE 24:44-49
"Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you" (Luke 24:49).
One night the meeting place of a small and inactive group of Christians caught on fire. The blaze lit up the sky and attracted a crowd of people from far and near. A member of the church saw the town skeptic standing among the spectators and said, "I never saw YOU come near this church before." "No," replied the man, "but then I never saw this church on fire before either."
The church faces a challenge today, but the power to meet it is not found in fine buildings, modern equipment, large sums of money, or efficient programs. Only the Holy Spirit can enable believers to implement the Savior's command, but they must yield to His control. Otherwise the church will be powerless and will make little impact on the world.
The coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost marked the formation of the church. With its inception, the risen Christ also provided the power needed to propagate the gospel. Believers who formed the early church were to be witnesses of Christ in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the end of the earth. The indwelling Spirit became the dynamic force to carry out the task of going into all the world.
Pentecost doesn't need to be repeated, because the indwelling Holy Spirit has never left. He is the Spirit of power, and He works through Christians who are yielded to Him. Luke records that the apostles witnessed "with great power" (Acts 4:33). This power is still present and available today.
--P.R.V.
The power that compels comes from the Spirit that indwells.
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DEC 17
GALATIANS 5:16-26
Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).
Some beautiful oak trees stand behind our home. Every fall I notice that some of them retain their crisp dried leaves long after the basswood, maples, elms, and walnuts become bare. Even the strong winds of winter and the early spring rains do not completely strip their boughs. But as springtime progresses, the scene changes. Small buds appear at the tips of the twigs. Soon the dried remnants of the preceding season drop away because of the surging forces of new life from within.
The Holy Spirit graciously works like that in Christians. Old habits cling to our lives with tenacity. Even trial and adversity do not remove all the lifeless leftovers of our fallen human nature. But Christ continually seeks expression from within us. As we confess our sin, pray, meditate on the Word of God, obey, and fellowship with our blessed Lord, the dead works of the flesh gradually drop away.
When all our efforts to turn over a new leaf or pluck off the old ones meet defeat, we can take a lesson from the mighty oak. Then we can thank God for the wonder-working power of the Holy Spirit within us. As we yield to His gentle urgings to be kind, loving, honest, and faithful, the Holy Spirit will take care of those "old leaves."
--D.J.D.
If Christ is the center of our lives, the circumference will take care of itself.
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DEC 18
JOHN 14:12-31
"I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper"
(John 14:16).
A theology student writing a term paper about confession meant to type, "When we confess our sins, He takes away our guilt." But the young man couldn't type too well, and when he came to the word GUILT, he typed QUILT by mistake. When the professor returned his paper, the student grinned as he read the marginal note: "Never fear, little one, you'll never freeze, because God gave us a Comforter."
Using his sense of humor, the professor had conveyed a marvelous truth. Jesus said that the Father would send the Comforter to abide with us forever. Pentecost fulfilled that promise (Acts 2:1-4). And ever since that historic day, the Holy Spirit has been faithfully carrying on His ministry in the lives of believers.
His comforting activities include: guiding us into truth (John 16:13), assuring us we are God's children (Ro 8:16), helping us pray (Rom. 8:26), transforming us into Christ's image (2 Co 3:18), and strengthening us (Eph 3:16).
Our response should be to learn all we can about Christ and by the Spirit put into action what we know. The Holy Spirit's purpose is always to glorify Christ, never to call attention to Himself.
Thank you, Father, for our Comforter. Help us not to grieve or quench Him. We face this day with confidence because of His blessed ministry in our lives.
--D.J.D.
The Christian's heart is the Holy Spirit's home.
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DEC 19
ISAIAH 44:1-5
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
A healthy tree consists of up to eighty percent moisture. It draws large quantities of water through its root system or absorbs it from dew and rain. In his book AS A TREE GROWS, W. Phillip Keller says, "the tree does not hoard this moisture for itself. The vast network of running roots beneath the soil often exceeds the outspread canopy of trunk, branches, and leaves spread to the sky. And vast quantities of water are lifted through the framework of the tree to be transpired into the surrounding air. This moisture, along with the discharge of oxygen, is what gives the forest atmosphere such a fresh fragrance."
