The Book of Acts, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 The Book of the Acts of the Apostles, written by Doctor Luke, a history of the early church from the time of Jesus' Ascension to Paul's travels. 

Acts 2, with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the believers in Christ, Peter gave a sermon, and starting at verse 37, the people "came under deep conviction" and asked, "Brothers, what must we do?"

"Repent," Peter said to them, "and be baptized , each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 

I think we as modern day Christians complicate matters too much. We are told to believe and be saved. And we are told to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus and we WILL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't say you will receive the gift of speaking in tongues. It doesn't say you will fall down and convulse. It doesn't even say you will visually manifest a supernatural gift in that moment. But that doesn't mean that you don't have the gift of the Holy Spirit. That will become evident in your fruit. When you bear fruit of love, joy, peace, and the other fruits of the spirit, that will be your evidence. It will be in how you live your life, both when you are being watched and when you aren't, and will bring focus and glory to God through Jesus Christ, not on your own attempts to manifest the Holy Spirit. 

Let's get one thing straight. We don't manipulate the Holy Spirit into moving. We don't control the Holy Spirit. Living in the gift of the Holy Spirit requires living in obedience to the Word of  God, living in humility, and running any thought or idea we have that we think might be God speaking to us, through what His Word already says. If it doesn't line up, it isn't the Holy Spirit. If it doesn't bring focus to God, better rethink what you are going to say. 

For example, a "godly man" told this teenage boy that God revealed His word, that this man was going to marry his daughter. This boy said absolutely not, God never told him such a thing. Then this "godly man" told another teenage boy the exact same thing. Neither of these boys married her. Was that the Holy Spirit working through him? He was a leader in a church, well respected. He may have meant well in finding a mate for his daughter, but manipulating the "Holy Spirit" is wrong on any level.

I believe you will more likely see real movements of the Holy Spirit in those who are the most humble. those who don't seek to do things to cause attention on themselves. Sometimes the quietest people are the most obedient and in tune to what the Holy Spirit wants. After all, in the Old Testament, didn't God speak in a still small voice rather than in the storm and wind? 

Would you like to buy me a book, or help keep my little free library stocked and maintained? You can donate here: paypal.me/AmyVanGaasbeck 

The Book of Luke, Holman Christian Standard Bible

 The Book of Luke, the fourth book in the New Testament of the Holy Bible, it is also one of the four Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. It was written by Luke, a doctor and follower of Christ in the early Church, and was written as one of two letters to Theophilus. We don't know exactly who Theophilus was, but by reading Luke and Acts, both of whom were written to Theophilus, we can gather that he was possibly seeking for the truth of who Christ was, and the origin of the Christian church.

In this book we find in the second chapter, the account of Christ's birth which is often read at Christmastime, and from there it proceeds to give an account of the life of Christ and his miracles, teachings, death, and resurrection. 

As I was finishing up the last chapter today, the words in the above photo spoke to me. Jesus had died and been resurrected, but many of his disciples were not aware of that yet. They were still grieving and probably dealing with PTSD from watching him be brutally executed and wondering if they were next. They were wondering what to do and where to go, and many of them reverted back to their old professions, such as fishing. 

Then Jesus comes along and explains to them the Old Testament and the Prophets, and how he fulfilled most of the Messianic prophecies. Then he reveals himself as resurrected Jesus--not a ghost, as he shows by eating with them, and having them touch him. He opens their eyes to the truth, and proceeds to give them directions and their purpose. No longer are they just students, but now it's time for them to step up as His ambassadors, telling the world about Jesus and the salvation that ALL men, Jews and Gentiles, can have through Him. They are to start locally, and spread out to the rest of the world. 

It's amazing how that happened, studying early New Testament Church History. Despite persecution and threats and even brutal death to those practicing Christianity, it continued to spread and grow.

Want to show your appreciation and buy me a book, or help keep my little free library stocked? Follow this link and donate whatever amount you like. I appreciate it! paypal.me/AmyVanGaasbeck