Jesus’ Words in Red Before He Departed God’s Promise

Jesus’ Words in Red Before He Departed

God’s Promise

…wait for the gift my Father promised

Promises are important

They are sometimes hard to keep

God fulfills all promises to us even to the last word

Such is the promise of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit

This promise will bring His presence and power into your life

 

God’s Promise

God always keeps His promises.

No, I will not break my covenant;

I will not take back one word of what I said.

Psalm 89:33-35 TLB

God’s promises are not no and maybe.

They are “Yes and A-men” or so be it.

For no matter how many promises God has made,
 they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen"

is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20-21 NIV

What is the promise Jesus

commands the disciples to wait for?

The promise is something

Jesus spoke about in the past…

“which you have heard me speak about”

Verse 5 makes the promise a little clearer to us…

“For John baptized with water, but in a few

days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 

The promise is a baptism.

The Greek word for Jesus uses is baptize…

(bap-tid'-zo); to immerse, submerge;

to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet)

Jesus is saying…

“…you will be baptized” immerse, submerge;

to make overwhelmed “with the Holy Spirit."

 

Remember Jesus in John 20:22…

He breathed on them and said,

"Receive the Holy Spirit.”

As you look through the scriptures you will

find three ways the Holy Spirit effects our lives.

There is the Holy Spirit “In” us

The Holy Spirit “Upon” us

And the Holy Spirit “Filling” us

Jesus is clearly talking about the Holy Spirit “Upon” us

as He says this is a baptism of the Holy Spirit.

We do not have to read much farther in the

Book of Acts to see how the promise unfolds.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:1-4

When the room became full of the Spirit,

 we see two of the Holy Spirit’s effects.

This promise had a visible sign.

The Holy Spirit was “Upon” them and

“Filled” them  “All of them …began to speak in

other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

This visible sign was not only witnessed

by the disciple but God-fearing Jews

from every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:5 NIV

When questions whether the 120 who received the Baptism

were drunk, Peter told them this is the fulfillment of

the promise Joel the Old Testament prophet spoke of.

We can see from Joel’s prophecy…

The baptism is for everyone

young and old, male and female.

Peter concludes a convicting message

and when those listening responded…

"Brothers, what shall we do?"

 Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off —

for all whom the Lord our God will call."

Acts 2:37-39

Peter told them, and us, the “Promise” is in

effect until God stops calling people to Himself.

In Acts 2:11 we see the God

fearing visitor to Jerusalem say…

“…we hear them declaring the wonders

of God in our own tongues!"

The “Promise” was fulfilled and

is still being fulfilled today.

It is important to realize every promise

of God has a purpose and that will

be looked at in the next devotional.

Promises are important.

They are sometimes hard to keep.

God fulfills all promises

to us even to the last word.

Such is the promise of the

Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

This promise will bring His

presence and power into your life.

Scripture Reading

Acts 1:1-8 NIV

1:1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 

6 So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."