Christians use the water of life in much the same way. In John 7:38, Jesus said that rivers of living water will flow from the heart of the one who believes in Him. He was referring to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in and through us. The Spirit, who we receive when we trust the Lord Jesus as our Savior, empowers and refreshes us, which enables us to help others. Our part is to read and study God's Word, to receive cleansing and renewal through confession, and to obey the Lord. Then, as we depend on the Holy Spirit, "living water" flows through us and provides refreshment and goodness to people around us.
--D.C.E.
Only the Living Water can quench the driving thirst of the soul.
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DEC 20
EPHESIANS 1:1-14
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10).
Several centuries ago, a Japanese emperor commissioned an artist to paint a bird. A number of months passed, then several years, and still the artist did not deliver the painting. Finally the emperor became so exasperated that he went to the artist's home to demand an explanation. Instead of making excuses, the artist placed a blank canvas on the easel. In less than an hour, he completed a painting that was to become a masterpiece. When the emperor asked the reason for the delay, the artist showed him armloads of drawings of feathers, wings, heads, and feet. Then he explained that he couldn't complete the painting until he had done exhaustive research and study.
In a sense, Christians are similar to that piece of art. We are "sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise" (Eph 1:13), and predestined by God "to be conformed to the image of His Son" (Ro 8:29). But the process takes time. The "artist" is the Holy Spirit--sent by the Lord Jesus at Pentecost to indwell believers. Slowly but surely He leads us to spiritual growth and maturity. Our transformation requires years of patience and will not be finished until we enter the presence of our King.
The day is coming when all Christians will be like Christ. But now we are growing and preparing. As we follow the Spirit's guidance through one experience after another, we become more and more like the masterpiece we will be someday in Glory.
--D.C.E.
The work Christ accomplished for us on the cross, His Spirit can now accomplish in us on earth.
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DEC 21
1 CORINTHIANS 2:6-16
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14).
A friend who is not a Christian told me, "I've read the Bible, but I don't understand it." His comment is not unusual. People of the world--even the highly educated and successful--cannot comprehend the truths of God's Word.
William Pitt, one of the finest statesmen in British history, became prime minister of England at age 24. William Wilberforce, a Christian, persuaded Pitt to attend a meeting in which a member of the House of Lords powerfully proclaimed the gospel. After the meeting, Wilberforce asked Pitt what he thought of the message. Pitt replied, "To tell you the truth, Wilberforce, I gave that man my most careful attention from start to finish, but I was totally unable to understand what he was talking about."
Education, culture, or great knowledge in matters of government and business are of no help in understanding God's Word. Only when people place their faith in Christ and become children of God does the spiritual darkness lift from their hearts and minds. The miracle of the new birth opens blinded eyes to the teachings of the Bible. At the moment of regeneration, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in the believer, giving life and light.
--P.R.V.
When we open our hearts to the Savior, God opens our minds to His Word.
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DEC 22
COLOSSIANS 1:9-14
"I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you"
(Isaiah 41:10).
When faced with adversity and temptation, wise Christians acknowledge two important facts: their own weakness and God's power to keep them from falling. If we dwell on our inadequacy, we cannot cope with the future. But if we draw our strength from a source other than ourselves, we'll be able to resist Satan's opposition and the world's pressure. That's why we need both the outer and inner support that comes only from God.
On my desk is a closed penknife, rounded and smooth on both ends. When I try to stand it on end, it topples over. If I were to explain to you how difficult it is to get the knife to stand, you probably would say, "No, it's impossible! You can't make that knife stand on end. You might as well give up and not waste your time." "But look, the penknife is standing!" I reply. "Sure," you say, "but you are holding it."
The standing penknife illustrates God's outer support. He strengthens us through the help of others. But we also need inner strength--the upholding power of the Holy Spirit.
Recently I watched a flour mill in operation. In the corner of the room lay empty sacks. If I had tried to make one stand by itself, it would have crumpled to the floor. But when the miller filled it with flour, it stood solid and unmoving, held up by the weight of the flour it contained. Likewise, the believer, filled with the indwelling Spirit, is able to stand.
Although we are weak, we are "kept by the power of God"--both from without and from within (1 Peter 1:5).
